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Source: http://www.facebook.com/ontopmag/posts/10153111708170512
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Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Removing clutter posts
Hey, listen, we at Fusion Fantasy Neo have been having some...issues with unwanted posts. That is, when someone makes a mistake post or double post, we have trouble deleting it, making a bit of an eyesore in the flow of the story.
Is there any way you guys can make a code that allows Game Masters to get rid of such clutter posts? We would appreciate it greatly.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/7LfvtsdBS8M/viewtopic.php
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Israeli-Palestinian aim: A peace deal in 9 months
WASHINGTON (AP) ? Pressing ahead in a new U.S.-backed push for Middle East peace, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators agreed Tuesday to meet again within two weeks to start substantive talks in hopes of reaching a long-elusive settlement within nine months.
Speaking after the two sides wrapped up an initial two days of talks at the State Department and visited President Barack Obama at the White House, Secretary of State John Kerry said Israel and the Palestinians were committed to sustained and serious negotiations on the "core issues" that divide them. The next round will take place in either Israel or the Palestinian territories before mid-August, he said.
Kerry said he was aware of the deep doubts surrounding the new peace effort and acknowledged that the road would be difficult. Yet, he said, "While I understand the skepticism, I don't share it. And I don't think we have time for it."
All issues, including contentious disputes over the status of the territories and Jerusalem, are "on the table for negotiation, and they are on the table with one simple goal: a view to ending the conflict," Kerry said.
The U.S. had already said the negotiations would continue for at least nine months ? roughly until the end of April 2014 ? but that had not been set as a timeframe for reaching a deal. Kerry and both sides agreed that neither would walk away from the talks or take actions that could disrupt them for that period, two senior U.S. officials said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss diplomatic talks.
However, the officials also said they expect that the Israelis, over U.S. objections, will continue constructing housing for Jewish settlers on land claimed by the Palestinians over the course of the negotiations, an indication the Palestinians are serious about dropping their longstanding demand for a settlement freeze before returning to talks. The officials said the U.S. believes the Palestinians also will not attempt to win further international recognition as a state until a peace deal is completed, an effort that one official likened to a potential "train wreck."
Kerry said that Israel, which agreed on Sunday to release more than 100 Palestinian prisoners as a goodwill gesture, would also take unspecified steps in the coming days to ease harsh living conditions in the West Bank and Gaza. The two senior officials said those measures complement a $4 billion private sector economic program that Kerry is trying put in place to assist the Palestinians.
After Tuesday's conclusion of preliminary talks, Kerry said, "I firmly believe the leaders, the negotiators and citizens invested in this effort can make peace for one simple reason: because they must." He said, "A viable two-state solution is the only way this conflict can end. And there is not much time to achieve it."
Kerry said the negotiations, to be mediated on a day-to-day basis by his new Mideast peace envoy, Martin Indyk, would be cloaked in secrecy and that the parties had agreed that he would be the only person to comment on them. He quickly added that he would not comment on them now, leaving unclear the framework for the talks that he struggled for six months to get back on track.
Despite the secrecy, the broad outlines of an agreement are well known: The Palestinians want a state based on the borders, with agreed land swaps, that existed before the 1967 war in which Israel seized east Jerusalem and occupied the West Bank and Gaza. Israel wants security assurances and a recognition that it is and will remain a Jewish state.
Obama laid out those parameters as U.S. policy for any negotiations in a May 2011 speech, but neither the Israelis nor the Palestinians have publicly signed off on them. The two senior U.S. officials would not say if either side had even tacitly agreed to proceed on that basis.
The main issues on the table for negotiation include security, borders, the status of Jerusalem, the fate of Palestinian refugees and water, all of which have been responsible for cratering multiple U.S.-brokered peace efforts over the past two decades.
Earlier Tuesday, Obama and Vice President Joe Biden met with the lead negotiators ? Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat ? for about 30 minutes. White House spokesman Jay Carney said Obama called the meeting to "directly express his personal support for final status negotiations." Obama pledged full U.S. support to the process, Carney said.
At the State Department ceremony later, Kerry was flanked by Livni and Erekat ? who each spoke briefly about the need to resolve the longstanding conflict.
"It's time for the Palestinian people to have an independent sovereign state of their own," said Erekat. "It's time for the Palestinians to live in peace, freedom and dignity within their own independent, sovereign state."
Livni allowed that she and Erekat had been involved in failed negotiations before, notably the Annapolis Process that President George W. Bush initiated in 2008, but she said this time could be different.
"You know, Saeb," she said to Erekat, "we all spent some time in the negotiations room ... but we didn't complete our mission. And this is something that we need to do now, in these negotiations that we will launch today. And the opportunity has been created for us, for all of us, and we cannot afford to waste it."
"I believe that history is not made by cynics; it is made by realists who are not afraid to dream," Livni added. "Let us be these people."
___
AP White House Correspondent Julie Pace contributed to this report.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/israeli-palestinian-aim-peace-deal-9-months-213107068.html
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How's the skill set of your admin team? - Business Management Daily
Most people work hard and do their best on the job, but feedback can always help us to do better. Outside of regular performance reviews, how can you get feedback on what you?re doing well and what you could be doing better?
That?s what one reader asked recently on the Admin Pro Forum. Readers offered their take on the issue.
?I worked for a Fortune 500 company once and I would survey everyone I supported around the same time I was writing my personal evaluation for feedback on my performance,? said Theresa. ?It covered a variety of areas, [including] what I did well and what they?d like me to start doing or do differently.?
?I support about 16 leaders and so I take the opportunity to ask each one to lunch or to meet about 15 minutes and ask three questions,? said Yurika:
- What do I do well?
- What do I need to improve?
- What more can I do to support you?
?I find it to be very helpful to continue my growth as an executive assistant and also to build a trusting relationship with the people I support.?
Matt wasn?t so sure, though. ?Our team thought about doing this once, but it just seemed like an invitation to people to nitpick,? he said. ?We just let the feedback come at our performance reviews.?
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Source: http://www.businessmanagementdaily.com/36002/hows-the-skill-set-of-your-admin-team
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Washington, D.C. weather forecast: A few showers Wednesday, more humid
After a wonderful start to the week, unsettled weather along with added humidity is back in the forecast.
- Overnight:
- Partly Cloudy and Mild
- Lows: 62?-70?
- Wind: South 2-5 mph
- Wednesday:
- Partly Cloudy, T-Showers (30%)
- Highs: near 85?
- Wind: South 5-10 mph
- Thursday:
- Partly Cloudy, T-Showers (50%)
- Highs: around 85?
- Wind: South 5-10 mph
High pressure will move away from the mid-Atlantic overnight. Clouds will increase as temperatures fall into the 60s. Highs tomorrow will be in the middle 80s under partly cloudy skies.
A chance for a few showers during the afternoon is possible, but limited to about 30 percent. Showers and thunderstorms will dot radar Thursday along with highs back in the 80s.
Stay with ABC 7 News, NewsChannel 8 and WJLA.com.
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'Genius': Writer Steven T. Seagle on his new graphic novel | Shelf ...
The term ?prodigy? is an open blue sky when it arrives but in the instances when excellence has an expiration date the word is more like a clinging black cloud. That?s one of the themes in Genius, the new graphic novel from First Second Books and the tandem of writer Steven T. Seagle and artist Teddy Kristiansen, the same duo that delivered the Eisner-winning It?s a Bird back in 2004.
Genius introduces physicist Ted Marx a one-time wunderkind whose career is now more mass than energy, which is confounded by his inability to solve the emotional equations of being a husband and father. Marx finds a possible reprieve when he sees a chance to steal a secret discovery made by Albert Einstein. That opens the story up to the arrival of Einstein as a voice and with that Genius becomes a clear contender for the title of year?s most inventive graphic novel.
To find out more we caught up with Seagle, who is also a partner in Man of Action Studios, the collective best known for Ben-10 and its success for Cartoon Network.
Entertainment Weekly: It could hardly be more different but the Einstein?you?ve put in Genius made me think of Play It Again Sam and the way Bogart is placed as a visual form and emotional presence in the movie. What did you find most challenging about the use of Einstein?
Steven T. Seagle: I wrote the original script for Genius without doing any real research on Einstein. I just used what I thought I knew about him so that he?wouldn?t?be too mired down or Biography Channel-ish. That worked very well thematically, but when it came time to fact-check the book, most of what I ?knew? about Albert was wrong. It really had to be fixed for the story to be believable. Unfortunately, I was married to some of the incorrect things I had built into the plot, so it was a challenge to replace the wrong with the right. But you can?t just misrepresent the smartest human who ever lived. And that?s exactly what our lead character in the book, Ted, struggles with in terms of Einstein?s emotional presence in his head.
Image Credit: Liesel Reinhart
It?s a Bird also had a ?presence by absence? in a different way?
Seagle: Absolutely. There have been plenty of fictions that addressed Superman. Every Superman comic story to date had been exactly that. So when Teddy and I set out to do It?s a Bird? I wanted to turn the next corner. Writers love to trot out the ?this is super-heroes in the real world? tag, but I wanted to do a book with Superman literally in the real world ? a world where people write all of his stories and he?s not real as anything but an fictional icon. In Genius, Einstein is real, but only as a memory, an abstraction, a totem. That?s the way most influential figures function in people?s minds.
Is Einstein someone who has fascinated you long-term or did you find him as you worked on this
Seagle: My attachment to Einstein came from left field: the Philip Glass, Robert Wilson, Lucinda Childs minimalist mega-opera Einstein on the Beach. That piece ? which is four hours, 20 minutes, no intermission ? is like sitting inside the mind of Einstein and watching his neurons spark. It?s not literal. At all. So I used Einstein figuratively ? more as an idea than a person ? because that was how I first came to know him myself.
?Prodigy? is a word that often comes with a nasty retirement plan. The view that the life of Orson Welles was a retreat and the path of Georgia O?Keefe a victory, for instance, is reflexive to a lot of people?
Seagle: Yes, and as Ted starts to frame a soundbite history for his spiritual inspiration, Einstein, the famed physicist pushes right back. He reminds Ted that not all of his life was revelation. He had crises just like other people. He had failures. He had doubt. Even if you are a physicist, what could winning possibly look like if your point of comparison is Einstein? Or Hawking? Or Witten? Ted?s ?genius? label may have expired, but does that have to mean that Ted?s worth expired with it?
Not too many people become adjectives. Why is it that Einstein?s persona echoes in pop culture when his actual work is familiar to few people?
Seagle: Einstein answered very complex questions in relatively simple terms. He spoke to intellectuals and masses alike. He had mass appeal. But then ? as he reminds Ted in the book ? he also forgot to wear pants sometimes. He apparently didn?t own a brush. He stuck out his tongue. And, come on, being half-dressed? Crazy hairstyle? Suggestive physical behavior? Cher. Madonna. Gaga. Einstein fit the single- name pop culture mold all along.
Source: http://shelf-life.ew.com/2013/07/29/genius-steven-t-seagle/
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Google Spurns Pedophile Warning System
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Google has opted to reject a paedophile warning system which would flash up cautionary messages to people conducting obscene internet searches that they can be tracked when certain keywords are used.It follows the decision by search rivals Bing and Yahoo! to automatically flash up warnings in such instances, measures which experts predict could cut by half the volume of traffic directed to such material.
Instead Google insists that its existing methods at tackling the problem are more effective, stoking the ire of child safety campaigners.
The Microsoft backed warning system would flash up a message when specific search terms were enetered, stating: ?Warning! Child abuse material is illegal,? alongside a link to counseling advice.
Commenting on the plan John Carr, a government adviser on online child safety, said: ?The splash pages will not stop determined paedophiles but while they are very dangerous, they are a small number.
?These messages will warn off a larger number of men who are interested in these pages and stop them in their tracks. At the beginning an interest in these images starts off as a mild curiosity but they get drawn in and in some cases it can lead to rape and abuse.
?These messages show them they are not anonymous. Half would be put off by this.?
Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/google-spurns-pedophile-warning-system-2013-7
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Davenport University personnel move into new campus
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Source: http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20130729/NEWS01/307290063/-1/RSS
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Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Sen. John McCain Discusses Partisan Divide in Congress, Future of the GOP
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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NewsHourHeadlinesPodcast/~3/szo_Tw5yJLQ/20130729_mccain.mp3
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PrimeSport remains NCAA championship ticket provider
PrimeSport inked a deal to remain for the eighth year in a row the official ticket and hospitality package provider for certain NCAA championships, including the Final Four.
PrimeSport inked a deal to remain for the eighth year in a row the official ticket and hospitality package provider for certain NCAA championships.
The championships include the NCAA Men?s Final Four, NCAA Women?s Final Four, NCAA Men?s College World Series, NCAA Women?s College World Series and NCAA Men?s Frozen Four.
Atlanta-based PrimeSport will continue to offer The NCAA Experience official ticket, VIP pregame hospitality, and travel packages for fans and groups looking for a VIP experience at each NCAA event.
Official VIP ticket & pregame hospitality packages typically include regional food buffets, cold beverages, live entertainment, a chance to rub elbows with NCAA legends and more. Travel packages are customizable to each event but typically include hotel accommodations, game tickets, official pre-game hospitality, official souvenirs and more.
PrimeSport will also continue to manage the Official NCAA Ticket Exchange for select NCAA championships including the NCAA Division I Men?s Basketball Tournament, NCAA Men?s Final Four, NCAA Women?s Final Four and NCAA Men?s Frozen Four.
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Decision aids reduce men's conflict about PSA screening, but don't change their decisions
![[ Back to EurekAlert! ]](http://www.eurekalert.org/images/back2e.gif){kind=small}
Public release date: 29-Jul-2013[ | E-mail |
Share ] Contact: Karen Mallet
km463@georgetown.edu
Georgetown University Medical Center
WASHINGTON Men who decide to be screened for prostate cancer and those who forgo PSA screening stick with their decisions after receiving materials explaining the risks and benefits of the test. The decision aids greatly increased their knowledge about screening and reduced their conflict about what to do, but did not have an impact on their screening decision when measured a year later.
That's the finding of a new study published today in JAMA Internal Medicine that examined both web-based and printed tools aimed at helping men make informed decisions about PSA testing.
In May 2012, the US Preventive Services Task Force recommended against screening all men for prostate cancer. Most health professional groups recommend shared decision making so that men can understand the limitations of screening before making a decision about being tested.
"The history of conflicting recommendations for prostate cancer screening and the mixed messages about screening effectiveness make it critical to assist men in making informed decisions," explains Kathryn Taylor, Ph.D., professor in the Cancer Prevention and Control Program at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Taylor and her colleagues developed two decision aids to help men weigh the pros and cons of testing and then make informed decisions about screening. In one of the largest and most representative randomized trials conducted on this topic, a racially diverse group of 1,879 men aged 45 to 70 were randomly assigned to utilize a print-based decision aid, an interactive web-based decision aid, or usual care (no decision aid). Telephone interviews were conducted at the start of the study, one month after the start and again at 13 months to see if the tool had a long-term impact.
"The tools were intended neither to encourage nor discourage screening, but instead to present the benefits and limitations of screening to help men make choices consistent with their preferences," Taylor explains.
After the surveys were conducted, the researchers found that both the web-based and print tools increased the men's knowledge and reduced the initial conflict they reported about whether or not to be screened, and increased their immediate satisfaction with their decision.
"Interestingly, we thought these decision aids might lead to more men forgoing testing, but in fact, the men didn't change their screening plans," says Taylor, adding, "The men told us these tools helped them resolve their own conflicts about whether or not to receive screening." And the study suggested a positive trend in men's long-term satisfaction with their decisions, important because men face the decision about screening every year.
"Ultimately, the decision to receive PSA screening for prostate cancer lies with men," Taylor concludes. "They'll be able to make decisions that are right for them if they have unbiased, updated screening materials that fully explain the risks and benefits," Taylor says.
Importantly, the print- and web-based decision aids were equally effective in improving knowledge and reducing decisional conflict, suggesting that either tool may be used, depending on an individual's preferred medium, Taylor says.
"They both have the potential to be easily adopted in real-world practice settings," Taylor concludes. "Given the demonstrated beneficial effect of the decision aids, work is now needed to understand the best methods for widespread dissemination."
###
Taylor reports having no personal financial interests related to the study.
About Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center
Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of Georgetown University Medical Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, seeks to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer through innovative basic and clinical research, patient care, community education and outreach, and the training of cancer specialists of the future. Georgetown Lombardi is one of only 41 comprehensive cancer centers in the nation, as designated by the National Cancer Institute (grant #P30 CA051008), and the only one in the Washington, DC area. For more information, go to http://lombardi.georgetown.edu.
About Georgetown University Medical Center
Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) is an internationally recognized academic medical center with a three-part mission of research, teaching and patient care (through MedStar Health). GUMC's mission is carried out with a strong emphasis on public service and a dedication to the Catholic, Jesuit principle of cura personalis -- or "care of the whole person." The Medical Center includes the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing & Health Studies, both nationally ranked; Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute; and the Biomedical Graduate Research Organization, which accounts for the majority of externally funded research at GUMC including a Clinical and Translational Science Award from the National Institutes of Health.
[ | E-mail | Share ] ?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Public release date: 29-Jul-2013[ | E-mail |
Share ] Contact: Karen Mallet
km463@georgetown.edu
Georgetown University Medical Center
WASHINGTON Men who decide to be screened for prostate cancer and those who forgo PSA screening stick with their decisions after receiving materials explaining the risks and benefits of the test. The decision aids greatly increased their knowledge about screening and reduced their conflict about what to do, but did not have an impact on their screening decision when measured a year later.
That's the finding of a new study published today in JAMA Internal Medicine that examined both web-based and printed tools aimed at helping men make informed decisions about PSA testing.
In May 2012, the US Preventive Services Task Force recommended against screening all men for prostate cancer. Most health professional groups recommend shared decision making so that men can understand the limitations of screening before making a decision about being tested.
"The history of conflicting recommendations for prostate cancer screening and the mixed messages about screening effectiveness make it critical to assist men in making informed decisions," explains Kathryn Taylor, Ph.D., professor in the Cancer Prevention and Control Program at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Taylor and her colleagues developed two decision aids to help men weigh the pros and cons of testing and then make informed decisions about screening. In one of the largest and most representative randomized trials conducted on this topic, a racially diverse group of 1,879 men aged 45 to 70 were randomly assigned to utilize a print-based decision aid, an interactive web-based decision aid, or usual care (no decision aid). Telephone interviews were conducted at the start of the study, one month after the start and again at 13 months to see if the tool had a long-term impact.
"The tools were intended neither to encourage nor discourage screening, but instead to present the benefits and limitations of screening to help men make choices consistent with their preferences," Taylor explains.
After the surveys were conducted, the researchers found that both the web-based and print tools increased the men's knowledge and reduced the initial conflict they reported about whether or not to be screened, and increased their immediate satisfaction with their decision.
"Interestingly, we thought these decision aids might lead to more men forgoing testing, but in fact, the men didn't change their screening plans," says Taylor, adding, "The men told us these tools helped them resolve their own conflicts about whether or not to receive screening." And the study suggested a positive trend in men's long-term satisfaction with their decisions, important because men face the decision about screening every year.
"Ultimately, the decision to receive PSA screening for prostate cancer lies with men," Taylor concludes. "They'll be able to make decisions that are right for them if they have unbiased, updated screening materials that fully explain the risks and benefits," Taylor says.
Importantly, the print- and web-based decision aids were equally effective in improving knowledge and reducing decisional conflict, suggesting that either tool may be used, depending on an individual's preferred medium, Taylor says.
"They both have the potential to be easily adopted in real-world practice settings," Taylor concludes. "Given the demonstrated beneficial effect of the decision aids, work is now needed to understand the best methods for widespread dissemination."
###
Taylor reports having no personal financial interests related to the study.
About Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center
Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of Georgetown University Medical Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, seeks to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer through innovative basic and clinical research, patient care, community education and outreach, and the training of cancer specialists of the future. Georgetown Lombardi is one of only 41 comprehensive cancer centers in the nation, as designated by the National Cancer Institute (grant #P30 CA051008), and the only one in the Washington, DC area. For more information, go to http://lombardi.georgetown.edu.
About Georgetown University Medical Center
Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) is an internationally recognized academic medical center with a three-part mission of research, teaching and patient care (through MedStar Health). GUMC's mission is carried out with a strong emphasis on public service and a dedication to the Catholic, Jesuit principle of cura personalis -- or "care of the whole person." The Medical Center includes the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing & Health Studies, both nationally ranked; Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute; and the Biomedical Graduate Research Organization, which accounts for the majority of externally funded research at GUMC including a Clinical and Translational Science Award from the National Institutes of Health.
[ | E-mail | Share ] ?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-07/gumc-dar072513.php
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CBS defends handling of 'Big Brother' controversy
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) ? The "social experiment" that is CBS' "Big Brother" included appalling behavior this season but the network has responded appropriately, CBS Corp. CEO Les Moonves said Monday.
Contestants have been caught on the reality show's 24-hour-a-day Internet feed making boorish and racially insensitive remarks, and some were aired on one of the show's TV episodes.
"What you see there ... unfortunately is reflective of how certain people feel in America. It's what our show is. I think we've handled it properly," Moonves told the Television Critics Association.
The executive has a unique connection to the series: His wife, Julie Chen, is the host, and Moonves said he makes a point of watching each episode. The network responded when racially oriented comments became an issue with the contestants, he said.
In the online feed, contestant GinaMarie Zimmerman, 32, of Staten Island, N.Y., used the N-word to describe welfare as "insurance" for black people.
Another incident involving Zimmerman was part of the TV show. In an exchange with contestant Aaryn Gries of San Angelo, Texas, Zimmerman said a black house member is "on the dark side, but she's already dark." Gries responded, "Be careful what you say in the dark because you might not be able to see the bitch."
A network disclaimer that was shown on screen read, in part, "At times, the Houseguests may reveal prejudices and other beliefs that CBS does not condone" and which do not represent the network's views or opinions.
The remarks clearly disturbed other contestants on the show. Howard Overby, a youth counselor who is black, said he resisted expressing anger for fear it could hurt his chances in the game.
Broadcast's infatuation with the reality genre, which is both popular and can be cheaper to produce than scripted series, has made it an entrenched part of network schedules. But its pitfalls can include the contestants and their on- or off-screen behavior.
At the dawn of the reality cycle, Fox's "Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire" drew scrutiny in 2000 over the financial and personal credentials of its centerpiece, Rick Rockwell. "American Idol" has jettisoned contestants who failed to disclose arrest records or have other issues.
Some critics have questioned how real much of reality TV is, given factors including casting and editing that are part of the quest for ratings.
"Big Brother," which gathers contestants in a house to live under the gaze of cameras as they compete to be the last one left, was established as a social experiment when it began airing, and "clearly that's what's happening this year," Moonves said. The series, which debuted in 2000, is based on a Dutch show.
While he finds some of the behavior "absolutely appalling," Moonves said, "it's what our show is."
He was asked if what happened might be the result of the network trying too hard to find outgoing, eccentric contestants for shows like "Big Brother" and "Survivor."
"Obviously, you don't want wallflowers on reality shows. You're going to take people that are interesting. ... Sometimes that leads to controversy," he said.
Referring to the original season of "Survivor," he recalled the casting of Richard Hatch, who is gay, and Rudy Boesch, an older man who "wasn't used to dealing with homosexuals at all."
"Now, these two guys became good friends on the island, and so they are social experiments. Trying too hard? I don't think there's any such thing," Moonves said.
He made an unexpected appearance at the Television Critics Association's summer meeting in place of CBS entertainment chief Nina Tassler, who was unable to attend because she was attending a friend's funeral.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/cbs-defends-handling-big-brother-controversy-220419959.html
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Bus crash in southern Italy kills 37 people
ROME (AP) ? Rescuers wielding electric saws cut through the twisted wreckage of an Italian tour bus for survivors of a crash in southern Italy that killed at least 37 people after it crashed into traffic and plunged into a ravine on Sunday night.
Reports said as many as 49 people ? mostly Italians ? had been aboard the bus when it ripped through a guardrail, then plunged some 30 meters (100 feet) off a viaduct near a wooded area. In its plunge, the bus tore away whole sections of concrete barriers as well as guardrail. The concrete lay in large chunks in a clearing in a wooded area where the bus landed. State radio quoted Avellino police as saying the bus driver was among the dead.
The bus lost control near the town of Monteforte Irpino in Irpinia, a largely agricultural area about 40 miles (60 kilometers) inland from Naples and about 250 kilometers (160 miles) south of Rome.
The radio report said 11 people were hospitalized with injuries, two of them in critical condition. It was not immediately known if there were other survivors or any missing.
Flashing signs near Avellino, outside Naples, had warned of slowed traffic ahead along a stretch of a major highway crossing southern Italy, before the crash occurred, said highway police and officials, speaking on state radio early Monday.
It was not immediately clear why the bus driver lost control of the vehicle.
A reporter for Naples daily Il Mattino, Giuseppe Crimaldi, told Sky TG24 TV from the scene that some witnesses told him the bus had been going at a "normal" speed on the downhill stretch of the highway when it suddenly veered and started hitting cars. He said some witnesses thought they heard a noise as if the bus had blown a tire.
Hours after the crash, firefighters said that they had extracted 37 bodies ? most of the dead were found inside the mangled bus, which lay on its side , while a few of the victims were pulled out from underneath the wreckage, state radio and the Italian news agency ANSA reported.
Occupants of cars which were hit by the bus stood on the highway near their vehicles. One car's rear was completely crumpled, while another was smashed on its side. It was not immediately known if anyone in those cars had been injured.
Early reports said the passengers had spent the day in Puglia, an area near the Adriatic on the east coast famed for religious shrines. But on Monday, a state radio reporter at the scene said authorities told him that the bus had been bringing the passengers home after an outing to a thermal spa area near Benevento, a town not far from Avellino. Others at the scene said the passengers might have visited another nearby town, Benevento, which was the early home of Padre Pio, a late mystic monk popular among Catholics in Italy.
Passengers came from small towns near Naples, and relatives streamed to the crash site.
___
AP photographer Salvatore Laporta contributed to this report.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bus-crash-southern-italy-kills-37-people-063907193.html
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ACRLog ? Today's Computer Commons is Tomorrow's Card Catalog
ACRLog welcomes a guest post from Steven Bell, Associate University Librarian at Temple University, and founding blogger at ACRLog.
Anyone who worked in an academic research library in the 1970s-1980s remembers the vast amount of library real estate devoted to the physical card catalog. For those newer-to-the-profession colleagues who are unable to picture this ? and those who prefer to forget it ? here?s a reminder:
A typical research library catalog taking enormous amounts of floor space
As academic libraries of all sizes completed their migrations to online catalogs the librarians looked forward to the removal of the massive catalog furniture, and dwelled on how they would use all the space made available by the its departure. As timing would have it, the advent of the personal computer right around the same time the catalog went away made for an almost natural transition of the space from cards to computers. In my own place of work, where the catalog used to sit one now finds a field of personal computers ? all of them hardwired desktops. One also finds printers, scanners and technology assistants to help keep it all running.
As my own library embarks on the planning process for a new building, one that will serve the institution throughout the 21st century, the future of desktop computer and whether tomorrow?s student will have any use for this technology is one of many questions related to technology planning. The current wisdom seems to be that undergraduates still prefer to have access to hardwired desktops ? even though the vast majority of them own their own desktops or (increasingly) laptops.
It would be both questionable and considerably risky to plan for an academic library to open in 2017 without public desktop computing. Looking out into the not-too-distant future beyond that though, perhaps just another 10 years, I believe academic librarians will once again be in search of a purpose or application for all the space created by the removal of obsolete desktop computers. This technology will be just useful in 2027 as the physical card catalog was to the academic library by the time online catalogs were as common as desktop computers are today.
There?s no question that today?s college students still expect the library to offer them lots of desktop computers ? as odd as that may seem when many of them own their own desktops, laptops or tablets. An article in the December 2012 issue of Information Technology and Libraries titled ?Student Use of Library Computers: Are Desktop Computers Still Relevant In Today?s Libraries?? by Susan Thompson of CSU San Marcos, shares the results of two years? worth of study into student use of the library?s desktop computers. According to Thompson, the students still preferred for the library to offer desktops for a number of reasons with which many of us are acquainted: faster connections; reliability when papers are due; access to onsite printers; preference for leaving laptops at home (this article focuses on a commuter institution); access to special software; fear of stolen/lost laptops; convenience. It?s a conclusion that many of us would expect.
But the data was collected in 2009 and 2010. That?s eons ago in the computer age. As I read it I wondered whether these findings would accurately reflect the technology habits of students of 2013 ? and would they at all reflect the students of 2027? I know that as I walk through my own library almost every student who is not sitting at a desktop is using (or has nearby) a laptop, tablet or smartphone. Then again, at times of the day students are challenged to find a desktop when they want it.
I suspect that we will see some rapid change in student use of mobile computing and that it will, in time, chip away at the preferences identified by Thompson?s research. The future of institutionally supported desktop computing at colleges and universities is one that our IT colleagues continue to debate. Some institutions are abandoning desktops entirely while other swear on the value of offering acres of desktops and laptops to go. Factors such as residential vs. commuters, socio-economic status of the students or the local technology culture can all impact on the need for desktop computing. In an increasingly BYOE technology landscape, it seems inevitable that students will have no real need for a library provided desktop. That appears to be the thinking behind the planning of the Brody Learning Commons at Johns Hopkins University. It offers access to great study and learning spaces with technology support ? but no computers are provided. Then again, they are nearby if needed in the familiar confines of the attached Eisenhower Library.
Perhaps the best thing we can do, in planning for onsite library computing today, is to aim for maximum flexibility. Students may express a demand for desktops today, but it?s hard to imagine that will be our future. When we gaze out upon our fields of computers we should, in our mind?s eye, envision it as a room that holds nothing but an enormous, as far-as-the-eye-can see card catalog. Because, ultimately, as the next generations of students make it to our doors, it is less likely they will expect us to provide them with computers, and it may be that they would consider such amenities laughable and a waste of their tuition dollars. It is a bit premature perhaps, but not unreasonable, for us to begin thinking about how we will use all the space currently devoted to desktop and laptop-loan computers. My crystal ball is less clear on this matter, although I suspect we can always improve things by expanding the caf?.
Photo courtesy of Duke University Archives
Source: http://acrlog.org/2013/07/29/todays-computer-commons-is-tomorrows-card-catalog/
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Pic: Cain Velasquez vs Junior dos Santos 3 staredown to promote UFC 166 in Texas
Third verse, same as the first ... or second?
Take three!
We're still about three months away from UFC 166, which takes place Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, on Oct. 19, 2013, but that won't stop the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) marketing machine from oiling up its mixed martial arts (MMA) rig.
That's because the main event, Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos, is a Heavyweight trilogy match between the reigning champion and the man who he defeated to reclaim his world title. Indeed, Velasquez beat dos Santos from pillar to post at UFC 155 in Dec. 2012 to win back what "Cigano" took from him at UFC on Fox 1 in Nov. 2011 with a first round knockout.
It's now even, meaning that a decisive match -- their third in three years -- is required to settle the score once and for all.
Since their year-end rematch, Velasquez scored a technical knockout over Antonio Silva at UFC 160 back in May, while dos Santos stopped Mark Hunt with a ridiculous spinning kick earlier on the same pay-per-view (PPV) card.
Both big men kicked off the "UFC World Tour 2013" earlier today in the California Bay Area and will be on the scene when the rolling promotional tour hits Los Angeles, Calif., New York, N.Y., and Houston, Texas, throughout the rest of the week.
So how do Velasquez and dos Santos stack up this time around? Check out their other staredown moments at UFC on FOX 1 and UFC 155 here and here. And for more on UFC 166: "Velasquez vs. Dos Santos 3" be sure to check out our comprehensive event archive right here.
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Canada: Outer Lighthouse - Port Colborne
The capital of Canada is Ottawa, in the province of Ontario. There are offically ten provinces and three territories in Canada, which is the second largest country in the world in terms of land area.
While politically and legally an independant nation, the titular head of state for Canada is still Queen Elizabeth.
On the east end of Canada, you have Montreal as the bastion of activity. Montreal is famous for two things, VICE magazine and the Montreal Jazz Festival. One is the bible of hipster life (disposable, of course) and the other is a world-famous event that draws more than two million people every summer. Quebec is a French speaking province that has almost seceded from Canada on several occasions, by the way..
When you think of Canada, you think of . . . snow, right?
But not on the West Coast. In Vancouver, it rains. And you'll find more of the population speaking Mandarin than French (but also Punjabi, Tagalog, Korean, Farsi, German, and much more).
Like the other big cities in Canada, Vancouver is vividly multicultural and Vancouverites are very, very serious about their coffee.
Your standard Vancouverite can be found attired head-to-toe in Lululemon gear, mainlining Cafe Artigiano Americanos (spot the irony for ten points).
But here's a Vancouver secret only the coolest kids know: the best sandwiches in the city aren't found downtown. Actually, they're hidden in Edgemont Village at the foot of Grouse Mountain on the North Shore.
"It's actually worth coming to Canada for these sandwiches alone." -- Michelle Superle, Vancouver
Text by Steve Smith.
Source: http://www.360cities.net/image/outer-lighthouse-port-colborne
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Gunmen kill eight Tunisian troops as political tensions grow
By Tarek Amara and Erika Solomon
TUNIS (Reuters) - Gunmen killed at least eight Tunisian soldiers on Monday, staging the biggest attack on the security forces in decades as political tensions rose between supporters and opponents of the Islamist-led government.
President Moncef Marzouki called the ambush on Mount Chaambi, near the Algerian border, a "terrorist attack" and announced three days of mourning. Tunisian troops have been trying to track down Islamist militants in the remote region since December.
Tunisians fear they may be sliding into one of the worst crises in their political transition since autocratic leader Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali was forced to flee during a 2011 uprising that set off revolts across the Middle East.
"In all countries of the world, when the state faces a terrorist attack people come together. But I don't see anything like that happening in Tunisia. All we see is divisions and chaos," Marzouki said in a televised address.
"I call on all politicians at this historic moment to stand for the nation and unite."
Residents said that thousands took to the streets in the town of al-Qasreen, near the site of the attack on the army, and many protesters were demanding the government's ouster.
In the capital, Tunis, more than 10,000 took to the streets as well in one of the biggest protests since the opposition began mobilizing against the government.
"Tunisia is free, out with terrorism, out with Ghannouchi," protesters shouted, referring to Rached Ghannouchi, leader of the Ennahda party.
"Since they (Ennahda) came all we've seen is a string of catastrophes," said protester Noura Saleh, who was waving a red Tunisian flag and crying. "Get out, we hate you!"
SOLDIERS MUTILATED
State television cut off normal programming to show pictures of the dead soldiers and wounded comrades, broadcasting Quranic verses and patriotic anthems in the background.
"After the soldiers were ambushed and shot dead, their throats were slit and their clothes were ripped," a military source told Reuters.
"After that, three soldiers pursuing the attackers were wounded when a landmine exploded."
Instability has been rising amid growing political chaos. Last week, Tunis was hit by its first-ever car bomb, though no one was hurt.
The secular Ettakatol party, a junior partner of the moderate Islamist Ennahda, called on the ruling party to step down to stave off more turmoil. It said a new administration representing a wider consensus was necessary.
"If Ennahda rejects this proposal, we will withdraw from the government," Lobni Jribi, a party leader, told Reuters.
Prime Minister Ali Larayedh ignored the calls to create a unity government and said he would carry on leading the country.
Protests aimed at ousting the government intensified last week after the second assassination of a secular opposition politician in six months.
The government blamed hardline Salafist militants for both attacks, but the opposition holds Ennahda responsible. It argues that the leadership has not done enough to investigate and crack down on militant attacks.
Despite previous unrest, Tunisia had been a model for democratic transition among the "Arab Spring" states. But divisions are growing between government backers and the opposition, which has been emboldened by the Egyptian army's ousting of elected President Mohamed Mursi and subsequent crackdown on his supporters.
Ennahda supporters are determined to avoid a similar fate.
The opposition may be able to mobilize Tunisians further against the government after Monday's ambush, which shocked the country and increased anti-government sentiment on social media.
UNIONS MULL STRIKE
Many people joining the growing street protests express anger at Tunisia's instability and economic stagnation. Others are frustrated that the constitution, originally promised within one year after the 2011 uprising, has yet to be completed and are suspicious of the transitional government.
This week the opposition rejected all concessions and efforts at reconciliation by Ennahda and said it was planning to create its own rival "salvation government."
Tunisia's powerful General Union of Tunisian Workers was in talks with the opposition on Monday. It said it was considering a strike, a move that would paralyze much of the country.
Larayedh struck a note of defiance in a speech on Monday, calling the opposition protesters "coupists." He also challenged his critics to act constructively.
"We are open to all kinds of dialogue with all sides," he said. "Any specific proposals to increase the effectiveness of the government, bring them forward."
A Constituent Assembly is only weeks away from completing a long-delayed draft constitution to be put to a referendum.
The secular opposition has called for the 217-member Assembly to be dissolved. In the last few days, more than 70 lawmakers have left the body and set up a sit-in protest outside its headquarters.
(Reporting by Tarek Amara and Erika Solomon; Writing by Erika Solomon; Editing by David Stamp and Eric Beech)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/gunmen-kill-eight-tunisian-troops-political-tensions-grow-000153506.html
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NFC Ring Kickstarter project nears goal for Windows Phone app; are you in?
Kickstarter projects are certainly all the rage in 2013 and increasingly we?re seeing Windows Phone being considered in the funding and development stages of some of these ventures. Case in point, the NFC Ring (nfcring.com). We?re big advocates of wearable technology and believe it?s the next big thing to take off in the next few years, so the NFC Ring makes sense to us.
The ring itself is designed to ?unlock doors, mobile phones, transfer information and link people? and since it is NFC, it?s merely an elegant looking ring with no wires, battery or fuss. The ring has two NFC inlays, public and private, allowing you to divvy up what is shared. For instance, you could pick up an NFC door unlock tool and use that for one side and on the other, share your contact information just by tapping someone?s phone (if you have ever used an NFC business card, you?ll know how awesome this can be).
Anyway, the project has reached the main funding goal of ?30,000, hitting ?106,133 as of today. But what?s real interesting is that the designers have other plans should the keep hitting various funding levels. What happens when they hit ?110,000? They?ll commit to a ?Windows Mobile (sic) App?.
The project looks quite achievable and we like their plan that they?ve laid out for execution. What does it cost to jump on board? For ?22 (around $38) you get the ring and the app. You can of course also pledge higher, should you choose.
Look, we?re not here to tell you how to spend your money and there are dozens if not hundreds of worthy Kickstarter projects out there. But we threw down some cash for this mission and with less than ?4,000 to go to hit a Windows Phone app (in 21 days), we?re leaving this up to you guys.
Make sure you check out the video demo above of the NFC Ring and let us know below if you?ve committed!
Source: Kickstarter (NFC Ring); Thanks, Max A., for the tip!
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/wmexperts/~3/Y9SMvljKReE/story01.htm
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Monday, July 29, 2013
studio gang: residence hall + dining for university of chicago
studio gang architects: 'residence hall and dining commons' for university of chicago
image ? the university of chicago
all images courtesy of studio gang architects
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a recent announcement revealed that the newest addition to university of chicago's menagerie of place-making buildings will be designed by local firm?studio gang architects. the jeanne gang-led team will design the latest?'residence hall and dining common'. located in the northeast corner of campus, at the intersection of 55th street and university avenue and aims to become a gateway between campus, hyde park and the city. departing from the orthogonality of the other quadrangles on campus, three towers take on a more streamlined silhouette that pointedly reinterpret the ubiquitous collegiate gothic architecture. along the new diagonal pathway, a deeply recessed facade is intricately formed by tall windows and panelized tracery. the apertures and shape of their frames are dictated by the program within. larger openings highlight open public spaces. grilles add sun shading, ventilation and security for maximized comfort.
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eight dormitories will house 800 students -- freshmen through seniors
image ? the university of chicago
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overlooking the central courtyard from the dining commons
image ? the university of chicago
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in total the project will house 800 students of all years in an environment designed to promote collaboration and continued learning outside of the classroom. the design composes eight houses vertically among the tripartite assembly. each is centered around a three-storey lounge, which encourages social interaction and relaxation in a familiar environment. here students can study, eat, play and relax. for those students who wish to have more independence, apartment-style rooms are designed with full kitchens.?
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three-storey lounge at the center of each residence promotes social interaction
image ? the university of chicago
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top floor reading room overlooks the chicago skyline and lake michigan
image ? the university of chicago
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a fourth building is designated as the dining commons, a single on-campus eatery designed for all the residents to dine together. this piece is inserted among the buildings, and connects to the main dormitories with a ribbon of elevated glass walkways. these transparent fields also allow the community to observe campus activity. the connection between the residential community along university ave and this project is strengthened by the change in height of the building along the street, and the opening at the corner, which welcomes an osmotic flow between the two worlds.
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a central band of glass-encased lounges and walkways physically and visually create a community amongst individual buildings
image ? the university of chicago
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full article herehenry crown fieldhouse and residence hall east elevation along university avenue
image ? the university of chicago
courtesy of studio gang architects
central path outside the dining commons
image ? the university of chicago
courtesy of studio gang architects
view from the dining commons
image ? the university of chicago
courtesy of studio gang architects
seedum roof is one of the design\'s sustainable features
image ? the university of chicago
courtesy of studio gang architects
central courtyard provides a quiet place to study or meet friends
image ? the university of chicago
courtesy of studio gang architects
dining commons
image ? the university of chicago
courtesy of studio gang architects
dorm room
image ? the university of chicago
courtesy of studio gang architects
dorm room
image ? the university of chicago
courtesy of studio gang architects
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project info:
construction manager: mortenson construction
architect: studio gang architects
associate architect: hanbury evans wright vlattas & co.
structural engineering: magnusson klemencic associates
mep and fire protection engineering: dbHMS
sustainability: transsolar
civil engineering: david mason & associates
landscape design: hood design studio
acoustical design: threshold acoustics
lighting design: lightswitch architectural
code consultant: rolf jensen & associates, inc.
dining consultant: envision strategies
food service consultant: ricca newmark design
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Source: http://www.designboom.com/architecture/studio-gang-residence-hall-dining-for-university-of-chicago/
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Ford recalls some 2013 C-Max hybrids
DETROIT ? Ford Motor Co. is recalling 33,021 C-Max hybrid cars because they may not adequately protect occupants? heads in a crash.
Vehicles involved were made between Jan. 19, 2012, and June 25, 2013, and don?t have panoramic roofs. C-Max hybrids with panoramic glass roofs aren?t involved in the recall.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration discovered during vehicle testing that the car failed to conform to safety standards pertaining to head injury risk. Ford says there have been no reported injuries related to the issue.
Ford will notify owners of the recall next month. Dealers will install additional energy absorbing material between the car?s headliner and the roof.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Source: http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20130728/BLOGS23/130729568/-1/BLOGS
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97% A Hijacking
All Critics (74) | Top Critics (22) | Fresh (72) | Rotten (2)
This isn't an action picture; it's a picture about the suspense and terror of inaction.
Gripping and tightly focused.
Lindholm rations the meat and potatoes of plot to keep us captive at the bargaining table. It's a sadistic ploy that produces a real payoff.
A Hijacking is one of those perfect films that crop up every few years to prove that with true artistry, even the most exhausted genre can yield something new, rich, and strange.
Lindholm justifies his confidence in a visual approach that's refreshingly realistic.
To refuse to call A Hijacking a thriller is not to say it isn't thrilling, in a dryly cerebral way.
... has an embedded feel without being a real-life report or documentary at all. It's a fictional film that hits both with blunt force and a surprising amount of complexity.
A Hijacking is more about one incident than about how it relates universally, but in thoughtfully exploring the specifics and emotions of that incident, Lindholm is able to show how modern life sometimes seems devoid of any accord.
A lean, stressful nail-biter, smart, well-written, nicely shot and wonderfully performed.
[Omar and Mikkel are] like Marcus and McTeague in Frank Norris's 1899 novel, handcuffed to each other in a struggle that could well end in mutually assured destruction.
Tobias Lindholm's slow-burning thriller makes a bid for verisimilitude that extends well beyond the use of natural light and handheld cameras.
Though the acting in "A Hijacking" is superb, the film is strictly a "follow-the-dots" offering. This is not entertainment. It is another overwhelmingly depressing foray into corporate greed.
"A Hijacking", if eligible, is an early contender for Best Foreign film at the 2014 Academy Awards.
It's an effective piece of work that will leave you longing for a shower, a nap, and a warm meal.
It's a radical departure from any thriller in stateside theaters.
A nail-biter of the highest order, A Hijacking is astonishingly emotional, gritty, and terrifying -- a genuine directorial achievement that should not be missed.
When the gut-wrenching conclusion of A Hijacking comes in the form of a single, random act, it's only then you realize how far you've been pulled into its emotional core.
A Hijacking delivers all the thrills the title suggests, but in none of the places you'd expect them.
The danger never reaches the level of chaos, but the subtext and metaphor in the slow-moving humanistic commentary on the motivations and byproducts of capitalism make for an intriguing film.
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Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_hijacking/
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Pope draws 3M to Mass as Brazil trip closes
Pope Francis waves from his popemobile along the Copacabana beachfront on his way to celebrate Mass in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, July 28, 2013. Hundreds of thousands of young people slept under chilly skies in the white sand awaiting Francis? final Mass for World Youth Day. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz)
Pope Francis waves from his popemobile along the Copacabana beachfront on his way to celebrate Mass in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, July 28, 2013. Hundreds of thousands of young people slept under chilly skies in the white sand awaiting Francis? final Mass for World Youth Day. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz)
Pope Francis celebrates Mass on Copacabana beach, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, July 28, 2013. Francis wrapped up a historic trip to his home continent Sunday with a Mass on Copacabana beach, urging the young people on hand for World Youth Day's concluding Mass to go out and spread their faith "to the fringes of society, even to those who seem farthest away, most indifferent." (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)
Nuns wade in the Copacabana beach water, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, July 28, 2013. Pope Francis wrapped up a historic trip to his home continent Sunday with a Mass on the Copacabana beachfront that drew a reported 3 million people. (AP Photo/Nicolas Tanner)
Pope Francis holds his papal crucifix during the World Youth Day's concluding Mass on the Copacabana beachfront in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 28, 2013. Francis wrapped up a historic trip to his home continent Sunday with the Mass on Copacabana beach, urging the young people on hand to go out and spread their faith "to the fringes of society, even to those who seem farthest away, most indifferent." (AP Photo/Luca Zennaro, Pool)
Clergy attend a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis on the Copacabana beachfront, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, July 28, 2013. Francis wrapped up a historic trip to his home continent Sunday with a Mass that drew a reported 3 million people. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) ? An estimated 3 million people poured onto Rio's Copacabana beach Sunday for the final Mass of Pope Francis' historic trip to his home continent, cheering the first Latin American pope in one of the biggest turnouts for a papal Mass in recent history.
Speaking from a white stage and looking out over the enormous crowd, Francis urged young Catholics to go out and spread their faith "to the fringes of society, even to those who seem farthest away, most indifferent."
"The church needs you, your enthusiasm, your creativity and the joy that is so characteristic of you!" he said to applause in his final homily of the World Youth Day festivities.
Later Sunday, he issued a more pointed message to the region's bishops, telling them to better look out for their flocks and put an end to the "clerical" culture that places priests on a pedestal ? often with what Francis called the "sinful complicity" of lay Catholics who hold the clergy in such high esteem.
The pope's trip, which ended Sunday, was hailed as a success by the Vatican, pilgrims and everyday Brazilians alike. His nonstop agenda was followed live on television for all seven days, his good nature and modesty charming a nation that counts more Catholics than any other.
"It was great to see the pope on his continent, in his house, speaking his language every day," said the Rev. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman.
Nearly the entire 4 kilometer (2.5 mile) crescent of Copacabana's broad beach overflowed with flag-waving faithful, some of them taking an early morning dip in the Atlantic and others tossing T-shirts, flags and soccer jerseys into the pontiff's open-sided car as he drove by. Francis worked the crowd, kissing babies, taking a sip of mate tea handed up to him and catching gifts on the fly.
Even the normally stern-faced Vatican bodyguards let smiles slip as they jogged alongside Francis' car, caught up in the enthusiasm of the crowd.
The numbers clearly overwhelmed the area's services: The stench of garbage and human waste hung in Rio's humid air, and the beach and adjoining chic Atlantic Avenue looked like an improvised refugee camp plunked down in the middle of one of the world's most beautiful cities. Copacabana's famous mosaic sidewalks were strewn with trampled cardboard, plastic bags, empty water bottles and cookie wrappers as trash collectors in orange uniforms tried to restore order.
"You'd think they could at least put their garbage in all the bins," said Jose da Silva, a 75-year-old retired farm worker who supplements his meager income by collecting empty cans for recycling. "I'm also pretty surprised that people who call themselves Christians would throw away all this food."
Many of the youngsters on hand for the Mass spent the night on the beach, an all-night slumber party to end the Catholic youth fest, with pilgrims wrapped in flags and sleeping bags to ward off the cold.
"We were dying of cold but it was worth it," said Lucrecia Grillera, an 18-year-old from Cordoba, Argentina, where Francis lived for a time before becoming pope. "It was a tiring day, but it was a great experience."
By morning, vendors hawking World Youth Day trinkets, T-shirts, hats and flags were doing brisk business as pilgrims snapped up souvenirs before heading home. Jehovah's Witnesses stood by stands stocked with pamphlets offering to explain "What does the Bible really teach" but they had few takers.
The Vatican said more than 3 million people were on hand for the Mass, based on information from World Youth Day organizers and local authorities who estimated two-thirds were from outside Rio. That was far higher than the 1 million at the last World Youth Day in Madrid in 2011 or the 850,000 at Toronto's 2002 concluding Mass.
Only Pope John Paul II's Mass during his 1995 visit to Manila, the capital of the Philippines, topped Rio's numbers, with an estimated 5 million people taking part. Third place among papal Masses now goes to Rome's World Youth Day in the 2000 Jubilee year, when 2 million people participated. A similar number attended John Paul's final Mass in Krakow, his Polish hometown, in 1979, during his first visit to his homeland as pope.
As if recalling that historic Mass, Francis announced Sunday that the next World Youth Day would be held in Krakow in 2016.
The presidents of Brazil, Francis' native Argentina, Bolivia and Suriname were on hand for the Mass, as were the vice presidents of Uruguay and Panama. Receiving a special honor was a couple Francis met on Saturday after Mass at Rio's cathedral; they had brought him their anencephalic baby daughter to be blessed. Francis invited them to participate in the offertory procession on Sunday, at which the father wore a T-shirt that read "Stop abortion."
After Sunday's Mass, Francis met with the bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean, telling them that they must be spiritually close to their flock, a point he has made before in saying pastors must have the "scent of their flock" on them. He said bishops must love poverty, look out for their faithful and not be ambitious themselves.
The pope also scheduled a thank-you audience with some of the 60,000 volunteers who organized the youth festival before flying to Rome. Local broadcasters showed thousands of young people packed into a vast conference center hall as they waited for the pope.
"It was such an excellent week, everybody was in such good spirit, you could just feel a sense of peace," said Denise da Silva, a Rio de Janeiro Catholic who was sitting alone on the beach Sunday morning, a Brazilian flag painted on her face. "I have never seen something here in Rio so marvelous as what we have just lived."
Francis spent the week emphasizing a core message: of the need for Catholics, lay and religious, to shake up the status quo, get out of their stuffy sacristies and reach the faithful on the margins of society or risk losing them to rival churches.
According to census data, the number of Catholics in Brazil dipped from 125 million in 2000 to 123 million in 2010, with the church's share of the total population dropping from 74 percent to 65 percent. During the same time period, the number of evangelical Protestants and Pentecostals jumped from 26 million to 42 million, increasing from 15 percent to 22 percent of the population in 2010.
Francis repeated that stirring message Sunday in his homily, saying he was counting on young Catholics in particular to be "missionary disciples" in spreading the faith.
"Bringing the Gospel is bringing God's power to pluck up and break down evil and violence, to destroy and overthrow the barriers and selfishness, intolerance and hatred, so as to build a new world," he said.
It seemed the message was getting through.
"I used to go to Mass every week but now I go every other week, if that," said Larissa Miranda, a 20-year-old law student from rural Rio de Janeiro state who moved to the city two years ago. "But this event had made me realize that I need to get active again and get back to church every week."
The Rev. Jean-Luc Zadroga, a Benedictine monk who was leading a group of 14 students from a Catholic university in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, said it was clear Francis had connected with the crowd, particularly the locals.
"He's really trying to reach out to Catholics who have fallen away from the church or disappointed with the church and I think it's working," he said.
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Associated Press writers Marco Sibaja and Bradley Brooks contributed to this report.
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