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Review: Kilo Kai Spiced Rum

When it comes to spiced rum, most people (including myself) pretty much know one brand: Good old Captain Morgan. Nothing wrong with that. The Cap’n takes boring old Bacardi and infuses it with a vague taste of the tropics and the nostalgia of, er, spice traders, pirates, and saucy wenches.

The problem is that Captain Morgan is hardly the top of the line. Dump a shot in a glass of Coke and it’s fine enough, but try it straight and it comes across as a middling rum with a harsh finish and no real distinguishable spice to it, just a vague, almost chemical heat. (I give it a B. At $14 a bottle it’s a decent deal.)

Enter Kilo Kai Spiced Rum, a brand new bottling from Curacao and spiced the way rum ought to be. I tried it straight, head to head with the good Captain and another spiced rum called Kuya. (Don’t bother looking for Kuya; it’s so undrinkably awful I give it an F.) The difference was quite noticeable. While the Captain Morgan rum was hot and harsh, the Kilo Kai was much smoother, with a creamy texture and a clear flavor of honey and cinnamon. That said, the Captain Morgan tastes a lot more clearly of rum, while the Kilo Kai could have had a based of almost anything. Breathe in and it’s the spice that you inhale, not the sugary rum.

It was also quite good mixed in Coke, and I’ll be working on some cocktails with it over the next few weeks. Watch for these! Oh, and the bottle is pretty cool, too. The rough “grip tape” wrap at the top of the bottle is especially memorable.

Kilo Kai is not yet available in stores. Watch for it soon; it’s definitely worth the price.

A / $20 /

kilo kai

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20 Responses

  1. KILO KIA junky January 22, 2009 / 8:36 am

    i never messed with liqueur till i tried morgan ewwwwwww. then went to Kilo Kai and wow wow wow i drink a bottle a week.

  2. karen January 29, 2009 / 6:52 am

    i have to tell ev1 this is the best thing i have ever drank i am a die hard captain morgan person. I tried this kilo kai few weeks ago and i am going crazy from not having it. I have not tried it with coke i drank it with carnberry juice it is to die for and can not wait for it to come to stores.

  3. cj March 9, 2009 / 11:06 pm

    Karen- where did you try it? Haven’t seen it anywhere. Better than the Captain??

  4. cj March 9, 2009 / 11:07 pm

    If anyone can tell me where to get a bottle in Chicago, let us all know!

  5. dave collins May 24, 2009 / 11:06 pm

    i found it at loves liquer in algonquin. its kinda close to chi i geuss? haha. about 45 min away. its good tho. very.

  6. Lisa July 1, 2009 / 4:26 pm

    this mixes great with DR.Pepper! Its a great rum

  7. Jennifer Holsinger November 14, 2009 / 12:31 am

    I really love Kilo Kai, I think it teats like Vanilla Coke when mixed in with coke and I love the fact that I can get it at one restaurant in Elk Rapids called PEARLS New Orleans Kitchen and I stared ordering it at the local party store here so they have at least one or two bottles a month!! I love just knowing I can go buy it when I want it!!! It ends up being like 22 something after taxes!! But worth ever penny!!!!! I F***IN LOVE KILO KAI!!!! ^_^

  8. Chris January 21, 2010 / 4:09 pm

    This has become my go to spiced rum and pretty much all I drink. I don’t even bother with captain or sailor jerry now. I think it’s the best spiced rum on the market (although I haven’t tried Kracken yet). Mixes very well with cranberry or coke, but I love it straight with a few cubes of ice. Very smooth and flavorful.

  9. Lynn March 7, 2010 / 2:00 pm

    I am from Germany and i drank kilo kai rum in the us. it’s amazing, the best rum i know. does anybody know if there is a possibility to get kilo kai rum in germany? thank you.

  10. Jon March 7, 2010 / 3:49 pm

    We finally got Kilo Kai here in FL and I must say I am impressed. I have never liked Captaini Morgan too much, although Sailor Jerry is good. The problem with Sailor Jerry is that it’s a bit astringent (92 proof will do that to you) so drinking it straight up is iffy. Enter Kilo Kai. This rum is above all else smooth. It goes down very easy. I had five friends try it this past weekend and they all liked it to varying degrees, including the pickiest of them all. Most characterized it as extremely smooth with some degree of cherry flavor. The worst comparison was to cough syrup, but everyone said they enjoyed it. Personally I think it has a great aroma and just-sweet-enough flavor. I’ve been drinking it neat from the freezer but I imagine it would mix up well. But with such a great smooth character and aroma I haven’t felt the need to adulterate it. If you enjoy spiced rum, I highly recommend you try this if it’s available in your area.

  11. Nikki April 2, 2010 / 7:45 pm

    I disagree with all these reviews. I can only drink Captain Morgan and have a hard time drinking anything else. When Kilo Kai came out I gave it a try…I mixed it with coke, sprite, drank it on the rocks, and had a shot of it. I didn’t like it either way!!!! To me it is like drinking syrup. I find it is not a rum you can go out to the bars and drink a lot of. The worst part is that this company has actually had to pay bars to take Captain Morgan off their shelves and only sell Kilo Kai. To me this is absolutely ridiculous. Let people choose the kind of rum they want to drink. I have no problem with this rum being available in bars but they should not be paying bars to get rid of Captain Morgan. I have been to multiple bars now in Chicago and have not been able to have my normal Captain and diet…which doesn’t give me many other options of what to drink since most other liquors don’t agree with me. It also makes me never want to go to these bars again…..

  12. J. Lindsey May 27, 2010 / 8:34 am

    Glad to see this stuff is making its rounds away from the West Coast. I picked up a bottle last August in California and sadly I’m down to my last few drops. I’ve converted many friends who started out as “I’m not really a rum drinker,” to which I happily replied “You just haven’t had good rum yet,” while pouring them a shot of this. Unbeatable at the price point.

  13. Rumrunner May 30, 2010 / 9:22 pm

    You can get this at any Binny’s in Chicago

  14. bob June 23, 2010 / 9:19 am

    yes i tried kilo awhile back when i couldnt get any captainsmorgans private reserve.the 1.75 litre of captains is 32.00 the kilo was 22.oo and i feel the kilo is better.not only smoother but just spiced different.not as hot either and not to sweet.the sales staff suggested it ,and they were right .

  15. Sveta June 3, 2012 / 12:08 pm

    This is my second time bringing this rum to my family in Ukraine….OMG! We all have no. Words to explane the joy of having Kilo…. I am from Chicago, and in May of 2012 is not that easy to find this product in stores… It is the best rum I have ever have!

  16. sd October 7, 2012 / 8:26 pm

    I’m a rum drinker. I’ve tried many different types from barcardi to sailor jerrys. I like the capatin and been drinking the black. one of my favorite rums is Kreken but its a little strong for most. Kilo has turned the tables and is now by far my favorite rum. I had it once and went back to buy more could only find 1 bottle left. sucks cuz i was going to buy a case to store in the basement.

  17. sc'Que? February 26, 2013 / 2:48 am

    Great rum! (@Nikki: Have you ever considered that large companies/distributors–like Capt.Morgan and their kin–take this sort of tactic all the time? It bugs the hell out of me that the only spiced rum my customers will even consider is Capt.Morgan… out of some strange brand-loyalty. They won’t even taste other products! Honestly, if Kilo were mine in a bribery-driven market, I might resort to the same thing, just to get people to try it!) Newsflash 2013: THERE’S NEW PACKAGING–clear bottle with a simple stuck-on label, NO MORE GRIP TAPE. When asked, they said it was to streamline the bottling process to allow the distiller to bottle on-site using bottles manufactured on Curacao Island. (Great idea, I said. But how about using brown shrink-wrap labeling and keeping the grip-tape?) Anyway, doesn’t matter too much, so long as the quality of the rum remains!

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ltdiver  (D 20506)

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Re: [Sluggo_Monster] DB Cooper

Reference 377's next-to-last post on the other thread:

Just a little suggestion here. If there is reference to the other thread it would help everyone reading here if you referenced post number. Some people have their settings different in how many posts per page are on the screen, and thus throws the page number reference off. But post numbers remain the same. Smile

I've enjoyed <most every> post here discussing DB Cooper and hope that the experts (those with valid insight) continue to frequent this forum.

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Pronunciation: LOX-a-peen
Class: Dibenzapine derivative

Trade Names

- Capsules, oral 5 mg
- Capsules, oral 10 mg
- Capsules, oral 25 mg
- Capsules, oral 50 mg

Apo-Loxapine (Canada)
Loxapac IM (Canada)
PMS-Loxapine (Canada)

Unknown. Changes level of excitability of subcortical inhibitory areas in some animals.

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Virtually complete absorption.

Removed rapidly from plasma and distributed into tissue.

Extensively metabolized.

Excreted mainly in first 24 h. Metabolites excreted in urine in the form of conjugates and in feces unconjugated.

Indications and Usage

Treatment of schizophrenia.

Comatose or severe drug-induced depressed states (eg, barbiturates); hypersensitivity to dibenzoxazepines.

Dosage and Administration

Adults Initial dose

PO 10 mg twice daily, up to 50 mg/day, titrated fairly rapidly over first 7 to 10 days until symptoms are controlled (max, 250 mg/day).

Maintenance dose

Reduce dosage to lowest amount compatible with symptom control. Usual range is 60 to 100 mg/day; many patients have been maintained satisfactorily at a dosage range of 20 to 60 mg/day. Dosages higher than 250 mg/day are not recommended.

General Advice

  • Administer in divided doses, 2 to 4 times per day.
  • Administer without regard to meals. Administer with food if GI upset occurs.
  • Reduce dosage to lowest amount compatible with symptom control.

Store between 68° and 77°F.

Drug Interactions

Anticholinergics (eg, benztropine)

Coadministration may cause additive anticholinergic toxicity. Use with caution.

Loxapine may reverse the beta-adrenergic effects of epinephrine, producing hypotension and tachycardia.

Sedative effects of loxapine may be enhanced by ethanol.

There have been rare reports of significant respiratory depression, stupor, or hypotension with the concomitant use of loxapine and lorazepam.

Coadministration may increase the risk of extrapyramidal reactions. Coadministration is not recommended.

Sodium oxybate

Concurrent use may increase sleep duration and CNS depression. Sodium oxybate is contraindicated in patients receiving other sedative-hypnotics.

Coadministration may cause CNS toxicity, primarily an increased risk of seizures. Coadministration is not recommended.

Adverse Reactions

ECG changes, hypertension, hypotension, orthostatic hypotension, syncope, tachycardia.

Agitation, akathisia, akinesia, dizziness, dystonic (eg, muscle spasms of the neck and face) and dyskinetic reactions (eg, choreoathetoid movements), extrapyramidal effects (eg, parkinsonian-like symptoms, tremor, rigidity, excessive salivation, masked facies), faintness, headache, insomnia, light-headedness, mental confusion, muscle twitching, NMS, numbness, paresthesia, sedation, seizures, shuffling gait, slurred speech, staggering gait, tardive dyskinesia, tension, transient drowsiness, weakness.

Alopecia, dermatitis, edema (puffiness of face), pruritus, rash, seborrhea.

Blurred vision, nasal congestion.

Constipation, dry mouth, nausea, paralytic ileus, vomiting.

Amenorrhea, galactorrhea, gynecomastia, menstrual irregularity, urinary retention.

Agranulocytosis, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia.

Hepatitis, hepatocellular injury, jaundice.

Weight gain or loss.

Facial flushing, hyperpyrexia, polydipsia, prolactin levels increased, ptosis.

Increased mortality in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis

Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis who are treated with antipsychotic drugs are at an increased risk of death. During the course of a typical 10-week trial, the rate of death in drug-treated patients was approximately 4.5% compared with a rate of approximately 2.6% in the placebo group. Although the causes of death varied, most of the deaths appeared to be CV (eg, heart failure, sudden death) or infectious (eg, pneumonia) in nature.

Observational studies suggest that, similar to atypical antipsychotic drugs, treatment with conventional antipsychotic drugs may increase mortality. Loxapine is not approved for the treatment of patients with dementia-related psychosis.

Monitor CBC frequently during the first few months of therapy in patients with a history of clinically significant low WBC or drug-induced leukopenia/neutropenia. Monitor patients with neutropenia for fever or other symptoms or signs of infection. If a patient requires loxapine treatment after recovery from NMS, carefully monitor the patient because recurrences of NMS have been reported.

Category undetermined . Neonates exposed to antipsychotics during the third trimester of pregnancy are at risk of extrapyramidal and/or withdrawal symptoms.

Safety and efficacy not established.

Special Risk Patients

Use with caution in patients with a history of CV disease, glaucoma, or tendency for urinary retention.

Antiemetic effect

Because loxapine may have an antiemetic effect, signs and symptoms of overdosage with certain drugs or conditions (eg, brain tumor, intestinal obstruction) may be masked.

Cognitive and motor performance

Judgment, thinking, or motor skills may be impaired.

Hematologic effects

Leukopenia, neutropenia, and agranulocytosis have been reported.

Prolactin levels may be elevated.

This potentially fatal condition has been reported in association with antipsychotic agents. Signs and symptoms include hyperpyrexia, muscle rigidity, altered mental status, irregular pulse or BP, tachycardia, diaphoresis, and cardiac arrhythmias.

Ophthalmic effects

Carefully observe patient for pigmentary retinopathy and lenticular pigmentation.

May occur; use with caution in patients with a history of seizures or other conditions that potentially lower the seizure threshold.

Tardive dyskinesia

This syndrome of potentially irreversible, involuntary, dyskinetic movements may develop. Prevalence is higher in elderly patients, especially women. Use lowest effective dose for shortest period of time needed.

CV and CNS depression, extrapyramidal symptoms, profound hypotension, renal failure, respiratory depression, seizures, unconsciousness.

Patient Information

  • Explain name, dose, action, and potential side effects of drug, including risk of developing tardive dyskinesia.
  • Advise patients that dose will be started low and then increased until max benefit is achieved; advise patient not to take more than prescribed or increase the dose more rapidly than advised.
  • Advise patients to take prescribed dose without regard to meals, but to take with food if stomach upset occurs.
  • Instruct patients not to change the dose or stop taking unless advised by health care provider.
  • Instruct patients not to stop taking loxapine when symptoms have improved.
  • Tell patients to immediately report high fever, muscle rigidity, involuntary body or facial movements, altered mental status, irregular pulse, or sweating to their health care provider.
  • Instruct patients to avoid alcohol and other CNS depressant medications.
  • Advise patients to take sips of water, suck on ice chips or sugarless hard candy, or chew sugarless gum if dry mouth occurs.
  • Advise patients that loxapine may cause drowsiness and to use caution while driving or performing other tasks requiring mental alertness until tolerance is determined.
  • Advise patients to notify their health care provider if excessive drowsiness occurs.
  • Advise patients not to breast-feed during therapy.
  • Advise patients to notify their health care provider if they become pregnant or intend to become pregnant during treatment.

Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health.


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Hemorrhoids: A Common Ailment with Frequent Questions

What Are Hemorrhoids and What Causes Them?

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Hemorrhoids are swollen and inflamed veins in the rectum or anus. Older adults are usually affected, and an increased pressure in the veins of the anus may lead to or worsen the condition.

Hemorrhoids can occur inside the rectum (internal hemorrhoids) or near the anal opening (external hemorrhoids). When a hemorrhoid pushes through the anal opening, it is known as a protruding or prolapsed hemorrhoid. External hemorrhoids can form swollen and painful blood clots.

Why Are Hemorrhoids So Common?

Hemorrhoids have been reported to occur in up to 75 percent of people in the U.S. Although hemorrhoids can be painful and irritating, they are not usually a serious condition. Straining during bowel movements is the most common cause of hemorrhoids, with rectal bleeding as the most common symptom.

Increased anal pressure in pregnancy, diarrhea, constipation, excessive sitting or inactivity (for example - long hours at the computer), and being overweight can all increase the risk for hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoids Can Be a Pain! What Are the Symptoms?

Painful bowel movements, itching, hard lumps, rectal bleeding, and swelling are common symptoms of hemorrhoids. Internal hemorrhoids can lead to bleeding from straining and constipation, and may push through the anal opening.

Blood clots may also form in hemorrhoids. Bleeding hemorrhoids usually leave a bright red color on the toilet paper, in the stool or in the toilet bowl. If you see blood after a bowel movement or develop severe pain, contact your doctor to rule out a more serious condition.

Are There Different Types of Hemorrhoids?

Hemorrhoids may occur on the inside or outside of the body. Internal hemorrhoids occur just inside the anus at the beginning of the rectum and cannot usually be seen or felt by a doctor. These internal hemorrhoids may push though the anus and result in external hemorrhoids.

External hemorrhoids occur at the anal opening and may protrude outside of the anus. Both hemorrhoid types can occur at the same time. Be sure to visit your healthcare provider for a diagnosis, especially if bleeding occurs.

Are There Any Options to Help Prevent Hemorrhoids?

Lifestyle changes can help to prevent hemorrhoids. Avoid sitting for prolonged periods of time; take a break at least every two hours. Eat foods high in fiber, such as fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains, or use a fiber supplement. Drink plenty of water and get regular exercise.

If needed, stool softeners or laxatives can be used short-term for constipation and may help to prevent the development of hemorrhoids. If constipation is a chronic problem, see your doctor.

What Are the Best Over-the-Counter (OTC) Treatments For Hemorrhoids?

Treatments for hemorrhoids such as creams, ointments, sprays and suppositories can be purchased at the pharmacy. These products may contain a local anesthetic for pain, a corticosteroid for itching, or a topical vasoconstrictor to decrease swelling.

Common brands include Preparation H, Americaine, and Tronolane - although store brands or generics are available and will cost less. Talk to your healthcare provider if you need creams or suppositories for longer than one week.

What Else Can Be Done to Help Relieve Hemorrhoids?

OTC remedies won't cure hemorrhoids, but can offer relief. Other options include soaking in a warm sitz bath of water only. Moist toilettes specifically made for hemorrhoids can be used after a bowel movement.

Avoid straining during a bowel movement; adding fiber to the diet can help alleviate straining. Avoid taking medications that can lead to constipation. If these actions do not seem to relieve your symptoms, it may be time to visit with your healthcare provider to discuss other options.

What if the OTC Remedies Aren't Helpful for My Hemorrhoids?

If an OTC hemorrhoid treatment is not effective, and the hemorrhoid causes significant pain or bleeding, you may need a minimally invasive procedure to shrink or remove the hemorrhoid.

Clot removal, rubber band ligation, and sclerotherapy are all options. These procedures are usually performed as day surgery, and may only require a local anesthetic.

Which Surgical Procedures Are Used for Hemorrhoids?

Rubber band ligation is the most common procedure for internal hemorrhoids and is effective in about 75 percent of patients. A rubber band is placed on the hemorrhoid to cut off the blood supply, and in a few days the hemorrhoid dies and falls off.

A hemorrhoidectomy can be effective in up to 95 percent of patients for treatment of hemorrhoids, but is usually reserved for larger internal hemorrhoids. Your physician will be able to examine you and tell you about your best options.

What's the Bottom Line on Hemorrhoids?

Image Credit: U.S. FDA/

Prevention is key here. Staying at a normal weight, avoiding long periods of sitting, not straining during a bowel movement, and extra fiber in your diet can help to prevent hemorrhoids. If you see blood during a bowel movement, contact your doctor to rule out any complications.

Consider using over-the-counter remedies and warm sitz baths for minor symptoms, but don't hesitate to seek out advice from your doctor, too. Remember, hemorrhoids are a common topic in healthcare worth discussing with your provider.

Finished: Hemorrhoids: A Common Ailment with Frequent Questions

The Shocking Truth About Antibiotic Resistance

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) rank antibiotic resistance as one of the top health concerns facing the nation. Misuse and inappropriate antibiotic prescribing has resulted in a…

  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Consumer Updates. Searching Online for ‘Hemorrhoids’? February 2013. Accessed 4/15/2013.
  • National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC). Hemorrhoids. April 2012. Accessed 4/15/2013.


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Dexacort Powder (Canada)

This page contains information on Dexacort Powder for veterinary use.
The information provided typically includes the following:
  • Dexacort Powder Indications
  • Warnings and cautions for Dexacort Powder
  • Direction and dosage information for Dexacort Powder

Dexacort Powder

This treatment applies to the following species:
Manufacturer: Rafter 8

Dexamethasone powder

DIN 02349264

For Veterinary Use Only

Active ingredient (per 15 g sachet):

10 mg dexamethasone

Dexacort Powder Indications

For the treatment of arthritis and inflammatory conditions involving the joints and accessory structures in cattle and horses. For supportive therapy in pneumonia, rhinitis and other respiratory conditions, osteoarthritic lameness and various stress conditions in cattle and horses such as ketosis and metritis, dystocia, and retained placenta (cattle) and traumatic injuries to the appendicular skeleton (horses).

Dosage and Administration

Administer by drench or by sprinkling on a small amount of feed.

The dosage of Dexacort Powder must be individualized according to the severity of the condition, anticipated duration of therapy, tolerance to the steroid and the response obtained. Treatment may be changed to Dexacort Powder from any of the older corticosteroids with the proper reduction of dosage. Recommended dosages should not be exceeded.

Cattle: 5 to 10 mg on 1st day, then 5 mg daily as required.

Horses: 5 to 10 mg daily in single or divided doses until a clinical response is noted.

If a response to Dexacort Powder is not achieved in 5 days, the possibility should be considered that the condition under treatment is not amenable to corticosteroid therapy and other therapy should be initiated. The use of oral dexamethasone is supportive therapy in animals with acute or chronic bacterial infections and does not eliminate the need to employ specific antibiotic or chemotherapeutic agents to combat the primary condition. All corticosteroids may mask signs of infection, therefore, if questionable findings occur, temporarily discontinue therapy with this product until a definite diagnosis is made.

Cautions: Because Dexacort Powder is an extremely potent drug with profound physiological effects, all precautions and contraindications for adrenocortical hormones must be observed. The warning signs of cortisone overdosage may not be present with dexamethasone therapy. In certain cases where large doses are required, the patient must be closely observed for side effects such as polyuria and polydipsia. When side effects occur, it may be necessary to reduce the dosage or to discontinue therapy. Continuous large doses of Dexacort Powder may result in some depression of adrenocortical function and may produce adrenal atrophy. Rest periods and stimulation of adrenocortical function with ACTH may be advisable. If long-term Dexacort Powder therapy is to be terminated, gradual withdrawal is recommended. Should the animal subsequently be subjected to shock or undue stress, temporary therapy with dexamethasone is recommended. The possible action of Dexacort Powder in delaying wound healing also should be considered.

Keep out of reach of children.

Store at room temperature (15-30°C). Keep from freezing.

Presentation: Carton of 30 x 15 g sachets.

Rafter 8 Products, 87 Skyline Crescent N.E., Calgary, AB T2K 5X2

NAC No.: 1219030.3

Telephone:   403-291-3640
Order Desk:   800-461-8615
Fax:   403-250-2703
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the Dexacort Powder information published above. However, it remains the responsibility of the readers to familiarize themselves with the product information contained on the Canadian product label or package insert.

Copyright © 2015 North American Compendiums. Updated: 2015-04-03


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What The Letters Mean

ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors, And Publishers) and BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) — everyone has seen these letters in the liner notes of CDs that we’ve bought. So what do these people do? They are performing rights organizations, and simply put, they make sure that musicians get paid!

The owner of a copyright is entitled to the exclusive right of public performance for his or her protected work — in this case, a song — and is entitled to be compensated for when others perform the song publicly. A “public performance” is a term defined by the law and includes use in television, radio, movies, bars, clubs, restaurants, and so on. In fact, such things as the number of speakers in an establishment, the volume at which a song is played, and the size of the room where the music is being played determine a public performance.

Now enter the performing rights organizations that undertake the task of collecting the revenues for these performances and paying the artists their justly deserved money (and, of course, all of this is done for a fee). An artist first becomes a member of one of the “societies” and registers their songs with that organization. That organization issues blanket licenses, for a predetermined fee, that entitle the holders of those licenses to publicly perform all songs that are registered with the organization. The organization then makes their best efforts to monitor how often each registered song is played and pays the appropriate royalties to the writer and publisher.

So how do they know what is being “publicly performed?” ASCAP will review radio station logs of songs that were played. They will also randomly tape thousands of hours of radio broadcasts and use these tapes to calculate the frequency of the performances, and royalties are paid accordingly. ASCAP will also send their employees into clubs and bars to monitor what songs are being played. BMI has a computer program into which they input information received from a cross-section of radio stations, which in turn provides them with a statistical approximation frequency of performances, and they pay royalties accordingly. However, BMI does not monitor live performances.

Bottom line is that these companies are good for musicians. They work to get you paid, and getting paid is a good thing. But you have to remember to register with one of them because if you aren’t registered anywhere, you won’t be getting any performance royalties.

Musicians’ Legal Representation

[Ed note:This article is not intended as legal advice. If you have specific legal concerns, contact an attorney.]


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Old 06-22-2009, 05:04 PM
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Default Re: This is not a goodbye thread

Originally Posted by jazzgregg View Post
Thanks for the well wishes freebird! I AM excited, and a little nervous but probably not as much as I should be! I'm glad there will always be something for me to do there, I DO get bored easily. Also, I am a history nerd so er, yeah- UK....=)

Canada has it's benefits and I would be glad to answer any questions however,clearly do not ask ME if it's a great place to live (Toronto, anyway). What makes Canada so appealing to you guys, if I may ask?

I know where Manchester is, my British geography is pretty good (except apparently for Greenwich, but shhh, Duncan). So what do you guys mean 'second city'? Would that be a status thing, or an importance thing? Is it an official designation or not?

Are you a United or City fan, Freebird?

Thanks again!

I just think canada seems like a nice place, i guess they were probably being a bit biased but i remember on BFC the video they were basically showing how many people in canada leave their doors unlocked because of the lack of burglaries. Apparently. It's a beautiful place in terms of it's geography too.

Grenwich is in south east london, it's where what was the millenium dome (now the O2 arena) is. It's the opposite side of the bank from where all the big business buildings are. It's also the centre of time, and the world's largest talking clock.

Manchester is actually the 2nd biggest city in the UK second only to, well i think you can guess eh? Historically it was one of the centres of the industrial revolution. These days it gets many visitors each year and the universities are some of the best in the country. It's highly multicultural with a massive chinatown area and there are a hell of a loada shops. Many classic and famous UK TV shows such as Coranation Street are made in Manc too.

But i think possibly above all that stuff is what you just mentioned. The Footie. Manchester utd. for people in this country (people who aren't fans at least) is known as being "the team that is supported by almost everybody who ISN'T from Manchester!" Let's face it, along with Arsenal, Real Madrid and FCB Barcelona, Man U is possibly the most famous football club in the world. Every football fan from Alaska to the phillipines (sp?) and Austrailia has an opinion on Manchester United whether they love or hate the team. I think that has got to have something to do with the Economic fortunes of the city.
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Brangelina’s new baby

miravalBrangelina, known for adopting babies among other things, have one more thing to keep them busy: they are the latest entrants into the crowded field of celebrity wine.

However, unlike most celebrity wines which are simply brand extensions and the celebrities wouldn’t know the vineyard that provided the grapes if they ended up there on a winery crawl, the Pitt Jolie duo actually live on their vineyard. Well, let’s not get too carried away: the peripatetic couple have been more-or-less residing on the 1,000-acre estate in Provence since 2008. They’ve decided to get serious about the wine and have started a joint venture with the Perrin family of Beaucastel to make a rosé at first, due out in a couple of months, with a white and a red to follow. Marc Perrin told Bloomberg that they tasted through several rosés and agreed on the style they wanted. The wines will be bottled under the Miraval label and will have “Jolie-Pitt and Perrin” on the back.

There has to be a joke in here somewhere, but the project actually sounds quite serious! Hopefully it will be more Fight Club than Se7en. And it won’t start off tasting old, like Benjamin Button. Or it will be good enough to be gone in 60 seconds…Argh, make it stop!

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7 Responses to “Brangelina’s new baby”

  1. they stole that idea from jenifer aniston

  2. Pathetic on all counts, makes you wonder about what the Perrin’s are doing.

  3. I like the bottle…

  4. “…makes you wonder about what the Perrin’s are doing.’

    For starters, how ’bout going after the money.

    Nothing more malleable than a celebrity-chasing public, as the sycophants of certain wine critics prove.

  5. Hmm, exciting, they could actually get scores that exceed their IQ’s. Nice.

  6. I’m not trying to validate this venture, but from what I hear, Brad Pitt is quite the vinophile. If the wine sucks….hey, at least they have a cool looking bottle!

  7. The Brangelinas (such an easy collective noun) are wise to partner with the Perrin family. There are four young sons; I wonder whether this is a project for one or more of them.

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Sunday Hunting

Duck hunting in Mississippi is like no other. Learn why Mississippi Delta duck hunting is what we like to do best.

Moderator: Cephous

Sunday Hunting

Postby KGChunter » Fri Dec 20, 2013 1:35 pm

Is it legal to hunt in Mississippi on a Sunday?
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Re: Sunday Hunting

Postby Park Duck » Fri Dec 20, 2013 3:20 pm

No it's not legal
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Re: Sunday Hunting

Postby CutEmMS » Thu Feb 06, 2014 5:29 pm

Definitely not

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Re: Sunday Hunting

Postby publius » Thu Jan 29, 2015 9:36 pm

Really, I've been hunting on Sunday in MS. along with everyone else I know my whole life. Even been checked several times. :huh:
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Re: Sunday Hunting

Postby Gulfcoast » Fri Jan 30, 2015 9:45 am

The correct answer is it depends on how far you are from a "house of worship" during certain hours as to whether its legal or not. :thumbsup:
So many ducks, so little time . . .

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Re: Sunday Hunting

Postby Dirty South » Sun Feb 01, 2015 9:40 am

Yes it's legal.
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Last Hunt of the Year, good luck, stay dry.

Chat about Arizona duck hunting and share useful tips for duck hunting in Arizona.

Moderator: LaRedneck

Last Hunt of the Year, good luck, stay dry.

Postby LIGHT12 » Tue Jan 24, 2006 4:30 pm

I took my last hunt of the year today. I have to work the rest of the week. So I would like to wish you guys a great end of the season, and stay dry. I had 2 spooines they were the first ones I have ever purposely shot, I didn't want to get skunked on my last hunt of the year. I also had a RingNeck. The Hen spoony made me work. I had a nice double on them but she landed on the other side of the river. So I had to strip and swim for her. I'm not about to leave a duck behind, even if its a spoony, ,I shot it I'll eat it.

let me tell you its a bit cold this time of the year, and the boys should be back to normal about the time global warming is realized. As for me I'm sick all ready. The girlfriend had the flew for a few days and I think I have it now.
Have you ever woke up one day and said. Damn when does the season start.
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DU Mobile Apps

Maintain Wood Duck Boxes

by Lisa Benetti - January 2003 - Information copied from the Ottawa Duck Club

Starting up a duck box program is a great way to give a little bit back to mother nature. However, when started, it is very important to be committed to maintaining it. This is because once you have breeding success, wood duck and their offspring tend to return to the same location year after year for nesting.

In order to increase your chances of having a successful duck box program, you should plan on having an annual maintenance routine.

Luckily, unless you have about 200 boxes like us, it is not too much work. Also, its fun and it's a good excuse to go outdoors.

The nest box that we use is a product of many years of trial and error. Over the last thirty years, we have seen success ratios of 60% to over 80%, with minimal predator loss, reduced starling activity and occasional second occupancy in the same season. One of the main reasons for our success is that we actively practice good management of our artificial nest sites.

Maintenance Checklist

It is generally agreed that the best time to give your duck box a "tune-up" is over the winter or just before the nesting season. We service our duck boxes over the winter because the ice and snow usually provides us with easier access.

Begin your Duck Box maintenance routine with home inspection and repair.

Inspection and Repair

A standard duck box is sturdy, however, they are normally placed in very exposed areas. Over time, a box will see weather damage and may need to be repaired.

Things to look for during an annual pre-season nest box check are that:

  • the main support is secure
  • the box is securely attached and cannot be moved
  • the box is vertical with a slight lean forward (ducklings may not be able to climb up and out of boxes that are tilted back away from the opening)
  • the box is at the optimal height of 6-12 feet
  • all screws and bolts are tight
  • the predator guard is in good condition and firmly attached
  • damaged and rotten pieces are replaced
  • the entrance diameter is 3x4 inches - this size is critical for stopping predators like raccoons; if damaged or worn, firmly attach a face plate with a proper sized hole onto the front of the nest box so that it aligns with the original entrance hole
  • the removable door opens and closes easily
  • the ladder for newly hatched young is intact (Note: some suggest that engraving horizontal lines along the interior with a screwdriver and/or chisel is preferable to wire mesh so that there is no chance that your houseguest(s) will get caught up in the mesh
  • the entrance hole is oriented toward water and is not obstructed by any brush or overhanging tree limbs; this is to ensure that the female has an unobstructed flight path and that there is a clear way for baby ducks who are exiting the box
* Sometimes, repairing may not be worth it and you may decide to replace the duck box altogether.

Once you have made the necessary repairs, you can then start the house cleaning.

This means that:

  • all soiled material like old shavings, membranes, or eggshells should be removed and scraped away
  • that the drainage holes should not be plugged with any debris (should be ¼ inch in diameter)
  • a layer of clean loose wood shavings of about 4 inches needs to be added (Wood Ducks do not carry nesting material into nest boxes). The hen will use the shavings to cover her eggs as she lays them. The shavings also provide insulation and protection for unhatched eggs. Fine sawdust should not be used because it can suffocate young ducklings. It is important to add the appropriate height because if the shavings are too high, a roosting hen might be within grasp of potential predators.

Why is it important to clean a nest box on an annual basis?
  • there is evidence that duck boxes that are not cleaned annually are not as productive as those that are
  • to reduce the chance of a disease or parasite being transmitted from one breeding season to the next
  • it prepares the house for the new occupant in the spring
  • ducks migrating south in the fall might be scoping them out as nesting sites for the following spring so you want to ensure that all is in good order

Uninvited house guests?

When opening up a duck box for maintenance it is important to tread with caution at all times of the year. Experience has taught us that ducks are not the only creatures that frequent nest boxes. Just like natural situations, there will always be competition from other species for natural or man-made cavities.

Non-target inhabitants include other bird species like European starlings, eastern screech owls, great crested flycatchers, and American kestrels. Also, squirrels, bees and wasps have also been known to set up home in nest boxes.

So, before opening a box, tap it a few times and watch it for any signs of activity.

The most common unexpected duck box user will usually be the European Starling. Starlings can be a problem during the nesting season because female Wood Ducks will avoid boxes that are filled with starling nesting material. These are usually quite obvious because starling nests consist of a large amount of grass and small twigs that often fill half of the nesting box. Starlings can be very aggressive and may harass Wood Ducks away from the nest box that they are using. Also, if a starling has a successful hatch in your duck box, the young will be imprinted to use duck boxes as nesting sites in future years. So it is very important to try to limit starling use.

At the Duck Club we try to control starlings in the duck boxes that we monitor by removing their nesting material before they lay eggs. But they can be persistent and it is a constant battle. Luckily, these birds affect only small numbers of our boxes.

Predator control

Duck boxes are probably like red flags to potential predators. Unlike naturally occurring nesting cavities, all duck boxes look very similar. Once successful predation occurs, a predator will learn that duck boxes are possible food sources. Since we are providing breeding females with these luxurious homes, we are obligated to make them as predator proof as possible! And always remember, predators are resourceful and cunning creatures, and probably have babies of their own to feed. So it would be hard to resist a box full of tasty eggs.

Regular monitoring of your nest box during the breeding season is a good way to discover whether predation pressure must be addressed.

Some obvious signs that you are having predator troubles are:

  • eggshells on the ground
  • complete or partial disappearance of eggs
  • carcass of a dead female

This is the time to question whether or not your duck box set-up is predator proof. Good questions you can ask yourself are:

  • Is your predator guard effective?
  • Is there a tree or overhanging limb nearby that a predator could use to access the box?
  • Is it high enough off the ground so that a predator cannot jump on the box?

Time for Relocation?

The best proof of a successful hatch is the remains of some egg shell fragments and membranes in your nesting box.     You may want to consider moving your duck box for various reasons.

  • If there is no evidence of nesting activity after 2-3 years.
  • Predation is still a problem despite deterrent attempts.
  • If there is excessive dump nesting - This occurs when more than one wood duck lays eggs in a single box. It is common to find more than a dozen eggs, but if you consistently have over 30 eggs, then dump nesting is a problem. This can happen if you place your boxes too close together. We don't have too many problems with this at the Duck Club. One of our members thinks that this is because we keep the boxes apart at a minimum distance of 50ft.
  • Is it too far from water? - It is true that in natural situations hens will use cavities up to ½ a mile away, but it is also true as the distance increases the survival rate of ducklings decreases. We believe that our boxes at Shirley's Bay which are exposed and surround the man-made ponds are successful because there is a lot of vegetation close by where ducklings can hide from potential predators.

Make Regular Inspections During the Nesting Season Part of your Maintenance Routine

If possible, the best way to address predation problems and uninvited house guests is to monitor your nest box during the breeding season. Monitoring once every two weeks is ideal, but if this is not possible, checking your box at least twice during the nesting season can increase your success rate. Hopefully, the location you chose for your duck box won't make it difficult for monitoring.

Monitoring our duck boxes improves our hatching success because we can:

  • remove debris brought in by other animals
  • remove undesirable species (i.e. bees, wasps, starlings)
  • make repairs as needed
  • replace nest materials as needed (invaders may remove it)
  • clean out the nest box after early nest attempts for possible second nests
  • to keep the boxes available for Wood Ducks nesting throughout the nesting season
  • gives us a better chance to document and collect information on nest box use; keep track of who is using your duck box, and how successful it is. This will also help you decide whether an unsuccessful box should be moved or modified.

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After beating Minnesota 89-71 in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis, the No. 5 Blue Devils got to relax and await the winner of No. 19 Memphis-Virginia Commonwealth to determine their second round opponent. The Rams upset the Tigers, so Duke will get a look at Shaka Smart's squad in the tournament's semifinals.

Here are the three keys to tonight's action:

Seth Curry put up 23 points against Kentucky but then was a non-factor against Florida Gulf Coast. He led Duke with 25 points against Minnesota, but has yet to put together two strong back-to-back performances this year as he struggles with a leg injury. (Photo Credit: Elysia Su/Chronicle File Photo)

Does Duke have a bench?

Mike Krzyzewski's tendency to use short rotations is no secret. And in Duke's win against Minnesota, that was no problem as each member of the starting five scored double-digit points. The downside? Four bench players—Tyler Thornton, Josh Hairston, Amile Jefferson and Alex Murphy—combined to play just 44 minutes and score only two points. Jefferson, who played nine minutes, was the only reserve to score while Thornton logged the most significant minutes at 22. With Duke playing without a day of rest in between games, this team's depth will be tested in the Battle 4 Atlantis. Whether or not they actually play more minutes, the bench players will be depended on for more production in games two and three of this tournament as the starters inevitably tire.

Can Curry keep it consistent?

The player who might benefit most from some rest is Seth Curry, who led the team with 25 points Thursday. Dealing with a nagging leg injury, Curry has missed much of practice this season and isn't in the best shape of his career. In four games this season, Curry has put up two top-notch performances and two forgettable ones, with the good and bad coming in alternating games. He played 33 minutes against Minnesota, so the question is if he'll be able to play that much again just over 24 hours later. If he plays a little bit less, a few players could benefit from the opportunity: Thornton, Murphy and Jefferson. Thornton is more of a traditional guard and could be a critical asset against VCU's pressure defense, while Murphy and Jefferson would give the team a true small forward and a size advantage over Smart's squad that tends to run with small lineups.

Will Mason's fantastic foul shooting continue?

The Blue Devils undoubtedly have more length than the Rams, who often only play one big man, 6-foot-9 forward Juvonte Reddic. In the past, teams reacted to Mason Plumlee's presence in the paint by playing physically and accepting that he would spend a lot of time at the line. That worked because Plumlee shot 52.8% from the charity stripe last year and 44.1% the year before. This year? He's knocking down 78.1% of his free throw attempts. Against Minnesota he hit 8-of-10 free throws, making him 18-for-21 in his last two games. The Golden Gophers tried everything against Plumlee, throwing different bodies against him all night, but it hardly worked as he finished with 20 points and 17 rebounds. Maybe the Rams will just have to keep on sending him to the line and hope for a different result.

Check back here at The Blue Zone for live analysis during the game and follow @dukebasketball on Twitter for the most up-to-date information.


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Big data is of enormous significance to the healthcare industry — including its use in everything from genetic research to advanced medical imaging and research on improving quality of care. While conducting big data analysis in each of these areas is significant in furthering research, a major benefit is applying this information to clinical medicine.

If enough data is captured, this data can be applied practically and quickly at the right time to help save lives. Medical clinicians and researchers are using streaming data to speed decision making in hospital settings and improve healthcare outcomes for patients.

Doctors make use of large amounts of time-sensitive data when caring for patients, including results of lab tests, pathology reports, X-rays, and digital imaging. They also use medical devices to monitor a patient’s vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature.

While these devices provide alerts when the readings go out of normal range, in some cases, preventive action could take place if doctors were able to receive an early warning. Subtle changes in a patient’s condition are often hard to pick up with a physical exam, but could be picked up by monitoring devices if a way existed to have more immediate access to the data.

Monitoring devices used in intensive care units generate thousands of readings every second. In the past, these readings have been summarized into one reading every 30–60 minutes. These devices were monitoring very large volumes of data, but because of technology limitation, much of that data was not available for analysis.

Using streaming technology, a hospital university research team is able to capture the data stream from bedside monitors and process it using algorithms designed to look for early warning signs of serious infections.

The data is used in real time to provide early warnings of changes in a patient’s condition. In some situations, doctors are finding that they are able to take corrective action to help a patient almost 24–36 hours earlier than without the data-streaming technology. Another benefit is the ability of doctors to compare the analysis to a database of patient outcomes that could provide additional insight.


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Problem with Goodmans DVD3600PKT

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Oops, I should have said Macrovision above. Macromedia is in my head because Adobe just bought it Tongue

Back to the problem.. No, if your player is hooked directly into the TV then nothing else should be effecting the image. Hmmmmm Is it just the one movie or any? I have heard of improper disc authoring being mis-interpreted on some players which causes playback errors. Worse case senario its the player itself and somehow its programming has been currupted. If you have a B&W setting on the player, try turning it on and off and see if that clears the problem. Also check your scart hookup, it could always be the wire. Maybe switch ends and stick the one in the tv into the player and vice versa?

Hope some of this helps!
Its linked directly to my tv through a scart lead. The neighbouring scart socket goes to my VCR though. Could that be the problem?
That almost sounds like a macromedia problem. Your player isnt hooked through a VCR is it?
Problem with Goodmans DVD3600PKT
I've got a Goodmans DVD3600PKT player and while watching a DVD after about 70-80 minutes the picture starts to flash and then go into black and white. If you stop then play again the proble starts again after about 2 minutes. Does anyone know how to stop it or what the problem is?


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Title: Invisible Target (IMDb)
Starring: Nicholas Tse
Released: 2nd August 2010
SRP: £17.99 (DVD) £24.99 (BD)0

Further Details:
Cine Asia has announced the DVD and Blu-ray release of Invisible Target for the 2nd of August, priced at around £17.99 and £24.99 respectively. It's a bit too early for confirmed specs, but we can bring you the artwork. Check back soon for an update.

Invisible Target

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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

H D - S E N S E I

A view on Blu-ray by Gary W. Tooze

Seven Pounds [Blu-ray]

(Gabriele Muccino, 2008)

Review by Gary Tooze

Theatrical: Sony

Video: Sony Pictures

Region: 'A'

Runtime: 2:03:05.419

Disc Size: 43,684,842,342 bytes

Feature Size: 29,419,837,440 bytes

Average Bitrate: 31.87 Mbps

Chapters: 16

Case: Standard Blu-ray case

Release date: March 31st, 2009

Aspect ratio: 2.35:1

Resolution: 1080p

Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Dolby TrueHD Audio English 1312 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1312 kbps / 16-bit (AC3 Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps)
DUB: Dolby TrueHD Audio French 1287 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1287 kbps / 16-bit (AC3 Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps)
Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / Dolby Surround

English, English (SDH), French, Spanish, none

• Commentary by director Gabriele Muccino

• Deleted Scenes

Seven Views on Seven Pounds (in HD);

The Composer (6:01), The Location Manager (5:58), The Director (5:53), The Editor (4:50), The Writer (3:40), The Producers (2:54) etc.

• Creating the Perfect Ensemble (12:56 in HD!)

• The Box Jellyfish - the World's Deadliest Co-star (4:58 in HD)

• Emily's Passion - the Art of the Printing Press (8:44 in HD!)

Disc 2 - Digital Copy

Description: Seven Pounds reunites actor Will Smith and director Gabriele Muccino, who together made the successful The Pursuit of Happyness 2 years before. Ben (Will Smith) poses as an IRS agent because he is haunted by a secret while seeking redemption in the form of drastically reshaping the worlds of seven people. Will described his part as ''It was exhausting trying to pull myself down into the mental space of Ben Thomas. It was based on the idea of trauma, and that was the part that I couldn't understand and I couldn't internally relate to...''

The Film:

I am fascinated by films that observe a character who is behaving precisely, with no apparent motivation. A good actor brings such a role into focus, as Will Smith does in the enigmatically titled "Seven Pounds." Who is he, what does he want, why is he behaving so oddly for an IRS agent? And why won't he kiss Rosario Dawson, when they both so obviously want that to happen?

I haven't even hinted about the hidden motives in this film. Miraculously for once, even the trailers don't give anything away. I'll tell you one thing: I may have made Ben sound like an angel, but he is very much flesh and blood, and none of his actions are supernatural. He has his reasons. The director is Gabriele Muccino, who also directed Smith in "The Pursuit of Happyness." He is effective at timing the film's revelations so that they don't come suddenly like a U-turn; they're revealed at the last necessary points in the story. Some people will find it emotionally manipulative. Some people like to be emotionally manipulated. I do, when it's done well.

Excerpt from Roger Ebert at the Chicago Sun-Times located HERE

Image :    NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were ripped directly from the Blu-ray disc.

The image of Seven Pounds on Blu-ray is just beautiful. Despite the intentionally jittery camera the rendering produces some visuals that are extremely detailed and sharp. The frequent pastel blues in the frame are warm and beautifully realized into the narrative. Background noise and grain are visible but are consistently presented and appear fine and smooth. This is, expectantly, a dual-layered disc reaching almost 44 Gig with the feature filling just shy of 30 itself and hence the bitrate is impressive. I wouldn't be surprised if this was an extremely faithful representation of the theatrical film - dependant, of course, on the system you are viewing it on. This image doesn't give a glossy artificial look, but a realistic film-like one. It is exceptionally strong with healthy contrast and under-blown color scheme. I suspect that vewers will be very impressed with the quality.

Audio :

We are given a fairly untested TrueHD track. The film has almost no aggressive sound and supports the passive Angelo Milli original score with gentle ease. In fact the audio is fairly weak but consistent and presents the dialogue driven film to an adequate basis - just don't expect too many peeps from the rear speakers. There are optional subtitles in English, English (SDH), French, or Spanish.

Extras :

In his full-length feature commentary Gabriele Muccino imparts some viable production information but his accent can be quite heavy and difficult, at times, to discern. But this is still very much worth listening to in my opinion. There are deleted scenes and a number of featurettes covering further production details - the most comprehensive being the 7-part - Seven Views on Seven Pounds (in HD); with short segments on/by The Composer (6:01), The Location Manager (5:58), The Director (5:53), The Editor (4:50), The Writer (3:40), The Producers (2:54) etc. There was another on casting entitled Creating the Perfect Ensemble (12:56 in HD!) and a couple of filler pieces on the Box Jellyfish - and the Art of the Printing Press. Included is a second disc a digital copy download accessible with code for your portable viewing device (like cell-phone iPod etc.). Outside the commentary there is nothing extrodinary.

I thought this was a MAGNIFICENT film on redemption and unselfishness - one of the best I have seen, broaching those topics, in years. Suffice - it is hard to impart details without spoiling the film but I strongly encourage a viewing of Seven Pounds. Will Smith does a wonderful job of exporting a subtly pained expression of guilt, loss and honor. The Blu-ray has an excellent transfer and is primed and ready for a memorable night in the home theater. We whole-heartedly recommend Seven Pounds

Gary Tooze

March 14th, 2009

About the Reviewer: Hello, fellow Beavers! I have been interested in film since I viewed a Chaplin festival on PBS when I was around 9 years old. I credit DVD with expanding my horizons to fill an almost ravenous desire to seek out new film experiences. I currently own approximately 9500 DVDs and have reviewed over 3500 myself. I appreciate my discussion Listserv for furthering my film education and inspiring me to continue running DVDBeaver. Plus a healthy thanks to those who donate and use our Amazon links.

Although I never wanted to become one of those guys who focused 'too much' on image and sound quality - I find HD is swiftly pushing me in that direction.

Gary's Home Theatre:

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[box cover]

Terence Malick's debut film, 1973's Badlands, would be disturbing enough if it weren't based on a true story, but sadly, it is. Martin Sheen stars as Kit Carruthers, a directionless adolescent who just wants more fun out of life. But when he is forbidden to see his 15-year-old girlfriend Holly (Sissy Spacek) by her father, the soft-spoken South Dakota youth shoots him, and he and Holly embark on a week-long killing spree that leads them to the barren plains of Montana. Malick based his fictional tale on the real-life events of Charlie Starkweather and Carol Fugate, two teenagers who also went on a crime spree in 1957 that shocked the nation, but Malick's directorial choices in Badlands avoid the gratuitous shocks one might expect from such material. Instead of focusing on the murders, Malick spends most of his time with his two leading characters, allowing us to eavesdrop on their mindless conversations and their imagined, contrived inner dramas. Ultimately, we are left with the paradoxical impression that these are just unsophisticated kids, not bloodthirsty savages, forcing us to wonder how on earth two children could kill so many people and not care about it. The genius of Badlands is that Malick leaves such questions unanswered. Good transfer from clean source print, DD 5.1, no extras, good street price.

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Reviews » DVD Video Reviews » Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay
Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay
Kino // Unrated // November 5, 2013
List Price: $29.95 [Buy now and save at Amazon]
Review by Tyler Foster | posted December 4, 2013 | E-mail the Author
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Highly Recommended
E - M A I L
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Fans of both magic and film have plenty of reason to know Ricky Jay. When holding a deck of playing cards in his hands, Jay is one of the world's most talented illusionists, and he's not too shabby with the cup and ball trick either. Furthermore, even those who haven't seen his show "Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants" or caught any of his other appearances, he's become a big-screen staple in the films of David Mamet (who directed "52 Assistants", and gave Jay roles in House of Games, Heist, and The Spanish Prisoner, among others) and Paul Thomas Anderson (for whom he most famously narrated magnolia). Considering his friendships with two of the most well-known and acclaimed filmmakers of the last 20 years, it's only fitting that someone would decide to make a movie about his life.

Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay is exactly what it says it is, filtering the man through the people who helped him learn his craft. Those looking for a standard biography, or even some of the secrets behind his tricks (yeah, right), will be out of luck. Although the film does loosely trace Jay's life childhood to adulthood, Jay is mostly quiet on personal experiences, making only passing references to parents which he didn't get along with. His recollections of famous illusionists such as Al Flosso, Slydini, Cardini, Dai Vernon, and Charlie Miller are presented through his eyes, with the spotlight on those men and their craft, and the viewer is left to fill in the way those people have influenced Jay's work.

Director / producers Molly Bernstein and Alan Edelstein are particularly lucky in that even the magicians that taught Jay who were most prolific in the 1930s and 1940s made the occasional TV appearance in their twilight years, providing an incredible wealth of fascinating vintage footage for them to draw on. Although Jay can explain the principle of an illusion or a technique all he wants, to see many of these masters perform really helps understand what aspect of their techniques Jay assimilated into his own stage act. Everyone understands a principle like misdirection, but it's something else to see Slydini actually doing it. The filmmakers also have the benefit of Jay's own extensive archive of photographs, journals, and other ephemera that he has collected over the years (Jay has published several books on the history of magic).

The filmmakers are also blessed with a forthcoming set of interviewees, including Jay's close friend Michael Weber, who also studied under Charlie Miller and co-founded Jay's company, Deceptive Practice; Jay's longtime manager Winston Simone, who helps fill in some of Jay's personality, and David Mamet, who talks briefly about the things about Jay's persona that draw him in (Jay's film work is mentioned, but not discussed in the film). There are also two absolutely wonderful eyewitness accounts, by Sensei Fred Neumann, and journalist Suzie Mackenzie, both of whom have a sparkle in their eyes and a genuine sense of wonder in their voices when recollecting an illusion Jay performed for them that is especially wonderful. Nearly all of the memories on display are warm, and even those that hint at Jay's sometimes prickly demeanor only add to his image.

Of course, the real "get" is Jay himself, who dominates the documentary with his wonderful storytelling ability and sharp wit. Bernstein first approached Jay with the intent to do a documentary back in 1994 or 1995; since then, the filmmakers have sat down and recorded new recollections whenever possible. Although the finished film only runs 88 minutes, nearly every minute of time spent with Jay is packed with information -- the cream of the crop. On paper, a history lesson about the craft of magic might sound less intriguing (or revealing) than a look into Jay's personal life, Deceptive Practice uses Jay's passions as a mirror to reflect the man -- no sleight of hand involved.

Deceptive Practice arrives with classy artwork duplicated from one of his performance programs, created by artist Larry Vigon, depicting Jay's face on a group of playing cards. The back cover is equally straightforward, keeping the subdued brown tones of the front cover. An elegant design for an elegant speaker. The single-disc release arrives in a standard Amaray case with no insert.

The Video and Audio
Of the footage shot specifically for Deceptive Practice, there's only a little bit of variance in the quality of this 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. For the most part, the film looks very good, with a tiny bit of digital video harshness creeping in in the white areas, and on the whole, the disc is more than adequate. Footage from Ricky Jay's performances is presented in good quality, and most of the photographs and documents scanned for the film are nice and crisp. Only the archive footage shows any serious wear and tear, and none of this is unusual for a documentary.

A Dolby Digital 5.1 track seems almost unnecessary for such a quiet film that mostly involves Ricky Jay's distinctive voice, but I suppose it's nice to hear the original score by Claire and Olivier Manchon spread out to the surround channels. The same minor variance in the picture quality applies to the sound as well, with the occasional additional hiss of an interview recorded outdoors. An English 2.0 track is also provided, but regrettably, no subtitle or caption streams.

The Extras
Additional footage is the order of the day here -- a surprising amount of bonus material is packed onto this one-disc release. "Jay's Colleagues on Camera: Paul Thomas Anderson, Steve Martin, David Mamet, Etc." (19:33) features Martin's "Great Flydini" routine, and recollections from Anderson and Heather Graham, Mark Singer, and David Mamet (sourced from the same interview that appears in the film). The interviews are a little dry, it's not surprising they didn't make the final cut of the film. "Ricky Jay and Michael Weber on Mentors and Magic" (15:22) is a similar, but better chunk of footage with Jay and Weber reminiscing further about Dai Vernon, as well as Weber performing a rubber band trick (which, sadly, is nearly invisible -- the extras footage is all extremely low-res, likely to maximize the amount of additional material that could be included). Best of all, "Never Before Seen Performance Footage and Crazy Anecdotes" (29:29) gives the same treatment to many of the additional clips used to flesh out the final product, featuring several additional Jay stories in their entirety. In case that isn't enough, even that is then trumped by "Ricky Jay and Mark Singer at the New Yorker Festival" (47:19), an incredibly lengthy panel discussion between the writer and performer. Sound is occasionally a bit sketchy, but worth the effort. Finally, "Unseen Animation" (1:17) offers a brief reel of transitions that didn't make the final film (probably for the best, although I imagine it'd have gotten a polish were it approved), and a promo (1:09) for Bob Dylan's "Love and Theft" featuring Jay closes things out.

An original theatrical trailer for Deceptive Practice is also included, as well as a .pdf of Mark Singer's profile of Ricky Jay, accessible via DVD-ROM.

Fans of magic will not want to miss Deceptive Practice, a great primer on past masters who helped inform one of the present ones. Highly recommended.

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Case Number 14389: Small Claims Court

Buy The Case Of The Grinning Cat at Amazon

The Case Of The Grinning Cat

Icarus Films // 2005 // 58 Minutes // Not Rated
Reviewed by Appellate Judge Daryl Loomis // August 28th, 2008

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All Rise...

Judge Daryl Loomis sees grinning cats all the time. He's just that funny.

The Charge

It is a great asset in life, not to know what you're talking about.

The Case

In Paris at the end of 2001, people began to notice a grinning yellow cat appearing in odd places all around the city. While not a physical manifestation of Lewis Carroll's Cheshire Cat, this huge feline caricature stared out over the city from the tops of skyscrapers and the sides of buildings, almost anywhere and in all sizes. How did they appear so suddenly and, more important, what do they mean? With this mystery as his basis, acclaimed documentarian/film essayist Chris Marker (La Jetée) explores the changes in culture and politics of a post-9/11 Paris.

Using the montages, mixed media, and freely associated imagery on which he has built his reputation, Marker takes us to the streets to see the people whom the cat stares down on. Solving the mystery of the cat is much less important to Marker than understanding what the cat meant to a rapidly changing and discontented populous…if anything at all. His explorations take us from the streets and into the métro to show people living their day to day lives, unaware that they live under a specter of fear instilled by their own government. Is this cat meant to represent a government that smiles at its people, tells them everything's alright, but with oppression (in the name of national security) squarely on its mind? On the contrary, it seems closer to representing the antithesis. Taking a cue the 1968 French protest slogan, "Poetry is in the street," this cat never says that anything is alright; only that art and esthetics are political statements unto themselves.

Marker, however, is too digressive to give us a satisfactory answer to the question, and that's a good thing. The ambiguousness allows him to look more closely at the new left of French activism, and he's bemused to find a politic of posturing in response to an increasingly right-leaning state instead of a politic of people looking for real change. In this way, The Case of the Grinning Cat is an oblique sequel to Marker's fabulous documentary, A Grin Without a Cat, in which he examined the fall of old Leftist politics on a broader world scale. Here, in the confines of the Paris streets, he can focus on the specific tension of the post-9/11 world and how, the day after the attacks, French papers read, "We are all Americans," but after a mere few weeks, America had become the villain. Marker explores the issues without giving resolution and, like the mysterious cat, is another jumping off points for new questions. Marker is entirely successful with The Case of the Grinning Cat. Now in his '80s, Marker keeps a whimsical distance from his subject, using humor to make his point as much as protest footage. He's at his absurd best when he mattes the cat into paintings from cave dwellings all the way through to Van Gogh, all the while talking about the grinning cat as pervasive throughout human history.

First Run Features has done an excellent job with their DVD of The Case of the Grinning Cat. Marker's imagery is often done using mixed-media and, as a result, the image is just as mixed. There are no transfer errors, but the picture quality is only fair. Neither is the sound anything to write home about. It is in stereo and very clear, but dynamic sound isn't really necessary here. The best part of the release, better than the feature itself, is a collection of Marker's short films that focus on animals. A pair features Marker's own cat, one in which he's laying on a keyboard listening to a sonata and another, called "Leila Attacks," about a mouse scaring a cat. A "bestiary" is next, with five films ranging from owls to an elephant doing a tango to an "Okinawa Bullfight," in which the bulls fight each other instead of people. Lastly, in an absolutely heartbreaking piece of cinema, is the 17 minute "Three Cheers for the Whales," which discusses the history of whaling for food and, later, for sport and profit. Violent and sad, there are images in this short that I will never forget. I recommend the disc for this film alone, but The Case of the Grinning Cat is an excellent, if often obscure, film essay that shows Chris Marker in his winter years as strong as he's ever been.

Not guilty; case closed.

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Scales of Justice

Judgment: 90

Perp Profile

Studio: Icarus Films
Video Formats:
• Full Frame
Audio Formats:
• Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo (English)
• None
Running Time: 58 Minutes
Release Year: 2005
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
• Documentary

Distinguishing Marks

• Short Film: Leila Attacks
• Short Film: A Bestiary: 5 Films
• Short Film: Three Cheers for the Whale

• IMDb

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Case Number 21321: Small Claims Court

Buy The Greatest Places (Blu-ray) at Amazon

The Greatest Places (Blu-ray)

Inception Media Group // 1998 // 40 Minutes // Not Rated
Reviewed by Judge Clark Douglas // May 11th, 2011

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All Rise...

Coincidentally, one of the greatest places is the nape of Judge Clark Douglas' neck.

The Charge

The world's greatest sights—remastered and remarkable!

The Case

You won't find many negative reviews of IMAX nature documentaries. That's partially due to the fact that such documentaries are generally pretty solid, and partially due to a general temptation to simply give attractive nature flicks a pass. It's pretty! It's nature! It's educational! Who wants to beat up on wholesomeness like that? I certainly don't, but every now and then I'll encounter a half-baked little film like The Greatest Places.

the greatest places blu-ray

The documentary opens with narration from Avery Brooks (American History X), who informs us that we're about to look at a series of places. "They are…The Greatest Places," he intones. Okay, then. Over the course of the next forty minutes, we wander aimlessly from Madagascar to Tibet to Greenland to the Namib Desert to the Okavango Delta to Iguazu Falls to the Amazon River. That's all well and good, and the images we're shown are certainly lovely.

Unfortunately, during this travelogue we're given precious little reason as to why these places are supposed to be The Greatest Places, as Brooks simply unspools a series of relatively banal facts about each place before abruptly switching to the next one. It feels like we're watching a series of cheesy prologues that ought to be preceding a considerably more substantive examination, but all we get is pointless prologue. While some of the locations featured offer self-explanatory images of greatness (the stunning Iguazu Falls in particular), others look considerably less marvelous than plenty of other regions of the world.

Basically, if you're going to make a documentary called The Greatest Places, you at least owe the audience a solid argument for why these places are so great. You need Werner Herzog talking about how the Namib Desert is a lost fleck from the soul of an angry God, or at least Avery Brooks talking about the fact that Madagascar was a great source of inspiration for Charles Darwin (instead, Brooks simply notes that there are a lot of interesting lemurs in Madagascar).

The documentary concludes by not only re-asserting that these places are unquestionably The Greatest Places, but also by stating that Earth has the most great places of any planet in our solar system…nay, the entire Universe (then again, Avery Brooks did encounter a lot of other worlds on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, so I guess he would know).

At least the doc looks awfully lovely on Blu-ray, boasting an attractive 1080p/1.78:1 transfer which allows viewers to soak in the many splendid images this film has to offer. Detail is terrific throughout, though I was surprised to note quite a few scratches and flecks during some of the shots. Blacks are deep and rich, but for the most part this is a bright, colorful film. Audio is quite strong as well, with Brooks' narration coming through with clarity. The music receives a rich mix, though I found the score a bit too derivative of Hans Zimmer's work on The Lion King. There are no supplements on the disc.

The Greatest Places is good-looking, but all of these IMAX movies are. Unfortunately, it's one of the most undercooked films of its sort I've seen.

The Verdict

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Scales of Justice

Judgment: 58

Perp Profile

Studio: Inception Media Group
Video Formats:
• 1.78:1 Non-Anamorphic (1080p)
Audio Formats:
• DTS HD 5.1 Master Audio (English)
• None
Running Time: 40 Minutes
Release Year: 1998
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
• Blu-ray
• Documentary
• Science and Nature

Distinguishing Marks

• None

• IMDb

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Review content copyright © 2011 Clark Douglas; Site design and review layout copyright © 2015 Verdict Partners LLC. All rights reserved.


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Case Number 22871

Buy Our Idiot Brother at Amazon

Our Idiot Brother

Anchor Bay // 2011 // 90 Minutes // Rated R
Reviewed by Judge Paul Pritchard (Retired) // December 5th, 2011

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All Rise...

Judge Paul Pritchard doesn't need to be anyone's brother to be considered an idiot.

Editor's Note

Our review of Our Idiot Brother (Blu-ray), published December 7th, 2011, is also available.

The Charge

Everybody Has One.

Opening Statement

"Nothing like two dudes and a dog making candles."

Facts of the Case

Following his release from prison, Ned (Paul Rudd, Role Models) finds himself living with each of his sisters, but, much to their dismay, Ned's optimism and carefree ways causes frictions in their comfortable lives.

The Evidence

Warning: Our Idiot Brother is not the movie that is being sold to you. Neither the trailers for the film, nor the posters, truly reflects the contents of the movie. That's a shame, as there's a very real risk viewers will react negatively upon realizing this is not the laugh-a-minute R-rated comedy they were expecting. The film opens with a pretty funny sequence where Ned is arrested after being dumb enough to sell weed to a uniformed police officer, which only really serves to further the misconception of what this film is. Quite quickly, though, there's a major tonal shift, which sees Our Idiot Brother reach for something far greater than merely making you laugh; this is a film that wants you to feel, too.

What we quickly learn is that Ned isn't an idiot; he's simply an optimist. As he states during a beautifully written (and acted) scene, "I like to think that if you put your trust out there, I mean if you really give people the benefit of the doubt and see their best intentions, people will rise to the occasion." Unfortunately, as he soon learns, very few people share his outlook, including his own family. Each of his sisters lives a life that revolves solely around their own existence, with each guilty of allowing greed or fear to influence their decisions in life. Ned's honesty is something that frightens them. Throughout the film Ned ends up living with each of his sisters in turn, and without fail each sends him packing when his sincerity takes them out of their comfort zone.

A pleasing aspect of Our Idiot Brother is how the character of Ned is not forced to go on a journey to change the error of his ways. So often films like this see the dimwitted lead come to learn responsibility, usually after royally screwing up. Instead, the smartly written screenplay sees each of Ned's sisters come to realize it is they who are on the wrong path in life, and find that it is they who can learn from their brother.

Our Idiot Brother also features a beautifully realized love story that is surprisingly affecting. Ned has but one love in his life, and that is Willie Nelson, his dog. Ned pines for Willie, but the two are kept apart following the acrimonious breakup of Ned and his girlfriend following his release from prison. Although his attempts to be reunited with Willie are often very funny, the way the film captures the purity of a man's love for his canine companion is amazingly heartfelt.

Director Jesse Peretz (a founding member of The Lemonheads, no less) shows an assured hand, which sees Our Idiot Brother succeed through subtle touches, yet still finds enough of a balance to ensure the comedic aspects of the film are still relevant. Assisting Peretz no end is a cast blessed with talent. Paul Rudd—ever dependable—plays off his naturally endearing charm to infuse Ned with an instant likeability. During the events of the final act, where Ned releases some very real pent up emotion, it is hard not to be touched by the rawness of Rudd's delivery. Taking on the roles of Ned's sisters are Elizabeth Banks (Spider-Man 2), Zooey Deschanel ((500) Days of Summer), and Emily Mortimer (Shutter Island). Though it could be argued each of their roles lacks the depths of Ned's, each of these fine actresses is able to bring enough humanity to them that, despite their mistreatment of Ned, we still find ourselves holding no ill will towards them. If I were to have one small gripe with the casting, it would be with the misuse of Steve Coogan. Coogan is fine in the role of Emily Mortimer's conniving husband, but the role is so small that it really doesn't make use of his talent.

The 1.78:1 standard definition anamorphic transfer delivers a sharp-looking picture, blessed with bright colors and excellent levels of detail. The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack provides clear dialogue, amongst a spacious mix.

The extras on this single disc release are a little bland. "The Making of Our Idiot Brother" is a formulaic behind-the-scenes featurette, with the cast and crew discussing the film. A selection of deleted and extended scenes is included on the disc, along with a commentary by director Peretz.

Closing Statement

Our Idiot Brother may have made little impact at the box office, but deserves to pick up a following on DVD. All but the most cynical will be won over by its charms. Even if the story itself is slight, the cast ensures this well-meaning and heartwarming film warrants a place in your DVD collection.

The Verdict

Not guilty.

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Scales of Justice

Video: 94
Audio: 94
Extras: 60
Acting: 92
Story: 80
Judgment: 88

Perp Profile

Studio: Anchor Bay
Video Formats:
• 1.78:1 Anamorphic
Audio Formats:
• Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround (English)
• English
• Spanish
Running Time: 90 Minutes
Release Year: 2011
MPAA Rating: Rated R
• Comedy
• Drama

Distinguishing Marks

• Commentary
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurette

• IMDb

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Review content copyright © 2011 Paul Pritchard; Site design and review layout copyright © 2015 Verdict Partners LLC. All rights reserved.