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Friday, July 8, 2011

Josh Hamilton 'Distraught': will He Overcome Rangers Fan's Death?

Josh Hamilton has been open regarding his demons. he is been a drug addict. he is been an alcoholic. He virtually wasted away all of his unbelievable talent whereas adding a horde of tattoos and partying deep into the night.

But once finally obtaining sober, Hamilton was ready to build an out of this world comeback. He went from the forgotten former preferred draft choose to 1 of the foremost standard players within the league.

All of this makes Thursday night's tragedy at Rangers Ballpark even harder to examine happen. Shannon Stone, a 39-year recent Rangers fan, known as out for Hamilton to throw him a foul ball. Hamilton obliged however threw the ball short leading to Stone leaning over to catch it and eventually falling to his death.

Stone, an 18-year firefighter veteran, was making an attempt to catch the ball for his son sitting right next to him. Hamilton was said to be "very distraught" once watching Stone fall to his death and walked around in circles in disbelief to what happened.

Hamilton has done well at obtaining his life back heading in the right direction. Most stories show he's a decent father to his 3 daughters and he has excelled on the sphere, winning yank League MVP honors in 2010.

But how will a person with past demons as robust as Hamilton's, react to such a traumatic event? can Hamilton be ready to sleep in the dead of night knowing he indirectly caused the premature death of a Texas firefighter?

Hamilton has claimed to own avoided alcohol and medicines since 2005, though he did have a really public relapse in 2009. Sports blog Deadspin obtained photos of a shirtless Hamilton at a Tempe, Arizona bar and Hamilton admitted he had relapsed in his sobriety.

Can he resist those major temptations when times get toughest? One will surely hope therefore, as Hamilton appears to be a decent guy, however traumatic events like these will have long lasting impacts on folks. merely seeing an individual die in front of you may cause problems, however thinking that you simply may be the most reason needs to be terribly powerful to handle.

Fortunately the baseball All-star break is correct round the corner, permitting Hamilton it slow to induce his head straight and take a look at to recuperate from this death. That at the side of the support of his family and teammates ought to hopefully keep the slugger on the proper track.

Fans expect muscular superstars like Hamilton to be invincible rather like comic book superheroes Superman or Batman. however Hamilton is human rather like the remainder folks.

Can he overcome this horrible memory? Yes.

But it may take time and work to induce through the pain Hamilton is probably going suffering.

The bigger question may be: will fans hold back if Hamilton struggles?

Harry Potter's Professor Flitwick on Deathly Hallows II

The actor who plays Professor Flitwick within the Harry Potter films has spoken of his excitement when attending the premiere of the ultimate film.

Warwick Davis, from Peterborough, was in London's Trafalgar sq. for the primary showing of Harry Potter and also the Deathly Hallows: half II.

"When I watched the film last night I felt an excellent sense of feat and accomplishment," he said.

"We've created these nice films and we're finishing them on such a high note."

In the final film, Mr Davis takes on 2 roles, that of Professor Flitwick and Griphook the goblin.

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It's one in every of those belongings you expected to be engaged on per annum for the last ten years.”

Warwick Davis, actor
"Harry will a cope with Griphook to interrupt into Gringotts Bank to undertake and retrieve one amongll|one amongst|one in every of} the horcruxes that he thinks is hidden in a vault there," Mr Davis said.

"It's a terrific character to play as a result of you never understand where you're with him. you recognize it's said that you just ought to never trust a goblin and people words are actually true after you check with Griphook.

"What's dedicated, though, is that individuals do not realise that I play 2 elements, as a result of i attempted to form them as completely different as I may," he added.

"Obviously I look fully completely different. The prosthetic make-up is excellent, and you'll alter your voice and your body language.

"The solely factor that the 2 characters share is clearly their height. i am 3ft 6in."

'Potter lives on'
Although Mr Davis is functioning on different comes for tv, he admitted his role within the Harry Potter films had played an outsized half in his life.

"I can miss it," he said. "It's one in every of those belongings you expected to be engaged on per annum for the last ten years.

"Now, to be trying ahead and knowing that i am not progressing to get that phone decision and i am not progressing to be operating with all of that fantastic solid and crew could be a very little unhappy.

"But Potter can go on," he added.

"It's finished as way as movies are involved, however it is not gone."

Jakarta rocks as stop on world concert circuit

Kylie Minogue cavorted amid indigo lights as thousands clapped and cheered. a normal concert scene -- except that this was Indonesia, the world's most populous Islamic nations, and tickets value quite a median month's purchase several.

Yet Minogue is way from alone in enjoying Jakarta, capital of Southeast Asia's prime economy. Artists together with Justin Bieber, Janet Jackson and Bruno Mars have all held concerts here in recent months, with the Cranberries, Linkin Park, and girl Gaga set to return.

All are aiming at Indonesia's young population, the world's fourth-largest, with its rapidly-growing middle category that's in a position and desirous to splash out for tickets.

"Indonesia is on the radar of artists in Asia as a result of the market potential is large and folks do not mind spending a lot of on tickets," said Jakarta-based music knowledgeable Bens Leo.

Farid Dermawan and fourteen friends shelled out one.5 million rupiah every for his or her tickets, regarding fifteen % on top of the capital's monthly minimum wage peg. Tickets ranged from one million to four.5 million rupiah.

"The quantity I paid is okay as a result of i'm a Kylie fan since i used to be born. i am excited," said the 34-year-old Dermawan, a video clip director, because the silvery wings hooked up to the rear of a black vest he created for the occasion flapped up.

About ninety % of the tickets for Minogue's concert sold, said promoter EC Entertainment, that added that the price tag worth vary was "affordable."

Yet even steeper concerts do well. A recent concert by David Foster sold out, despite tickets starting from one million rupiah up to twenty five times that worth.

Leo said the large name rush is sparked partly by slower demand in countries like the u.  s. when the economic crisis. Merchandising potentialities are appealing, permitting artists to rake in still extra money.

With slowing world demand for CDs and cassettes worsened by the digital age, artists are wanting to achieve a lot of from a far broader vary of merchandise, music knowledgeable Leo said.

"You do not see CDs on sale in concerts anymore, they provide merchandise currently as a result of that is what is selling," he added.

At the Minogue concert, fans lined up to shop for t-shirts, jugs and books that includes Minogue's costumes and make-up.

SECURITY, RELIGION

Jakarta's success on the concert circuit is all the a lot of stunning as a result of the mammoth town of ten million faces variety of hurdles, together with a traffic state of affairs Minogue herself described as "traffic drama" and caused the concert to start out half-hour late. It took some fans 3 hours to arrive.

Until a couple of years ago there was conjointly the threat of attacks by Islamic militants against "Western" symbols, that within the past resulted within the sudden cancellation of concerts, a lot of to the frustration of concert-goers.

But successful crackdowns on in recent years have helped brought reassurance to the far-flung archipelago.

"In the last one or two years concerts occur a minimum of once a month, and also the key draw is improved security," said Wiradi, the assembly general manager at EC Entertainment.

Despite Indonesia's Islamic majority, it remains a secular country and a lot of welcoming to artists than neighbour Malaysia, where criticism of a planned Beyonce concert for its attainable "inciting of ethical issues" led to the event's cancellation.

Still, some doubts linger.

Intan Hafsanida, who came during a Greek-goddess vogue white dress and garland of golden leaves in line with the theme of the concert, said she initial thought of seeing the concert in Singapore owing to considerations it would be tamed for ethical reasons.

But within the finish, Minogue's revealing dresses and also the gyrating crew of buff men cavorted on stage as planned.

"I apprehend it is so expensive, however it's still Kylie," said Hafsanida."She has never been here before thus this can be a once-in-a-lifetime expertise."

Winners of South Jakarta RSUD style Competition Announced

After being contested since could half dozen, 2011, the winners of South Jakarta District Hospital (RSUD), which can be inbuilt Pasar Minggu space, are announced. This style contest is participated by thirty six contestants who then 3 of them chosen as winners and presented to the Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo.

The first winner is Zulfahmi Bachtiar who deserves for prize of Rp two hundred million, second place winner is Adjie Negara with Rp one hundred million of prize, and therefore the third winner is Bagustanto who achieves Rp fifty million. during this contest, Jakarta Capital town Government cooperates with Indonesian Architect Association (IAI).

“Jakarta is that the 1st province that uses the modification of Presidential Decree (Keppres) No. 54/2010 concerning product and Services Procurement that justifies us to use the mechanism of contest to create public buildings,” stated Fauzi Bowo when asserting the competition winners within the town Hall, Friday (7/8).

According to him, within the master arrange and engineering style details (DED) set, the RSUD can able to accommodate 432 beds. “I hope the initial style and therefore the construction won't abundant of a special later. we elect it as a result of besides the look is healthier that the others, it additionally price potency,” expressed Fauzi.

Head of Jakarta Health Department Dien Emmawati said that presently, the RSUD can adopt the concept of inexperienced hospital by planting trees in many areas of the hospital. Therefore, it's hoped that hospitalized patients might inhale contemporary air and feel snug. “We additionally thought of the patients’ convenience,” she added.

South Jakarta RSUD are going to be engineered on a two.5 hectares land. the town government targeted its construction to be completed by the tip of 2013.

Atlantis launch a bittersweet finish for area shuttle

In the close to term, "we're attending to have a reverse brain drain," he told CBS News. "It used to be that folks came from alternative places and alternative industries to figure within the area program attributable to what it meant and what it absolutely was. And because it goes away, we're attending to lose those individuals as a result of gifted people go where there are robust issues. and that is not attending to be sensible for the country."
NASA's current administrator, former shuttle commander Charles Bolden, believes the new approach, in contrast to the Constellation moon program, is sustainable and also the right path forward in an era of tight budgets and additional restricted horizons.
"Some say that our final shuttle mission can mark the tip of America's fifty years of dominance in human spaceflight," Bolden said during a recent speech. "As a former astronaut and also the current NASA administrator, i would like to inform you that yank leadership in area can continue for a minimum of subsequent half-century as a result of we've got laid the inspiration for success--and here at NASA, failure isn't an choice."
There's a widely held belief among Apollo veterans that NASA's new marching orders are a step back. In an open letter to the president, Apollo eleven commander Neil Armstrong, Apollo thirteen commander James Lovell, and Apollo seventeen commander Eugene Cernan said America is on the verge of forsaking its leadership in area.
"For the u.  s., the leading space-faring nation for nearly 0.5 a century, to be while not carriage to low Earth orbit and with no human exploration capability to travel beyond Earth orbit for an indeterminate time into the long run, destines our nation to become one in every of second or maybe third rate stature," they wrote. "While the president's set up envisages humans traveling removed from Earth and maybe toward Mars at your time within the future, the shortage of developed rockets and spacecraft can assure that ability won't be out there for several years.
"Without the ability and skill that actual spacecraft operation provides, the U.S. is way too probably to be on a protracted downhill slide to mediocrity. America should decide if it needs to stay a frontrunner in area. If it does, we must always institute a program which can provide us the easiest probability of achieving that goal."
Layoffs loom as NASA changes course
As NASA's fortunes have waxed and waned, buffeted by political upheaval, an economic crisis and unsure public support, the one constant has been the shuttle's looming retirement and also the slow however steady elimination of the program's highly skilled workforce.
In 2006, about 14,000 contractors and one,800 civil servants worked on the shuttle program, most of them in Florida, Texas, and Alabama. Going into the Atlantis launch campaign, the contractor workforce had been reduced to five,615. 1/2 the remaining workers are laid off when landing.
"Right now, we're right down to those needed only for sustaining engineering and operation of the last flight, therefore it's concerning five,500 contractor workers unfold across Texas, Utah, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida," said shuttle Program Manager John Shannon. "And a trifle bit underneath one,200 civil servants, therefore we're at concerning half dozen,700 total individuals operating within the shuttle program.
"The huge layoff is basically right when the shuttle landing and then we'll keep some individuals in Florida for down-mission processing. therefore on July twenty two, if we have a tendency to launch on July eight, there'll be a major loss, about 3,200 contractors. There are alternative layoffs in August for all of our prime contractors and also the subs, in order that they can go into the transition-retirement, that is simply the configuration of the vehicles and also the dispositioning of hardware. that is underneath one,000 individuals total. that is where we have a tendency to are at once and where we must always be during a month and a 0.5."
When Atlantis returns to Earth later this month, many engineers, technicians, astronauts, and NASA managers are standing by to welcome Atlantis and its crew home and to "share the moment" because the shuttle program involves an finish when 3 decades.
"The landing task, you're hyper targeted on obtaining Atlantis back safely," said pilot Douglas Hurley. "But i am very trying forward, when they pry all four folks out of the orbiter, to simply get down and share that moment with the oldsters who have literally been here since the primary orbiter showed up, to be on the runway with them...and simply reasonably share those reminiscences."
Added area station veteran Sandra Magnus, another of the four crew members on this final flight: "It's attending to be terribly unhappy. I told Fergie, i am likely to be crying once we land simply because it's simply therefore sad!"
"The shuttle's given most to the country," she said. "When you consider the various sorts of missions it will do, it designed the area station, it's done science missions that ranged from taking the Spacelab up to the large radar missions we've done, it's done astronomy, it's done biological science, materials science and then it's done satellite deploy, repair and retrieve. It's an implausible legacy this vehicle has given us. And whereas we have a tendency to do got to retire it, it's still attending to be terribly unhappy to check it go."

Exposing the Secrets of Jakarta's Indie Art Scene

Jakarta’s indie art, music and media scenes is also full of boundless creativity and large talent, however they're conjointly comparatively tiny worlds, with lots of individuals crossing over between the various spheres. Nowhere was that a lot of evident than at a happening last week at the Linggar Seni art gallery in Kemang, South Jakarta, that featured each the launching of a brand new multimedia music magazine, Cobra, and also the gap of an exhibition of photos and design by 2 of the driving forces behind Jakarta’s indie music scene.

The exhibition, titled “The Diary of the key Places,” options the works of Indra Ameng and Keke Tumbuan, who along blow over the moniker the key Agents.

Indra is best known for being the manager of indie band White Shoes and also the Couples Company, that has received international acclaim, as well as being named one among Rolling Stone magazine’s “Top twenty five Bands on Myspace” in 2007. Keke, on the opposite hand, is best called the owner of Jaya Pub, the oldest pub within the capital. together with Indra, she has been conducting a preferred monthly indie music event since 2008, referred to as “Superbad.”

While the couple has done nice work to elevate the indie music scene, the “Secret Places” exhibition, that is being hosted at Linggar Seni till July sixteen, may be a probability for them to point out off their alternative artistic abilities. It options photos taken throughout the duo’s visits to places like San Fransisco, the big apple and Morocco, similarly as spots around Indonesia.

Filled with uncommon angles and distinctive objects, the duo’s assortment of untitled, postcard-sized photos could be too quirky for a few. however Mia Maria, the gallery’s owner, said “their photos are wonderful.”

Another distinctive side of the exhibition was that guests were inspired to feature to the works by writing captions for them on sticky notes.

One of their photos shows an recent orange couch in an exceedingly dimmed space with 2 folded blankets and a cloth laid on high. Below the photo was a note that scan, “Oh, I feel therefore ugly.” In another photo, the 2 captured a torn reclining seat, abandoned in front of a house. A sticky note comments on the photo, “I’m anticipating a pleasant new house to require me in.”

The exhibition conjointly displays the recent posters that were utilized by Indra and Keke to market “Superbad” events.

Besides Indra and Keke’s artworks, guests at the gap night event conjointly have to be compelled to be the primary to see out Cobra, a bimonthly magazine that's the brainchild of Anggun Priambodo and Bin Harlan. The magazine’s initial edition options articles concerning Indra and Anggun, among others.

Anggun, a 33-year-old filmmaker, said he and Bin picked the name Cobra just because it absolutely was distinctive and “easy to recollect.” The magazine options lifestyle articles geared toward teens in Jakarta with an interest in art, design, movies and, of course, music.

Anggun said he set to launch the magazine as a result of he was tired of reading constant quite reviews in alternative publications.

“It’s as if all of them have a template that they use to speak concerning each artist, albeit one artist could be far better than the others,” he complained.

“In Cobra, we have a tendency to in all probability write concerning similar things, however we have a tendency to come back at them from a special angle,” he said, adding the magazine’s stories would be a lot of personal and in-depth.

But distinctive writing is hardly the sole issue that may create Cobra stand out from the plethora of native lifestyle and music rags. rather than a standard magazine format, the booklet-size Cobra comes in an exceedingly special CD package, with the Cobra magazine presented within the CD’s liner notes. The CD itself contains songs from one among the bands featured within the magazine. the primary edition of Cobra featured tracks from indie rock band Teenage Death Star. every issue prices Rp thirty five,000 ($4).

With it’s tagline, “Majalah yang Berpoison” (“A toxic Magazine”), individuals would possibly assume that Cobra isn't a significant project. however Anggun was fast to state his passion for the project.

“We are terribly serious concerning this magazine,” he said, adding that he needed to create certain that it absolutely was a profitable venture.

Some 1,000 copies of Cobra’s initial edition were made, and might be found in many locations throughout the capital, like Aksara bookstore, and Salihara and Ruang Rupa creative communities. Anggun said the magazine may even be found in many alternative cities in Indonesia.

With its laid-back writing vogue and musical accompaniment, Anggun said he hoped Cobra may reach lots of latest readers, particularly those aged fifteen to thirty.

“More than something, we would like to create a magazine that's extremely price reading.”

Growing Like a Tree.

Voila!! Our new Chinese, kanji scrolls (click picture to enlarge). Here is the site where I bought them--they were hand painted by a trained calligrapher. The closest meaning of the left-hand character, in English, is "love" but to explain it further I have included the description from the website:

This character can also be defined as affection, to be fond of, to like, or to be keen on. It often refers to romantic love, and is found in phrases like, "I love you". This may be hard to imagine as a westerner, but the strokes at the top of this love character symbolize family & marriage. The symbol in the middle is a little easier to identify. It is the character for "heart" (it can also mean "mind" or "soul").

I guess you can say that no matter if you are from the East or the West, you must put your heart into your love. I suppose you could say that the full meaning of this love character is to love your family, spouse, and friends with all of your heart, since all three elements exist in this character.

James
: The scroll on the right-hand side, is best translated into English as the following:

The simplest form of peace and harmony. This can also be translated as the peaceful ideas of gentle, mild, kind, and calm. With the more harmonious context, it can be translated as union, together with, on good terms with, or on friendly terms. Most people would just translate this character as peace and/or harmony. This is a very popular character in Asian cultures - you can even call it the "peace symbol" of Asia. In fact, this peace and harmony character was seen repeatedly during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing (a major theme of the games).

James: The picture in the middle, is a close up of a forest of bamboo that I often gaze upon in meditation and contemplation. On days when I can't get to the meditation cushion because of depression, or a busy schedule, I find a picture of nature to be an effective way to concentrate my energy and ground myself in the richness and stability of the present moment.

The present moment, is the only moment, and therefore, connecting with that moment keeps us growing and remembering that the depressing days won't always hang over us. But, it also means keeping us from getting too arrogant and comfortable in our successes by remembering that everything changes. In this way, we are better able to enjoy the pleasures when we have them because we realize they will soon fade.

A stand of trees or bamboo doesn't fight the wind; it survives the inevitable winds of change by swaying with its energy. If it tried to resist powerful gusts, it would break apart. It's deep roots help anchor the tree by steadily pushing deeper and deeper into the ground. In this way, the tree itself can bend and adapt without uprooting itself from overwhelming stress upon a weak root system.

We deepen our roots by staying anchored in the knowledge that the present moment is where growth occurs. If a mature tree's roots stopped growing deeper than the surface area it occupied as a sapling, then the smallest breeze would uproot it and knock it down. The same is true if we stubbornly stop growing, out of fear of failing, or just plain arrogantly thinking that we know it all already and can therefore stop adapting. This is when the roots of a tree rot from neglect; as well as from failing to dig deeper to create stronger roots that widen out into a broad network of stability.

I have been happily reminded of this with a recent slump in my Dharma practice; it's been awhile since I've formally meditated. However, I adapted (like the trees) by meditating other ways; such as focusing deeply upon nature, simple breathing exercises while sitting upon the couch and letting music break down my perceived walls of imprisonment. And, within the past few days, I have found I weathered the storm; the deep and diversified root system, I've been growing these past ten years of Buddhist practice has helped me bend with the strong head-winds but not break.

-I bow to the Buddha within you-