The Feast of Life

You will tell me when

and where 

I am to walk your path

totally bathed in joy.

In the meantime,

I ask you, Lord, awaken

in a secret place in my soul

the Feast of Life!

The Feast of the Empty Tomb!

The Feast of the Victorious Cross!

(From "When the Hour Comes", by Julia Esquivel

Threatened With Resurrection, Brethren Press, 1982, p.113)

Results 45th International Graphic Humour Exhibition Umoristi a Marostica 2013, Italy

Umoristi a Marostica 2013 - Jury report – Theme EUREKA!
45th International Graphic Humour Exhibition
On Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th of March 2013 the “UMORISTI A MAROSTICA” jury came together made up of:
Ross Thomson - President, Margherita Allegri, Antonio Antunes, Marco Tonus, Ferruccio Giromini, Alessandro Tich,
Maurizio Minoggio, Giovanni Sorcinelli and Organizing Committee composed by the Marostica Graphics Group.
The Jury, having examined the works that have reached Marostica from 368 Authors of 62 Countries,
notes of a particularly generous participation and full of inspirations and results in line with the proposed
theme EUREKA! The inventions that led to the progress of civilization.
By unanimity decided to award:
2013 INTERNATIONAL CHESSBOARD GRAN PRIX to: CONSTANTIN SUNNERBERG, BELGIUM
The “MARCO SARTORE” SPECIAL PRIZE to: LAMBERTO TOMASSINI, ITALY
The “SANDRO CARLESSO” SPECIAL PRIZE to: LUC DESCHEEMAEKER, BELGIUM
The INTERNATIONAL AWARD “UMORISTI A MAROSTICA" to:
SERGIO TESSAROLO, ITALY
FILIPPO RICCA, FRANCE
DALCIO MACHADO, BRAZIL
MILKO DALLA BATTISTA, ITALY
LOTHAR OTTO, GERMANY
TOSO BORKOVIC’, SERBIA
SILVANO MELLO, BRAZIL
HASSAN KARIMZADEH, IRAN
POL LEURS, LUXEMBOURG
MOJTABA HEIDARPANAH, IRAN.
Source: facebook.com/umoristi-a-marostica/2013.

This Is the Night...

This is the night, 

when Christ broke the bonds of death and hell, 

and rose victorious from the grave...

Holy Father, accept our evening sacrifice, 
the offering of this candle in your honor. 
May it shine continually to drive away all darkness. 
May Christ, the Morning Star who knows no setting, 
find it ever burning -- 
he who gives his light to all creation, 
and who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

Results XXI International Exhibition of Drawing for Press, Porto Alegre 2013, Brazil

 

Winners of the XXI International Exhibition of Drawing for Press, Porto Alegre 2013, Brazil
1 – Awards:
In the category "Caricature" the awarded artist is Fabrício Rodrigues Garcia, “Manohead” with the work entitled "Milton Nascimento"
In the category "Cartoon" the awarded artist is Marcos Leandro Miler with the work titled "Intolerance"
In the category "Charge" the awarded artist is Silvano Rosa Gonçalves de Melo with work titled "Conclave"
In the category "Comics" the winning artist is Carlos Valdir Santos Fereira with work titled "Imperial Tavern".
In the category "Editorial Illustration" the awarded artist is Mikhail M. Zlatkovsky with work titled "Editorial 1 from The New Messages daily".
2 - Honorable mentions:
In the category "Caricature" the artist chosen is João Bosco Jacó de Azevedo with the work titled "Ariano Suassuna".
In the category "Cartoon" the artist chosen is Rafael Bittencourt Correa for the work entitled "Christmas".
In the category "Comics" is the chosen artist Rafael Anderson Bezerra with the work entitled "Deprê Family"
In the category "Charge" is the chosen artist Eder Santos with the work titled "Enemies of Peace".
In the category "Editorial Illustration" is the chosen artist André Simões Debs with the work entitled "Panel Yeah".
Source: http://caricalendario.blogspot.com/2013/03/resultado-do-xxi-salao-internacional-de.html
Selected authors (Below): http://www2.portoalegre.rs.gov.br/smc/default.php?p_noticia=159331&XXI+SALAO+INTERNACIONAL+DE+DESENHO+PARA+IMPRENSA+ABRE+NESTA+SEXTA.

The Friday Called "Good"

Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12

See, my servant shall prosper; 

he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high. 

Just as there were many who were astonished at him — 

so marred was his appearance, beyond human semblance, 

and his form beyond that of mortals — 

 so he shall startle many nations; 

kings shall shut their mouths because of him; 

for that which had not been told them they shall see, 

and that which they had not heard they shall contemplate. 

Who has believed what we have heard? 

And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 

For he grew up before him like a young plant, 

and like a root out of dry ground; 

he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, 

nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 

He was despised and rejected by others; 

a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; 

and as one from whom others hide their faces 

 he was despised, and we held him of no account. 

Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; 

yet we accounted him stricken, 

struck down by God, and afflicted. 

But he was wounded for our transgressions, 

crushed for our iniquities; 

upon him was the punishment that made us whole, 

and by his bruises we are healed. 

All we like sheep have gone astray; 

we have all turned to our own way, 

and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, 

yet he did not open his mouth; 

like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, 

and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, 

so he did not open his mouth. 

By a perversion of justice he was taken away. 

Who could have imagined his future? 

For he was cut off from the land of the living, 

stricken for the transgression of my people. 

They made his grave with the wicked 

and his tomb with the rich, 

 although he had done no violence, 

and there was no deceit in his mouth. 

Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him with pain. 

When you make his life an offering for sin, 

 he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days; 

through him the will of the LORD shall prosper. 

Out of his anguish he shall see light; 

 he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge. 

The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous, 

and he shall bear their iniquities. 

Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great, 

and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; 

because he poured out himself to death, 

and was numbered with the transgressors; 

yet he bore the sin of many, 

and made intercession for the transgressors.

A Day of Remembrance

"This day shall be a day of remembrance for you.

You shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord;

throughout your generations you shall observe it..."

(Exodus 12:14)

Though the Roman liturgy tags this day in Holy Week as "In Cena Domini" = "At the Lord's Supper", on Holy/Maundy Thursday historically there was a lot more going on than merely the recalling of the the Holy Eucharist's institution. In the morning the bishop and his clergy led a service of Reconciliation of the Penitents, a rite no longer in use. Those known in the community for "notorious" sins gathered, after a long period of repentance, outside the church door, barefoot, clad in long grey garments, and prostrate, holding unlighted candles. After many prayers inside the church, including the Litany of the Saints, the bishop went out to the candidates and invited them into the church aisle, lined now with the clergy on each side: "Come, come, come children, hear me. I will teach you the fear of the Lord." Once inside, the bishop grasped the hand of one penitent who took hold of the next-in-line's hand, and so on through the group. Led by the bishop, holding his crozier in his other hand, the line moved forward into the center of the church where the actual prayer of reconciliation was offered, the absolution given, and where each penitent received holy water and incense, hearing the bishop's words: "Arise, you who sleep; arise from the dead, and Christ will enlighten you."

Since 1955, at some time later in the day, the annual Mass of Consecration of the Holy Oils takes place. The bishop, assisted by his clergy, consecrates three kinds of oil: 1) Oil of the Sick, for the Anointing of the Sick or the Dying, and the blessing of bells; 2) Oil of Catechumens, for the blessing of the baptismal font, Baptism and Holy Orders; and 3) Sacred Chrism, used in Baptism, Confirmation, the consecration of bishops, and for the consecration of churches, chalices, patens, and bells.

Finally, at the conclusion of the evening Mass "In Cena Domini", the Communion elements for the Good Friday service are taken in procession to a side altar of repose, a procedure which was done after each celebration in earlier centuries. Following this the main altar is stripped all its adornments, so that it appears somewhat desolate to our modern eyes. In fact, the altar table is a symbol of Christ, and in ancient times it was customary to uncover the table after each Eucharistic celebration. That, of course, would drive today's Altar Guilds crazy! The idea was to "set the table" for each celebration, just as the table in a home is covered for a meal. Nevertheless, the stripping of the altar is a reminder of the poverty and humility of Jesus in being stripped of all that he had. 

For me the key idea of Maundy Thursday is "day of remembrance". To remember comes from the Latin, meaning to be mindful again, and not just in a casual, fleeting way, but such that we relive and even repeat in a newer way what it is that we're remembering. One of the most profound descriptions of what it means to remember, to celebrate, to do Eucharist, which I've treasured  for years is in a 1967 book called Footnotes And Headlines: A Play-Pray Book. Its author was a voice out of the late 60's: Corita Kent (1918-1986), then Sister Corita, I.H.M. who taught at Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles and later died of cancer. 

Corita spoke of two sizes of people: the small, individual ones, and the large ones, the community "of two or of everyone". She spoke of how something changes when people come together, especially when the size of a community grows. "...the tribe gets to see itself, know itself, and discovers further ways to act and receive." The celebrating gets to be more complex and there's need for organization. For that people need to take on various tasks and roles"...so they can explain to the whole race who it is and where it can go (in between God who is at the beginning and end of this race)."

Applying such concepts to the Church and to the surrounding culture, Corita notes that, if those involved only know "physical facts and know no poetry or irony, [they] will be out of the celebration...And the party will miss [them] and be less good or maybe not even go on." She says that the result may well be that people "go hungry and become weak and unable to act, unable to express and explain themselves to each other. They will disintegrate. They will not be able to remember together who they are (which is what a celebration is). And so [they] will begin to do the opposite of remembering, [they] will dis-member."

What happens in today's liturgical readings is a process of remembering at various time and in various situations. In Exodus (12:1-14) Yahweh instructs Moses and the people on how they're to carry out the family/community meal, after which Yahweh will lead them out of the slavery of their Egyptian masters. A lamb slaughtered at twilight. Its blood on the doorposts and lintels of their homes. The lamb then roasted and eaten hurriedly in the same night, along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They're to do this with traveling clothes on, sandals on the feet, and walking staff in hand. Yahweh says: "It is the passover of the Lord. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night..." Yahweh emphasizes that they are to remember, to be mindful of this grace-given experience of being saved, and not just on fleeting occasions, but as long as they live, "throughout your generations."

Paul remembers for the Corinthian community (1 Corinthians 11:23-26) what he "received from the Lord" and handed down to them to reenact over and over, i.e., the account of what Jesus did with bread and wine at the last gathering with his disciples before his death: "This is my body...This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this...in remembrance of me." Paul reminds his hearers and us that each time they/we are mindful again of this as they/we gather together, "...you proclaim the Lord's death [and resurrection] until he comes."

Finally, John's Gospel (13:1-17; 31b-35) remembers the great unselfish love of Jesus which is the whole point of Holy Week: "Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end." Jesus, in essence, preaches a sermon-in-sign: he removes his outer robe, ties a towel around himself, and begins to kneel before each of his disciples, washing their feet and wiping them dry. He reminds them, Peter specifically, the drama-king who resists the "economy" rather than the "deluxe" foot-washing, that they shouldn't expect to understand now what he's doing, "but later you will understand." After he finishes, he spells it out for them: "...if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you...If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them...Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." 

That's what they and we are to remember, to be mindful of again and again, to reenact in celebration together, both in church and in life! Corita again (Footnotes And Headlines, pp. 2-5 & 9): 

"So if small bodies could remember ceremonially they could understand the celebrations of other communities and then the great revolution could take place, the whole human running race could finally sit down in a big circle and eat together, and having once shared a meal, could no longer be enemies. They would know who they were through these expressions and could somehow work it out, having admitted the importance of playing it out. Then we could all get up and run again.

Always there remains this need to explain to each other that we are good. We all have a constant need to be reaffirmed. The single [individual] needs this. The whole human race needs a yea, needs the large ceremonial pat on the back that says

'Come on, come on!

We can make it!'"

Blu-ray Review: FUTUREWORLD (1976)

Note: This review is for a screener obtained from Shout! Factory. FUTUREWORLD has been officially released onto Blu-ray as of March 26th. Order your copy from Amazon.com today!

MOVIE REVIEW:
Until just yesterday, I had never seen FUTUREWORLD before, but I have seen its predecessor, WESTWORLD, numerous times. When a copy arrived in the mail from Shout! Factory, I was extremely excited! Finally I could see what happened after the events of the first film. Would the park be opened again, and if so, would everything work correctly this time with no loss of human life?!

Beginning several years after the rampage of a murderous Yul Brenner-bot, FUTUREWORLD follows two reporters, Chuck Browning (Peter Fonda) and Tracy Ballard (Blythe Danner), who are invited to Delos' reopened adult theme park in hopes that they give it the OK and provide a some positive media coverage. Tracy thinks it's all grand, but Chuck, ever the suspicious reporter, believes that there is more going on than meets the eye.

After spending a bit of time in Futureworld (an outer space-themed addition to Delos' park) the two reporters begin to poke around and discover that something diabolical is going on behind the scenes, involving murder, villainous doppelgangers, and one of the most insane attempts at controlling the press I have ever seen!

FUTUREWORLD is a rather dull followup to the totally awesome WESTWORLD but still does enough right to be a worthy sequel. Instead of being a retread of the previous film's events, this movie smartly goes in another direction while staying firmly rooted in the world the first film created. Instead of having robots going insane and murdering Delos' clientele, there's a mystery afoot involving the giant tech company, and a secret that is worth killing over. While this is an interesting spin, the movie waits too long to deliver the big twist, which you'll easily figure out way before it happens.

Though it plods along at a lethargic pace, the film has some really cool moments: Yul Brenner makes a cameo as "The Gunslinger" within Tracy Ballard's really weird and none-too-erotic dream sequence. Though it's cool to see him reprise his role, I was really hoping he'd pop up in the abandoned ruins of Westworld to give our characters a fright! Instead, the only robotic character we get is Clark, a rebuilt automaton without a that emotes better than the majority of the cast. Oddly enough, this background character, who has no lines and only a few brief scenes, proves to be a captivating, and sadly tragic figure. Clark's reaction to the departure of his repairer/friend Harry (a rebellious maintenance worker at the resort) is heartbreaking.

Then there's the final act of the movie, where it becomes a race against time for Chuck and Tracy to escape with their lives! It's like someone shot a huge dose of caffeine into the seemingly sedated film, and we get nothing less than an old-fashioned wild west showdown, and an acrobatic battle around the outside of a space shuttle launch platform! And after all is said and done, after the bad guys think they've pulled off a big win for their (not clearly defined) evil machinations, this happens:

YOU DON'T MESS WITH THE FONDA B*TCHES!

While a far cry from the fantastic WESTWORLD, FUTUREWORLD boasts a great cast, an awesome soundtrack by Fred Karlin (listen to some of it here), and does something different while continuing to build upon the storyline and mythology created by the previous entry. It's slow paced, but hang in there if you watch it because it all builds up to a worthwhile ending!

FUTUREWORLD may be a bit on the dull side, but its definitely worth checking out. I am more than happy to give this WESTWORLD sequel:

THREE 'RADS'

BLU-RAY REVIEW

The Packaging: Nothing special here folks. Typical Blu-ray case with a yellow-tinted version of the original theatrical poster art. (Blu-ray cover art located at top right of this post.)

Audio & Video: FUTUREWORLD is showcased in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio in 1080p HD! Though I haven't seen it prior to its Blu-ray release, I'm sure it is safe to say that this is the best the movie has looked in a long time. The film comes with only one audio option: DTS HD Master Audio 2.0. Fred Karlin's score, the dialogue, and sound effects all come through nice and clearly. There's really nothing to complain about here!

The Extras: This is where the disc totally strikes out. We get a theatrical trailer (featured in 1080i), two short radio spots (together they make up approx. one minute of audio), and a minute-long Still Gallery that features concept art from the film as well as domestic and foreign poster designs. (No behind the scenes photos from the set, or lobby cards, or screenshots from the movie? Tsk tsk, Shout! Factory.)

Final Ruling: Though I was hoping for more special features, overall I can't really complain about this Blu-ray release. The disc is going for under fifteen dollars at most retailers, and the movie looks and sounds great! Plus the cover art actually complements that of the Warner Bros. WESTWORLD Blu-ray that came out on March 5th. It's a serviceable Blu-ray disc for an oft-overlooked sci-fi classic that isn't overpriced, therefore I'm content to let it slide and give it:

THREE 'RADS'

As stated earlier, Shout! Factory's FUTUREWORLD Blu-ray is now available wherever DVDs and Blu-rays are sold. Currently it is going for just under fourteen dollars on Amazon.com, as is Warner Home Video's WESTWORLD release. You can order one or both of them from the following links.

ORDER FUTUREWORLD ON BLU-RAY FOR $13.86!
ORDER WESTWORLD ON BLU-RAY FOR $13.86!

On the fence about buying it? Then give the trailer a quick look:

The Man of Constant Sorrows

"I am a man of constant sorrow, I've seen trouble all my days..." are the opening phrases of a traditional folk song, first recorded around 1913 by Richard Burnett, a blind fiddler from Kentucky. It's a perfect summary of the person of the Suffering Servant of Yahweh, embodied by Jesus of Nazareth. 

In today's liturgical readings Isaiah (50:4-9a) describes the Servant as a teacher, one who "sustain[s] the weary with a word." It's his God-given gift, and the Servant's effectiveness lies in the fact that Yahweh "wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught." That's the heart of meditation and contemplation: listening, really hearing. It's related to the Latin word for "obey" = ob + audire, to really absorb what God speaks in love. It's essentially what impels the Servant, not just to accept suffering, but to actually embrace it. "I did not turn backward. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting." Lest anyone misunderstand, the Servant's stance is in no way a masochistic love of pain or of being hurt. It's rather embracing whatever goes with Yahweh's call, for an entirely greater good, and humbly relying on God's help to bring one through. "It is the Lord God who helps me."

The writer of Hebrews (12:1-3) notes that Jesus is "the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of...God." The unique Suffering Servant is willing to do this "so that you may not grow weary or lose heart." It's an incentive for you and me, as we endure the difficulties, misunderstandings, betrayals, and pain of all sorts which human life necessarily entails, to keep our focus on him and on the great "cloud of witnesses" who surround us. "...let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us..." The word which our teacher, Jesus, offers us is that our very failures and the almost unbearable insufficiency of our lives are the very things which lead us into the full light of love ultimately.

John the Evangelist, in today's Gospel (13:21-32), records the depths of sadness and disappointment which Jesus experiences at the impending betrayal of one of his own, Judas Iscariot. "...one of you will betray me...It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread...Do quickly what you are going to do." Yet, even in the face of such blatant and seemingly unrepentant betrayal, Jesus, keeping his focus on the Father and on the higher stakes for all of us, goes forth to his suffering and death as willfully as Judas goes out into the night to do his act of treachery. The imminent sorrows, death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ are the beginning of our journey into the glory of eternal life. "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once."   

   

Defensive Player Of The Year: The Finalists

Every year the NBA all defensive team is littered with all stars that happen to be good defenders, rather than the best defenders in the league (for example Kobe Bryant two years ago). When the voters aren't overrating defenders based on their offensive prowess, they often elect players who gamble to create turnovers rather than making the good defensive play that consistently help their team (i.e. Rajon Rondo). No matter what your bias of choice, it is easy to be swayed towards overrating a players defense based on reasons that do not help his team's defense. Luckily, for us, the viewing public, advanced statistics have provided us with an unbiased (althoug sometimes flawed) way of evaluating defense. Taking these biases into account, combining advanced statistics and my amateur scouting skills I will attempt to clear the murky waters that is NBA defense, and predict the finalists for Defensive Player of the Year.

Larry Sanders
Important Stats:
3.0 Blocks Per Game (leads league), 98 defensive rating (Fourth in NBA min. 1500 minutes), 8.2 block percentage (leads league min 1500 minutes), .57 Points Per Possession allowed against Isolations (11th in NBA)

Larry Sanders is the the gold standard for the development of project big men. After looking more or less completely lost in his first two years, he has been able to harness his athleticism to game changing levels.

His defense is the best example of the flaw in my favorite statistic, defensive rating. Defensive Rating or points allowed per 100 possessions is flawed because it is heavily dependent on teammates, allowing some average defenders to be the statistical beneficiary of good teammates. Although, Sander does play with some solid front court defenders, his back court teammates either can't or won't stop anyone, there-by hurting his defensive rating.

Not only do Monta Ellis (106 Defensive Rating) and Brandon Jennings (108 defensive rating) play matador defense, but their constant barrage of long two's clanking off the back iron, lead to an increase in run out opportunities for opponents.  When the Black Hole brothers bother to engage defensively they often go for steals, essentially removing themselves from their rotations. In other words his guard teammates make life much harder on Sanders. Larry Sanders' shot blocking prowess is routinely the only thing deterring opposing guards from a dribble drive parade to the rim, and the Bucks would be lost without him.

Sanders' probably won't win the defensive player of the year since it routinely goes to players on the top defensive teams. Despite this he will be in the conversation for years to come with his never ending motor and can do attitude.

Joakim Noah
Important Stats:
98 defensive rating (tied with Sanders),  4 shots have been attempted against him closing out on a pick and roll (0 baskets made), 2.2 Blocks Per Game (6th in NBA), 11.4 Rebounds Per Game (7th in NBA), 4.7 Win Shares (2nd in NBA)

The most important statistic for Joakim Noah (besides hair length) is not an individual one. The Chicago Bulls are third in the league at .85 points per possession allowed make no mistake, Noah is the driving force behind that number. What Noah has done leading a team comprised of many veteran castoffs to the third best defense, is truly remarkable.

What's more impressive is the minutes per game he produces this stellar defensive for. While Noah is tied with Larry Sanders as far as defensive rating, he does so playing 37.7 minutes per game to Sander's 27.

Although Noah is no slouch at 2.2 Blocks per game his contributions are more prevalent in preventing shots from even being attempted. His defensive rotations especially on the pick and roll are among the best in the games history. This is difficult to measure statistically since this is obvious to opposing teams, who simply avoid running the pick and roll against him.

Every basketball player knows that no defensive possession is complete without securing a defensive rebound (unless you force a turnover). Noah's ability to recover to the paint after pressuring the ball handler in the pick and roll, shows agility uncommon among men his size. After recovering ,his proficiency in ending defensive positions by securing the ball should also be considered when discussing defensive MVP.

Like Sanders, Noahs love for the defensive end of the court is infectious, often leading to bouts of awkward dancing/celebrations.

Avery Bradley
Important Stats:
.69 Points Per Possession (12th in NBA), only 23 attempts by opponents guarded while coming off screens, Celtics defense is 1.6 Point Per Possession better with him on the court, 102.1 D rating with Bradley injured 98.1 after he returned.

Maybe Bradley's inclusion on this list has to do with a bias of mine, (I did write a post on him being my favorite Celtic, after all). However, the reason he is my favorite player does coincide with why he is a defensive player of the year candidate, he gives 100% effort all the time, especially on defense.

If a statistic was kept on times a defender guarded his man full court, I suspect Bradley would lead it by a wide margin. With the talent level in the NBA, picking up a ball handler for the entire length of the court is usually a recipe for disaster. In Bradley's case his quickness strength and effort make it a disaster for opposing offenses. His ball pressure forces opponents to start their offense with half the shot clock already gone, making it exceedingly more easy for his teammates to get stops.

His elite defense is not solely a function of his on ball pressure, Bradley is as complete a wing defender as there is in the NBA. If you watch closely, you will realize that his ability to navagate opposing screens  is actually more impressive than his full court pressure. His skill at following his man through reminds one of a running back, in that he turns his shoulders to get through the smallest of spaces to prevent his charge from seperating.

A lot of Boston fans came to the conclusion that Rajon Rondo was the problem when the team went on a winning streak after his injury. Another explanation for their strong play during this stretch was that Avery Bradley was finally healthy, allowing the Celtics to return to the defense that made them elite. After returning Bradley has increased Boston's defense by 4 points per 100 possessions. This happened despite the loss of Rondo, who was an all NBA defensive first teamer the year previous.

Unfortunately, I was not able to find a humorous gif to pair with Bradley. Amusing on court antics just aren't his thing. Avery is a quiet unassuming guy, who turns on opponents with the tenacity of a pit bull, which happens to be the moniker Bradley and Courtney Lee took to when they became Celtics starters. Nope, no amusing dances here, just mean, nasty, tough defense.

Paul George
Important Stats:
5.9 Defensive Win Shares (1st in NBA), 96 Defensive Rating (3rd in NBA min 1500 minutes), 3 points per 100 possessions less are allowed when he is on the court

Usually when a player makes the leap offensively after being considered a very good defender early in his career, everyone assumes his defense makes the leap as well. Whether or not this is true, depends on the case, but regardless scoring more points usually will help a player's defensive reputation by causing more media attention to be brought his way. In this case, George might not be one of the best defensive players, but being the best player on the best defensive team will certainly garner him votes.

That is not to say George's numbers indicate that he is every bit the defender as any names on this list. His number one ranking in defensive win shares, indicates that his defense has created more wins for his team than any others. Although this isn't the greatest metric, being ranked first in any advanced defensive statistic is a feat.

Defensively he is behind only Tim Duncan in rating. However, Tim Duncan being in the twilight of his career (i.e. playing less games and minutes) will preclude him from getting many all defensive votes. Roy Hibbert has the same defensive rating as George, but rarely are two players from the same team finalists for DPoY. All things being equal, the voters will go with the better offensive players, in this case the edge goes to George.

Paul George is a freak of nature. WIth the length of a power forward but the quickness of a shooting guard, he is able to guard multiple positions, often taking the other team's best player and making life difficult for him. His defensive instincts aren't elite but most of the time it doesn't matter due to his unique athletic gifts. The Scary part is, George has only scratched the surface of what he will be as a defender in the NBA. With better positioning on defensive rotations in the future, I'm sure I'll be able to find a better gif than him blocking a helpless, ground bound (i.e. white) JJ Redick.

Chris Paul
Important stats:
2.4 Steals per game (1st in NBA), Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan's defensive rating:101

Fans love steals, pretty much every single year the finalist for the defensive player of the year is tops in the league in steals. Chris Paul leads the league in steals, especially those of the spectacular variety. He makes the type of defensive plays that stand out in the minds of anyone to watch the game, this alone will get him votes.

Besides being probably the best in the game at pilfering the rock. Paul has lead the transition to the Clippers being an excellent defensive team. Without his instruction Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, would probably still be running around on defense like chickens with their heads cut off. Instead, both have taken a leap forward defensively, posting career bests in defensive ratings. Griffin's rise has been all the more impressive when you consider he lacks elite length or width to alter shots and occupy a wide area in the paint.

Despite Cp3's defensive rating numbers being far from elite, he is an elite defender. In his case Lob City's constant track meet pace makes it more difficult to produce elite defensive numbers. Don't make the mistake of looking at his 102 rating and believing him to be a slightly above average defender, he is the engine that makes this team go both on defense and the offense their defense creates. Realize that almost every  run out seen on sports center was created by the strong team defense that Paul has instituted in LA.

Although Paul, is one of the best in the game at picking pockets, and has orchestrated the defensive improvements in a number of young players, he is not perfect. Occasionally he is guilty of a flop, apparently overacting in the Hollywood area is contagious.

Just missing the cut: Lebron James, Tyson Chandler. Roy Hibbert, Tim Duncan, Serge Ibaka, Kevin Garnett, Tony Allen, Marc Gasol. All of these players fall into one of the following categories that excluded them from the finalist list: being too old/injured, not bringing enough to the table offensively to get noticed making the spectacular play at the expense of sound defensive rotations or having an offense so potent that consistent defensive effort isn't needed.

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‘The Fourth Kind’ director will tackle aliens again in ‘Eden’

By Robbie Graham Silver Screen Saucers

The writer/director of the controversial alien abduction horror The Fourth Kind, Olatunde Osunsanmi (pictured), is set to tackle aliens once again in Eden, his original sci-fi tale for Gold Circle Productions.

According to Comingsoon.net, “the storyline takes place in a world where aliens have enslaved humanity. Survivors follow an Underground Railroad-like path called "The Rail" in the hopes of winning their freedom.”

Paul Brooks will produce, with Guy Danella and Scott Niemeyer serving as executive producers.  

No release date has been set.

I Love You Beautiful Facebook Cover Picture 2013

I love you beautiful facebook Cover pictures are here. Facebook users need to get most beautiful facebook cover picture because they set rhese wallpapers on their facebook profile and they also set wallpapers on Facebook Cover Picture. Actually on internet have lots of wallpapers just like cute, famouse, lovely and others but many people don't set cute, famouse, lovely wallpapers. These wallpapers are very beautiful and attractive as well as heart touching. These wallpapers are for only a couple. These wallpapers are for boyfriend and girlfriend. You can easily share these wallpapers from you friends and family members. I hope you like this post and wallpapers.

I Love You Beautiful Facebook Cover Picture 2013

I Love You Beautiful Facebook Cover Picture 2013

‘Independence Day’ sequels confirmed, story details revealed

By Robbie Graham Silver Screen Saucers

ID Forever Part I and ID Forever Part II will see aliens from original movie return for second invasion.

Humanity will fight back using anti-gravity technology recovered from the aliens.

Bill Pullman to reprise his role as President Whitmore. Will Smith not returning.

Director Roland Emmerich has confirmed that not one, but two sequels to his iconic 1996 alien invasion movie Independence Day are now in active development. ID Forever Part I and ID Forever Part II willtake place roughly 20 years after the original, when a distress call sent by the first wave of aliens finally brings reinforcements to Earth.

“The humans knew that one day the aliens would come back,” Emmerich tells Entertainment Weekly, “and they know that the only way you can really travel in space is through wormholes. So for the aliens, it could take two or three weeks, but for us that’s 20 or 25 years.”

Apparently, Emmerich has been busy working with an art department on the look of his new IDworld. “It’s a changed world,” he says. “It’s like parallel history. [Humans] have harnessed all this alien technology. We don’t know how to duplicate it because it’s organically-grown technology, but we know how to take an antigravity device and put it in a human airplane.”

Fans of the original movie may be disappointed to learn that Will Smith will not be returning as Captain Steven Hiller for either of the sequels, although Bill Pullman has already confirmed that he will reprise his role as President Whitmore.

Emmerich tells EW that his new ID films will revolve around a younger cast of characters, which will include Captain Hiller’s (Smith’s) stepson, Dylan (originally played by Ross Bagley). The director also says that his first sequel will end on a cliffhanger: “The first one ends on a little success, but only enough to give the humans hope. And then in the second one they free themselves again [from the aliens].”

The scripts for both sequels are being written by James Vanderbilt of the famous Vanderbilt family – the seventh richest family in history. James’ grandfather was Donald C. Platten, the former Chairman and Chief Executive of Chemical Bank – once the third largest bank in the United States.

No release dates have yet been set for the Independence Day sequels, though 2015 and 2016 seem likely.

Introducing THE DEAD DUCK'S DUCK HUNT!

The internet is a huge and nearly infinite place, filled with the bulk of humanity's knowledge... and cat photos.... and lots and lots of porn... and viral videos... and memes... and, well, you get the idea. Because of all the info floating around out there, a lot of stuff gets overlooked, especially on Youtube (trust me on that, I know from experience).

Case in point, tonight I was introduced to a newly started web-series called THE DEAD DUCK'S DUCK HUNT, an odd little show that focuses on cult, horror, and exploitation films. It's weird, but I definitely dug it, and think some of you frequent readers and cult film fanatics will dig it too. Thus far "The Dead Duck" has two videos out there on the Youtube. The first covers numerous Shout! Factory DVD releases (mainly their awesome selection of Roger Corman Cult Classics), and the second gives a brief overview of the films of Lucio Fulci!

Give the Dead Duck's Duck Hunt a little love by watching the videos below. If you like what you see, be sure to give them a thumbs up, subscribe and/or comment on the videos, and share them too! I know these guys would love to hear what you have to say, plus they could use the extra traffic!

Foolish Wisdom

"...the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God...God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe...but we proclaim Christ crucified,..Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength...He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption."

The liturgical readings for Tuesday in Holy Week speak of the "foolish wisdom", the paradox so confusing to us, of how God transforms us through the words, actions and life of Jesus the Christ. The reading from Isaiah 49 points to the creative, empowering existence and activity of Unbounded Love far in advance of each of our coming into being. "The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother's womb he named me." Even then, you and I were given a specific purpose for being on this earth, and not just a small task, but an all-encompassing one: "I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."

The confusing part, as we try to figure this all out in living our lives, is the message we're to discover and to convey in order to spread the light, to make it a saving word, a wise rather than foolish, a strong rather than weak word. Paul defines the message rather succinctly: "...we proclaim Christ crucified [and, he would add, risen and ascended]...Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." It utterly overwhelms our human mind in its simplicity yet depth!

John's Gospel passage (12:20-36), though no less paradoxical and confusing, perhaps, gives us some guidance. Jesus says to the disciples: "...I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life will lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor." Fr. Richard Rohr sums it up this way: "God-in-you already knows, loves, and serves God in everything else. All you can do is fully jump on board. I would call that jump consciousness, and I believe the Risen Christ is the icon of full consciousness. In the human mind of Christ, every part of creation knows itself as (1) divinely conceived, (2) beloved of God, (3) crucified, and (4) finally reborn. He carries us across with him...That is my major thesis about how Jesus 'saves us'." (Immortal Diamond, Jossey-Bass, 2013, p. xii)

Jesus, realizing that the moment of truth has all but arrived as he faces death, goes on to speak of his own inner confusion and perplexity. To his human mind, too, this is all so overwhelming. Should he, as gracefully as he can, ask the Father if he can back out of it? let someone else do it? cut and run? That's one option; but then he remembers the "foolish wisdom" of God which has guided his life up till now: "No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name...Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself..." 

With Jesus as the "icon of full consciousness" for us, the One who "went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified" (Collect for Monday in Holy Week), perhaps we can summon up the courage, the "foolish wisdom", to walk in the light while we have the light, to "believe in the light", so that ultimately he may bring us into the full light of God's glory.

New DVDs & Blu-rays for 03/26/2013!

Holy Hell! Your bank accounts are about to take an ass-whoopin' this week fellow hoarders of digital versatile discs and Blu-rays! Mill Creek has unleashed numerous bargain-priced double feature Blu-rays and Scream/Shout! Factory are hitting us with some awesome new stuff, including a new MST3K DVD set and two new Horror classics hitting Blu-ray for the first time ever! Scroll down and see what's new this week!




NEW TO DVD & BLU-RAY
Bangkok Revenge
The Collection
From Beyond (Collector's Edition - DVD/Blu-ray combo)
Phantasm II (Collector's Edition)



NEW TO BLU-RAY
Best of the Best 3: No Turning Back
Dead Collections
Dead Sushi
Futureworld
Hollow Man / Hollow Man 2
Jezebeth
Star Trek: Enterprise - Season One
Terminator Anthology
When a Stranger Calls / Happy Birthday to Me



NEW TO DVD
6 Dead Souls
Alleycat (Remastered Widescreen Edition)
Angels Brigade (a.k.a. Seven from Heaven, Angels' Revenge)
Animus
Bad Meat
Bled White
Bloodline: Vengeance From Beyond
Darkest Corner of Paradise
Deadly Karma
Death From Above
The Death Wheelers
Dinosaur Project
Discipline
The Frankenstein Theory
Ichi: The Killer Pack
Johnny Sokko and His Giant Robot: The Complete Series
Kill the Ugly TV
Loved Ones
Mad Cowgirl (Gourmet Edition - 3D & 2D)
Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXVI
Population 2
Possession in Japan
Sexsquatch: The Legend of Blood Stool Creek
Stagnight of the Dead
To Live and Die in Hollywood
Virtual Weapon
Zombie Genocide: Legion of the Damned

'Ender's Game': first poster for epic alien invasion movie

Silver Screen Saucers

Summit Entertainmenthas released the first poster for Ender's Game, the hotly anticipated big screen adaptation of Orson Scott Card’s bestselling sci-fi novel...

 

The film – which stars Asa Butterfield, Ben Kingsley, Harrison Ford, Hailee Steinfeld, Abigail Breslin, and Viola Davis – hits theaters and IMAX on November 1. It’s plot reads as follows:

“In the near future, a hostile alien race called the Formics have attacked Earth. If not for the legendary heroics of International Fleet Commander Mazer Rackham (Ben Kingsley), all would have been lost. In preparation for the next attack, the highly esteemed Colonel Hyrum Graff (Harrison Ford) and the International Military are training only the best young minds to find the future Mazer.

Ender Wiggin (Asa Butterfield), a shy but strategically brilliant boy, is recruited to join the elite. Arriving at Battle School, Ender quickly and easily masters increasingly difficult challenges and simulations, distinguishing himself and winning respect amongst his peers. Ender is soon ordained by Graff as the military’s next great hope, resulting in his promotion to Command School. Once there, he’s trained by Mazer Rackham himself to lead his fellow soldiers into an epic battle that will determine the future of Earth and save the human race.”

 

Hailee Steinfeld and Asa Butterfield in Ender's Game (2013).