Blackthorn At the end of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid we saw the pair surrounded by the Bolivian Army and wounded but as ever the duo load up their guns and launch themselves out of the doorway as we hear a shout of “Fuego” meaning fire as the film freezes to the sound of gunfire.
We return to 1920′s Bolivia and the premise that Butch Cassidy “Robert LeRoy Parker” and The Sundance Kid ” Harry Alonzo Longabaugh ” survived the attack by the Bolivian Army and after the death of Longabaugh, Parker hides out in Bolivia under the guise of “James Blackthorn”, as a horse breeder.
Blackthorn has been writing to the son of Etta Place signing the letters uncle Butch and decides it is time to return to the states to be with Etta’s son after learning of her death, he sells off his horses and empties his bank account to make the trip back to the states saying goodbye to his housekeeper and lover Yana whom he asks to go with him but she refuses.
As he makes his way across the Bolivian wilderness, he runs into Eduardo played by “Eduardo Noriega” and after a shootout looses his horse with all his belongings, but Eduardo tells him he has $50,000 buried and Blackthorn begrugingly helps him saying he will take a half share of the money in return.
Eduardo has stolen the money from a mine apparently owned by a well known Bolivian tycoon, and bounty hunters are on his tail, after they get the money and a few shootouts later it turns out Eduardo is not all he seems and Blackthorn after being injured awakes to find an old Pinkerton Agent Mackinley played by “Stephen Rea” watching over him.
There are a few plot twists throughout the movie and we get some spectacular shots of the Bolivian wilderness, Sam Sheppard plays the role Blackthorn the ageing Butch Cassidy well and flashbacks showing the duo of Butch and Sundance along with Etta are given a few times during the movie as Blackthorn remembers the past, Shepard is likened to the performance of Jeff Bridges in True Grit another great western this year.
The soundtrack of the movie is haunting and includes a rendition of There Ain’t No Grave (Gonna Hold My Body Down) written by “Claude Ely”.
Cast:
Sam Shepard: Blackthorn/Butch Cassidy
Eduardo Noriega: Eduardo Apodaca
Stephen Rea: MacKinley
Magaly Solier: Yana
Director:
Mateo Gil
The discomposure that often times accompany our teenaged years makes it that much more challenging and daunting to flirt. The good news is however, there are common flirting tips and specific flirting tips for teens that will help you to flirt with that boy or girl that makes your heart flutter every time you see them.
Discover Common Interests
The teenaged world is filled with so many different things to do, that it is almost impossible not to be able to discover even one person who shares the share interest/s that you do. When you have zeroed in on that individual that you want to flirt with, you should endeavour to ascertain what interests you share and use that knowledge to help to convince them of your compatibility. If you find that you both enjoy the same music, if may be wise of you to recommend that you attend a concert when the group/singer you both like is performing in your city. Additionally, if you find out that you both like the same type of movie/s or a particular actor or actress, you may set up a movie night at your house; renting a number of movies so you can spend a significant amount of time together. You may decide to invite others as well, depending on the level of your present communication.
Initiative the Connection
In times past it would be expected that the guy would be the one who would have to make the first move, and therefore the girl would be thought of as being forward if she attempted to approach the guy first. Another flirting tip for teenagers would be that if you have gotten to the point where you have exchanged telephones numbers; that you send him/her a text messages just so they will realize that they are on your mind even when you are not in school. When you keep in regular contact with this person, they will eventually come to realize that your interest in them is deeper than just friendship.
Self-Assurance
When you are self-assured, people are attracted to you and want to be around you, as confidence is unquestionably one of the most attractive traits a person could have. Teenagers may sometimes, for whatever reason, deem themselves to not be nice-looking enough to attract the person they are crushing on. However, if you feel and act confident, then there is a good chance that the person you are flirting with will flirt right back. Do something different or what others would consider being “out there” like going to sing karaoke or taking part in an open mike at a poetry show.
Preview: “Shipping containers” have yet nothing to do with “housing” in Romania. Is there any chance that they will soon? Belonging to Eastern European block, released in 1989 from communist oppression, Romania has already experienced 15 years of less and less stunning freedom.
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I read a few articles about shipping container housing. It took me about five minutes to realize this subject makes your mind frolic endlessly on an imaginary (however not utopian) land. Those articles belong to some very respectable gentlemen (at least that was the impression they made on me, at first reading) – that praise living in shipping containers.
Let’s go cheap
A 40 foot-long shipping container could reach to $1,500-2,000. I started asking myself questions about how this subject could become a solution for homeless people in Romania (that’s where I live), where flats cost (at least) $20,000. And they’re not 40 foot-long.
At the same time, Romania has a lot of peripheral categories: the poor, the old, the young, the unemployed, the pitman, the gypsy, the orphan, the student.
Could they benefit from this recent discovery that living in some kind of shoe-boxes can be really cool and trendy? I’ll try to answer that.
A few advantages from a Romanian point of view: for peripherals it’s cheap, for artists it’s unconventional the subject is quite green you can “camp” anywhere you want (Romania has not few spectacular landmarks) the result you get using shipping containers can be anywhere between “plastic” and “platinum”, practical and fantasy, serious and ludic – you can move your “house” around. At least that’s what LOT/EK people are trying to prove by their “mobile dwelling unit” project. Earthquakes, floods and sliding land are some serious problems in Romania, so being able to leave the place at a snail’s pace may be useful. – most Romanians live in blocks of flats that pretty much look like overcrowded shipping containers (and usually inadequate to modern standards: water supply, heating, insulation, comfort etc). Could shipping container houses actually mean a reasonable escape? Maybe, if they are properly transformed and adapted to living conditions. – A sad fact is that few Romanians actually have the possibility to pay $2,000 cash for a house-to-be.
If you are not a Romanian 2007 could be, in the optimist version, the year that Romania will join EU. Compared to Western standards, Romanian land properties are very cheap. Land-purchase conditions are the same for both Romanians and foreigners.
A few observations to Mr Doug Casey’s reportage about his Romanian adventure (http://www.escapeartist.com/efam17/Romania.html).
Given the reasons Mr. Casey liked Romania, I quickly made some “counts”. The average Romanian needs to work (at a medium economy salary rate of $11 per day) 2272 days to buy an apartment; or, 103 months (I excluded weekend days of course, they don’t pay); or 9 years. This without considering any interest. And supposing that this particular individual doesn’t eat, dress or pay rent. Just work his butt off. In real terms, he needs more than nine years, probably 25. That’s pretty much for an average ephemeride that lives an average 75 years life.
Mr. Casey’s mentioning of the brief trial and execution of the Ceausescu couple has suddenly brought to my senses a smell of a Dogville atmosphere that I have never before associated with Romania. Of course, I’m talking about the movie dog-ville, not the real one.
That takes me back to the initial idea that shipping container housing is a subject that gives you some chalk drawn-squares (or parallelepipeds in our case) that make you want to play like kids do with their Lego pieces.
But here are a few more questions:
Where do you find those imaginative grown-ups that are able to play with shipping containers in a coherent / artful manner?
What would their work be worth in the end?
How much do utilities cost (water, energy, gas supply etc.)?
Would the authorities be open to hear this as an alternative solution to traditional housing?
If you would like to know how to get your ex husband back, and his two biggest obstacles that you must over come to do this, then you will like this article because I am going to give those little known secrets to you. Getting your ex back won’t be all easy or fast, because there are some changes that have to be made, from within, in order for him to say yes.
Unlike a woman who feels a greater bond with a man that listens to her, makes her feel safe, pays attention, and to a man that meets her emotional needs, a man has different needs. He wants to have a little space, to be with someone that is not “needy”, and in his eyes, is sexually appealing. Men are quite physical in nature.
If you are needy or don’t give him some space, then these are changes that you will have to make. If you don’t it will ruin the chances of peaking his interest and regaining his love. In the beginning, it is better to just let him breathe for a bit to realize what has happened and to recover regardless of who initiated the breakup.
After there has been a little time for recovering, and the energy is a little better then you can contact him. If he is hurt by something you did, then your first move is to ask for forgiveness needing nothing in return.
Make sure that simultaneously getting in better physical shape. Even if you are already in great shape, the act of working out is a turn on for guys and it will help you to vent a little yourself. The hormones that are generated from working out will help you to feel happy and euphoric.
Start by slowing contacting him some more remaining attentive and very much interested, but slightly distant. You don’t want to scare him away. Ask him to go and hang out with you and don’t ask him anything related to your relationship. This may be hard, but it’s vital. You want the energy to be relaxed and to give him the chance that he needs to see what he is missing and the changes that you have made.
As you become more frequent on your times together, be sure to maintain and sustain the changes that you made. He is falling back in love with you, but with the new you. If the new you isn’t “really” you, or changes that you want to make, then don’t begin in the beginning as you only stand to hurt both of you again.
He may have to make some changes too, but don’t bring it up in the beginning. If you follow these steps to getting your ex husband back, then you will stack the cards in your favor.
As a relationship coach one of the issues that I work on the most with clients is love and marriage. So many people feel that they are in a bad relationship and missing out on what life has to offer because they no-longer feel the same passion and excitement towards their partner as they did years ago when they first met.
They wonder whether they should leave the relationship and move on and come to me for the answer.
The client first needs to know that no-one knows what is right for them as well as they do themselves. They need to search their souls and work out what it is they are looking for. I get to know my client by asking many probing questions and through this get the search started. I then help the client find his or her own answers.
Provided that the client is not being abused in any way in nearly al cases what I find is hat the client is worried because they don’t have the same physical response to their partner as they first did and no-longer see him as perfect. This is completely normal.
It does not mean that you no-longer love your partner. It simply means that your chemical reactions have gone back to normal and it is now up to you whether you want to choose to love your partner as love is a choice.
What Is Love To You?
It is important to spend time speaking with the client about what love is to them and in 99% of cases after digging deep the client will say that love is a magic feeling that comes after finding their soul mate. They expect the feeling to metamorphis because they meet a particular person and stay for as long as they are with this person. They feel deprived when this does not happen.
The problem is that we are all so brainwashed by movies and fairytales and posters about what love is that we set ourselves not to get what we expect as the fact is that the perfection we are expecting does not exist.
What Causes That Loving Feeling?
After talking about that loving feeling we look at the fact that the first ‘in love’ feelings that we have for our partner are based on chemicals associated with lust and attraction. Lust is the first stage of love and it is based on the sex hormones testosterone and oestrogen. Attraction is the second stage of love and is based on the three neurotransmitters; adrenaline, dopamine and serotonin.
When you first fall in love this causes stress and increases the adrenalin and cortisol in your blood levels. This causes physical symptoms such as sweaty palms, breathlessness, a racing heart, giggling and a dry mouth.
The feelings caused by these chemicals are very powerful and many people become addicted to them as they feel so great. When the chemicals reduce, as they always do, they feel cheated and go in search of the feelings again. This means that the person is constantly searching for the feelings associated with the early stages of being love and never actually experiences the contentment that comes with the third stage of love which as attachment.
The Third Stage Of Love – Attachment
After we get through the early love stages of lust and attraction we finally reach the third stage which is attachment. During this stage we are supposed to build our life with another person and raise a family. The stage is supposed to stay strong for many decades and develops through the bonds created by shared experiences, trials and tribulations.
It is here that the love often breaks down.
People realise that their partner is far from perfect and if they chose their partner based on the initial chemical feelings the two people will have little in common.
You Have Three Choices Now. Choose To Love
When we realise that life with our partner is not going to be perfect we have three choices that we can make:
1. Leave the relationship and search for something that is perfect (or better);
2. Stay and be unhappy as we think there is something better and we are missing out; or
3. Acknowledge that relationships are hard work and choose to love our partner.
My clients often don’t realise that love is a choice. It is not a feeling in itself. The Dictionary says that the word ‘love’ is a verb. It is a doing word. It is something that we have to take action to get.
If we choose to love our partners we should start by forcing ourselves to focus on the good not the bad in them. Straight away this will change our perception of our partner as it will be positive not negative.
Next we should decide to take action to make our partner happy and on a daily basis we should undertake small acts of kindness such as making our partner a cup of tea, buying their favourite cake at the supermarket, giving a compliment – anything that will make them feel special. Your actions will cause your partner to feel loved and this will cause warm feelings for you which in turn will cause your partner to want to make you feel loved. Your thoughts and actions will be reciprocated.
Once you choose to love your partner you can. You simply take loving action. This is the reason why so many arranged marriages work well. The parties choose to marry and make a successful life and they do.
The only obstacle to loving someone is your own decision as to whether you want to love the person and the mistaken belief that you must find your soulmate. Soulmates are created by understanding and shared experiences over periods of time. You do not find them.
In the same way it is simply not possible to love your husband more on your wedding day than you do twenty years later, as twenty years of working together to build a life is going to create deep bonds and caring that simply could not have been present early on in a relationship. There are different types of love and what we are all seeking whether we know it or not is the deep connection that grows over time.
Choose to love.
I’ll admit that I used to be jealous of my compadres who were minorities in my BFA Creative Writing program. The rest of us were just crusty white kids with no rhythm.
So, I used to be a little jealous of the amount of anger material these minority writers had access to. There is a lot of inspiration in one’s cultural identity but if that inspiration doesn’t allow the artist to create works that break past the illusory bonds of time and space to that oneness that unites us all then the art won’t last and won’t have quite the impact the artist hopes it will. In fact, here is a definition of good art you can copy paste into your brilliant quotes file. This one comes from yours’ truly, Uncle Josh:
“Art (with a capital A) is all about using the contemporary forms of time and space (people, objects and their relationships) to blow apart the phenomenal differences that keep us each locked into what appears to be an inescapable prison (our own egos which are composed of our experience and emotional and intellectual reactions to the present moment, from which we project the future).”
But it is in this projection of the future where humanity’s greatest certain unalienable right exists–the right of the choice about how to act this moment. It is freedom of choice about how to act in the moment (in other words, creating their reality in the moment through sheer will) that allowed people overcome atrocities like The Holocaust where every bit of security involved in associating through one’s cultural identity was removed completely and the individual was reduced to a scrounging animal. This is the point where survival of the fittest and preservation of self becomes king and the social morays simply drop away like burning paper mache.
I have studied The Holocaust passionately now for sixteen years. I completed course upon course in college and have read book upon book about those twenty years in Germany that saw Hitler’s rise to power and a decimation of a culture almost as old as humanity’s recorded existence.
I have long asked why when thinking about the Holocaust. This is a very hard question because you are essentially asking for a sum value of millions of peoples’ lives in terms of a historical lesson (and what historical lesson could be worth the lives of over 150 million who died in a World War which was the direct result of one man and his dream team of terror?).
But here is my why from The Holocaust–individual freedom emerged intact despite the fact that untold masses of individuals were murdered and had their most sacred identities taken away–their cultural or group identification.
There is enormous associative power in group identification–that is why we are constantly being told to choose, in the moment, which social group we define ourselves as–black, white, gay, christian, conservative, liberal, rich, poor, etc. There is a certain amount of creative inspiration to be derived from one’s social group, but if you examine this inspiration closely you will see that the majority of art that comes from this source is usually so infused with the anger that comes from the tallying of group suffering that it has no breakthrough into the transcendent mystery which lies beyond time, space and our petty egos (which only last as long as we draw breath; the spirit is eternal and therefore incorruptible or haven’t you got that memo yet?).
So, while minorities may have a lot of inspiration to draw from that produces some great Saturday Night Live and Dave Chappelle skits, most of these are without any true breakthrough; they are improper art, using the artistic aesthetics put forth by James Joyce in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.
In-group anger can only take an artist as far as they are willing to ultimately let it go completely. Only by willingly letting go of our social identify and, ultimately, our individual identities in the moment, can we touch the true source of inspiration which lies inside each of us like a platinum encased diamond nugget at the centers of our being.
In fact, this is the exact message that I wrote about in my short story Pyrite ([http://www.joshuaminton.com/fiction.htm]).
I spent a lot of my late teens and early twenties being angry for other groups of people because my group identity (middle class white kid in a sea of other middle class white kids) was the system of oppression and the source of much of their anger. But I’m through being angry and I’m through defining myself with abstract concepts; I’ll leave that to the hacks and has-beens. I’m going to do my best to teach this concept of artistic aesthetics to other talented artists so that they too may find that thorny and weeded path inside themselves that will take them to the platinum crusted diamond that waits for them within.
In my family growing up was a guilt trip! If I was hungry my Mom would tell me in no uncertain terms, that my hunger was nothing compared to the millions of starving babies and adults all around the world. That sure shut me up! Sometimes, when my Mom threatened to “give me away to the gypsies,” I wondered if I would at least get more to eat with them. If I had been raised by gypsies, I probably would have been an EXCELLENT, almost Olympic grade tambourine player! I recall my Mom saying when we only had soup for dinner and no dessert: “I will give you wind pudding”! My Mom had a “way” with words, I was almost able to “taste” her visualizations!
So I grew up, but in name only. You see, Mom loved babies, she had three (and a quarter-a miscarriage), but she wanted us kids, myself and an older, and a younger brother, to remain baby-like. While we all HAD to physically grow up, she made sure we mentally remained naive, innocent idealists. We were all made to believe in absolutes. We had zero right to complain about anything, because others had it ever so much more harder than we did! Naturally I was fearful about even speaking! So I became so shy I was almost autistic! I had night terrors and was constantly tired as a youngster.
It was little wonder that we all left home at 17 years of age. My world was such a scary place, because I had to be grateful for just breathing air! I hyper-ventilated throughout my life while my Mom was alive, and when my mother died in 2000, I began to exhale long enough to begin to relax. But then the “ghost” of my Mom was still in me! She was so disciplined, so strong, she “lived” in me until now.
I am finally learning that I have a right, and what is more, a duty to BE myself, instead of fulfilling her dreams of changing, improving, making the world a UTOPIAN instead of just a better place! I am catching up on my sleep. In an almost induced, chosen. self-willed “coma-like” state, I sleep sometimes 20 hours a day to recuperate. I need the rest to recover from the absolute, as opposed to the relative terror, that most people go through! As a result of my Mom’s INDOCTRINATION, I did learn one thing, though. I learned how to be ABSOLUTELY vulnerable, instead of only RELATIVELY VULNERABLE. As a result, I would win, hands down, any ABSOLUTE VULNERABILITY EXPERIENCE CONTEST!
First, there was one, then there were two, then came three. Not long after, came four, thus the reference to quad, meaning four. It’s a bike with four wheels.
Quad bikes often referred to as All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) or All Terrain Cycles (ATCs) are four wheeled motorcycles with handle bars for control and generally travels on low pressured tires. Most are designed with single seats for the operator; however some designs include seats for an extra passenger. Though they are known as quad, there are also three wheeled quads and even six wheeled quads (we might see it as an irony, quad with three or six wheels? but over time, people have already accepted this fact).
Quad bikes were first introduced in Japan. This type of vehicle is popular among farming communities. Because of its design, it allows the rider to navigate in rough and mountainous terrains especially during the rainy seasons. Three wheeled motors were also used during this time.
As time passes, these practical vehicles became motorized transport, thus the Japanese sees it as a marketing opportunity. They started using it for recreational purposes. In 1970, Honda produced and marketed the ATV as a recreational vehicle that would provide the rider extreme excitement and undeniable thrills. Marketing strategies were made to showcase this new invention. In fact, it was even featured in the James Bond movie, “Diamonds Are Forever” as well as in a number of TV shows around the world. Because of its popularity, several models made by large motor companies such as Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki were also introduced in the market.
Quad bikes have become so popular that manufacturers even built sport models where performance rather than utility was the main consideration. They were also used for racing purposes and sports competition, thus several racing events were organized such as the GNCC Racing which began in 1980 and the ATV National Motocross Championship which started in 1985.
Over the years, people again started to see the quad bikes in its original purpose, a vehicle that can be used to reach remote areas where they can spend quite time or just enjoy the scenery of places which are not reachable using conventional vehicles. They are even used in wetlands and sand dunes! Because of their versatility and ability to travel in rough terrains, quad bikes are also widely used again in agriculture, ranching and even police works!
Although it was originally designed for off-road use, quad bikes in some countries are considered street-legal vehicles depending on the models. These countries include Australia, United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
After it was first introduced in 1970, research showed that ATVs were as dangerous as motorcycles when safety precautions are not done by the rider. As they say, prevention is better than cure. Riders should at least use proper headgear such as helmets, protective eyewear, gloves and proper riding boots. Because of the alarming number of incidents that were associated with the quad bikes, the All-terrain Vehicle Safety Institute (ASI) was formed in 1988. Their main goal is to provide education and correct information to quad bike riders.
Many years after the Japanese farmers first used the quad bikes, it still has not lost its sparkle. It is still as useful as it was then, and don’t also forget the high and thrill that it brings to its rider. Go Quad!
If you want clean edges when painting, paint masking tape is indispensable whether it is a DIY or a large commercial project. Nothing looks worse or more unprofessional than dripping, bleeding paint whether on an automobile or in a house around ceiling trim, baseboards, door frames, and windows.
What kind of paint masking tape is best?
Paint masking tape isn’t expensive, but you don’t want a tape that is so cheap that it’s worthless. The following is what you should look for when purchasing masking tape:
• The tape should be made of paper that you can easily tear off the roll while using.
• The tape should have excellent tensile strength (meaning it can be stretched without tearing).
• It should be easily removable without leaving an adhesive residue.
• If using for large commercial jobs, use a medium-high adhesion tape.
Steps for using paint masking tape successfully
If you don’t apply paint masking carefully, the job will not be clean. Just follow a few simple steps and your project will be a success.
It’s important to take your time. Putting the tape on straight and tight on the wall is the trickiest part of all, so don’t be in a rush when applying the masking tape.
Use short lengths of tape (no longer than 18″ strips) or you will not have control of its application. It is critical is to apply the tape as close to the edge as possible to ensure you have a tight seal.
Once in place, apply as much pressure as you can to the tape with either a putty knife or your hands, smoothing away all bubbles and being careful not to add wrinkles to the tape.
You can now safely begin painting the unmasked part of your project. Leave the tape in place if applying a second coat. If applying more than two coats, you should apply new tape since the tight seal can be lost after too many paint applications.
The best time to remove the masking tape is immediately after you are finished painting or after the paint is completely dry. If you try to remove it while the paint is setting, you risk peeling off some of the paint.
Slowly and gently pull each section of the masking tape off in a horizontal position (at a 45 to 90 degree angle). The result should be a clean, professional-looking edge cut.
Paint masking tape may seem to be an unnecessary, time-consuming chore. However, if you do not use it, you will end up spending more time cleaning up all the places with unwanted paint on them. You will see that the little bit of time it takes to apply the tape will be well worth it once you see the finished results – perfection.
Raising Money for a Film
Raising money for a film is not easy, there is and will be many let downs. Just ask Robert Rodriguez and Kevin Smith. Robert Rodriguez made his directing debut in 1992 with El Mariachi, he raised $3,000 by volunteering in experimental drug testing and Kevin Smith used a part of his tuition reimbursement to fund his 1994 film Clerks. What can we learn from what they did? Do what ever means necessary to fulfill your dreams.
Family and Friends
First you want to do is ask family and friends, make a list of people you want to confront and how much do you want to raise. Knowing how much to raise makes the process much easier, because you have an objective. SO making a precise budget will benefit and save hard aches down the road.
Sponsors
Try sponsors, local businesses might want extra exposure and might help be a part in you project. Also, product placement, but this one might be a long shot, because, companies usually will not place their product in a small film.
Partners
You can seek out other production companies who will help fund the film. They might help produce the film with you, but they might not and let you do your thing. It all depends, remember they are giving you money to produce a film which is a high risky business, so they will mostly likely want some creative control.
Investor
Try your hands at investors, build a professional film package that has a short film description, cast and crew, experience, budget, film schedule, location, permits needed etc. What ever is important to the film include it, but do not go over board. You do not want to clatter and distract you potential investors with pointless details of the film. Only include what is relevant to your film.
Final Words
Now do not expect to be the next Robert Rodriguez or Kevin Smith, it is a long shot. And you do not want to do this solely for money. If you are passionate about film making then do it, the rest takes care of it self. Be creative, think of different ways you can fund your film, you do not have to be a test subject or use you tuition money. I’ve giving you a few options above to get you started. There is a million and one ways to raise money as a filmmaker, be creative.
Good luck!
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