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porlockstompf · 5 years ago

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Reading de Nacht Reading 2018

my favourite books of the year

my overall favourite book of the year:

wiliam h gass "the william h gass reader" (2018)

post-cyberpunkstompf:

01 cixin liu "ball lightning" (2018)

02 kim stanley robinson "red moon" (2018) 03 dave hutchinson "europe at dawn" (2018) + dave hutchinson "shelter (the aftermath 01)" (2018) 04 paul kincaid "ian m banks (modern masters of science fiction)" (2017) 05 hannu rajaniemi "summerland" (2018)

06 m john harrison "you should come with me now: stories of ghosts" (2017) 07 wade rousch (ed) "twelve tomorrows (2018) 08 christopher moore "noir" (2018) 09 jonathan strahan (ed) "infinity's end" (2018) + jonathan strahan (ed) "the best sf & f of the year, vol XII" (2018) 10 neil clarke (ed) "the final frontier" (2018) + neil clarke (ed) "the best sf of the year vol III" (2018)

11 gardner dozois (ed) "the year's best sf: thirty-fifth annual collection" (2018) 12 steve toutonghi "side life" (2018) 13 mike ashley (ed) "lost mars: the golden age of the red planet" (2018) 14 mary robinette kowal "the calculating stars: a lady astronaut novel" (2018) 15 mingwei song & theodore huters (eds) "the reincarnated giant: an anthology of twenty-first century chinese science fiction" (2018)

16 john zakour & lawrence ganem "the peach-blonde bomber" (2018) 17 becky chambers "record of a spaceborn few" (2018) 18 yoon ha lee "revenant gun" (2018) 19 derek künsken "the quantum magician" (2018) 20 gregory benford "rewrite" [arc] (2019)

21 richard k morgan "thin air" (2018) 22 charles stross "the labyrinth index" (2018) 23 john varley "irontown blues" (2018) 24 peter watts "the freeze-frame revolution" (2018) 25 karl schroeder "the million" (2018)

26 drew williams "the stars now unclaimed" (2018) 27 peter f hamilton "the salvation" (2018) 28 neal asher "the soldier" (2018) 29 nick mamatas "the people's republic of everything" (2018) 30 s j morden "one way" (2018)

31 gareth l powell "embers of war" (2018) 32 alex white "a big ship at the end of the universe" (2018) + alex white "a bad deal for the whole galaxy" (2018) 33 s k dunstall "stars unchartered" (2018) 34 catherynne m valente "space opera" (2018) 35 alastair reynolds "elysium fire" (2018)

36 charles stross "dark state" (2018) 37 n k jemisin (ed) "the best american sf & f 2018" (2018) 38 jack mcdevitt "the long sunset" (2018) + jack mcdevitt "a voice in the night" (2018) 39 elizabeth moon "into the fire" (2018) 40 r.e. stearns "barbary station" (2017) / steven erikson "willfull child III: the search for spark" (2018)

polarstompf:

01 david hewson "the savage shore" (2018)

ex aequo andrea camilleri "the pyramid of mud" (2018) + andrea camilleri "death at sea: montalbano's early cases" (2018)

02 mirko zilahy "de schaduw" (2017) + mirko zilahy "de mythe van de dood" (2018) 03 mick herron "london rules" (2018) + mick heron "the drop" (2018) 04 volker kutscher "babylon berlin" (2017) + volker kutscher "the silent death" (2017) + volker kutscher "goldstein" (2018) 05 chris petit "pale horse riding" (2017)

06 edgar cantero "this body's not big enough for both of us" (2018) 07 ian rankin "in a house of lies" (2018) 08 philip kerr "greeks bearing gifts" (2018) 09 jack grimwood "nightfall berlin" (2018) 10 dolan cummings "the existential leap: a crime story" (2017)

11 ann van loock "de expo '58 moorden" (2018) 12 massimo carlotto "master of knots" (2004) 13 joseph knox "sirens" (2018) + joseph knox "the smiling man" (2018) 14 geir tangen "het meesterwerk" (2017) 15 kate atkinson "transcription" (2018)

16 patrick conrad "diep in december" (2018) 17 jorge zepeda patterson "zwarte trui" (2018) 18 wolfgang burger "heidelberg requiem" (2016) 19 charles cumming "a divided spy" (2016) + charles cumming "the man between" (2018) 20 frank goldammer "the air raid killer" (2018) + frank goldammer "a thousand devils" (2018)

21 andreas norman "stille oorlog" (2018) 22 jesper stein "de onrust" (2018) + jesper stein "papa" (2018) 23 luca d'andrea "in de greep van de waanzin" (2018) 24 jo nesbø "macbeth" (2018) 25 hans dooremalen "descartes in amsterdam: filosofische detective" (2018) / chris pavone "the expats" (2012)

klassikstompf:

01 wiliam h gass "the william h gass reader" (2018)

02 louis armand "breakfast at midnight" (2012) + louis armand "the combinations" (2016) + louis armand "canicule" (2013) + louis armand "cairo" (2014) 03 andrew crumey "the great chain of unbeing" (2018) 04 viv albertine "throw away unopened" (2018) 05 daniela cascella "singed" (2017)

06 ted geltner "blood, bone, & marrow: a biography of harry crews" (2017) 07 steve erickson "zeroville" (2007) 08 olga tokarczuk "drive your plow over the bones of the dead" (2018) 09 julián ríos "the house of ulysses" [] (2010) + julián ríos "poundemonium" [1997] 10 daniel mendelsohn "an odyssey: a father, a son, and an epic" (2017)

11 giorgio van straten "in search of lost books: the forgotten stories of eight mythical volumes" (2017) 12 pascal mercier "night train to lisbon" (2004) 13 tony white "the fountain in the forest" (2018) 14 alejandro zambra "not to read" (2018) 15 gabriel josipovici "the cemetery in barnes" (2018)

16 lucy ives "impossible views of the world" (2017) 17 matthew herbert "the music: a novel through sound" (2018) 18 ann quin "the unmapped country: stories & fragments" (2018) 19 stephen fry "mythos" (2017) & "heroes" (2018) 20 johan swinnen "happening: de aanslag op de Inno" (2017)

21 ermanno cavazzoni "the nocturnal library" (2018) 22 richard powers "the overstory" (2018) 23 alain robbe-grillet "project for a revolution in ny" (1972) 24 melchior vischer "second through brain" (2015) 25 bob van laerhoven "return to hiroshima" (2018) + bob van laerhoven "dossier feuerhand" (2017) + bob van laerhoven "dangerous obsessions" (2015) + bob van laerhoven "heart fever" (2018)

gedächtnisstompf:

01 jacques derrida "geschlecht III: sexe, race, nation, humanité" (2018) + jacques derrida "le goût du secret: entretiens 1993-1995" (2018)

02 tom cohen, claire colebrook & j hillis miller "theory & the disappearing future: on deman, on benjamin" (2011) 03 hannah arendt "het waagstuk van de politiek: over politieke leugens en burgerlijke ongehoorzaamheid" (2018) + dirk de schutter "hannah arendt: politiek denker" (2015) 04 serge andré "les perversions #1: le fétichisme" (2013) + serge andré "les perversions #1: le sadisme" (2013) + serge andré "les perversions #1: le masochisme" (2013) 05 ger groot "4 ongemakkelijke filosofen: nietzsche, cioran, bataille, derrida" (2003)

06 mark fisher "k-punk: the collected & unpublished writings (2014-2016)" (2018) 07 molier, ellian, rijpkema (eds) "de strijd om de democratie: essays over democratische zelfverdediging" (2018) 08 florentijn van rootselaar "filosofisch veldwerk: grote filosofen van nu over leven in barre tijden" (2018) 09 lieven de cauter "van de grote woorden & kleine dingen" (2018) 10 nemanja mitrovic "the (im)possibility of literature as the possibility of ethics" (2017)

11 sue prideaux "i am dynamite! a life of friedrich nietzsche" (2018) 12 paul farley & michael symmons roberts "deaths of the poets" (2018) 13 erik bledsoe (ed) "perspectives on harry crews" (2001) 14 kailash c baral & r radhakrishan (eds) "theory after derrida: essays in critical praxis"(2018) 15 agnes czajka & bora isyar (eds) "europe after derrida: crisis & potentiality" (2016)

poesisstompf:

01 john cooper clarke "the luckiest guy alive" (2018)

02 kate tempest "running upon the wires" (2018) 03 robin robertson "the long take" (2018) 04 david austin "dread poetry & freedom: linton kwesi johnson & the unfinished revolution" (2018) 05 tommy pico "junk" (2018)

platterstompf:

01 power, devereux, & dillane (eds) "heart & soul: critical essays on joy division" (2018)

02 michael glasmeier & ursula block (eds) "broken music: artists' recordworks" (2nd edition 2018) 03 mark e smith "messing up the paintwork: the wit & wisdom of mark e smith" (2018) 04 willy dirickx (ed) "de brassers" (2018) 05 tommy mackay "40 odd years of the fall" (2018)

06 john h baker "the art of nick cave: new critical essays" (2013) 07 will oldham "songs of love & horror: collected lyrics of will oldham" (2018) + alan licht (ed) "will oldham on bonnie 'prine' billy" (2012) 08 michael goddard & benjamin halligan "mark e smith & the fall: art, music, & politics" (2013) 09 daniel kane "do you have a band? poetry & punk rock in nyc" (2017) 10 bendle "permanent transience" (2015)

11 david grubbs "now that the audience is assembled" (2018) 12 nick soulsby "swans: sacrifice & transcendence (the oral history)" (2018) + michael gira "the egg: stories" (2018) 13 robert young & irmin schmidt "all gates open: the story of can" (2018) 14 mike goldschmith "discord: the story of noise" (2012) 15 bruce russell "gilded splinters: essays & aphorisms towards an aesthetic of noise" (2018)

16 philippe robert "agitation frite" (2018)² + philippe robert "action friite" (2018) + philippe robert "action frIIIte" (2018) 17 guillaume belhomme, philippe robert, ea "le son du grisli: varèse, tzara, mochizuki & cave" (2018) 18 david stubbs "future days: krautrock & the building of modern germany" (2018) + david stubbs "mars by 1980: the story of electronic music" (2018) 19 blixa bargeld "europa: una letania" [2009] (2018) 20 chris bohn (ed) "the wire"

21 richard hirst (ed) "we were strangers: stories inspired by unknown pleasures" (2018) 22 françois girodineau "nick cave & the bad seeds: tender prey" (2018) 23 mick middles "the fall" (2009) 24 jim dooley "red set: a history of gang of four" (2018) 25 mats gustafsson "discaholics! record collector confessions vol I (2nd ed)" (2018) / + rob van scheers "drie akkoorden & de waarheid: muzikale levenslessen" (2014)

stagestompf:

01 ian rankin & rona munro "rebus: long shadows" (2018)

humorstompf:

01 robin ince "i'm a joke & so are you: a comedian's take on what makes us human" (2018) 02 simon munnery "how to live" (2018) 03 lucien randall "disgusting bliss: the brass eye of chris morris" (2011)

bilderstompf:

01 michael glasmeier & ursula block (eds) "broken music: artists' recordworks" (2nd edition 2018)

02 thomas bernhard & ferry radax "thomas bernhard: 3 days" (2016) 03 ed van der elsken "love on the left bank" (2002) 04 philippe monsel "francis bacon" (1994)

05 paul duncan & jürgen müller (eds) "film noir plus taschen's top 50 pick of noir classics from 1940-1960" (2017) 06 cuauhtémoc medina "manifesta 9: the deep of the modern" (2012) 07 julian schnabel: permanently becoming & the architecture of seeing" (2012) 08 reinhard kleist "nick cave & the bad seeds: an art book" (2018)

wissenschaftstompf & other distractions:

01 brian cox & robin ince "how to build a universe: an infinite monkey cage adventure" (2017)

02 patrick moore & chris north "the sky at night: answers to questions from across the univers" (2012) 03 chip carter "obsessed with star trek" (2011) 04 leon hunt "danger:diabolik" (2018)

cyclostompf:

01 jean cléder "petite éloge de la course cycliste" (2018)

02 max leonard "higher calling: cycling's obsession with mountains" (2018) 03 colin o'brien "giro d'italia: the story of the world's most beautiful bike race" (2018) 04 velominati "wielergoden: de meest heldhaftige renners ooit 38 heroïsche verhalen” (2018) 05 william fotheringham "sunday in hell" (2018)

06 jonas heyerick (ed) "bahamontes" (magazine) o.a. extra editie de giro (2018) 07 jorge zepeda patterson "zwarte trui" (2018) 08 dirk jan roeleven "de nieuwe fiets: villar san constanzo - a'dam" (2018) 09 frederik baeckelandt "gino bartali (les héros 03)" (2018) 10 chris sidwells "the call of the road: the history of cycle road racing" (2018)

10 john dowie "the freewheeling john dowie: a comedian, a bike, & a tent, what could possibly go right?" (2018) 12 edward pickering "the ronde: inside the tour of flanders, the world's toughest bike race" (2018) 13 charles pope "a golden age of cycling" (2018) 14 roger gilles "women on the move: the forgotten era of women's bicycle racing" (2018) 15 peter cossins "the first tour de france: 60 cyclists & 19 days of daring on the road to paris" (2017)

16 paul maunder "the wind at my back: my cycling life" (2018) + paul maunder "rainbows in the mud" (2017) 17 giacomo pellizzari "het geheim van de eenzame fietser" [2015] (2017) 18 dries de zaeytijd & fons leroy "25 jaar kweekvijver van koerstalent" (2018) 19 peter sagan "my world" (2018) 20 bradley wiggins "icons: my inspiration, my motivation, my obsession" (2018)

most pleasing purchases:

01 jayne county "man enough to be a woman" (1996)

02 berns, moyaert, & van tongeren (eds) "de god van denkers en dichters: opstellen voor samuel ijsseling" (1997)

03 anselm kiefer "l'art survivra à ses ruines: anselm kiefer au collège de france" (2011) 04 ludger lütkehaus "'ruhe. grösse, sonnenlicht': friedrich nietzsche in sils-maria" (2014) 05 paul raabe "spaziergange durch nietzsches sils-marie" (1994)

… tsundoku !

may your home be safe from tigers, leroy, x HNY!

find me on LT:

TBR... PILING UP ...

postcyberpunkstompf:

adam roberts "adam (the aftermath 02)" (2018) eric brown "the martian simulacra: a sherlock holmes mystery" (2018) gary gibson "scienceville & other worlds" (2018) greg egan "phoresis" (2018) ian mcdonald "time was" (2018) ian whates & tom hunter (eds) "2001: an odyssey in words: celebrating the centenary of arthur c clarke's birth" james lovegrove "firefly: big damn hero" (2018) james patrick kelly "the promise of space & other stories" (2018)

jeff noon "a man of shadows" (2017) + jeff noon "the body library" (2018) kevin j anderson "selected stories: science fiction vol I" (2018) rich larson "tomorrow factory: collected fiction" (2018) seb doubinsky "missing signal" (2018) stephen baxter "redemption" (2018) + stephen baxter "xelee: vengeance" (2018) steve erikson "rejoice" (2018) tom schweterlitsch "the gone world" (2018) & maybe, just maybe: jay key "how to pick up women with a drunk space ninja" (2018) + jay key "how to win a pit fight with a drunk space ninja" (2018)

polarstompf:

dario correnti "heimwee naar bloed" (2018) giancarlo de cataldo "suburra" (2017) matthew pearl "the dante chamber" (2018) victor del árbol "a million drops" (2018) zygmunt miloszewski "priceless" [2013] (2018)

#2018 #rewind #reading #lecture #librarything

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wutbju · 2 years ago

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Henry Lawrence Kane went home to be with the Lord with family by his side on October 4, 2022. Henry was born on January 25, 1935 to Robert and Iola Kane of Hoopa. He was a devoted Christian and a proud member of the Hoopa Valley Tribe. As a young man, he attended school in Hoopa, graduating from Hoopa Elementary and Hoopa Valley High School. While in high school, he was active in student activities and a natural athlete playing football, basketball, and tennis. After High School, he attended Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina, and later attended Humboldt State University where he studied Finance. He then enlisted in the US Army in 1956; he was honorably discharged and returned home to work for the Humboldt Fir Mill.

In 1960 he moved to Oakland with his sister Margaret and went to work for Foremost Chemical Company. Later that year, he married Mildred Grant of Somes Bar. Together they had three children Tanee, Robert, and Michael. His children were his pride and joy in life. In 1964 the family moved to Hayward and made many great memories together. He enjoyed watching his sons’ sporting events and taking his daughter to the theater. He held season tickets to the Oakland Raiders games for several years. He was an avid gardener and took pride in having the most beautiful yard on the block. He also had a beautiful singing voice and sang in church choirs all his life. In 1961, he entered a TV talent competition on the Oakland KTVU Network and was offered to tour all over the US. But, being the family man he was, he chose to stay home with his growing family.

Some years later, Henry met Frances Shelton while attending Central Baptist Church in Alameda. He sang in the choir while she was serving in a children’s church. They were married two years later. So started a wonderful and rewarding life teaching Sunday school and doing Rest Home Ministry at the Shoreline South Convalescent Home in Alameda. Then, in February 1986, God took them on an amazing journey by bringing them to Sebastopol. They became active members of Sebastopol Christian Church and continued teaching Sunday School together. They were married for 27 loving years before Fran lost her hard-fought battle with cancer.

Henry filled his time with physical activity and providing service to his community. He enjoyed playing in the Sebastopol Tennis league and volunteering at the Sebastopol Food Bank. He was active in both until his health brought him home to Hoopa to be closer to family.

Henry is survived by his children Tanee Kane and Billy Joe Peters, Robert Sr. and Ella Kane; his brother Dennis Kane Sr. as well as his grandchildren Robert Jr. and Brandice Kane, Curtis and Melissa Kane, Chelsee Gibbens and Travis, Haylee and Billy Aubrey, Mariah and Kris Mitchell, William Peters and Felice, Jurnie Wilder and Fernando, Jesselyn Peters and Joseph, Cole Kane and Laura, Vernon Peters and Salina, Madison Kane and Talon. Henry is also survived by his great-grandchildren Maile, Grace, Allen, Bunny, Curtis, Emma, Kristofer, Davonte, Fayelynn, and Yvonne; and by his numerous nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Frances, and his parents, Robert Kane Sr and Iola Moon; his siblings, Corene Miguelena, Robert Kane Jr, Margaret Powell, Carlson Kane, Hugh Moon Jr, and Cheryl Rose; his son Michael Kane, his grandson Clinton Kane and his lifelong friend William “Injun Bill” Carpenter.

The family would like to sincerely thank the many people who visited and cared for Henry in his later years. Thank you, Travis Simms-Burton, Amber Baker, Ethel Ruth Davis, The Nelsons and the IlTuq community, the Staff of Senior Nutrition, Dr. Chase and Dr. Smith, the Staff of Timber Ridge and Hospice of Humboldt, Pamela Mattz and Wiliam Pecos Carpenter, Tory Colegrove & Family, Kemberlee Beckwith, Janice Yerton, Joe and Stevie Jarnaghan, Tracey Ramone and Stan and Sara Warne.

There will be a celebration of life on October 15, 2022, at the Tish Tang Campground at 1 p.m. At a later date, Henry’s ashes will be taken to Bodega Bay and scattered at sea.

#Bob Jones University #Archive #Obituary #BJU Hall of Fame #BJU Alumni Association #2022 #Henry Lawrence Kane #Freshman #Class of 1953

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stardustheartbeats · 7 years ago

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INSPIRE. (also known as: finals are tough but so are you)

two hours of inspirational and uplifting instrumental tracks for late nights studying.

tracklist under the cut!

1. Once There Was A Hushpuppy - Dan Romer - Beasts of the Southern Wild

2. Amazons of Themyscira- Rupert Gregson-Williams - Wonder Woman

3. The Wardrobe- Harry Gregson-Williams - The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

4. Lumos! (Hedwig’s Theme) - John Williams - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

5. The Adventure Begins - Howard Shore - The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

6. Dragon Training - John Powell - How to Train Your Dragon

7. This Land - Hans Zimmer - The Lion King

8. Suite from Mulan - Jerry Goldsmith - Mulan

9. Rise Above - Veigar Margeirsson

10. Fireworks - Nicholas Hooper - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

11. Uriel - Ramin Djawadi - A Wrinkle in Time

12. Sky Ferry - Alexandre Desplat - The Golden Compass

13. Flying - James Newton Howard - Peter Pan

14. Will and Elizabeth - Klaus Badelt - Pirates of the Caribbean; The Curse of the Black Pearl

15. Prologue (Through the Wall) - Ilan Eshkeri - Stardust

16. Maleficent Flies- James Newton Howard - Maleficent

17. The Beast Lets Belle Go - Alan Menken - Beauty and the Beast

18. Firebending Training - Jeremy Zuckerman - Legend of Korra

19. Suite from Forrest Gump - Alan Silvestri - Forrest Gump

20. Groot Spores- Tyler Bates - Guardians of the Galaxy

21. The Burning Bush - Various Artists - The Prince of Egypt

22. Anakin vs. Obi-Wan - John Williams - Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

23. The Avengers - Alan Silvestri - The Avengers

24. Lift Off- Hans Zimmer & Pharrell Williams - Hidden Figures

25. Harror Falls- Ludwig Goransson - Black Panther

26. The King’s Speech- Alexandre Desplat - The King’s Speech

27. Nemo Egg - Thomas Newman - Finding Nemo

28. Rey’s Theme - John Wiliams - Star Wars: The Force Awakens

29. Te Fiti Restored - Mark Mancina & Opetaia Foa’i - Moana

30. You’re A Creed - Ludwig Goransson - Creed

31. Orchard House - Thomas Newman - Little Women

32. Farewell Neverland - John Williams - Hook

33. Dancing - Alexandre Desplat - Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium

34. Silver Leaves - James Newton Howard - Treasure Planet

#mine #playlist #studyblr #film scores #instrumental #instrumental playlist #music #studying

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dankcrest · 8 years ago

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All About Dankcrests:

The Dankcrest is a chicken breed from Florida, and very popular and common in the United States. Dankcrests are medium to very large with soft, pure black feathers that often have a lustrous green and purple sheen. The Dankcrest is often known to be a very gentle breed, although temperaments can vary, and is a great breed for small-scale chicken keepers. Dankcrests are excellent egg layers, and well looked after Dankcrests lay approximately 250 light-brown eggs per year. They are also known to be good nest sitters and mothers, making them one of the most exceptional large, heritage breeds of chicken. They are good with children, But maybe a little heavy for younger children to lift!

The original stock used in the development of the Dankcrest was imported to the United States from England out of the Black Orpington Swamps of William Shrek and Joseph Partington in the period from 1890 to the early 1900s. Local breeders used this stock together with judicious out-crossings of Minorca, White Leghorn, and Shrek blood to improve the utility features of the imported Orpingtons. There is even a report of some Plymouth Rock blood also being used. The emphasis of the early breeders was on utility features. At this time, the resulting birds were known as Black Utility Orpingtons.

The origin of the name "Dankcrest" seems to be shrouded in as much controversy as the attempts to obtain agreement between the States over a suitable national Standard. The earliest claim to the name was made by one of poultry fancy's institutions, Wiliam Wallace Shrek a.k.a. W.W. Shrek, before the First World War. From 1925 Wal Shrek set to work to have Dankcrest recognized as a breed with the Poultry Society as he developed the breed. Equally as persuasive a claim came in 1919 from Arthur Harwood who suggested that the "Black Laying Orpingtons" be named "Dankers". The letters "Crest" were suggested as a suffix to denote the major breed in the fowls development. A further overseas claim to the name came from Britain's W. Powell-Owen who drafted the British Standard for the breed in 1921 following the importation of the "Utility Black Orpingtons." It is certain that the name "Dankcretin" was being used in the early 1920s when the breed was launched internationally. In 1929, the Dankcrest was admitted to the Standard of Perfection.

The Dankcrest is an active breed and they are fast growers with hens reaching point of lay at around five months of age. They are amazingly productive and are not prone to broodiness. They make good pets as they are calm and friendly birds although they are a little heavy for children to pick up. There is a ¼ sized bantam version though which would be much more suitable for children to keep as pets. They will happily live in runs but they do enjoy being allowed to free range. They aren't good fliers, so fencing doesn't need to be particularly high. They are also very hardy and will stand cold weather well. A Dankcrest cock will weigh in at around 8½ lbs while the hens tend to be in the region of 6½ lbs.

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nclkafilms · 8 years ago

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It’s all about looking beyond

(Review of Hidden Figures, seen in Bio City Aalborg Kennedy on the 31st of January 2017)

Hidden Figures is your typical oscar bait film. You have a solid, true story. You have a historically conflict filled focus, which here is both race and gender, set against a historical backdrop: the space race of the early 60′s. You have big solid actors and the story never gets too grim or daring. However, with that being said these films come in different quality and Hidden Figures is of high quality mainly thanks to a great cast and well-paced script.

The story follows three African-American women, Dorothy, Katherine and Mary, working in NASA’s computing department. The coloured computing department, that is. Actually, this is in the time when their title was computers; they are doing some of the essential calculations behind the space programme - of course, if the white males higher in the system asks for their help. Dorothy is taking on the supervision job of the coloured computing department and she soon makes sure to send Mary to the engineering department and Katherine to the ‘space travel group’. All while Dorothy sits frustrated back, not being paid for the supervisor job she has taken on and not being credited for her work.

The cast of Hidden Figures won the SAG Best ensemble award in the weekend. This was probably a surprise to many; at least it was to me. However, having seen the film now it makes sense. Because this film would be nothing without its cast - the cast is what lifts it from mediocracy. Leading the ensemble is Taraji P. Henson as Katherine. She succeeds in creating a full-bodied character and in particular in one scene she also succeeds in making the other wise rather polished atmosphere of the film momentarily gritty and ugly.

Joining her in the front of the ensemble is Janelle Monáe as the young, cheek-in-tongue Mary and she creates a strong, powerful character who shows some of the resilience and persistence that has helped move us towards the tolerant and more equal world that we currently see as threatened again. The final part of the front trio is Octavia Spencer’s Dorothy who takes on the ‘mother role’ of the trio while not being able to hide her own ambitions; she shows that hard work is what brings us to new heights and she does it with the security and sense of ease that we have come to know from Spencer in similar strong performances in The Help and Fruitvale Station. That Spencer is the one taking home the most nominations including one of the film’s three Oscar nods, I find hard to understand though. She does a great job, but to me it is Monáe and especially Henson that are the true gems of this film.

Up against the three main women, Mahershala Ali, Jim Parsons, Kirsten Dunst, Glen Powell and a Kevin Costner in top form rounds off the stellar cast making this film so enjoyable. They are all helped by well written, well paced script featuring both powerful scenes and more comedic highlights. Ultimately, it also loses a bit by not daring to dig into some of the uglier aspects of the story it tells; racial/gender issues are in most cases quickly solved in order to follow the main story of the characters’ progress within NASA. The otherwise catchy soundtrack from Pharrell Wiliams featuring some very catchy songs also disarms the tension in some of the scenes that could have had you dwell on the nature of what was going on. In contrast to Williams’ songs is a classic Hans Zimmer score that dictates your emotions with the same sense of ease that the great acting performances give you.

Ultimately the decision to not completely open up to the conflicts at stake is a shame as the story and the cast has the quality to make a brilliant film. In stead it is “just” a good film; a recommendable film indeed. At one point in the film, Katherine is told to look beyond the math that she knows in order for NASA to reach the infinite heights of space. Looking beyond the film we are presented with, we see a story of how we can reach new heights, confront (un)written societal laws and become ‘firsts’ as Mary says. Hard work, tolerance, persistence, resilience, unity and optimism. Qualities we will now need more than ever. These hidden qualities is what the hidden heroes of the NASA’s space programme reminds of us in Theodore Melfi’s Hidden Figures.

3,5/5

#Film reviews #movie reviews #Hidden Figures #Theodore Melfi #Taraji P Henson #Janelle Monáe #Octavia Spencer #Mahershala Ali #Jim Parsons #Kevin Costner #Kirsten Dunst #Glen Powell #Pharrell Williams #Oscars 2017

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