First entry in a few days because I've had a lot to get done! I had to do lots of work for a computer course we have to do in school. I couldn't do it all that well though because we had to do it on a video and the computers here are so slow that it took 20 minutes to load one day and the next day it just didn't! Got it done though... hopefully... till next week anyway! Then I opened my mail and found more work to do on presentations for economics! Arg! So hard to understand without explanations!

Today though was quite strange! As there are no wake up bells here today one could sleep for a very long time as we were free until 11 when we had mass in the dome. I think I expected too much of it though. It is a very impressive building but it just dosen't seem to have the same.... epicness, that masses in Clongowes have. It was very bright and airy inside and, although the church was huge, it just seemed smaller on the inside than the outside. Also the mass was nowhere near as long as a Clongowes mass so that could have had something to do with it too! I dunno though... They just dont make 'em as good round these parts!

The Schmelzers are coming back to Germany today so I am looking forward to getting my NME and all the other stuff that the parents are sending over with them!

21 (PLUS) ACRE PARADISE IN THE WOODS OF VENUS, FLORIDA

FOR SALE BY OWNER

21 + acre park-like paradise, lush landscaping consisting of many ponds, lakes, hundreds of palm trees, various fruit and flowering trees, many large old, oak trees, two bridges and a large deck cantilevered over a lake.

Ten buildings; hurricane resistant, fire resistant, termite resistant, concrete and steel buildings, 5 are domes, 3 homes, 1 office, 2 equipped shops, very large spa, 4 wells, 3 septic tanks.

A Perfect Country Get Away...

Must See, Phone 863-465-0321

Price $550,000.00

Photos of Buildings- click a link below to view photos Building 1 (Residence) Building 6 (Shop) Building 2 (Residence) Building 7 (Shop) Building 3 (Dome 1 Room) Building 8 (Dome 1 Room) Building 4 (Dome w/ 2 extentions) Building 9 (Residence) Building 5 (Office) Building 10 (Storage Area) Photos Of Grounds- click a link below to view photos Outdoor Decks Bridges S p a Paths & Walkways Lakes, Ponds & Streams

Fully equipped with lawn equipment - Toro Tractor Mower - Dixon Grass Mower - Industrial weed eater and blower - Other miscellaneous garden tools

Other features - Pressure Cleaner - 15,000 Watt Generator which can run all at once a home, shop and office building in case of emergencies. - Pool with waterfall and pump now used as fishpond, can be converted back - The entire property fenced in .

Sveti Ignjatije Brjancaninov

Slovo o Pokajanju

Zasto da mrete, dome Izrailjev? (Jez. 18,31). Zasto, hriscani, vecnom smrcu umirete zbog vasih grehova? Zasto se ad puni vama, kao da u Crkvi Hristovoj nije ustanovljeno svemocno pokajanje? Taj beskonacno blagi dar dat je domu Izrailjevom - hriscanima; i u bilo kom trenutku zivota, kakvi god bili gresi - on deluje sa jednakom snagom: ociscuje svaki greh, spasava svakoga ko pribegava Bogu, makar to bilo u poslednjim trenucima pred smrt.

Zasto da mrete, dome Izrailjev? Hriscani nepovratno ginu vecnom smrcu usled toga sto se sve vreme zemaljskog zivota bave samo narusavanjem zaveta datih na krstenju, samo sluzenjem grehu; oni ginu zato sto ne udostojavaju ni najmanje paznje Rec Boziju, koja im objavljuje o pokajanju. Cak ni u poslednjim trenucima pred smrt oni ne umeju da iskoriste svemocnu silu pokajanja! Ne umeju da je iskoriste zato sto ne znaju nista o hriscanstvu, ili imaju ne-dovoljnu i pogresnu predstavu, koja pre treba da bude nazvana potpunim neznanjem, nego nekakvim znanjem. 1. 98-99

- Svi sveti Pravoslavne Crkve tokom citavog svog zivota neodstupno su se drzali pokajanja, cak i onda kada je blagodat Bozija ocigledno dejstvovala na njih. Danas kada se bave religijom, vise traze ili hladna formalna znanja, ili lazne naslade. I jedno i drugo pripada ovome svetu, a ne Hristu. 6. 549

- Pogruzimo se do kraja i nekoristoljubivo u trud pokajanja, predavsi i urucivsi sebe u potpunosti volji i blagosti Bozijoj. "Nema nepravde kod Boga - uci prepodobni Makarije Veliki - Bog nece ostaviti neispunjenim ono sto je rekao, kad mi ispunimo ono sto smo obavezni". 1. 280

- "Pokajanje - kaze prepodobni Marko - kako ja smatram, nije ograniceno ni vremenom, niti bilo kakvim delima: ono se savrsava ispunjavanjem zapovesti Hristovih, srazmerno tome ispunjavanju."2.155

- Da bi neko tacno i pouzdano prebivao na putu pokajanja, neizrecivo blagi Gospod umnozava utehu, umnozavajuci umilenje i osecaj covekove nistavnosti. Svoje izabrane i najvernije sluge od sada zapecacuje Duhom Svetim dajuci im povremeno da okuse buduci vek. Oni tako postaju pricasnici neopisive duhovne utehe. Onaj ko sam sebi stvara nasladu - ocigledno je u demonskoj obmani! 6. 263-264

- Cuj sta je rekao Gospod. Daj vrednost i tezinu recima Gospodnjim!.. Sve je za nas bezvredno i bez tezine!.. Vrednost i tezinu imaju samo nase zelje... Jos je Carstvo Nebesko kao blas skriveno u polju, koje nasavsi, covek sakri i od radosti svoje otide i sve sto ima prodade i kupi polje ono (Mt. 13,44). Kakvo je to blago? Duh Sveti, Koji u dusu uvodi Oca i Sina. Kakvo je to polje, u kome je skriveno blago? Pokajanja Kako se to polje nalazi? Zivom verom. Sta znaci radost? Plamena revnost prema delu Bozijem, koja se radja od zive vere. Sta oznacava sakri! Cutanje i bezmolvije. Sta znaci: sve sto ima prodade i kupi polje! Nesticanje. Sve treba prodati, svaku strast, svaku sklonost srca, da bi se kupilo pokajanje. Drugacije se ono ne prodaje. Kakvu god da je sitnicu zadrzalo srce - ono ne moze da nasledi pokajanje: ta sitnica ga rasejava. Sakriti se treba pokajanjem.

Sakriti ne samo od ljudi, nego, ako je moguce, i od sebe. Ko ovo ispuni, njegovo je polje - pokajanje; a ko je stekao to polje, njegovo je blago - Svesveta Trojica. O! Kada bi Ona pogledala na nas, koji stradamo na talasima nevidljivog mora, i darovala nam, meni i tebi, da samoodricanjem nasledimo zemlju pokajanja, kada bi postala nase blago, nase neizmerno i neizbrojivo bogatstvo. 6. 294

- Zbog promena do kojih dolazi ne treba se uznemiravati kao zbog neceg neobicnog; ne treba se upustati u detaljno razmatranje grehova, nego zivot treba provoditi u stalnom pokajanju, smatrajuci sebe za gresnog u svakom pogledu i verujuci da ce milosrdni Gospod svakoga ko samo prizna svoju gresnost primiti u narucje svoga milosrdja, u nedra spasenja. Ovo se ne odnosi na smrtne grehe, jer pokajanje za njih Bog prima samo onda kada covek ostavi smrtni greh. 6. 353

- Samo smireni, samo siromasni duhom, naci ce svoj mir, i privremeni i vecni. Takav je udeo Bog odredio onima koje je izabrao za duhovno, istinsko sluzenje Sebi. Tokom zemaljskog zivota oni treba da prebivaju u pokajanju i da im budu strane propadljive naslade i veselja - tim neprestanim pokajanjem razlikuju se izabranici Boziji od sinova sveta. Samo posredstvom pokajanja moze se preci iz dusevnog u duhovno stanje. Sveti Isak Sirijski kaze: „Ako smo svi mi gresni i ako se niko od nas nije izdigao iznad svakog iskusenja - onda nijedna dobrodetelj ne moze biti iznad pokajanja (to jest sve dobrodetelji, pa i najvise, treba da budu rastvorene pokajanjem). Podvig pokajanja nikada ne moze da bude okoncan: on dolikuje uvek, svim gresnicima i pravednicima koji hoce da dobiju spasenje. Ne postoji granica koja bi oznacavala da je pokajanje dovrseno, jer je cak i savrsenstvo savrsenih zapravo nesavrseno. Stoga pokajanje sve do smrti ne moze da bude ograniceno ni vremenom ni kolicinom podviga".

...U drugoj besedi ovaj veliki nastavnik veli: "Pokajanje predstavlja dveri milosrdja za one koji se brizljivo bave njime. Kroz te dveri mi ulazimo u Bozansku milost: u tu milost ne mozemo uci drugacije, nego samo na te dveri". I najuzviseniji podvizi kada nisu rastvoreni osecanjem pokajanja, sujetni su, besplodni i stetni za dusu. Pokajanju je strana samoobmana, ono je nepristupno za nju. 6. 459-460

- Pokajanje je opste delanje, koje je iznad pojedinacnih delanja; a ako juris za pojedinacnim delanjima, pokajanje lako moze da isklizne iz tvog uma i srca. 6. 824

- Verujte i sa prostotom se uzdajte u pokajanje, pa ce "Bozije samo po sebi doci" k vama, kako govori sveti Isak Sirijski. Bog je pouzdan: otvara onima koji kucaju, tesi one koji placu, siromasnima duhom daruje Carstvo Nebesko. Ne razmisljajte olako o pokajanju: ono je dusa svih podviga - opste delanje koje treba da prozima sva druga delanja. Istinski napredak postigli su samo oni koji prebivaju u istinskom pokajanju. Ono predstavlja to sustinsko delanje, koje nas priprema za javljanje Carstva Bozijeg u nama. Sam Spasitelj je to objavio! Pokajte se - rekao je On - jer se priblizilo Carstvo nebesko. Milosrdni Gospod pripremio nam je cudesno, nebesko, vecno Carstvo, pokazao nam je dveri kroz koje mozemo da udjemo na spasonosni pasnjak Duha i Istine - dveri pokajanja.

Ako zanemarimo pokajanje, bez ikakve sumnje ostacemo napolju. Prirodna dobra dela, dobra dela prema osecanjima, nikako ne mogu da zamene pokajanje. Sveti Simeon Novi Bogoslov, nabrajajuci dobrocinstva koja je dobio od svog nastavnika, Simeona Poboznog, kaze: "On me je poucio pokajanju!" I kako ne smatrati za dobrocinstva pomenuta sredstva, pomocu kojih se jedino mogu zadobiti vecna, neopisiva blaga. U pokajanju je - sva tajna spasenja. Kako je to jednostavno, kako je to jasno!

A kako mi postupamo? Ostavljamo spasonosno pokajanje na koje nam je ukazao Bog i tezimo ka umisljenim vrlinama, jer one zadovoljavaju nasa osecanja; zatim se malo-pomalo zarazavamo se umisljenosdju i, posto blagodat ne dolazi da nas oseni i ovenca, sami u sebi stvaramo sladosna osecanja - sami sebe nagradjujemo i tesimo se sami sobom!

Nije li to smesno? Nije li to glupo? Nije li to gordo i drsko?

Prestanimo da se salimo s Bogom (oprostite na nedolicnom izrazu, za koji se nisam ustrucavao da ga upotrebim, jer tacno doca-rava nase ponasanje!), zivimo pred Njim u postojanom pokajanju. Vreme se priblizilo, sprema nam se Strasni sud, na kome nam nece biti sudjeno po nasim shvatanjima, kojima smo se obmanjivali, nego po Istini. Predupredimo strasnu nesrecu pokajanjem, otklo-nimo vecni plac prolaznim. Opametimo se gresni! Otkucao je vec jedanaesti cas i vreme za delanje ce vrlo brzo isteci. No, sad jos mozemo da osudimo sebe, da nas Bog ne osudi. A dosad smo sami sebe opravdavali. 6. 261-262 –

- Nedokucivi Bog, koji je coveku, nakon sto ga je stvorio, darovao sva sredstva za ocuvanje zivota, prepustio je njegovoj slobodnoj volji da bira izmedju zivota i smrti: upravo kao sto je i u iskupljenju, savrsivsi ga, po Svojoj nedokucivoj dobroti i razumu, prepustio nasoj slobodnoj volji da ga prihvatimo ili odbacimo. On nam je prethodno dao prirodno svojstvo pokajanja: ono sredstvo, koje mi upotrebljavamo da bismo unistili neprijateljstvo i obnovili mir medju sobom, On je pozeleo da upotrebi kao sredstvo unistenja neprijateljstva i obnovu mira izmedju Boga i ljudskog roda, izmedju odbacene i propale tvorevine i njenog Svemoguceg Tvorca. Pokajte se! - govori On ljudskom rodu, pozivajuci ga k Sebi. Bog je savrsio vase spasenje; Bog je pogazio i unistio vasu smrt, bez ikakvog vaseg ucesca, pomoci ili truda: dobrovoljno odbacite smrt, koju ste dobrovoljno i prihvatili! Dobrovoljno primite blazeni vecni zivot, koji ste dobrovoljno i odbacili! Upotrebite za to pokajanje koje vam je na vreme dato i koje zavisi iskljucivo od vase slobodne volje! Ne daje vam se nista tesko i novo: ono sto upotrebljavate kao nacin medjusobnog pomirenja, upotrebite i kao nacin pomirenja sa Bogom!

Kao sto se prvobitna vera sastoji u tome da covek poveruje recima Bozijim, tako se i prvobitno pokajanje sastoji u svesti o svojim sagresenjima i svojoj grehovnosti, u zaljenju zbog njih, u prino senju te svesti i tog zaljenja, posredstvom iskrene ispovesti i usrdne molitve, pred lice Bozije, sa odlucnoscu i obecanjem da ce se ostaviti grehovni zivot i da ce se za pravilo ponasanja uzeti jevandjelske zapovesti. Za takvim pokajanjem sledi oprostaj grehova, pomirenje sa Bogom, postajanje bliskim Bogu, prema jasnom svedocenju Svetog Pisma koje kaze: Greh moj poznadoh, i bezakonje moje ne sakrih. Rekoh: Ispovedicu protiv sebe bezakonje moje Gospodu, i Ti si oprostio bezboznost srca moga (Ps. 31,5). Takvo pokajanje je pre krstenja zahtevano od onih koji su primali hriscanstvo (Dap. 2,38); takvim pokajanjem se duse hriscana lece od rana kojima ih ranjava i prlja greh nakon primanja krstenja (1. Jn. 1,9).

Jevandjelje se prima verom; zivot po jevandjelskom ucenju pojacava veru - i veru po cuvenju, teoretsku, malo-pomalo pretvara u delatnu, prakticnu veru. Slicno se dogadja i sa pokajanjem koje nastupa zbog zivota prema jevandjelskim zapovestima. Sopstvena svetlost nase pale prirode, povredjena grehom, slabo obasjava covekovu delatnost i uz nju mi vidimo malo nasih pogresaka - vidimo samo najgrublje i najizrazenije. Kada pak nasa delatnost bude obasjana svetloscu zapovesti Hristovih, onda se nas pogled na sebe menja; mi kod sebe pocinjemo da primecujemo mnostvo nedostataka, koje ranije uopste nismo primecivali. Tada se pred nasim duhovnim ocima u poraznoj raznolikosti pojavljuje nasa povredjenost grehom!

Otkriva nam se kako ona grehovnost koja predstavlja zajednicko zalosno nasledje nas ljudi, tako i licna gresnost, koju svaki covek usvaja svojim nepazljivim i nerazumnim zivotom, koji prethodi zivotu posvecenom poboznosti. Sa umnozavanjem podsticaja za pokajanje, pojacava se i udvostrucuje i samo pokajanje. Ono ociscuje oko duse. Ocisceno oko vidi vise mrlja na rizi duse nego sto ih je videlo dok je bilo zaprljano i izranjavljeno grehom; prirodno je da se usled takvog prizora i pokajanje pojacava i udvostrucuje. Kod podviznika koji su uznapredovali ono deluje neuporedivo vise nego kod onih koji tek zapocinju sa podvigom. Hriscansko moralno usavrsavanje je usavrsavanje u pokajanju, do koga dolazi od narocito brizljivog ispunjavanja jevandjelskih zapovesti. Osecaj pokajanja je u izobilju bio svojstven svima svetima. Svoje delanje oni su usredsredjivali na pokajanje, a zapovesti su izvrsavali kao da placaju svoj strasni dug (Lk. 17,10), koji i pored stalnog placanja ostaje neotplacen, koji usled savrsenstva Zajmodavca i nemoci duznika ostaje neotplativ, cak i kada se stalno otplacuje.

Kod zrelih hriscana pokajanje dobija narocit i velik znacaj. Kada su svetog Isaka Sirijskog upitali: "Sta je pokajanje?", on je odgovorio: "Srce skruseno i smireno". Taj veliki nastavnik savrsenih hriscana je rekao: "Ako smo svi mi gresni i ako niko od nas nije stao iznad iskusenja, onda nema ni jedne dobrodetelji koja je visa od pokajanja. U toj se dobrodetelji nikada ne moze postici savrsenstvo. Ona dolikuje uvek i svima koji zele da zadobiju spasenje, i gresnima i pravednima. Ne postoji granica na kojoj bismo pokajanje mogli da smatramo okoncanim - stoga se ono ne moze ograniciti ni vremenom, ni delima podviznika, sve do same smrti".

Kada blagodat Bozija oseni veru, onda se hriscanin uznosi u zivljenje iznad prirode. Upravo tako i pokajanje, kada je osenjeno Bo-zanskom blagodacu, uzvodi svoga delatnika u natprirodni zivot. Prozeti pokajnim osecajem i zedni pokajanja, Sveti Oci su se radi njega povlacili u potpuno zatvornistvo, predajuci se placu i ridanju zbog sagledavanja svoje gresnosti i ogrehovljenosti citavog ljudskog ro-da; od uzdaha svojih zaboravljali su na hranu i od silne tuge rikali su poput lavova koje su ranili lovci. Poznavsi uzvisenost pokaja-nja koje se prinosi u bezmolviju rekli su: "Izvan bezmolvija nema savrsenog pokajanja". Drugi oci su usled sagledavanja sopstvene grehovnosti sa pokornoscu podnosili klevete, ponizenja, progonstva, pa i smrt, ridajuci i osudjujuci sebe kao krivce za ono za sta ih je kleveta optuzivala Sveti mucenici, primajuci strasne muke i smrtnu kaznu, videli su u njima zeljeno ociscenje od svoje grehovnosti. U vreme kada je blagodat ociglednim znamenjima dokazivala njihovu izabranost i svetost, oni su se starali o pokajanju.

...Usled svog dubokog smirenja najveci ugodnici Boziji kao da nisu videli blagodatne darove kojima su obilovali - videli su samo svoju grehovnost, koja je vec bila umivena Bozanskom blagodacu, i koja je svojim ociglednim prisustvom u izabranim sasudima svedocila o odsustvu grehovnosti. Medju osobinama kojima se odlikuju sveti muzevi primecuje se i to, da oni uvek pred ocima imaju svoj greh, cak i kada ga je Gospod oprostio, i da ga oplakuju kao da su ga upravo pocinili i da jos nisu udostojeni oprostaja. Tako sveti David placuci kaze: Bezakonje svoje ja znam i greh je moj stalno preda mnom (Ps. 50,5).

O svetom Apostolu Petru pricaju da se on citavog zivota secao kako se odrekao Gospoda i da je svake noci kada bi se oglasio petao pocinjao gorko da place, bas kao sto je gorko zaplakao u noci odricanja (Mt. 26,75).

Prepodobni Sisoje Veliki, egipatski pustinjak, bio je preispunjen darovima Duha Svetoga; ali, kada mu se priblizilo upokojenje, on je izrazio zelju da jos neko vreme ostane u zemaljskom zivotu, kako bi mogao da se usavrsi u pokajanju. Takvo su misljenje o pokajanju imali najveci ugodnici Boziji: ono se u njima obrazovalo usled postojanog i brizljivog ociscenja pokajanjem, pri cemu coveku postaju jasni neizreciva uzvisenost Bozija, i nistavnost coveka usled njegovog pada.

...Spasonosni dar Boziji - pokajanje - zahteva da ga prihvatimo sa najvecom poboznoscu i paznjom. Nemaran i prezriv odnos prema darovima Bozijim povlaci za sobom strasne nesrece, koje predstavljaju prirodnu posledicu takvog ponasanja. I kako da se ne dogodi najveca duhovna, sustinska i vecna nesreca, kada mi, primajuci dar Boziji, odbacujemo potrebno izucavanje kako samog dara, tako i nacina na koji ga treba upotrebiti? Na nesrecu, sa velikim darom pokajanja mnogi postupaju krajnje nepazljivo i neuko!

Oni nece da shvate kako je pokajanje nespojivo sa grehovnim zivotom. Ziveci grehovno i osecajuci sklonost ka takvom zivotu, oni u odredjeno vreme pribegavaju pokajanju kako bi se na trenutak umili, a odmah potom ponovo se pogruzavaju u grehovnu prljavstinu.

Kako strasno obmanjuju sami sebe! Kako se strasno rugaju Bogu!

Biva im potonje gore od prvog (2. Pet. 2,20-21). Takvim licemernim pokajanjem, takvim izigravanjem velike Svete Tajne i ismevanjem nad njom grehovni zivot se zapecacuje i utvrdjuje, postajuci covekova neotudjiva svojina. Na dobrovoljne greholjupce odnose se sledece reci svetog Jovana Bogoslova: Svaki koji gresi nije Ga video niti Ga je poznao. Decice, niko da vas ne vara. Koji tvori greh od djavola je. Svaki koji je rodjen od Bos ne cini greh, jer seme Njegovo ostaje u njemu, i ne moze gresiti, jer je od Bos rodjen. Po ovome se poznaju deca Bozija i deca djavolja (1. Jn. 3,6-10).

Vidi se ko je cedo Bozije, a ko cedo djavolje - jasno je obelezje po kome se razlikuju; nemoguce je prevariti se. Oni koji dobrovoljno vode grehovan zivot, koji se dave u telesnim nasladama, i kada se nazivaju hriscanima, ceda su djavolja; naprotiv, obelezje ceda Bozijih sastoji se u tome da zivot provode prema zavestanju Jevandjelja i svete Crkve, a grehe, u koje po svojoj slabosti padaju, brzo lece pokajanjem. Cak ni pravednik ne moze da bude potpuno bezgresan: i njemu je neophodno lecenje pokajanjem, kako je posvedocio isti taj sveti apostol Jovan.

Ako recemo da greha nemamo, sebe varamo, i istine nema u nama (1. Jn. 1,8). Hriscani rane Crkve, ostavljajuci veru neznabozaca ostavljali su i njihov nacin zivota (1. Pet. 4,3-4). Taj zivot sveti apostol Petar naziva poplavom razvrata. Da i ne govorimo o narodnim veseljima, sve ustanove neznabozaca predstavljale su razlicite vidove sluzenja sladostrascu koje je kao bujica zapljuskivalo celokupno drustvo. Gresni razvratni zivot neznabozaca, koji je predstavljao dusu njihovog drustva, nikako nije bio spojiv sa hriscanstvom.

Zavolimo pokajanje i dobicemo spasenje. Primimo iz ruke Gospodnje dozivotni dar pokajanja - i u svoje vreme dobicemo vecni dar spasenja. Sveblagi Bog pokajanje dade za zivot (Dap. 11,18). On ce dati blazenstvo u vecnosti onima koji se istinski kaju, koji su se pomirili sa Njim i postali Njegovi, jer je Gospodnje spasenje (Is. 3,9). 4. 10-19

Here are videos and pictures in its current state.

Tents come in all sizes and shapes. If you asked me what kinds there are, I’d say you have your old style looking ones and your new nylon ones. (ie. tents made out of shirts vs. stockings)

Things changed when I was watching the Olympics and CBC had a special segment with Sook-Yin Lee who traveled through China showing off the sites and the culture of China. In one episode, she was in Northern China performing some customs inside of a yurt. I was intrigued by the tent. The yurt was round, spacious, could be carried fairly easily and was warm. Later, I research how one is made on the Internet, thinking I could easily make one and try camping in one this winter.

In my search, I found a very good site. It’s called Simply Differently and it’s all about temporary buildings. It has everything you would need to know about tents. I like the layout, it’s well organized and the diagrams can be easily read. (A lesson to many other websites which seem plastered together with tape). There is a tone of information from sowing the canvass to rating each type of shelter.

I found a yurt is expensive to make because the walls are made out of lattice and I would have to buy over 75 pieces of wood and attached them together. To my luck, there is a section on alternative dome tents which would be much cheaper to use.

So if you’re a camper and haven’t been to Simple Differently, head over there now.

http://simplydifferently.org/

It was quite surreal for two reasons.

One, because in the space of a year, I have seen two out of three of my musical heroes; Stevie Wonder and Prince (M.Jackson being the third).

Two, because I saw them both at the O2 arena which is in Greenwich, my borough in London, 10 minutes from my home.

After getting in a quick, mandatory Nandos beforehand, we made our way to our seats, B3 Row D.

Good seats.

Let me quickly sidetrack and say that it was quite difficult to get hold of these tickets....they went on sale on a Monday morning at 9am exclusively through Ticketmaster.... and I was on the phone before 9am, at 9am and after 9am....

Turns out they were sold out before they officially went on sale?! (thank you 'pre-sale'-the latest in concert sales gimmicks).

Luckily, I managed to get hold of a pair of tickets at a very good price, from a well known internet source....

Anyway, I digest...

After clearing security quicker than Roadrunner on Red Bull, we waited patiently in our seats, watching the arena fill up until around 9pm, when Stevie Wonder appeared to a rapturous applause from over 20,000 revellers.

The legend arrived on stage helped by his daughter, Aisha Morris.

He was dressed in a black coat with extremely funky and garish sleeves.

I did wonder [excuse the pun] if he would have worn the coat had he seen it first....anyway....

Rather than go through the concert song by song, i'll just give the playlist for the evening, and summarise my thoughts.

It was over 2 hours long and the playlist for the evening was as follows:....

1. As If You Read My Mind
2. Master Blaster
3. Did I Hear You Say Love Me?
4. All I Do
5. Knock Me Off My Feet
6. London Bridge [Is Falling Down] (yes, the nursery rhyme, not Fergie, Motown stylee)
7. I Want To Hold Your Hand (Beatles cover)
8. Don't You Worry About A Thing
9. Visions
10. Living For The City
11. Part Time Lover
12. Overjoyed
13. Ribbon In The Sky
14. Lately
15. Ma Cherie Amour
16. Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours
17. Sir Duke
18. I Wish
19. Isn't She Lovely?
20. You Are The Sunshine Of My Love
21. I Just Called To Say I Love You
22. War [What Is It Good For?] (Cover)
23. As
24. Superstitious

The talented tour band belted out the funk with back up singers, whilst Stevie carried the main vocals, playing the piano or keys (at one point, simultaneously) singing in his characteristic soulful gospel-esque voice.

It was amazing to see that the quality, power, range and dynamism of Stevie’s voice sounding little unchanged from his heyday of the mid 70s. Still blowing his contemporaries out of the water.

Neither had his creativity. At one point he pull out a ‘talk box,‘

The atmosphere was electric.

Click here to hear/see Stevie on the ‘talk box circa 70s….. (29 secs in). Amazing.

At one point he had all the guys in the audience singing the intro to ‘Part Time Lover’ whilst the women sang the chorus over it, all in harmony. Not being able to see, and conducting a mostly tone deaf audience of 20,000 isn’t an easy feat…..

Half way through the set, Joss Stone joined Stevie for ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m yours,’ though I don’t think the crowd were particularly amped about that…..

The lyrics of Stevie Wonder’s songs address social problems (Living For The City,) pay homage to other musical greats (Sir Duke), are full pure positivity (Don’t You Worry ’bout a Thing), dream of a better future (Visions) and beautiful ballads (Ma Cherie Amour) to songs about wishful reminiscing (I Wish) and just plain beauty (As).

The great thing about Stevie Wonder is that his back catalogue of music is rivalled by very few (except maybe Prince). He has had hits in every decade from the ’60s to the ’00s. Very few artists can claim that. If you ‘dig’ any modern soul/rnb artist worth his salt, they will claim Stevie Wonder as one of their biggest influences, and for good reason too.

Each song he played evoked a difference reaction in the crowd and for each member associated with a different memory, from a different decade.

Music brings people together, but i’ve rarely seen it bring people from different generations like this performer did.

Stevie Wonder’s music is far less risque than Prince.

It is consistently inclusive and definitely spiritual.

In fact, throughout the concert, Stevie Wonder made references to God, Unity, the coming together of ‘one human family’-our common humanity. The whole concert was in the spirit of love, Stevie repeatedly telling the audience 'I Love You', to hear 'We Love You' back... a sharp contrast to other concerts I have seen recently.

He said during the concert that the atmosphere felt like his ‘church.’

One thing of interest was Stevie Wonder's support for U.S. Presidential hopeful; Barack Obama, to which initially, the audience cheered for, but began to grow a little weary by the second ‘plug’ (most likely because the audience paid to hear Stevie perform, not campaign).

Interspersed through the concert was his love for the audience, saying how much he missed playing in London and it was glad to be back. In fact it was the death of his mother a few years ago that prompted him to begin his first tour in a decade, dedicating his last song to her; As. This being the 3rd time he was playing London on this tour.

I won’t say what my favourite song is, there were too many, and many he didn’t play….

What I will say is that I’m happy to have experienced the Wonder that is Stevie, seeing the man responsible for a musical style that is often imitated but rarely innovated.

That's my review, signed, sealed, delivered, and yours.

... eccolo arrivato!

The two major efforts in their campaign are:

• Host Game 1 at Omiya Stadium. They had already hosted a game there on June 27, the stadium is more centrally located within Saitama and this was in line with Seibu's efforts to more firmly plant its roots in Saitama. Hosting the first playoff game there was an unexpected surprise and should help the team in this endeavour.
• Lower ticket prices! Ticket prices have been dramatically slashed in an effort to draw strong home team support and to not be an embarrassment. The Lions have also designated much of the third base side (traditionally for the away team supporters) for Lions fans, they better turn up in droves though I'm sure other fans won't shy away from buying the "Lions cheering section" seats on the third base side. Anyways, here are the prices.
• Regular season: Special S 10,000 yen, Infield S 4000 yen, Infield reserved 3000 yen, Infield unreserved 2500 yen, Outfield unreserved 1800 yen.
• Climax Series: Backstop Special 7500 yen, L Infield reserved 2000 yen, L Infield unreserved 1500 yen, L Outfield unreserved 1000 yen, Visitor outfield unreserved 1500 yen.

I had to file one of the dome cutouts that was painted blue in order to get it to fit over the front logic display. I guess I could have painted it instead, but oh well.

Noong first year, biter-biteran pa rin ang drama ko sa paaralang aking pinapasukan. Ayoko talaga sa "pomosong paaralan" daw na iyon na matatagpuan sa kahabaan ng teresa sa likod ng isang nabubulok ng riles ng tren na mayroong byaheng Laguna-Sampalok, Manila ata. Bali-balita nga kasi na ang naturang paaralan daw ay lugar na pinag-hahayberneytan ng mga kilalang aktibista sa bansa at lagi-lagi daw may rally doon. Dahil sa ako ay lumaki sa isang lugar na tahimik at walang bahid ng kaguluhan, ako ay lubhang nag-aalangan sa aking papasukan. Noong una akong makatapak sa PUP, una kong napansin ang dome na siyang dinadaanan ng mga estidyante. Hindi ko trip ang design ng dome na ito. Nagmukha kasing warehouse ang aming paaralan sapagkat dito idinadaan ang mga mabibigat na kargamento tulad ng kahong-kaong box ng iba't ibang variants ng C2 na itinitinda sa UC (university canteen sa 4th floor), box-box na papel na ini-istore sa iba't ibang dean's office located at the dome itself (imaginine nyo na lang ung itsura, difficult i-explain), package ng mineral water, exclusive PEPSI products (NOTE: mahigpit na ipinagbabawal sa naturang paaralan ang pagtitinda ng coke products...for more info pls cheack my other entry), at iba't ibang chips na nakakasira sa bato ng mga estudyante. Minsan din, makikita mo na dito din dumadaan ang mga handicappped students ng PUP. Yung mga naka-wheel chair. Mahirap kasing maghagdan diba?!

Sa Mga Propesor

*piniling burahin ng may-akda, mahirap ng makasuhan ng libel, ala siyang pang-areglo*

Bakit Blue ang Kulay ng Tabo Namin?

ayun, napag-isip isip ko lang kanina habang ako ay naliligo...hmmmmn, bakit nga kaya? Blue ba ang pavorit color ng aking ma'ma (may stress sa unang ma)? O dahil sa ito na lamang ang stock nang maisipang bumili na bagong tabo ng aking ina? Bakit nga kaya?...Isa itong malaking palaisipan, naku! mahihirapan nanaman akong matulog...tsk3x

F4 (Si na Wachilei, Daumingsoo, Shimen, Meizuo aka Sweet Lapus)

Nagbuklat ako kanina ng mga memorabilias ko tapos nakita ko yung mini magazine ng F4. Naalala ko kung saan ko nakuha iyon. dati kasi ay may tindahan pa ang aking ina, nagbebenta siya ng mga F4 collectibles. naisipan kong iuwi ang last copy ng F4 magazine na ito dahil lubhang pinagkakaguluhan na ito ng mga fanatics na mula sa Arellano University. Matagal na pala sa akin ang naturang magazine. Maibenta kaya? Maybibili pa kaya?

F4 Magazine for sale. With center fold poster of the F4 boy band. Limited copy. For more info visit PUP Main Building W410, 414 or 416. Look for cherry (mejo sikat sa doon, marami siyang pinagkakautangan)

Komento sa mga English Songs na Tinatagalog

Ako ay nakasakay sa jeep na may byaheng Pasig-Quiapo ng bigla na lamang pumailang lang ang intro ng awiting Samack That. Humanda na akong umindak at sumabay sa mga liriko nito ngunit ako ay lubhang nagilalas ng marinig ang mga liriko. "Sumama ka sa'kin at kakain tayo...churva churva...tayo ng mag-snack sa Olongapo, snack sa Antipolo, snack sa, dito sa Tondoooh, snack sa churva oohhooh" At hindi pa doon natapos ang mga kagilagilas na tugtuging maririnig mo sa mga jeep na may byaheng Pasig-Quiapo. pati Umbrella, Bleeding in Love, Clumsy at Get Low may Tagalog version na rin! Hala naman! Kung gusto mong marinig ang mga naturang awitin, sumakay ka rin sa ruta ng sinasakyan kong jeep. Meron silang compilation album nyan. Hingi ka ng cpy para pwede mong lagay sa disk man. Ayun lang...:)

Last Saturday is extremely extreme! Thanks to Jaslyn and Sarah. Don't ask me why Jaslyn looks weird in this picture. Anyway, she love being weird in pictures. Let not blame her! But you should question why Sarah is sleeping away with her "plastic bag"acting like a pillow. Not because she naturally love to sleep. I don't know whether she love to sleep a not but I am sure there must be a reason.

Throwing the ball to Gyver Chang. All stressed up looking at the GPS in front of him? We actually did rounds at Orchard Road. To skip the ERP and to prevent from parking at a carpark that empties your cash-card. We spend or I spend an hour in the car wasting time away. But everyone was happily chit-chat-ing. At least happy was the word used.

Got a parking lot at Shaw Center (Lido Shopping Center) multistory carpark. Down we went to check out movie tickets avialable and I remember suggesting Mamma Mia but we ended up watching something else the sounded interesting.

That is the proof of Gyver doing research of the movie we watched. It is interesting to know that the research done isn't good enough! There we were sitting at those popular tables outside the cinema to get some food. For your information, we did rounds and it is only one in a million chance that we get a table. Many are occupied by those idiots studying. Glued their ass there for the whole day. Their point is?

We brought the tickets for the wonderful movie. And we had hours to waste. Gotten ourselves lunch and it is always the same old fast food (Fast and Fattening). Everyone is happy to see food in front of them. Can you see how vibrant their smiles are?

And I watched Mamma Mia. Indirectly.

As usual we don't only eat but gossip the same time. See that face? (We did not gossip about the couple there but somehow everything fits)

As we had time to waste, we walked to Borders the book store and I am seriously not doing other things but reading books. How can I miss out the great advantage of reading books like I am in the library? And I love the books at the KIDS SECTION! All with bigs words and pictures. What is better than that?

And there I am, happily enjoying my time at the Book Store!

Gyver Chang : Hey. What are we doing here?

Gyver Chang : Read Book? Be a cheapo?

Jaslyn : I buy books, Okay!

Gyver Chang : I don't care! We are getting out of here. To the Epicenter!

Jaslyn giving the Whatever Face and off we go to Epicenter.

While Gyver went to check out the whatever touch from Epicenter, the rest of us went to rest?

Not really resting. More of Camera-Whoring!

Sarah just too happy to have the seat. And the bag is happy too!

She is smiling at you! I mean the bag! Like seriously. What a fake smile!

Me doing my classic smile while Sarah. Doing what she learnt the other time. UNGLAM-ing again?

Me. Ha Ha-Ing away. And sarah shocked with me bring happy.

And I guess that got Gyver Chang attention and he rushed back to join the activity!

And he just does what he does best! Give that stare. Again.

The point is. I am loving it!

Jaslyn wanted me to get lost but I sort of refuse to.

Because? I am loving it!

And result showing?

What a terrifying terrorist!

The terrorist gave up and she takes over the camera. Shooting everyone down. Almost.

That is very extreme! Peace? Fuck You?

We should replace those stupid monkeys.

Then giving my seat to the terroist.

And what the terroist did was to hide herself from the camera.

You don't see it? Doesn't mean we don't see you!

Get it?

She doesn't get it!

Sarah emotionless!

Gyver pissed off!

From a history student point of view.

I see Jaslyn as a third party that Sarah hates and at the same time, Gyver and Sarah doesn't get along too well. I guess a war will occur between Gyver and Sarah.

Cross-Referencing tells me that.

It isn't a one-sided view. Sarah really hates Gyver in a way.

And Jaslyn played with the camera again.

With my sudden kick. Just to advertise my shoe!

And can you believe I am doing this in public?

It becomes a style!

We do the new jump!

Unlike those people still jumping the old way.

Everyone is doing it. And it is just weird how Gyver does it.

And again, I must say we are at the public!

Kicks. Again! I always know that Jaslyn is a terrifying terrorist.

She laughs when she kills!

My classic smile and my trademark jump.

I slide down.

And off we went to movie.

After a one and a half hour of movie. We are out feeling depress after the movie. Great disappointment for the show. And you must be wondering why am I not talking about the movie yet? Because I am keeping the best for the next post!

After the movie, off we went for dinner. Where? The indecisive group of people really suck at choosing a place to eat. With my cousin is that case and with my friends too, it is also the same problem. I always wonder it is my fault! I think it isn't me.

We decided on Dome. The one just below the cinema. The one that seems to be there but I never tried it before. I guess the food are pretty normal. Nothing really worth screaming about.

The finger food we decided to share. It is just amazily normal.

The food looks great. Jaslyn looks hungry at the same time. Seriously.

This is what I ordered. Taste nice but it is seriously expensive for such a small piece of chicken!

Sarah bake rice.

Jaslyn pasta? Something like that...

Overall, I wouldn't want to revisit the restaurant again. Caused it is bloody small in there. And the food are not worth waiting for and moreover, it isn't very special for the price. Oh is this a bad comment?

Anyways, we sent the two sister home after the meal like packages. And went to their playground to actually play with some kids that I don't know what they are thinking. Me trying to act very young to fit into their childish mentality. Gyver and Me, regards Jasjyn as a teacher. And me trying to act like as if I seriously understand them and telling them how smart I am. But for real I am.

Ended the day late and home at 11?

After the photokina show in Köln Deutz on the west bank of the city I walked to Köln Hauptbahnhof, the main trainstation, near the famous Dome on the other site of the river Rhine. From the main entrance of the station, along the Bahnhofsvorplatz, there is a clear view of the Dome of Cologne.
Since I had still some time left I planned on photographing the area around the Central Station and the Dome.

This place was full with foreigners, mostly Japanese, who had attended the show.

Some were loaded with cameras, like this Japanese photographer. He was in such a hurry to pack his camera in a tiny bag. He just didn't notice me making photographs 1.5 meters from him.

But the photographers were not all Japanese. These quys were trying to frame the Dome with the widest angle lens they got.

Many people relaxed on the stairs south of the Dome, enjoying the crowd in front of the Central Station, or just fooling around with their mobile phones.

Underneath the station there was still a lot of crowd coming from the Johannisstrasse.

At the station some were in a hurry to catch their train. Must be pretty hard with that luggage.

Waiting on platform 4 for my train to arrive from Frankfurt.

All photographs by Wouter Brandsma

I like to thank everyone for checking out my blog and reading the previous post about the photokina show. And I hope many are not disappointed with the Nikonians.org photograph.

And non-photography related you might want to check this new Disney trailer.

Michael Krewitsky, owner of Professional Sound and Music and contractor for the new audio system and Barry Ferrell, Senior Director of Product Strategy for QSC Audio, manufacturer of our amps and speakers.

We had to mount these speakers at the Zenith, the very top of the catwalk – BEFORE the dome can be installed! But first we had to get it up there.

A black and tackle, using mechanical advantage very effectively allowed us to pull it up.

It’s firmly attached to the catwalk now, along with the second cabinet that contains the two mid range speakers.

Want the technical Specs?
Developed specifically for the unique requirements of professional motion picture playback, the SC-424 extends QSC's commitment to the cinema market. As a member of the DCS Digital Cinema Speaker Series, the SC-424 is a four-way, selectable tri or quad-amplified screen channel loudspeaker system comprised of two main units - the MHV-1090 midhigh- very high-frequency system and the LF-4215 low-frequency system.

And MUCH more information located here:
http://www.qscaudio.com/products/speakers/dcs/dcs_sc424.htm

Our speakers have been modified and the 2 high drivers and horns are located in a sturdy birch cabinet. "Fly Points" have been added to safely allow the speaker cabinets to be "flown" via standard sound system procedures.

Once the dome is completed, the remaining speakers will be mounted on a unique rail system developed by Spitz, Inc and they will roll up the side of the dome. The rails will allow the speakers to be accessed for maintenance.

Master Domes A Division of HomeOwner's Federation Michael D. Kaplan, President 174 W. Foothill Blvd. Suite 327 Monrovia, CA 91016 mike@direct-gold.com Phone ANYTIME 800-771-8117 800-705-6545 Photos courtesy of Monolith Homes

Durability

Indestructible Has Never Been So Beautiful!

We can BUILD or REBUILD your house in an average of 3-4 months and it will be:

FIRE-Resistant

Earthquake-resistant

Termite-resistant

Save you 75% on energy costs.

Find out about the Strongest, nearly industructable, and most beautiful "GREEN" structures in the World. SO UNIQUE, OUR BUILDING METHODS ARE PATENTED!

25 years experience. Our custom homes are designed to last for CENTURIES, yet they actually cost substantially LESS to build.

Call 800-771-8117 for free information.

The dome, when finished, is earthquake, tornado and hurricane resistant (FEMA rates them as "near-absolute protection" from F5 tornadoes and Category 5 Hurricanes). Recently, a number of monolithic domes have survived major disasters:

Several monolithic domes in Florida survived direct hits by Hurricane Katrina.

Several monolithic domes were in the path of the 2005 and 2006 wildfires in Oklahoma and Texas, and survived with only slight charring of the exterior foam insulation.

In 2003, a monolithic dome mosque in Iraq survived a direct hit by a 5,000 lb (2,300 kg). bomb. The interior of the structure was totally destroyed, but the dome itself remained standing.

Construction of a dome home begins with a concrete ring foundation reinforced with steel rebar. An air form is created to fit the shape and size of the concrete foundation. Blower fans inflate the air form and run throughout the construction of the dome. Polyurethane foam is applied to the interior surface of the air form and steel reinforcing rebar is attached to the foam using a specially engineered layout of hoop and vertical steel rebar.

As a final step, shotcrete, a special spray mix of concrete, is applied to the interior surface. The shotcrete will be ground down, plaster will be applied, and the interior can be painted and decorated.

Homes made of master domes eco friendly Products/Services about the Dome Story and the Dome Mechanics of Master Domes, Inc.

BACKGROUND

What should have been a quiet, ordinary, Sunday-in-August afternoon for Al and Ruth Braswell, wasn't. In fact, it was anything but that -- all because of one troubled 16-year-old boy who allegedly started a brush fire in an olive grove at the end of Bryant Street in Calamesa, California.

That olive grove sits only about a mile from the Braswells' home: three Monolithic Domes in an aerodynamic design, perched on a 1500-foot ridge. Heat rose up to and above the 100-degree mark that hot, dry afternoon, so the fire spread rapidly. Within a short time, the Bryant Fire reached the surrounding wall and outlying buildings at the Braswell estate.

Al's Story

Ruth and I were not home when the fire started. We were up in the mountains that weekend, raking dry leaves away from our cabin -- ironically -- to keep it safe from fire.

On our drive back, about a mile from home, we spotted the smoke. Then we saw all the fire equipment, including a fire engine in our driveway. I went over and said, "You guys are a welcome sight with that blaze down there." A fire captain walked over to me and asked, "Are you the owner?"

I answered affirmatively and he said, "You have two minutes to get what you want out of this house and get out of our way." He was brusque -- all business -- but we understood, of course.

We ran in, got a little file of current paperwork and some pictures and got out.

Ruth's Story

A fire captain from a neighboring county came over and asked, "What's this thing (the dome) made of?" We told him, and he said, "Well, you do know that if this structure had been made of normal construction that you would have a pile of ashes now."

He then told us that at one point the firefighters thought they would have to abandon fighting and give up on saving our house. Then they saw that it could withstand the fire, so they decided that if any of their crew got in trouble, they were going to break the doors down and put the guys in the dome so they would be safe.

I said, "You would not have to break the doors down. I unlocked them all for you." And they stuck it out. They had to move their trucks three times, but they did it.

Dome Mechanics

· A rebar-reinforced concrete foundation is poured, defining the shape of the base of the structure.

· The fabric form, or airform, is attached to the foundation and inflated with an air blower. The airform contains an airlock to allow workers to enter the form while it is inflated.

· A four inch (102 mm) layer of polyurethane foam is sprayed inside the form. The foam serves several purposes; it will hold the rebar in place, provide support for spraying in the concrete mixture, and it will insulate the final structure.

· Rebar is attached to the inside foam, using clips that are attached to the foam. Several inches of concrete are sprayed over the rebar frame. The concrete may be thicker at the bottom than the top of the structure.

· After the concrete has set, the blower is turned off. The airform remains in place as an outer covering protecting the foam.

· The exposed surface of the airform may be covered with paint, stucco, wood shingles, stone, or almost any other type of surface treatment, even solar film. Some type of covering is desirable to protect the airform from long-term degradation due to ultraviolet radiation.

Indestructible Has Never Been So Beautiful!

We have 25 years experience building domes for many different purposes - we developed and patented the process.

The dome construction has many benefits including fire-proof, earthquake-proof, termite-proof and extremely energy efficient.

We have built domes for residential and commercial purposes.

Our building services are available for all of the U.S.

!!!

that is all.

-Steve

At some point, they'll tell us the unvarnished truth. That point isn't the release of "Dome," another ad from the McCain-Palin campaign slammed by FactCheck.org as being untruthful.

"Obama and his liberal congressional allies want a massive government, billions in spending increases, wasteful pork. And, we would pay -- painful income taxes, skyrocketing taxes on life savings, electricity and home heating oil. Can your family afford that?" an announcer informs us in the spot, which you can view at the bottom of this story.

"In what has become an ongoing theme, the McCain-Palin campaign has released yet another ad that makes false claims about Barack Obama's tax plan," writes Joe Miller at FactCheck.org in an item posted earlier today. "The ad, which was released on Sept. 18 and which the campaign says will air nationally, claims that Obama will raise income taxes and will tax 'life savings, electricity and home heating oil.' As we keep saying, Obama says he'll raise income taxes and capital gains taxes only for couples earning more than $250,000 per year or singles making over $200,000. He has proposed no plans to raise taxes on either home heating oil or electricity."

For more from the FactCheck.org breakdown, click here.

Harvest moon, originally uploaded by erin m.

According to Flickr, this is the most interesting photo I've ever posted.

In the first 24 hours after I posted, it had 1,200 views. More than 100 people had called it a favorite. Another 80 or so took the time to comment on it. DCist called it the photo of the day, and someone e-mailed me asking to buy a print. At one point, it was the fourth most interesting photo posted on all of Flickr that day.

I know it's a good photo. I LOVE this photo. It was, however, my first official interaction with the absolutely massive stream of commentary that is rained down upon people in our new, webby world. I spent so much time keeping up with comments and new contacts that I didn't really do much else all day.

Forte questo Facebook! ... soprattutto per il fatto che ti rimette in contatto con vecchi amici che non sentivo da un sacco di tempo.

Nell'immagine sopra i primi 100 amici.

Per gli altri, basta cliccare qui sotto:

PLOT:

While performing on Lake Springfield, rock band Green Day are killed when the pollution in the lake erodes their barge. At a memorial service, Grampa has a prophetic vision in which he predicts the impending doom of the town, but only Marge takes it seriously. Lisa and an Irish boy named Colin, with whom she has fallen in love, hold a meeting where they convince the town to clean up the lake.

Meanwhile, Homer adopts a pig from the Krusty Burger. Homer stores the pig's feces in an overflowing silo which Marge tells him to dispose of safely. However, Homer gets distracted and instead dumps the silo in the lake, re-polluting it. Moments later, a squirrel jumps into the lake and becomes severely mutated. Nearby, Flanders and Bart discover the squirrel during a hike, and the EPA captures it. Russ Cargill, head of the EPA, presents five options to President Schwarzenegger, who randomly picks the action of enclosing Springfield in a giant glass dome. When the police discover Homer's silo in the lake, an angry mob of townspeople approach the Simpsons' home and sets it on fire, but the family escapes through a sinkhole and flees to Alaska.

Cracks start to appear in the dome and Cargill, not wanting news of what he has done to become widespread, plans to destroy Springfield. In Alaska, the Simpsons see an advertisement for a new Grand Canyon to be located on the site that was Springfield. Marge and the kids decide to go and save the town, but Homer refuses to help the people who tried to kill them. The family abandons Homer and leaves but are captured by the EPA and placed back in the dome. After a visit from a mysterious Inuit shaman, Homer has an epiphany and believes he must save the town in order to save himself.

As he arrives at Springfield to do so, a helicopter lowers a bomb suspended by rope through a hole in the dome. Homer climbs to the peak of the dome and descends the rope, knocking the escaping townspeople and bomb off. Homer grabs the bomb and a motorcycle. After reuniting with Bart, they cycle up the side of the dome and Bart tosses the bomb through the hole, seconds before detonation. The bomb explodes, shattering the dome. The town praises Homer, who rides off with Marge on the motorcycle into the sunset. The townspeople begin restoring Springfield back to normal.

REVIEW:

I've been a fan of The Simpsons since they first came on the air back in the late 80s, so you can imagine I was ecstatic to see this film. It didn't disapoint. As a matter of fact, the quality of animation was much higherm but that's expected for the big screen.

Critics and naysayers were bashing this film before it came out and then they flip flopped and started loving it. The plot is vintage Simpson and while they say it's just an extended episode, what do they expect? It's the Simpsons, not Citizen Kane.

I have no issues with this film. It's one of the funniest movies I've seen in a long time. Go see it!

5 out of 5 stars