Keeps promise to Doc Rivers

WALTHAM - Sam Cassell, after telling coach Doc Rivers throughout the summer that he would be back, made good on the promise yesterday morning by signing a one-year guaranteed contract with the Celtics [team stats].

The veteran guard now is carrying the torch for all sorts of players - both professional and amateur.

“I’m 38, and I made the All-Star team at 34 - I make the old guys who play at the YMCA proud,” Cassell said. “And if we win another championship, I might even play again. Who knows?”

 The Celtics clearly don’t mind.

“We’ll see, but I’d say yes,” Rivers said of whether the guard, who turns 39 in November, has a lock on a roster spot. “He’s the kind of player who can sit for five games and then come in and play well.

“And he’s good for our younger players like (Rajon) Rondo.”

White House pitch

In an attempt to reprise their role from last February, when Paul Pierce [stats] and Ray Allen successfully talked P.J. Brown out of retirement, Pierce, Allen and Kevin Garnett all attempted to recruit the again-retired Brown during last Friday’s visit to the White House.

“He knows the situation,” Allen said. “It’s not as if we had to sell him on anything. Hopefully he makes a decision at some point this year again.”

Pierce also is hoping for a repeat of history.

“What you have to understand is that P.J. also retired last year,” the Celtics captain said. “He accomplished what he set out to do by joining us. So he has to think about what he has to do this time.”

Irreplaceable part

Garnett, with Pierce and Allen nodding in assent, said he attempted to talk James Posey into re-signing with the Celtics.

Instead, the valuable swingman accepted more years (four) with the New Orleans Hornets than the Celtics were willing to offer.

Replacing him, according to Garnett, is impossible.

“Pose brought so many different things,” he said. “The fact that you have a player like that, you never want to lose that kind of veteran leadership.

But this is going to be a test of our maturity. It’s a test of our growth. We see what’s coming up as showing us now what we learned from Pose and P.J. But we all miss Pose.”

No one player, according to Pierce, will fill the void left by Posey.

“What Pose brought to us is going to have to come from a combination of guys now,” Pierce said. “Now is the time for other guys to step up into that role.”

Added Cassell: “We have to find out who can replace the intangibles of James Posey. We could work into that, but you don’t replace a James Posey.”

Rondo rounds out

A bigger and presumably better Rondo reported for duty yesterday.

“I’ve gained seven pounds,” the point guard said. “I’m 181 right now. I’ve been trying to gain weight my whole career and couldn’t. I guess you have to win a championship to gain weight.” . . .

Celtics [team stats] types are busy attempting to coin a new phrase for this season’s team, but managing partner Stephen Pagliuca thinks he has come up with the winner: “Two-buntu,” a play on the word “ubuntu,” which was the motivational phrase adopted by Rivers last season.

“Instead of ‘Repeat,’ I think ‘Two-buntu’ works,” Pagliuca said.

So, check back each week to see which five players belong in your Fave 5 for the week.

               PG, Rajon Rondo

 PPG  RPG  APG  SPG BPG

 21.0 7.0   8.0   6.0  0

Playing with a do-or-die attitude, Rajon Rondo hustled to every ball, fired shots and found open men en route to the Celtics title-winning, Game 6 131-92 victory. Registering 21 points, eight dimes, seven rebounds and six steals, Rondo joined the likes of Gary Payton, Baron Davis and Vince Carter as the only players since the 1991-92 season to have similar performances in a playoff game. Following the win, an elated Doc Rivers told ESPN.com, " I was so proud of Rajon Rondo because, you know, he was really struggling, and to fight his way through that tonight and to play with the energy and the toughness that he played with tonight was absolutely fantastic."

               SG, Ray Allen

              SF, Paul Pierce

PPG  RPG  APG  SPG BPG

17.0 3.0  10.0  2.0  0

Selected 10th in the 1998 NBA Draft, Paul Pierce is finally No. 1. With the help of his Celtics teammates, Paul Pierce won his first NBA championship with a 131-92 victory over the Lakers in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. If that alone was not enough of a dream come true for P-Squared, he also received the Finals MVP Award. In Game 6 Boston's captain logged 17 points, 10 dimes and two steals, serving as a playmaker on offense and a tough defender on defense. After winning his first championship, Pierce told the Boston Herald, "(The championship) means everything. You know, I’m not living under the shadows of the other greats now."

 

              PF, Kevin Garnett

PPG   RPG APG SPG BPG

26.0 14.0 4.0  3.0  1.0

"Anything is possible!," Kevin Garnett shouted in a post-game interview with Michelle Tafoya after winning his first NBA title. It took The Big Ticket 13 seasons to finally fulfill his dream of winning a championship. With the best record in the league in the NBA's regular season, many favored Boston to win it all. But early on in the Playoffs the Celtics struggled on the road and some began to doubt the Big Three. With his heart set on a championship, Garnett refused to let the opportunity to win it all slip through his fingers. Facing the Lakers in Game 6, the Celtics needed one more victory to clinch the series and claim the title. With 26 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, Garnett helped to lead his team to a 131-92 victory. Boston made history with the largest margin of victory ever in a NBA Finals clinching game. Satisfied with just winning, Garnett also bellowed in his post-game interview, "Top of the world!"

 

              C, Pau Gasol

PPG  RPG  APG SPG BPG

11.0 8.0   2.0    0    0

The Lakers did not win the title and the season-ending Game 6 matchup may have been more difficult for L.A. fans to watch than it was for the Lakers players to play. Losing by 39 points, Boston's win marked the largest margin of victory in any NBA Finals series clinching matchup. But on a more positive note, Pau Gasol continued to prove that trading for him changed the Lakers for the better. In Game 6, the seven footer logged 11 points and eight rebounds. While it may have not been enough to get the job done this season, many believe with Pau and Kobe both dressed in purple and gold, the dynamic duo and co. could get another shot at a title next year.

Heute und Morgen ist die Straßenbaukolonne vor Ort, um sich von den Kollegen in die Baustelle einweisen zu lassen. "Dabei wird geklärt, ob Besonderheiten wie zum Beispiel Grenzen oder Versorgungsleitungen zu beachten sind", erklärt Baukoordinator Alexander Graf.

Ab Montag wird im Kreuzungsbereich Bünder Straße / Löhner Straße mit dem Straßenbau begonnen. In der Zeit vom 13. - 17. Oktober werden die Straßenbauarbeiten im Bereich der Eilshauser Kreuzung voraussichtlich abgeschlossen. "Im Kreuzungsbereich wird bereits die endgültige Fahrbahndecke aufgetragen", betont Graf. "Das bedeutet, dass die Kreuzung dann komplett fertig sein wird", fügt er hinzu. Die Baustellenampel bleibt laut dem Baukoordinator weiterhin stehen, "wird aber den geänderten Verhältnissen angepasst und neu programmiert." Ist die Programmierung abgeschlossen, kann die Löhner Straße in dem Bereich wieder zweispurig befahren werden.

Sobald der genaue Verkehrsfreigabetermin für die Kreuzung fest steht, werde ich an dieser Stelle darüber berichten. Das wird wahrscheinlich Ende der 43. KW (24. Oktober) sein.

Außerhalb des Kreuzungsbereiches lässt die Fahrbahndecke noch etwas auf sich warten. Dort werden bis auf Höhe des Krummen Weges zunächst nur die Trag- und Binderschicht aufgetragen. "Die Deckschicht wird am Schluss nahtlos auf der gesamten Strecke gemacht", erklärt Graf. Im Kreuzungsbereich nimmt die Gemeinde eine Naht in Kauf: "Sonst hätten wir später noch mal sperren müssen, um die Deckschicht aufzutragen. Das wollten wir nicht."

Ab Montag benötigen die Straßenbauer etwa drei Wochen, um zunächst die Bordsteine, die Gosse, den Straßenunterbau und anschließend die Trag- und Binderschicht in dem Bauabschnitt bis zur alten Schule fertig zu stellen.

- Olisihan se hirveä menetys, jos kansanmusiikki typistyisi konserttisalimusiikiksi, sanoo kansanmuusikko ja kulttuuriaktiivi Hannu Oskala. - Se on niin paljon muutakin. Ja aika tärkeässä yhteydessä kaljaa juovaan kansaan.

Ei. Kalja ei ole elinehto kansanmusiikille. Ihan selvinpäinkin voi soittaa ja kuunnella. Mutta mielestäni myös vapaammassa klubiympäristössä pitää kansanmusiikkia olla kuultavissa - erilaiset yleisökontaktit synnyttävät erilaista musiikkia. Jos soitamme vain konserttisaleissa hiiren hiljaa pysyttelevälle yleisölle, etäännytään ko. musiikin alkuperäisestä esitystilanteista turhan kauas. Ei Otto Hotakaisen rytmikäs polkka-tyyli syntynyt kirkossa, soiton piti kuulua tanssin paukkeen ja ihmisten hihkumisen yli akustisestikin, siksi nykykorvaan jo turhankin voimakas jousen käyttö oli tarpeen.

Klubitoiminta tuntuu erittäin luontevalta kodilta suomalaiselle nykykansanmusiikille. Toki lajityyppi elää myös kesäfestivaaleilla, tanhuväen häissä, maakuntien haitarikerhoissa ja niissä "intiimeissä konserteissa". Mutta tulevaisuuden kannalta nuorten aikuisten kaupunkiarki on erityisen tärkeä kohde.

Ongelmana on, kuinka saada toimintaan jatkuvuutta. Nuoret huippumuusikot pyristelevät edelleen ilman vakiintunutta estrdia.

- Perinnearkkua ei kukaan jaksa pyörittää kymmentä vuotta pidempään vapaaehtoistyönä, arvoi Hannu Oskala. - Se on ensisijaisesti pilotti, joka näyttää valtiovallalle, että tällaiselle musiikille on sekä tarjontaa että kysyntää, eikä se edes maksa paljon.

Oskalan toiveissa on, että kun formaatti nyt on synnytetty, sille heltiäisi vakiintunutta tukea, ja huipputason nykyetno-osaajille saataisiin sellaisia keikkoja, joita olisi mukava sekä soittaa että kuunnella. Oskalalla riittää ideoita - valtio voisi vaikkapa kilpailuttaa ohjelmapalveluyrityksiä järjestämään kansanmusiikkikiertueita.

Käsittääkseni Britanniassa ainakin osa valtiollisesta kulttuurista toimii juuri näin; ohjelmatoimistoja kilpailutetaan tuottamaan erilaisia kiertueita. Näin raskasta byrokratiaa tarvitaan mahdollisimman vähän ja rahan käyttö keskittyy erilaisten kulttuurisisältöjen järjestämiseen. "Kaupallisten ohjelmatoimistojen" käyttö ei kerro mitään sisällöistä - kyllä täysin "epäkaupallisellakin musiikilla" on omat agenttinsa ja managerinsa, jos sille vain luodaan "markkinat".

Oskalan mukaan suomalainen orkesterilaitos on luonut muusikkostandardin, joka on poikkeuksellinen muusikkouden historiassa: muusikon, joka nauttii kuukausipalkkaa ja soittaa omassa orkesterissaan neljä konserttia kuukaudessa.

- Se on mukava formaatti ja auttaa asuntolainan saamisessa, ja on valitettavaa, että ne vakiintuneet edut on unohdettu muiden musiikin lajien edustajilta, polemisoi Oskala.

Kansanmusiikille hän ei kuitenkaan toivo samanlaista järjestelmää - ei uusia Tallareita:

- Freelancerius on tälle genrelle lähes elintärkeää, siis se että kokoonpanot ja esiintymispaikat vaihtelevat.

Ja huh. Älkää nyt kukaan vaan ymmärtäkö tätä lausahdusta siten, että haluaisin romuttaa koko nykyisen klassisen musiikin orkesterilaitoksen. Se on erinomainen järjestelmä siihen mitä se tekee: tarjoaa klassista orkesterimusiikkia kuultavaksi elävänä ympäri Suomen. Ja vaikka seuraavissa kappaleissa esitänkin tiukkaa kritiikkiä nykyiselle systeemille, täytyy muistaa, että orkesterilaitoksella on paljon positiivisia "ulkoisvaikutuksia", joiden arvoa ei voi taskulaskimella mitata. (Esim. kuinka parikymmentä muusikkoa/näyttelijää/tanssijaa vaikuttaa pienen paikkakunnan henkiseen ilmapiiriin, jonka mukaan vaikkapa korkeakoulutetut lääkärit saattavat valita asuinpaikkansa.)

Täysin ongelmaton järjestelmä se ei silti ole. Ravistelemiselle on tarvetta. Ja laitoksen puolustajien parista huokuva muutosvastarinta jo pelkälle kriittiselle tarkastelulle on mielestäni pitkällä tähtäimellä vahingollinen myös klassisen musiikin tulevaisuudelle Suomessa. 1970-luvun perusteluilla ja organisaatioilla ei pärjätä enää 2010-luvulla.

1. Klassista musiikkia on paljon muutakin kuin orkesterimusiikki. Tarjoaako nykyinen orkesterilaitosjärjestelmä parhaan kattauksen koko sitä kirjoa, mitä ns. klassinen musiikki pitää sisällään? Miksei jähmeän kuukausipalkkaisen järjestelmän ohessa (tai jossain päin Suomea tilalla) voisi olla myös ns. klassisen musiikin kiertuepohjaista toimintaa? Vanha musiikki, kamarimusiikki (klassisen musiikin pienkokoonpanot 2-8 henkeä), uusi musiikki ja solistien resitaalit joutuvat suotta paitsioon yksipuolistavan orkesterilaitoksen vuoksi.

2. Ns. klassisen musiikin orkesterisoittajat ovat valtion tarjoamien työtilaisuuksien ja pitkäkestoisten työpaikkojen suhteen kohtuuttoman paljon paremmassa asemassa kuin muiden musiikinlajien edustajat. Suomesta löytyy n. 1000 kuukausipalkkaista klassista muusikkoa, n. 20 jatsaria (UMO) ja 5 kansanmuusikkoa (Tallari). Tilanne ei ole kestävä. Onko mitään järkeä, että suuri osa eturivin jazzmuusikoistamme ansaitsee leipänsä opettamalla samalla kun klassiset muusikot voivat keskittyä soittamiseen? Ei.

3. Orkesterilaitosjärjestelmä keskittää musiikkitilaisuudet maantieteellisesti suuriin asutuskeskuksiin, vaikka lähes jokaisessa niemenmutkassa maassamme on jokin konserttitoimintaan soveltuva tila. (Kirkko, auditorio, jumppasali jne.) Kulttuurin kiertuetoimintaa kehittämällä voitaisiin korkeatasoisia elävän taiteen kokemuksia saada huomattavasti suuremmalle osalle väestöä. Maaseutu ei pysy elävänä pelkillä maataloustukiaisilla.

4. Orkesterilaitos on taiteen tuotantomuotona jähmeä ja ei sovellu kaikille musiikinlajeille sellaisenaan. Vaikka esim. Tallari on tehnyt hienoa työtä viimeiset parikymmentä vuotta, ei se kuitenkaan edusta sellaista kansanmusiikin kuvaa, joka mielestäni on elävintä ja tuoreinta. Freelancerius, jatkuva muutos, kehittyminen ja vaihtuvat kokoonpanot, jotka ovat mielestäni vahvasti sekä kansanmusiikin että jazzin ytimessä tuntuvat vastakohdalta kuukausipalkkaiselle eläkeviralle.

Viime aikoina on myös puhuttu paljon kulttuurialojen ylikoulutuksesta. Tavallaanhan tämä pitääkin paikkansa; nykyisellä kulttuurin tuen määrällä läheskään kaikille ei riitä koulutustaan vastaavia työtehtäviä. Hyvä kysymys kuitenkin on, onko kulttuurin tuen kohdistuminen ja kulttuurin tuen kokonaismäärä kohdallaan maassamme? Ei kai kukaan voi väittää, että Suomessa olisi aivan liikaa kulttuuritilaisuuksia kautta maan? Kulttuurin valtakunnallinen tarjonta ei suinkaan ole yhtä laajaa ja monipuolista kuin Helsingin konserttikalenterista voisi päätellä. Pullonkaula on järjestelmän tarjoaman tuen muodoissa.

Jazzille, kansanmusiikille ja muillekin "epäkaupallisen, mutta korkeatasoisen musiikin muodoille" tuleekin kehittää oma tukijärjestelmänsä, joka mahdollistaa konserttitoiminnan kaikkialla maassamme. Ja miksi rajoittua vain musiikkiin? Mm. maantieteellinen keskittyminen on musiikkia räikeämpää esim. nykytanssin saralla. Kulttuurin tuki pitäisi voida irroittaa laitoksista tiukkoine genrerajoineen, ja kohdistaa tilaisuuksiin.

Miltä näyttäisi ulkoistettu kulttuuri? Miksei kulttuuria voisi ulkoistaa? Täytyykö jokaisella kunnalla olla täysi koko kulttuurituotannon ketju palkkalistoillaan? Eikö asiantunteva tilaajaorganisaatio riittäisi? Onko kulttuuritoimen tärkein tehtävä taata kuukausipalkkaisia virkoja taidealoille vai tuottaa mahdollisimman monipuolisia ja korkeatasoisia tilaisuuksia kuntalaisille?

Itse asiassa ns. taiteen vapaa kenttähän on jo ulkoistettua, kunnille ja valtiolle äärimmäisen edullista taidetta. Hyvänä esimerkkinä hyvin tuntemani Tanssiteatteri Hurjaruuth, joka saa Helsingin kaupungilta vuosittain vähemmän tukea kuin mitä se maksaa Kaapelille (kaupungin kiinteistö) vuokrana. Kaupunki ei siis tavallaan tue Hurjaruuthin korkeatasoista esitystoimintaa eurollakaan.

Vapaa kenttä kunniaan ja rahoitus nousuun! Lukekaa koko juttu kamu-klubeista tuoreesta Rondosta. Hop!

1. Dach Urzędu Miejskiego w Białymstoku, widok z 14 piętra na główne zabytki miasta i panoramę. Po godzinie 13 do późnej nocy można kamerą sterować. Widok na żywo

2. Stacja paliw KPKM, pokazuje na żywo co się dzieje na stacji. Do wyboru są też okolice - ulica składowa, kościół, akademiki, politechnika, uniwersytet.

3. Widok na skrzyżowanie ulic Sienkiewicza i Jurowieckiej. Kamera umieszczona w budynku Gazety Wyborczej. Obraz na żywo

4. Kamera pokazuje Plac Miejski w Białymstoku. Widok na żywo

5. Widok na żywo. Pokazuje skrzyżowanie ulic Lipowej, Liniarskiego i Malmeda.

6. Trasa Białystok - Choroszcz. Kamera umieszczona w Łyskach. Widok aktualizowany co 10 minut.

7. Rondo w Grabówce. Widok aktualizowany co 10 minut.

8. Kamera zamontowana na dachu jednego z wieżowców na osiedlu Piasta. Oprogramowanie do urządzenia działa podobnie jak te od kamery Urzędu miejskiego. Kamerą można sterować. Link dzięki uprzejmości internauty.

9. Plac Zamenhofa. Kamera nadaje obraz na żywo, dzięki czemu można na bieżąco zobaczyć co się dzieje na tym popularnym skwerku w centrum miasta. Link dzięki uprzejmości internauty.

10. Link trzeba skopiować do winampa lub windows media player mms://www.jard.pl:8089/jardtv
Kamera na hotelu Turkus. Widać skrzyżowanie Jana Pawła II z Hetmańską, Wierzbową i Solidarności. Urządzenie raz działa, raz nie. Jakość mierna, wiesza się co kilkanaście sekund. Jednak kiedy ktoś chce zobaczyć - jakie jest natężenie ruchu - to mu wystarczy.

Jeżeli znasz linki do innych kamer, które działają - proszę o kontakt.

A Reebok desenvolveu uma ação de mobile marketing interessante. Estrelada pelo jogador dos Boston Celtics - Rajon Rondo, a ação contou com um site WAP exclusivo para o atleta, http://m.reebok.com/rondo , onde fãs poderam fazer download de ringtones promocionais, papéis de parede e vídeos do mesmo.

Mais o que achei de fato interessante foi a ação que a Reebok realizou durante as finais da NBA entre Boston Celtics e os LA Lakers, onde os usuários do Wap site poderam optar por receber uma chamada (torpedo de voz) a cada jogada "espetacular" de Rondo. Ao atender o telefone, os usuários recebiam uma chamada de vários ex-jogadores do Celtics dizendo: “See that? Somebody just got Rondo’d.”

O site WAP teve mais de 72.000 visitantes com 168.000 páginas vistas em 17 dias (de 2 a 18 de junho). Além disso, foram realizados mais de 2.4000 downloads e mais de 2.600 opt-in para receber o torpedo de voz durante as finais.

Para finalizar, aí fica a frase de Marcus Spurrell, chefe de marketing digital da Reebok: "Mobile é a chave para a estratégia global da marca Reebok". Belo arremesso da Rebook........

Valeu a pena esperar pela qualidade da AnimeNSK!

E pra começar bem, já começamos com Saito e Louise na cama XD~

Será que dessa eles param de enrolar sobre o amor deles?! Veremos veremos..

Saito perde as runas na sua mão logo no começo do episódio, e assim também seus poderes se vão, mesmo assim ele decide ficar ao lado de Louise para protegê-la.

Um novo inimigo aparece dizendo ser um animal de estimação de outro usuário do vácuo!

Quem será seu mestre? E quem será quela garota de cabelos azuis ;O!?!?!?!

E a Tiffania ainda não fez sua aparição! (Ahhhhhh.... XD~!!!)

Mas ela vem no episódio 2! (Aeeeeeeee \o/)

No geral gostei bastante do primeiro episódio, só achei a abertura e encerramento não tão legais como a da segunda temporada.

Definitivamente não eprderei por nada RAWR!!! >=D!!!

Eeee é isso aí! Ja ne ;D!!

¿Qué es lo nuevo que Japón nos trae este veranito?

Pues un montón de dramas, la mayoría de ellos basados en mangas. Aquí tenéis una lista de lo que nos espera:

Ando Natsu (あんどーなつ)
TBS, Lunes 8:00pm, Estreno el 7 de julio.

"Ando Natsu" está basado en un manga de Yuji Nishi y Terry Yamamoto.

Shihori Kanjiya (HYD2) interpreta a Natsu Ando, una joven experta en pastelería occidental que de repente pierde su trabajo y es incapaz de encontrar un nuevo empleo. Entonces descubre una tienda de dulces tradicionales japoneses y comienza a trabajar mientras aprende las recetas tradicionales bajo la guía de un veterano chef, a quien da vida Jun Kunimura.

Taiyou to Umi no Kyoushitsu (太陽と海の教室), "Homeroom on the Beachside"
Fuji TV, Lunes 9:00pm, Estreno el 21 de julio.
Yuji Oda (Jodan ja nai!) protagoniza este drama escolar. Él es un profesor de instituto poco convencional llamado Sakutaro Sakurai, que es asignado a una academia preparatoria en la que sus alumnos sólo piensan en prepararse para sus exámenes. El profesor les ayuda a darse cuenta de que hay vida más allá de sus estudios. Keito Kitagawa (Mop girl) es una profesora asistente que, al igual que los alumnos, carece de una meta en su vida. Algunos de los estudiantes son Masaki Okada, Kie Kitano, Mitsuki Tanimura y Yusuke Yamamoto.

Shibatora (シバトラ～童顔刑事・柴田竹虎～)
Fuji TV, Martes 9:00pm, Estreno el 8 de Julio

Teppei Koike (Dragon Zakura) es un policía novato,Taketora Shibata, que a pesar de su imagen infantil lucha contra el crimen juvenil y tiene la habilidad de descubrir cualquier cosa en la escena del crimen. Le acompaña Ohgo Suzuka (Sexy Voice and Robo), Miki Maya y Naohito Fujiki.

Este drama está adaptado de un manga de Yuma Ando.

Monster Parent (モンスターペアレント)

Fuji TV, Martes 10:00pm, Estreno el 1 de julio.

Ryoko Yonekura (Fushin no toki) es una abogada que es contratada para enfrentarse a los "monster parents", padres que hacen peticiones poco razonables a las escuelas y profesores. Le acompaña Hiraoka Yuta (First kiss).

Gakkou ja Oshierarenai! (学校じゃ教えられない！)
NTV, Martes 10:00pm, Estreno el 15 de julio

Kyoko Fukada (Yama onna kabe onna) y Shosuke Tanihara (Edison no haha) coprotagonizan este drama, en el que Fukada interpreta a una profesora de un instituto de chicas. Cuando la escuela acepta a 5 estudiantes masculinos ella crea un club de baile para que los chicos puedan adaptarse y que las chicas tengan una nueva experiencia. Tanihara es el director del instituto, que rechaza aprobar el club.

Seigi no Mikata (正義の味方)
NTV, Miércoles 10:00pm, Estreno el 9 de julio.
"Seigi no Mikata" es una adaptación del manga de Chiaki Hijiri del mismo nombre.

Mirai Shida (14 Sai no Haha) es Yoko, una animada chica que es constantemente atormentada por su hermana mayor, Makiko, interpretada por Yu Yamada (Binbo danshi). Sin embargo, sin saber cómo, las situaciones que se crean traen felicidad a los demás.

Cat Street (キャットストリート)
NHK, Jueves 23pm, Estreno el 28 de agosto.

Basado en el popular drama de Yoko Kamio (autora de HYD).

Mientras Keito, Mitsuki Tanimura (Pandora), participaba de la obra teatral "Días soleados" sufre de un experiencia traumática que le obliga a abandonar su escuela desarrollando una personalidad antisocial. Sin embargo, descubre una escuela repleta de personas como ella, encontrando finalmente un grupo de amigos y descubriendo el amor. Kimura Ryou (Hanazakari no Kimitachi e) le acompaña.

Code Blue (コード・ブルー －ドクターヘリ緊急救命－)
Fuji TV, Jueves 10:00pm, Estreno el 3 de julio

Drama médico basado en una propuesta nacional de sistema de asistencia sanitaria a través de helicópteros.

Gira en torno al Doctor Heli, que se encarga de atender las emergencias médicas, interpretado por Tomohisa Yamashita (Proposal Daisakusen), acompañado de Yui Aragaki (My boss my hero), Erika Toda (Liar game) y Yosuke Asari (Hagetaka), que aprenden de los mejores doctores,Toshiro Yanagiba, Ryo y Masanobu Katsumura.

Maou (魔王)
TBS, Viernes 10:00pm, Estreno el 4 de julio

Como ya hemos hablado de este drama de suspense en otros post, sólo diremos que es la versión de la coreana "The Devil" ("Mawang"), protagonizada por Satoshi Ohno e Ikuta Toma.

Dageki Tenshi Ruri (打撃天使ルリ)
TV Asahi,Viernes 11:15pm, Estreno el 25 de julio
"Dageki Tenshi Ruri" es otra adaptación de un manga, basada en una serie de suspense/acción de Yasuhito Yamamoto.

Rei Kikukawa (Ri Kouran) es Komine Ruri, que trabaja en una oficina hasta que una fuerza extraña se apodera de su puño. Tras eso se dedicará a luchar contra la injusticia social. Su famosa frase, "dasha!", se sentirá por todo Japón.

Walkin' Butterfly (ウォーキン☆バタフライ)
TV Tokyo, viernes 12:12am, Estreno el 11 de julio
"Walkin' Butterfly" de Chihiro Tamaki es la adaptación de un manga protagonizado por Aoi Nakabeppu (Life). Será una joven llamada Michiko acomplejada por ser demasiado alta. Mientras trabaja entregando pizzas es enviada a un espectáculo de moda, donde le confunden con una modelo. Tendrá que sobreponerse a su complejo si quiere lograr el éxito.

Koizora (恋空)
TBS, Sábado 8:00pm, Estreno el 2 de agosto

"Koizora" está basado en una novela vía móvil, que ya se convirtió en película el año pasado. La historia gira en torno a Mika, una chica que se enamora de su compañero de clase Hiroki. Su turbulenta historia de amor le hace pasar por varias dificultades. Protagonizado por Erena Mizusawa y Koji Seto (Happy boys).

Yasuko to Kenji (ヤスコとケンジ)
NTV, Sábado 9:00pm, Estreno el 12 de julio

Masahiro Matsuoka (Marathon) y Mikako Tabe (Yamada taro monogatari) son los protagonistas de esta comedia, también basada en un manga de Aruko.

Es la historia de una hermana y un hermano que perdieron a sus padres. Kenji fue yakuza, pero tras quedarse solos comienza a ganarse la vida como escritor de mangas para chicas. Yasoku conoce a Jun, interpretado por Tadayoshi Okura (Utahime), pero su hermana mayor Erika, Ryoko Hirosue (Tokyo tower), casualmente también había sido yakuza y lleva mucho tiempo enamorada del hermano de Kenji.

Tomorrow (Tomorrow)
TBS, Domingo 9:00pm, Estreno el 6 de julio
"Tomorrow" es un drama médico, protagonizado por Yutaka Takenouchi (Rondo) y Miho Kanno (Watashitachi no kyoukasho). Tekenouchi es una cirujano retirado que vuelve a la profesión tras varios años para salar el hospital. Allí conoce a Aiko, una enfermera que ha dedicado su vida a salvar la de los demás.

Here is Greenwood (ここはグリーン・ウッド)
Tokyo MX, Domingo 11:30pm, Estreno el 6 de julio

La historia se basa en el manga del mismo nombre y se centra en la vida de Kazuya Hasukawa en la Academia Ryokuto y de su poco habitual estancia en los dormitorios Greenwood. Yuki Izawa es el protagonista, que se lleva la primera sorpresa al descubrir que su compañero de habitación, Shun Kisaragi (Fuma no Kojiro), parece ser una chica.

ich hab den vollständigen beitrag selbst noch nicht gesehen, bin aber sehr gespannt wie die anderen bilder, von z.b. phreak2.0 oder michaela, aussehen werden. hier aber mal eine vorschau von dem photo von mir - wie mareike mich hergerichtet hat ;)

foto: Christoph Pirnbacher

sehr streng, ich erkenn mich selbst kaum wieder ;) dafür ist der rock durchsichtig

nachtrag: es gibt sehr wohl einen klar definierten unterschied zwischen nerd und geek

hier der gesamte beitrag im rondo

AGGtown has the Rangers & 6 Flags;  what do they need with the 'boys?  It won't be the same but hopefully better.  I can't imagine traveling all the way down I-20 to go to AGGTown as crowded as it is, especially when you pass Cooper Street on a Weekend around noon!  Matter of fact, Arlington (AGGTOWN) just got that new shopping village called the 'Highlands'.  YES I said  VILLAGE b/c it's like a town within a town. 

Studio Movie Grill is positioned in nice little 'crooked corner' of the complex but they need to be Fo'SHAMED b/c they don't have enough PARKING!  Oh wait... I'm off track yet again.

Back to sports, now I'm not EVEN going to pretend that I know the stats, players etc AND I'm definitely not a self-proclaimed sports critic.  Still I try to keep up from time to time, and really plan to get more involved with baseball this year as well.  ANYHOO!  when I wasn't cheering for the TEXAS teams, I was cheering for my boy KG (Kevin Garnett, BIG TICKET) whatever you want to call him. 

So when he got with the Celtics I was like, 'he's in the GREEN'?  Sure enough he gets on the team and they go to the championship and WIN no less (thanks to Rondo too! ) but still.  How many years was KG with the T'wolves?  12 years with no championships.  T'wolves traded Garnett for 7 players!  So hmmm, within a yeaer of playing for a different team he gets his win...What does that say about that whole franchise player with the T'wolves gig? 

My boy got his first championship ring this year.  WOOHOO! Excited. Of course, my excitement deflated when I learned KG is MARRIED NOW with a BABY (as of April 2008) to boot.  Oh well, he had to marry somebody eh?  The good news is, he's now related to music producer JIMMY JAM of Terry Lewis & Jimmy Jam fame, you know the producers who brought some 'Control' in Janet Jackson's career.  

That makes sense though, he did learn meet the wonder duo producers as they are based in minnesota themselves.  I ran across that b/c I was so wanting to write & produce songs for Flyte Tyme Records.  No go, but still working on it. 

Jam & Lewis also worked with GaP for their tv ad campaigns handling the 'music' aspect of it.  Now that I dipped all in KG's koolaid w/out knowing the flavor... here's a link for a more sports related reflectioin of the Celtics win!

Celtics WIN!

kd

This is the first time in 22 years that the Celtics have won the NBA title.  Not only that, this win stopped Phil Jackson from becoming tied with a former Celtics legendary coach as the winningest coaching champion.  The final score when it was all said in done in true Celtics style was a commanding 131-92.  Watch it unfold today on www.nba.com.

However, looking forward, I think the Lakers franchise is in a much better position. Granted, you're supposed to give it at least a day before you start thinking about the future, but fans of the losing team know that is never true. (The second the Nets were done I started thinking about the draft.) When you let your mind wander, it becomes obvious that while the Celtics are clearly the better team now, more rings lie in the future of the Lakers than the Celtics.

Age might be the biggest reason for this. The Big Three might only have three more years left, if that. Ray Allen will be 33 next year and has already shown this playoffs that its becoming tougher for him to make his own looks. (But when he is even close to open there is still nobody that can shoot it better). Garnett will also be 33, but his body has taken a pounding playing Center in the West for years. Pierce is the youngest, as he'll be 31 next season and as a few good years left in him. When you look at the bench, the age doesn't get much better P.J. Brown and Sam Cassell, who both played their share of minutes these playoffs, will be 39 next year and other role players like Eddie House, 31, and James Posey, 32 are getting up their in age.

Then you have the Lakers. Kobe's been in the league forever, but he'll only be 30 next year, which in terms of basketball years, makes him a lot younger than Allen and KG. Gasol may be soft, but he'll only be 28 and is still a solid player, while Odom will be turning 29. They have a few young guns on the team as well, with Andrew Bynum only turning 21, Sasha Vujacic turning 25 and Jordan Farmar turning 22. The Lakers core of players will be around for a few years longer than the Celts will.

Another reason the Lakers are better built for the future is the make-up of their starting line-up. The Celtics played an incredible series, but what people keep forgetting is that the Lakers played the entire postseason without Bynum. Before the injury, Bynum was averaging 13 and 10 and was turning into a legitimate Center. If you slide him back into the 5 and pair him up with Gasol, who can then move to the 4, you have a special front court. Clearly, we saw that Gasol is not at his best when he has to bang down low, but with Bynum back, he can face up to the basket more and use his 7-foot size to take advantage of smaller power forwards. The Lakers then round out their starting line-up with Odom at the 3, Bryant at the 2 and an ever-improving Farmar at the point. it's a scary starting 5 that leaves Walton, Vujacic, Radmanovic and Turiaf coming off the bench. Add one more capable guard to that set and you've got one of the most well-rounded teams that I've seen assembled.

The Celts on the other hand, have under-sized forwards in Glen Davis and Leon Powe (who's game I love, by the way) and no true back-up PG with Cassell likely retiring (and firing up more shots per minute than any other player in the NBA). Perkins continues to get better, but the Celts would feel a lot better with a legitimate center to back-up him up just in case, not 6'9" Davis. Doc Rivers also learned this post-season that Rondo's passing skills can sometimes be a detriment. He looks to pass so often that teams would slack off him, forcing him to take shots that he never would, effectively taking himself out of the game. He needs to improve his shooting enough to be taken seriously as a scoring threat. Until then, the Celts need another PG who can both dish and score.

So enjoy it Boston. It was a great season and a dominating final game. I am glad that you proved me wrong and that you made my father very happy. But when the dust settles and smoke clears, there is some work to do for next year. Of course, I could be wrong again.

  The party has begun in Boston!  Euphoric Celtics fans started to serenade their team in the last minutes of the game as if they were in a pub on nearby Canal Street!

In Vegas they say “Always bet on black”.  In basketball, I say, “Always bet on defense”. 

The Celtics won 81 games this season, including 16 in the playoffs. Their transformation from NBA laughingstock (they won 24 games last year) to NBA Champions has been swift and dramatic.

Final score -- Boston: 131; Lakers 92

Tonight, some 20,000 Celtics fans had the chance to say, “I was there” to see Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo and Coach Doc Rivers and the rest of the best defense team in the NBA dominate the LA Lakers.  Garnett scored 26 points with 14 rebounds, Allen scored 26 and Pierce, the finals MVP, scored 17.

Accolades to Kobe Bryant, he was valiant but the rest of his team just did not show up.

The Celtics did everything right: they rebounded, they stole the ball and they scored!

The last Boston team to win a championship at home was the 1985-86 Celtics, who on June 8, 1986, polished off the Houston Rockets in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.

Kevin Garnett was disappointed with how he played in Game 5, but in Game 6 he stepped it up and put on a show.  To be fair, the Celtics played great team ball – everyone did their part, everyone stepped up.

Congratulations Celtics on NBA championship number 17!!!

Paulette

Then...

Off to Bangkok for some real fun. Two days there to relax and become acclimated to Asia.

Next stop is Cambodia. Something about that place that I love. I want to explore a bit more. Go deeper into the place. Go a little off the beaten path. I'll probably spend about 8 days in Cambodia. Two in Phnom Penh and 6 or so in and around Siem Reap. Must see Angkor again, of course. I want to get away and see Battambang and other places that don't get the usual tramp of tourism. See what I can out there. Just gotta be careful. Landmines out there in the wilds of Cambodia. The Khmer Rouge were as ugly as the Soviets and Taliban when it came to emplacing landmines.

My buddy Becca will join me when I get back to Bangkok and then it's off to India and on to Egypt. Two of the most exotic locales on the planet. Pyramids and Tah Mahals. Moghuls and Khans and Pharaohs. Perhaps, we should leave early and take a side trip into Jerusalem. I've been to Jerusalem before. It's one of those places where you can feel humanity and the ages speaking to you. History wails through the cracks in the Western Wall. The legend of Christ can be felt there. His pain and his love for humanity. The oppression of both the Roman and Islamic Empire can be felt still floating through the air. The victims still cry for justice. You can smell the blood that has been spilt. Feel the rage of the rebellions and revolutions. Jerusalem is truly a special city. It's a magnitude of "exceptionality" that one can not comprehend until one has experienced the City of Peace. Likewise, visiting the Pyramids is extraordinary. Thousands of years of history. One follows a multitude of pilgrims to Ghiza, Saqqara and Memphis. Millions of Egyptians look to the Pyramids with pride. Knowing that their country, their culture produced such wonders in antiquity. I'm sure it makes them feel as though they can rise and do so again. With leadership and true philosophy, I'm sure that they could. But Egypt, like the rest of the Muslim world, will do nothing again until they throw off the mind numbing shackles of Islam. Islam where Insha'allah prevails as the philosophy of progress.

India. Who can truly summarize the Golden Continent of Gandhi. All great Empires of the old age coveted this realm of spice and riches and magic exoticism. Beauty and uncommon wealth are ubiquitous on the subcontinent. Yet, dwelling in the house of beauty and affluence is their stepsisters poverty, famine and death. I have read much of India but have yet to experience it. I shall on this journey for the first time. Hopefully, more trips will follow and I will get to know India well.

I still can't believe how hot it is here today. I don't want to step outside my door. I don't remember the Sinai being this hot. I feel like the Sun is a mere inch from my face while outside my door. Scorching my skin. Incinerating my nose and ears. Yet, January saw the worst blizzard Herat had seen in decades. 2 feet of snow. Freezing temperatures.

And I thought Kentucky weather was insane.

I read in the news that Kobe has choked again. Kobe will never be the great player. He will always be the one who could have been. The one who should have been. Too much was given to Bryant. He hasn't learned that sometimes one has to take the prize. Reach out and make it so. He still thinks that he deserves the prize. No one deserves anything. One achieves or one does not. Kobe does not. His instinct is now and will always be to expect to win. He has not learned that he must keep fighting until the last ounce of sweat has been sacrificed. He still hasn't learned that he can't do it alone. He still hasn't learned that leadership is a full time job. Not a sometimes job. He settles for the question when he should drive to certainty.

Therefore, another Kentucky boy will get a ring.

Go Rondo! Go Celtics!

GYA out

I think this year's Democratic Primary was as rare as they get. Though I don't like her and did not vote for her, Hills shares a lot of Barack's stances, and, in any other year, would have been our President. Unfortunately, she's the Karl Malone to Barack's MJ this year, which sucks, but them's the breaks. That being said, a VP spot for her just would not be a good idea. It would be suicide. Obama's ticket is centered on change, and less of the status quo, and good as she is, the Clinton name is synonymous with status quo, making her the polar opposite of this campaign's core message. I do however think that the myriad Clinton supporters who say they will not vote Obama in the general election are frigging retarded, as they share many of the same stances, and are in the SAME PARTY. Voting across the aisle is a slap to the party, and Primary candidate, you claimed to support months before.

The Finals are here and my C's are in it and a game UP BABY!

But, this series really could go either way. I know, I hate it too.

Paul and Kobe cancel each other out, with Kobe maybe having a +4-8 point advantage over PP. Kevin will continue to beast the terry cloth soft Pau Gasol, who just looks slow and timid when paired with Kevie Kev for 48 minutes. That being said, Perkins will get ran out of the gym by Odom, who is the most versatile, diverse player he's had to guard this postseason, but he won't be outrebounded, which is the only plus there. Rondo and Cassell will continue to show up Fish and Farmar, Rondo too long and athletic, and Sam I Am too good and varied a shooter to be outplayed by the old and diminishing, young and anxious LA duo. Ray will outplay Radmanovic and the other guy who's name I won't even ATTEMPT to spell, simply because his shooting and slashing abilities will draw them and others plenty of fouls, and him plenty of easy stripe visits.  The Benches are about as different as two benches can be, ours will get stops but struggle to score without a scoring threat, theirs will score points in streaks and fail to get stops. My Prediction: Us in Seven, but only just barely.

Whoever stole my camera's mother is a whore, and I hope they get hit by something moving fast. Yeah, I said that.

Lil Wayne recently issued a Big F U to DJs across the states, saying that he didn't know where they got the tracks and he never saw a dime. Beyond his 9087687689678 mixtapes netting him zero dollars, he has a point, the classic mixtape and the classic DJ are dying, and have been for some time. I grew up on all the Clue tapes my sister would let me keep when she came home from school, and, while Clue wound up being the prototype for what DJs have since become, he picked good music based on merit and flow, spent more time bigging up featured artists more than himself and his stable, and ACTUALLY SCRATCHED FROM TIME TO TIME. None of said qualities are being exhibited anymore by mainstream DJs, and the music and its fans are the victims. I know they have to eat, but there is always, always a way to eat without letting the art suffer. But what do I know?

1. Rondo (v): To smoothly move between large objects with dexterity and purpose.

2. Rondo (v): To remove an object quickly without being detected.

3. Rondo (v): To create a distraction followed by a quick change of direction.