Monthly Archives: February 2020

Matt Bomer’s Acting Education Is Only Beginning – Backstage

Posted: February 15, 2020 at 9:47 am

Matt Bomer is worried about sending you the wrong message.

The 42-year-old is no stranger to being in front of the camera. He booked his first commercial at 18, was the top-billed star of a hit drama series for six seasons, has been nominated for an Emmy, won a Golden Globe, worked opposite everyone from Channing Tatum to Lady Gaga, and still collaborates regularly with Ryan Murphy. In other words: Hes used to the public eye.

READ: Matt Bomer Remembers His Failed Audition to Play Tarzan on Broadway

But sit him down on a mid-November evening in New York Citys Financial District and tell him you want to talk about his acting process, from his days at Carnegie Mellon to his upcoming starring role on The Sinner, and his usual eager smile and engaged, can-do body language may veil some reluctance. Especially since hes most often asked about his sexuality and socially engaged projects since he came out as gay in 2012, his family of five with husband and celebrity publicist Simon Halls, and his dedicated (and admirable) health and fitness regimen, to talk candidly about the craft and all the different actor-y things we do, he says, feels esoteric and strange.

But, he interrupts himself, offering a winking acknowledgment to Backstages legacy, I know youre interested in that, so this is probably the place to do it! And honestly? Once he buckles in, our interview becomes an hours acting lesson that would easily run you a couple hundred dollars at any Midtown studio.

At the root of all of his acting endeavors, Bomer is just looking for the truth. And when the work allows him to run with it, hes willingand, at this point in his career, ableto do just about anything it takes to get it right.

This is perhaps most apparent in his commitment to a roles physical demands. From the sexed-up brawn required of his male stripper in the blockbuster Magic Mike and its sequel to the 40 pounds he shed for HBOs award-winning screen adaptation of Larry Kramers HIV/AIDS drama The Normal Heart, Bomer physically drags his body that extra mile when given the opportunity and the material.

On Normal Heart, I felt a tremendous responsibility to my community, to all the people who had to suffer through that time, and I thought, Well, if I have to risk my life to do it, to convey that, then its worth it to me to tell that story, he says.

To a lesser but still laudable degree, the current third season of The Sinner, produced by UCP, also called for a tangible sacrifice. This photo shoot and interview were booked months before the premiere, because three-quarters of the way through filming the anthological USA Network drama with Bill Pullman and Chris Messina, Bomer was due to make some severe alterations to his appearance that hed rather not have captured on a magazine cover. (No spoilers, but his diet was limited to 500 calories a day, and he sips a pressed juice for dinner intermittently during our conversation.)

But his role prep is more than skin deepBomer employs exacting character work for each of his performances. The Sinner, for one, from creator and showrunner Derek Simonds and casting directors Douglas Aibel and Stephanie Holbrook, has him playing Jamie, a beloved teacher at an all-girls private school, a husband, and a soon-to-be father who harbors a dark past. Upon an unexpected reunion with a college friend (Messina), his actions lead to tragic consequences.

Everything seems to be going his way, but underneath all that, he is suffering from a really profound sense of loneliness and isolation, and that ultimately leads him to a kind of nihilism and terror and, ultimately, violence, Bomer teases. Hes having a romance with a philosophy that he doesnt necessarily have the psychological structure to be able to support in a responsible way.

Its a goliath role, one that brings him back to prime time after White Collar, the USA Network series that made him famous, and one that Bomer admits he was uneasy about taking on. Then again, it was that questioning gut check that let him know he had to say yes.

One thing thats always been a big lure for me is [asking], Am I going to have to get out of my comfort zone to play this part? he says. You have opportunities that come your way where youve done it before and you know you can do it in a certain way. But certainly with The Sinner, I thought, I dont know how Im going to do this; I dont know how Im going to bring this to life. That scared meand thats very appealing. People make entire careers out of just doing what theyre good at, and I respect that. But for some reason, that [fear] is what makes the process exciting to me.

The first episode alone has his character questioning his reality, toying with self-harm, and losing control of his emotions in the midst of a police interrogation, and it previews the fatal moment that sets his downward spiral into motion. All that is paired, of course, with Bomers trademark charm and charisma placed front and center.

So, how did he find his way into such a complex psyche? According to Bomer, praise is due to Simonds for giving him and the rest of the cast the creative tools and time they needed to mine the crime thrillers material. Especially in television, Bomer says, a rehearsal period like theirs is unheard of. Simonds also introduced an all-new creative process for the longtime actor: dream work.

As Bomer explains it, Simonds employed the help of creative dream work coach Kim Gillingham to help the Sinner ensemble tap into their subconscious and find authenticity beyond the page.

Without bastardizing anything, because this is the first time Ive done it, Ill try to give you the best [explanation] I can in laymans terms, Bomer says. Basically, you keep a journal near your bed at night, and you ask your psycheyour higher power, whateverto reveal certain aspects of the characters experience in a dream that night. For the first few days, nothing was really coming. And then I started to get these hugely archetypal dreams.

Then, with Kim, you bring the dream to life. You do all these exercises, you drop back into the dream; and from that, you can find gesture, physical aspects of your character, emotions that they might be going through, how the piece parlays to your life and your experience and where you are right now. Often, things from my past will become suddenly relevant to the story.

Particularly when playing opposite Messinaa man with whom Jamie is meant to have had a close, yearslong relationship on the seriesBomer enthuses that the dream work allowed both of them to break down so many walls and to really lay ourselves bare. It fostered an understanding and mutual support before getting to set that would otherwise take an entire shoot to accomplish.

I was really interested in doing dream work because I was interested in not intellectualizing everything and letting creativity bubble up from my subconscious, he says, adding, I would recommend it to anyone. Its a great way to have an experience with the piece.

READ: The Definitive Guide to the Stanislavsky Acting Technique

Beyond the preparatory dream work (I only got to do it for maybe the first three or four episodes, because then the workload just got so intense, he admits), Bomer has more practical bolts of building a character. Hell often turn to the textbook teachings of Konstantin Stanislavsky, posing, What from my life could be compared to the circumstance that [this character is] in? He also cites two influential acting coaches and mentors he trains with in Los Angeles.

In terms of how I approach every role, one of my main mentors is Larry Moss, and we always work with the given circumstances and then use the as-ifs when we need to. Noted movement teacher Jean-Louis Rodrigue is also in his rotation. Hes actually an Alexander [Technique] teacher, but he works with all different kinds of physical aspects of character. [We] do a lot of things just to get you out of your head.

On top of that, Bomer is a lover of note-taking: I could show you my reams and reams and reams of pages of notes. Im a homework nerd. He even keeps a journal titled My Split Personality Says where the left side of the page has the heading Im thinking this, while the right lists Im feeling this. Particularly with a character like Jamie, where how he presents himself may not actually coincide with who he is on the inside, such a simple tool proved invaluable while doing the day-to-day work.

Even just between scenes, I would jot down what Jamie was thinking and what he was really feeling while they were setting up the camera, Bomer recalls. I found that to be a useful exercise, and also a way to kind of maintain some isolation without being rude.

Its all a testament to the fact that even 20-plus years into his careerone that he readily admits saw leaner periods of catering, bellhopping, and survival job hustling to make rentBomer is continuing to learn, grow, and navigate new parts of himself and his process. Even at the height of his abilities, hes still looking to better his previous best.

Our conversation eventually takes him back to his first film, the Jodie Fosterstarring Flightplan in 2005, and one particular lesson gleaned from his days on set. Recalling how the makeup of the seta literal airplaneallowed for everyone to look on during Fosters rehearsals, Bomer says that someone advised him point-blank during that downtime to take every job thats offered to you. Hes never forgotten it.

Im really glad that woman told me that, because I took her advice and I just started taking, pretty much, whatever gigs came my way, he says, citing bombed auditions for Tarzan on Broadway, his unlikely day player stint on soap opera Guiding Light, and his much-reportedbut sadly never realizedcasting as the Man of Steel.

You get out of theater school and you start to think, Hmm, I should really be doing Hamlet at the Delacorte. And its like, Yeah, good luck, kid! We dont all have that charmed existence, you know? So sometimes the best thing you can do is take the job. And no matter what that job is, bring your work ethic, bring your collaboration, be on time, and bring a sense of enthusiasm and commitment and dedication to the work. We can be overly precious, and sometimes its good just to make sure youre exercising your instrument. If its an opportunity to work and get paid for it in a production that you feel like you can expand your craft on, do it.

This story originally appeared in the Feb. 13 issue of Backstage Magazine. Subscribe here.

Ready to get to work? Check out Backstages TV audition listings!

Photographed by Chad Griffith on Nov. 18th in NYC

Benjamin Lindsay is a senior editor at Backstage, where if youre reading it in our weekly magazine, hes written or edited it first. Hes also producer and host of our inaugural on-camera interview series, Backstage Live, taking informative deep-dives with actors across mediums to discuss their craft, their work, and their advice for others getting started in the field.

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How to Avoid Despair – The Atlantic

Posted: at 9:47 am

Not so Donald Trump. The day after the Senate vote, he gave a rambling speech in which he insisted that he had done nothing wrong, that the Russia investigation had been bullshit, and that his political opponents are evil and sick. He waved newspapers that read Trump Acquitted. His approval ratings have risen. Meanwhile, his Republican allies in the Senate are pushing forward with an investigation into Hunter Bidenexactly the subject on which Trump demanded dirt from Ukraine. The president did indeed learn a lesson (though not the one Maine Senator Susan Collins suggested)he learned that he is, for all intents and purposes, immune to oversight and criticism, that he can do whatever he wants and get away with it.

Impeachment was always a Democratic pipe dream, a doomed act of idealism destined to be squelched in the Senate. This was also its power: an assertion of constitutional value in the face of nihilism. This came through clearly in lead House impeachment manager Adam Schiffs closing argument for the Houses case, which ended with an appeal to justice. I do not ask you to convict him because truth or right or decency matters nothing to him, he said, but because we have proven our case and it matters to you. The Senates response, in acquitting, was clear: Nothing mattered.

The trouble with doomed acts of idealism, of course, is that theyre doomed. If the country has any luck, the impeachment of Donald Trump will be seen in the long term as the right thing to have done. In the meantime, though, we all have to live in the short term.

The temptation at this point is to give up and accept the presidents belief that he will be able to get away with anything. And indeed, much of the press coverage of the acquittal and Trumps promises of vengeance amounted to a shrug: Well, what can you do, really? Until the voters render their verdict, in November, Susan Glasser wrote in The New Yorker, Trump will be the President he has always wanted to be: inescapable, all-powerful, and completely unaccountable. The New York Times described how the self-described counterpuncher appears eager to prosecute his case against his prosecutors Conciliation and acknowledging mistakes are not in his nature. Perhaps a Washington Post headline best captured the sense of deflation: Yeah, Trump didnt learn any new lessons from impeachment.

An exhausted shrug is a fair response to the bleakness of everything that has taken place over the three years of the Trump presidency, and especially to a week like this one. There is always a feeling of loss in the wake of a failure. The compelling way forward is to accept the inevitability that there will be other failures and keep pushing anyway.

Grappling with how to be in the world in this moment, I turned to the German sociologist Max Webers classic 1919 lecture Politics as a Vocation, which describes political life as torn between the voice of conscience and the practicalities of getting things done in an ethically irrational world. At a certain point, Weber wrote, a moment of crisis arrives: The irrationality becomes too much. The politician reaches the point where he says: Here I stand; I can do no other.

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Celtics will retire Kevin Garnett’s No. 5 next season – 98.5 The Sports Hub

Posted: February 14, 2020 at 12:45 pm

BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 13: Kevin Garnett #5 of the Boston Celtics reacts following a foul against the Chicago Bulls during the game on February 13, 2013 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

By Ty Anderson, 985TheSportsHub.com

The Boston Celtics will raise another number to the TD Garden rafters, as the team announced that Kevin Garnett's No. 5 will be retired by the team during the 2020-21 season.

Energy and intensity unmatched. #KG5 https://t.co/jg8knc3HGq

The next logical choice to look down on the Garden parquet following Paul Pierce's number retirement back in Feb. 2018, the decision to take Garnett's number out of circulation next season will actually fill up the Celtics' third banner of retired numbers and names, and left them with 23 numbers retired, and 24 people in total honored on their three banners.

And there's no denying Garnett's worthiness for banner immortality when it comes to his Boston run.

Acquired by the Celtics in 2007, Garnett emerged as that rare but true franchise-changing addition for the C's.

Completing Danny Ainge's (initial) quest for a new Big Three in Boston, Garnett instantly became the fiery co-leader of a squad already featuring Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, and led the 2007-08 Celtics to a league-best 66-16 record.Garnett was straight-up dominant that season, too, as the towering big with unmatched intensity averaged his lowest point-per-game totals in a decade, but shot a career-best 53.9 percent and also nabbed NBA Defensive Player of the Year honors.

That thunderous introduction to Boston also culminated with a six-game NBA Finals win over the Los Angeles Lakers, of course, and with an emotional Garnett etching his name into the sports quote lore with his "anything is possible" scream.

It was just the start of a six-season run in Celtic Green that came with three All-NBA Defensive First Team honors (2008, 2009, and 2011), an All-NBA Defensive Second Team honor in 2012, five All-Star appearances, and a second trip to the NBA Finals in 2010. Had Garnett been healthy in 2009, you're likely talking about the C's going to three straight Finals.

Garnett will head to the rafters with the seventh-most defensive rebounds (2,786), eighth-most blocks (394), ninth-best field goal percentage (52.0 percent), and fifth-best player efficiency rating (21.1) in franchise history.

If you're looking for bonus value here when it comes to Garnett's impact on the Celtics, too, don't forget that Garnett was a key part of the trade package sent to Brooklyn in exchange for three unprotected first-round picks, which backfired on the Nets in the craziest of ways and allowed the Celtics to draft Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum (via pick trading).

And in what feels like a relatively surprising note, this decision to retire Garnett's number next season actually sees the C's beat the Minnesota Timberwolves -- the team Garnett put on the map with a 14-year run on two different tenures in his storied NBA career -- to the punch when it comes to immortalizing Garnett with a number retirement ceremony.

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Canucks: Yes, the Sedin twins belong in the Hall of Fame – The Canuck Way

Posted: at 12:45 pm

On Wednesday night, Daniel and Henrik Sedin were officially enshrined in Vancouver Canucks immortality, as they watched No. 22 and No. 33 get raised to the rafters of Rogers Arena.

When the twins retired two years ago, there was no doubt that the franchise would eventually retire their numbers. They are by far the two greatest players in Canucks history, and well never see a dynamic duo like this ever again.

The question now is if Daniel and Henrik will receive the even greater honour of getting inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Theyll be eligible in 2021, and the debate has already begun.

When it comes to voting players in, there are plenty of factors that must be taken into account. Did a player win enough individual hardware? Were they among the top three or five at their position in any point of their careers? Were they dominant enough for a long period of time?

The Sedins check all of those boxes.

Henrik won the Art Ross Trophy after scoring 112 points in 2009-10, and he became the first and only Canuck to date to win the Hart Trophy. One year later, Daniel won the scoring title with 104 points, but Corey Perry beat him out for the Hart.

Daniel, however, won the 2010-11 Lester B. Pearson Award (now the Ted Lindsay Award), whichis given to themost outstanding player in the NHL as voted by fellow members of the National Hockey League Players Association.

Henrik won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy during the 2015-16 season for his work and contributions on and off the ice. The twins captured the award together in 2017-18, their swan song season.

And yes, both were top three or five at their respective positions (Henrik a center, Daniel a winger) at some point specifically from 2008-09 to 2012-13. Daniel had four seasons of 80-plus points, and seven of 70-plus points. Henrik hit 90-plus points twice, 80-plus points five times and 70-plus points eight times.

Consistency should get you to the Hall, and consistent they were.

The Sedin twins guided Vancouver to consecutive Presidents Trophy-winning seasons in 2010-11 and 2011-12. They were, of course, just one game short of capturing the Stanley Cup in 2011. If Vancouver had defeated the Boston Bruins in Game 7, this wouldnt be a debate right now.

Henrik is the franchise leader in games played (1,330), assists (830) and points (1,070). Daniel (1,041 career points) is the all-time Canucks leader in goals (393), power play goals (138) and game-winning goals (86). Being part of the 1,000-point club truly goes a long way in strengthening your Hall of Fame case, too.

Really, there shouldnt be much of a debate. Daniel and Henrik Sedin belong in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Their decade-long dominance, consistency, accolades and places in the franchise record books make it an easy decision.

They may not receive the call in 2021, and maybe not even in 2022 or 2023. Other greats and former superstars like Daniel Alfredsson, Theoren Fleury and Alexander Mogilny are still waiting, but they should get in eventually.

But when all is said and done, Daniel and Henrik Sedin did more than enough to receive calls into the Hall of Fame. If you ask me, its a matter of when the two Vancouver legends get in, not if.

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Should Liverpool start Curtis Jones vs Norwich – Rousing The Kop – Liverpool FC News

Posted: at 12:45 pm

With all the focus on Liverpool wrapping up a first league title since 1990, there is the tendency to forget of the opportunities that come with the Reds unprecedented top-flight dominance.

Jurgen Klopps team are just six league wins away from PL immortality and we are still only in February. This presents a rare possibility of being able to integrate some of the clubs youngsters in vital matches of the season to showcase the clubs unwavering faith in its academy system.

With Liverpools previous fixture being the inspiring Shrewsbury Town victory where the kids took centre stage to ensure Klopps progression into the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time since the Germans appointment in 2015 could the boss be tempted to reward some of the clubs brightest upcoming stars?

There is a strong case that Curtis Jones has done enough to warrant some Premier League experience when the European champions travel to Carrow Road to face Norwich City on Saturday.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND FEBRUARY 04: Liverpool players Ki-Jana Hoever, Sepp van den Berg, Curtis Jones and Pedro Chirivella celebrate after the final whistle of the FA Cup Fourth Round Replay match between Liverpool and Shrewsbury Town at Anfield on February 4, 2020 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Visionhaus)

Whilst its important that the senior players have had a couple of weeks off, Klopp could be forgiven if he were prioritising Liverpools Champions League clash away to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, just three days after the Reds trip to the Canaries.

With that in mind, could Klopp hand Jones his first PL start with such a gargantuan European fixture so close to beckoning?

Fabinho has only started one league match since November and may not want to be risked at the weekend. Meanwhile, Henderson has flourished in the holding role which could tempt the Reds manager to keep the skipper as the pinpoint come Saturday.

Also, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was utilised on the wing in the 4-0 victory against Southampton meaning a simple like-for-like alteration could see Jones move into the front-three and Oxlade-Chamberlain pulled back into the midfield trident.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND FEBRUARY 04: Curtis Jones of Liverpool reacts after missing a chance on goal during the FA Cup Fourth Round Replay match between Liverpool and Shrewsbury at Anfield on February 4, 2020 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Matthew Ashton AMA/Getty Images)

Liverpool were handed a major boost when Sadio Mane recently returned to training following a hamstring injury sustained during the 2-1 victory at Molineux last month. The Senegalese ace is unlikely to start against Norwich with Liverpool having to balance three competitions in the next month and Mane so raw from injury.

Following an inspired performance against the Shrews where Jones became Liverpools youngest ever club-captain in a competitive game, the 19-year-old has the advantage of being fresher from match action than any of his teammates.

Klopp has to meticulously manage his options in the defining period of the season meaning young players like Jones, Harvey Elliott and Neco Williams must be ready to be called upon.

Having recently signed a contract extension until 2024, Klopp was installed to oversee not just the remaining years of his current world-conquering squad but also to begin incorporating the next generation of Liverpool stars who will have similar aspirations of winning league titles.

With the games coming thick and fast, dont be surprised if Klopp begins to entrust more responsibility on some of the clubs fringe players.

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Lost Odyssey Brilliantly Explores The Tragedy Of Being Immortal – Kotaku Australia

Posted: at 12:45 pm

Last month, I wrote about the first leg of Lost Odyssey and how much I was enjoying it. The second disc and first half of the third have been even better. The worldbuilding is mysterious and intriguing, with each new section making me want to know more about the immortals Im playing as. The narrative gets richer with each new set piece, the bond the characters have growing as they face off against enemies that come in a variety of forms.

Lost Odysseys storytelling acts almost like a counter argument against magic and immortality. About halfway into the game, your party enters the great city of Gohtza. Its a technological marvel, revolutionised by magic industry. But when you talk to the citizens, they reveal that many people have lost their jobs due to magic automating their positions. Although the new industries have great benefits, theyve also resulted in a stratified society where those who arent part of the elite are suffering. The contrast between the wealthy aristocrats and the people in Low Town is stark.

Adjacent to Gohtza is the city of Kent. Their people have been decimated by the magical meteor which struck them at the battle in the opening of the game. They are full of hatred at the immortal they blame for their loss (good thing they dont recognise said immortal is the protagonist, Kaim!).

The argument for immortality doesnt fare much better. The burden of long life takes a terrible emotional toll on those who carry it. You learn at the end of Disc 1 that Kaims wife, Sarah, is still alive. During their search for Sarah, the party hears rumours about an Old Sorceress who is very dangerous. You have to confront her since she has sealed off a cave your party needs to cross.

That ends up taking your party to Kaims old house. Within its walls, your party uses a series of magic mirrors to travel from the decrepit state the mansion has become to the past where everything is spick and span.

The dissolution and messy remains are metaphorical for the Old Sorceresss state of mind. She is surrounded by four Bodies of Thought, each utilising one of the elements. They take turns attacking her from all angles, but never turn their attack against the party. The partys goal is to save her from killing herself. Since each of the Bodies is comprised of a different element, you have to be careful how you fight.

During the battle, the Old Sorceress will unleash a desperate scream. This changes up all the elements so that an approach that worked previously wont be effective anymore and might actually hurt her. Its only after you defeat all the Bodies of Thought that you realise Sarah is underneath the veil of the Old Sorceress. Driven to depression by the realisation that her daughter was dead, she had been torturing herself for decades.

Even after destroying the Bodies of Thought, Sarahs depression nearly overwhelms her again. Its only thanks to her grandchildren, Cooke and Mack, singing an old lullaby, that Sarah finds some semblance of serenity. As Sarah realises Kaim is back, they slowly make their way through the world together, supporting each other through their grief. Kaim is driven by his desire to avenge his daughter, while Sarah finds motivation in the love of her grandchildren.

Having a kid of our own gave this situation much more gravity. More than any of the Dream flashbacks or cutscenes, this battle revealed so much about the plight of immortality. What would seeing the deaths of those dear to them, and the number of them accumulating with the passing centuries, do to their minds? What seems like a boon for Sarah and Kaim is actually a curse. Their desolation increases with every passing year. Theres an understandable reason why Kaim doesnt seem all that eager to retrieve his memories.

Their amnesia takes on an entirely new wrinkle when they confront the man who caused their memory loss, Gongora. Gongora is a fellow immortal and a powerful magician who wants to build a magic engine called the Grand Staff. In your first battle against him in the Experimental Staff, he annihilates your party. Im so grateful for this gameplay/narrative choice. Multiple RPGs come to mind where you confront an ultimate villain for the first time and proceed to give them a spanking. The villain laughs it off and says something along the lines of, Ill be back for you later. But because youve already defeated them, they dont seem as deadly anymore (one of the examples that immediately comes to mind is Seymour from FFX).

In Lost Odyssey, theres no doubt who has the upper hand. But its not just Gongoras physical and magical abilities that make him so powerful. Having retained all his memories, he accuses Kaim and his fellow immortal of being traitors to a noble cause. Their memory loss was a punishment for their misdeeds. This accusation makes them question if their odyssey is even a righteous one. But Gongora seems to be struggling against demons of his own as hes in a mentally fraught state in the Experimental Staff. Its not clear yet whos on the right. It would make for a surprising twist if it turned out that Gongora is actually fighting for a good cause, while Kaim and company, having lost their memories, are actually the villains. As Kaim states, If the record of a thousand years shows that I am really a traitor, then Ill have to accept that, and pay the price.

Magic has obvious positive effects, like being able to heal the people around them. But in the merchant town of Saman, its had a strange influence. The villagers walk around in a zombified state, shrouded in a purple aura, giving free rein to their egos. One of the wealthy merchants in the city openly brags about the wealth hes accumulated through corrupt methods. A man in the Erlio Family House spends all his time talking to a doll. Cant you see Im quite occupied right now? Stop bothering me, he snaps at you. Then to the doll, Darling, I love you so much. You are the one that I love the most in this world. A car called Zak laughs at you and calls you pathetic. Another car called Jack complains, Ugh, every day I go around dealing with rude people and carrying their heavy bags. Then they kick me when Im not running well. If youve ever wondered what your car thinks of you, magic can tell you the truth.

Its these weird encounters in each of the towns that reminds me so much of what I love and have missed about JRPGs. Every city feels like a brand new experience full of quirky denizens. Its been a long time since Ive been this excited about seeing whats next in the journey.

Theres a lot of variety in the gameplay and boss battles. In the Experimental Staff, some of the areas are giant puzzles where youre shifting machines and opening up new pathways. Wind caves, slippery slopes, and thieving enemies, make the ice canyon a gruelling trial. The battle preceding the Experimental Staff, which is against a Mantala, can be extremely difficult if you dont plan each step. Thats because every time you attack the Mantala, it hides in the ocean and summons smaller Mantas in its place. You have to time your attacks, defensive manoeuvres, and spells to perfectly align the strongest blows on the Mantala. Otherwise, the battle can go forever.

Fortunately, theres not that much grinding to do when it comes to experience points. Any time you enter a new area, your characters will level up quickly to where they should be. The reason you still need to engage in fights is to increase skill link levels from the mortals and get SP from bands to learn new abilities. I did find a way to grind my characters beyond their normal levels at the Numara Atolls. Silver Kelolons dot the beach side (theyre akin to the metal slimes of Dragon Quest in giving you a heck of a lot of EXP). If your party has gained the Gamble spell, which is done by praying at all the Kelolon statues in Tosca Village, it makes beating the Silver Kelelons feasible on a predictable basis. I overpowered my characters within a few battles.

Each of the characters gets their chance to shine in battles and more importantly, the story. In an optional cutscene with Ming when you escape Numara, she sees a monument off the shore and recalls a past battle. She saved the city by turning a huge Arthrosaurus into stone, which was how the monument came to be. But the flashback causes her pain and its not clear why, making me wonder about her past. Cooke and Mack are always getting into trouble, including one scene where they hijack a magical train in the hopes of communicating with their mother again. Their hopefulness through some of the darker moments in the game help the characters cope with their circumstances. Jansen, the comic relief, turns against his benefactor, Gongora, in favour of the immortals. He lifts up the bag of gold Gongora had bribed him with and says hed throw it back out of a sense of outrage, but then decides to keep it since he figures thered be no point in giving up the money. Jansen always remains in character, even in his outrage.

The dreams in the first disc focused on Kaims memories. In the second, there are several dreams that your pirate immortal, Seth, regains, and theyre heartbreaking. That is, if you take the time to read them. As I mentioned in the first part of my Lost Odyssey retrospective, I really wish there could have been a way for these sequences to have been more seamlessly integrated. The way it currently stands, the two things that take me out of the immersion of the gameplay are the long load screens (I know Im playing off disc, but some of these load screens are really distracting) and the dreams. I want to read them as theyre very good, but every time I do, it feels like Im being sucked away from the world. At the same time, I realise theyre an additional layer, meant to add texture to the narrative, and entirely optional. Just their existence is something Im grateful for. Who knew reading the story about a shoemaker could be so emotional?

I know some people, including myself, have described Lost Odyssey as a spiritual successor to Final Fantasy. While theres some truth to that, especially due to the developers being who they are, theres also a lot the game does to weave together its own distinctive identity. This middle act is where the game went from being a lost odyssey to an epic one. I cant wait to see how it all ends.

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Lost Odyssey Brilliantly Explores The Tragedy Of Being Immortal - Kotaku Australia

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The Golden Rule of Hiring: Hire for the Anniversary Date, Not the Start Date. – Thrive Global

Posted: at 12:43 pm

In their landmark study First Break All of the Rules: What the Worlds Best Managers Do Differently Gallup introduced their Q12 employee engagement survey. The Q12 describes in priority order what the best managers do and need to do to create high performing teams. Number one on the list is, Clarify Expectations Up Front.

Ive lived this idea for 40+ years as a recruiter and trainer. In my first search project for a plant manager, the president and I walked through the factory and identified the top six things the person needed to fix over the first 6-12 months to be considered successful. This list of performance objectives became the job description.

More recently, I worked with a Board consisting of investors and founders for a $150 million food manufacturer getting ready to hire a new CEO. After a few hours of wrangling we finally agreed on these two critical performance objectives:

Now Im working with the founder of a recently funded startup looking for a head of engineering. I asked him what the biggest thing the person has to accomplish in the first year to be considered successful. This is what he came up with:

Last month I asked a team of hiring managers to define success for a customer success manager for a complex business process application. Heres what they came up with as the major objective:

Every job can be fully defined by 6-8 performance objectives like the above describing the major objectives and their critical subtasks. Heres why this is essential information for everyone involved in the hiring process including the candidate.

Sourcers: You dont need to be a Boolean expert to find people who meet the performance requirements of the job.By being creativeits easy to find 15-20 highly qualified people who have the right titles, worked for comparable companies and who have progressed rapidly AND would see the job as a likely next step. These steps increase the likelihood the person will respond to your message AND the hiring manager will want to see the person.

Recruiters:Persistence is criticalin order to engage with at least half of the 15-20 prequalified people the sourcer has found. Then during the first conversation figure out if you can make a strong case that one of your openingsputs the person on a better career trajectorythan other opportunities being considered. If not, get at least two prequalified referrals. None of this is possible without knowing the job.

Hiring Managers. Since hiring managers need to clarify job expectations after the person is hired, they might as well do this before the hire.

Interviewers. When members of the hiring team dont know the actual performance requirements of the job, they overvalue first impressions and assess people on factors that are too generic to make a difference.

Candidates. The strongest people wont waste time with recruiters or hiring managers who cant answer the question,What are some of the tasks and challenges involved in this role?Thats why every candidate should ask it early in the interview to ensure theyll be accurately assessed.

It has been proven time and again, e.g.,Googles Project Oxygen, that clarifying expectations upfront is the key to successful management. Whats surprising is that its not a prerequisite for hiring. Unfortunately, too many people are still hired based on their depth of skills, first impressions and if their salaries are consistent with the budget. By following the Golden Rule of Hiring things will finally begin to change:Hire for the Anniversary Date, Not the Start Date.

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The Golden Rule of Hiring: Hire for the Anniversary Date, Not the Start Date. - Thrive Global

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Millennials are ready to break the golden rule of home-buying – The Real Deal

Posted: at 12:43 pm

Home buyers have for decades been advised to never put a less than 20 percent down payment on a house, but 70% of young home-buyers are willing to break that rule this year (Credit: iStock)

Add the 20-percent-down-payment rule to the list of norms millennials are tossing out the window.

Around 70 percent of millennials said they would put down less than 20 percent of the price of a home as a down payment this year, breaking a rule of thumb thats stood for decades, according to Business Insider. More than a quarter said theyd put down less than 10 percent, which was almost unheard of in their parents generation.

Its not surprising that its an appealing option. It could take a renter in a high-cost city like Los Angeles nearly a decade to save up enough money for a 20 percent down payment on a home in their city.

Some agents are advising their clients not to wait, arguing its better for a homebuyer to get their foot in the door now and start building equity rather than wait to save up for a 20 percent down payment. It could all work out for a buyer if their home quickly increases in value.

Putting down less than 20 percent means homebuyers will have to pay private mortgage insurance a monthly payment on top of a mortgage thats usually between 0.3 percent and 1.2 percent of the homes value.

But that payment is automatically cancelled once a mortgages loan-to-value ratio hits 78 percent or lower, which can happen if a home value increases enough. Still, appreciation could slow in the future and either way, a lower down payment means higher monthly payments.

Regardless, it seems many home-buyers dont see much of a choice. [Business Insider] Dennis Lynch

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Silent but powerful; spiritual indigestion; question for scholars – NWAOnline

Posted: at 12:43 pm

Silent but powerful

The silent majority: Been a while since we've heard that, hasn't it? That's because we've been working our jobs, raising our families, going to church, resting and playing on the weekends. Most of the time we are happy because we've learned to function within the parameters set for us without constant complaint. A lot of us are soldiers, we know the price of liberty, and we are not going to let our basic freedom as spelled out in the Bill of Rights be violated; if some radical tries, there will be pushback, and it won't be pretty.

We want anyone who wants refuge in this great country to have it as long as it's done legally. We believe in the Golden Rule and will help those who can't help themselves. If you're just lazy or feel entitled, we aren't going to do much for you. We know the Bible is the word of God and not subject to social distortion. We know the Ten Commandments are the law of God. We know that to bear false witness against your neighbor violates the commandments, but there has been a lot of that lately.

We know that we will always be overlooked by the mainstream media because we're too boring and happy. Yes, we're still here, and you will hear from us this November.

GREG QUINNEY

Hot Springs

Spiritual indigestion

Several years ago as Chief Chaplain of the South Dakota Legislature, I helped plan and hold the first Governor's Prayer Breakfast in the state. It was modeled on the National Prayer Breakfast, and we were extremely careful to make it apolitical, reverent, and uplifting for all the participants. I was sickened to see what happened this past week at the National Prayer Breakfast. Our megalomaniac leader debased the event with his highly political, irreverent and insulting remarks.

Perhaps his advisers should have tutored him in matters of religion. At the very least they could have prepared him to hear the words of Jesus on love. He acted as if love were one option among many for him. Most of us who are any sort of Christian at all know that Jesus was giving a command, not a suggestion or opinion on love.

Jesus also said, "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." As long as this man continues to lead by the persuasion of his many lies, I fear that freedom (spiritual and political) will elude us!

GENIE H. KISTLER

Hot Springs Village

Question for scholars

This is a religious question for those that know the Bible. I am not and do not pretend to be. However, this question has come to mind: Does our president, Donald Trump, share any commonalities with the description of the Anti-Christ in the Book of Revelation?

Let's see what the scholars out there think about this.

KEN NEEDS

Bella Vista

Editorial on 02/13/2020

Print Headline: Letters

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Silent but powerful; spiritual indigestion; question for scholars - NWAOnline

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From the slopes to The Plains | News – Fauquier Times

Posted: at 12:43 pm

Tony Wellsis a pleasant,energeticfellow. Engaging in conversation with him is lively and animated. He has lots to share.

Not only does he writebooks,but his life reads likea compelling novel.Descriptions ofhiswork with the Navyandhistime spent flyingarethrilling.Wells is most keen on his time spent on the slopes but with a new year,at 76,he made the decision to retire.He is an accomplished author and will continue writing. What he wont be doing is careening down mountain slopesso frequently.

After four decades of service as a National Ski Patroller,Wells, a resident of The Plains,retired from spending timein the snow. He was also a National Ski Patrol instructor and examiner for 28 years.

Wellspassion for skiing started as a small childin the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland. Later at his high school in England he skied every Christmas and Easter holidays in Europe with his school ski club. When he became a Royal Navy officer,he skied on the Navy and Portsmouth Command ski teams, one yearwinningthe grand slalom trophy with three Royal Marine Commandos.Wells has a cheeky side to him and admittedlyfelt in good company with that win;theywere arctic warfare trained and spent winters in Norway skiing near the Russian border.

Wells immigrated to the United States in 1983. By that time, he had skied every major resort in Switzerland and Austria,several in France and Italy, and Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria in Germany. His favorite ski resort has always been Zermatt in Switzerland.

Stateside, Wells began patrollingat Massanutten. He later helped create and lead a new patrol, Cherokee, at Linden, Virginia, where he was thepatroltreasurer.He calledTimberline, WestVirginia,homefor a time; while there,he helped establish a new patrol at Whitetail in Pennsylvania when it opened. After several years of long weekends travelingwith his three children, he decided to move closer to home; hehas been at Bryce Mountain ever since.

I like Bryce Mountain because it is family-oriented, said Wells,and is very good for children and people who want to learn to ski and for more advanced skiers to develop their skills without the pressure of long lift lines and crowded slopes.

Wells enjoys being of service to others. Parallel with his duties on the National Ski Patrol, Wells is a life member with The Plains Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company,where he serves as president.Being a life member means that he has volunteered his time for a minimum of 20 years.

I trained originally at the Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Academy as anemergencymedicaltechnicianand ran on the Vienna Rescue Squad before moving from Oaktonto The Plains and joining The Plains Rescue Squad, said Wells. Whilehe has witnessed manyinjuries,hemanaged to remain unscathed during his time on patrol--although he did have a harrowing experienceat Mammoth Mountain inCalifornia where hefound himself precariously hanging on to a rock pinnacle before descending arms outstretcheddown achute sansskis. While losing his skis and poles, he ended hisnear 500-foot free fallwith minor burns to his arms.

Over the past decades,Wellsestimates that he has rescued about 1,000 injured skiers, treating them on the mountain and bringing them down on a special toboggan. Hes seen every kind of injury, from serious headandbackinjuriesand fractures requiringmedevac (medical air evacuation) to minor cuts,abrasions and sprains.

Wells is fortunate that he hasnt had to deal with a skiing fatality, although hes come close.

He has much to be proud of with his skiing prowess andencourages prospective skiers to put themselves in good hands.

My best advice is alwaystakeinstruction from an experienced and qualified instructor, fully registered as a Professional Ski Instructor of America, said Wells. Hesproud of his oldest son John,who is a National SkiPatrollerand alsoa PSIA instructor.He is at Wintergreen in Virginia, said Wells.

Hereflectedon how ski equipment has advanced over the decades.As a small child inKanderstegin Switzerland hevividlyremembers skiing on wooden skies, with bamboo poles and leather boots, with a very primitive binding.

The new short skis are the way to go, advises Wells,anddon't buy second-hand equipment unless you know its pedigree.

Wells offered his golden rule:Never ski alone in mountainous complex terrain,andin particular wherethere are few other skiers.

GPS tracking devices, often embedded in watches, will sound the alarm and allow rescue teams to find injured or lost skiers but Wells would hope thateveryonesskiing adventure would be without incident.

Never stop in the middle of a ski run, advises Wells. Also stop on the side, turn and look upwards to sight other descending skiers. The downward skier always has the right of way, added Wells notingthatthis ruleis not always respected. Skiers should always glance over their shoulder before turning.

Wells has written several books,including two novels (Black Gold FinaleandThe Golden Few). He recently returned from London where he was meeting with his U.K.literary agent. I have another book due to be published later this year by the U.S.Naval Institute Press in Annapolis,Maryland, said Wells.

His children are all accomplished skiers. His daughter Lucy lives near Denver, Colorado,and is teaching her three children the joys of skiing.

There are a lot of skiers in this area, said Wells,who hopesthat his eight grandchildren will follow the family ski tradition and acquire the expert epithet.

If youre fortunate enough to meet thispersonable and intelligentfellow, you wont be disappointed. He has lots of stories to share.

WhileWells has hadhis last run,thespirit that kept him on the slopes lives on.

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