This is America where we have freedom of speech... it's just a shame it's used to desecrate those mourning the lose of a loved one.
Similar posts: britney spears beaver
- Mood:Good
- Music:DJ Smash
This is America where we have freedom of speech... it's just a shame it's used to desecrate those mourning the lose of a loved one.
Similar posts: britney spears beaver
- Mood:bad
- Music:Christina Aguilera
This is America where we have freedom of speech... it's just a shame it's used to desecrate those mourning the lose of a loved one.
Similar posts: britney spears beaver
- Mood:hangry
- Music:Christina Aguilera
This is America where we have freedom of speech... it's just a shame it's used to desecrate those mourning the lose of a loved one.
Similar posts: britney spears beaver
- Mood:hangry
- Music:K-MARO
Similar posts: britney spears beaver
- Mood:lol
- Music:Moby
Keira was rated number one of the fifty most beautiful celebrity women. He can barely contain himself. She took his massive dong in her ass at the same time. I hope she is a little hungry because her mouth is going to gag back on some thick, solid dick before she gets a double cumshot. While her girlfriend sticks the toy up her ass. This is the perfect woman. He starts mouth banging her again. He finally shoves his cock into her asshole.
You Are In One Step From Keira Knightley Celebrity Porn. Enter Here.
Similar posts: britney spears beaver
- Mood:cry
- Music:Tokio Hotel
Les Kiffeurs (Paris): Loosely translating as people who like to take pleasure, Les Kiffeurs is a side project of French pop-rocker Frank Shiff with female vocalist Cora and DJ Fred Bee. Essentially a Euro-dance club track, "Give Me the Kiff" not only has a great riff, the spoken interplay between the male and female parts is a perfect mix of sexuality and ironic humor. And when she says "ooh la la," well...
Henriette Coulouvrat (Paris): Coulouvrat's song "Paddy Fields" adds Asian musical swatches over Euro-dance beats to create a unique sound the likes of which I've never heard. The music is immaculately done, yet there is always an undertone of humor and taking musical conventions to excess.
Similar posts: britney spears beaver
- Mood:lol
- Music:Christina Aguilera
Exclusive Breaking News: Terrell Owens smiles his way out of DUI when he was clearly drunk.
After partying all night at MYNT Nightclub with other NFL players and some local hoochies, T.O. leaves the club at 3:45 a.m. (Sunday morning). Barely able to walk, Terrell hits on some girls then hops on his yellow Spyder CanAm. Terrell Owens drives 4 blocks just as the cops start chasing him. He pulls over and they give him a field sobriety test. According to source that witnessed the whole evenings events, T.O. no way passed the test. The Miami Beach PD traded a DUI for his autograph and let him off! They did not give T.O. a breathalyzer test when he clearly needed one. T.O. then had an after party back at the Fontainebleu Hilton. You think after the Stallworth incident that the Miami Beach Police Department would take this situation a little bit more seriously. Sad.
Similar posts: britney spears beaver
- Mood:hangry
- Music:Tokio Hotel
When you walk in the door, the first thing youll feel is fun. Remember fun? Viva La Vida translates to live your life. They mean to be more than a store, more of an attitude, with Vida fashion, lingerie, jewelry, shoes, home accessories and even original vintage jewelry. The décor screams swank, but the staff is so attentive and chatty youll consider them your built-in gal pals. (Just a thought the dressing rooms are large enough to fit you and your gal pals.) And soon that old vault will become a private room for shopping vintage cocktail get-up. Youll find fashion-forward sensibility with a surplus of forget-me-not pieces, as well as staples for every closet. The prices are moderate for a posh boutique and shouldnt send your ATM card into a frenzy even in todays struggling economy.
Similar posts: britney spears beaver
- Mood:hangry
- Music:Linkin Park
Similar posts: britney spears beaver
- Mood:bad
- Music:Robbie Williams
This is America where we have freedom of speech... it's just a shame it's used to desecrate those mourning the lose of a loved one.
Similar posts: britney spears beaver
- Mood:hangry
- Music:Roxette
This is America where we have freedom of speech... it's just a shame it's used to desecrate those mourning the lose of a loved one.
Similar posts: britney spears beaver
- Mood:Good
- Music:Christina Aguilera
This is America where we have freedom of speech... it's just a shame it's used to desecrate those mourning the lose of a loved one.
Similar posts: britney spears beaver
- Mood:Good
- Music:Roxette
This is America where we have freedom of speech... it's just a shame it's used to desecrate those mourning the lose of a loved one.
Similar posts: britney spears beaver
- Mood:Very good
- Music:Enrique Iglesias
This is America where we have freedom of speech... it's just a shame it's used to desecrate those mourning the lose of a loved one.
Similar posts: britney spears beaver
- Mood:bad
- Music:Christina Aguilera
At least when it comes to Speedo and Omega.
Phelps sponsor Speedo released a statement saying, "In light of Michael Phelps' statement yesterday, Speedo would like to make it clear that it does not condone such behavior and we know that Michael truly regrets his actions. Michael Phelps is a valued member of the Speedo team and a great champion. We will do all that we can to support him and his family."
And the luxury Swiss watchmaker released a statement saying, "The current story in the press involves Michael Phelps' private life and is, as far as Omega is concerned, a nonissue."
As far as the Olympics are concerned, under World Anti-Doping Agency rules, Phelps is held to their standards only during competition. The International Olympic Committee said, "Michael Phelps is a great Olympic champion. He apologized for his inappropriate behavior. We have no reason to doubt his sincerity and his commitment to continue to act as a role model."
What Phelps really needs to do is reconsider who his friends (and his enemies) are.
Similar posts: britney spears beaver
- Mood:smile
- Music:DJ Smash
There’s all sorts of things I mean to do. Perhaps it is leftover sentimentality from my confessional with Twilight, but I want to watch my daughter sleeping and then hold my wife in the dark. I even want to give the cat a midnight dinner. I must be high, I reason, as I slip into the cold empty bed. I assume Elisabeth is passed out on the couch where she was watching TV. The moment my head hits the pillow and I only just realise I am alone, it’s like I have fallen into a trap set by my enemy, Mr Sleep (that’s me being metaphoric again folks). My eyes lag shut – and then it’s morning.
In fact it is quarter-to-ten. I leap up with a start, glad not to have fried the sheets as I sometimes have, and after securing my manly bits with a clean pair of boxers I bust out of the bedroom and careen around the flat for a minute before ascertaining I’m the only one there.
On the bench in the kitchenette, Tessa has left me a note: “Mum said you worked late so I called Astrid’s mum for a ride. Mum gave me the money for school so don’t worry about that either. Could you still pick me up at three?”
She had forgotten to write any kisses on the note or sign her name. Instead it was signed “Me,” which seemed slightly obnoxious, but very much her age. Fourteen-years-old and no longer her daddy’s daughter. Or that’s what I’m feeling.
The reality is I should be relieved. I can survive on five hours of sleep and I don’t bother showering, going straight into the wall cavity and hurriedly dressing in my leathers again. An old white-and-red costume, complete with floor-length red cloak, is gathering dust on a hanger. I can hear the phone ringing in the flat but I ignore it.
I move to the tinted window and open it a crack and when the way seems clear I vault out into the sky and the window pretty much swings back by itself. As I start to lag in mid-air I push it, rocketing up in an arc over the city, the traffic helicopter tipping in acknowledgement. At full speed it only takes me a few minutes to cross the city. I don’t want the complaints that come with breaking the sound barrier so I keep it to the low five hundreds.
Even though I am not late, I feel late, descending with my shadow over City Hall insignificant compared to the hordes of people, cameras and news crews covering the steps and the wide marble courtyard fronting one of the city’s most magnificent surviving Modernist buildings. There are a few costumes amid the front rows of the crowd, but these are interested onlookers like Paragon and Red Monolith who have been admitted to the front rather than invited. Since I was apparently never briefed on the details or else I’ve completely forgotten them, I don’t have a clue in hell where I am supposed to be. I land on the roof and thumb the security code I was given years ago and I’m jogging down the stairwell when one of the mayor’s secretaries whistles from an open doorway and I scuttle through, into the oak-panelled interior of one of the city’s plush meeting rooms, and suddenly I remember what Vulcana said.
The seven surviving members of the Southside Sentinels stand on the other side of the room and my late arrival seems just too much like old times for it to be anything more than heavily ironic. I can only take my cue from how I handled it a million times in the past, laughing off the odd accusatory glare (Vulcana, Seeker, probably Chamber too, if he had a face), bemused smiles (Aquanaut, Miss Black), disinterest (Animal Boy) and worried anticipation (Lone Wolf). The mayor is there as well, along with his deputy, the lissom Miss Kirkness, and a nerdy-looking guy in a tweed jacket carrying a large black electronic device. There’s also a few cops in the chamber, but they’re doing their best to look invisible, picking over the sandwich tray at the back of the set-up.
“Zephyr, you’re late,” Pykes says.
“Hey, chill, baby. When have I ever let you down?”
“Do you want me to get my diary, Mr Mayor?” the PA asks.
I pout at the gibe and Roland Pykes, his security blanket and gold chains around his shoulders, gives an irritated gasp and gives up. I turn to acknowledge a few of my former teammates, though Chamber seems to be looking elsewhere and Lone Wolf, looking more like a homeless person than ever in his old trench coat and barefoot get-up, nervously avoids my eyes.
One of the secretaries fields a cell call and then sticks her head back into the room.
“They’re ready for you, Mr Mayor.”
Pykes turns to the guy in the jacket and asks, “Ready, Professor Prendergast?”
“As I’ll ever be, I suppose, Mr Pykes. Lead on.”
They file past, followed almost immediately by Adrian’s pet wolf. It must need to pee or something, presuming Adrian eventually managed to house train the damned thing. Seeker inclines her head to me and Aquanaut gently punches my shoulder and then I fall in beside Vulcana and Animal Boy, pretending for a moment to sniff the air around the former teenager.
“Jesus, Zephyr, get some new jokes, man.”
“Where have you been hiding, Tom? The zoo?”
“Actually I’ve been finishing college, I don’t know if you’ve heard of the place.”
I eye him up and down for a moment. He’s still a weedy piece of work, but at least some of his old hyperactive energy has diminished. Shame the same can’t be said for his Adam’s apple.
“I guess you’re old enough to shave now,” I smirk. “What’s that like when you turn into a Sabretooth? One big shaved puss –”
“Zephyr,” Vulcana says and nudges me fairly hard in the ribs. “Is there something you were going to ask me?”
I cease my grinning and turn back to Connie. Since we’re still in private she hasn’t made the switch yet, which means I’m looking at a handsome brunette with a peaches and cream complexion, great boobs, and eyes that seem to see into the core of my being. I also note she’s sporting a fresh haircut, long at the front and shaved right to the nape of her neck.
“Nice ‘do.”
“Thanks. I had to pay an extra fifty for the first appointment.”
“That sucks ass,” I say, and then realise my sentiment’s probably a little too strong for something so mundane. I make a sheepish face that usually gets me out of that sort of thing and then I gesture around.
“So what’s all this then?”
“That Professor Prendergast is donating his latest invention to the protection of the city,” Vulcana replies in an unimpressed voice.
“Latest invention?”
“Yeah, the Hermes Foundation, you remember that?”
“If you say so.”
“Hermes is the donation.”
“The . . . Greek god?” I know I’m straining and the pain shows. Vulcana gives me a nod.
I can’t ask any more. I still haven’t found out what the hell the mayor thinks he is up to assembling the Sentinels without discussing it with me first. First though, we troop down the last of the Hall’s main staircases and out through the foyer, following the rapidly-striding mayor and the diminutive scientist trying to keep up. Beyond the main doors there’s the sort of crowd that has become a rarity these days. I check my mask and fix a rakish smile in place and then the cameras start flashing. The day is overcast, the sky smeared with clouds the colour of lead pencil.
I AM ALARMED to finally understand Hermes is a fucking robot.
Me and robots don’t exactly have the best history and this one is bigger than me and designed to resemble a buff super-warrior in an off-the-shoulder toga-cum-miniskirt. His enormous silver head is styled with Classical curls. Seeker mutters something about wondering where’s the fig leaf and I laugh derisively as the mayor’s ambitious speech overshoots his ability to deliver. I sense journalists in the crowd lying in wait to ask fresh questions about the latest scandal over the deputy mayor’s expense account and, like a psychic, anticipate an adjournment so we can get together behind closed doors once the photo opportunities are over. As I have foreseen, so it comes to pass; and we’re only fifteen minutes out the front of City Hall before the first raindrop falls.
Pykes stops mid-speech and turns back to me.
“Zephyr, can you do something about that?”
There’s something I’ve never liked about the mayor and he knows it. I think he thinks it’s his post-doctorate qualifications, his aid work in the Middle East and his interest in palaeontology. Actually it’s his ruddy schoolboy complexion, the handsome-but-evil-Nazi-bad-guy scar running down one cheek and his habit of consulting with no-one before making big policy decisions – like assembling my defunct super-team without asking me, Zephyr, who’s saved his Worship’s arse more than once.
With the city’s entire media watching, the best I can come up with is a strained “Wh-at?” It’s irritating for me that people by now still don’t understand I can’t control the weather. I can generate weather and make a stink when I’m up among the clouds, but simply magicking away a rain shower isn’t in my vocabulary, let alone my abilities.
Pykes simply hisses, “The rain,” and turns back, beneficently smiling for the cameras as he resumes his speech about commitment to safety not just for the city but the entire eastern seaboard.
“So, you gonna do somethin’ about that, Zeph?” Seeker asks.
Those around me chuckle and I just sigh through my teeth, head shaking.
Five minutes later we’re corralled indoors, this time into one of the really big meeting rooms, an impressive one on the first floor. Almost immediately Lone Wolf’s dog jumps up on the food table and starts chowing down on the buffet and Chamber reaches over with one of his big tensile steel mitts and flicks the beast across the room.
I haven’t seen Adrian that fired up in years.
“Don’t you ever touch Hero like that,” he snarls, feet spread in a fighting stance and his bo-stick upraised like a sword.
Chamber folds his arms over the metal trunk of his chest and says nothing. Perhaps because I have known him the longest and I always felt kinda bad about the circumstances of his leaving the team, I move across to Lone Wolf and try to smile.
“Hey, Adrian, long time no see. How’re you doing?”
“It’s a long time? Yes, Zephyr,” he replies softly, looking anywhere except into my eyes. “I haven’t exactly been around.”
I clear my throat and wonder why the hell I didn’t just zero in on the free drinks.
“Yeah, so, how are you now? All, uh, better?”
“I’m still in treatment, Zephyr, if you must know,” he says quietly.
Because he won’t look at me, I can get a good look at him and how badly he has aged in the past five years. His hair and stubble are grey, his skin with the complexion of a cadaver. Although there’s still that suggestion of sinewy strength Lone Wolf always possessed, I can’t help conclude something of the fight has gone out of the guy.
“Cool, yeah, okay, but are you like, okay?”
“Well . . . I am better than I have been . . . for a while.”
“That’s great,” I say, leaping on any positivity. “Why’s that?”
Adrian finally meets my eyes.
“I’m a lone wolf, Zephyr. I should’ve always been left alone.”
Holding his fighting stick like a cane, Adrian whistles to his pet and then he strides from the big room without so much as looking back.
“I guess in hindsight he thought that was a pretty bad idea, coming along here today,” a cocky voice says from behind.
I turn and there’s Aquanaut. We share a brotherly hug and I ruffle his slicked-back blue-black hair.
“Hey, Aquanaut, man, long time no see.”
“Actually man it’s Nautilus these days. I’ve changed, uh, monickers.”
“Oh.” I pause and try and work out where I’ve heard the word Nautilus before and I can’t place it. “That’s cool. Any, uh, reason?”
“Oh not really, just the Aquanaut, I think it was a little difficult for some people. My agent thinks the Q and the two Us, and besides, it’s a bit like, you know, Aquaman. Kinda gay.”
“Well then, you were kinda gay for a few years there, Spock.”
He laughs, but not without rubbing a thumb and forefinger over one of his gently pointed ears. His costume hasn’t changed much, with sea green tights of fine metallic scales and a very minimalist singlet with a weird cross-shaped harness over the top.
“You’re not in the city any longer?”
“No I’ve been in California for the past two years, trying to get this pilot of mine made and, you know, generally just chasing waves and beating on the odd bad guy.”
“Are there many, like, major villains over that way? I don’t hear much about it on the TV,” I say.
“No, not really. It’s how I like it. This town is too creepy, man. It’s like an idiots’ circus, you know what I mean?”
“Uh, not sure I do, but then again I still live here, so. . . .”
“Yeah, sure, I didn’t mean anything like that.”
We both hum at the same time and look around – and that’s about when Hermes comes over.
I COULDN’T TELL you how much he weighed. Judging by the sound, it is a hell of a lot. With roughly the same physical dimensions as Twilight, only made from solid metal, with or without his platemail loincloth, Hermes cut an impressive figure. I wasn’t buying the whole robot thing anyway and his impassive, immobile face doesn’t help.
“Gentlemen,” the robot says and inclines his head, offering a large hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Nautilus and I just stare at him for a moment and Nautilus is probably even more open than me, moving slowly around the robot like the freakish example of modern art it is. Hermes’ cloak is real cloth and Nautilus tugs at it. The hand remains open for all of three seconds.
“He’s huge,” the artist-formerly-known-as-Aquanaut says.
“He’s sure that,” I agree.
Hermes tilts his head slightly and I lift my eyes.
“How’re you doing, robot?”
“My creator named me Hermes after the Greek god of messengers. I hope that’s not . . . intimidating . . . for you.”
“Intimidating?”
I look around. The professor is talking with Miss Black, who’s flicking back her shoulder-length blonde hair almost like she’s flirting with the old guy. You’d never know with a chick like that. She’s freaky, and not always in a good way.
“How’s he doing that?” I ask.
“What?” Nautilus asks.
“The talking. I can’t see the professor has any gadgets up his sleeve. Besides, he looks a little busy.”
“Gentlemen,” the robot responds in his most patient baritone, “I assure you there is no ventriloquism at play. I’m the one talking to you.”
I ponder this a moment. It seems kinda unlikely and I say as much. I’m surprised to hear frustration in the metallic echo of the robot’s reply.
“Gentlemen, I assure you, I am very much the . . . the real deal.”
“The ‘real deal’,” Nautilus laughs. “Fuck. Who programmed you, boy? Does the professor know jive too?”
“Jive?”
“You know, like 70s black people talk, not the dance,” I feel compelled to explain.
“Gentlemen . . . Oh very well.”
The robot walks away. I almost feel for him when his path immediately confronts him with the sandwich table, which he obviously can’t really engage with. The robot’s enormous hands conform to fists and he just stands there, his back to the small gathering as more and more people come in.
I’m still curious. I walk over to the professor and Miss Black and elbow my way into the conversation.
“So, professor, what’s the deal with Hermes? How do you make him talk?”
Prendergast obviously feels the need to back up his explanation with an account of early Newtonian physics and the work of the Russian Formalists. After a couple of nervous sidelong glances to Miss Black, who still looks rather fine, I must say, though in a slightly secretarial way, her customary flared black slacks and wide open-collared black shirt exposing both her delightful collarbones and wrists, I realise she’s not going to interrupt because she’s a knowledge junkie and is probably turned on by the professor. So I hold up my hands and actually use the phrase “Whoa.”
“I’m just trying to work out how you make him talk, doc.”
The scientist actually tilts his head as he looks at me through his thick spectacles. It’s not the sort of look that would ever make me feel comfortable. I ponder how he would look if I put a spark up his nose.
“Make him talk?” the professor repeats. “He talks for himself, Mr Zephyr.”
“No, seriously. Come on. I know it’s a trade secret, but we’re all kinda curious.”
“Hermes is a sixth generation self-replicating intellectual machine, Mr Zephyr. Don’t be fooled by his rather . . . Adonisian exterior. He’s essentially a new type of super-computer on a level far superior to anything the world’s ever seen.”
“If he’s such a hot computer, how come you put him inside all that armour? Sounds to me like you could give Microsoft a run for their money if you went commercial.”
“Well, I’m not motivated by money, Mr Zephyr.”
“It’s just Zephyr.”
“Okay.”
“So,” I shrug, just making conversation now, “what are you motivated by then, Professor?”
The scientist gets a far away look as he says, “I want to stamp out tyranny, and the cruelty of men against men.”
“Far out.” I think that’s a shame because Hermes would look good as a wrestler.
The nerdy old guy focuses on me again and says: “A colleague of mine by the name of Dr Martin Thurson recently went missing right in the heart of this great city of ours, Zephyr. When it really dawned on me that something like this could happen, I dedicated the Hermes project to the form you see now. I aim to find my colleague, sir, with Hermes’ help. Any assistance you could offer would be greatly appreciated.”
“Martin Thurson? Okay,” I reply. “I’ll uh, you know, keep an ear to the ground.”
The scientist nods and pats me on the shoulder and says it’s much appreciated and as he smiles encouragingly to Miss Black, who is watching me with a guarded sense of caution I believe, there’s a dramatic lull in the conversation I feel the urgent need to fill.
“So, what time do you think our old enemies will attack?”
The professor gasps and I check the time on my Blackberry, careful not to set off any buttons. Miss Black chuckles because at least she’s familiar with my sense of humour. The professor, on the other hand, looks like he needs a change of shorts.
“You can’t be serious . . . and so calm about it?”
“Oh sure,” I shrug. “It’s pretty typical of big events like this. You know, all the city’s top crime-fighters gathered under the one roof. I guess if it was Think-Tank or Overlord or someone, they might even try and steal your neat-o new computer boy over there.”
The professor is looking a few shades paler as he produces a square of handkerchief to dab his face.
“I’m not sure if Hermes is ready . . . I hope I haven’t unveiled him too soon.”
“The, uh, mayor seemed to be saying Hermes was like, part of the police force now?” Miss Black says, speaking telepathically and, as usual, sounding like Daria.
“Uh, seconded,” Professor Prendergast slowly confirms.
“Cool,” the former teen sorceress replies. “Any idea why the rest of us are here then.
Similar posts: britney spears beaver
- Mood:normal
- Music:Roxette
I recently cleared ITIL with a 100% and thought I would share some of the sample exam paper.
Hope you would find it useful.
Please subscribe to the blog and visit often as there will be more sample papers posted
QUESTION :1 Which of the following questions does guidance in Service Strategy help answer?
1: What services should we offer and to whom?
2: How do we differentiate ourselves from competing alternatives?
3: How do we truly create value for our customers?
A.1 only
B.2 only
C.3 only
D.All of the above
Answer: D
QUESTION :2. Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of the Service Design Manager?
A.Design and maintain all necessary Service Transition packages
B.Produce quality, secure and resilient designs for new or improved services, technology architecture, processes
or measurement systems that meet all the agreed current and future IT requirements of the organisation
C.Take the overall Service Strategies and ensure they are reflected in the Service Design process and the service
designs that are produced
D.Measuring the effectiveness and efficiency of Service Design and the supporting processes
Answer: A
QUESTION :3. Which of the following are valid examples of business value measures?
1: Customer retention
2: Time to market
3: Service Architecture
4: Market share
A.1 and 2 only
B.2 and 4 only
C.All of the above
D.1, 2 and 4 only
Answer: D
QUESTION :4. Understanding customer usage of services and how this varies over time is part of which process?
TestInside EX0-101
A.Service Portfolio Management
B.Service Level Management
C.Component Capacity Management
D.Demand Management
Answer: D
QUESTION :5. The MAIN objective of Service Level Management is:
A.To carry out the Service Operations activities needed to support current IT services
B.To ensure that sufficient capacity is provided to deliver the agreed performance of services
C.To create and populate a Service Catalogue
D.To ensure that an agreed level of IT service is provided for all current IT services
Answer: D
QUESTION :6. Which of the following are responsibilities of a Service Level Manager?
1: Agreeing targets in Service Level Agreements (SLAs)
2: Designing technology architectures to support the service
3: Ensuring required contracts and agreements are in place
A.All of the above
B.2 and 3 only
C.1 and 2 only
D.1 and 3 only
Answer: D
QUESTION :7. Which of the following is a good metric for measuring the effectiveness of Service Level Management?
A.Customer satisfaction score
B.Average number of daily Incidents managed by each service agent
C.Number of services in the Service Portfolio
D.Number of services deployed within agreed times
Answer: A
TestInside EX0-101
QUESTION :8. Major Incidents require:
A.Separate procedures
B.Less urgency
C.Longer timescales
D.Less documentation
Answer: A
QUESTION :9. Which of the following should be done when closing an Incident?
1: Check the Incident categorization and correct it if necessary
2: Decide whether a Problem needs to be logged
A.1 only
B.Both of the above
C.2 only
D.None of the above
Answer: B
QUESTION :10. Which of the following is NOT a valid objective of Request Fulfilment?
A.To provide information to users about what services are available and how to request them
B.To update the Service Catalogue with services that may be requested through the Service Desk
C.To provide a channel for users to request and receive standard services
D.To source and deliver the components of standard services that have been requested
Answer: B
QUESTION :11. Which of the following would NOT be a task carried out by the Request Fulfilment process?
A.The sourcing and delivering of the components of requested standard services (e.g. licenses and software media)
B.Provision of a channel for users to request and receive standard services for which a pre-defined approval and
qualification process exists
C.Provision of information to users and customers about the availability of services and the procedure for
obtaining them
D.Provision of information used to compare actual performance against design standards
Answer: D
QUESTION :12. How many numbered steps are in the Continual Service Improvement (CSI) process?
A.7
B.4
C.6
D.11
Answer: A
QUESTION :13. Which Functions are included in IT Operations Management?
A.Network Management and Application Management
B.Technical Management and Application Management
C.IT Operations Control and Facilities Management
D.Facilities Management and Technical Management
Answer: C
QUESTION :14. The ITIL CORE publications are structured around the Service Lifecycle. Which of the following
statements about the ITIL COMPLEMENTARY guidance is CORRECT?
A.It is also structured around the Service Lifecycle
B.It provides guidance to specific industry sectors and types of organization
C.It consists of five publications
D.It provides the guidance necessary for an integrated approach as required by ISO/IEC 20000
Answer: B
QUESTION :15. Which of the following should be supported by technology?
1: Verification of Configuration Management System (CMS) data
2: Control of user desk-tops
3: Creation and use of diagnostic scripts
4: Visibility of overall IT Service performance
A.2, 3 and 4 only
B.1, 2 and 3 only
C.1, 3 and 4 only
D.All of the above
Answer: D
QUESTION :16. Which of the following CANNOT be provided by a tool?
A.Knowledge
B.Information
C.Wisdom
D.Data
Answer: C
QUESTION :17. The BEST Processes to automate are those that are:
A.Carried out by Service Operations
B.Carried out by lots of people
C.Critical to the success of the business mission
D.Simple and well understood
Answer: D
QUESTION :18. Which of the following areas would technology help to support during the Service Operation
phase of the Lifecycle?
1: Identifying configuration of user desktop PCs when Incidents are logged
2: Control of user desk-top PCs
3: Create and use diagnostic scripts
4: Dashboard type technology
A.1, 2 and 3 only
B.All of the above
C.1, 3 and 4 only
D.2, 3 and 4 only
Answer: B
QUESTION :19. Which of the following are the two primary elements that create value for customers?
A.Value on Investment (VOI), Return on Investment (ROI)
B.Customer and User satisfaction
C.Understanding Service Requirements and Warranty
D.Utility and Warranty
Answer: D
QUESTION :20. What is the Service Pipeline?
A.All services that are at a conceptual or development stage, or are undergoing testing
B.All services except those that have been retired
C.All services that are contained within the Service Level Agreement (SLA)
D.All complex multi-user services
Answer: A
QUESTION :21. What are the types of activity within Demand Management?
A.Activity based, Access Management
B.Activity based, Business activity patterns and user profiles
C.Analytical based, Business activity patterns and user profiles
D.Analytical based, Shaping user behaviour
Answer: B
QUESTION :22. Which of the following is NOT a purpose of Service Transition?
A.To ensure that a service can be managed, operated and supported
B.To provide training and certification in project management
C.To provide quality knowledge of Change, Release and Deployment Management
D.To plan and manage the capacity and resource requirements to manage a Release
Answer: B
QUESTION :23. Which of the following statements BEST describes a Definitive Media Library (DML)?
A.A secure location where definitive hardware spares are held
B.A secure library where definitive authorised versions of all media Configuration Items (CIs) are stored and
protected
C.A database that contains definitions of all media CIs
D.A secure library where definitive authorised versions of all software and back-ups are stored and protected
Answer: B
QUESTION :24. One organisation provides and manages an entire business process or function for another
organisation. This is know as:
A.Business Process Management
B.Business Function Outsourcing
C.Business Process Outsourcing
D.Knowledge Process Outsourcing
Answer: C
QUESTION :25. Which Service Design process makes the most use of data supplied by Demand Management?
A.Service Catalogue Management
B.Service Level Management
C.IT Service Continuity Management
D.Capacity Management
Answer: D
QUESTION :26. What is the BEST description of the purpose of Service Operation?
A.To decide how IT will engage with suppliers during the Service Management Lifecycle
B.To proactively prevent all outages to IT Services
C.To design and build processes that will meet business needs
D.To deliver and manage IT Services at agreed levels to business users and customers
Answer: D
QUESTION :27. Availability Management is responsible for availability the of:
A.Services and Components
B.Services and Business Processes
C.Components and Business Processes
D.Services, Components and Business Processes
Answer: A
QUESTION :28. Which of the following is a sub-process of Capacity Management?
A.Component Capacity Management
B.Process Capacity Management
C.Technology Capacity Management
D.Capability Capacity Management
Answer: A
QUESTION :29. The group that authorises Changes that must be installed faster than the normal process is called the:
A.Technical Management
B.Emergency Change Advisory Board (ECAB)
C.Urgent Change Board (UCB)
D.Urgent Change Authority (UCA)
Answer: B
QUESTION :30. Which of the following statements BEST describes the aims of Release and Deployment Management?
A.To build, test and deliver the capability to provide the services specified by Service Design and that will
accomplish the stakeholders requirements and deliver the intended objectives
B.To ensure that each Release package specified by Service Design consists of a set of related assets and service
components that are compatible with each other
C.To ensure that all Release and Deployment packages can be tracked, installed, tested, verified and/or uninstalled
or backed out if appropriate
D.To record and manage deviations, risks and issues related to the new or changed service
Answer: A
QUESTION :31. Which of the following is step 1 in the 7 Step Improvement Process?
A.Prepare for action
B.Define what you should measure
C.Where are we now?
D.Identify gaps in Service Level Agreement (SLA) achievement
Answer: B
QUESTION :32. Which of the following is NOT a FUNCTION?
A.Application Management
B.Service Desk
C.Incident Management
D.Technical Management
Answer: C
QUESTION :33. Which of the following BEST describes a Service Desk?
A.A process within Service Operation providing a single point of contact
B.A dedicated number of staff handling service requests
C.A dedicated number of staff answering questions from users
D.A dedicated number of staff handling Incidents and service requests
Answer: D
QUESTION :34. Which of these activities would you expect to be performed by a Service Desk?
1: Logging details of Incidents and service requests
2: Providing first-line investigation and diagnosis
3: Restoring service
4: Diagnosing the root-cause of problems
A.All of the above
B.1, 2 and 3 only
C.1, 2 and 4 only
D.2, 3 and 4 only
Answer: B
QUESTION :35. Which of the following functions would be responsible for management of a data centre?
A.Technical Management
B.Service Desk
C.IT Operations Control
D.Facilities Management
Answer: D
QUESTION :36. Governance is concerned with:
A.Measuring and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of processes
B.Ensuring that defined strategy is actually followed
C.Reducing the total cost of providing services
D.Ensuring that agreed Service Level Requirements are met
Answer: B
QUESTION :37. A risk is:
A.Something that won't happen
B.Something that will happen
C.Something that has happened
D.Something that might happen
Answer: D
QUESTION :38. Which of the following BEST describes when a Known Error record should be raised?
A.A Known Error should not be raised until a temporary resolution or workaround has been found
B.A Known Error should be raised at any time that it would be useful to do so
C.As soon as it becomes obvious that a quick resolution of the Problem will not be found
D.Immediately following the Problem resolution, so a permanent historical record of all actions is retained in case
of a recurrence
Answer: B
QUESTION :39. IT Operations Management have been asked by a customer to carry out a non-standard activity,
that will cause them to miss an agreed service level target. How should they respond?
A.Refuse the request because they must operate the service to meet the agreed service levels
B.Make a decision based on balancing stability and responsiveness
C.Accept the request as they must support customer business outcomes
D.They should escalate this decision to Service Strategy
Answer: B
QUESTION :40. Which process is responsible for recording relationships between service components?
A.Service Level Management
B.Service Portfolio Management
C.Service Asset and Configuration Management
D.Incident Management
Answer: C
QUESTION :41. A single Release unit, or a structured set of Release units can be defined within:
A.The RACI Model
B.A Release Package
C.A Request Model
D.The Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) cycle
Answer: B
QUESTION :42. Which of the following might be used to define how a future Problem or Incident could be managed?
1: Incident Model
2: Known Error Record
A.1 only
B.2 only
C.Both of the above
D.Neither of the above
Answer: C
QUESTION :43. Which process is responsible for low risk, frequently occurring, low cost changes?
A.Demand Management
B.Incident Management
C.Release and Deployment Management
D.Request Fulfilment
Answer: D
QUESTION :44. Which role is accountable for a specific service within an organisation?
A.The Service Level Manager
B.The Business Relationship Manager
C.The Service Owner
D.The Service Continuity Manager
Answer: C
QUESTION :45. Which of the following is NOT an aim of the Change Management process?
A.Overall business risk is optimised
B.Standardised methods and procedures are used for efficient and prompt handling of all Changes
C.All changes to Service Assets and Configuration Items (CIs) are recorded in the Configuration Management
System (CMS)
D.All budgets and expenditures are accounted for
Answer: D
QUESTION :46. Which of the following is NOT one of the five individual aspects of Service Design?
A.The design of the Service Portfolio, including the Service Catalogue
B.The design of new or changed services
C.The design of Market Spaces
D.The design of the technology architecture and management systems
Answer: C
QUESTION :47. One of the five major aspects of Service Design is the design of service solutions. Which of the
following does this include?
A.Only capabilities needed and agreed
B.Only resources and capabilities needed
C.Only requirements needed and agreed
D.Requirements, resources and capabilities needed and agreed
Answer: D
QUESTION :48. Which of the following is a valid role in the RACI Authority Matrix?
A.Configuration
B.Consulted
C.Complex
D.Controlled
Answer: B
QUESTION :49. What is a RACI model used for?
A.Performance analysis
B.Recording Configuration Items
C.Monitoring services
D.Defining roles and responsibilities
Answer: D
QUESTION :50. Which of the following models would be most useful in helping to define an organisational structure?
A.RACI Model
B.Service Model
C.Continual Service Improvement (CSI) Model
D.Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) Model
Answer: A
QUESTION :51. Which of the following is NOT the responsibility of the Service Catalogue Manager?
A.Ensuring that information in the Service Catalogue is accurate
B.Ensuring that information within the Service Pipeline is accurate
C.Ensuring that information in the Service Catalogue is consistent with information in the Service Portfolio
D.Ensuring that all operational services are recorded in the Service Catalogue
Answer: B
QUESTION :52. Which of the following delivery strategies is described as, "Formal arrangements between two
or more organisations to work together to design, develop, transition, maintain, operate and/or support IT services"?
A.Outsourcing
B.Application Service Provision
C.Multi-sourcing
D.Knowledge Process Outsourcing
TestInside EX0-101
Answer: C
QUESTION :53. To add value to the business, what are the four reasons to monitor and measure?
A.Validate; Direct; Justify; Intervene
B.Report; Manage; Improve; Extend
C.Manage; Monitor; Diagnose; Intervene
D.Plan; Predict; Report; Justify
Answer: A
QUESTION :54. Which of the following provides resources to resolve operational and support issues during
Release and Deployment?
A.Early Life Support
B.Service Test Manager
C.Evaluation
D.Release Packaging and Build Manager
Answer: A
QUESTION :55. What does a service always deliver to customers?
A.Applications
B.Infrastructure
C.Value
D.Resources
Answer: C
QUESTION :56. Who owns the specific costs and risks associated with providing a service?
A.The Service Provider
B.The Service Level Manager
C.The Customer
D.Resources
Answer: A
QUESTION :57. Which stage of the Service Lifecycle is MOST concerned with defining policies and objectives?
A.Service Design
B.Service Transition
C.Service Strategy
D.Service Operation
Answer: C
QUESTION :58. Which of the following is MOST concerned with the design of new or changed services?
A.Change Management
B.Service Transition
C.Service Strategy
D.Service Design
Answer: D
QUESTION :59. Which of the following are benefits that implementing Service Transition could provide to the business?
1: Ability to adapt quickly to new requirements
2: Reduced cost to design new services
3: Improved success in implementing changes
A.1 and 2 only
B.2 and 3 only
C.1 and 3 only
D.All the above
Answer: C
QUESTION :60. Which of the following sentences BEST describes a Standard Change?
A.A Change to the service provider's established policies and guidelines
B.A Change that correctly follows the required Change process
C.A pre-authorised Change that has an accepted and established procedure
D.A Change that is made as the result of an audit
Answer: C
QUESTION :61. Which of the following are activities that would be carried out by Supplier Management?
1: Management and review of Organisational Level Agreements (OLAs)
2: Evaluation and selection of suppliers
3: Ongoing management of suppliers
A.1 and 2 only
B.1 and 3 only
C.2 and 3 only
D.All of the above
Answer: C
QUESTION :62. Which stages of the Service Lifecycle does the 7 Step Improvement Process apply to?
A.Service Operation
B.Service Transition and Service Operation
C.Service Design, Service Transition and Service Operation
D.Service Strategy, Service Design, Service Transition, Service Operation and Continual Service Improvement
Answer: D
QUESTION :63. Which of the following is the CORRECT description of the Seven R's of Change Management?
A.A set of questions that should be asked to help understand the impact of Changes
B.A seven step process for releasing Changes into production
C.A set of questions that should be asked when reviewing the success of a recent Change
D.A definition of the roles and responsibilities required for Change Management
Answer: A
QUESTION :64. Which of the following statements is CORRECT? An Event could be caused by:
1: An exception to normal operation, such as a device exceeding a threshold or an unauthorized Configuration
Item (CI) being detected on the network
2: Normal operation, such as a user logging into an application or an email reaching its intended recipient
A.2 only
B.1 only
C.Both of the above
D.Neither of the above
Answer: C
QUESTION :65. Which of the following is the BEST definition of the term Service Management?
A.A set of specialised organisational capabilities for providing value to customers in the form of services
B.A group of interacting, interrelated, or independent components that form a unified whole, operating together
for a common purpose
C.The management of functions within an organisation to perform certain activities
D.Units of organisations with roles to perform certain activities
Answer: A
QUESTION :66. Implementation of ITIL Service Management requires preparing and planning the effective and
efficient use of:
A.People, Process, Partners, Suppliers
B.People, Process, Products, Technology
C.People, Process, Products, Partners
D.People, Products, Technology, Partners
Answer: C
QUESTION :67. "Service Management is a set of specialised organisational capabilities for providing value to
customers in the form of services".
These specialised organisational capabilities include which of the following?
A.Applications and Infrastructure
B.Functions and Processes
C.Service Pipeline and Service Catalogue
D.Markets and Customers
Answer: B
QUESTION :68. The left-hand side of the Service V Model represents requirements and specifications.
What does the right-hand side of the Service V Model represent?
A.Validation and Testing
B.The business value that can be expected from a given service
C.Performance and capacity requirements of services and IT infrastructure
D.Roles and responsibilities required for an effective Service Management implementation
Answer: A
QUESTION :69. An IT department is under pressure to cut costs. As a result, the quality of services has started
to suffer. What imbalance does this represent?
A.Extreme focus on cost
B.Extreme focus on quality
C.Excessively proactive
D.Excessively reactive
Answer: A
QUESTION :70. What would be the next step in the Continual Service Improvement (CSI) Model after:
1: What is the vision?
2: Where are we now?
3: Where do we want to be?
4: How do we get there?
5: Did we get there?
6: ?
A.What is the Return On Investment (ROI)?
B.How much did it cost?
C.How do we keep the momentum going?
D.What is the Value On Investment (VOI)?
Answer: C
QUESTION :71. Order the following Continual Service Improvement (CSI) implementation steps into the correct
sequence in alignment with the Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) model.
1: Allocate roles and responsibilities to work on CSI initiatives
2: Measure and review that the CSI plan is executed and its objectives are being achieved
3: Identify the scope, objectives and requirements for CSI
4: Implement CSI enhancement
A.3-1-2-4
B.3-4-2-1
C.1-3-2-4
D.2-3-4-1
Answer: A
QUESTION :72. Which activities are carried out in the "Where do we want to be?" step of the Continual Service
Improvement (CSI) Model?
A.Implementing service and process improvements
B.Aligning the business and IT strategies
C.Creating a baseline
D.
Similar posts: britney spears beaver
- Mood:hangry
- Music:K-MARO
We want to try!
In a new interview, sizzling hot Catherine Zeta Jones unveiled parts of her beauty regimen.
To beat wrinkles she rubs honey and salt on her skin:
"I rub a mixture of honey and salt all over my body to moisturise and exfoliate. You wash it off and your skin is gorgeous."
Washing her hair in beer and honey makes it all shiny and shiz:
"I do condition my hair with honey and beer. I smell like the bottom of a beer barrel for days afterwards but it's very good for the hair."
She eats certain fruits to maintain her pearly whites:
"I love to eat an apple after a meal, just to cleanse my teeth - they always look polished afterwards."
If you can't have an apple, a strawberry or pineapple works too, says CZJ.
"The juice or pulp of strawberries contains malic acid which serves as an astringent and can lighten surface stains. Pineapples work the same way."
Hope this works for us too!
[Image via WENN.
Similar posts: britney spears beaver
- Mood:smile
- Music:Moby
For what it's worth: it's never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There's no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.
-- Benjamin Button from The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
The historical events of the events of this week greatly overshadow the 81st Academy Awards nominations. The infectious glow of the events of this week refuses to dim. As President Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States, there was a deafening joyous silence-- redemption and hope were offered up to all of us as history was being. As we purged ourselves of the last throes of George W. Bushs Presidency, I felt something I have never felt on an Inauguration Day; a special sense of pride and joy. Bliss is not a common feeling in the Washington DC area, but the arrival of the Barack Obama Era has changed all that. . If George Pelecanos made me proud of growing up in the Washington DC suburbs, then President Obama has done something even greater, he makes me want to stay here. As the transfer of power was taking place, all I could think of was Raymond Masseys speech he gives in Things To Come (1936). He played John Cabal in this futuristic tale based on H.G. Wells 1933 novel, The Shape Of Things To Come. Wells also wrote the screenplay for the film. The devastating decades long global war has ravaged mankind. Ralph Richardsons The Boss leads a group of survivors. This part of Things To Come always seemed like the inspiration for The Road Warrior. A plague called the "Wandering Sickness" has wiped out most of the world population. Cabal returns to what is left of his hometown known as Everytown. He represents a scientific organization known as Wings Over The World that wants to rebuild civilization. The Boss has him put in jail, but soon the high tech aircraft armada from Wings Over The World comes to his rescue delivering "the Gas Of Peace." He finds the Boss Dead. He resisted the change too much:
Dead and his world dead with him. And a new world beginning. Poor old Boss, his flags and his follies. And now for the rule of the Air Men and a new life for Mankind.
Sure it is melodramatic, but this scene along with Arthur Blisss stirring score is the one of the closest cinematic analogies I could make with Tuesdays events. The scene has been playing over and over in my head since the Election last November. Things To Come has always been a favorite film of mine. I am amazed at its staying power; it still has such relevance. Barack Obamas speech with hope for a glorious future reminded me of this.
Danny Boyles Slumdog Millionaire is the first film of the Obama Era. Make no mistake; Slumdog Millionaire is a global phenomenon. The film deserves every ounce of its praise. Danny Boyle is the first director to truly get Charles Dickens right since David Lean. It is Oliver Twist for the 21st Century. The film has gained greater traction with me since the Mumbai terrorist attacks from last November. The film has poignancy ever since those horrific attacks. Mumbai may be the real star of the film. It is difficult to look at Slumdog Millionaire in the same light since then. For a film that was destined for the straight-to-DVD route after Warner Independent collapsed last year, the film was saved by Fox Searchlight. This could be the year that the little film finally takes home the best picture Oscar-- Little Miss Sunshine and Juno failed to take home the big prize. Danny Boyle and his cast of unknowns have a huge shot. In fact, I believe it is Slumdog Millionaires race to lose. Speaking of Danny Boyle, it is great to see that such a versatile film director is getting his due. The Beach and A Life Less Ordinary are his only disappointing films. He deserves to be in the company of David Fincher, Ron Howard, Gus Van Sant and Stephen Daldry. It is Stephen Daldry who seems out of place in this category. Certainly Christopher Nolan and Darren Aronofsky deserve to be here. Aronofsky proved he could make a film stripped of his usual visual tricks with The Wrestler. The film could be seen as mirror for him as well as Mickey Rourkes iconic performance. Christopher Nolans The Dark Knight is the largest blockbuster in years. The Dark Knight transcended its genre, but it also filled theater seats with people who normally do not go out to the movies. The Dark Knight deserves a best picture nomination even though it is big studio production; the snub is obvious. It really entertains on many levels. Christopher Nolan has yet to make a bad film. Everything he has made is pure visionary gold. Even had it been nominated for best picture and director, I still feel the momentum is with Slumdog Millionaire. The Dark Knight did deserve more than the technical nominations it has received. This was a mistake on the Academys part- not the first in its history.
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button has grown on me since first seeing it. I do not think it is perfect by any stretch, but I am amazed by how much of it did work. I think it is a beautiful film from David Fincher-- a very different kind of film from David Fincher. I feel Zodiac was one of the best films of 2007. Zodiac was one of the first truly great films of 2007 and we ended that year with another visionary masterpiece, Paul Thomas Andersons There Will Be Blood. Granted, 2008 does not measure up to 2007, but there still were some good films last year. While I think Brad Pitt is perfect in the film, the real star of the film may be Alexandre Desplats Oscar nominated score which keeps the film alive and is inseparable from some of the films most emotional moments. I think the last shot of the film sums up the whole film beautifully. At first, I was put off by using Hurricane Katrina as a framing device, but when the film is done, I get it, I truly get it. Benjamin Button and Cate Blanchetts Daisy are metaphors for New Orleans. The last shot of the film is one of absorbing melancholy. The broken clock that goes in reverse is washed away. I do believe that Cate Blanchett and Tilda Swinton should have received nominations, but I have no problem with Taraji P. Hensons best supporting Actress nomination as Queenie. She is the heart and soul of the film as Benjamins surrogate mother. The film, like Slumdog Millionaire, has enormous staying power. Eric Roths script, loosely based on an F. Scott Fitzgerald short story, addresses death and in many ways is just as obsessed with death as Charlie Kaufmans underrated Synecdoche, New York. While the film is about death, it is a film that celebrates life. In many ways, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button has things in common with Zodiac. Both films are celebrations of life while the specter of death haunts both films-- the reverse aging in The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button and the exhaustive and exhilarating hunt for a serial killer in Zodiac. The performances in both films beam with life. I do think The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button could have been better in the first half, but the second half is where the film truly comes alive. It is the middle of our lives where everything comes together. The film understands this fact very well. We are waiting for him to turn into Brad Pitt. I think the film is a technical marvel and visual marvel. Still as far as visual marvels go, nothing compares to Tarsem Singhs The Fall. The Fall is the most visually stunning film this year. Baz Luhrmanns Australia and Finchers film cannot compare with The Falls visual flair and imagination. My memory of The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button is far greater than the actual watching of the film. It is the distorted memory of the film which is far more pleasing to me just as it was with Baz Luhrmanns Australia. They are imperfect, but fascinating films.
Ron Howards Frost/Nixon is a first rate drama. I think it is Ron Howards strongest film since Apollo 13. In both films we know the outcome of the historical events they are based on, but Mr. Howard manages to keep the audience engaged. It is hard not to think of the Bush Administration while watching the film. I see the parallels and I think the film works as a great companion piece to Oliver Stones under appreciated W. Frank Langella truly inhabits Richard Nixon. Think of it, he has played Dracula and Richard Nixon in one lifetime. It is not impersonation, but a fully fleshed Richard Nixon. He played the role on stage and he has brought it to life on the big screen. Langellas Nixon does come across as the very beast that Dr. Hunter S. Thompson described so well. Yet it is not only Frank Langella who makes the film come alive. The film is a verbal boxing match between Langellas Nixon and Michael Sheens David Frost. Sheen is equally good in the film. The supporting cast of Sam Rockwell, Oliver Platt, Kevin Bacon, Rebecca Hall and Toby Jones is extraordinary. Speaking of Sam Rockwell, this film, along with Snow Angels and Choke represented a triumphant year for the gifted actor. If there was an ensemble acting category, this film, along with Synecdoche, New York, The Dark Knight, Snow Angels, and In Bruges certainly deserve to be in it. And while Frank Langella received a very well deserved nomination, I think Michael Sheen deserved one as well. He speaks one of the great truths in the film: Being successful in America is unlike being successful anywhere else in the world. It is the most pro-American film in a long time.
Gus Van Sants Milk is a traditional biopic. The film is all about Sean Penns portrayal as Harvey Milk. Sean Penn is absolutely mesmerizing as the title character. The film is a good film, but I cannot say I was blown away by it. Here is the thing; I do not expect a conventional film from Gus Van Sant. Along with Steven Soderbergh and Danny Boyle, he is a very versatile filmmaker. His resume consists of such mainstream fare as Milk, Good Will Hunting, To Die For and Finding Forrester. His truly independent films like Drugstore Cowboy and My Own Private Idaho are classics of the American independent film movement. Gerry, Elephant, Last Days and Paranoid Park demonstrate a director who refuses to be labeled. Gerry is the only one of this quartet of experimental films I am not wild about at all-- but that could be from the horrible Q A afterward where the interviewer asked the most moronic questions of all time. The shot by shot remake of Psycho was unforgivable and Even Cowgirls Get The Blues was a true disappointment which never captured the magic and beauty of Tom Robbins classic novel. The film should have more of an emotional punch than it does. I think Sean Penns nomination is well deserved as is Josh Brolins supporting Oscar nomination for playing Dan White. Josh Brolin deserves something for the last two years of the incredible work he has done. The major problem with Milk is that it is competing with Rob Epsteins 1984 Oscar winning documentary, The Times Of Harvey Milk. It is hard to compete with the real thing. It is hard even for Frost/Nixon to compete with the real footage of the interviews. Although I think Milk deserves to be there for Sean Penns performance, it is a way for Academy members to feel good about themselves after Brokeback Mountain lost to Crash in 2006. To me, Milk really comes alive when Sean Penn and James Franco are onscreen together. James Franco is excellent as Milks lover, Scott Smith. When he is not in the film, the film loses a lot of its heart. I have to hand it to screenwriter Dustin Lance Black for making the relationship work. I wish Franco had more screen time, but the film is all about Sean Penn. Although the film draws powerful parallels to the current Proposition 8 Ballot measure that was passed in California, I do not think releasing this film in October would have changed the sad outcome in California. The film is still preaching to the choir; I really do not think people who voted that way were ever going to see Milk. Milk is a good film, but it had the potential to be a very powerful film from Gus Van Sant. It is in Milks personal moments, where it truly shines.
The Reader is the one film that seems out of place here. It should have been better than it was. Yet, I am not surprised it received an Oscar nomination. Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack are the films producers. Both of them passed away last year. I believe that is the main reason it has gotten as many nominations as it has, but at the expense of The Dark Knight. Kate Winslet is good as Hannah Schmitz. Kate Winslet predicted this role on an episode of the show Extras when she guest starred playing a nun in a World War II film. She is doing the film because any film about the Holocaust guarantees an Oscar. That was back in 2005 and she was right. The Reader did stack up a lot of nominations, but Winslets role is more supporting than main actress in this film-- so much for Revolutionary Road. The Reader could be easily described as The Night Porter meets The Nasty Girl with the tagline you never forget your first girl. I think Stephen Daldry did a better job with The Hours and Billy Elliot. I like Ralph Fiennes, but he does not leave much of an impression in this film as the older Michael Berg. David Cross who plays the younger Michael Berg is very good. The first half of the film is its stronger part. The film works very well whenever Winslet is onscreen. The trial sequence between her and the judge is excellent and is the highlight of the film. Hannah Arendts Banality of evil is perfectly displayed. The films third act is where the film falls apart completely. The tagline could have easily been reading is fundamental. Lena Olin portrays a concentration camp survivor whom Ralph Fiennes go to see at the end of the film. She was a victim of Hannas crimes in the camps. Lena Olin tells him That nothing came out of the camps and they were not therapy. Perhaps she was talking about this film and others which came out about the Holocaust last year. The Reader runs out of steam halfway through. It is neither therapy nor catharsis, but pandering at its most typical. They really should have given Kate Winslet the Oscar for Little Children. The Reader is surprisingly mediocre. The Holocaust, as a genre, has been trivialized far more than anyone will admit.
It is great to see Melissa Leo and Richard Jenkins get acting nominations for their roles in Frozen River and The Visitor. They give towering performances. It is a year where two supporting actors get to prove they can carry a film on their own. In another year, I would give Richard Jenkins the Best Oscar for The Visitor, but this year belongs to Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler-- it is his year. Although, I would have nominated Clint Eastwood for his performance in Gran Torino-- one of his best performances in a very long time. I was really torn between Mickey Rourke and Clint Eastwood because The Wrestler and Gran Torino are excellent character studies. I have to say that watching Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler is an awesome experience; he just deserves the Oscar more than anyone else. Speaking of snubs, Bruce Springsteen deserved a nomination for his song from The Wrestler. Hell, he won the Golden Globe for crying out loud. Everyone nominated in the best supporting actor category is excellent, but the award belongs to Heath Ledger. Robert Downey Jr., Philip Seymour Hoffman, Josh Brolin and Michael Shannon are very good in their respected roles, but this belongs to Heath Ledger. He became the Joker in The Dark Knight. His brilliant portrayal captures the essence of the Joker. Let him join Peter Finch in receiving this rare honor posthumously.
I like Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married. She is a real revelation in the film, but Melissa Leo is just as good in Frozen River. Angelina Jolies performance in Changeling seems very lackluster. I like Angelina Jolie, but I found the first half of the film ridiculous. Changeling is not one of Eastwoods better films. Where is Sally Hawkins for Happy-Go-Lucky? I am not the films biggest fan, but her performance deserved a nomination. Still one of the best performances of the year was overlooked. Kristin Scott Thomas was snubbed for her role in Ive Loved You So Long. It is a truly moving performance and Thomas is such an underrated actress. Meryl Streep in Doubt is good, but for the first third of the film she seems to channeling Emperor Palpatine. She is so over the top in the film that it reminded me of Al Pacino in The Devils Advocate. Yet Amy Adams and Viola Davis are very good in Doubt. Once Streep settles down, her scene with Viola Davis is one of the highlights of the film. The supporting actress category is very good this year-- not a bad performance in the bunch. Marisa Tomei is incredible in The Wrestler. Still, no one steals a film like Penelope Cruz. She steals Vicky Cristina Barcelona from everyone. Her entrance in the film is unforgettable. She brings such life into the film; it would be a great crime not to give it to her this time. Her performance in Volver was reason enough to give her an Oscar and she was up against an equally deserving Kate Winslet for Little Children. They both lost to Helen Mirren for The Queen. For me, Penelope Cruz was the pulse of Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
I was happy to see that In Bruges got an original screenplay nomination for Martin McDonagh. In Bruges is my favorite film of 2008 tied with Pineapple Express. In Bruges is one of the freshest and most original crime films I have seen in many years. It is perfect. I can think of nothing wrong with it; the film is in a class by itself. The acting is beyond first rate, it is stellar. Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes deliver astonishing performances across the board. As much as I adore Colin Farrell and Ralph Fiennes in this film, it is Brendan Gleeson who steals the show. I cannot rave enough about the film. Why Pineapple Express? David Gordon Green directed the bleakest film of the year, Snow Angels and the funniest film of the year, Pineapple Express. We speak of versatility with Danny Boyle and Gus Van Sant, but David Gordon Green has it in spades. Not only that, James Franco comes into his own as the drug dealer, Saul Silver. His comic timing is perfect. He and Seth Rogen make a great team in the same manner as Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. This film, like In Bruges, was an unexpected treat. I do not adore any of the best picture films this year the way I have in previous years. There are no films like There Will Be Blood, No Country For Old Men and Atonement to really get behind. I can safely say that I adore every inch of In Bruges.
The snubbing of The Dark Knight is a sad state of affairs. I also feel that WALL*E deserved a best picture nomination and not just to be relegated to the best animated film category. WALL*E is more involving than any other film from Pixar and it also has more on its plate than most live action films. The film works as brilliant social commentary. The best thing was that the film never preaches to us, it just shows us where consumerism and environmental neglect will lead us. The effects of our habits on the planet and humanitys future have never been more effective on the big screen. The film is ultimately about responsibility. It is about humanity being responsible for the stewardship of the Earth and being given a second chance at that. In the film, mankind has let Earth become a global junkyard. Mankind has left for the stars to become a race of obese infants who live in a giant spaceship. The humans are too lazy to do anything; machines do everything for them. It is a little robot left on Earth who is more human than anyone else in the film. WALL*E is responsible for humanitys legacy. WALL*E, maybe more so than even Slumdog Millionaire, is the perfect film for the dawn of Obama Era. Our new President is asking us to be responsible again and put away our childish things. It is time for us to care about our surroundings and leave them better than we found them. It is time for us to leave not only our country in better shape, but also our world in better shape for future generations. We may not get a second chance to make things right. WALL*E has more going for it than all five best picture films put together. The film arrived at the right time for the right era. It is a shame the Academy has never been any good at thinking outside the box. WALL*E was one of the best social commentaries to come out from a major studio in a long time. In fact, not since Things To Come, have I seen a film more prescient than WALL*E; a film not ahead of its time, but right about its time. Both films use the future to address the concerns and anxieties of the present. The future is now.
Similar posts: britney spears beaver
- Mood:Very good
- Music:Roxette
Profile
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
burnederotic- burnederotic
Syndicate
