Sunday, May 10, 2009

I Remember Mama: 1948 film by John Van Druten

I Remember Mama is a play by John Van Druten. Based on the memoir Mama's Bank Account by Kathryn Forbes, it focuses on a loving family of Norwegian immigrants living on Steiner Street (identified as Larkin Street in the 1948 film) in San Francisco in the 1910s.

Produced by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, the Broadway production opened on October 19, 1944 at the Music Box Theatre and ran for 713 performances.

The cast included Mady Christians, Oscar Homolka, Joan Tetzel, and Marlon Brando, making his Broadway debut.

The play was adapted for a 1948 feature film written by DeWitt Bodeen and directed by George Stevens.

The film begins with eldest daughter Katrin completing the last lines of her autobiographical novel. As she reminisces about her family life, we flashback to 1910, where the first of a series of vignettes finds Marta Hanson preparing the weekly budget with assistance from her husband Lars, daughters Katrin, Christine and Dagmar, and son Nels, who announces his desire to attend high school. Each family member offers to make a financial sacrifice to contribute to the boy's education.

Soon after, Marta's sister Trina arrives, announces she is marrying undertaker Peter Thorkelson, and implores Marta to break the news to their sisters Sigrid and Jenny. As Trina feared, the two laugh upon hearing the news, but when Marta threatens to reveal embarrassing anecdotes about them, the women agree to accept their sister's decision.

When Jonathan Hyde, the Hansons' educated but impoverished lodger, reads A Tale of Two Cities aloud for the family, all of them, especially aspiring writer Katrin, are deeply moved by the story. Later, the family is visited by Marta's gruff and domineering but soft-hearted Uncle Chris and his common law wife Jessie Brown. When Chris discovers youngest daughter Dagmar is severely ill with mastoiditis, he insists on taking her to the hospital. Because they disapprove of Jessie, Sigrid and Jenny attempt to stop him, but he bullies his way past them with Dagmar and her mother following behind.

Dagmar's operation is a success, but her mother Marta is prohibited from seeing her by the hospital staff. At home, she becomes increasingly distressed about the separation from her child, whom she promised she would see as soon as she awakened, and she returns to the hospital where, disguised as a member of the housekeeping staff, she sneaks into Dagmar's ward and sings a Norwegian lullaby to her.

When a recovered Dagmar returns home, she learns her cat, Uncle Elizabeth, is very ill. Despite Dagmar's belief in her mother's powers, Marta feels helpless to save the wounded cat and sends Nels to buy some chloroform so she can put it to sleep. The following morning she is astonished when Dagmar walks in with a sleepy but very alive and apparently cured cat.

Mr. Hyde moves out, leaving a check for his long overdue rent and his entire collection of classic books. The family's joy at their financial windfall vanishes when they discover their lodger had no bank account and the check has no value. Sigrid and Jenny are furious about the man's deceit, but Marta declares his valuable gift of literature is payment enough.

Katrin brags to Christine that their mother is going to buy her the dresser set she has long admired as a graduation present. Her sister tells her Marta is planning to give her their grandmother's brooch as a gift, so Katrin is surprised when she receives the desired dresser set instead. As she is about to leave to perform in the school's production of The Merchant of Venice, Katrin is informed that her mother traded with the storekeeper her beloved heirloom for the gift Katrin wanted. Distraught by the news, the girl performs badly in the play, and later presents her mother with the brooch after trading back the dresser set. Katrin's father presents her with her first cup of coffee, which she had been told she could drink once she was grown. Before giving it to her, mother adds a healthy amount of cream.

Marta learns Uncle Chris is near death, and she takes Katrin to say goodbye to him at his ranch. He reveals he has no money to leave his niece because he had long been donating most of his income to help poor lame children, and confesses he and Jessie married years ago but kept their union a secret because of Sigrid and Jenny's attitude towards her. After enjoying a final drink with his niece and his wife, Uncle Chris dies.

Katrin is dejected when she receives her tenth literary rejection letter. Determined to bolster her confidence, Marta takes some of her stories to famed author and gourmand Florence Dana Moorhead and convinces her to read them in exchange for her prized meatball recipe. Marta returns home and advises her daughter that Moorhead feels the girl has talent and should write about what she knows best. Marta urges Katrin to write a story about Papa. When the girl's story is accepted for publication, she is overjoyed to be paid $500. After announcing some of the money will go towards the purchase of the winter coat Marta always has wanted, Katrin confesses her story is not about her father but is titled Mama and the Hospital. She begins to read it to her family, and its introduction concludes with the line, "But first and foremost, I remember Mama."

George Stevens originally offered the role of Mama to Greta Garbo, who balked at playing a motherly type. He then cast Irene Dunne, whom he had directed in Penny Serenade in 1941. Although she was 50-years-old, the actress had a youthful appearance and had to be aged with makeup to portray the family matriarch convincingly [1]. Oscar Homolka was the only member of the original Broadway cast to reprise his role for the film. Some scenes filmed on Rhode Island Street, on San Francisco's Potrero Hill. The film premiered as the Easter attraction at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

* Irene Dunne ..... Marta 'Mama' Hanson
* Barbara Bel Geddes ..... Katrin Hanson
* Oskar Homolka ..... Uncle Chris Halvorsen
* Philip Dorn ..... Lars 'Papa' Hanson
* Steve Brown ..... Nils Hanson
* Peggy McIntyre ..... Christine Hanson
* June Hedin ..... Dagmar Hanson
* Cedric Hardwicke ..... Mr. Jonathan Hyde
* Ellen Corby ..... Aunt Trina
* Hope Landin ..... Aunt Jenny
* Edith Evanson ..... Aunt Sigrid
* Edgar Bergen ..... Peter Thorkelson
* Florence Bates ..... Florence Dana Moorhead
* Barbara O'Neil ..... Jessie Brown
* Rudy Vallee ..... Dr. Johnson
* Tommy Ivo ..... Arne

Chengdu Subway: the first in western China

Chengdu, Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China, MTR is the urban rail transport system. In December 2005 started the building in 2010 is expected to Metro Line 1, the opening of a project is completed. Chengdu is the first in western China to start building a city subway.

Chengdu Chengdu Subway Subway by the limited liability company responsible for construction and management. Chengdu Metro logo from the "fast moving train, winding tunnels, Shu dusty, rolling Shushan, Shu soft water" and other imagery evolved, the current campaign slogan is: "Chengdu subway, a pulse of life."

In 1992, Chengdu started the development of urban rail transit system planning. With more than ten years of development, the rapid expansion of the size of the cities of Chengdu, in addition to Chengdu, the country's No. 3 to maintain the volume of private cars in the traffic is at its peak, through the City needs more than two hours. Late 90's, Chengdu has increased the transportation infrastructure in the field of investment, and paying attention to the rapid urban public transport network.

2002, 2003, 2004, Chengdu Subway media have reported the news of the forthcoming work is granted, but granted Nanjing Metro, the Chinese Government to freeze the approval of the subway project until 2005, only the loose. In early 2005, Chengdu subway began construction of some of the projects.

August 9, 2005, National Development and Reform Commission officially approved the Chengdu Metro Line 1 and Line 2 of a total length of 54.18 kilometers of construction planning. In September, "Chengdu Metro Line 1, an Engineering Feasibility Study" through expert assessment; in October, the State Council approved the city of Chengdu, the construction of rapid rail transit planning; November 21, Chengdu Metro Line 1, a project viable study approved by the National Development and Reform Commission. Chengdu this the construction of subway smoothly.

China's first suspected cases of Influenza A virus subtype H1N1

Reuters, Beijing, May 10 - Sunday --- The Ministry of Health informed the Mainland of China, Sichuan there the first suspected cases of Influenza A virus subtype H1N1.

Ministry of Health said the patient was a return from the United States to study the 30-year-old man, was in Chengdu a local hospital treated in isolation.

Ministry of Health said: "Sichuan Province Health Organization expert group for consultation, in accordance with the" Type A H1N1 influenza treatment program (the pilot version of the first edition in 2009) ", for initial diagnosis in patients with suspected cases of Influenza A virus subtype H1N1(A(H1N1))"

In addition, the Ministry of Health has notified the relevant provinces and cities in search of the emergency patients in close contact with visitors and called for by the passengers of these flights and in the know as soon as possible to contact local health authorities.

Saturday, Hong Kong is the only one of the first cases of Influenza A virus subtype H1N1 infection in alpha-Mexico tourists discharged after treatment.

China's official media also reported that with the three Japanese patients with Type A influenza H1N1 have had close contact with seven of them have been isolated.

Over the weekend, Japan announced the emergence of the first confirmed cases of Influenza A virus subtype H1N1, the patient is to stay in Canada, a teacher and two students.

Ministry of Health said that the men on board the aircraft there were seven people on Friday night, respectively, in turn, arrived in Shanghai and Beijing, the Ministry of Health immediately notified the relevant provincial and municipal health departments to locate the passengers of emergency and the implementation of the isolation.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

13 commonly used WordPress blog SEO techniques

SEO optimization of your blog is not particularly important, because the key to blog content, content is king, with the outstanding and unique content, it is easy to obtain better rankings. Of course, the use of some commonly used SEO techniques to optimize the improvement can also be a better place. I Wordpress as an example to introduce the commonly used optimization techniques SEO blog.

1, to regularly update the blog to ensure that updated at least twice a week, fresh content in favor of Su-search engine rankings.

2, of the use of static HTML files, each log has a create a HTML document, for example Z-Blog, but also the opening of "Moonlight plug-static" (Z-Blog 1.7,1.8 has been built) will have done archive directory static HTML files, static documents can not cope with more traffic, but also have some SEO help.

3, the opening of Z-Blog of the Google Sitemaps plug-in, each time when the reconstruction of the reconstruction of Google Sitemaps document automatically, but will put this XML file robots.txt file.

4, not to exchange Links, on the home page can take the initiative to link a number of well-known blog.

5, the opening of the article ranked Z-Blog Plug-ins, and the annual, monthly ranking on the home page for the article page, use JavaScript to call the way of ranking.

6, modify the template, use the rel tag, can be made better blog Blog search engine index.

7, modify the template, the Title page the article was revised to a similar, "Article title - blog title" This kind of format, do not use the default format.

8, to strengthen links within and outside the chain of building construction, in the new article in the old chain back to the appropriate address of the article, the article at the bottom of the article in accordance with the development of related links TAG. Looking for some good things and increase chain.

9, the use of RSS readers the full text of friendly output, RSS Feed use beter feed plug-in, back to the original chain, of course, this does not really prevent illegal polymerization polymerization system, only the summary of the output can only be resolved polymerization system.

10, the use of picture TAG functions in the right side of the article shows that TAG's picture, pictures, links to the classification of the TAG page.

11, on the Web site pictures SEO optimization, have to add each image alt information, picture plane should include some pictures after the descriptive text, pictures should be a link, the text for the thumbnails, click on the link revealed a larger image. Note that as a result of the revision Google.cn Image Search, this optimization has been unable to get Google.cn and flow of Baidu.

12, spam is a bad article rank, a large number of spam messages will cause the search engine rankings article declined to be serious or even Google to remove the index, the use of anti-Z-Blog Akismet message plug-in, can make use of powerful anti-Akismet spam engine, put an end to spam other people posted comments.

13, name standardization, if you use the www domain www domain name will not use the 301 redirect from.

Why can improbable Houston Rockets beat the Los Angeles Lakers

Rockets beat Lakers improbable, after the game, "Houston Chronicle" columnist Justin expressed his views the author. In his view, the Rockets win a game no one believed, and now have to face the Rockets have never thought of a question: to win the first game, how to do that ...

No one will give the opportunity to rocket the same token, you do not give any chance of Rockets. There, they can do self-confidence, even if no one around the world believe that they have this capacity. So, when all of us feel that the Rockets defeated the Lakers is a dream, the Rockets stole home in a Lakers victory, they will race at least until Game 5. That is why they have been doing the past two months, they through a variety of factors, including the defense to make up for all the shortcomings, so that their non-stop growth. In this fantasy game, they grow again, and in 7 games wins series 4 games to win the first game victory.

The first factor, that is Yao Ming.

Yao Ming will be very difficult for us to imagine such a confrontational game, he removed in the evening of 28 points and 10 rebounds, but these are not enough to tell you that the great giant.

In his 4 minutes 54 seconds of injury time, and holding their own fell to the ground right knee pain. He was lifting team from the pitch and walked the aisle leading to the locker room. While support staff help Yao Ming thought the end of today's game, they need to in the locker room after reading the game, Yao Ming has been shaking his head. He refused to return to the locker room, he did not want to check, he requested to return to the stadium. He told the doctor Jones, he can continue to go back and play. He tried some activities to the activities of the knee, and squatting, and then held on to the walls of the activities of the knee a bit, Jones agreed. Lens is the next giant in the golf course there, he found a rocket team rhythm and momentum, this is a great player can do the greatest thing.

The second factor, that is Ron Artest.

When he played on with the special head Mohicans. In this particular hairstyle, he will even have a sign of the rocket used to to express their own courage and strength. All start from the beginning, Artest was done, he had this evening a 21 points and 7 assists. Brooks also the rest of his so I am pleased to see growth in his contribution to today's race by 19 points. In addition, Shane Battier to prevent the Bryant today, as Laurie has excellent performance.

In fact, the rocket's performance in this game, and the previous confrontation with the Lakers the same, they lead the previous section, until the beginning of an outbreak of Bryant. They were leading in the third quarter by 9 points, but all of a sudden the Lakers destroyed. Adelman told the Houston players had they been in the regular season the Lakers swept, reason for this is that any relaxation in the last minute, so Bryant has been scoring. The same is true in this game, and Yao Ming had Lori mistakes, and then made Gasol led the Lakers leading, 74 to 73.

The rocket is not only backward, Artest spent their first three-point play to lead the Rockets back to the body, and then Brooks hit in a critical distance. Bryant did not hit the next jump, Brooks completed a little luck of the shot, leading the Rockets 85-77. Then the injured Yao Ming was lost so the rocket feeling, but he returned after a key vote in the 2 minutes and help continues to lead the Rockets. Bryant then continue, while Artest and Yao Ming can score a row. At this time, the Lakers only through free throws to extend the life of the game.

There is no doubt that the outcome of this series will be the hearts of the world the results of all the rocket be eliminated, but the Rockets took home at least a Lakers victory, this is a great encouragement. The question now is how to use this rocket hard-won victory, but this is a sweet enough.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

The film "Nanjing Massacre: the city of life and death ": Devoid of humanity and salvation

The day before yesterday evening, I watched the film Luchuan Nanjing Massacre: the city of life and death. I watch movies in the process, the greatest feelings is to express all the film in shock humanity. Nanjing Massacre: the city of life and death, let me to feel it from another perspective, to review more than 70 years ago this catastrophe. I did want to say much, but many people read the comments online, it was found that many others have been said before, so simple that their true feelings under it.

Luchuan for Nanjing Massacre: the city of life and death into the soul and the core is the human nature - on human nature and human nature devoid of light. Japanese soldiers who, as the massacre of human decadence, and a group of Chinese people in the disaster before the flash light of human nature, which was shocking for us. Nanjing Massacre: the city of life and death is not a documentary, nor is it a simple repetition of the theme of the film, the massacre is not the subject of the film and the core. Therefore, there may be some Angry Youth will be very angry, therefore, that the Luchuan is "traitor."

I would like to say that the Nanjing Massacre is not just reserved for our racial hatred, more should be reminded to reflect on our human nature, the yearning for peace. Nanjing Massacre is a disaster in human history, only know the day condemned the heinous crimes committed by the Japanese is far from sufficient. We need to understand why China's defeat, China's capital will be occupied by the Japanese. We also need to reflect on why Chinese people like to let the Japanese slaughter of sheep, and very little fire moths feat.

Nanjing Massacre: the city of life and death has left me with a few of the most impressive scenes is: Nanjing Ming City Wall in the Japanese army collapsed under heavy gunfire; remnant, China has become a prisoner after being allowed to disarm the Japanese soldiers slaughtered; Sun Yat-sen pull down the statue of the Japanese; Mr. Rabe agreed to the Japanese army forced women to 100 women in exchange for food and coal when the sound of weeping and helpless; Jiang Yan Jiang Xiangjun prostitutes as a show of hands said, "Mr. Rabe I am willing. "duty-bound at the time; the Japanese leader on the Japanese comfort women Kadokawa feelings Yuriko; Fan Rabe plays Secretary - Mr. Tang told before dying whispered to the Japanese," my wife is pregnant again "When that strange smile; high round of ginger as a teacher in the" disguised "as a" wife "to save those cowardly" husband "was the Japanese military to see through to the post-Kadokawa said a low voice" Shoot me "when the fearless, calm eyes; the Japanese worship of fallen soldiers rumbling drum ceremony ... ...

In the movie Nanjing Massacre: the city of life and death, we do not see a complete picture of the Holocaust, can not see too much ethnic hatred, but also do not see an effective resistance to the Chinese people, but it is so we can see that a, a fresh faces as well as the human face behind - whether noble or humble, whether it is selfish or expense, whether it is inhuman, or the salvation of humanity, what we see is a spiritual dimension behind the Nanjing Massacre and the reflection - Sometimes, it may appear more than simply brutal massacres, rape, looting more powerful because it touched the soul of each person.