Category Archives: Rockall

Yves-Joseph de Kerguelen-Trmarec (13 February 1734 3 March 1797) was a French Navy officer. He discovered the Kerguelen Islands during his first expedition to the southern Indian Ocean. Welcomed as a hero after his voyage and first discovery, Kerguelen fell out of favour after his second voyage and was cashiered for violating Navy regulations. He was rehabilitated during the French Revolution.

Kerguelen also authored books about expeditions and about French naval operations during the American Revolutionary War.

He was born in Landudal, Brittany. During the Seven Years' War, Kerguelen-Trmarec was a privateer, but without much success.

In 1767 he sailed near Rockall, or Rokol. Although he may not have approached within sight of it, or even within 150 miles, he appears to have had good information regarding it. His charted position for it was only 16 miles north of its actual position and he accurately described its appearance[1] and the nearby Helen's Reef: "East of Rokol, league away, there is a submerged rock over which the water breaks".[2] In 1771, he published a map of the area.

In early 1772, he was assigned command of the third French expedition sent in search of the fabled Terra Australis with the fluyts Fortune and Gros Ventre. The expedition discovered the isolated Kerguelen Islands north of Antarctica in the southern Indian Ocean and claimed the archipelago for France before returning to Mauritius. He was accompanied by the naturalist Jean Guillaume Bruguire. In his report to King Louis XV, he greatly overestimated the value of the Kerguelen Islands; consequently, the King sent him on a second expedition with the 64-gun Roland and the 32-gun frigate Oiseau, but was again unsuccessful in finding Terra Australis. By now, it had become clear that the Kerguelen islands were desolate and quite useless, and certainly not the Terra Australis.

Upon his return, Kerguelen was court-martialled in Brest for bringing his mistress aboard, in defiance of Navy regulations. He was found guilty on 25 May 1776.

During the French Revolution, he was seen as a victim of the Ancien Rgime and restored to his position, taking part in the Battle of Groix. He died in 1797 as a Rear Admiral and commander of the port of Brest.

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Yves-Joseph de Kerguelen-Trmarec - Wikipedia

Expedition Consultant

Nick Hancock FRGS is the world record holder for occupation (and solo occupation) of Rockall Island setting the bar at 45 days spent on the rocky islet.

Previously he undertook training with the British Army to become an Officer Cadet and Army Bursar (during this time he also trained with the US Army). However, an unfortunate knee injury halted his aspirations of a career in the Armed Forces. But out of the ashes of his dream-career he found a new purpose. During the recovery from the very injury that held him from serving his country he found he was more determined than ever before to try and conquer his own mental and physical boundaries by pushing mind and body to its limits.

In 2014 Nick undertook a unique and record-breaking expedition to the remote Isle of Rockall in the North Atlantic. For 45 days, he survived alone on the rock in a home-made survival pod on a small ledge barely 3.4m x 1.2m in size surrounded by a sheer 17m cliff-edge drop into the treacherous icy waters of the North Atlantic. His expedition was cut short of his original 60 day target by a Force 9 gale that swept much of his vital equipment and supplies into the ocean below.

Formerly a senior instructor at the UKs Toughest Management Training School he holds a degree in Environmental Geography and Surveying, he is a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society and is a Qualified Mountain Leader. Nick is arguably the Worlds Leading Expert on the matter of surviving Rockall Island and has generously agreed to lend his expertise to the expedition as a technical consultant. Whilst he will not be staying on the Rock with the team for the duration, he will be instructing them on survival, collaborating with the designers Landpod for the marinization of our survival pod, and assisting in fundraising efforts for the expedition.

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Rockall 2022 - An epic expedition to raise 1 million for ...

Breathing Apparatus is a vital addition to your safety equipment when operating in potentially hazardous environments where toxic gases may be present. For use in applications such as firefighting or confined space work, a reliable BA set works as life-saving personal protection equipment.

There are three main types of breathing apparatus,which are designed for use in different applications:

Situations where workers may be required to use a breathing apparatus set include firefighting, rescue operations, mining and chemical plant work. The devices all feature a face mask that will protect the wearer from the dangers of oxygen deficiency, toxic gases, dust and smoke, ensuring worker safety in a variety of applications. The apparatus can be used in unknown territory also, providing peace of mind for workers entering a previously unexplored space.

Using the correct PPE breathing apparatus is important for ensuring safety. Take a look through our handy guide below to help you identify which device best suits your requirements.

Emergency Escape Breathing Apparatus is designed to save the life of a worker when a hazardous area becomes life-threatening. It is built to provide a steady supply of breathing air for a limited time, enabling the wearer to exit the environment safely. As these devices offer just a limited supply of air, they are best suited for environments where there isnt any immediate danger but where the threat of toxic gas or oxygen deficiency remains.

This short duration breathing apparatus sets use a constant flow of oxygen that is fed into a hood or a face mask, usually for between 10 and 30 minutes. The airflow will usually be activated as soon as the user takes the device out of its holder, and will not be affected by the users personal oxygen consumption. However, these devices can often be large and bulky which may affect the user when in a confined space environment.

SHOP ESCAPE BA

Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus is used to protect workers when operating in a hazardous environment where toxic gases or oxygen deficiency will be present throughout. A common choice for Fire Services, the SCBA allows the user to breathe safely throughout the duration of the operation. SCBA sets are either open-circuit or closed-circuit. Closed-circuit SCBA sets are designed for when a long duration of breathing air is required. They recirculate the breathing air by purifying it, removing carbon dioxide and adding fresh oxygen. An open-circuit SCBA uses compressed air cylinders to provide a shorter duration of oxygen.

A SCBA set is formed of 3 main components a compressed air cylinder, a back-plate to hold the cylinder with a pressure regulator and a face mask. These pieces work together to provide an all-encompassing breathing device that can ensure worker safety in a hazardous environment for a set duration of time.

This short duration breathing apparatus sets use a constant flow of oxygen that is fed into a hood or a face-mask, usually for between 10 and 30 minutes. The air flow will usually be activated as soon as the user takes the device out of its holder, and will not be affected by the users personal oxygen consumption. However, these devices can often be large and bulky which may affect the user when in a confined space environment.

SHOP SCBA

Airline (or Long Duration) Breathing Apparatus is designed for use in applications where a long duration of safe breathing air is required. These BA sets will reduce any fatigue on the user as they do not require carrying and are easily transported alongside the worker. An airline BA set uses either a high-pressure cylinder source or a medium pressure compressor which will feed a hose of up to 100 metres which is usually attached to afull face mask, allowing the user to move almost freely.

Workers in confined spaces are more suited to an Airline BA set due to their compact size that wont impede upon any work. However, Airline BA sets must be backed up with a secondary air supply in case the first fails.

SHOP AIRLINE BA

It is important that all workers are fully trained in the correct way to don and use their BA equipment in case of an emergency. Take a look at our Training page to find a suitable BA training course for your workers. Also head to our Breathing Apparatus category, where you can find our full range of respiratory protection devices.

If you need more information or you have any enquiries, please contact us on 0845 3300 447 or email our team at info@rockallsafety.co.uk.

Posted by Laura Dronfield

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The Different Types Of Breathing Apparatus | Rockall Safety

If you are a Columbian subscriber, keep an eye out for this weekends editions.

And if youre not a subscriber, you might want to pick up copies of the paper this weekend. Or even better, become a subscriber.

In Saturdays edition, The Columbians All-Region football team and player of the year will be unveiled, celebrating the best in high school from Castle Rock all the way to White Salmon.

In Sundays edition, you can get your hands on our winter sports preview special section, highlighting boys and girls basketball teams in the region.

And unlike our fall special section, which had to be limited to just football because of some staffing shortages during the summer, the winter sports section will also spotlight other winter sports like wrestling, gymnastics, bowling and boys swimming.

That will make it the first complete season preview special section in two years. We were putting the final touches on stories for our spring special section in March of 2020, when high school sports were shut down by the pandemic.

So it feels good to offer a complete package. Again, that will be a special section inside Sundays Columbian.

Also, we will unveiling our All-Region slowpitch softball team soon. It is slated to be unveiled on Tuesday.

Watching the Portland Timbers have their season decided by a penalty-kick shootout in the MLS Cup on Saturday, I had a thought.

I have long contended that soccers greatest flaw is that the sport hasnt figured out a better way of breaking a tie particularly in a championship game than the penalty-kick shootout.

Soccer is possibly the most team-oriented sport out there. But in its most pivotal moment, the winner is decided by a format that removes the team from play.

This fall, three of the six high school state championship soccer matches in the state were decided by PK shootout.

Now if you win those shootouts, like the Camas and Kalama girls soccer teams did this fall, you are very happy.

But if you end up on the losing end, you will feel very unsatisfied and a little bit like a victim of random chance. Just ask Timbers fans.

Now the pros can do whatever they want. But in high school play, there seems to be a very simple solution to this problem.

Co-champions.

Now Im generally not a proponent of co-anything. But in this case, it seems to make a lot of sense.

Ties are an inherent part of the game of soccer. A draw is an acceptable outcome, at least during the regular season.

Once play moves to the postseason, the PK shootout becomes a necessary evil because a team needs to be advanced in the bracket.

But in the championship game, that is no longer an issue.

So whats wrong with having two state champions? I dont think Camas or Kalama would feel any less like state champions if Issaquah and Adna could also lay claim to that title.

This isnt everybody-is-a-winner-and-gets-a-trophy mentality. Its soccer.

Now some might argue that would just make teams play not to lose in a title game, because they would already be state champions as long as they dont lose.

But I dont think that would be the case. Ive seen time and time again a team go into the final regular-season game of the year with everything already decided playoff berth, league title, whatever and that team will still go out to win that final game.

Thats what players do. They compete, whatever the stake is.

And in a state championship game, I would not expect that to go away.

So if youre OK with ties in the regular season, you should be OK with a tie in the seasons final game.

And its certainly better than having a champion decided by, what one soccer coach described it to me years ago, a spitting contest only he didnt say spitting.

Tim Martinez is the assistant sports editor/prep coordinator for The Columbian. He can be reached at 360-735-4538, tim.martinez@columbian.com or follow his Twitter handle @360TMart.

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Martinez: All-Region football, winter sports preview on tap for weekend - The Columbian

A Fort Smith woman is begging for help to find a dentist for her 38-year-old daughter with cerebral palsy. She was told her daughter has aged out of the system at Arkansas Childrens Hospital in Little Rock. Now, she said her daughter has nowhere to go. Ive called all the dentists in the area, even up in Bentonville, UAMS in Little Rock, all over to find a dentist and no one will do it, Loretta Korth said. Last week, Loretta took her daughter, Kari, to Arkansas Childrens Hospital in Little Rock to get her metal caps fixed and her teeth cleaned, but instead, Kari was told she has aged out of the system. The dentist at Arkansas Childrens told me all I can tell you is that youll have to wait until her teeth get bad enough that you have to go to an oral surgeon and get all her teeth removed.Korth said with Karis disabilities, she needs to be sedated when visiting the dentist, which is something Arkansas Childrens Hospital in Little Rock has provided for Kari her whole life. I felt like we were just pushed out the door, Korth said. Loretta said growing up for Kari wasnt always easy. she was born with cyberpal palsy, and doctors told Loretta that Kari would not be able to walk or talk. They told me she would never walk, and I told her like hell she wont, shes my daughter, and now she walks, Korth said. However, Loretta said Kari always fights against the odds.Its always a fight, its a fight to keep them alive, but as a parent, you have to do it, they cant do it on their now, Korth said. And now, Loretta said the fight is simply finding a dentist for Kari. We dont need to worry about Kari just this one time, we need to worry about all the disabled adults, but some parents cant or dont know how to step out and get help when they are pushed out the door, and the door just closed on us, no referral no noting, Korth said. Arkansas Childrens Hospital in Little Rock provided 40/29 News with this statement,Patient safety is at the heart of every decision at Arkansas Childrens. The services we provide are aligned with the professional practice of our providers and our mission to deliver pediatric care. Our dental clinic is not presently equipped to continue managing the medical needs of adult patients. It is safest and in these patients best interest to receive care in an adult hospital setting where adult anesthesia and post-procedure hospital admission are the standard. Arkansas Children's remains committed to working with adult providers to create transition plans for these patients to ensure the highest level of continued care.Representative Justin Boyd also said his office is now working with Karis family to find a dentist for her.

A Fort Smith woman is begging for help to find a dentist for her 38-year-old daughter with cerebral palsy.

She was told her daughter has aged out of the system at Arkansas Childrens Hospital in Little Rock. Now, she said her daughter has nowhere to go.

Ive called all the dentists in the area, even up in Bentonville, UAMS in Little Rock, all over to find a dentist and no one will do it, Loretta Korth said.

Last week, Loretta took her daughter, Kari, to Arkansas Childrens Hospital in Little Rock to get her metal caps fixed and her teeth cleaned, but instead, Kari was told she has aged out of the system.

The dentist at Arkansas Childrens told me all I can tell you is that youll have to wait until her teeth get bad enough that you have to go to an oral surgeon and get all her teeth removed.

Korth said with Karis disabilities, she needs to be sedated when visiting the dentist, which is something Arkansas Childrens Hospital in Little Rock has provided for Kari her whole life.

I felt like we were just pushed out the door, Korth said.

Loretta said growing up for Kari wasnt always easy. she was born with cyberpal palsy, and doctors told Loretta that Kari would not be able to walk or talk.

They told me she would never walk, and I told her like hell she wont, shes my daughter, and now she walks, Korth said.

However, Loretta said Kari always fights against the odds.

Its always a fight, its a fight to keep them alive, but as a parent, you have to do it, they cant do it on their now, Korth said.

And now, Loretta said the fight is simply finding a dentist for Kari.

We dont need to worry about Kari just this one time, we need to worry about all the disabled adults, but some parents cant or dont know how to step out and get help when they are pushed out the door, and the door just closed on us, no referral no noting, Korth said.

Arkansas Childrens Hospital in Little Rock provided 40/29 News with this statement,

Patient safety is at the heart of every decision at Arkansas Childrens. The services we provide are aligned with the professional practice of our providers and our mission to deliver pediatric care. Our dental clinic is not presently equipped to continue managing the medical needs of adult patients. It is safest and in these patients best interest to receive care in an adult hospital setting where adult anesthesia and post-procedure hospital admission are the standard. Arkansas Children's remains committed to working with adult providers to create transition plans for these patients to ensure the highest level of continued care.

Representative Justin Boyd also said his office is now working with Karis family to find a dentist for her.

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Fort Smith mother begging to find dentist for 38-year-old daughter with cerebral palsy - 4029tv

Before the DII football championship game kicks off on Saturday, Dec. 18, from McKinney, Texas, we have one matter of unfinished business in the 2021 season. The eight finalists for the 2021 Harlon Hill Trophy have been named and the winner will be announced at 3 p.m. ET on Friday, Dec. 17.

The Harlon Hill Trophy is named after the North Alabama superstar that went on to an illustrious NFL career. It has been given to the DII football player of the year annually since 1986, minus the 2020 season that wasn't played due to COVID-19. Slippery Rock's Roland Rivers III was the last recipient of the award, and his former teammate Henry Litwin hopes to make it a repeat for The Rock.

You can find everything you need to know and the complete history of the award by clicking or taping here:

Harlon Hill Trophy: An essential guide to the DII football award

Before Ferris State and Valdosta State kick off in Texas, let's take a look at each of the eight finalists for the 2021 Harlon Hill Trophy. There are two remaining from each of the Super Regions.

FOLLOW THE 2021 CHAMPIONSHIP: News, updates, score and schedule from championship week

Tyson Bagent, Shepherd:Bagent had been one of the surest arms in DII football for the past three seasons. As a freshman, he stepped in and set several Mountain East records before the Rams shifted to the PSAC. Since moving to the PSAC, Bagent has thrown for 9,349 yards, finishing second in DII in 2019 and first this past season with 5,000 yards. His 53 touchdown passes also led DII in 2021.

The Rams are 30-8 with Bagent at the helm. He added to his lore this postseason by orchestrating three comebacks in the 2021 DII football championship, throwing last-second, game-winning touchdowns in back-to-back weeks that helped the Rams reach the semifinals for the first time since 2016.

Henry Litwin, Slippery Rock: Talk about a warrior. Litwin had yet another strong season in 2021, posting totals of 1,042 yards and 13 touchdowns. It was revealed at seasons end that he did this all with a broken collarbone. Along the way, he became The Rocks all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns while being named the only DII football finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy.

For his career, Litwin posted 3,392 receiving yards and 42 touchdowns. His 1,509 yards and 21 touchdowns were second in DII in 2019, when he was Roland Rivers IIIs top target en route to a spot in the semifinals for The Rock. Slippery Rock has made the DII football tournament every year that Litwin has been a full-time starter and won four playoff games over that span.

Austin Reed, West Florida: Reed has had quite the career for the Argos. In just two seasons, the quarterback has led them to their first national title in 2019 and followed it up with the Argos first-ever Gulf South Conference championship. Along the way, he threw for 7,502 yards, earned the GSC freshman of the year honors and is now a Harlon Hill finalist.

Watch all 6 touchdown passes from West Florida's Austin Reed in DII football championship

This season, Reed averaged 310.73 yards passing per game, nearly a 40-yard improvement from his sensational 2019 debut. He threw for 300 or more yards in six of his 11 games while tossing four touchdowns seven times. He threw just eight interceptions, three of which came in the first-round stunner to Newberry. This is a rather remarkable stat considering Reed threw the ball well more than 30 times a game this season.

Calil Wilkins, Bowie State: Bowie State has had two legitimate rushing threats at quarterback the past few seasons, starting with two-time Harlon Hill-nominee Amir Hall and currently Jarome Johnson. Wilkins showed he was more than capable at the bell cow role in 2021 rushing for 1,322 yards at 5.1 yards per carry, mind you and nine touchdowns. The senior had a run of six-straight 100-yard performances in 2021, including a 163-yard day in the CIAA championship game.

The Bulldogs were a balanced team in 2021, leading DII in defensive scores as well as having that tough offense. Wilkins was an unquestioned leader in a historic Bowie State season as the Bulldogs ran off a 12-2 record, claiming a third straight CIAA title and the programs first trips to both the national quarterfinals and semifinals.

Before we jump into Super Region Threes Harlon Hill candidates, lets acknowledge another award winner in the region. Ferris States offensive lineman Dylan Pasquali was the recipient of the 2021 Gene Upshaw Award, presented annually to the best lineman, offensive or defensive, in DII football. Pasquali is a multiple-time All-American and anchored the offensive line for one of the best offenses in the nation. He is the second consecutive Bulldog to win the award.

TJ Davis, Nebraska-Kearney: What a special talent. Davis finished the season as one of two quarterbacks at any level to finish the season with 2,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing. He threw for 2,234 yards and rushed for 1,139 with 40 total touchdowns one of which came as a receiver as the Lopers made the DII football tournament for the first time since 2011.

Davis has become the face of the Last Second Lopers since he stepped on the field in his 2019 freshman debut. He led UNK to an upset of Northwest Missouri State and a bowl appearance as a freshman in 2019. This season, he not only pulled off several last-second victories but led the Lopers on the road to upset Western Colorado in the first round of the DII football playoffs a game won, of course, in the final seconds.

Al McKeller, Northwest Missouri State: McKeller is no stranger to hearing his name called this time of year. This is the running backs third nomination for the Harlon Hill Trophy, with the previous two coming at UIndy. There, he rewrote the record books, leaving the GLVC as the conferences all-time leading rusher and rushing touchdown leader.

Al McKeller (@Almckeller2) breaks his way to the end zone to make sure the Bearcats stay alive. This is a good one in Big Rapids, Ferris State up 20-13 in the 2nd. #D2FB @bearcatsports @ByJonWalker pic.twitter.com/RVSFxlut90

He took his talents to Maryville this season and had yet another monster year. He ran for 1,601 yards for the Bearcats, scoring 19 touchdowns on the ground and one more through the air. McKeller went on to earn an invite to the 2021 FCS Bowl where he earned Overall MVP honors. He is one of the most decorated running backs of the 2000s and the Harlon Hill is just about the only individual accolade he is missing.

Brandon Alt, Bemidji State: What a season for Alt and the Beavers. Alt not only led Bemidji State to its first-ever DII football tournament appearance but orchestrated an upset in the first round once there. Alt is the first Bemidji State player to ever be a Harlon Hill Trophy finalist, and his numbers and the Beavers historic season are the large reason why.

Alt threw for 4,245 yards and 46 touchdowns this year as Bemidji State went 10-3. He threw for 300 yards eight times in 13 games with back-to-back six touchdown games on Oct. 23 and 30. One of those games was against regionally ranked Minnesota Duluth. His 46 touchdown passes are the new NISC standard and he rewrote the single-season program records in his monster campaign. Alt threw for 326 yards and three scores in the Beavers' historic playoff win against NSIC rival Augustana (SD).

Michael Zeman, Colorado School of Mines: It was another strong campaign for the Orediggers bulldozing running back. Its hard to imagine improving on Zemans breakout 1,400-yard, 12-touchdown 2019, but that is exactly what the Mines star back did in 2021. He rushed for 1,608 yards and 21 touchdowns, both of which were top-5 marks in DII football. He also added five receiving touchdowns to his resume, one of which a 39-yard catch-and-run screen was pivotal in securing the Orediggers first-ever win in the national quarterfinals.

Zeman and Mines quarterback John Matocha were one of the toughest backfield combos in DII, leading the Orediggers to a season of historic proportions. It was the Mines first-ever trip to the semifinals, where an inspired 14-0 fourth-quarter comeback fell just short of advancing to the championship game. Zeman ran for 105 yards in that game, his 11th 100-yard performance of the season. Should Zeman win the award, he will be the third Oredigger to do so, joining Chad Friehauf in 2010 and Justin Dvorak in 2016.

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DII football player of the year: The 8 Harlon Hill Trophy finalists, previewed - NCAA.com

'N Sync has never been so gleefully seedy.

(Except in the 2000 cyber-sex ode "Digital Get Down," but that's a deep cut for my other 30-somethings.)

Behold "Red Rocket," the latest down-on-the-ground feature from director Sean Baker, which ensconces "Bye Bye Bye" at the thematic heart of its outrageous story. You might know Baker best from "The Florida Project," his 2017 film about a troubled tyke making the shadows of Kissimmee her playground. He shot to prominence for the (far better, I think) 2015 movie "Tangerine," a Christmas-set tale of a transgender sex worker in Hollywood, all shot on iPhones.

Baker is known for casting from street encounters and social media; he often fills his cinematic worlds, always immaculately envisioned, with unknown performers whom he and his collaborators pluck from the real world instead of a stack of headshots. It's a technique that's helped Baker garnerplaudits for realism in his slice-of-life work.

Those slices, though, are never nice,neat triangles. With "Red Rocket," Baker serves up yet another outrageous trip into a place that usually doesn't get movies made about it: Texas City.

Mikey Saber (played by Simon Rex) is a washed-up porn star whose reputation was never all that clean to begin with. After a stroke of bad luck, he returns to his Texas hometown on the Gulf Coast seeking a place to crash and lick his wounds. The sanctuary he picks, since he doesn't really have any other options, is the home of his estranged wife Lexi(theater actress Bree Elrod, who gives a tremendous performance).

Soon, Mikey is on the (adjusted for context) come-up, scoring steady weed-dealing cash and plotting how he can use anyone in a 10-foot radius as a ladder rung back to adult-filmgreatness. But it's his infatuation with barely legal doughnut shop employee Strawberry (Suzanna Son) that might lead life to give Mikey the shaft once and for all.

This one's naked, folks, from its ambitions to its depictionof small-town grime tothe occasional absence of Rex's pants. A cheek tragedy, let's say.

More: We saw 'Hamilton' in Austin how does the smash show hold up?

Baker, who also co-wrote and edited the film, and Texas cinematographerDrew Daniels are in full escapist fantasy mode. Except "Red Rocket" transports the viewer not to beachparadise but to the version of coastal Texas filled with fumes, scorched by UV raysand filigreed with concrete. Gas flares and oil rigs dominate the geography, just as brutally endemic as the craggy features of Mikey's beat-up, pretty-boy face. Landscapes wide-open parking lots, streetlight-streaked asphalt, pastel resort condos are filmed as beautifully as any picture in Texas Highways.

Trump billboards and 2015 presidential debate clipsact out history in the background. The former president's cult ofpersonality quietly parallels Mikey's own vampiric charisma.

Baker's prior films broughtdimension to sex work and those within it, and "Red Rocket" is no exception. Rex, a former MTV VJ, sitcom player and rapper, goes whole hog in a truly unlikable role. Mikey'swinning smile and oily promises signala protagonist only in the plot sense calling him a hero would cause a spit take.And yet he is eminently watchable, a slowly capsizing tankerand a siren on a rock all at once. Plus, he does some of the best acting on an amusement park roller coaster ever committed to the screen.

Elrod ishis counterweight in every way. She gives a stunning (and funny) performance as an exhaustedwoman betrayed one too many times. Lexi and Mikey used to be Bonnie and Clyde, but they've long since become a tapeworm and a host. Watching Lexi's hopes go for one last ride with her ex's cynical striving is pure suspense by the end.

And that's not even the most suspenseful thing in the movie. Remember when "Uncut Gems" was the stressful movie du jour? An abrupt plot turn in the back half of"Red Rocket" grows intoan onscreen ulcer. And still, you'll thrill at the prospect of thisTeflon crook or "suitcase pimp," as he's called backed up against a wall. Maybe this time! Maybe this time.

More movie reviews from Eric Webb: The gorgeous new 'West Side Story' didn't need to exist

Vulgar, dark and comical, "Red Rocket" is not a friendly movie. A generallack of generosity in its fixation on the bottom crust of theAmerican pie, coupled with that street casting we mentioned, is a cause for some squirming. You wouldn't want to condescend to the amateur actors enlisted to play these lurid parts, but by the same token, you can't ignore the fact that you're watching an arthouse movie that will mostly be consumed as entertainment by folks far removed from the margins.

Maybe it's all part of the game. This is a movie whose main character is a predator of young women, of the elderly, of the young and impressionable who at first appears to be a buffoon. It starts out with a laugh, sure. But before you know it, it's ugliness from here to Galveston.

Guess that's how it feels to get conned. Say bye, bye, bye to whatever you expected to happen.

Grade: A-

Starring: Simon Rex, Bree Elrod, Suzanna Son,Brenda Deiss

Director: Sean Baker

Rated:R for pervasive language, graphic nudity, drug use, strong sexual content

Running time: 2 hours, 8 minutes

Watch: In theaters

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'Red Rocket' review: Something wicked is deep in the heart of Texas City - austin360

The body is bad at repairing neural damage. This is bad news for the nearly one million people who will suffer from a spinal cord injury (SCI) this year. Surgical interventions and physical therapies improve recovery of motor skills following SCI, but a full recovery is rare. There are compounds that stimulate neural repair in a petri dish, but we dont know how to administer those compounds to living organisms.

A group of researchers may have figured out how. Mice paralyzed by severe SCI regained the ability to walk three weeks after a single injection of their new therapeutic, according to a recent study published in Science. Their secret? Make the drug dance in Jell-O.

Surprisingly, the initial mechanical injury to the spinal cord is rarely the direct cause of paralysis. The initial event does kill a lot of cells and sever axons (the long, branch-like extensions that connect neurons to each other). However, the event rarely severs all the axons at the site of injury. If at least 5% of the original nerve connections remain, neurological function (e.g., for muscle control or sensory perception) is sustained. However, this initial event starts the cascade that results in paralysis.

As soon as the injury occurs, the clock starts. Within minutes, dying neurons leak their cellular contents into the local environment, triggering inflammation. Immune cells rush out of blood vessels and into the injury site. Their job is to clear out the damaged tissue, providing space for regeneration to occur. Unfortunately, this process also results in collateral damage to the few healthy neurons that remain. If the remaining axons are severed, the chance of recovery is all but lost.

Within hours, the cells of the nervous system become aware of the looming danger. Glial cells (nervous system cells that play a support role for neurons) release chemicals that restrict the spread of inflammation. To increase their regulatory power, the glial cells replicate. A lot. More glial cells means more power to control inflammation. Within days, there is an army of glial cells, densely packed on top of each other. The inflammation is controlled, but the cost is high. The dense cells form a literal barrier across the spinal cord: the glial scar. While the remaining healthy neurons are safe, regenerating the severed axons may take decades if it ever occurs at all.

For decades, scientists considered removing or preventing the glial scar to be the key to recovering from spinal cord injury. But it is not as simple as cutting the scar out of the tissue. That would be like trying to cut a scar off your hand; it would just result in a bigger scar. In fact, studies have shown that surgically removing the scar results in less axon regeneration than not removing it. It turns out that, even though the scar acts as a barrier for regeneration, it also provides an environment that stabilizes communication between remaining neurons and stimulates axon regeneration (albeit at a very slow rate).

So, when a team of Northwestern University researchers set out to design a therapeutic for SCI, they knew it must prevent the formation of a dense barrier, while also mimicking the stabilizing, regenerative environment.

Cells are suspended in an environment called the extracellular matrix (ECM), kind of like how Earth is suspended in space. Like space, the ECM was once considered to be inert just a place for cells to float. But space isnt inert. It is a chaotic orchestra of activity: gravitational forces, radiation, and the occasional chunk of rock, all of which influence our planet. Similarly, the ECM also is not inert, and it influences how cells behave.

Key components of the ECM include long nanofibers composed of a collection of proteins that maintain a structural architecture (such as collagen, which is used to make the primary ingredient in Jell-O) and provide biological signals (such as growth signals that tell cells to replicate). The ECM is constantly being remodeled to support its resident cells. For example, during cellular regeneration, stem cells need continuous stimulation by growth signals. Local cells produce the growth signal molecules, and the ECM remodels itself to capture the molecules, keeping them right next to the stem cells instead of floating around aimlessly.

Over the past couple decades, an interesting compound has been shown to mimic the fibrous structure of the ECM. In 2008, Samuel Stupp, an expert in regenerative medicine, worked with a team of neurobiologists to show that growth signals could be embedded into this compound, and the resulting solution could restore partial motor function after a mild spinal cord injury in a mouse. But Stupp had an idea for how compounds could do more than restore partial function: make the growth signals dance.

Receptors in neurons and other cells constantly move around, Stupp said. The key innovation in our research, which has never been done before, is to control the collective motion of more than 100,000 molecules within our nanofibers. By making the molecules move, dance or even leap temporarily out of these structures, known as supramolecular polymers, they are able to connect more effectively with receptors.

Supramolecular polymers are composed of individual molecules (called monomers) held together by reversible molecular interactions. Because these interactions are reversible, monomers are in constant motion, momentarily disassociating and re-associating with the collective nanofiber. Stupps hypothesized that increasing the rate of association would help growth signals interact with neural receptors more efficiently, thus improving neuron regeneration. Essentially, he wanted to make the drugs in his Jell-O dance to the same tune as neural receptors.

To achieve this, they created small mutations in the growth signal molecules. These mutations did not affect the molecules biological function, but it did make them dissociate and reassociate at higher rates. Then, they tested the new therapy: 24 hours after a severe spinal cord injury, mice were treated with the high-mobility supramolecular polymer solution, low-mobility supramolecular polymer solution, or saline (which served as a control). If their hypothesis was correct, mice treated with the high-mobility solution should recover the most.

After three weeks, mice that received the high-mobility solution had 50% greater muscle control (i.e., the ability to walk) than the mice that received the low-mobility solution, and nearly 300% greater control than the mice that received saline. After 12 weeks, the mice injected with the high-mobility solution exhibited 50 times more axon regrowth than the control group. Additionally, the treatment blocked glial scar formation.

While the improvement in muscle control is impressive, it may not reveal the therapeutics full potential. These mice did not undergo physical therapy during their recovery, but a person would. During physical therapy, existing neurons are re-trained to walk. The more neural connections available, the easier it is to retrain.

While we do not yet know if these findings will translate to a human model, the researchers did observe that their high-mobility solution was also more effective at stimulating growth of human neural progenitor cells in the lab. We are going straight to the FDA to start the process of getting this new therapy approved for use in human patients, Stupp said.

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Injectable gel repairs severe spinal cord injuries and enables mice to walk - Big Think

Monochromatix knows how to rock.

Last week, the Oamaru Intermediate School (OIS) rock band was announced as the winner of the Rockshop Bandquest Otago regional final.

Monochromatix made up of Olivia Morriss (lead), Winnie Conlan (vocals/keyboard), Will Dukes (guitar), Nishan Ormandy (bass guitar) and Hudson McDermott (drums) won a $400 credit from The Rockshop for their school for winning the competition.

Winnie said it was pretty exciting to win the regional event.

All the band members put a lot of work into practising the songs and making sure they looked the part, decked out in black and white outfits.

Olivia said the win gave the band extra energy to keep moving forward.

To enter Bandquest, the nationwide live music competition for intermediate and primary school pupils, Monochromatix made a sixminute video performing No Roots by Alice Merton and Come Together by The Beatles.

The competition moved online this year due to Covid-19.

Hudson said some of the other bands Monochromatix was up against were quite different, using instruments such as the trombone, and there were some really great band names.

Bandquest judge Jesse Austin, a Wellington musician and producer, said Monochromatix was the full package.

Monochromatix were a well-polished band who put a lot of thought into their act. They were a really tight group whose harmonies elevated their performance and their attention to detail in their outfits really made them look the part, Mr Austin said.

More than 260 bands entered Bandquest this year a record number and the national winners would be announced next month.

Monochromatix performed at Scotts Brewing Co on Sunday, and planned to stick together next year despite the OIS pupils growing apart. Hudson and Nishan are going to St Kevins College, while Winnie and Olivia are moving to Waitaki Girls High School. Will has another year at OIS.

The band planned to create some original songs and would consider entering Smokefree Rockquest next year.

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What's black and white and rock all over? - The Oamaru Mail

These days, a song's visual component is practically as important as the song itself. The artists nominated for Best Music Video at the 2022 GRAMMY Awards show understand that well, and now one of them will have a GRAMMY to prove it.

This year's lineup spans pop, hip-hop, rock, and even a jazz classic: AC/DC's 'Shot In The Dark', Jon Batiste's 'Freedom', Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga's 'I Get A Kick Out Of You', Justin Bieber's 'Peaches' (featuring Daniel Caesar & Giveon), Billie Eilish's 'Happier Than Ever', Lil Nas X's 'Montero (Call Me By Your Name)' and Olivia Rodrigo's 'good 4 u."

As we wait for the 64th GRAMMY Awards airing on CBS on Jan. 31, 2022 to find out who will take home Best Music Video (which is awarded to the artist, video director, and video producer), revisit this year's nominees below.

David Mallet, video director; Dione Orrom, video producer

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When AC/DC needed a music video that matched the muscle of their 2020 comeback single, "Shot In The Dark," the legendary hard rock band turned to longtime friend and collaborator David Mallet.

Mallet is a rock lifer, having directed music videos and concert films for rock royalty like Queen's Freddie Mercury, Def Leppard and, of course, AC/DC. His relationship with the band dates back to his music video for the reissued "You Shook Me All Night Long" in 1986.

For "Shot In The Dark," which appears on AC/DC's 17th album (and first since 2014), Power Up, Mallet captures the band in full flight on an arresting black and red stage. Flashes of singer Brian Johnson, lead guitarist Angus Young, bassist Cliff Williams, and rhythm guitarist Stevie Young illuminated with bolts of light "electric sparks," as they might say trade off with the epic performance.

The video is reminiscent of their performance-based "You Shook Me All Night Long" clip, and watched side-by-side, it's hard to believe 35 years have passed.

Read More: Take A Deep Dive Into This Year's Best Pop Vocal Album Nominations | 2022 GRAMMYs Awards Show

Alan Ferguson, video director; Alex P. Willson, video producer

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Following the March 2021 release of his eighth artist album, WE ARE, singer and band leader Jon Batiste clearly sensed the world needed some cheering up.

In June, Batiste unveiled the music video for "FREEDOM," a track from WE ARE, the singer's eighth album that's full of bright horns, body-moving percussion and the singer's distinctive vocal tones. The video for the uplifting song brings that vivacity to life.

Shot over two days in the Seventh Ward of New Orleans Batiste's hometown "FREEDOM" brings in all the joy and spirit of the neighborhood (and its marching bands) with a high-energy street party.

Director Alan Ferguson is a virtuoso behind the camera, as evidenced by his past music videos for Lizzo, Solange and Janelle Mone. Ferguson's video for Batiste's soul-lifting anthem is all quick cuts and bursts of color. By the time the song hits the first "let me see you wobble" refrain, you'll want to do just that.

Read More:Who Has The Most GRAMMY Nominations This Year? The 2022 GRAMMYs Awards Show Nominees By The Number

Jennifer Lebeau, video director; Danny Bennett, Bobby Campbell & Jennifer Lebeau, video producers

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It's always an occasion when mutual admirers Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga get together in the studio, and the pair's 2021 version of Cole Porter's "I Get A Kick Out of You" carries even more gravitas.

The song appears on Bennett and Gaga's second collaborative album (and Album Of The Year nominee), Love for Sale. Featuring 10 covers of Porter's jazz standards, the project has been billed as Bennett's final album, capping one of the great American musical careers.

The heartwarming video for "I Get A Kick Out of You" sees Gaga and Bennett trading off verses as they record the track at New York City's Electric Lady Studios. It's both touching and emotional, as Gaga adoringly watches Bennett croon, at one point with tears in her eyes.

Industry veteran Jennifer Lebeau caught the mood in the lighthearted visual, as it mirrors the song's laidback feel and analogue warmth perfectly capturing the affection between the cross-generational collaborators.

Read More:Meet This Year's Best New Artist Nominees | 2022 GRAMMYs Awards Show

Collin Tilley, video director

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"Peaches," featuring R&B favorites Daniel Caesar and Giveon, the fifth single from Justin Bieber's latest Album Of The Year nominee, Justice, has proven to be the LP's biggest hit. A purely feel-good jam, the song needed a music video with charm to match.

Bieber called on in-demand director Colin Tilley, who has since directed the singer's video for his Kid LAROI collab "STAY" and his emotionally raw "Ghost" clip. For "Peaches," Tilley shot Bieber, Caesar and Giveon cruising a neon-lit cityscape in a vintage car, taking turns riding on the hood and top of the vehicle to deliver their lines.

The vid flips between two other scenes that allow the singers to dance as they serenade, the first showing the song's title in massive letters lining a mirrored runway. Finally, the trio gather inside a dome with flashing colored lights, with Bieber sporting a fittingly peach-colored suit.

Read More:Meet This Years Song Of The Year Nominees | 2022 GRAMMYs Awards Show

Billie Eilish, video director; Michelle An, Chelsea Dodson & David Moore, video producers

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Billie Eilish's hugely anticipated second album, Happier Than Ever developed a slower, slinkier tone for her sophomore effort to delve deep into the anxieties and contradictions of life in the spotlight. Lead single "my future" and its follow-up "Therefore I Am" set that pensive mood, with the latter's music video directed by Eilish herself.

Eilish returned as director on the music video for title track "Happier Than Ever," which arrived in conjunction with the album's release in July. It mirrors the song's slow build to a cathartic pay-off, as Eilish escapes from a flooded house and lets it all out on the rainswept roof.

Compared to the intentionally lo-fi feel of the "Therefore I Am" visual, "Happier Than Ever" marked an ambitious step up, with Eilish using the shoot to confront her own fear of water.

Read More:Meet This Year's Record Of The Year Nominees | 2022 GRAMMYs Awards Show

Lil Nas X & Tanu Muino, video directors; Frank Borin, Ivanna Borin, Marco De Molina & Saul Levitz, video producers

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If Lil Nas X hadn't already made it clear that he's not afraid to push boundaries, his "MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)" did the trick. The controversial clip takes an untraditional approach to biblical and mythology-inspired scenes, including The Garden of Eden, a Roman colosseum, and heaven and hell.

Like the song itself, the "MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)" video serves as a representation of Lil Nas X's unabashed openness about his sexuality (the rapper came out as gay in 2019). He kisses a snake, dresses in Marie Antoinette-esque drag, and pole dances, before the video reaches its pinnacle shock-factor moment that sees the rapper giving the devil a lap dance sporting thigh-high heeled leather boots, no less.

While it certainly caused a stir among conservative and religious groups upon its release, the "MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)" video is actually quite a thought-provoking combination of themes. Above all, it was an important bold statement for Lil Nas to make, with a Variety article even stating that the video "has changed everything for queer music artists."

Read More:Meet This Year's Album Of The Year Nominees | 2022 GRAMMYs Awards Show

Petra Collins, video director; Christiana Divona, Marissa Ramirez & Tiffany Suh, video producers

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After the runaway success of the heartbreak anthem "driver's license," Olivia Rodrigo quickly proved she wasn't going to be a one-hit wonder with "good 4 u" both thanks to its scream-along chorus and its nostalgia-inducing video.

The noughties-channelling pop-punk smash about a scorned lover demanded an acid-dipped visual, and millennial expert Petra Collins perfectly executed that need. In the clip, Rodrigo plays a revenge seeking high school cheerleader referencing characters from feminist horror movies like Jennifer's Body and Audition as she raises hell across an unsuspecting high school.

At the song's bridge, Rodrigo (who has done her fair share of acting, most notably in the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: the Series) looks into the camera, hauntingly caressing it with her black leather gloves. Meanwhile, a messy-haired version of herself sets her ex-boyfriend's bedroom ablaze, giving a devilish grin before delivering the final "good for you" howl.

2022 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Nominations List

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Here's The Rundown On Mneskin, The Italian Glam-Pop Heroes Who Just Brought The 54-Year-Old Song "Beggin'" Back Into Vogue - grammy.com