Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette Blogs

Movie Review: 'Surrogates' a robotic retread

Posted by jvrabel at 10:54 am, Friday, September 25th, 2009
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“Surrogates” is itself a surrogate, a kind of stand-in for many of the sci-fi movies of the recent past: In it, you’ll recognize the ideas of “Blade Runner,” “Minority Report” and even “WALL-E.”

The Bruce Willis action flick opens with two murders — the first in years in a quasi-present day Boston. Technology has advanced enough so that nearly everyone has a surrogate — or “surry” for short. While reclining at home and plugged into a machine, people control a robotic version of themselves that safely maneuvers through the world in all of its slings and arrows.

Week Five Football NOteBook

Posted by bparker at 3:45 am, Friday, September 25th, 2009
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Last night, my wife and I stumbled upon the new ABC show "Flash Forward," a drama based on the entire world blacking out before getting a glimpse of his or her future for 137 seconds. Needless to say, this sends people into a frenzy, as they try to embrace their pleasant future or steer clear of pending doom.

It takes a lot to draw me into today's breed of prime-time TV shows, but I'm already a fan of this one.

Bluffton, Hilton Head High look to build winning streaks Friday night

Posted by smcdowell at 8:11 pm, Thursday, September 24th, 2009
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It’s a bit of a rarity for the matchpoint blog — for the first time this season, we’ve got the opportunity to talk about a pair of teams coming off important wins.

Bluffton and Hilton Head High each notched wins against Wade Hampton, with the Seahawks winning 57-6 last week and the Bobcats defeating the Red Devils 14-0 two weeks ago. Bluffton followed the victory with a bye week.

Both teams now stand at 1-3 and are entering their last tune-up before the important Region 8-AAA season begins. So let’s take a deeper look into each team’s matchup.

Hearing between Beaufort, Port Royal and Burton Fire District postponed

Posted by jvachon at 7:24 pm, Thursday, September 24th, 2009
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The city of Beaufort, Port Royal and Burton Fire District will not meet Monday as scheduled for a hearing with Beaufort County Judge Marvin Dukes regarding disputes over emergency response services.

Both the city and district agreed to postpone the hearing because of an ongoing family medical emergency of one Burton employee essential to the case, said Beaufort city attorney William Harvey.

The hearing has not yet been rescheduled, said Tom Webb, assistant chief of the Burton fire district.

"Pandorum" and "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past"

Posted by pmitchell at 4:25 pm, Thursday, September 24th, 2009
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IN THEATERS

Out today is the science fiction/horror movie “Pandorum.” Dennis Quaid and Ben Foster star as two astronauts who wake up aboard a ship, in the middle of space and have no memory of any past events. They believe they are the only ones aboard and soon discover something more terrifying than they ever would have thought.
Now it’s up to the two crew members to save not only themselves, but possibly all of mankind due to a disease called Pandorum, which causes the brain to turn against itself after you’ve traveled in deep space for too long.

County Council odds and ends: Week of Sept. 21

Posted by mcovington at 9:03 am, Thursday, September 24th, 2009
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The latest from the Beaufort County Council:

• Would you pay taxes to help fund a local nonprofit organization?

Susan Cato, executive director of the Child Abuse Prevention Association, hopes you might. She broached the subject Monday during the council Finance Committee meeting, letting members know about a referendum question several groups hope to get on the November 2010 ballot that would levy property taxes for CAPA and organizations like Citizens Opposed to Domestic Abuse and Hope Haven.

Cherryholmes: 'Bluegrass on steroids' from an unlikely source

Posted by jvrabel at 3:23 pm, Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009
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By MAUREEN SIMPSON • Special to the Guide

When the members of Cherryholmes cite ’80s music, jazz and the soundtrack of “Pirates of the Caribbean” as a few of their influences, it’s no surprise they also promise to deliver “a bluegrass show unlike any other.”

The family band, which won the 2005 International Bluegrass Music Association Award for Entertainer of the Year, performs at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the USCB Performing Arts Center in Beaufort.

Hometown (sort of) country singer Michelle Murray: "This is who I am"

Posted by jvrabel at 3:20 pm, Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009
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By GAIL WESTERFIELD • Special to the Guide

Those who haven’t yet heard of (sort of) hometown girl Michelle Murray probably will soon enough: With three CDs and several performances at major racing events under her belt, Murray’s star is rising.

And though she grew up in Chicago, many of Murray’s fondest memories are of Hilton Head, where she met her husband (and manager), Tom, during a family spring break in 1996.

Parris Island plays starring role in new recruiting ad

Posted by pdonohue at 11:55 am, Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009
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Some familiar sights serve as the backdrop for the Marine Corps’ new recruiting commercial, which premiered during national college and professional football broadcasts this weekend.

Titled, “America’s Few,” the commercial debuted Saturday during the Florida-Tennessee college football game on CBS and is “an authentic portrayal of what it really takes for America’s youth to answer the highest calling and earn their place in a line of Marines that stretches back 233 years,” according to a Corps news release.

FootBlog: Road loss drops Beaufort High out of top 10 in latest poll

Posted by jjarrett at 10:29 am, Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009
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Sorry for the delay in getting this week's high school football rankings posted, though I don't suspect area fans are too eager to see them this week. That's because Beaufort High's road loss to Stratford knocked the Eagles from their No. 5 perch all the way out of the top 10 in the latest McClatchy Prep Writers Poll.