Leonardo DiCaprio will star in 'The Crowded Room' in which he will play a character with 24 personalities.

Leonardo Dicaprio could be facing his most challenging role yet. The 40-year-old actor is set to play Billy Milligan in The Crowded Room. DiCaprio will have to play 24 separate characters as Milligan suffered from multiple personality disorder. The project has been long in the making as DiCaprio first expressed his interest in playing the role in 1997 but the film was shelved for more than a decade. Now, with DiCaprio's production company Appian Way and New Regency, the project has been revived.

Leonardo DiCaprio will star and produce The Crowded Room.

Read More: Leonardo Dicaprio Stars In Alejandro Gonzlez Inarritu's Follow Up To Birdman [Photos].

Milligan was embroiled in a high publicised court case in the 1970s in which he was accused of robbery and raping three women. Milligan pleaded insanity and, after he was diagnosed with schizophrenia, his defence team were the first to use multiple personality disorder as a defence. Milligan was thought to have 24 personalities of which less than half were known to his psychiatrists. Following the trial, Milligan was incarcerated in a psychiatric hospital for a decade.

The Crowded Room will be based on Daniel Keyes' non-fiction book on Milligan, The Minds of Billy Milligan. The book will be adapted by Jason Smilovic and Todd Katzberg. Smilovic has previously written and created such series as Kidnapped and My Own Worst Enemy. Katzberg has previously worked with Smilovic on Kidnapped.

In addition to starring in The Crowded Room, DiCaprio will also produce the film alongside Jennifer Davisson (Red Riding Hood) and Alexandra Milchan (Paranoia).

THR first reported the news.

Read More: Wolf of Wall Street And Frozen Named Most Pirated Films Of 2014.

Excerpt from:
Leonardo DiCaprio To Star In 'The Crowded Room' As Man With 24 Personalities

It was an offseason of changes for the Twins after their fourth straight year of a least 92 losses, and as a result, Mauer sees more optimism heading into this season than in years past.

"It's a lot of excitement," Mauer said. "It's a new year and a lot of new faces. A lot of guys in this room didn't experience the last four years. So it's a new year, and we approach it that way."

But it's not just the hiring of Molitor -- a fellow St. Paul native -- and the offseason additions of Hunter and Santana that has the six-time All-Star excited for this season. Mauer is happy he was able to have what he calls a "normal offseason" after dealing with concussion-like symptoms last offseason that caused him to push back his workouts until late January.

There was no injury maintenance this winter, which allowed Mauer to focus on improving his flexibility and strength while working out with trainer and stretching guru Roger Erickson in Minnesota.

"I had a very productive offseason," Mauer said. "The last couple years I had a lot of things to deal with, especially last year with the concussion. I didn't really get a good base heading into the year. I feel great this year and I hope it stays that way."

Mauer knows he didn't play up to his usual standard in his first year at first base last season, when he hit .277/.361/.371 with just four homers, 27 doubles and 55 RBIs in 120 games. Mauer is expected to increase his durability after moving out from behind the plate due to his concussion late in the '13 season, but it simply didn't happen last year. Mauer couldn't stay healthy and was out for 40 days, missing 34 games in July and early August with a strained right oblique.

Mauer believes vigorous stretching exercises this offseason will help him stay healthy this season, which would be key for a club that still finished seventh in the Majors in runs scored in '14 despite his down year.

"You have to pay attention to your body. I'm getting older," said Mauer, who turns 32 on April 19. "I'm finding out what works and doesn't work. Trying to make adjustments."

Molitor, who also dealt with durability questions during his playing career, said he notices a difference in Mauer this spring, and said he's glad to see Mauer has moved on from the concussion symptoms.

"I think it means a lot for him," Molitor said. "I think coming back last year after what had happened the previous season, you always have those questions. He's got friends that have gone through it with Corey Koskie and Justin [Morneau]. We all know how validated our concern is over concussion issues. I'm sure there was a little hesitancy there. Like I said when I had a chance to visit with him this winter, he's excited to be back and not have to be concerned about those type of things."

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With concussion behind him, Mauer ready to bounce back

In the modern world many people rather casually assume, or assert, that the Apostle Paul was a misogynist based upon his teachings concerning the differing roles of men and women in the church and in marriage in the early church.

More than 200 Assyrian Christians have been kidnapped by the terrorist organization ISIS, and prayers have gone out around the world for their safe return. Two members of the Assyrian Church of the East spoke with The Christian Post about the situation in Syria and the loss of several religious artifacts at the hands of ISIS.

Still reeling from last week's news of the Islamist beheading of 21 Coptic Christian migrant workers in Libya, Middle Eastern Christians were again targeted by a large scale Islamist terror attack with thousands of victims Monday, in Syria. Islamic State jihadists laid siege to a string of Christian Assyrian villages, along the Khabour River, in northeastern Syria, kidnapping or killing scores of residents.

Seated behind an elderly Mexican American couple, my wife and I stood moved and motivated as we watched Kevin Costner's latest movie, "McFarland U.S.A." The story of immigrant young men, who worked in the fields picking fruits and vegetables in addition to attending High School and running in cross country competitions, re-ignited our commitment to immigration reform.

Recent news has brought to light several deeply disturbing global phenomena: the precipitous rise of radical Islam, an increase in anti-Semitism, and the decimation of Christian populations in the Middle East. Amazingly, there is one small nation on the frontlines of all three conflicts: Israel.

Unfortunately, this passage is often presented to genuine believers in an attempt to get them to "do more." Such badgering is not helpful, and can actually rob those weak in faith of the assurance of salvation. I suspect you have heard this passage used in such a way. But have you stopped to really think about not only what Jesus said, but what the hearers said to Christ? Or better yet, what they didn't say.

Here at BreakPoint, we think about Chuck Colson quite a bit. And I'm happy to say that when it comes to prison reform, Congress has remembered him also.

If "love is love" and "everyone should have the right to marry the one they love," then why can't any number of people come together in "marriage"?

I just ran across Graham Moore's Oscar acceptance speech from last night, described by The Huffington Post to be the night's most moving speech.

My great-grandparents and my grandmother are all in Heaven now, but they would be thrilled to know that I will be returning to Huai'an next week, not just to visit the place of my grandmother's birth, but to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

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Christian News, The Christian Post

San Jose, CA (PRWEB) February 27, 2015

Strictly Styles Salon is now booking appointments in its private salon room as a way to provide the best experience for its increasingly-diverse clientele.

Capri Bougere, Owner and Operator, says the decision to add a private salon room came from the salon's location in the heart of Silicon Valley. This part of the Bay Area sees newcomers from all across the country and the world; subsequently, the area is home to people of all faiths and backgrounds.

"The privacy room was initially introduced as a way for brides and their bridesmaids to rent out a private space to get their hair done on the big day," Bougere explains. "However, I started to realize that as word traveled about the privacy room, more people from various religious backgrounds were interested in booking the space."

Because women of certain faiths can't be seen by men while having their hair cut or styled, the private salon room is the perfect solution for their needs. Strictly Styles Salon's main salon room has large windows looking out onto the street, while the private room is peaceful and professional.

"The space has turned out to be very beneficial for those of certain religions who cannot be seen by their male counterparts while getting their hair done," Bougere says. "The room is completely sectioned off from the rest of the salon and features all the amenities that the rest of the salon offers: a comfortable, relaxing chair, mirror, and a salon station. The room isn't just limited to women, either. Men may also book the private room for all their hair care needs."

In addition to long-time Silicon Valley residents, Strictly Styles Salon's private salon room makes it a top choice among visitors and newcomers to the area, according to Bougere.

"This is a go-to salon for out-of-towners," she says. "The salon sees a lot of people from the East Coast and Midwest areas who have moved to Silicon Valley to work at the big tech companies located here. Relocating obviously calls for a new salon -- and this one is conveniently located in the heart of the city."

So far, Strictly Styles Salon is the only Silicon Valley salon to offer this kind of service to its clientele, making it a step ahead in providing the best customer experience, according to Bougere.

"I definitely think this is a unique addition that isn't advertised or offered anywhere else in the area," Bougere says. "The utilization and reasoning behind the function of this room is sure to change the hair salon industry as well as the success of this salon."

See the rest here:
Strictly Styles Salon Now Accommodating Diverse Clientele With New Private Salon Room

By Larry Mogelonsky, President and Founder, LMA Communications Inc.

Hotel room coffee1My morning coffee is a perpetual delight in my life, warming my insides, prickling my nose with its soothing aroma and sparking my brain for the day ahead. It's a simple pleasure, a momentary respite and a ritual I do not take lightly. I bet many of you are in the same boat! All subtle addictions aside, coffee is an essential part of many people's lives and as such, it merits your attention both at home and at work.

In this case, let's assume your place of work is a hotel or related to a hospitality setting in some manner or another. But that doesn't mean that the home coffee experience is not applicable; quite the opposite in fact. We want our guests to 'feel at home', and any actions we can take to better emulate a person's image of the ideal daily caffeine ritual with be greatly appreciated. With this in mind, I ask you to give your own honest opinion (as a traveler and not as a hotelier proud of his or her place of work): do you actually like in-room coffee? Do you get the same sense of solace and rejuvenation from a hotel cup as you do at home? Does anyone for that matter? Coffeemakers in guestrooms are all but mandatory design elements, but many properties only pay them lip service. Hence, whatever you can do to augment this micro-experience will do wonders towards guest satisfactions because it will come as unexpected.

It's critical that you reassess your caffeinated endeavors at this juncture because our collective appreciation of these beverages continues to climb through the roof. Call it the 'Starbuckification' of coffee as ever since this chain broke out in the 90s, we've all come to respect and crave a superior quality brew. This is coming, of course, from a North American perspective as many parts of Europe, Africa and Asia have upheld a high caliber of coffee-making for many decades or centuries prior to this company's worldwide expansion. Regardless of any oldfangled customs, nowadays Starbucks and its ilk represent somewhat of a gold standard for coffee excellence; if you can't match what they are doing then you're failing to impress guests in this regard.

Another important note on diction used is that I am talking about improving the overall 'coffee experience' and not just the actual coffeemaker. In this sense, we are talking a bit broader, encompassing in-room possibilities as well as anything pertaining to the 'club lounge' or 'social station' model. While augmenting in both areas will see results, you need only devote your energies to just one of the twosome, to the point where it becomes a feature worthy of praise.

As it stands right now, most in-room coffeemakers aren't total eyesores, but they aren't doing the room any favors either. Their designs often don't match the room's theme or color tones, nor are the most common accessories such as plastic wrappings, cardboard sleeves and Styrofoam cups very appetizing either, especially for our inner germaphobes. Chic, new and easy-to-use models like those offered by Nespresso or Keurig present a viable option for upgrading your in-room coffee selections. Apart from a few drawbacks such as restocking issues, these single-cup brewing machines provide guests with a variety of delicious flavors beyond stock packets of ground beans, thus adding to the perceived value. Moreover, you can investigate other niche coffee apparatuses like a French press or a cold brew system anything to differentiate your services and leave an impression with guests.

The other main area to explore pertains to tea. If you aren't a tea drinker, give it a shot; those three letters will change your life! Green, white, black, oolong, herbal and all in-between, there are so many different types of tea for you to choose from above the normal offerings you see on menus everywhere else. With teas you must also take into account the wide range of accompanying fragrances, which contribute to the extraordinary nature of each individual experience. Yes, give guests one or two familiar options so they don't feel completely blindsided, but then go for a few esoteric varieties to heighten the sense of surprise and interactivity (that is, unfamiliar or exotic tea bag labels can spur guests' curiosity by prompting them to read). All the better if your hotel already has its own private label or has partnered with a company that does just that.

Jumping over to the other side of the fence is the break room or social station concept. Often 24-hours in operation, these are perpetually restocked common areas where guests can procure their choice of caffeinated beverages in addition to other food items like fresh croissants, specialty pastries or sweet, savory cookies. Although a topic for a whole other discussion, let's just say that such companion treats have a tremendous compounding effect on one's coffee experience and they represent a great boon for differentiating a hotel's petit dejeuner.

The obvious shortcoming of favoring these lounge concepts over in-room coffee is that guests have to journey beyond their own rooms in order to take advantage of these complimentary treats. Despite this inconvenience, there are far too many advantages to this system for me to side with any in-room partisans, so much so that one could easily see how in-room hotel coffeemakers will become extinct within a matter of years.

First, by catering to everyone at once, it allows you to source a more complex coffee or espresso machine, delivering a far better brew but at the cost of regular maintenance and intimidating a few tenderfoot guests. Next, this lounge style encourages a social environment, which is oh-so-important to today's grab-and-go, millennial-centric culture. And heaven forbid you don't offer free WiFi at these locations. Third, with well-placed signage, such stations can become highly educational (who doesn't want to learn about what they put in their bodies?), transforming a quick coffee break into an interactive mixology event.

More here:
Room to brew the future of in-room coffee | By Larry Mogelonsky

LINCOLN, Neb. The seventh annual Lincoln Wine and Food Experience returns in 2015 to offer wine lovers the opportunity to try different vintages and varieties. The event, presented by Russs Market, is the largest annual fundraiser for the Lincoln Community Playhouse and will be held at the Embassy Suites on Friday, Feb. 27 from 5 to 8 p.m.

The Lincoln Wine and Food Experience has become a must-attend event for people who love fine wine and food. The layout of booths has changed for 2015 to create more space for attendees, and the Reserve Room will be moved to the Atrium outside the main ballroom. Nebraska wines and foods will be showcased in the Nebraska Room, with sparkling wines featured in the Bubbly Room.

Approximately 90 booths will fill the main ballroom, offering an international selection of wines. Foodies can sample fine cheeses, Nebraska beef, gourmet desserts and other unique items. Russs Market Stone Hearth breads will be baked fresh at the event. In addition to the main ballroom, reserve room guests will enjoy an exclusive selection of reserve wines and a buffet prepared by Russs Market Catering to You.

Since its inception, the Lincoln Wine and Food Experience has raised more than $200,000 for the Lincoln Community Playhouse. This years goal is $40,000. General admission tickets for the main ballroom are $40 in advance, $50 at the door. Tickets for the Reserve Room are $60 in advance, $70 at the door. Those holding Reserve Room tickets may enjoy both the main ballroom and reserve room beginning at 4 p.m. Tickets are on sale at Russs Market locations in Lincoln.

The Wine and Food Experience has become an event that Lincoln looks forward to every year, said Pat Raybould, president of B&R Stores, Inc. Were glad that Russs Market can help the playhouse provide entertainment and education programs for our community.

WHAT: Lincoln Wine and Food Experience

WHEN: Friday, Feb. 27, 2015

48 p.m. with Reserve Room tickets

58 p.m. with general admission tickets

WHERE: Embassy Suites, 1040 P St.

Continue reading here:
Russ's Market Hosts Annual Lincoln Food And Wine Experience

The 69-room Ramada Hotel Portrush Northern Ireland and the 115-room Holiday Inn Express Stockport

The immediate addition of the 69-room Ramada Hotel Portrush Northern Ireland, together with next year's opening of the 115-room Holiday Inn Express Stockport, reinforces Interstate's position as the premier hotel management company in the UK.

Robert Crook, Interstate's managing director for the UK, said: "We're delighted to sign-up these two hotels, which complement our evolving UK portfolio, and look forward to working alongside the owners to realise the full potential of their hotel assets."

The Ramada Hotel Portrush, located in the heart of the popular seaside resort, offers a welcome, relaxing retreat, with plush beds, flat-screen televisions and Wi-Fi access as well as a number of flexible meeting venues, making it the perfect place to visit for business or pleasure. Its central location is ideal for exploring local attractions, including the historic Old Bushmills Distillery and the legendary basalt formations Giant's Causeway.

The Holiday Inn Express Stockport, meanwhile, is a new build hotel of 115 bedrooms scheduled to open in Spring 2016. Located just seven miles east of Manchester city centre, Stockport is presently buzzing with activity as a result of an ambitious regeneration scheme which aims to revitalise its residential property and retail markets in a similar fashion to what has been achieved in Manchester.

"Winning the management contracts for these two hotels against stiff competition represents a significant enhancement of our portfolio of full and select service branded hotels throughout the length and breadth of the UK," added Crook. "Our dedicated UK management platform, backed by Interstate's institutional-quality scale and long and strong brand relations, delivers exceptional service to guests and superior results to owners."

"We welcome Anne Donaghy, General Manager at Ramada Hotel Portrush, together with her team, to the Interstate family with immediate effect and look forward to working with the owners in preparation for next year's opening of Holiday Inn Express Stockport. We continue to explore other opportunities for enhancing our UK portfolio and anticipate future growth in the region."

For more information about Interstate Hotels & Resorts in the UK and Europe, please visit http://www.interstatehotels.co.uk and worldwide, please visit http://www.interstatehotels.com.

Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of a 50/50 joint venture between subsidiaries of Thayer Lodging Group and Jin Jiang Hotels, is the leading U.S.-based global hotel management company, operating branded full- and select-service hotels and resorts, convention centers and independent hotels worldwide. Interstate and its affiliates manage 451 hotels with 82,800 rooms in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, with ownership interest in 35 hotels. In addition, Interstate has executed agreements to manage 32 hotels with nearly 5,400 rooms under construction or development throughout the world.

For more information regarding hotel management in Europe, please contact Senior Vice President, Development-Europe, Aaron Greenman, at +32 490 43 15 72 or visit http://www.interstatehotels.co.uk. For more information about Interstate Hotels & Resorts worldwide, please visit http://www.interstatehotels.com.

See the original post:
Interstate Europe Adds Two Hotels to UK Portfolio

February 23, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL) Grand Rapids Griffins GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Grand Rapids Griffins and Farm Bureau Insurance are teaming up to provide a media room makeover for one deserving elementary or middle school in Kent County or the Thornapple-Kellogg district.

The inaugural Media Room Makeover contest offers eligible schools the opportunity to submit their applications online between now and April 1, 2015 at griffinshockey.com/mediaroommakeover, simply by answering the question "Why does your school need a media room makeover - and providing an optional photo of their existing media room, computer lab or library. Applications may be submitted by school principals, administrators or teachers.

Depending on the winning school's needs, its media room makeover could consist of a variety of new resources such as computer hardware, software, books, furniture, paint, carpet and light construction, with a value ranging from a minimum of $5,000 to as much as $10,000-$15,000.

Following the application deadline on April 1, all entries will be reviewed by the Griffins and Farm Bureau Insurance and narrowed to a pool of three finalist schools, each of which will receive a site visit as part of the final selection. The Griffins and Farm Bureau will choose the winning school by April 30, assist school officials in the makeover of the school's media room this summer, then host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the start of the new school year in August or September.

"Michigan is our home, so at Farm Bureau Insurance we're committed to the communities and the people that make our state a great place to live," said Vic Verchereau, Farm Bureau Insurance vice president of marketing. "Our initiative, Enriching Michigan's Children and Communities (Emc"), supports safe and clean learning environments for our youth while providing opportunities for these future leaders. We are honored to partner with the Grand Rapids Griffins to provide a Kent County school with a makeover opportunity designed to do just that."

Several partners have signed on to provide assistance with the makeover as needed, including Comprenew and Mike Case of Case Construction. In addition, the Kent Intermediate School District and the Diocese of Grand Rapids Office of Catholic Schools are supporting the contest by communicating the opportunity to every elementary and middle school principal in Kent County, as well as the Thornapple-Kellogg district in Barry County (which is served by KISD). All eligible schools with a need are encouraged to apply.

Official rules and regulations of the contest are available here .

"The Griffins are proud to work with Farm Bureau Insurance on this exciting initiative," said Tim Gortsema, the team's senior vice president of business operations. "Our organization and players have long supported local schools through hundreds of visits to read to classes, speak to assemblies and conduct our Stick With School campaign, so this contest is an outgrowth of the Griffins' commitment to children, education and West Michigan as a whole."

Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan, in its first year as a Griffins corporate partner, was founded in 1949 by Michigan farmers who wanted an insurance company that worked as hard as they did. Those values still guide the company today and are a big reason why they are known as Michigan's Insurance Company, dedicated to protecting the farms, families, and businesses of this great state. Farm Bureau Insurance agents across Michigan provide a full range of insurance services-life, home, auto, farm, business, retirement, Lake Estate©, and more-protecting over 565,000 Michigan policyholders.

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Griffins and Farm Bureau Insurance Announce Media Room Makeover

The Pittston Memorial Library will have a new childrens wing and community room by mid-June.

Construction on the library expansion project is on schedule, library Director Anne Hogya said.

Its doing very well, she said.

Ms. Hogya said construction should wrap up by June 15. The additions walls have already gone up, and crews have started to install windows, getting closer every day to a new space for the librarys youngest patrons.

The 5,175-square-foot expansion will include a dedicated childrens wing and a community room featuring smartboards with videoconferencing capabilities.

The librarys current design lacks sufficient space for children to use, Ms. Hogya said, with only a small section dedicated on the main floor.

The new wing will encompass 2,500 square feet of the expansion and contain space for children to play, computers, a specific room for children and teen programming, and educational murals depicting Pennsylvanias wildlife.

The new childrens wing will be outfitted with all sorts of interactive play toys for the kids, Ms. Hogya said. Well be planning more childrens programs.

The rest of the expansion will house a community room that local groups can rent and use for meetings and functions, Ms. Hogya said. It will include a main room, a small kitchenette, a coat room, wireless Internet access and a smartboard Anything you would need for any type of business or community function, Ms. Hogya said.

The library will be taking reservations to rent the room within a month or so, she said.

Link:
Monday Update: Pittston library renovations underway

A boat glides along a river where construction workers build a bridge for the Don Sahong hydropower dam site in southern Laos last year. INTERNATIONAL RIVERS

Conservation groups have called on Prime Minister Hun Sen to address the elephant in the room and lobby Laos president to postpone his countrys controversial Don Sahong dam project when the leaders meet later this week.

Arriving on Thursday, Laotian Head of State Choummaly Sayasone will spend two days in Phnom Penh on an official visit at the invitation of Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In addition to Hun Sen, Sayasone will meet National Assembly President Heng Samrin and Vice-President Say Chhum.

WWF Greater Mekong director Teak Seng said Hun Sen should seize the opportunity to press for a postponement of the Don Sahong dam, one of 12 hydropower projects currently being planned for the lower stretches of the Mekong, as more studies are conducted about its impact, particularly on fish migration.

This is the main outstanding issue, the elephant in the room, between Laos and Cambodia, Seng said.

This is a great opportunity for Cambodia to put its position forward and request more studies before construction.

Lying less than 2 kilometres north of the Lao-Cambodian border, the 260-megawatt project could have deleterious effects on shared waterways and fisheries.

Conservation groups also maintain the dam will jeopardise Cambodias Irrawaddy Dolphin population.

Following six months of consultations, the four lower Mekong countries Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Laos referred the issue to the Mekong River Commission Council.

Continue reading here:
Laos dam elephant in room