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 2018 Broadhead Review By John Lusk
Check out my podcast with John LuskÂ
It wasnât long ago that broadhead selection was a fairly simple process⦠There just werenât that many options available.
Well, those days are gone. Now there are a plethora of choices due to so many different design variables. There are broadheads with 2 blades, 3 blades and 4 blades. There are single bevel edges and double bevel edges, chisel tips and cut on contact tips. There are mechanical broadheads that deploy from the rear as well as those that deploy over the top. There are hybrids (both fixed and mechanical in the same head), stainless steels, tool steels, aluminum, and titanium all of various grades and properties. There are cutting diameters ranging from under one inch to over three inches and total head lengths of under one inch to over three inches and blade thicknesses of .020â to .080â.
And, of course, prices ranging from one dollar per head to one hundred dollars per head⦠and so much more.
So, bow hunters, how in the world do you make sense of it all? All the choices out there can make even an advanced bow hunter feel like a beginner. How do you know which broadheads are the best choices for you?
While almost any head on the market today can âget the job doneâ with a good shot, it is still important to make sure you are using the right head for your bow and the game you are pursuing. After all the time, energy, and money youâve invested in practice and preparation, your broadhead is where the ârubber meets the road.â
A little research and education can go a long way in making sure you are not disappointed after that hard earned shot. You will notice that I have provided some recommendations for broadheads throughout this article. This is certainly not an exhaustive list, but I have personally tested each of these heads and found them to be among the best.
Fundamentally, you must keep in mind what really matters in a broadhead. Regardless of the brand and the design, there are four crucial factors that really matter.
A broadhead should provide you with absolute confidence in its flight. Consider what your maximum range is and make sure you choose a head that will fly accurately at that distanceâeven with some wind, a racing heart rate, and shooting while a little off balance.
Always make sure your bow is very well tuned (get help from a pro shop if youâre unsure) and you have the correct arrow spine for your bowâs poundage and draw length. Also, make sure the arrow spins true when the broadhead is installed. You can spin it on your hand or on a table to confirm there is zero wobble to it.
Furthermore, the smaller the overall profile of the broadhead, in length and width, the more forgiving it will be in flight. This is why mechanicals are often a good choice for long distance shots.
Keys: Lower profile (shorter and narrower) = Better Flight
Truer Spin = Better Flight
A broadhead should be be sharp and able to hold that sharpness after impact. How sharp it feels before it hits an animal doesnât matter nearly as much as how sharp it is after it penetrates that first inch or two of hide, bone, and tissue. If the edge chips or bends, it will not cut and penetrate effectively. This is why blades should be thick enough, and the steel strong enough, to hold their edge well. Higher quality Tool Steels like 41L40, S7, and A2 shine in this arena.
Keys: Thicker Blades = Better Edge Retention
Higher Quality Steel = Better Edge Retention
The ferrule of a broadhead must be able to withstand great force upon impact. I have had multiple heads, both fixed and mechanical, bend or break at the ferrule upon impacting an animal. That almost always spells disaster for a hunt. Quality materials and solid construction make a big difference. The shorter, thicker, and higher quality the material of the ferrule, the better it will stay in tact. I prefer high quality steel ferrules over titanium and aluminum for this reason.
Keys: Shorter, thicker ferrules = stronger ferrules
Higher quality steel Ferrules = Stronger Ferrules
A broadhead must have sufficient cut size to cause great tissue destruction while still ensuring deep penetration. With any animal I shoot at, my goal is to get as wide of a cut as possible while still providing a good likelihood of a pass through. Two holes will almost always provide a better blood trail than one hole. Given equal penetration, a wider diameter cut will slice through more tissue than a smaller diameter cut.
In the past, I used a head with a cutting diameter of one inch and always got a pass through. However, I knew I could cut more tissue and still get a pass through. So I increased the size of the cutting diameter of my broadheads, with great results. Likewise, I have used a broadhead with a very wide diameter cut and gotten poor penetration and no pass through. Finding that sweet spot between the two extremes is my goal.
So, I will even change broadheads based on what animal I am hunting. For a smaller animals like a turkey or javelina, I use a very large cutting mechanical head, because that will cut a lot of tissue and still allow for a pass through. For a bigger animal like a wildebeest or elk, I like to use a smaller diameter cut to make sure I am getting deeper penetration.
I have also found that when it comes to blood trails, cutting diameter is more important than total cut. Allow me to explain with an example:
A four blade head with a one inch cutting diameter will have a âtotal cutâ of two inches. Likewise, a two blade head with a two inch cutting diameter will also have a âtotal cutâ of two inches. However, with all other things equal (penetration and shot placement) the two inch cutting diameter head will typically leave a better blood trail than the one inch cutting diameter headâeven though the same amount of tissue is cut. The reason for this is that a smaller diameter cut is more likely to close up with tissue while the larger diameter cut is more likely to stretch and open up even more. I have seen this proven over and over again.
Another way to understand this principle is to âreduce it to the ridiculous.â Which broadhead would you rather pass through your body: An eight blade head with one inch cutting diameter or a two blade head with an eight inch cutting diameter? Both will cut the same amount of tissue, but I would much rather have a one inch hole go through my body than an eight inch cut go through my body. Well, so would a deer.
Keys: Greater Tissue Cut with Pass Through = Greater Blood Trail
Greater Diameter Cut with Pass Through = Even Greater Blood Trail
So before you read any further, keep in mind the fundamental goal in selecting a head: A broadhead should fly well, not break, holds its edge, penetrate deeply, and cut a lot of tissue. Strive to find that balance between cutting as much tissue as possible and still providing a good chance at a pass through.
Now letâs examine some of the most important features of broadhead design. The more you understand about each feature, the more effectively you can decide what works best for your set up and your budget.
There are three basic types of metals used in broadheads: aluminum, titanium, and steel. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Aluminum and titanium are lighter than steel, which is why many broadheads tend to use them. It is easier for a head to make it to the 100gr weight if aluminum or titanium are used.
Aluminum is not as strong as steel. The best aluminums hardened in the best manner are still only as strong as the weaker steels. And, some aluminums are much weaker than others. The best aluminum for broadheads is 7075, which is quite a bit stronger than 6061. If you are going to consider using a head with aluminum, try to find one made of 7075. If the manufacturer doesnât say which aluminum is being used, it is probably 6061. That doesnât mean its âbadâ but it does mean that itâs a bit âweaker.â
Titanium is stronger than aluminum. As with aluminum, there are different grades of titanium. Just because a head is said to be made of titanium doesnât mean it is using the top grade. Typically, if the manufacturer doesnât state what grade it is, it is probably the weaker grade. While titanium is stronger than aluminum, it is not as strong as many steels. Both titanium and aluminum have less resistance to impact than many steels, so I prefer that a head that at least has a leading tip made of well hardened steel.
There are many different varieties of steel and they are not all created equal. While steel tends to be stronger than titanium and aluminum, there are significant differences in the various types of steel. When it comes to broadheads, two of the most significant ratings of steel are Rockwell Hardness (the âhardnessâ of the steel) and Charpy V Notch Scoring (the steelâs resistance to impact).STEEL BROADHEADS
A steel may be very hard with a high Rockwell Rating, but may be very brittle and break apart or chip easily upon impact with a hard medium. Likewise, a steel can have a lower Rockwell Rating and not break apart, but may bend too easily. Most steel broadheads use a 420 stainless steel, hardened to a level that is not too hard and not too soft. From my testing, it is obvious that some manufacturers are more successful at finding that balance than others.
There are also heads that are being made of tool steels and even very high end tool steels, such as 41L40, A2, and S7. With these premium steels, you will find a very high Rockwell hardness as well as a very high Charpy V Notch Score. Such heads will retain their structural integrity and razor edge far more effectively than typical stainless steels. They will cost a lot more money, but they are much more durable as well so they will last a long time.
In many of the tests I have done, I am continually impressed by how well premium tool steels keep their edge. While a typical stainless steel blade may become dull after cutting through 1/2â plywood, a head made of A2 or 41L40 or S7 will still be sticky sharp after cutting though that same board 5 times. That no doubt makes a difference in how well tissue, bones, and veins are cut. A duller head can often just bend veins over, but a head that is sharp all the way through an animal will effectively cut those veins, producing greater blood letting.
Within steel heads there are also different ways the steel can be formed. Some use MIM (Metal Injected Molding), some are welded together, and some are machined. The machined steels tend to be much stronger than the MIM steels and welded models.
There are also a couple different types of construction of the broadheads themselvesâcomponent heads and single piece heads. Each has their advantages. Component heads can be made with very tight specifications, as each piece is easier to construct than an entire head. These high specs can enable them to fly extremely well. They are then held together with some sort of interlocking design and bolt. The best component heads do not use bolts that are load bearing, but rather that interlock, and then held in place by the bolts.
Single piece heads have the advantage of not being put together; they are literally one piece of steel. Thus, they tend to be more durable than component heads. But all single piece heads are not created equal. As mentioned earlier, if the head is machined out of a single block of steel it will tend to be much stronger than a head that is metal injected molded or welded.
All other things being equal, the thicker a blade is, the stronger it is. The thinner a blade is, the weaker it is. Thin blades may feel sharper out of the package, but they tend to lose that edge and bend or get nicked up more readily than thicker blades. I prefer blades that are at least .035â thick, but again, the thicker the better. When premium tool steels are used, a blade can still be relatively thin and still very strong.
From my testing, I only prefer a cut on contact head if is either a very thick two blade head made out of premium tool steel or a three blade single piece head, where all three blades come together to form the tip. Otherwise, the cut on contact heads are too likely to fold over. There are some chisel tips that are extremely sharp on their edges, like those of the QAD Exodus, or Wasp Dart for example. Those tend to have penetration closer to a cut on contact head but the strength of a chisel tip.
Many people prefer fixed blade heads over mechanical heads because they are more durable and dependable. There are no moving parts and fewer things to break. Fixed blade heads typically come in either two, three, or four blade models. Letâs briefly examine each of those:
These are a throwback to the proven designs of Native Americans and other similar societies around the world. They are simple, durable, accurate, and penetrate well. Two blade heads can either come in Single Bevel or Double Bevel Designs.
A single bevel blade simply means that the edge of a blade is only sharpened on one side. A double bevel blade means that the edge of the blade is sharpened on both sides. There are advantages to each design. Typically, the choice between a single bevel or double bevel edge only comes into play with two blade heads.
The advantage of a single bevel is that the angle of the blade creates a torsional force upon impacting a medium, causing it to rotate. If fletching is arranged helically, the arrow is already spinning. Then upon impact, a single bevel head will continue to spin inside an animal.
This does a number of significant things. First, it creates a spiral wound channel. I typically find that the entrance hole of a single bevel head is not a slit, but rather a hole. The arrow is already spinning so much and is forced to spin more upon impact, creating a rounded entrance hole in the hide of an animal. The broadhead continues to cut tissue not only in the direction the head is pointing, but also in the direction the head is spinningâthus cutting both inwardly and spirally.
With internal organs, this can have a similar effect to spinning a fork when eating spaghetti, wrapping the noodles around the fork, then cutting them off. The twisting broadhead can twist the organs and then cut them as the head moves forward. I have seen this happen inside an animal many times and the devastation is undeniable.
Second, a single bevel head typically breaches bone very effectively. As the tip of a head enters a bone, the head also twists and causes that bone to split apart and not just get cut. Then the arrow passes through that split in the bone. This is especially significant when hunting very large animals such as Cape Buffalo. If a broadhead cannot effectively breach that bone, penetration will suffer.
A third way the single bevel head works is that due to its twisting inside an animal, it is not likely for the arrow to back out of an animal if there is not a pass through (try pulling one out of a target and you will see what I mean). Often times, heads are sharpened on the back edges to allow the heads to continue to cut tissue in all directions inside of an animal.
Double bevel heads do not have this spiraling effect. However, they can often penetrate more deeply for two reasons: First, they can be sharpened to a finer edge. Secondly, they are only cutting tissue in a forward fashion and not a twisting fashion. They will not typically breach large bone as effectively as a single bevel, they will not create a spiral wound channel, and the arrow can back out of an animal more readily than a single bevel. But, they will penetrate hide and tissue more effectively.
As for which is better, it really does depend on your bowâs set up and your quarry. If you are generating lower kinetic energy and need penetration to be as deep as possible, a double bevel may be a better choice. If you have a bit more ânormalâ kinetic energy, or are hunting larger animals with heavier arrows, a single bevel will likely cause more damage to the animal.
From my testing, the only concern I have with two blade fixed heads is the size of the entry and exit holes. If an animal does not expire quickly, you are going to be forced to follow a blood trail. Smaller diameter cuts do not allow the degree of blood letting that larger cuts do. There may be plenty of damage inside the animal, but the blood trail may be compromised.
Recommended Single Bevel Heads: Bishop Archery (Bridgeport/Pipeline), Cutthroat Broadheads.   Recommended Double Bevel Heads: German Kinetics Silver Flame, VPA, Steelforce
There are some great strengths to using a three blade head, as evidenced by their popularity on the market. Three blade heads tend to make more of a âholeâ than a slit. This makes the hole more difficult to close up and facilitates better blood letting. If the heads are a one piece construction with the correct angles, like VPAs or Bishops, you can easily sharpen two blades at a time by laying them flat on a stone and moving them back and forth, then rotating till all the blades are covered.
Recommended 3 Blade Heads: QAD Exodus, Bishop (Bridgeport/Pipeline) Holy Trinity, VPA, Muzzy Trocar
Some heads use a four blade design. Most of those have two primary blades, followed by two smaller, âbleederâ blades. Others use four blades that are all the same size, such as Slick Tricks, Wacâems or Wasps. From my testing, I have come to prefer a wider cut three blade head over a four blade head with smaller, equal sized blades. That fourth blade does cut more tissue, but it also impedes penetration more, and the hole is not as big as that of a wider cut three blade head.
A wider hole tends to produce a better blood trail than a smaller hole, whether itâs three blades or four. That being said, the four blade design of two larger blades and two bleeders is a very good option. They tend to be more forgiving in flight than a three blade head, all other things equal.
Whether you want a two leading blade cut on contact tip or a chisel tip is another question as well. See the earlier section discussing the pros and cons of these two designs.
Recommended 4 blade Heads: Iron Will, Trophy Taker A-TAC, Slick Trick Magnums, Magnus Black Hornet.
Mechanical heads have come a long way in recent years. They have two primary advantages over fixed blade heads: Smaller surface area in flight (which allows them to be more forgiving in flight) and larger cut once the blades are deployed.
For example, even with a very well tuned bow, it would be quite difficult to shoot a fixed blade head with a two inch cutting diameter and have it fly well. But with a mechanical, you can get that two inch cutting diameter in a small, great flying package.
There are two primary styles of mechanical heads based on how the blades deploy upon impact.
The first mechanical heads to hit the market worked this way. The blades are on hinges and folds upward toward the tip of the head. They are either held in place by friction or a rubber band.
Upon impact, the blades peel back like a banana would, opening up to their full cutting diameter. They will not open fully until after they have entered the animal, thus the entrance holes are basically the same size as the head in the closed position.
Recommended Over the Top Deploying Mechanicals: Rocket Steelhead, NAP Spitfire, Wasp Jak-Knife, Dead Ringer Trauma, Grim Reaper
In recent years, many heads have begun using various rear deploying mechanisms. With these heads, the blades swing open from the rear and are fully deployed by the time they reach the hide of an animal. Thus the entrance holes are the same size as the fully deployed blades.
Both of these mechanisms have their loyal followings and both can work well on animals. I have successfully taken many animals with both. However, there are some observations worth noting.
With over the top mechanicals, the entrance holes are small but the internal damage is great. They do tend to penetrate more deeply than rear deploying blades, simply because they cut less tissue upon entrance. If they pass all the way through the animal, the exit hole is the full size of the fully deployed blades. But if they do not pass all the way through, you have a small entrance hole and no exit hole. That spells a big problem for blood trails.
With rear deploying mechs, the entrance hole will be great; it will be the size of the fully deployed heads. But because of that, penetration can be compromised because it has to cut through the hide with that wide cut. However, you can be confident you are going to have at least one big hole. Between these two styles, after all my testing I prefer the rear deploying mechanical broadheads by a large margin.
Recommended Rear Deploying Mechs: Rage Hypodermic and Trypan, NAP Killzone, G5 Deadmeat
Several different manufacturers have come out with hybrid heads, which are a combination of both a fixed blade and a mechanical head. There is typically a smaller two blade fixed head followed by a larger cut of mechanical blades.
I have taken a number of animals with these and tested them quite a bit. They certainly have their niche. The only downside is that you will want to make sure you have enough kinetic energy to drive all those blades deeply into an animal. Again, I prefer the rear deploying mechanical blades in a hybrid head. If they are over the top deploying, you will not get a very big entrance hole and an exit hole will be fairly difficult to achieve due to the large cut.
Recommended Hybrid Heads: Bloodsport Archery Gravedigger, Muzzy Hybrid Trocar HB-Ti.
Selecting a broadhead can be a pretty daunting task. And it gets extra confusing when all of your buddies each have their own strong opinions based on their personal experience from the last season. But you owe it to yourself and to the animal to make the most informed decision you can about which head is best for your purposes. Hopefully, this article will help you to make a bit more sense of the options and choices available.
Please check out my YouTube Channel as well, Lusk Archery Adventures, to see more than 20 different videos of broadhead tests and over 50 hunts with those heads as well. And donât hesitate to contact me with any questions through the channel.


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Yoga: Gentle PracticeZyrka Landwijt
Year Released: 2008
Categories: Yoga
Video Fitness reviews may not be copied, quoted, or posted elsewhere without the permission of the reviewer
Show oldest reviews first
Im reviewing this workout after doing all of the practices and premixes once each.
General workout breakdown: This DVD has 2 distinct gentle yoga practices of just over 60 min., each of which has 2 shorter premixes (1 just over 30 min., which is the gentlest, and 1 just over 45 min., which adds in a few more challenging poses). Zyrka moves deliberately and allows for some (shortish) holds and pauses, without tons of down time between poses. Some poses are done more dynamically, some held for a few breaths. She sometimes does one or a few preparation poses before the full one (for example, raising and lowering each arm, then doing the same with a slight bend to the side, then doing a full side bend, which is held for slightly longer). All routines use the same savasana segment, which runs just over 5 min. and focuses on breathing different parts of the body.
*Series A is intended to be more accessible to those newer to the practice. Except for a short standing series, which only appears in the full routine, all postures are done seated, supine, prone, or kneeling. Postures include simple cross-legged seated for neck rolls, neck side to side, neck up and down, side bend, shoulder stretch / chest opener, and twist; releasing ankles and feet (moving side to side, rolling) with legs in front; baddha konasana (cobblers / bound angle) w/ upper body circles, cat & dog (sometimes called cat & cow) stretch, and side bends; balasana (childs pose); tabletop (hands & knees) for cat & dog stretch, knee to nose / leg extended behind, leg extended behind with hip rotated externally, full body circles, thread arm under for twist, leg extended behind and across body, vasisthasana variation (a side bend prep), and half downward dog; adho mukha svanasana (downward-facing dog); a standing series with ardha uttanasana (half standing forward fold) w/ cat & dog stretch into full uttanasana (standing forward fold), tadasana (mountain) w/ shoulder rolls, half sun salutes, virabhadrasana I (warrior I), virabhadrasana II (warrior II), utthita trikonasana (triangle); vajrasana (seated on heels) into side bend & then twist w/ legs off to the side; parighasana (gate pose); janu sirsasana (head to knee pose); bridge; reclined twist w/ knees bent; and savasana.
*Series B incorporates slightly more challenging postures as well as a longer standing series. Postures include cross-legged seated pose w/ forward bend (both forward & to each side) and twist; releasing ankles and feet (moving side to side, rolling) with legs in front; balasana (childs pose); tabletop (hands & knees) w/ cat & dog tilt into quarter down dog, and half down dog; downward-facing dog; a standing series w/ ardha uttanasana into uttanasana (standing forward fold), tadasana (mountain), ardha chandrasana I (half moon I, or a standing side bend), arm circles, half sun salutes, virabhadrasana I (warrior I), reverse warrior, virabhadrasana II (warrior II); plank, lowering onto belly, cobra, sphinx; ardha virasana (half hero) w/ rolling the upper torso, side bend, forward bend over bent knee, alternating forward & back bend, gentle back bend w/ leg extended, parivrrta janu sirsasana (head to knee w/ twist); knees side to side when seated; upavista konasana (wide angle) w/ side bend & forward bend; seated w/ knees to chest; seated on heels w/ cat & dog stretch; bridge, knees to chest, knees side to side, knee to chest w/ shin perpendicular to floor (sometimes called half happy baby / dead bug), ankle over opposite knee (sometimes called reclined pigeon), reclined leg stretch, reclined spinal twist; legs up the wall (w/ upavista konasana & baddha konasana variations shown); and savasana.
Level: Id recommend this to people with perhaps a little yoga experience under their belt, either from a live class or a beginners yoga video or book. Regular exercisers who are still relatively new to yoga will probably find this a doable challenge (dont panic if you dont find it gentle at first!), while more experienced yogis will definitely find it gentle (although, depending upon your disposition, you may not care for the slow build-up to poses and modifications, like bent knees in forward bends, as much). Zyrka allows for some flexibility and strength limitations, so she modifies some postures, works with props, and moves slowly and deliberately both into and out of asanas.
Class: Zyrka alone, with instruction via voiceover.
Music: gentle, sparse instrumental, usually native flute.
Set: all-white interior.
Production: clear picture and sound (it was filmed in high def, after all), helpful and non-distracting camera angles that usually show all of Zyrka, and a voiceover that matches up with the moves well. During a few recommended modifications, a small inset picture shows Zyrka doing that variation.
Equipment: yoga sticky mat (or equivalent), blanket (you want something firm, like wool or woven cotton, rather than something squishy or fluffy), and a block; a strap is also mentioned as an option (substitute: old tie, belt, etc.). Zyrka assumes you are using the props, so she takes time to fold the blanket or grab / set aside props.
Space Requirements: enough room to lie down with limbs extended. You will also need access to a wall for legs up the wall in series B.
DVD Notes: The main menu brings up all of the choices right away: Start Here (Zyrkas intro), Pose Guide (Zyrka gives detailed instruction, mentioning basic form information, some usual mistakes, and benefits as well as contraindications. This encompasses forward seated poses: forward fold, head to knee, bound angle, seated twist, childs pose; extended poses: plank, cobra, updog, bridge; standing poses: mountain, tree, forward fold, wide leg fold, down dog, warrior one, warrior two, triangle, extended triangle; inversion poses: legs up wall, shoulder stand; and extras: vinyasa guidelines, breathing practice, attitude.), Credits, Series A routines (33 min., 48 min., and 63 min.), and Series B routines (32 min., 46 min., and 63 min.). The routines are chaptered into segments, a fact which allows for the shorter premixes. The transition between segments is done smoothly; Zyrka will take you into a childs pose at the end of one segment, and the next picks up right there; if youre not looking at the screen you might not even notice the transition, except for maybe a slight change in music after a tiny pause.
Comments: Personally I prefer Series B over Series A, even if Series B has a long hold in upavista konasana, one of my biggest nemeses. For one thing, even more bits and pieces of B, especially the opening sequences, remind me of some of Erich Schiffmanns. For another, Im not too fond of the knee to nose and subsequent sequences in Series A which leaves you on your wrists and knees for quite a while. For yet another, Im always up for a reclining leg stretch series and legs up the wall.
Something petty: some of the arm movements get a little fussy for my tastes. (For example, in Series A, you transition from warrior II into triangle by bringing arms overhead, back to the heart, out and overhead again, and finally back down to where you started to reach into triangle.)
This may be gentle yoga, but that doesnt mean youre going to flop on the floor for the whole time. (If you want to do that, Id recommend Evelyn Neamans Restorative Yoga or segments from Barbara Benaghs Yoga for Stress Relief, Dr. Baxter Bells Yoga Journal Yoga for Stress, and Laura Hawes Yoga Therapy Prescriptions.) If youre looking for similarly gentle yoga practices, try Kripalu Yoga Gentle, the active segment from Dr. Baxter Bells Yoga Journal Yoga for Stress, Rod Strykers Yoga For Longevity (now Peak Performance Yoga), and Raji Throns Yoga Synthesis 1: Gentle Series Sukha Vinyasa. You might also like practices like Barbara Benaghs AM / PM Yoga for Beginners (or perhaps also Yoga for Stress Relief or Body + Soul Yoga for Beginners), Sara Ivanhoes Crunch Candlelight Yoga, Diana Kovandas Yoga Cape Cod, Rainbeau Mars Pure Tranquility, Erich Schiffmanns Backyard Series: Beginning Yoga, and Karen Voights Yoga Focus (now Yoga Power) stretch segment (which is also on Sleek Physique, now Slim Physique). If youre ready for a little more challenge but at about the same pace, try Eoin Finns Pure & Simple Yoga. If you find yourself enjoying the moving in and out of poses with each breath more than the long holds, you might look into Viniyoga, such as Gary Kraftsows Viniyoga Therapy DVD series with Pranamaya.
Instructor Comments:
Zyrka has a pleasant voice. Although she mentions a fair number of form tips and reminders during the practice, she doesnt include a ton of form instruction; those are found in the accompanying extras. She focuses on cuing basic position, move changes, and the breath, which she does well. She cues for her right and left (so no real mirror cuing.) Most of the time she just uses English names for poses, but sometimes she also includes the Sanskrit ones and other times none. She does a couple of things like tuck her hair behind her ears or tug on her shirt or flub a few cues (e.g. in the savasana she does the left buttocks out of order), but she still appears a knowledgeable instructor. As someone whos young myself I dont mind her at all (I have more confidence in her than Erin Pillman of Yoga on Demand, for example). Zyrkas training comes from the Bhairavi Maha tradition of yoga.


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Air Lift Performance Kit - Subaru BRZ
With this Air Lift Performance suspension kit, you can truly have the lowered look, handling, and overall high-performance that you desire, without all the hassle of a traditional lowering suspension. With Air Lift Performance adjustable air suspension, gone are the days of harsh ride quality and constant scraping against the ground. With the simple push of a button, you can raise up from your normal ride height to clear those pesky speed bumps and steep driveways…without damaging your front bumper cover or scraping your exhaust. No more wrenches needed in order to adjust your coilovers on the show field, either—just tap a button and your Subi will be kissing pavement.
Maybe you're not interested in dropping your ride four inches down from its original stance, but going fast around corners is your thing. Rest assured—Air Lift Performance spends countless hours on the racetrack, tuning and testing their parts, just to make sure you can put your car hard into a corner with confidence. Not only can you adjust the spring rate with air pressure, but with a few clicks of the damping knob, you can go from a smooth street ride to a race-car-stiff feel.
Installation is simple with Air Lift Performance's detailed instruction manuals; if you have the skill to wire a stereo or swap suspension components, then you can have your car on the ground or tearing up your favorite road course in a matter of hours. Only basic hand tools are necessary to complete the job.
As the leader in air suspension products for over 60 years, Air Lift is committed to delivering quality parts that last. To ensure longevity for the customer, the key suspension components have been tested on a durability rig for over one million cycles, which equates to 100,000 miles. With a one-year, unlimited-mileage warranty—not to mention the Air Lift Performance reputation for great customer service and technical support—you can purchase this kit with peace of mind. Ditch those coils and get to a new level of low!
Select Your Air Management
AutoPILOT V2 - Pressure Only
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Don't Forget Your Universal Height Sensor Bracket
- Modifications Req. Front: NONE
- Modifications Req. Rear: NONE
CALIFORNIA WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm - www.P65Warnings.ca.gov


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So how does this look for an oral quals reading list? The idea of the list is to cover "the larger concepts and issues" of my research area, as well as to convey what I've been doing for the last two years. I've read most of them already, but "read once" is a long way from "internalized".
Oh, and:
I also want to include some kind of standard reference on unification that's not specific to any particular language or system. Maybe this? I read a few things about unification last year as part of our unsuccessful FLOPS paper effort, but I never actually read Martelli and Montanari and probably ought to. Any suggestions?
Oh! And I'm going to have to know something about denotational semantics -- can anyone suggest a single standard reference for that?
Any other glaring omissions?


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One of the earliest scenes in Honeycomb is a party. An after-party, really. It takes place after my protagonist, Nat, and her friends Jess and Harper perform together for the first time as a trio. In it, I try to capture the excitement, noise, conversation and fun that happen when a bunch of people get together to celebrate the start of something new.
I'm hoping to replicate that kind of fun at my launch party for Honeycomb – the after-party of its getting published! It'll take place here in Toronto at Murphy's Law, a fave local pub, in its cosy 3rd floor loft. The date, Thursday, October 23. The time, 6:00 to 9:00 pm. (Though, being a pub, they're not likely to kick anyone out if you want to stay longer!) And speaking of local, my neighbourhood's lovely bookstore for kids, Ella Minnow, will be on hand to sell copies of the book so I can sign them for you.
Hope you can help me celebrate!


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A Parade in India 15 Miles Long/
I saw this video on Youtube and it reminded me of the huge culture shock my girlfriend and I got on our first night in India.
We checked into a hotel early in the AM and went to see sights around the capital Delhi. As we left the hotel we looked down the long road our hotel was on and saw some elephants coming our way in the distance. Wow, "We're in India," I thought, I guess elephants are normal here.
We tried to return in the early evening but inexplicably no one would take us back to our hotel, so we had to walk. As we got closer, the number of people in the streets started to multiply. As we got within a couple of blocks of our hotel, the streets were packed. A man with a turban, took
my arm and said, "Sir, I don't want you to get the wrong idea about my people, we are a good people." "What do you mean?" I asked. "Who are your people?" "I am of the Sikh religion, and I am a professor. This is why I am telling you." he said as he disappeared into the crowd.
As we got to the street where I hoped our hotel was we heard music, and singing; a lively parade was going down the street; it was now dark. The road was thick with people on foot but also elephants and cars and buses and flatbed trucks, all with people on them shrieking and throwing candy (ouch!).
Now, I knew, that it was a requirement that at all times, men of the Sikh religion are required to carry a knife. However, in this parade most people had something longer than a knife-- swords, spears, halberds, shields, I even saw a morning star.
I suppose it would have been less intense if we were just watching, but we really
wanted to find our hotel and with all the distraction is was really difficult. We went back and forth many times looking for the hotel sign, in the direction the parade was moving, and against the tide.
There was food stuff for sale in the shops along the sides, which in India spill out into the street, so it was really tough squeezing through, and no joke, some of the shops had vats of boiling oil we had to maneuver around! All this chaos meant that my girlfriend and I got separated several times.
I suppose even this would have seemed cute if the weapons weren't actually being used. But they were. People were dancing wildly with their swords, jousting with their spears (a la the video!) and playing various versions of what we used to call on the playground, "chicken." Except it was "armed" Chicken.
At one point I was walking with some guys with broad swords and one of them grabbed my arm and asked, "What religion are you?" My blood ran cold, "American," I said after hesitating. "But what religion?" he asked over and over, and each time I answered the same thing, "American." I pretended not to speak English and finally made a dash for my hotel.
I later learned that this was a 15 mile long parade with over a million Sikhs. It was explained to me that if someone swings a sword at you, naturally you duck, and if it misses this is because God has protected you. If not, not.
Ahhhhhh a little bit of warrior code, and a little bit of shamanic power.


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Fine Arts and Balanced Academics
Fine art is the core of our program. The children will be participating in a wide range of fine art activities including drawing, painting, weaving, music, sculpting, theatrical play, and dance. The arts are introduced into every aspect of learning and go hand in hand with balanced academics. The subject of math, science, geography, and reading readiness are taught magically and imaginatively by weaving them into the everyday life of your child.
The classrooms are carefully designed to spark an interest in life and learning. We have set up five components in each classroom; art, construction, dramatic play, science, math, and a reading nook. Within these sections your child is exposed to all necessary skills to be kindergarten ready when they move on to elementary school.
Arts and Imagination is the only preschool in Fort Collins with a dedicated art studio for painting, weaving, and clay work. Time is set aside throughout the school year for visiting teachers and parents to share their expertise in all fine arts activities. These classes will be taught in small groups to ensure your child has a true art studio experience.
In addition we have an interactive playground that has been designed to be an outdoor classroom. We have a running track, four-inch balance beams, a permanent music and art installation, and a teepee for storytelling and imaginative play. A carefully designed sandbox will be used for many of our classes. Dinosaur digs, volcano making, architecture, and engineering will be introduced there through play and creativity.
The playground also houses our fresh fruit, vegetable, and flower garden, that will provide a backdrop for such lessons as bee science, leaf anatomy, composting, nutrition, and much more. Your child will delight in the opportunities that will unfold within this unique outdoor classroom.
PARENT Participation
Your child's education should be one that is shared with the parents, because after all it is part of your experience as well. We invite parents to be involved and share in their child's school experience. Parents are encouraged to present their own ideas for participation in the classroom. Our hope is that the parents or family members will bring and share their talents with the student. This will help develop the understanding of what we are doing here at Arts and Imagination along with the ability to have the experience with your child. This will also give us a chance to get to know you and your family's values and customs.


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Our basic Cayman Islands mutual fund package includes:
› Cayman Islands Monetary Authority Application Fee
› Registrar of Companies incorporation fee
› Registered office fee
› Communication/Courier costs
› name check
› preparation of company Memorandum of Association
› preparation of company Articles of Association
› preparation of the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority application form
› filing with the Registrar of Companies
› filing with the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority
› certificate of incorporation
› share certificates
› minutes of the first board meeting
› register of directors
› register of members
› company seal
› preparation of offering documents and fund agreements
› certifying documents for the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority
› payment of the first year Registrar of Companies fee
› payment of the first year Cayman Islands Monetary Authority fee
› Tax Exemption Certificate
› courier service
Annual Fees
› Registrar of Companies fee
› Cayman Islands Monetary Authority fee
› Nominee shareholder fee
› Independent directors fee
Call for Pricing
Other services available
› Obtain CUSIP/ISIN number
› Independent directors to the fund
› Nominee shareholder of voting shares
› Preparation of resolutions
› Side letter preparation negotiation
› Apostille
› Certificate of Incumbency
› Formation of a Cayman Islands Investment Manager
› Applying for an exemption of registration of the Investment Manager under the Securities Investment
Business Law
› Substantive Office in the Cayman Islands
› Employee in the Cayman Islands to provide services including to distribute offering documents
› Website domain and email address in the Cayman Islands
Cayman Professional Fund
The Cayman Islands is a major offshore jurisdiction for hedge funds. It is attractive as a domicile for funds because of the fully developed business law, the English-based legal system and a regulatory and professional infrastructure capable of implementing large and complex international business transactions.
Setting up a hedge fund in the Cayman Islands offers:
• Relatively low cost
• Flexible and practical business statutes
• Cayman Islands insolvency law is simple and effective
• Strong compliance culture
• English-based legal system, established judiciary and absence of political or sovereign concerns
• Professional infrastructure and reputation. Well-known for its established and experienced financial services sector
• Compliance with international anti-money laundering, anti-terrorist financing and other financial regulatory standards
• Significant number of international tax information exchange agreements and OECD 'white list' status
• Tax and exchange control neutrality
• Requirement for a regulated open-ended Cayman Islands fund to have its audit signed off by an accounting firm located in the Cayman Islands.
• The other service-providers to the fund (investment managers, advisers, brokers, administrator, etc.) may be located anywhere in the world
There are three main hedge fund structures:
Companies. Companies are incorporated with limited liability, with open-ended investment companies issuing redeemable shares. The limited liability company is widely used for hedge funds.
Unit Trusts. The unit trust is a popular vehicle and Cayman Islands trust law essentially follows English trust law whereby unit trusts are established under a trust deed giving unit holders undivided beneficial interests in the trust property. Unit trusts are often used, in place of companies, for investors in jurisdictions where participation in a unit trust is more acceptable or attractive than shares in a company.
Exempted Limited Partnerships. The exempted limited partnership concept follows its Delaware counterpart and is very popular with U.S. managers. Closed-ended/private equity funds are most commonly established in the Cayman Islands as exempted limited partnerships.
Hedge funds are formed in the Cayman Islands and are registered mutual funds under Section 4 (3) of the Cayman Islands Mutual Funds Law. The minimum initial investment into a registered mutual fund by all investors, other than persons connected to the investment manager, is at least US$100,000.
Payment Policy
A retainer equal to 60% of the total fee is required up-front with the balance due upon presentation of the first draft of the fund documents. Payments can be made in U.S. Dollars ($). Our preferred form of payment is bank wire transfer, banking details will be provided on request. Once payment has been received in full the client questionnaire will be sent via email.


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Bianco's Restaurant Italiano, Torquay
Bianco's Restaurant Italiano
38 Torwood Street
Tel: 01803 293430
Refurbished with style the Classic "Ristorante Italiano" Bianco's will continue to please!
An intimate and romantic Italian restaurant located two minutes from the Strand and Clock Tower serving authentic Italian Cuisine.
The staff here are very friendly and experienced and guide the guests skilfully through a menu packed with classic Italian recipes in contempary and relaxing surroundings.
Look out for the specials board featuring fresh local sea food!
Indeed, the menu uses some of the best fresh and local ingredients with dishes like Fettuccine Carbonara,
Fine strips of pasta served "al dente" in a sauce of smoked bacon, cream and Parmesan cheese always a great hit with diners.
Its a perfect start to a romantic evening before a visit to the famous Torquay Theatre or a quiet walk along the seafront near by.
Further Details
Proprietor Mauro has owned Bianco's for over 20 years and always extends a warm and friendly welcome to his Classic Italian Restaurant.
From a romantic candlelit dinner for two to a party of 70, Bianco's years of experience will ensure you are looked after in an intimate and contempory setting.
This restaurant page has been visited 21,410 times
Children's Play Area:
Disabled Facilities:
Wheel Chair Access:
There is wheelchair access with a small step to negotiate.
Ample parking is available near by
Smoking Area:
Split on two levels the restaurant can cater for up to 70 people
Best Seats:
Window seats are always popular
Wine List:
2 white and 1 house red on offer with a selection of some 30 other wines available.
Private function room upstairs for up to 28 covers.
Price Range:
From £4.95 to £18.95
Menu Summary:
Classic Italian
Vegetarian Options:
Good selection of vegetarian options available including cannelloni al forno - pasta tubes filled with fresh spinach, ricotta cheese and nutmeg topped with napoletana sauce, bechamel and melted cheese.
Sample Dish:
Tagliatelle ala marinara - strips of pasta in a seafood sauce with prawns, mussels, cockles and cream with a hint of tarragon and basil.


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10 Year OldUpdated Monday February 12, 2018 by Shades Mountain Park.
Games are played on Fields #1 and #4
Commissioner - TBD (email: email@example.com )
This league's intent is to develop baseball fundamentals, encourage participation and emphasize the fun of playing the game. Teams in this league will play 9 players in the field. All players on the team will be included in the batting lineup (continuous bat is in effect). Players will have the opportunity to learn how to pitch and steal bases (with lead-offs).
|SMP 9-10YO Baseball Rules - Approved Feb 11, 2018.pdf


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New Delhi: Uber on Wednesday launched a nationwide campaign called "Decongest India", starting with New Delhi, to curb congestion and pollution.
As part of the campaign, the cab aggregator will focus on reducing congestion through shared mobility across Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Bengaluru in the coming days.
The campaign's inaugural leg in New Delhi was announced in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and northeast Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari.
"We are delighted that Delhites have embraced shared mobility in a big way. The citizens of Delhi can do their bit to make their city more liveable by car-pooling and taking public transport," said Shweta Rajpal Kohli, head of public policy for Uber India and South Asia, in a statement.
"We will continue to engage with the government to bring home the promise of shared mobility for a profound impact in reconfiguring the stressed and overburdened urban mobility landscape of New Delhi," Kohli added.
Supporting the campaign, Sisodia said: "I would like to congratulate Uber on the launch of Decongest Delhi. The Delhi government supports any initiative towards the reduction of congestion in the city."
Also Read: Facebook hires former Uber PR chief Rachel Whetstone
The campaign is aimed to draw attention to key issues like incentivising car pooling, reducing dependency on parking, developing alternatives to private car ownership and complementing public transport by providing affordable and reliable mobility options that help cover the last mile.
"More than 30 per cent of our total trips in Delhi are pool trips. As more people in more cities use 'UberPOOL', it will help contribute to the future that Uber has already begun to create -- more people in fewer cars, fewer people owning cars and fewer cars on the road," Prabhjeet Singh, General Manager, Uber India, said.
A report "Moving Delhi Forward: The Case for Decongestion" was also released on the occasion which identifies ways to promote shared mobility and increased use of public transport.
According to the Delhi Parking Policy released in June 2017, the city has more than one crore registered vehicles, of which over 90 per cent are private vehicles.


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I'm thrilled to be performing at National Sawdust on January 6th with my duo Nelson Patton and special guest Lonnie Holley. Part of their Ferus Festival, we will share the bill with renowned violinist Rebecca Fischer (of the Chiara Quartet) performing excerpts from The Afield.
About the Ferus Festival:
Every January, VisionIntoArt presents FERUS, a designated incubation period, which showcases new projects in a workshop performance setting. A four-day extravaganza of new music, theater, and visuals, VIA's FERUS Festival features discoveries from innovative international and local artists.


text: "It's hard to put into words just how easy and enjoyable it was to work with Jordan. He is an amazing artist with incredible talent and an eye for those perfect shots. He did a wonderful job with my wedding portraits, but what really amazed me was his ability to capture those special candid moments full of life and emotion so incredibly well. He was very professional yet fun and did a great job at making me feel relaxed and natural. I could not be more happy with the pictures I received from him. Thanks so much, Jordan!" - Delight and Robby (Missouri)


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As we've established on this page, Facebook ads are currently the single greatest dollar that you can spend on marketing if you're a restaurant. Well, I'd argue that there's nothing better that you can spend your money on almost anywhere.
So why are you still advertising like it's 2009?
They're ads that don't show up on the page timeline, but only in the timelines of those you target with the ads. So they're "dark" to the public. Pretty easy to do, just spend a few minutes on YouTube to research them.
"Cohorts" are fancy names for groups. For example, I have a client who has a cigar smoking room in their bar. For those ads, I have a few different cohorts. First are cigar smoking men age 25-35, different ad for 35-55, etc. Then golf playing women who drink alcohol age 25-35, 35-55, etc. Then single men who drink Guinness/single malt scotch, single women on Snapchat, African American men who drive fancy cars within 5 miles, etc. For each, I use a similar image adjusted for demographics, but the ad copy is aimed at the different cohorts.
Test, then retest and retest until you have a solid 8,000 person list that you can hammer for a month or so to go along with your 5-10,000 person "Voltron List." Then repeat the cycle the next month, and the next eliminating the worst performing ads and testing out new groups. And so on...
Doing this will make your clients happy and will allow you to charge more once they feel the difference.


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"Fleming deftly illustrates the pain of those who choose to leave Syria...and her book is ultimately a story of hope." —Newsweek
The Alex Awards are given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18.
The award is sponsored by the Margaret A. Edwards Trust. Edwards pioneered young adult library services and worked for many years at the Enoch Pratt Library in Baltimore. Her work is described in her book Fair Garden and the Swarm of Beasts, and over the years she has served as an inspiration to many librarians who serve young adults. The Alex Awards are named after Edwards, who was called "Alex" by her friends.
2017 Discover Great New Writers Selection


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Though a not-so-good student of history in high school, as a traveler history has me enthralled. To see what a person yearns for, fights for, gathers, wages wars for, amassing wealth and territories, the opulence and grandeur of an era gone by...all these hold a great fascination to me.
Yet, a visit to Casa Loma palace bowled me over for a different reason altogether. Princes, kings, queens, lords living in opulence is well-established in history but for a common man like you and me living in a palace is a dream and that is what Sir Henry Pellatt aimed for. He built and lived in a palace, the grandeur of which is beyond the wildest dreams of a common man.
Pellatt rose from a very humble origins as a stock broker. He made fortunes through his ambitious hydro-electric and railway projects. His larger-than-life persona sought to make a mark in history in the form of this grand castle in the North of Toronto built on the top of a hill in 1914.
|Casa Loma on a foggy day
The very ambitious plan for the castle consisted of 98 rooms, 30 bathrooms, magnificent fireplaces, 3 bowling alleys, a swimming pool, a rifle range and huge grounds all around for walking. The best architect was hired to plan the construction of the palace, begun in 1911, with the help of 300 men at a total cost of 3.5 million dollars.The best of mahogany, oak, walnut, teak and marble from across the world used for the interiors added another 1.5 million dollars to the cost.
The Hunting Lodge and the stables right across Casa Loma were constructed first. It also housed the servants' quarters. It is said that each of the stables had the name of the horse embellished in gold.
|The Hunting Lodge and servants' quarters
When the city built a road cutting across this property, Pellatt had a long 800-ft tunnel connecting the palace to the Hunting Lodge dug beneath the street. This long passage is said to have helped Pellatt protect himself from cold winters while walking from the palace to the stables.
The ground floor of the palace consisted of a palatial main hall at the entrance, a large library with a collection of 10000 books, the dining and serving areas, Pellatt's study and the impressive conservatory.
An example of Pellatt's ambitious plan is his collection of 50 various telephone instruments in the castle, accounting for more than half the telephones in Toronto, with its own exchange system.
|One of the 50 phones in the palace
|Pellatt's study
The Oak room was one of the most formal rooms with grand interiors where Pellatt entertained important guests. Off the Oak Room are the huge Smoking Room and the Billiards Room.
|The Oak Room
Between the huge library and the conservatory was the equally spacious dining room. A passage from the kitchen led to the Serving Room where all dishes were assembled before serving. Attached was a small hideaway where the orchestra would play in the background
The first floor consisted of palatial bedrooms of Henry Pellatt and Lady Pellatt. Only the rich could afford a bedroom each for the husband and wife in those days.The bedrooms showcased exhibits brought from all over the world.
Apart from the many bedrooms for guests, he had a special bedroom, the Windsor Room, for the Queen. Ambitious as he was, he hoped that one day he would boast of a Royal visit.
|In anticipation of a Royal visit
|The fireplace in Windsor room
The post-war recession witnessed Pellatt's fast-depleting reserves. He owned 1.7 million dollars to the Home Bank which collapsed in 1923. Adding to his woes, the property tax increased from $600 a year to $1000 a month! In addition, mounting fuel costs for heating the palace, the cost of maintaining the 40 servants, the lavishly-held parties which had the who's who of those times...all these led to Pellatt's bankruptcy.
The couple had to move out of the palace in 1924. Lady Pellatt died shortly after of a heart attack
Most of the assets in the palace were auctioned to repay debts.The artifacts lovingly gathered from all over the world were given away at throw-away prices: "A Persian rug for the cost of a doormat." Pellatt is said to move out with just three van full of belongings.
The grandiose plans for the palace were never completed and the whole of the second floor lies vacant. Once abandoned, the palace lay itself wide open to heavy vandalization. Not knowing what to do with the palace, the city thought of demolishing this 'appalling' structure at a point of time.
It is now restored and is open to public view. It is also used for conducting events and film shootings. In the now Gift Shop, you can see plans for the three bowling alleys.The grandly planned swimming pool houses the theater which runs a documentary film on Henry Pellatt.
Pellatt's story has me awed due to his sheer guts and gumption in building this palace. Common people would never dream of such ostentation but he dared to dream beyond the possible, to live in this imposing structure even if it was for nine years only. He shrugged away the label of being mad for his seemingly absurd plans. He had one son who in turn isn't survived by a progeny.
He never regained that opulence but yes, some redemption for Sir Henry Pellatt as people turned out in thousands to bear witness to his funeral procession held on a cold winter day in March, 1939.
(Most of what I have written comes from the audio tour provided during my visit to the palace and looking up several articles on the internet.)


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Every Pixar Movie Role John Ratzenberger Has Played
Voice actor John Ratzenberger is Pixar's good luck charm and has appeared in every single one of their movies. Here's every role he's had.
Every Pixar Movie Ranked From Worst To Best
Pixar has released 21 movies in 24 years, and we've ranked them all - from the first Toy Story in 1995, all the way to this year's Toy Story 4.
10 Amazing Hidden Details in Disney Films
These tiny details in Disney/Pixar movies may have been missed by most audiences, but show the movies are more connected than you'd think.
10 Movie Theories That Completely Change Popular Films
Sometimes, a fan theory can turn a classic movie into an incredible one, thinking up twists or hidden messages that put the writers to shame.
10 Amazing Hidden Details In Disney Films
Plenty of movies include easter eggs and inside jokes, but Disney and Pixar take it to a whole new level. Here are some of our favorites!
20 Best Characters From Pixar Movies
Pixar Animation Studios has spun out hundreds of animated characters, but there are only 20 that top the charts as the best.
12 Pixar Spinoff Movies We Want To See
Edna Mode, Bruce, the witch from Brave- who else is ready to go from supporting character to star? Check out these 12 spinoff ready Pixar characters.
10 Hidden Clues to Pixar's Shared Universe
Finding enough evidence to support a single 'Pixar Universe' takes time, but we've singled out some of the clearest easter eggs and clues.
US Postal Service Releasing 2011 Pixar-Related Postage Stamps
In 2011, the US Postal Service is releasing a series of Pixar-related postage stamps adorned with the characters from 'Cars,' 'Ratatouille,' 'Toy Story,' 'Up,' and 'WALL*E.'
SR Pick: Financial Success of Pixar Infographic
A new infographic details the costs and earnings of every Pixar animated feature to date. It's interesting info presented in an eye-catching way. Check it out.
SR Pick: Honest Oscars Movie Posters
Courtesy of College Humor, check out this collection of "honest" movie posters, which spoof this year's Oscars Best Picture Nominees.
82nd Academy Awards Winners List & Recap
Check out the list of winners for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards and our recap of the new format for the 2010 Oscars Ceremony!
Avatar Leads 2010 Saturn Awards Nominations
The nominations are out for the 36th Annual Saturn Awards and predictably movies like Avatar, Inglourious Basterds and The Hurt Locker lead the way. Read on to find out the full list
The Oscars: 82nd Academy Award Nominations [Updated]
Here are the movies, actors and directors who are in the running for the 2010 Oscars - who do you think should win?
The Top 10 Movie Moments of 2009
Instead of trying to rank the best movies of 2009, here's our list of the best movie scenes of the past year.
10 Movie Events That Shaped the Decade (For Movie Fans)
Did you think we wouldn't do a 10 year look-back at movies? Here's our list of the most significant movie events of this decade.


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Not even Sergey Brin, Google's co-founder and the man reportedly driving this tough new stance with China, is sure how this story will play out.
As he told the New York Times, after two rounds of "back and forth" with the Chinese authorities, Google is still unclear how the Chinese will react .
"There's a lot of lack of clarity," he said, "Our hope is that the newly begun Hong Kong service will continue to be available in mainland China." Before adding: "The story's not over yet."
At the time of writing – midday on March 23 in Beijing – Chinese internet users were still able to access the re-routed search service on the Hong Kong page which carried a note in Chinese saying "Welcome to Google Search in China's new home."
However, searches from within China for sensitive topics, such as "Tiananmen Square Incident" were still blocked to internet users in mainland China thanks to the Great Firewall.
The question now being asked is whether the Chinese government will move to further punish Google by blocking the re-routed Google.cn site, at the cost of highlighting the extent of internet censorship in China to its own public.
The initial reaction from China's State Council Information Office was hostile, describing the decision to halt censoring as "totally wrong", apparently rendering flimsy Mr Brin's hopes (disingenuous or otherwise) that the Hong Kong search would be allowed to continue unmolested.
While some analysts see the Hong Kong strategy as a potentially elegant compromise to an apparently intractable dispute, others like Dr Mathew McDougall, CEO of SinoTech Group, one of China's leading online advertising agencies see an inevitable new round of confrontation ahead.
"It looks to us as if Google has thumbed its nose at China with this Hong Kong strategy. They've tried to be clever by exploiting a legal loophole, but that's surely going to anger the authorities.
"We're already taking bets in the office as to how long the Hong Kong-routed Google.cn stays open. My take is that the Chinese will close it down by the end of the day."
In practice, that will mean blocking the Google.cn domain name in China, so that Chinese internet users will simply receive a 'page not available' message when they attempt to log on to Google.
However, as Rebecca MacKinnon, Assistant Professor at the University of Hong Kong's Journalism and Media Studies Centre points out in her blog, such a move would only highlight the extent censorship in China .
"If they [the Chinese government] are smart they will just leave the situation as is and stop drawing media attention to their censorship practices," she writes.
"The longer this high profile fracas goes on, the greater Chinese Internet users awareness will be about the lengths to which their government goes to blinker their knowledge of the world." If China was to take that course of action, users would then have to wait and see what impact it would have on other Google services such as Gmail, Google maps and music downloads.
Many analysts believe that China, which has a history of backing down in the face of angry internet users, would not risk the wrath of hundreds of thousands, possibly millions of users by blocking access to those services.
However at the moment nothing is impossible. The ball is now in China's court; as Sergey Brin so correctly observed, "The story's not over yet."


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Dassier, John (DNB00)
DASSIER, JOHN (1676–1763), medallist, born at Geneva on 17 Aug. 1676, was the son of Dominic Dassier, engraver to the Geneva mint. He was sent to Paris in his eighteenth year to receive instruction in die-cutting from Mauger, and afterwards from Roettier. He obtained, at least as early as 23 June 1711 (Blavignac), a post at the Geneva mint, where he was occupied till his death. He worked chiefly in conjunction with his father till the death of the latter in 1718. In 1720 Dassier began his series of celebrated persons of the age of Louis XIV. It consisted of seventy-two medals. This was followed by his series of twenty-four medalets of celebrated men of the Reformation period, nine of whom were natives of or partial residents in Great Britain. In the reverse inscription of a medal of Archbishop Wake made in 1725, Dassier dedicates the whole series to him. According to Fuessli, Dassier journeyed to London in 1728 and received and declined an offer of employment at the English mint. Walpole (Anecdotes), however, says that Dassier was 'never in England,' though an offer of employment at the Mint was made to him through his brother James Dassier. In 1731 Dassier dedicated to George II his well-known series of medals of English sovereigns from William I to George II. The series was published by subscription at six guineas the set for thirty-three medals in copper, and at fifteen guineas in silver. A set from the cabinet of George III. is in the British Museum. Some years ago the dies came into the hands of Mr. Thomason of Birmingham, who issued new sets. The whole series was well engraved by Pye in six plates, accompanied by 'An Explanation of Dassier's Medals of the Sovereigns of England' [London, 1797], fol. (see also the Medallic History of England, and Hawkins, Medal. Illust. i. 1). Dassier's other English medals are: 1. Medals in the reformer series (see Med. Illust. ii. 724). 2. Shakespeare, from the Chandos Portrait, rev. Landscape. 3. Francis Bacon, rev. Aurora holding veil. 4. John Selden, rev. Scientia seated. 5. John Milton, rev. Adam and Eve. 6. John Locke (2 varieties). 7. Marlborough, rev. Victory and piles of arms. 8. Sir I. Newton (two types; see Med. Illust. ii. 470, Nos. 84, 85). 9. Dr. Samuel Clarke. 10. Alliance of George I with the Emperor Charles VI (Med. Illust. ii. 442). 11. Death of George I (1727). 12. Prince Frederick (1729). 13. Queen Caroline [1731?].
In 1738 Dassier became a member of the Geneva council of Two Hundred. In 1740 he undertook by subscription and finished in 1743 a series of sixty medalets commemorating the chief events in Roman history (see the Explication des médailles gravées par J. Dassier et fils représentant une suite de sujets tirés de l'Histoire romaine,' &c. [Paris, 1778] 8vo). In 1744 he visited Turin and made a medal of the king of Sardinia, who received him kindly. On his return to Geneva he worked industriously in the preparation of seals and medals. He died 15 Oct. 1763. There is no complete list of his very numerous foreign medals, but many of them are enumerated in Koehler's 'Münz-Belustigung,' Theil xvii. 434–6, in the 'Leipziger gel. Zeit.' 1725, pp. 75–80, 1726, pp. 199–200, and Senebier, iii. 308–12. His medal signatures are, I. D., I. Dassier, Iean Dassier.[Fuessli's Geschichte der besten Künstler in der Schweitz, iv. 93–9; Senebier's Histoire littéraire de Genève, iii. 304–12; Hawkins's Medallic Illustrations of Hist. of Gt. Brit. ed. Franks and Grueber, ii. 723, 724; Walpole's Anecdotes of Painting, ed. Wornum, 762, 763; Vertue's MS. Memorials of Arts, &c., Brit. Mus. 23079, pp. 13b, 14a; Blavignac's Armorial genevois, 313–14; Von Haller's Schweizerisches Münz- und Medaillen Kabinet, p. 489 and Index; Koehler's Münz-Belustigung, Theil xvii. 434–6; Redgrave's Dict. of Artists of Eng. School; Nagler's Künstler-Lexikon; Bolzenthal's Skizzen zur Kunstgesch. der mod. Medaillen-Arbeit, p. 257; Poole's Cat. of Swiss Coins in South Kensington Mus., Index under 'I. A. [should be 'Iean'] Dassier;' Brit. Mus. Catal.; Dassier's Medals in Brit. Mus.]


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Ju-Rin, Crows Nest
I was catching up with two of my favourite people for lunch, Uncle and his lovely wife E. They suggested Ju-rin which is the sister restaurant of Hana-Jurin which is located in Crows Nest. To be honest, I don't eat in Crows Nest very often so didn't even know the restaurant existed. I have eaten at Sakanaya before but that was many many years ago.
Ju-rin offers diners special bento box which can be ordered at lunch times and has a great selection of options including tempura, sashimi, teriyaki beef, chicken which also includes miso soup, chawanmushi, seasonal appetisers and a bowl of rice.
I knew exactly what I wanted as I have been craving it for a while, chicken kaarage. The chicken karaage had a light batter and the meat was incredibly moist and tender. It totally hit the spot!
The chawanmushi, Japanese steamed egg dish was incredibly smooth and silky. I would have happily eaten another serving.
The miso soup which came with the lunch set was also tasty.
E had the sashimi set, the sashimi looked incredibly fresh and plump! Will definitely have to come back and try their sashimi / sushi next time.
With the lunch set, we were also given dessert – vanilla ice cream. It was ok, I think green tea ice cream would have been infinitely better.
It was relatively quiet that day, service was good and food was delicious and reasonably priced. Worth coming back, if only I had discovered this place earlier! Nevertheless, there are a lot of Japanese restaurants here in Hong Kong, so no doubt I will have my fix!
GA's ratings: 7 / 10
316 Pacific Highway
Crows Nest 2065
Ph: +61 2 9966 5811
August 16, 2012 at 6:00 am
Ju-Rin is our favourite restaurant in Crows Nest. I love the authenticity of it and the staff are always so friendly 🙂
August 16, 2012 at 7:07 am
I love Ju-Rin – it's the perfect weekend lunch spot for me as it's just up the road 🙂 I see heaps of people getting the lunch bento box but I can't go past their ox tongue udon especially in winter!
August 16, 2012 at 8:22 am
Looks yummy – that egg custard stuff looks tasty.
August 16, 2012 at 11:03 am
mmm… Now I'm craving some chicken karaage.


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Magico LLC, has just announced their first two subwoofers – the QSub-18 and the QSub-15. These two new subwoofers are based on their proven loudspeaker Q platform. Setting the QSubs apart from their competition is their capability to deliver a claimed 136 dB of sound pressure level at 20 Hz with less than 1% total harmonic distortion.
The QSub-18 weighs over 550 lbs. and has massive power handling capability of 8,000W. The QSub can reach an internal sound pressure level of to 175dB – the equivalent of a commercial jet at takeoff – with less than 1% displacement of common enclosures. Two massive woofers, each capable of 34mm of linear excursion and handling power of 8,000 Watts, are mounted in 2″ thick aluminum baffles and fire adversely in phase to cancel out driver-borne resonances and lower the tremendous internal pressure.
At the heart of the QSub is a revolutionary new digital amplifier equipped with a 7,000VA power supply and regulated output stage. Designed to operate in two channel music or theater systems, the QSub has an onboard digitally-controlled active crossover for seamless integration with main loudspeakers. The controller can also be bypassed for home theater use.
The QSub is a fairly compact unit that will not invade the listening environment, and can be ordered in Magico's M-CAST range of satin colors or their signature hard black anodized finish. Magico will be demonstrating the QSub-18 at CEDIA 2013 in Denver, Colorado at Booth 3812 from September 26 – 28.
Driver complement: 2 x 18" QSub-18; 2 x 15" QSub-15
Sensitivity: 90dB
Impedance: 4 Ohms
Frequency Response: 15 Hz – 150 kHz
Dimensions QSub-18: 25.4"H x 37"D x 25.4"W (65cm x 94cm x 65cm)
Net Weight: 570 lbs. (258 kg.)
Dimensions QSub-15: 22"H x 27"D x 22"W (56cm x 69cm x 56cm)
Net Weight: 350 lbs. (158 kg.)
Both the QSubs are expected to start shipping between October and Decmber 2013 at the following MSRP: QSub-18 is $36,000 U.S.and the QSub-15 is $22,000 U.S. Hard anodized finished is available at an additional cost. Look for more details at: www.magico.net.
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The nice guy of British boxing Ricky Burns is a professional lightweight boxer and boxing speaker who, still only in his thirties, has shown great promise and successfully challenged and maintained several titles in his career thus far.
Starting as a boxer and sports speaker straight out of school Burns has been applauded for maintaining a positive attitude throughout the peaks and troughs of his professional career, despite a number of defeats Burns has always heralded every loss as an experience and feels privileged to have competed against a number of world famous lightweight and super-featherweight boxers.
The overall, and awe-inspiring, success of his career remains overwhelming however and in his work as a boxing speaker Burns discusses both his defeats and successes; he is one of the most amiable and personable sports speakers working in the boxing industry. With a charming but friendly personality Ricky Burns has established himself as one of the most popular boxing speakers currently working on the after dinner speaker circuit.
The highlight of Burns' career thus far is arguably his outpointed defeat of Ghana's Osumana Akaba which gained Burns the Commonwealth Championship in 2008; Burns speaks proudly of this win in his capacity as a sports speaker, he is grateful for the opportunity to represent his country and has attended a number of after dinner speaker events as a renewed British champion.
To book Ricky Burns as the boxing speaker for your corporate event, function or conference, simply contact the Champions Speakers agency by emailing email@example.com or by calling a booking agent directly on 0207 1010 553.
When at corporate events, Ricky is known to cover the following topics:
- Boxing Speaker
- Drive & Determination
- Peak Performance
- Boxing Success
- Accepting Defeat
- Performing Under Pressure
- Overcoming Adversity


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Tomato rice is one of the best rice dish in my opinion. Because it gives a very tangy taste and i love it. Even in my family also every one likes it. When i got newly married i was not sure to pack this rice for my hubby in his lunch bcoz i had no idea whether he will like it or not. Few months back i wanted to give something different for his lunch. Without telling him i packed tomato rice for his lunch box and he liked it very much and he requested me to give tomato rice very often. My recipe is very different from a usual tomato rice. Do try and let me know..
2cup Raw rice
3tbsp green peas
1 Bay leaf, 1 Cinnamon stick, 2 Cardamoms, 2 dry red chillie
2 Onions, 2 green chillies (finely sliced)
1 1/2tsp ginger-garlic paste
1 hand full of mint leaves
1tsp Kasoori methi
1tsp red chili powder, 1tsp turmeric, 1tsp coriander powder
1tsp Cumin
1/2cup curd
Tomato 3 (large red tomatoes, finely chopped)
Oil 2 tbsp
Salt to taste
Coriander leaves for garnish)
Cooking Method
Heat oil in a pressure cooker, add cumin, cinnamon, cardamoms and bay leaf stir fry 30 secs. Add the sliced onions and saute for 3mts. Add green chili, ginger-garlic paste, mint leaves and kasoori methi and saute for 4-5 mts. Add red chili powder turmeric and coriander powder and mix. Add chopped tomatos, curd, green peas and salt to taste, mix and cook till oil separates. Reduce heat, add the raw rice, mix gentely, then add 3cup of water, close the lid and pressure cook for 3whistles (1 in high flame 2 in low flame)
Remove onto a serving bowl. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves. Serve warm with raita or any curry of your choice.


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Wild Sorcery
Article written by Trampas Whiteman
Wild Sorcery (also known as "sorcery", "wild magic", or "primal sorcery") is the ambient arcane magic of the world. Primal Sorcery is characterized by the manipulation of the natural creative and elemental energies used in creating the world. Primal Sorcery was once thought to only affect non-living things, though this limitation seems to have been proven false after the War of Souls.
The power of sorcery was discovered in the year 403 AC (20 SC) when a mysterious figure known as the Shadow Sorcerer came out of the Desolation with strange magical powers, which she taught to Palin Majere.
The power of sorcery is in actuality the oldest form of magic. With the passing of the Greygem, the power of Primal Sorcery was boosted to levels that mortals could use. Following that, the power faded until after the Chaos War, when the power of Chaos infused the world, bringing sorcery to levels usable by mortals once again.
Primal Sorcery was primarily taught at the Academy of Sorcery, though the Knights of the Thorn and Legion of Steel were also amongst those who practiced it. The Academy taught that Primal Sorcery could be divided into categories known as "realms" (also referred to as "schools").
Magic of air, wind, vapors, and elemental creatures of air.
Magic of cold and ice.
Magic that allows a sorcerer to gain knowledge of the past, present, or future. Also allows a sorcerer to project his mind through time and space.
Magic of electricity and lightning, creating anything from a lightning bolt to a mild shock. Also said to have magnetic powers.
Enhancement (once known as "enchantment") is magic that imbues non-living objects with arcane energy.
Elemental magic of the earth.
Elemental magic of water.
Elemental magic of fire.
Magic of light and color, allowing a sorcerer to create illusions, darken a room, or seem invisible.
Magic of folding space, allowing a sorcerer to cross great distances without moving or bring an object or creature to the sorcerer's location.
Manipulation of non-living matter, with which a sorcerer can turn lead into gold or water into wine.
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Goodbye, ChristmApocalypse! Goodbye, Frigid Festival 2015! Whether at rehearsal dancing around to Tom Waits or in the audience at another artist's show, I had such an amazing time. And what better way to end the festival with winning Best Sounds Design at last night's Frigid Awards Closing Ceremony? Yes!
From The ChristmApocalypse in FRIGID 2015, posted by Brain Melt Consortium on 3/09/2015 (100 items)
Generated by Facebook Photo Fetcher 2
ChristmApocalypse, you are a dark and truly twisted world. See you soon. In the meantime, here are Kelly Stuart's fantastic production photos!


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A Firewall performs a different function to an Anti-Virus. Firewalls basically monitor the incoming and outgoing network connections of your PC(or network). They can allow or refuse connections to your PC based on specific ports or web addresses.
An Anti-Virus scans files and/or emails and websites to look for harmful applications.
So, unless an Anti-Virus is trying to send network traffic, a Firewall should not interfer with it's operation. The only time a Firewall is likely to interfer is if the Anti-Virus software is trying to download updates through a route that is blocked by the Firewall. In this case you would open the Firewall and set it to allow the right port or web address.
If you are worried something is being blocked by the firewall, turn it off momentarily and see if that fixes your problem. If it does then turn the Firewall back on and set it to allow the program/port.
Don't forget of course that a router can also block ports, and will come with most ports blocked by default.
To check your firewall status go to www.canyouseeme.org from the PC in question and enter a port number you believe to be open/shut and this site will tell you if it is open or not. Looking at your firewall and router you will be able to tell where the issue with said port is.
Register Hereor login if you are already a member


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Read more about expert cake maker and decorator Emma Fuller of Velvet Fig
Parkin is not just for Bonfire Night, of course, but there's nothing like munching on a square of this treacly and slightly chewy cake while watching the fireworks! Wrap into greaseproof parcels and hand out with mugs of steaming hot chocolate. https://localfoodbritain.com/recipes/richly-spiced-bonfire-night-parkin/
Thanks to Emma Fuller, Dorking's cake design expert, for this chocolate brownie recipe. To view Emma's designs and find out about cake parties, visit At The Cake House page. If… https://localfoodbritain.com/recipes/easter-gift-to-make-chocolate-brownies/
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By Roger (13 Mar 2014)
While you're thinking of putting emotion and feeling into your photos, don't forget the stepchild of artistic attitudes – humor. As "serious" artists, we prefer to concentrate on "deeper and more meaningful" topics. OK, I'll buy that, but we don't have to confine ourselves to only those serious subjects. Photos that make you smile can, also, have deep and meaningful effects. How else can you explain all the inane kitten and puppy photos that clog the interwebs?
Humor can be a hard topic because there are so many interpretations of what is funny, and these vary from person to person and place to place. There are no guaranteed formulas to evoke laughter or even a chuckle. I've seen this in my own family. I consider myself to be riotously funny, but my children frequently just roll their eyes at my antics and jokes. I'm not sure why they are so challenged, but I'm pretty sure it's my wife's fault.
Animal photos are, indeed, very popular, but, really, are you laughing at the photo or the "witty" comments someone has appended to the photo? Maybe both? I don't find the photos that humorous, but that may be because I'm not a pet owner. I have taken an occasional photo of my children's pets in cute situations, but I'm not sure they qualify as humor. Would you consider this as funny?
Speaking of fuzzy, little animals, children are a great subject for humorous photos. They draw your viewer in with the cute factor and provoke a smile with some silly behavior. Usually, the child doesn't even know they're doing something funny; they're just being themselves. Those are my favorite shots to get.
Props can help you create a humorous shot. The props can be staged locations, as in the egg photo. There are probably a million similar shots to that one – heck, everybody in the county put a kid inside the egg and took a snapshot. But you don't care if that child belongs to your family. (And she does – you can tell that by how cute she is.)
The props might be perfectly natural to the scene you are shooting, but help to tell the humorous story, like the empty raft. Part of humor is timing, and I was really happy with the timing here. I had made many shots at this small waterfall during the day, and I knew I could count on several people being dumped here.
Comparing this to that can be humorous. The man on the right is shorter than some, but certainly not tiny. However, he is standing next to Kevin McBride, who was a professional boxer (he knocked out Mike Tyson) and is a BIG man.
Look for things out of synch with the scene. Incongruity is always a winner. This is a Texan, defending the Alamo. How in the world did they lose if they had that technology? Sam Houston must have missed that text.
I think it's harder for me to find humorous shots without people in them, but this one almost qualifies. When I was in the old historic section of Krakow, Poland, it was nigh impossible to find a parking spot. When I walked around the corner, I saw an open spot near a cathedral. As I looked up at the cathedral, I saw this image. The angels and saint, directly above the open spot. I laughed and took the shot.
Unless you're creating situations on purpose, you may have to look around to find humorous photographs; however, rest assured, they are out there. Be alert and look for them. They may not be the next masterpiece you print big, on canvas, and hang on your wall, but they keep the fun in photography. That's why I do this stuff.
*** If you're still trying to figure out the strange title of this blog, go to Google, and look up the name of the bone in your upper arm. ;-)


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WEBER'S iGRILL 3
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Become the culinary genius you aspire to be - no training necessary. Each Genesis® II and Genesis® II LX gas grill comes iGrill 3 Ready. The iGrill 3 monitors food from beginning to end, and notifies you once it has reached the perfect temperature to take off the grill. Download the Weber iGrill app to explore all of the features and social media opportunities that the iGrill 3 has to offer.
Works with Genesis II and Genesis II LX Grills


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The 2015 TaG Award: Game-off number 2
This year's TaG award has been progressing a little slowly, partly as one of the shortlisted games is one that requires some logistical effort to get to the table and we needed to have the time and space available at the same time that Miss B felt like playing something that would take more than a few minutes. But this weekend, the day arrived when we could play both Catacombs and Lift Off in the same session.
The problematic game here is, of course, Catacombs, as a full game would probably take us something like two hours, plus setting up the copious quantities of components and putting them away again afterwards turns this game into a major (though really fun) undertaking. We have decided to trim the game down to just three rooms (roughly half the normal game) for our normal plays. This makes the game far less challenging for the heroes than it would normally be, but in the case of Catacombs, the aim is definitely more to have fun than it is to win, so if we can have fun in a manageable time then we all win.
As you may remember, Catacombs is a dexterity-based dungeon crawl game. One or more players control a team of adventurers, represented by wooden discs, who fight their way through a series of monster-infested rooms by flicking their discs at other discs representing the monsters. Add a smattering of special abilities and there is space for a load of fun to be had.
For this particular play we opened up one of the expansions that we got from the Kickstarter project, "Chicks in a Catacomb". I can't stress just how cool this little expansion is, largely because it goes so strongly against the way fantasy games usually go. In most games where there are individual characters, there is often a single, token female. Runebound 2nd edition is better than most, with three female characters available, but this is out of a total of twelve, and I won't go into the appearance of the women. The base set of Catacombs has six playable characters, two male, two female, plus one undead and one chicken (yes, really), both of uncertain gender. The Chicks in a Catacomb expansion, despite its less than PC title, adds four new female characters which all have unique awesomeness to them. Miss B very much approves, as do I.
As usual, I was the Overseer, controlling the monsters against Miss B's all-girl team of adventurers. We had a really good time with this, and I was really proud of the way Miss B dealt with failures at various times. It wasn't long ago that we might have got very close to tears if things went wrong, but not this time. Though it must be said that it never really looked like the adventurers would fail this time. And eventually the evil sorcerer Vasesak was defeated.
After a load of packing stuff away and a short break, we got Lift Off! Get Me Off This Planet out for its first play in some time. It was also a game we got from a Kickstarter project, but it is a lot lighter than Catacombs — though the box is even more dense, thanks to the generous quantities of cardboard inside.
By way of a reminder, Lift Off! is a game about trying to help aliens escape from their home planet, which is going to explode very soon. You collect cards which allow you to access four different lift off points (from a sizable selection, which vary from game to game) and, hopefully get off the planet; each lift off point has different (generally simple) rules dictating how it works, and sometimes you have to cooperate with your opponents to, well, lift off.
The game is very much a family game, with very simple rules and some of the cutest presentation of a boardgame I have seen, from the lovely board graphics to the absolutely adorable "alieneeples" that you have to rescue.
This time we were chugging along, having a nice time (which got a little bit weird when one of the lift off points, the Star Gate, suddenly vanished to be replaced by a teleport pad) when Miss B suddenly, without warning, sent the "Garglore" (a monster that gets in the way of launches) to the satellite station, preventing my guys from escaping and allowing hers some extra time to secure the win. It was a well-timed play that she was apologising for for the rest of the game, despite me telling her that it was a totally cool move and it was not only OK but really neat that she did it.
So, an eight-year-old that makes killer moves but feels remorse for them.
We got through the game pretty quickly and as we were packing up, I asked Miss B which game she thought was the winner. There was no hesitation before she announced that Catacombs had the edge. She clarified that it was pretty close, but not as close as last time, so she didn't feel that we needed a formal scoring system like we used in the first game-off. She did say, though, that Lift Off! is definitely great and that we should play it more often.
So, we now know this year's finalists: Catacombs will be meeting The Witches to decide the 2015 TaG award winner.
Our month in gaming: August
August was an excellent month for gaming for us, though actually we didn't do so well on the 10×10 challenge. But more on that later. The month saw a great games afternoon with friends, as well as a holiday to see the part of the family in Ireland, meaning that we got to play a couple of games on a ferry, which is good for novelty.
As you have probably seen, we also began this year's TaG Award process, but unfortunately we've been a bit slack about progressing the contest. Hopefully we'll get to have the Catacombs vs Lift Off! session to determine the second finalist very soon…
The headline numbers for August are that we played 25 different games, for a total of 39 plays. Our top game for the month was actually Boggle Slam!, with 5 plays (which reminds me that we haven't done a write-up on that yet), followed closely by 6, with 4 plays, Te Kuiti with 3, and on 2 plays each there were Apples to Apples, Citadels (awesome to have this back from the wasteland), EcoFluxx, Magic The Gathering, and The Hare and the Tortoise. A good spread of multiple plays there, I reckon.
So that leaves our leader board for the year so far with 6 finally taking the lead with 17 plays, overhauling Yardmaster Express, still on 16, then Backgammon on 11 and last year's winner Dobble on 10. All of these games have been played more times than anything was played last year, and the total games we have played so far this year has flown past the 2014 total. 2015 is turning out to be a good year for us and games.
As for the 10×10 challenge, we fell back a little through August, only adding 6 plays to the tally. However, I make it that we need a minimum of 27 more plays to complete the challenge, which means about 6½ plays per month would get us there, so we are still in with a very good chance. Miss B has gone off the idea of the dice games (Heckmeck and Dungeon Roll) in particular lately, but we'll see how things go.
Our current scores are as follows…
|Plays so far
|Love Letter
|Empire Express
|Apples to Apples
|Piece o' Cake
|Heckmeck am Bratwurmeck
|Dungeon Roll
(We have actually played an extra game of Backgammon, but it doesn't count for the challenge.)


text: Our culinary team utilizes our live cooking stations to effectively demonstrate the various modes of convection cooking along with the capabilities of the Wolf Grill and Griddle components. This demonstration introduces Wolf appliances and some cooking techniques to utilize in your own kitchen. These demos are both fun and informative—not to mention delicious!