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A little rain can't get a fitness industry optimist down, especially when an umbrella is close at hand. While the clouds of increased competition, Bally troubles and rising utility and interest rates may hover nearby, the fitness industry has reason to do a little singing (and maybe even some dancing) in the rain.
Despite the challenges of 2005, last year also was a year of triumphs from the continued bright performance of Minnesota-based Lifetime Fitness, to the $1.6 billion sale of 24 Hour Fitness, to the growth by national club companies (24 Hour Fitness, LA Fitness, Lifetime Fitness) and regional club chains (Lifestyle Family Fitness, Spectrum and Xsport).
Their growth in an adequate economy was spurred by readily available financing, something that also helped industry newcomers, says Rick Caro, president of New York City-based consulting company Management Vision. Real estate landlords also lent a helping hand as they were more willing to spend money to create club space, which made it easy and attractive for first time club operators to get started in the business.
2006 promises to be a year in which more private equity will be infused into the industry, Caro says. Private equity firms, which have been hovering around the industry for several years, are investing more as they see other private equity firms sell their fitness facility investments for a profit.
Increased investor interest in the industry will make it easier for new people to enter the club business, Caro says.
"I think there will be clubs of all different sizes and shapes and prices coming into the markets," Caro says. "The clubs that may not succeed will be those who are squeezed in the middle — those that are not well capitalized and are not well differentiated."
Competition will continue, particularly in the low-priced clubs, Caro says.
"There's an ease of entry at the low end where it is easy to open a pure gym without any real furnishings and cost to develop the physical plant," Caro says. However, that doesn't mean mid-priced or high-end clubs are a thing of the past. Mid-priced clubs just need to differentiate themselves, and certain people will always pay more for extra service and amenities at high-end clubs.
A growing population in the Northwest has led to a growing number of health clubs and increased competition in this region, says Aaron Culver, vice president of operations at Thrive Community Fitness in Anacortes, WA. The Thrive owners have three other clubs in Duvall, Redmond and Monroe, WA.
"Our focus is to develop the fitness industry in smaller outlying communities that are too small for the bigger chains," says Culver. He sees great prospects in the small town market as people there realize the importance of good health and the impact of exercise on the quality of life as they age.
Caro doesn't foresee much consolidation this year as companies stick to their own businesses.
"We're continuing to have lots of club companies stay the course," says Caro. A number of consistently performing regional club companies have stuck to their own backyards and remained in the industry for 15-20 years, maintaining the same leadership or successfully handing off leadership, he says.
Member Pull
Investor interest in the fitness business is being spurred by the obesity epidemic and growing club member numbers. Seventy percent of respondents to a Club Industry's Fitness Business Pro survey of fitness facility management expect membership at their facilities to increase in 2006 while 27 percent expect it to remain the same (although facility owners were a bit more optimistic last year when 77 percent expected an increase in membership in 2005 and only 17 percent expected it to remain the same).
The International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) estimates that 10 million Americans will join a for-profit health club in 2006. They will join an estimated 41.3 million current health club members (as of January 2005). That number doesn't include nonprofit memberships, which are difficult to calculate since those who join a YMCA, YWCA or Jewish Community Center may join for the programs and not for the fitness facility.
Caro predicts that accounting for attrition, total membership will grow 2 to 4 percent as an industry.
These new members will most likely be seniors and children. People over 55 years old represent 25 percent of new members while those under 18 years old represent 11 percent of new members.
"Statistics show that every minute, 5.5 people will turn 60 this year, so we are seeing an older population in our clubs," says Mark Miller, vice president of operations at Merritt Athletic Clubs in Baltimore. "With this comes different programs and service needs."
Not only will clubs need a new view on how to service older clients, but trainers also will need to deal with a wider array of medical issues, he says.
These two markets could affect the type of equipment that is popular this year. The over-55 market will help increase the popularity of low-impact equipment and exercise options (elliptical trainers and aquatic exercise), while the under 18 market could increase the use of high-tech, interactive fitness equipment (those featuring video game characteristics or virtual reality-style engines and GPS mapping systems that simulate outdoor activity).
Quick and Easy
As they did last year, express clubs will again have a significant influence on membership growth this year. The clubs — both women-only and men-only clubs — welcomed in a whole new set of users last year — those who had never before belonged to a club, says Caro. The trend became so popular that as existing clubs saw their success and the need for express options for their time-starved members, they, too, created express areas within their facilities.
And express clubs have helped alleviate the intimidation factor that people new to exercise often feel about fitness facilities, Caro says. At express clubs, members can wear what they want, and the express clubs within larger clubs are often set aside so people don't feel on display. The pricing is direct, easy and affordable, so it doesn't require a lot of thought about getting started. In addition, exercisers face each other while working out, which increases the social aspect of club membership — something that research shows is especially important to women and seniors.
As much as express facilities grew in 2005, it's no surprise that Caro predicts an exit for some in 2006, but he also predicts the opening of yet more express facility companies.
Part of the Group
While some industry consultants are predicting an exit for group exercise programming in the future, Caro supports this theory only as it pertains to clubs with limited capital costs and resources that can't afford to take risks and that have no margin for errors. For mid- and large-sized clubs, he sees 2006 as a year to get creative and original with group exercise programming. That may mean turning to pros to put together the programming.
"Les Mills and Body Training Systems have made a real difference in clubs because they created packages in how to organize classes, instructor training and choreographed classes, which has made a big difference in the standards of these classes," Caro says.
The American Council on Exercise predicts that fusion of mind-body programs with more traditional forms of exercise will continue in 2006, stating in its Fitness Predictions for 2006 report that by incorporating elements of mental and spiritual fitness, individuals will take better care of their entire being and psychological self, not just their bodies.
What members are looking for in their offerings varies. While 56 percent of members at the surveyed clubs participate in cardio training, personal training pulls in 36 percent and group exercise pulls in 28 percent.
The definition of fitness continues to expand, says Leslie Nolen, CEO of the Radial Group, which works with a variety of wellness-related businesses. Workout routines moved beyond classic resistance training and cardio workouts years ago, most recently adding a focus on core strength, balance and flexibility, she says.
Fitness will expand even more to include cognitive fitness (brain aerobics) that preserve and even enhance brain function and to include elasticity, which is the ability of the body to respond well to sudden environmental changes, such as tripping on uneven pavement, she says. This definition of fitness is even more important as aging Baby Boomers join clubs.
"Even Baby Boomers who have consistently followed structured and intense resistance training and cardio workouts for decades often change their workout habits in their late 40s and beyond," says Nolen. "They increasingly switch to mind/body workouts, notably yoga, and prefer less-intense cardio, often via lifestyle activity. This means that they are more likely to find 'fitness toy' workouts that use bands, balance trainers, video dance systems, etc., more appealing than dumbbells, barbells, total gyms and cardio machines."
Missing It
As the fitness industry moves forward, the trends will begin to lean toward obesity and weight control, Miller predicts.
"The key areas for clubs will be in bridging that gap between a sedentary life and physical activity," he says.
Technology, telecommuting, commuting long distances and two-income families result in less activity and less time for activity. Couple that with more fast food options and bigger portions and you get higher obesity rates, says Miller, who suggests that clubs will need to create family programs, support mechanisms and express services to get people moving.
Unfortunately, too many clubs are missing the opportunity in this area, says Caro.
"There is still a great need for weight-loss programming, and I don't see anyone doing that," says Caro. "The diet industry is three to four times bigger than the health club industry, and we aren't serving that group at all."
Clubs with nutritionists serve only a small number of members and that service is generally expensive and on a one-on-one basis with no group support, he says. Nolen goes even a step further in chastising the industry.
"Traditional health clubs often offer nothing more than a supplements-based program as their exclusive weight management offering," says Nolen. "This kind of program is usually 'one size fits all.' The primary focus is selling supplements, not offering a comprehensive weight management program."
Perhaps this is the year the industry will step up to the plate, especially since Nolen sees more integration between traditional fitness and medical wellness.
"At a grassroots level, fitness and wellness businesses are springing up that bring fitness professionals and healthcare professionals together to offer comprehensive programs to consumers," she says. "Forward-looking health clubs will offer nutritional counseling and fitness and exercise education and programming combined with psychological support. To do this, they bring together registered dietitians, certified and often degreed personal trainers, licensed psychological counselors and others."
Seeing Dollar Signs
Seventy-nine percent of facility owners surveyed expect an increase in revenue in 2006 compared to 2005. Nearly four in 10 respondents reported 2005 expected revenue of $1 million or more compared to just 33 percent who reported expecting this level last year.
Caro estimates that revenue will increase in low single digits.
"A lot of clubs are still not raising their dues enough," Caro says, "so it will have to come from more ancillary revenue and more members."
Eighty-three percent of those surveyed reported that personal training was a source of non-dues revenue. Class fees came in second at 45 percent, but that was a drop from 2004 when 64 percent of respondents reported that class fees were a source of non-dues revenue.
However, clubs still rely heavily on their dues for revenue, and some are raising their rates while others are lowering them, causing the number of mid-priced clubs to dwindle. The survey found that club dues were generally higher in 2005 than in 2004 as were initiation fees. Twenty-six percent of respondents charged under $30 per month (compared to 29 percent in 2004) while 27 percent charged $30-$39 (compared to 22 percent in 2004), 18 percent charged $40-$49 in 2005 (compared to 22 percent in 2004) and 14 percent charged $50-$74 in 2005 (compared to 19 percent in 2004). On the other end of the spectrum, 5 percent of clubs charged $75-$99 in 2005, which was an increase from 2004 when just 1 percent of clubs charged this amount. Ten percent of clubs charged $100 or more per month in 2005 compared to just 6 percent in 2004.
The majority of responding fitness facilities (39 percent) charged $80-$99 for initiation fees in 2005. However, 18 percent of facilities did not charge an initiation fee in 2005.
The joining fee at Thrive Community Fitness is $79 for an individual. Members then have two options for their monthly fees: group fitness, which includes classes and equipment, for $32 a month or just fitness for $22 a month. Instead of increasing membership fees this year, Thrive Community Fitness is offering the two options to members.
"We want to provide options for people to touch a bigger portion of the population," Culver says.
Culver expects his revenue to increase in 2006, especially with a renewed emphasis on personal training. The company revamped its training program to include full-time personal trainers, which was necessary because every member now gets two personal training sessions.
Ninety-nine percent of the membership at Thrive Community Fitness is on EFT.
"We put everyone on EFT," says Culver. "It's about as high as it can get. The 1 percent are unwilling to allow us to have access to billing information."
EFT has taken off at many clubs. EFT-generated funds now represent an average 50 percent of gross revenue, according to the survey. This is an increase over the 35 percent average in 2004.
Getting Bigger
With membership and revenue growth projections for 2006, it's no wonder that facility owners are also planning expansions. Thirty-seven percent of the survey respondents plan to expand their facilities in 2006. Most will do this by expanding the existing building (57 percent) although nearly half (48 percent) will open a new location.
Because financing is still available, the industry will see expansion in the two-to-five and the six-to-10 club categories, Caro says. However, this will depend on the deals that are available and how realistic a club is in wanting to be sold (and telling people that it wants to be sold since few brokers exist for the club industry). It will also depend on the thirst for growth of the acquiring club company and the dollar resources available, he says.
Culver has growth plans for his clubs. He plans to go into smaller communities and purchase some clubs to expand using the same model.
Fitness professionals may face challenges in 2006, but when the clouds clear, the sun will come out, and health clubs could see increased profits and more new members.
"It is a great time for our industry, and one with a ton of opportunities; we just need to seize them," says Miller. "We need to get the other 85 percent of the population into our clubs. That is the challenge and the opportunity."
- Retention
The poor attrition rate in the industry did not improve in 2005 and probably won't in 2006. That has Rick Caro, president of Management Vision, concerned.
"Nothing will change for clubs until they do a better job of doing member research to see what members are really thinking, not just suggestions in the suggestion box," Caro says. "And secondly, unless we have customer relationship management software, we don't know much about our members — what they do when they come in, how satisfied they are, what we could do to make them introduce prospects to us, how to get them to come in more consistently, how to get more money from them as far as things they are interested in."
- Small Clubs
The undercapitalized clubs, which are usually smaller, are so reactive that they have no room for error, says Caro. Because of this, few of them can deal profitably with any kind of change, especially if it's something unavoidable such as a long-ago agreed-upon lease that will increase this year, the minimum wage increasing or energy costs increasing. These clubs can do little to offset those uncontrollable factors, he says. If they cut back in other areas, then members could see it as a lesser facility and eventually the club may be forced to close, Caro says.
- Lack of Revenue Growth
"Many clubs are not getting proper price increases each year," says Caro. "They can't always count on getting more members each year; therefore, they need to grow revenue per member." Unfortunately, most clubs do a poor job of growing revenue in the areas of personal training, children's programming, leagues and lessons, he says.
- Disreputable Clubs
Aaron Culver's biggest concern about the industry is disreputable club owners and the impact they have on reputable club owners. Culver, who is vice president of operations at Thrive Community Fitness, says that a club operation in a nearby town sold $99, prepaid, year-long memberships up to the day that they closed. That club owner is embroiled in a legal battle that has caught the media's attention, which has drawn negative attention to the industry.
"It makes it difficult for the rest of the industry to ask for billing information when things like that happen," Culver says. "It's unfortunate because the rest of the honest club operators deal with the fall out."
ACE's Fitness Predictions For 2006
Teenagers and kids are using personal trainers for sport-specific training.
Clubs and trainers are offering more flexible workout sessions, including small-group personal training.
In-home training grows in popularity whether it's people working out alone in their home gym or bringing a personal trainer into their homes.
Specialized fitness programming for older adults is increasing.
Simple exercise habits, such as a walk a day, remain popular.
Balance training (Tai chi, yoga, Pilates) continues to be a strong trend, and equipment (e.g., foam rollers, wobble boards, Bosu balls, etc.) are among the fastest growing and most popular exercise options for adults.
Employers are encouraging fitness and weight loss.
More restaurants are offering healthier nutrition options.
Blending popular mind-body programs such as yoga and Pilates with more traditional forms of exercise is increasing.
Functional fitness continues its strong presence in personal training sessions and group fitness classes.


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Large earthquake strikes off coast of Chile
May 20, 2013, 10:31 AM EDT
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — A magnitude-6.5 earthquake struck off the coast of Chile on Monday, the U.S. Geological Survey said, but Chilean officials said it was not felt on land and discarded the possibility that it might unleash a tsunami.
The quake was recorded at 5:49 a.m. local time (EDT; 0949 GMT) Monday, at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), some 600 kilometers (370 miles) from the city of Puerto Quellon.
Chile's oceanographic service said it was not felt on land and discounted the possibility of a tsunami. U.S. seismologists originally estimated the magnitude at 6.8 later recalculated downward.
Chile is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries. A magnitude-8.8 quake and the tsunami it unleashed in 2010 killed more than 500 people and destroyed 220,000 homes. It was so strong it changed time, shortening the Earth's day slightly by changing the planet's rotation.
The strongest earthquake ever recorded also happened in Chile, a magnitude-9.5 in 1960.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
http://www.msn.com/en-ca/lifestyle/rela ... li=AAggxAX
A British mum was thrown into jail in Bahrain after being accused of cheating on her husband.
Hannah James – who has a four-year-old son with the man – was in prison in for a month where she survived on a diet of rice and water three times a week, according to her family.
Under Bahrain's Islamic sharia laws, adultery is considered a serious crime and Hannah was facing years behind bars.
The 26-year-old's family, from Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire, made a desperate appeal online for help to get her home.
They say she was accused of adultery after trying to leave the country when her husband Jassim Alhaddar became violent
Her mum confirmed she has now been released from jail - but still cannot leave Bahrain for legal reasons.
Hannah's family has uploaded pictures to Facebook which they allege show injuries suffered at the hands of Alhaddar, who she met while working in Bahrain.
In an extraordinary interview with Mirror Online, he admitted hitting his wife – but claimed it was in self-defence and that her bruises only appeared because of her "skin colour".
Alhaddar claimed he only became violent when she was "caught cheating" – but alleged that "she fought back too" leaving them both with bruises.
He told Mirror Online: "She has white skin so when I go to grab her by her hand there will be bruises for her.
"Her skin colour, the bruises appear for her really easily."
Alhaddar also provided Mirror Online with photos of scratches and other injuries that he says support his claim.
In a Facebook post, Hannah's mother also accused Alhaddar of burning her passport to stop her from returning to the UK.
But the 30-year-old, who is from Bahrain, claimed she had actually hidden the official document in the oven and inadvertently torched it herself three days later.
He says he reported her to police on December 9 last year after claiming to have uncovered evidence that she had been cheating on him.
In a message posted on Facebook, Hannah's mum Shelley wrote: "Hannah is suffering being in prison – she is only been given rice and water three times a day.
"Bahrain is a law unto themselves and there is absolutely no need for my daughter to be in prison in this disgusting country."
Family friends launched a crowd-funding campaign as well as a petition which has racked up thousands of signatures in support of Hannah.
A Foreign Office spokesperson told Mirror Online: "We are providing support to a British woman following her arrest in Bahrain.
"We remain in contact with both her family and with Bahraini authorities."
Mum Shelley said in a fundraising appeal on GoFundMe to get her daughter home: "Things became very difficult for her as she was suffering from domestic violence by the hands of Alhaddar. This became worse day by day.
"Hannah finally made the decision to leave him and Bahrain with her son, with support and help from her family.
"He made it impossible for her to leave as he burned her passport.
"He then went to the police and accused her of having an affair so she has been in a Bahrain prison for one month now and is looking at a sentence of between one and five years for adultery, which is a very serious crime in a Sharia Muslim culture community.
"Hannah is suffering. She is only being given rice and water three times a day.
"She has not been given or had access to toiletries and she only received money that I sent to her through the embassy.
"I have been allocated a consul through the British Embassy, who have been no help at all and unfortunately they have not been given permission to visit Hannah to check on her welfare.
"Alhaddar claims to be a good Muslim. He is now hiding behind his religion to imprison Hannah."
A source close to the family added: "Hannah's parents are at their wits' end with this.
"They just want to get her out of that country now and back home. Bahrain is still living in the past when it comes to treating women with dignity and respect."
Later confirming her daughter's release from prison, Shelley said last night: "I can now confirm Hannah was released from Bahrain jail at 6pm today and is in safe hands and being very well looked after.
"But she cannot leave Bahrain at the moment due to legal reasons.
"I will let everyone know when she returns back to the UK. I would like to say a big thank you to everyone for their support."


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BACKGROUND IMAGE: iSTOCK/GETTY IMAGES
- FeatureFund Watch
- FeatureSynthetic Full Backup Catching On
- FeatureTiered storage has arrived
- FeatureNAS Takes SMBs to Next Level
- TipHow to design a core/edge SAN
- FeatureGirding for Grids
- FeatureFirst Look: Asigra Televaulting for Enterprises
- Feature4Gb--ready or not, here it comes
- FeatureHands-On Review: Softek Performance Tuner
- FeatureThe search for cost-effective disaster recovery
- ArticleAccommodating arrays
- FeatureCheap SANs--Hype or Hot?
- FeatureRemote Replication Gets Out of the Array
- FeatureHot Spots: Bring disaster recovery home
- FeatureBest Practices: Backup operations redux
- FeatureStorage bin: A business with a heart
- FeatureEditorial: Common sense triumphs
- FeatureSnapshot: Network-based storage services
iSTOCK/GETTY IMAGES
Accommodating arrays
Modern storage arrays offer disk types to meet any need -- costly Fibre Channel (FC) disks for high-end applications requiring superior performance and availability, and lower-priced SATA disks for less-critical data. The arrays also come with mixed RAID configurations. But selecting the right mix of disks and RAID levels requires understanding the impact of those decisions.
- Jerome Wendt, DCIG Inc.
Modern storage arrays offer disk types to meet any need--costly Fibre Channel (FC) disks for high-end applications requiring superior performance and availability, and lower-priced SATA disks for less-critical data. The arrays also come with mixed RAID configurations. But selecting the right mix of disks and RAID levels requires understanding the impact of those decisions.
Arrays with mixed RAID support allow users to optimize application cost, performance and availability on a single array. With storage management an ever-escalating cost, the ability to select a single vendor's array to satisfy a multitude of storage scenarios is enticing. In addition to the different types of disk, the new arrays offer simplified management, ease of data migrations from one tier of disk to another, and the ability to increase capacity or improve performance on the fly.
|Is RAID 5 all you need?
Despite the fact almost every storage array vendor offers at least one array that supports multiple types of RAID, vendors don't agree on whether you need more than just one RAID configuration. Nexsan Technologies says RAID 5 is best in almost every data protection situation. EqualLogic Inc. disagrees: It offers RAID 10 or RAID 50, but not RAID 5. Xiotech Corp. wants to see RAID 6 come on the market.
RAID 5, however, continues to gain momentum as the default standard for FC and serial ATA (SATA) disk (see "Is RAID 5 all you need?"). Users find it provides acceptable levels of data protection, disk utilization and performance for most applications. But there are still times when users will want to consider using other RAID levels, especially when using SATA disks. In cases where multiple RAID types are used, administrators need to understand how and where these RAID types get placed internally within the array and the risks associated with mixing and managing multiple RAID types on a single array.
Knowing which RAID implementation to deploy depends on a range of factors:
- The number of front- and back-end controllers on the array
- The amount of cache
- The disk capacity behind each back-end controller
- The performance requirements of the application using the disk
- The speed or rpm of each disk behind each controller
Industry benchmarks and vendor documentation will provide statistics and information on array cache, I/O capabilities, the number of front-end FC and iSCSI interfaces, back-end controllers, the type of disk used and internal architecture. Once administrators gather these facts, they can determine the best RAID configuration for their environment.
The right RAID
Storage array vendors allow RAID configurations to be set on each controller or parity group that sits in front of the disks. Using array management software provided by the storage vendor, users can log in and configure any controller on the array with any of the RAID settings the controller supports. Users may also change an application's underlying RAID configurations on the fly, assuming they have the vendor's licensed software and a spare disk group. Arrays such as EMC Corp.'s Clariion, IBM Corp.'s DS4000 and Hitachi Data Systems' (HDS) TagmaStore offer software that allows users to move the data from a disk group configured as RAID 1 to a disk group configured as RAID 5 without application downtime.
Yet selecting a specific RAID type is becoming less of an issue on high-end monolithic and modular arrays as users increasingly choose RAID 5. HDS reports that more than 85% of its arrays now get configured as RAID 5 because users find that RAID 5 provides acceptable tradeoffs between availability, capacity, data protection and performance when compared to other RAID configurations. However, not every storage array vendor implements RAID 5 the same way. Here are some examples of how they differ:
- Modular models sold by BlueArc Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co., IBM and Silicon Graphics Inc. (SGI) use RAID controllers supplied by Engenio Information Technologies, which offers two different types of disk controllers, the 5884 and 28XX models. The 5884 controller is ASIC-based and used primarily with FC disks. Engenio bases its lower-end 28XX models on Intel Corp.'s XScale chip, and it's used primarily in its SATA arrays.
- The newest RAID controllers soon to show up on IBM's DS4000 will support Emulex Corp.'s switch-on-a-chip technology. This approach provides a dedicated path between the controller and each disk drive, as opposed to a shared path between the controller and all of the disk drives behind it.
- An increasing number of arrays now support global hot spares. These are disk drives not tied to any disk group that can replace a disk in a RAID 5 configuration that fails.
- HDS is among a growing number of vendors implementing RAID5+, where parity is striped across all of the volumes in the RAID group. This helps to eliminate most of the write penalty associated with RAID 5.
Users need to carefully weigh the pros and cons of using RAID 5 with anything other than FC disk drives. While both FC and SATA drives advertise similar mean time between failure (MTBF) rates of around 20,000 hours (just over two years), these aren't apples-to-apples comparisons. The MTBFs for FC drives are based on rigorous 24-hour duty cycles, whereas SATA drive MTBF rates are based on two- to four-hour duty cycles. So in environments where SATA drives experience more extensive use or are in more performance-intensive environments, higher disk failure rates can be expected.
Fortunately, vendors of SATA-based arrays recognize this deficiency and provide RAID configurations that help to overcome SATA limitations. For instance, EqualLogic's PeerStorage 100E doesn't even give users the option to implement a basic RAID 5 configuration, offering only RAID 10 and 50 options. Behind each of its controllers, EqualLogic puts a total of 14 SATA disks, of which only 12 are active. The 12 active disks are split into two separate groups of six. Each group of six is then configured in a 5 + 1 configuration, so that any of the six disks in either group can fail without data loss. In the event of a disk failure, one of the two passive disks becomes a member in that parity group.
The RAID 10 and RAID 50 configurations EqualLogic offers increase the level of data protection. RAID 10 will perform better for read-intensive applications because it mirrors the data on the first group of six disks to the second group of six disks, so that one group or the other may be lost without impact. This level of data protection is expensive because only 1.5TB, or 43% of the available 3.5TB, on each controller is usable. A better option for EqualLogic arrays is to choose its RAID 50 option. This configuration stripes data across both groups of six disks, yielding a more reasonable 2.5TB of usable storage, or 71% of the 3.5TB total, and will provide adequate performance in most environments.
While users find the high capacities and low price points of SATA arrays appealing, they need to consider how these disks get cooled, as well as the impact and difficulty of replacing a disk in the RAID configuration when it fails. For instance, many SATA vendors use a vertical midplane architecture in an attempt to pack as many disks into a blade as possible to maximize capacity. But this approach results in active disks running at the high end of their optimal temperature range, and when they inevitably fail, they're difficult to replace. For instance, Storage Technology Corp.'s (StorageTek) BladeStore array requires an entire SATA blade to be taken offline to replace a single disk, requiring either downtime for all applications using data on that blade or, to avoid downtime, moving all of the data on the blade to another blade on the array to replace the faulty disk.
Managing mixed RAID arrays Users who plan to keep their arrays for a long time or add capacity to existing arrays run into other issues. For example, the capacities of storage arrays double about every 12 to 18 months because of steadily increasing disk capacity. With 146GB FC drives already shipping and 292GB FC drives expected soon, tracking the RAID array configuration of each controller and optimally placing data on these disk drives becomes more of an art than a science. But even though disk capacities are growing, disk speeds have reached a 15,000 rpm plateau--exceeding this speed results in the outer edges of the disk spinning faster than the speed of sound, which will damage the disk.
If a new disk is installed, to optimize the performance of the array you need to redistribute the existing data on the storage array to this new disk. This is easier said than done because once you add new controllers with new disk to the array, all new and more frequently accessed data gets written and stored on this new disk that could have lower seek times and could potentially become the bottleneck in your system. Compounding the problem, as disk arrays age, storage manufacturers stop offering older and potentially better performing disk media because they have lower capacities but higher speeds. So rather than one controller with a faster disk housing 200GB of infrequently accessed data, a new controller now houses higher capacity drives that either spin at a lower rpm, or take longer to retrieve data because of the increased times required to place and retrieve the greater amounts of data on the drives.
Many array vendors tell users they can buy the disk capacity they need now and add more disk when they need it. The degree of difficulty in managing this scenario depends on the number and types of hosts attached to your array, and the types of tools available to manage the storage system. If an administrator understands the performance characteristics of existing disk drives, can manage the volumes from the host level and can unobtrusively move the data within the array, this approach works fine. But new data is often placed on the new disks without reorganizing and optimizing the data within the array, creating performance problems. And when new disks are added to the array, it's important to assign the correct RAID level. It only takes one mental lapse or incorrectly set policy for the wrong data to be allocated to the new disks or an incorrect RAID configuration to be assigned to the new disks.
Storage companies employ a number of methods to address these issues. Both EMC and EqualLogic have so-called self-healing software in their arrays that examines the workload and performance of the disks. When the application detects a hot spot on a disk, it identifies another area in the same array where it will be less likely to be overtaxed and moves the data from the problem area to the new location.
Some vendors offer the ability to change RAID configurations on the fly. For instance, IBM's Shark allows administrators to change the RAID setting on an individual controller from RAID 5 to RAID 10 or vice versa. You may want to use this approach if you're not getting the sort of performance you expect with your existing RAID configuration.
However, you need to take some precautions when using these types of tools. For example, any data on the disks behind a controller whose RAID configuration has been changed will be destroyed. And the tool may not warn you whether any of the volumes on that controller are assigned and in use, so you should verify that all of the volumes are unassigned and the data is no longer needed before changing the RAID setting. Finally, for administrators who spread their data across multiple back-end controllers, it becomes challenging to free up all of the disks behind a particular controller so that the RAID configuration can be changed, especially if multiple hosts with different operating systems are attached to that array.
When using mixed RAID, keep a close eye on how data gets dispersed across the back-end controllers and the size of the disks you plan to add. These two elements will have a huge impact on the performance of the array.
About the author
J erome M. Wendt (firstname.lastname@example.com) is a storage analyst specializing in the field of open-systems storage and SANs. He has managed storage for small- and large-sized organizations in this capacity.
Related Resources
- Focus on Storage in a VMware Environment –SearchConvergedInfrastucture
- Storage in a Virtual Environment: Expert Answers to 4 FAQ –SearchStorage.com
- Accelerating Time-to-Value: Fast-Growing Reduxio Implements Priority Engine to ... –TechTarget


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After 25 years and more than 5,000 interviews with musicians from around the globe, this March David Dye steps down as host of World Cafe, public radio's most popular music program. Celebrate David with us!
David Dye has hosted World Cafe since its launch on October 14, 1991. Now carried on more than 214 stations and heard by nearly 600,000 listeners each week, World Cafe has become known as an influential source for music discovery. In his recent memoir, Bruce Springsteen identified David as an important early supporter of his music.
David has overseen the release of 40 Live at World Cafe CDs and two World Cafe books, visited 19 musical hotspots around the globe for the show's "Sense of Place" series, and has seen the show expand its reach with the addition of World Cafe Nashville, now producing sessions from Music City, USA.
David and World Cafe have received numerous awards, including two NFCB Golden Reel Awards, five "Best of Philly" awards from Philadelphia Magazine, NARAS Philadelphia Chapter's "Hero Award," the ASCAP Deems Taylor Award, and many radio industry trade citations.


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Frequent Asked Questions
Every Journey by Train is Unique!
More than 240.000 Kilometers for you to enjoy every journey in modern, high-tech and fast trains. Traveling by train in Europe is comfortable, relaxing and efficient. You can enjoy the view, appreciate a good meal, take a nap or just chat with your fellow travelers. You will arrive at your destination on time, rested and refreshed. Most European train stations are located right in the middle of town, therefore once you arrive at destination you can easily find your way around town. For product details look at our Brochure Collection. Here you will find useful information to help you plan your European rail travel:
or use our
A professional team specialized in European train travel assisting you to plan your Europe rail trip, complete with suggestions on rail passes and train tickets all in accordance with your preferences and itinerary.


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Massachusetts Tide Charts
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Throughout history, poverty is the normal condition of man.Advances which permit this norm to be exceeded -- here and there, now and then -- are the work of an extremely small minority, frequently despised, often condemned, and almost always opposed by all right-thinking people. Whenever this tiny minority is kept from creating, or (as sometimes happens) is driven out of a society, the people then slip back into abject poverty. This is known as "bad luck." -- Robert A. Heinlein
Top Posts & Pages
Category Archives: Cartoons
Top dogs.
Posted in 2020, Blogbits, Cartoons, Tongue in Cheek Leave a comment
New Age of Man
Posted in 2020, Cartoons, Tongue in Cheek Leave a comment
Via American Digest…with a selection of fine art.
How many times have I thought this, but keep my mouth shut? CH: "Nation still deeply divided day after vote… Yeah, I love that trick. The nation's always "divided" when Dems don't get what they want. I was forced to … Continue reading
Posted in 2019, Blogbits, Cartoons, Cranky, Fuck Obama, President Trump, Quote of the Day 1 Comment
Quote of the day: Deviance.
…normalization of deviance is detrimental to civilization.
Posted in Can't fix Stupid, Cartoons, Deviancy, Quote of the Day 1 Comment
Time to start planning for Thanksgiving. (2016)
Our last Obama Thanksgiving! For which we should be thankful! From 2016, as they say it's always darkest before the Don.
Posted in Blogbits, Cartoons, Tongue in Cheek Leave a comment
It is to laugh.
We can laugh at them or we can start hanging them, for now. Laugh.
I think not…
Posted in Blogbits, Cartoons Leave a comment
Variations on a theme.
Stuff my Senior newsletter doesn't want.
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Challenge: Create a project using Silver, Black and White
Hello Everyone. This is Tammy here and I have a new challenge for you. I needed to create something really special for my Grandparents 70th wedding anniversary. For a 70th anniversary you are supposed to give platinum. The first thing I did was pull out this silver and black paper that I just love. It doesn't say platinum on it, but I figures the muted silver was close enough. Then I cut the double hearts, shadow and numbers from my Pazzle. I just had to add a little bling to the side of the hearts.
I flipped the paper over and embossed it to add a little more texture. I used silver powder and heat embossed the words to really make them stand out.
Here's the finished card. The grandparents loved it and we had a really nice time helping them celebrate there wonderful day.
Now it's your turn to create a project using SILVER, BLACK AND WHITE. You can add your project by using the inlinkz tool below, and if you don't have a blog you can upload your project to our flickr group. Please link back to this post and show us a little love by becomng a follower. This challenge is just for fun and will run until March 5. Thanks for playing with us, I can't wait to see what you make.


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PRINCETON, N.J.--Longtime Harvard and former Olympic coach Harry Parker is this year's recipient of the 2011 USRowing Medal, USRowing has announced.
Given in recognition to a member of the rowing community in the
United States who has accomplished extraordinary feats in rowing,
it is the highest honor USRowing can bestow. Parker, 75, will be
honored at the inaugural Golden Oars Awards Dinner on Wednesday,
Nov. 30, at the New York Athletic Club in New York City.
"It is appropriate to recognize the achievements of Coach Harry Parker with the USRowing Medal of Honor at our first-ever Golden Oars Awards event," said USRowing chief executive officer Glenn Merry. "He is iconic in the sport of rowing and stands amongst the top coaches in the world.
"The U.S. team benefited greatly through his coaching at several Olympic Games, and many of our finest rowers developed during their time at Harvard. I suspect many rowers and coaches share my admiration for Coach Parker. It is with great enthusiasm that we celebrate his contributions to the sport and his life as an oarsman."
"I recognize it's a distinct honor and I appreciate it," said Parker. "Honors are not my thing; my thing is coaching. That's what I get a real sense of satisfaction from."
Now in his 50th season as the Thomas Bolles Head Coach of Men's Crew at Harvard, Parker is considered one of the most accomplished rowing coaches in the history of the sport.
After being promoted from interim head coach to head coach in 1963 following Harvard's victory over Yale University in the Harvard-Yale Race, Parker's crews have achieved unprecedented success.
His crews' achievements include 21 undefeated seasons; 27 EARC Sprints titles; 21 junior varsity sprints titles; eight official and eight unofficial national championships, three IRA championships since 2003 and a 42-7 record over Yale in the Harvard-Yale race.
Under Parker, Harvard crews have competed internationally at the 1968 Olympics and the 1967 World Rowing Championships. He was named the men's Olympic coach for 1972, where he led the U.S. eight to a silver medal in Munich, Germany.
He also served as coach of the first U.S. women's crew to compete in the world championships, winning a medal in 1975. Parker later coached the U.S. women's eight to a bronze medal at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal.
Parker attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he majored in English and learned to row. Following college, Parker began sculling competitively.
He won the men's single sculls at the 1959 Pan American Games. That same year, Parker finished second at the Henley Royal Regatta to six-time champion Stuart MacKenzie. In 1960, he represented the United States in the event in the Olympic Games in Rome, Italy, where he finished fifth.
Parker was elected to the USRowing Hall of Fame as a coach in 1974 and as an oarsman in 1977.
For more information about the Golden Oars Awards Dinner, visit www.usrowing.org. To purchase a ticket or secure a table, visit http://usrowing.tix.com.
Co-hosted by USRowing and the National Rowing Foundation (NRF), the dinner will honor excellence in the sport during 2011 and serve as a fundraiser for USRowing's national teams and its diversity, inclusion and adaptive programs. The celebration will feature a presentation of several of USRowing's traditional awards, as well as the introduction of the new USRowing "Fan's Choice" Awards to be announced in the coming weeks.
USRowing is a nonprofit organization recognized by the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for the sport of rowing in the United States. USRowing's official suppliers include Boathouse Sports, Vespoli, Win Tech, Filippi, Croker Oars, Rudy Project, Concept2, Nielsen Kellerman, PowerHTV and Ludus Tours. USRowing also receives generous support from the National Rowing Foundation and its corporate sponsors, ANXeBusiness Corp and Voxer. For more information, visit www.usrowing.org. USRowing has created compelling programs to engage sponsors leading up to the 2012 Olympic Games, with proceeds going to help ensure the U.S. team's success. Opportunities also exist to partner with America Rows – supporting diversity initiatives and adaptive programs. For more information, please contact Beth Kohl at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Creator: Beaudry, Paul and Portier, Franck Series: Great depressions of the twentieth century Abstract:
In this paper we make the following three claims. (1), in contradiction with the conventional view according to which the French depression was very different to that observed in the US, we argue that there are more similarities than differences between the French and U.S. experiences and therefore a common explanation should be sought. (2), poor growth in technological opportunities appear neither necessary nor sufficient to account for the French depression. (3), changes in institutional and market regulation appear necessary to account for the overall changes observed over the period. Moreover, we show that the size of these institutional changes may by themselves be enough to quantatively explain the French depression. However, at this time, we have no theory to explain the size or the timing of these changes.
关键词: Stagnation, Market regulation, Depression, and France 学科: N14 - Macroeconomics and monetary economics ; Growth and fluctuations - Europe : 1913- and E32 - Prices, business fluctuations, and cycles - Business fluctuations ; Cycles


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While you might see a few drunken Frankensteins lumbering about tonight thanks to Halloween, expect to see another kind of monster lurking in well-heeled Oz suburbs next year. BMW has officially revealed the second-generation of its M-fettled X5 and X6 utility vehicles, and they're heading for Australia.
Headlining the credentials of the new X5 M and X6 M is a slight increase in power from their 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8, which now pumps out 423kW and 750Nm. The engine is the centrepiece of the two's shared powertrain and uses the same direct-injected unit found in the brawny M5 and M6, but revisions to its induction have liberated an extra 23kW and 70Nm – endowing it with a torque figure not even the recently released 441kW limited edition Jahre M5 can match.
The duo's momentous torque peak now arrives at 2200rpm, or 700rpm later than the old model's 1500rpm, holding until 5000rpm before peak power takes over at 6000rpm.
The transmission matched to the twin-turbo V8 has also been upgraded from the previous six-speed auto to BMW's 'M Steptronic' eight-speed torque converter, said to mimic the characteristics of BMW's double clutcher found in other M models. The extra cogs have lopped a few litres off its official claimed consumption figure; scoring 11.1 litres per 100km in the EU combined cycle – a figure lower than pretty much any HSV or FPV's.
The powertrain will also be able to distribute the full-750Nm to either the front or rear axles thanks to the use of an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch within the all-wheel drive system.
The pair will both use a staggered set of 20-inch wheels wrapped in 285mm and 325mm wide Pirelli's (front and rear, respectively) which are tasked with translating all that power to speed, which the Pirelli's do very well: both vehicles are claimed to hit 100km/h in 4.2 seconds.
Burdened with the arduous role of slowing the cars down are a set of six-piston grabbers up front and single-piston brakes at the rear.
Top whack is limited to 250km/h, however, BMW's European press release indicates an optional 'M Driver's package' can lift that figure to 280km/h. But if the straight line speed isn't enough to get your rocks off, BMW has also included an MDM (M Dynamic Mode) setting within the stability control system to allow small-time drifts with a predetermined safety net.
Aesthetically, the exterior of both cars will receive the usual M-style tweaks, notably M-specific wheels, larger cooling intakes, flared guards and a quad-tip exhaust muffler. While the interior of both cars also get the M-treatment scoring upgraded seats and instrument cluster, along with a raft of other M parts.
BMW tells us deliveries of the X5 M and X6 M will begin either late first quarter or early second quarter 2015, whereas prices are yet to be confirmed. However, expect to fork out something near the previous prices of $180K for the SUV and $190K for its coupe styled counterpart.


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Q: What is the difference between a waterfall filter and a waterfall spillway?
Ashley – Forest Grove, OR
A: Waterfall filters and waterfall spillways both generate a flowing waterfall in your pond or water feature – but they have different designs and purposes. Here's what you need to know about including them in your waterscape.
A Waterfall Filter
A waterfall filter, like The Pond Guy® ClearSpring™ Pro Waterfall Filters, serves two purposes: it generates a waterfall, and it houses your biological filtration system. The waterfall filter provides a starting point for the waterfall itself as the water fills its deep basin and pours evenly over the spillway. That basin is also spacious enough to hold filter media, which houses countless beneficial bacteria – a.k.a. your biological filtration system.
These two-in-one units work well for hobbyists who are building a new pond or are in need of additional filtration. Once you install one, be sure to seed the filter media with PL Gel, a bacterial inoculant that contains beneficial microorganisms and naturally occurring biopolymers that reduce filter startup time.
A Waterfall Spillway
A waterfall spillway, like the PondBuilder™ Elite Cascade Spillways, also provides a starting point for an evenly pouring waterfall, but the basin itself is smaller and provides no room for filter media.
But because it creates the environment-enhancing movement and sound of flowing water, a waterfall spillway makes an excellent addition to a pond that's already filtered. It also works well for pondless waterfalls and in ponds in areas with little room to work.
Customizing Your Flow
Whether you install a waterfall filter or waterfall spillway, they can both be used in conjunction with a skimmer. You can also easily blend them into your landscape with rock covers or aquatic plants while still allowing you to access the unit. Some models even offer a planting shelf or basket to house additional aquatic plants. Check out our entire selection of Waterfall Filters & Waterfall Spillways.
Pond Talk: What type of waterfall does your pond or water feature have?
Filed under: Pond Accessories, Water Gardens & Features, Waterfall | Tagged: creating a waterfall, Pondless Waterfall, spillway, Waterfall |


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Pet Friendly Hotels in South Dakota
Need help deciding where to stay in South Dakota? Use the links below to view pictures of each pet friendly hotel, vacation rental, bed and breakfast, and campground in town. You can also get the scoop on their pet policies, read reviews of other guests with dogs, and book online. Or, call 877-411-FIDO to speak with a pet travel expert. There are no booking fees either way!
There are no pet friendly hotels matching your query. Try changing your search options.
Fetching results...


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Get a Card
Individual Card
Visit the Circulation Desk with one form of proof of residency.
- Drivers license or State ID
- Current utility bill
- Piece of first class mail
- Mortgage or lease
Who can get a Downers Grove library card?
- Available free to residents of incorporated Downers Grove.
- Parents can obtain a card for children under 18.
- Businesses and non-profit organizations located in incorporated Downers Grove.
- Unincorporated residents can purchase a fee card for $292, valid for one year. A fee card is available for those who don't live within the corporate boundaries of Downers Grove and who are not eligible for service from another public library. Unsure if your residence is incorporated or unincorporated? Call (630) 960-1200.
What else should I know?
- A DGPL card is honored at all Illinois public libraries.
- Residents of DuPage County are entitled to a free library card from the College of DuPage which is valid only at the College of DuPage Library.
Questions? Email Circulation Manager Christine Lees at email@example.com.
Business or Organization Library Card
The library offers cards to businesses and non-profit organizations located in incorporated Downers Grove. Up to five library cards can be issued.
- An owner or director must request the membership by completing the form below.
- Business cards or business letterhead can be emailed to email@example.com, submitted in person at the Circulation Desk, or mailed to 1050 Curtiss St., Downers Grove, IL 60515.
- Cards entitle those authorized to full DGPL services and are honored at all Illinois public libraries.
Please send questions to Circulation Manager Christine Lees at email@example.com.


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First, there was the news that Johnny Tapia had died. Now this. Paul "The Punisher" Williams, who twice won welterweight titles and was once an interim junior middleweight champ, was paralyzed from the waist down after crashing his motorcycle en route to his brother's wedding Sunday morning in Atlanta.
According to his manager and trainer, Williams was wearing a helmet, but part of his spinal cord was damaged. Williams had been scheduled to fight junior middleweight champ Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in September, but his manager, George Peterson, said doctors told him Williams would never walk again. He is 30 years old.
[ESPN, East Side Boxing; photo via AP]


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- Income Investing
Barclays: An Obama Win Good for Bonds, Romney Good for Stocks
- Order Reprints
- Print Article
Barclays takes a stab at divining post-election market outcomes and offers this simple rule of thumb: an Obama win is good for bonds and a Romney win is good for stocks.
Barclays got to this conclusion by way of a client survey conducted last week that produced 354 respondents, including institutional asset managers, hedge funds, banks, corporations and official institutions. Overall, most believe in a more promising growth outlook under a Romney win, despite concerns about a likely tighter monetary policy stance, and favor long equities and short bond portfolios as the best way to play a Romney win, with 16% even expecting such a post-Romney equity rally to be "deep and sustained."
Under an Obama win, investors favor bonds and are divided about the direction of equities, but would choose bonds and equities over FX and commodities. From Barclays:
The equity selloff is expected to be small and short-lived if it happens. Obama's victory would likely be perceived as preserving the status quo (asset market moves are expected to be muted across the board), while a Romney win is more likely to suggest a change of direction to clients by way of a better growth outlook. Implications for growth are central to global markets, according to clients.
Barclays said congressional deadlock and tax/regulatory impediments were the most cited concerns under an Obama victory. North American investors seem substantially more concerned about the potential pitfalls of business-unfriendly policies under an Obama administration relative to European investors, whose main concern under an Obama win is congressional gridlock.
Perceived policy risks were more dispersed under a Romney-win scenario. A tighter Fed policy tops the list of worries, ahead of congressional gridlock, fiscal tightening and protectionism. More from Barclays:
In line with equities, investors expect bond markets to sell off under a Romney victory and rally under an Obama victory. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Romney results are somewhat linked to concerns about a change in Fed policy. Over half of investors who list Fed policy as their main concern about Romney expect a rise in 10y yield of 20bp or more. But the expectation of a rise in rates could be more general than this, and may also be linked to expectations of a constructive outlook for growth, reflected in clients' equity views under a Romney victory. Half of the investors who see a substantial equity rally also expect rates to rise meaningfully, while only 16% expect rates to fall.


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Merry Vibes & Mulled Wine: The Hutong's Annual Winter FayrePosted: December 10th, 2016 | Author: LumDimSum | Filed under: Charity, Foodies & Dining Scene, Special Events, Upcoming Events | Tags: Amdo Craft Tibetan Handicrafts, Andy's Sausages, Antonia Sampson Jewelry, Arrow Factory Brewing, BJ Postcards, Caravan, Cartaccioa, Chef Reshma Khan, community center, Crossfit Slash, Cuju, Fengtong Jewelry, Great Leap Brewing, Haiku by Hatsune, Jeffrey Schwab, Karaiya Spice House, Liuba Draws, MaiAqua, mulled wine, Naked Nut Butters, PARWAAZ Spice Route Concepts, RuKis, Shangrila Farms, Sprint, Tea Journeys, The Crib, The Hutong, The Orchid, The Taco Bar, This City Art, Two Guys and a Pie, Ubi Gallery, US-China Comedy Center, Vibrant Communities, Winter Fayre, Yellow Pummelo, 燕麦小姐 Miss Muesli | 1 Comment »
It's the Most Wonderful Time of Year!
The Hutong's Winter Fayre is one of their biggest community events of the year and it also happens to be where I plan to do most of my Christmas shopping every year.
While many of Beijing's Christmas bazaars and fairs have all been taking place across the city in various embassies and hotels over the past couple weekends, The Hutong's Winter Fayre may be one of the smaller fayres in terms of its number of vendors and sheer capacity, but it makes up for its size with its merry vibes and abundance of spiced mulled wine.
Taking place this Saturday, December 9th from 11AM-4PM, this is a great place to stock up on prezzies for the holidays and also a great place to meet and learn about some pretty crafty and talented companies who will be showcasing the best of their merchandise!
Continue Reading » Merry Vibes & Mulled Wine: The Hutong's Annual Winter Fayre


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Checking In On Ubuntu Karmic's Boot Time: By the time Ubuntu 10.04 LTS rolls around next April, Canonical is interested in seeing Ubuntu boot on an Intel Atom netbook (specifically the Dell Mini 9) in less than ten seconds. These incredibly fast boot time goals even led Canonical to decide against investing more time in enhancing the boot experience with Red Hat's Plymouth. Canonical has already come close to achieving this with the Ubuntu 9.04 release earlier this year, but how is Ubuntu 9.10 changing the boot time with defaulting to the EXT4 file-system and their other ongoing changes? In this article, we have re-installed Ubuntu 8.10, 9.04, and a 9.10 development snapshot on two netbooks and one laptop to see how Ubuntu's boot time is changing.
Copyright © 2020 by Phoronix Media. All rights reserved.


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Free Birth Control & Exams
Call 516-331-5956 or email [email protected] to see if you qualify for free birth control. If you live in New York State, we can help you apply.
What is the Family Planning Benefit Program?
The Family Planning Benefit Program is sponsored by the New York State Department of Health. If you qualify, you will receive FREE birth control, STD testing and GYN exams.
Do I qualify?
You MUST live in New York State in order for us to help you apply. Both women and men are eligible. If you are a single adult, you can earn about $26,256 a year or less and still qualify. You can earn even more if you have children or dependents. This income level changes often, so call 516-331-5956 or email [email protected] for the latest information.
If you are a teenager, you can still qualify for free services. Everything is 100% confidential--we will not tell your parents. We have staff members who will walk you through the application process.
What is covered?
All types of birth control, GYN exams and Pap tests, emergency contraception (the "morning after pill"), and HIV and STD testing.
You can receive these services at a Planned Parenthood health center or other family planning clinics in New York. Call 516-331-5956 or email [email protected] for locations.
How Do I Get It?
Call 516-331-5956 or email [email protected] and we will help you figure out if you qualify. We will also help you find a location and make an appointment.
IMPORTANT: You will need to bring the documents listed below to your appointment so that we can help you apply. Without all of these documents, you may not qualify for free services. If you are unsure about obtaining all of these documents, call us for assistance at 516-331-5956 or email [email protected] before your scheduled appointment.
1. Proof of citizenship:
You must bring in your original Social Security card or know the number
- If you were born outside the U.S., please provide the following applicable documents in addition to your social security number:
- Original U.S. Passport, or
- Original naturalization certificate, or
- Original INS form - "Green" card, or
- Original I-94 arrival/departure record
2. Photo ID
- Original driver's license, or
- Original U.S. Passport, or
- Original school ID, or
- Other original official photo ID
3. Proof of address (dated within the past 6 months - BRING TWO):
- Driver's license (issued within past 6 months)
- Current bill (utility, phone, credit card)
- Postmarked envelope or magazine subscription (no window envelopes or peel off stickers)
- Lease agreement
4. Proof of recent monthly income (Bring ALL that provide income for you)
- One month's worth of most recent, consecutive pay stubs
- Unemployment or Social Security award letter or check stub
- Worker's compensation/disability award letter or check stub
- Letter from employer, signed and dated
- Letter of support from family member, signed and dated
5. Letter of Termination (Bring ONLY if this applies)
- If you have held any other job within the past nine months, please provide a detailed letter including the name of the company, your last date of work and gross income


text: ASUS GTX460 SE graphics card enables compact DX11 and 3D performance Engine overclocked to 660MHz for faster and smoother performance Exclusive DirectCU cooling makes the card 20%*cooler Boost up to 50%* faster with ASUS exclusive Voltage Tweak Shop Modal header Enjoy optimal performance boost with Asus GTX460 SE DirectCU board! ASUS Exclusive Innovation 660MHz Overclocked! Factory overclocked to perform at 660MHz, higher than stock performance, resulting in higher frame rates in games DirectCUPrecision mounted DirectCU copper heatpipes in direct contact with the GPU for rapid heat dissipation – creating 20%* cooler Voltage TweakFull throttle overclocking with exclusive ASUS Voltage Tweak via Smart Doctor – boosting 50%* more speed, performance and satisfaction! EMI ShieldEffectively blocks 66% radiations to protect user's health and improve graphics clarity GPU GuardPrevents cracking and fracturing, even increasing drop and shock damage resistance - increasing the card's strain threshold by 80%-100%. Fuse ProtectionFuse Protection technology delivers double the over-current protection for risk-free computing ASUS Smart DoctorYour intelligent hardware protection and powerful overclocking tool ASUS Gamer OSDReal-time overclocking, benchmarking and video capturing in any PC game! Splendid™ Video Intelligence TechnologyOptimizes colors in various entertainment scenarios with five special modes — standard, game, scenery, night view and theater. Graphics GPU Features Powered by NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX460 SE GeForce CUDA™ TechnologyUnlocks the power of GPU's processor cores to accelerate the most demanding system tasks NVIDIA® SLI™Supports multi-GPU technology for extreme performance ode NVIDIA PhysX™ readyDelivers dynamic visual effects like blazing explosions, reactive debris, realistic water, and lifelike characters NVIDIA® 3D Vision™Immersive yourself in 3D gaming world DirectX® 11 Done RightBrings new levels of visual realism to gaming on the PC and get top-notch performance Microsoft® Windows® 7 CompatibleEnable PC users to enjoy an advanced computing experience and to do more with their PC I/O Ports Highlight


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B-4 Pool Party
Mission B-4: Pool Party is the fourth mission for the Haunted Towers. Thanks to Toad and his surveilance camera, the key to the Hollow Tree has been located, along with several Boos carrying a peculiar object. Luigi must ascend to the pool to find the key.
Haunted Towers Entrance
No Venus Flytraps will be waiting for you on arrival...yet.
Surprise! Two Venus Flytraps await you in the Courtyard, and one of them is using roots to block the entrance to the west tower. Dodge them or use your stroboscope to stun them for a moment. Enter the Tower Lobby and continue upstairs to the Plant Nursery. Beware the large orange flowers that dangle from the ceiling, as they will try to slam down on Luigi if he draws too close.
Plant nursery
A solitary plant seedling sits in the middle of the room. Fill a bucket with water and splash it on the seedling to let it grow into a staircase much like in the other tower. Climb it to enter the Rumpus Room.
Rumpus Room
Enter the room to find a very creepy doll surrounded by jack-in-the-boxes and a very large dollhouse. Only one light is on in the dollhouse, so look in to find...yourself...looking in on yourself. Note that while looking in, one of the jack-in-the-boxes appears to be rattling. That is the one containing the ghosts hiding in the room. Defeat them to unlock the door to the Family Room.
Family Room
The room is devoid of ghosts, though a few crows may fly in from the window. Head left to the Solarium.
To unlock the staircase up, pull the chain to pull out the stairs, then climb to the next level and enter the West Bedroom.
West bedroom
This place may look like more of a hallway than a bedroom, but don't be fooled by this illusion. Turn the Poltergust on the fan to push back the walls, revealing three beds, and three Hiders. They will all jump into seperate beds, leaving Luigi to yank off the sheets and suck one up. The remaining Hiders will not be so easy, and after hiding in a bed, will cause the beds to rapidly move about to confuse. Keep an eye on a bed with a Hider and wait until they settle to catch and repeat until all three are gone and the key onwards is claimed.
West Hall
The way north to the West Bathroom is locked so head right instead through the Crow's Nest.
Crow's nest
True to its name, this area is littered with crows ready to swoop in and attack. Keep your stroboscope ready to flash any incoming crows on the path to the Conservatory.
The ghosts have gone, and vines have overtaken the organ. Several bubble plants have grown, and can be used to drift upwards and to the left to find a key hidden in the portrait in the next room Watch for the spikes on the chandelier and the trap door in front of the area leading to the key. Return to the West Hall and unlock the door to the West Bathroom
West Bathroom
This room can get very dangerous, very fast. There ares several ghosts to contend with in a small amount of space, including a Slammer, a glasses Greenie, and a Creeper. The Creeper hides in a purple puddle near the toilet, and will trap Luigi if stepped in or dragged over while wrangling another ghost. To reveal the Creeper, vibrate the puddle by using the Poltergust until the Creeper pops up. As the Creeper as infinite hit points, Charging the Poltergust and pressing A is the only way to defeat it. Use care in dodging all the ghosts until they are defeated, and the lawn chair can be accessed, leading to the Rooftop Pool.
Rooftop Pool
The place seems deserted, and a search around will reveal a missing frog statue on one corner of the pool. Reveal it with the Darklight to unveil the key to the Hollow Treetop. Before it can be claimed, a new ghost arrives: the Sneaker. The Sneaker will turn invisible until it is ready to strike, usually behind Luigi or when he is busy dealing with other ghosts. While the darklight can reveal the Sneaker before he approaches, the biggest tell is the Sneaker's effect on the enviroment. The Sneaker will cause nearby items to shake, and leaves trails in the ice and water. By following the path of disturbance, the Sneaker can be flashed before it has a chance to strike. When more ghosts join the fray, try to get as many ghosts and Sneakers in the same blast, as Sneakers will constantly try to cause Luigi to lose control while wrangling ghosts. Defeat them all to regain the key...or not. At any rate, the mission will be completed!
Video Walkthrough
3 Star Rating
(Have a better/worse 3 star rating? Post it here!)
3 Stars - 9:35 minutes/-10 health/1044 gold
3 Stars - 18:32 minutes/-0 health/1121 gold
3 Stars - 9:24 minutes/-34 health/921 gold
3 Stars - 7:38 Minutes / 17 Ghosts / -10 Health / 1148 Gold
3 Stars - 8:33 Minutes / 18 Ghosts / -0 Health / 1325 Gold
3 Stars- 9:03 minutes/-0 Health/17Ghosts/1229 Gold


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- (verb) make (a disease or its symptoms) less severe without removing the cause; "treatment works by palliating symptoms"
- (verb) lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of (an offence); "if only there were some way to palliate his dirty deed"
- allay or moderate (fears or suspicions).
Palliate (पैलीएट) meaning in Hindi (English to Hindi Dictionary)
- रोग शमन करना, चुप्पी साधना, अल्पीकरण, घटाना, न्यूनीकरण, लघूकरण, कम करना, हलका करना
Palliate Origin
- late Middle English: from late Latin palliat- 'cloaked', from the verb palliare, from pallium 'cloak'.
Palliate in a sentence (word usage in recent newspaper)
- The main concern for these patients are the symptoms that they're having and our need to really palliate these things as soon as we can.
- Doctors are trained first to diagnose, treat and fix — and second, to comfort, palliate and soothe.
- To 'palliate' is to reduce pain and not to cure the disease itself.
- An app to palliate parking woes.
- Somehow I believed that going to India would help palliate the guilt that's layered me since I left the country as a teen.
Mnemonic trick to remember the meaning of palliative
- (friend) PAL will ALLEVIATE your pain.
Alleviate Pronunciation
Palliative Care Versus Hospice


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Call our 24 hours, seven days a week helpline at 800.272.3900
Let us connect you to professionals and support options near you. Please select an option below:
Use Current LocationUse Map Selector
According to the Alzheimer's Association's 2008 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures, an estimated 5.2 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's and this number is expected to grow to 16 million by midcentury. With an aging baby boomer population, this degenerative brain disease will continue to touch more lives. More funding for research and more supportive services for those living with Alzheimer's disease begins with greater overall public awareness. The Alzheimer's Association commends the U.S. Postal Service because this new stamp is a tremendous step in that education effort.
Alzheimer's doesn't just impact the individual; it impacts entire families. Today, there are nearly 10 million people providing 8.4 billion hours of unpaid care to someone with Alzheimer's or another dementia valued at $89 billion. By including Alzheimer's disease in its long tradition of highlighting health and social issues through its awareness stamp program, the Postal Service continues to illuminate the challenges of those with the disease and their caregivers as well.
Researchers continue to look for new treatments to slow or stop the progression of Alzheimer's disease. These new therapies, when they are developed, will be most effective when taken as early in the course of the disease as possible making it even more urgent for effective early detection of Alzheimer's disease. Early diagnosis improves care and treatment options for individuals by empowering them to participate more fully in their lives. It offers individuals more time to make choices to maximize the quality of life, build the right medical team, and gain earlier access to existing medications, programs and services.
The Alzheimer's Association list 10 warning signs of Alzheimer's disease:
• Memory loss
• Problems with language
• Poor decreased judgment
• Misplacing things
• Changes in personality
• Difficulty performing familiar tasks
• Disorientation to time and place
• Problems with abstract thinking
• Changes in mood or behavior
• Loss of initiative
The need for education, information, and supportive services for those with Alzheimer's disease is paramount. Fortunately, the Alzheimer's Association provides a wealth of resources to assist those who have been touched by the disease, including a 24/7 Helpline, local information for referrals, care consultations, public education events and support groups.
For more information or to buy the Alzheimer Awareness 42-cent commemorative stamp:
The Alzheimer's Association is the world's leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's. For more information, visit www.alz.org.
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Here is something cute and sweet that some of you may enjoy, but may also find childish. As you know I am always filling requests. Therefore I had to made this tutorial on "how to draw a monkey face", step by step. I have drawn a bunch of monkeys in my day and if you go browsing through the animals section you will see a bunch of primates to choose from when you want to draw a monkey. One of my favorite monkey tutorials is the cartoon version and I think it's mainly because it looks so darn awesome. The monkey face that you will be drawing is going to be extremely fun and easy to tackle. There is no way that anyone is going to mess up on this tutorial, but if you do, just dust yourself off and try again. The more you draw, the better of an artist you become even if you are just at a novice level. Well, I guess that's it, I mean how much more can I talk about a monkeys face when I have said all I can possibly say about monkeys in previous lessons. All I can do now is show you how to draw a monkey face using an easy step by step tutorial that will break down the basics on making one of these apes look adorable. See ya later people, I might be back with one more submission, so it is at your own risk if you want to stay on to see what else I have in store.
DragoArt members upload artwork and drawing tutorials! They are also allowed to leave comments on tutorials, profiles, etc. Many more features, as well; it's way better than just being a boring guest! Register Now!


text: Street Rod Headquarters » Glass » Power Windows » Discontinued Item: This item is discontinued. Please CALL to see if there is a replacement or an alternative. Ford 2DR Sedan & Coupe Power Window Conversion. Front Doors Only, For Removed Vent Window Item # PWFORD492 Weighs 1.0000lbs. Power Window Conversion Gear Driven Kit for vent window removal conversion with chrome or black illuminated switches. Power window conversion, 1018 cold rolled steel, brass oilite thrust bearings, gear teeth treated for long life (cryogenics), delco OEM motors. Includes delco OEM chrome or illuminated switches, conduit for wiring and carries a lifetime warranty. Modification Required. This part fits most 1949 1950 1951 Ford; exceptions may apply. Please read the complete description to see if this part fits your specific vehicle and application. Share | Discontinued Item This product can expose you to a chemical, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer or reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov Reviews Product Reviews Login to Write A Review --> Fits Vehicle Models Street Rod Parts - Product Fits Vehicle Models There are no specific vehicled models specificied for this part.


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Watch "Fareed Zakaria GPS" Sundays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET on CNN.
By Fareed Zakaria
Sometimes the conventional wisdom is right. Minutes after the Denver presidential debate, the pundits declared Mitt Romney the clear winner. And he was. He seemed engaged, forceful and punchy. President Obama seemed passive, detached and glum.
But what's more significant than how Romney said things was what he said.
Romney repeatedly insisted that he was not advocating a big tax cut. In fact, he declared unequivocally that he would not cut taxes at all if they added to the deficit at all. Now, as the Washington Post's Glenn Kessler points out in his fact checking column, for two years Romney has been campaigning on a tax cut that that would cost around $5 trillion over 10 years. Romney does claim that he would eliminate deductions and cut spending to pay for it but he hasn't given any details. Well, he offered one at the debate. He would cut funding for public broadcasting, which was 0.01% of federal spending in 2012. Medicare was 13%.
But, anyway that appears to be off the table. Romney is also in favor of regulations, including parts of the Dodd-Frank bill, and repeatedly held up as a model his health care plan in Massachusetts, which has at its center the individual mandate, and on which Obamacare is based.
Romney's transformation did not happen overnight. The candidate has been reworking his stump speech. In a very smart analysis, NPR pointed out that Romney now has a five-point stump speech. The first four points are actually identical to Barack Obama's stump speech: he argues for (1) Exports (2) Domestic energy (3) Retraining and (4) Deficit reduction. It's only on the 5th that they diverge. Romney talks about small businesses, Obama about national security.
I've long argued that Romney is an intelligent man trapped in a party that has forced him to embrace extreme and impossible positions. One of his advisers had predicted that once the Republican primaries were over, Romney would erase the image from the primaries and, like an Etch-a-Sketch, just draw a new one. Well, he appears to be doing just that. The Republican Party might hate Obama enough and be frustrated enough, to wink and let him do it.
If so, Obama faces something far more challenging than a good debater in the last weeks of the campaign. He faces a moderate Republican.
– 5 reasons Obama fumbled
– Reality check: Romney's tax pledge
– What's next in the White House race?
– Face check: Pink slip for Big Bird?
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All sessions of the VWBPE 2020 Conference are held in Second Life®. All times are in SLT (PST).
You may access this time zone converter for your local time: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html.
Add these events to your personal calendar! To add all VWBPE conference events to your calendar, scroll down to the bottom of the calendar, find the "Subscribe" button and click on it. You will find options to add to your Google, Outlook or Apple calendar. To add individual events, click the event and find the "Subscribe" button on that page. You don't have to miss any events at VWBPE!
In most of the United States, Daylight Saving Time is in effect as of 8 March 2020. Canada does not observe DST in 2020. Is your location affected? Check this page to find out when (and if) Daylight Saving Time begins for you.
Presenter: Kenneth Y T Lim (SL: Veritas Raymaker),
Description: This presentation introduces an approach to the use of Augmented Reality (AR) in the design of learning environments, which foregrounds the surfacing of novice conceptions. Termed Learner-Generated Augmentation, the approach differs from the majority of current interventions with AR in that it does not presume upon the pre-design of learning artifacts by experts. In this way, it is more scalable and affordable than the approach that is currently default in the use of AR in learning.
Participants will be able to approach Learner-Generated Augmentation as a curriculum design paradigm
Location: Lecture Area B
Accessibility: Voice and SpeakEasy HUD Tool


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There's less than 24 hours before PS3 and Xbox 360 owners get to engage in hot and heavy James Bond action on their consoles. But, there's more than just a campaign and multiplayer on the disc. This new video introduces the game's Mi6 missions, separate chunks of gameplay that task players to complete different objectives with a suite of different modifiers. Does this mode make you more or less inclined to pick up Goldeneye 007: Reloaded, dear readers?
You can contact Evan Narcisse, the author of this post, at email@example.com. You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook, and lurking around our #tips page.


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Indy long wallet with flap
Indy long zipped calfskin wallet with flap and snap lock
Product details
Grained & smooth calfskin - 2 main compartments - 1 back flat pocket - 10 card slots - 1 front zipped compartment - "Beige rosé" nappa lining with contrasted touches Comes with a dust bag - Length/width: 19 cm/7.5 inches - Height: 10 cm/3.9 inches This article is made from semi-aniline leather. The half-transparent finish imparts a robust nature to the product while preserving its natural character. Respect care instructions on the leaflet Colour: motty grey Item code: CHC16UP809H8J23W
Linked to the chic yet relaxed Indy bag, this long zipped wallet is fashioned from the soft calfskin that is anchored in the Maison's DNA. A sensual contrast between natural leather textures in versatile motty grey and a decorative handmade leather loop on the bold snap lock make the Indy wallet ideal for accessorising this winter's romantic, bohemian look. Also comes in a square version.
Shipping & Returns
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Dave Holland
Top SongsSee All
Question and AnswerGary Burton, Pat Metheny, Chick Corea, Roy Haynes & Dave Holland 1998
Lush LifeGeri Allen, Dave Holland & Jack DeJohnette 2004
In Walked BudKenny Barron & Dave Holland 2014
Essential AlbumsSee All
AlbumsSee All
Artist PlaylistsSee All
Singles & EPsSee All
Live AlbumsSee All
CompilationsSee All
Appears OnSee All
BooksSee All
About Dave Holland
Dave Holland is of a generation of bassists who, in the '60s and '70s, built upon the innovations of slightly older players like Scott LaFaro, Gary Peacock, and Barre Phillips, carrying the instrument to yet another new level of creativity. Along with contemporaries like Eddie Gómez, Miroslav Vitous, and Barry Guy, Holland helped refine and extend the melodic possibilities of the cumbersome double bass. In Holland's case, those refinements never lost touch with the core verities of straight-ahead jazz; Holland's sense of swing is unexcelled. Additionally, Holland is possibly the most accomplished pure jazz composer among bassists, after Charles Mingus. Holland's small groups in the '80s and '90s, while working firmly within the jazz idiom, presented a fresh alternative to the fusty re-creations of the neo-boppers.
Holland started playing ukulele at the age of four, switching to guitar at ten and bass guitar at 13. He took some piano lessons as a child, but was at first mostly self-taught, learning from pop music songbooks and by listening to the radio. He played in dance bands with friends. As a teenager he decided to try to make a living as a musician. Under the influence of such jazz bassists as Leroy Vinnegar and Ray Brown, Holland took up the double bass, learning primarily by playing along with records. He began playing professionally shortly thereafter. One of his first gigs was in a big band that toured behind the singer Johnny Ray. Holland studied with James E. Merritt, the principal bassist with the London Philharmonic, who recommended him to the degree program at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
At Guildhall, Holland gained experience in a variety of styles, from orchestral music to New Orleans jazz to bebop and beyond. In 1966, he began playing with many of the musicians with whom he would collaborate over the next two decades -- musicians like trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, saxophonist John Surman, and pianist John Taylor who were well in tune with jazz innovations of the time. Holland acknowledges being influenced by Mingus, LaFaro, Jimmy Garrison, and Gary Peacock at this point in his career. Holland also became interested in many 20th century classical composers, especially Béla Bartók. Holland played London clubs with England's top jazz musicians, as well as visiting dignitaries like Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, and Joe Henderson. In July of 1968, Miles Davis heard him at Ronnie Scott's and asked him to join his band.
Holland promptly relocated to New York and participated in the making of several classic Davis recordings, including In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew. In 1970, he co-founded (with Anthony Braxton, Chick Corea, and Barry Altschul) the group Circle, which embraced free jazz concepts. In the early '70s, he played with Stan Getz, Thelonious Monk, and Sam Rivers. In 1975, he formed the Gateway Trio -- with Jack DeJohnette (drums) and John Abercrombie (guitar) -- a group that would continue to record and tour intermittently for the next 25 years. In the early '80s, Holland worked extensively with Sam Rivers and organized his own band, a quintet with Wheeler, Julian Priester (trombone), Steve Coleman (alto sax), and Steve Ellington (drums). Thereafter, Holland-led small groups would continue to tour and record through the end of the century. Later members would include Marvin "Smitty" Smith (drums) and Robin Eubanks (trombone). Although the personnel would vary, the band would ultimately draw their identity from Holland's compositions.
In the '80s and '90s, Holland worked as an educator, heading the summer jazz workshop at the Banff School in Banff, Alberta, Canada, from 1983 until 1990. From 1987 until 1990 he was a faculty member at the New England Conservatory of Music. Aside from leading his own group, Holland's musical activities in the '90s included projects with DeJohnette, Gateway, and Herbie Hancock. He also recorded with Joe Lovano, Gary Burton, and Jim Hall. Holland's late-'90s quartet included Robin Eubanks, Steve Nelson (vibes), Chris Potter (saxophone), and Billy Kilson (drums). The dawn of the 21st century brought more releases, including Not for Nothin' in 2001, What Goes Around in 2002, and Extended Play: Live at Birdland in 2003, all on ECM. Overtime came out in 2005, followed by Critical Mass in 2006, both on Sunnyside. The soul-jazz-inflected Pass It On appeared next in 2008.
In 2010, Holland released the octet album Pathways, followed in 2013 by Prism, featuring his quartet with guitarist Kevin Eubanks, pianist Craig Taborn, and drummer Eric Harland. He next paired with pianist Kenny Barron for the 2014 duo album The Art of the Conversation. Two years later, he joined tenor saxophonist Chris Potter, West African-born guitarist/vocalist Lionel Loueke, and drummer Eric Harland for Aziza. In 2018, he reunited with pianist Taborn and percussionist Ches Smith on 2018's Uncharted Territories. ~ Chris Kelsey
- Wolverhampton, England
- Jazz
- 1 Oct 1946
Similar ArtistsSee All


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webmasterkai needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
2 winners were selected from 63 designs submitted by 28 freelance designers.
First entry must use two colors 100% white and 100% black. 2nd entry can and should use some color, possibly more detail. Logo for website and print advertising. Simple elegant design with clean lines and graphic. No more than two colors. Serif fonts. High contrast.
Stryhn Services
General Contractors
Desired Color Scheme:
blues, yellows, orange - 2 color max
Desired Style:
Clean lines, elegant text.
Accepted File Formats:
I give detailed feedback often. Ask questions for clarification. Logo should give the look of a high quality building/architecture firm. Graphics that relay that message would be great. I would like the logo to look good even small - still recognizable. Serif fonts.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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6320 Route 209
Directions Suite A
Stroudsburg, PA 18360
Actual rating will vary with options, driving conditions, habits and vehicle condition.
The standard features of the Lincoln MKT Limo/Hearse include EcoBoost 3.5L V-6 365hp twin turbo engine, 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive, 4-wheel anti-lock brakes (ABS), integrated navigation system, side seat mounted airbags, curtain 1st row overhead airbag, airbag occupancy sensor, automatic air conditioning, 18" aluminum wheels, cruise control, ABS and driveline traction control.
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Subsea turbocompressors
The world's first subsea gas compression system has been in operation since September 2015. Statoil awarded SKF the contract for the subsea magnetic bearing systems for the Åsgard gas field subsea compression station in the North Sea. This pioneering installation is maximizing gas recovery and prolonging the life of the field.
SKF is a central partner in this new market as magnetic bearings make it possible to operate and control the rotation of the subsea compression units with many advantages: high performance, small footprint, proven reliability, no human intervention, remote control and high monitoring capabilities.


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I wish to take strong exception to Jim White�s recent letter objecting to group homes for persons with developmental disabilities because �they lower the property value of neighboring homes� (�Objects to group home location,� July 29).
First of all, his statement that most of the homes are run for profit is absolutely false. Almost all of them are owned or leased by non-profit community agencies that are under strict regulations and funding by state agencies.
In addition, no studies have indicated that property values are affected by the presence of group homes. There are state rules that prohibit the clustering of such homes, and none of them can be within a quarter mile of another.
I was around when the state-operated Lincoln Developmental Center had over 5,000 residents. Now that might affect property values, but not the small, community homes that blend in with the surrounding neighborhood.
Don Moss
The writer is executive director of United Cerebral Palsy of Illinois.