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Dad, You Really Command Respect
Yao Shu calling out "wife" caused Lu Yao, who was sleeping in the outer room to smile with satisfaction. She then replied: "Husband, is something the matter?" While she spoke, she could still hear footsteps heading in her direction. They were very light, as he was not wearing shoes, but his breathing was getting heavier. This caused the entire room to have a strange atmosphere.
Lu Yao was very satisfied while watching Yao Shu walk over to her bed. She did not allow for any explanation, hugging him directly and quickly returning to the bridal bed. With their clothes removed, it was an enchanting scene.
That night, Yao Shu felt as though he had a very long dream. In this dream, he had paid very close attention to his recently married Lu Yao; however, it was very unreal. In a bit of a daze, he was a little bit reluctant, but if he acknowledged this reluctance, he felt that he was letting Lu Yao down. With this internal conflict, he slept very uneasily and sweated a lot. When he woke up at dawn the next day, his sheets had been completely soaked with sweat.
He was very sober and felt as though he had not slept at all. He thought that everything had been part of a dream, but he now knew that it had happened. He turned his head to look toward Lu Yao and saw that she was seated on the bed under some sheets. She was looking at him with a look of remorse.
"You woke up." It was Lu Yao that woke up first. Her voice was a bit hoarse, and her eyes were a bit red. It was very clear that she had cried. Yao Shu wanted to ask what had happened to her but heard Lu Yao continue: "It was this wife that was not good. This wife has sullied husband and is feeling very sad. But perhaps husband drank too much last night. Wife does not have much strength and could not do anything." The more she said, the quieter her voice became. By the end, she lowered her head and stared at a piece of white cloth on the bed. Finally, tears began to fall.
Yao Shu was originally a very kind person and did not have much hatred for Lu Yao in his heart. Before the drug fully took effect, he had already thought things through. Furthermore, he had no clue that the candle had been tampered with, which caused him to feel as though his feelings were unbearable. Upon hearing what Lu Yao said and seeing this scene, his heart began to feel distraught.
He sat up and pulled his wife into his embrace. With kind words, he comforted her for a while, saying to her: "Having married into the Yao family, you are my wife. Everything that has been done should be done. Don't worry. we won't bring up the matters of the past. The Yao family is gentle, and nobody will bully you." As he spoke, he saw that Lu Yao continued to stare at the white cloth. He was able to guess what she was worried about. Getting out of bed, he found something sharp and made a small cut on his arm then wiped some blood on the sheets. Only then did she seem satisfied.
Lu Yao let out a sigh of relief and acted very well, hugging Yao Shu's arm and refusing to let go. She placed her mouth on the wound and sucked for a while. Seeing that it was no longer bleeding, she let go with tears in her eyes. Yao Shu mysteriously felt even more distressed.
The young couple lay in bed for a little while longer and said some intimate things before a maidservant entered to wake them up. After washing up and getting dressed, they went to serve tea to the family elder. The wife would then bring the blood-stained cloth to Xu shi. Seeing Xu shi smile and nod, Lu Yao finally relaxed. It was just when she looked at Yao Xian, she felt that his gaze was too sharp. Because there was a bit of resemblance to Feng Yu Heng, her heart trembled slightly.
Through this wedding, Lu Yao had survived a perilous situation; however, who knew that in the Lu manor, the third young miss, Lu Yan, nearly caused an uproar. The servant Ru Yi tried to console her and finally managed to have her calm down, but Lu Yan could not understand, "There really are plenty of strange things in the world. Could it be that the palace's granny was paid off?"
Ru Yi sighed: "How could it be so easy to pay off someone from the palace! That granny has spent the majority of her life in the palace. What has she not seen before. Is she someone that a normal person can buy?"
"Then it's strange!" Lu Yan repeated herself: "Lu Yao clearly is not a virgin. The vile matter between her and Lu Cuo is something I know about. How could the result of the examination be that she is pure? Could it be that the granny is too old and is no longer any good? Are her eyes no longer quite as sharp?"
In the end, Ru Yi was a maidservant and could not tell what the truth was. She could only advise her: "The matter has already passed. Third young miss must not get angry. Didn't master already say it. Your future will be even better. She will enjoy the spotlight for a couple more years at most. When the time comes, won't she still need to kneel and kowtow to you."
When this was brought up, Lu Yan was a bit delighted, but when she remembered the things from the previous day, she could not help but feel angry, "A good future? I fear that this great future will be ruined by her! The majority of the family's businesses have been handed over. I heard father mention it yesterday. The deeds handed over yesterday were all of the best ones. When I get married, what sort of dowry will I have? Father had been entirely focused on obtaining a relationship with the Yao family; however, he never thought that this sort of situation would occur, right? I say, with that Feng Yu Heng present, who can possibly obtain any benefits from her side?"
Upon hearing this, Ru Yi also trembled. She had gone to the Yao manor the previous day and naturally saw imperial daughter Ji An. Sure enough, her gaze was bone-piercingly cold and was extremely shocking.
Not to mention the confusion on Lu Yan's side, even Lu Song and Ge shi were unable to sleep as a result of the body examination. The two could not understand what was going on. Thinking back, they had locked Lu Yao and Lu Cuo inside a room. They had clearly seen a trace of blood on the bed. How was it that the granny from the palace said that she was a virgin?
Everyone in the Lu manor that knew about this matter could not help but feel confused.
But no matter what, being able to pass this hurdle was a good thing. At present, Lu Song was still trembling with fear. Once that granny from yesterday said anything else, not only would this daughter Lu Yao no longer have any chance of living, even his Lu family would suffer too! So what if he was the standard first rank left prime minister. Even if others could not understand it, how could he not. He could be compared with other people, but when compared to the Yao family, there really was no comparison.
Lu Song sighed. Ge shi sighed, but she was sighing over the deeds that had been paid. With this happening, when her own daughter got married, what should she do!
The people in the Lu family were all flustered. In the imperial daughter's manor, Feng Yu Heng was personally sending craftsman Bai out. In order to ensure the success of sending craftsman Bai back to the palace, Feng Yu Heng specifically had him sit in her own imperial carriage. She also had two hidden guards follow along. Only after arranging to meet in the palace in a few days did she feel at ease with sending craftsman Bai out.
Just after the imperial carriage turned out of the alley, she turned her head and found another carriage rushing in her direction. After a few more steps, it stopped in front of the imperial daughter's manor's entrance. Following this, Feng Jin Yuan hopped out. Upon seeing that Feng Yu Heng was at the entrance, he let out a long sigh and said: "I was afraid that you would not be in the manor. Your guards would not let me in."
Feng Yu Heng nodded, "The guards were in the right." She then smirked, "Since we've met, if father has something to say, just come in to speak."
She led Feng Jin Yuan to the main hall. Zi Rui also happened to run out. The two children saw this irresponsible father together. Seeing that Feng Jin Yuan was looking toward Zi Rui. Feng Yu Heng could not help but gently clear her throat and asked: "Father coming again today, is something the matter?"
"Ah! Yes! There is!" Feng Jin Yuan responded completely positively. Reaching into his pocket, he very quickly pulled out a banknote. "This is the tuition fee for Zi Rui that father prepared. There is a total of 150 taels. Take a look."
"Oh?" Feng Yu Heng received the banknote with a bit of surprise. It was a note from the bank inside the capital. It was precisely 150 taels, no more no less. She was a little surprised: "Father, where did this money come from?"
Feng Jin Yuan waved his hand, "The Feng residence has a bit of a foundation. There's no need for you to worry about this. Zi Rui attending school is most important."
Hearing him say this, Feng Yu Heng could not continue to ask, thus she nodded and handed the banknote to Wang Chuan, "Take care of it. When Zi Rui returns to Xiao Zhou in a couple days, have him bring it along."
Seeing that the banknote was handed over, Feng Jin Yuan finally smiled. It was as though a weight had been lifted; however, who knew whether it was because he had finally put in some work to send his own son to school or if it was because he finally had the face to make a request to Feng Yu Heng.
Seeing that he did not leave, Feng Yu Heng knew that there was definitely another matter, but if Feng Jin Yuan did not speak, she would not rush. She had the maidservants bring some tea. Taking a few sips, she began to talk with Zi Rui.
This conversation had no end. Feng Jin Yuan feared that his matter would be forgotten, thus he took the initiative to speak up: "That… A-Heng, father has a matter that I would like to ask you about."
"Oh?" Only then did Feng Yu Heng turn to look toward him, "What does father wish to ask?"
Feng Jin Yuan calmed himself down, saying: "You also know that there were some irrational feelings between Yao shi and me. She wanted to harm me. I just wanted to ask, this injury… can it still be treated?"
Feng Yu Heng did not think that his request would actually be this matter, but after recalling the scene when Feng Jin Yuan had seen Feng Zhao Lian, she developed a bit of an understanding. But it was because she thought of this that her expression became a little bit colder. She immediately said in an impolite tone: "Currently, if father wants sons, you have one. If father wants daughters, you have one. One daughter is an imperial daughter and is the future princess Yu. The son is also a disciple of Ye Rong. What is it, are you not satisfied? You still want to spread the Feng family's seed?" While speaking, she looked at the person with great disdain and said: "Isn't it a bit late?"
Feng Jin Yuan's face turned bright red from what she had said. After all, he was a father, a dad. To allow his daughter to use this sort of thing to mock him, how could he still have face. But he had come today with this sort of goal. He had planned ahead. Regardless of what ugly things Feng Yu Heng said, he would endure it all. As long as he could get treatment for this injury, anything was fine. Thus he did not make another sound, only begging: "Father is a man, after all. There are also still concubines in the residence, and I must think for them."
Feng Yu Heng also laughed. This father really commanded respect. He was even able to say this sort of thing. But speaking the truth was harmless. Since they were speaking openly, and everyone was speaking truthfully, she asked Feng Jin Yuan: "Not to mention how I don't know the current situation of your injury, but after such a long time has passed, even if I was a miracle worker, I fear that it would be hopeless. Moreover…" She stared at Feng Jin Yuan, as her eyes began to look toward his lower region with bad intentions. She then said: "As a father, you aren't embarrassed to have me treat that place?"


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Slade~hits or quits? page 11
The Young Americans
NOD, JIM, DAVE, DON; much praised, much appreciated for putting leers and tears back into pop are at last finding that their Council Estate humour and X certificate pop is helping them go down a bundle in the States.
Even if nasty rumours are circulating about Slade not doing all right in Yankland, pay no attention - the lads are getting there, slowly, as only the majority of British bands can in a country so breathtakingly big.
Shortly, the band will be returning to America to keep an appointment with those lost angels and newly converted Slade boppers.
But before they left I chatted to Noddy and Jim, first about the new album Nobody's Fool' (sic)
"Very proud of it," says Jim, who then disappears to have a shave.
Noddy takes over: "We made it in New York, we spent six or seven weeks on it. did it all in one go really. Well we did about three days in L.A. a couple of months before just to start gettln' into the swing."
Slade's intention at the outset was to take time off from gigsville and concentrate on producing a really first class album.
Noddy: "The album Is why we went to America. It wasn't tax reasons like some of 'um were saying. We went to get fresh ideas.
"Ya know we've been influenced by different things. There's a lot more soul influence as well we used coloured chick singers for the first time. There's funky stuff, heavy rock, a country song and an electronic type number, each track has its own style."
How about the title. A spit in the eye for the cynics?
"Well the first track on the album is called 'Nobody's Fool,' singular, ya know without the 's'. I mean we didn't pick a title to work to but when we played the tracks back in running order, listening through, we thought 'Nobody's Fools' was a good idea. It sorta fitted the group, y'know what people thought about the group. It summed the album up, really. "
Is the musicianship as good as ever? He laughs cos he thinks I'm being sarcastic and says:
"We took a lot more time over this one.""I mean we had six weeks to get better and better in the studio. So the sound got better, the playing got better and the Ideas got better."
However, Noddy looks at it merely as an expansion of Slade's talent.
"It's an improvement, a step ahead."
Nod's favourite is the reggae number 'D'ya Mamma Ever" Tell Yer.
"The chick singers do a great job on it, I mean it ain't yer actual ethnic reggae, it's Wolverhampton Reggae, but it's great"
How many times have they listened to to finished product?
"Loads," says Jim, whiskers whisked from a Ronson job. "This is the first of our albums I've actually been able to sit down and listen to at home."
Not without finding fault surely?
"Oh no! I mean you can always find fault," he agrees. "It aln' t the be all and end all. We're all just pleased with it Best thing we've ever done. But we always say that!"Public
Will Joe Public find it Slade's best? In the past, Nod's had fans come up to him after a show who've said their best album was 'Slade Alive', Slade's second album. So do the fans really give a whatsit about musical progression and high falutin' frills?
Jim continues: "You can't really judge what the public likes, they might prefer the old stuff."
So when you go into the studios to make a record, who do you bear in mind, The public, fellow musicians or yourselves?
Both Nod and Jim agree, it's the public, although they say:
"We wouldn't do anything we don't like ourselves."
Nod: "Everybody you speak to who's listened to the album have said 'this should be the next single' or 'that should be the next single,' everybody's got their own favourite. Which is great. 'cos it means that every track is good enough to be a single. "
Another feather in their already decorative cap is that several people have asked if they can record stuff from the album for possible singles.
Before. the only type to cover Slade material have been dubious Euro talents such as James Last (possibly your Mum's pin-up fantasy)... Is there anyone in particular that Slade would like to see covering their songs?
"Actually we've got a nice one for Dana," smirks Noddy.What a sort of flimsy ballad ... ?
"Flimsy!" retorts Jim. Well it's difficult to imagine young Dana giving it 'Mama We're All Crazee Now'.
Nod: "It's not on the album, it's a song we wrote which we haven't used ourselves, she'd do it great. We fancy sending it to her, don't we?"
'Nobody's Fool' has just been released in the States. Before that 'Slade In Flame' got to number 17 in the USA charts.
"Which wasn't bad for us," Nod reflects, " considering we didn't get any airplay. Some albums don't even make that It did well, it sold better over there than anything else we've done."Slade are red hot in New York and the Mid West but Jim reckons you can leave L.A. off the list.
"We've got a number on the album called 'LA Jinx,' because every time we play there it's been disastrous."
Nod: "Somthin's always gone wrong; the gear blows up, we have electric shocks, ya know we are always jinxed by some equipment fault, or bad luck."
When Slade get back to the States they'll be touring with Kiss. This will give them the opportunity to play to the younger audiences.
'Kiss are pulling in the new breed," Nod explains. "The new generation, the kids who are into weird make-up and glitter and flames shooting to the sky and all Kisses usual stuff. I mean, the heads find it a bit silly, but the young 'uns love it which is good for us because they're pulling' em in."
"We've always wanted to play to the young Americans but we've been on with heavier bands in the past, so we've never got to them."
Album Review
Solid Slade Fool Y'all
SLADE: 'Nobody's Fool's' (Polydor 2383 377)
Having given out the information that a large part of the motivation behind their moving to the States last year was to go for pastures new in order to widen their horizons somewhat, this album becomes important in more ways than one. Two of the tracks are already familiar ~ being Slade's last two singles, but the remaining numbers, all written by Noddy and Jimmy Lea offer a lot of variety. The most immediate thing I noticed was the arrangements - which included some solid bass work that would have done justice to Led Zep. Next, there's the use of back - up vocals, something Slade haven't used too much in the past. Finally, there's the pace, lots of it. 'Pack Up Your Troubles' is about the slowest number of the album, but even then it bounces along briskly, using an almost busking tempo. It's not an album of singles - it does present tracks that are a lot deeper than I expected. You're right lads, you're nobody's fools!
Sue Byrom
Always read the small print!!!
Nice to see that the group still warranted a centrefold poster in 1976, probably their last though.
US Billboard charts. Noddy may well have dreamt it reached #17 or possibly saw it at #17 in some local NY record shop import album chart?

subset: commoncrawl


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Wireless printing center
Installing printer software
To ensure you have the latest software, we recommend that you download software for your printer and computer. Make sure you select the software that is intended for both your computer operating system and your printer model. The computer you are installing the printer software on must be connected to the same network you are connecting the printer to.
- Follow the on-screen instructions until you are prompted for Connection Type.
- Select either "Through the Network", "Network", or "Wireless" when prompted.
- The wording will depend on the version of software you are installing.
- In some cases the software may automatically find your wireless settings for you.
- Follow the on-screen directions to finish installing the software for your printer.
If you have already connected the printer to your network and are now installing the software, the printer should be discovered automatically during the installation process. Note that the computer you are installing the software on must be connected to the same network as the printer.
Sometimes the software has difficulty finding the printer over the network. If this happens, you will have a chance to do an "advanced search" for the printer using the printer's assigned IP address. You can find the IP address by printing either the Wireless Network Test report or a Network Configuration page. For printers with displays, the IP address should be shown on the display when the wireless ICON or button is touched.
If this is a first time installation for a printer without a display and you are using the USB setup of the wireless method, the software will not find the printer on the network and you will be guided through creating a wireless connection for the printer. You will temporarily connect a USB cable between the printer and your computer. Do not connect the USB cable until the software instructs you. The computer you are installing the printer software on must be connected to the same network you are connecting the printer to.


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Scotland's long debate over whether the country should become independent has proved a bonanza for printers of bumper stickers, posters, balloons and even umbrellas.
Nationwide the words "Yes" and "No" can be found emblazoned on everything from street lights to shopping bags. Posters proclaiming "Proud to be Scots. Delighted to be United" and "Yes to a better, fairer Scotland" adorn the windows of homes sharing the same street.
On Monday, it's showdown time. Scotland's pro-independence First Minister Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling, leader of the "No" campaign, will face off in their last televised debate before the Sept. 18 referendum.
Both sides claimed victory when the two clashed Aug. 4 – and interest from outside Scotland was so high it caused the Internet platform streaming the event to crash. This time the 90-minute debate will be shown on the BBC across Britain, and on C-SPAN in the United States.
At stake is the support of thousands of voters who, despite a campaign lasting two years, have yet to make up their minds.
Up and down the country activists have held thousands of town hall meetings, coffee mornings in private homes, and passionate discussions in pubs, clubs, town squares and on public transport.
People who have never been involved in politics before have come together and created a truly grassroots national debate about a vote that could affect everything from Scotland's economy, passports, currency and military to its sense of national pride and its role in the European Union and other international organizations.
"Wherever you go somebody is talking about it," said Mairi Campbell, 38, a hairdresser from Glasgow who says she's definitely voting against independence.
"I used to spend a lot of my time talking to customers about whether they had a good holiday or were planning a night out. Now the conversation might start that way but ends up with something about the referendum and what it means," she said. "Almost everyone has an opinion and different reasons as to which way they will vote."
Politicians from both sides have toured Scotland's cities, towns and villages to address the public, often out in the open, distributing miniature flags — the blue and white Saltire of Scotland, or the red, white and blue of the Union Jack — while standing on modern equivalents of the corner soap box.
School halls have held question-and-answer sessions for students, reflecting the fact that, for the first time in Britain, 16- and 17-year-olds are being given the right to vote.
"This is the biggest grassroots campaign Scotland has seen and it has encouraged more people to engage and get involved with politics than at any point in my lifetime," said Robin McAlpine, 41, director of Common Weal, which was set up to promote the ideals of a fairer society.
On the pro-independence side stand more than 350 independent groups. Not one is centrally controlled, organized or funded.
The "No" campaign, which claims to have the support of the silent majority, has brought together a wide range of unionists from Labour and Conservative party members to socialists and members of the right-wing U.K. Independence Party.
Opinion polls suggest voters are narrowly divided on whether to break up Scotland's 307-year-old union with England or remain alongside the English, Welsh and Northern Irish inside the United Kingdom. In opinion polls the anti-independence side has maintained a consistent lead — but as many as a million undecided voters hold the balance.
Voter turnout in the referendum is expected to be high, possibly topping 80 percent. That would be the highest-ever figure in Scotland and much greater than the 50 percent who voted in Scotland's last parliamentary election.
Nighet Nasim Riaz, 46, a member of Scots Asians for Yes, said people are hoping to see the TV debaters maintain their civility.
"The last televised debate between Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling was not what people wanted to see: two middle-aged men having digs at each other," she said. "It's what you do in a playground. People want a bit more dignity and answers to questions that don't skirt around the issues."
But with a positive mood on the streets, both sides hope the debate will provide a final push to capture wavering voters.
"Whatever the outcome," Riaz said, "something fundamental has changed in the way people are now becoming engaged and taking an interest in politics."


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Don't know Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell and Randy "The Natural" Couture? Is an octagon merely a distant memory from your 10th grade geometry class? If so, you have somehow sidestepped the anything-goes, street- and cage-fighting craze called mixed martial arts.
Fans of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) stars such as Liddell and Couture are hitting the gym to learn the mixed martial arts techniques used in The Octagon (the cage that houses these fights) or to simply train like their favorite fighter. And in response, some fitness facility owners around the country are designing fitness programs to attract these fans, many of whom are young men.
This movement is not without apprehension, however. Mixed martial arts is a contact sport, so safety is the greatest concern. Operators also must worry about finding or training qualified teachers and storing the equipment needed for these classes.
Still, when it comes to re-vamping a fitness center's image or injecting something new into the mix, mixed martial arts may be just the thing.
"It's a trend that we're seeing proliferate in clubs, as people are looking for new ways to work out," says Kara Thompson, public relations coordinator for the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA). "The UFC phenomenon has aided the interest in mixed martial arts."
What's the Buzz?
Just as the name implies, mixed martial arts is a combination of martial arts disciplines, including jiu-jitsu, judo, karate and kempo, as well as techniques from boxing, kickboxing and wrestling. Typically associated with street fighting, the sport is intense and strategic, fought in a cage designed to contain the one-on-one competitors. Techniques include striking and grappling, but no one discipline dominates.
Mixed martial arts first came to the United States, where the UFC was born, in the 1980s. At first, UFC fights had few rules, no weight classes and no equipment requirements. This made for ugly and contentious battles that went into pay-per-view time slots. Although some of these negative first impressions remain, the backlash led to internal regulations that require judges and gloves and put the kibosh on head-butting and hair-pulling. These changes didn't diminish fans' passion, however. In 2006, the UFC brought in nearly$223 million in pay-per-view revenue — more than HBO Boxing or World Wrestling Entertainment. And "The Ultimate Fighter," a UFC reality program on the cable channel Spike TV, just finished its ninth season.
With all of this buzz, it's no wonder mixed martial arts is hitting health clubs. Clubs such as Newtown Athletic Club in Newtown, PA, and Meridian Sports Clubs of California, North Hills, CA, are adding mixed martial arts to their facilities. Fans want to fight and train like their favorite UFC stars.
"Over the years, you looked at boxing physiques and would say, 'Boxers are really in shape.' Now the same is happening with UFC fighters and mixed martial arts," says Tony Santomauro, president of The Santomauro Group, a health, fitness and martial arts consulting and management firm in Hackensack, NJ, and partner in Can Do Fitness Clubs.
Bringing in the Boys
The goal of adding mixed martial arts classes is to increase exactly what mixed martial arts attracts: testosterone. IHRSA reports that since 1987, the number of men joining health clubs has risen by more than 84 percent. However in 2007, men represented only 45.8 percent of the for-profit and nonprofit health club membership and only 43 percent of for-profit clubs nationally. For some fitness centers, these numbers translate to opportunity.
"Mixed martial arts is very appealing to men," says Carol Espel, national director of group fitness for Equinox, with locations in New York, Chicago, Dallas and California. Meanwhile, group exercise classes are not so attractive to men.
"The barriers [to group exercise] are the formats," Espel says. "What happens for most men is the visibility factor. They remember [group exercise] as some dancing thing from the past. When you have programs that sound a little less like group fitness but more like overall fitness, you get men enrolled. When we do a boxing series, they're lining up."
Equinox's demographics mirror IHRSA's numbers — about 40 percent of the total membership is male.
"Men — it's something that all of us [fitness centers] are missing," Espel says. Equinox currently does not offer mixed martial arts fitness programs or classes, but it's something the health club has considered, she notes.
"The fitness industry is so homogeneous right now," says Jim Rowley, CEO of New Evolution Fitness Co., Lafayette, CA. "There's an audience that's left out and wants a little more of an edge."
Together with the UFC and business partner Mark Mastrov, founder of 24 Hour Fitness, Rowley is launching a series of gyms that allow members to train like UFC fighters. The first UFC Gym will open in October in Concord, CA. Rowley plans to open five to seven others by the end of the calendar year, and long term, he plans to grow even further.
"We're very confident that it's going to really take off," Rowley says.
John Hackleman, World Kickboxing Association's North American Champion, Pacific Heavy Weight, has been offering mixed martial arts training since 1985 at The Pit, his Arroyo Grand, CA, club.
"It's always been about two things: martial arts and fitness," he says. By focusing on Hawaiian kempo, a discipline that combines kickboxing, boxing, judo, kempo, jiu-jitsu and wrestling, Hackleman has built a fitness system that definitely attracts men — 75 percent of his membership is male.
Still, a mix of men, women and children is important.
"Our program is not male oriented," Rowley says. "We wanted to create a fun atmosphere for kids and teach cool ways to exercise. We think we have broad appeal."
Early enrollment for the first UFC gym began last month, and so far, the breakdown of men and women is 50-50, Rowley says. Kids' membership numbers are still unclear.
The Pit has a solid kids program that emphasizes many of the same disciplines as traditional martial arts — focus, teamwork, control, balance, memory, fitness and coordination.
"It's a family gym," Hackleman says. "But there's also an elite, hardcore team that trains separately."
These athletes — including Liddell and Antonio Banuelos — compete in UFC and World Extreme Cagefighting events. They also elevate The Pit's image among fans of the sport.
Risk Assessment
When dipping a toe into a bloody sport like mixed martial arts, safety is a big consideration.
"The potential for injury is high — much more so than anything we offer," says Equinox's Espel. "I could see doing the training one-on-one. In a group setting, it would be much more risky."
Santomauro says, "Mixed martial arts is more along the lines of boxing. Most fights end up on the ground."
To combat this concern, Hackleman requires his members to sign ironclad liability waivers.
"We have a very, very, very extensive waiver," he says. "But most of my students don't do full contact. Most people don't spar full contact — they grapple."
This fits with Santomauro's impression of the mainstream appeal of mixed martial arts.
"I can see training like a fighter, but to actually allow fighting? I don't see that," he says.
In fact, the UFC Gym is not designed for fighting — just training.
"This is not a fighting gym," Rowley says. "It's a gym for fans. We want to be able to take our wives and children to these gyms and have them feel safe."
Part of that process is having expert trainers on staff.
"You really have to be selective of who you want to teach group programs," Espel says. "Members want authenticity. You have to go out of the norm of instructors."
Rowley says that no certification or licensing standards currently exist for mixed martial arts trainers or gyms. For that reason, UFC Gym is developing an international certification for trainers that it eventually may offer to other organizations.
"We're writing this from scratch," Rowley says. "The goal is to create a safe and controlled training atmosphere."
The Pit has always offered its own certification program for its trainers. The three-day course, called CrossPIT, is offered at four levels and is based on CrossFit, a fitness program used by police academies, military special operations units and martial artists.
The type of insurance needed by fitness club operators who incorporate mixed martial arts depends on whether the training includes hand-to-hand combat, says IHRSA's Thompson.
"If there is not any hand-to-hand combat, it would be covered by a regular health club insurance policy. If it is hand-to-hand combat, a club would need an additional, specialty insurance policy," she says.
For fitness facilities in New York City, where storage space is at a premium, offering mixed martial arts training presents other barriers that are difficult to overcome.
"Most [mixed martial arts classes] require the grappling mats," says Espel. "That's an added expense, and then storing them can be a problem."
These mats are usually 1.5 inches thick and 40 by 80 inches in size. Gym owners should expect to pay somewhere around $200 for each mat. Other equipment may include pole pads, vacuums and scrubbers (which can run as high as $1,500) and grappling dummies. For the serious training gym, a fighting cage is a must at as much as $15,000 a pop.
What's Next?
As more traditional gyms, such as Equinox, consider adding mixed martial arts programs to their menus, Rowley and Hackleman fully expect the sport to grow — and with it, interest in training. UFC's popularity is fueling the movement, combined with fitness enthusiasts looking for something different.
"While most people looked down their noses at UFC in the 1990s, the organization now has major sponsors," Rowley says. He's banking on continued interest in the sport — from both casual and die-hard fans.
Hackleman says that even before its popularity exploded, mixed martial arts had a place in the fitness industry. The varied skills required for training and competing is what sets mixed martial arts apart from more traditional training programs.
"It's better to be good at everything than to be great in any one thing," he says.
Like many fitness trends, building interest will likely be the driver for most clubs.
"At the end of the day, if fitness isn't fun, who needs it?" asks Rowley.
By the numbers
At this time, IHRSA does not track mixed martial arts programs offered in member fitness clubs. However, a 2008 IHRSA survey revealed that many clubs are offering similar sports programming.
- 39.7 percent offer kickboxing
- 25.4 percent offer martial arts
- 20.6 percent offer boxing
- 17.8 percent offer tai chi programming
Breaking Down Mixed Martial Arts
So from what disciplines does mixed martial arts draw? The UFC lists these:
Boxing — Fighting with fists usually with padded leather gloves. Referred to as the "sweet science," boxers use elaborate foot maneuvers and quick jabs for offense.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — In the 1920s, Carlos Gracie opened the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He taught the skills he learned from Japanese judo master Esai Maeda. The skills were later modified to use less strength and to be more effective against larger opponents.
Jiu Jutsu — Ancient Japanese martial art that encompasses throwing, joint locks, striking and weapons training.
Judo — Sportive Japanese martial art founded in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Derived from jiu jutsu, judo is now an Olympic sport that emphasizes throws. Striking is not allowed in competition judo.
Karate — Name used to identify many Japanese and Okinawan martial arts. While known for powerful, linear techniques, many karate styles also incorporate softer, circular techniques.
Kickboxing — Sportive martial art combining boxing punches and martial arts kicks. Many styles with different rules exist, such as muay thai, full contact karate and Asian rules fighting.
Kung Fu — Also referred to as gung fu, Chinese boxing and wu shu. The hundreds of kung fu styles often are patterned after the movements of animals. Some well-known styles of kung fu are wing chun, praying mantis, pau kua, tai-chi-ch'uan and shuai chiao.
Tae Kwon Do — One of the most practiced martial arts in the world, tae kwon do is a Korean style known for its flashy kicking techniques.
Wrestling — Contestants struggle hand-to-hand, attempting to throw or take down their opponent without striking blows. Some of the many styles of wrestling are freestyle, Greco-Roman and catch-as-catch-can.
Adapted from UFC's Web site.


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Have You Heard About This Fresh Teen?
Guinness (World Records, that is) names Northport teen world's youngest professor!
That's right, nineteen-year-old Alia Sabur has broken a Guiness World record by becoming the world's youngest professor at age 18.
Alia, a child prodigy who has been setting records since she was 8 months old, was enrolled in college at age 10. Wow. And three days shy of her 19th birthday, Alia became a professor at Konkuk University, in Seoul, North Korea where she'll be teaching.
She will be doing some classroom instruction, but mostly will focus on research into developing nanotubes for use as cellular probes, which could help discover cures for diseases such as cancer, she said.
Down the road, she would like to develop a noninvasive blood-glucose meter for people with diabetes, she said. Her mother, Julia, and her father, Mark, both have diabetes.
Sabur said classroom teaching in Seoul will be challenging because she doesn't speak Korean. "I can speak math and music," she said.
Kudos to Alia and for her awesome success, and continuing her medical research. Amazing!


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It is said that the lack of evidence regarding a crime does not mean that a crime was not committed.The conclusion of the Supreme Court appointed Special Investigation Team headed by Shri R.K.Raghavan, former Director, Central Bureau of Investigation, accepted by a court in Gujarat on April 10,2012, that there is no prosecutable evidence against Shri Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat, and some others in connection with what has come to be known as the Gulbarg Society massacre does not mean that the allegations relating to the massacre have been discounted in toto.
2.There were two categories of allegations relating to the massacre. The first was about participation in the massacre. As pointed out by Shri Raghavan in his excellent interview by Barkha Dutt of NDTV last night, the trial against persons being prosecuted for participation is still on.Since the matter is sub judice, one cannot comment on their likely culpability.
3.The second category of allegations related to wittingly or unwittingly facilitating the massacre by failing to use the Police to prevent the massacre.Certain human rights activists and an Indian Police Service officer of Gujarat cadre have been alleging that there were wilful acts of commission and omission by the Gujarat administration headed by Shri Modi which facilitated the massacre.
4.Under the law, wilfully failing to act to prevent a crime is itself a crime.It was alleged by these activists that Shri Modi and others accused of inaction wilfully refrained from acting in time to prevent the massacre despite their knowing that a massacre was being committed.
5.The SIT's conclusion does not mean that there were no acts of commission and omission by the Modi Government. It only means that they were not wilful and no offence under the common law has been committed by them.Do they have any accountability for administrative negligence not amounting to a crime that came in the way of preventing the massacre? That is a question which will be debated endlessly without definitive answers being found.
6.Shri Modi thus stands exonerated legally. There is no point in continuing with a witch-hunt against him as sought to be done by his detractors.
7.Shri Modi's exoneration in the eyes of the law does not necessarily mean that he stands exonerated in the eyes of large sections of the people of this country who have been critical of his handling of the anti-Muslim riots.Shri Modi has not been honourably exonerated in their eyes.A legal exoneration does not mean a vindication of Shri Modi's honour insofaras the Gujarat massacres are concerned.
8.What next? Does the legal exoneration strengthen his position politically in the State and in the nation? Yes, it definitely strengthens his position in the State and increases the chances of his Government being returned to power in the State elections later this year.
9. Does the legal exoneration strengthen his credentials as a national level leader deserving to be the Prime Minister of this country one day? His followers strongly believe that the road is now clear for his emerging as a national level leader capable of leading this country.
10. This question will be decided in the months to come not just by his die-hard supporters, but many others who still have question marks in their minds over his ethical credentials to be the Prime Minister of this country.His administrative acumen and competence stand proved in Gujarat.But there will continue to be a debate on his ethical calibre. The question of ethical calibre is decided not by SITS or courts. It is decided---sometimes objectively, sometimes subjectively--- in the minds of the people. There is no evidence as yet that his opponents and critics as well as many others with a troubled conscience are prepared to exonerate him in their minds.This will come in the way of his chances as a future Prime Minister of India. (11-4-12)
( The writer is Additional Secretary (retd), Cabinet Secretariat, Govt. of India, New Delhi, and, presently, Director, Institute For Topical Studies, Chennai, and Associate of the Chennai Centre For China Studies. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com . Twitter @SORBONNE75 )
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
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Baking this week
Working from home has its disadvantages: it's all too easy to blur work into home-life, you're somewhat isolated from co-workers, and it's tempting to try to do chores when work is slow.
But bread baking poses no problems at all. Most of bread baking, especially when you use the stretch and fold method to develop dough instead of traditional kneading, consists of 2-3 minute bursts of activity separated by long periods of waiting. The trouble, of course, is that the timing of those little bursts of activity is really, really important. Working from home, the kitchen is always just a few steps away from my computer, and doing the work of making bread takes about as much time as going to fetch a fresh cup of coffee.
Lately, I've been doing a lot of sourdough baking, even when the bread itself isn't truly a sourdough bread. For instance, here's my results from baking Peter Reinhart's Mash Bread, from his new (and fabulous) book, Peter Reinhart's Whole Grain Breads.
The sweetness of the bread was really surprising, and I was astonished by how much oven spring I got. It's easily the best I've ever gotten from a 100% whole grain bread. Unfortunately, I was in a hurry and didn't let the sourdough mature fully, so the flavor was less than I'd expected. In short, sweet, but bland. I'm eager to try it again, though, and next time I'll let the sourdough fully ripen, which is especially important, since the sourdough is used almost exclusively for flavoring rather than leavening. If you want to make this bread, I'd suggest heading over to Bill Wraith's excellent write-up.
I had some starter left over, so I made up some sourdough pizza dough -- two of the doughballs went in the freezer, while the others went into the fridge so that I could make them up for dinner the next night. Probably two of the best pizzas I've made. A woman at the Corvallis Farmer's Market was selling wild chantrelle mushrooms, so I got some, sauteed them in a bit of butter, and plopped them on the pizza. They were great, along with some black olives and turkey-chicken sausage:
The crust was nice and holey!
Here's how I made it:
- Whole wheat flour: 50%
- AP flour: 50%
- Water: 80%
- Salt: 2%
- Olive oil: 5%
- 15% of the flour is pre-fermented as starter
- Whole wheat starter (75% hydration): 100 grams
- Whole wheat flour: 130 grams
- AP flour: 180 grams
- Water: 250 grams
- Olive oil: 18 grams
- Salt: 7 grams
Mix the water and the starter, and mush it all up with your fingers until it's a soupy mess. Add the salt and the oil, mix again, and then add the flour. Let it sit, covered, for 1 hour and then give it a stretch and fold. Do two more folds spaced 30 minutes to an hour apart. Let it ferment a total of 4-5 hours at room temperature (about 68-70 degrees F), and then divide into two. Shape each lump of dough into a tight ball, pop them into plastic bags, and put them in the fridge if you plan to use within the next 3 days. Otherwise, put them in the freezer, where they'll keep for at least one month. When you're ready to make the pizza, let the dough sit out for about 2 hours if it was in the fridge, 4 hours if in the freezer. Shape, top and bake on a stone preheated for about an hour in an oven at the highest setting possible. Bake for 8-10 minutes.
Last, my standby: whole wheat sourdough sandwich bread.
Always tasty, always reliable.
Next on my agenda: some of those potato-onion-rye rolls from Peter's book!


text: - Portage bill for the Brig Othello, listing crew names, wages, and term of employment on a passage to the coast of Africa. Notes four men, George Harvey, Michael Keable, John Chace, and Ezekiel Mitchell [Mitchel] that "left the vessel at Virginia." On back, additional detail about wage payments to crew members.


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Bohemia Wins Racing Victoria Media Account
M&C Saatchi Group's Bohemia has been appointed by Racing Victoria (RV) to handle its media account following a competitive pitch process.
The incumbent on the account was Vizeum, and it will now be managed by Bohemia's Melbourne team, which was established in late 2017.
The scope of the work includes media strategy, planning and buying including all digital, social and search. Bohemia will also provide strategic advice around media rights, content distribution and business case development for various RV media and customer ventures.
Marcia Allan, general manager of customer strategy and engagement at RV, said: "Working with the newly created Bohemia Melbourne office is a great opportunity for Racing Victoria.
"We feel Bohemia truly understand our vision, 'Racing For All', and our role in promoting the sport of Victorian thoroughbred racing.
"The agency's strategic thinking, the work and communication during the pitch was outstanding, and we are very excited to see this translate into our future campaigns.
"Bohemia is a dynamic business that can provide us with access to a broad range of resources across the M&C Saatchi Group to help us grow engagement in Victorian thoroughbred racing."
Sam Westaway, media director at Bohemia Melbourne, said: "We are thrilled to partner with Racing Victoria and this is an incredible win for the newly established Bohemia Melbourne.
"We look forward to working with the RV team in the lead up to Melbourne's premier racing season: the Spring Racing Carnival.
"The partnership goes beyond a traditional media agency relationship given the incredible amount of content Racing Victoria has access to and as the Australian sports broadcasting landscape evolves."
Please login with linkedin to commentBohemia M&C Saatchi Group racing victoria RV Vizeum
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Pushy guests and porn: Confessions of an Airbnb hostess
Last year I used Airbnb to book my accommodation for a break in Rome.
For US$40 a night I got my own room at half the cost of equivalent hotel rates, and shared an apartment with a young Italian couple who were my hosts.
The place wasn't as clean as a hotel would have been, but it seemed like a win-win -- they get some extra cash and I get a place to stay that's much cheaper than a hotel.
When I returned home, I decided to be an Airbnb host myself.
If only I'd known what was coming.
I've been a host for six months now, and while the extra money is great, the experiences can be interesting, to say the least.
Here are a few things I'd like my future Airbnb tenants to bear in mind.
More on CNN: The lure of holidaying in someone else's home
1. Don't ask me for a discount
There's no good reason for me to give you a discount. I don't know you.
You searched for my place with a budget in mind, so don't bargain with me. It's not my problem that you lost your job or are a poor student.
Airbnb offers accommodations for every budget, so search around.
Staying for an extended period of time also doesn't justify a further discount on top of the weekly rates.
What if I can't stand you after a few days or vice versa? Short-term stays require less commitment and offer me more money and freedom.
2. I don't want to see your homemade porn
I was sure my vegan, yoga instructor guest who sang Madonna hits in the shower was gay -- until he showed me his other talent.
Fred's (name changed) part-time passion is photography. He has potential to showcase his work at art galleries, he said, and asked for my opinion on some "artistic" photos.
The next thing I saw was a close-up of him and his girlfriend engaged in a sex act.
He apologized and said it was an "accident," so we continued flicking through the photos on his iPad. Then, more NSFW photos appeared.
By the time we reached the end of the album, I had the image of his girlfriend's face and certain parts of Fred etched into my mind.
I don't know if Fred was getting some kind of kick out of this or whether it was a genuine accident.
Point is, I don't I care what you do back home.
But if you're my guest, please leave your sex life at the door.
3. Don't make me mother you
Every Airbnb host has a set of house rules that guests can read before they book. Try not to break them.
If I ask you not to smoke, don't smoke while I'm not home. Wrapping myself around a smoky towel after a shower will automatically get you a negative review.
And if I tell you that the locks in the apartment are complicated, do listen carefully. It's only because I don't want either one of us locked out.
Once, a guest dismissed my tutorial and called me at 3 a.m. to let her in. She apologized, but my sleep was still ruined.
4. I'm your host, not your BFF
Please don't add me on Facebook, Skype and LinkedIn before we've even met.
When you're here, I'm happy to give you advice and recommend places to visit. I'll give you a tour of the neighborhood and possibly take you out to dinner.
But just because you're staying with me doesn't make me your new best friend.
One guest was excited about traveling abroad for the first time. I was the only person he knew in my city and he wanted to do everything with me -- shop, dine, visit tourist attractions and help him with his business.
On his last night he asked me to evaluate him. I told him it was hard to evaluate him as I'd only known him for a few days, but he insisted.
Finally I said, "I find you quite pushy." He asked me to tell him more, and I replied, "No. You're being pushy." Thankfully that was the end of it.
I introduced another guest to some friends at a party. The next day, she added all of them on Facebook and made plans to hang out with them.
I'm glad she made friends, but it felt odd at the time.
5. However … some guests are wonderful
Most of my guests have been pleasant to varying degrees.
Among my favorites are the independent ones who go off and explore on their own, understanding that I have a full-time job and my own life outside of Airbnb.
There are also the ones who go the extra mile by taking my laundry to the cleaners, buying or cooking me breakfast, leaving me a fridge full of food and offering me Ibuprofen when I have a hangover.
When they check out, they keep my place in its original condition, throwing out their own garbage.
They try to get along with me so we can live peacefully together. That's what maintains good reviews and ratings for both hosts and guests.
And yes, some guests do become friends.
Originally published August 2012, updated December 2012.
More on CNN: Appy traveler -- best new apps for travelers
Are you an Airbnb host? Do you have any hosting horror stories? Let us know in the comments.


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My Pictures 3D 0.9
View your photos in a virtual gallery with My Pictures 3D.
The program can also display your photos as an animated 3D photo gallery screen saver. Several galleries made in different styles, from a contemporary showroom to a medieval castle, are available. The selected pictures are displayed on the walls as the walker wanders through the specified gallery. Pictures can be displayed at the desired quality. Apart from viewing pictures from a distance, the program allows you to approach a picture and watch it in the full screen mode to enjoy the smallest details. The walker height can be adjusted, so that different viewing angles are available. The walk speed can also be specified. In the freemove mode the program lets you wander freely inside the virtual space. In the automatic mode the computer will guide you through the gallery.


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A small zinc air battery powers the majority of today's hearing aids. The small colored sticker on one side of the battery keeps the battery inactive until you remove the sticker. Once the sticker is removed from the back of the battery, oxygen in the air makes contact with the zinc in the battery, and the battery is "turned-on".
Placing the sticker back on the battery will not prolong its life. Zinc-air batteries have a shelf life of up to three years when stored in a cool, dry environment. Storing zinc-air hearing aids in the refrigerator has no beneficial effect on their shelf life, in fact, quite the opposite may happen causing the battery to discharge before it's used. The best place to store batteries is in a cool dry place.
We're often asked why hearing aid batteries vary in how long they last. Here are a few reasons why.
- In the presence of loud noise, more features of the hearing aid may be active longer requiring the batteries to work harder and discharge sooner.
- Low humidity can dry out a hearing aid battery
- High humidity can interfere with the function of the battery
- Low temperatures or high altitudes can also shorten the life of the battery
- Changes in your personal hearing habits, for example extending the length of time you wear the hearing aids can lessen the life of the battery
- Excessive perspiration can create a rusting effect at the point where the battery touches the contacts causing the battery to work intermittently.
All of these can lessen the life of your hearing aid batteries. If you notice that your batteries are not lasting as long as they used to and you're not able to identify why, call us we can help.


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July 1, 2019 Leave a comment
#दिलसे #DilSe
An expression of my thoughts and writer within….
aaj ki shairi
reach out and touch someone.....
Traveler!!!! on the road
Exploring madness***
लिखो, शान से!
जो जीता हूँ उसे लिख देता हूँ
food, travel and musings of a TV presenter
This blog is nothing but my experiences of life and my thoughts towards the world.
The Shards of my Self


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The photos that appear in family albums, especially old photos, are always fascinating. With the costs and time restraints of photography in those days, one could not just photograph whatever they wished. It was with interest that this photo is contained in the album of my Great Grandfather, David Delos Donaldson. This photo was taken in the summer of 1919.
The El Capitan was a ferryboat (982 tons) commissioned by the San Francisco & Oakland Railroad in 1868 and built in Oakland. This ship was still in service as of 1919, which seems pretty impressive for the longevity of a ship. SF&O was later absorbed into the Southern Pacific Railroad. While El Capitan had served the San Francisco to Oakland route for many, many years, by 1919 she was serving Vallejo Junction to Vallejo. I could not find out when she quit service.
Why take a picture of this ferryboat? Did he ride it while he was in the army before heading off to France? Did Dena, his wife, find it interesting because it was the first ferry she ever saw? Unfortunately, we will never know in this life.


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I have been told that I should set up RSS on one of my websites.
I use Windows 7 64 bit OS; IE 9 & Foxfire also available.
- In looking as several posts I don't quite "Get it" as to how this is all working.
- Is Awasu reader like a plug in to the browser? A separate tab or window?
- With reference to a website: It sounds like the website is a channel which is sent out over the RSS to someone that has visited the site and requested that they receive new information posted on that website or does it send out the whole website and keep it updated?
- As you can see I don't have a clear picture of the process.


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Indicative Rate * AU$280 to AU$600
Discover this absolute lakefront Noosa retreat nestled on the banks of pristine Lake Weyba. Luxury location offering a selection of stunning lakefront accommodation, only a short drive to Noosa's fabulous restaurants and beach's, or the Eumundi Markets.
Perfect getaway for couples or families. Discover the Noosa less travelled. Explore the natural beauty of Lake Weyba and it's everglade creeks in your complimentary canoe. Enjoy fishing, bike-riding and bushwalking in the 50 acres of nature refuge. Pamper yourself with an in house massage. Snuggle up in front of a log fire. Simply soak up some sun on your private lakeside timber deck or terrace.
A selection of individually themed romantic cottages, contemporary lakehouse's and a stunning luxury lakehouse. Cottages accommodate two guests, lakehouse's two to four guests and the luxury lakehouse, two to six guests. Most bathrooms feature a king single or double spa bath with a view to the lake or unspoilt native bush-land. All accommodation options enjoy unparalleled lake vistas, whilst a little further from the water's edge, nestled among native bush garden is a secluded garden lakehouse also enjoying beautiful views to the lake from the verandah.
Due to current health advice on social distancing, please contact the business for the most up to date information regarding opening times and services.
Traditional Queenslander style cottages located 10 metres from lake's edge. One bedroom (Queen bed) with One bathroom (shower only). One cottage features double spa bath on verandah and the other a duo bath in bedroom. Fully self contained, comprehensively equipped kitchens with dishwashers. Combined kitchen/dining and lounge area. Log-fire and air conditioning. Both with private lakefront deck and complimentary two person canoe.
The individually themed two bedroom lakehouses feature works by local artists complemented by soft furnishings using limited edition designer fabrics. All with romantic wood fires. Enjoy your lakeside timber deck and verandah with fantastic lake views.
Lakehouses feature two bathrooms one with spa bath (king single). The Garden Lakehouse nestled amongst bush garden is situated a little further away with lake views from verandah. It has two bathrooms both with a spa (king single and double spa) the perfect choice for two couples. Available as a one or two bedroom. Sleep a maximum of four guests. All have a complimentary canoe.
Architecturally designed spacious two bedroom lakehouses featuring large verandahs, natural plywood, polished floors, skylights, stone benchtops, quality appliances, contemporary furnishings. Bathrooms - one lakehouse with one bathroom with single spa and the other lakehouse with two bathrooms both with shower only. All with separate powder room. Wood or gas fuelled log fires. Air-conditioned. Dishwasher. Private grassed lakeside terrace. Complimentary canoe or kayak. Sleeps up to six including sofa bed. Available as a one bedroom or two bedroom.
One Deluxe Lakehouse is disable friendly with wheelchair access ramp and wheelchair friendly bathroom.
Watch the moon rise above the lake at "Gooloowaa" (meaning moonlight). The three bedroom Luxury Lakehouse features double spa's in two bedrooms, two bathrooms plus two powder rooms. The luxury lakehouse's decor is contemporary indigenous theme to compliment the amazing adobe walls handmade from the ground on which it stands. The rooms also contains a superb kitchen featuring granite benches and European appliances including dishwasher. Floor to ceiling glass opens onto the lakefront deck with stairs leading down to a raised boardwalk and a timber deck hovering over the water. Complimentary two person canoe. Air conditioned. The Lakehouse can sleep up to six guests. Available as one bedroom, two bedroom or three bedroom.
Note: Information on listed products and services are provided by the operator and were correct at the time of publishing. Rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available prices of products and services. Please visit the operator's website for further information. All prices quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD).


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Welcome to the Game Innovation Lab®
We are the premier center for experimental game design research at USC. Founded in 2004, the lab is directed by Professor Tracy Fullerton. The mission of the lab is to pursue experimental design of games in cultural realms including art, science, politics and learning.
The international success of games that have emerged from the lab, including Cloud, flOw, Darfur is Dying, The Cat and the Coup and The Night Journey, have made it a hub for indie and experimental games culture in Los Angeles. Our Playthink Salons attract speakers and participants from across the city and across disciplinary boundaries.
Associated faculty include award winning game designers Richard Lemarchand (Uncharted series) and Peter Brinson (Waco, The Cat and the Coup) as well as pioneering games user researcher Dennis Wixon. Research staff include up and coming game designers Sean Bouchard, Martzi Campos, as well as the talented digital media artists Todd Furmanski and Lucas Peterson. Graduate student researchers in the lab have gone on to stellar careers at Microsoft, Electronic Arts, Zynga and more.
The lab has a strong history of collaboration with cross-disciplinary experts in many fields, including education and technology. Our commitment to an iterative, participatory process brings users, stakeholders and designers into constant dialogue.
Current projects, such as the FutureBound suite of games Walden, a game, and the ChronoCards History games are supported by Microsoft Research, The Gates Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts, The Gilbert Foundation, and The Department of Education.
While there are many areas of game design that the members of the lab community are pursuing, the top-level initiatives of the lab focus on the following areas of investigation:
- Experimental game design
- Games and learning
- Games user research, analysis and metrics
- Game aesthetics
- Narrative play
- Emergent world design
- Communities of play
- Convergence and cross-media play
Download our Games
You can buy or download games from the Game Innovation Lab® here:
Walden, a game – Buy on Itch.io
Life Underground – Buy on Itch.io
FutureBound – Download for Windows or Download for Mac
Graduate Strike Force – Download for Windows or Download for Mac
Application Crunch – Buy
The Night Journey – Inquire about renting this art installation game for a show


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"History of the Eagles" Tour Ticketing Announcement
Information about the "History of the Eagles" tour, including links to the official ticketing outlets for each of our shows, is provided on our official site. Any other source for information, or tickets being offered by non-official companies, should be used with caution.
Visit the events section for a full list of dates and details.


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- 3 Beds
- 2 Full, 1 Half Baths
Property TypeResidential – Duplex
SubdivisionBerry Creek Ranch Filing #3
Listing Date10/08/19
Year Built1989
Lot Size0.44 Acres (19,166 SqFt)
Parking1 Car Garage, Surface
Property Description
Sleep to the sound of June Creek from this entry-level home located on a large site. Excellent outdoor living from multiple peaceful decks and patios! 3 bedrooms and a study, a large great room, wood-burning fireplace in living room, gas-burning in bedroom, steam shower. Brand new paved driveway. A perfect fit for the first-time home buyer, for weekend getaways, or for you!
Presented By
- Creek or River
- Creek/River
- Woods
- Clubhouse
- Community Center
- Cross Country Trails
- Fitness Center
- Golf Membership Option
- Hiking/Pedestrian Trail
- Pool
- Tennis Courts
- Fireplace - Gas
- Fireplace - Wood
- Patio
- Vaulted Ceilings
- Wired for Cable
- Clubhouse
- Club Membership Avai
- Fitness Center
- Pets
- Spa and Hot Tub
- Tennis
- Cable TV
- District Sewer
- District Water
- Electricity Avail.
- Natural Gas Avail.
- Phone Available
- Snow Removal
- Trash Pickup
- Baseboard
- Natural Gas
- Radiant
- Dryer
- Washer
Financial Information
4 Beds 6 Baths
4 Beds 4 Baths
3 Beds 3 Baths
4 Beds 5 Baths
We get asked this question a lot. Below is a tool that gives you the ability to see what the market is like in your community. Find out what homes like your own are selling for right in your back yard. Simply enter in your address, choose the proximity of the search and find out market data for other homes that are selling near you.
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The data relating to the real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of the Vail Multi-List Service, Inc.
Copyright © 2020 Vail Multi List, Inc. (VMLS). The information displayed herein was derived from sources believed to be accurate, but has not been verified by VMLS. Buyers are cautioned to verify all information to their own satisfaction. This information is exclusively for viewers' personal, non- commercial use. Any republication or reproduction of the information herein without the express permission of the VMLS is strictly prohibited.
Listing courtesy of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices - Lionshead


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June 4th 8pm
Unitarian Universalist Church
10 Church Street
Gloucester, MA 01930
Admission only $5.00
The research and scriptwriting process was funded in part through a grant fromThe Gloucester School Connection.
The production was funded in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council administered through the Gloucester Cultural Council.
Special thanks also to Stephanie Buck and Courtney Richardson of the Cape Ann Museum for their assistance in research and dialogue.
The Beauport Anthology features nine local professional and community actors performing dramatic monologues of 16 characters from Gloucester's history .
Cast of characters in order of appearance followed by (actor's names) is as follows:
John James Babson (Gordon Baird) – Wrote the first history of Gloucester (1860) – Narrator : History of the Town of Gloucester ©1860
Masconomet, Sachem of Agawam (Jim Buhrendorf)
Captain John Smith (Duncan Nelson) New World explorer – Voyages 1605
Lord Sheffield (1623) (David Adams) – granting of Cape Ann Charter
Abigail Sommes (1692) (Nora Messier) Gloucester woman accused of witchcraft
Thomasine (Tammy) Younger – (Tina Greel) A wily Dogtown character
Easter Carter (Talia Brown) – one of the last Dogtown denizens
Rev. John & Judith Sargent Murray (Jay DiPrima/Nora Messier) Founders of the first Unitarian Universalist Churches in the US.
Peg Wesson (Tina Greel) Left Dogtown to tend tavern bar – "witch tale"
Fitz Henry Lane (Jay DiPrima)- renowned painter & lithographer
Samuel Sawyer (David Adams) – philanthropist & Gloucester benefactor
General Benjamin Butler (Bradley Royds) – Civil War soldier, lawyer, entrepreneur, served as Massachusetts Congressman, Senator & Governor.
Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward (Talia Brown) – writer, poet, prohibitionist, women's rights advocate
Captain Eldridge (Gordon Baird) – sea captain, nautical chart expert (Recounts Kipling's Captain's Courageous 3 day visit to Gloucester)
Mason Walton (David Adams) – Hermit of Ravenswood
Howard Blackburn (Duncan Nelson) – "Fearless Fisherman," Lone Voyager, philanthropist, builder/owner of Blackburn Tavern (now Halibut Point)
Song – Sea Serpent – a metaphor of fear vs. mystery & hope for Gloucester
Adapted and arranged by (Bradley Royds) from the children's book – The Serpent Came To Gloucester, by M.T. Anderson © 2005.
Special thanks to Linda Stockman for costume design and construction!
BEAUPORT CAST BIOS (in order of appearance)


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Accurate, Deadly Dependable ammunition is required to protect the safety and security of your family. TAP FPD ammunition features top-performing Hornady bullets that are trusted to deliver the terminal performance required by law enforcement and the military. Nickel-plated cases eliminate the potential for corrosion, and improve feeding in all firearms. Special propellants are used to reduce muzzle flash that save your night vision during nighttime engagements. Primers are chosen to match each powder and load, and to quickly and reliably ignite the powder charge. Accurate and consistent, TAP FPD rifle ammunition offers enhanced terminal performance, rapid expansion and fragmentation, while reducing the risk of over-penetration. Nickel coated cases eliminate corrosion, and improve feeding in all firearms.
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Audi A6 Avant | 55 TFSI Quattro S Line 5dr S Tronic [Tech Pack]
Audi A6 Avant Overview
I would like all maintenance and service costs included
Initial Rental (Personal)
£4,262.87 inc VAT
Initial Rental (Business)
£3,552.39 ex VAT
Contract Length
48 Months
Processing fee
£199.99 ex VAT
Standard Options
- Electric front/rear windows
- Heat insulating glass in side and rear windows
- Privacy glass
- Rain and light sensors
- Windscreen with acoustic glazing
- EBD - Electronic brakeforce distribution
- Electromechanical parking brake
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC) including ABS, ASR and EDL
- S line front and rear floor mats with contrast stitching
- Sports suspension
- Audi smartphone interface
- Bluetooth interface
- Voice control system
- Audi drive select
- Audi parking system plus with front and rear sensors
- Cruise control speed limiter
- Lane departure warning system
- Progressive steering
- Rear view camera
- Automatic start/stop system with coasting functionality
- Power operated tailgate
- 7" high resolution colour driver information display system
- Amazon alexa Integration
- Service interval indicator
- Body coloured door mirrors
- Electrically adjustable, heated and folding door mirrors with driver memory function and integrated LED indicators
- Frameless auto dimming rear view mirror
- Matt brushed aluminium dark inlays
- 63 litre fuel tank
- Audi music interface
- Audi sound system
- Auxiliary input socket
- DAB Digital radio
- USB connection
- Aluminium roof rails
- Illuminated door sill trims with S logo
- Radiator grille in titanium black matt, single frame in chrome and horizontal struts in matt aluminium silver
- S line air inlet design with inlay in matt aluminium
- S Line badge on front fender
- S Line front and rear bumpers
- S line rear diffuser and grille in matt black with matt aluminium tailpipes
- S Line roof edge spoiler
- S Line side skirts
- Solid paint
- Headlight washers
- LED signature front daytime running light
- Matrix LED headlights with dynamic rear indicators
- Signature rear LED light design
- 2 zone deluxe electronic climate control
- 3 spoke perforated leather multifunction steering wheel with contrast stitching and paddle shift
- Alcantara/leather upholstery with front sports seats S embossed logo
- Black cloth headlining
- Front centre armrest
- Height/reach adjust steering wheel
- Leather gear knob
- Leatherette on upper instrument panel and door shoulders
- Luggage compartment floor
- Luggage compartment system
- Stainless steel pedals and foot rest
- Tool kit and car jack
- LED Interior Ambient Lighting Pack - A6
- Non smoking pack - A6
- Technology pack - A6
- 3 point seatbelts on all seats
- Airbags - Front side, front and rear including head
- Audi pre-sense front
- Black seatbelts
- Extended pedestrian protection measures
- Seatbelt monitoring
- Tyre pressure warning light
- Warning triangle and first aid kit
- 4 way electric lumbar support
- 40/20/40 split folding 3 rear seat bench in 3 parts with rear centre armrest
- Electrically adjustable front seats with driver memory
- Front head restraints
- Heated front seats
- ISOFIX child seat mounting and Top Tether with front passenger airbag deactivation
- Rear headrests
- Anti theft alarm with tow away protection
- Anti-theft wheel bolts and wheel loosening detection
- Immobiliser
- Keyless Go
- Remote central locking
- Towbar preparation
- Quattro on demand
- Illuminated sun visors with vanity mirrors
- 19" 5 twin spoke design contrasting grey partly polished alloy wheels
- Tyre repair kit
Technical Options
- HC+NOx: N
- Particles: N
- Standard Euro Emissions: EURO 6
- Catalytic Convertor: True
- Engine Codes: 4A5B2YWQS
- Engine Layout: NORTH SOUTH
- Fuel Type: TURBO INJECTION
- Gears: 7 SPEED
- Valve gear: DOHC
- EC: True
- EC Combined: 29.7
- EC Extra Urban: 48.7
- EC Urban: 39.2
- WLTP - MPG - Comb - Min: 9.3
- WLTP - MPG - Low - Min: 9.3
- WLTP - MPG - Medium: 9.6
- Any aspect of the vehicles safety cause concern?: Data Not Available
- Based On ID: N
- Coin Description: TFSI Quattro
- Coin Series: S Line [Tech Pack]
- Man Corrosion Perforation Guarantee - Years: 12
- Manufacturers Paintwork Guarantee - Years: 3
- NCAP Adult Occupant Protection %: N
- NCAP Child Occupant Protection %: N
- NCAP Overall Rating - Effective February 09: 340
- NCAP Pedestrian Protection %: 3.0
- NCAP Safety Assist %: M1
- Service Interval Frequency - Months: N
- Special Edition: Data Not Available
- Special Order: Data Not Available
- Standard manufacturers warranty - Mileage: 60000
- Standard manufacturers warranty - Years: 3
- This vehicle is classed as a car for VED purposes: 12
- Timing Belt Interval Frequency - Months: N
- Timing Belt Interval Mileage: N
- 0 to 60: Data Not Available
- 0 to 62: 5.3
- Engine Power KW: 250
- Engine Power RPM: 5000
- Engine Torque LBS.FT: 369
- Engine Torque MKG: 51
- Engine Torque NM: 500
- Engine Torque RPM: 1370
- PS: True
- Top Speed: 155
- Alloys?: True
- Space Saver?: Data Not Available
- Tyre Size Front: 245/45 R19
- Tyre Size Rear: 245/45 R19
- Tyre Size Spare: TYRE REPAIR KIT
- Wheel Style: 5 TWIN SPOKE
- Wheel Type: 19" ALLOY
- Height: N
- Height (including roof rails): 1467
- Length: 4939
- Turning Circle - Kerb to Kerb: 12.1
- Wheelbase: 2924
- Width (including mirrors): 2110
- Boot Capacity Saloons: 565
- Fuel Tank Capacity (Litres): 63
- Gross Vehicle Weight: 2480
- Max. Towing Weight - Braked: 2000
- Max. Towing Weight - Unbraked: 750
- Minimum Kerbweight: 1835
- No. of Seats: 5
- Payload: 645
Audi A6 Avant PRACTICAL MAGIC (75/100)
The beautifully finished Audi A6 Avant demonstrates that practicality needn't be prosaic. Jonathan Crouch reports on the fifth generation version.
Ten Second Review
Audi's much improved fifth generation A6 Avant is a large, luxurious estate that combines practicality with panache. In this form, it's even higher-tech, better finished and cleverer than before and aims to offer buyers a little more charisma and driving reward than the previous version could have. You can see why so many buyers in this segment like it.
Audi may not be too far ahead of its arch-rival BMW in terms of overall sales but in one segment at least, the Ingolstadt maker comprehensively beats its closest rival: that of large, luxurious Executive-class estates. Their A6 Avant out-sells the rival BMW 5 Series Touring nearly two-to-one and is even further ahead of estate versions of other key segment competitors like Mercedes' E-Class and the Jaguar XF. What then, might the marque achieve with a car that's smarter, safer and clever? This one, the fifth generation A6 Avant. This isn't the biggest model in its segment but for many buyers, it offers the most complete all-round proposition in terms of model choice, practicality and technology, which explains why the other German brands take this contender so seriously. It's claimed to be the most complete large load carrier Audi has ever made. Let's check it out.
Driving Experience
Audi offers this A6 Avant with a wide range of engines, starting with four cylinder options at the foot of the range. The brand thinks that ideally though, most customers will want to try the mild hybrid technology used in its two powerfully smooth six cylinder engines - one a TFSI and one a TDI. The 3.0 TFSI V6 turbocharged petrol unit powers this estate from rest to 62mph in just over 5 seconds using its 340PS and 500Nm of pulling power, topping out at an electronically limited 155mph. More popular though, will be the 3.0 TDI diesel with 286PS. This unit delivers similar performance thanks to 620Nm of pulling power. As before, all A6 models are exclusively equipped with automatic transmission. The 3.0 TDI unit is paired with an eight-speed tiptronic and the 3.0 TFSI with a seven-speed S tronic. Both engines channel their outputs through quattro all-wheel drive as standard. In conjunction with the tiptronic transmission, the quattro configuration is based on the more familiar self-locking centre differential format, while the S tronic transmission works with the even more efficient ultra variant, which is capable of engaging the rear axle instantly whenever needed but decouples it during cruising to maximise efficiency. The driver can select various driving profiles via the Audi drive select system - the wide spread from Comfort through to Dynamic is even more pronounced than in the outgoing model.
Design and Build
The swept back rear styling means, says Audi, that it won't have to produce an extra stylised large estate model like the Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake. You might wonder though, whether this will impinge on practicality. Apparently not. The boot capacity with all the seats in place remains at 565-litres, aided by a boot floor length that's 27mm longer this time round and particularly wide, at 1,050mm. Drop the rear 40:20:40 split-rear bench and 1,680-litres of space can be freed up, again, the same as with the previous generation model. These figures can't match those of a rival Mercedes E-Class Estate, but Audi thinks potential executive buyers won't care, being attracted by the sleeker looks of this A6. The tailgate and luggage compartment cover open electrically as standard and of course, there's the option of doing that with a wave of your foot beneath the bumper. For passengers, the cabin is more spacious than before, with class-leading front and rear elbow room and rear knee room. Up front, the dash features the black-panel design we first saw on the current A8. As there, the centre console is directed towards the driver, as is the top MMI touch response display, which almost disappears into an aluminium clip when switched off.
Market and Model
Expect a premium of just over £2,000 to own an A6 Avant over the saloon body style. That means asking prices similar to before, starting from just over £40,000. As before, this car's three key rivals will be the Mercedes E-Class Estate, the BMW 5 Series Touring and the Jaguar XF Sportbrake. You'll need to get your A6 Avant's spec right. There are four suspension set-ups: the conventional steel spring suspension, the sport suspension, the suspension with damper control and the adaptive air suspension, also with controlled damping. 'Progressive steering', which becomes even quicker and more direct as the steering angle increases, is standard. And dynamic all-wheel steering can also be added to further enhance this agility. Plus you can add in various autonomous driving features. And even specify Audi's 'parking pilot' and 'garage pilot' systems that will allow you to stand outside of your A6 and remotely park it: brilliant. A sophisticated MMI navigation system comes as standard - or you can add the optional 'MMI navigation plus' set-up. This has a media hub with high speed data transfer using the LTE Advanced standard. With this more advanced infotainment package, you can further add optional modules, including two sound systems headed by the Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System delivering 3D sound. Audi connect online services also provide clever 'car-to-X services' traffic sign and hazard information. They use the swarm intelligence from the Audi fleet and network the Audi A6 with its environment.
Cost of Ownership
Both the six cylinder engines in this fifth generation A6 Avant feature the brand's latest mild-hybrid technology. Here a belt alternator starter (BAS) works together with a lithium-ion battery, enabling the A6 to coast at speeds of between 34mph and 99mph in the interest of fuel economy and to initiate its start-stop function earlier - at speeds of 13mph and below. The engine is restarted from standstill predictively as soon as the vehicle in front starts moving. During deceleration, the BAS recovers up to 12 kW of energy. Let's get to the figures. The volume 2.0-litre 40 TDI diesel version manages 60.1mpg on the combined cycle and 124g/km of CO2. The 3.0 TFSI petrol unit delivers combined fuel economy of around 40mpg (depending on wheel size and trim choice) and CO2 emissions of around 160g/km. The 3.0 TDI delivers combined fuel economy of just over 45mpg, plus combined CO2 emissions of around 155g/km. We'll finish by covering the warranty. All cars in this class get three years of cover, but whereas BMW and Mercedes don't limit your mileage in this period, Audi rather meanly restricts you to 60,000 miles. Optional extra-cost packages can extend the cover to either four or five years.
This, even BMW and Mercedes would reluctantly have to admit, is a beautiful piece of engineering. It always has been. The A6 Avant was, after all, the first cars in its class to offer things like bonded-in flush glazing, a galvanised bodyshell, V6 TDI power, four wheel drive and advanced twin-clutch automatic gearboxes. And in this improved smart-suited fifth generation guise, the cleverness continues, an extra dose of visual charisma blended with high technology and premium quality unsurpassed in this sector. This car's drawbacks, such as they are, don't appear to bother many potential buyers. No it's still not the most spacious large executive estate in its class - but these days, it's large enough for that not to matter. Yes, the extras can be expensive, but then that's the case with any premium executive car. And it's true that the handling isn't especially aimed at driving enthusiasts, though you can go a long way towards sharpening it by tweaking the 'drive select' dynamic handling system or even by specifying the clever Sport differential. This then, is a very complete product that will doubtless continue as one of the leaders in its class for many years to come. A thorough case, if ever there was one, of vorsprung durch technic.
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Laboratory History Timeline
Did you know that in 1969 PNNL was the only Northwest organization chosen by NASA to analyze lunar material collected from the first Apollo mission to the moon? Or that PNNL invented the technology that led to the development of compact discs now manufactured worldwide? PNNL researchers also developed the processes to turn agriculture wastes into useful methane fuel. Want to learn more? Click on an image below and discover how PNNL transforms the world through courageous discovery and innovation—or you also may download this brochure. (If the animation does not start automatically, please right click and select play.)