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Top attractions in Krakow
Wieliczka Salt Mine: Guided Tour from Krakow
Wawel Cathedral Entry Ticket and Audio Guide Tour
Krakow: Tour by Electric Car & Optional Schindler's Factory
Kraków: Schindler's Factory and Former Ghetto Tour
Krakow: Schindler's Factory Tour
Krakow Vistula River Cruise
St. Mary's Basilica: Skip-the-Line Ticket
Zakopane Tour with Hot Bath Pools and Hotel Pickup
Krakow: Electric Car Transfer between Krakow and the Airport
Creepy Krakow: 2-Hour City Walking Tour
Krakow: Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Ticket
Top sights in Krakow
Best things to do in Krakow
On the banks of the Vistula River lies one of Europe's most awe-inspiring cities. Historic buildings and monuments abound and create the foundation upon which Poland's capital of culture stands proud. Here are its top attractions!
National Museum, Krakow
The main branch of Poland's National Museum boasts around 780,000 art objects that span throughout history. The key draw for tourists, though, is its emphasis on Polish painting.
Wieliczka Salt Mine
This 13th-century Wieliczka Salt Mine was in use until 2007. The miners had to spend so much time down there that they carved Catholic statues and chapels out of the rock salt!
Wawel Cathedral
For those worshipping above ground, this sightseeing essential has been the center of Krakow's religious life since the 11th century. Pope John Paul II was ordained at the Wawel Cathedral in 1946.
Bieszczady Mountains
Keen hikers should allow time for a day trip to the region's scenic Bieszczady Mountains. It's pronounced Bee-esh-chardy, for those unfamiliar with Polish!
Tatra Mountains
Significantly higher than the Bieszczady, a far tougher climb is rewarded with breathtaking views. We'd advise against taking Tatras' notoriously dangerous Orla Perć trail though!
Main Square, Krakow
Want to cover the main sights of Krakow in a day? Start your tour in the Old Town. The Krakow Main Square alone hosts Cloth Hall, the Town Hall Tower, and the Statue of Adam Mickiewicz.
The magnificent fortress Wawel was the seat of the medieval Polish monarchy, but its fascinating history predates even then by quite a bit. Its oldest buildings date back to 970AD!
Planning Your Krakow Visit
How many days?
Krakow offers plenty to see and do, with some extremely appealing day trip options beyond its borders. Book your stay for at least 4 or 5 days.
Where to stay?
If you're only in town for a couple of days, booking a hotel in the Old Town or nearby Kazimierz will place you conveniently by Krakow's main sights. However, for visitors looking to keep their distance from the tourist district, Zwierzyniec might be the best place to stay. It's certainly the greenest!
How much money to bring?
Krakow is not expensive. Even if you only ate in the Old Town you could do all meals and drinks for as little as $30-40 a day. Match that amount for tours and attraction tickets (more for day trips). It's worth checking to see if you'll get a better exchange rate on your currency there, rather than before you leave. Also, don't be persuaded to start a tab in any bars you're not familiar with and check prices first!
Good to know
- Language
- Polish
- Currency
- Polish złoty (zł)
- Time Zone
- Country Code
- +48
- Best time to visit
- Spring and fall are the best times to visit, when temperatures are mild and tourist crowds are at a minimum!
Things to Do in Krakow
Top Attractions in Krakow
Cities in Poland
Other Sightseeing Options in Krakow
Want to discover all there is to do in Krakow? Click here for a full list.
What people are saying about Krakow
A good day out.....be prepared for lots of steps & walking!
A good day out. Amazing place. Lots of steps & walking involved but other options available for different disabilities. Temperature is always constant 14-16deg controlled, but was actually more like 20deg... no jackets needed. Air quality was really good & healthy! They have free storage of items you don't want to carry around. Guide was good & entertaining, although he spoke quickly and muffled/mumbled a bit. Headphone system didn't work great... better to be close to the guide & not use. Legs ached the next day, so it was a good workout :)...
Respectful and informative tour, excellent value for money.
We stayed at an Airbnb and still picked up outside, on time after a text instruction. We had a small mini van which showed an informative film on the 50 min journey. Our 1st guide was extremely knowledgeable and respectful throughout the camp tour. Lunch was enjoyable before the Salt Mines. Our guide here was also knowledgeable and the tour was incredible. We were picked up at 7.30am - back at 6.30pm. Would highly recommend this tour.
Very moving, with careful attention too some details
I found it a very interesting, absorbing and numbing tour. The guide was clearly very well informed and gave nuances that brought a perspective that was not immediacy apparent. One is left partly numbed, yet amazed that man can do this, and a great sympathy for the people, but very aware that our experience there is as nothing for what those poor people (yes, they were people) had to endure. I always felt rushed throughout the tour.
6.05 tour with minimal waiting! Well worth it
Konrad was our guide he was very passionate about the topic. Great tour around. I chose the 6.05am tour and I'm glad I did as when we were finished it was already getting busy and people were waiting in lines. We hardly waited! This tour is a must for people at least once, to be aware and informed of what happened and so it never happens again!
Informative, reflective and sad all at once
Tour guide was amazing and really explained how things were and how they related to what we were seeing and hearing. Would definitely recommend using this tour. Bus was on time picking up, dropping off and driver was brilliant given the weather was terrible when we left Birkenau. Great job..


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Changes for the Championship
The International League and the Bisons will bring fans a special announcement regarding the future of the Triple-A National Championship Game on bisons.com on Tuesday afternoon.
The Triple-A Baseball National Championship is a one-game, winner-take-all showdown between the champions of the International League and the Pacific Coast League. Following a six year hiatus from a championship, the two leagues have met each fall since 2006 in Oklahoma City, OK for a decisive game.
In 1998 the Bisons participated in the best-of-five Triple-A World Series in Las Vegas, NV. The Herd was bested by New Orleans 3-1 in the series. Since 1909, Buffalo has been part of nine Triple-A Championship events.
In 2010, Triple-A Baseball drew over 14 million fans. That popularity spans the entire United States, from Pawtucket, RI to Sacramento, CA. Amazing new ballparks are taking the excitement to new levels. Since 2009, ballparks in Columbus, Gwinnett, Omaha, Reno, and Tacoma have joined the list of 27 new or totally renovated facilities that have opened in Triple-A Baseball since 1990.
AT A GLANCE: The landscape of Triple-A Baseball
Triple-A Baseball consists of two Leagues at Minor League Baseball's highest classification. The most senior league, the International, is set to play its 128th consecutive season, which will also mark the 108th season for the IL's counterpart, the Pacific Coast League.
The championship is one of two marquee events for baseball's highest developmental level. For the past 23 summers, the Triple-A Baseball All-Star Game has showcased tomorrow's Major League Stars in a mid-summer classic on the day following the Major League All-Star Game. Salt Lake City, Utah will play host to the 2011 Triple-A All-Star Game, scheduled for July 13.
Buffalo will host the 25th anniversary July 11, 2012, a quarter-century after hosting the inaugural event.

subset: commoncrawl


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Spice recently launched the Android powered MI-310 touchscreen phone in in India. Spice MI-310 is the company's second Android powered phone. This handset runs on the old Android 2.2 (FroYo) operating system and comes with a 3.15 inch HVGA capacitive touchscreen display, 2 megapixel camera, 16 GB expandable memory and so on. Check out the complete features after the break.
Spice MI-310 Specifications:
- 3.15 inch Capacitive HVGA touchscreen display
- 320 x 480 pixels resolution
- Android 2.2 (FroYo) operating system
- Trackpad
- Bluetooth 2.1
- 3G connectivity
- 2 megapixel camera
- USB Tethering
- Wi-Fi Hotspot Functionality
- Exchange Support
- Apps on External Storage
- Proximity Sensor
- FM & Music Player
- Push E-mail
- Unlimited Phonebook & SMS
- 85 MB internal memory
- 16 GB expandable memory
- Upto 2.5 hours talktime
- Upto 150-200 hours stand-by time
- 1200 mAh battery
Spice MI-310 comes with a price tag of Rs.7,500. If you are looking for a cheap Android handset with pretty decent specs, then you should definitely go for this one. This handset is also available at Flipkart for just Rs.7,305. Are you willing to buy this handset? Let us know your views in the comments below.


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|editHiruzen Sarutobi [1][2][3][4]
|猿飛ヒルゼン Sarutobi Hiruzen
|Volume #1, Naruto Chapter #1
|Naruto Episode #1
|Naruto: Innocent Heart, Demonic Blood
|Naruto Shippūden the Movie: The Will of Fire
|Naruto: Konoha Ninpōchō
|Hidden Leaf Village Grand Sports Festival!
|Appears in
|Anime, Manga, Novel, Game, Movie
|Voice Actors
|February 8
|Blood type
|Ninja Rank
|Ninja Registration
Hiruzen Sarutobi (猿飛ヒルゼン, Sarutobi Hiruzen) was the Third Hokage (三代目火影, Sandaime Hokage, Literally meaning: Third Fire Shadow) of Konohagakure. A disciple of the village's previous Hokage, Hiruzen was a powerful ninja, hailed as a God of Shinobi (忍の神, Shinobi no Kami, English TV: The Supreme Shinobi). Though he was only ever directly the teacher of the Sannin, generations of Konoha ninja benefited from his wisdom during his lifetime.
Born into the Sarutobi clan to Sasuke, Hiruzen was a prodigy who truly stood out with talent. He and his former team-mates, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, were students of Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage. He was also trained by Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage. While once a close friend of Danzō Shimura during their early childhood, Danzō developed a one-sided rivalry with Hiruzen who always managed to be a step ahead of him. During the First Shinobi World War, Team Tobirama along with Danzō, Kagami Uchiha and Torifu Akimichi were pursued by enemy Kumogakure ninja. Knowing that one of them would need to be a sacrificial decoy so the others can escape, Hiruzen volunteered. However, Tobirama chose to be the decoy instead, naming Hiruzen his successor while driving a further wedge between his student and Danzō. Later in his life, he married Biwako and fathered at least two children, Asuma Sarutobi and another who has yet to be seen. His children would later make him a grandfather to at least two grandchildren: Konohamaru Sarutobi and another grandchild.
Prior to the Second Shinobi World War, Hiruzen became the teacher of Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade.[8] In the anime, another one of his students was Kosuke Maruboshi, who he taught some of his signature techniques.[9] As Jiraiya slack off in his training, Hiruzen attempted to motivate Jiraiya by showing of his signature skills in the Summoning Technique, calling forth Enma. Amazed by Hiruzen's summoning, Jiraiya was indeed inspired to work harder, ultimately leading the young ninja to learn senjutsu.[10] Coming to appreciate Orochimaru's natural talent, Hiruzen saw him as a once in a lifetime genius.[11] He also saw the emotional pain Orochimaru went through after losing his parents. However, while explaining to Orochimaru the symbolic significance of a white snake the boy found near his parents' grave, Hiruzen unknowing caused his pupil to go down a dark road while attempting to steer him away from it.[12] After serving as Hokage for many years, Hiruzen started looking for a successor to the title. While he hoped to be able to give the position to Orochimaru, he saw that he only was interested in the power it offered[11][13] and initially he turned to Jiraiya.[14] At the end of the Third Shinobi World War, Hiruzen sought to end the bloodshed and form a peace treaty with Iwagakure. Danzō was disgusted by this idea as so many Konoha shinobi died to win this war. Deciding to take responsibility personally for these losses, despite many in Konoha not liking the idea, Hiruzen decided to step down as Hokage.[15] Ultimately, Hiruzen named Jiraiya's student Minato Namikaze as his successor.[16]
In the aftermath of the Third Shinobi World War, knowing the danger if Kurama were to break loose during the childbirth of its current jinchūriki, Kushina Uzumaki, Hiruzen assigned Biwako and a few Anbu for security to oversee the birthing process in a secured location on the outskirts of the village. In the anime, he also suggested to Minato to have his student, Kakashi Hatake, act as Kushina's personal bodyguard during the pregnancy. However, also learning of Kushina's pregnancy, a masked man found the location and slaughtered the protection and maternity detail before releasing Kurama to destroy Konoha. Quickly preparing to defend his village, Hiruzen was approached by Danzō, who insisted that the Uchiha and their Sharingan power not be allowed to engage the demon fox in the chance another like Madara Uchiha would try to take control of the fox's power for their own gain. Reluctantly, Hiruzen agreed, telling Danzō to make sure the Uchiha would act purely in defending the villagers.[17] Unaware of how Kurama got loose, Hiruzen nonetheless led the ninja in subduing the Nine-Tails before Minato arrived and transported himself, and the tailed beast away from the village. Hiruzen soon arrived at the scene when Minato decided to seal Kurama into his own son, realising that Minato intended to use the Dead Demon Consuming Seal to do so. Wishing to intervene, Hiruzen found himself unable to as Kushina erected a barrier.[18] Forced to stay outside the barrier, Hiruzen watched in horror as the Fourth Hokage and his wife sacrificed their lives to save their son from Kurama's final attack. With demon fox sealed inside the infant, Minato dead, and Kushina dying, the barrier dispersed and Hiruzen quickly rushed to his allies' side, carefully picking up the newborn infant. Kushina weakly told Hiruzen the baby's name as Naruto and begged Hiruzen to take care of him, to which Hiruzen firmly promised as Kushina finally died.[19]
With Minato dead, Hiruzen once more assumed the role of active Hokage while deciding to protect the orphaned child by giving him his mother's last name to conceal his relation to the Yellow Flash.[20] With this, Hiruzen also passed a law in the village that no one was to speak of the beast sealed within the young man and hoped that Minato's dying wish that his son be seen as a hero be honoured, but the people who had lived first-hand the devastation that the Nine-Tails could bring forth were unable do this. And though most obeyed Hiruzen's law — with those who didn't being severely punished — the children of the village, also came to fear and dislike Naruto, simply because their parents did.[21]
Some time after resuming his post, Hiruzen began investigating a number of disappearances within Konoha, from children to adult Anbu. One night, in the anime, Hiruzen caught Kakashi sneaking into the Hokage Residence to find the records of the First Hokage's Wood Release. Despite the intrusion, the Third Hokage presented Kakashi with the records, explaining that in the past it was attempted to recreate the Wood Release, but consistently ended with failure and death of the subject, ultimately ceasing the research and deeming it forbidden, expressing his regret in the failure as he believed it could have helped save many lives from the recent Nine-Tails' attack. Still trusting Kakashi, Hiruzen also informed of the investigation of the missing people, noting his suspicion that someone was resuming the Wood Release research. Kakashi, who had begun to resent Hiruzen for not letting him take part in battling the Nine-Tails and possibly save his late sensei Minato, regained his trust in Hiruzen and revealed that Danzō planned to assassinate the Third. The following day, Kakashi went in Hiruzen's place to lure out the assailants, while Hiruzen approached a shocked Danzō. While Danzō realised he was cornered, Hiruzen took mercy on his childhood friend, choosing to ignore the attempt on the promise that Danzō would dedicate his life to protecting the village. Later that night, Hiruzen requested for Kakashi working as Hiruzen's right-hand man as he did with Minato, which he agreed and revealed to Hiruzen that a boy in Root has the ability to use Wood Release, to which Hiruzen already had his suspicions on and promised to look into it.[22]
Later, it was learned that Orochimaru was behind the kidnappings, having used those that he kidnapped as test subjects in his quest for absolute power. When Hiruzen found Orochimaru in his secret lair, he allowed his former master a chance to kill him. Ultimately, Hiruzen could not bring himself to do it, allowing Orochimaru to escape.[23] In the anime, despite this, he planned for Orochimaru's escape with Kakashi. Having the young Anbu wait outside Orochimaru's lair, he quickly engaged Orochimaru, holding his own long enough for a snake to approach Orochimaru. Knowing of Orochimaru's love for snakes, Hiruzen planted an explosive tag inside its mouth, detonating it once the snake encircled the Sannin, greatly injuring Orochimaru. Afterwards, Hiruzen mobilised all Anbu members to hunt down Orochimaru in an attempt to capture him.[24] After Orochimaru escaped, not wanting the village to know his shame that one of Konoha's finest committed such horrific acts against it, Hiruzen worked very hard to bury this secret. Three years later, one of Orochimaru's abandoned labs was discovered, and he sent Kakashi to personally investigate it.[25] Upon Kakashi's return, the young Anbu reported to Hiruzen that the Wood Release boy saved Kakashi's life but also abandoned his mission, to which Danzō punish him for. Knowing how extreme Danzō could be, Hiruzen used Kakashi's involvement as a loophole to interfere with Root business, having Yūgao Uzuki deliver a summoning request to Danzō. When Yūgao returned to report that Danzō was seemingly nowhere to be found, Hiruzen went to the Root headquarters personally. He arrived in time to save Kakashi and the Wood Release boy, "Kinoe", from Danzō's attack under the grounds of trespassing and treason respectively. Telling Danzō that Kakashi was sent by him personally with a summoning request, Danzō faked ignorance of the letter and called off his men. Hiruzen then turned his attention to Kinoe, insisting to Danzō that the village needed the power of the Wood Release for more than just covert missions. Ultimately, Danzō granted Hiruzen's request for Kinoe to be transferred to the Hokage's direct command.[26]
A few years later, a potential alliance was established between Konoha and the Land of Wood. As a sign of trust, both countries were to trade secret scrolls. As Hiruzen begins making preparations for the exchange, Might Guy comes to the Hokage. Fearing that his dear friend was losing touch wit himself, Guy begged Hiruzen to place him on Kakashi's Anbu team. While acknowledging Guy's abilities as a ninja, Hiruzen flatly stated that Guy's nature was not suited to being in Anbu hence denied Guy's request. Later, Hiruzen assigned Guy along with Kosuke Maruboshi and two other ninja to meet the Prajñā Group to make the scroll exchange. With Danzō, Hiruzen also assigned Kakashi and the newest recruit to Team Ro, Itachi Uchiha, to observe the exchange from afar and eliminate any hostels in the event of a betrayal. After both teams returned with the alliance being proved a deception on the Wood's side, Guy approached Hiruzen again about his Anbu request. While agreeing that he was not suited for such duties after watching Kakashi and Itachi kill the Wood-nin, he also stressed that Kakashi was not suited as well.[27] Later, Kurenai Yūhi and Asuma came alongside Guy, suggesting to the Hokage that Kakashi instead be made a jōnin sensei in hopes of warming his heart again, something Hiruzen strongly considered to do.[28]
Two years later, Hiruzen and the council decided to promote Itachi to Anbu captain despite being only 13.[29] Later, Hiruzen learned of the Uchiha clan's plot against the village and attempted to find a peaceful resolution for both sides. However, before reaching such an alternative, Danzō inveigled Itachi to slaughter his kin.[30] Quickly seeing through Danzō's actions, Hiruzen voiced his disdain at Danzō for instigating Itachi to take this path. No longer able to trust Danzō, he effectively relieved Danzō of his place on the Konoha Counil and ordered for his Root-division to be disbanded.[29] Prior to Itachi leaving the village as a missing-nin, the young man sought out the Third and begged him to protect his little brother and not tell him the truth, and Hiruzen obliged, thanking Itachi for helping the village avoid civil war despite hating the means it was was accomplished.[31] In gratitude for Itachi's selflessness, Hiruzen promised not to change the village barrier's formula, allowing Itachi to sneak in from time to time to watch his brother from afar. Later, realising that putting a kind heart like Itachi in Anbu was a mistake, Hiruzen decided to not make the same mistake again and removed Kakashi from Anbu and re-assign him as a jōnin sensei to save Kakashi from losing his own kindness.[29] He would often watch Kakashi test new potential students for his genin team, watching in disappointment as Kakashi's darkness had yet to disappear.[28] Later at some point in the anime, Hiruzen assigned Yakumo of the Kurama clan to hone her genjutsu under Kurenai Yūhi's guidance.[32] However, Kurenai learns of the evil persona within Yakumo and Hiruzen regretfully gives her permission to seal Yakumo's abilities to prevent the alter ego from killing Yakumo at the cost of ending the Kurama clan.[33]
Due to the long life he had lived, Hiruzen served as a source of wisdom for much of the series, passing on the things he had learned to the next generation. As Hokage, he had also acquired a habit of attempting to end things peacefully, and did what he could to avoid bloodshed amongst his allies and his enemies. At the series' start, Hiruzen was one of the few people who saw Naruto as more than the container of Kurama, and, as such, became someone that Naruto truly admired, even thinking of Hiruzen as a grandfather-figure.
According to Kakashi Hatake, Hiruzen loved his students deeply, including Orochimaru, no matter how far he had fallen.[34] This ideal stems from his belief that Konoha's next generation is a precious resource that must be protected. However, it was the same belief that forced Hiruzen to allow Orochimaru to escape after uncovering his experiments in replicating Hashirama's DNA at the cost of many lives, thus unknowingly allowing his former student to commit even more tragedies. By his own admission, Hiruzen noted that he was too compassionate and indulging of a person, leaving things such as the more underhanded, but necessary, tasks to Danzō, though eventually he lost his trust for him after he spearheaded the Uchiha Clan Massacre. To this end he admitted that he believed that he had failed to carry on the Second Hokage's mission of bringing stability to the village.[35]
Hiruzen was also bit lecherous as well, as he enjoyed spending much of his free time talking to young girls, which was his favourite pastime,[1] and when Jiraiya was still his student, he offered to help Jiraiya test the technique that would allow the user to spy on naked women unnoticed. Even Jiraiya, in this instance, noted his sensei's perverted qualities. He also fell victim to Naruto's Sexy Technique on more than one occasion, fainting after he saw it.
Hiruzen was a light-skinned man of below-average stature with grey spiked hair. Since his time training the Sannin, he has had a small goatee. In his youth, he had dark brown hair and was tan-skinned. He also initially had a single line running vertically under outer corners of each eye, which stretched down into his face as he aged until they reached his cheeks. As an old man, age had not taken much of a toll on his overall appearance. His only changes were slight; he obtained more pronounced cheekbones, few wrinkles, a wart near his left nostril, and a few liver-spots.
Prior to becoming Hokage, he wore a grey steel breastplate with shoulder guards, grey arm guards, faulds covering his upper legs, a pouch strapped to his lower back with bandages, a standard forehead protector, and a kunai holster on his upper right leg. Later, during his reign as Hokage, Hiruzen would commonly wear the official uniform — consisting of the customary hat and haori, along with a red, full-length kimono that was tied using a white sash. With age, had also taken to smoking a pipe. He also occasionally wore an orange shirt, with the kanji for fire (火, hi) on its back. His combat attire consisted of a black jumpsuit, which featured mesh segments over the lower portions of his limbs, and a grey gauntlet that covered his right wrist, forearm and elbow. He also wore an armoured hood with a bandanna-like Konoha forehead protector over this, which featured two long straps.[36] The kanji for "Third Hokage" was inscribed onto an additional piece of metal plating on the back of his outfit, although at the time of Kurama's attack when he retired the post, it merely had the kanji for "fire" (火, hi).[37] He also had two shuriken holsters strapped to either side of his back. As a child, Hiruzen was seen wearing a short light-blue kimono which was tied with an orange sash, with the Konoha symbol on its back.[38][39]
Hiruzen was one of the most powerful shinobi in history, so much so that he was admired as the God of Shinobi (忍の神, Shinobi no Kami) in his prime, and was said to be the strongest Hokage that Konoha has ever had.[1][40][41] Even in his old age, he was also said to be the strongest of all the five Kage at the time of his death.[42] He was also the longest living and longest reigning Hokage. During his retirement, he proved strong enough to take Kurama head on and force it out of the village during the Nine-Tails' Attack on Konoha.[43] Although he concedes that in his current state, he might not be able to defeat his former student, Orochimaru, Hiruzen remains very confident of his abilities; when confronted with the reincarnated First and Second Hokage, Hiruzen simply told them to prepare to be defeated. During the said battle, Enma commented that Hiruzen's performance was "miserable" compared to his prime, despite holding his own against Orochimaru and two former Hokage without losing his composure. Orochimaru even insinuated that if Hiruzen been ten years younger, the Sannin would have been killed.[44]
After his reincarnation during the Fourth Shinobi World War, both Naruto and Sasuke, each becoming highly capable and recognised shinobi themselves, would go on to praise his sheer prowess soon after seeing him in action.[45] When the Allied Shinobi Forces were faced with Guruguru and his gigantic Wood Release statue, despite the Third being just shy of his full power, Hiruzen single-handedly repelled the attack, earning praise from all spectators. Shikamaru even stated that with the entire Shinobi Alliance and current Kage weakened at the battlefield, Hiruzen was the only one still able to contend with Guruguru.[46]
In the anime, even in his old age, his chakra was noted to be very strong. Hiruzen's chakra causes a dense effect on the atmosphere when released, cracking the building he and Orochimaru were battling on.[47] Furthermore, he was known for having immense reserves of chakra in his youth.[48] Despite his diminished reserves of chakra in his old age, he made up for it somewhat by also showing great chakra control, needing only the minimum amount of chakra to use each technique.[49]
Hiruzen has also displayed a masterful skill in taijutsu. He was able to counter the reincarnated Hashirama and Tobirama in close combat. He also showed quick-thinking during their confrontation, and in one instance he was able to place explosive tags on each of them, without them nor Orochimaru even knowing. With Enma, he was able to break through Wood Release branches with ease.[50] He was also able to save Naruto from Shinju's chakra-absorbing branches with a few strikes of Enma.[51]
Even when robbed of his sight, he could still defend himself from Hashirama's and Tobirama's assaults, blocking all their attacks to prepare for his Dead Demon Consuming Seal, showing keen senses in doing so.[52] After sealing both former Hokage, he faced Orochimaru in single combat. Despite his sealing parts of his soul away in the Shinigami, as well as fighting for a prolonged amount of time before he engaged Orochimaru one-on-one, he effortlessly disarmed him of his sword.
During his lifetime Hiruzen had accumulated a vast knowledge of ninjutsu. Hiruzen was also called The Professor (プロフェッサー, Purofessā),[40] due to his mastery of all forms of shinobi combat, his own personal arsenal of original and ingenious techniques, as well as having mastered thousands of techniques in general.[53] Likewise, he is reputed for having advanced knowledge and skill in all techniques to ever exist within Konoha.[54] According to a member of the Anbu, his ninjutsu was on an entirely different level than what is seen in normal battle.[55] In the anime, even Danzō, Hiruzen's life-long rival, openly acknowledged the Hokage's sheer prowess in utilising any technique as unsurpassed.[49] His knowledge could even immediately discern which technique a person intends to use after observing the hand seals.[56]
To watch over the village, he would use the Telescope Technique, allowing him to observe others through his crystal ball over long distances.[57] Likewise, Hiruzen was a capable sensor, being able to discern the location of another individual by sensing their chakra[58] and from it track down the target.[59] He was also an expert in fūinjutsu, being capable of using the Dead Demon Consuming Seal. Due to his old age and waning strength he was forced to get into close range of an enemy in order for it to take effect, though he was still capable of sealing the souls of the First and Second Hokage and part of Orochimaru's soul. In the anime, he was also stated to be capable of using the Five Elements Unseal technique.[60] He is also adept at using barrier ninjutsu, capable of erecting a powerful barrier in unison with three other Kage-level shinobi strong enough to trap the Ten-Tails.[61]
Out of his various specialties, Hiruzen was highly skilled in the use of shuriken based techniques, one of which was the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique. With this technique, he could create a thousand clones of a single thrown shuriken in an instant to overwhelm the opponent. This method also meant that he didn't have to stock up on a lot of shuriken.[62] He could also use the technique with the larger version of shuriken, increasing the technique's range and penetration power.[63] Alternatively in the anime, Hiruzen could also use roof tiles in the area akin to shuriken, launching them clean from their base to give him the element of surprise to his enemies.[47]
Nature Transformation
Hiruzen was highly skilled in elemental ninjutsu, being one of the few people capable of wielding all five basic nature transformations, a feat thought impossible for normal shinobi. He was able to use all five elements simultaneously, via himself and four shadow clones, to counterbalance a similar attack from Guruguru's technique.[64]
The Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet allowed him to exhale a powerful stream of fire from his mouth. Alternatively in the anime, he could also launch a barrage of smaller blasts. Hiruzen's Earth Release prowess could use the Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall to spit a stream of mud that solidifies into a large protective wall. In the anime the Earth Release: Earth Flow River created a river of mud beneath the opponent to throw them off balance. In the anime he had also been shown to be adept in combining elemental techniques, as he could use the river of mud with Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet, which creates a dragon's head that launches mud balls at an opponent and then ignite the mud ball projectiles with the Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet, creating a volley of hot mud that can melt nearly anything.
Summoning Technique
Hiruzen also had a personal summon – Monkey King: Enma – who was capable of transforming into a diamond-hard staff, which could alter its length and width at will, or become a cage to protect the summoner. The staff was Hiruzen's weapon of choice as he showed great proficiency in wielding it; he successfully pushed back Kurama with it during the tailed beast's attack on Konoha.[65] Enma could also manifest parts of his body and attack an enemy with his claws and fangs, which added an element of surprise.[66]
Hiruzen showed a keen and perceptive mind in battle. Even while pressured by multiple opponents, he could quickly access the situation and use the proper counter-measure for it. He also had excellent analytical skills, being able to deduce Obito's mysterious substance only moments after witnessing it, stating that it was similar to the kekkei tōta but the attack's shape is dynamic, so it can be used offensively and defensively, and that it is even beyond kekkei tōta. He also was able to deduce that there is a limit to the duration of transformations the substance can hold for.
|Hand seals
Part I
Introduction Arc
Hiruzen's first appearance in Part I was when two men reported to him that Naruto Uzumaki had vandalised the Hokage Monument. He was then seen standing next to Iruka Umino after the Academy graduation test, telling Iruka that they needed to talk and they were talking later about Naruto. In the manga when Naruto tried to steal the Scroll of Seals, Hiruzen found him and comically fell against his Sexy Technique. Later when Naruto succeeds in stealing the scroll, Hiruzen was seen instructing a large group of shinobi to stop and capture Naruto, observing the whole incident — including Mizuki revealing his intentions — from a crystal ball.
While criticising Naruto's ninja registration picture, in the anime he became the target of the boy's Sexy Technique, and fell prey to the mentioned. He was then unsuccessfully "assaulted" by Konohamaru Sarutobi who followed Naruto on the way out. He then watched the skirmish between Naruto and Ebisu, thinking that he would be heavily affected by the Harem Technique, blushing at the mere thought of it.
He was seen with the Konoha jōnin that would soon be assigned their genin cell. He told Kakashi Hatake that he would be leading Team 7. He and Kakashi then visited Naruto's apartment, pointing out few things like the expired milk that had caused Naruto much trouble after drinking it. He was then talking to Iruka about Kakashi's teaching methods, showing Iruka a book with the number of trainees that Kakashi failed. Iruka could only stare in shock upon realisation that no genin team assigned under Kakashi has ever got a passing mark.
Land of Waves Arc
After Team 7 completes their first D-rank mission, Hiruzen congratulates them on their success. Because the mission consisted only of finding a lost cat, Naruto complains that the mission was too easy and demands their next mission be more challenging, to Kakashi's embarrassment. Hiruzen tries to explain how missions are assigned by skill level and that, as genin, they cannot be expected to accomplish more difficult missions yet. Naruto does not relent, so Hiruzen agrees to assign them a C-rank mission: escorting Tazuna to the Land of Waves.
Chūnin Exam Arc
He first appeared in this arc consulting the jōnin about their decision to register their genin into the upcoming Chūnin Exams. Asuma Sarutobi, Kurenai Yūhi, and Kakashi Hatake all deemed their students worthy. Thereafter, a slight argument ensued between Iruka and Kakashi where the former claimed that Naruto and his team-mates were not ready for such a challenge. Kakashi silenced him by saying that they were no longer Iruka's students but Kakashi's soldiers. Hiruzen was then sent to the tower in the Forest of Death after Anko Mitarashi encountered and was defeated by Orochimaru. After hearing Orochimaru's message for him, he tried to ease Anko's pain from the Cursed Seal.
After the second portion of the exam, he is seen congratulating all the genin who passed, and explaining the next round. He then witnessed the preliminary rounds of the final matches, only to tell the advancing genin about the challenge and their training. From there, he was seen reporting to the council that Hayate Gekkō had been killed, and that Orochimaru may have been involved. He then decided to carry on the Chūnin Exams as normal. Later that day, he assured Anko, who visited him to apologise, that she did not need to feel guilty about returning alive in the Forest of Death, after her encounter with her former master. He then departed for some air some seconds later to head to the Hokage Monument, where he gave a speech to the Academy students about what it really means to be a shinobi. When the time of third portion of the exam comes, Hiruzen was present on a stadium as one of the judges. He welcomed Fourth Kazekage who really was impersonated by Orochimaru.
Invasion of Konoha Arc
When the invasion began, Hiruzen was taken by Kazekage who revealed himself as Orochimaru and forced to battle him, as the Third's former student infiltrated the village and planned Konoha's destruction just so he could kill Hiruzen and kidnap Sasuke Uchiha. Soon after the battle began, Orochimaru reincarnates Hashirama and Tobirama, so that Hiruzen could feel the enjoyment of fighting his former masters.[47]
Hiruzen quickly resolved to kill his masters and used a very powerful fire technique that was easily countered by one of Tobirama's walls of water that was then turned into an attack that was stopped by Hiruzen's own earth wall. Hiruzen was then however caught by Hashirama's Wood Release. Even after summoning Enma to free himself from Hashirama's Wood Release, Hiruzen, in his old age was unable to defeat the two Hokage, as any damage that was done was simply regenerated. He was further inhibited by his desire to not hurt either.
Hiruzen's fight was also impeded by Orochimaru's presence, horrified at seeing just how monstrous his treasured student had become through mastering Living Corpse Reincarnation and his intentions to use it on Sasuke. Left with no other choice, Hiruzen creates two shadow clones while executing Dead Demon Consuming Seal on his former masters to stop them.[67] As he bid a heartfelt goodbye to his teachers, he turned his attention to Orochimaru and reveals the technique's double edge as he must sacrifice both his soul and those of his predecessors to the Shinigami. Intending to have Orochimaru join them in the spectre's stomach while throwing aside his former pupil's Kusanagi, Hiruzen attempts to seal Orochimaru's soul as well. Realising it as he starts to see the Shinigami, Orochimaru called his Kusanagi to him, stabbing Hiruzen in the back. Despite the fatal injury, Hiruzen continued to try to remove Orochimaru's soul as his death would come one way or the other.
After an hour of struggling, Hiruzen came to accept that his old age had left him too weak to completely seal Orochimaru away. Seeing that completely removing Orochimaru's soul was impossible, yet his desire to redeem himself for allowing his former student's escape, Hiruzen decided to instead have the Shinigami take Orochimaru's arms to rob him of using ninjutsu as his way of fittingly punishing Orochimaru for his obsession with power. As Orochimaru began to curse his former master for the act, Hiruzen bids his student farewell as he collapsed with the hope that they would meet again. Seeing Orochimaru as the boy he once was, Hiruzen died with a smile on his face with the knowledge that he saved Konoha and its next generation that would come.[68]
Part II
Ten-Tails Revival Arc
In Sasuke Uchiha's quest for answers, Hiruzen's soul was freed from the Shinigami and subsequently reincarnated with the Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation technique alongside his predecessors Hashirama, Tobirama, and his successor Minato Namikaze by Orochimaru using Zetsu's spore clones as sacrifices. After he and Minato explained how they had been freed from the Dead Demon Consuming Seal and reincarnated again, Hiruzen is shocked to learn that Orochimaru did not bring him back to destroy Konoha before learning the reason was to give Sasuke answers. Seeing that Sasuke learned the truth, Hiruzen solemnly confirmed that everything related to the Uchiha clan massacre was true.
Shocked when his former sensei was about to take action against Sasuke for saying that Hashirama's words would decide whether or not he exacted revenge on the village, Hiruzen breathed a sigh of relief when the First was able to stop his brother, albeit almost destroying the Naka Shrine in the process. Questioning Orochimaru when the Sannin noted that they did not have time for a lengthy discussion, Hiruzen is shocked to hear that there was a war going on and even further that Madara was participating in it. Opting to head to the battlefield immediately and then have their discussion later, when they were bound by Orochimaru, Hiruzen had no choice but to abide by the First's wish to stay and free Sasuke from the impending darkness which surrounded him, threatening to corrupt him. With Hashirama's story over, Hiruzen echoed Tobirama's sentiments that there had been Uchiha who had transcended the limitations of their clan and had put the village first. He also noted that Shisui Uchiha, the son of Tobirama's subordinate Kagami and Itachi's best friend has also inherited Hashirama's will. On the outside of the Naka Shrine, Hiruzen took the opportunity to question Orochimaru's motives before resigning to his bust on the Hokage Monument alongside the other respective Hokage. Hiruzen noted that he had not been to war for so long, that he would give it his all.
Arriving with Hashirama and Tobirama, Hiruzen lauded his successor, noting that he still lived up to his moniker of Konoha's Yellow Flash. Answering the curious onlookers, Hiruzen noted that it was Orochimaru whom had reincarnated them and that they were there to put an end to the war. On Hashirama's command, the Hokage launch into action and Hiruzen asked Minato if he had already marked the locations before he is teleported to his designated location. Using the Four Red Yang Formation technique, the four Hokage are able to successfully trap the Ten-Tails.
Hiruzen and the other Hokage later watched as Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke all summoned their creatures to the battlefield. Remembering his own students, after seeing the summoned slug, snake, and toad, Hiruzen acknowledged that it was really the dawning of a new era. With this, he spurred them on to attack the Ten-Tails. Hiruzen was later sent reeling when Obito destroyed the Four Red Yang Formation after becoming the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki. He later relocated to confront Obito alongside Hashirama and Tobirama where he admitted that though it might be brazen, he had to agree with Hashirama that even he was now outclassed by Obito.
Narrowly escaping Obito's assault Hiruzen looked on as Hashirama and Tobirama's bodies are destroyed by the new jinchūriki. Upon Tobirama's command to move away, Hiruzen jumped to safety and noted that Tobirama was going to use his Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags technique. After the explosion, Hiruzen confronted Obito directly, launching a giant shuriken which he replicated. Using this, and the direct assault on him by Obito, The Professor deduced that the mysterious substance that was being used by Obito was similar somewhat to Dust Release but afforded both offensive and defensive capabilities. He also noted that the substance was more than likely made out of at least four nature transformations but at the same time, could not be maintained for extended periods of time. While still analysing the technique, Hiruzen got hit by it which his opponent used to quickly overwhelm him by annihilating the complete upper half of the Hokage's body.
Later, as Obito manifests the Ten-Tails intent on continuing the Eye of the Moon Plan, the beast makes its final transformation into Shinju, the God Tree. As the roots cover Naruto, fully regenerated, Hiruzen along with a transformed Enma destroys the branches. Apologising for being late, Hiruzen was able to extract the young man, and have Tobirama teleport them some distance away.
As more people fell to the Shinju, Hiruzen grimly analyses that nature of Obito's new attack method. Orochimaru suddenly arriving and states this attitude is not like his former sensei. Hiruzen asked his former student the status of the current Kage, to which Orochimaru noted that they had done all they could and they should be arriving soon. With the morale of the Allied Forces wavering, Hashirama had Ino Yamanaka telepathically link everyone on the battlefield via the Mind Body Transmission Technique to inform them of the new development with the Eye of the Moon Plan as well as to try and rally them to continue fighting. While Hashirama's words fail to inspire anyone, Naruto's senjutsu-enhanced Tailed Beast Mode combined with Ino's telepathy causes his emotions and memories to be conveyed to everyone as he watches on saddened when Naruto remembered his own funeral, Hiruzen is even more saddened upon learning that his son, Asuma had passed away as well.
Questioning Orochimaru of his intentions when the Alliance mobilised, the Sannin notes that he shows no interest in this war. He, however, noted that Obito's plan to conquer the world will interfere with his experiments, thus deciding to join the fray. With the tree stopped by his student's snakes, Hiruzen destroys one of the Shinju's branches with his staff. Later, as Naruto — assisted by the Shinobi Alliance — began his tug-of-war against Obito, Hiruzen noticed the Shinju's flower halted its blooming and commanded everyone to charge.
Infinite Tsukuyomi Arc
Though they are successful in stopping Obito, they are soon faced with the fact that Madara was able to revive himself. Assaulted by Guruguru who uses a miniature version of Hashirama's Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands technique. As five of the faces along the statue opened its mouth, preparing attacks of all five elements, Hiruzen counteracted the attack by creating five shadow clones each using one of the elements to counterbalance the attack.
After Guruguru ended their battle abruptly, he and Tsunade looked on mortified as they saw Madara's dōjutsu reflected on the moon. After those living around him fell prey to the Infinite Tsukuyomi, Hiruzen attempted to free his disciple from the tendrils of the Shinju. After this fails, Hiruzen followed the powerful chakra signature. Cove being on the location with the other Hokage, they discussed the situation with the Shinju taking hold of all the living persons, as well as only finding Madara' lower half. Before they can make a decision about their next course of action, Hagoromo manifested before them.
After Hiruzen died, seeing him as a great Hokage, Tsunade noted that the village has produced some very fine and determined shinobi under her mentor's leadership, as when she saw Rock Lee's determination to go through with a life-risking operation. Succeeding Hiruzen as the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade practices her mentor's principles during her term. Additionally, Asuma passes his father's ideals to his student Shikamaru Nara and the significance of protecting Konoha's next generation. Asuma is also the father of a child with Kurenai Yūhi which will be Hiruzen's second grandchild, posthumously. As the Fourth Shinobi World War begins, Kabuto Yakushi would reveal to Tobi that Hiruzen's use of the Dead Demon Consuming Seal during his fight with Orochimaru had left Kabuto unable to summon him, nor Hashirama and Tobirama via Impure World Reincarnation.
The Fourth Raikage insinuated Hiruzen's death may have been the result of a secret plot between Danzō Shimura and Akatsuki, though it was all Orochimaru's doing.[69]
While he promised Itachi that he would protect Sasuke, Hiruzen did not foresee the boy becoming an enemy to Konoha, due to his inability to look past the tragedies of his life, and developing a hatred-induced mindset. When Sasuke was confronted by Kakashi soon after he killed Danzō, hesitant at killing his former student at first, the latter remembers Hiruzen's resolution to kill Orochimaru and finally understood how the Third felt.[34]
Video Games
Hiruzen Sarutobi is a playable character in the following video games:
- Hiruzen is one of only three known Kage to predominantly wear the position's official uniform — the others being the Fifth Kazekage, and the Fourth Raikage.
- His father's and clan's name, inspired by Sarutobi Sasuke, means "jumping like a monkey", further supported by his Summoning Technique, which summons Enma. Tobirama also nicknamed him "Monkey" (サル, Saru).
- Many aspects of his character were borrowed from the Chinese literature classic Journey to the West. Hiruzen's summon, Enma, bears a very strong resemblance to Sun Wukong (孫悟空, Monkey King), the protagonist of the novel, and Hiruzen's chosen weapon was identical to the Monkey King's magical staff.
- Hiruzen's ghost could be briefly seen in Naruto: Shippūden episode 129.
- During his battle with Orochimaru, maybe as a premonition to his death, Hiruzen's likeness on the Hokage Monument cracked across the face. While the crack was fairly prominent due to its size, it didn't always show up in the anime, due either to a bad angle or a mistake by the animators.
- Hiruzen shared the same nickname as Hashirama Senju and the Sage of the Six Paths. They were each known as the "God of Shinobi" (忍の神, Shinobi no Kami).
- Hiruzen is the only known character to wield all five basic elements without the aid of tools, techniques, or kekkei genkai.
- Masashi Kishimoto originally planned for Hiruzen to be a dog, but eventually dumped the idea for being "too weird".
- According to the databook(s):
- His favourite foods were hijiki (which he shared with rival, Danzō Shimura), and sardine fish balls, while his least favourite food was narazuke.
- His desired opponent was a grown-up Konohamaru.
- His favourite phrase was Absolute Truth (真諦, Shintai).
- His hobby was chatting with young girls.
- (About Naruto) "He has combined shadow clones with his own invention, the Sexy Technique. What a foolish ninja technique… and he could probably get me with it, too."[70]
- (To Iruka) "I wonder… do you have it, young as you are… the Will of Fire?"[71]
- (To Kosuke) "As long as I am alive, I will not let you go to your death on a mission! If you are a Konoha shinobi, find your Will of Fire!!"[9]
- (To Konohamaru) "To those who possess the Will of Fire, everyone is family. The desire to protect one's family builds thicker and stronger bonds between each and everyone in the village. If the Will of Fire is embraced by everyone, the village will be alright no matter what happens."[72]
- (To Orochimaru) "Konoha is my home! The Hokage is one who continues to act as the main pillar of the house, protecting it!! He's the one who carries the will of Konoha, entrusted with it… It won't be that easy for you!"[73]
- (To Orochimaru) "To me, Konoha isn't just an organisation. Every year there are a lot of ninja born and raised in Konoha… They live, fight to protect this village and what is precious they would go to their death. Even if we are not related by blood, those of the village like these are, to me, my most precious, most important… family!"[74]
- (To Orochimaru) "Even if you were to kill me, the pillar would not crumble. I'm the man who inherited the will of Konoha, the will of the First and Second. I am the Third Hokage!!! No matter how much you target Konoha, there'll be a new Hokage who'll inherit my will… and become the pillar to protect Konoha!"[75]
- (To Orochimaru) "In this society, true power is not attained from mastering all the world's techniques. This is something I have already taught you. When there is something important to protect… that's when a shinobi's true power emerges."[76]
- (To Orochimaru) "Your foolishness is unparalleled, Orochimaru. My one regret is that I couldn't take you with me. Farewell, disciple! May we meet again in the next world."[77]
- (Last words) "When the tree leaves dance, one shall find flames. The fire's shadow will illuminate the village, and once again, tree leaves shall bud anew."[78]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 First Databook, page 162
- ↑ Second Databook, pages 143-145
- ↑ Third Databook, pages 170-171
- ↑ Fourth Databook, pages 170-171
- ↑ Naruto chapter 118, page 3
- ↑ Naruto chapter 94, page 12
- ↑ Naruto chapter 121, page 3
- ↑ Naruto chapter 139, pages 9-11
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Naruto: Shippūden episode 190
- ↑ Naruto: Shippūden episode 127
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Naruto chapter 122, page 7
- ↑ Naruto chapter 344, pages 16-17
- ↑ Naruto chapter 121, page 7
- ↑ Naruto chapter 366, page 12
- ↑ Naruto: Shippūden episode 349
- ↑ Naruto chapter 116, page 3
- ↑ Naruto: Shippūden episode 358
- ↑ Naruto chapters 500-504
- ↑ Naruto: Shippūden episode 350
- ↑ Naruto chapter 440, page 5
- ↑ Naruto chapter 2, pages 13-14
- ↑ Naruto: Shippūden episode 351
- ↑ Naruto episode 72
- ↑ Naruto: Shippūden episode 352
- ↑ Naruto: Shippūden episode 355
- ↑ Naruto: Shippūden episode 356
- ↑ Naruto: Shippūden episode 357
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 Naruto: Shippūden episode 360
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 Naruto: Shippūden episode 359
- ↑ Naruto chapter 590, page 6-10
- ↑ Naruto chapter 400, page 15
- ↑ Naruto episode 203
- ↑ Naruto episode 205
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 Naruto chapter 483, page 17
- ↑ Naruto chapter 627, page 5
- ↑ Naruto chapter 117, page 12
- ↑ Naruto chapter 502, page 9
- ↑ Naruto: Shippūden episode 211
- ↑ Naruto chapter 481, page 12
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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- ↑ Naruto chapter 140, page 3
- ↑ Naruto chapter 503, page 7
- ↑ Naruto chapter 126, page 10
- ↑ Naruto chapter 632, page 2
- ↑ Naruto chapter 662, page 8
- ↑ 47.0 47.1 47.2 Naruto episode 69
- ↑ Naruto episode 71
- ↑ 49.0 49.1 Naruto: Shippūden episode 284
- ↑ Naruto chapter 120
- ↑ Naruto chapter 646, page 13
- ↑ Naruto chapter 123, page 8
- ↑ Naruto episode 2
- ↑ Naruto chapter 120, page 15
- ↑ Naruto chapter 120, page 10
- ↑ Naruto chapter 504
- ↑ Naruto episode 1
- ↑ Naruto chapter 123, page 10
- ↑ Naruto chapter 680, page 10
- ↑ Naruto episode 94
- ↑ Naruto chapter 631, pages 9-11
- ↑ Naruto chapter 117
- ↑ Naruto chapter 639, page 6
- ↑ Naruto chapter 662, page 5
- ↑ Naruto Shippūden episode 249
- ↑ Naruto chapters 120, 123
- ↑ Naruto episode 73
- ↑ Naruto episode 80
- ↑ Naruto chapter 458, page 7
- ↑ Naruto chapter 2, page 20
- ↑ Naruto chapter 139, page 10
- ↑ Naruto: Shippūden episode 281
- ↑ Naruto chapter 122, page 14
- ↑ Naruto chapter 122, pages 15-18
- ↑ Naruto chapter 122, pages 18-19
- ↑ Naruto chapter 137, page 13
- ↑ Naruto chapter 137, page 17
- ↑ Naruto chapter 137, pages 17-19


text:
Thanks to TV shows like Who Do You Think You Are? uncovering your family's history is becoming more and more popular – although you'd better be ready for some surprises
When Ramón Antonio Gerardo Estévez looked into his family's history, he found a story that took in the Spanish and Irish civil wars – and perhaps laid his own trail towards the White House.
Estévez, better known as actor Martin Sheen, became interested in his family's past when he agreed to take part in Who Do You Think You Are? because, as he said, "I'm 71 years old and I don't know how much longer I'll be around. I was doing it for my grandchildren and their children."
While most of us might not have quite such far-reaching family connections, finding out where we came from adds a substantial new dimension to our understanding of ourselves. It also often rewrites history. Not just personal history – it's amazing how frequently families suppress, forget or simply misunderstand the stories they are told by older generations – but also a nation's history.
As time goes by, events get frozen in time and a simplifying narrative attaches to them: "Those are the good guys; those are the bad guys; and this is what happened."
The trouble is, life is rarely that simple – and the only way to get a proper picture is by looking at the lives of ordinary people.
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With such massive emigrant populations, Ireland has many sons and daughters who return in search of their history. And with such a politically unsettled past, the island offers many surprises to people who think they know where they came from.
Half-Spanish and half-Irish, Martin Sheen is vocally proud of his mother's Tipperary roots. He has made several films in Ireland, he carries an Irish passport, and he even studied at NUI Galway when he finished playing US President Josiah Bartlet in The West Wing.
During his research, liberal activist Sheen found that his uncles had fought against Franco in the Spanish Civil War. On his mother's side, another uncle fought for Home Rule in Ireland, but in the turbulence of the early 20th century, allegiances shifted fast.
When he heard his uncle had been opposed to the Free State, Sheen admits he suspected his uncle's involvement in the notorious murder of political leader Michael Collins, "but as it turned out, my uncle was in prison at the time," said Sheen. "I was deeply relieved!"
Scottish actor David Tennant (Dr Who, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) was similarly astonished by what he found when he dug into the past. From a vague reference – "There's some Irish in there somewhere" – he found that his great-grandfather, William Blair, was a Northern Irish Protestant and member of the Orange Order.
Finding out about your past is exciting, scary – and very rewarding. As Martin Sheen put it, "No matter what came down, I was going to accept it. I wasn't always prepared for what I learned, but the journey itself was deeply satisfying."
So, who do you think YOU are?
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Clothing Fair Project Receives Award from AAUWFriday, May 29th, 2009
SUNY Canton has received an award from the St. Lawrence County branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) for the 2009 Professional Clothing Fair.
The AAUW announced that the college had won a second place award in the Community program division at recent statewide Convention in Bolton Landing.
The SUNY Canton office of Human Resources, the Office of Career Services, and the St. Lawrence County One-Stop career center collaborate to host an annual clothing drive and fair for individuals who are preparing to join or rejoin the workforce. More than 250 people benefitted from the fair, according to Betty Connolly, SUNY Canton Director of Human Resources and AAUW member.
"We have individuals donate gently used clothing and distribute it to jobseekers from the community," she said. "It's been a well-received event. This year, our services were especially appreciated due to the sluggish economy."
SUNY Canton offers a wide variety of career-driven bachelor's, associate, and certificate programs, as well as three master's degrees in conjunction with SUNYIT, Utica. Most of SUNY Canton's new four-year programs are designed so students can take them on-campus, online, or both. SUNY Canton OnLine features more than 100 courses online each semester. The College's athletic teams belong to the NAIA's Sunrise Conference, enabling students to compete in their respective sports for four years.


text:
For over a century, GF Fittings has been producing malleable iron threaded fittings for steel pipes at the Austrian production facility in Traisen. The location is the competence center within the Group for this time-tested jointing technology. The strong and long-lasting products are distributed throughout the world, where they are primarily used in plumbing, heating and gas installations, in refrigeration, air conditioning and sprinkler systems as well as in mechanical and plant engineering and commercial vehicle construction.
Website: www.gfps.com/traisen


text:
It's the hardest thing to remember, but it's important to just stop sometimes. I mean stop thinking, stop doing, and take a few minutes, or a few hours, and just enjoy.
Kind of funny, but today's "zen" moment was brought to you by the fruit, rhubarb.
It's something you don't see often in farmers' markets in New England. It always seems like I see it once or twice a year, and that's it. It's fleeting, but it's also extremely inspiring. I bought a bunch. I brought it home. I sliced it.
I pick up the satin-smooth slices and they go into the large pot on the stove. I've done this a hundred times. In goes the sugar, the butter, the salt, and the pinch of cinnamon. Start to cook, low and slow until the rhubarb begins to soften and break down. As I stood there stirring, I thought of all the things I was supposed to do. I had this blog post to write, I had to run to the store, the laundry hamper was full, but I kept stirring. Then and there, I changed the day.
Instead of writing or the store, there were Lemon-Rhubarb Martinis with my husband.
Instead of laundry, there were stalks of local asparagus tossed in olive oil, sea salt, pepper, and Parmesan. There were bourbon steak tips. There was peace and quiet because it's Sunday, and there was no excuse not to just stop.
Did I mention there was also a Brown Sugar Rhubarb Tart?
Brown Sugar Rhubarb Tart
Serves: 8-10
Base tart shell recipe adapted from: Smitten Kitchen
Rhubarb Compote:
1 3/4 pounds rhubarb, sliced
1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Tart Shell:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (187.5 grams)
1/2 cup granulated sugar (this is the adaptation from a normal tart shell which usually uses confectioner's sugar, this makes your tart a tad more "rustic")
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 stick plus 1 tablespoon (9 tablespoons, 4 1/2 ounces) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces and chilled or frozen
1 large egg
2 tablespoons cold water
Brown Sugar Crumble Topping:
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour.
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces and chilled.
Let's start with the compote. In a large dutch oven or saucepan, combine rhubarb, sugar, butter, salt, and cinnamon. Cook over low heat, stirring here and there, until the rhubarb breaks down and pieces are soft. You don't want all of it to turn to mush, so take it off the heat when the pieces are softened. Set the compote aside.
Butter a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom and set aside.
In a food processor, pulse the flour, sugar, and salt together until combined. Next, add your chilled butter and pulse until the mixture looks like coarse cornmeal. Finally, add your egg and pulse until just combined.
Turn crumbly dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Add your two tablespoons of cold water and knead lightly with your hands until the dough comes together. Take your buttered tart pan, and press your dough into the pan. Butter the shiny side of a sheet of aluminum foil and place on top of the dough in the pan. Transfer to the freezer for 30 minutes.
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
After the tart shell has been in the freezer for 30 minutes. Take it out, remove the foil in one piece, prick the center with a fork, and cover the dough again with the foil. Add dried beans or pie weights to the top of the foil and bake for 20-minutes until the edges are starting to get golden brown.
Take the shell out of the oven and set aside to cool a bit.
Head back over to the food processor, we're going to make the topping. In the food processor, combine the half cup of brown sugar, the 2.5 tablespoons of flour, salt, and cinnamon. Add your chilled butter to the mixture and pulse until you get a mixture that resembles coarse cornmeal.
Now let's assemble the tart. Take your shell, spread about a cup and a half of the rhubarb compote (you'll have some leftover to enjoy in other ways) over the top of the shell until it's completely covered. After that, take your topping and sprinkle it over the entire tart.
Pop it into the oven and bake for 15 minutes until the top is browned and fairly crispy. Take the tart out of the oven and allow to cool on a wire baking rack. Once it's cool enough to handle, pop the tart out of the pan and transfer to a plate. Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
The Lighter Side of Local:
After a week off, we're back up and running. The meal described above was almost entirely local, other than the pantry ingredients. The steak tips and asparagus were from Tendercrop Farm in Newbury, MA. The rhubarb came from Arrowhead Farm in Newburyport. It's nice to be getting to that part of the season where the choices are getting much more diverse.
Here's what I got this week:
1 bag baby chard (for salads) - $4
1 bunch rhubarb - $5
1 bunch radishes - $3
1 bunch hakurei turnips - $3
$15 for the whole bunch this week, to be used in a bunch of different ways this week.
What are you finding locally this week?
And just a reminder, this offer is still available to you all!
I took so much away from Eat, Write, Retreat, last weekend in D.C. Apparently, the fine folks over at Calphalon want to give us all even more. Readers of Lighter and Local can receive 10% off on online purchases* at Calphalon between now and June 6th by using promotional code C95926
*Clearance Items and Gift Certificates do not qualify. Excludes John Boos & Co. Cannot be combined with other special offers or applied to previous purchases. Terms subject to change. Offer valid through June 6th, 2011.


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If there's a notebook on your Christmas list, you're in luck – there's a plethora of excellent laptops out there vying for your love and attention.
But which laptop is worthy of Father Christmas's hard-earned cash?
What Laptop has picked out the five best laptops in the world for you to choose between – so whether you're after something wonderfully portable or easy on the eye, mega powerful or reliable as a Robin Reliant, we've got the laptop for you.
Watch on for the low down on the crème de la crème of the laptop world - then update your Christmas wishlist sharpish.


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This course examines the changes and controversies that informed the theory of the late medieval image (1400-1550) in altarpieces and devotional panels, and books of hours. In manifesting the presence of the divine, painting existed at the boundaries of the material and the immaterial, the earthly and the divine, the two-dimensional and three-dimensional, the visible and the invisible. How were these boundaries negotiated by the makers of images? And by their viewers? Study of original sources that theorize image making in conjunction with contemporary art historical scholarship will shape our discussions of how images come to be and how they come to mean. In focusing on the late medieval art of Jan van Eyck, Rogier van der Weyden, Robert Campin and their contemporaries, we will seek to understand the impact of new materials and techniques (oil painting, multiple point perspective), as well as new iconography (The Seven Joys of Mary, the Wound of Christ), new ways of seeing (realism, symbolic and otherwise), and new identities (the new prominence of the artist through signature and commissioned work. The fundamental questions of the course are: 'How does painting create presence?' and 'What are the consequences ofthis creation?' This course counts towards the WIM (Writing in the Major) for art history majors
|Distribution Area
|Arts and Humanities
|1 course


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Genre : Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller
Starring : Michael C. Hall , Jennifer Carpenter , Lauren Vélez
IMDb Rating : 9.0/10 from 185,928 users
Country : USA
Plot : Meet Dexter Morgan. By day he's a blood spatter pattern expert for the Miami Metro police department. But by night – he takes on an entirely different persona: serial killer. But Dexter isn't your average serial killer as he only kills people who fit a very prolific and precise "moral code" taught to him by his late father Harry (he didn't kill Harry, honest), and developed very thoroughly throughout each kill. While dealing with his daily activities and his boss, Sgt. Doakes, the one man who may or may not know the truth about his after-hours activities, he is given a friendly message by a guy referred to only as "The Ice Truck Killer" – a crime scene where there is no blood. This shocking discovery turns Dexter's world completely upside down. The Ice Truck Killer wants Dexter to play his game and Dexter is very eager to take on this cat-and-mouse chase throughout Miami.
Subtitles : Link


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One of the blessings of an SLR can also be a curse: having to choose which lenses to carry, which means finding the right balance between weight and bulk, and having the focal lengths you need. The Nikon AF-S DX VR 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 G IF ED lens offers Nikon shooters a satisfying single-lens solution. Introduced in November 2005, it is compatible with all Nikon DX digital SLRs including the D300, D60, and D40.
There is an awful lot to decipher in its name:
|Designed and optimized for Nikon's digital SLRs, which use the DX-aspect CCD
|No aperture ring
|Extra-low dispersion glass for improved contrast and reduced chromatic aberration
|vibration reduction optical stabilizer to minimize blur from camera shake.
Its extensive zoom range and relatively compact size, along with VR, makes it a great all-around lens capable of handling almost any occasion. It's especially well suited for traveling of any sort, from weekend getaways to a safari. This level of convenience comes at a cost well north of $600.
  The lens measures 4 inches long with a 3-inch diameter and accepts 72mm screw-on filters.
  Solid construction with a quality feel to it, black crinkle finish, metal lens mount and base for added durability.
  Variable maximum aperture from f3.5 to f5.6 and a variable minimum aperture from f22 to f36.
  Magnification factor of 1.5x yields a working focal length of 27mm to 300mm on a Nikon DX body such as the D300, D60, or D40.
  Minimum focusing distance of 19.7 inches throughout the zoom range, with a maximum magnification of 1:4.5.


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Courtesy of the USOEC
Marquette, Mich.—United States Olympic Education Center Greco-Roman wrestlers had a strong showing at the Minnesota Storm Holiday Cup in Rochester, Minn., today (Dec. 15), with two athletes taking home top honors and 10 others placing in the top four.
Taking gold were Jessy Williams of Windsor, N.Y., and Kendrick Sanders of Homestead, Fla. Williams defeated teammate Mason Bradford of West Chapel, Fla., in the 60-kilogram finals to secure his position on top of the podium. Williams overtook Bradford 1-4, 6-0, 4-0. At 66 kg, Sanders earned gold by defeating RaVaughn Perkins of team Ready RP Nationals 0-2, 3-0, 5-0.
Other USOEC athletes also won medals. In the 55-kg first-place match, Arthur Carmona of Brawley, Calif., faced Nate Engle of the Army, falling 1-0, 2-0, which gave him a silver medal. Teammates Max Nowry, Wheeling, Ill., and Isaiah Varona, Miami, faced off in the bronze-medal match, with Nowry coming up on top 2-0, 1-0.
Earning a bronze at 60 kg for the USOEC was Dmitry Ryabchinsky of Brooklyn, N.Y., who defeated Julian Gunnels of Minnesota Storm 1-0, 4-1.
Nick Alvarez of Miami also won his bronze-medal match over Devon Scott of Minnesota Storm 1-0, 3-0, in the 66-kg weight class.
In the 74-kg bronze-medal match, teammates Jonathan Drendel and Tanner Andrews, both of North Aurora, Ill., faced off. Drendel took the medal with a 4-2, 0-1, 1-0, victory.
Ethan Dondlinger of Slinger, Wis., took second at 96 kg. Dondlinger wrestled John Wechter of Minnesota Storm in the gold-medal match, falling 2-0, 1-0.
Due to limited entries, the 120-kg weight class was contested in a round- robin competition. Parker Betts of St. Michael, Minn., won three out of four matches to finish the day with a silver medal.
Coach Rob Hermann was pleased with his team's results.
"I felt this was a great learning experience," said Hermann. "We had some juniors winning against senior-level athletes and they left knowing they can compete at this level."


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Aaron Rodgers had a much better Super Bowl performance than Christina Aguilera.
While the Green Bay quarterback was leading his team to a 31-25 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV in Dallas, Aguilera was feeling shame over her pregame rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner," in which she joined a long line of celebs to botch the words.
The five-time Grammy winner mangled the fourth line of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Her version: "Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, what so proudly we watched at the twilight's last gleaming."
U.S. & World
The correct lyrics: "Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming."
The "Dirrty" singer later took an immediate beating on Twitter and later expressed her hope that fans could would forgive her for flubbing the lyrics.
"I can only hope that everyone could feel my love for this country and that the true spirit of its anthem still came through," she said in a statement after the performance.
With clips of the song still reverberating on cable news shows late Monday, Aguilera won a rare token of sympathy from fellow pop star Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas.
"You know what? It's such a huge venue, your nerves take a hold of you," Fergie said on a radio show, according to Us. "I completely understand. She's one of the best singers of our time. Nobody can take that away from you... But you get nervous at these things. We're human."
Fergie, who also faced Twitterverse potshots on Super Bowl Sunday for her halftime performance, copped to her own "pitchy" notes.
Aguilera is only the latest star to screw up Francis Scott Key's words. Roseanne Barr screeched through a painful rendition at a San Diego Padres game in 1990, eding by grabbing her crotch and spitting. At the 2001 Indy 500, Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler ended with "home of the Indianapolis 500" instead of "the brave."
Olympic sprinter Carl Lewis missed a high note while singing the anthem at a New Jersey Nets game in 1993, then said in mid-song, "I'll make up for it." Finally, crooner Robert Goulet, who performed the song countless times, gained perhaps unfair notoriety when he screwed up a line in the song before Muhammad Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, fought Sonny Liston in 1965. Instead of referring to the "dawn's early light," Goulet sang "dawn's early night." The flub, minor in retrospect, haunted him and made his obituaries when he died in 2007.
"One word is all I messed up, and everyone built it up from that time on into something else entirely," he would say later.
Selected Reading: New York Post, PopEater, AP


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The markets have been good to investors this year, leading many to wonder how they will stack up in 2014. For many wirehouse reps, the big question is what next year means for their payout grids.
The wirehouse firms don't want to cut advisor compensation for fear that they will leave, but they are still under pressure to improve profits. "The challenge is how to show shareholders that they are saving money while not angering advisors enough to run for the door," said Danny Sarch, founder and head of Leitner Sarch Consultants, in an interview.
These firms also are trying to capture and influence as many client assets as possible, as RIAs do. Some RIAs charge for assets that are held away from their operations, like within a 401(k) plan or trust, Sarch explains. But, if clients agree, some wirehouse advisors can charge a fee for advising them on how to best invest assets held away from their firm.
Tweaking comp plans is no easy task, the recruiter says. It's a tough balancing act between "what the firms want to accomplish, which is saving money and driving certain behaviors, and the risk of losing advisors and their revenue because your changes are too harsh."
Experts see Morgan Stanley as the firm making the biggest changes to its payout grid in 2014. Many of its 16,500 advisors, who haven't seen major grid changes over the past 10 years, are now being asked to raise their performance by 10% to jump to the next payout level. For example, to reach the 41% payout level, an advisor has to bring in $440,000 in 2014 vs. $400,000 in 2013.
In general, grid payouts at Morgan Stanley range from 28% to 47% of advisor sales. However, advisors who have been with the firm for nine years or more and have production of less than $300,000 get 20%.
Morgan Stanley advisors with clients who take loans from the bank can be considered for bonuses that go as high as $202,500, a big jump from 2013, according to the firm. Also, advisors will be able to get full payout on client households with less than $100,000, provided the households are enrolled in the OneView account aggregation service and have outside assets of at least $150,000.
Overall, the company says, its growth awards for 2014 have three components tied to increases in assets, lending and revenue. The awards are available to more reps (not just those in the top 40%) for revenue growth of $300,000. The top combined award for the asset and lending components is $300,000, while the revenue-growth award has no cap and can reach 5% of total revenue.
Merrill Lynch says it isn't tinkering with its 2014 payout grid. It is, though, adding an award to expand its team-focused business.
To be eligible for the award, a team must double its revenue over five years from its 2013 revenue baseline. The award can total up to 10% of a team's incremental revenue growth. An enhancement to the strategic growth award for advisors aims to boost trust-related fees. It includes double credit for positive fee-based flows tied to trusts.
And Merrill rolled out a plan that allows advisors 55 and older to stay at Merrill for several years in a senior consultant role as their clients transition to other team members.
At UBS-Americas, the emphasis is on boosting the number of relationships associated with financial plans and the flow of net new assets, and the comp changes go into effect July 1.
Wealth management awards at UBS will be given in two parts. Awards of up to 1.75% of production will be given for advisory fees and up to 4% for revenues tied to relationships covered by financial plans; production to be considered for the financial planning award will be capped at 50% of fees and commissions tied to the plan.
Awards for net new assets will be given if these assets total $10 million and up, or $5 million and up including a new client relationship of $1 million or higher. The awards are capped at 5% of production; advisors can receive 15 basis points for the first $50 million, and some mortgages and other credits lines continue to be included in the qualifying grid. In addition, expense allowances for many UBS advisors will expand by $500 to $2,000 a year.
UBS advisors can earn payouts between 28% and 45% of sales. But starting next year, the payout threshold will go up at some levels. For instance, a 39% payout that previously required $400,000 in sales will now require $425,000. The UBS-Americas payout grid hasn't changed over the past four years, experts say.


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Vicki Ten Haken, associate professor of management at Hope College, will spend the fall and winter teaching and conducting research in Krakow, Poland, through an award from the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program.
Ten Haken is the fourth member of the Hope faculty to receive one of the awards in the past four years, and it is the second year in a row that a member of the economics, management and accounting faculty has received one. Dr. Victor Claar, associate professor of economics, has spent the 2006-07 school year teaching at the American University of Armenia in Yerevan, Armenia, through a Fulbright award. In 2004, Dr. William Cohen, professor emeritus of history, and Dr. David Klooster, professor of English, received Fulbright awards to teach in Japan and Austria respectively.
Ten Haken will be teaching management classes at the Krakow University of Economics in the university's MBA and international business studies programs. She will participate in an orientation program in Warsaw during the latter half of September and then be in Krakow from October through the end of the university's first semester in February.
The flagship international educational program sponsored by the U.S. government, for more than 50 years the Fulbright Program has sponsored the exchange of students and scholars between the United States and many other countries around the world through a variety of initiatives to "increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries of the world." The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program sends approximately 1,100 American scholars and professionals per year to more than 130 countries, where they lecture and/or conduct research in a wide variety of academic and professional fields.
Ten Haken has been a member of the Hope faculty since 2000. She teaches classes including Management Decisions, Management Theory, Human Resource Management, Managing for Environmental Sustainability and the Management Seminar. She came to Hope with 25 years of business experience, most recently at Herman Miller Inc. and earlier with General Electric.
She is on the Board of Trustees for Resthaven Patrons, a not-for-profit organization providing a continuum of affordable senior housing and services in West Michigan. She is a former member of the college's Board of Trustees.
Ten Haken graduated from Hope in 1973. She earned her M.B.A. in 1981 at Grand Valley State University, where she also served as an Executive in Residence and from which she has received a Distinguished Alumni Award.


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LOS ANGELES, CA – 13 Jul, 2017 – Azio Corp. (www.aziocorp.com), a leading manufacturer of gaming and lifestyle keyboards, announces the "Retro Classic" mechanical keyboard line. The collection introduces two interfaces (USB / Bluetooth+USB Hybrid) and is available in three styles – Onyx, Posh, and Artisan.
"We wanted to incorporate genuine materials that not only translates into higher quality build but also brings back the nostalgia of vintage goods that are personable to the physical touch and senses," says Sam Li, VP of Design for Azio Corp. "This keyboard is not just about technical specifications, but also a certain tangibility that one can feel and connect with."
The Retro Classic USB edition (MSRP $189.99) is a simple plug-n-play mechanical keyboard design specifically for Windows PCs. The Hybrid edition (MSRP $209.99) offers the convenience of both wireless Bluetooth plus wired USB connection and is fully compatible with both Windows or Mac. Both editions are available in all three styles.
The Hybrid edition is powered by a 6,000mAh Lithium-Ion Polymer battery that lasts up to 6 months with backlight off or up to one month with backlight on. Included are Mac specific key caps and Operating System mode switch to deliver a seamlessly user experience on both Windows or Mac.
The Retro Classic keyboards utilizes genuine leather top plate for luxuriousness and zinc alloy frame for rigidity. Hex bolts are added for structural enhancement and to add industrial vintage elements. The mechanical key switches are customized Kailh Blue switches with backlight LED positioned directly in the center of each key to provide for an evenly lit illumination.
The Retro Classic line is now available for preorder at www.Indiegogo.com Shipping is estimated in August 2017 for USB Edition and October 2017 for Hybrid Edition. For more information about the Retro Classic keyboard line or any of Azio's other innovative products, please visit www.aziocorp.com
About Azio Corp.
Azio Corp. is a manufacturer dedicated to providing innovative tech gear to make everyday life more engaging and fun. We believe that design has the power to alter not only perceptions, but also emotions. Through superior design, we are driven to provide a better experience for people of all ages from all walks of life, no matter what your hobby, profession, or need may be.
For more information, please visit www.aziocorp.com
Video Link: https://vimeo.com/224814863
Media Contact
Company Name: AZIO CORP
Contact Person: Jordan Vaughn
Email: email@example.com
Country: United States
Website: www.aziocorp.com


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By David Ponce
VUDU is a movie streaming service that was acquired by Walmart in 2010. It became relatively popular due in part to the fact that it starts streaming instantly, as opposed to other services which require some buffering time. And it's been announced that VUDU is now available on the Xbox 360. This means you can purchase or rent movies directly from your console, and if you have Kinect, you can do this with hand gestures or voice control. As an incentive, Walmart is offering a $4.99 credit towards your first rental or purchase.
[ Press Release ] VIA [ Joystiq ]


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Spirituality and Religion
January 2017
"If he weren't standing lonely vigil on the mountain, you might say that there was no sign
of anything unusual about him."
~ from Lesley Hazleton's
The First Muslim
Recent Releases
On Living
Kerry Egan
Although hospice chaplain Kerry Egan works with people who are experiencing their last days and hours, this inspiring yet down-to-earth memoir focuses on life. Relating what she's heard from her patients, she portrays them as storytellers whose first interest is their families, who recall their earlier lives, and who sometimes express heartbreak and has regrets. Egan also confesses that what she hears from the dying has promoted her own healing from sorrow and pain. Filled with quotations from her conversations,
On Living
offers testimony to the power of life even at the point of death. Of the many patients she's listened to, she concludes, "Always, they taught me something."
The Murderous History of Bible Translations: Power, Conflict, and the Quest for Meaning
Harry Freedman
The Bible has been translated into more versions than any other book, and interpreting the scriptures for general readers has sometimes led to remarkable conflict and even bloody violence. In
The Murderous History of Bible Translations
, author and Aramaic scholar Harry Freedman traces this history, starting with the early translation of Hebrew scriptures into Greek (the Septuagint). He discusses how translation that was usually intended to make the scriptures widely accessible was often driven by sectarian agendas. This engaging and accessible survey opens a fascinating window onto the Bible's history.
Black Elk: The Life of an American Visionary
Joe Jackson
The best-known book about the Lakota Sioux healer named Black Elk is
Black Elk Speaks
by John Neihardt, which adapts Black Elk's spiritual vision into English, but which isn't a biography. In
Black Elk
, author Joe Jackson presents the first comprehensive account of this Lakota holy man, who was present at many of the crucial events in Native American history: as a fighter at Little Big Horn, a leader in the traditionalist Ghost Dance movement, and -- perhaps ironically -- a performer in Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show. In this "major contribution" (
Publishers Weekly
) to the subject, Jackson brings Black Elk to life in the context of world history.
Pilgrimage: My Search for the Real Pope Francis
Mark K. Shriver
When author Mark Shriver was asked to write a book about the newly elected Pope, he embarked on a pilgrimage to trace the roots of the Jesuit priest Jorge Mario Bergoglio who became Pope Francis. In this engaging and thoughtful portrait, Shriver recounts interviews with Bergoglio's novice master, Argentinian friends and colleagues, political critics, and poor people with whom Bergoglio kept in touch once he became a cardinal. Confessing his own doubts about the church after his parents' deaths, Shriver also expresses hope for the church's renewal under the new pope. For another accessible biography of Francis, try Austen Ivereigh's
The Great Reformer
Genghis Khan and the Quest for God: How the World's Greatest Conqueror Gave Us...
Jack Weatherford
Though Mongol Emperor Genghis Khan's conquering armies were merciless to those who resisted, Khan's techniques for uniting his conquests into the largest empire in history were based on tolerance. In addition to promoting justice and peace (after the bloodshed was over), he allowed his subjects to practice their religions without restriction. Drawing on recently discovered documents, anthropologist Jack Weatherford also finds that Khan became a student of religion in his later years, learning from the peoples he had conquered. Though
Genghis Khan and the Quest for God
doesn't minimize Khan's bloodthirstiness, it presents a more peaceable aspect than history usually acknowledges.
In the beginning...
The Mormon People: The Making of an American Faith
Matthew Bowman
The Mormon People
, religion professor Matthew Bowman provides an accessible and thorough history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Founded by Joseph Smith after he received visions of a new revelation of Christ appearing in ancient North America, the Mormon Church has survived brutal persecutions that drove its members continually westward, finding opposition wherever they tried to settle. Although its teachings consist of an especially American blend of Catholic liturgical formality and Protestant evangelical zeal, few outside the LDS community know much about the faith. If you're curious to learn more about the "distinctively American riddle of Mormonism" (
, starred review), be sure to check out this book.
The First Muslim: The Story of Muhammad
Lesley Hazleton
The Prophet Muhammad was orphaned as an infant and brought up in Bedouin society by his wet nurse. As a teenager he learned business dealings as an agent for his uncle's caravans. Biographer Lesley Hazleton attentively traces Muhammad's life from infancy to death, relating his marriage to Khadija, a much older widow, his mystical experiences in quiet meditation, and the great revelation that was transcribed as the Quran. Without glossing over the violence that marked the new religious movement,
The First Muslim
details Muhammad's political skills and the personality and character that impressed his followers.
Library Journal
calls this a "balanced, readable" introduction to the prophet's life.
Pagans: The End of Traditional Religion and the Rise of Christianity
James J. O'Donnell
Religion in the Roman Empire during the first four centuries A.D. assumed that there were many gods. People were devoted to their deities but also tolerant of different beliefs. The early followers of Jesus asserted a strange, novel idea when they claimed that their God was the only one. In
, Georgetown University scholar James O'Donnell offers an easy to follow tour of ancient Roman religions preceding Christianity. He also explains how Christian doctrine began to drive out polytheism and eventually dominated Western religion. Though it's packed with historical scholarship, this book "employs the classical texts with irony and irreverence" (
Kirkus Reviews
Rebbe: The Life and Teachings of Menachem M. Schneerson...
Joseph Telushkin
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson founded a Jewish community in Brooklyn that grew into a highly influential worldwide movement. Schneerson attracted devoted followers who promoted his teachings and created the Chabad-Lubavitch organization; he also advised world-renowned figures such as Ronald Reagan, Menachem Begin, Yitzchak Rabin, and Bob Dylan. In
, Rabbi and historian Joseph Telushkin offers an anecdotal and impressionistic portrait of the powerful teacher who some thought would be the Messiah. He also includes a chronological outline of Schneerson's life.
Publishers Weekly
calls this an "admiring but honest look" at the man and the organization he set in motion.
Founding Faith: How Our Founding Fathers Forged a Radical New Approach to Religious...
Steven Waldman
Founding Faith
, Steven Waldman, the co-founder and editor in chief of Beliefnet.com, clarifies the U.S. Founders' intentions in establishing religious liberty. He says that the Constitution was meant neither to favor a "Christian nation" nor to require a secular state. In this challenge to people on both sides of the American debate over the meaning of the Constitution's "establishment clause," Waldman explores in detail the history of its background and the religious beliefs of its authors. If you're interested in the "separation of church and state" question, don't miss this thoroughly documented, thoughtful, and thought-provoking book.
Contact your librarian for more great books!
King County Library System
960 Newport Way NW
Issaquah, Washington 98027


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The Business Resource Center at California State University Chico held concerts to benefit Make-A-Wish® Northeastern California and Northern Nevada. Students handled publicity, ticket sales, and all event details, raising more than $47,000.
Chi Omega Sorority's Zeta Alpha Chapter at Ohio State University hosts its "Just Wish for It" benefit for Make-A-Wish® Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. The women of Chi Omega raised more than $10,000 and adopted Gigi's wish.
Stay in Touch!
Sign up to receive email from Make-A-Wish.


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Weatherboard Cladding - 170mm x 5mtr Sand
|EAN Code
|170mm (Lap)/ 200mm (Overall)
|10 Years Manufacturers
|A+ Rated by BRE
|Weight (kg)
Our Embossed Weatherboard Cladding is available in a range of New England style colours offering a traditional look with a modern and classy twist to make your property look neat and professional.
The individual board measures in at 200mm overall, with the visible lap measuring 170mm. This means that each 5m weatherboard effectively covers 0.85 square metres.
All colours come with a 10 year colour guarantee while our white board comes with a 20 year colour guarantee.
At just over 3kg for a 5M board, this type of coloured cladding is exceptionally easy to work with and low maintenance, weighing approximately a quarter of the weight of a traditional cement board equivalent.
Please read our delivery details for further information.
Our Returns Policy
You can return any items for a full refund (excluding any carriage charges) within 28 days of your purchase - the only exception being specially manufactured items such as fabricated gutter angles or profiles which cannot be returned. All returned items must be unused and in saleable condition. You should include a copy of your original purchase invoice with any goods that you return.
Please note that you are responsible for the cost of returning unwanted items. If you are unsure of how to go about arranging a carrier please let us know so that and we can assist you with this, although you should be aware that we cannot be held responsible for any carrier losses or damages prior to the goods being checked in at our warehouse.
Please click here to download a Goods Returns Form which you should enclose with any returned items. Our full postal address for returns is detailed on the Goods Returns Form.
Once the goods have been checked back into our warehouse we will arrange for the credit/debit card that you used for your original purchase to be refunded. Please allow fourteen days for the refund to be processed. Any items that have been ordered specially are excluded from this guarantee, as are any goods that are delivered ex-works such as sewage treatment plants or rainwater harvesting systems.
Read our returns policy for further details.
Our Returns Policy For Cast Iron Products From Hargreaves Foundry Products
If you wish to return any of our Cast Iron products, then please contact us as soon as possible. We can then liaise with the manufacturer and issue a returns form which will need to be returned to Hargreaves alongside the products. Our cast iron products come direct from Hargreaves Foundry (HF) in Halifax so returns will need to go directly back to them.
All return requests must be notified within 90 days of the goods being dispatched from HF and all damaged items must be notified within 24 hours of receipt of goods. All items must be returned in a saleable condition. Once agreed, the goods must be returned within 14 days from the date stated on the Return Form.
Please note that any bespoke items or specially painted RAL coloured items or Mech 416 Soil System pipes are non-returnable. Please be aware that all returns for Cast Iron Gutters and Soil & Drainage will incur a re-stocking charge of between 25% & 30% for exact details please view our Hargreaves returns policy.
The % charged is based on the net selling price of the original goods - this charge is unfortunately out of our control as it is levied on us by the manufacturer.
For full terms and conditions related to cast iron returns please consult our Hargreaves returns policy.