text:
SEO Agency Audubon Park Texas
True North Social Specializes in getting results, faster, more efficiently than any other SEO company.
We serve local areas in Harris County such as Spears Village, Meadowbrook Mobile Home Park, Humble Acres, Oak Knoll Estates, Glen Lee Place, Fountain View, Lee Land, Parkwood Estates, Sequoya Bend, Forest Acres
County = Harris CountySpears Village, Meadowbrook Mobile Home Park, Humble Acres, Oak Knoll Estates, Glen Lee Place, Fountain View, Lee Land, Parkwood Estates, Sequoya Bend, Forest Acres
Partner with a Leading SEO Company in Audubon Park
Partner with a Leading SEO Company in Audubon Park Texas
At True North Social, our goal is to help businesses like yours increase their ranking on search engines like Google (yeah, let's throw Yahoo and Bing in too). We do this by working hard to help you rank for some of the most coveted keywords in your industry.
We have a team of the best, most experienced programmers, digital marketing experts, link builders, and SEO talent who work together to grow your business. Our SEO services leverage the power of techniques like:
Why you should work with us
Here Is How Search Engine Optimization Can Help Your Business Grow
We often tell clients that building a website is only the first step. The next, most crucial step is getting found by clients and customers. As an internet marketing agency, we see many businesses don't get it right.
Advertising is an excellent way to bring traffic to your website. If you can spend tens of thousands of dollars a month on ads. For some brands, it's better to have a long-term plan that focuses on ensuring that you continue getting a steady and growing stream of highly targeted, organic traffic.
If you are not sure how SEO can help your business, you are not alone. It's estimated that around 45% of business owners in the United States are unsure what SEO can do for them or even how it works. However, nearly 100% of business owners know that showing up on the top of Google search results can translate to sales.
SEO is complicated, and if you're not sure how it works, that's okay. That's why we're here. True North Social can formulate a plan specifically for your business. You can leave the SEO to us.
Ranking on the First Page of Google will:
What Makes True North Social Different From Other Digital Marketing Companies?
At True North Social, in Audubon Park, Texas we live and breathe SEO and digital marketing. Our experience, over the years, shows that digital marketing, in general, has become exponentially more challenging.
Optimizing a website without over-optimizing isn't a walk in the park. That's why many SEO companies get it wrong, often over-optimizing for the wrong keywords. It is why many businesses don't see the results they were promised. Every business is unique, and we can't take a templated approach to each one. We've learned this the hard way, and that's why we take the time out to understand your business, your employees, your customers, and your brand.
No amount of Googling will help you find professional solutions to take your business to the next level. SEO and digital marketing, in general, is hard work that requires experience and expertise. Not to mention that each algorithm update, interface change, or any other major shuffle can shake the core of many businesses whose websites were built on outdated SEO practices. That's why hiring an SEO agency that's keeping up with the evolution of search marketing is so important.
Your business deserves to be noticed. True North Social has been helping companies just like yours get noticed by thousands of people who have become loyal customers. We provide a customized search engine optimization service, which includes the crucial components of SEO geared towards ensuring that your website makes it to the first page of SERPs.
More Than Just SEO…
True North Social is one of the leading SEO companies in Audubon Park. But we don't ask that you bank on SEO as your sole digital marketing strategy. We are perhaps one of the few Audubon Park SEO companies that offer holistic digital marketing services involving multiple strategies including Social Media Management, PPC Ads, Facebook Ads, and Email Marketing to promote a business.
We work with clients to formulate a comprehensive digital marketing strategy that involves a combination of paid advertising, social media marketing, and search engine optimization (SEO). The approach ensures we can combine marketing channels that work together to compliment each other.
We can also work with you to make sure that your mobile website is conversion rate optimized (CRO) and user-friendly before we start running paid advertising. Here too, our team of experts can help you anazyle and redesign your website as needed to ensure that it converts optimally.
Our digital marketing services include:
You May Have Tried Other SEO Companies In Audubon Park, But We Get Results!
Audubon Park is home to some of the biggest, most established SEO companies in the United States. Some of which charge thousands of dollars to rank websites, but few are successful. However, none of them will guarantee results.
Here is why no other Audubon Park SEO Agency will outperform us:
We are not saying that competing SEO companies in Audubon Park are incompetent or can't drive results.
But here is why we're better:
If you are not investing in the correct type of SEO and digital marketing strategy for your business, you're losing a lot of sales and clients to those who are. True North Social helps you acquire highly targeted traffic and gradually grows your business by outdoing your competitors online.
SEO isn't guesswork and hunches; it is based on real-world data. Our data-driven approach is guaranteed to deliver results.
We Specialize In Many Different
Types of SEO
You can't take the same approach to SEO across every business; it does not work that way. That's why our approach to SEO and even digital marketing, in general, is custom-tailored to every client individually. Our approach will also vary depending on the type of business you're operating and the size of your business.
At True North Social, we provide the following types of SEO services in Audubon Park, Texas:
Corporate SEO
True North Social has a highly experienced team for corporate SEO and internet marketing. We have worked with several large businesses, delivering results in the shortest time and most efficiently. Just about every big business we work with operates at a global scale, which means that our approach needs to be tailored to that scale, so to speak.
In our experience, SEO marketing for big businesses is more complex than for smaller, local businesses. That's because the business may have to be optimized for multiple locations and several thousand keywords in many countries. Nevertheless, we always come up with a winning strategy that delivers results.
Our corporate SEO include:
Small Business SEO
Small business owners need SEO more than ever because it is one of the most cost-effective ways to grow their business over time. However, because the budget is limited for many small business owners, the campaign needs to be highly optimized and well-tuned to perform optimally. Often that implies using strategies that help the business rank locally, effectively outdoing their competition on local Google My Business Listings and later SERPs too.
Over the years, we've helped many small businesses hit page one on Google within a few months. However, the approach for small local businesses is very different for a small national business. Regardless, we specialize in helping local businesses rank within Harris County, even in nearby counties and all over 77396.
Our small business SEO may include many steps such as:
eCommerce SEO
Doing SEO and even digital marketing for eCommerce websites can be complex. Most websites are selling anywhere from half a dozen to hundreds of unique products, and each product requires a slightly different strategy to align with the entire website's digital marketing strategy.
Running a successful eCommerce seo campaign takes time, which requires constant monitoring and tweaking. In addition, to search engine optimization, we'd also run PPC and social media ads, contributing to short-term conversions and brand building.
We work with eCommerce business owners to use the right strategy to deliver the results they need.
Our SEO services for eCommerce websites include:
SEO Targeting Mobile Users
Once we have determined that your website is mobile-friendly, we will start taking steps to ensure maximum visibility on mobile devices. Our team will use a couple of off-page and on-page SEO strategies that help the site rank on page 1 when people search Google via their mobile device.
Depending on your industry, we highly recommend emphasizing SEO targeting mobile users. However, since we take a data-driven approach, we can prove this with actual data collected from your website's performance.
Why Choose True North Social?
We are not your run-of-the-mill Audubon Park SEO company. Our goal is to provide businesses with an all-rounded, digital marketing service. Our team handles everything from social media advertising to PPC and SEO. Most of all, we want to deliver sustainable results, which is what sets us apart from the competition.
Our Search Engine Optimization Approach - General Steps
Keyword research is the most important first step to optimizing any website in any industry. It is the front-line soldier without which your remaining troops can't follow into the proverbial battle of search engine rankings. The keyword research for your website takes more than a simple search on keyword generators. It takes careful planning to strike the right balance of short-tail and long-tail keywords which are then used within the content towards your brand's specific needs and target customers.
The search engine optimization specialists at True North Social use multiple to generate the most valuable keywords. We also pull keywords that are performing well for your competition and use them to your advantage.
Ah, competitors. The bane of your existence. They are constantly stealing away your prospects (and rankings) leaving you stranded with a group of skeptics that have to work tirelessly to convert. But you have an opportunity here—you can use their best tactics, too.
But here's the catch: we can't simply copy everything your competitors do—this would only make your brand image a patchwork of your competition's methods. The trick is to understand your business goals, perform an SEO audit, research your competition and create a strategy with only the best possible practices for your business's individual needs—something we excel at.
On-page SEO is the process of optimizing the content on the web pages to rank higher in search engine results. The problem with doing this type of technical SEO on your own is that you will need to stay up to date with the recent trends and algorithm changes that rule the ranking criteria. With the SEO specialists at True North Social, we make sure that your on-page outdoes the competition by a mile. We often tell clients "the magic is in the on-page."
Without an SEO consultant service to help guide you through the thick marshes of the many SEO strategies, you can easily get lost and stray into practices that may have worked well for others but may not be the right fit for your business. True North Social can analyze your business and sift through the best methodologies and use one that would bring you the best results.
In the world of organic marketing, content is king, and backlinks are queens. Together, the two have enough power to completely change the game raising a website from obscurity to prominence.
True North Social increases blogger outreach by posting your best content on relevant sites and linking back to your landing page(s). Link building gives your website greater exposure to a larger market both nationally and globally.
Apart from a well-designed website, well-optimized website content is key to increasing your online presence. And if you own a local business, your local Audubon Park SEO needs to get the people's attention in the geographic location of your business. The main difference here would be the type of links you (or preferably we) would be focusing on. To ensure that your local SEO reaches the people in your target audience, you need localized website optimization with expertise, technical know-how, and experience with both SEO and local SEO.
But ultimately, both have the same end goal—converting prospects into valuable leads and hopefully paying customers.
With the online marketplace becoming more user-oriented, the competition has become more challenging than ever, and an intelligent strategy must be developed that delivers a strong impact. Enter lead generation SEO, the combination of two challenging strategies that can help improve your website's visits, engage users, generate leads, increase conversion, and amplify your revenues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, we provide SEO services to businesses across the US. The fact is that SEO can be done for any business and from anywhere. However, you might want to start with booking a consultation so that we can better understand your needs.
Generally, we would say that SEO provides much higher returns on investment over a long period. It can be especially effective when combined with professional conversion optimization. However, a lot of this is industry-specific. Most industries will benefit from running PPC or Google AdWords and SEO campaigns simultaneously. That way, they will see immediate results with PPC and long-term gains from SEO. Businesses can then lower their PPC budget as organic traffic improves.
SEO rankings refer to a website's position on SERPs. Many factors go into ranking a website, all of which Google in particular and others keep secret. However, as an SEO consulting agency our testing has shown that content relevant to the audience, sitemap, internal link structure, backlinks, site speed, keyword use, and other factors play a role in ranking.
It is important to emphasize that various search engines work differently. For instance, what ranks on top of SERPs on Google may not rank on top on Yahoo.com and Bing.com. The difference in ranking is mainly because all search engines use their unique algorithm designed to provide their users with the best results.
The SEO rankings will also vary based on language and the geographic location of the person searching. Usually, we've noticed that pages get ranked higher based on the traffic it gets and if they cater to user intent measured by bounce rate (amount of time visitors spend on a website). So, aligning the website to a potential user's intent is essential for doing good SEO work.
Rankings give us insight into how well our strategy is working. If your page is ranking low, the ranking variables will need to be tweaked to boost it. For instance, we will change metadata and add better alt tags to images. More importantly, it is important to figure out what's not working via a comprehensive audit and then make changes.
Improving your SEO rankings takes time, effort, and experience. A lot of the work we do is also industry-dependent. However, you might want to start with optimizing the user experience on the website, improving the quality of content, getting backlinks from authority sources, improving page speed, and using header tags to make the content more understandable by search engines. That said without an SEO strategy in place you're just firing in the dark.
The average time it takes for a website to start seeing results from SEO is around six months. That said, it might take longer for more competitive industries, where everyone is using SEO and jousting for the top position. In industries like these brand-building via social media marketing and PPC management will help level the playing field so to speak till a website starts ranking.
The short answer is yes, it is worth the time and money spent on it. However, algorithms change. Sometimes the changes are subtle other times, they are significant changes, which could mean that many businesses' rankings take a hit. However, when good SEO strategies are used, the hit is minimal, and often businesses we rank will recover from it shortly.
In the long term ranking high means not having to spend money on PPC or not as much money. So, over time SEO works out to be a cheaper way to get lots of high-quality traffic, which would otherwise only be possible to pull in from pay-per-click advertising (PPC). It is also why it is worth spending extra on good SEO by a reputed company so that your website does not get penalized. Google is notorious for penalizing websites that use shady SEO tactics, which is why we never risk it even for short-term gains.


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A Canadian man accused in a massive hack of Yahoo emails posed an "extremely high flight risk" in part due to his alleged ties to Russian intelligence agents, law enforcement officials allege in documents filed with an Ontario court.
In an application for Karim Baratov's arrest, U.S. authorities describe the 22-year-old Hamilton resident as an alleged "hacker-for-hire" paid by members of the Russian Federal Security Service, known as the FSB.
They argue in the documents that Baratov allegedly has the money to leave Canada and the ability to destroy evidence related to his alleged activities while on the run.
"Given the serious nature of his conduct, the public impact of his hacking-for-hire conduct, his substantial earnings as a result of the unlawful hacking, and his ties to foreign intelligence officers with nation state resources at their disposal, he should be arrested on an urgent basis and detained," the documents say.
"Even assuming that Baratov does not receive assistance from his known and unknown Russian government conspirators, he possesses the skills and financial resources to flee justice," the documents say, noting that Baratov does not appear to have any "legitimate employment."
Baratov, who is of Kazakh origins, was arrested under the extradition act in the community of Ancaster last Tuesday. U.S. authorities said on Wednesday that he and three others — two of them allegedly officers of the FSB — were indicted for computer hacking, economic espionage and other crimes.
Baratov's lawyer, Amedeo Dicarlo, has said the allegations against his client are unfounded.
Baratov appeared briefly in a Hamilton court by video link on Friday. A bail hearing has been scheduled for April 5.
Dicarlo said he will seek to have Baratov released and plans to fight an extradition order. He declined to discuss Baratov's personal or professional life, describing him only as a successful entrepreneur.
In documents filed with the Hamilton court, U.S. authorities warned that if Baratov found out about the warrant for his arrest before it could be carried out, he may attempt to flee.
They pointed to the case of one of Baratov's alleged co-conspirators, Alexsey Belan, who was previously arrested for another matter in Greece in 2013 and was to be extradited to the United States.
Belan was released on bail while waiting for his extradition hearing and "promptly" fled to Russia, where he "benefited from the protection afforded by Russian government officials," according to the documents.
"Belan has been able to continue his crimes — namely, providing hacking services to the Russian government and victimizing hundreds of millions of innocent third-parties for, in some instances, private financial gain," the documents said.
Belan had previously been indicted in 2012 and 2013 and was named one of FBI's most wanted cyber-criminals in November 2013.
Indicted along with Baratov in the alleged conspiracy that authorities said began in January 2014 were Dmitry Aleksandrovich Dokuchaev, 33, and Igor Anatolyevich Sushchin, 43, who U.S. authorities describe as Russian intelligence agents who allegedly masterminded and directed the hacking.
Dokuchaev and Sushchin allegedly tasked Baratov with hacking more than 80 accounts in exchange for commissions, U.S. authorities have said.
The application for Baratov's arrest shines further light on how authorities believe the alleged hacking scheme operated.
Google records indicate Baratov used "spear phishing" messages designed to look like emails from trustworthy senders so recipients were "lured into opening attached files or clicking on hyperlinks in the messages and into providing valid login credentials for their accounts," the application alleges.
Baratov would then allegedly email Dokuchaev screenshots of the successfully hacked email accounts and demand payment before handing over the login information, it says.
U.S. authorities alleged the payments were made to various online accounts including a PayPal account that was registered to Baratov from an IP address traced to his home and linked to a bank account under his name. The documents said nearly $212,000 was paid to that account between early 2013 and late 2016, though not all would have come from the alleged conspiracy.
An affidavit from a Toronto police officer included in the application and filed with the court alleged Baratov had hacked thousands of other accounts outside of the Yahoo-related allegations and noted that "current websites advertise Baratov's hacking services."
Baratov appeared to live a lavish lifestyle, which he documented on public social media accounts such as Instagram, posting photos of luxury cars and money.
Nicole Thompson and Paola Loriggio, The Canadian Press

subset: commoncrawl


text:
ypmatch - print the value of one or more keys from a NIS map
ypmatch [-k] [-t] [-d domain] key [key]... mname
ypmatch -x
ypmatch prints the values associated with one or more keys from the NIS's name services map specified by mname, which may be either a map name or a map nickname.
Multiple keys can be specified; all keys will be searched for in the same map. The keys must be the same case and length. No pattern matching is available. If a key is not matched, a diagnostic message is produced.
The following options are supported:
Before printing the value of a key, print the key itself, followed by a colon (:).
Inhibit map nickname translation.
Specify a domain other than the default domain.
Display the map nickname table. This lists the nicknames the command knows of, and indicates the map name associated with each nickname.
The following operand is supported:
The NIS's name services map
The following exit values are returned:
Successful operation.
An error occurred.
See attributes(7) for descriptions of the following attributes:
ypcat(1), ypfiles(5), attributes(7)
ypmatch will fail with an RPC error message on yp operation if enough file descriptors are not available. The number of file descriptors should be increased if this occurs.


text:
|Material& Specification
|plastic&new design assorted colors compass ,12.5cm (Length)
|Opp bag, Blister card, PVC Box, Metal Box
|customized or adopt our standard color
|Multiple color as per your requirement
|DEKOPEKO or customized
|Free sample
|Payment Terms:
|TT/PayPal/Western Union/LC
|30% deposit in advance and the balance should be paid against the B/L
|1 pc/opp, 50 pcs/ inner box, 1000 pcs/ carton.
Could be packed as per your request
|Fedex, DHL, UPS, by sea, by air
|smoothly ,high quality, innovative design
1.When can I get the price ?
24hours after we get your inquiry
If you are very urgent tot get the price,please call us at 0086-13566398882 ,contact name: Holly Xu
2.How can I get a sample to check your quality?
After price confirmation,you can require for samples to check our quality
If you just need a blank sample to check the quality,we will provide you sample for free,as long as you afford the sample freight
If you need printed samples,we will charge you only the real sample making cost
3.Can you do the design for us ?
Yes,we have a professional team having rich experience in stationery designs from logo,artwork,package to product.
4.How long can I expect to get the sample?
After you pay the sample charge and send us confirmed files,the samples will be ready for delivery in 7-10days
The samples will be sent to you via express and arrive in 3-5 days
You can use your own express account or prepay us if you do not have an account
5.What about the lead time for mass production?
It depends on the order quantity and the season when you place the order
Generally speaking,production lead time is within 4-6 weeks.
6.What is your terms of delivery?
We accept EXW, FOB, CFR, CIF, DDU, DDP, etc.You can choose the one which is the most convenient or cost effective for you.
Why choose us:
Reason 1:
Reliability –20 years stationery export Experience gained high reputation in the stationery field
Reason 2:
Quality guarantee–Well established products quality management system ,2 years warantee
Reason 3:
Product innovation– new products recommendation consistantly
Reason 4 :
Price Competitiveness–Enjoying the 5% of the cost
Reason 5:
Partnership with supplier –Stable and qualified supplier network
Reason 6:
Integrated service—
6.1 24 hours quotation offer
6.2 2 days special pakcing design offer
6.3 products delivery on time
6.4 one stop purchase from stationery to office stationery
6.5 profession and skilled languae make your communication is easily and smoothly
Ningbo BRT, one of the leading manufacturers and suppliers of school stationery in China, now brings you innovative and practical assorted colors compass at cheap price which comes in a variety of colors, designs and sizes. With consummate crafts and advanced equipment, our factory can offer you assorted colors compass wholesale service.
WhatsApp us


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Productivity and concentration are two very important words to someone who writes code for a living. There is a wide variety of tools, methodologies, tricks and "hacks" out there that claim to help one improve in these areas. One such technique that I've adopted over the past couple of months is known as the "Pomodoro".
The Pomodoro Technique was developed by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980's and is easily summed up in a few simple rules. It encourages you to accomplish more in a short intensely focused sprint called a "pomodoro". Between these sprints you take short breaks to avoid mental fatigue and maintain creative freshness. A full pomodoro cycle goes like this
There is more you can do with it as well like marking the beginning of each pomodoro in your list so you get better estimating how much you can accomplish in each cycle but that is the technique in a nutshell. 25 minutes is the default if you feel you stay in the groove longer, you certainly could tailor the sprint and break periods to fit your creative workflow. Just don't go too long. The point of the pomodoro is to reduce mental fatigue.
In my practice of the technique I've been using the standard 25/5-minute pomodoro/break periods for 3 or 4 cycles between the longer breaks. Breaking the task at hand down to a granular level with a strict path I feel has really boosted my focus and productivity. For many professions and for programming in particular it is fairly easy to be actively working for extended periods of time but still not accomplish what you set out to do.
While working on a feature you may notice a small bug in a nearby piece of the application. Once that bug is dealt with you receive an urgent email about another project or feature. By the time those are dealt with you've lost the half-implemented solution you were playing around with in your head for that initial problem. The pomodoro technique encourages you to stay on the path you set out on. When a work-related "distraction" comes up (like the bug or email mentioned above), make note of it but return to the list once it is written down. That way when you are done with the pomodoro you can prioritize it and put it into the queue for the next pomodoro. The goal is to have accomplished the most important tasks you needed to do by the end of the day, versus touching upon multiple issues that ultimately remain incomplete.
This technique is definitely not for everyone. I think that it is best utilized when you are working independently (solo or as a pair) for 2-4 hour blocks of the day. If your task at hand or work environment is highly collaborative it can actually hinder the team as a whole. If a team member is at a roadblock it does more harm than good if you are constantly telling them "Please sit on your hands for 17 minutes while I finish this pomodoro." Also, for some people the underlying principles that make the pomodoro technique useful just seem to come naturally. So I do not think that this should be enforced upon an entire organization or used strictly for 100% of someone's work week.
Many programmers, myself included, are intrigued by problems and feel a strong urge to instantly dive into them as they appear. I think the Pomodoro Technique is a great way to help channel our innate curiosity and solve the most important problems of our work day.
I'm curious if any other Hawaii programmers use this or other time management techniques.
More Pomodoro Links:
Views: 3245
What is the rule for communicating with someone who is pomodoroing? Is it allowed?
Interesting! I'll endeavor not to interrupt you when you are pomodoroing :-)
Hmm...this seems to beat my drink coffee and work until exhausted and then drink more coffee method.
© 2023 Created by Daniel Leuck. Powered by


text:
SAN ANTONIO – These days Bill Fitch gets a special kick out of tuning into postgame news conferences and hearing players say they won't really know what happened in the game they just played until they look at the video.
That's because Fitch was sometimes mockingly called "Captain Video" in the early part of his 25-year NBA coaching career for using videotape to analyze opponents and scout talent.
But what was once a joke became a standard and integral part of the game, making Fitch a pioneer. That, along with his 944 career wins and penchant for turning bad teams around, has earned him the 2013 Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Basketball Coaches Association. He received the award Tuesday in a presentation prior to Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
"To be honest, I never really thought being known as Capt. Video was a bad deal," Fitch said. "Other people could laugh and tease all they wanted. The truth is I was glad to that nobody else was doing it, because I thought it always gave our teams a big advantage.
"If you could see my closet today, it's crammed full from floor to ceiling with old tapes and now with DVDs and I'm still doing film for different people. I still love the competition and the strategy."
Fitch ranks eighth on the all-time win list and his 2,050 games coached is third. He is a two-time Coach of the Year winner (Cleveland in 1976 and Boston in 1980), led the Celtics to the NBA championship in 1981and, after moving to Houston, took the Rockets to The Finals in 1986. He was also named one of the NBA's top 10 coaches of all-time in 1996-97.
The NBCA Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award commemorates the memory of the Hall of Fame coach who won a pair of championships with the Pistons in 1989 and 1990 and led the 1992 USA Dream Team to the gold medal at the Barcelona Olympics.
"I've always said that being a coach made me able to live a life where I never, ever felt like I had a job," Fitch said. "Honest, it wasn't about the money. It was about the feeling that I was never working, because I was doing something that I loved. It was about the competition all those relationships that were built.
"I guess what this means is that I'm 81 and going the wrong way. But seriously, anytime you get an honor from your peers it means a lot more. I'm humbled by it. It's always great to be recognized by the guys you worked with or against. Coaching is the biggest fraternity there is and I've always felt like I've had more brothers than I could count.
"Chuck especially was a great friend and to get an award named after him makes me immediately think of all the experiences and stories we shared, some of them that could even be printed."
Fitch recalled working a basketball camp once in Michigan when Daly sprung a surprise that he had wrangled a couple of tee times at the course where the U.S. Open would be played in a few weeks.
"Chuck kept telling me, 'Don't talk so long today. We gotta be on time,' " Fitch recalled. "When we finally rushed up there and got ready to play, I told Chuck that I had forgotten my golf shoes. So he gave me a pair of his and I went out and whipped him wearing his own shoes. I never gave them back and he never let me forget it. That's how the relationships work."
Fitch has been a mentor to a stable of NBA coaches, including Danny Ainge, Butch Beard, Jim Brewer, Larry Bird, Rick Carlisle, Don Chaney, Lester Conner, Bob Hill, Lionel Hollins, Eddie Jordan, Kevin McHale, Flip Saunders, Reggie Theus and Lenny Wilkens. Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson played for Fitch in the college ranks.
"I had the privilege of being coached by Bill Fitch when I was a part of his team at the University of North Dakota," Jackson said. "He was a great coach and teacher then carried these traits to a great NBA career."
"Bill Fitch coached me to my first championship, a thrill I will never forget," said the Hall of Famer Bird. "He is so deserving of this highest honor in memory of Chuck Daly."
While he was celebrated for teaming with the rookie Bird to turn the 29-53 Celtics into a 61-21 team that made the 1980 East finals and a championship club the next season, it was that Fitch's first NBA experience, in Cleveland, that probably has the strongest hold.
Having ushered the expansion franchise into the league with a 15-67 record in 1970-71, five seasons later, Fitch and the Cavaliers went on a ride that became known as "The Miracle of Richfield."
With a team that featured Austin Carr, Jim Chones, Campy Russell, Nate Thurmond, Bingo Smith, Jim Cleamons, Dick Snyder and Foots Walker, the Cavs compiled a 49-33 record and won the Central Division. The Cavs made the playoffs for the first time and knocked off the defending Eastern Conference-champion Bullets in the conference semifinals when Snyder nailed a jumper with four seconds left in Game 7.
An injury kept Chones out of the Eastern Conference finals and the Cavs lost to Boston in six games. Yet "The Miracle of Richfield" lived on as the Cavs did not win another playoff series until 1992.
"You've got to start out by saying that you have to like any team that Bird was on," Fitch said. "But your first-born is special and what we did that year in Cleveland still lives with the people who were there to see it.
"I really wouldn't want to choose between those two teams if you forced me. But you know what? There was something to like about every one of those other teams, too."
After Fitch watches the Spurs and Heat play Game 3 from courtside, he'll get back home to watch it again and again, breaking down plays, analyzing defenses, gleaning little bits of information that will help another coach.
The machines and the technology may have changed, but not Capt. Video.
via www.nba.com


text:
Etna Rosso – A Sicilian Red Wine that Never Fails to Please
Etna Rosso was all the rage throughout the wine world even before HBO's White Lotus turned all eyes on Sicily. Though even the average consumer became curious about these Sicilian…
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One thing I've noticed in the difference between my daughter Jo's cooking style and mine, is that she likes to cook in themes. Now I've made Indian feasts and other ethnic meals, but only as a big production, spending at least 1-2 days in production - certainly not for a "weekday dinner". And of course, I mix various cultures all the time, but I rarely actually think about a specific geographic area when planning "regular" meals.
This was a tag team event which started out when Jo decided to do a Thai meal one night (it would have been last night but the mango I bought - ripest I could find - will not be ready until the weekend) and Mexican the next. Her idea was (and a meal she makes often) is some refried beans, some rice and fried tortillas. It's food she and her husband love and especially enjoyed when they were in Mexico. I, on the other hand am not a huge fan, although I do love quesadillas, I'm not sure if the ones I make are authentic. There is one truly Mexican dish I adore though - Mole de Pollo (chicken stewed in a rich, spicy, chocolate gravy). I first had it on my honeymoon in Mexico and I drool every time I think about it. Shockingly, Jo had never tried it. "Impossible, you were in Mexico and never tried this very chocolatey stew?" Now, truth to tell, I've never made it myself but I was definitely up to the challenge if she would whip up her usual dishes.
I found a gazillion mole recipes on the internet, and settled for a Mole Colorado de Pollo on RecipeBazaar. I didn't find the requisite dried ancho chilies (I have some in my pantry back home, but that doesn't help me here) so I used some chipotle chili in adobo sauce. Not knowing the difference in taste and heat of various peppers, I'm not sure if that changed the dish. It didn't turn out quite as rich or dark a flavor as I remembered, but it was very tasty, none the less. While I was making the chicken (with the excellent assistance of her friend J) and some Jalapeno Cornbread, she whipped up the beans and rice and fried some tortillas to dip in some store bought salsa. I couldn't watch how she was preparing everything, but she promises to give me her recipes for quick versions and when she does, I'll include them here.
Mole Colorado de Pollo (Red Chicken Mole)
Refried Beans
Mexican-style Rice
Fried Corn Tortillas & Salsa
As for Kalyn's Weekend Herb Blogging Event, (I hope you get your water thawed soon) which is being hosted by Ed at Tomato this week, I can assure you that lots of cilantro got sprinkled on everything for both color and flavor. The chicken, in addition to lots of spice had oregano and thyme too.
Now I wonder what country we'll cover for our next meal......
Related links: Food and Drink recipes Weekend Herb Blogging menu chicken beans rice bread


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Article Text
Objectives Women who are contemplating any form of female genital cosmetic surgery (FGCS) are likely to seek information from provider websites. The aim of this study is to examine the breadth, depth and quality of clinical information communicated to women on 10 popular sites and to discuss the implications of the results.
Methods The content of online advertisement from 10 private providers that offer FGCS procedures was examined according to 16 information categories relating to indications for surgery, types of procedure, risks and benefits.
Results FGCS procedures were presented on all of the provider websites as an effective treatment for genital appearance concerns. No explanation for presenting clinical complaints was found. There was scanty reference to appearance diversity. Only minimal scientific information on outcomes or risks could be identified. There was no mention of potential alternative ways for managing appearance concerns or body dissatisfaction.
Conclusions The quality and quantity of clinical information in FGCS provider sites is poor, with erroneous information in some instances. Impeccable professionalism and ethical integrity is crucial for this controversial practice. Clear and detailed guidelines on how to raise the standard of information to women on all aspects of FGCS are urgently needed.
- Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
- Qualitative Research
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial License, which permits use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non commercial and is otherwise in compliance with the license. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/ and http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/legalcode.
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Article summary
Article focus
A content analysis of the clinical information in web-based advertisements for female genital cosmetic surgery (FGCS), focusing on 10 easily accessed provider websites.
Key messages
No lower age limit is stated for any of the elective procedures.
Information pertaining to the unknowns and to the anecdotal nature of clinical claims is missing.
Numerous labels pertaining perhaps to similar procedures may confuse consumers.
Strengths and limitations of this study
This is the first study to methodically examine the quality of information offered by FGCS providers. In using a single search engine (Google) and a single popular search term (designer vagina), the report provides only an initial snapshot of the online exposure that women and girls worried about their genital characteristics may access via provider sites.
A variety of operations to alter vulval morphology in the absence of medical indications is currently offered1 and easily accessed in the private sector. Female genital cosmetic surgery (FGCS) encompasses numerous surgical procedures including hymenoplasty, labiaplasty, 'G-spot' amplification and vaginal 'rejuvenation'. In 2007, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists became sufficiently concerned to issue a statement to practitioners warning that 'these procedures are not medically indicated and the safety and effectiveness of these procedures have not been documented'.1 The level of clinical debate is reflected in the rising number of commentaries and discussion papers that can be identified in the medical literature.2 The bioethics of medical marketing of cosmetic surgery are increasingly the subject of scholarly analysis in non-medical humanities literatures.3 Public concerns are reflected in social and artistic projects in popular culture to counter negative stereotypes of the natural vulva.4–6
Various reasons have been put forward to explain this new cultural phenomenon in which medicine is deeply implicated. One important potential reason is direct marketing to consumers rather than via referrals by health professionals.3 ,7 ,8 In our digital age, such marketing will rely heavily on the internet. Women and girls seeking surgery to alter the appearance of their labia often report having visited such sites for information.9 To date, there has been scant attention paid to information contained in medical provider advertisements for FGCS. A previous analysis explored the use of language and photographs to pathologise genital variance in online advertisements and concluded that the sites employed a range of medical, psychological and sexual truth-claims.10
Thus far, there has been no medical scrutiny of the quantity and quality of the clinical information on what is after all elective surgery with known risks. Even cosmetic surgeons themselves have drawn parallels between the practice and the 'old Wild Wild West: wide open and unregulated'.11 The purpose of this study is to describe how FGCS procedures are represented in medical services websites by examining the accuracy of the medical information provided.
Websites offering FGCS were identified using the popular search engine 'Google' (http://www.google.com).12 Google was chosen as it is consistently ranked as the most popular search engine. In addition, women attending our clinic with labial concerns frequently cite Google as their first choice for seeking information online. The term 'designer vagina' was entered into the search engine, because it is a familiar (if erroneous) term in popular culture. The first five UK13–17 and five US18–22 providers to appear in the search results were included in the study. The only criteria for inclusion were that providers had to offer at least one form of FGCS in either the UK or the USA. There were no exclusion criteria. Ethical approval was not required.
Sixteen information categories were predeveloped by the two senior authors (LML and SMC) for analysing the content of the information, building from the 'Questions to Ask the Surgeon' section of the NHS Choices website.23 A key criticism of FGCS has been its status as a non-evidence-based practice; therefore, additional information categories included immediate and long-term potential clinical effectiveness and adverse events. The 16 categories for analysis are given in table 1 with an explanation for each.
Each website was initially evaluated by one of the authors (NT) to confirm suitability for inclusion and to identify and collect information relevant to each category. All websites were then assessed independently by the two senior authors. Ambiguities or disagreement were resolved by discussion between all of the authors. SMC grouped the procedures into types of surgery.
In 5/10 sites, the term 'cosmetic gynaecology' described the range of services offered.13–15 ,19 ,21 Table 2 contains the listing of the 72 labelled procedures identified across the 10 websites. Non-standard terminology and missing technical descriptions render it impossible to decipher the exact number of types of procedures offered, for example, 'vulval reshaping', 'genital reshaping' and 'vulva and vagina rejuvenation'. Different terms may refer to the same procedure, for example, 'hymen repair', 'hymenoplasty', 'hymen reconstruction', and possibly 'revirgination'. The terms 'clitoral hood reduction' and 'prepuce reduction' are also likely to refer to the same technique. The 72 labels probably refer to seven main intervention types. One site uses the terms 'Wonder Woman' and 'Mommy Makeover' to describe women undergoing several simultaneous cosmetic procedures.22 The greatest proportion of text was devoted to labia minor reduction. Three sites used the term 'labial hypertrophy' as a reason to undergo this type of surgery.17 ,19 ,21
Table 3 is a summary of the main results. As far as indications for surgery are concerned, aesthetic concerns were mentioned in all of the websites. Aesthetic indications included: labial visibility under tight clothing, women 'made aware by their partner'16 of larger labia and women themselves 'being more aware of their labia owing to increased nudity in magazines and films'.20 In several sites, labial surgery was recommended to promote a 'youthful' vulval appearance.13 ,18 One site offered an explanation thus: 'a woman might have a face lift and look really young until she goes to bed and a partner can see the evidence of ageing there'.16 Surgery was recommended to make labia 'sleeker'20 and 'more appealing'.21 All of the websites claimed that surgery would improve vulval appearance. Three sites did mention that 'size and shape of labia do vary quite widely'15 ,17 ,20 and that the labia were 'not naturally symmetrical'20; however, surgery was recommended nevertheless. Hymenoplasty was recommended to 'improve the woman's hidden aesthetics'20 and to ensure that 'you should bleed on your wedding night and keep your head high'.16
Nine of the 10 websites mentioned physical indications for surgery and these included discomfort with certain types of clothing, discomfort during intercourse, difficulty with tampon insertion and chronic irritation. Reference to surgery to improve personal hygiene was identified in 3/1022 websites18–20 where longer labia were alleged to cause 'odour', yeast infections and possible recurrent urinary tract infections.18 Half of the websites also mentioned enhanced sexual pleasure,13–15 ,18 ,20 ,22 for example as a result of improved sexual confidence and reduced discomfort during sex. One site claimed that 'sensation may even be enhanced because of the new nerve endings and removal of the tissue'.18 One site stated that 'sexual gratification is directly related to the amount of frictional forces generated' (presumably for male partners during vaginal intercourse) and that such 'frictional forces' could be improved by laser vaginal rejuvenation;22 G-spot injection was claimed to 'revolutionise many women's sex lives'.13
Success rates of 95%19 and 100%16 ('all patients satisfied') were given in 2/10 websites, though there was no information on what constituted success and how the statistics were derived. The remaining eight sites gave no indication of success rates; one site21 claimed 'the best results worldwide' and that their surgeon 'has an excellent track record'. Social and psychological advantages were mentioned in all the 10 sites, for example, 'restoration of self-confidence and esteem'13 leading to better career prospects in advertising, sport and modelling13 as well as improving 'disharmony and resentment' in relationships.13 Surgery was said to allow the patient to 'feel like a real woman again'15 and was positioned as an expression of personal agency, as in 'ladies, you do NOT have to go on feeling this way'.18
All 10 sites mentioned risks to surgery. In 4/10 sites, the risks were not named, but an offer was made regarding a risk discussion with the surgeon prior to surgery.14–16 ,21 The remaining 6/10 sites gave lists of common surgical risks including haemorrhage and infection. These were usually described as uncommon claiming 'no complications or side effects with any of our patients' and 'pregnancy is associated with far more risk than these procedures'.18 Two sites mentioned scarring as a risk and 1/10 mentioned that 'surgery on the labia minor may alter the appearance of the clitoris in an undesirable way'.13 One site gave a rate of approximately 2% revision rate for vaginal operations.18 Revision rate was not mentioned for other operations or in any of the rest of the sites. Three sites mentioned 'botched labiaplasties' performed by other providers causing disfigurement16 and requiring revision,16 ,18 ,21 for example, 'we have seen many unfortunate examples of terrible scarred uneven results of labiaplasty from other physicians'.21 No site mentioned any postoperative dissatisfaction in any of their own patients. There was no reference to short-term and long-term outcomes of surgery based on actual data.
Six sites posted photographs before and after labiaplasty.13 ,18–22 In all cases, the 'before' pictures represented larger normal labia whereas all postoperative pictures showed a homogenised vulval appearance. Three sites gave positive personal testimonials, for example, 'Now I have such a sense of freedom. I'm no longer restricted by discomfort and can cycle 2 days running without feeling sore'.14
None of the 10 sites gave a lower age limit for surgery. One site did provide a consent form which the patient had to be over 18 to sign but did not state whether an adult can do this on the patient's behalf.22
This content analysis according to 16 information categories is the first ever attempt to methodically evaluate the quality of information offered by FGCS service providers. Although this is a snapshot analysis at a single time point of websites that may be regularly updated, it does offer a glimpse of what many women and girls are exposed to if they are worried about their genitals and/or are seeking interventions. Although there is certainly some positive information on the web for women with labial concerns,24 this can be more difficult to find and certainly does not feature in the most popular sites when enquiring about labial surgery.
A search based on one term and using one search engine is, of necessity, a basic evaluation and may mirror only the initial search performed by worried women (and probably girls). The advertisements accessed by individuals will differ. Given the secrecy surrounding labial concerns, women are likely to seek this information at home. Google displays advertisements based on previous websites viewed, as well as known interests and demographic details associated with a specific browser. Google states that they do not create categories or show advertisements based on sensitive topics which include health. It is unclear whether this would include cosmetic surgery websites. Despite these limitations, the similarity of information found on the websites analysed in this study would imply such information would be reproduced whichever websites women first came across.
Consumers looking at these sites may be confused by the myriad labels for the procedures and uncertain as to how to determine whether some of them are the same or different from each other. Labiaplasty may well be the most popular operation, in view of the relatively higher proportion of text devoted to the topic. The term 'labial hypertrophy' reflects a rhetorical claim, as it is not rooted in science. Despite an absence of increase in identifiable labial pathology, more and more articles have described new techniques for managing this supposed disease.
Most of the sites documented short-term risks such as infection and bleeding and some mentioned the possibility of revision. However, the risks were often minimised (eg, lower than pregnancy).18 The absence of evidence for clinical effectiveness was not only left out, but in combination the sites actually made scientifically inaccurate claims that the procedures were effective along physical, psychological, social and sexual parameters. To date, there are no well-planned long-term prospective studies on multiple long-term outcomes of FCGS procedures. Any claim alluding to clinical effectiveness is therefore unsubstantiated. A recent detailed qualitative analysis suggested that consumers may have unrealistic ideas about labiaplasty.25 In view of the how FGCS was presented in the 10 provider sites, this should not come as a surprise.
The absence of a lower age limit for any of the FGCS procedures is most disturbing of all. In the past 6 years, 343 labiaplasties were performed in the UK NHS on girls aged 14 or under.26 The indications for surgery in this group of children are unknown, but labial anomalies requiring surgical interventions are extremely rare. In addition, significant numbers of labiaplasties on girls under 18 years of age are reported in the medical literature with publications dwelling specifically on labial reductions in adolescents for hypertrophy or asymmetry of the labia minora.4 In a recent observational study of referral patterns, girls as young as 9 years with normal labia had presented for labiaplasty.27 The labia minora change as part of normal pubertal growth with development completed as the individual approaches adulthood. Given the fact that anatomy continues to change throughout the lifespan, the younger a girl begins her FGCS journey, the higher the number of lifetime operations and the greater and more multiple the risks.
The 'before' photographs echo the finding in a recent report that most women seeking labiaplasty have labial dimensions that fall within normal limits.11 Negative connotations for larger labia such as ugliness, odour and irritation are strongly implied in the advertisements. Such negative connotations may reinforce 'pudendal disgust'4 ,28 that is likely to encourage negative feelings towards the vulva. Negative thoughts and feelings can in turn exacerbate symptom experience and reporting. The 'after' photos promote a suspiciously narrow appearance norm, that is, a smooth-skinned vulva with invisible labia minora. Findings from this study echo previous concerns that these sites employ a variety of techniques which aim to 'educate' women about the surgical solutions to potentially unknown defects in their bodies.11
Physical discomfort such as chafing and irritation may be partly attributable to genital grooming and is, as already discussed, potentially exacerbated by negative thoughts and feelings about the vulva. The discomfort may be addressed by simple measures such as emollients, as opposed to surgery. It is well to remember that both men and women may experience genital discomfort, but only women are encouraged to have their external genitalia excised as a solution. Psychological complaints such as self-consciousness, anxiety and lack of sexual confidence are more appropriately addressed by psychological interventions. Providers should emphasise that healthy vulvas come in all shapes, sizes and colours, that all vulval appearances are compatible with psychological and sexual wellness, and that the majority of women do not choose to surgically alter their healthy vulva.
The psychological effects of exposure to the myriad elective procedures to the vulva would make an interesting focus for future studies. A woman who is somewhat self-conscious about her labia may suddenly discover her other vulval inadequacies, such as a lax vagina that is failing male partners with insufficient 'frictional forces'.21 The encouragement of such cultural stereotypes is unlikely to be helpful to women or men.
Provider websites are of course not the only contributors to online representations of the idealised or the demonised vulva. Women may be as likely to refer to pornography, blogs and forums for information and self-comparison. Nevertheless, this report highlights a certain degree of distortion to information provided by medical practitioners, in an area that is imbued with value judgement. Current measures taken by professional bodies to provide guidance seem ineffectual.29 It is surely preferable for medical authorities to professionally govern medical practices than to risk external interventions, for example by the Advertising Standards Authority.
This study is an initial clinical evaluation of online advertisement for FGCS. While the 10 websites analysed are small in number, the findings offer useful glimpses into the quality of information for the potential consumer and have implications for clinical standards. The terminology used to describe the operations performed is confusing. Little information is given on short-term or long-term surgical risks either from individual clinics and their surgeons or from the medical literature. Unsubstantiated claims of physical, psychological and sexual benefits were present on every website. This report highlights significant gaps in the breadth, depth, accuracy and quality of clinical information given by some service providers of FGCS.
Contributors SMC and LML conceived and designed the study. NT performed initial search and data collection. SMC and LML assessed all websites. SMC, LML and NT contributed to writing the paper.
Funding None.
Competing interests None.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
Data sharing statement No further data are available.


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Bill Walsh College Football
Bill Walsh College Football is the first game in the EA Sports' NCAA Football games and the earliest one focusing on College Football across the USA. Using a modified engine of John Madden Football (Also known as Madden NFL when the NFL licensed was granted), it simulates a game of football with the College rules. The Sega Genesis was the original game, made in 1993. It was later ported to the Sega CD the same year and then to the Super NES in 1994.
Bill Walsh feature 24 teams from the 1992 season and 24 historical teams. Each match is played in four quarters of 10 minutes, each having a random weather condition. The current team compete against each other while the historical challenge themselves.
This video features a full match between Alabama VS. Miami
This match is played by two computer players.


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2008 GMC Yukon
Faced with rising gas prices and eco-protests, the market for full-size SUVs has seen better times. General Motors answers the call for better fuel economy with the 2008 GMC Yukon Hybrid. Equipped with the new two-mode hybrid system, the Yukon Hybrid gets an EPA-rated 21 mpg City, matching ratings with a four-cylinder Camry.
The entire GMC Yukon lineup was completely redesigned and re-engineered last year and carries into 2008 with few changes other than the addition of the Hybrid model. The Yukon rides on the same superb platform as the Chevy Suburban and Silverado.
Yukon offers power, space, and towing capacity. It can haul large loads of gear, it can survive repeated pounding over rugged terrain, it can pull heavy trailers, all while transporting four in luxurious comfort.
Inside, the Yukon features a simple, elegant dash that hints at aspirations for entry-luxury status. The Yukon is available with seating configurations for five to nine passengers. Seating in the first and second rows has plenty of room, but the third row is best left for kids and has to be removed for maximum cargo space.
Engine choices include four V8s. The popular 5.3-liter V8 engine provides plenty of power and has a system that shuts down half the cylinders under light loads to improve fuel economy. The Denali model's 6.2-liter V8 generates 380 horsepower and comes with a six-speed automatic, making it almost as fuel efficient as the 5.3-liter and one of the more powerful offerings in the class. The new Hybrid powertrain features a 6.0-liter V8 boosted by two electric motors. The Hybrid delivers 332 horsepower and fuel economy that rivals some sedans. The Yukon is rated to tow up to 8200 pounds when properly equipped, enough to tow cars, boats and horses; the Hybrid has less towing capacity.
Ride and handling characteristics are typical of large SUVs. The Yukon leans in turns and is not agile. The ride quality, on the other hand, is impressive, even with the Denali's available 20-inch polished wheels that add a touch of high fashion trendiness.
We found the new two-mode hybrid system worked seamlessly. The system uses two electric motors in GM's new Electrically Variable Transmission (EVT) that has four fixed gears. The EVT is mated to a 6.0-liter version of the 6.2-liter V8 that also has Active Fuel Management. Total output is 332 horsepower and 367 pound-feet of torque. One of the motors aids power at low speeds and the other lends a hand at highway speeds. With just a little throttle, the electric motor can propel the Yukon up to 30 mph. Get on it a little harder, and the gasoline engine kicks in just as smoothly as in any Toyota hybrid. Like other systems, the gasoline engine turns off at stoplights and restarts as soon as it's needed.
The better news is Hybrid fuel economy. With 2WD, the Yukon Hybrid is rated at 21 mpg in the city and 22 on the highway. With 4WD, those numbers are 20 city/20 highway. The 2WD city number matches that of the four-cylinder Toyota Camry, though the highway number is substantially less than the Camry's 31 mpg. While the Hybrid has considerably less towing capacity at 6000 pounds with 4WD and 6200 pounds with 2WD, that's still enough for the Hybrid to be used for many towing needs.
Model Lineup
The 2008 GMC Yukon lineup offers a choice of four different V8 engines. Four models are offered: SLE, SLT, Denali, and the new Hybrid. All are offered with 2WD or 4WD, except the Denali, which comes standard with all-wheel drive. The available four-wheel drive (4WD) is a full-time system that can be driven on dry pavement and has low-range gearing. The Denali's all-wheel-drive system lacks low-range gearing.
The GMC Yukon SLE 2WD ($34,790) comes with a 295-hp 4.8-liter V8 and a four-speed automatic transmission. The SLE 4WD ($38,590) comes with a 320-hp 5.3-liter V8 with Active Fuel Management and the four-speed automatic. Also available is the 5.3-liter V8 with AFM and E85 Flex-Fuel capability.
SLE models come standard with cloth upholstery; dual-zone manual climate control front and rear; six-way power driver's seat; leather-wrapped, tilt steering wheel with audio controls; AM/FM/CD/MP3, eight-speaker stereo with XM satellite radio; OnStar assistance with one year subscription; driver information center; power windows, cruise control, heated and foldable power mirrors; auto-dimming rearview mirror; 40/20/40 split front bench seat with manual recliners; 60/40 split folding second-row bench seat; automatic headlights; roof rails; side steps; locking rear differential; three power outlets; P265/70R17 all-season tires on bright aluminum wheels. A 3SB package for SLE ($1,965) and SLE 4WD ($975) adds the Flex-Fuel 5.3 V8 (2WD), front bucket seats, a power front passenger seat, a front center console, rear radio and climate controls, and fog lights. A Convenience Package ($765) has rear-obstacle detection, dual-zone automatic climate control, power-adjustable pedals and remote engine starting.
SLT 2WD ($38,990) and 4WD ($41,800) come standard with the 5.3-liter V8, but the 4WD model gets the Flex-Fuel version. SLT adds leather upholstery, front bucket seats, front center console, dual-zone automatic climate control with rear controls, six-disc CD changer, rear seat audio controls and outputs, universal garage door opener, fog lights, remote engine starting, front tow hooks. A 4SB option package for SLT ($4,100) adds heated, 12-way adjustable front seats with lumbar adjustment; power adjustable pedals; memory for the driver's seat and mirrors; a third-row two-passenger split folding bench seat; power-folding exterior mirrors with integrated turn signals, driver's side auto-dimming, and reverse tilting; and a roof rack.
Options include navigation ($2,250), rear-seat DVD entertainment ($1,295), sunroof ($995), rearview camera ($250) when the navigation system is ordered. The Sun, Entertainment and Destination package ($3790) includes a navigation system, rearview camera, rear DVD entertainment, and a sunroof. A Z71 Off-Road Suspension package for the 4WD SLT ($230) includes a heavy-duty air cleaner, skid plates, off-road suspension, 265/70R17 on/off-road tires and unique alloy wheels. The third-row seat comes in two forms: two-passenger ($360 SLE, $760 SLT) and three-passenger ($460 SLE, $860 SLT).
Also available: power liftgate ($400), roof rack cross bars ($45), power release for the second row seat ($425), heated second-row seats ($200), P275/55R20 tires on polished alloy wheels ($1,795), universal garage door opener ($105), nine-speaker Bose sound system ($495), six-disc CD changer ($300), power retractable running boards ($1,095) and remote starter ($175). Finally, by way of cold weather, towing and off-road options, but again only on some models, buyers can order one of two lower rear axle ratios ($100), an engine block heater ($75), a heavy duty transmission oil cooler ($95), a windshield washer fluid heater ($85), off-road skid plates ($150), and Autoride suspension with variable shocks and air-assisted rear load leveling ($1,120).
Denali ($48,250) has a 380-hp 6.2-liter V8 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift feature. It comes fully loaded, with a wood and leather-
The GMC Yukon and Yukon Denali feature clean lines with quiet, calm surface planes that minimize the look of extended length. Likewise, the smooth, gently contoured flanks and arrow-straight beltline visually lower the height. Remarkably tight tolerances between body panels invite comparisons with the highest quality imports.
The one-piece front end presents a friendly, welcoming face but without forfeiting the Yukon's presence. Large headlight housings promise good vision. The trademark grille and lower air intake ensure good breathing. A sharply raked windshield eases movement through the air.
Tall, symmetrical side glass fits flush with surrounding body panels. Door handles bridging deep recesses make for easy gripping in all seasons. Squared-off wheelwells carry forward a Yukon signature styling cue. They suggest trimming up with the available 20-inch wheels and tires, though that's not our choice from a driving and towing perspective.
At the rear, a broad, mostly flat, almost vertical tailgate resides between tall, narrow taillights. The independently hinged rear window is a nice touch, permitting easy loading of grocery bags and such.
The Yukon lineup was completely redesigned for 2007, and the Hybrid model was added for 2008.
The 2008 Yukon Hybrid has several styling cues that distinguish it from the other models. To reduce weight and drag, the front end features an aluminum hood, a lowered air dam, and a slightly larger grille opening. Openings that would house fog lights and tow hooks are blocked off. Along the sides, the running boards are reshaped for improved aerodynamics and the wheel flares are slightly reshaped. At the back, the rear pillars and center high-mounted stoplight have a unique shape, the tailgate is made of aluminum and has fixed glass, and LED taillights replace the standard bulbs. The wheels are more aero efficient and the tires have a lower rolling resistance. The spare tire and jack have been replaced by a tire inflation kit. The result is a 0.34 coefficient of drag and lighter weight. All of these measures add up and help improve fuel economy, if only by small amounts.
Interior Features
The Yukon interior design is clean and uncluttered. Elegantly simple, the instrument panel and center stack would look right at home in a luxury SUV. The Denali is richer still, with a wood and leather-wrapped steering wheel and darker wood trim than the other models.
We think the Yukon dashboard is a friendlier, slicker and more integrated assemblage of gauges, display screens, touch pads and control panels than those in either the Range Rover or the Mercedes-Benz GL450, both priced substantially higher than any Yukon, including the Denali. The GMC's gauge cluster is more informative, reporting via secondary analog gauges powertrain data others leave to warning lights or bury in scrollable information displays.
Leather surfaces feel expensive, if not luxurious. The fit between panels and coverings is impressive, with tight tolerances. Less impressive is the finish of some of the hard plastic surfaces, which look better than they feel. The headliner is a woven fabric that looks and feels like mouse fur.
The new-for-2008 Hybrid model has a unique gauge cluster with a special tachometer and an economy gauge. In the economy gauge is a green bar that represents a zone drivers can aim for to maximize fuel economy. The tachometer has an Auto Stop reading to indicate when the gasoline engine is shut off.
The Hybrid comes standard with a navigation system and a 6.5-inch screen that shows a graphic representation of the hybrid system's power flow. This screen shows if the power is coming from the electric motors, the gasoline engine, or both, plus when regenerative braking is charging the batteries. The system also shows if the vehicle is in two- or four-wheel-drive mode. It's fun to monitor these readouts; they help you learn about how the hybrid system works and show when it is being used for the best fuel economy. But care must be taken by the driver to not be distracted by them.
The design of the Yukon's dash gives the driver an expansive view out the windshield, adding to the feeling of being above it all. Visibility is good all around, though the imposing right side C-pillar (the post between the rear side door and the rear quarter panel) does nothing to reduce the large side mirrors' blind spot. Along the same lines, the third-row seat blocks the lower third of the rear window; folding the third row down eliminates this.
The front seats are refreshingly comfortable and easy to adjust. They offer good thigh support, which is sometimes lacking in GM vehicles. The available second-row captain's chairs offer good thigh support, as well. We're disappointed with the folding armrests, however; they have one setting, which won't fit every occupant. Some way to adjust the angle of these armrests would be welcome. The Hybrid model has thinner front seats that reduce weight and open up slightly more second-row knee room. We found them to be as comfortable as the standard seats.
Room for people is respectable and competitive with other full-size SUVs. In the front seat, the 2008 GMC Yukon bests the Ford Expedition, Nissan Armada, and Toyota Sequoia by several inches in all three dimensions, though all three have plenty of room. Bring your Stetson or Resistol.
In the second row, the Yukon trails the Expedition and Armada in headroom and legroom and betters them in hiproom, but by less than an inch in all regards; it also slightly trails the Sequoia in second-row headroom, but has slightly more hiproom and considerably more legroom. In other words, all large SUVs have a lot of second-row space and the Yukon is no exception. As for second-row access, the Yukon suffers from small-feet syndrome, where the clearance between the base of the second row seat and the doorframe is so cramped, it's impossible to step in or out without turning your foot sideways.
Third-row legroom is limited in the Yukon where we found little space for our feet and our knees wound up at chest level. The Expe
Driving Impressions
When it comes to trucks, numbers matter, arguably more than they do with cars. The most popular engine for the GMC Yukon is the 5.3-liter V8, which produces 320 horsepower and 340 pound-feet of torque. Our test Yukon was listed at 5677 pounds.
Examining these numbers should give a good idea of how a 5.3-liter Yukon will perform against the competition. By comparison, the 2008 Ford Expedition puts up a 5.4-liter V8 making 300 hp and 365 lb.-ft. of torque with a six-speed automatic and tips the scales at 5805 pounds. The 2008 Nissan Armada's 5.6-liter V8 makes 317 hp and 385 lb.-ft. of torque, mates to a five-speed automatic and carries a curb weight of 5593 pounds. Toyota's redesigned 2008 Sequoia is offered with a 5.7-liter V8 making 381 hp and 401 lb.-ft. of torque with a six-speed automatic and weighs 5730 pounds.
Note, however, that the Yukon's 5.3-liter engine comes with a four-speed automatic transmission, while many full-size SUVs now come with five-, six-, and seven-speed automatics. More gears generally means smoother operation, better fuel economy, quicker acceleration performance or all three. The Yukon's four-speed automatic negates any power advantage the Yukon might otherwise have enjoyed at least as far as outright acceleration is concerned. Put another way, while it'll easily hold its own on the interstates, the Yukon isn't going to win many stoplight races.
Not so, though, the Yukon Denali, which would leave its lesser sibling and most of the others in the dust were its driver so inclined. The Denali packs a 380-hp 6.2-liter V8 and six-speed automatic. It delivers willing power at any speed and makes the Denali feel like a much lighter vehicle.
Fuel economy is a much better story for the Yukon. EPA fuel economy numbers range from 14 mpg city and 19 highway for the 4.8 2WD and 5.3 4WD models to 14/20 for the 5.3 2WD to 12/18 for the AWD Denali with the 6.2 V8. The Yukon's Active Fuel Management system, which shuts down half of the engine's cylinders under light load helps the 2008 Yukon best the Expedition and Armada and run neck and neck with the new Sequoia.
In towing, the Yukon's 8200-pound rating trails all the competitors. Ford and Nissan rate their entries at a maximum of 9100 pounds, and the new Sequoia can tow up to 10,000 pounds. On the other hand, GM tends to be more conservative than other manufacturers with its tow ratings. Tow ratings have almost as much to do with lawyers and marketing professionals as they have to do with engineers.
Driving a Yukon is pleasant. Power comes on smoothly, with no surges or hiccups, and it is accompanied by a pleasant tone that reminds us of classic dual exhaust. Transitions effected by the fuel-management system are invisible, with the only indication a telltale in the information display in the tachometer. The four-speed automatic selects gears with little fanfare. The six-speed automatic in the Yukon Denali is even smoother; it also has a manual shift function managed by a rocker switch in the handgrip on the column shift lever.
We found the new two-mode hybrid system worked seamlessly. The system uses two electric motors in GM's new Electrically Variable Transmission (EVT) that has four fixed gears. The EVT is mated to a 6.0-liter version of the 6.2-liter V8 that also has Active Fuel Management. Total output is 332 horsepower and 367 pound-feet of torque. One of the motors aids power at low speeds and the other lends a hand at highway speeds. With just a little throttle, the electric motor can propel the Yukon up to 30 mph. Get on it a little harder, and the gasoline engine kicks in just as smoothly as in any Toyota hybrid. Like other systems, the gasoline engine turns off at stoplights and restarts as soon as it's needed.
The better news is Hybrid fuel economy. With 2WD, the Yukon Hybrid is rated at 21 mpg in the city and 22 on the highway. With 4WD, those numbers are 20 city/20 highway. The 2WD
The GMC Yukon has an astonishingly fresh and comfortable interior. It offers available power that meets or beats the competition, though it trails in towing capacity. The addition of the Hybrid model answers the fuel economy issue that has long plagued large SUVs. With all its strengths, the Yukon is a strong contender in its class.
NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent Tom Lankard drove Yukon models around Greensboro, Georgia, and Carmel Valley, California. Correspondent Kirk Bell contributed to this report from Chicago and tested the Hybrid.
|Model Line Overview
|Model lineup:
|GMC Yukon SLE 2WD ($34,790); Yukon SLE 4WD ($38,590); Yukon SLT 2WD ($38,990); Yukon SLT 4WD ($41,800); Yukon Denali ($48,250) Yukon Hybrid 2WD; Yukon Hybrid 4WD
|295-hp 4.8-liter V8; 320-hp 5.3-liter V8; 380-hp 6.2-liter V8; 332-hp 6.0-liter hybrid V8
|4-speed automatic; 6-speed automatic; Electrically Variable Transmission with four fixed gears
|Safety equipment (standard):
|dual-stage front airbags; full-coverage, side curtain airbags; second-row seat child safety seat anchors (LATCH); third-row seat child safety seat tethers; four-wheel antilock brakes with Dynamic Rear Proportioning; Stabilitrak stability control system; tire pressure monitoring system; OnStar emergency notification system with one-year pre-paid subscription
|Safety equipment (optional):
|rearview camera system; rear park assist
|Basic warranty:
|3 years/36,000 miles
|Assembled in:
|Arlington, Texas; Janesville, Wisconsin
|Specifications As Tested
|Model tested (MSPR):
|GMC Yukon SLE 4WD ($38,590)
|Standard equipment:
|cloth upholstery; AM/FM/CD/MP3, eight-speaker stereo with XM satellite radio; cruise control; driver information center; power doors, windows and mirrors; heated outside mirrors; six-way power driver's seat; leather-wrapped, tilt steering wheel with audio controls; auto-dimming rearview mirror; 40/20/40 split front bench seat with manual recliners; 60/40 split folding second-row bench seat; automatic headlights; roof rails; side steps; locking rear differential; three power outlets; P265/70R17 all-season tires on bright aluminum wheels
|Options as tested (MSPR):
|Convenience Package ($765) with rear-obstacle detection, dual-zone automatic climate control, power-adjustable pedals and remote engine starting; three-passenger third-row seat ($460); in-dash 6-disc CD changer ($300); roof rail cross bars ($45); off-road skid plates ($150)
|Destination charge:
|Gas guzzler tax:
|Price as tested (MSPR):
|four-wheel drive
|5.3-liter V8
|Horsepower (lb.-ft @ rpm):
|320 @ 5200
|Torque (lb.-ft @ rpm):
|340 @ 4200
|4-speed automatic
|EPA fuel economy, city/hwy:
|14/19 mpg
|116.0 in.
|202/79/77 in.
|Track, f/r:
|68.2/67 in.
|Turning circle:
|39.0 ft.
|Seating Capacity:
|Head/hip/leg room, f:
|41.1/64.4/41.3 in.
|Head/hip/leg room, m:
|39.2/60.6/39 in.
|Head/hip/leg room, r:
|37.9/49.1/25.6 in.
|Cargo volume:
|108.9 cu. ft.
|Towing capacity:
|8200 Lbs.
|Suspension, f:
|independent, coil over gas-pressurized shocks, stabilizer bar
|Suspension, r:
|solid axle, five-link, coil springs, gas-pressurized shocks, stabilizer bar
|Ground clearance:
|9.0 in.
|Curb weigth:
|5677 lbs.
|P265/60R17 all-season
|Brakes, f/r:
|disc/disc with ABS
|Fuel capacity:
|26 gal.
|Unless otherwise indicated, specifications refer to test vehicle. All prices are manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSPR) effective as of December 17, 2007.Prices do not include manufacturer's destination and delivery charges. N/A: Information not available or not applicable. Manufacturer Info Sources: 800-462-8782 - www.gmc.com
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