title: Radiofrequency ablation

text: Two important advantages of radio frequency current (over previously used low frequency AC or pulses of DC) are that it does not directly stimulate nerves or heart muscle and therefore can often be used without the need for general anesthesia, and that it is very specific for treating the desired tissue without significant collateral damage; due to this, it is gaining in popularity as an alternative for eligible patients who do not want to undergo surgery.


title: Radiofrequency ablation

text: Documented benefits have led to RFA becoming widely used during the 21st century. RFA procedures are performed under image guidance (such as X-ray screening, CT scan or ultrasound) by an interventional pain specialist (such as an anesthesiologist), interventional radiologist, otolaryngologists, a gastrointestinal or surgical endoscopist, or a cardiac electrophysiologist, a subspecialty of cardiologists.


title: Radiofrequency ablation

text: RFA may be performed to treat tumors in the lung, liver, kidney, and bone, as well as other body organs less commonly. Once the diagnosis of tumor is confirmed, a needle-like RFA probe is placed inside the tumor. The radiofrequency waves passing through the probe increase the temperature within tumor tissue, which results in destruction of the tumor. RFA can be used with small tumors, whether these arose within the organ (primary tumors) or spread to the organ (metastases). The suitability of RFA for a particular tumor depends on multiple factors.


title: Radiofrequency ablation

text: RFA can usually be administered as an outpatient procedure, though may at times require a brief hospital stay. RFA may be combined with locally delivered chemotherapy to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer). A method currently in phase III trials uses the low-level heat (hyperthermia) created by the RFA probe to trigger release of concentrated chemotherapeutic drugs from heat-sensitive liposomes in the margins around the ablated tissue as a treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


title: Radiofrequency ablation

text: RFA has become increasingly important in the care of benign bone tumors, most notably osteoid osteomas. Since the procedure was first introduced for the treatment of osteoid osteomas in the 1990s, it has been shown in numerous studies to be less invasive and expensive, to result in less bone destruction and to have equivalent safety and efficacy to surgical techniques, with 66 to 95% of people reporting freedom from symptoms. While initial success rates with RFA are high, symptom recurrence after RFA treatment has been reported, with some studies demonstrating a recurrence rate similar to that of surgical treatment. RFA is also increasingly used in the palliative treatment of painful metastatic bone disease in people who are not eligible or do not respond to traditional therapies ( i.e. radiation therapy, chemotherapy, palliative surgery, bisphosphonates or analgesic medications).


title: Radiofrequency ablation

text: Radiofrequency energy is used in heart tissue or normal parts to destroy abnormal electrical pathways that are contributing to a cardiac arrhythmia. It is used in recurrent atrial flutter (Afl), atrial fibrillation (AF), supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), atrial tachycardia, Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia (MAT) and some types of ventricular arrhythmia. The energy-emitting probe (electrode) is at the tip of a catheter which is placed into the heart, usually through a vein. This catheter is called the ablator. The practitioner first "maps" an area of the heart to locate the abnormal electrical activity (electrophysiology study) before the responsible tissue is eliminated. Ablation is now the standard treatment for SVT and typical atrial flutter and the technique can also be used in AF, either to block the atrioventricular node after implantation of a pacemaker or to block conduction within the left atrium, especially around the pulmonary veins. In some conditions, especially forms of intra-nodal re-entry (the most common type of SVT), also called atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia or AVNRT, ablation can also be accomplished by cryoablation (tissue freezing using a coolant which flows through the catheter) which avoids the risk of complete heart block – a potential complication of radiofrequency ablation in this condition. Recurrence rates with cryoablation are higher, though. Microwave ablation, where tissue is ablated by the microwave energy "cooking" the adjacent tissue, and ultrasonic ablation, creating a heating effect by mechanical vibration, or laser ablation have also been developed but are not in widespread use.


title: Radiofrequency ablation

text: A new indication for the use of radiofrequency technology has made news in the last few years. Hypertension is a very common condition, with about 1 billion people over the world, nearly 75 million in the US alone. Complications of inadequately controlled hypertension are many and have both individual and global impact. Treatment options include medications, diet, exercise, weight reduction and meditation. Inhibition of the neural impulses that are believed to cause or worsen hypertension has been tried for a few decades. Surgical sympathectomy has helped but not without significant side effects. Therefore, the introduction of non-surgical means of renal denervation using a radiofrequency ablation catheter was enthusiastically welcomed. Although the initial use of radiofrequency-generated heat to ablate nerve endings in the renal arteries to aid in management of 'resistant hypertension' were encouraging, the most recent phase 3 studying looking at catheter-based renal denervation for the treatment of resistant hypertension failed to show any significant reduction in systolic blood pressure.


title: Radiofrequency ablation

text: Radiofrequency ablation is a dermatosurgical procedure by using various forms of alternating current. Types of radiofrequency are electrosection, electrocoagulation, electrodessication and fulguration. The use of radiofrequency ablation has obtained importance as it can be used to treat most of the skin lesions with minimal side effects and complications.


title: Radiofrequency ablation

text: Radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive procedure used in the treatment of varicose veins. It is an alternative to the traditional stripping operation. Under ultrasound guidance, a radiofrequency catheter is inserted into the abnormal vein and the vessel treated with radio-energy, resulting in closure of the involved vein. Radiofrequency ablation is used to treat the great saphenous vein, the small saphenous vein, and the perforator veins. The latter are connecting veins that transport blood from the superficial veins to the deep veins. Branch varicose veins are then usually treated with other minimally invasive procedures, such as ambulatory phlebectomy, sclerotherapy, or foam sclerotherapy. Currently, the VNUS ClosureRFS stylet is the only device specifically cleared by FDA for endovenous ablation of perforator veins.


title: Radiofrequency ablation

text: The possibility of skin burn during the procedure is very small, because the large volumes (500 cc) of dilute Lidocaine (0.1%) tumescent anesthesia injected along the entire vein prior to the application of radiofrequency provide a heat sink that absorbs the heat created by the device. Early studies have shown a high success rate with low rates of complications.


title: Radiofrequency ablation

text: RFA was first studied in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in a pig model. RFA has been recognized as a somnoplasty treatment option in selected situations by the American Academy of Otolaryngology but was not endorsed for general use in the American College of Physicians guidelines.


title: Radiofrequency ablation

text: The clinical application of RFA in obstructive sleep apnea is reviewed in that main article, including controversies and potential advantages in selected medical situations.


title: Radiofrequency ablation

text: Unlike other electrosurgical devices, RFA allows very specific treatment targeting of the desired tissue with a precise line of demarcation that avoids collateral damage, which is crucial in the head and neck region due to its high density of major nerves and blood vessels. RFA also does not require high temperatures. However, overheating from misapplication of RFA can cause harmful effects such as coagulation on the surface of the electrode, boiling within tissue that can leave "a gaping hole", tears, or even charring.


title: Radiofrequency ablation

text: RFA, or rhizotomy, was developed by Nikolai Bogduk to treat chronic pain arising from the facet joints in the lower (lumbar) back. Radiofrequency waves are used to produce heat on specifically identified nerves surrounding the facet joints called the lumbar medial branches of the dorsal ramus of the spinal nerves. By generating heat around the nerve, the nerve is ablated, thus destroying its ability to transmit signals to the brain. The nerves to be ablated are identified through injections of local anesthesia (such as lidocaine) around the medial branches prior to the RFA procedure to first confirm the diagnosis. If the local anesthesia injections provide temporary pain relief, the injection is repeated a second time to confirm the diagnosis. Then RFA is performed on the nerve(s) that responded well to the injections. RFA is a minimally invasive procedure which can usually be done in day-surgery clinics, going home shortly after completion of the procedure. The person is awake during the procedure, so risks associated with general anesthesia are avoided.


title: Radiofrequency ablation

text: In April 2017, the US Food and Drug Administration approved a commercial device using cooled radiofrequency ablation, with effects lasting for up to a year of pain relief from knee arthritis. A review of preliminary clinical research indicated that better efficacy of ablation for knee pain was achieved by targeting the genicular nerve (one of the articular branches of the tibial nerve), targeting larger nerves including the femoral nerve, or by using an intra-articular procedure.


title: Radiofrequency ablation

text: Whether for back or knee pain, a drawback for this procedure is that nerves recover function over time, so the pain relief achieved lasts only temporarily (3–15 months) in most people.


title: Radiofrequency ablation

text: Radiofrequency ablation has been shown to be a safe and effective treatment for Barrett's esophagus. The balloon-based radiofrequency procedure was invented by Robert A. Ganz, Roger Stern and Brian Zelickson in 1999 (System and Method for Treating Abnormal Tissue in the Human Esophagus). While the person is sedated, a catheter is inserted into the esophagus and radiofrequency energy is delivered to the diseased tissue. This outpatient procedure typically lasts from fifteen to thirty minutes. Two months after the procedure, the physician performs an upper endoscopic examination to assess the esophagus for residual Barrett's esophagus. If any Barrett's esophagus is found, the disease can be treated with a focal RFA device. Between 80 and 90% or greater of people in numerous clinical trials have shown complete eradication of Barrett's esophagus in approximately two to three treatments with a favorable safety profile. The treatment of Barrett's esophagus by RFA is durable for up to 5 years.


title: Radiofrequency ablation

text: RFA is also used in radiofrequency lesioning, for vein closure in areas where intrusive surgery is contraindicated by trauma, and in liver resection to control bleeding (hemostasis) and facilitate the transection process.


title: Radiofrequency ablation

text: This process has also been used with success to treat TRAP sequence in multiple gestation pregnancies. This is becoming the leading method of treatment with a higher success rate for saving the 'pump' twin in recent studies than previous methods including laser photocoagulation. Due to the rarity of this complication, its correct diagnosis statistics are not yet reliable.


title: Radiofrequency ablation

text: RFA is used to treat uterine fibroids using the heat energy of radio frequency waves to ablate the fibroid tissue. The Acessa device obtained FDA approval in 2012 and is now on third-generation technology, the Acessa ProVu. The device is inserted via a laparoscopic probe and guided inside the fibroid tissue using an ultrasound probe. The heat shrinks the fibroids. Clinical data on the procedure shows an average of 45% shrinkage.


title: Radiofrequency ablation

text: RFA is also used in the treatment of Morton's neuroma where the outcome appears to be more reliable than alcohol injections.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: Jérôme Philippe Le Banner (; born December 26, 1972) is a French kickboxer, mixed martial artist, and professional wrestler. Le Banner fought for most of his career in K-1 and became known for his aggressive fighting style and knockout power. He is a 2-time K-1 World Grand Prix runner up, a 2-time K-1 Preliminary Grand Prix champion, and is a multiple time world champion in Kickboxing and Muay Thai. He holds notable victories over Ernesto Hoost (twice), Francisco Filho, Mark Hunt (three times), Sam Greco, Mike Bernardo (twice), Peter Aerts, Rick Roufus, Remy Bonjasky, Tyrone Spong, Stefan Leko (twice), Masaaki Satake, Maurice Smith, Gary Goodridge (twice), Musashi (twice), Cyril Abidi and Choi Hong-man (twice).


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: Jérôme Le Banner was born in the French city of Le Havre, in the "région" of Normandy and began training in judo at the age of five. When he was fourteen, Bruce Lee's "Fist of Fury" influenced him so much that he became interested in striking instead and started trying to incorporate the techniques of Jeet Kune Do he had seen in the film. At sixteen however he started practising kyokushin, while Jeet Kune Do gave him the southpaw stance which he has maintained throughout his career, even though he is right-handed. He eventually took up Muay Thai at the age of 18. Le Banner holds a black belt in the Kyokushin Kaikan karate and in judo.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: At the age of 18, he debuted in his first full contact kickboxing competitions. By 19 he held the ISKA French title and soon after that, he won the European belt against Andy Mayo, and the Intercontinental belt in South Africa against Mike Bernardo. He turned down the chance to fight Richard Vince for the IKL World Kickboxing title at the age of 21.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: On March 3, 1995, Jerome Le Banner made his K-1 debut, winning a five-round decision over Nokweed Davy. Le Banner was at 107 kg while Nokweed was at 74 kg. Two months later, on May 4, 1995 he made his first K-1 World Grand Prix appearance in Tokyo, Japan, knocking out both Masaaki Satake and Mike Bernardo, before losing to Peter Aerts in the tournament finals.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: After the 1995 K-1 GP, Le Banner was drafted by the French Army, and also had trouble with his trainer so he could not train for a year. His conscription ended in April 1996. He also hired a new trainer.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: On June 1, 1996 in Paris, Le Banner won the ISKA Muay Thai World Super Heavyweight Championship against Curtis Schuster.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: During 1997 Le Banner had trouble with his trainer again. As a result, Le Banner contracted former Christophe Tiozzo's promoter Jean-Christophe Courrèges. In 1998, Le Banner contracted boxing promoter Don King and well-known boxing trainer Don Turner. He was training with Evander Holyfield.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: On July 18, K-1 DREAM '98, Le Banner fought against Sam Greco. Le Banner was knocked down in the first round but managed to knock Greco out in the second round.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: On September 19, Le Banner fought in Evander Holyfield vs Vaughn Bean's undercard. Le Banner beat Espedito da Silva via first-round knockout by high kick, to become WKN Muay Thai world super heavyweight champion.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: Le Banner's pro boxing record was 6 fights, 6 wins, 5 KOs, 1 win by DQ. He was supposed to fight under boxing rules in the Madison Square Garden on February and March 1999, but had trouble with Don King about his contract so these matches were cancelled by King.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: Le Banner could not fight both kickboxing and boxing due to contract problems. In 1999, K-1 producer Kazuyoshi Ishii solved his contract problem so that he could return to K-1.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: On October 3, K-1 World Grand Prix '99 Opening Round, Le Banner fought against Matt Skelton. Skelton became pro boxing WBA world Heavyweight title contender, WBO world Heavyweight number 5 contender. Skelton had never been knocked down by punches in his fighting career but Le Banner dominated Skelton with his boxing skills and knocked out Skelton in the first round.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: On December 5, at the Tokyo Dome, K-1 Grand Prix '99 Final Round, Le Banner fought against three-time defending K-1 GP champion Peter Aerts in the Quarter Final. Le Banner wanted to have Aerts as his opponent in the tournament draw. Le Banner was knocked down by Aerts's high kick but managed to knock out Aerts by left hook at 1:11 of the first round. In the semifinal, Le Banner fought Ernesto Hoost. Le Banner dominated Hoost in the first round but lost by KO in the second round.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: On April 23, 2000 at K-1 The Millennium, Le Banner fought against Kyokushin World Open Karate Tournament 1999 champion Francisco Filho. Just 1 year before from this match, Filho had beat 1999 K-1 GP champion Ernesto Hoost by knockout. But Le Banner knocked out Filho unconscious with a left straight punch in the first round. This knock out is called "The biggest KO of this thousand years" (or the Millennium KO) by the ringside announcers and Japanese media. Le Banner's left arm and left punch have been called the "Golden Left" since this match.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: On July 30, Le Banner beat Mark Hunt, Nicholas Pettas and Ernesto Hoost, to become K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 in Nagoya tournament Champion. But he was not able to fight in K-1 World Grand Prix 2000 Final due to illness from Infectious mononucleosis.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: On April 29, 2001, Le Banner won the K-1 World Grand Prix tournament by three first-round KOs, the fastest win in K-1 history in a total time of 4 minutes and 4 seconds in K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 in Osaka.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: On December 8, Le Banner lost to Mark Hunt by KO in K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 Final Quarter Finals. The match is one of the biggest upsets ever in K-1. After this event, Japanese combat sports magazine SRS-DX published a picture of the moment Hunt hit Le Banner's face with an elbow; however, this didn't change the match's result into disqualification.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: On May 25, 2002, Le Banner fought Mark Hunt at K-1 World Grand Prix 2002 in Paris in a rubber match. In the 2nd round, first Hunt was knocked down by Le Banner's counterpunch. Le Banner was also knocked down. In the last 5 seconds of the 2nd round Le Banner knocked down Hunt with a high kick, winning by TKO.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: On December 7, 2002 at K-1 World Grand Prix 2002, after defeating Musashi in the quarterfinals, and Mark Hunt in the semis, Le Banner faced three-time World Champion Ernesto Hoost in the tournament final. Following an evenly fought first two rounds, Hoost fractured Le Banner's left arm with three round kicks in the third round. This match was stopped by 3-knock down rule. Referee Nobuaki Kakuda was severely criticized that he didn't stop the match or ask a doctor to check LeBanner when he was first knocked down. Le Banner suffered a near career-ending injury (a steel rod and eleven pins were inserted into his arm).


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: Le Banner was able to recover and returned to the ring six months later in K-1 Paris 2003, winning the fight by punch combinations over Belarusian Vitali Akhramenko.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: On May 13, 2006, at K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 in Amsterdam, Le Banner fought against two-time K-1 world GP champion Remy Bonjasky. The fight was rather controversial as Bonjasky won the fight in a majority decision by all Dutch judges despite being dominated in this fight. On June 30, 2006, K-1 judges admitted the decision was a mistake, and this match's result was officially changed to "Le Banner defeated Bonjasky by unanimous decision (30–29)".


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: In 2006, Le Banner announced that he hoped to fight against then UFC heavyweight world champion Tim Sylvia under UFC rules.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: On December 2, 2006, after his loss against Semmy Schilt at K-1 World Grand Prix 2006 finals, Le Banner announced he was considering his semi retirement from tournament fighting, restricting future appearances to K-1's Superfight events.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: In early 2007, after his fight at K-1 World GP 2007 in Yokohama he was forced to have knee surgery and was not expected to return to the ring until 2008; however due to a fast recovery K-1 announced that Le Banner would participate on September 29, 2007 at the K-1 World GP 2007 in Seoul Final 16 against Russian kickboxer Ruslan Karaev. Just two days before the fight, Karaev had to pull out and was replaced by a former Korean Taekwondo practitioner, Yong Soo Park. It took Le Banner only 0'54" seconds to knock out Park in the first round with a straight punch and qualify himself for the K-1 World GP 2007 Final held on December 8, 2007 held at the Yokohama Arena, Japan.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: On December 8, 2007, in the ninth K-1 World GP appearance of his career, Le Banner defeated Choi Hong-man in the quarter-finals by unanimous decision before facing the reigning K-1 champion Semmy Schilt in the semis. Le Banner finished the first round up on scorecards. In the beginning of the second round Schilt landed a low kick that seemed to hurt Le Banner's right knee, on which he had surgery in early 2007. The fight was eventually stopped by Le Banner's corner throwing the towel to avoid further damage to the injured knee.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: Jerome fought Schilt again at the K-1 World GP 2008 in Fukuoka for the K-1 Super-Heavyweight title. Jerome ended up losing a controversial majority decision.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: As a finalist Jerome fought at the K-1 World GP 2008 Final 16 against the young Japanese fighter, Junichi Sawayashiki. Although Jerome was unable to knock the young fighter out, he won a unanimous decision. At the Finals Jerome lost by TKO to the eventual champion Remy Bonjasky when the previously broken left arm was troubling him again.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: On September 26 Jerome fought Japanese rival Musashi at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 Final 16. Jerome knocked down the Japanese veteran to claim a unanimous decision.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: In his eleventh appearance at the K-1 World Grand Prix Final Championship he fought Semmy Schilt. Jerome lost to Semmy for the 4th time in his career by first-round TKO. After the fight, Jerome stated that he planned to continue to fight in the World Grand Prix Final even though there was suspicion before the fight that this would be his last World Grand Prix appearance.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: In 2010, Le Banner announced his motivation to fight again, and joined Chakuriki Gym in Amsterdam. On April 3 at K-1 World Grand Prix 2010 in Yokohama, Le Banner beat Tyrone Spong by unanimous decision.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: On July 23, during a France vs Thailand event in Stade de l'Est, Réunion, he won the W.P.M.F. Muay Thai World Super Heavyweight title, beating the Canadian Tomas Novack by KO in the fifth round.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: On October 2, he fought again in the final 16 of the 2010 tournament. Le Banner fought against K-1 Heavyweight Champion Kyotaro in the opening round. After a close three rounds where round one was called a draw, round two was given to Jerome, and round three was given to Kyotaro, the fight was sent to an extra round. Jerome disagreed with the judges ruling on the third round and left the ring.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: Le Banner fought Summer Olympic Games 2008 Judo Gold medalist Satoshi Ishii in a mixed martial arts rules bout at DREAM's Dynamite!! 2010 New Year's Eve event in Japan. LeBanner had an MMA record of 3–1–1 heading into the fight. However, LeBanner lost the fight via unanimous decision.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: On June 11, at the 8ème Nuit des Sports de Combat in Geneva, he faced for the second time the German Stefan Leko and won by unanimous decision to become the I.S.K.A. World Super Heavyweight champion.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: To end the year, he fought for the first time in Pattaya, Thailand, on December 30, for the World Pro League Super Heavyweight title. Le Banner won this fight by liver kick knockout in the third round.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: In parallel, he fought a Pro Wrestling charity match for victims of 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster at Inoki Genome Federation. He became IGF Champion and defended the title five times, before losing it to Kazuyuki Fujita on July 14, 2012. He won his six fights in Pro Wrestling by (T)KO against Shinichi Suzukawa, Erik Hammer, Kazuyuki Fujita, Montanha Silva, Josh Barnett and Tim Sylvia. On December 4, 2011, at IGF – Fighting Spirit Festival in Iwaki, Fukushima, he faced in a kickboxing charity exhibition match Japanese kickboxer Masayoshi Kakutani and won by TKO in the first round.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: He began to train in MMA in the US in November 2011. He was scheduled to fight Marcin Różalski at the Main Event of the KSW 18 on February 25. However, a knee injury forced Le Banner off the card. This match was postponed for KSW 20 on September 15. But, Le Banner was again forced out of this bout due to an injured knee.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: Le Banner supposed to fight GLORY 16-man tournament at "" in Saitama, Japan on December 31, 2012. But, his knee injury didn't recover completely for this tournament yet. So, he fought Koichi Pettas in a non-tournament bout at this event and won by Knockout in third round.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: Le Banner defeated Roman Kleibl via TKO due to a broken arm in round two of their contest at "Time Fight 3" in Tours, France on June 15, 2013.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: He was to face James Smith at "Fight Night Saint Tropez" in Saint-Tropez, France on August 4, 2013 but Smith was replaced by Vitali Akhramenko. Le Banner knocked Akhramenko out in round two for the W.K.N. Kickboxing Oriental World Super Heavyweight title.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: He was set to fight Sergei Kharitonov at "Glory 10: Los Angeles – 2013 85kg Slam" in Ontario, California, United States on September 28, 2013 but withdrew after suffering a neck injury.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: Le Banner knocked out Zinedine Hameur-Lain in round two at "La 20ème Nuit des Champions" in Marseille, France on November 23, 2013.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: The Sergei Kharitonov fight was rescheduled for "" in Tokyo, Japan on December 21, 2013. Le Banner lost by unanimous decision.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: He beat Lucian Danilencu via second-round KO at "Final Fight – Retour aux sources" in Le Havre, France on May 30, 2014.


title: Jérôme Le Banner

text: Le Banner returned at Mixed Martial Arts Grand Prix: The Last of Kings on June 4, 2022 to face Ivan Vičić in a MMA bout. He won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the first round.


title: Theophilus (biblical)

text: Theophilus is the name or honorary title of the person to whom the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles are addressed (, ). It is thought that both works were written by the same author, and often argued that the two books were originally a single unified work. Both were written in a refined Koine Greek, and the name ("Theophilos"), as it appears therein, means "friend of God" or "(be)loved by God" or "loving God" in the Greek language. The true identity of Theophilus is unknown, with several conjectures and traditions around an identity. In English Theophilus is also written "Theophilos", both a common name and an honorary title among the learned (academic) Romans and Jews of the era. The life of Theophilus would coincide with the writing of Luke and the author of the Acts.


title: Theophilus (biblical)

text: Coptic tradition asserts that Theophilus was a person and not an honorary title. The Coptic Church claims that the person was a Jew of Alexandria. Similarly, John Wesley in his Notes on the New Testament recorded that Theophilus was "a person of eminent quality at Alexandria", which he understood to be the tradition 'of the ancients'.


title: Theophilus (biblical)

text: Others say that Theophilus was probably a Roman official of some sort, because Luke referred to him as kratistos, "κράτιστε" – "optime" in the Latin Vulgate translation – meaning "most excellent" (), although in the parallel introduction to Acts he is simply referred to as 'O Theophilus'.


title: Theophilus (biblical)

text: Honorary title (academia) tradition maintains that Theophilus was not a person. The word in Greek means "Friend of God" and thus both Luke and Acts were addressed to anyone who fits that description. In this tradition the author's targeted audience, as with all other canonical Gospels, were the learned (academic) but unnamed men and women of the era. Likewise the non-canonical Gospel of Thomas, Gospel of Peter, and Gospel of James are not addressed to any particular gender, or any specific person.


title: Theophilus (biblical)

text: Some theologians (Ex. David Pawson) believe that Theophilus could have been Paul's lawyer during his trial period in Rome. To support this claim people appeal to the formal legalese present in the prologue to the Gospel such as "eye witnesses," "account," "carefully investigated," "know the certainty of things which you have been instructed." The conclusion of the Book of Acts ends with Paul still alive and under arrest awaiting trial, suggesting it was the intention of the author to update Theophilus on Paul's history to provide for an explanation of his travels and preaching and serve as evidence in support of his innocence under Roman law. Some also point to the parallel between the account of Jesus' trial before Pontius Pilate narrated in Luke's Gospel with the account of Paul's trials before Roman judges in the Book of Acts. In total, Jesus was declared innocent 3 times by Pontius Pilate as was Paul before various judges.


title: Theophilus (biblical)

text: Some scholars point to Theophilus ben Ananus, High Priest of the Temple in Jerusalem from 37 to 41. In this tradition Theophilus would have been both a kohen and a Sadducee. That would make him the son of Annas and brother-in-law of Caiaphas, raised in the Jewish Temple. Adherents claim that Luke's Gospel was targeted at Sadducee readers. This might explain a few features of Luke. He begins the story with an account of Zacharias the righteous priest who had a Temple vision of an angel (). Luke quickly moves to account Mary's purification (niddah), Jesus' Temple redemption (pidyon ha-ben) rituals (), and then to Jesus' pilgrimage to the Temple when he was twelve (), possibly implying his bar mitzvah. He makes no mention of Caiaphas' role in Jesus' crucifixion and emphasizes Jesus' literal resurrection (), including an ascension into heaven as a realm of spiritual existence (; ). Luke also seems to stress Jesus' arguments with the Sadducees on points like legal grounds for divorce, the existence of angels, spirits, and an afterlife (Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the dead). If this was the case then Luke is trying to use Jesus' rebuttals and teachings to break down Theophilus' Sadducean philosophy, maybe with the hope that Theophilus would use his influence to get the Sadducees to cease their persecution of the Christians. One could also look at Luke's Gospel as an allegorical (רֶמֶז remez) reference to Jesus as "the man called the Branch" prophesied in ; , who is the ultimate high priest foreshadowed by the Levitical priesthood.


title: Theophilus (biblical)

text: Most, if not all, of the commentaries on the Gospel of Luke say the "Question about the Resurrection" pericope presented in Lk. 20:27-40 is the only account in Luke of Jesus confronting the Sadducees. It is true that Luke only mentions the Sadducees by name once but it is not true that this pericope is the only one concerning the Sadducees. The Parables about the Good Samaritan, the Unjust Steward, the Rich Man and Lazarus and the Wicked Tenants are directed to the Sadducees who controlled the temple establishment. These parables are about unfaithful priests. They are the wicked sons of Eli.


title: Theophilus (biblical)

text: All of the New Testament passages concerning alms and almsgiving, except one in Matthew, are in Luke-Acts. Therefore, these parables may be about alms, almsgiving and the proper use of the wealth controlled by the temple authorities. Luke's criticism focuses on the use of these temple resources by the religious aristocracy for their own selfish purposes. This means that the religious authorities controlled tremendous wealth that had been in times past properly distributed to the people as part of the institutional form of almsgiving. The priests in these parables are unfaithful, dishonest and disobedient because, inter alia, they have not invited the poor, the maimed, the lame and the blind to the banquet table. Once the office of the High Priest became non-hereditary, and available to the highest bidder, the institutional role of almsgiving was abandoned or reduced as the purchaser had to recoup his purchase price.


title: Theophilus (biblical)

text: A minority view identifies Theophilus as a later high priest: Mattathias ben Theophilus who served from 65 to 66. Note that Luke refers to high priest Joseph ben Caiaphas simply as "Caiaphas". Thus, the reasoning goes, Luke used this pattern when addressing Theophilus.


title: First-rate

text: In the rating system of the British Royal Navy used to categorise sailing warships, a first rate was the designation for the largest ships of the line. Originating in the Jacobean era with the designation of Ships Royal capable of carrying at least 400 men, the size and establishment of first-rates evolved over the following 250 years to eventually denote ships of the line carrying at least 80 guns across three gundecks. By the end of the eighteenth century, a first-rate carried no fewer than 100 guns and more than 850 crew, and had a measurement (burthen) tonnage of some 2,000 tons.


title: First-rate

text: The concept of a rating system for British naval vessels dates to the accession of James I of England, following which the fleet was formally divided into "great", "middling" and "lesser" craft. A 1618 commission of enquiry added a further designation of "Ships Royal" for the largest and most prestigious vessels in the fleet, each capable of carrying at least 400 men.


title: First-rate

text: The first Ships Royal – , , , , and – were all converted galleons and included three very old vessels that had fought against the Spanish Armada in 1588. Their condition was generally poor, with "Elizabeth Jonas" and "Triumph" already completely unserviceable and "White Bear" so unseaworthy that she was sold for scrap in 1627.


title: First-rate

text: The Navy's rating system was later modified to differentiate ships considered suitable for various functions within the naval tactics of the age of sail. Lower numbers indicated larger and more capable ships. By the mid-18th century ships suitable for the line of battle were first-rate ships carrying at least 100 guns, second-rate ships carrying 84 to 98 guns, and larger third-rate ships carrying 70 to 80 guns. Smaller third-rate ships carrying about 60–64 guns, and fourth-rate ships of around 50 guns, had earlier been considered suitable, but were being phased out. Fifth-rate and sixth-rate ships were frigates usually maneuvering independently of the line of battle.


title: First-rate

text: Early first rates had as few as 60 guns, but by the mid-1660s they generally carried between 90 and 100 guns. By the early years of the 18th century, it had become accepted that 100 guns was the standard criterion for a first rate in wartime (while 90 guns, later 98 guns, became the standard wartime ordnance for a second rate). (In peacetime, all ships of the line carried a reduced complement of guns.) Towards the close of the century, ships were built with more than 100 guns, and they too were classed as first rates.


title: First-rate

text: In addition to the rated number of carriage-mounted guns (which included the heaviest calibre available mounted on their lower decks, with smaller guns on the decks above), first rates also carried a number of anti-personnel guns, initially swivel-mounted weapons. From the invention of the slide-mounted carronade in the later 1770s, first rates (like other warships), could mount a number of these weapons on their quarterdecks and forecastles to augment their short-range firepower, but they were not included in the ship's rating until 1817 except where they replaced carriage-mounted guns.


title: First-rate

text: Although very powerful, the Navy's first-rates were of limited utility at sea. For stability their lowest gundeck had to be very close to the waterline and its gunports could not be opened in anything but the calmest of seas. To do otherwise was to risk swamping the entire vessel, as occurred in 1781 when the first-rate sank at anchor at Spithead after the lower gunports were opened to air the ship. Early first-rates had little storage space to stow provisions for their large crews on long voyages, and the ships themselves routinely proved unseaworthy in winter weather; as a consequence the first-rates were restricted to summer cruising, and then only in the English Channel and nearby waters. By the mid-1700s, however, improved design had removed these limitations.


title: First-rate

text: Ships of this size were extremely expensive to operate. As a result, the few first rates (the Royal Navy had only five completed in 1794) were typically reserved as commanding admirals' flagships. First rates were typically kept out of commission ("in Ordinary") during peacetime and only activated ("commissioned") during times of conflict. This had the added advantage of preserving them from the wear and tear that smaller ships experienced in spending long periods at sea. Spending time in Ordinary could considerably extend a first rate's lifespan; for instance, by the time she fought in the Battle of Trafalgar, had been in service for 40 years, although a portion of this time was spent in Ordinary.


title: First-rate

text: With first rates being the most powerful ships of the navy, it was common to compare them with the navies of other nations; frequently one sees the largest ships of those navies being referred to as first rates. Other nations had their own rating systems, notably the French Navy with its system of five formal rates or "rangs".


title: First-rate

text: Due to their cost of construction and maintenance, only a small number of first rates could be built and maintained at any one time. Thus over the 250 years (approximately) that the rating system of the Royal Navy was used, only a relatively small number of these ships saw service.


title: First-rate

text: Only one first rate has survived to the present. , Admiral Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar, is preserved at HMNB Portsmouth and is in commission. The hull of the 112-gun , which was built and operated entirely in fresh water during the War of 1812, survives intact in shallow water near shore in Kingston, Ontario, and is a popular diving attraction. Two other noted first rates were , which was broken up in 1841, and , which was broken up in 1825. Both these ships had 100 guns. Later first rates such as and its several sisters had 120 guns. Other navies, notably those of France and Spain, also had similar ships with more than 100 guns, the most heavily armed being the "Santísima Trinidad" which, following a rebuilding in 1802, carried 140 guns.


title: First-rate

text: The Royal Navy's use of the term "first-rate" to describe its largest and most powerful vessels is the origin of the modern English-language meaning of "exceptionally good" or "of the highest quality."


title: Dorothy Steel (actress)

text: Dorothy Steel (February 23, 1926 – October 15, 2021) was an American actress. Having started her career at the age of 88, she played minor characters in several high-profile films including "Black Panther", "Poms", "", and her final film, "".


title: Dorothy Steel (actress)

text: Born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1926, she lived in Atlanta, Georgia for many years. She worked for many years as a senior revenue officer for the Internal Revenue Service, retiring from the service on December 7, 1984. After living in the United States Virgin Islands for 20 years, Steel relocated to Atlanta to live closer to her son and grandson. By 2014, Steel began acting in community theater at the Frank Bailey Senior Center in Riverdale, and soon began to receive roles in locally-made films. Steel died at her home in her native Detroit on October 15, 2021, at the age of 95.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: Beatriz Haddad Maia (born 30 May 1996) is a Brazilian professional tennis player. On 22 August 2022, she reached a career-high in the WTA rankings in singles at No. 15. Haddad Maia has won two singles and four doubles titles on the WTA Tour, one singles and doubles title each on the WTA Challenger Tour, as well as 17 singles and nine doubles titles on the ITF Circuit.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: Born in São Paulo, to her parents Ayrton Elias Maia Filho and Lais Scaff Haddad, Haddad Maia started playing tennis at the age of five. She comes from a tennis family of Lebanese descent. Both her mother Lais Scaff Haddad and her grandmother Arlette Scaff Haddad were successful tennis players in Brazil.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: Haddad Maia peaked at No. 15 in the ITF junior rankings. She won her first professional doubles title at the $10k tournament in Mogi das Cruzes in September 2010 aged 14 playing, alongside Flávia Guimarães Bueno and her first professional singles title at the $10k tournament in Goiânia in 2011 aged 15.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: Her best achievement as a junior player was being doubles runner-up at the French Open twice in 2012 and 2013 partnering with Paraguayan Montserrat González and Ecuadorian Doménica González respectively. She was also a doubles semifinalist at the Wimbledon Championships in 2011 playing alongside Mayya Katsitadze from Russia.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: She turned professional in 2014, and in December 2014, she was Brazil's second highest ranked female tennis player.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: She made her WTA Tour-level debut at the 2013 Brasil Tennis Cup in Florianópolis as a wildcard. She scored her first WTA Tour main-draw win against Hsu Chieh-yu in the first round before losing to Melinda Czink in the second round. At the same tournament, Haddad Maia made her WTA Tour-level doubles main-draw debut with partner Carla Forte. They defeated Mailen Auroux and María Irigoyen in the first round before losing in the quarterfinals to Kristina Barrois and Tatjana Maria.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: In 2014, she was handed a wildcard at both the Rio Open and Brasil Tennis Cup main draws, losing in the first round of singles and doubles of both tournaments.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: In February 2015, aged 18 and ranked 234th, she reached the quarterfinals of the Rio Open as a wildcard, defeating two higher ranked opponents, María Irigoyen and top 100 Polona Hercog. In the quarterfinals against 16th ranked and first seed Sara Errani, she had three match points, but eventually retired in the third set due to injury. Playing alongside Teliana Pereira, she reached the semifinals in the doubles competition but was forced to withdraw due to the injury sustained in the singles competition. Haddad Maia played qualifying tournaments at Charleston and Bogotá during the clay season, reaching the main draw of Bogotá where she ultimately lost in the second round.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: At Bogotá, Haddad Maia won her first WTA Tour doubles title, alongside compatriot Paula Cristina Gonçalves, defeating Irina Falconi and Shelby Rogers in the final. She played the qualifying tournament at the 2015 French Open but was knocked out by Olivia Rogowska after winning her first two matches. During the grass-court season, she played the qualifying tournaments of Nottingham and Wimbledon, but failed to reach the main draw of both.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: In July 2015, she suffered a shoulder injury at the Pan American Games in Toronto, resulting in season-ending surgery.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: In 2016, Haddad Maia was awarded wildcards at the Rio Open (where she also played doubles, losing in the first round), Miami Open, making her debut at a Premier tournament, and Brasil Tennis Cup losing in the first round in all three tournaments. She also played qualifying tournaments at the French Open and US Open losing in the second and first round of qualifying, respectively.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: Having fallen to the 367th position in the rankings by July 18, 2016, Haddad Maia recovered almost 200 spots during the second half of 2016, finishing the year with two consecutive $50k titles in Scottsdale and Waco, finishing the year ranked 170th in the world.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: Haddad Maia started her 2017 season in Australia, playing two tournaments in Perth before winning the $25k in Clare, South Australia in both singles and doubles with partner Genevieve Lorbergs. She received a wildcard for the Miami Open, defeating Lesia Tsurenko in the first round before losing to Venus Williams in her second match. She played the qualifying at Monterrey, but lost in the qualifying competition to Kristie Ahn, after winning her first two matches.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: At Bogotá, she once again played the qualifying tournament and won an entry to the main draw. She lost in the first round to Verónica Cepede Royg. In the doubles tournament, she won her second title at the event. Playing alongside Argentinian Nadia Podoroska, she defeated Cepede Royg and Magda Linette in the final.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: During the European clay season, she entered the qualifying tournament at Stuttgart, but lost in her opening match. At the Prague Open, she defeated two top 100 players, Ekaterina Alexandrova and Donna Vekić, in the qualifying to enter the main draw, in which she subsequently defeated Christina McHale (ranked 45th) and Samantha Stosur (19th), recording her first career wins over top 50 and top 20 players respectively, before falling to Kristýna Plíšková in the quarterfinals. She left Prague ranked 115th in the world. Her win over Stosur was the first win for a Brazilian over a top-20 player since Niege Dias defeated Arantxa Sánchez Vicario in the 1987 US Open.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: The following week, Haddad Maia had the best performance of her career at the $100k in Cagnes-sur-Mer, where she won the title without dropping a set, defeating Jil Teichmann in the final. As a result, Haddad Maia made her debut in the top 100 of the WTA rankings.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: As the third seed at the French Open's qualifying tournament, Haddad Maia won all three of her qualifying matches, earning a spot in the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in her career. In the first round, she faced the 14th seed Elena Vesnina and was defeated in three sets. Also on clay, she reached the semifinals of the Bol Open, a WTA 125 event, before losing to eventual champion Aleksandra Krunić. As a result, she climbed to the 94th place in the rankings on June 12.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: During the grass-court season, she played the qualifying of Mallorca and reached the main draw, losing to Shelby Rogers in the first round. In Eastbourne, she lost in the first round of qualifying to Mona Barthel. Haddad Maia received her first direct acceptance at a Grand Slam main draw at Wimbledon, where she beat Laura Robson in the first round. Haddad Maia's victory marked the first time a Brazilian woman won a Wimbledon main-draw match since Gisele Miró in 1989. Haddad Maia lost in the second round to second seed Simona Halep. In the doubles competition, after defeating the sixth seeds Abigail Spears and Katarina Srebotnik in the first round, she reached the third round with Croatian partner Ana Konjuh, where the team lost to ninth seeds Chan Hao-ching and Monica Niculescu.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: During the hard court season, she entered the Cincinnati Premier 5 qualifying tournament, where she reached the main draw and defeated Lauren Davis in the first round before eventually losing to fourth seed and eventual champion Garbiñe Muguruza in the second round. She entered the New Haven qualifying, but lost in the first qualifying round to Christina McHale. At the US Open, Haddad Maia lost in the first round to Donna Vekić. Playing once again alongside Ana Konjuh, she lost in the first round of the doubles competition to 13th seeds Kristina Mladenovic and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: She gained her first direct acceptance at a WTA-level tournament at the Korean Open. Haddad Maia reached her maiden tour-level singles final at the tournament, losing to first seed and French Open champion Jeļena Ostapenko. In the process, Haddad Maia became the first Brazilian to reach a non-clay-court final since Cláudia Monteiro in the 1983 Pittsburgh Open and secured her debut in the top 60 of the world rankings.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: Haddad Maia was seeded second in the qualifying round of the last Premier Mandatory of the year, in Beijing, but she lost in her opening match against Andrea Petkovic. At the Tianjin Open she defeated fourth seed Donna Vekić in the first round, but ultimately lost to qualifier Sara Errani in the following match.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: Haddad Maia finished her 2017 season at the Luxembourg Open, where she was seeded at a WTA-level tournament for the first time in her career. She lost in the second round of singles competition to Johanna Larsson, and in the quarterfinals of the doubles tournament playing alongside Cepede Royg to Varvara Lepchenko and Fanny Stollár.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: Haddad Maia started her 2018 season playing two WTA International tournaments. In Auckland, she was defeated in the first round by fourth seed Agnieszka Radwańska and in Hobart, she scored her first win of the season against wildcard Lizette Cabrera, but ultimately lost to second seed and eventual champion, Elise Mertens, in the second round. At the Australian Open, she once again defeated Cabrera in the first round, but was eliminated in the following match by sixth seed Karolína Plíšková. Haddad Maia's victory in the first round marked the first time a Brazilian woman won an Australian Open main-draw match in the Open Era and the first time since Maria Esther Bueno reached the final in 1965. At the doubles tournament, Haddad Maia played alongside Sorana Cîrstea and reached the third round, defeating 15th seeds Alicja Rosolska and Abigail Spears en route, before being eliminated by fourth seeds Lucie Šafářová and Barbora Strýcová.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: After the Australian Open, Haddad Maia played for Brazil at the American Fed Cup Zone. She played six rubbers between both singles and doubles and won five of them. At the Mexican Open in Acapulco, she defeated Heather Watson in the first round but ultimately lost to second seed Kristina Mladenovic in the following match. She played alongside Cepede Royg in the doubles competition, but lost to fourth seeds Lara Arruabarrena and Arantxa Parra Santonja in the opening round.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: Haddad Maia was eliminated by Monica Puig in the opening round of the Indian Wells Open, the first Premier Mandatory of the year. In Miami, she defeated Heather Watson and 31st seed Zhang Shuai to score her first back-to-back tour matches wins since her campaign to the 2017 Korea Open final before losing to sixth seed Jeļena Ostapenko in the third round.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: She started her clay-court season in Charleston, but was forced to retire in her first-round match against Lara Arruabarrena due to a left wrist injury. She then withdrew from Bogotá and Istanbul due to that injury. At the Prague Open, she was eliminated in the first round by the seventh seed and eventual runner-up, Mihaela Buzărnescu. She entered the qualifying tournament in Madrid as the fifth seed, but was defeated by Sara Errani. Haddad Maia was forced to withdraw from the remaining of the clay-court season and the grass-court season due to a lower back injury and a subsequent surgery.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: Haddad Maia qualified for the Australian Open, reaching the second round of the main draw. She also reached the quarterfinals, as a qualifier, at the WTA Tour event in Acapulco in late February, before losing to eventual champion Wang Yafan.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: Again out of the qualifying, Haddad Maia reached the semifinals at the Copa Colsanitas, losing to eventual champion Amanda Anisimova.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: After retiring due to injury in the first round of qualifying at the French Open, she played a WTA Challenger event in Bol, Croatia during the second week of the French Open. It was there, following a first-round loss to Sara Sorribes Tormo that she reportedly failed the urine test.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: On 23 July 2019, it was announced by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) that Haddad Maia had been issued an immediate provisional suspension, pending determination of the charge against her at a full hearing, after a positive test for metabolites of two Selective androgen receptor modulator substances.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: The ITF's announcement stated that Haddad Maia waived the right to an immediate appeal. A full hearing to determine the charge against her was scheduled to be held at a later date.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: In February 2020, the ITF issued the verdict that the supplement ingested was contaminated. It defined the suspension for ten months, considering the time she was away. The federation's report didn't release her from responsibilities, citing the case of fellow Brazilian tennis players Marcelo Demoliner, Thomaz Bellucci and Igor Marcondes, who had found themselves in a similar situation. The ITF removed the bigger sentence, which could have gone from two to four years. Haddad Maia was free to return on May 22, the eve of the Roland Garros tournament. However, without ranking, having dropped to 1342nd during the suspension, she could not compete in French Grand Slam event, having to start in small tournaments again.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: After widespread cancellation of tournaments due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she returned to play in September 2020 at the ITF of Montemor-o-Novo in Portugal. Haddad won that tournament and three more on Portuguese soil in the next month, until a hand injury led to an enchondroma diagnosis, forcing her to go through a season-ending surgery.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: In October, at the rescheduled Indian Wells Open, Haddad Maia lost in qualifying to Usue Maitane Arconada but was awarded a spot in the main draw as a lucky loser following the withdrawal of 29th seed Nadia Podoroska. She defeated Mayar Sherif in the second round, and then upset top seed and world No. 3, Karolína Plíšková, to advance to the fourth round. While Haddad then lost to Anett Kontaveit, the performance was enough to return to the top 100.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: Haddad Maia would have played at Melbourne with Podoroska, until the Argentinian withdrew with an abdomen injury. Having to get a partner among the world's top 70, Haddad first contacted former partner Ana Konjuh, who did not respond, and then started checking the WTA doubles ranking, coming down to Anna Danilina, who she met a decade prior in a junior tournament. Danilina accepted the invitation, even if she was playing in Tunisia and thus unsure of when she could get to Australia. Haddad said that if possible, she could arrive a week earlier so they could play the warm-up event Sydney International. The players only got together the same day they would play the first game, yet went all the way to the title, the first time either player won a WTA 500 event. She reached the semifinals for the first time at a Grand Slam championship, and became the first Brazilian woman to go so far in Australia in the Open era, with the previous best result being Maria Esther Bueno's semifinal in 1965. She went one step further into the final with a straight victory by upsetting Japanese No. 2 seeds, Shuko Aoyama and Ena Shibahara, making Haddad only the third Brazilian woman in a Grand Slam final, after Maria Bueno and Cláudia Monteiro. While Haddad and Danilina won the first set against top seeds Barbora Krejčíková and Kateřina Siniaková, the Czechs won in a comeback. Thanks to the accumulated points in the two tournaments Haddad Maia rose from No. 483 in the WTA doubles rankings all the way to No. 40.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: Haddad then decided to play more doubles tournaments with Danilina, even if her singles career would take precedence. After missing the Dubai Open due to testing positive for COVID-19, Haddad resumed playing at the Qatar Open. Her best performance after the Australian Open was in the Monterrey Open, reaching the semifinals, where she lost to eventual champion Leylah Fernandez. Haddad also managed another upset over a top-5 player at the Miami Open, beating world No. 3 Maria Sakkari to reach the third round on a WTA 1000 level for the third time in her career.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: In May, Haddad won her first WTA 125 tournament, the Open de Saint-Malo, defeating Russian Anna Blinkova, and afterwards won the doubles at the Trophee Lagardère in Paris alongside Mladenovic, while also being runner-up in the singles to Claire Liu. As a result, Haddad Maia surpassed her previous career-high of 57 in the WTA singles rankings with No. 49, becoming the first Brazilian in the top 50 since Teliana Pereira in 2015.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: After the French Open where she fell in the second round of singles and doubles, and the mixed doubles quarterfinals, Haddad won her biggest singles title at the WTA 250 Nottingham Open, while also winning the doubles tournament alongside Zhang Shuai. The results boosted her to the top 40 in the singles and top 30 in doubles rankings. She followed up this victory by facing Zhang in the final of the Birmingham Classic, where Haddad won her second singles title after the Chinese retired in the first set. The title propelled her into the top 30 in singles for the first time in her career. She joined Ons Jabeur, who won in Berlin less than an hour earlier, and Iga Świątek as players to win multiple WTA Tour titles in the season. She was also the first Brazilian to win in the tournament 40-year history. Gisele Miró had the best previous result by a player from Brazil, reaching the second round in 1989. When Haddad lost her Eastbourne International semifinal match to Petra Kvitová, she had twelve wins and a walkover, the longest winning streak on grass courts since Serena Williams a decade prior. Despite impressive form in the warm-up grass tournaments, she lost in the first round of Wimbledon to Kaja Juvan. In doubles, partnering with Magdalena Fręch, the pair lost to tenth seeds Nicole Melichar/Ellen Perez in the third round. She reached the top 25 in doubles and in singles, on July 11 and August 8, respectively.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: Ranked No. 24 in singles at the start of the Canadian Open, she defeated Martina Trevisan, 13th seed Leylah Fernandez, and world No. 1, Iga Świątek, her fifth top-5 win to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time in her career at a WTA 1000 level. Next, she reached the semifinals defeating the Olympic champion Belinda Bencic. As a result, she reached the top 20 in the singles rankings, on 15 August 2022. Haddad Maia then breezed past former number one, Karolína Plíšková, to become the first Brazilian woman ever to reach a WTA 1000 final. She lost the final against Simona Halep, in three sets. In the Cincinnati Open, Haddad Maia lost in the first round to Jeļena Ostapenko while reaching the third in doubles alongside Danilina. Afterwards, she reached the top 15 in the rankings, on 22 August 2022.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: At the US Open, Haddad Maia seeded No. 15, lost in the second round to Bianca Andreescu, in straight sets. Haddad Maia had five break points, but failed to convert any. Partnering Danilina, she lost again in the third round of the doubles tournament to tenth seeded pair Melichar/Perez.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: At the WTA 1000 in Guadajalara, Haddad Maia and Danilina reached the final by defeating the world's No. 1 duo Krejčíková/Siniaková in a rematch. With that, she became the first Brazilian woman in history to qualify for the WTA Finals. Thanks to this result, she also entered the world's top 15 in doubles for the first time. In an unprecedented Brazilian final at the WTA 1000 level against Luisa Stefani, a former world top 10, and Storm Sanders, they ended runners-up in a tight result, with a score of 7–6, 6–7 and [10–8] in favor of Stefani/Sanders. Haddad finished the season being chosen by the WTA as Most Improved Player of 2022.


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: "Only main-draw results in WTA Tour, Grand Slam tournaments, Fed Cup/Billie Jean King Cup and Olympic Games are included in win–loss records."


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: The tournaments won by Haddad Maia are in boldface, and advanced into finals by Haddad Maia are in "italics".


title: Beatriz Haddad Maia

text: "Haddad Maia's record against players who have been ranked in the top 10. Active players are in boldface."


title: Blue Öyster Cult (album)

text: Blue Öyster Cult is the debut studio album by the American rock band Blue Öyster Cult, released on January 16, 1972 by Columbia Records. The album featured songs such as "Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll", "Stairway to the Stars", and "Then Came the Last Days of May", all of which the band still plays regularly during its concerts. Despite positive reviews, the album failed to chart for some time before finally cracking the "Billboard" 200 chart on May 20, 1972, peaking at No. 172. Blue Öyster Cult toured with artists such as The Byrds, Alice Cooper and the Mahavishnu Orchestra to support the album.


title: Blue Öyster Cult (album)

text: Joe Bouchard discussed the album's creation in 2022. "I couldn’t believe how much fun I was having. Every day I’d get up and we’d be going to the studio, and I’d be like, ‘I can’t believe we’re going to a studio to make an album…a real album, on Columbia Records!’ So, I was excited every day. And I was learning how records are made – this was at David Lucas’ jingle studio in New York. On eight tracks. That's all you had – you had to do the whole album on eight tracks. But he would show us little magical ways of doubling things and doing live bounces. They’d be flipping the tape over backwards and he'd be making flanging using duplication of the part. So, he was all into what was happening with the Beatles and that production. And of course, Sandy Pearlman and Murray Krugman produced that record – so they kept us conceptually...instead of going way off track, they wanted to establish what was going to become Blue Öyster Cult. It had to have that vibe. When it came out, I was a little disappointed – I didn't like the vinyl pressing. But then maybe about 15 years later, they put it out on CD, and then all of a sudden, it brought me back to the studio. It was cleaner, and it was like sitting in the control room, listening to the playback of the mixes. I think we were all tremendously excited to be working on that record. And it sounds like it."


title: Blue Öyster Cult (album)

text: "Transmaniacon MC" is about the Altamont Free Concert. The "MC" in the title stands for "motorcycle club".


title: Blue Öyster Cult (album)

text: "I'm on the Lamb but I Ain't No Sheep" is about a fugitive pursued by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and was originally recorded in 1970 (when the band was known as "Oaxaca"). Another version from 1970 was intended to be included on the band's unreleased first album for Elektra Records (when the band was known as "Stalk-Forrest Group"). Both of these 1970 versions were eventually included on "". In 1971, the song was recorded again and finally released on the first Columbia album, and then recorded again at a much faster tempo and with much heavier guitars as "The Red and the Black" and included on the band's second Columbia album, "Tyranny and Mutation". The main riff in this song was heavily inspired by "Frying Pan", a Captain Beefheart b-side from 1966. Some versions of the song make this influence more apparent than others.


title: Blue Öyster Cult (album)

text: "Then Came the Last Days of May" is based on a reportedly-true story, when two friends of Dharma's were killed in a drug deal gone bad in the West:It was still in the Soft White Underbelly days when we were playing dances at Stony Brook University [on Long Island] for our sustenance money. Three Stony Brook students went to Tuscson, Arizona, to buy some bulk marijuana for resale. I don’t know how they got whatever contact they had, but it was two brothers – scions from one of the better-to-do families in Tucson. They never intended to sell them any pot. They just wanted to rip 'em off and shoot 'em, which they did. They took them out to the desert and shot them. It was three guys, and one managed to survive and get back to the highway ... I wrote the story from basically the newspaper accounts of the Long Island newspaper, "Newsday ..." There’s a personal connection, too. I knew one of the guys casually from Stony Brook University when we were hanging out there. This song is frequently played live as a showcase for Buck Dharma's guitar soloing skills.


title: Blue Öyster Cult (album)

text: Originally titled "Conry's Bar", "Before the Kiss, a Redcap" describes scenes from that real location. Guitarist Buck Dharma explains the title as originating in an event witnessed by lyricist/manager Sandy Pearlman in which the titular drug was passed between partners during a kiss. The term "redcap" was supposedly slang for a type of barbiturate; however, "redcap" usually referred to the drug Dalmane.


title: Blue Öyster Cult (album)

text: "Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll" was written by Sandy Pearlman, Donald Roeser and Albert Bouchard, and released as a single. Bouchard performed lead vocals, also singing from his drum kit in concerts. The riff was inspired by Black Sabbath's song "The Wizard," featured on their own self-titled debut album. It remains a staple of Blue Öyster Cult's live shows. On live albums, the name of the song is shortened to "Cities on Flame."


title: Blue Öyster Cult (album)

text: The lyrics were written by singer-songwriter Harry Farcas, and sold to the band. "Sir Rastus Bear" was Farcas' pet Saint Bernard.


title: Blue Öyster Cult (album)

text: The album received a positive reaction from critics. Lester Bangs gave the album a generally positive review in "Rolling Stone" stating, "with the Blue Öyster Cult, New York has produced its first authentic boogie beast, and with any luck this one should be around for awhile" telling readers that "I don't think you should miss this album." "Circus" wrote that "it could well be the album of the Seventies", while Robert Christgau in "The Village Voice" called it "the tightest and most musical hard rock record since – dare I say it? – "Who's Next"". The record was named an honorable mention on IGN's list of "Top 25 Metal Albums" and has been called "heavy metal for people who hate heavy metal." Canadian critic Martin Popoff criticized the "limp and lifeless" guitar sound and the unimpressive percussive display, which did not make a good service to the "tragic and beautiful BÖC compositions" on the album, leaving the listener "in muted bewilderment".


title: Blue Öyster Cult (album)

text: "Transmaniacon MC" is featured in the video game "Rock Band" as downloadable content that may be purchased off of the system or downloaded from the "Rock Band Metal Track Pack" using a one-time use code.


title: Blue Öyster Cult (album)

text: A cover version of "Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll" was featured as a track in the music video game "". Additionally, the song has been covered by Church of Misery (on "Master of Brutality"), Iced Earth (on "Tribute to the Gods") and 3 Inches of Blood (as a bonus track on "Here Waits Thy Doom") Additionally, the song appears in the American television period sitcom "That '70s Show", as well as its soundtrack.


title: Blue Öyster Cult (album)

text: Guitarist William Tyler performs a 2015 solo acoustic instrumental version of "She's as Beautiful as a Foot" on Aquarium Drunkard's "Lagniappe Sessions" page.


title: Tiffani Faison

text: Tiffani Faison is an American celebrity chef and restaurateur. She is based in Boston, has served as a judge on Food Network's television series Chopped, and is a four-time James Beard Award Finalist for Best Chef: Northeast (2018, 2019, 2020, 2022). She was the Winner of Tournament of Champions season 3 and was named Boston's Best Chef by Boston Magazine in 2022. She was one of two finalists on the first season of Bravo's reality show, "Top Chef", where she finished second place to Harold Dieterle.


title: Tiffani Faison

text: Her company, "Big Heart Hospitality" has owned the following restaurants: "Sweet Cheeks Q", "Orfano", "Fool's Errand", "Bubble Bath", "Tenderoni's", "Dive Bar", and "Tiger Mama".


title: Tiffani Faison

text: Faison attended the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts (2002 to 2003). Just prior to appearing on "Top Chef", Faison was employed as chef de partie under Daniel Boulud at his signature, Michelin Star restaurant in the Wynn Las Vegas and also worked at the "Tao" restaurant at The Venetian in the same city.


title: Tiffani Faison

text: After the airing of the final episode of "Top Chef" in May 2006, Faison took a summer position cooking at the "Straight Wharf" restaurant in Nantucket, Massachusetts, working under chefs Amanda Lydon and Gabriel Frasca. In 2007, she was executive chef at Todd English’s brasserie, "Riche", in New Orleans, Louisiana. In May 2007, Faison cohosted a Greek Isles culinary cruise for "Olivia", a lesbian lifestyle and travel services company. Faison returned to Boston, and was Executive Chef at Michela Larson’s "Rocca Kitchen & Bar", a popular neighborhood space on Friday nights, until it closed in December 2010.


title: Tiffani Faison

text: Faison first rose to culinary fame when she placed runner-up in the first Season of Top Chef. She then took part in a single episode cooking competition called "4 Star All Stars" which pitted four Top Chef season one contestants (Stephen Asprinio, Dieterle, Faison and David Martin) against four season two contestants (Elia Aboumrad, Ilan Hall, Sam Talbot and Marcel Vigneron). Faison's team scored the winning menu and received a $20,000 donation to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure charity. This episode aired on Bravo on June 6, 2007.


title: Tiffani Faison

text: Faison also participated in the Top Chef Holiday Special that aired on December 7, 2007, winning the $20,000 prize. Faison returned as a contestant on season 8 of Top Chef and was eliminated in the sixth episode. Faison finished runner-up in the "Top Chef Duels" 2014 competition. As of 2020, Faison is a judge on Chopped and participated as the judge to beat on one of the episodes. She also made it to the finals of Chopped: Grudge Match, placing second to Marcus Samuelsson.


title: Tiffani Faison

text: In 2021, Faison competed in Food Network's Tournament of Champions, and in 2022, Faison returned to compete and win Tournament of Champions, Season 3, as well as serve as a judge on Chopped: Casino Royale. Tiffani Faison won Tournament of Champions 3, defeating Brooke Williamson in the finale.


title: Tiffani Faison

text: Faison has also been a culinary guest on such national television shows as "NBC TODAY", CBS: This Morning and "America's Test Kitchen".


title: Tiffani Faison

text: Faison is currently the owner and head chef of "Sweet Cheeks Q", a Texas-style barbecue restaurant in Boston's Fenway District. Opened in late 2011, "Sweet Cheeks Q" was her first restaurant. "Sweet Cheeks Q" has been named as Boston's Best Barbecue by local and national media, and Forbes wrote that its "biscuits were the best in the world."


title: Tiffani Faison

text: In December 2015, she opened her acclaimed restaurant, "Tiger Mama" in Fenway, focusing on Southeast Asian cuisine. Faison closed "Tiger Mama" in late October 2021 to focus on a new restaurant that will be located in the same space in Fenway (coming in late 2022). Tenderoni's will open there in November 2022.


title: Tiffani Faison

text: In February 2018, Faison opened up her third Fenway restaurant, the "Adult Snack Bar" "Fool's Errand". Her venture "Orfano", which serves Italian-American cuisine, opened in August 2019 and received a three star review from "The Boston Globe". It later closed permanently in June 2022. In 2022, Faison opened "Tenderoni's", "Dive Bar", and "Bubble Bath" within High Street Place, a new food hall in Downtown Boston.


title: Tiffani Faison

text: She was born in Bremerhaven, Germany, to American parents, where her father was stationed in the United States military. The family moved around several times during her childhood and by the time she was in high school, settled in Santa Rosa, California.


title: Tiffani Faison

text: Faison formerly identified as bisexual, but now identifies as lesbian. Faison began volunteering for HIV/AIDS organizations and going into San Francisco. Faison currently serves on the Board of Directors for Women Chefs & Restaurateurs as well as on The Boston Alliance of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Youth.


title: Tiffani Faison

text: In September 2019, she was appointed to The Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Restaurant Promotion Commission for her commitment to the state's restaurant business.


title: Jordan Gavaris

text: Jordan James Gavaris (born September 25, 1989) is a Canadian actor. He is best known for his role as Felix Dawkins in the BBC America and Space television series "Orphan Black" (2013–2017). He is the lead in "The Lake" opposite Julia Stiles.


title: Jordan Gavaris

text: Gavaris was born and raised in Caledon, Ontario, Canada. His father is a Greek immigrant who worked for the Toronto District School Board before leaving to develop real estate in Toronto. His mother was born in Canada, and is of Northern European descent. She formerly had a career with "The Globe and Mail". He is the youngest of three children.


title: Jordan Gavaris

text: Gavaris made his feature film debut in the Canadian independent film, "45 R.P.M." opposite Michael Madsen, Kim Coates, and Amanda Plummer. In 2010, Gavaris co-starred in the Cartoon Network live-action series "Unnatural History". Gavaris also co-starred in the new original drama "Orphan Black" for BBC America and Canada's Space.


title: Jordan Gavaris

text: In 2010, Gavaris was honoured by "Playback", Panavision Canada, and The Canadian Film and Television Hall of Fame by being named one of 2010's "Top Ten to Watch". Previous honourees include Nina Dobrev and Xavier Dolan.


title: Jordan Gavaris

text: In 2014, Gavaris won a Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor and also won a Constellation Award for best performance in an episode. On August 18, 2014, Gavaris was announced as the winner of the 2014 EWwy Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.


title: Jordan Gavaris

text: In 2016, Gavaris appeared in a supporting role in the film "Sea of Trees", directed by Gus Van Sant and starring Matthew McConaughey and Ken Watanabe, and 2017 saw him co-star with Lena Olin in the arthouse film "Maya Dardel". The film premiered at the SXSW Film Festival to generally favorable reviews.


title: Jordan Gavaris

text: The English accent Gavaris employs for his role as Felix Dawkins has been noted for its authenticity, despite Gavaris not being English. "Entertainment Weekly" writer Dalton Ross has stated that he is "not entirely convinced that it’s not his "normal" accent that he’s faking." Gavaris told Ross that Michiel Huisman, Jerome Flynn and Maria Doyle Kennedy all thought he was English:When I lost the affectation after the read-through, Maria [Kennedy] was shocked. I think using an accent or affectation has given me a freedom as Felix I may not have otherwise found. The role has been by far the most liberating experience that anyone my age could have. There are so few colorful characters for people my age, it's a real treat to get to experiment in character work.


title: Jordan Gavaris

text: Gavaris has been dating actor and screenwriter Devon Graye since September 2013. The two married in 2018.


title: BMW 5 Series (E12)

text: The BMW E12 is the first generation of 5 Series executive cars, which was produced from 1972 to 1981 and replaced the saloon models of the BMW New Class range.


title: BMW 5 Series (E12)

text: Initial models were powered by inline-four engines, using either a carburettor or fuel-injection. A year after launch, the first model powered by a straight-six engine was introduced. By the final years of E12 production, most models used a straight-six engine.


title: BMW 5 Series (E12)

text: There was no M5 model for the E12, however the E12 M535i is considered to be the predecessor to the M5. The E24 6 Series coupés were built on the E12 platform up until 1982. The E12 was replaced by the E28 5 Series in 1981, although the tools were sent to South Africa where E12 assembly continued (with E28 interiors) until 1984.


title: BMW 5 Series (E12)

text: At the 1970 Geneva Motor Show, BMW unveiled the 2200ti Garmisch concept car, a 2-door saloon which was developed in conjunction with Bertone. The 2200ti Garmisch concept car was shown as a potential replacement for the New Class saloons and the eventual E12 production model utilized many design elements from the Garmisch.


title: BMW 5 Series (E12)

text: Development of the E12-series had begun by the end of the 1960s, when wind tunnel tests were conducted. Eberhard von Kuenheim, then chairman of BMW's supervisory board, hired French designer Paul Bracq in 1970 to work as the E12's Chief of design, with Marcello Gandini of Bertone as co-designers of the exterior.


title: BMW 5 Series (E12)

text: In 1971, a road-legal E12 prototype, which looked similar to a Fiat 132, was made. Also in 1971, Paul Bracq had finalised the E12's design, however, compared with the later series production E12, Bracq's design car had a more stretched, and dynamic appearance. Computers were used in BMW development for the first time to calculate front and rear crumple zones; the roof was designed with a rollover protection structure. The body has a drag coefficient of 0.44. BMW had previously located turn signal stalks on the right hand side of the steering wheels, and the E12 was their first model to have the stalk on the left side.


title: BMW 5 Series (E12)

text: Before the E12 had been introduced, there were rumours that it would be available with both a 2.2 litre four-cylinder engine, and a small six-cylinder engine. Instead, BMW carried over the 2-litre four-cylinder M10 engines from the "New Class" saloons, but modified the cylinder heads in order to improve combustion. With the introduction of the E12-series in 1972, BMW offered two models, the carburetted 520, which had a Stromberg constant pressure carburettor, and the manifold injected 520i, which came with a Kugelfischer PL 04 injection pump. A small six-cylinder model called "523" had been developed, but was never put into series production. Eventually, the small six-cylinder model "520" was put into production in 1977, but in a 2 litre version rather than a 2.3 litre version.


title: BMW 5 Series (E12)

text: Originally, four-cylinder cars have a bonnet with a sunken central portion whereas on six-cylinder cars this section is raised. The leading edge of the bonnet was flat. After the August 1976 facelift all models featured the same bonnet, with a narrow raised central section reaching all the way forward and wrapping around the "kidneys". M30-engined cars can be identified by the grille having a chrome surround.


title: BMW 5 Series (E12)

text: To meet Sweden's unique and stringent emissions standards, a fuel injected version of the 528 was developed and entered production in June 1977. Called the 528i, this was successful enough that it replaced the 528 in most markets.


title: BMW 5 Series (E12)

text: The data above are manufacturer claims. Power and torque data is measured according to the German Standard DIN 70020.


title: BMW 5 Series (E12)

text: The 518, 520 and 520i models were fitted with the 1.8 L and 2.0 L M10 inline-four engines, as per the previous New Class saloons. The 525, 528, 530, 530i and 533i models were fitted with M30 straight-six engines, as used in the New Six large saloons and E9 coupés. The 520, and 523 (the latter was developed, but never put into series production), use the M20 straight-six engine.


title: BMW 5 Series (E12)

text: The 518 had its fuel supplied by a Solex 32/32 DIDTA carburetor, while the initial 520 model (powered by the M10 inline-four engine) used twin Stromberg 175CDET carburettors. The straight-six engine 525 and 528 models used dual Zenith INAT two-barrel carburettors up until the 1976 facelift. The straight-six 520 used a Solex 4A1 carburettor.


title: BMW 5 Series (E12)

text: Fuel-injected models have the letter "i" at the end of their model designation. The 520i used the Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection system from the 2000tii and 2002tii until 1975. From 1975, it was fitted with a mechanical continuous Bosch K-Jetronic port injection. The 518i (only sold in Sweden and Japan), 528i, and 530i (only sold in the US and Japan) have a Bosch L-Jetronic port injection.


title: BMW 5 Series (E12)

text: The BMW E12 has a self-supporting body, a longitudinally mounted front engine, and rear-wheel drive. All four wheels are suspended independently. The front wheels have MacPherson struts with coil springs, hydraulic shock absorbers, and transverse control arms. The rear axle has semi-trailing arms with coil springs, and hydraulic shock absorbers. Models with a power output of or more have an additional sway bar on the rear axle. All models except the M535i have 14-inch steel alloy wheels with a wheel-width of either 5.5 or 6 inches. Therefore, the tyre size is either 175 mm or 195 mm. All models use worm and sector steering, which is power assisted from the 528 onwards. The braking system is a dual-circuit system with front disc brakes; on the rear wheels, 518/520/i models were fitted with drum brakes, all models from the 525 onwards have disc brakes.


title: BMW 5 Series (E12)

text: On the Belgian and Greek markets, there was a BMW 518 Deluxe version. One thousand of these cars were sold in 1979-1980. This was a BMW 518 equipped as the 528i top model with additional luxury items such as headrests on the back seats. It was rumored that this special version was produced for the Iranian government, as a car for top officials under the shah’s rule. Due to the Iranian revolution these cars were never delivered. Instead, they have been sold as a special version in Belgium and Greece.


title: BMW 5 Series (E12)

text: The Portuguese market also received nearly 700 CKD units due to the local regulations that demanded a certain amount of vehicles sold in Portugal to be locally assembled.


title: BMW 5 Series (E12)

text: For the Swedish market the complete BMW 5 range was not offered, due to local emissions regulations. For the early E12 the models BMW 518, BMW 520, BMW 520i, and BMW 525 were offered - with the BMW 528 missing. The series 2 range of was reduced to three models: BMW 518i, BMW 520i and BMW 528i. The 528i became available as a result of Switzerland having adopted the same emissions rules, making it worthwhile to develop such a version. Unique to the Swedish market were a BMW 518i and a BMW 520i, fitted with the identical 2 litre engine, but the BMW 518i receiving poorer equipment. The BMW 520i was fitted with chromed wheel rings and a locking fuel cap. It was also fitted with head restraints in the rear, an armrest in the middle of the rear bench, steering wheel height adjustment, seat height adjustment for the drivers seat, a wooden shifter knob, and a rear heater.


title: BMW 5 Series (E12)

text: Beginning in 1974, BMW M (then called 'BMW Motorsport') offered the "Motorsport 530", "Motorsport 530i" and "Motorsport 533i" as special order upgrades for the 525, 528 and 528i models. The Motorsport 530 used the carburetted engine from the BMW 3.0S, the Motorsport 530i used the fuel-injected engine from the BMW 3.0Si and the Motorsport 533i used the injected 3.2-liter engine from the E24 633CSi. Other modifications were a shorter differential ratio of (3.45:1 for the 530 and 3.25:1 for the 530i), a 25% LSD, vented disc brakes, Bilstein shock absorbers, Scheel or Recaro sports seats, a sports steering wheel, alloy wheels on lower profile tyres, and optional front and rear spoilers.


title: BMW 5 Series (E12)

text: Later, the similar "Motorsport 535i" package was available for the 525i/528i model, consisting of the 3.5L engine from the E24 635CSi.


title: BMW 5 Series (E12)

text: The first M-badged 5 Series was the M535i, which began production in 1980. The M535i is powered by the M90 straight-six engine which produces . The sole gearbox choice is a 5-speed manual and 1,650 M535i cars were produced (including 240 CKD for South Africa). Features include optional front and rear spoilers, optional M-striping, sports suspension, Recaro sport seats, the steering wheel from the BMW M1, a dogleg close-ratio transmission, a limited-slip differential and larger brakes.


title: BMW 5 Series (E12)

text: The M535i is considered to be the predecessor to the BMW M5 model, which has been produced since the E28 generation.


title: BMW 5 Series (E12)

text: In South Africa, the 530 MLE was produced as a homologation special for racing, with 218 cars produced. The engine is a M30, producing . Significant weight reduction measures were undertaken, included body panels made from aluminium or thinner steel.


title: BMW 5 Series (E12)

text: With the introduction of the E23 7 Series, the E12 received a facelift in September 1976. The styling was overseen by Claus Luthe. The rear-mounted gasoline filler door was relocated to the side of the car and the taillights were widened. The hood was redesigned to a give a 'power bulge' which accentuated the BMW kidney grille, and the dashboard ventilation was repositioned to improve air distribution.


title: BMW 5 Series (E12)

text: As part of the facelift, the 520 model switched from the M10 inline-four engine to the BMW M20 straight-six engine, with the post-facelift 520 model often referred to as the 520/6. However, the M10 engine continued to be used in South Africa, due to local content laws. Even after the M20 entered local production in 1979, the 2.0-litre M10 continued to be available with "518" badges in South Africa. In other markets the only inline-four M10 post-facelift model available was the 1.8-litre 518 which carried on as the base model until the end of production.


title: BMW 5 Series (E12)

text: For the 525 and 528 models, the dual Zenith carburettors were replaced with a single Solex 4A1 DVG four-barrel, which increased power to in the 528.


title: BMW 5 Series (E12)

text: Initially, the only model sold in the United States was the 530i, which was powered by a fuel-injected straight-six engine. Changes for American-market E12s include lower compression pistons, exhaust gas recirculation, an air pump and modified exhaust manifolds called Thermal Reactors. The North American E12 models had larger bumpers (designed to withstand a collision without body damage), which increased the overall length by .


title: BMW 5 Series (E12)

text: For the 1979 model year, the 528i replaced the 530i. To reduce emissions, the thermal reactor and air pump system were replaced with a 3-way catalytic converter and the car's Bosch L-jetronic fuel injection system was now fitted with an exhaust gas oxygen sensor. Power was reduced by , and the presence of the catalytic converter meant that unleaded gasoline (petrol) was required.


title: BMW 5 Series (E12)

text: While being commended for its acceleration and build-quality, "Modern Motor" criticised the 1978 528i for unpredictable handling and excessive body roll. Steering corrections during cornering meant the car's body "lurches back annoyingly and messily", in part due to the soft springing and hard damping combination. In comparison to the Jaguar XJ6 and Peugeot 604, the car was viewed as narrow and cramped in the rear and prone to wind noise.


title: BMW 5 Series (E12)

text: Production of the E12 occurred from June 1972 to 1981, with a total of 699,094 cars produced. Initially, the cars were produced in Munich, Germany. Following the opening of the new BMW Group Plant Dingolfing in September 1973, production was phased over to the Dingolfing plant.


title: BMW 5 Series (E12)

text: Complete knock-down assembly of German-produced kits took place in Rosslyn, South Africa; Jakarta, Indonesia (by Gaya Motor); and Thailand.


title: Cult of Reason

text: The Cult of Reason () was France's first established state-sponsored atheistic religion, intended as a replacement for Catholicism during the French Revolution. After holding sway for barely a year, in 1794 it was officially replaced by the rival Cult of the Supreme Being, promoted by Robespierre. Both cults were officially banned in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte with his "Law on Cults of 18 Germinal, Year X".


title: Cult of Reason

text: Opposition to the Roman Catholic Church was integral among the causes of the French Revolution, and this anti-clericalism solidified into official government policy in 1792 after the First French Republic was declared. Most of the dechristianisation of France was motivated by political and economic concerns, and philosophical alternatives to the Church developed more slowly. Among the growing heterodoxy, the so-called "Culte de la Raison" became defined by some of the most radical revolutionaries like Jacques Hébert, Antoine-François Momoro, Pierre-Gaspard Chaumette, and Joseph Fouché.


title: Cult of Reason

text: Considerable debate has always persisted about the religiosity of the Cult of Reason. It was a hodgepodge of ideas and activities, a "multifarious phenomenon, marked by disorderliness". The Cult encompassed various elements of anticlericalism, including subordination of priests to secular authority, wealth confiscation from the Church, and doctrinal heresies both petty and profound. It was atheistic, but celebrated different core principles according to locale and leadership: most famous was Reason, but others were Liberty, Nature, and the victory of the Revolution.


title: Cult of Reason

text: One of the more philosophical proponents was Antoine-François Momoro in Paris. In his hands, the capital city's Cult of Reason was explicitly anthropocentric. Its goal was the perfection of mankind through the attainment of Truth and Liberty, and its guiding principle to this goal was the exercise of Reason. In the manner of conventional religion, it encouraged acts of congregational worship and devotional displays to the ideal of Reason. A careful distinction was always drawn between the rational respect of Reason and the veneration of an idol: "There is one thing that one must not tire telling people," Momoro explained, "Liberty, reason, truth are only abstract beings. They are not gods, for properly speaking, they are part of ourselves."


title: Cult of Reason

text: The overarching theme of the Cult was summarized by Anacharsis Clootz, who declared at the Festival of Reason that henceforward there would be "one God only, "Le Peuple"". The Cult was intended as a civic religion—inspired by the works of Rousseau, Quatremère de Quincy, and Jacques-Louis David, it presented "an explicit religion of man".


title: Cult of Reason

text: Adherence to the Cult of Reason became a defining attribute of the Hébertist faction. It was also pervasive among the ranks of the "sans-culottes". Numerous political factions, anti-clerical groups and events only loosely connected to the cult have come to be amalgamated with its name.


title: Cult of Reason

text: As a military commander dispatched by the Jacobins to enforce their new laws, Fouché led a particularly zealous campaign of dechristianisation. His methods were brutal but efficient, and helped spread the developing creed through many parts of France. In his jurisdictions, Fouché ordered all crosses and statues removed from graveyards, and he gave the cult one of its elemental tenets when he decreed that all cemetery gates must bear only one inscription—"Death is an eternal sleep." Fouché went so far as to declare a new civic religion of his own, virtually interchangeable with what would become known as the Cult of Reason, at a ceremony he dubbed the "Feast of Brutus" on 22 September 1793.


title: Cult of Reason

text: The official nationwide "Fête de la Raison", supervised by Hébert and Momoro on 20 Brumaire, Year II (10 November 1793) came to epitomize the new republican way of religion. In ceremonies devised and organised by Chaumette, churches across France were transformed into modern Temples of Reason. The largest ceremony of all was at the cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. The Christian altar was dismantled and an altar to Liberty was installed and the inscription "To Philosophy" was carved in stone over the cathedral's doors. Festive girls in white Roman dress and tricolor sashes milled around a costumed Goddess of Reason who "impersonated Liberty". A flame burned on the altar which was symbolic of truth.


title: Cult of Reason

text: To avoid statuary and idolatry, the Goddess figures were portrayed by living women, and in Paris the role was played by Momoro's wife, Sophie, who is said to have dressed "provocatively" and, according to Thomas Carlyle, "made one of the best Goddesses of Reason; though her teeth were a little defective."


title: Cult of Reason

text: Before his retirement, Georges Danton had warned against dechristianizers and their "rhetorical excesses", but support for the Cult only increased in the zealous early years of the First Republic. By late 1793, it was conceivable that the Convention might accept the invitation to attend the Paris festival en masse, but the unshakeable opposition of Maximilien Robespierre and others like him prevented it from becoming an official affair. Undeterred, Chaumette and Hébert proudly led a sizable delegation of deputies to Notre Dame.


title: Cult of Reason

text: Many contemporary accounts reported the Festival of Reason as a "lurid", "licentious" affair of scandalous "depravities", although some scholars have disputed their veracity. These accounts, real or embellished, galvanized anti-revolutionary forces and even caused many dedicated Jacobins like Robespierre to publicly separate themselves from the radical faction. Robespierre particularly scorned the Cult and denounced the festivals as "ridiculous farces".


title: Cult of Reason

text: In the spring of 1794, the Cult of Reason was faced with official repudiation when Robespierre, nearing complete dictatorial power during the Reign of Terror, announced his own establishment of a new, deistic religion for the Republic, the Cult of the Supreme Being. Robespierre denounced the Hébertistes on various philosophical and political grounds, specifically rejecting their perceived atheism. When Hébert, Momoro, Ronsin, Vincent, and others were sent to the guillotine on 4 Germinal, Year II (24 March 1794), the cult lost its most influential leadership; when Chaumette and other "Hébertistes" followed them four days later, the Cult of Reason effectively ceased to exist. Both cults were officially banned in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte with his "Law on Cults of 18 Germinal, Year X".


title: Pieces of Eight

text: Pieces of Eight is the eighth studio album by American progressive rock band Styx, released on September 1, 1978.


title: Pieces of Eight

text: Like the band's previous album, "The Grand Illusion" (1977), it managed to achieve triple platinum certification, thanks to the hit singles "Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)" and "Renegade".


title: Pieces of Eight

text: The band members produced and recorded the album (like their previous three efforts) at Paragon Studios in Chicago with recording engineer Barry Mraz and mixing engineer Rob Kingsland. "I'm O.K." was recorded at Paragon and St. James Cathedral. This would be the last album to be produced at Paragon Studios.


title: Pieces of Eight

text: The album's cover was done by Hipgnosis. Dennis DeYoung stated in the 1991 interview with Redbeard on the "In the Studio with Redbeard" episode that he initially hated the cover but grew to like it as he got older.


title: Pieces of Eight

text: Some consider the album to be Styx' second concept album (1973's "The Serpent Is Rising" arguably being the first) as well as the last Styx album with significant progressive rock leanings. The theme of the album, as Dennis DeYoung explained on "In the Studio with Redbeard" which devoted an entire episode to "Pieces of Eight", was about "not giving up your dreams just for the pursuit of money and material possessions".