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#IARC2017 – Protein-producing Frataxin Gene Delivered to Brain, Heart of Primates in Gene Therapy Study
New viral vectors were found to effectively transfer a normal and protein-producing frataxin gene into major tissues affected by Friedreich's ataxia — including the brain and the heart — in non-human primates, a new study showed.
The study was presented by Holger Patzke of Voyager Therapeutics at IARC 2017 in a presentation Saturday titled "Intravenous delivery of AAV gene therapy to cerebellum and peripheral tissues critical for the treatment of Friedreich's ataxia." IARC, the International Ataxia Research Conference, opened Wednesday in Pisa, Italy, and closes today.
Gene therapy is viewed as a potential therapeutic approach for Friedreich's ataxia (FA). One of its strategies relies on using inactivated viruses, namely adenoviruses, that upon infection introduce DNA into the target cell — delivering, in the case of FA, a normal and functional frataxin gene.
But a major challenge with adenoviral vectors is delivering the new frataxin gene at levels sufficient to ensure its effective and safe expression.
Friedreich ataxia attacks specific regions of the body, and they would be the treatment's targets: the dentate nucleus, a region of the cerebellum in the brain; the dorsal root ganglia, a specialized region of nerve cells within the spinal cord; and the heart.
Patzke presented results concerning the use of new adenoviral vectors carrying the frataxin gene, and their efficacy at delivering the gene in non-human primates tomsites that included the cerebellum, the peripheral nervous system, and the heart.
The adenoviruses were delivered intravenously (directly into the blood circulation), and the effectiveness of frataxin gene delivery was assessed one month later.
Results showed that the cerebellum, and specifically the dentate nucleus, were effectively targeted, as were the dorsal root ganglia and the heart. High levels of the frataxin protein were also in the targeted tissues, meaning that the gene delivery was effective and that it increased the amount of frataxin protein in the desired locations within the animals.
These results — in non-human primates — support the use of these novel adenoviral vectors as effective vehicles of frataxin gene delivery, and as "a potential approach for the treatment of central and peripheral FA," the research team concluded.


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After started beauty blogging, I became more particular about my diet, skincare regimen, etc.. Sometimes it seems very easy but not really. It is very tough to maintain a healthy lifestyle these days when so many environmental issues are happening all around.
Initially when I was in college (even before that), I was a very happy-go-lucky kind girl but after marriage when I shifted to a new city, initially it was not a good experience at all but as time passed, everything got settled down.. Then the worse thing arises after becoming mom.. No, no, I am not saying that becoming mom was the worse part but after delivery my skin behaved very weird and body too. In one side I was feeling blessed for becoming a mother but my body was back pulling me everytime. There were so many issues happened like body pain, hair fall, skin pigmentation, tried feeling, etc..
Then I decided to bring changes into my diet as well as in lifestyle.. After googling so much, I made a chart and live accordingly. That time I came to know the importance of vitamin E in our daily life.. I took vitamin E enriched food along with #Evion vitamin E supplements.. You won't believe I saw the visible result in just few months.. But still I am continuing the same regimen .. Here i want to add that, along with these, I do exercises as well to stay fit.. After 3 years now my life has settled to a better situation and maximum credit goes to vitamin E .
Now let me tell you the importance of vitamin E and the sources as well...
Vitamin E can be found from both plant and animal sources ..But the vitamin E from animal source is very poor comparing to plant source.. It found in butter, milk, egg yolk, liver etc.. Through plant source, you can find vitamin E from almond, hazelnuts, green peas, cucumber, tomato, spinach, broccoli, mango, asparagus, peanut, kiwi, etc.. These are all the natural sources of vitamin E which is sometimes not sufficient to fulfill the body's requirement.. Hence we have to take dietary vitamin E supplements and I would recommend to have Evion supplements.. Evion is a very well known brand for vitamin E . Along with all these, if you want ,then can add vitamin E to your skincare regimen as well.. There are vitamin E enriched lotions, creams, etc.. available in market..
Vitamin E has various health benefits .. It is well known for its antioxidant properties. The antioxidant in vitamin E helps to protect and stabilize the cell membrane and tissues of skin, hair, eye, liver, breast and testes. It also protect the lungs from oxidative damage due to environmental changes. It improves stamina and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Vitamin E and A together helps to reduce the higher cholesterol level.. Vitamin E also very much helpful in calm down the menstrual cramps in women. Vitamin E enriched skincare products are also high in demand.. Vitamin E is very much efficient for all hair issues. There are so many befits and the list will just go on and on...
At last I must say, vitamin E came as a boon for me and changed my life completely.. Add vitamin E to your daily diet and enjoy a healthier life ahead..
That's all for today ,hope you found this post helpful.. Share your thought in comments below... See yaa 😘
Never knew Vitamin E is so much necessary for ones body, thanks for sharing!ReplyDelete
I have also used vitamin E capsules from evion in my diet and also for face massages and it really helps! ❤ReplyDelete
Vitamin E is very beneficial for health. These supplements from Evion are definitely worth trying...ReplyDelete
Didn't know so many benefits of vitamin E. This seems like a great brand. I'm so going to try.ReplyDelete
Vitamin E is great for hair and skin. I didn't know it's good for eyes as wellReplyDelete
Sach me vitamin E bahut jaruri hai, main daily Evion 400 leti hu, nahi to mujhy leg cramps ho jaata haiReplyDelete
Thanks for this useful post 👍👍
Vitamin E is very important and at times I jokingly call it - Beauty Vitamin. Have noticed visible change on my skin & hair when included in my diet. Thanks for sharing the insights.ReplyDelete

subset: commoncrawl


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Hey there Peeps! Time for our weekly catch up! Did I end up with a more calm week? Read on to find out!
- If we were sipping chai together I'd tell you that this week was marginally better than last week, but still no smooth sailing!
- If we were sipping chai together I'd say that school has been busy, as ever, with transition days for our new kids, preparation for end of year assemblies, thinking about cards for staff who are leaving/having babies/turning 70, Sports Day, more training and handovers for my new subject lead next year, and Book Fairs!
- If we were sipping chai together I'd tell you that I have a new challenge next year, with a student with Autusim joining my class. He has very specific needs and routines, and there is no one to be his one to one support, so this will be interesting…. He joins another child I have who has certain issues, one who is showing signs of sone sort or SEN, and two others with extreme behaviour problems. Oh, I'll have my work cut out, but hey, it'll be my class, and there will be continuity, so I hope I can do justice! I thing there will be a bit of blogger fodder in it for me too….
- If we were sipping chai together I'd groan and say we had Sports Day! It's been a while since I was involved in Sports Day as it is usually on a Thursday, which is my Nursery day. This year though it was on a Wednesday which meant I got a chance to get more involved in it all. My class were a great bunch, encouraging each other, and showing some real competitiveness too! One lost her shoe in her running race, so I ended up running the race with her so she didn't feel like she was the only one running at the end. Then I accompanied a toddler to the finishing line in our siblings race, and finally I was dragged to the starting line again in the Teachers race! No. I dodnt win, but was 4th out of around 9. I'm not complaining, but I was the next day when the aches and pains were showing themselves!
- If we were sipping chai together I'd mention that it was my nephew's first birthday, and the first anniversary of Pops and his emergency surgery on Monday. The thought of that day is always bittersweet, with the worry of his op, and the news that the baby had been born!
- If we were sipping chai together I'd yawn as I tell you that Saturday, I was up at some ungodly hour, unable to sleep with the muggy weather. I ended up reading for a coule of hours before I could sleep, then when I finally dozed off, it was time to wake up ready for taking Lil Princess to swimming! The morning passed in a haze, and I didn't feel right until I'd had a 2 hour nap in the afternoon!
- If we were sipping chai together I'd tell you that Sunday was another Cricket dedicated morning, but I was determined to have a little me time too, so I went to get my nails done! And Cricket-wise, Sunday was a good day for many… Lil Man's team won their match, and England were crowned Cricket World Cup Winners for the first time, after a nailbiting, historic Super Over end to the match! Now, if you know me, you know I am not sports orientated at all, but even I got excited about this! And to top it off, the Wimbledon final was on too, so tensions were high right up until the end of these matches!
- If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I'd tell you that this week we have the end of year assembly for Reception class, reports need to go out to the parents too, and there is a toy sale being organised by my councillors, and the Eco councillors, to raise money for playground equipment!
- If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I'd say that I have a dinner out on Friday that I am looking forward to, to celebrate the impending wedding of our Head!
- If we were sipping that chai together, and possibly reaching for cake or cookies I'd mention that Pops is coming over on Saturday, to bring my dear aunt and uncle who have come over from Kenya to visit. I haven't seen them for a long time, and I am really looking forward to it! This is my Mum's elder brother and his wife. They are such wonderful people and my aunt is one of the women in my life, I class as one of my 'other' mothers!
Right, I think that is enough, don't you, Peeps?!
Tell me how your week has been!


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A Blast From the Past
I grew up with Ladas. Back in Bulgaria, back in the day, I used to ride in them, see them everywhere, and try not to get hit by them. Lada was the Toyota Corolla of the Balkans, along with its Russian brother Moskvitch, and the infamous East German cardboard car Trabant.
So you can understand my surprise when John sent me this photo of a Lada speeding like a dream (or more like a hallucination) on a California freeway. The next more surprising thing would be if I saw it myself.
And no, John didn't use his phone while driving; this was taken at a stop-and-go part of his commute with an iPhone 5 + zoom.
Man, I miss the Homeland.


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Daniel Tosh
Daniel Tosh is the type of comedian who finds punch lines in race, gender, sexual orientation, rape, abortion, AIDS, religion—basically, anything that you, or anyone else, might find to be off-limits topics for humor.
Sure, his act has garnered a fair share of controversy over the years. But he never backs down, because in his own words, "I do find those jokes funny, so I make them." Other comedians have periodically come to his defense, sticking up for his right to remain uncensored, and Tosh has made it into a very popular form for himself while hosting the hit Comedy Central show Tosh.0. The show follows a rather simple formula: Tosh standing in front of a green screen, watching online videos and commenting on the often hilarious/dumbfounding/absurd content within. He then augments those clips with related sketches, and even a weekly "Web Redemption" for one of the featured YouTube sensations.
The fact that Tosh has repeatedly stated over the years that he will end his career (or possibly his life) on his 38th birthday—which just happened to take place May 29—might have momentarily given some of his critics hope. The conflicting fact that he begins his The June Gloom Tour—which finds him doing more than 50 shows across the country in 31 days—the very day after that birthday is just one more joke that Tosh is happy to unleash upon the world. Although with that kind of workload, combined with the high cost of tickets, it's hard to know who's really getting the last laugh. (Jacob Stringer)
Daniel Tosh @ Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple, 801-355-2787, May 30, 7 & 9:30 p.m., $59.50-$75. ArtTix.org
Josh Hanagarne: The World's Strongest Librarian
Josh Hanagarne is many things. He's a librarian at the Salt Lake City Main Library. He's a husband, father, blogger and 6-foot-7-inch, 260-pound strength trainer. He writes about all these roles—and the fact that he also has extreme Tourette's syndrome—in his new memoir, The World's Strongest Librarian.
Working in a library, a place popularly known for iconic shushing, seems completely contradictory for someone with Tourette's. It is specifically that incongruity, consciously sought out by Hanagarne in many ways, that provides insight into how this super-size book lover ticks. As he writes in his memoir, "One of the reasons I work here is because I have extreme Tourette's syndrome. The kind with verbal tics, sometimes loud ones; the kind that draws warning looks. Working in this library is the ultimate test for someone who literally can't sit still. Who can't shush himself. A test of willpower, of patience and, occasionally, of the limits of human absurdity." (Jacob Stringer)
Josh Hanagarne: World's Strongest Librarian @ The King's English Bookshop, 1511 S. 1500 East, 801-484-9100, May 30, 7 p.m., free. KingsEnglish.com
E3 Modern Grand Opening Art Show
Although E3 Modern was open for the April Gallery Stroll, the Gallery Stroll on May 17 marked the official grand opening of Josh Stippich and company's vacuum-tube hi-fi audio equipment and modern-furniture store, at the former site of NoBrow Coffee.
In audio and furniture, everything retro seems new again, and that's especially true of vacuum-tube audio, long beloved by electric-guitar players and audiophiles craving its warm, rich sound. The speakers are fashioned to fit into furniture cabinets mod enough that they seem like something out of a New York high-rise apartment on Mad Men, and the finished pieces have elements of comfort and cool that make them seem like fixtures of a former, fondly recalled era—which is now back.
Then there's the art on the walls, by 14 of the most design-minded artists in town. That includes Trent Call's urban, graffiti-influenced prints, which, along with his paintings in a very different style at 15th Street Gallery, again make his work some of the most indelible to stroll attendees.
There's a sense of beatnik cool to the characters in John Bean's work, as well as often a nod to film noir. Craig Cleveland's "Dada Face" project is an intriguing visual play on language. Mark Seely's "art brut" mixed-media pieces bear a surprising veneer that makes them seem almost urbane. (Brian Staker)
E3 Modern Grand Opening Art Show @ E3 Modern, 315 E. Broadway, 801-808-9782, through June 15, free. E3Modern.com
Jerry Seinfeld
There's an iconic image of a solo stand-up comic—microphone in hand, back against a brick wall, just one person telling jokes to the many people sitting out in the dark. For a while, it was also the way Jerry Seinfeld opened up his award-winning self-titled television series.
The thing about Seinfeld's humor is that he relies heavily on good old jokes. Sure, he might be able to spin a funny yarn or two, but he really likes the turn of phrase that creates interesting cultural observation with a funny bone: "Men want the same thing from their underwear that they want from women: a little bit of support, and a little bit of freedom." Such simple-yet-funny quips were also the base structure for Seinfeld. But after that success tsunami, Seinfeld the comedian has remained largely behind the scenes. There was Bee Movie and The Marriage Ref; he even started an odd Internet series, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. But all those are really ripples in comparison to the popularity of the semi-fictionalized and televised world of Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer.
So, it's a pleasure to find Seinfeld going back out on the road to find a slew of brick walls in front of which to deliver his material. Or in this case, because you're Jerry Seinfeld, you find a few symphony halls, opera houses and large theaters to tell a finely tuned joke or two—something like, "It's amazing that the amount of news that happens in the world every day always just exactly fits the newspaper." (Jacob Stringer)
Jerry Seinfeld @ Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple, 801-355-2787, May 31, 7 p.m., $46-$78.50. ArtTix.org
Thelma & Louise
Half Marathon
The Thelma & Louise Half Marathon route runs along the Colorado River in Moab, on a flat course guaranteed to deliver fast times. It's the spring partner to Moab's fall half marathon, known as The Other Half.
The race takes its name from the 1991 movie, and the climactic scene that was filmed in the Moab area. Don't worry: You won't be required to go over a cliff with your BFF at the end of the race. However, since the course starts and ends at the Gold Bar Campground, racers can jump off the banks and right into the Colorado River after the race for a cooldown.
If you want to see one of the actual dummies used in the final Thelma & Louise scene, head out Highway 128 after the race to Red Cliffs Lodge and check out the movie museum, which includes artifacts and information about the many Hollywood films shot in the area. (Geoff Griffin)
Thelma & Louise Half Marathon @ Gold Bar Campground, Highway 279 (Potash Road), along Colorado River, Moab, June 1, 6:30 a.m., $95. MoabHalfMarathon.com
Spring Art Adoption
The annual Art Adoption is starting to become a welcome part of spring for the local art community. With the departure of winter, the event is a chance to do a little spring cleaning by donating clothing to the Homeless Youth Resource Center, nonperishable food to the Utah Food Bank, and financial contributions to the Utah Arts Alliance.
Hopefully, the cleaning frees up some space for more art, because more than 20 local artists have artworks—at bargain prices—in need of a loving home. From jewelry and pottery to paintings and prints, it's one of the best times of the year to add to your art collection without breaking the bank.
This season's Art Adoption will also feature prints, paintings and collected garbage from organizer Josh Scheuerman's Four Corners Kickstarter project. Scheuerman's project documents the natural beauty across Utah that's being destroyed by plastic litter, and promotes voluntary recycling of single-use plastic bags. (Brian Staker)
Spring Art Adoption @ SLC Arts Hub, 663 W. 100 South, June 1, 7-11 p.m., free. Facebook.com/SLCArtAdoption, UtahArts.org
Utah Pride Festival
The recent announcement by NBA player Jason Collins that he's gay was greeted as a ground-breaking moment in terms of professional athletes coming out publicly. That might have come as news to, among others, MLS soccer player David Testo, who came out in a 2011 interview, and has since served on the board of the "You Can Play" campaign to fight homophobia in sports.
Testo serves as the 2013 Grand Marshall for the Utah Pride parade, which makes its way through downtown Salt Lake City on Sunday morning. But the parade is only part of a multiday celebration by the local LBGT community, including a Saturday-morning 5K, headliner musical performances (see Music Live, p. 52) and a wide variety of vendors, crafts and information booths. After a watershed year for LGBT rights issues nationwide, spend a little time kicking up your heels. (Scott Renshaw)
Utah Pride Festival @ Salt Lake City & County Building, 450 S. 200 East, June 1, 3-11 p.m.; June 2, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday tickets $13 in advance, $15 at festival; Sunday tickets $8 in advance, $10 at festival; Pride Parade begins at corner of 400 East & 300 South, 10 a.m., free. UtahPrideFestival.org
Brandon Sanderson: The Rithmatist
Utah's own Brandon Sanderson is hardly a newbie at this whole writing thing. His best-selling works have created unique fantasy worlds (including the Mistborn series and Elantris), as well as continuing the world of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. But sometimes when you're at the top of your game, that's the perfect time to try something a bit new.
The Rithmatist marks Sanderson's first work specifically for the young-adult audience, yet he's still traveling in a comfortable milieu of magic and imagination. He introduces us to the world of the Rithmatists, whose unique magical gifts allow them to turn two-dimensional drawings into living Chalkings to help defend humanity against the Chalkings' evil, wild counterparts. But when student Rithmatists begin vanishing from their academy, their fate may be in the hands of Joel, a chalkmaker's son whose dream of being a Rithmatist may turn into a nightmare. (Scott Renshaw)
Brandon Sanderson: The Rithmatist @ Provo Library, 550 N. University Ave., Provo, 801-852-6661, June 3, 7 p.m., free but ticket required. KingsEnglish.com
Broadway Across America: Jersey Boys
The term "jukebox musical" has taken on a pejorative connotation—a swipe at theatrical productions that manufacture a thin structural foundation on which to hang a bunch of familiar tunes and cash in on nostalgia. But Bob Gaudio—chief songwriter for the legendary 1960s vocal group The Four Seasons—saw the idea somewhat differently. What if you could take that bunch of familiar tunes, and actually use it to tell the story of the artists who made them so familiar?
Or, perhaps the more accurate term would be "stories"—because Jersey Boys takes an unconventional approach to artistic biography. When writers Rick Elice and Marshall Brickman interviewed three of the surviving members—Gaudio, Frankie Valli and Tommy DeVito—they found widely varying recollections of their lives and careers. So, the writers folded those differing perspectives into the show itself, giving all four members—those three interview subjects, plus fourth original member Nick Massi—a turn at narrating the story, from their formation through their chart-topping success, with plenty of behind-the-scenes drama.
But the songs that led to that chart-topping success are still the star of the show, and Jersey Boys delivers all those great hits: "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Walk Like a Man," "December 1963 (Oh, What a Night)," "My Eyes Adored You," "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You." The darker side of The Four Seasons' lives may have been hidden from fans for decades, but you can experience all that amazing music while learning the real story—or at least, everyone's version of the real story. (Scott Renshaw)
Broadway Across America: Jersey Boys @ Capitol Theatre, 50 W. 200 South, 801-355-2787, June 4-16, see website for times, $40-$130. ArtTix.org


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Sunday, 10 June 2012
Peking Duck (& Six Other Duck Dishes) @ Duwang 都王
It wasn't until my fourth night in Beijing that I ate what could be considered local food. In other cities (like Hong Kong or Singapore) I would have stomped my foot like a spoilt six-year-old if I had to wait that long. But I don't mind waiting in Beijing because it's, with the possible exception of Shanghai, the only city in the world where one can sample food from every corner of China. For instance I ate Cantonese, Shanxi, Buddhist vegetarian, Xinjiang, Taiwanese, Sichuan, Shanghai and (more) Shanxi food before pitching up at Duwang 都王 for some local fare.
Duwang specialises in the Chinese capital's most famous dish: Peking duck (Beijing kaoya 北京烤鸭). While the crispy skinned duck is the restaurant's headline act, the support acts are pretty damn good, too. Opening up this veritable festival of all things duck was a cold starter of mustard duck webs. These had been deboned leaving just the skin, web and cartilage. I really enjoyed the crunchy cartilage, with the mustard giving it a nasal passage-clearing quality.
Next up was a rather theatrical dish of duck hearts served with a flaming teacup of baijiu 白酒. Here the hearts were skewered then placed in booze-fuelled flames. This may seem gimmicky, but the effect of crisping up the duck hearts enhances both the taste and texture. At around the same time out came a dish of duck liver, which was a bit like a pâté. This was OK, but to be honest, I can barely remember anything about it – never a good sign.
Over the years I've pretty much eaten most parts of a duck, but the meat from the jaws was a new experience for me. Served in a vat of red oil infused by chillies and Sichuan peppercorns, these Sichuan-style duck jaws were revelatory. The meat on the jawbone was remarkably tender and had soaked up the numbing heat of the Sichuan peppercorns. What's more, the tongues were still intact – a bonus! Also bobbling alongside the jaws were lotus root, potato slices and mooli. These had also absorbed lots of flavour from the red oil. I was so engrossed in this dish that I missed out on taking photos of the chef carving up the Peking duck.
By the time I'd finished my assault on the duck jaws, the Peking duck had already been carved up into slices of crispy skin and tender meat. As is the modern way, the crispiest bits of skin are set aside and dipped into sugar. The rest of the skin and meat are then used to fill pancakes or even better, sesame buns (zhima shaobing 芝麻烧饼), with the usual spring onion, cucumber and sweet bean sauce. The duck was very good at Duwang, and the meat was kept moist and tender by being served on plates over a tealight.
You can opt to reserve some of the duck meat for a stir-fry, but we eschewed that option, as the restaurant usually diddles you by not using all of the meat. Instead the carcass is usually bagged up and taken home to make stock. However, in this instance it was used to make an extra course of deep-fried duck bones tossed in garlic chilli salt. This was a fine accompaniment to my beer and I enjoyed hoovering up the last remnants of meat off the bone! There was also one last course of duck soup, but this was a bit bland.
There were also some non-duck dishes such as cucumber salad, stir-fried greens and other bits and bobs, but I can't remember much about them. Besides, who cares? Restaurants like Duwang stand or fall by the quality of their duck dishes.
There's a lot to like about Duwang: the good service, the traditional 'red and gold' décor, but above all, the pride in the food it knocks out. The thing is, though, Beijing (being a city of 20 million inhabitants) isn't easy to get around, and a restaurant has to be really exceptional to schlep across town for. Duwang just falls short of falling into that category, and I consider it to be an excellent neighbourhood joint rather than a must-visit. Mind you, it is close to the Olympic complex, which remains a popular tourist attraction.
The easiest way to get to Duwang is to hail a taxi, and show the address to the driver. As the restaurant doesn't have English signage, look out for the characters 都王 on the shopfront.
Duwang Roast Duck Restaurant 都王烤鸭店
Address 地址: 北京 朝阳亚运村慧忠北里201号
Tel 电话: +86-10-6491-9665 or +86-10-6491-9667
Other Peking Duck Joints in Beijing
For a similar old school duck-focussed feast to Duwang, I recommend Ya Wang (鸭王), which has branches dotted across the capital. I've probably been to this restaurant more than any other in Beijing, although my last visit was way back in 2009. More recently, fellow blogger Hungry Female enjoyed Liqun, a charming, if slightly run-down, joint in a Beijing hutong.
For an upmarket Peking duck experience, the consensus choice seems to be Da Dong (大董). Here the focus is as much on modern Chinese cuisine as the duck. I was blown away when I ate there in 2010. Other posh places that people rate include Duck de Chine and Made in China.
One last word of advice, lots of guidebooks and websites still mention Quanjude 全聚德 as a place to try Peking duck. However, many are of the opinion that this famous restaurant group is trading on past glories, and my colleagues in Beijing consider it to be a tourist trap.
10 comments:
Wow - am always so jealous of travel posts. Would give my right arm for this meal - those duck hearts look pretty special!ReplyDelete
Indeed - looks amazing. Eager to try those sesame buns instead of the pancakes. The hearts look delicious - big fan of poultry heart eating - just the right offaly flavour/texture for me. I'm not too sold on the webs - may be a step too far, personally. I'd give em a go though.ReplyDelete
Great post Mr. N - amazing to see how much duck can get eaten in one meal!
WOuld you believe I didn't have any duck when I was in Beijing?! That was a bit of an oversight methinks. Because this does look very tasty indeed. I really like the idea of serving the duck in sesame rolls instead of pancakes, i would imagine that would make for a tasty dish.ReplyDelete
I'm also really intrigued by the idea of the duck jaws (and tongues). If the meat is anything like cheeks then it must be good. Did you get any more of the head meat with that?
Vickyb - I actually enjoy writing the overseas posts more than the London ones. To be honest, I think I would've packed in blogging but for posts like these.ReplyDelete
Frank - waste not want not! It's a shame but I don't think anywhere does the sesame buns in London.
Gworm - shame on you, Aaron! I'll be surprised if they ever let you return to Beijing, let alone sample the duck!
Onto the jaws, it was the meat attached to the jawbone and we didn't get any of the upper part of the head. And yes, like cheeks, the meat was very good.
I am so in awe and jealous and inspired. Everyone goes on about eating pig nose-to-tail, but seems like the chinese have done it just as well with the duck. the jaw meat sounds like it'd be like pork cheeks, and I find the cheeks the best part of most animals, fish included. I'm a huge fan of chicken feet and trotters so I love the sound of the duck webs, reminds me of pig's ears with the crunchy cartilage. One day when I get myself to beijing, I'm going to hunt this restaurant down.ReplyDeleteReplies
Shu Han - if you have your heart set on the Sichuan duck jaws then do visit Duwang. Otherwise, there are heaps of top-notch duck restaurants in Beijing.Delete
The place is next door to my grandma's house! Did u see the birds nest? Are u still there in China? If so, head down to Cow Street and get some proper Chinese Muslim street food!ReplyDeleteReplies
Mama Lan - freaky! Given how ginormous Beijing is, it's freaky that your gran lives near Duwang.Delete
I'm sadly back in the UK now. I have been to the Olympic complex before, but sadly didn't make it to Cow St. Next time.
Only just read this - thank you for the mention! Those deep fried duck bones are my real favaourite, sometimes even more than the duck itself! I miss Liqun!ReplyDeleteReplies
Hungry Female - no worries! It was the first time I tried the duck bones, as usually someone asks for the carcass to be bagged up.Delete


text:
- Name: Jon Salitros
- E-mail: email@example.com
- Age: 34
- Where: St. Paul, MN
- Height: 5' 11"
- Weight: 190 Lbs.
- Years Bodybuilding :10
- Favorite Bodypart: shoulders, chest, triceps
- Favorite Exercise: military front press, dumbbell incline press, extensions
- Favorite Supplements: Pinnacle Andro Poppers, Designer Protein, Xenadrine NRG.
How Did You Get Started?
Most of my bodybuilding career was inspired by family members. When I was about 16 my brother took me with him to the gym. This gym was in a warehouse surrounded by echoes of clanging weights and pure desire. Viking gym was noted for producing winners at the yearly state contest. There I learned the basics of mass training, which I used to propel me through my football days.
When my football career was over I had to find some way to deal with my competitive hunger. I started working out on a regular basis along with introducing my younger sister to the bodybuilding world. Little did I know my sister would bring out the bodybuilder in me. She competed a year later winning local shows, then the state show, and finally taking 2nd place at nationals. It was then after her national show I decided to take up the challenge. Later the next year I competed in my first natural show and won my weight class. I have been competing naturally on and off for the last 8 years.
What Workout Plan Worked Best For You?
Currently I am training for a show in early October. With 8 weeks to go, I am using a 3-1 2-1 training schedule. I will do 4-5 cardio sessions of 30 minutes until the last few weeks when I might do 2 sessions a day. I also make sure that I do abs and calves twice a week. My workouts are structured around muscle recovery. I never train a body part unless it can perform at 100%.
What Nutrition Plan Has Worked Best For You?
What Supplements Have Given You The Greatest Gains?
Why do you love Bodybuilding?
Hmmm....why would anyone want to eat a restricted diet (almost gross at times)....lift with the intent to be sore the next day.....and possibly risk personal relationships in the process? For me it is the simple love of personal change and having the confidence to walk across that stage on contest day. Any bodybuilder can tell you about that fantastic feeling of the night before a show. The feeling of accomplishment as you look in the mirror and realize the hard training and dieting has paid off. Even if you don't place as well as you like, take pride in knowing you represent a small percentage of the population who can achieve this kind of shape. I think everyone should make the effort to at least try a 12 week training diet. The diet will offer great information on how your body reacts to certain foods and what it takes to stay in peak condition.
What Are Your Future Bodybuilding Plans?
What One Tip Would You Give Other Bodybuilders?
There is no substitute for perfect form. My training in the last few years has focused solely on targeting the muscle. I concentrate on the exercise at hand so that I put all the effort into the primary muscle and use the secondary muscle for support. Chest is a perfect example of improper form. I observe numerous people in the gym pushing the bar or dumbbell with tight hands putting undo stress on the front shoulders and triceps. Proper form should start with relaxed hands and the weight should be pressed from the center of the chest. The triceps then should only help support the weight. All body parts can be worked in this manner, but we first must take the time to think about what muscle we are truly training.
Who Are Your Favorite Bodybuilders?
This is a tough one as there are so many to choose from. My list would include Dorian Yates, Lee Haney, Frank Zane, and lastly Arnold.


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While often we think of student feedback in terms of official evaluation forms like (at Harvard) the Q Guide, in fact we as instructors have the option of soliciting an almost constant stream of feedback from students through low-stakes exercises and relatively informal interactions in class and/or in office hours. Much of this feedback requires little or no effort to collect: we can learn a lot simply by slowing down a bit and taking the time to "read" our students in class. Registering our students' attention spans, scanning for looks of confusion, pausing to ask for questions, or requesting that a volunteer summarize or apply a concept we've just taught are all easy ways to get a quick read on how well our students understand what we are teaching in real time.
There are other, more formal ways of collecting such ongoing feedback; even these, however, require only a modest amount of effort. Some can be done outside of the regular class period, like scheduling brief office hours appointments with students either before or after an assignment is due. (This can be an excellent way not only to offer your students feedback on their work, but also to give them the chance to raise any concerns which they have about their progress in the class.) Within the regular class period, many instructors collect feedback through one of a number of low-stakes, anonymous exercises known in the field as Classroom Assessment Techniques (CATs). Among the best-known of these are "minute papers," in which students jot down a metacognitive reflection on their learning in response to questions like "What was the most important thing you learned during this class?" or "What do you still not understand?", or "the muddiest point," in which students journal briefly on a concept that remains most confusing or unclear to them.
Finally, there is always the option of polling software like PollEverywhere (for which students can use their laptop, tablet, or computer) or Learning Catalytics (which requires the use of clickers). Through these technologies, instructors can poll students in real time, either to check their comprehension (through multiple choice) or to prompt group brainstorming. It can be particularly effective to use polling software to show students how their own attitudes and understandings are changing over the course of one or more class periods, by asking students the same question at the end of a unit of instruction as at the start. How many students have changed their mind or understood an issue or concept differently after completing the unit?


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United States spends outrageous amounts for military recruitment
The financial crisis might be over for the most part but financial difficulties still exist. In view of this knowledge - what's a soldier worth?
Keeping the wars going, giving the soldiers uniforms, guns, bullets, transportation from and to war zones, feeding them - it all costs money. Yet, this all is unimportant for the sake of this short post.
Recent article in Washington Post says "Defense Department spent about $10,000 on advertising, marketing, recruiters and other budget items per recruit, with the Army spending more than double that, at $22,000."
Am I missing something or is United States really putting on average of $16 000 into brainwashing Americans? Young Americans still in age they are not allowed to drink, yet are allowed to be killed?
If a business venture had to pay $16 000 just to find each of their 200 000 employees they need, they'd go bankrupt. But obviously, United States can afford it.
You can afford it or not but...isn't it just plain stupid?


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Nestled against the scenic backdrop of the gorgeous Santa Catalina Mountains in Tucson, Arizona, the all-inclusive Miraval Resort & Spa is touted as one of the top wellness retreats of its kind. Frequented by celebrities from Oprah Winfrey to Ellen, Miraval has become renowned the world over for its unique mindful approach to health and wellness. Tala Habbal takes a closer look…
The practice of mindfulness is at the core of the resort's philosophy, with an emphasis on life in balance underpinning the majority of activities and treatments on site. Guests range from couples through to groups of female friends, and even the newly divorced. Miraval aims to harmonise its guests' physical, spiritual and emotional needs through activities ranging from art and photography to meditation and yoga.
Unique and innovative mind/body treatments and classes like the resort's famed 'Equine Experience', 'Desert Sky Zipline', and 'Face to Face', are just some of the programmes that have proven to be unique and beneficial to guests. The award-winning equine experiences, created by therapist Wyatt Webb, are aimed at helping to unleash creativity, heal trauma and improve communication. The process of picking up the horse's hooves is said to reveal fears and doubts, and to shed light on aspects of the participant's character that may be hidden in their subconscious. Both the 'Desert Sky Zipline' and 'Face to Face" experiences are outdoor challenges that focus on the freedom of letting go, celebrating new beginnings and learning to trust yourself and others.
In addition to a plethora of outdoor workshops and challenges, Miraval also boasts an award-winning spa with services ranging from conventional massages and beauty treatments to more avant-garde treatments like the "Samada Healing Ceremony" or the "Pachamama Medicine" experience.
No high-end wellness retreat would be complete without a delightful culinary experience to match. Miraval extends its mindfulness approach to dining with a focus on "mindful eating at every meal". Guests are treated to flavourful menus made from fresh, locally sourced ingredients. And although the focus is on health and wellbeing, Miraval doesn't shy away from promoting a little indulgence with an on-site bar, atypical for most wellness retreats.
The 400-acre property features a wide selection of impeccably designed accommodations including large suites and ultra-exclusive two- to three-bedroom luxury villas, which feature outdoor pools, gourmet kitchens and access to in-villa chef and spa services.
Whether visiting for health or pleasure, Miraval's programmes, the indulgent spa treatments and exquisite cuisine all serve to make it a top pick for discerning spa-goers who are in need of rest, relaxation and a dose of re-balance, albeit with a hefty price tag.


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Since playing around with Youtube, I have been getting rather frustrated with the poor quality of the movies after uploading. It can take some time to upload things, but Broadbandsports seems to be a solid solution.
Check this effort out and compare it to the YouTube offering ( exactly the same file uploaded ).
Broadbandsports 'v' YouTube
Posted by www.vic-tim.com No comments:
My 3rd Skateboard...
This is my 3rd skateboard ( following a plastic Variflex and a Skull Skates board ). It is a Schimtt Stix 'Danger Hazardous Skater' deck with Thunder Trucks, Powell Street 95A wheels and lots of other cool kit ( including the classic Cellblock III ).I bought it from New Deal Skates in Wealdstone in around 1989 when I was about 12. I have had skateboards since this one, but this is the classic one which I bought in to work to illustrate my history in skateboarding.
Whether it was attempting to Ollie off curbs with my mate Tim P, or hanging around Harrow Skate Park every Saturday come rain or shine, this skateboard is my youth.
As I look forward to another chapter in my life, it is good to look back at the good times so we can appreciate what we have and who we have become.
Posted by www.vic-tim.com No comments:
The tooth mouse?
Vicky has just had a wisdom tooth removed, I wonder if a mouse will come to get it?
Posted by www.vic-tim.com No comments:
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I was very fortunate yesterday to have a few hours to myself. Having heard about a Gwent Wildlife Trust site nearby, I decided to investigate. It turned out to be about a 30 minute walk from my home, and when I eventually found it, it was just one small gate tucked away in a small lay-by on a country lane.
None-the-less it was absolutely lovely. It is only about three acres in size, and it is very wild still, which is how it was intended to be. There are a lot of wild flowers, of which I'm ashamed to say I could only identify one, but I have made a mental note to obtain a small pocket book that I can take with me to assist with identification in the future.
There were also plenty of birds, rabbits and I managed to get a quick shot of a rather large dragonfly, once again, sorry but I couldn't identify it, but I have enclosed a photo here. If anyone can help with the identification, please be good enough to leave a comment.
It is my intention to make another visit ASAP, I will keep you posted.


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17 features that make your autoresponder an **AUTORESPONDER** - Part 1
If you are selling anything on the net, you are most likely using ... If you aren't, you are losing sales by the ... There are lots of good articles ... the need to use autore
If you are selling anything on the net, you are most likely
using autoresponders. If you aren't, you are losing sales by
the truckload. There are lots of good articles outlining the
need to use autoresponders, so we are going to focus on the
difference between autoresponders and **AUTORESPONDERS.**
This article gives you the first nine features your
**AUTORESPONDER** should include. Part 2 will give you the
remaining eight.
Autoresponders come in two flavours, autoresponder and
**AUTORESPONDER** If you only want to send information to a
prospect once you can get by with an autoresponder. These
versions are basic, no frills, get the job done, units. They
are great for archiving articles, but a bit basic for a
marketing campaign.
If you are running a marketing campaign, you need an
**AUTORESPONDER.** Multiple follow-ups are essential,
personalization is a must, and maximizing sales is the whole
When you need an **AUTORESPONDER,** shop around. Most of the
paid units also offer a FREE, basic version for you to try
and kick the tires. Most importantly, if you are paying for
an **AUTORESPONDER,** make sure you get all the bells and
1. An affiliate or partner program that allows you to make
a sideline income. If you refer a few other people, you can
cover the cost of your own responders and make a little extra
spending money on the side. It's a nice little benefit.
2. Easy to use control panel for setting up and managing
your responders. Every **AUTOREPONDER** company is different.
If the control panel is difficult to figure out and the
instructions are sparse, you risk sending out the wrong
responses, in the wrong order to the wrong people.
3. Multiple responders at an affordable price. One
**AUTORESPONDER** just won't do. Even if you are only selling
one product, you are likely running more than one campaign.
Each campaign should have its own **AUTORESPONDER**. If you
are paying over $20 per month for less than 50
**AUTORESPONDERS,** you are paying too much.
4. Unlimited follow up messages from each **AUTORESPONDER**.
This really puts your business on autopilot. You can choose to
send out follow up messages once a month, once a week, or
once a day. Remember that it takes an average of 7 impressions
before you turn a prospect into a customer.
5. Changeable send addresses. This is a very handy feature if
you have more than one online business. You can send all your
**AUTORESPONDER** messages right from the same
**AUTORESPONDER** service and use whatever company name and
address you wish.
6. Signature file. Your signature file is one of your
biggest FREE advertising spaces available. Make sure that
your signature file is automatically included with each
**AUTORESPONDER** message. Your **AUTORESPONDER** should
automatically include your signature file the same way your
email program does.
7. Filters. This feature works the same as on your email.
If you don't want to receive mail from a specific address
or addresses, simply filter them out.
8. Redirect pages. Once your **AUTORESPONDER** has been
clicked on, and your message is on route to its recipient,
you can redirect your prospect to another page of your
site, a thank you page, or a new sales page, perhaps.
9. Form generator. Having the HTML code automatically
generated for a professional form takes all the hassle
out of form creation.
And that's not all. In Part 2 of this article there are
another eight features that your **AUTORESPONDER** should
be offering you. Most of these features are only found in
paid responders, but there are good FREE ones on the
market as well. My two favourite **AUTORESPONDERS** are:
SendFree - FREE **AUTORESPONDER** with some of the bells
and whistles, http://www.sendfree.com/affref.php3?ref=39695
Automarketic - **AUTORESPONDER** with all the bells and
whistles at an affordable price,
All autoreponders/**AUTORESPONDERS** are not created
equally. The ones mentioned above, in my humble opinion,
are two of the best on the market. Take a look around an
select the one that is best for you.
Good luck with your marketing and God Bless.
Source: Free Guest Posting Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
About Article Author
Terry Telford is the author of the popular ebook,
Website Ladder, and the founder of bpc publishing, where you
can pick up your FREE and almost FREE website marketing and
traffic tools. Visit http://www.bpcpublishing.com today!


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Afternoon Piha Beach and Rainforest Tour from Auckland
Explore and admire Auckland's largest regional park, the Waitakere Ranges, on this 5 hour afternoon eco-tour.
You'll be picked up from your centrally located Auckland hotel before traveling 30-minutes west to the Arataki Visitor Centre. From the Arataki Centre take in panoramic views extending from the Tasman Sea to the Pacific Ocean and absorb the area's history and admire the magnificent traditional Maori carvings that stand guard there.
From here enjoy a walk in the rainforest before visiting a beautiful black sand beach for a walk on the soft sand.
Afternoon refreshments are provided along with full commentary from our driver guides.
per adult from
What's included :
- Inner city Auckland hotel pick up and drop off
- Guided rainforest walk
- Visit Arataki Visitor Centre - gateway to the Waitakere Ranges
- Visit Piha Beach
- Coffee and/or Tea - Enjoy afternoon tea refreshments - tea, coffee, juice and cookies
- GST (Goods and Services Tax)
What's excluded :
- Gratuities
- Food
- This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Arataki Visitor Centre - Waitakere Ranges, 300 Scenic Drive, Nihotupu, Piha, Auckland 0604 New Zealand
Enjoy amazing views and hear about the history of the Waitakere Ranges at the first stop on this tour
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Waitakere Ranges, Piha 0772, New Zealand
Enjoy a easy walk through the rainforest of the Waitakere Ranges
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Piha Beach, Piha, Auckland New Zealand
Walk along the black sand beach of Piha (30 minutes) & time for afternoon tea refreshments
Duration: 40 minutes
Pass By: Bush and Beach, Auckland Central, Auckland 0650 New Zealand
Enjoy a half day tour with Bush and Beach - Please note this information is limited due to the locations not being available to be added on this platform
Departure Point :SkyCity Auckland, Victoria Street &, Federal Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New ZealandTraveler pickup is offeredThe above list does not include all pick up hotel locations - Pick up is included from most inner city Auckland accommodation - please advise where you are staying and we can give you a pick up time or meeting location. Return point: Returns to original departure point at 5:30pm
Departure Time :12:30 PM
Return Detail :Returns to original departure point
Hotel Pickup :
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately with comfortable walking shoes
- The tour is suitable for all ages and abilities
- Although lunch is not included, the tour does stop at a local bakery if you wished to purchase some. Cash is required
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- Minimum TWO adults required for this tour to run.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it's canceled because the minimum isn't met, you'll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 18 travelers
- Face masks provided for travelers
- Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
- Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
- Gear/equipment sanitized between use
- Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
- Guides required to regularly wash hands
- COVID-19 vaccination required for guides
- You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
Age Req.
Fitness Req.
Group Size
Organised by Bush and Beach
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I seem to be waiting until the last minute with everything this month! Though I think my TWD gingerbread is as last minute as it gets... =) I deliberately waited until this week to make this month's Daring Bakers challenge, though. I knew I'd be on vacation and I'd have more time available.
This month's challenge is brought to us by Karen of Bake My Day and Zorra of 1x umruehren bitte aka Kochtopf. They have chosen Tuiles from The Chocolate Book by Angélique Schmeink and Nougatine and Chocolate Tuiles from Michel Roux.
They wanted to give us something that could be easily mixed up from ingredients already in our kitchens. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has been meaning to try my hand at tuiles, but just haven't gotten around to it. We were required to use a specific recipe, shape the tuiles in some way, and pair them with something light.
I knew I wanted to make some sort of cup out of mine to meet the shaping requirement. I made some delicious sorbet last week that I could put in the cups, and that fit the requirement that we pair our tuiles with something light. After mixing and chilling the batter, I took part of it and tinted it pink with some gel food coloring. I used my small offset spatula to spread large circles of batter on my sheet pan that I had lined with non-stick foil (I love that stuff!). Then I had some fun decorating them with spirals and dots.
I think I had the batter a bit too thick, and it took about 9 minutes for the tuiles to start turning a faint brown around the edges. I think I baked them too long, because when I tried to shape them over a ramekin, they cracked. So I made some more, baking them for a couple minutes less. They were okay to shape, but I wish I'd been able to get them a bit more brown, for better flavor. Later I had the idea to make some thinner freeform tuiles for a garnish, and I was able to get them much more brown.
The verdict? I found that although the formation of the tuiles looks fairly simple, getting a good result can be a bit more difficult than it at first appears. I definitely want to try this again to see if I can get a better result. I'd also like to try another recipe to see if I can get something that's more crisp while still flexible enough to shape. Brianna and Gillian seemed to enjoy eating the pieces from my broken first attempt, and Brianna asked if I could make bowls like that again some time.
If you want to try your hand at this month's challenge, head over to Karen's blog or Zorra's blog for the recipe. And be sure to check out the Daring Bakers blogroll to see what everyone else came up with!


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Asset Journal Automation
Track changes on assets in attached journal log entries.
Contract type: Subscription
License metric: InstallationManufacturer lmbit GmbH
This solution automatically generates journal entries to assets in Matrix42 Service Store.
A record for the following types of changes is kept:
- Creation of a new asset
- Owner (organisation unit and/or location and/or cost center)
- Principal user
- Status
- Liability
- Workplace
- Environment
- Management Type
Each record contains the name of the employee, date and time of the change and the changed values.
The changes are documented regardless of beeing initiated by an employee or by an automated process.


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Near the end of God of War: Ascension, there's a meteoric difficulty spike during a stage called the Trial of Archimedes. It's a chore. Though Ascension plays almost exactly like its predecessors, the normally precise balance is ever so slightly askew. Combat becomes a clusterfuck, making it nearly impossible to locate Kratos or discern who's attacking him with what.
And as my blood pressure started rising, I wondered…
How did we get here?
I don't mean that in an existential Talking Heads kind of way. I mean, why am I bothering to play a game that's caused nothing but frustration? Why put up with the chaos knowing that Kratos killed Ares more than a decade ago?
Or, more succinctly, what makes a video game replayable?
Though Ascension is a new game, we're essentially replaying God of War for the fourth time on a console. The fact that Ascension exists is testament to Sony's faith in the mechanics. The latest game tacitly assumes that Kratos doesn't need a story as long as he gets to defile some statues and rip the intestines out of centaurs.
It's a safe gamble. God of War: Ascension is fun. It's not particularly memorable, but it hits enough of the right beats to be reasonably diverting and offers novelty via new scenarios that require intellectual energy for completion. It's efficient entertainment made with admirable professionalism and no small amount of expertise and craft.
And yet somehow, I feel compelled to write negative things about a game that I ostensibly enjoyed. While God of War: Ascension is "good," it persistently reminds us that the franchise used to be better.
To an extent, that might have been inevitable. The mythology has been downgraded from EPIC to epic since the blood-spattered conclusion of God of War III, and while the prequel is deftly handled – Kratos actually appears mortal for prolonged stretches of the campaign – it's impossible to overlook the fact that the franchise is treading water. Ares has been reinserted as a primary antagonist, but that doesn't carry any weight considering he's been dead, absent, and largely forgotten since the first God of War.
Then again, the story in God of War is usually window dressing, a flimsy pretense for acts of excessive violence, and that's never bothered me before. So what's changed? Sony Santa Monica has sacrificed its audience in a misguided attempt to rebrand God of War for a broader and more fickle multiplayer market.
For the first time in two console generations, the new God of War doesn't measure up against the top (primarily) singleplayer titles of its era. I recently finished Spec Ops: The Line and then immediately restarted the game on a higher difficulty setting. Then I did it again once that second playthrough was completed. I was enjoying the game so I decided to keep playing, and the mechanics – though unoriginal – were tight enough to offer mastery through repetition.
Like many people, I picked up Spec Ops because I'd heard the story was fantastic, and while that much was certainly true, that initial appeal fades with subsequent playthroughs. The more difficult the challenge, the more the who, how, and why become subservient to the next chapter or checkpoint as the game becomes a puzzle to be solved rather than a narrative to be experienced.
With that in mind, was I replaying Spec Ops for the gameplay? Or was I replaying it for the story?
Truly great games offer a little of both, the first God of War being one of the earliest titles to hook players with that 'stay for the combat' approach to narrative design. Arkham Asylum, Vanquish, and countless others descend from a similar lineage, as story-driven games with flawless mechanics that recognize that replayability and value come in forms other than the online death match.
It's therefore ironic that Ascension – the first God of War to offer multiplayer – is also the first God of War I haven't wanted to play again. Unlike prior titles in the series, it makes the mistake of conflating variability with replayability. Multiplayer inherently offers the former, with fluctuating battlefields and matches are that will always be unique because human players are unpredictable.
Unfortunately, a bad game isn't any more fun just because more are people playing. It's difficult to design compelling multiplayer – that's why so many studios get it wrong – and regardless of the number of online features, a game isn't replayable if no one wants to play it.
So yes, the God of War multiplayer is boring even though the regular gameplay is fantastic. The maps are dull and the matchmaking is abysmal, to the point that finding one live game every 30 minutes is remarkable. The barren online queues don't help matters, though it's evidence that fans haven't been sticking around.
The problem is that Ascension is struggling against constraints that predate the PlayStation Network. It's telling that the only worthwhile online mode is the solo time trial. The God of War control scheme will always show best in more structured single player environs because that's what the engine was designed for, and fixed camera angles and close-quarters combat limit the potential for multiplayer design.
It's a shame, because the lackluster multiplayer only superficially resembles its source material and indicates that Sony doesn't fully understand what draws people back to a quality singleplayer title, where obstacles are predetermined and satisfaction derived from finding ways to overcome them. It's the thrill of outsmarting a system rather than the glory of competition, two qualitatively divergent sensations that appeal to two different types of players.
God of War has traditionally relied on the former and it's never seriously hampered its longevity. Sony Santa Monica has been able to imbue Kratos with a variety of extreme powers because it's never had to worry about players using those powers against each other. Kratos' absurd strength never becomes unfair as long as the enemies and set pieces scale proportionally.
Multiplayer requires a completely different balance, one that forces Sony to strip away all the ridiculousness that makes God of War so damn entertaining. Without the screen-consuming magic attacks, the trinkets, and the menagerie of colossal monsters, the multiplayer is reduced to Rock Paper Scissors rather than God of War, and nothing as mundane as a kill streak can replace the missing spectacle.
That's the tragedy of God of War: Ascension. Sony spent so much time tweaking the multiplayer that it forgot to perfect the campaign, and the result is an endgame that's ever so slightly askew. The considerable time spent balancing the multiplayer would have been better spent elsewhere, and the subtle drop-off embodied during the Trial of Archimedes – that dip from flawless combat to merely exceptional – marks the threshold between a replayable title and an resellable one.
So how did we get here? We went in expecting Shakespeare and settled for Marlowe. Sony Santa Monica could run a master class on puzzles and pacing, ensuring that God of War: Ascension is enjoyable enough to see through to the end.
It's just not worth keeping around once you've reached that finale. Next time, let's hope Sony realizes that not all games – even highly replayable ones – have to appeal to all types of players.


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Have you missed me? I've been gone for a few weeks.
You didn't notice? Oh.
Well, read on if you want to feel better about your housekeeping skills.
You'll remember that John and I welcomed Bruce, a rat terrier mix, to our home. I guess things just weren't lively enough, so we decided to get a puppy.
But he's been pretty cool.
No poop on the carpet, and he hasn't destroyed our furniture. I think we'll keep him around for a few more days ;)
Unless he happens to wander outside and get lost in this mess...then there's no mercy.
And no, in case you were wondering, this is not our home. Nor is it our junk. But yes, my friends, these are our neighbors. And this is the precious view we are privy to from our bathroom window.
I mean, it's just the view I want to see when I'm soaking in my luxurious, antique cast iron tub.
You mean you wouldn't want to soak away your stresses in here? This isn't your idea of perfect afternoon?
I'm not going to lie, people: This was my bathtub. "WAS" being the key word. I looked out at our neighbor's pile 'o junk, looked at our rust-bucket of a bathtub and decided I was going to do something about it! I was going to stick it to the man! I was going to make a difference!
So I rolled my sleeves and yelled, "I am woman! Hear me roar!"and I scrubbed. I scraped. I cried.
I cried because my tub didn't look pristine. It probably never will.
Who cares?
(Don't answer that.)
Because really, once I got done scrubbing my tub, it was dark. And my living room looked like this.
Perhaps a bomb went off? No. Maybe a strong wind? Nope. Master Splinter and Batman (resident rodents) were battling for territory? Likely, but not this time. The cause?
Two dogs. Enough said.
Have you met Bruce yet?


text:
1. Is de-worming kids in the developing world all it's cracked up to be? Survey says, "maybe not"!
2. Can this graph be right? After all its 105 in OKC today.
3. Is there really something too my recent wild ravings about the Knicks and Jeremy Lin?
Friday, July 20, 2012
Freaky Friday
1 comment:
#2 It takes extraordinary evidence to support extraordinary claims. On the other hand, there's been a whole lot of educated criticism of the work that minimized the medieval warm period, etc.
One paper does not overturn climate science. On the other hand, I'm sure that this will receive a lot of peer review and it will be interesting to see how much of the criticism of methods etc. will also apply to studies showing that it's unprecedentedly warm.
- 4:47 PM, July 20, 2012
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Doing the Orb Thing
I have a lot of "stuff." One of my tasks in my retired life is to go through my stuff and get rid of anything that no longer carries meaning for me. I came across this ORB, and though it's been years that I've held it in my hands, this is a keeper. It is like my guitar, a part of my true self that has been neglected.
It's a beautiful object. You can turn it inside and out and make it into different configurations. The brochure says it is a "modern adaptation of an ancient design, precision handcrafted from stainless steel wire." I remember when I bought it at a New Age bookstore at the Ward Warehouse long ago (if my memory is correct), the person demonstrating it told a creation story with it.
That was actually the selling point, because I love storytelling. The brochure illustrates what the different designs mean, but I am sure the storyteller can make it mean whatever she wants.
Until one eon, they made this. And they were both proud of their creation. In their happiness over the beauty they had created, they hugged.
And they liked it. In their closeness, they remembered together the perfect sphere, which was their home. And in that moment of realization, they became the sphere again.
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Diane Aoki is a writer who explores other modes of creativity as her intuition leads her.
January 2022


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You probably know Isaiah Whitlock Jr. better as Senator Clay Davis, and you probably know Senator Clay Davis better as that awesome guy from The Wire who always said "Sheeeeee-it!" (number of e's fluctuates depending on degree of the nastiness to which Davis is referring). Well, Whitlock Jr. is now ready to teach us how to unleash the "Sheeeeee-it!" that resides within all of us. It's in there, we just need Whitlock to show us how to let it out (fiber also works for this). The above video is a trailer for the "Whitlock Academy," which is apparently "coming soon to HD." We can only hope that whatever this 30-second clip is teasing will contain some actual pearls of "Sheeeeee-it!" wisdom from the master himself.
And while we're here, let's relive some of Davis's greatest "Sheeeeee-it!" moments, such as the classic, "They gonna come TALK to me about MONEY LAUNDERING!? In WEST BALTIMORE!?!? Sheeeeeeee-it!!!"
[H/T: Slate


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We know D.C. Get our free newsletter to stay in the know.
The employment numbers for June are out, and the results, in the aggregate, are encouraging: After steadily declining through the year, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is a flat 10 percent. That's down from 12 percent in January, which was up from 10.9 percent last July.
The interesting thing about this number is where the job growth and shrinkage shows up. The biggest category, Professional and Business services (bar 1), saw a significant bump of 3.3 percent over the last year, to 154,700. Leisure and hospitality (bar 3) also went up 0.7 percent, to 59,400; and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (bar 8) jumped 2.6 percent to 27,500. The losses came in the Construction and Information sectors (bars 7 and 6).
Though I don't have exact numbers for the federal workforce, the Department of Employment Services release notes that the biggest source of growth has been jobs with the federal government, while the biggest drop has been Educational and Health Services, down 2.2 percent (to 98,900) from a year ago.
After cross-checking with median wage tables broken down by profession, that seems like a mix of relatively high and low-income professions. So we can't necessarily make blanket statements like "high-income jobs are coming in, while low-income jobs are disappearing." But it does look like social services have taken a hit relative to business-side employment.


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Elaiza: Genuine music and heartfelt smiles10 May 2014 at 13:00 CEST
"It's such an honour to be part of the Eurovision Song Contest", Ela says in our backstage interview. "One year ago we were playing in front of 20 people in our first concert, and now we are on that big stage", Yvonne adds.
Elaiza are genuine musicians, used to both singing and playing their instruments live: Natalie plays the double bass, Yvonne the accordion, and Ela is the lead vocalist. In live gigs she also plays the piano or keyboard, so of course the girls are always in for some live improvising:
The press could witness the musical abilities of Elaiza this week at the official reception of the German Embassy in Copenhagen. Apart from Elaiza, Basim, the Danish representative, also performed, and German specialties were served.
This content is unfortunately no longer available
But of course the stay in Copenhagen is not just about music for the girls of Elaiza. On their days without rehearsals, they spent some hours exploring the city, tasting some Danish pastry, and of course: taking pictures with the Little Mermaid.
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On that very occasion, they also met some of their loyal fans from Spain and Portugal. "It's such an amazing experience that suddenly fans start talking to us on the streets, asking for photos - so much has changed for us in the last few months", Natalie says.
This content is unfortunately no longer available
It's a real success story which the members of the young band Elaiza have been writing in the past weeks and months, and now they've reached their biggest goal so far: The Grand Final of the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest, tonight in Copenhagen!
Today is an important day in another sense too: It's Yvonne's birthday! May it be a lucky and beautiful day for her in every possible way!


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Thin cloud after rain–
If trust can be bought, kind of
Worrisome it be.
Jalan Imbi KL, MY – August 29, 2019 / 07:40
One topic has squeezed my brain. 🤯
God, why do some people only think about money?
I'm not rich myself and sad to see poverty preserved. I'm not very smart but upset to see stupidity maintained.
This situation is what makes holiday looks so promising for me…. Holiday pray…. 😎


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Forged in Fire is an American competition series that airs on the History Channel, and is produced by Outpost Entertainment, a Leftfield Entertainment company.
History ordered an initial eight episodes of the series with the first programme premiering on Monday 22 June 2015, at 10.00 pm (US Eastern Time), and ending on 10 August 2010.
Awaiting synopsis.
Forged in Fire Series
You can find a full index and overview of Forged in Fire Series 09 here.
You can find a full index and overview of Forged in Fire here.
Production & Filming Details
- Release Date: 24 August 2022.
- Running Time: 42 minutes.
- Rating: TV-PG.
- Country: US.
- Language: English.
Video Link


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An ancient proverb states that "a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Even the most longest and difficult of ventures have a starting point.
For the Milwaukee Brewers, reaching the playoffs in 2008/2011 and playing contending baseball in 2017 may appear to be difficult ventures. Yet, these successes do have a starting point – Friday, September 30, 2005. The single step the Brewers took that day was posting a 6-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Might seem like just another game these days, but it assured Milwaukee would enjoy its first .500 or better season since 1992.
Twelve years! Twelve freaking years! Yes, there have been longer droughts by teams trying to get to .500 in a season. In fact, Brewers fans probably recall that the Pirates played under .500 right alongside Milwaukee for years – and kept on going. Their 20 seasons of under .500 ball (1993-2012) is the all-time record, so it's kind of fitting that the Brewers beat the Buccos to shake the .500 monkey off their backs.
Going back through Brewers franchise history, 1993-2005 was the longest run of futility. While 1970-77 had some extreme lows, it was expected since the team had been brought to Milwaukee as a second year expansion club. The years immediately following the 1982 World Series may have been a downer at the time, but the 1983 team actually posted a 87-75 record. After all the prior success, this was a huge disappointment and it made the seasons leading up to 1987's "Team Streak" feel longer than what they probably were.
The "Team Streak" season kicked off a nice period where the Brewers finished above .500 in five of six straight seasons. They peaked at the end of that run with a 92-70 record in 1992, and finished four games behind the first place Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East. The Brewers appeared to be poised to continue their winning ways, but Paul Molitor defected to the Blue Jays in the offseason. The team backpedaled to a 69-93 record in 1993 – 23 less wins than the year before. And that's where the long stretch of futility began.
Milwaukee played better in 1994, but was still below .500 (53-62) when the player's strike ended the season early. The 1995 season brought a historically low win total (65) that equaled the 1972 and 1970 efforts. The team sniffed the .500 mark in 1996, but fell short at 80-82. They won the final three games of the season, but of course by then it was too late. An 11-16 record in May and 12-16 mark in July were partially to blame for the sub-.500 year.
The Brewers closed out the decade with four straight seasons of win totals in the 70's. Along the way they switched from the American League Central division to the National League Central division. Miller Park rose up behind County Stadium and opened in 2001, but the team fizzled to the tune of a 68-94 record in their new home.
Year No. 9 in the streak turned out to be the lowest point in Brewers franchise history. 2002 was so horrible that the only high points came off the field – Prince Fielder being drafted in the seventh round and Doug Melvin taking the reins as General Manager after the awful season ended. Milwaukee turned in a 56-106 record, 41 games out of first place. The team won on Opening Day, but played to a 3-12 record and manager Davey Lopes found himself on the unemployment line as a result. Even the All-Star Game played at Miller Park was ugly – how could anyone forget the infamous 7-7 tie game?
Milwaukee remained in last place in 2003, but moved back up in the win column to 68 wins. Doug Melvin plucked speedy Scott Podsednik off the waiver wire and his contributions helped improve the team. The team had a similar record in 2004, but Melvin continued rebuilding his club. In December, 2003, he made a huge trade when he sent Richie Sexson, Shane Nance, and Noochie Varner to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Lyle Overbay, Chris Capuano, Craig Counsell, Chad Moeller, Jorge de la Rosa, and Junior Spivey.
The trade had a ripple effect that played out in the years to come. Suddenly it appeared the Brewers were serious about turning the corner. Melvin sent Podsednik to the Chicago White Sox after the 2004 season and got big slugger Carlos Lee back as part of the deal. Add in speedy outfielder Brady Clark, slugger Russell Branyan, and veteran catcher Damian Miller, and the 2005 Opening Day starters looked like this:
Russell Branyan
Brady Clark
Doug Davis
J.J. Hardy
Geoff Jenkins
Carlos Lee
Damian Miller
Lyle Overbay
Junior Spivey
Hardy wasn't the only youngster that played for the team in 2005. Rickie Weeks, Bill Hall, Prince Fielder, and Corey Hart all spent time on the new look team managed by former Brewers catcher Ned Yost.
Doug Davis and Chris Capuano anchored the starting pitching, each with 35 starts. Cappy had 18 wins by the end of the campaign – the most of any Brewers starter since Teddy Higuera reached 20 wins in 1986. Ben Sheets, Victor Santos, Toma Ohka, and Gary Glover got most of the remaining starts, but Wes Obermueller and Rick Helling also saw time in the rotation.
In the bullpen, guys like Kane Davis, Jose Capellan, and Mike Adams all had earned run averages under 3.00, but they all made less than 20 appearances each. The real 1-2 punch in the bullpen was Matt Wise (3.36 ERA in 64.1 innings) and Derrick Turnbow (1.74 ERA in 67.1 innings). Turnbow had 39 saves on the season and struck out nearly a batter per inning.
The Crew scored 726 runs and allowed 697 in 2005. They were a bit flat in April and went 10-13. Milwaukee only had one straight-up .500 month – a 14-14 May. Their best month was September when they posted a 16-11 mark, and July was similar at 16-12. Those successful months helped the team to a 39-35 record after the All-Star Break, and was quite a turnaround from their low point of eight games below .500 on June 21.
You could pretty much flip the Brewers record at home versus what they did on the road. In Milwaukee, the team was 46-35 and on the road they were 35-46. They were 21-21 in one run games and 8-7 in Interleague play. St. Louis was the biggest pain out of teams the Brewers played often as the Cards won the season series 11-5. But the Crew made up for it by going 10-6 in games against the Cincinnati Reds.
After a 12-9 win over the Reds on Monday, September 26, the Brewers found themselves at 78-78. They went on to take three out of four games in the series to put their record at 80-79 going into the final weekend in Pittsburgh. First year owner Mark Attanasio had given tickets away to the final home game with the Reds, and that brought in a crowd of 27,008 on a weekday.
The Crew started out with the 6-5 win to assure themselves of a .500 season – and had to come from a 5-0 deficit in the top of the sixth inning. They scored two runs that inning and then four more in the seventh on two-run homers by Geoff Jenkins and Damian Miller. Derrick Turnbow pitched a perfect ninth with two strikeouts for the save – his sixth in the last six Milwaukee wins.
Jenkins had been with the team since 1998 and was the team's longest-running player on the roster. He said, "It's an awesome, awesome feeling. It's not like the playoffs or anything like that. But for us this is kind of our playoffs. It's a great feeling and something to build on for next year."
Unfortunately the Brewers lost 5-1 on Saturday and 3-1 on Sunday to spoil their opportunity to go above .500 on the season. They scored their lone run of each game in the first inning, but couldn't hold on.
Even though the club took a step back the following year with a 75-87 record, the important single step in a positive direction had been taken. Manager Ned Yost summed it up best, saying "How do you get to the top of the stairs without getting to the first step? Or the second or third steps? You don't just take one huge leap. It's a building process, and your first major step has to be playing .500 baseball, showing you can compete. And you go from there."
My book Building the Brewers: Bud Selig and the Return of Major League Baseball to Milwaukee is available to be ordered on the McFarland website.
(The story you just read is not part of the book)


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11th May
Date: 11th May 2016 @ 3:12pm
Hello and welcome back to our class blog,
This week, Year 5 started off by visiting Tesco. During their trip to Tesco, they found out about different kinds of fruit and where they are from. We also met a new friend called Chellee - the children loved her! While we were at Tesco, we met a man called 'Tiny' - ironically, he was huge!
In class, we have been learning a little bit about fractions and we will be looking at this again next week. Below, is a video that could help.
Year 5 have continued with their cricket and the girls worked extra hard in another session to get ready for their competition on Monday.
We have continued to use Ratatouille in English and this week we have written a restaurant review. We are also going to write some instructions and see if our Reception children are able to follow them.
This week will see our boys playing against St Clement's Primary School from Runcorn (weather dependent).
On Friday, the boys will be playing football during assembly time. Children have taken a letter home this evening to inform you that there will be no Playleader's club until after half term.
Have a great week!


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Vivo sub-brand iQoo has launched the iQoo Z1 5G smartphone with MediaTek Dimensity 1000+ SoC. The new smartphone features 144Hz refresh rate display with a hole-punch design and comes with a triple rear camera setup. The iQoo Z1 also has stereo speakers and packs a Smart PA amplifier. The phone comes in three different variants, along with two distinct colour options. The Chinese brand has positioned the iQoo Z1 below the iQoo Neo 3 5G that was unveiled last year with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC.
iQoo Z1 5G price, availability details
The iQoo Z1 5G price is set at CNY 2,198 (roughly Rs. 23,400) for the 6GB + 128GB storage variant, while its 8GB + 128GB storage option carries a price tag of CNY 2,498 (roughly Rs. 26,600) and the 8GB + 256GB storage model will retail at CNY 2,798 (roughly Rs. 29,800). The phone will be offered in Galaxy Silver and Space Blue colour options and is available for pre-bookings from the Vivo online store in China. Moreover, its pre-bookings will start through other retailers in the country from May 25, while its first sale is scheduled for June 1.
Details about the global launch of the iQoo Z1 5G are yet to be revealed.
iQoo Z1 5G specifications, features
The dual-SIM (Nano) iQoo Z1 5G runs Android 10 with iQoo UI on top and has a 6.57-inch full-HD+ (1080×2400 pixels) display with 20:9 aspect ratio and 400ppi of pixel density. The display panel also comes with up to 144Hz refresh rate. Further, the phone is powered by the octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 1000+ SoC, coupled with ARM Mali-G77 GPU and up to 8GB LPDDR4X RAM. There is triple rear camera setup on board that includes a 48-megapixel primary sensor with an f/1.79 lens, 8-megapixel secondary sensor with an f/2.2 wide-angle lens, and a 2-megapixel tertiary sensor with an f/2.4 macro lens. In terms of selfies, the phone has a 16-megapixel selfie camera with an f/2.0 lens.
For storing content, the iQoo Z1 5G has 128GB and 256GB onboard storage options. Connectivity options include 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v4.0, GPS, USB Type-C, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Sensors on the phone include an accelerometer, ambient light, gyroscope, magnetometer, and a proximity sensor. There is also a side-mounted fingerprint sensor.
The iQoo Z1 5G packs a 4,500mAh battery that supports 44W fast charging. Besides, the phone measures 163.97×75.53×8.93mm and weighs 194.78 grams.
Which is the bestselling Vivo smartphone in India? Why has Vivo not been making premium phones? We interviewed Vivo's director of brand strategy Nipun Marya to find out, and to talk about the company's strategy in India going forward. We discussed this on Orbital, our weekly technology podcast, which you can subscribe to via Apple Podcasts or RSS, download the episode, or just hit the play button below.


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Today only you can save an extra 30% off sale items at LandsEnd.com. The above boys Active Knit Shorts are on sale for $19.99, or $13.99 after the extra savings. Use promo code DRIFTER and PIN 4444 at checkout to get your savings.
If you find this information useful, please consider subscribing to my RSS feed or email newsletter. Also, be sure to check out Stretching a Buck on Facebook. Thanks for visiting! Note: This post may contain affiliate links. View my disclosure policy here.


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Seamless Gutter Installation
At South Point Roofing & Construction, our years of experience have taught us what makes a solid gutter system that provides years of reliable performance and excellent value. That's why we only install the best seamless gutter systems. In addition, we can maintain these systems to ensure they can continue to work properly and protect your home.
Properly functioning gutters and downspouts direct water runoff away from your home's foundation and prevent catastrophic damage. Something as small as a gutter clog or leak can put your home at risk for many kinds of damage, but gutters are typically out of sight and out of mind until there is a problem. South Point Roofing & Construction has quality gutter solutions that will eliminate clogging, leaks and unnecessary gutter maintenance.
Services we offer include:
- Gutter inspection and measurement.
- Custom gutter solutions for your home, including gutter installation.
- Seamless, watertight gutter installation by trained crews.
- Complete debris cleanup and removal.
- Installation of gutter guards to eliminate cleaning.
Benefits of Seamless Aluminum Gutters
Seamless gutters are a step up from traditional sectional gutters. They are custom-manufactured from one continuous piece of metal, which means they can be made to the exact length of your home and there are no seams that will eventually crack, leak or gather debris. Aluminum gutters also offer several advantages: they won't rust like steel or split and crack like vinyl. Seamless aluminum gutters are a long-lasting, affordable solution to your gutter needs and can be installed quickly and professionally by our trained team.
Contact Us Today for an Estimate
If you have questions or want an estimate for seamless gutter installation, South Point Roofing & Construction would be happy to help. Call us at (803) 646-2649 or contact us online to schedule a consultation and estimate.


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Welcome to Carion Fenn Network. A place to share, learn & support. (Syringomyelia/Chiari Malformation/ Rare & Chronic Diseases & Seniors)
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Perfect alternative to the more expensive Furby!Furby Party Rockers Creature As low as $24.00 and free shipping
- The Party Rockers creature is bilingual just like your Furby
- It speaks Furbish and English
- How your Furby reacts to your Party Rockers creature might surprise you (Furbys and Party Rockers creatures sold separately.)
- Party Rockers creature responds to your voice and to music
- Pet its head, tickle its tummy, or pull its tail and see what happens!
Looking for More Online Deals? Click here for more THRIFTY DEALS. Please note that Amazon prices tend to change often so prices may be higher or lower without notice.


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Price: $20.66
Silver Exhaust Pipe Insulation Thermal Heat Wrap 2" x 50' Motorcycle HeaderStore CategoriesStore Categories
DescriptionMaterial: Fiber Glass extreme high temperature wrapQuantity of Rolls: 1 ROLLLength in Feet: 50 FEETWidth in inches: 2 " WIDEThickness in inches: 1/16" THICKTemperature Rating: 2000° FAHRENHEITDescription:
Each one of our rolls of wrap are produced and inspected with strict quality control standards. We refuse to sell inferior products to our customers.
All exhaust wrap will handle extreme heat conditions without failure, or coming apart.
Please note: The thermal wrap will have a short curing period. Smoke will be a natural by-product of the curing process as well as a temporary discoloration. The wrap will become discolored for a short period of 1 to 5 days, depending on the amount of heat the wrap is exposed to. Once fully cured, the color will return to normal material color(Graish/Brownish). Color may diminish over time.Shipping Policy
- Fast shipping from Industry, CA
- Once your payment clears, most orders are processed & shipped out either the same or next business day.
- Please ensure that the shipping address you provided at checkout is accurate. We are not responsible for un-deliverable or wrong shipping address issues.
- We ship all of our items either via USPS / FEDEX.
- Please notice that Sat, Sun and Public Holiday DO NOT count as a business day.
For International buyers:
- International shipping ETA 21-45 business days, please allow up to 1 month for custom clearance in some area / country.
- Import duties, tax and charges are not included in the item price or shipping charge. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to buying.
- Pay secure with any major credit card through PayPal.
- Please pay within 3 days after auction ended.
- Please confirm the mailing address correct when you make a payment.
- Feedback will be left automatically after received buyer feedback. Please contact us before leaving a Negative & Neutral feedback. We would try our best to help you solving any problem.
- Please feel free to contact us through EBAY message if you have any question, and we will get back to you within 24-48 hours.
- The RMA Number will be same as the EBAY ITEM NUMBER. Please write it with your EBAY ID, Date of purchased on piece of paper or outside the box, and return it with the item.
- A 20% restocking fee will be charged. Shipping & Handling fee is not refundable.
- Any faulty due to improper installation or improper use will NOT be covered by the warranty. Any physical damage such as soldering or modified bases will void the warranty too.
- Buyer pay for all return shipping postage fee.
- * All return & exchange must be in NEW & UN-USED condition **
- We are trying our best to describe all details of the product here.
- Please feel free to contact us through EBAY message if you have any question, and we will get back to you within 24-48 hours.
- Our business hours are Monday to Friday 10am to 6pm PST
- Customer satisfaction is our priority. If you are not happy with the item that you purchased, please first contact us for more information. We will try our best to solve the problem with you.
- Please leave us a positive feedback & rate 5 stars DSR if you receive the item.
- We appreciate your business.
- Happy Bidding & Have a nice day.
M2-RACING Copyright@2015On Sep-05-18 at 18:09:11 PDT, seller added the following information:


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The Levant News Exclusive -Damascus- A military source said, Syrian Armed Forces began a large-scale operation in Damascus suburb to free Jobar and Harasta, from terrorists.
Syria's Armed Forces already took control of several buildings in Jobar wich contains armed groups belonging to the Ahrar ash-Sham movement led by Zahran Alloush.
Army units also established control over Rima Water Company, destroying terrorists' command and communication centers.
Editing by Diana Kasem


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Flower Power Sea Salt Scrub
Let the true power of the flower work its magic on you! A bouquet of floral essential oils will lift your spirits while you gently exfoliate and moisturize your skin.
Ingredients: sea salt, organic sweet almond oil, organic coconut oil, pure essential oils of: bergamot, lavender, rose, jasmine, ylang ylang, vitamin E and grapefruit seed extract
18 oz.


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Have you been doing some deep cleaning this summer? Or maybe you recently moved? It's likely that if you've done either you'll find yourself with a pile of items labeled: I don't know! You can't seem to get rid of them, but they don't warrant taking up space in your home. If this is the case, your best option is to rent a storage unit. If you're wondering exactly what size storage unit you need, this post will help you decide how much space you really need.
Two Small Rooms
This 5′ x 5′ x 8′ unit holds up to two rooms and works well for storing those miscellaneous items you can't seem to let go of or any seasonal items. It's a perfect place to store your Christmas tree and holiday decor, or those mementos you've collected through the years.
Two Small Rooms Plus
Again this 5′ x 8′ x 8′ unit holds two small rooms, but it will give you a bit more space. If you're moving out of a studio or dorm room and need to store some items or small furniture pieces that won't make the trip to the larger home, this is a good size unit.
Two Bedrooms
These units are 5′ x 10′ x 8′ or 6′ x 8′ x 8′ and both up to 1,200 square feet and can store two bedrooms. This means you can neatly pack that guest bedroom to make room for the home gym! Check the dimensions of the furniture you're storing before you choose which one of these to rent.
Two Bedrooms Plus
With 1,200 square feet of storage space, this 8′ x 10′ x 8′ unit can hold two rooms. This unit is preferred if you're storing large furniture items from your home. You can pack up your old couches and coffee table along with a bedroom to make room for new furniture.
Three Bedrooms
These units are 10′ x 10′ x 8′ or 10′ x 12′ x 8′. They range anywhere from 1,200 to 1,600 square feet and can help you in a number of your needs. These units are for people who are likely clearing out several rooms. Again, take notice of the different dimensions and varying ceiling heights.
Additional Storage Unit Sizes
If you think you need additional space there are larger units available with over 1,600 square feet of storage space. Check with your nearest self-storage location to find out what sizes they offer. In the case that you need to store a vehicle, rv or boat there are units available for these needs.
For additional tips check out this handy Self-Storage Size Guide!
Do you have any additional tips for anyone looking for a storage unit? What has worked for you?


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Whole IOK will be under complete lockdown
In occupied Kashmir by India, the exacting lockdown will proceed past April 20 attributable to coronavirus hotspots over its areas.
An authority told media that all regions of Kashmir division have more than one COVID-19 hotspot and, accordingly, the specialists won't ease limitations on open development.
This comes after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tended to the Indian country and coordinated for the expansion of the lockdown in India and involved Kashmir till May 03.


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from health.yahoo.net: Emelie is plagued by hallucinations and nightmares. When she wakes up, she's often paralyzed, unable to breathe properly or call for help. During the day she can barely stay awake, and often misses school or having fun with friends. She is only 14, but at times she has wondered if her life is worth living.
Emelie is one of around 800 children in Sweden and elsewhere in Europe who developed narcolepsy, an incurable sleep disorder, after being immunized with the Pandemrix H1N1 swine flu vaccine made by British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline in 2009.
Finland, Norway, Ireland and France have seen spikes in narcolepsy cases, too, and people familiar with the results of a soon-to-be-published study in Britain have told Reuters it will show a similar pattern in children there.
Their fate, coping with an illness that all but destroys normal life, is developing into what the health official who coordinated Sweden's vaccination campaign calls a "medical tragedy" that will demand rising scientific and medical attention.
Europe's drugs regulator has ruled Pandemrix should no longer be used in people aged under 20. The chief medical officer at GSK's vaccines division, Norman Begg, says his firm views the issue extremely seriously and is "absolutely committed to getting to the bottom of this", but adds there is not yet enough data or evidence to suggest a causal link.
Others - including Emmanuel Mignot, one of the world's leading experts on narcolepsy, who is being funded by GSK to investigate further - agree more research is needed but say the evidence is already clearly pointing in one direction.
"There's no doubt in my mind whatsoever that Pandemrix increased the occurrence of narcolepsy onset in children in some countries - and probably in most countries," says Mignot, a specialist in the sleep disorder at Stanford University in the United States.