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Eric Bischoff Shoot Interview DVD-R
Driven, motivated, smart, self made, determined, entrepreneur are just a few adjectives to describe one of the most powerful wrestling minds of the 90's who changed the wrestling landscape forever. He was the only man in the history of the business to give Vince McMahon a true run for his money with his vision and over a period of time beat him at his own game!!!! RF VIDEO is happy to announce that we filmed one of the most enlightening and comprehensive interviews in the history of our company with former president of WCW, Eric Bischoff. You have heard the stories from the workers who were in WCW, you heard the stories from the competition as they wanted to distort the truths, now hear it from the man who lived it and created his legacy as Eric Bischoff sits down with RFVIDEO for 5 hours and tells his side of the story on how he rose from just an announcer in the AWA to becoming one of the most powerful men in the business!!!
This interview took us over a decade and a half to land but it was well worth the wait. Eric Bischoff was an open book and answered everyone of our questions without hesitation about his rise to fame and power. You will hear how he started out in the advertising and sales world and how it transpired to land himself into Verne Gagne's territory, the AWA doing sales. Eric tributes the Gagne's for starting him in the business and giving him a crash course in wrestling 101. It was not long after his time on the road with the AWA that Eric was called to stand in front of the camera by luck because Larry Nelson missed TV due to a unforeseen circumstance and you will hear the story told by Eric on what happened when he was told to stand in front of the camera as the light went from red to green and the rest was history…..We talk a lot about a lot of his time on the road and of course we cover all the top talents that he got to work with in the AWA and how he first met DDP in a very awkward scenario that almost turned into a fist fight.
It was not long after his time in the AWA where Eric ventured off to WCW to become an announcer and you will hear what the WCW brass told him the reasoning was for hiring him and who they wanted to rattle the cages of. Eric will give you his early thoughts of being around the boys in the locker room like Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Brian Pillman, Gordon Solie, Michael Hayes, Steiners, Sting, Jim Ross and Lex Luger. In fact you will hear why Eric did not like Lex Luger early on and how it effected him later down the road when Eric hired Lex to debut on the first ever Nitro. In fact you will hear all about the meeting he had with Sting at Sting's house and how Sting pitched the idea for WCW to bring in Lex Luger as Eric lays out the entire deal and how it unfolded. I think its safe to say that Eric was not a fan of the total package and you will hear why.
Eric talks about the problems that WCW faced in the early 90's and what he thought needed to be changed and how he went about getting the position of executive producer. You will hear in great detail all of the business moves that Eric made as he gives his reasoning behind getting rid of certain talents, moving the TV to Disney, taping TV in weeks in advance of it airing, increasing PPV's, acquiring major talent for the first time like Bobby Heenan and Gene Okerlund, as this was just the start of his master plan. Eric lays out his entire WCW blue print for RF VIDEO fan's as you will never hear anything so detailed until now!!
One of the biggest acquisitions of talent which was a game changer was getting Hulk Hogan to come to WCW as Eric talks about the long challenging tactics that he used to seal the deal and he said that Ric Flair had a lot to do with it. You will hear the entire story during this interview. Eric discusses how WCW was able to land Randy Savage and how sweet the deal was because it did not cost WCW a penny and you will be amazed why too. During the interview we cover the inner staff of the company and Eric explains why each person was so important to the company and what role they played like Kevin Sullivan, Dusty Rhodes, Zane Bresloff, Gary Juster, Dr. Harvey Schiller, Nick Lambros and more.
Eric discusses as he got the ball rolling what it was like at the meeting with Ted Turner himself, and of course the most mouth drop meeting of them all when Ted told Eric he wanted to compete with Vince McMahon and the WWE and go head to head with them on Monday nights. Eric takes us thru his creative process and how he sat down with a note pad and and wrote his ideas in which he needed to be different to compete with the WWE and produce a different TV show that would attract the WWE wrestling audience. We asked Eric to explain his reasoning on so many topics that surrounded the launching of WCW Nitro, from the announcing team, why he kept himself on TV, getting new talent for the show like Lex Luger to jump ship, creating new stars and Eric goes into great detail on all aspected of creating Nitro which eventually changed the entire landscape for some time.
You will hear Eric address the rumors that were put out there by the WWE on how he had unlimited funds, what are his thoughts on giving away finishes on Raw and how much heat did he get, his meetings with the cruiser weights like Chris Benoit, Eddy Guerrero, and Dean Malenko and what went down at those early meetings with new talent. Want to know what it took for Madusa to throw the WWE title in the trash can? Do you want to hear his thoughts on the WWE Billionaire sketches? What was a week like in the life of Eric during Nitro as he takes us into his shoes and describes what it was like living life in the fast lane as Nitro became the show to watch over Monday Night Raw.
What about the rumors around Nitro that the shows were written last minute, Eric has all the answers to all the critics and he addresses all the rumors. Was there really heat with ECW and was Eric raiding talent on purpose. You will hear all about his relationship with Paul Heyman and his thoughts on the company. He talks about the legal issues with ECW when it came to swapping talent like Eaton and Anderson and of course the entire Mike Awesome situation and how it got worked out.
Eric addresses other rumors as well as we talk about his issues he had with Ric Flair while he was on top and how they were later settled but one of the best stories during this incredible interview is how years later Ric Flair physically attacked Eric at a Raw TV taping stemming from their WCW heat. Eric will tell you the entire story of course only on this RFVIDEO exclusive.
One of pro wrestlings biggest heel stable was the NWO as they were the game changer. Eric takes us thru the entire conception of the NWO and how he picked Scott Hall and Kevin Nash as the first two members. You will hear how Hulk Hogan at first turned down his offer to become the third member as Sting almost got the spot, but wait until you hear what happened next. Eric tells all about his meeting with the Hulkster and how he tried to convince him to turn heel and you will learn how Hogan later stripped off the Yellow and Red to wear the black and white colors of the NWO for life!!
There was a lot of drama legally with the NWO as Eric tells us all about the legal problems with the WWE at the time. You will hear all the inside stories on how he got the NWO over and if it almost became a problem with other WCW talent.
While WCW was on top of the mountain there were a lot of stories that some of you never heard about which we get Eric to open up about like his infamous argument with Eddie Guerrero where coffee was thrown, issues with getting the masks off of Rey Jr and Juventud, the shoot incident with Hall and Nash and the Nasty Boys and so much more.
How did Eric control his locker room with some of the biggest names and who was really in his ear? Who had the most power in the locker room and who did Eric trust the most. You will hear what it was like to work with the Ultimate Warrior and how that deal was brought to the table. When did Eric see money in Bill Goldberg? What did Eric think of Bret Hart when he first came into the company and what was his take on the way WWE screwed Bret Hart in Montreal? We told you this interview will have you drooling from the mouth as we got you all the scoops.
What really happened with Starcade 1997 with Hogan and Sting? Do you want to know Eric's thoughts on all of the celebrities he hired and how much value did he place on them?
As time went on in WCW, Eric got burned out as he talks why he handed the book over to Kevin Nash and who else was helping at the time. Was he happy adding all the new members to the NWO and what did he really think of the idea on adding another TV show like WCW Thunder.
There were a lot of political moves going on behind the scenes that Eric had no power of. This caused him many problems as Eric goes into great detail on why his hands were tied in numerous issues and why he got the blame for things that were out of his control. What happened with the AOL merger and how did it effect the company? You will hear all about the struggles that were going on behind the scenes which really led to the death of the company.
What really happened the day Eric was sent home, and he gives his thoughts on to how it went down and played out. You will hear all about how he was brought to only work with Vince Russo and did he trust him? What are his thoughts on the Hogan/Russo issue the night they walked out of the company and how much of it was a shoot. You will get the entire inside story during this amazing interview.
Everything that goes up has to come down, but Eric did not see it that way because he had investors that wanted to purchase the company and they already signed all the paper work but what happened? Guess you have to buy the DVD…..If you want to know the truth on what happened to WCW this is one interview you do not want to pass up. We let Eric speak his mind without and restrictions and no edits. This is his story being told for the very first time by the King of shoot interviews RFVIDEO.
Eric talks about his time outside the business before he was called to become talent for the WWE. He covers all of his different projects that he was apart of. You will hear all about his other business ventures from starting a beer company, launching reality TV shows and so much more.
One of my favorite parts of the 5 hour interview was when we covered his run in the WWE. The wrestling world will always refer to this day as the day that hell froze over. You will hear about the first ever phone call between Eric and Vince and what was said and what was laid out and put on the table for Eric to come into the company as the new GM of Monday Night Raw. What was said, was there heat? How did they keep it a secret? How did Eric get to the town, and what did former WCW wrestlers do when they saw Eric walk into the halls before his segment. What was going thru his head as he walked thru the Gorilla position and onto the stage with Vince? Do you want to know what he whispered to Vince during the segment?
Eric explains why he had so much fun in the WWE and we talk about all of his major angles with Steve Austin and his views and dealings with other top talent in the company like HHH, John Cena, Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, HBK, and so many more. We talk about his three year run in the WWE in great detail and how he exited the company.
You will hear this thoughts on his book that became the #1 seller on the NY times, his thoughts on the Chris Benoit tragedy, the WWE network, who can ever compete with the WWE and so much more.
This interview is a must for all fans of WCW as RFVIDEO brought to the hot seat the man behind the curtain for a interview that will answer all the questions you ever wanted to know about WCW and the inner workings of the company run by the second most powerful man in our industry Eric Bischoff.
Here is our set list of questions that we discussed with Eric as you will see, we left no rock unturned!!!
You grew up in Detroit – what are your memories of growing up there? What was your family life like?
Were you a fan of Big Time Wrestling growing up? If so, what are your favorite performers and angles from that time period?
Did you initially want to get into the wrestling business?
Talk about your professional life before you got into the business?
You actually knew Sonny Onno before you were in the business – talk about meeting him and creating the "Ninja Star Wars" toys?
In your book, you met with the AWA initially to try and pitch getting advertising for the Ninja Star Wars game – so how did you end up with a job with the company just a few months later?
Describe what the day to day operations were like in the AWA offices during that time since it was the last year the Gagnes were in operation?
What were your impressions of Verne and Greg Gagne during that time?
Do you think Verne knew he was towards the end of his run as a promoter?
Thoughts and memories on the following talents and personalities from this time period?
Mike Shields
Wahoo McDaniel
Sheik Adnan Al-Kaisee
Mr Magnificent Kevin Kelly/Nailz
Larry Nelson
Larry Zbyszko
Jonnie Stewart
The Texas Hangmen
The Trooper (Del Wilkes)
Col. DeBeers
Mr. Saito
John Nord
Mike Enos and Wayne Bloom
Nick Bockwinkel
Nikita Koloff
Diamond Dallas Page
DJ Peterson
Buck Zumhofe
Jake the Milkman Milliman
Is it true you and DDP almost got into a drunken brawl and that's how you ended up becoming friends?
Larry Nelson disappeared and no showed promo day, so you ended up doing TV interviews – what are your memories of that day?
Talk about the AWA TV tapings in Minnesota at the time. Obviously it was hard building any momentum against WWE at the time. What lessons did you learn from working for the company during what was a truly hard period for the company?
It's been said that if Verne hadn't been involved with a legal battle over a parcel of land the government took from him, the AWA might have lasted longer – do you think this is accurate?
What sort of toll did that legal battle take on The Gagne family?
When did you start to learn some of the other nuances of the business, such as TV production and booking?
You've said in your book that you weren't responsible for the AWA Team Challenge Series – so who came up with the concept and what was your take on it?
When did you know it was over for the company?
How much credit would you give to the Gagnes for opening the door to your success in the business?
What do you think the legacy of the Gagne family and the AWA should be?
After the AWA closed, you had a tryout for WWE as an announcer – what do you remember about that process? Were you disappointed you didn't get the job? In hindsight, did you agree with that decision?
Later, when you were working for WCW, Greg Gagne was brought into the company – was that more or less a thank you for all the Gagnes had done for you in the AWA?
How did you first get into WCW?
What were your first memories of the company after signing for them?
Discuss your earliest responsibilities as an announcer?
Memories of working with Teddy Long on some of WCW's TV shows?
Any favorite memories of working on the broadcast team your first year?
Early WCW memories of dealing with and working with:
Jim Ross?
Lex Luger?
The Steiners?
Tony Schiavone?
Arn Anderson?
Missy Hyatt?
Ric Flair?
Paul Heyman?
Brian Pillman?
El Gigante?
Sid Vicious?
Tom Zenk?
Gordon Solie?
Michael Hayes?
Brad Armstrong?
Barry Windham?
Ole Anderson?
What were the differences between announcing and working for WCW and the AWA?
Talk about how Turner Broadcasting handled WCW and what the corporate culture working for Turner Broadcasting was like. Ric Flair has said that Turner would just give his friends jobs in different places in the company and that led to a lot of bloat. Is that a fair assessment?
Why do you think the company had been so mismanaged?
What, in your mind, were the biggest problems WCW faced in trying to compete with WWE in the early 1990s?
Memories of how the company was run by your predecessors, Jim Herd, K. Allen Frye and Bill Watts? Any specific memories of how your dealings with each of them were?
Was there ever a specific moment where you realized "this is being done wrong and I could do this better?"
When did you realize that the position of Executive Producer was available?
What are your memories of going to Bob Dhue and Bill Shaw to get the position?
Why do you think you were picked over the others trying to get the job?
What were the first moves that you wanted to make to change the perception of WCW?
Is it true you felt the company had too much of a "Southern" feel? Explain why that was something that worked against the company.
How hard is it to get attention and momentum when you are a company that is second in a two company race?
How important was it to take WCW PPVs and make them a monthly attraction? Was there any concern about oversaturation of the market with too many PPVs at the time?
Were you surprised when WWE eventually followed suit?
Memories of the Arn Anderson-Sid Vicious hotel fight in Germany and how that changed WCW's long-term plans going into 1994?
Some of your earliest acquisitions were Gene Okerlund and Bobby Heenan – how hard was it to get Turner to open the checkbooks and spend the money?
How hard was it to start to get rid of the old guard, names like Jim Ross, and replace them with a new group of wrestlers?
Where did the idea of taking WCW TV to smaller soundstages at Disney Studios in Orlando come from? What sort of effect did holding the tapings in front of theme park fans and using it as an attraction have on the TV shows?
At the time, there was criticism of you taping so many months in advance because it would give away company direction and booking plans – why was that not a concern for you at the time?
How much of the decision to go to Florida for TV Tapings were costcutting concerns?
When did you first decide to pursue bringing Hulk Hogan back to professional wrestling? What was his first reaction to the idea? Were you worried he was going to take the offer and use it as leverage to get back to WWE? How long did the process of trying to get him to sign take?
How important was Ric Flair in getting Hogan to sign?
How important was the Hulk Hogan brand name when it came to rebuilding WCW?
Were you surprised when some of the WCW markets were booing and rejecting Hogan?
Vince McMahon has said that Hogan legitimized WCW – would you agree?
The WWE version of history at the time is that Turner Broadcasting gave you a blank check to do whatever you wanted in WCW – break down the reality of that vs. the fantasy?
Talk about the checks and balances in place at the time that you had to deal with working for Turner and also the goals you had to meet?
Hogan brought Randy Savage into WCW. Talk about the process of Savage coming to WCW and what that process was like?
As you began populating WCW with names like Randy Savage, Hulk Hogan, Hacksaw Duggan, Honkytonk Man and others, others who had been with the company for a long time like Johnny B. Badd, Mick Foley, Steve Austin began moving on and/or were fired – why were some of the older guard unable to maintain themselves as the company changed its landscape?
Was there ever a piece of talent that you regretted letting go during that time period?
How important were the following personnel behind the scenes as you built WCW?
Zane Bresloff
Kevin Sullivan
Diamond Dallas Page
Gary Juster
Craig Leathers
Nick Lambros
Dusty Rhodes
Hulk Hogan
Dr. Harvey Schiller
Sharon Sidello?
Talk about the meeting where Ted Turner ordered WCW to have two hours on primetime on TNT? Was it a literal "mouth dropping" moment for you?
What was your first move once it was announced you would be competing head to head against WWE?
A lot of people assumed it was going to be a blowoff with WWE crushing WCW from the onset – what were your personal concerns and even doubts going head to head?
What's the pressure like trying to launch a new show, with new concepts with less than 2 months to prepare for the debut, while competing against the industry leader?
Were there different concepts for Nitro that didn't make the final broadcast version?
Why did you choose to keep yourself on TV as a broadcaster?
Were you ever concerned you might be spreading yourself too thin?
What led to you hiring Steve McMichael as an announcer?
How did you first find out that Lex Luger was available to jump to WCW? What led to you deciding to go for it?
If word about Luger jumping leaked ahead of time, would you still have gone for it?
How important was Luger to the success of Nitro early, in your opinion?
Why was the first episode of Nitro from the Mall of America? Talk about the mindset behind that unique atmosphere and location?
When you received the overnights from the first episode, what was your first reaction?
Now, since Raw was preempted the week Nitro debuted, what sort of pressure did you feel going into the second week?
When the ratings came through for the second week, what was your reaction?
You took advantage of WWE being taped by giving away the results of the taped shows so they would stick live with WCW Nitro – did you ever get any negative feedback from anyone in WCW that they felt it was a bad idea?
Could Nitro have been as competitive if it was a taped series?
Just recently on the WWE Network, Vince McMahon said that you were trying to hurt WWE instead of trying to help yourself. How do you feel about that?
Do you think Vince was hypocritical for complaining about WCW poaching talent and getting aggressive when he himself did it to the AWA, Jim Crockett Promotions and others a decade before?
How much did you enjoy pissing people off at this point?
Big Show Paul Wight recently said on the WWE Network that you yourself would admit you were "a prick" at this point – would you agree with that? Do you regret any of that?
Why did Nitro start going on the air early? Was that the Network's idea or something you wanted to do?
How often, if ever, were you getting feedback from Ted Turner?
What sort of edicts were you receiving from Turner Broadcasting about programming at the time?
Where did the idea of having Madusa throw the WWE Women's title belt in the garbage come from? Was it hard to convince her to do it? Do you feel like her doing it killed her job prospects post-WCW in the wrestling business? Was it WWE's fault for not getting her to return
to the title belt? Was it a move you regretted at any time?
Vince McMahon said it was a "tawdry" thing to do – how do you react to that?
What was your reaction to WWE running the Billionaire Ted sketches? Do you think they actually legitimized the competition by doing so? Is it true Turner loved them?
Describe a week in the life of Eric Bischoff during this time period?
As Nitro evolved, one of the criticisms at times was that the show was written extremely late, sometimes going on the air with announcers and others not knowing what was going on in terms of the plans for the night – why was that? Was it actually that unorganized or were plans
changing on the fly because you were programming against what was on Raw?
How often were plans for a live broadcast changed over the course of that broadcast based on what was going on during Raw?
Sabu was brought in for the first few months of WCW Nitro but was gone within two months. What happened that Sabu wasn't signed to a long form deal?
Talk about the importance of signing more talent as Nitro began, specifically Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero and Dean Malenko?
When was the first time you heard of ECW?
What are your memories of deals to send Bobby Eaton and Arn Anderson to ECW to help promote the Slamboree PPV in Philly? Why didn't a working relationship with ECW continue?
What were your thoughts on the ECW product at the time?
How close were you following it as you were building WCW?
As you were building WCW during the Monday Night War, you hired a lot of talent from ECW – the point that some felt that you were targeting ECW specifically. How do you react to that?
If you weren't familiar with the talents, who was advising you as to what talents were out there?
One story when you hired Dean Malenko, Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero in August 1995 was that you used WCW's relationship with New Japan as leverage to get them to sign – how true was that?
What was your reaction to ECW fans chanting things like "Bischoff takes it up the ass" at their shows?
WWF built a working relationship with Paul Heyman during that time period – why didn't WCW pursue that as well since Heyman and Kevin Sullivan went back a long way? Looking back, do you wish you had done that?
Heyman would often tell stories of suing WCW – how often did that actually happen?
What was your relationship with Heyman like before you were running WCW and then after the Monday Night War began?
What's your take on ECW's product at the time? How much of it influenced what WCW at the time did?
When WWF began working with ECW, you called it the biggest threat to WCW during a Prodigy chat with Bob Ryder – why did you feel that way at the time?
When ECW booked their first PPV for March 1997, WCW booked a Nitro taping the next night in Philly. When ECW's show was postponed under April, WCW then booked the day after their new date for Philly. Would you not consider that to be aggressive behavior against a much smaller promotion? If not, why was the taping moved?
How was WCW able to hire Mike Awesome when he was signed to a ECW deal?
Were you surprised when Heyman went after WCW legally for hiring Awesome?
Do you think in hindsight, Awesome was worth signing?
When Goldberg was turned heel in Baltimore at the 2000 Great American Bash, that was a "big surprise" that was teased in the weeks leading to the show. At the time, there were rumors that WCW was trying to bring in ECW for a working relationship – was there anything to that at the time and if so, how close did it get?
What were your dealings with Paul Heyman like during that time period?
What are your thoughts on WWE resurrecting ECW in 2005?
Memories of the One Night Stand PPV as a show and as a launching point for a new brand?
Did you think the new version of ECW could take off?
How did the signing of Kevin Nash and Scott Hall come about? There's a version that they, through DDP, came to you and a version that you had DDP approach them – what are your memories of this time period and their signing?
It's been said that you came up with the concept of the outsiders invading after attending a New Japan show and seeing New Japan vs. the UWFi – is that correct and if not, where did you come up with the idea?
Obviously, realism was a big part of the Outsiders' debut as was playing off the idea that they were WWE talents – where did those concepts come from? How important was it to get away from standard wrestling logic at the time?
In 2014, is it possible it's time to get away from the realism and send the business back towards more of the older logic?
Were you surprised when WWE decided to sue over WCW allegedly infringing on the Razor and Diesel copyrights?
Where did the idea for you to be powerbombed through a table come from?
Did you feel that by taking the bump, you were showing your roster that you were willing to do anything for the cause?
Is it true the plan for the third member of the NWO was going to be Sting if Hulk Hogan balked at turning heel? How hard was it to get Hogan to make that move? Is it true he turned it down the first time you brought it up?
Do you think the NWO would have taken off the same way if Sting had been turned heel?
Memories of the night Hogan turned at Bash of the Beach and the crowd reaction with all the fans throwing trash into the ring?
Did you ever get any feedback from Turner Broadcasting about the decision to turn Hogan heel?
Kevin Nash has claimed that when WWE decided to bring in imposter versions of Razor Ramon and Diesel that WCW thought something had happened to nullify their deals with Nash and Scott Hall and signed them to new contracts for larger paydays – what are your memories of this and did anything along those lines actually happen?
Talk about the process of creating the NWO as a separate entity, with the music, the commercial advertisements, etc.
What led to you adding The Giant as the fourth member?
Was there ever a concern of adding too many members to the group?
What led to you becoming a member of the NWO? Did you ever feel like it was a mistake to put yourself at the forefront of the top angle?
Eric Bischoff urban legend time – is it true you just bought a new leather jacket every week when you got to where TV was so you didn't have to carry it with you as you traveled?
Was there ever a concern that the NWO was so hot that it actually hurt WCW's own brand?
Why did the NWO Souled out PPV not work as a separate entity?
How much of the Mr. McMahon character do you think was based on Bischoff in WCW?
As WCW grew, the stories began to circulate that you were extremely arrogant about putting WWE out of business and often giving speeches backstage that the company was out to put Vince McMahon down – at the time, is that really what you wanted or did you just want to motivate the crew?
Is it possible that with success, you might have let some of it go to your head at the time?
What led to the legal issues between WCW and Ric Flair? Why was it such a big deal that Flair missed a date in order to see his son compete in an amateur wrestling meet? In hindsight, do you think pursuing the legal action against someone who meant so much to WCW was a mistake?
There was talk then and now about the other members of the rosters being pissed because the NWO laid waste to just about everyone on the roster? Was that a concern at the time, or did it not matter because it was about the story?
What led to Roddy Piper coming in at Halloween Havoc?
As 1997 hit, you had Piper, Hogan, Nash, Hall, Savage, Flair, Sting, Luger and more under one roof – how do you keep all of these strong personalities happy and still get what you need out of them as a promoter at the same time?
How important was the rise of DDP important to WCW at the time? What is your response to those who say he was only pushed because you were friends?
At the same time, there was a belief that undercard performers such as the Luchadors and the Cruiserweights were being disrespected by management while at the same time being the work horses of the company – do you think that was a fair assessment?
One argument for the alleged lack of respect for the Luchadors was having some of them, including Rey Jr and Juventud Guerra lose their masks. Your response?
Is it true you threw coffee at Eddie Guerrero because he asked for a release? If not, tell your memories of the incident in question?
Talk about your memories of bringing in Ultimate Warrior to WCW? Warrior claimed that he was only brought in because Hogan wanted to get his win over Warrior and that if he realized how bad it would have been, he never would have come back. There's also stories of Warrior doing whatever he wanted on TV and veering far off script. What are your memories of your dealings with Warrior in WCW?
Do you regret having Tony Schiavone reveal Mick Foley was going to win the WWE title since it caused a huge surge in viewers leaving Nitro for Raw?
Talk about the Goldberg phenom – when did you realize that he was going to be a major franchise? Why did WCW sign him to a larger deal in 1999 after he already had a valid contract?
You booked him win the WCW World belt on a live Nitro instead of putting it on PPV and making fans pay for it – or was it more important to try and regain the ratings streak from WWE?
WCW fingerpoke of doom with Hogan and Nash. In hindsight, a mistake?
When did you first reach out to Bret Hart about potentially coming to WCW?
The story that is often repeated is that Hart turned it down and then Vince balked at his contract and told Bret to go back to you about getting a deal again – were you surprised when Hart called you about coming in?
Did you feel it was a sign that WWE was on the verge of being defeated?
Vince McMahon has said that the reason he screwed Bret in Montreal was to prevent him from showing up on Nitro as WWE champion. Talk about your memories of that period – would you have put Bret on as champion?
Were you surprised when WWE screwed Bret?
Would you have done it if you were in Vince's position?
Did the screwjob hurt Bret's work and marketability once he came to WCW?
Did you feel that WCW got what they paid for in Bret the talent?
It seemed like he was never the major attraction or draw that he was once he came to WCW?
Memories of the angle and match you did with Larry Zbyszko at Starrcade 1997?
Let's talk the finish of Starrcade 1997. Why did that entire deal with Sting and Hogan go wrong when you had expertly built up to that moment of Sting winning the title. Who was at fault for the fast count and why was it allowed to happen – was anyone ever penalized for it, because it seems like that's the first moment where things began to start to show signs of going off the rails.
As we closed out the 1990s, Scott Hall began having a number of personal issues. Do you think anything could have been done to help Hall during that time period on WCW's end?
WCW brought in a number of celebrities for angles and matches. Talk a little bit about the mindset of each of the following and whether they were worth the investment, in your mind, in hindsight?
Dennis Rodman
Karl Malone
Jay Leno
David Arquette (this was a Russo move, not a Bischoff one, but get his
The Misfts
Master P and the No Limit Soldiers
What led to you giving Kevin Nash the WCW book? Compare Nash as booker to Sullivan and even yourself heading up the creative end of the company.
Let's talk about TBS adding Thunder as a series – you've written that was one time you should have said "No" instead of doing what was asked of you. Explain why that is?
Is it true that you were producing Thunder without getting any revenue stream for it? If so, explain how that could even happen?
Why was Nitro expanded to three hours?
How much did the Turner Broadcasting structure and environment begin to strip away at WCW? How much of the problems that you or Vince Russo or anyone else get blamed for were actually caused by the Turner issues?
Is it true Turner Broadcasting once tried to force you to give them scripts a month in advance to be screened by their standards and practices? What was your reaction to this? How could they not understand how wrestling, which they owned for over a decade, was produced?
Turner's ad execs wanted WCW to focus on children and families and in your book, you wrote that was when you knew it was going to hurt you – years later WWE was able to rebrand themselves successfully as a family company. Why do you think WCW couldn't or wouldn't be successful under their edicts? Had the company just gone too far down one road to turn around?
Break down how the corporate structure in Turner changing as the AOL merger came closer changed. How was it that Turner and Schiller weren't providing more support? Why was it that Turner broadcasting didn't see what brought WCW to the dance?
Do you regret not just calling it a day and walking out when you look back?
How bad did it hurt WCW morale when Turner Broadcasting moved the company's HQ out of CNN Center?
Is it true Turner execs cost WCW a deal to have live NBC specials?
Do you think WCW was in a position where they couldn't win at this point? Was there any way to prevent the company from being overexposed? What sort of pressure does that put on you as a person and a producer to not be able to find an easy fix or way out of the problems?
At the same time, WWE was starting to fire on all cylinders. What was your response when they sent DX to Nitro to "try and invade" with a tank?
When you were challenging Vince McMahon to show up and fight you, did you really think he was going to show up? What would you have done if he had?
Talk about the days leading up to you being sent home by Dr. Harvey Schiller and the moment you were told you were being removed from power? Did you feel like Turner had forced you out? How do you go mentally from the gear of trying to run a company back to its former success to suddenly having no responsibility for it and going fishing?
Thoughts on Bill Busch following you as the head of the company?
Your first thoughts when you found out WCW had hired Vince Russo and Ed Ferrara to head up creative?
Were you watching any of the WCW programming at this point?
What was your reaction when you saw WCW let Benoit, Guerrero, Saturn and Malenko walk out?
What was your reaction when they called you to come back?
What was your first impression of Vince Russo as you worked together?
What were his strengths and weaknesses.
In your book, you called Russo a "one trick pony and full of shit." After your time with him in TNA years later, do you still stand by that statement?
Compare the WCW locker room when you were sent home to the one you found when you returned?
It's been said that Russo attempted to put a WWE blueprint on WCW and all the characters and in doing so, destroyed a lot of what was left in the company by stripping the company and the personalities too far from what made them unique – would you concur?
Thoughts on rebooting WCW and stripping everyone of the titles in hindsight?
Memories of the New Blood vs. the Millionaires Club storyline?
Memories of the night Vince Russo "shot" on Hulk Hogan and Hogan walked out of WCW? What are your memories of what happened and what went wrong – was Hogan right in suing?
Were you shocked when Brad Siegel didn't side with you against Russo?
When did you first decide you wanted to try and buy WCW? Talk about the back and forth with your team and AOL/Turner?
It was announced that you were putting together a group with Fuscient Media to purchase WCW. Talk about the process of putting the investors together and why you believed the deal was done.
What was your reaction when you learned Jamie Kellner had canceled all wrestling programming from Turner Broadcasting?
Do you think that ever would have happened if Ted was able to maintain his power?
Once you learned that WCW had been canceled, the story is that you tried to negotiate a TV deal with FOX but were unsuccessful – what was the reality behind that story and how deep did those negotiations go?
How valuable was WCW without the TV slots?
Would you have still wanted to purchase the company without TV if you could have?
Do you regret that WWE ended up with the assets?
There are rumors of your plans had you taken WCW over so let's discuss some of those and see what was true and false:
1 – You were hiring Joey Styles and Don Callis to become the new Nitro
announce team?
2 – Rob Van Dam was coming in
3 – Michigan indy booker John Muse was going to come in as the booker of the Cruiserweight division and was going to have say over that division himself.
4 –All of the bigger names that had been removed from TV – Nash, Hogan, etc. would be returning in a big angle.
5 – The company was going to be relocated to Vegas with all TV tapings being held there on a weekly, live basis.
6 – House shows were going to be completely eliminated.
Why do you think there isn't a huge surge of WCW nostalgia like there is for ECW?
What do you think the legacy of World Championship Wrestling should be?
What was your favorite and least favorite day working for WCW?
Once you realized WCW wasn't going to be your future, did you feel you were done in the wrestling business forever?
If so, what was going to be your next career move?
You popped up in Canada attached to a promotion called Matrats – talk about that concept and how you ended up attached to it and why it never went past that level?
Where did the Celebrity Championship Wrestling concept come from?
Was it hard selling Hulk Hogan on the idea?
Talk about pitching the series to CMT – was it hard getting the series sold?
How long was the turnaround from pitching the series to actually being in production?
Of the celebrities, who did you feel had the best and the least aptitude for the business?
Why was Dennis Rodman chosen to win when Todd Bridges was obviously the best in ring performer of all the celebrities?
Why was the series never picked up for a second season?
When you look back on the series, is there anything you would have done differently?
Would you ever want to revisit the concept as a series?
What makes a good reality TV series?
Since reality TV features strong characters is manipulated via editing, how different is it from producing professional wrestling which is manipulated via the booking?
Did you find the background working for WCW for so many years hurt or helped when it came to pitching ideas to TV executives?
Is producing TV as satisfying as producing professional wrestling?
Of all your TV projects, which one do you feel most proudest of?
You've launched a number of other projects, including Buffalo Bill Cody beer – how hard is it to take a concept from the initial ideas and move it from a concept to a physical, produced product?
How surprised were you when WWE reached out about you coming in as a TV performer on their show?
Do you regret not taking their initial offer to be part of the Invasion storyline in 2001?
Were you surprised they called back a year later?
Is it ironic that you were brought in as a surprise the way you brought Lex Luger in for the debut of Nitro?
Memories of the night you were brought in at the IZOD Center to be announced as the new Raw General Manager?
What do you remember about the looks on people's faces as you were brought backstage?
Did you feel any tension from talents who were formerly in WCW?Compare the differences in the way WWE's production is handled vs. the way WCW's production was handled for a major show, such as a PPV?
Did you ever feel any lingering hostility from any of the McMahons towards the Monday Night War?
What was going through your mind as you hugged Vince on stage that night?
What happened the night Ric Flair went after you backstage? The story that made the rounds was he was being interviewed about his time in WCW and got so angry bringing the issues up that he went looking for you and went after you. What are your memories of the incident?
Memories of working with:
Steve Austin
Jonathan Coachman
John Cena
Booker T
Big Show
Kurt Angle
Chris Jericho
Randy Orton
Shawn Michaels
Triple H
Maria Kanellis
Jeff Hardy
Thoughts on the Benoit tragedy?
Will anyone ever be competitive against WWE again at the level WCW was in the 1990s?
What's your take on the WWE Network?
How would you have dealt with WWE changing that landscape today if you were competing against them?
What would it take to start a new promotion today?
What are the biggest obstacles to trying to compete at WWE's level today?
Would you want to take that challenge?
What do you think are the biggest misconceptions of Eric Bischoff?
Is there anything you get blamed for in the business that bothers you on a personal level?
Would you ever be interested in returning for another WWE run?
How do you want to be remembered in the business?
What do you think your true legacy in the business should be?
Any final words for everyone watching?
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Party Time (1977)
Party Time/Crying Over You/Now Generation/Mr. President/Serious Time/I Shall Be Released/Storm Cloud/Road Of Life/Why Music I/Sufferers' Time
The third in the "holy trinity" of Lee "Scratch" Perry-produced roots reggae albums from his legendary Black Ark studios (the other two are Max Romeo's War Ina Babylon and Junior Murvin's Police And Thieves). Although containing the same mid-pace bassy backing that characterised all Perry's productions, and that distinctive jangly percussion sound, this is a far lighter album than the booming, denser beats of the other two. Although it is still very much a roots reggae album in its overall sound, there is less of a "conscious" Rastafarian message to it and more love songs. It has the lightness of vocal touch of say an Abyssinians, Mighty Diamonds or Gladiators album. The Heptones were known for their vocal harmonies, and this was not lost on Perry, who merged it successfully with a roots "riddim" to great effect.
Party Time is a cool, catchy groove with a soulful vocal and chilled-out good-time feel. Crying Over You is a lovelorn lament, with a breezy, harmonious feel of Third World about it. Now Generation is a horn-driven number with another soul-style harmonised vocal. Mr. President is the first overtly political track so far that sees the group beseeching the President to do something about poverty over a typical Black Ark beat.
Serious Time is a rootsy but melodic number, while I Shall Be Released, a cover of Bob Dylan & The Band's song, shows how convincingly roots reggae could be used to cover music from other genres. This is an excellent, moving and evocative cut that gained The Heptones considerable "cross over" attention in the "punky reggae party" years of 1977-79.
Storm Cloud is one of the album's deepest roots numbers. Road Of Life, on the other hand, is a lively, melodious Third World-esque delicious laid-back skank. Why Music I is very much in the same vein, with a lovely bass line underpinning it. The album's jewel in the crown is the glorious, uplifting gospel-influenced anthem that is Sufferers' Time. The vocals are superb, the rhythm infectious and it is a real high note on which to end this slightly different roots reggae album. By the way, the only way to seemingly get hold of the album at present is as part of the Nightfood Ina Party Time compilation.

subset: commoncrawl


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Choose2Thrive's unique learning experiences focus on the following tenets of successful business practice, entrepreneurism, and community advocacy:
- an awareness of self-empowerment through education and practical applications
- the power of competence, persistence, and professionalism
- the trials and triumphs of entrepreneurship
- the value of acquiring mentors and sponsors
- the principles of diversity and inclusion
- the interconnectedness of business and community
- the significance of cultivating business and community relationships
- the role of corporate citizenship and social responsibility
- the importance of sound ethical decisions in business and community relations . . . and more
The integration of Choose2Thrive's live tours and online video coverage affords tour participants and others the opportunity to advance their knowledge of business, entrepreneurship, and community advocacy 'best practices' through these vital teachings for years to come.
Choose2Thrive's impressive roster of 'industry experts' of diverse backgrounds comprise a well-rounded group of high-level executives who offer invaluable perspectives and priceless insights. These experts connect to audiences through a genuine willingness to share their personal experiences through concrete examples of how hard work, leadership, entrepreneurship, community engagement, and social responsibility directed them toward 'success' – a term not solely defined by the accumulation of wealth, but one which also includes the achievement of career and personal goals while maintaining a strong commitment to family and community.


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Mom Boss | August 16
I truly want my kids to have beautiful summer memories. I know I'm lucky to accompany them on adventures around town and I'm thrilled when our interests all intersect. But with just one week of summer left, I'm ready to be Mom Boss and we're doing what I want!
First, Fast & Curryous! Despite what my kids might think – the menu isn't all spicy. I'm sure my kids will love their yummy food (especially the all around favorite Butter Chicken). Plus we can take our lunch for an impromptu picnic by the river. Us modern moms tend to let everyone have their say before us. But, I want to have curry and darn it – I bought the Tri-Fun Dining Pass so for once, I'm deciding! You can find their daily truck location on their Facebook page.
The other place I'm taking the family is Emerald of Siam. We've been for the lunch buffet, the kids had a blast trying each item and asking about the less common ingredients like bean sprouts and glass noodles – they also consumed an inordinate amount of peanut sauce. But, we haven't been for live music in the evening! It'll be a memorable treat with entertainment while our dinner is prepared, great people watching and… a delicious cold drink for Mom and Dad. Children are welcome for the early show and if you want to stay for the second set - you can use your Experience Pass for free entry and a complimentary appetizer for your table.
As always, check out all of our Tri-Fun Experience and Dining Venues at Tri-Fun.com!


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1st August
Concert will begin at 17:00 hours GMT
Bell, Bashmet, Hamelin and friends play Brahms & Franck in Verbier
Live stream
Live stream will be available right here at the beginning of the concert
Concert from the Verbier Festival. Joshua Bell, violin, Pamela Frank, violin, Yuri Bashmet, viola, Nobuko Imai, viola, Steven Isserlis, cello, Ksenia Bashmet, piano, and Marc-André Hamelin, piano, perform:
BRAHMS: Sonata for viola and piano in F minor, Op. 120 No. 1/ Piano trio No. 1 in B major, Op. 8.
FRANCK: Quintet for piano and strings in F minor.
Medici TV
Salle des Combins, Verbier


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Water Colorful Design Bubbles Pattern Soap
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Bhagwant Mann and the AAP party representatives burnt the effigy of Sukhbir Badal the owner of Orbit Bus company in Moga with family members of the victim. The driver and conductor of the company molested and then threw out the mother and daughter. The daughter died on the spot due to her severe injuries.
Protests have been sparked by AAP and Congress Party as they are demanding ban of Orbit and resignation of Sukhbir Badal. Prof Sadhu Singh said, "the buses are owned by those running Punjab and until the buses are stopped from operation we will not stop."
The controversy became bigger after the Akali Dal's Education Minister told reporters the Moga incident was an "act of god."


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New Berlin police chief makes another push for dispatch center
The dispatch debate in New Berlin heats up again Thursday night.
New Berlin police Chief Joe Rieder will explain to taxpayers that merging New Berlin and Waukesha County dispatch centers is the wrong move and would be irreversible.
He said their local dispatch services are a vital part to keeping New Berlin safe.
The chief said while the current dispatch center is in need of some technology upgrades, and is more costly to maintain, keeping it in New Berlin is the right choice now.
Tuesday, the city of Waukesha's Common Council felt the same way and voted unanimously to keep dispatch services separate.
Right now, the Waukesha County Communications Center serves 29 communities.
If you want to learn more about this, you can stop by New Berlin City Hall Thursday night at 6 p.m., where the chief will be giving his third and final presentation.


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Property Address: 105 – 2008 Fullerton Ave., North Vancouver V7P 3G7
The Suite is Professionally Managed By Vista Realty Ltd.
The Suite is Located on the Well-Kept Seymour Building in Woodcroft. Close to Highway No. 1, Lions Gate Bridge, Grouse Mountain, Suspension Bridge, Marine Drive that Offers All of Your Daily Necessities. The Building Offers Swimming Pool, Gym, Work Shop And Guest Suite. Just Steps Away form Whitby Estate/Spuraway Bus Station to Take You to Park Royal Shopping Center, West Van. Library, and Dundrave Village.
Bedrooms: 2
Bathroom: 1
Parking : 1 Covered
Storage : 1
Move-In Fee: $100
Special Bonus for Those Who Move In on December 1st.
To View Please Contact: 604-355-9210 or 604-925-8824
Deposits: Half a Month Security Deposit
Lease term: Min. 1 Year
Pets: No Pets
Absolutely No Smoking.
Credit and Reference Check: Required
Vista Realty Ltd
Office Address:
208-700 Marine Drive
North Vancouver, B.C.
Canada V7M 1H3
Woodcroft Rental Office
113 – 2012 Fullerton Ave.,
North Vancouver, BC V7P 3E3
Disclaimer: The information contained herein has either been given to us by the owner of the property or obtained from sources that we deem reliable. We have no reason to doubt its accuracy but we do not guarantee it. Rental availability, rates, and timing are subject to change.


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- Publish date:
The American Basketball Association asked in a $300 million antitrust suit last week that the rival NBA be prohibited from inducing its players to jump leagues. The ABA, of course, is no less guilty of contract tampering, for the revolving door which let Charlie Scott and Jim McDaniels out also let Joe Caldwell and Zelmo Beaty in.
The NBA's reaction to the suit was a masterful act of one-upmanship. The following day it said it would accept future ABA defectors only if (and after) a final court determination showed their ABA contract to be invalid. If the NBA really means this, it is quite a responsible stand to take. Even ABA Commissioner Jack Dolph praised the NBA's "very progressive attitude." He might also consider proposing a similar resolution to the owners of his own league.
Pro football has an interesting promotional game: The Super Bowl Site Award. Instead of a clunky Oscar or Grammy, the lucky winner gets a run at a full stadium, good blocking for its hotel and restaurant business and a chance to tackle some zippy legal problems.
It did not take long for the tremors to set in after Los Angeles was picked as the site for Super Bowl VII, to be played next Jan. 14 in the Memorial Coliseum. There were the usual rumblings about the National Football League's television blackout of the host city, and the usual politician made the usual threats to hold up the game unless the blackout curtain was lifted. A newspaper complained that the city needed another Super Bowl the way it needed another quiver in the San Andreas Fault.
Despite the dissent, L.A. will host Super VII, its first such opportunity since Super I back in 1967. Super I is remembered as the only Super that did not sell out. Various explanations are given for this, along with reassurances that it will never happen again. All Pete Rozelle has to decide is whether to settle for the 80,000 seats normally employed for football or eliminate the temporary bleachers at one end of the field and expand to all 93,000 seats in the huge stadium. Either way, stadium officials promise, it will be a full house.
The determined efforts of Massachusetts state legislator Raymond L. Flynn seem to be bringing about something of a revolution in professional football ticket sales. Reflecting the resentment of the small-potatoes fan who is unable to afford season tickets (even if he could get them) but cannot buy tickets to individual games because they are all gone to season-ticket holders, Flynn introduced legislation requiring the New England Patriots to reserve 10,980 of their 61,000 seats for game-by-game sale. The bill passed the state senate by a 20-to-10 vote and went on to the house, but with an amendment asking the courts to rule on its constitutionality. While all this was going on, the Patriots, who had already sold about 50,000 season tickets, announced voluntarily that next fall 5,000 seats would be made available game by game. Whether or not Flynn's bill goes all the way to a score, the little guy seems at last to be getting a bit of recognition.
Kids on neighborhood basketball courts have been wearing striped shoes for several years, but a new status symbol is currently taking over the playground set: sweatbands. The unintentional architect of the new fad is Wilt Chamberlain, whose appearance with a terry-cloth band across his vast forehead apparently fascinates kids. After local youngsters persistently badgered pro and college stars for bands as souvenirs, the Inglewood Forum, where the Los Angeles Lakers play, put headbands ($1) and wristbands ($1.50 the set) on sale in January. In gold, with the Laker logo imprinted in blue, the bands were an instant smash.
Sporting goods stores are experiencing a similar boom. A representative of one firm said, "During the first 10 years we were in business we probably didn't sell more than one sweatband a year. Now 10 a day is slow. Wilt started it all. It's reached the point now where a kid will hardly go to school without one."
The Baltimore County Commission on Physical Fitness has issued a hints-to-cyclists booklet that includes suggestions on how to repel dogs.
"Some cyclists," the work notes, "grab their tire pumps as weapons. Some carry one or two large stones in their pockets. Quite a few others have found that lung power is very effective. We have seen a dog literally skid to a stop and slink away as a result of a very loud and angry yell, 'GO HOME!' "
It must be that many dogs around Baltimore are hard to intimidate, because the booklet also suggests: "Keep your pedal speed very high; this will make your feet a poor target."
The best idea of all might be to switch over to a penny-farthing bike. Penny-farthings are those old-fashioned ones with the big wheel in front and the tiny one behind. Two years ago in England a former racing cyclist named Keith Brock built one for his daughter. People saw it, liked it, asked about it, and now Brock has a factory turning out 1,000 bikes a week. Most are for the British market, but several American concerns are interested in distributing them here.
Most of Brock's bikes are for kids and cost $52 each, but he also makes an adult version for $394. This is a little expensive for the average cyclist, but it might be worth it if he has trouble with dogs. Back in the 1880s the original penny-farthings were known for their tendency to frighten horses. Dogs don't scare as easily, but the rider sits so high up on the big front wheel that he might well be above a dog's importuning bite. Or, that failing, the penny-farthing could make a dog laugh so hard he wouldn't be able to chase it.
Pro basketball coaches and scouts at the NAIA tournament bounced around a rumor that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar would leave the Milwaukee Bucks after next season. The word was that Jabbar might play out his option and become a free agent. In that event, one coach suggested, the only teams that could afford to meet his price would be the Knicks or the Lakers, which, significantly, represent 1) the city where Jabbar grew up and first played the game and 2) the city where he established his supremacy as a college player. It is no secret that he would prefer either to Milwaukee as a place to be.
If it happens at all, the threatened strike of major league baseball players will probably come on a spot basis, say a Saturday early in the season when Game of the Week television would be affected. But reports persist that the strike could wipe out the entire 1972 season. What are the economic consequences for the owners if there is no season? Frank Cashen, executive vice-president of the American League champion Baltimore Orioles, said the other day that in Baltimore's case the loss of one season would not in itself be as bad as the aftershock. "If we play this year and draw 900,000 and do not get into the playoffs or World Series," Cashen said, "I expect we'd be looking a $600,000 loss in the face. If baseball shuts down, I could cut our staff and our operation to the bone and not lose anything close to $600,000."
Then Cashen went into the more interesting side effects. "You have to consider you don't just lose the year. How many of your season-ticket holders and regular fans are going to discover while you're out that they don't really need baseball that much, that they can do without it? How many advertisers are going to find other places to put their money and maybe decide they get just as good results there? All these things have to be considered in making the decision to lay out a year."
In other words, if there is no settlement everyone strikes out.
The malaise that seems to be afflicting American horse racing (strikes, off-track betting inroads, decline in betting and attendance) may have been reflected a few weeks ago at the first dispersal sale of horses that belonged to George D. Widener, who died last year. Top price at the sale, and a world record for a broodmare, was $450,000 paid for What a Treat, who is in foal to Vaguely Noble. The significance of this enormous bid is that it was made by France's Office du Pur Sang, which had to top the price offered by agents bidding for Japan. Granted, this was only one mare, one horse, but it used to be that top racing stock flowed into the U.S.
What is wrong with Jim Ryun? All us amateur Freuds in the sportswriting trade have analyzed his psyche down to the last twitch of the Id, but now Dr. George Sheehan, the distance runner and cardiologist, suggests it might simply be that Ryun has mononucleosis again. The "kissing disease" that hits the healthiest segment of the population, young adults, is still a mystery to the medical profession, but Sheehan cites a doctor who believes the mononucleosis virus stays in the body forever. And he points out that the disease almost never recurs without the accompaniment of exhaustion. One demanding track coach who subjected his runners to an exceptionally stern training schedule (with his methods, Sheehan says, you were either a national champion or in the infirmary) found his squad shot through with 1) rebellion and 2) mono.
In 1968, after he had mononucleosis, Ryun attempted to make the Olympic team at both 1,500 and 800 meters. He ran disastrously in the 800 trials but made it in the 1,500 and came back to run splendidly that fall in finishing second to Kip Keino in Mexico City. In subsequent years, after strenuous training, he failed under stress in key races, most recently in the Champions Meet a few weeks ago in Los Angeles.
Sheehan writes, "From my vantage point Ryun looks like a typical mono victim, the familiar formula of excess stress plus a susceptible athlete.... He has been caught in the excessive mileage trap and apparently can't handle it." In other words, less stringent training rather than more and more work may be what Ryun needs to return to the top level of international racing.
In Edwardian times gentlemen were wont to hang around stage doors to recruit from the chorus line. Now they may become Locker Room Johnnies. Dr. Christine Pickard, a consultant on birth control and sex problems in England, has concluded that women athletes are better lovers.
"Athletes are physical creatures," reports Dr. Pickard. "Their bodies are important to them. The physical sensations, touch, the ripple of muscles, play a central role in their lives." In general, she claims, women athletes "are more interested in sex and physically more responsive than their less active sisters." Developed muscles, she maintains, are une charme de plus. Muscles, in her opinion, are "much better than scrawn or flab." We may yet see the time when figure skating supersedes burlesque.
•Lou Burdette, Atlanta Braves pitching coach, on throwing his spitball during batting practice: "I've slowed down so much, they're hitting the dry side."
•Dave Marr, after shooting a 70 in an exhibition match in which Jack Nicklaus shot 60, Julius Boros 62 and Sam Snead 64: "I missed the nine-hole cut."
•Dr. Karl-Heinz Klee, retiring president of the Austrian Ski Federation: "In future Olympic Games we must learn to dissemble much better than in Sapporo. The decision is between industrial sport, college sport or state sport. We should have made Karl Schranz a colonel."
•Lynn Shackelford, former UCLA forward, now a broadcaster for the Los Angeles Lakers, describing the size-22 shoes of Bob Lanier, Detroit Piston center: "He doesn't shine them; he sends them through a car wash."


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Question: IDBA-UD Parameters for Bio Linux?
3.5 years ago by
Seot • 0
Seot • 0 wrote:
Hi all,
Does anyone know where to find a list, or recent tutorial, that has IDBA-UD assembly parameters? I'm using Bio Linux, if that helps. I don't know if the parameters and commands for IDBA-UD assembly differs between workstations. I did find the PDF "Metagenomics Workshop Documentation: Release 1" but it seems a bit vague for a beginner... (for example, what do "-l mtc=1" and "-b y" mean?). Any help will be appreciated.


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College is a period of change, and you are finally the person making those choices and making sure you follow through. It may seem like a tall order, but you are perfectly capable of meeting and surpassing even the loftiest goals.
When going to college, ensure you carry enough toiletries with you. These are important. You don't want to move into your dorm and then find you don't have any toilet paper! You should buy plenty of the essentials.
Remember that you have to eat healthy foods. The freshman 15 is a real thing. Eat healthy and refrain from eating fast food. Stay away from processed foods and fast foods. Such foods might seem quick and inexpensive, but the calories cost you over time, nor are they nutritious enough.
Study as much as possible every day. The more time you devote to college, the more you can get from it. Consider college as important as you would any job, but don't overlook the social aspects. Doing great in your classes will ensure that you make more money and have a better job.
You should find out what grants and scholarships you can get. Scholarships are not only for the straight-A students, but there are a wide variety of scholarships offered for people in unique situations. You may also be eligible for a number of grants which you will not have to pay back.
As you prepare for an exam, take a few moments to double-check that you have all the materials you need. Make sure you have your calculator, some extra batteries and everything else you need for your exam. Usually, the teacher won't have extra, so bringing your own is crucial.
Where you sit is very important towards your success in classes. Don't sit at the back! Try to sit near the front. You will be able to concentrate and ask the professor about any questions you might have.
Get plenty of sleep. Sleep is essential; even though, all night studying and partying may beckon you. If you do not get enough sleep, focusing on your work will be hard and your grades will suffer from this.
During the first semester, take a minimum of one general ed class so that you can put it behind you. Get any classes that you must take (but don't really want to take) over with early on. That will ensure you aren't a senior alone in a class of freshmen.
You will need to get acquainted with the professors of all your classes when they start. Learn how they can be contacted, their office location, and what their office hours are. It is wise to create a solid rapport in case you need a deadline extended or have another type of problem.
Credit Card
Stay out of credit card trouble by paying off your balance each month. This will help you avoid late fees and interest. In general, you should try and only use your credit card for emergencies. Don't use it to go to the movies, bar or a restaurant. Having problems with money can distract you from your studies.
All students can find college to be challenging. You need to adopt a responsible attitude, think about your future and focus on your studying if you want to be successful.


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*Fistbump*3 Dancer EO4 here. Hell ye challenge runs. (I've gotta try 5 medic yet)
Finally getting off my ass and making some real progress through KHBBS. Terra's story? Done. Ven's story? Ugh, I'll let you know when I can clear the rhythm minigame... from the looks of it, the pattern's actually static, but that doesn't help where timing is concerned. Played just a little bit of Aqua's story for the interim. Can I make it to the last Episode before FJF starts and I put every second of my gaming time into that? Probs not.
Dunno what bit me, but I played Parasite Eve recently. It's funny to see an RPG where your STG experience comes in handy.
Parasite Eve is one of my favorite PS era RPGs, which is why I was disappointed PE2 went a more Resident Evil style of gameplay. I wish they'd come out with a third Parasite Eve game, though, that would be fun.
There's the 3rd Birthday on PSP.
All you need to do is unlock the auction house and win all of them. Then the game is effectively over. It deserves no better.
All you need to do is unlock the auction house and win all of them.
The first murder was ridiculously convoluted, almost to the point of being silly, but it just BARELY makes enough sense to work. That's a good line to walk I guess.
Holy shit, you've seen nothing yet.The murders in this game make the first game solutions seem obvious in comparison.You'll definitely love the game though, so many twists and turns.
You'll definitely love the game though, so many twists and turns.
Spoiler: 5th case is stupid. Its resolution and reasoning behind it, is even more stupid
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'Living with OCD'
PV student explains her experience with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Editor's Note: Kayla's Korner will be a reoccurring column that deals with mental health and teenage issues. The student wants to remain anonymous. The name, Mary Smith, will be a placeholder to this person's actual name.
Mary Smith believes she has had Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder her whole life, but she did not really realize the effects until high school.
"During the beginning of high school, my mom noticed some changes in my behaviors, so she decided that I should go to a therapist," Smith said. "Since it was during the beginning of high school, there was a lot of stressful times relating to that."
The therapist asked some questions and then said that she thinks that Smith had OCD or OCPD.
Smith later showed that she had a combination of both of them.
About eight months ago, Smith started taking medicine for her OCD and OCPD. She says that her OCD is stress-based, so the medicine helps in lowering her stress, thus lowering her OCD tendencies.
"I can't exactly report that the medicine has worked the best for me so far," Smith said.
Smith sees her therapist to this day about once a week. Although, she sometimes sees her therapist every other week, depending on her schedule.
Smith talks to her therapist about her day and what made her stressed during the week and what OCD tendencies were caused by that stress.
She has a lot of OCD tendecies, but she does not notice them. People have just told her about them.
At one point, she took a shower four times a day. She chews 52 times per bite. She eats her food in certain ways, such as a waffle. She counts her steps and touches her fingers a certain amount of times. She also checks to make sure if there is anyone following her or stalking her. Smith often thinks that someone is.
"I also get concerned that the house is going to burn down," Smith said. "When I was a kid, I used to sleep with all my favorite things in case the house burnt down."
Although she has these tendencies, she would not even notice if anything was different.
But Smith realizes that she spends too much time doing everything. She washes her hands too often.
"If I was in school, I wash my hands in between each class period," Smith said. "I pour water on my hands during the class period if they ever feel dry."
With having OCD, she believes that people should not get so upset about things that poke fun of OCD. She gave an example of a t-shirt at Target that said Obsessive Christmas Disorder and how everyone flipped out.
She believes it is nothing to get upset over.
"Everyone has a little bit of OCD in their own way," Smith said. "Everyone likes their things a particular way."
She is looking forward to the future, but she is only nervous about having to live with a roommate in college. She's scared that they won't be as neat as she is.
Coming next: Kayla's Korner will be continuing with weekly articles. Next week will discuss PV alumnus Sarah McCambridge's mental health story.
Kayla Barry is a senior and has been on The Smoke Signal for four years. This year, she is the Assistant Editor in Chief. She is looking forward to working...


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Copy Haho is a four-piece band from Stonehaven, Scotland consisting of Joe Hearty, Rikki Will, Stuart Mcintosh, and Richard Scott. In 2008, they released their debut 7-inch, "You Are My Coal Mine / Cutting Out The Bad," on the independent record label, Teenage Lust. They released the EP, Bred For Skills & Magic, in 2009, and their latest single, "Wrong Direction" in 2010.
Featured Records
Copy Haho
Bred For Skills & Magic
Copy Haho
Wrong Direction 7" (Too Pure)


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There's a type of battle that goes on inside of me as a Mom every day. As I grow in the Gospel and understand more about the grace and love God showed me, the more I want that for our boys. In turn, the harder I work, the more stressed I feel, the less grace I show, and the more perfect I try to be.
It's so hard to accept that it is finished for me and then accept that the same God who saved me can save our boys. I did nothing to earn His grace; why do I try so hard to make my boys get it. If anything this should push me to my knees, pleading for the Spirit to work both in their hearts and mine.


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Front-end users generally complete data entry in ETO as a part of their interactions with program participants, so ETO must integrate seamlessly with their daily tasks. If data entry is having an impact on daily workflow, it can create friction for users, decrease usability, and reduce data quality.
In this case, you may need to streamline your ETO database by subtracting or minimising unnecessary data entry requirements (or in some cases adding data entry when certain data is missing, although this is less likely), and only including those data entry fields, objects and forms that are critical to your ETO reporting. You can also use specific ETO technical features to streamline your data entry, such as data entry logic, workflows, and requirements.
This post outlines 5 indicators that signal a need to streamline your ETO software. These indicators suggest that your ETO database may be too complex, overbuilt, or an impediment to frontline users.
1. Not able to report easily
If you are unable to report on needed data and metrics, then this is one reason to streamline your ETO database. ETO reports are driven by the structure of data entry, so your data entry should be simpler, leaner in order to make report building easier and minimise reporting challenges.
2. Negative feedback from users
If you are receiving negative feedback from users that data entry is burdensome, such as, it takes "too many clicks" to complete a task, then your ETO data structure may be too complex. Streamlining data entry by combining forms, minimizing fields, using data entry logic, and constructing dependent workflows are ways to simplify your ETO database for data entry users.
3. Similar data entry across different programs
Another reason to streamline data entry in your ETO database is when similar services and associated data entry tasks are captured in different programs. Duplicate data entry screens aren't efficient for users and also impacts ETO reporting. You may therefore consider combining similar data entry objects, fields, and forms across programs to solve this issue. Then, when it comes to reporting, instead of pulling data from multiple locations in ETO, you can pull the data from a single location.
4. Missing data or data isn't tracked
Streamlining ETO software doesn't always mean removing fields or data entry structure. You may need to add data entry requirements because you have missing data entry or incorrectly formatted data entry screens, which can be just as burdensome to users. These users will get frustrated when important pieces of data entry are missing.
5. Don't know where to start, recent staff turnover
Sometimes ETO software is so overbuilt and so complex that new ETO administrators who inherit a database don't know where to start. This can also occur with existing ETO administrators who have seen the structure of their ETO database change and expand with any quality assurance over long periods of time. Streamlining your ETO databse will reset and refresh the database to a solid foundation and familiarize the new ETO administrator with the database structure.
The benefits of streamlining your ETO software
ETO software is powerful and robust, but its size can lead to it being overbuilt or structured in a way that doesn't facilitate data entry and reporting. The goal of ETO is always to save users time so they can spend more time with participants and less time on paperwork. So, if you are encountering the above issues, you may need to streamline your database.
Streamlining your ETO database improves user workflows and enhances the ETO user experience, which leads to happier users, a cleaner and healthier database, and releases stress and pressure on your ETO administrator. Streamlining minimizes and simplifies data entry where possible and encourages users to actually "use" the database.
So, instead of tracking data just for the sake of tracking data, you should have a purpose for all data collected in ETO, otherwise remove the data altogether. You can use the following simple principle to assess whether data helps or hinders your streamlining initiative:
If the data is used in reports, keep it. If the data isn't used in reports, remove it or define a specific reason why that data should remain.


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|An Israeli soldier looks down on the demilitarized zone running along the ceasefire line with Syria
|Golan Heights, Israel
|You can see just how fertile the valleys are -- and how tall the mountains. Yes, that's snow in the Middle East!
|The white signs point to the Syrian cities of New Quneitra and Quneitra, largely deserted now due to the civil war. The winding road
at the right edge of the photo leads to a border passage between the two countries which was manned (until recently) by the UN.
|We saw lots of young Israeli soldiers, both men and women, carrying machine guns. They seemed quite relaxed on the day we visited.
|Razor wire and armed soldiers are an unfortunate reality in the heavily contested territory of the Golan Heights
|We'll leave you with two photos taken as we drove through the Golan Heights to give you an idea of the scenery typical here
|Large parts of Israel are dry and desert-like, but not the Golan Heights
|One of the best parts of our tour through Israel was making new friends who share our love of travel (and wine)
|A conservatively attired orthodox Jew with a great sense of humor opened three different bottles of wine for us to try
|Also near Katzrin is the Golan Heights Winery, which makes award-winning wines
|A former Syrian bunker sits atop the lookout point. In the background
is a cafe. What an odd juxtaposition of settled and unsettled here.
|As you arrive at the lookout point, you're greeted by a dinosaur of all things
|Probably the only time you'll see Robin posing with a sniper cutout
|Checking out a former Syrian bunker
|The small Israeli settlement of Merom Golan sits just below the lookout point on the Israeli side of the border
|The Syrian capital of Damascus is only 60 km from here
|In the central Golan Heights, we visited the Golan Magic Welcome Center near the town of Katzrin. After seeing the topographic map above,
we watched a short film highlighting the beauty of the Golan Heights -- and actually got spritzed by misters during the rainy scenes!


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The leopard print trend is coming on strong for spring ( I don't think it ever left) and brands are finding unique ways to add it to their line. I started my search online yesterday then jumped in my car and hit the shops. If you love leopard, it's a timeless print that works year after year and never looks dated.
Most leopard print is orange and black but there are options in navy, gray, red, pink and brown. J.Crew has several looks using leopard with navy in both clothes and accessories.
This trench coat caught my eye immediately and it's 30% off with the code WKND for just a few days.
It's got a full lining, removable hood, pockets, covered zipper, hidden snaps, back vent and best of all its water repellant. Sign me right up..it went into my cart immediately:)
Here are some other options at J.Crew
My feet are happiest in flat shoes so I'm always looking for ones that aren't boring. Platform sneakers are coming to the rescue this spring with lots of fun patterns and details. There are lots of leopard ones showing up which would add sass to any look this spring and summer.
The leopard bag is easy to find and wear. The options are almost limitless but if you're looking for unique, here are a few I spotted…bad pun intended:)


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Lets Have Look At the Different Play Pens out there for sale on The Market
Keep your dog entertained while staying safe indoors with a comfortable playpen. They come in a wide variety of styles and sizes, so learn the benefits of purchasing a dog or puppy playpen and how to choose the proper product for home or work use.
What is a Dog Playpen?
A playpen is a portable enclosure dedicated to keep the dog safe while they play. They can be set for indoor or outdoor use. Many pet owners purchase these products to receive the great benefits of owning one.
The main reason dog owners buy them is because they want to keep their pet safe. Whether they have a new puppy or an adult dog, a dog play pen can help make sure they are out of harm's way.
Indoor & Outdoor
Depending on the type you will buy, you can set it up indoors or outdoors. Don't hesitate placing it in the living room or in your backyard. This way, your pet can stay warm during the cold winter season, or get some fresh air while the sun is out. The possibilities are endless!
A quality playpen will give your puppy enough space to play and have fun. This way, you don't have to worry about their safety as much.
Storage & Transport
After you are down with the enclosure, you can store it easily. Simply fold or take it apart and place it in a space where you know it will be safe. You can take these anywhere. Put it in your car or van and transport will be easy.
Run Errands
While your pet is inside the playpen cage, you can go and take care of other things. Grocery shopping, going to the post office, or getting a haircut are possible while your dog is inside the cage.
How to Pick the right one for your needs
When looking for a playpen, you want to make sure you know the characteristics of a quality product. Here are a few factors to consider when picking the right one for you.
Size & Space
A playpen should be large enough to give your pet enough space. Space is necessary for your dog to be able to play, eat, drink, and rest. Find out the exact measurements and at least an estimation of how much space the playpen can provide.
Another thing to consider is storage. You want a playpen that can be easily stowed away for later use.
Indoor or Outdoor
Some playpens are built for indoor use only; others are constructed for only outdoor usage. Be sure to read the description to see if they will be safe in certain environments. If you can find one that is for both indoor and outdoor use, then you're golden.
Based on your preference, they come in myriad styles. Choose one based on the design and/or colors.
Materials & Construction
Each playpen will be different from one another in terms of quality materials and construction. Common materials used to make playpens include wire, plastic, and fabric. Durability and longevity should be found within how the pen is constructed.
Depending on the brand, size, capabilities, and overall quality materials/construction, price should be within reasonable range. While shopping. Don't be afraid to compare prices between models and merchants.
Now that you know some of the characteristics and factors to consider while shopping online, take a look at some examples of the best reviewed playpens online based on customer satisfaction.
Here are some Top Rated Playpens Reviewed By Consumers. Best Sellers in their Category!
45″ Foldable Playpen Zampa
Zampa is a well-known pet products manufacturer that creates high caliber dog playpens for pets to enjoy. Your pet will be safe and sound with this foldable pet cage. This octagon-shaped enclosure is made up eight panels, all connected with protected seams to prevent rips and tears from the inside. Link to the product: http://amzn.to/2moeVaT
The reinforced corners provide extra strength and the water-resistant materials are great for durability. It is 45 inches in diameter and 24 inches in height, which creates ample room for your dog to walk and play inside. A floor mat is attached to protect your dog as well as your floor.
- Made with durable, water-resistant materials
- Protective floor mat, mesh, and reinforced corners
- Spacious for playing and resting inside
- Foldable and transportable
- Comes with water dispenser hole and a bottle holder
- External side pockets hold snacks and other items
- Great for small or young pets
- Not good for large dog breeds
- Weak zipper
- Hard to put inside carrying case
MidWest 552-30DR Foldable Metal Exercise Pen / Pet Playpen. Black w/ door, 24 W x 30 H Inch
4 used from $ 30.80
Free shipping
Our View:
If you have a puppy or small adult dog, then the Zampa would be great to own. The protective materials will keep your pet inside without collapsing or be torn apart.
YoYo Moon 46″ D X 30″
YoYo Moon has released this massive, spacious playpen to allow your dog to have fun and exercise. Imagine having this beauty in your backyard while you are busy cleaning or cooking. Available in three color schemes (tan-black, blue-black, and pink-black), this model is 46 inches in diameter and 30 inches in height. Feel free to put their food or water bowls inside, or you can scatter dog toys for the pet to play with.
Like a spider has eight legs, this playpen has eight panels for design and structural purposes. It is made of mesh for proper air flow and Oxford cloth for robustness and waterproof capabilities. For safety and secureness, you will notice several zippers that will carefully seal your dog inside. Follow the link here to Amazon.com for the best price: http://amzn.to/2DbcJba
- Waterproof material for dryness and durability
- Foldable, portable, and light as a feather
- Steel, octagon frame within the Oxford cloth material for structural purposes
- Dual external storage bags for toys and other item
- Metal stakes included for outside usage
- Carrying bag included
- May collapse too easily
- Poor instructions to follow
- Weak zippers; may cause dog to escape
New World Pet Products B550-24 Foldable Exercise Pet Playpen, Black, Small/24" x 24"
4 used from $ 25.58
Free shipping
- Exercise Pen has 8 connected panels (each panel 24W x 24H Inches) to create 16 SQFT living area | Playpen is ideal for small dogs up to 16 inches tall
- Portable Exercise Pen is great for indoor & outdoor use, a black rust-preventive e-coat protects the dog playpen from the elements & included ground stakes keep the pen anchored to the ground
- No tools required. Simply unfold, shape & connect dog playpen together, exercise pen can be set-up in seconds & folds flat for easy storage or travel
- Puppy playpen includes 4 ground stakes, 4 secure locking thumb snaps & can be used in conjunction w/ a metal dog crate to expand your dog's living area
- Exercise pen works great as a puppy playpen or as an exercise area for non-climbing small animals including Rabbits, Ducks, Turtles & Guinea Pigs
Our View: Overall, the YoYo Moon 46" D X 30" H may be best for short periods of time. Great style and color choices, but always room for improvement.
ToysOpoly 45″ PlayPen
ToysOpoly manufactured this unique pet playpen that can be used both indoors and outdoors. Your dog will be amazed and enthralled by this capacious play area. The pen has a diameter of 45 inches and a height of two feet tall! Take a look for yourself: http://amzn.to/2zqVNeC
Twin doors makes entering and exiting the playpen easy for your four-legged friend. The mesh is placed to allow proper airflow. This way, your dog doesn't get overheated and can receive fresh air. Since the playpen can be used outside, there is a zipper on top to protect your dog from the sun's rays. At the bottom, a zipper is placed and four stainless steel anchors can be placed in the group to keep the playpen right-side up and avoid a collapse.
- Durable & waterproof material
- Large and full of space
- Easy entry and exit
- Easy assembly
- Easy for dog to escape
- Bottom area is weak
- Zippers break easily
Our View: It is a product worth trying and can be used to hold your puppy for small periods of time. You will able to put it together and store it for later use. This can be a great addition to the home.
IRIS – Pet Playpen with DoorWhite
Unlike the previously shown dog playpens, this one isn't made of fabric or steel. Avoid an old rusty or dingy and purchase a heavy-duty, robust plastic playpen by IRIS. This white cage has great dimensions (35.25″L x 35.25″W x 24″H).
The IRIS 24" can be easily transported from one area to another. Indoor and outdoor use is made possible with sturdy, interlocking panels. Buy the product here on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2zsigaY
- Plenty of space to play and exercise
- Made of high quality plastic
- Can be used indoors or outdoors
- Security roof made of mesh materials
- Portable
- Steel door latches keep the door closed
- Interlocking panels for simple assembly
- Difficult to fold
- Easy to jump out of without roof
- Roof isn't very strong
IRIS R-CI-604 4-Panel Indoor Pet Pen, Black, 24 x 36 x 36 Inch (Pack of 1)
5 used from $ 22.47
Free shipping
- The iris 24'' exercise 4-panel dog playpen with door can be used for dog play yards, play gate, small dog fence, and more
- The Iris playpen is portable and provides 8 square feet of play space for pets. No capacity
- Dog playpen with door is made of durable, economical repurposed raw material
- Iris dog exercise pen with door is made in the USA, and add-on panels are available to create large pet playpen
- Iris playpen: 35.6"W x 35.6"W x 23.6"H; each panel: 33.6"W x 1.5"D x 23.6"H
Our View: Aside from a few weaknesses, this playpen would be great to own for your furry loved one.
Final Thoughts
Owning a playpen can come in handy when you are busy. However, it is no substitution to allowing your dog go outside or play in the house. Be mindful when using a playpen; would you prefer to be inside a playpen all of the time instead of running and getting some sunshine?


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World Leaders Commemorate 75th D-Day Anniversary
World leaders commemorated the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day landings on Thursday, remembering those lost and thanking participating veterans.
OMAHA BEACH, France (AP) — With the silence of remembrance and respect, nations honored the memory of the fallen and the singular bravery of all Allied troops who sloshed through bloodied water to the landing beaches of Normandy, a tribute of thanks 75 years after the D-Day assault that doomed the Nazi occupation of France and portended the fall of Hitler's Third Reich.
French President Emmanuel Macron and President Donald Trump praised the soldiers, sailors and airmen, the survivors and those who lost their lives, in powerful speeches Thursday that credited the June 6, 1944 surprise air and sea operation that brought tens of thousands of men to Normandy, each not knowing whether he would survive the day.
Continue reading the full article at the Associated Press.


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Nha Trang
To get the overnight train to Nha Trang meant that you had to get a 45 minute taxi to Da Nang, a large city north of Hoi An. I had been on an overnight train before in India so sort of had an idea what to expect but for Aida it was her first taste of this mode of transport. As we got into our carriage 1 hour later than scheduled, another 3 local ladies joined us, seems that they were going to share for the night!! I had the bottom bunk as Aida made her way to the top and within half an hour both were fast asleep. Not quite knowing what time we were due in Nha Trang was a bit of a pain so subconsciously I woke up every time the train stopped. It also seemed that our room mates also changed every station as well. We had planned on watching some DVD's on these journeys however by the time you wake up you are there which was great as it meant a lot less sitting around being stared at by the locals.
After a taxi ride into Nha Trang we found our Hotel called Nice Hotel, just down one of the side streets. Straight away things looked different, there were lots of western looking people there (mostly not smiling!!) and all the menu's/info sheets had a third language. As well as the customary Vietnamese and English, Russian was now added (and above English as well). It seems like London, Phuket, Pattaya and parts of Bali, the Russians had taken over the whole city. Not renowned for their dazzling personalities I have seen first hand how Thailand has changed with their presence so I cannot say I was overly impressed with knowing that we were now in mini Moscow.
Not letting a few thousand Russians get in the way of our trip we booked a trip for that afternoon to Thap Ba Hot Springs. For about $10 each we got to lie in a bath of mud (more like chocolate milkshake than the thick mud sampled in Fiji), have a hot mineral bath, as well as sample the swimming pool and Jacuzzi. Whilst there we went all out and got a 45 minute massage and sauna. This was less than $10 but the woman spoiled it by demanding a tip (I was ready to pay one once dressed) so we left a $1 each and departed. The beach is literally a minutes walk from the hotel so before dinner we had a stroll along the beach which was full of locals and tourists. Sadly lacking were any bins so rubbish lined the sand which is very disappointing and needs to be addressed by the locals and their permanent guests.
As in Hoi An, the next day we needed to check out in the morning before our overnight train to Saigon. With another full day available we decided to head over to the Water Park / Theme Park at Vinpearl. The cost was about $20 each including the cable cars to the island (longest cable car over water in the world they say). This was well worth the visit, despite getting slightly burnt due to not wearing suncream!! The biggest tip I can give hear is to wear your flip flops. The stairs up to the rides are very unforgiving and the floor is roasting so taking your flip flops off and holding whilst on the ride is a lot more sensible. Unlike in many theme parks around the world, the cost of food is not doubled and is the same as outside, meaning eating your lunch won't be costing an arm and a leg. There are also dolphin and seal shows as well as some shows involving dogs and monkeys which I was uncomfortable watching although the creatures involved where very smart. The theme park rides are nothing special but there is one which made the hairs stand up as I thought the buckles where going to come undone!! There are also amusement arcades free of charge as well as a 4G movie show. To get there and back, there is a local bus which costs less than a $ for two people so saves getting a taxi as they try their best to scam you. Defo worth a visit if you have kids or like us, still young at heart.


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About Him
Grew Up... in New York. Booker was born in New York in 1874. Because of the harassment he received for his partial Native American ancestry, he was particularly brutal while killing Natives at the Battle of Wounded Knee.
Living... in Columbia. Booker's search for peace of mind takes him to Columbia, a mysterious floating city founded by the zealous Zachary Comstock. The society worships the American founding fathers and their ideas with religious fervor and is quick to violently cast out anyone who might taint their pure race.
Profession... Pinkerton agent. After leaving the armed forces, Booker joined the Pinkerton's National Detective Agency. But he eventually was forced to quit due to his unnecessary violence. But the way he saw it, "If you don't draw first, you don't get to draw at all."
Interests... gambling. As Booker's life spiraled out of control he began drinking and gambling heavily, which left him with many debts. He once attempted to absolve his sins via baptism, but ran away at the last minute.
Relationship Status... widower. Booker's wife died while giving birth to their daughter Anna. Her death, along with Booker's other serious troubles, only made his deep depression even worse.
Challenge... wiping away his debt. When his financial woes finally catch up with him, Booker is approached by shady benefactors offering him a clean slate if he retrieves a girl named Elizabeth from Columbia. However, after getting there, he is branded a "False Shepherd" trying to steal the city's precious "Lamb." So the only way to reach freedom is through more violence.
Personality... tortured. Booker is trapped in his own sad life. That's partially due to outside forces, but also because he wants to forget and forgo responsibility for the bad decisions he's made.
Booker DeWitt's popularity ranking on CharacTour is #1692 out of 5,600+ characters. See our top-ranked characters and read their profiles.
Take CharacTour's quiz to get recommendations for thousands of characters, movies, TV shows, books, and games that are high matches for YOUR unique personality.


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Serve Delicious Ice Creams In Exclusive Range Of Disposable Cups
Cheaply priced ice cream cups of disposable quality supplied as per the exact party needs will prove to be affordable to the core. Delicious taste of ice creams when enjoyed in a variety of different sized ice cream cups will ensure that you gain maximum benefits as per the latest requirements you got. More