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DVD? What's that? Is that some sort of enigmatic antediluvian machine?
DVD? What's that? Is that some sort of enigmatic antediluvian machine?
Last edited by Marshal Lannes; 07 Apr 11 at 07:41.
If you are Charles Bingley the flowers.
Otherwise the USB memory stick
The USB stick of course, we want screenshots!
Last edited by Marshal Lannes; 07 Apr 11 at 07:42.
Action South-west of Siegen burg
Just before noon, Hiller orders the cessation of artillery pounding and begins a general assault along his whole line. Bavarain artillery are ripping gaping holes within the Austrian lines, who move forward relentlessly. The fighting in the great forest is still inconclusive with both sides taking moderate loss, although that said , 2 battalions of Austrians have already broken and fled. Lefevre, himself has rallied a routing battalion and is leading it back into position , in the forest. The far right of the Austrian line has seen the Bavarian skirmish line being pushed back. Colonel Zandt, seeing the bold advance of the Austrian 49th Line Regiment, made the decision to protect the forward guns by a lightning cavalry assault. The Bavarian cavalry of the Prinz Royal Chevauxlegers, (A), raced through their own gun battery and caught the 1st Battalion of the Austrian 49th head on. The Austrians suffered 214 casualties to only 83 Bavarian horemen. The remaining Austrians fell back on their 2nd Battalion for moral support. Hiller's reaction to the charging Bavarian cavalry was swift, ordering the 3rd Austrian chevauxleger to melee the Bavarians, while sending the 6th Austrian chevauxleger regiment, (B), to create havoc in the place vacated by Zandt's cavalry. Losses for both sides in these melees have been about 60-70 , so are therefore moderate.
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Adding insult to injury- accurate Bavarian gunfire knocked out 2 Austrian guns in quick succesion. (C). There were originally 6- 3Pounder guns with a range of 700 metres here, but are now down to only 3. The Austrians have made a reciprocal assault on a Bavarian battery, (D), and have taken 4 guns. The Bavarian batteries, including the notable 12pounders, behind point, (D) will no doubt. quickly limber and scurry away, which leaves the tantalizing possiblity of St. Sulpice's Curirassiers being used yet again, ( as at Pfeffenhausen ), to smash into the 6th Austrian regiment and this time both regiments can be used directly. Ha ! Ha ! - Bye- bye Austrians of the 6th. Of course , the 1st Bavarian Division must hold and it is yet unclear who exactly has the upper-hand , but that said, the superiority in numbers may be the deciding factor as equal loss is not sustainable for Lefevre.
Defensive terrain Note :
The 1st Bavarian Division, as deployed has anchored both its flanks on obstructed terrain, i.e. a great forest to the east and a large orchard and slight rise to the west. The Austrian cavalry have no option but to be used frontally and cannot harass a hanging flank. At the beginning of the action, Rechberg had 4 battalions stationed at the edge of the great forest. This gives them a -30% defensive value and the easy ability to sally forth and engage and most importantly cover the main road and their artillery position. The Austrians are forced to initially engage this position to uncover the Bavarian artillery line from its support. Usually a regiment will do for this but Rechberg decided to use 4 Bavarian battalions for the simple reason that the crossroads behind ,(D) would have been taken and the prospect of having Austrian artillery firing upon Siegenburg from the rear would have compromised that position totally. There is the argument that the village of Siegenburg should be abandoned and the Bavarian line should be positioned on the rise to the north-west, but this is a point of personal discrimination; I would rather have Hillers Austrians hemmed in between 900 metres of unobstructed terrain with the usage of covered flanks and also a disordering stream than the advantage of elevation bonus. Sometimes , you have to make the elegant choice over the wholly practical as it does lead to more interesting gameplay, especially when playing against a human opponent. A perfect defensive position is mostly unattainable, but that said ,it is always a good idea to hem a superior force and offer a melee engagement in woods to distract or delay a frontal assault.
Gudin defends Abensberg
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To the north , about 6000 metres, Gudin can already see the lead elements of Hohenzollern's 3rd Corps , who will be now starting to deploy, to face him. Gudin has no cavalry support and only 2 artillery batteries to support him . the situation is unlikely to change as Davout is covering Rosenberg at Bachl.
Last edited by Marshal Lannes; 04 May 11 at 06:12.
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Letter sent to General De Wrede. Schonbrunn. October 8th, 1809.
RE: Bavarian troops defending the Tyrol passes and aiding Hofer's rebellion.
I am displeased with the Bavarian troops. Instead of fighting; they get up charges and plots against their commanders. I have just brought General Stengel before a court of enquiry for evacuating Golling. Why did he not die there ? No one has any right to evacuate a position without orders from the Commander- In Chief. The Bavarian troops have become demoralised. Show my letter to Deroy, and tell me whether the Bavarians want to win my good or my bad opinion. When troops are demoralised, it is for their commander and officers to restore their morale, or to die in the attempt. There have been instances of cowardice, such as allowing oneself to be taken prisoner in the passes, rather than securing the retreat, which for the honour of the Bavarian army, ought to be denounced and punished.
At the front, there is no such person as a Prince, possibly the Prince Royal has good cause to complain of the Duke of Dantzig, but that is not a question of military honour. His duty was to march on the enemy, who had insulted the Bavarian flag, and attack him outside Salzburg. I had thought of addressing an order to your army, but it would have remained on record against you, and I prefer to write privately to you, for I have a regard for your abilityand courage. Speak to your comrades, see that they are not disgraced. I wil have no one objecting to me with if, or but, or because. I have been a soldier all my life. You must either conquer or die. I could wish that, at the first sight of attack,the Prince had visited his outposts, and restored the moraleof his division. Make such use of this letter as you think fit. I know that you are as fond of the Prince (Karl Augustus Ludwig), as I am.
Hofer's rebellion and the Battles of Bergisel.
1809: war with Austria and insurrection in the Tyrol
In 1809, Napoleon and France dominated continental Europe. Eugène de Beauharnais was installed as viceroy of the Kingdom of Italy, Murat was ruling the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and Napoleon's brothers and sisters had been crowned as rulers throughout Western Europe. Prussia had been defeated in 1806 and 1807 and Russia was now allied with the French Empire following the Treaty of Tilsit in July 1807. Spain had also been invaded in 1808; Austria was isolated, supported only by Britain. The pro-war camp in the Austrian court, under the guidance of Johann Philipp Stadion, Austrian foreign minister, was strong, and seizing on Hormayr's Austrian ideals, pushed Francis towards war. Andreas Hofer had political experience, having served in the Tyrolean Landtag in 1791, had been a captain in the Tyrolean irregulars in 1796 during Napoleon's Italian Campaign, and as an innkeeper was perfectly placed in terms of communicating news of the insurrection. As a local leader, he had also come into contact with Archduke Johann when the latter was forced to abandon the Tyrol after the Austrian defeat in 1805. Secret talks took place between Hofer, Archduke Johann and Stadion in January 1809, and an insurrection in the Tyrol was mooted as a possible diversion to the main military operations in the Germanic states.6 The area was also important in protecting Austria's flank during the war with France, particularly from troops coming up from Italy. Whilst troops departed towards Bavaria and Warsaw, 7,000 troops entered the Tyrol as messengers signalled the outbreak of the insurrection. On 9th April 1809, Archduke Charles crossed the Austrian border into Bavaria and war had begun.
Between 9th and 13th April, the Bavarian troops stationed in the region were massacred or driven out. On 12th April, Innsbruck was captured by Tyrolean tirailleurs. The entire region was in rebellion. By 12th April, 3,000 Bavarian troops had been killed, injured or taken prisoner.7 In particular, the French and Bavarian troops that fought in the Tyrol, used to battlefield combat, found the guerrilla nature of warfare difficult to cope with. The mountainous region limited the possibility for pitched battles. The Tyroleans, fighting as skirmishing sharpshooters, were highly mobile and able to pick off the advancing enemy from high up in the mountains. Alongside this they developed another highly successful tactic: artificial avalanches. A French general serving in the Armée d'Italie in December 1809 noted dispiritedly:
"The enemy can scale the highest of mountains, which are completely inaccessible to us, even for our most nimble voltigeurs [light skirmish troops]. I could not understand how they managed to walk on the snow, whilst we found ourselves up to our necks in it the moment we stepped off the cleared path. I finally discovered their secret. They have round boards, roughly fourteen pouces in diameter [35cm] that they attach to their feet, preventing them from sinking [in the snow]. I immediately had them tested, and they are currently being made for my voltigeurs, but they will not be anything like as skilled with them as the [Tyroleans] are, who are used to them.
The French and Bavarian defeats continued to mount up. On 13th April, General Bisson and his troops arrived near Innsbruck, low on ammunition and supplies, only to find themselves completely surrounded by Tyrolean irregulars. They were forced to surrender. By 16th April, Austrian troops had arrived in Innsbruck and the region was declared liberated. In the city, Hofer assumed the title of commander on behalf of the House of Hapsburg.9 Napoleon seemed content to leave the Tyrol to the Austrians, concerned more with events that were to take place further north.10 The French emperor, particularly early on in the insurrection, seems to have been unaware of the severity of events going on in the Tyrol. On 26th April, following Eugène de Beauharnais' retreat before Archduke Johann at Sacile (16th April), he told the viceroy that he need not fear much trouble in the area.11 However the insurrection had already been raging for two weeks, during which time Napoleon had arrived at the Bavarian front, defeating the Austrian army over five days, between 19th and 23rd April.12 Following Bavarian loss of control of the area, Napoleon took the problem seriously, dispatching Lefebvre to bring the Tyrol into line. Schwaz soon fell to Bavarian troops under the command of Karl Philipp Josef Wrede and Lefebvre seized Innsbruck on 19th May. Peace appeared to have returned to the area. Innsbruck changes handson the 8th.
However, upon capturing a French messenger, the Tyrolean command learned of Lefebvre's planned withdrawal from Innsbruck to Salzburg. Seizing the opportunity, hostilities were relaunched on 29th May, driven in part by news of the defeat of French troops at Aspern-Essling on 21st and 22nd May. Tyrolean tirailleurs captured the Berg Isel, a large hill and important strategic point to the south of Innsbruck. On 30th May, Hofer retook Innsbruck as Bavarian troops fled. As celebrations broke out across the region, tension began to mount between Hormayr and Hofer, Hormayr becoming jealous of Hofer's popularity.13 With Hormayr busy with the administrative, financial and defensive reorganisation of the Tyrol, Hofer returned home on 9th June. Austria abandons the Tyrol.
Between 5th and 6th July, French troops defeated their Austrian counterparts at Wagram. On 12th July, Austrian Archduke Charles signed the armistice at Znaim, which explicitly stipulated that Austrian troops should be evacuated from the Tyrol and the Vorarlberg. By 21st July, the Tyrolean rebels had received confirmation of the armistice, and the fact that Austria had abandoned them. Napoleon commented in his letter to Lefebvre that the armistice was merely to buy him some time to deal with the insurrection. "When I agreed the armistice, it was principally to subdue the Tyrol."14 No longer prepared to ignore the insurrection, the French emperor wasted no time in instructing the Duc de Dantzig: "I want you to be in Innsbruck by 1st August. No remonstrating, be harsh. Disarm the country, take a large number of hostages, and make examples."15 20,000 French, Bavarian and Saxon troops invaded the Tyrol from the north; 10,000 Italian troops came up from the south. Lefebvre seized control of the northern towns, encountering no resistance. Hormayr and his administrative staff fled Innsbruck, leaving the region without any leader. By 1st August, Lefebvre was installed in the city, and had published a decree ordering the inhabitants to disarm and the surrender of the insurrection's leaders. And yet, retaking the area was not to be a simple task. Firstly, Bavarian troops searched the local population, and then French and Bavarian troops under General Rouyer headed south to secure the remaining unpacified regions. But at the Eisack valley they faced resistance, coming up against Tyrolean tirailleurs and artificial avalanches. As Lefebvre followed with 7,000 men, he too was ambushed en route and forced to negotiate. And after days of negotiation, on his return to Innsbruck, he was harassed by Tyrolean irregulars the entire way. Canons, men and horses lined the route, abandoned, injured or dead. Too conspicuous in his own uniform, the French general was forced to wear that of a simple dragoon. The Berg Isel fell to the Tyroleans on 13th August. Faced with diminishing supplies and munitions, Lefebvre retreated with the remaining troops. Once again, Innsbruck belonged to Hofer and his men. On 15th August, Hofer became regent of the Tyrol, in the name of the emperor. Beset by problems, the regime would last two months. Hofer struggled to re-establish any administrative system in the city, the vast majority of the workers having fled with the Austrians or otherwise unwilling to work under a simple paysan. The treasury was also nearly empty and trade was almost non-existent. With the farmers away from their homes, crops began to fail and food became scarce. Many returned home.
As negotiations between France and Austria continued following the armistice, Metternich, Austrian Minister of State, pushed for a peace treaty, realising that Austria could no longer support a war. Napoleon refused point blank any agreement which would allow Austrian control of the Tyrol: "The Tyrol will never again belong to the House of Austria, for this country separates Germany from Italy and touches Switzerland. I will never allow this country to be outside my influence."16 With the Treaty of Schönbrunn signed on 14th October 1809, Austria was hit with war indemnities of 85 million Francs and the loss of a huge amount of territory, including Carinthia, Croatia and Galacia, which all went to France. The Tyrol became a Bavarian territory again. On the same day, Eugène de Beauharnais was given the mission of conquering the Tyrol. Following his retreat from Innsbruck, Lefebvre had been replaced by the Duke Drouet d'Erlon as head of the Bavarian forces. On 21st October, with Bavarian, French and Italian troops pouring into the region, the Tyroleans abandoned Innsbruck for the Berg Isel. Winter was closing in and with food shortages growing, Hofer's support declined and many of his men dispersed back into the mountains. On 28th/29th October, Hofer learnt of the peace treaty that had been signed by Austria. Abandoned by his beloved emperor, he took refuge in alcohol.17 The Tyrolean morale had been broken. By the evening of 1st November, Drouet d'Erlon had recaptured Innsbruck and the Berg Isel. Over the next few weeks, Hofer surrendered to the French, only to break his word shortly after and call for the resumption of hostilities. By 11th November, 1809, the Tyrol was entirely occupied. As reprisals were being carried out across the region, Hofer fled into the mountains with a large bounty on his head. On 5th January 1810, he was betrayed and denounced to the authorities, yet it was another three weeks before he was captured. On 28th January, he, his wife and his son were taken to Bozen, before eventually his family was released on 30th January. Napoleon learnt of the capture at the start of February and ordered Hofer to be tried immediately and executed.
Despite Hofer's devotion to the Hapsburg family, Francis I made little effort to intervene. Metternich was keen to treat with France, and neither was prepared to disrupt relations by raising the rather difficult subject of the innkeeper who had defied Napoleon for months. Austria needed breathing space to recover from the 1805 and 1809 wars and with Napoleon's "divorce" from Josephine finalised on 16th December 1809 and Marie-Louise Hapsburg lined up as a replacement, neither country looked to upset matters. On 20th February 1810, Hofer was executed by firing squad. Eight days later, the Tyrol region was divided up between Bavaria and the newly-created Illyrian Provinces. By March, conscription had been re-introduced. Indeed, a Tyrolean contingent would serve alongside Napoleon during the Russian campaign of 1812.
Andreas Hofer and the history of the insurrection
Napoleon never fully understood the insurrection or the reasons for which Hofer was fighting. Despite the mantra by which Hofer lived, "for God, the Emperor and the fatherland", Napoleon never appeared to grasp that it was an ideological war against the French revolution and everything that it sought to eradicate, including conservative, traditional social hierarchy and the Catholic religion, as much as a war of liberation in reaction to the reforms implemented by Bavaria. Hofer's devoted loyalty to the Hapsburgs, although with hindsight misguided, remained incomprehensible for the pragmatist Napoleon, who never hesitated to dethrone a king or lock up the pope if it suited his needs.
However, the history of the insurrection and Hofer's role has become caught up in the historical debate and the legendary retellings that followed his death. The first issue up for debate was the role that Hofer played in the insurrection. His strongly held ideological views and devotion to the Austrian crown made him a perfect figurehead in the rebellion against the Bavarian forces. Equally, he rarely intervened in tactical discussions of a military nature. His leadership and his worth in battle came from his presence, the strength of his belief, and the moral and symbolic authority that he brought.18 Jean Sévillia notes that "Hofer's legitimacy was neither purely of a military nature, nor purely political. It was based on feudal order [ ] founded on a moral pact which linked [him] and the Archduke Johann and, above that, the Emperor Francis I."19 He embodied the Tyrol region: a paysan, deeply religious, profoundly loyal and reservedly modest. His regency was characterised by the emphasis he placed on hospitality, piety and tradition. Even his thick, dark beard, modest attire and large hat contributed to his image as the embodiment of the Tyrol. Debate over his involvement was not long in coming; on 4th March, 1810, just two weeks after his death, the Gazette de France, reporting on Hofer's execution, remarked that he was "not a bad man, nor dangerous in himself, but his was caught up in his enthusiasm, and many terrible things were committed in his name. This man had absolutely no knowledge of military tactics, administration or politics; he was simple and ignorant. The Tyroleans venerate him, in sorts "20 Already at this point, Hofer had become a Tyrolean symbol.
Then, in 1817, Hormayr published anonymously his Geschichte Hofers, his history of the insurrection and Hofer's actual involvement in it. Highly critical of the innkeeper, he also sought to claim the credit for the creation of the Hofer myth and emphasise his role in the events. Despite the politics involved in such an attempt, it does serve to illustrate the uncertainty around Hofer and the 'legend' of Hofer. His story greatly appealed to the Romantics of the time and those that came later. William Wordsworth dedicated a poem to him. In 1830, James Robinson Planché adapted the story of William Tell for an opera based on Hofer and the insurrection. Numerous histories appeared during the middle period of the 19th century, in French, Italian, German and English, many almost fictional in their retelling of the insurrection and Hofer's role. The image of Hofer was also embraced in the name of various different causes: German unification and Pan-Germanism during the 19th century (despite the fact that he was in fact fighting Bavarian occupation21), an anti-Nazi, anti-fascist resistance movement in the south Tyrol named the Andreas Hofer Allianz in 1939
Yet during the 20th century, very little was written in France.22 In Austria, Hofer remained in the collective memory. A statue of the rebel was erected at the Berg Isel in 1893 and in 1909, the centenary celebrations of the insurrection saw 33,000 tirailleurs parade in Innsbruck. 1959 was celebrated with a parade of 26,000 tirailleurs. The Austrian monarchy of Hofer's triumvirate may be no more, but in the Tyrol, Hofer was not forgotten. Yet the exploitation of Hofer's image, indeed the 'idea' of Andreas Hofer, remains paradoxical, to the extent that many have lost sight of what he did and what he was actually fighting for. Hofer was fighting for his Catholicism, his Emperor and his homeland. It was not individual liberty that he was fighting for, but freedom from Bavarian domination. He wanted a return to Habsburg rule, despite being used and then abandoned by the Austrian Emperor to whom he was so devoted.
Last edited by Marshal Lannes; 15 Apr 11 at 06:28.
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As predicted, the 5th Cuirrassiers of St.Sulpice attacked; (B), they, however, for all their elan, achieved a comparative failure. the initial premise was to disrupt and throw back at least 2 Austrian battalions. in that they definitely failed and with the austrians consolidating and continuosly poring a withering fire into the Bavarian lines, this failure may prove fatal.
The reason for the failure of the cavalry charge are obvious.
1. No leader present - so,no combat bonus.
2. Charging upon level ground, so no elevation, downhill bonus.
3. The target unit was a fresh, unfatigued, undisordered good quality unit.
4.The combat results parameter was at the low edge of the spectrum.
5. Opportunity fire was very effective before the charge hit home.
Glory at Pfeffenhausen but shame at Siegenburg.......too much elan !
Fortunately the Austrian cavalry did not fare better in their assaults. The 6th chevauxleger, (A), charge looked impressive but gave and sustained minimal loss, only pushing back the Bavarian infantry, who retaliated with a withering fire from 2 directions. the austrian cavallry were then hit by 2 floating regiments of Bavarian cavalry who meleed,(disordered) in fewer numbers ,giving and sustaining a 22 to 18 loss. This impact was finally felt at the end of the turn, wherein the 6th Chevauxlegers routed towards the village of Siegenburg. the 5th cuirassiers meanwhile, attempted a flanking charge in a disordered state after turning, (C), and so managed to push back a single Austrian battalion. they will of course suffer nasty opportunity fire in their withdrawal so only adding to the wasted opportunity.
Louis' 5th |corps have finished deploying and should commence their attack at 1.30pm. the time now is 1.15pm., ( game turn 124).The 1st Bavarian division must hold for at least another 4-5 hours, but it is looking doubtful.......
Last edited by Marshal Lannes; 15 Apr 11 at 06:29.
A very interesting and addictive reading! I'm anxious to see what follows... Congratulations Marshal Lannes, much better with the screenshots.


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Passing the surreal view under the Ben Franklin Bridge along Delaware Ave, we sidestepped the Race St Pier and let the blue glow emanating from Pier 9 draw us in. This is where we found a gritty demonstration of strength, acrobatics and grace meeting a post industrial decay warehouse world with a steel cage as a center stage. Running deep from within the warehouse, along old tracks ahead of an imaginary locomotive, performers then leaped, crawled and bounced, in and out of the steel cage. The cage was adorned with external ladders, which performers exploited before bouncing within and sticking to the fencing exterior in turn leaping and changing position via the trampoline floor. Ladders, scaffolding, fencing, warehouse, industrial decay all work for this performance.
Brian Sander's Junk is a company of performers who excel not only at dance, but also acrobatics and strength in way not often seen in modern dance. The choreography, which is at time dizzyingly fast and furious, with strobe lights and heart thumping music, also runs the gamut of movement with bodies able to move gravity defyingly slow. This is a true ensemble piece, in which all of the performers move seamlessly in a way which strips them of their individuality in a pulsing, throbbing mass of seamless movement. Mr Sander's has managed to tell the stories of love, birth, death in a way that will leave your jaw on the floor before your brain can catch up to what your eyes have just witnessed. The lighting is stunning. The music is loud. The dancers are inspiring. In The Gate Reopened, Brian Sanders has outdone himself and the modern dance community. A must see this Fringe season!

subset: commoncrawl


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Attendance at one or more of the many cultural and religious events and festivals that take place in Japan throughout the year can make your visit to the country particularly memorable. The following is a sampling of what's available during the month of July.
Tanabata Star Festival (July 4-8)
One of the largest Tanabata festivals in the country (visited by millions annually), the Tanabata Star Festival in Shimizu evolved from the Chinese Star Festival. Bamboo rods covered with colorful decorations cover the downtown area. Children ask for better sewing, craftsmanship and writing skills, and write personal wishes on small pieces of paper.
Tokyo Summer Festival (all month)
Organized by the Arion-Edo Foundation, the Tokyo Summer Festival is a month-long celebration of music and culture. Conducted with a different thematic thrust each year (Pan-nationalist Music, Gypsies and European Music, Exoticism and Orientalism, etc.), this event is a singular occurrence in Japan (organized, as it is, by professional musicians).
Morning Glories & Ground Cherries (July 6-8 & 9-10)
During the first two weeks of the month, two festivals offer opportunities for good luck, special blessings and the chance to procure refined flora. Visitors to the Kishibojin Temple district in Tokyo from the 6th to the 8th can choose from hundreds of stalls selling morning glories as part of a festival to celebrate the beginning of summer. In Tokyo's Asakusa district, visitors flock to the Sensou-ji Temple from the 9th to the 10th for potted ground cherry plants that are on offer until late into the evening.
Planning a Trip? Browse Viator's Japan tours and things to do, Japan attractions, and Japan travel recommendations. Or book a private tour guide in Japan for a customized tour!


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All great performances are a result of training. Consider your front of your house as a timed athletic event. The clock begins running as soon as the first customer sits down at the beginning of the shift and doesn't stop until the last customer grabs a handful of mints on his way to the parking lot. The daily score is measured in guest satisfaction, check averages, and tips.
But winners aren't born, they're made. One of the more important aspects of running a restaurant is training your front-of-the-house employees. These folks are the primary determining factor in gaining repeat customers. A memorable experience as well as fantastic food will almost guarantee a return visit. The front-of-house staff members are a large portion of your marketing; their smiles and attitudes can make or break your business. Every person that is seen or heard --the hostess, wait staff, bartender and even the bussers affect the way your establishment is perceived. Considering their effect on your success, the training of your front-of-the-house staff should be given careful attention.
While you may be nodding your head in philosophical agreement, success is not theory but practice. So how would one set up an effective training program? In this article we will review the critical aspects of a front-of-the-house training curriculum, and more importantly, how to develop your personalized program of training.
Start Out by Hiring the Right People
You can't build a champion team without folks who have the heart and spirit of champions. Skills can be taught and experience can be developed. But every great team starts with raw talent. That said, every position in the house requires certain traits and talents. You can't hire a great busser without understanding what it takes to be a great busser. When interviewing, it is important that you consider every aspect of the position. Formal job descriptions have many benefits, including serving as a list of the performance requirements of the position.
Second, you need to find folks whose personalities and values are aligned with your concept. You must examine the goals as well as the culture within your company. For a refined atmosphere, you may need a subdued staff that has a strong sense of decorum. If fun is on the agenda, a staff that is lively and outgoing is needed. For both instances, you may feel compelled to ask leading questions that will reveal the true feelings of the individual. If you need a creative staff, the second interview might focus on a project. One restaurant owner, when considering an applicant, simply asks them to do something creative with a paper bag. If your atmosphere is vivid and creative, you may need to employ similar tactics. You must determine, based on your concept, the key personality traits necessary when considering your staff.
Thoughtfully choosing the individuals you hire will help reduce the dreaded "T" word, turnover. Turnover is a big enough problem in the restaurant industry alone, without creating an environment that encourages it. According to the National Restaurant Association (NRA), the average tenure for a foodservice worker is 1.6 years, versus 3.2 years in the general labor force. Part of the problem is that many restaurant workers are young and unsettled; however, it's a huge problem for the restaurant industry, and one which the NRA Educational Foundation is trying to understand and solve. In the meantime, you would hate to lose valuable resources, and possibly have your restaurant understaffed because of bad choices you made in the beginning. After years of interviewing it is often second nature to make a good fit; but in the meantime, you must focus on preventing the mistake of choosing square pegs to fit in your round holes. To prevent this you must carefully consider whom you are looking to hire. There are many ways to determine this. Every staff has key individuals within their establishment such as managers and seasoned employees. To determine your goal in hiring you must speak with your managers or a mentor within the industry. Have them help you come to a conclusion on personality traits that will best represent your concept.
You should also use valuable gems within your association, by having group discussions. Many companies have what they call "open forums" during which employees have the right to share personal views that may improve their work environment. These sessions will not only help you to see what did work in the past, but more importantly what did not work. By doing this you might gain some insight into the true goals of your restaurant and avoid hiring the proverbial fish out of water.
Structure is Key
Structure in a training program is so very important. Much like a standardized recipe ensures a consistent product, your procedures in training being standardized will help ensure well-trained employees. With that in mind your program should be almost ritualistic in its frame. This is accomplished through a set standard for training. You must carefully examine the results you seek and create an outline of the items to be covered. Be specific and thorough, but be careful not to overload your future pupils. Training can be held in various sessions; you might want to look at all of the information that is to be covered, then break it up into several well-structured sections. Then you build your program from these outlines.
An important factor to consider is that the items that are stressed by the trainer are the points that will be remembered by your new hires. So be sure that the training is thorough and exact. It is sadly apparent when a company has given little attention to training. Humans have the wonderful ability to reason, absorb and use skills learned. Through careful consideration and planning, your staff can be successful. Bearing that in mind, plan how you will train and avoid the all-too-common "train wreck."
The first portion of training is an orientation. Our goal here is to help new staff become functionally directed within their new environment. This is an important portion of the training because at this point you can help them understand the company's culture and expectations. With careful planning you can help draw a mental picture to help new employees visualize their place within this family. It is also important to introduce the company's mission statement. If the employee understands the goals of the organization it is easier for them to personalize their experience and join the team wholeheartedly.
Orientation is the very first impression that your new hire has of your establishment. This is the perfect time to help them develop their place within your company. Whatever you present as important will stand out in their mind. For example, if it is a requirement that the greeter always smile, then stress that point from the beginning. Let them know the policy of the company and why it is important. Remember, your employees will make a big deal out of things that the employer stresses. Your concerns become their concerns.
It is crucial that you lay out the responsibilities of the position and the anticipated duties of the individual. You should lay out everything from start to finish, specifically covering who, what, why and how. Being clear and concise will be helpful in the long run. Many individuals become frustrated when their job requirements are unclear or undefined. This confusion could lead to the loss of a valuable employee. It is best to simply prevent such problems through clear direction in the beginning.
Formal Presentation
Psychologists have studied the three ways in which people learn: visual, auditory and kinesthetically (learning by doing). These learning differences should be considered when developing your training program. This is easily overcome by incorporating these three factors into the curriculum. It is important that speeches and visual aids are prevalent parts of your formal presentation. Videos are a wonderful tool for teaching. These help both the visual and auditory learners. On-the-job training is usually best for those who learn by doing, so every training program should include a hands-on portion of training. Some restaurant groups have created computer programs that help new employees learn their point-of-sale systems. Such programs enable all three learning styles.
Handouts, including department manuals that outline rules, regulations and miscellaneous duties, are very helpful; these serve as a reminder for future evaluation of job performance. If the expectations of the employer are clearly defined, then there is no question what was covered when the employee received training. It is recommended that an agreement should be in place that guarantees accountability of both parties. This is often accomplished by signing and dating proof of training, and job descriptions. When each section of training is completed, both the new trainee and the trainer sign a form. These should be kept within the employee's personnel file.
A training schedule must be established early within the process and included in the training manual. A concise record of what will be accomplished within each training session should be given to the new employee and this schedule should be strictly followed. Establishing this order in the beginning will demonstrate your dedication to structure and will set an example for new employees. We have found that a successful order of training for service staff will include the following steps.
Orientation. This is where the employee's first impression of the restaurant is formed, and a good time to explain the values, mission, work environment, general rules and regulations, and expectations of the business. This is when you rally employees to work together, share your principles of customer service, and express your restaurant's commitment to continued training (e.g., weekly service meetings, quarterly product workshops, and staff focus groups for ways to continually improve). This is when employees should learn what is expected of them and what they can expect from their employer.
Menu training. Here, service staff gets its first look and taste of the product, and the opportunity to work with the expediter to see how each menu item is garnished and presented. They should sit with their trainer and taste the core menu items and sauces. A good review tip is to have trainees quiz each other over the menu descriptions. For group training this can be done with games like "menu jeopardy" or "menu wheel of fortune. A written test covering the description of main menu items, sauces, and garnishments is common.
Bar training. No tasting required! Actually tasting some of the most popular wine list items is a good thing to allow. The trainee needs to observe the ordering, garnishing, and serving process. Review with the trainer the core menu drink descriptions as well as recipes for the house specialties. A written test covering wine basics, and drink ordering and serving procedures is common during this phase of training.
POS training. The trainee can get a lot of POS practice during this step by ringing in the other servers' orders for the bar and kitchen items. Trainee should complete the server checkout procedure and review with trainer all POS operating issues (handling voids, coupons, etc.). A written test of this material is also common. (For more information, see "Pre-Opening POS System Training Tips," RS&G Archives.)
Service-follow shifts. The trainee should follow and assist the trainer at tableside with each step of service (greeting to check presentation) as well as with the POS, bar service and food pickup and delivery. At this time, the trainee will complete any side work and check out with their trainer.
Service-practice shifts. At this stage, the trainee does the tableside, POS bar and food service on a small station with the trainer following to assist if and where needed. The trainer will complete an assessment at the end of these shifts. They will do any side work and check out together. A written test over general orientation materials and service-related issues is common at the completion of this step.
At the conclusion of each step, there should be a review of all key points and a short written test for the trainee to complete. The amount of service-follows and service-practice shifts will vary according to the complexity of your concept and ability of the trainee.
It is important that a seasoned employee presents the instruction. You have the responsibility for training the trainer (even if the trainer is you). These individuals are molding the minds of your new employees; you need to be completely confident in their abilities as your trainer. A manager, human resources (HR) representative or a trainer who is well-versed in company policy is often the best choice for this. You might also consider individuals who are ripe for growth within the company. Their experience could be beneficial and might also give proof of their readiness for a promotion. It is important that whoever does the training has the ability to read people. They should watch carefully to ensure that this trainee truly grasps the information being presented. If there is some doubt, then the material should be presented in another manner.
It is important that the new employee is involved, so ask probing questions to see if the information has been absorbed. (For more information, see "Creating an Effective Server Training Program," RS&G Archives.)
On-the-job training is vital but tricky. You must be careful when such training is to be scheduled. It would be foolish to schedule training hours on the weekend when an establishment's atmosphere would be harried. This would not be conducive to learning, there would be no time for questions and the trainee would become frustrated. It is advantageous to choose hours that are less busy to enable questions and individualized attention. This one-on-one training should last as long as reasonably required (typically three to seven shifts) and must be outlined within the training schedule.
Group Training
Another form of training that deserves attention is group training. It takes many employees back to the comfort of days spent in school. Group settings are quite conducive to learning because there is less pressure on the individual. In these settings there are always points that some might not have considered. Differing situations of individuals often bring a new perspective to the table. Consider those who are younger; they have a fresh perspective on their future. Young ones often have the strength and initiative that stoke the embers of others that might be suffering from burnout. Fresh ideas tend to inspire others. Consider, too, the experience of ones that have worked many years in the restaurant business; these seasoned workers are often a fountain of knowledge, overflowing and ready to share with the inexperienced. A group setting allows a mixture of individuals from varying ages and background that can lead to personal growth.
Group settings create many opportunities for activities. Such teaching sessions lend to open discussions and problem-solving exercises. Breakout sessions are very helpful teaching aids because they challenge the employees before the situation arises. An existing issue can be presented to the group, with opportunity to offer suggestions to overcome the issue. You would be amazed at the solutions presented that were beyond your imagination.
You may have great success with group training on such items as menu item descriptions, bar specialty drinks, wine list, and suggestive selling techniques. Some restaurant owners have employed a team-building approach to this phase of training, whereby one team competes against the other. The team that is able to describe the must-win items correctly wins prizes. Creating involvement in the process is essential, and competitions like this are enjoyable exercises that allow the staff members to be involved in their training.
Continual Training
Once the initial training period has been completed, the ongoing training begins. It is important that your new employees understand that there is no finality to training. As a manager you should never underestimate the power of reinforcement. We all need reminders of basic principles and duties that can slip by unnoticed. As a manager or owner it is your duty to stay on top of every aspect of your restaurant. Daily preshift meetings are useful in emphasizing the importance of continual training. Before opening, a meeting can be held to cover the daily specials. This is also a good time to address service issues. For instance, appetizer sales may be suffering, and as manager you may know of an individual who excels in such sales. You might ask him to demonstrate how he uses suggestive selling. Allow him to be the star of the moment so that others might improve. A good preshift meeting is one in which the service staff participates as much as the management. We suggest calling on one person to demonstrate a proper greeting, another to describe the daily special and have another suggest a wine for it … the others will add their comments, creating a situation in which the staff is involved in the daily information and motivation session.
Along with daily preshift meetings, monthly and quarterly meetings can be held to address service and product issues that may require some attention. This is the time to discuss what the staff is doing well, and commend them for their efforts. Keep in mind that this is not a time to counsel individuals, but rather a time to encourage and instruct. You should carefully consider your words in order to commend employees for what they are doing well and make recommendations for improvement. If there are problems with an employee, this is not the time to handle the issue. Always give counsel in private; public embarrassment is detrimental to the morale of your staff. Just keep in mind how you would feel in the reverse situation.
The restaurant industry is in a constant state of growth and change. Diet trends and interests change as frequently as today's fashion. It is vital to be a step ahead of trends such as the "low carb" lifestyles. It is necessary for your staff to be aware of potential roadblocks and learn how to overcome hurdles. Through continual training your staff can be made aware of food alternatives available on your menus. It is not difficult to develop small group sessions that will benefit your patrons and in the long run, your restaurant.
Continual training is the backbone of a fine establishment. If your staff is continually learning and growing then your restaurant will only improve. As manager, it is important that in this aspect you lead by example. You must search out ways to help your staff improve and take a role in the learning process. Your staff will always look to you for guidance; therefore you must be a beacon that will calm them in the storm.
Consistent training helps to ensure that your staff is comfortable and confident. This is a concept known as, competent confidence. Competent confidence is achieved when your staff is properly trained. Your goal in service staff training is to help your staff learn the necessary skills and help them put these skills into practice. The result is a staff that is comfortable applying the knowledge they have acquired. This progress is possible through careful planning in hiring, proper orientation and continual training.
-- Restaurant Startup & Growth
Seven Steps for Developing Your Service Staff Training
Learn from your previous experience. Consider what has worked for you in the past and use that approach. Also, consider what did not work and discard those practices..
Choose the right person for the position. Carefully screen all individuals to ensure a perfect fit. Starting out correctly might help prevent the loss of valuable resources.
Research various references on how to better train staff. There is a great deal of information published every year to assist in every aspect of the restaurant business, including Restaurant Startup & Growth magazine.
Turn to trade associations for information. The National Restaurant Association is an organization that is dedicated to assisting both small and large restaurants. There are many state restaurant associations as well that can provide much information on how to effectively train your service staff.
Look to the "key people" within your company for assistance in establishing a training program. Managers, mentors and seasoned staff members are all valuable references. Using these resources can help you to hone your training program.
Develop a checklist, for interviewing and training purposes. There are so many things to keep track of in the restaurant. Don't try to commit them to memory.
Develop a plan for continual training as well. Never forget that your staff is constantly learning and there is always room for growth. Involve staff in your daily preshift service meeting as well as the monthly (quarterly) product seminars.
The Interview Process
There are many things to consider before you begin the interviewing process. Advanced preparation will ease the process and set the tone for all of the interviews. Consider these steps before you begin interviewing for your restaurant.
Gather all of the information concerning your staffing needs. Come to a full understanding of the needs of each department, host, wait staff, bar, and busser.
Prepare the environment in which the interviews will be held. Choose an area that is well-lighted and has less of a chance of interruptions. Notify your staff that you will be interviewing.
Arrange for someone to help in your absence. If you make yourself indispensable in the process, it will come to a screeching halt if you are unable to make it to work.
Create an allotment of time per interview and set limits on the amount of interviews to be done. Unplanned and unlimited interview periods can drag the hiring process on forever, and give the impression to the employee that the restaurant is inefficient and disorganized.
Review each application before the interview and arrange the applications for easy access of information. Be sure to examine these applications and look for any indications that this is the right person for the position.
Set up a system of checks and balances for all steps.
Develop and use an interview checklist and rating form.


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Pokemon Master Trainer
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Product Description
Catch the most powerful Pok&eascent;mon to become the new Master Trainer! 150 different Pokémon chips that "lock" into the large, two-layer folding gameboard.
Product Information
Hasbro, Milton Bradley
Year: 1999
Weight: 1,230 grams
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Average Rating: 3 in 1 review
Picked up the Japanese version and of course, my son loved it (8 at that time). Seemed to like it much better than the CCG (I of course welcome that due to the extortionist strategy of all CCG makers!)
Here's how it goes - you play a trainer trying to be a master trainer, start your journey with a pokemon of your choice (sorry kids, only one can get pikachu!) and make your way thru all the towns you have seen on the video/tv series.
Every place you stop, you will be challenged by a different pokemon. If you win, the defeated pokemon joins you. If you lose, your pokemon becomes injured and needs to be healed.
You are faced with many choices- which pokemons to challenge, which routes to take (routes lead to different types of pokemons surfacing), how strong you become (determined by how many pokemons you win)- until you decide that you have enough skill to challenge the existing master (unknown at this stage).
When you are ready, the master trainer is revealed and the final challenge is made. win and you become the new master trainer. Lose and you get booted back, giving others a chance to win.
Variation to the game is in the form of cards which you may acquire along your journey. These have good variety from healing potions to additional hit points, etc.
Kids will probably love this betwen 6-9, and play it again and again (there are several expansion sets with more varieties of pokemons, powers, etc), and at least, parents wont find it too simplistic to entertain their kids.


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Translation of computer science in Spanish:
- Example sentences
- He is going to five different colleges, trying to convince kids to study computer science.
- Mainly out of obligation to his parents, Neeson went to Queen's University in Belfast to study physics and computer science.
- Adleman realized that the genetic code can be used, just like the binary code of computer science, to encode mathematical problems.
Definition of computer science in:
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= trending


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Rajasekhar - Bhumika in a new avataar
Producer commented, "We are planning to complete the choreography of the balance three songs in January itself. We will launch the audio in the first week of February and release the film in the same month. It is a different story and the movement would also be different from routine. The attires of Rajasekhar and Bhumika and their characterisation would be novel and would definitely attract the audiences."
Director remarked, "Kona Venkat's screenplay and dialogues would be quite interesting and would be an added attraction. We are trying to bring out the film as a mass entertainer. Music scored by Anoop is also quite melodious."
Brahmanandam, Ali, Venumadhav, Vijaykumar, Devaraj, Chalapati Rao, Giribabu, Ahuti Prasad, Jeeva, Benarjee and others are in the cast. Script assistance is by Gopi-Mohan, while cinematography is by N Arunkumar.


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CableKeeps - Wrap Video
For backers only. If you're a backer of this project, please log in to read this post.
For backers only. If you're a backer of this project, please log in to read this post.
Shipping Update. We're shipping out the last wave of units today and to mark this momentous occasion the Seattle Space Needle has been painted "Goldie Orange". Wooohooo! (fist pump) It feels so good to get this hurdle behind us even though there is lots more work to complete. I really appreciate all the thankful messages through email and twitter. Keep sending and sharing your pics. We couldn't have done this without your support and encouragement! Let the world know you helped make this happen.
Tracking numbers. Tracking is sent out via email when your shipment goes out. For International customers this tracking number is sometimes used by your national post, sometimes not. We'll do our best to help insure everyone receives their reward. Contact us firstname.lastname@example.com if your reward is not received.
Goldies a bit tight. We've noticed a few Goldies at the end of our production run have extra "flash" (extra material on the parting line) on the inside. It doesn't help that the Apple iPhone charger acts like a blade if it isn't pushed in straight. (Apple loves those crisp edges). If you are unable to get the little guy on you can lightly scrap the inside "step", and this will help it pass through. If that doesn't work we'll happily replace. Our process was to check each Goldie on a charger before it went out, but alas some may have swam through. Let us know if you come up with a problem. email@example.com
Actually the Space Needle was painted back to original color to commemorate the 50th Anniversary. It was originally painted in "Galaxy Gold".
Some of you will start to receive shipping confirmation today or this weekend. We had a warehouse full of help today packaging up the last units from Production and beginning to start Fulfillment. Feels like we've only made a dent today (1,061 individual rewards is a lot), but we'll keep cranking best we can and alert you when we've completed probably next weekend. I have a great video to come of all the activity. Stay tuned!
Great news!! Thursday our tool was moved to a new facility in order to expedite our production. Friday I reviewed the first production parts and validated our QC (Quality Control) process with the vendor so we didn't have any surprises. Everything went very well except there wasn't enough material ordered to do the entire run (seriously). So green parts were completed Friday and Orange parts were completed Saturday. The rest of the colors will be done by Wednesday.
We started packaging this weekend and should be through about 1000 pieces by tomorrow. We still need to box, print your shipping label, and put in the mail. You will get a confirmation email and tracking number when your order goes out, that's when you know your CableKeep is on its way. We'll alert you when they've all gone out.
Been trying to get iMovie to play nice with my iPhone videos, but that's not seeming to work today. So here is just a quick unedited clip. These parts were molded in a smaller facility in Marysville, WA. I think iMovie only accepts widescreen videos - Doh!
"If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all".
This has been a hard update to write. Mainly because every time my mind comes around to thinking about this project the anger and frustration kicks in again and I can't focus. I just want to spew awful, awful words.
We have not shipped yet and it's killing me. February 24th I approved parts and our vendor has STILL not delivered our production run. The shipping boxes sit, collecting dust in our warehouse.
My original story was about showing the world that the United States of America is a great place to manufacture. In fact I purposely set my time on designing something that could be done with this vendor knowing their capabilities and reputation for quality. Their actions on this project have really got me asking where to go next.
Perhaps when I'm feeling less agitated I'll have the strength to recap. It's taken a lot out of me to finally see something happening. Tomorrow they will be running our tool at a sister company and then we'll see how things go. I've been burned too many times to trust them. Best I can say is "we'll see". Once production parts arrive I'll update you again. I hope we get this thing wrestled soon. I'm having a really hard time moving ahead on anything until it is.


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Features by Celia Hatton
China's burgeoning wine industry
Posted In: China, wine, alcohol
The country may not be exporting their wine in the near future, but an increasing amount of Chinese are taking an interest to wine.
North Korea threatens; neighbors remain calm
Posted In: North Korea
Threats by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to launch missiles and beef up his country's nuclear weapons capacity have left the economies of North Korea's regional neighbors largely unaffected, as our BBC partners report.
Fake boyfriends to rent for Chinese New Year
Posted In: China, holidays
Chinese women turn to hiring 'fake boyfriends' to make the holidays more bearable.


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Bird Brainers Parrot Rings Large Bird Toy
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Paradise Parrot Rings Lg. Toys are critical to your parrot's physical and mental well-being. This Parrot Rings Large bird toy will help alleviate boredom in your pet bird. Brightly colored plastic rings are strung along a wooden dowel with a large brass-colored bell at the bottom. Toy has a quick clamp for easy attachment. Overall size is approximately 10 1/2 inches long. These toys are hand made and no two are exactly alike so pieces may vary. Great size toy for African Greys, Meyers Parrots, Senegals, Severe Macaws and other small parrots.
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Want to read more?
Please purchase a Back Issue or Subscription at vipermagazine.com.
Simple.....login on the Forums Page Here!
Once you are logged in, go to the Members Only section and the Viper Trivia thread is under the VCA Members Only heading.
If you have not already signed up with a Forums Username, you will need to Create one. This is a different registration than your membership. Please look for the REGISTER button on the right-hand side of the landing page, toward the top. Just follow the pop up box prompts and you will be good to go.
If you have a Username but have not been on the Forums Page in a while, you may need to follow the prompts to have your password reset. Click on the HERE at the end of the first sentence of the pop up box. It will generate a reset and an email will be sent back to you.
Or, if you have any questions or issues with the login, password, or registration process, please give CJ a call at 800-677-4321 and she can assist you.
A prize will be awarded each time you reach THREE Correct Answers. They are as follows:
Thomas originally joined VCA in 2009 and has Volunteered to plan a Tail of the Dragon Event for VCA this year. If you are interested in participating, please Email me HERE. We need to get an idea of how many Vipers would like to take this ride, and when you think would be the best time - spring or fall. There is a thread on the Forums Page as well, where you can look for more details. We are so thrilled to have Thomas on board with VCA - thank you, Thomas!
We want to extend a heartfelt and enthusiastic Welcome Back to Bobby Cerchione for taking the reins again in New Jersey - for some Viper Fun! Many of you know Bobby by his million dollar smile, outgoing personality, laid back attitude; and, of course, he is a Viper Fanatic! Bobby is loved by SO many, thank you for taking a moment to email email@example.com and let him how glad you are to have him back with Viper Club of America!
Here is a short biography, written by Bobby:
Good Morning Team VCA! I am ready to roll!
I am President of Apex Xpress, Inc., and a partner at Xpedited Services LLC and Pexa Logistics LLC; but, my most important job is being dedicated Dad to Bobby and Joey.
I have been a VCA member since 2001 and have a deep passion for this car and Viper Club of America, mostly for the people I have met because of this great club! I am the former NJ VCA President, as well as the former National VCA Secretary for two terms. I have decided to jump back into a leadership role with VCA because its been a very big part of my life.
Viper Club of America is a club of distinction, credibility and great fun! It has become the underdog because of perception, not reality! I am here to work with the National Officers and Regional Presidents and Directors, to help clear up that perception and gain your trust. VCA is about the members, not the agendas of the Officers. We all volunteer for you and for our love of the car and club!
You came for the car and stayed for the people has always been our motto! Lets not forget what its really about! So, see you at a NJ VCA and/or National event real soon!
Bobby Cerchione
Viper Club of America is so excited to announce the addition of a new VCA Local Region: The GULF STATES REGION, headed up by an awesome and enthusiastic member - Lisa Rachall.
Lisa, some of you might know her as Broomrider, joined VCA in 2015. Since then, she has been active on the forums and has participated in several events in the No. Texas area; but, she wanted to do more. So, she volunteered to head up the area for Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and parts of Texas.
Even at just a few weeks into the 2016 year, Lisa has been throwing out some great ideas to get this club moving. She and her husband have the time and ability to be able to organize and participate in VIPER Drives, Pick-Ups and Special Events. And, Lisa is ready to roll.
So, if you live in the Gulf States Region, keep on the look-out for Lisa. She is determined to meet you face-to-face, one way or another. I know y'all are going to have some fun this year!
Welcome Lisa, and Welcome Gulf States Region!
On behalf of all VCA Members, we would like to welcome the newest Region to Viper Club of America, and to the Viper Nation: Viper Club of America Sweden.
In September 2015, the first 20 members from the VC Nordic decided to join VCA as a new region with the name: Viper Club of America Sweden. Jan Falk is their Regional President.
The Viper Club Nordic was founded in 2002 and currently has about 100 members. This group of Viper owners is very active and has a great club life, organizing at least two main events every year.
There is an annual Spring Meet, where they always have a track day, a poker run day or similar, and a big dinner party in between!!! This year they were on the Island of Gotland and raced on the Gotland Ring. About 45 Vipers were tearing up the streets and track all weekend long! You can read about it in the new Viper Magazine.
Then this past July, they all met at Jan's house again for another Viper Meet. One of their members was racing his Competition Coupe at the local Track called "Knutstorp Ring". All of the members drove their Vipers to the track to support their friend. He showed his gratitude by winning the race! ... And again, they had a party in Jan's back yard to celebrate the event, of course!!
They also have a traditional meet coming up here in September, in Mora, Sweden, at another Club Members' house. The motto of this meeting is Drag Racing Hard and ... yes, you guessed it! ...they will party again!
Next year Jan will be the host to the spring meet in May, where the club hopes to gather the largest amount of Vipers in Europe ever! Jan said, "Together with Fredi, I will make sure the Viper community has all of the info in due time. It's currently planned to be at Knutstorp Ring which is located in beautiful Skåne, South of Sweden."
I know we Viper Owners in Europa are looking forward to meeting the members from the new Club, either somewhere in Europe, in the fall 2016 at the next USA VOI, or on the Knutstorp Ring. So, welcome VCA Sweden! We are glad that you are here!


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MAR 05, 2014 - Cleveland Plain Dealer
A Must Read - Share
Over the course of his Cleveland career, Ilgauskas became the really, really tall guy who lived next door.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Z is different. First of all there is the whole 7-foot, 3-inch extent of Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Reporters who cover the NBA get accustomed to living in a world of height, but Z has the same striking effect on others as did the towering Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain. The latter, once asked how the weather was up there, while dumping a cup of water on the questioner's head, said: "Raining."Even under duress, Z would never
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© 2011 Comunitee, Inc.


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Pride and Prejudice
by Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice Chapter 27 Summary
READ THE BOOK: Chapter 27
- In March, Elizabeth leaves to visit Charlotte in Hunsford, with some of Charlotte's family.
- She visits Jane in London on the way, and Mrs. Gardiner lets Elizabeth know that Jane is still pretty bummed.
- Mrs. Gardiner also takes back her approval of Wickham, arguing that it looks pretty bad that he suddenly started macking on a girl who recently inherited money.
- Lizzy is actually a little hurt, but she cheers up quickly when her aunt suggests taking her on vacation that summer.
READ THE BOOK: Chapter 27


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This time using religion.
Hat tip: Orac
This time using religion.
Hat tip: Orac
That has to be one of the funniest videos ever created.
A video like this is sure to cause havoc over at you-tube.
That's brilliant. That's very clever and well done.
Shit, now I'm getting paranoid. So who is it who's using creedocide against us ???
Video starts playing when I load up your home page. Bad Dog. Shame.
Virgil… I did not know that because I have flash block. I am now going to edit the video code and/or put the thing below the fold. This is against policy.
Greg – It's still playing automatically…
but that's ok, cuz this is one fucking funny vid!
Nice idea, but what happen when the scepticrat appear on the scene?


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(Photo by Scott Welton, Staff)
Neal Frazier of Cape Girardeau began work Thursday as Mississippi County's community gun violence prosecutor, replacing Gregory Spencer whose last day was Wednesday. Spencer, who announced his resignation in July, said he was moving to be closer to his family.
The position was created as part of President George W. Bush's initiative to reduce gun crime nationwide, Project Safe Neighborhoods, with the goal of discouraging firearm-related violence with swift criminal prosecution. By providing U.S. Department of Justice grants to hire additional prosecutors - particularly for counties in need - the program aims to increase prosecution of these types crimes. Raffety's office received notification they were approved for the grant in February 2002.
"Mississippi County was very fortunate to be awarded the Project Safe Neighborhoods grant by the United States Department of Justice. We have almost three years remaining of this four-year grant, and with the addition of Neal Frazier I believe Mississippi County citizens will see a noticeable difference in the success of our investigations and convictions of criminals, particularly those who commit crimes with firearms," said Jennifer Raffety, Mississippi County prosecuting attorney. "In my five years as prosecutor in Mississippi County, I have always enjoyed a close working relationship with the county law enforcement agencies and I anticipate that this relationship will continue to improve as Mr. Frazier brings his experience and enthusiasm to my office."
A 1999 graduate of the University of Texas School of Law, Frazier has a solid background in the practice of criminal law having most recently been employed by the Missouri State Public Defenders office in Jackson from May 2000 until Aug. 4.
Already on Frazier's plate as community gun violence prosecutor are at least two murders and five other shootings currently pending.
"I am excited about the opportunity to serve as Mississippi County's assistant prosecutor. I know that this county has seen a disturbing series of shootings this year and that it is vital that we stop this cycle of escalating retaliation before it spirals even further out of control," Frazier said. "With the hard work of our law enforcement officers and the cooperation of the good people of Mississippi County, I am confident that we can get the guns off the streets and make Mississippi County a better place to live, work and raise our families.
In crimes involving the use of a firearm, defendants can face additional charges such as armed criminal action which can add three years to life in prison to the sentence. Officials estimate about a quarter of violent assaults involve the use of a firearm.
Frazier will also be assisting Raffety with other cases when not handling firearm-related crimes.
Anyone with questions or who would like additional information about Missouri firearms laws are encouraged to contact their local prosecuting attorney's office.


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Born in Massachusetts, raised in a Long Island suburb of New York City, Michael Castleman always knew he wanted to write. A graduate of the University of Michigan who went on to receive a Masters in Journalism from the University of California, Berkeley, Castleman's original career thoughts were on writing fiction. But also having a strong scientific inclination, enjoying journalism, and feeling the need to pay his bills, he chose instead to focus on health writing. It proved to be a lucrative move.
A longtime San Franciscan, since 1975, Castleman went on to become one of the nation's top health writers, covering a wide spectrum of health topics including staying healthy, optimal wellness, mainstream medicine, alternative therapies, nutrition, and fitness. He has written for such print and online media as the New York Times, Natural Health, Readers Digest, Men's Health, Psychology Today, Family Circle, Playboy and WebMD. He has written about sexuality and sex research for 30 plus years and is considered an expert in the field. He has a blog, "All About Sex" on PsychologyToday.com, publishes a website, GreatSexAfter40.com, and writes for


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|Out with shop-bought products...
And you'd be surprised just how many remedies - for the body, the home and even the office and garden - you can whip up with just a few essential oils.
So it was also fairly coincidental that my fella noted a few subtle hints I'd been making in the run up to Christmas, took a punt and bought me an essential oils starter kit online.
Here's one of my favourite recipes; definitely one I'll be trying soon:
Moisturising Facial Spray in Hydrosol
Makes: One 1 oz spray bottle
You'll need: 1 oz rose hydrosol, 1 drop rose otto essential oil, 2 drops lavender essential oil, one 1-oz plastic or glass spray bottle.
Directions: Fill a spray bottle with rose hydrosol, before adding essential oil drops and shake to continue
How simple does that sound?
|My essential oil 'starter kit'
I love how easy the book is to read, too, containing all the tips beginners need to get going, as well as a few I'm sure experts in the subject will learn a lot from - it's more than worth its price tag.
There's advice on organising yourself and your essential oils kit, info on carrier oils, and help when it comes to beginning your collection.
My hat goes off to Andrea; she's a talented lady.


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Coming November 23, 2013, is the day The Doctor tells us he's been running for over 900 years. Or 50, as our TV Earth time goes. What's coming in the 50th anniversary episode? Showrunner Steven Moffat said all kinds of rumors are out there, as always. He admits that sometimes he starts the crazy rumors himself, but this time he hasn't needed to.
We do know that David Tennant will return to reprise his role as the Tenth Doctor, and that the Daleks will return. It simply would not be a 50th anniversary party without them. Moffat's also bringing back the Zygons, monsters that only appeared in the 1975 Terror of the Zygons episode. That single appearance has given them cult status, and the 50th anniversary struck Moffat as a good time to bring them back.
The Day of the Doctor will screen in 3D more than 200 cinemas in the UK and Ireland. So what do you get someone who can travel all of time and space for a golden anniversary present?


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The story of an idyllic love affair interrupted in the most disturbing way.
The story of an idyllic love affair interrupted in the most disturbing way.
A visual and visceral journey through and about being. Raw footage of improvised and choreographed dance is confronted with compositional techniques. The dancers' gestures and bodies, poised and isolated, gradually become intertwined, indistinguishable and frenetic.
An architectural affair. They meet, sight unseen, in a house of lines. A film from 2002 ReelDance Award-winner, Sue Healey, which is part of her 'Niche' series of works.
Dear friends,
Due to funding circumstances, ReelDance Inc. ceased trading on the 31 August 2012.
For inquiries relating to the ReelDance Moving Image Collection, please write to:
Thank you for your interest in and support of ReelDance, 1999–2012.


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Skip to Content
Associate Professor of Chemistry
Office: 204 IATLIowa City, IA 52242
Phone: 319-384-695
Email: email@example.com: More About Dr. Haes - Related Websites and Resources
BA, Chemistry and Physics, Wartburg CollegeMS, Chemistry, Northwestern UniversityPhD, Physical and Analytical Chemistry, Northwestern University
Post Doctorate, Analytical Chemistry, Naval Research Laboratory
Revolutions spawned by nanoscience research are becoming and will continue to become parts of our reality. At the heart of these nanotechnologies are nanoscale materials that exhibit novel size-dependent chemical and physical properties. These materials can be used as building blocks for larger-scale devices with applications ranging from electronics to sensors. To develop and optimize these devices, controlled fabrication/synthesis of the nano-building blocks must be developed, the fundamental properties of the materials must be understood, and the surface chemistries of the nano-building blocks must be controlled. Finally, the nanoparticles must be selectively integrated or grown within the devices for a specific application.
Research in our group focuses on the microscopic and spectroscopic analysis of plasmonic nanostructures and their integration with microfluidic devices with potential applications for the development of novel biological sensors. This work is inherently multidisciplinary and draws on skills from analytical, materials, physical and surface chemistries as well as biology and engineering. Our research projects can be divided into three areas and are summarized below.
Enhanced Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance Spectroscopy
The localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) is a collective oscillation of the conduction band electrons at the surface of noble metal nanoparticles that develops when incident electromagnetic radiation is of an appropriate frequency. The LSPR is important not only in phenomena such as surface-enhanced spectroscopies and resonant Rayleigh scattering, but also as a sensitive analytical tool itself. The LSPR of noble metal nanoparticles has been used to detect biological and chemical species because of its sensitivity to refractive index changes near the metal surface. This work aims at capitalizing on the sensitivity of the LSPR of nanoparticles with novel DNA surface chemistries. Microfluidic devices, fluorescence imaging, and atomic force microscopy facilitate these investigations.
Detection of Cancer Markers
The link between estrogen and tumor formation was first reported in the 1930s. Since that time, it has become widely accepted that estrogen treatment does, in fact, pose a cancer risk. For example, two such natural hormones, estrone and estradiol, are believed to play a role in the development of breast cancer tumors. These species are metabolized into catechol estrogens, which are then metabolized into catechol estrogen quinones. These final species are hypothesized to be the carcinogenic agents that induce several cancers. Traditional methods to screen these biological samples often require large sample volumes, long separation times, labeling procedures to identify target species, or destroy the sample. For these reason, we are integrating nanoparticles, electrophoretic separations, and Raman spectroscopy to develop a fast-responding and sensitive detection platform for these and other cancer-related targets.
Nanoparticle-Assisted Isoelectric Focusing
Currently, the most widely used technique to analyze complex protein and peptide solutions is two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. This method is a two step process. First, the sample is focused into bands according to their point of neutrality using isoelectric focusing. The second step involves a separation of those species in a second dimension. Recently, the first step of the two dimensional separation has been combined with capillary electrophoresis. The electrophoretic separation mechanism serves to focus the species into concentrated bands making them easier to detect than in their native non-concentrated states. Second, by integrating the device into a capillary, the timescale to separate species based on their isoelectric point decreases dramatically in comparison to the complete two dimensional gel experiments. This work incorporates quantum dots and controlled surface chemistry with capillary electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing for both fundamental investigations of the stability of quantum dots and applications in biosensing.
Date Last Modified: 06/06/2016 -
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The Tampa Bay Lightning will have 24 hours to forget about Saturday night's loss and move on to the next one.
Richard Panik and Matt Carle each had goals, and Ben Bishop made 24 saves which gave the Bolts and opportunity to win, but a pair of late goals by the opposition ultimately led the New York Islanders to a 4-2 victory at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island.
The defeat was the first in regulation for the Lightning under head coach Jon Cooper, as Tampa Bay failed to pick up a point for the first time in its past five games.
New York, meanwhile, improved to 6-1-1 in its past eight games.
Michael Grabner and Josh Bailey scored for the Islanders, which also received 19 saves from Evgeni Nabokov.
Matt Martin's goal at 13:34 of the third snapped a 2-2 tie and held up as the game-winner, and Andy MacDonald sealed the win with an empty-net tally in the game's final minute with Bishop off in favor of the extra skater.
The Islanders' victory helped the team register their 41st and 42nd points of the year, keeping them in the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference standings, paced ahead of the New York Rangers.
Tampa Bay, following Saturday's defeat, remains six points out, but will have an opportunity to gain some ground Sunday night as the Bolts complete the second half of a back-to-back set in the nation's capital against Washington.
Grabner opened the scoring at 14:45 of the first when he collected the puck off a Nate Thompson turnover and sent a sharp wrist shot uncontested past Bishop for a 1-0 lead.
Panik tied it 1-1 approximately five minutes into the second after Vincent Lecavalier sent a brilliant behind-the-back pass to his rookie teammate, who sent a wrister into an open cage from the side of the net at 4:44.
New York then went back up by a goal after Bailey outmuscled Tom Pyatt in the Lightning crease, then slipped a backhand past Bishop at 8:22 of the frame.
It didn't last long, however, as Tampa Bay drew even for the second time early on in the third.
With Nabokov's stick at his feet, Steven Stamkos sent a shot in from the point that hit the Islanders netminder in the chest, but wasn't covered. Carle, in front of the net, collected the rebound and flipped a shot up into the net for his fourth of the year, which made it 2-2 exactly four minutes into the final stanza.
That was the way it stood up until Martin's wrist shot with approximately six minutes remaining in regulation found its way through the five hole of Bishop.
It appears Bishop may have been screened and didn't even see the puck, but otherwise played a solid game.
With New York clinging to a 1-0 lead, Bishop came up with two huge saves in final 30 seconds of the opening frame, first denying Grabner and then Bailey to prevent an even further deficit heading into the first intermission.
But Tampa Bay couldn't capitalize on a few power play chances on the night, going 0-for-3 in total, and gave up a pair of costly turnovers, both of which led to goals at the other end, which contributed to the loss.
"We're playing ever game like it's Game 7 of the playoffs," Lightning defenseman Keith Aulie said. "We know what's at stake, we know what the standings are, but we're focusing and just taking it game by game."


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BYOND rules!
by XxxJoshxxX March 27, 2004
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?
Top Definition
BYOND (n) Originates from DUNG, stands for Build Your Own Net Dream.
"Do you play BYOND?"
by AZA June 23, 2004
A community in which "BYONDers" were formerly required to live
<See: BYONDer>
by Anonymous August 26, 2003


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Borderlands 2 developers Gearbox have earned quite a reputation for releasing worthwhile and expansive DLC (and we're not talking those nude mods, you pervs). Just ask players of the first game's "Zombie Island of Dr. Ned" or "Claptrap's New Robot Revolution" expansions what the meaning of value in DLC is.
So we were particularly excited to get our hands on the first downloadable content for Borderlands 2, a series of new missions and areas arriving less than a month after the game's release.
Is the content in "Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate's Booty" worth the extra $10? You'd better believe it. Read on to find out why.


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Costs of dancing hurt Hallowell businesses
Fire mashal's office issues summonses to bars for violationsUPDATED 11:44 PM EDT May 17, 2013
Many Hallowell bars and restaurants forbid dancing because in addition to a license, they must meet particular fire codes, News 8's Aly Myles reports.Video Transcript
HAVING RESTRICTIONS ON DANCING SOUNDS LIKE A PLOT FROM A MOVIE, BUT IT'S THE REALITY FOR ONE MAINE TOWN. IN HALLOWELL, THERE'S ONLY ONE PLACE TO GET YOUR GROOVE ON AND BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE TOWN SAY IT COULD RUIN THEM. WMTW NEWS 8'S ALY MYLES EXPLAINS. ) 6:20 right now we're on a month to month because of the infractions TAKE A LOOK AROUND. THIS PLACE HAS MUSIC AND DRINKS BUT THESE PEOPLE ARE SITTING áREALLYá STILL. THAT'S BECAUSE HIGHER GROUNDS- ) CAN'T ALLOW DANCING. 4:06 it's a scary thing when people are regulating something that shouldn't be regulated. BARTENDER DEANNA THIBEAU SAYS-THEY'VE HAD TO TELL PATRONS TO STOP DANCING-SOME- TO STOP MOVING- BECAUSE IT COULD MEAN "HIGHER GROUNDS" GETS SHUT DOWN. 4:26 people would come in and be like oh haha and we'd be like no, that's serious. You actually can't do that. THE BAR IS ONE OF MANY-THAT RECEIVED A SUMMONS FROM THE STATE FIRE MARSHALLS OFFICE FOR NOT HAVING A DANCING LICENSE. BUT THE $117 PIECE OF PAPER ISN'T THE PROBLEM. IT'S BRINGING THE BUILDING UP TO CODE-IN ORDER TO GET THE LICENSE LIKE ADDING A SPRINKLER SYSTEM AND A SECOND EXIT. 00:58 being a bar that rents from here, we can't afford to put 40, 50 thousand dollars of work into the building. AT THE KENNEBEC WHARF 00:35 It's not a footloose town as they say. IT GOT INTO TROUBLE-FOR THEIR DANCING LICENSE BEING EXPIRED. 00:55 I was at fault, my license did expire. THE WHOLE SITUATION MIGHT SOUND BIZARRE BUT OWNER TIM CONNELLY SAYS- DESPITE RENEWING HIS LICENSE-- HE'S LOST ABOUT 25 PERCENT OF HIS BUSINESS-BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THEY CAN STILL DANCE AT THE WHARF. 2:18 it has slowed down. People are starting to find other places to go, thinking the town of Hallowell does not have dancing, but we do have dancing. IT'S A PROBLEM BARS-AND THEIR CUSTOMERS SAY-COULD RUIN THE TOWN. 9:38 it's a sense of community here, its not just businesses. It's the people that run them and it's hurting them. 22:09 the fact that it is a tightknit community means people are going to complain about this until its changed IN HALLOWELL AM WMTW NEWS 8
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