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The Chicago Fire Soccer Club, the Chicago Fire Foundation, MLS W.O.R.K.S., Major League Soccer's community outreach initiative, and University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System announced Monday the Fire's efforts to aid in MLS' breast cancer awareness campaign as part of Soccer Kicks Cancer, an initiative focused on raising awareness and funds for cancer research and treatment and providing strength and hope in the fight against cancer affecting men, women and children. The club will raise awareness and funds for the fight against cancer when the Chicago Fire take on D.C. United Presented by University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System at Toyota Park on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 3:00 p.m. CT (NBC Sports Network/97.5 ESPN Deportes).
The Fire will recognize and honor cancer survivors and others affected by the disease prior to the match. Breast Cancer Heroes will participate in a pregame, on-field activation of the Breast Cancer Awareness Ribbon. Supporters who are attending the match and are interested in supporting Breast Cancer Awareness can be part of the on-field Pink Ribbon by emailing email@example.com.
Tickets for the Chicago Fire – D.C. United match are available by calling 888-MLS-Fire, by visiting www.Chicago-Fire.com or Ticketmaster.
Collaborating with MLS partners adidas and Gatorade, the match will be played with a commemorative pink adidas PRIME match ball and players will use pink sideline towels provided by Gatorade.
During the match the Fire will don blue kits with pink name plates, numbers and special pink MLS W.O.R.K.S. ribbon patch on their jerseys, pink adidas sweat bands and shoe laces. Fire goalkeepers will be in special pink jerseys to further support the cause.
The Chicago Fire Foundation will hold a Commemorative Jersey Auction on the Northeast Concourse where the jerseys will be auctioned off up until halftime of the match. Each winner will not only receive the player's jersey, but will get the opportunity to meet that player postgame in a private meet and greet session. In addition, the Fire have partnered with Sodexo, Toyota Park's concessionaire, to serve a special pink cocktail in the Stadium Club. A donation of $1 from each drink will benefit A Silver Lining Foundation.


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Family Photo Book
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Why just leave your photographs on your computer. The Family Photo Book software is easy, fun and free to use (versions for Windows and Mac). An album is the perfect gift for anyone and any occasion - for recording family history, family reunions, weddings, birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, memorials or any special occasions. Share your travels with pictures, write a journal, create a stunning business portfolio or presentation - the possibilities are endless.
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Buffie The Body, Jada, & Luscious D [Come Up Photoshoot]
Buffie The Body, Jada, & Luscious D Photoshoot Via Come Up DVD "Strip CLub Edition"&IP=126.96.36.199
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06 September 2013
LONDON: Ahead of his 60-minute Twitter Q&A this month, Harry Verhaar, Senior Director Energy
& Climate Change, Philips Lighting, sets out the compelling economic and societal case for the wide-
scale adoption of LED lighting.
You can chat live with Harry Verhaar on adopting LED lighting for a better future, from 10am EST,
September 25, during Climate Week NYC using hashtag #CWNYC.
Harry writes:
The light bulb has long been a symbol for progress in the 20th century. Electric light was the first mass electric
appliance, playing a pivotal role in the industrial revolution that brought unprecedented socio-economic
development around the world.
And today, lighting represents 19% of global electricity consumption. But both the global economic crisis and
climate science show us that economic growth must not continue in such energy intensive ways. If we do not
switch to more energy-efficient innovative solutions, we will quickly see the day that we really do have to
switch off the lights, and can no longer enjoy the variety of appliances and services that a century of economic
progress has provided.
Smarter solutions--such as LEDs (light-emitting diodes)--exist, and if we make the switch now we can
attain a prosperous economy, in a more equitable and sustainable way.
Independent and verifiable results from The Climate Group's LightSavers trials and accompanying public
surveys provide evidence that many commercially-available, outdoor LED products offer high quality light,
durability, and significant electricity savings in the range of 50-70%. Such savings can amount to hugely
reduced electricity bills and energy generation, equal to as much as 670 million tons of carbon dioxide a year.
For example, efficient lighting solutions will save €128 billion per year, with a return on investment period of
four to five years. (A switch from incandescent bulbs results in a return on investment within a few months.)
LEDs are infinitely scalable, extremely reliable, and have a much longer lifetime than almost all other types of
lighting. In short, they are revolutionizing the energy efficiency of lighting.
With low carbon innovation such as LEDs, we can reduce our carbon footprints as well as our energy bills.
But most of all, we have the potential to improve people's lives. We can achieve a 'win-win-win' by making
the buildings and cities where we work, live and play more comfortable, productive and safe.
But wasting less does not just mean switching a bulb. It is a combination of 'doing things smarter', varying
www.theclimategroup.org/what-we-do/news-and-blogs/harry-verhaar-of-philips-we-simply-cannot-ignore-the-economic-and-societal-case-for-led-lighting/ 2/5
9/10/13 Harry Verhaar of Philips: We simply cannot ignore the economic and societal case for LED lighting
In our Twitter Q&A we can discuss such actions, as well as talk specifics such as urban infrastructure,
smart buildings, intelligent networks, or the huge potential of public-private partnering. National
governments may be struggling to agree on emissions targets and clean energy investment, but sub-national
governments and businesses have the potential to lead the LED lighting revolution. There is great momentum
already underway in the private sector, where best practices are becoming common practices.
At Philips Lighting, we are creating the solutions, models and market approaches that will benefit a large part
of the global population as well as our public and corporate economic future.
We simply cannot ignore the economic and societal case for energy efficiency and LED lighting.
To join the live Twitter Q&A with Harry Verhaar on adopting LED lighting for a better future, at
10am EST, September 25, 2013, just visit @ClimateGroup to follow the conversation and ask your
questions to @Harry_Verhaar using the hashtag #CWNYC.
Harry will also be speaking at panel events at Climate Week NYC 2013. See the full agenda here.
Back to Listing
Related Tags
Related Content
LED street lighting project launch in Kolkata
Lighting the Clean Revolution: The rise of LEDs and what it means for cities
LED Lighting
Harry Verhaar
www.theclimategroup.org/what-we-do/news-and-blogs/harry-verhaar-of-philips-we-simply-cannot-ignore-the-economic-and-societal-case-for-led-lighting/ 3/5


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We carry the most fabulous feeding finery for finicky felines, including ceramic cat bowls, cat dishes, cat feeders and cat diners. Our ceramic cat bowls and cat feeding systems complement your decor, and your cat's sensibilities. (But good luck getting your cat to notice the complement).
Site & Contents © BaxterBoo.com®. BaxterBoo is located in the United States.


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Mortgage Firestone CO
Welcome to Colorado Mortgage Guy's Mortgage Firestone page. Colorado Mortgage Guy has been working in the Denver Front Range in mortgage and real estate since 1995. During that time, Vince Reece has worked with friends, family, neighbors, business associates, and people relocating to Colorado, many who have become long time friends. Vince provides you with straight forward information to get you into the home you wish to purchase. As a custom mortgage designer, he is dedicated to finding the solutions to solve your new Firestone home loan and financing needs.
Mortgage Firestone CO
Vince and his preferred realtors have a keen understanding of the Firestone real estate market and a mortgage Firestone CO financing, he truly finds and understands the needs of clients we assist in Colorado home financing.
Mortgage Firestone Colorado
Whether you are buying a new home, selling your home, seeking a first or second mortgage, a FHA loan, VA loan, or HUD loan in Firestone Colorado – Vince will walk you through the entire process, simplify things, and handle everything for you from start to finish regarding your mortgage Firestone Colorado. Vince will aggressively work to deliver the best Colorado mortgage rates and terms possible.
Vince's goal is to deliver the mortgage designed specifically for you, your family, and your home in Firestone Colorado by using his 15 years of mortgage lending experience and knowledge. No fast talk, hidden fees or costs. Just straight forward assistance.
About Firestone Colorado


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No buddy even care about this tourney (Women's one)
Why dont they have mixed games in cricket like they do in tennis? Would be awesome.
hahahahahahhaah very funny , metallics
Seems like a pretty solid performance for us in the warm-up. Impressive performances from Poulton, Perry and Sthalekar in particular.
I don't think I've ever seen Holly Colvin go for so many runs before.
The West Indies secured a narrow four-run win over South Africa....
England going well against India in the second match of the day 38 for 0 in the 7th chasing 113 to win.
Sarah Taylor is the gunnest player.
The English women's side apparently scored more runs in today's game - without losing a wicket. Stuart Broad's contingency plan of playing for the women's side in case of his men's side failure might not work.
Should be nailed on for the semis, not that we weren't before, but India were by far the best other side in the group, though Pakistan had a great One Day world cup.
A crowd of 1750 today. Good on the ECB and Somerset for getting people in. Might even get a few more at the weekend.
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Configure Linux To Accept Remote Desktop Connections Over SSH
Recently I needed to configure a solution for remote desktop on a Linux server. I decided to give XRDP a shot which uses TigerVNC Server by forwarding the standard RDP port of 3389 to a port VNC is listening on. The end result is to set up a SSH tunnel that forwards local port 3389 over SSH to XDRP which is listening only on the remote localhost on port 3389 as well. Use the information below to set this up on CentOS Linux though the instructions will be similar for other Linux distros as well.


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AS-interface I/O modules have 'connect and done' functionality
Pepperl+Fuchs introduced the G10 family of Ultra-Compact I/O Modules with Connect and Done technology that can eliminate mounting requirements in many applications. Among the smallest AS-Interface I/O module with IP68/69K protection, at just 40-mm x 27-mm x 22-mm the G10 fits easily into any cable duct and enables quick, convenient sensor connections using the integrated M12 pigtails, according to Pepperl+Fuchs.
"With its tiny footprint, this exceptionally robust module allows mounting in the most space-confined applications. In fact, simply placing the G10 inside the cable tray may eliminate mounting entirely – that's the power and simplicity of 'connect and done' functionality," says Helge Hornis, Manager Intelligent Systems, Pepperl+Fuchs.
The robust single-piece housing makes use of a patented and field-proven hinged cover design that simplifies connectivity, ensures reliable contact to the AS-Interface flat cable, and typically eliminates any additional mounting requirements. For applications where mounting is required, two integrated M4 screw holes are provided. The G10 has no gaskets, inserts, separate housing parts, or additional screws that are easily lost.
Products include "high-quality, machined, gold-plated piercing contacts that, unlike the cheap stamped and zinc-coated alternative, provide superior long-term contact stability without damaging the internal strands of the AS-Interface cable," explains Hornis. "Placed around each of the piercing contacts is a concentric seal contour that provides high seal contact pressure, a main contributor to the reliable IP68/69K protection, even after many years of service."
Sensors are powered from the yellow AS-Interface cable, and a continuous output current of up to 1 A can be supplied from AUX power. All versions of the G10 ultra-compact I/O module family are equipped with bright diagnostic and status LEDs that are visible from all directions. The G10 family also follows the latest AS-Interface specification 3.0.
– Edited by Amanda McLeman, Control Engineering, www.controleng.com


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No nice multiple choice, no order, no hints, no phone-a-friend, just 10 random korean questions for your grade. Once you have choosen your grade you will see the 10 questions, either an english term for you to translate into Korean or vice versa. Once you think you know the answer press the button and the answer will be revealed. You don't have to type the answer. To start again press the Reset button, or for a fresh set of questions either refresh your browser or press the "More questions" button.
The test is designed for your benefit, especially before your grading, so answer the questions as honestly as you can, just like the real thing, without the obligatory "are you sure?" and raised eyebrow from the examiner.


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Delegates from 193 nations have opened a UN meeting in Japan to discuss
how to address Earth's dramatic loss of animal and plant species.
The two-week Nagoya conference brings together parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.
its opening, Achim Steiner, head of the UN Environment Program, told
delegates the meeting is "part of the world's efforts to address a very
simple fact -- we are destroying life on Earth."
A key task
facing the 8,000 delegates is to hammer out a set of strategic goals to
prevent the further loss of species over the next 10 years.
such as Jonathan Bailie, director of conservation programs at the
Zoological Society of London, doubt the discussions will result in an
ambitious, comprehensive international agreement featuring binding
targets. But Bailie tells RFE/RL that he expects the talks to reveal a
growing agreement among governments about the need to place a price on
the goods and services that nature provides.
conservationists have focused on moral or ethical reasons as to why we
want to save biodiversity," Bailie says. "But it's becoming increasingly
apparent that if we don't put a value on things, then often the wrong
market decisions are made. For example, if trees are worth less standing
than they are [worth] cut down, they will be cut down."
Disappearing Species
UN says the world has failed to reach the goal, set in 2002, of a
"significant reduction" in species losses by 2010 -- named as the
International Year of Biodiversity.
warn that species are disappearing at up to 1,000 times the natural
rate of wildlife loss. More than one-fifth of the world's plant species
and terrestrial vertebrates are threatened with extinction. The threat
concerns one-third of freshwater fish species. This is mainly due to
habitat destruction; expansion of agriculture; deforestation;
overexploitation of biological resources such as fish; invasive species;
and, on top of that, climate change.
The annual economic cost of
environmental degradation and biodiversity loss is estimated at
trillions of dollars -- equivalent to as much as 10 percent of global
gross domestic product.
Speaking on September 22 at a summit in
New York on the species crisis, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
cautioned that biological diversity is closely linked to the world
"Maintaining and restoring our natural infrastructure,"
Ban said, "can provide economic gains worth trillions of dollars each
year. Allowing it to decline is like throwing money out of the window."
Direct Effect
steps are taken to reverse the loss of biological diversity, scientists
warn that natural habitats will be degraded and eventually destroyed,
threatening a wide range of benefits such as clean water, pure air,
healthy soil, adequate food, fuel, and protection from extreme weather
This loss will most directly affect the well-being of the world's poorest and most vulnerable people.
Central Asia, Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, the destruction of
forests due to the cutting of trees for fuel, cattle grazing, and land
cultivation is affecting the lives of residents -- causing land
degradation and erosion that lead to mudslides, landslides, and
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In an effort to break the vicious circle, Bailie says
policy makers are to investigate mechanisms designed to ensure
governments value ecosystem services that have previously been regarded
as free.
Meanwhile, stronger pressure is to be put on businesses
to measure the financial costs associated with their impact on the
"With the toxic sludge [in Hungary] and the recent
oil spills and so on," Bailie says, "people are realizing that business
is having a serious impact on biodiversity, and that business needs to
be more accountable and business needs to maintain the resources that
they are custodians of sustainably."
Businesses Must Act
Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity" survey, to be released at the
Nagoya conference, is expected to show that there is a strong case for
businesses to take action to limit activities that harm biological
diversity and to incorporate environmental impacts into their risk
Ahead of the meeting, Richard Burrett, co-chair of
the UN Environment Program's Finance Initiative and a partner at the
investment advisory firm Earth Capital Partners, told Reuters that
accounting systems need to fully integrate environmental degradation
caused by economic development.
He said that failure to do so meant companies were not measuring their balance sheet and profit and loss accurately.
Ignoring The Threat
last week at a roundtable hosted by consultancy firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers, Jon Williams, partner at PWC's sustainability
and climate change team, said that besides physical risks to operations
and supply chains, such as soil degradation and water shortages,
businesses were facing investor risks.
Such risks were
highlighted by the recent experience of BP, which has seen its share
price halved as a result of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
and Burrett said increasing numbers of institutional investors are
starting to call on firms to report on the biodiversity threats they
face and to change their investment practices with new environmental and
social standards.
But PWC this year released a report warning
that the vast majority of the world's largest companies are ignoring
environmental threats.
The report found that only six of the
world's largest 100 companies had measures in place to reduce their
impact on biodiversity and environmental habitats and just two had
identified biodiversity as a strategic risk.
Bailie says he
expects this to change, adding that the companies which manage their
ecological footprint will be better positioned.
"I believe that
over the next five years or so, there's going to be more public pressure
for companies to comply and to better manage the biodiversity," Bailie
says. "The pioneers, those that are at the front, will actually benefit
in the longer term."


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U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta both slammed Israel over the weekend, with Clinton accusing the country of being undemocratic, and Panetta blaming its isolation in the region.
Clinton made the comments during a closed-door session over the weekend at an annual seminar, sponsored by the Brookings Institute, examining the U.S.-Israel relationship, Israel Hayom reported.
A senior U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because Clinton's remarks were considered off the record, confirmed that the secretary of state had expressed concerns about developments in Israel, including a recent law limiting funding from foreign NGOs, and recent comments from conservative politicians.
She was also reported to have criticized what she sees as the increasing exclusion of women from the Israeli public sphere, specifically referencing an incident in which religious male IDF soldiers walked out of a ceremony where females were singing, and the gender-segregated buses that serve some of the country's most ultra-Orthodox communities. Clinton told the audience that the incidents reminded her of Iran and the U.S. Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, respectively.
Israeli press reported that Clinton criticized a recent wave of legislation in Israel that critics say are aimed at stifling dissent. Israeli media did not provide quotes or a detailed summary and the State Department has said it will not release a transcript of Clinton's remarks.
Recent controversial legislation includes a bill that restricts foreign funding for left-wing non-governmental organizations and a draft bill that would make it easier for journalists to be sued.
Israeli critics of the legislation say the bills are an attempt to stifle dissent among dovish groups in the country and muzzle the left-wing against the hawkish government. Supporters say the bills would stop foreign interference and demand accountability in the media.
While the Prime Minister's Office and the Foreign Ministry did not issue reactions, several MKs expressed criticism over Clinton's remarks.
Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said Clinton's comments were "absolutely exaggerated."
"The issue of the separation of women and attempts to prevent them from participating is unacceptable and must be stopped," Steinitz said after the weekly cabinet meeting Sunday, but, he added, there is a large gap between this issue and the claim that it threatens Israeli democracy. "Israeli democracy is alive, breathing, kicking and liberal," he stressed.
Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Friday urged Israel to "reach out and mend fences" with Turkey, Egypt and other security partners in the Middle East, and to restart peace negotiations with the Palestinians, saying he is troubled by the Jewish state's growing isolation in the increasingly volatile region, according to Israel Hayom.
"This isolation is due to a number of factors," Panetta said. He said there is an international campaign underway to isolate Israel, and that U.S. President Barack Obama has "stood steadfastly in the way of that effort, especially in the United Nations." Panetta said he had been working with Defense Minister Ehud Barak and others "to find ways to help Israel take steps which are profoundly in its interests."
Panetta urged Israeli leaders to "reach out and mend fences with those who share an interest in regional stability" – countries such as Turkey, Egypt and Jordan. "This is not impossible," he said. "If the gestures are rebuked, the world will see those rebukes for what they are. And that is exactly why Israel should pursue them."
Panetta also addressed the stalled peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, and pressed Israeli leaders to do more to restart negotiations, imploring them to "just get to the damn table." Direct peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority broke down in late September 2010 when Israel's 10-month moratorium on settlement construction in the West Bank expired.
Panetta urged Israel to "lean forward" to achieve peace with the Palestinians. "Rather than undermining the Palestinian Authority, it is in Israel's interests to strengthen it by ... continuing to transfer Palestinian tax revenues and pursuing other avenues of cooperation," he said.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday responded to Panetta's assertion that Israel is not doing enough to return to negotiations by blaming the Palestinian leadership for the deadlock in peace talks.
The Palestinians are "playing diplomatic games to try to cover their position, which is to boycott Israel and to refuse to enter negotiations," spokesman Mark Regev said. He added that Israel remains prepared to resume peace talks without preconditions.
Download this story in Microsoft Word format here.


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'Banshee' review: Sheriff steals the show
Banshee: Dramatic series. 10 p.m. Friday (Jan. 11) on Cinemax.
An ex-con who assumes the identity of a dead sheriff, the con's partner who's assumed a new identity as a respectable wife and mother, and a malevolent kingpin whose business is just a front for any number of illegal activities: You've probably seen it all before, but "Banshee," a new Cinemax action series, gives it a sexy new spin.
No, the show, premiering Friday night, has nothing to do with evil Irish spirits. Banshee is the name of the small town in Pennsylvania Amish country where a new sheriff named Lucas Hood is expected any day now. Hood shows up, but he won't be taking the sheriff's job or any job, for that matter, after he stops in at the local bar run by ex-boxing champ Sugar Bates (Frankie Faison, "The Wire").
2 sources of action
Instead, the job and Hood's name are taken by the master thief who just did 15 years for stealing diamonds. The new Lucas (Antony Starr, "Rush") didn't show up in Banshee by accident: He's looking for his ex-girlfriend and criminal partner, who has changed her name and become Carrie Hopewell (Ivana Milicevic, 2011's "Charlie's Angels" series), the respectable wife of the local district attorney, Gordon Hopewell (Rus Blackwell, "Burn Notice"). Hood wants his share of the diamonds, but he clearly wants Carrie even more. While he's waiting to get her, there seem to be any number of willing and beautiful women in Banshee to help him pass the time.
The show's action comes from two sources. First, the Ukrainian mob is out to get Hood and Carrie because it wants its diamonds back. But closer to home, there's Kai Proctor (Ulrich Thomsen, "The Celebration"), who is officially shunned by his father and the rest of the Amish community for being an all-around bad guy. Cold-blooded, rich and sadistic, Proctor owns a meatpacking business, but also runs drugs, prostitutes and anything else that illegally lines his pockets.
Effective sheriff
Probably the one element you haven't seen before in this mix is the transvestite hairdresser-slash-computer hacker Job (Hoon Lee, "Premium Rush"), who helps keep the mob off Hood's tail and otherwise helps Hood establish his unlikely new identity.
Starr is just rugged-looking enough to be credible as an ex-con, and handsome enough to be the heartthrob of Banshee, both the town and the series. Hood may be more comfortable on the other side of the law, but he surprises the town, and himself, by being a tough, independent and fairly effective sheriff.
"Banshee" was created by David Schickler and Jonathan Tropper and produced by "True Blood's" Alan Ball, among others. In other words, it has a solid pedigree. It's also part of Cinemax's effort to expand its original programming. That effort pays off with "Banshee."
David Wiegand is The San Francisco Chronicle's executive features editor and TV critic. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com Twitter: @WaitWhat_TV


text:
With quarterly releases for 360 Ulrichs services releases enhancements every quarter, and the Summon® service releases enhancements every three weeks, you get the latest technology tools.Read More
Serials Solutions new product Intota™ is featured in this innovation award announcement from ProQuest.Read More
If you just happen to be in Kamloops, British Columbia, you may want to stop by Thomson Rivers University to 'meet' their new search interface! Their Summon Launch & Open House party happened yesterday.Read More
With an expanded agreement with publisher Schattauer GmbH, Serials Solutions continues its commitment to add to the German-language resources discoverable through the Summon service. All of Schattauer's 22 scholarly journals devoted to medical fields will now be indexed in the Summon discovery service.Read More
Clients get the latest news about knowledge updates and database changes as well as newly added providers and databases in our Support Center.Read More
Find out more about Gary Samson, our Director of Software Engineering for Intota™.Read More
Thanks to new agreements with three publishers of scholarly open access journal and book content, libraries using the Summon service from Serials Solutions can offer researchers more access to freely available resources outside of their own collections.Read More
Each opportunity to talk with librarians has reinforced the notion that each library has different management needs, is at a different stage of evaluating management services, and is embracing change at some level. The single, consistent element across each conversation is that libraries recognize the need to start somewhere, start soon, and prepare for future management services that are more mature and robust.Read More
Meet Michelle D'Couto, Product Manager for Serials Solutions. Michelle is helping to lead the plan and to define the vision and product requirements for Serials Solutions Intota™.Read More
Librarians show how market segmentation is interesting and useful to their profession. Check out these highlights from our session Making the Most of Marketing Resources at Your Fingertips at ALA Annual in Anaheim, CA.Read More


text:
Credit is subject to status and is only available to UK residents aged 18 and over. Finance is available through Peugeot Motorcycle Finance a trading style of Black Horse Ltd, St. William House, Tresillian Terrace, Cardiff, CF10 5BH. Finance is applicable only to officially imported models supplied through Peugeot Scooters (UK) Ltd.
Q: What is the OTR price and why is it more than the price shown on the model pages?
A: OTR means 'On The Road'. It is the RRP of the scooter but also includes the first registration fee and vehicle excise duty set by the government, which is required to ride the scooter 'On The Road (OTR)'.Errors and omissions excepted.


text:
Tien-Lun Yeh's debut feature, Night Market Hero (Fried Chicken Hero in Mandarin), is a heartwarming story about the battle of an outrageous group of food vendors against political and bureaucratic corruption.
Set in the bustling 888 Night Market in Taipei, the film follows the vendors as they compete to win over customers using taste-offs and beauty contests. A-hwa is their handsome union leader, equally devoted to the market and his grandmother. Under his leadership, little rivalries, unspoken romances, and trivial disputes are all part of the fun; at the end of the day, the biggest question is, "Which is better—chicken or steak?"
But the vendors face larger worries when they learn that a real estate company is planning to build a mall where the market is located. Their livelihoods are at stake, and they realize that they must work together or be pushed out. The 888 vendors work with the media to reveal their stories of hardship and family dreams, hoping to win the hearts of the public and thus save their way of life.
Known for their mouth-watering delicacies, cheap goods, and colourful atmosphere, night markets are a central part of Taiwanese culture. This nostalgic comedy was inspired by the director's experiences as part of the Night Market Vendor Theatre Troupe and was co-written by his sister, Tan-Ching Yeh. In an effort to make the performances more authentic, the director had the actors learn the skills of traditional night market vendors, like how to deep-fry chicken steaks and how to perfect the art of Chinese facial threading.
– Heather Keung
Cast: Lan Zheng-Long, Alice Ko, Hiseh Yu-Chen, Lotus Wang
Director's Bio
Tien-Lun Yeh
Tien-Lun Yeh graduated from the Department of Radio, Television, and Film at Shih Hsin University and studied in Theatre Arts at Taipei National University of the Arts. Before he was a film director, Tien-Lun was an actor, a radio voice artist, and a scriptwriter and director for Taiwanese television


text:
Dave: Hello again everyone. Today we're talking about the book, "Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of his Time", by Dava Sobel, which talks about the old world struggle to figure out a way to determine the longitudinal position of a ship at sea. It was a mystery which had stumped the greatest minds for centuries.
Nate: Exactly. A way to determine latitude had been devised much earlier, but if you didn't know longitude, it was possible you could be 100 miles further east or west than you thought you were, making navigation extremely difficult and hazardous. Countless ships were lost at sea, shipwrecked, delayed, or had crews that died of scurvy due to depleted rations from the 15th through the 18th centuries – and much of this was a direct result of not knowing exactly where you were on the ocean.
Dave: There were essentially two methods for determining longitude that came to the forefront during the 18th century when this problem was being tackled. One was the astronomical method, which consisted of determining longitude by looking at objects such as stars, planets, and moons to figure out your position, and the other was the mechanical method, which entailed building a clock which could keep track of the time back at your home port. Because if you knew what time it was there, and you knew what time it was where you were on the ocean, you could figure out your position.
Nate: Both of these methods had issues that had to be resolved, however. On the mechanical side, there had never been a clock built that could keep time at sea. Conditions at sea, such as moisture, changing temperatures, and rolling waves had always interfered with its functions, not allowing it to be exact enough. To be useful, a timepiece could not lose more than three seconds in twenty four hours – any more than that and a ship would not be able to determine its position accurately enough. And on the astronomical side, complete maps of the stars had not been done up to this point in history, so that solution seemed far off as well.
Dave: And while the astronomers of the day scrambled to complete maps of the stars, a little known English clockmaker took up the challenge of determining longitude, and solved it with relative ease.
Nate: And that clockmaker, John Harrison, was an interesting guy, as he was totally self made. He had never really had any formal training in building clocks, yet the pieces he made were remarkable. He built a clock tower in Brocklesby Park in England that has run continuously since 1722 – the only time it stopped was when it was refurbished in 1884. He applied this genius to building a longitude clock, or chronometer, and like you said, built one without too much trouble.
Dave: Building one wasn't too much trouble, but receiving recognition for it became a struggle he would endure for decades. He actually ended up building four chronometers, each one being an improvement over the last. I have to say, after reading this book, I was taken back to another book we reviewed some time ago about the journey of the Apollo astronauts to the moon. It seemed like we'd kind of come full circle. It's amazing to think that the astronauts who went to the moon were able to land within a few hundred feet of where they were supposed to. And the solution to determining longitude was the beginning of mankind's ability to figure out exact location. How many doors did that open up? It's almost impossible to say.
Nate: I agree. You really take for granted things that have always been there, and are always there for you. We just have to look at a watch, cell phone, clock on the wall, or any other device that says the time, no matter where we are, and we know it will be correct. We don't have to do any calculations, or wonder how we're going to figure it out. The same goes for knowing our position in the world. From maps, to GPS, determining location is something that is so easy and readily available that we don't even think about it.
Dave: But in the old days of sea exploration that knowledge wasn't "just there", and it was a real problem. After reading this book, it's obvious why the routes the early explorers took seemed to zig zag all over the place.
Nate: I find it amazing they ever found their way, to be totally honest. And it wasn't just an issue with exploring. It was a commerce problem as well.
Dave: Absolutely. You had ships going down at sea with hulls full of valuable cargo. So it wasn't just loss of life, it was also the loss of profits.
Nate: Another thing I found interesting in this book were the discoveries made while trying to find a solution to longitude. Like we said, a complete map of the stars had not been made up this point in history. Well, by the time the problem had been solved, star maps were more complete than they had ever been. And astronomers had also learned a lot more about the sun and moon, as far as their cycles, and the effects both have on the earth.
Dave: It's always interesting to see what discoveries are made when people are trying to find the answer to something else. The way map making changed after the introduction of chronometers is interesting as well. The quality and accuracy of maps improved immensely during this time, and the view of the world began to take more of a modern feel. I have to say, I found John Harrison to be an interesting character. There wasn't a lot of "character development" in this book, and with Harrison largely because not much is known about his early years. But his dedication to building the perfect chronometer, and the struggle he had trying to earn recognition, and the monetary reward that was due to him is interesting. People always like stories about underdogs, and this is an underdog story.
Nate: It's also a story about a mechanical genius. Like we said, this was someone who was totally self-made and yet his devices were absolutely revolutionary, and worked better than any devices previously made. When he showed his chronometer to others within the clock making fraternity, they were fascinated and awed by his work.
Dave: After reading the book, I also thought about how this continued to give England a leg up in naval supremacy. They had already been the premier naval power in the world for a couple of centuries, but this helped allow them to maintain that dominance of the seas for a lot longer.
Nate: It was also fun to read about Rupert T. Gould, who restored Harrison's clocks in the 20th century. He was not happy that these historically significant pieces had been allowed to fall into a state of disrepair. Although they had been kept over the years, they had not been cared for.
Dave: That's right. So he went about restoring them, even though he had no experience or knowledge of working with clocks. In that respect he was in the same boat Harrison was when he started out.
Nate: And interestingly enough, he spent the most time restoring Harrison's third clock, which is the one Harrison took the most time to build. It seems they had many of the same issues with that one, even though their work was almost two centuries apart. So, who would you recommend this book to?
Dave: I think anyone who has an interest in history, science, or astronomy would enjoy it.
Nate: I agree. I would also include those who are interested in maps or map making, as well as anyone interested in clocks or clock making. The book is less than 200 pages, so it's short, and not a huge time commitment. So if you have even a small interest in any of these areas I'd recommend giving it a shot. I think you'll really enjoy it.
Dave: And once you've read it, you might check out the made for TV movie based on the story, also called "Longitude". It came out several years ago and stars Jeremy Irons and Michael Gambon. It's an excellent two part mini-series/movie, and we have it here at the library as well.


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Hey you! Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Like it's next week. We'll leave the chocolates and stuff to you, but we've got your music covered. Pick up any of these releases to help you seal the deal. Or to just enjoy quietly on your own with some white wine. That sounds great, actually.
This compilation CD was just released and features some of Turner's best songs, focusing on her comeback from 1983's Private Dancer and on. Songs include a cover of Al Green's "Let's Stay Together," "What's Love Got to Do With It," "The Best" and more.
Sade – The Ultimate Collection
I mean, c'mon, duh. You can't go wrong with any Sade album, but this readily available collection has all the hits, including later period songs like "Soldier of Love."


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Recently, an author, Shelley Hitz, held up one of my websites as an example of how an author should design their sites for their books. I was pleasantly surprised to say the least. My motto is to "keep it simple" because I dislike really busy website designs, with colors bursting out all over the place, random spots for links, and no rhyme or reason for the design. I've spent a lot of trial, error, time, and patience figuring out how to design a really good website that looks somewhat professional so I can get readers interested in reading my novels. I've found that a lot of people over-think the whole website design thing, along with obsessing over keywords/SEO, but as long as you submit your site to the search engines, like Google, using their webmaster tools or their analytic tools, they'll visit your site (or crawl) and you'll be listed on those search engines anyway. After while, people will find your site through Bing, Yahoo, and other search engines, because it takes to time to filter everywhere.
When I first started publishing my novels in 2008, I had been using Xanga or Livejournal to do a little bit of blogging before that, but I found that neither one received very many visits, mostly because I had absolutely no idea about keywords or SEO. When I published Out of Time in 2008, I knew I needed to create a website since I did a little research on the subject, and found that people were using Geocities for their website host. Unfortunately, a couple of months later, Yahoo bought out Geocities and closed it down, so I had to search for another host. I tried out Blogspot (or Blogger as it's known now), which I still have, but I found the design mechanics to be kind of odd at the time and kind of limiting since it seems like it required a high learning curve. Blogger also seems kind of buggy and really slow at times, so I searched for something else. I did some more searching and found WordPress.com, so I tried it out, and found that I liked it better, but I still found it better suited as a blog more than anything. I use a lot of different blogging platforms mostly to get seen on Google, Yahoo, and other search sites for those random hits I tend to get when they search for a certain keyword.
I finally found out about freewebs.com (now webs.com) in 2009. Having only two novels at the time, I questioned the idea that author's needed a website, mostly because I had no idea about optimization. At first, I put the picture of the novels on one page and the descriptions along with them, and a link to Amazon. Around this time, I researched how to get hits, and found many, many references to SEO and software that would submit your site to all the search engines and even sites that send you hits if you paid for them, because they said it was all about getting those thousands of hits so you could be ranked on Google. Talk about being one of those suckers born every minute. You pay for hits all right, but they're random, and nothing happens as a result, and you're out a couple of bucks. Frustrated, I researched some more, and found out about lacing your site with keywords that will get hits by people searching for those particular keywords, so I tried that, basically putting all the keywords at the bottom of my page, thinking that was how to do it. Wrong! One day, I was looking around the dashboard of my site, where I found the settings, which had the site information for the site tagline, site description, site tags/keywords. I put in everything I needed, and hit save. Then I saw that there was a spot for the Google webmaster tools, so I "googled" the term, and found out that Google had ways of submitting your site to their search engine, so I signed up for that. Once my site was officially seen by Google, they crawled it regularly and I slowly began to get hits from various searches. If you want detailed stats, I found that Statcounter.com works really well. You add your "project" and it gives you the install code for the site you're using, most of the time it's HTML, but they have different install guides for various websites. You can see where your visits come from, where they go on your site, countries, visit length, and other various activity.
In 2011, I was taking a Technical Writing class where we had to create an e-portfolio. The instructor used Weebly for her site, so she had us create our e-portfolio on there. I found Weebly was incredibly easy to use and that I could create a site that fit what I wanted. By this time, Webs.com, for me, was really clunky. The way you had to install HTML code was kind of dumb, their templates were sorely lacking, and customization in general was frustrating for me. I ended up with a site that looked kind of unprofessional, to me anyway, and I couldn't get various things to work correctly. Plus, if you aren't paying for a premium package, there are only so many pages you can add, which limits an author who has more than a handful of books. I took to creating separate sites on Webs.com for each novel, but I never liked the way they looked, so when Weebly came along, I decided to try that. I like how Weebly is really easy to customize: from landing pages to having headers with pictures or no pictures, and even creating links to various pages your way instead of the default links at the top of the page.
If you want to create a site using Weebly, here are some of the things you can see when setting up the site:
You can customize your themes, even if you know nothing about HTML and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). Just select a theme and then you can customize it to your heart's content. There's ribbon at the top of the webpage that has "Elements," "Design," "Pages," "Editors," and "Settings." Click on "Design" to take you to the themes page. From here, you can choose a basic template, and under "Design Options," you can customize the font, link colors, social media icons, etc. If you're the type who likes doing everything from scratch and you have lots of patience and time, you can build a really customized site through the "Edit HTML/CSS button on the right hand side of the Design screen under "Favorites." From there, it'll take you to the theme editor so you can plug in all the HTML you can stand.
Once you're done with themes, click on the "Pages" button. This will take you to the page where you can create pages for your site. You can customize the page layout, so if you want a landing page, there's an option for that. You can create a main menu and sub-menus. You can link a page to another website if you choose not to create a specific page or links on your page. So, if you're an author who doesn't feel like creating multiple pages, you could skip creating individual links on a page to using a sub-menu that could link to the various stores for your novels. It's all up to you.
Also on this page, you'll see the "Advanced Settings." When you click on that, what you see in the picture is what will come up. You see the page title, page description, meta keywords, footer and header codes. As you can see from what I entered in my own site settings, it's fairly straightforward. If you're using Statcounter, you put the code in the Footer area. When you come to the "Site Settings," you'll have to make sure that your page title doesn't interfere with the site title, because through my own experience, I've had "Cliff Ball – Author" repeated at least two times on the site description when I posted a link somewhere, so pay careful attention to that.
Now we come to the "Site Settings." As you can see from the picture, there's the settings for "General," "SEO," "Ecommerce," "Mobile," "Archive/Un-publish." Under the "General," you can change your site address to a domain name if you own one. But, if you have a domain name, it has to be parked somewhere else, like GoDaddy or some other hosting site. Weebly doesn't do hosting. You can change the site title, decide whether you want extra pages to be under a "More" tab, link to a Facebook page of your own choosing, and three other things that require a "pro" account.
Now we come to the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) settings. As you can see, you enter the site description, all of your meta keywords for the site in general, the footer code from whichever tracking site you use, the header code from Google Webmaster Tools, the option to hide your site, and the option to do 301 ReDirects if you're migrating from one site to another.
After this, you have the "Ecommerce Settings." It gives you the option of Paypal or Google Checkout, but I don't think you can use both on the site. This is good if you want to sell something directly from your site.
Next is "Mobile" settings. You enable this so when someone using a mobile device visits your site, they can see it. You can choose whatever color that you choose for that visitor to see your site in.
Lastly, you see the "Archive/Unpublish" link. You can archive your site in zip format or un-publish your site altogether. Once you're completely done, designing your site, click "Publish" at the top right of the screen, and your site will be published.
I hope this helps you with your website decisions and helps to show you what you can do or what not to do.


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|Monkey lady...what do you think?
Royal Streets (Sentintels of New Orleans 1) - Suzanne Johnson
The Intern - Dillion Khan (British Book Challenge)
The Iron Duke (Iron Seas 1) - Meljean Brook
The Betrayal (House of the Magician 3) - Mary Hooper (British Book Challenge & TBR Reading Pile Challenge)
Hellforged (Deadtown 2) - Nancy Holzner (TBR Reading Pile Challenge)
War Horse - Michael Morpurgo (Bristish Book Challenge)
Fair Game (Alpha & Omega 3) - Patricia Briggs
Kiss of Frost (Mythos Academy 2) - Jennifer Estep
Ripper - Amy Carol Reeves
The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden) - Julie Kagawa
The Prophet (Graveyard Queen 3) - Amanda Stevens
Sarah's Reviews
Forgiven (Demon Trappers 3) - Jana Oliver
Touch of Frost (Mythos Academy 1) - Jennifer Estep
Author Interview
Suzanne Johnson stopped by to discuss her debut novel - Royal Street
Regular Posts
Same Book/Different Cover looked at Unclean Spirits by MLN Hanover
In Book Confessions I discussed the ordering of books on my shelves and how I organise them...
In addition there were the usual wishlist posts, in my mailbox and Throwback Thursdays.
So updating the challenges -
British Books Challenge - 12 Read
So updating the challenges -
British Books Challenge - 12 Read
2012 TBR Reading Pile Challenge - 17 Read, 13 Books to go
Best of the Bunch: It's been a really good month for reading but I think The Iron Duke was my favourite as it was an exciting read that has pretty much anything you want in!
Honorable Mentions: Royal Street, The Immortal Rules, Hellforged and Fair Game are well worth a read as well!


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Popular Chess Terms
BROOKLYN CASTLE tells the stories of five members of the chess team at a below-the-poverty-line inner city junior high school that has won more national championships than any other in the country. The film follows the challenges these kids face in their personal lives as well as on the chessboard, and is as much about the sting of their losses as it is about the anticipation of their victories.
Brooklyn Castle
Life of a King is the unlikely true story of Eugene Brown and his one-man mission to give inner-city kids of Washington D.C. something he never had - a future. He discovered a multitude of life lessons through the game of chess during his 18-year incarceration for bank robbery. After his release and reentry into the workforce, Eugene developed and founded the Big Chair Chess Club to get kids off the streets and working towards lives they never believed they were capable of due to circumstances. From his daring introductory chess lessons to group of unruly high school students in detention to the development of the Club and the teens' first local chess competitions, this movie reveals his difficult, inspirational journey and how he changed the lives of a group of teens with no endgame.
MOVIE - Life of a King
Garry Kasparov is arguably the greatest chess player who has ever lived. In 1997 he played a chess match against IBM's computer Deep Blue. Kasparov lost the match. This film shows the match and the events surrounding it from Kasparov's perspective. It delves into the psychological aspects of the game, paranoia surrounding it and suspicions that have arisen around IBM's true tactics. It consists of interviews with Kasparov, his manager, chess experts, and members of the IBM Deep Blue team, as well as original footage of the match itself.
MOVIE - Game Over - Kasparov and the Machine
Bobby Fischer Against the World is a documentary feature exploring the tragic and bizarre life of the late chess master Bobby Fischer. The drama of Bobby Fischer's career was undeniable, from his troubled childhood, to his rock star status as World Champion and Cold War icon, to his life as a fugitive on the run.
MOVIE - Bobby Fischer Against the World
Four of the hottest players in the United States battle for supremacy in a fast paced and exciting competition. Legendary attacking player Larry Christiansen, strategic genius Joel Benjamin, daring tactician Alexander Shabalov, and the young phenomenon Hikaru Nakamura test their will, speed and determination in a deadly race against the clock.
Speed Chess
Lynn Hamrick's award-winning inspirational film is back for the first time on DVD, with all new interviews of the original players, nearly 20 years later! Featuring Josh Waitzkin, top-ranked player Judit Polgar, & more! Watch the Trailer LYNN HAMRICK PRODUCER/DIRECTORLynn Hamrick is a multiple award-winning director of documentaries, features, and network television. Her documentary Chess Kids aired on PBS and won many media and film festival awards. Her feature films, Finding Kelly and Splitsville, aired on Showtime, HBO and The Movie Channel. Selected television directing credits include: Family Ties, Fudge, Silk Stalkings, Baby-Sitter
MOVIE - Chess Kids: Special Edition DVD
1... b5
Kapitaniak presents the historical origins of the Defense and a survey of current theory. The author demonstrates that it is sound and quite playable, providing an attractive alternative to other well-trodden paths.
Unbeatable Deal
CLEARANCE - The Polish Defense
Test your Opening, Middlegame and Endgame Play - VOLUME 2
Unbeatable Deal
CLEARANCE - Test your Opening, Middlegame and Endgame Play - VOLUME 2
Regular Price: $9.95
Special Price $2.00
Here are 141 games illustrating attacks against such a King, with numerous diagrams to assist in following the attacking moves. The notes clearly explain the flow of the attack for the developing player. The author emphasizes the message to enjoy yourself! A quick attack against the opponent's King is a source of constant enjoyment, and here are the ways to accomplish this.
Unbeatable Deal
CLEARANCE - Attacking the King in the Center
There is a seeming inevitability to many defeats - one side has the initiative, goes on the attack and from that moment it is very difficult to turn back the tide. In this 11th Power Play DVD Grandmaster Daniel King will help you to identify those key moments where there is potential danger. The secret to good defensive play is to avoid falling into a passive defensive position! Throughout the DVD, specially selected positions will enable you to test your understanding of the subject. The Power Play series is suitable for anyone looking to improve their chess, but also provides ready-made lessons and exercises for a trainer. Video running time: 5 h 25 min.
Unbeatable Deal
POWER PLAY - Defence - Daniel King - VOLUME 11
The book also contains discussions about many attack philosophies, attack strategy and planning, identification and exploitation of weaknesses, and so much more.
Formation Attack Strategies
Samuel Reshevsky is the ideal person to write a book on positional play because that was exactly the way he played: positionally. Reshevsky preferred to crush his opponents slowly, like a python, rather than to win with a blaze of tactics.
The Art of Positional Play in Chess
Planning the Pieces
The First volume of Ludek Pachman's great trilogy Complete Chess Strategy which first appeared in Czechoslovak and German. Planning the Pieces deals with the long term planning, handling and positioning of the individual chess pieces.
Complete Chess Strategy - VOLUME 1
Short Description for Mastering Chess Strategy - B0310EM
EBOOK - Mastering Chess Strategy
Positional chess remains a mystery to many and yet an understanding of the finer points of the game so often makes the difference between two equally matched players. Improve your positional play and you will see chess in a totally new dimension! In this unique book, International Master Jacob Aagaard selects many original examples of positional chess, the creme de la creme of those that he uses for training and study.
EBOOK - Excelling at Positional Chess
Learn to Identify and Exploit Small Advantages
The implication from the author is that the task of converting a typically winning position into a full point or converting a drawing position into half-a-point is relatively straightforward. However, as all of us practical players realise, it's not always a simple as this, and many hard-earned points are wasted through 'a lack of technique'. In this valuable book, Jacob Aagaard aims to solve this perennial problem. He arms the reader with several endgame weapons that every strong technical player has in his toolbox.
EBOOK - Excelling at Technical Chess
Proven Principles from One of the World's Top Chess Players
Strategy - it's the ultimate secret weapon for championship players around the world. Drawing on his considerable experience in tournament play, Yasser Seirawan shows you how to apply flexible strategic principles to every part of your game. Using Seirawan's simple and effective planning and analysis techniques, you'll enter each game with confidence and energy, ready to play forcefully and intelligently - the way you need to play so you can win!
EBOOK - Winning Chess Strategies
Using ideas and games of great masters from the past, the Ukrainian trainer deals with various themes.
Strategy University 5
GM Eugene Perelshteyn earned his third GM norm and the title GM after sharing first place in the 2006 Foxwoods Open, He won the Samford Chess Fellowship in 2002, awarded to the top American Player under 25 years old earning $64,000, Eugene also led the Unversity of Maryland, Baltimore County to a few Pan American championships from 1998-2002.
How To Think Like a Grandmaster - Chess Lecture - Volume 1
GM Jesse Kraai currently resides in Berkeley, California. His most notable chess achievements are winning the Denker Tournament of High School Champions in 1989 and 1990, and competing in the U.S. Championship from 2002-2006.
Step by Step Training Guide - in 5 Steps, Beginner to 1600 - Chess Lecture - Volume 2
NM Dana Mackenzie started playing tournament chess during the ''Fischer boom'' of 1971-1972 and never quit. Champion of North Carolina in 1985, 1987, and became master in 1988. He has a 1-0 career record against world chess champions.
Strategic Decisions - Chess Lecture - Volume 3
There's no escaping the fact: if you want to win chess games, you have to attack at some point. Many players are happy solving combinations in winning positions, when the hard work is already done, but the key to a successful attack undoubtedly comes much earlier. No-one can attack effectively if they haven't prepared properly, and yet planning in chess can be a difficult technique to master, even for experienced players.
EBOOK - Prepare to Attack
A Modern Look at Chess Strategy
In this instructive and entertaining book, Grandmaster Neil McDonald studies in depth the key components of successful rule-breaking in chess. Drawing upon his own experience and using examples from modern grandmaster chess, McDonald examines how to avoid stereotypical thinking, how to exploit typical thinking patterns, and how to confuse and beat opponents with surprising ideas.
EBOOK - Break the Rules!
Senior Trainer Andrew Martin breaks the subject down, with the hope of making everything clear. Attention is given to all the components that make up chess strategy, so that at the end a player will be better able to make good moves and good plans.
First Steps in Chess Strategy - Andrew Martin
On this DVD, Roman will teach you the strategy of pawn breakthroughs in the opening, middle and endgame which commonly appear during all phases of every game.Roman covers deadly thematic ideas when your opponent has little counter play.
ROMAN'S LAB - VOLUME 114 - Strategy Behind Pawn Breakthroughs in The Opening, Middle & Endgame
2 DVD Collection
IM Valeri Lilov is a young chess talent from the small European country of Bulgaria. He currently resides in Varna, Bulgaria and works hard in the field of practical chess and chess pedagogy.
Positional Chess - Chess Lecture - Volume 35
Every chess player needs to know how to handle pawns. Pawns form the 'playing fields' of chess games, a semi-permanent structure that can determine whether a player wins or loses. This fully updated version of a timeless chess classic will give you the comprehensive knowledge to mastering pawn structures.
Pawn Structure Chess
Modern Chess Strategy by the well-known Czech Grandmaster and theorist Ludek Pachman, is widely recognized on the continent of Europe as the standard work on the middle-game.
Pachman's Modern Chess Strategy
The f4 Sicilian has become popular and feared because it avoids the frightening amount of knowledge required to play Open Sicilians. It is often not treated with the respect it deserves. The strategic aims are quite simple to understand: CHECKMATE. The first edition was written when the Grand Prix Attack was just becoming noticed by strong chess players. Now there are over 20,000 examples in the databases. Nevertheless, the opening remains based more on the ideas explained by authors Hodgson and Day than on "theory".
Sicilian Defense:Grand Prix Attack
GM Gareev blasting through The 2012 North American Open scoring 8 out of 9 points and achieving a 2890 Fide performance rating!! This DVD is a step by step guide to improve Your chess and reach your desired goals. GM Gareev will explain his thought process in tournament play, analysis and a lesson plan on concepts, tactics and strategies that will improve your game and give you a road map on thinking and playing like a GrandMaster. Openings covered Queens Indian, Pirc, Grunfeld, Queens Gambit Accepted & Declined, Hedgehog, Exchange Ruy Lopez, Tactical Ideas in The Italian Game
FOXY OPENINGS - VOL. 144 - Easy to Learn Step by Step Strategies On How to Think and Play Like A GrandMaster
International Master Bryan Smith explains Nimzo Indian Defense strategies with real games. This hypermodern opening was developed by Grandmaster Aron Nimzowitsch who introduced it to master-level chess in the early 20th century. Unlike most Indian openings the NimzoIndian does not involve an immediate fianchetto, although Black often follows up with ...b6 and ...Bb7. By pinning White's knight Black prevents the threatened 4.e4 and seeks to inflict doubled pawns on White. White will attempt to create a pawn centre and develop his pieces to prepare for an assault on the Black position.
Nimzo-Indian Patterns - 2 DVDs - Chess Lecture - Volume 46
IM John-Paul Wallace and GM Jesse Kraai and IM David Vigorito analyze endgames with pawns.
Pawn Endgames - 2 DVDs - Chess Lecture - Volume 47
Want to improve at chess? Then you'll need to improve your understanding of chess strategy. You probably knew that already - but how to begin to study such a vast and seemingly complex subject? International Master Adam Hunt is a full-time chess teacher and is thus very familiar with this problem. His solution is to present an accessible and easy-to-read guide for club players and juniors. Hunt studies all the key components of chess strategy, including development, king safety, attack and defence, initiative, pawn play and much more. He examines not only grandmaster games but also those played by students, demonstrates model strategic play, identifies typical mistakes and explains how to avoid them. Move by Move provides an ideal platform to study chess
Chess Strategy - Move by Move
Pawn structures are involved in all aspects of your chess game and are the most important part of strategic planning. Roman will guide you through all the various pawn structures and by understanding pawn structures you will be able to achieve better positions and dominate your chess games.
E-DVD ROMAN'S LAB - VOLUME 19 - Understanding Your Chess Game With Pawn Structures
Roman will take you step by step through several highly instructional games by the master of positional maneuvering, the late former world champion Tigran Petrosian. In order to achieve a higher level in chess it is essential to have maneuvering skills, planning, and the understanding of each position. Roman will teach you the skills you need to master the art of positional maneuvering in closed positions.
E-DVD ROMAN'S LAB - VOLUME 20 - Step By Step Essential Maneuvering In Closed Positions
This is the first DVD of a two-part DVD set containing a total of approximately 4 hours (combined) of instruction based on Nimzowitch's classic My System which is the foundation for modern day progressive thinking. Roman will help you understand Nimzowitch's ideas and theories while adding 75 years of improvements, updates, and changes. Roman will cover both positional and tactical examples, bringing to life one of the most popular and instructive books ever published.
E-DVD ROMAN'S LAB - VOLUME 26 - Nimzowitsch: My System VOLUME 1


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Back in 1981 things looked very bleak for The Human League. Two of the original members, Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh, had left to form Heaven 17, taking with them most of the band's equipment and the writing talent responsible for the music on the first two albums. They left behind Phil Oakey, the singer with the bizarre haircut and strong Yorkshire baritone; Philip Adrian Wright, the exotically titled Director of Visuals; and, of course, the band's name. The music critics were quick to write them off, while their own fans were hardly placated when Oakey recruited two teenage girls from the local disco ("I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor") to provide backing vocals and throw a few shapes.
However, the League was evolving from an experimental, underground electronic group into a more commercial mean machine, defining the sound of the 80s with shimmering synthesizers and booming drumbeats, culminating in "Dare", the enormously successful third album (though the first album by The Human League Mk2). The record captured a moment in time perfectly ("Zeitgeist on a stick" according to Q magazine) as the post-punk fascination with electronica combined with an infatuation with fashion and modern art in the form of pop culture.
The new breed of music was heavily synthesizer-based, but was welcome to those who were growing weary of the tired old guitar heroes and dreary ballads that belonged in the 70s. The energy provided by punk's shining star had faded away, so the masses were looking for a new sound (of the crowd). Possessing sophistication and style, The Human League's music was years ahead of its time. As a headline in the essential NME said, "The Human League: one day all music will be made like this".
Although The Human League were more inspired by Kraftwerk and, to a lesser extent, Gary Numan, the synths have a quality unlike those seen on earlier hits like "The Model" or "Cars", giving the League a unique sound. "Dare" was the first successful mix of electronics with pure, unashamedly commercial pop music. Taking it a step further, this record brought in sequencers and synth basslines. It sounded like nothing we had heard before, but it was also instantly accessible and utterly irresistible – straight to the top of the league …
The band threw another curve ball, when they hired veteran producer Martin Rushent. Famed for working with punk bands like The Stranglers and the Buzzcocks, Rushent was also an expert on the emerging music technologies of the time and his production is a true marvel – gleaming and seamless. His techniques gave the album a sense of power and urgency that electronic music had previously lacked, while the cleverly crafted pop with multi-layered, melodic synths provided warmth and took the edge off the chilly sound that typified the League's early efforts. It is not too strong to say that the amazingly clean sound that Rushent achieved set the tone for the first half of the new decade.
For "Dare" was not only a genre-defining album, but one that re-invented and enhanced electronic music, heralding an era of synth dominance. It re-defined what people thought of electronic pop, establishing synthesizers as a viable musical instrument. Challenging the very conventions of pop music and the essence of innovation, "Dare" can be considered electronica's "Sgt. Pepper", proving that timeless pop music could be created using exclusively synthesizers and drum machines. Yet, with all the knobs and switches at their disposal, the League still went for the hook, demonstrating their love of a good song.
There were plenty of other electronic bands around at the time, but few managed to manipulate the technology in such an emotionally effective and satisfying way. "Dare" paved the way for groups such as ABC, Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, Soft Cell, Pet Shop Boys and, of course, Heaven 17. Uncluttered by sci-fi pretensions and art school cleverness, the face of popular music was changed forever, as solemn, industrial rhythms were replaced by unsullied, brilliant pop.
"Dare" sounds dramatically different from the League's austere, experimental beginnings, such as their debut album "Reproduction" with its simplistic, repetitive songs, though the follow-up "Travelogue" is more fun and hints at the band's future direction. Indeed, "Dare" remains true to the group's original blueprint and is hardly a sell-out, when you listen to some of the darker, eerie tracks. What they did abandon was the new wave posturing that accompanied their initial appearances, focusing exclusively on making superbly realised, perfect pop songs.
All of the innovation in the world would not have mattered and would only have been enjoyed by a small, arty clique, if it had not been for the songs. It was crucial to balance the modern techniques with tuneful charm, mixing the state-of-the-art technology with good old-fashioned songcraft. The League had an amazing talent for catchy melodies, lending a human touch to the cyber-rock and providing real emotional substance to the songs. Oakey's gruff vocals blended surprisingly well with the untrained, sweet harmonies of the lasses, Joanne Catherall and Susanne Sulley, especially on the soaring choruses in the gleefully approachable singles. This was a triumph of content over considerable style. Never mind the haircuts, remember the music.
The cover's fashion magazine pastiche captured the atmosphere of the heady period known as New Romanticism, but the League were never really part of that movement. Subversively glamorous, Dare's album sleeve was ripped off from a Vogue magazine cover, though the band's gender-defying portraits were cropped, so that the design would not age when their hairstyles went out of fashion. Who would have thought that Phil's asymmetric fringe would ever date? I also wonder whether the album's title is an in-joke reference to lyrics from Travelogue's weird "Crow And A Baby", where "the result was a dare".
The League were not renowned for social comment, but they dealt seriously with the age-old themes and issues of relationships (love, desire, beauty and jealousy), wrapped up in a love of film, books and television. Phil Oakey epitomised romantic agony in his songs, though he also exhibited a tough streak of intellectual scepticism. He made it acceptable for pop music not to sound happy, no doubt inspiring the likes of Neil Tennant. His lyrics were often deliberately obscure; in order to provoke thought and get people talking about the songs, but the music was insanely infectious. Love and Dancing, if you will – or, more pertinently, as their album of "Dare" remixes was entitled.
Ironically, the band's success was really a fortunate accident. There was no grand plan, as evidenced by Oakey's unwillingness to release "Don't You Want Me" as a single. History shows that this became one of the highest selling singles of all time in the UK; but the band was convinced that this was the weakest track on "Dare", which was why it had been relegated to last position on the album, and insisted that the single should be sold with a free poster to boost sales.
In this case, the record company knew best, as it went straight to number one, aided by another innovation – a snazzy pop video. The ideal marriage between glossy visuals and perfect pop, the song featured the classic Human League vocal interaction between Phil and the girls, encapsulating the mood and feel of the period flawlessly. At the time, few bands understood the potential of music videos, but the League's promo was a godsend to the nascent MTV.
"Don't You Want Me" was the fourth hit single to emerge from "Dare", though it is by far the best known. It's a devastating, he said/she said duet, chronicling a frayed romance, first from the perspective of a Svengali figure who plucks a waitress from obscurity, turning her into a star; then, from the point of view of the girl who no longer loves him after she has obtained fame: "Now five years later on you've got the world at your feet/Success has been so easy for you/But don't forget it's me who put you where you are now/And I can put you back down too". The man is simultaneously threatening and pleading; the girl is defiant; and the song is a masterpiece. The utter genius of this pop classic, including one of the greatest pop hooks of all time, means that there is little danger of familiarity breeding contempt.
The song that gave The Human League 2.0 their first taste of success was "The Sound Of The Crowd", a cracking tune with a big anthemic chorus, "Get around town/Get around town/Where the people look good/Where the music is loud/Get around town/No need to stand proud/Add your voice to the sound of the crowd". This is the one that introduced the female backing on the vocals, which was a key ingredient of their new-found success. Appropriately enough, it's a song for anyone laying on the slap, tarting themselves up, and getting ready to go out. It's unclear whether the band approves of this glam lifestyle, especially with the playful "ah, ahh, ahhh, ahhhh" section, but I suspect that this is a dig at the glitterati trying to be oh-so fashionable, but ending up all dressing the same way.
"Love Action (I Believe In Love)" is simply pop gold, a semi-autobiographical confessional about good and bad relationships. Complete with the famous "This is Phil talking" lyric, inspired by a similar reference from Iggy Pop, this track just glowed in the dance clubs, taking me all the way back to the Camden Palace, though the message was far from a happy one, "When you're in love/You know you're in love/No matter what you try to do/You might as well resign yourself/To what you're going through/If you're a hard man or if you're a child/It still might get to you/Don't kid yourself you've seen it all before/A million mouths have said that too".
In contrast, although about infidelity, the complex "Open Your Heart" is an uplifting song with an insistent synth melody. A glorious exhortation to better communication in relationships, this should cheer up any one who is feeling depressed, "But if you can stand the test/You know your worst is better than their best". Oakey sings in a higher key than usual, which boosts the "feel good" factor.
In those days it was rare for four singles to be released from one album, but in truth, many other tracks could have been equally successful, like the wonderful ode to life's pleasures "The Things That Dreams Are Made Of". This is an exciting adventure into the League's travel plans, as Oakey sings of taking a lift to the top of the Empire State; driving across the Golden Gate; and march, march, marching across Red Square. As synths swoop around the lyrics, punctuated by delightful keyboard flourishes, Oakey name-checks some of his favourite things, "New York, ice cream, TV, travel, good times, Norman Wisdom, Johnny, Joey, Dee Dee, good times". While these are simple choices, the song is clearly also a metaphor for the group's growing ambition.
The chorus-heavy "Do Or Die" sees Oakey adopting a sneering tone to sing about a troublesome girlfriend - he said that it was "about being in love with a girl who has been taken over by a poltergeist". The brilliantly unorthodox beat contains African grooves, which somehow imply intrigue and danger. Indeed, some have interpreted the lyrics as referring to an anti-government stance, but I'm sure that it's working on a far more personal level, "I'd like to leave, so would you kindly look the other way/You tell me to be honest, but I've nothing left to say".
The album also includes quite a few dark, haunting tracks, which are reminiscent of the band's earlier work, showing the League to still be in a stage of transition. "Darkness" is a melancholy song, with the intro comprising a slow, atmospheric church organ and an almost Gregorian chant. It's about subconscious fears from deep in the soul, which manifest themselves when you are alone at night, "And the clock stops/As darkness closes in/I hesitate, but it's too late/I scream and scream again/I hear colours black and red/I see sounds that fill my head/I'll never read those books again".
Equally sombre is the extraordinary "Seconds", which recounts the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy and its far-reaching impact. Glacial, powerful synths set the mood, as Oakey's deadpan lyrics send shivers up your spine, making you really feel the urgency and outrage of such a despicable act: "Your knuckles white as your fingers curl/The shot was heard around the world/It took seconds of your time to take his life". A cinematic, huge song that could have equally applied to John Lennon's murder, which took place the year before "Dare" was released.
"Get Carter" is the album's only instrumental, inspired by the seminal Michael Caine movie of the same name, serving as an intro into the ominous "I Am The Law". Minimalist, stern and dominated by Oakey's vocal, this track is perhaps most evocative of the early Human League, not least the science-fiction references. Inspired by the character Judge Dredd from British comic 2000 AD, the song was unusually written from a policeman's viewpoint in a future world of martial law, "You're lucky I care/For fools like you/You're lucky I'm there/To stop people doing the things/That you know they're dying to do".
Although sounding nothing like punk rock, The Human League fully subscribed to the DIY ethos. They could not play any instruments, but their lack of musical prowess proved to be a blessing in disguise, as they constructed their records using synthesizers and computers. However, as they burst into the mainstream, they were condemned by the Musicians' Union, who started a "Keep Music Live" campaign, as they worried that keyboards would make musicians redundant. In response, the League only needed to raise two fingers, first, because it was their style of playing synths; and second, as a V sign to the music business (and maybe their former band members), who had ridiculed them a few short months earlier and were now forced to acknowledge their triumphant return.
Phil Oakey had indeed done all the things he ever dared, producing one of the greatest pop albums of all time that completely re-invented the electronic genre. Without his compelling blend of synthesizers and soul (and his lop-sided haircut), many great electronic bands would not have seen the light, but for a short while his band was in a league of its own.
Kieron is the editor of Swiss Ramble and is on Twitter @SwissRamble.