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Home Loan Options With Bad Credit Can Include an FHA Loan

2011-12-08T07:47:00.001-08:00

Home Loan Options With Bad Credit Can Include an FHA Loan

The real estate sector was once the pride of the lending institutions, with generous offers made available to practically everyone. The idea was to increase their revenue from home loans, but as we all know now, that plan backfired and has left the economy reeling since.

That fact has not removed the need for home loans, but given the financial realities today, home loans with bad credit have become more common.With the events of the past few years, there are now less options open to those seeking to have home loans approved despite bad credit.

Many of the institutions took such serious hits, they are now gone, while others no longer have the resources to make for sound lending at all.When it comes to finding a loan to purchase a home, it is now considered a wise option to turn to the Federal Housing Authority, or FHA, and seek a loan from them.

In light of the fact that the regular lenders got so much wrong in recent years, there is certainly a peace of mind that comes with the FHA association.

Advantages of FHA Loans

For those who are not aware, the FHA offers a high level of security to home buyers by providing assurance over the stability of their associate lenders.

The security is provided through the government backing that its home loans with bad credit receive, with the fact that FHA loans are only issued by approved lenders with that government guarantee.

The principal reason that this level of security is considered so valuable is that it lowers the risk that lenders have to face. This then helps to build their confidence, which in turn helps to relax some of the terms of any loans, ultimately making it easier to get home loans approved despite bad credit.

There are no prizes for stating that getting a loan to purchase a home is not simple under any circumstances, what with the sheer size of the investment. So it can only be good news to learn the FHA loans are available at all.

Government Guarantee

In truth, the value of government approval is huge in the financial sector, so to have the Government provide a guarantee to home loans with bad credit is a huge boost to the lending industry as a whole.

The backing provided relates quite literally to the provision of a guarantor for any loans. So, should the borrower fail to may repayments, and default on the loan, the government will buy back the loan from the lender at the existing market rate.

Of course, the benefit for those seeking to buy a home is to have a reliable source from which to get home loans approved despite bad credit.

It therefore increases the numbers of people able to get a loan to purchase a home, which can slowly rejuvenate the housing sector.

Other Options

Despite such an ideal situation, it is still possible to see an application for home loans with bad credit rejected.

There are, after all, criteria that need to be met before any loans are granted. It is worth considering other options, such as refinancing an existing home loan.

After years of repaying a loan, and with the fact that interest rates have fallen, there is some scope available with which to refinance the loan and save money.

When attempts to get a home loan approved, despite bad credit fail, this is clearly a worthwhile option.Of course, this is not available to first time buyers, making it necessary to get a loan to purchase a home.

Shopping around can ensure the best possible is found, but there can be no doubting that home loans with bad credit from FHA approved lenders are amongst one of the better options available.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Donna_N_HammondArticle Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6728562

Top 10 Best Christmas Gifts 2010 for Him

2010-12-23T22:36:00.000-08:00

Top 10 Best Christmas Gifts 2010 for Him

It is that time again to start looking for holiday gifts for your friends and family that you have included on your Christmas list if you have prepared one. Holiday gifts for the men in your life can be difficult to determine but there are several lists that you can review to help you come up with the best Christmas gifts for 2010 for the men in your life self based on their interests and hobbies. For additional help with Christmas gifts, review the top 10 best Christmas gifts 2010 for him listed below.

1. Kindle

One of the best Christmas gifts for 2010 are e-book readers that are growing in popularity and are an excellent option for any readers of books, magazines, etc. This is the top bestselling item on Amazon and the latest version is faster, smaller and with more contrast making it one of the best holiday gifts for 2010 for men.

2. Weber 10020 Smokey Joe Silver Charcoal Grill

For the men in your life that enjoy grilling, this smaller and highly portable grill is perfect for tailgating, camping, fishing trips, etc, is one of the best holiday gifts 2010 for men. This is also one of the cheaper holiday gifts for 2010 for men that will be appreciated and used frequently because of its portability. This reasonably priced but effective Christmas gift is one of the top 10 best Christmas gifts 2010 for men.

3. iPod Touch 4th Generation

The latest generation of this iPod is perfect for any man especially the outdoorsy man in your life and makes one of the best Christmas gifts 2010. It is a multi-tasker that is a great iPod, game player, as well as being a computer at the tips of your fingers.

4. iPad

The iPad continues to be one of the most sought after gifts and much appreciated gifts which makes it one of the top 10 best Christmas gifts 2010. It allows users to surf the web, send email, photos, video, etc using the latest technology as well as a large touch screen making this one of the best holiday gifts for 2010.

5. Golf Club Drink Dispenser from the Sharper Image

For the avid golfers in your comes this innovative product. It allows golfers to dispense both hot and cold beverages on the golf course and is in the shape of a golf club. One of the best Christmas gifts 2010 for men that will also be a great a conversational piece. Very easy to store and clean making it one of the best holiday gifts 2010 for men.

6. LG 32-inch LCD HDTV

Men love their TVs which makes this one of the best Christmas gifts 2010 for the man in your life that he will appreciate. This is a very reasonably priced HDTV when compared to others that are similar on the market. Being an HDTV ensures that the viewing pleasure in second to none making this one of the top holiday gifts 2010.

7. Sporting Event or Concert Tickets

If the man or men in your life are sports enthusiasts, sporting event tickets are the perfect holiday gifts for 2010. If they enjoy a particular singer or band and would like to see them in concert, getting them concert tickets will be much appreciated and will make one of the best holiday gifts 2010 for him.

8. Men's Air Force A-2 Flight Leather Bomber Jacket

A good leather jacket is a must have for anyone and makes one of the top 10 best Christmas gifts 2010. This bomber jacket is made of the softest lamb nappa leather making this one of the best holiday gifts 2010 for him. The manufacture of this leather jacket adheres to the same standards as the authentic A-2 military version making this one of the best Christmas presents for men.

9. Beats By Dr. Dre Headphones

These are some of the best and truly exceptional headphones that allow you to hear music the way it was intended by the music artists and producers making this one of the best Christmas presents for 2010 for men. The exceptional noise canceling makes them one of the top holiday gifts for 2010 for him.

10. Dragon Naturally Speaking Premium 11 with Digital Recorder

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jenny_Mays

Do it Yourself Seal Coating in 7 Easy Steps

2010-10-29T01:18:00.000-07:00

Do it Yourself Seal Coating in 7 Easy Steps

After 25 years in this business, I've pretty much got it all figured out... First of all, for those who've never sealed their own driveway before, all I have to say is RUN! Run to the nearest phone, and call your local seal coating professional and let them do the dirty work. Some of my best customers were people that had tried to do this themselves at home. Unsuccessfully.

However, after studying this do-it-yourself guide to fun and profits in the seal coating business, you too will be able to seal coat with the best of 'em! But seriously, it's not rocket science, and with a few basic tools, common sense, and a little manual labor, you too can learn to do this neatly and efficiently, and before you know it, your neighbors will be asking you to do their driveway. I kid you not! There could be worse things than making a few hundred dollars for a few hours labor in your spare time! So, if you want to have a little fun, save a lot of money, while preserving your asphalt investment for years to come, let's get to it!

The basic tools for making this job quick and easy, include:

1. A weed trimmer, and preferably, a cheap, full face, plastic shield protector, or at least, safety glasses.

This is not an option! Safety is always rule number one. Besides, it hurts like hell to get hit by flying rocks,

and it would really suck (pardon my language) to lose an eye at the same time.

2. A good stiff "push broom", preferably a "wire street broom" type. Either that, or a good stiff drink, and reach for that phone!

3. A good leaf blower, preferably the higher powered push type, but the smaller hand held type will do the trick.

4. A roll of 2 inch wide masking tape.

5. One of those metal paint stirring paddles that fit into a power drill. Often times, the fine silica sand

that is added into the seal coating material for traction, settles to the bottom of the bucket, and you can end up spending more time stirring up the stuff, than you do applying it. The best thing would be to just mix it up in the bucket it came in. You could even use a small shovel to mix it with.

6. Ideally, a professional grade 24 " seal coating brush and handle. This is the one item that will make things so much easier and more efficient for you. You may want to include a paint brush, for hard to reach places.

Depending on the size of your driveway, you could theoretically use the smaller brushes sold at Home

Depot, but my advise here will be saving you hours of time, and hundreds of dollars, so why not buy a decent brush that will give you a better finish, and you can use year, after year? The time saving factor alone makes it a great investment.

7. You should wear old clothes and sneakers, because, contrary to popular belief, you will be walking through this stuff as you spread it out.

You should be using a Latex product, and it washes off with soap, water, and a gentle scrub pad.

One important thing to remember after you've stepped in this stuff is, don't walk off of the asphalt onto something you don't want sealed, like a brick walkway, or nice lawn.

If you must leave the area, shuffle your feet on the driveway, or step off into some mulch, sand, or a piece of old carpeting, cardboard, anything.

Even after you clean your sneakers, never walk onto your house carpeting! There's always some material up in the treads or sides that will soil the carpet. Guess how I know this?

O.K., Let The Fun Begin!

STEP #1. Proper Edging.

Before you begin application of the seal coating material, proper cleaning and preparation is critical. After removing everything from the driveway, you should use a "weed trimmer" as needed, to ensure that all growth along the entire perimeter is removed, and there is no overhanging grass above the surface edge of the driveway, and I also use the trimmer to clean up against stone walls, and garage doors, Depending how close growth is to the driveway, you may get a sharper looking trim by holding the trimmer upside down, with the cutting string vertical, to get a precise edge. Of course, NEVER, EVER, use this type of tool without proper eye protection! I use a full face shield, the clear plastic type from Home Depot. They're cheap, and every time I hear a loud "clunk" as a rock zings off of the shield, I just gotta smile. Plus, the rocks fly up at you more often when you hold the trimmer in this upside down position. Once you've trimmed the edges, now comes the really fun part. The cleaning! I hate the cleaning. Well, actually, unless your driveway has heavy dirt deposits, it's really not too bad.

STEP #2. Proper Cleaning.

It is so much easier to have two people during this part of the procedure. One person on the broom, and one person on the leaf blower. If you're using a small hand blower, that's fine, it'll just take a little longer. If your driveway is relatively clean, this won't take much time at all. Start at one end, and slowly make your way forward in a back and forth pattern, while sweeping, and loosening up any sand or soil deposits, ahead of the blower. Keep marching forward, and make sure you blow off every square inch as you keep your pattern uniform so as not to miss any debris. If your driveway is exceptionally dirty, you may want to pressure wash it first.

STEP #3. Crack Sealing.

This is something that's a little more tricky. Some areas of the country don't do any crack sealing, as freezing and thawing cycles are uncommon. However, water still enters, and gradually washes out the underlying base material, so if feasible, sealing them is best, as this is where most of the premature deterioration occurs. In some areas of the country, the crack sealing is the most important part of the job. Here in New England, it is critical. I use a "hot melted rubber" material, but unless you have the proper equipment, it's difficult for the average homeowner to utilize this process. However, they do make a rubber tape, or rope, that can be applied, and then melted with a torch, and troweled out. You may want to sprinke a little fine sand on the hot rubber, so you won't track it, or have leaves or debris stick to it before it sets up. There are also liquid acrylic fillers available, and depending on the size and quantity, this may work best for you. Any crack sealing should be done prior to seal coating, and if it's the liquid type, follow the instructions, and perhaps give it some curing time prior to seal coating. If you use this method, I would get a cheap paint brush, and after applying the liquid crack sealant, sort of "touch it up" by dabbing the brush to help make the texture blend into the surrounding surfaces a little better. This brush should rinse out with water, and you may need it later on in this project. This would also be the time to address any oil stains that you may have. If it is a long standing stain that has soaked into the asphalt over time, nothing can solve it, but there are oil stain "primers" you can purchase to help the sealant adhere to the surface of the oil stain. It may be available where you purchase your sealant. If not, I could send you some with your wisely purchased professional seal coating brush and handle. All you need to do is pour some out, and brush it out over the stain. It should dry fairly quickly.

STEP #4. Preparing the Material.

This is where it could get messy. The best method, as mentioned, would be the long shafted paint mixer on a drill. Or have an extra empty bucket, and pour them back and forth while intermittently using something to stir it up in the buckets. Depending on the brand of sealant, sand content, and how long it's been sitting on the shelf, this process may vary in difficulty. You may want to mix the majority of your buckets in advance, to eliminate stopping mid application to mix the next bucket. This is where it may help to have an assistant, but if the material seems pretty well mixed when you first open it, it won't be an issue anyways. Be sure to do this mixing on the driveway, where if anything spills, it won't matter. If you buy your material days in advance, you could always place them upside down for a few days to let the sand dissipate, and hopefully, the lid is tightly sealed, and won't leak!

STEP #5. Applying the material.

Once mixed, start pouring it out! Try to keep it evenly spread out across the edge of the driveway in an even row from one side to the other. Don't worry about the amount you pour out at this initial stage, and you can even dump the whole bucket at one passing, holding it out low in front of you to minimize splatter, as you move from one side to the other. It's best to stay back 3 feet or so from the edge, just to play it safe. Once it's on the surface, take your brush, and work from one side to the other, gently pushing a steady row of material closer and closer to the edges of the surface. At this point, you should be walking in the material, stepping gently so you're not plopping into the material and causing splatter.

The general idea is to gradually work the material right up to the very edge, without too much excess material at the edge. You may want to practice in a non critical area first, instead of right up against a concrete apron, stone wall, or brick walkway. Hold the brush at an angle, pushing the material closer and closer, while at the same time, trying to regulate the amount of material you are pushing forward. Better too little, than too much. It's just a little awkward to pull back the excess material when you get too much of it close to an edge. If you need to, and can't get the brush in front of the leading edge to pull back excess material, you can always use some cardboard, your credit card (It's the best use for them these days anyways), fingers, whatever. Another thing you want to keep handy in case of a mishap, or splatter, is a water hose. If you splatter a door in a major way, you can lightly hose it off, and I would recommend you always keep a small spray bottle of water very close by, perhaps hooked on your belt to quickly spray off any smaller mistakes.

Keep in mind, on a hot summer day, this material can dry within seconds on a hot surface, and then its too late to wash off. But don't worry. Once dry, you can usually manage to get it off with a wire scrub brush, sandpaper, or some such thing. There are some solvents, even gasoline (be careful), that will get the material off, but some of these solvents make an even bigger mess, if on a porous surface.

Sometimes it's better to leave a small spot than create a bigger one. I would also recommend you place masking tape over the edge surface of anything you want to keep clean, such as walkways, garage aprons, etc., at least until you become proficient at "cutting-in". Once you've got your first pass completed at the beginning edge, just keep walking back and forth, pushing the material in front of you as you go along. Just relax, and let the brush do the work, but you must keep a firm grip on the brush with a gentle downward pressure, to keep the bristles bent slightly backwards. If they pop forward, or face straight down, it could "chatter" and flick material where it doesn't belong. Just keep the brush handle at a fairly steep angle up near your chest area, and you'll be fine. Make sure you never push the brush with the handle in front of your throat. If it catches on something, or you trip, it's really hard to pull a broomstick out of your throat while you're flopping all over the ground. Oh, sure, it might be great fun to watch this happen from a safe distance as you're calling 9-1-1, but it makes such a mess! Once you get the first row started, just keep on going, overlapping the row you just finished, to help insure maximum penetration of the material.

This may all sound complicated, but rest assured, after a few passes, you'll get a feel for it, and you'll be off and running like a pro. As you reach the end of one row, try to regulate the amount of material as you get near the end edge, and sort of swoop the brush "around the corner", if you know what I mean. Not a real corner, but brushing the material as close to the edge as possible, without spilling excess material off the side, and continuing forward up the side a little ways. Sometimes, I will continue up the side for 4 or 5 feet if I've got a good "run" going. You will find that you switch the brush handle from one side to the other in your hands, as you change direction from left to right. Are you thoroughly confused now? Great, I've done my job!

After you brush out 2 or 3 rows of material, you must now go back to the beginning and brush out all those foot prints you just left behind. Same thing, different technique. Now you need to step out of the path a little as you brush out the footprints in the same pattern as you spread it out. I will sometimes spread out 4 or 5 rows of material before going back to hit the footprints. This gives you a little more room to brush out a few rows of prints, while giving you space to spread out a few more rows of material without having to step in the material you just "finish brushed" the footprints out of. Make sense?

If you brush over any low spots, leaving a puddle of material in a place that the brush missed, just pick the brush up off the surface a bit, and angle it so you just brush out the low spot with the end of the brush. You can also use this technique to "flick off" any pebbles that may mysteriously appear in your material from time to time. Try to keep the rows uniformly straight, as it will improve the final appearance. Many driveways curve, or have odd shapes. Just take a look around as you're brushing, and try to imagine the uniform patterns that make the most sense of trying to keep an even progression towards the finish line. For example, as your coming into a turn, the rows will be wider at the outside edge of the turn, and narrower at the inside of the turn, as you gradually angle the rows to try and stay parallel with the general width of the driveway. Just aim your brush straight while disregarding the previous row you brushed, as you no longer will be keeping the rows evenly spaced. It's sort of like the luggage conveyor belts at the airport. As it hits the corners, the inside edge becomes narrower as the outside edge fans out. It's like magic I tell ya, magic!

Often times, a driveway will have a "turning apron" where you can back into and "turn around". When you come to one of these, there are a couple of ways to address them. The best one is to stop your rows, while making sure you leave an excess amount of material at the leading edge, to minimize the potential of the edge drying before you finish cutting-in the turn-out. If you do this, also make sure you brush out the footprints right up to the leading edge, to make sure they don't "dry-in" while you're busy cutting-in.

Now turn and face the turn-out, and you're sort of looking at a mini driveway in front of you. Just use the same technique as you did from the very beginning, and after you've finished brushing in this turn-out, stop at "it's entrance line" leaving a little excess at the leading edge, like before, and go back to where you left off on the "main field" of the driveway. You then begin spreading the next row, and if it's begun to dry out while you were busy doing the turn-out, try to avoid stepping in the semi dry material, and brush out a row or two while standing on the unsealed side of the driveway, until you can step back onto freshly wet sealant, and off you go.

As you begin to meet the leading edge of the turn-out, just blend the two together in as straight a seam as possible. That's probably the simplest way of doing this. In the event of a driveway that leads straight in, with the garage off to the right, you may want to start at the far end, and work your way out, while cutting in the garage to you left, row by row, as you work your way out. There's no right or wrong ways, just better ways. You need to think about the easiest brushing pattern for you, without boxing yourself in.

There are so many other options and possibilities too numerous to get into during this brief "homeowners" training session. Now, it's semi important to try to keep enough material laid down ahead of you, so you don't run dry. It really helps to have an assistant pour it out while you brush. Especially if your in the hot sun, when it may dry quickly. If the material begins to thicken up, you can always "spritz" a little water into it, and sort of brush it around and mix it up on the surface of the driveway. Like I said, it isn't rocket science. Just use some common sense, and you can't go wrong. Well, you shouldn't go wrong... The material should have the consistency of maple syrup, only a little thinner. Sometimes what you buy may be a little too thick to smoothly spread out. Just add a little water & stir it up! When it is poured out, try to overlap the material already on the surface, to minimize having to "back brush" the material.

The number of buckets you will need may vary by manufacturer, viscosity of the material, and surface texture of the asphalt. You need to figure out the total square footage, length X width, and sometimes it's easier to break up the driveway and measure it section by section because of odd shapes and such. It's far better to have too much material than too little, as long as you don't open the last buckets if your getting close to the end. If you don't have a measuring wheel, or tape, you can pace off the distance. The average long stride is approximately 3 feet in distance, unless you're really short. Therefore, 10 long paces equals about 30 feet. 5 long paces equals 15 feet. 30 X 15 = 450 square feet. The buckets should have their specific calculations printed on the side. You should probably figure in an extra 10% safety margin to keep from running out on the job site. As you're pouring out the material, try to judge how far one bucket goes, and make an educated guess on whether you will need to open the last couple of buckets. If not, you can return them, but it sucks to run out, and if you stop and start again after a section has dried, it may be visibly obvious.

Another thing to be aware of, is that on a hot sunny day, you need to get the footprints brushed out quickly, before they "dry in." If you don't feel comfortable with this technique, you can always brush it out while staying just out of the material, but it's so much more work. Also, #5. "Cutting in" Around the Edges. Often times, there will be a need to "cut-in" around certain areas. If there are a lot of little things to "cut-in" around, up the sides, or in tight areas, you can always do these areas first, and then when you get to that point with your rows, just slightly overlap with the areas you "pre-cut-in" and you won't get bogged down with the small detail work as you're spreading out the rows.

STEP #6. Making the final cut.

As you are approaching the end of the project, the most important finishing touch that really makes the job stand out, is ending with a nice neat "street line". For this, it helps to have assistance. You want to lay down a strip of 2 inch masking tape across the end of your driveway. Depending on the shape, or condition of the street seam, you may want to extend the line a few inches out into the street. Have one person hold the leading end of the masking tape at one corner of the driveway, while you take the spool of tape and walk towards the other corner of the driveway. As you face your assistant, have them place their end of the tape on the ground visualizing where you want the "street line" to be. Then have them "tack down" the tape and begin slowly walking along, stepping on the tape as they go (not shuffling their feet, as this causes bunching up of the tape), while you slowly move the tape in the direction you want the line to be. This is very similar to the sobriety checks the police utilize, so save the stiff drinks until after you're finished, and celebrating a job very well done. You'll have earned it!

Heck, even if you buy the material, have second thoughts and never even do the job, celebrate and have a drink or two anyways. Did I mention I'm Irish? No offense. It's easy to make the line curved if needed, to conform to the geography, simply by moving the spool of tape you are holding, in whatever direction it needs to go, while your assistant continues to slowly walk forward on the tape. The further away you are from the person walking down the tape, the easier it is to control gentle curves, or straight lines. Once the tape is down, I always step back 20 feet or so up the road, in both directions to check that the line looks OK. It may look good while your standing right on top of it, but you would be amazed at how crooked something may appear from 20-30 feet away. It's always best to double check, as this is what people notice first and foremost.

I usually make a gentle "curve in" at each corner of the driveway, or depending, a sharp angle with a smaller piece of intersecting tape at the corner. Whatever looks best for your individual driveway. It varies. Once down, go back and make sure every inch of the tape has been stepped on. This prevents material seeping under the tape, even though it would be a minor seepage. I'm just very fussy, and demand nothing but the best from myself and my assistants, and expect nothing less from you, my dear friends. If a job is worth doing at all, it's worth doing to the very best of your ability. You can do this, and do it well. Have faith. If you feel nervous about your cutting in abilities, you can always add a second strip of tape next to the first, for a wider margin of error.

This is the sequence I would follow to do the job. However, you may want to lay down the tapeline first, so you don't have to stop, clean your feet, and interrupt the flow of your work progress. Now, as you are approaching the end, try to avoid putting out too much material, as you will have to scoop up the excess if you do. Just have a flat shovel or dustpan handy, in case this happens, and you can just brush it into the shovel, and pour it back into the bucket. As you are brushing out the final rows, and approaching the tape, be careful to stay "within the tape lines", and brush out the final prints up to the tape line as close as you comfortably can. This is where you have to step off the driveway to brush out the last of the footprints from the street side of the tapeline.

If you have mulch, sand or gravel at the end side of your driveway, you can shuffle your sneakers off in that, or step onto a mat or cardboard, or simply step out of your sneakers, and finish the final row in your socks. It wouldn't be the first time... DO NOT forget to "wipe" before walking out into the street. Oh, yes, don't forget to "look both ways". It would suck to be run over before you got to finish the job.

STEP #7. "Happy Endings".

Once you have brushed out the last of the prints, if there is a little excess material in the corners, or anything, you can just gently brush it out back onto the driveway. Now for the "getting your hands dirty" part, if you haven't already. When removing the tape, be sure to hold it over the driveway as you are pulling it up, so any excess material won't be falling onto the roadway. If it does, just hit it with a little water, and as long as the water flows away from the driveway, cool. Otherwise, some paper towels will do the trick in mopping up the water. It might be handy to have one of your empty buckets nearby to dump the handful of messy tape into for disposal. Before walking away from the end of the driveway, make sure you place a barricade to prevent anyone from driving on it. DO IT NOW!!! Even if you live on a dead end street that hasn't had another car on it for ten years, the minute you walk away, someone will turn into your driveway, looking for directions because they're lost on a dead end street. Guess how I know this...? Place a row of your empty buckets across the driveway, close enough together so that even a very small car can't fit between them, looking for those directions. If they can, they will.

Once again, how do I know this? One time, this woman pulled onto the newly sealed driveway just as I turned around to get the two wooden grading stakes and a roll of caution tape that I usually use as a barricade. I was literally 3 feet away and just turned my back for an instant. Actually, it's happened twice. I was not very happy about this. No, not happy at all. The second time was a UPS delivery truck right in front of my face. At least I got to scream at him to STOP RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE! DON"T MOVE! DON'T BACK UP! DON'T MOVE OR I'LL SHOOT! DAMN...I'll miss that UPS guy. At least he only got his front tires 6 or 8 feet into the driveway, and I had to wipe them off as he was backing off the wet surface onto the dry street. There was a faint tracking, but not bad. The bottom line is, people are just oblivious to their surroundings, and don't pay attention. Not that I've ever done something so stupid, of course. The more I meet some people, the more I love my dog. Anyways... Once the barricade is in place, simply rinse your brushes thoroughly before they dry out, and you're done. Time for that drink now! Once the material dries, it will turn a flat black color. After a few hours, you should be able to gently walk on the surface if you absolutely must, but you should wait at least 24 hours before driving on it, and preferably 48. The longer the better.

Once you begin to use the driveway, you may notice some tire scuffing, especially in tight turns of the wheel. This is normal, and simply the scuffing off of the top layer of fine silica sand that's been added for traction. It's similar to using a piece of sandpaper for the first time. It really stands out. Shortly, it will all blend together as you continue to use it. You should also try to prevent turning the steering wheel of your vehicle unless it is in motion. This will badly scuff the surface, and on a hot day, can actually dig into the asphalt. Well, I guess that's all there is to it.

I meant it when I said, once you've done such a great job, others will ask about it, and it wouldn't be such a bad idea, if you were so inclined, to start making a few hundred dollars an hour doing the same for neighbors and friends in your spare time. If you do decide to take the next step, I can help. This was just the tip of the iceberg.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Callahan

10 Must Have Features For Your Website

2010-10-07T01:15:00.000-07:00

10 Must Have Features For Your Website

You can put any number of snazzy features on your website. If you ever meet with a web design firm, your sure to hear about all the cool scripts, animations and other interactive add-ons that can go on your pages. Some pizzazz isn't a bad thing, especially if you're just starting out and need to set yourself apart from the competition. Interactive features and a well designed website give you an air of competence and experience, even if your online business is brand new.

But the website features that count toward your bottom line are the ones that attract and retain customers and entice them back to you regularly. Along with the bells and whistles, your business home on the web needs to have some basic must-haves that shoppers expect. Make sure that your site meets the minimum daily requirements: it needs to be easy to find, loaded with content, include content and background information about you, and include features that make shopping (if that's what you do) easy and secure. This article describes ten specific features that help you achieve these objectives.

Secure East-to-Remember URLs.

Names are critical to the success of any business. A name becomes identified with a business, and people associate the name with its products and its level of customer service. When a small company developed a software product called Lindows, giant Microsoft sued initially, but eventually paid $20 million to stop the infringement on its well-known trademarked product Windows.

Write down five or six names that are short and easy to remember and that would represent your business if included in an URL. Do a domain name search and try to find the one you want. Try to keep your site's potential name as short and as free of elements like hyphens as possible. A single four-to ten-character name between the www. and the .com or .co.uk sections of the URL is easy to remember.

Provide a Convenient Payment Method

Shoppers go online for many reasons, but those reasons don't include a desire for things to be complex and time consuming. No matter how technically complex it may be to get one's computer on the internet, shoppers still want things to be quick and seamless. At the top of the list of seamless processes is the ability to pay for merchandise purchased online.

You don't have to get a merchant account from a bank to process your own credit-card payments. You don't need to get point-of-sale hardware, either. The other day, Greg paid for a heater from a company that sent him to PayPal's website. PayPal began as an independent company, but it became so popular among members of the auction site eBay that eBay eventually purchased it. Chances are that many of your prospective customers already have accounts with PayPal if they use eBay. Greg did, so his purchase process was completed in less than a minute. Set yourself up as a seller with PayPal and accept money orders & personal cheques. If you can take the additional step of getting a eCommerce website and a credit-card payment system, so much the better.

Promote Security, Privacy, and Trust

Even shoppers who have been making purchases online for years at a time still feel uncertainty when they type their credit-card number and click a button labelled Pay Now, Purchase or Submit to a commercial website. We're speaking from personal experience. What promotes trust? Information and communication. Shoppers online love getting information that goes beyond what they can find in a printed catalogue. Be sure to include one or more of the following details that can make shoppers feel good about pressing your Buy Now buttons:

* An endorsement from an organization that is supposed to promote good business practices, such as investors in people, business in the community, or by your own customers.

* A privacy statement that explains how you're going to handle customers' personal information.

* Detailed product descriptions that show you're knowledgeable about a product.

Another good thing that promotes trust is information about who you are and why you love what you do, as described in the 'Blow Your Own Trumpet' section, later in this chapter.

Choose Goods & Services That Buyers Want

Every merchant would love to be able to read the minds of his or her prospective customers. On the internet, you have as much chance of reading someone's mind as you have of meeting that person face to face. Nevertheless, the internet does give potential buyers several ways to tell you what they want:

* Come right out and ask them. On your website, invite requests for merchandise of one sort or another.

* After a purchase, ask customers for suggestions about other items they'd like to buy from you.

* Visit message boards, newsgroups, and websites related to the item you want to sell.

* Make a weekly (remember that Saturdays & Sundays are the best days for auctions to end) search of eBay's completed auctions to see what has sold, and which types of items have fetched the highest prices.

Have a Regular Influx of New Products

With a printed catalogue, changes to sales items can be major. The biggest problem is the need to physically reprint the catalogue with inventory changes. One of the biggest advantages associated with having an online sales catalogue is the ability to alter your product line in a matter of minutes, without sending artwork to a printer. You can easily post new sales items online each day, as soon as you get new sales figures.

One reason to keep changing your products on a regular basis is that your larger competitors are doing so. Lands' End, which has a well-designed and popular online sales catalogue, puts out new products on a regular basis and announces them in an email newsletter to which loyal customers can subscribe.

Be Current with Upkeep & Improvements

Do you have a favourite blog, comic strip, or newspaper columnist that you like to visit each day? We certainly do. If these content providers don't come up with new material on a regular basis, you get discouraged. Your loyal customers will hopefully feel the same way about your website, eBay shop or other sales venue.

We know what you're thinking: You've got so many things to do that you can't possibly be revisiting your website every day and changing headings or putting new sales online. You have to get the kids off to school, pack up merchandise, run to the post office, clean the house - the list goes on and on. You can't be in two places at once. But two people can. Hire a student or friend to run your site and suggest new content for you. In a five-minute phone conversation, you can tell your assistant what to do that day, and you can go on to the rest of your many responsibilities.

Personally Interact with Your Customers

The fact that personal touch counts for so much in internet communication is a paradox. With rare exceptions, you never meet face to face with the people with whom you exchange messages. Maybe it's the lack of body language and visual clues that make shoppers and other web surfers so hungry for attention. But the fact is that impersonal, mass email marketing messages are reviled while quick responses with courteous thank-you's are eagerly welcomed.

You can't send too many personal email messages to your customers, even when they're only making and enquiry and not a purchase. Not long ago, Greg asked some questions about a heater he was thinking of buying online. He filled out the form on the company's website and submitted his questions. The representative of the company got right back to him.

'First of all, let me thank you for your interest in our product,' the letter began. She proceeded to answer his questions and then finished with another thank-you and 'if you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.' Greg didn't hesitate: 'He asked more questions, she answered and again said, 'Don't hesitate to ask' at the end. It's possible it was all 'form letter' material, added to the beginning and end of every enquiry, but it makes a difference. Greg eventually purchased the item.

Post Advertisements in the Right Places

When most people think about advertising on the internet, they automatically think about banner advertisements placed on someone else's web page. A banner advertisement is only one kind of online ad, and possibly the least effective. Make use of all the advertising options going online brings you, including the following:

* Use word of mouth: Bloggers use this method all the time: one person mentions something in another blog, that blogger mentions it to someone else, and so on.

* Exchange links: 'You link to my website, and ill link to yours', in other words. This option is especially effective if you're linking to a business whose products and services complement your own.

* Multiply Websites: if you have two websites, you immediately have two sites linking to each one of yours. Your ability to exchange links with other websites triples, too.

* Get listed in search engines: Make sure that your site is listed in the databases maintained by Google and the other search engines.

Blow Your Own Trumpet

Sam Walton founded Wal-Mart, and the Walton family still runs it, but 99 percent of the shoppers who flock to megastores every day don't know or care about that fact. Wal-Mart is a well-established brand with a physical Presence. Your fledgling online business has neither of those advantages. You need to use your website to provide essential background information about yourself, why you started your business, and what your goals are.

Your immediate aim is to answer the question that naturally arises when a consumer visits your online business: 'Who are these people?' or 'who is this guy?' The indirect goal is to answer a question that the shopper doesn't necessarily ask consciously, but that is present nonetheless: 'Why should I trust this place?' Be sure to list your experience, your background, your family, or your hobbies - anything to reassure online shoppers that you're a reputable person who is looking out for their interests.

Create a Well-Organized Website

A well-organised website isn't quite as essential as it used to be, because you can establish a regular income on eBay without having any website at all. But even if you become a well-established eBay seller, you're going to want a website at some point or another. How do you make your site well organised? Make sure that your site incorporates these essential features:

* Navigation buttons: consumers who are in a hurry expect to see a row of navigation buttons along the top or one of the sides of your homepage. Don't make them hunt; put them there.

* A Site Map: A page that leads visitors to all areas of your site can prevent them from going elsewhere if they got lost.

* Links that actually work: Nothing is more frustrating than clicking a link that's supposed to lead to a photo and/or a bit of information that you really want, and to come up with a generic page not found error message

* Links that indicate where you are on the site: such links are helpful because, like a trail of breadcrumbs, they show how the customer got to a particular page. Heres an example:

Clothing > Men's > Sportswear > Shoes > Running

When your site grows to contain dozens of pages and several main categories, links that look like this can help people move up to a main category and find more subcategories.

So there I have given you information on the 10 must-have features for your website, follow these simple rules and you will have a website which customers will love, and a website which over-time will grow and achieve the goals you set out to achieve. good luck with your web site's and if you have any questions, feel free to contact me or leave me a comment.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andy_Macdonald

8 Tips To Keep Hair Healthy And Avoiding Hair Loss

2010-10-05T01:29:00.000-07:00

8 Tips To Keep Hair Healthy And Avoiding Hair Loss

Baldness or hair loss is very common problem in adult male, can be occurred at any age of life. This problem is also spreading fast in female also. More than 25% of male are started losing their hair at age of just 30.

New life style, chemicals, artificial foods and overuse of cosmetic & hair colors promote it more and more early age. Majority of the cases of hair thinning and eventual loss are avoidable.

It is therefore highly imperative that you get to have adequate tips on how you can prevent hair loss. The following tips will help:

1. Most people ignore the aspect of health eating. You will have to realize that a healthy diet prevents so many problems including the problem of hair. Eat a balanced diet. Nutritional deficiencies, eating disorders and excessive amounts of certain vitamins, such as A and E, can cause hair loss.

2. Never brush wet hair. Your hair is very vulnerable when it is wet. So never attempt to brush your hair in this case. Only when they are more or less dry, start a gentle brushing from the ends and proceed gradually to the roots.

3. Smoking, chewing and eating tobacco will induce many toxin in your body. Alcohol and some drugs can reduce the life of hair. These habits are harmful to body in many ways.

4. The hair style that you will use must actually avoid exaggerated pulling of the hair. If that is done continuously, it will actually lead to a very great damage to the hair shaft. This will later lead to the hair follicle damage, and when that occurs, there will be hair loss.

5. Stay away from harsh chemicals - permanent hair color and perms are the most damaging - and avoid coloring your hair more than once every six to eight weeks.

6. Do not use too much shampoo. Shampoo always seems to be a quick fix. But try to wash your hair less frequently to avoid its harmful effect. In order to smooth it use more conditioner. But remember not to apply it on the scalp, rather put it from the ears down to your hair ends. This is one of the best hair loss treatment.

7. Head massage and acupressure : Proper blood circulation is requires to maintain healthy hair. Massaging the scalp with good ayurvedic hair oil will improve blood circulation and acts as conditioner for your hair. There are several electronics devices for massage, but hands are the best.

8. Zinc is plays an indispensable part in many bodily processes including cell reproduction, protein synthesis and absorption of vitamins. This element prevents hair from thinning, dryness and loss. You will benefit from eating seafood, oatmeal, spinach, sunflower seeds, and champignon mushrooms, which are rich in zinc.

By: Charles Zoe

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Iroquois Information

2010-07-15T07:17:00.000-07:00

Iroquois Information

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Iroquois (pronounced /ˈɪrəkwɔɪ/), also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse",[1] are an indigenous people of North America. In the 16th century or earlier, the Iroquois came together in an association known today as the Iroquois League, or the "League of Peace and Power". The original Iroquois League was often known as the Five Nations, and comprised the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca nations. After the Tuscarora nation joined the League in the 18th century, the Iroquois have often been known as the Six Nations. The League is embodied in the Grand Council, an assembly of fifty hereditary sachems.[2]

When Europeans first arrived in North America, the Iroquois were based in what is now the northeastern United States, primarily in what is referred to today as upstate New York.[3] Presently, Iroquois live primarily in the United States and Canada.

The Iroquois League has often also been known as the Iroquois Confederacy, but some modern scholars now make a distinction between the League and the Confederacy.[4][5][6] According to this interpretation, the Iroquois League refers to the ceremonial and cultural institution embodied in the Grand Council, while the Iroquois Confederacy was the decentralized political and diplomatic entity that emerged in response to European colonization. The League still exists, but the Confederacy was shattered by the defeat of the British and allied Iroquois nations in the American Revolutionary War.[4]

Name

The Iroquois also refers to themselves as the Haudenosaunee, which means "People of the Longhouse," or more accurately, "They Are Building a Long House." The term is said to have been introduced by The Great Peacemaker at the time of the formation of the League. It implies that the nations of the League should live together as families in the same longhouse. Symbolically, the Seneca were the guardians of the western door of the "tribal longhouse" and the Mohawk were the guardians of the eastern door. The Onondagas, whose homeland was in the center of Haudenosaunee territory, were keepers of the League's (both literal and figurative) central flame.

The name "Iroquois" was bestowed upon the Haudenosaunee by the French[7] and has several potential origins.

* A possible origin of the name Iroquois is reputed to come from a French version of irinakhoiw, a Huron (Wyandot) name – considered an insult – meaning "Black Snakes" or "real adders". The Iroquois were enemies of the Huron and the Algonquin, who allied with the French, because of their rivalry in the fur trade.
* The Haudenosaunee (People of the Longhouse) often end their oratory with the phrase hiro kone;[8] hiro translates as "I have spoken", and kone can be translated several ways, the most common being "in joy", "in sorrow", or "in truth". Hiro kone to the French encountering the Haudenosaunee would sound like "Iroquois", pronounced [iʁokwe] in the French language of the time.
* Another version is however supported by French linguists such as Henriette Walter and anthropologists such as Dean Snow[9]. According to this account, "Iroquois" would derive from a Basque expression, Hilokoa, meaning the "killer people". This expression would have been applied to the Iroquois because they were the enemy of the local Algonquins, with whom the Basque fishermen were trading. However, because there is no "L" sound in the Algonquian languages of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence region, the name became "Hirokoa", which is the name the French understood when Algonquians referred to the same pidgin language as the one they used with the Basque. The French then transliterated the word according to their own phonetic rules, thus providing "Iroquois".

History
Formation of the League

The language spoken by members of the League is different from that of the other speakers of the languages of the same Iroquoian family. This suggests that while they had a common historical and cultural origin, they diverged over a long enough time that the languages became different. Archaeological evidence shows that the Iroquois lived in the Finger Lakes region from at least 1000AD.[10]

The Iroquois moved to the south in long wars of invasion in present-day Kentucky. According to one pre-contact theory, it was Iroquois who, by about 1200[citation needed], had pushed tribes of the Ohio River valley, such as the Quapaw (Akansea) and Ofo (Mosopelea) out of the region in a migration west of the Mississippi River. However, La Salle definitely listed the Mosopelea among the Ohio Valley peoples overthrown by the Iroquois in the early 1670s, during the later Beaver Wars.[11] By 1673, these Siouan groups had settled in their historically known territories of the Midwest, with some displacing other tribes to the west in their turn.[12] Iroquois also live in longhouses.

The Iroquois League was established prior to major European contact. Most archaeologists and anthropologists believe that the League was formed sometime between about 1450 and 1600.[13][14] A few claims have been made for an earlier date; one recent study has argued that the League was formed in 1142, based on a solar eclipse in that year that seems to fit one oral tradition.[15][16] Anthropologist Dean Snow argues that the archaeological evidence does not support a date earlier than 1450, and that recent claims for a much earlier date "may be for contemporary political purposes".[17]

According to tradition, the League was formed through the efforts of two men, Deganawida, sometimes known as the Great Peacemaker, and Hiawatha. They brought a message, known as the Great Law of Peace, to the squabbling nations. The nations who joined the League were the Seneca, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga, and Mohawk. Once they ceased most of their infighting, the Iroquois rapidly became one of the strongest forces in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century northeastern North America.

According to legend, an evil Onondaga chieftain named Tadodaho was the last to be converted to the ways of peace by The Great Peacemaker and Hiawatha. He became the spiritual leader of the Haudenosaunee.[18] This event is said to have occurred at Onondaga Lake near Syracuse, New York. The title Tadodaho is still used for the league's spiritual leader, the fiftieth chief, who sits with the Onondaga in council. He is the only one of the fifty to have been chosen by the entire Haudenosaunee people. The current Tadodaho is Sid Hill of the Onondaga Nation

Expansion

In Reflections in Bullough's Pond, historian Diana Muir argues that the pre-contact Iroquois were an imperialist, expansionist culture whose use of the corn/beans/squash agricultural complex enabled them to support a large population that made war against Algonquian peoples. Muir uses archaeological data to argue that the Iroquois expansion onto Algonquian lands was checked by the Algonquian adoption of agriculture. This enabled them to support populations of their own that were large enough to include a body of warriors to defend against the threat of Iroquois conquest.[19]

The Iroquois may be the Kwedech described in the oral legends of the Mi'kmaq nation of Eastern Canada. These legends relate that the Mi'kmaq in the late pre-contact period had gradually driven their enemies – the Kwedech – westward across New Brunswick, and finally out of the Lower St. Lawrence River region. The Mi'kmaq named the last-conquered land "Gespedeg" or "lost land," leading to the French word "Gaspé." The "Kwedech" are generally considered to have been Iroquois, specifically the Mohawk; their expulsion from Gaspé by the Mi'kmaq has been estimated as occurring ca. 1535-1600.[20] Around 1535, Jacques Cartier reported Iroquoian groups on Gaspé and along the St. Lawrence River, and Samuel de Champlain found Algonquian groups in the same locations in 1608 – but the exact tribal identity of any of these groups has been debated.

Iroquoian tribes were also well-known in the south by this time. From the time of the first English settlement in Jamestown, Virginia (1607), numerous 17th century accounts describe a powerful people known to the Powhatan Confederacy as the Massawomeck, and to the French as the Antouhonoron, who came from the north, beyond the Susquehannocks. These "Massawomeck" / "Antouhonoron" have often been identified with the Iroquois proper, but other Iroquoian candidates include the Erie tribe who were finally destroyed by the Iroquois in 1654.[21] It is certain that the Five Nations acquired political control of most of Virginia west of the fall line over the years 1670-1710, a region which they continued to claim until they began selling this area to their British allies in 1722.

Beaver Wars

Beginning in 1609, the League engaged in the Beaver Wars with the French and their Iroquoian-speaking Huron allies. They also put great pressure on the Algonquian peoples of the Atlantic coast and what is now the boreal Canadian Shield region of Canada, and not infrequently fought the English colonies as well. During the seventeenth century, they were said to have exterminated the Neutral Nation.[24][25] and Erie Tribe to the west. The wars were a way to control the lucrative fur trade,[citation needed] although additional reasons are often given for these wars.

In 1628, the Mohawks defeated the Mahicans to gain a monopoly in the fur trade with the Dutch at Fort Orange, New Netherland. The Mohawks would not allow Canadian Indians to trade with the Dutch. In 1645, a tentative peace was forged between the Iroquois and the Hurons, Algonquins and French. In 1646, Jesuit missionaries at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons went as envoys to the Mohawk lands to protect the fragile peace of the time. However, Mohawk attitudes toward the peace soured during the Jesuits' journey. They were attacked by a Mohawk party en route. Taken to the village of Ossernenon (Auriesville, N.Y.), the moderate Turtle and Wolf clans decreed setting the priests free. Angered by this, the more hawkish Bear clan killed Jean de Lalande and Isaac Jogues on October 18, 1646. The two French priests were later commemorated as among the eight North American Martyrs. In 1649 during the Beaver Wars, the Iroquois used recently purchased Dutch guns to attack the Hurons. From 1651 to 1652, the Iroquois attacked the Susquehannocks without success.

In the early seventeenth century, the Iroquois were at the height of their power, with a population of about twelve thousand people.[26] In 1654, they invited the French to establish a trading and missionary settlement at Onondaga (in present-day New York state). The following year, the Mohawk attacked and expelled the French from this trading post, possibly because of the sudden death of 500 Indians from an epidemic of smallpox, a European infectious disease to which they had no immunity.

From 1658 to 1663, the Iroquois were at war with the Susquehannock and their Delaware and Province of Maryland allies. In 1663, a large Iroquois invasion force was defeated at the Susquehannock main fort. In 1663, the Iroquois were at war with the Sokoki tribe of the upper Connecticut River. Smallpox struck again; and through the effects of disease, famine, and war, the Iroquois were threatened by extermination. In 1664, an Oneida party struck at allies of the Susquehannock on Chesapeake Bay.

In 1665, three of the Five Nations made peace with the French. The following year, the Canadian Governor sent the Carignan regiment under Marquis de Tracy to confront the Mohawks and the Oneida. The Mohawks avoided battle, and the French burned their villages and crops. In 1667, the remaining two Nations signed a peace treaty with the French. This treaty lasted for 17 years.

Around 1670, the Iroquois drove the Siouan Mannahoac tribe out of the northern Virginia Piedmont region. They began to claim ownership of it by right of conquest. In 1672, the Iroquois were defeated by a war party of Susquehannock. The Iroquois appealed to the French for support and asked Governor Frontenac to assist them against the Susquehannock because

"it would be a shame for him to allow his children to be crushed, as they saw themselves to be... they not having the means of going to attack their fort, which was very strong, nor even of defending themselves if the others came to attack them in their villages."

[27] Some old histories state that the Iroquois defeated the Susquehannock during this time period. As no record of a defeat has been found, historians have concluded that no defeat occurred.[27] In 1677, the Iroquois adopted the majority of the Susquehannock into their nation.[28]

By 1677, the Iroquois formed an alliance with the English through an agreement known as the Covenant Chain. Together, they battled to a standstill the French who were allied with the Huron. These Iroquoian people had been a traditional and historic foe of the Confederacy. The Iroquois colonized the northern shore of Lake Ontario and sent raiding parties westward all the way to Illinois Country. The tribes of Illinois were eventually defeated, not by the Iroquois, but rather by the Potawatomis. In 1684, the Iroquois invaded Virginian and Illinois territory again, and unsuccessfully attacked the French fort at St. Louis. Later that year, the Virginia Colony agreed at Albany to recognize the Iroquois' right to use the North-South path running east of the Blue Ridge (later the Old Carolina Road), provided they did not intrude on the English settlements east of the fall line.

In 1679, the Susquehannock, with Iroquois help, attacked Maryland's Piscataway and Mattawoman allies. Peace was not reached until 1685.

With support from the French, the Algonquian nations drove the Iroquois out of the territories north of Lake Erie and west of present-day Cleveland, regions which had been conquered during the Beaver Wars.[29]

Jacques-René de Brisay de Denonville, Marquis de Denonville, Governor of New France from 1685 to 1689, set out for Fort Frontenac with a well-organized force. There they met with the 50 hereditary sachems of the Iroquois Confederation from the Onondaga council fire, who came under a flag of truce. Denonville recaptured the fort for New France and seized, chained, and shipped the 50 Iroquois Chiefs to Marseilles, France, to be used as galley slaves. He then ravaged the land of the Seneca. The destruction of the Seneca land infuriated the Iroquois Confederation.

On August 4, 1689, they burned to the ground Lachine, a small town adjacent to Montreal. Fifteen hundred Iroquois warriors had been harassing Montreal defenses for many months prior to that. They finally exhausted and defeated Denonville and his forces. His tenure was followed by the return of Frontenac, who succeeded Denonville as Governor for the next nine years (1689 –1698). Frontenac had been arranging a new plan of attack to lessen the effects of the Iroquois in North America and – realizing the danger of the imprisonment of the Sachems – he located the 13 surviving leaders and returned with them to New France that October 1698.

During King William's War (North American part of the War of the Grand Alliance), the Iroquois were allied with the English. In July 1701, they concluded the "Nanfan Treaty", deeding the English a large tract north of the Ohio River. The Iroquois claimed to have conquered this territory 80 years earlier. France did not recognize the validity of this treaty, as it had the strongest presence within the area in question. Meanwhile, the Iroquois were negotiating peace with the French; together they signed the Great Peace of Montreal that same year.

French and Indian Wars

After the 1701 peace treaty with the French, the Iroquois remained mostly neutral even though during Queen Anne's War (North American part of the War of the Spanish Succession) they were involved in some planned attacks against the French. Four delegates of the Iroquoian Confederacy, the "Indian kings", traveled to London in 1710 to meet Queen Anne in an effort to seal an alliance with the British. Queen Anne was so impressed by her visitors that she commissioned their portraits by court painter John Verelst. The portraits are believed to be some of the earliest surviving oil portraits of Aboriginal peoples taken from life.[30]

In the first quarter of the eighteenth century, the Tuscarora fled north from the British colonization of North Carolina and petitioned to become the sixth nation. This was a non-voting position but placed them under the protection of the Confederacy.

In 1721 and 1722, Lt. Governor Alexander Spotswood of Virginia concluded a new Treaty at Albany with the Iroquois, renewing the Covenant Chain and agreeing to recognize the Blue Ridge as the demarcation between Virginia Colony and the Iroquois. However, as white settlers began to move beyond the Blue Ridge and into the Shenandoah Valley in the 1730s, the Iroquois objected and were told that the agreed demarcation merely prevented them from trespassing east of the Blue Ridge, but it did not prevent English from expanding west of them. The Iroquois were on the verge of going to war with the Virginia Colony, when in 1743, Governor Gooch paid them the sum of 100 pounds sterling for any settled land in the Valley that was claimed by the Iroquois. The following year at the Treaty of Lancaster, the Iroquois sold Virginia all their remaining claims on the Shenandoah Valley for 200 pounds in gold.[31]

During the French and Indian War (North American part of the Seven Years' War), the Iroquois sided with the British against the French and their Algonquian allies, both traditional enemies of the Iroquois. The Iroquois hoped that aiding the British would also bring favors after the war. In actuality, few Iroquois joined the campaign, and in the Battle of Lake George, a group of Mohawk and French ambushed a Mohawk-led British column. The British government issued the Royal Proclamation of 1763 after the war, forbidding white settlements beyond the Appalachian Mountains, but this proclamation was largely ignored by the settlers, and the Iroquois agreed to adjust this line again at the Treaty of Fort Stanwix (1768), whereby they sold the British Crown all their remaining claim to the lands between the Ohio and Tennessee River

American Revolution

During the American Revolution, many Tuscarora and the Oneida sided with the colonists, while the Mohawk, Seneca, Onondaga and Cayuga remained loyal to Great Britain, thereby marking the first major split among the Six Nations. Joseph Louis Cook offered his services to the United States and received a Congressional commission as a Lieutenant Colonel- the highest rank held by any Native American during the war.[32] However, after a series of successful operations against frontier settlements – led by the Mohawk war chief Joseph Brant, other war chiefs, and British allies – the future United States reacted with vengeance. In 1779, George Washington ordered the Sullivan Campaign led by Col. Daniel Brodhead and General John Sullivan against the Iroquois nations to "not merely overrun, but destroy," the British-Indian alliance.

Post-war

After the war, the ancient central fireplace of the League was reestablished at Buffalo Creek. Captain Joseph Brant and a group of Iroquois left New York to settle in Canada. As a reward for their loyalty to the British Crown, they were given a large land grant on the Grand River. Brant's crossing of the river gave the original name to the area: Brant's ford. By 1847, European settlers began to settle nearby and named the village Brantford, Ontario. The original Mohawk settlement was on the south edge of the present-day city at a location still favorable for launching and landing canoes.

Culture

Melting pot

The Iroquois are a melting pot. League traditions allowed for the dead to be symbolically replaced through the "Mourning War" in raids intended to seize captives to replace lost compatriots and take vengeance on non-members. This tradition was common to native people of the northeast and was quite different from European settlers' notions of combat.

The Iroquois aimed to create an empire by incorporating conquered peoples and remolding them into Iroquois and thus naturalizing them as full citizens of the tribe. Cadwallader Colden wrote "It has been a constant maxim with the Five Nations, to save children and young men of the people they conquer, to adopt them into their own Nation, and to educate them as their own children, without distinction; These young people soon forget their own country and nation and by this policy the Five Nations make up the losses which their nation suffers by the people they lose in war." By 1668, two-thirds of the Oneida village were assimilated Algonquians and Hurons. At Onondaga there were Native Americans of seven different nations and among the Seneca eleven.[33]

Food

The Iroquois were a mix of farmers, fishers, gatherers, and hunters, though their main diet came from farming. The main crops they farmed were corn, beans and squash, which were called the three sisters and were considered special gifts from the Creator. These crops are grown strategically. The cornstalks grow, the bean plants climb the stalks, and the squash grow beneath, inhibiting weeds and keeping the soil moist under the shade of their broad leaves. In this combination, the soil remained fertile for several decades. The food was stored during the winter, and it lasts for two to three years. When the soil eventually lost its fertility, the Iroquois migrated.

Gathering was the job of the women and children. Wild roots, greens, berries and nuts were gathered in the summer. During spring, maple syrup was tapped from the trees, and herbs were gathered for medicine.

The Iroquois hunted mostly deer but also other game such as wild turkey and migratory birds. Muskrat and beaver were hunted during the winter. Fishing was also a significant source of food because the Iroquois were located near a large river. They fished salmon, trout, bass, perch and whitefish. In the spring the Iroquois netted, and in the winter fishing holes were made in the ice.[34

Wampum

Since they had no writing system, the Iroquois depended upon the spoken word to pass down their history, traditions, and rituals. As an aid to memory, the Iroquois used shells and shell beads. The Europeans called the beads wampum, from wampumpeag, a word used by Indians in the area who spoke Algonquin languages.

The type of wampum most commonly used in historic times was bead wampum, cut from various seashells, ground and polished, and then bored through the center with a small hand drill. The purple and white beads, made from the shell of the quahog clam, were arranged on belts in designs representing events of significance.

Certain elders were designated to memorize the various events and treaty articles represented on the belts. These men could "read" the belts and reproduce their contents with great accuracy. The belts were stored at Onondaga, the capital of the confederacy, in the care of a designated wampum keeper.

Famous wampum belts of the Iroquois include the Hiawatha Wampum, which represents the (original) Five Nations, the spatial arrangement of their individual territories, and the nature of their roles in the Confederacy. The modern Iroquois flag is a rendition of the pattern of the original Hiawatha Wampum belt. The Two Row Wampum, also known as Guswhenta, depicts the agreement made between the Iroquois league and representatives of the Dutch government in 1613, an agreement upon which all subsequent Iroquois treaties with Europeans and Americans have been based. Today, replicas of the Two Row Wampum are often displayed for ceremonial or educational purposes. Other historical wampum belts representing specific agreements or historical occurrences are known to exist, although many have been lost or stolen.

Women in society

When Americans and Canadians of European descent began to study Iroquois customs in the 18th and 19th centuries, they observed that women assumed a position in Iroquois society roughly equal in power to that of the men. Individual women could hold property including dwellings, horses and farmed land, and their property before marriage stayed in their possession without being mixed with that of their husband's. The work of a woman's hands was hers to do with as she saw fit. A husband lived in the longhouse of his wife's family. A woman choosing to divorce a shiftless or otherwise unsatisfactory husband was able to ask him to leave the dwelling, taking any of his possessions with him. Women had responsibility for the children of the marriage, and children were educated by members of the mother's family. The clans were matrilineal, that is, clan ties were traced through the mother's line. If a couple separated, the woman kept the children. Violence against women by men was virtually unknown.[35]

The chief of a clan could be removed at any time by a council of the mothers of that clan, and the chief's sister was responsible for nominating his successor.[35]

Spiritual beliefs

Spirits animated all of nature and controlled the changing of the seasons. Key festivals coincided with the major events of the agricultural calendar, including a harvest festival of thanksgiving. The Great Peacemaker (Deganawida) was their prophet. After the arrival of the Europeans, many Iroquois became Christians, among them Kateri Tekakwitha, a young woman of Mohawk-Algonkin parents. Traditional religion was revived to some extent in the second half of the 18th century by the teachings of the Iroquois prophet Handsome Lake.[36]

People

Nations
The first five nations listed below formed the original Five Nations (listed from west to north); the Tuscarora became the sixth nation in 1720.

English name	Iroquoian	Meaning	17th/18th century location
Seneca	Onondowahgah	"People of the Great Hill"	Seneca Lake and Genesee River
Cayuga	Guyohkohnyoh	"People of the Great Swamp"	Cayuga Lake
Onondaga	Onöñda'gega'	"People of the Hills"	Onondaga Lake
Oneida	Onayotekaono	"People of Standing Stone"	Oneida Lake
Mohawk	Kanien'kehá:ka	"People of the Great Flint"	Mohawk River
Tuscarora¹	Ska-Ruh-Reh	""Hemp Gatherers"^[37]	From North Carolina²

¹ Not one of the original Five Nations; joined 1720.

² Settled between Oneidas and Onondagas.

Clans

Iroquois kinship

Within each of the six nations, people are divided into a number of matrilineal clans. The number of clans varies by nation, currently from three to eight, with a total of nine different clan names.

**Current clans**
Seneca	Cayuga	Onondaga	Tuscarora	Oneida	Mohawk
Wolf (Hoñnat‘haiioñ'n‘)	Wolf	Wolf	Wolf (Θkwarì•nę)	Wolf (Thayú:ni)	Wolf (Okwáho)
Bear (Hodidjioiñi’'g’)	Bear	Bear	Bear (Uhčíhręˀ)	Bear (Ohkwá:li)	Bear (Ohkwá:ri)
Turtle (Hadiniǎ‘'děñ‘)	Turtle	Turtle	Turtle (Ráˀkwihs)	Turtle (A'no:wál)	Turtle (A'nó:wara)
Sandpiper (Hodi'ne`si'iu')	Sandpiper	Sandpiper	Sandpiper (Tawístawis)	—	—
Deer (Hadinioñ'gwaiiu')	—	Deer	Deer	—	—
Beaver (Hodigěn’'gegā’)	—	Beaver	Beaver (Rakinęhá•ha•ˀ)	—	—
Heron	Heron	—	—	—	—
Hawk	—	Hawk	—	—	—
—	—	Eel	Eel (Akunęhukwatíha•ˀ)	—	—

Prominent individuals

* Frederick Alexcee, artist (also of Tsimshian ancestry)
* Henry Armstrong, boxer, #2 in Ring Magazine's list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years
* George Armstrong, hockey player, most successful captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs with five Stanley Cup victories.
* Joseph Brant or Thayendanegea, Mohawk leader
* Cornplanter or Kaintwakon, Seneca chief
* Deganawida or The Great Peacemaker, the traditional founder along with Hiawatha of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy
* Graham Greene, Canadian Oneida
* Handsome Lake or Ganioda'yo, Seneca religious leader
* Ki Longfellow, novelist
* Oren Lyons, Onondaga, a traditional Faithkeeper of the Turtle clan
* Ely S. Parker, Seneca, Union Army officer during American Civil War, Commissioner of Indian Affairs during Ulysses S. Grant's first term as President.
* Red Jacket, Seneca orator and chief of the Wolf clan
* Robbie Robertson, Mohawk, songwriter, guitarist and singer best known for his membership in The Band.
* Joanne Shenandoah, Oneida singer, songwriter, actress and educator
* Jay Silverheels, actor, of Canadian Mohawk origin
* Kateri Tekakwitha, first Catholic Native American saint, patron of ecology, of Mohawk and Algonquin ancestry
* Canassatego, Tadadaho of the Iroquois Confederacy

Government

Grand Council

The Grand Council of the Iroquois League is an assembly of 50 Hoyenah (chiefs) or Sachems, a number that has never changed. The seats on the Council are distributed among the Six Nations as follows:

* 14 Onondaga
* 10 Cayuga
* 9 Oneida
* 9 Mohawk
* 8 Seneca
* 0 Tuscarora

When anthropologist Lewis Henry Morgan studied the Grand Council in the 19th century, he interpreted it as a central government. This interpretation became influential, but some scholars have since argued that while the Grand Council served an important ceremonial role, it was not a government in the sense that Morgan thought.[4][5][6] According to this view, Iroquois political and diplomatic decisions were made on the local level, and were based on assessments of community consensus; a central government that dictates policy to the people at large is not the Iroquois model of government.

Unanimity in public acts was essential to the Council. In 1855, Minnie Myrtle observed that no Iroquois treaty was binding unless it was ratified by 75% of the male voters and 75% of the mothers of the nation.[38] In revising Council laws and customs, a consent of two-thirds of the mothers was required.[38]

The women held real power, particularly the power to veto treaties or declarations of war.[38] The members of the Grand Council of Sachems were chosen by the mothers of each clan, and if any leader failed to comply with the wishes of the women of his tribe and the Great Law of Peace, he could be demoted by the mother of his clan, a process called "knocking off the horns" which removed the deer antlers emblem of leadership from his headgear and returned him to private life.[38][39] Councils of the mothers of each tribe were held separately from the men's councils. Men were employed by the women as runners to send word of their decisions to concerned parties, or a woman could appear at the men's council as an orator, presenting the view of the women. Women often took the initiative in suggesting legislation.[38]

The Iroquois government has issued passports since around 1980. Before 2001 these were accepted by various nations for international travel, but this is no longer the case[40]. The Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team was allowed by the U.S. to travel to an international lacrosse tournament in England after the personal intervention of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on July 14, 2010. However, Her Majesty's government refused to recognize the Iroquois passports and denied the team members entry into the United Kingdom.[41]

Influence on the United States

The Iroquois Influence Thesis is one side of a currently debated argument about the influence on the development of the Articles of Confederation or United States Constitution.[42][43] The Influence Thesis became popular in the 1980s, particularly through publications by Donald Grinde and Bruce Johansen. According to these historians, the democratic ideals of the Great Law of Peace provided a significant inspiration to Benjamin Franklin, James Madison and other framers of the United States Constitution. [44] The popularity of the Influence Thesis culminated with the United States Congress passing a resolution in October 1988, specifically recognizing the influence of the Iroquois League upon the US Constitution and Bill of Rights.[45]

Opposition to the Influence Thesis comes from many scholars, including experts on the Iroquois and the US Constitution. According to historian Jack Rakove, "The voluminous records we have for the constitutional debates of the late 1780s contain no significant references to the Iroquois."[46] Scholars of the Iroquois Confederacy who have rejected the Influence Thesis include William N. Fenton and Francis Jennings, who called it "absurd".[47] Anthropologist Dean Snow writes:

There is, however, little or no evidence that the framers of the Constitution sitting in Philadelphia drew much inspiration from the League. [48]

In support of the Influence Thesis are quotes from certain founding fathers. John Adams was quoted as saying:

The form of governments of the ancient Germans and the modern Indians; in both, the existence of the three divisions of power is marked with a precision that excludes all controversy. The democratical branch, especially, is so determined, that the real sovereignty resided in the body of the people, and was exercised in the assembly of king, nobles, and commons together. [49]

Benjamin Franklin also stated:

It would be a very strange thing, if six Nations of ignorant savages should be capable of forming a Scheme for such a Union … and yet that a like union should be impracticable for ten or a Dozen English Colonies. [50]

Modern communities

* Canada
o Kahnawake Mohawk in Quebec
o Kanesatake Mohawk in Quebec
o Mohawk Nation of Akwesasne in Ontario
o Thames Oneida in Ontario
o Six Nations of the Grand River Territory in Ontario
o Tyendinaga Mohawk in Ontario
o Wahta Mohawk in Ontario

* United States
o Cayuga Nation in New York
o Ganienkeh Mohawk — not federally recognized
o Kanatsiohareke Mohawk
o Onondaga Nation in New York
o Oneida Indian Nation in New York
o Oneida Tribe of Indians in Wisconsin
o St. Regis Band of Mohawk Indians in New York
o Seneca Nation of New York
o Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma
o Tuscarora Nation of New York

See also

* Covenant Chain
* David Cusick
* Economy of the Iroquois
* Ely S. Parker
* False Face Society
* Ganondagan State Historic Site
* Gideon Hawley
* Handsome Lake
* Hiawatha
* History of New York
* Iroquoian languages
* Iroquois mythology
* Iroquois Nationals
* Mohawk Chapel
* Red Jacket
* Sir William Johnson
* Six Nations of the Grand River
* Smoke Johnson
* Sullivan Expedition
* Town Destroyer
* The Kahnawake Iroquois and the Rebellions of 1837-38
* The Flying Head

References
Notes

1. ^ Haudenosaunee is pronounced /hɔːdɛnəˈʃɔːni/ in English, Akunęhsyę̀niˀ in Tuscarora (Rudes, B., Tuscarora English Dictionary, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1999), and Rotinonsionni in Mohawk.
2. ^ Encyclopedia of the Haudenosaunee pg.135. Greenwood Publishing Group. http://books.google.ca/books?id=zibNDBchPkMC&lpg=PP1&dq=encyclopedia%20haudenosaunee&pg=PA135#v=onepage&q=&f=false. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
3. ^ "First Nations Culture Areas Index". the Canadian Museum of Civilization. http://www.civilization.ca/cmc/exhibitions/tresors/ethno/etb0170e.shtml.
4. ^ a b c Richter, "Ordeals of the Longhouse", in Richter and Merrill, eds., Beyond the Covenant Chain, 11–12.
5. ^ a b Fenton, Great Law and the Longhouse, 4–5.
6. ^ a b Shannon, Iroquois Diplomacy, 72–73.
7. ^ Peck, William (1908). History of Rochester and Monroe county, New York. pp. 12. http://books.google.com/books?id=IvssAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA11. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
8. ^ "The Iroquois Confederacy". The Light Party. http://www.lightparty.com/Spirituality/Iroquois.html. Retrieved 2007-10-27.
9. ^ The Iroquois. Google Books. http://books.google.com/books?id=P7e82KQoX6IC&pg=PA1&lpg=PA1&dq=iroquois+basque&source=web&ots=W1269hy5wt&sig=7cFTz0iO46ls-BD-HQQeKDe43Nk. Retrieved 2007-09-25.
10. ^ Jennings, p.43
11. ^ Hanna, The Wilderness Trail p. 97
12. ^ Louis F. Burns, "Osage" Oklahoma Historical Society's Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, retrieved 2 March 2009
13. ^ Fenton, Great Law and the Longhouse, 69.
14. ^ Shannon, Iroquois Diplomacy, 25.
15. ^ Johansen, Bruce (1995). "Dating the Iroquois Confederacy". Akwesasne Notes New Series 1 (3): 62–63. http://www.ratical.org/many_worlds/6Nations/DatingIC.html. Retrieved Dec 12, 2008.
16. ^ Johansen, Bruce Elliott; Mann, Barbara Alice (2000). "Ganondagan". Encyclopedia of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois Confederacy). Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 105. ISBN 9780313308802. http://books.google.com/books?id=zibNDBchPkMC&lpg=PR7&ots=38pKjtTg_8&lr&pg=PA105#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 2010-05-23.
17. ^ Snow, The Iroquois, 231.
18. ^ The History of Onondage'ga'
19. ^ Muir, Diana, Reflections in Bullough's Pond, University Press of New England
20. ^ Bernard G. Hoffman, 1955, Souriquois, Etechemin, and Kwedech - - A Lost Chapter in American Ethnography
21. ^ James F. Pendergast, 1991, The Massawomeck.
22. ^ "From beads to banner". Indian Country Today. http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/archive/28214379.html. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
23. ^ "Haudenosaunee Flag". First Americans. http://www.ic.arizona.edu/ic/kmartin/School/iroqflag.htm. Retrieved 2007-09-25.
24. ^ Reville, F. Douglas. The History of the County of Brant, p. 20.
25. ^ Catholic Encyclopedia, "The Hurons"
26. ^ Francis Parkman[citation needed]
27. ^ a b Jennings, p. 135
28. ^ Jennings, p.160
29. ^ Jennings, p. 111
30. ^ "The Four Indian Kings". Library and Archives Canada. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/virtual-vault/4-kings/index-e.html. Retrieved 2007-09-25.
31. ^ Joseph Solomon Walton, 1900, Conrad Weiser and the Indian Policy of Colonial Pennsylvania p. 76-121.
32. ^ Oneida Nation of New York Conveyance of Lands Into Trust pg 3-159, Department of Indian Affairs
33. ^ Jennings, p. 95
34. ^ Bial, Raymond (1999). Lifeways: The Iroquois. New York: Benchmark Books. ISBN 0761408029.
35. ^ a b Wagner, Sally Roesch (1999). "Iroquois Women Inspire 19th Century Feminists". National NOW Times. National Organization for Women. http://www.now.org/nnt/summer-99/iroquois.html. Retrieved 2009-03-21.
36. ^ Wallace, Anthony (April 12, 1972). Death and Rebirth of the Seneca. Vintage. ISBN 978-0394716992.
37. ^ Catholic Encyclopedia: Iroquois
38. ^ a b c d e Wagner, Sally Roesch (1993). "The Iroquois Influence on Women's Rights". in Sakolsky, Ron; Koehnline, James. Gone To Croatan: Origins of North American Dropout Culture. Brooklyn, New York: Autonomedia. pp. 240–247. ISBN 0936756926. http://books.google.com/books?id=B5TKKAAACAAJ. Retrieved 2009-03-20.
39. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=CrpC9UXJe_MC&pg=PA15&lpg=PA15&dq=iroquois+knocking+off+the+horns&source=bl&ots=aKHJBC86v1&sig=vd8iVjjrTEz7yIIZUai78FyVpIM&hl=en&ei=9Og8TMK4EYTGlQfAoKDLAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCQQ6AEwAzgU#v=onepage&q&f=false
40. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/15/iroquois-lacrosse-team-passports-visa-us-uk
41. ^ http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100714/ap_on_sp_ot/us_lacrosse_iroquois_passports
42. ^ "The Six Nations: Oldest Living Participatory Democracy on Earth". Ratical.com. http://www.ratical.org/many_worlds/6Nations/index.html. Retrieved 2007-10-27.
43. ^ Armstrong, Virginia Irving. I Have Spoken: American History Through the Voices of the Indians. Pocket Books. p. 14. SBN 671-78555-9.
44. ^ Fadden, John Kahionhes. The Tree of Peace.
45. ^ "H. Con. Res. 331, October 21, 1988". United States Senate. http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/hconres331.pdf. Retrieved 2008-11-23.
46. ^ "Did the Founding Fathers Really Get Many of Their Ideas of Liberty from the Iroquois?". George Mason University. http://hnn.us/articles/12974.html. Retrieved 2007-10-27.
47. ^ Francis Jennings, Empire of fortune: crowns, colonies, and tribes in the Seven Years War in America (New York: Norton, 1988), p. 259 note 15.
48. ^ Snow, The Iroquois, 154.
49. ^ Adams, Charles Francis ed. A Defense of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America, in The Works of John Adams, vol.4, ed. Boston: 1851. (296)
50. ^ The Papers of Benjamin Franklin. vol. 4 (118-119)

Bibliography

* Fenton, William N. The Great Law and the Longhouse: a political history of the Iroquois Confederacy. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1998. ISBN 0806130032.
* Jennings, Francis. The Ambiguous Iroquois Empire: the Covenant Chain confederation of Indian tribes with English colonies from its beginnings to the Lancaster Treaty of 1744. New York: Norton, 1984. ISBN 0393017192.
* Jennings, Francis, ed. The History and culture of Iroquois diplomacy: an interdisciplinary guide to the treaties of the Six Nations and their league. Syracuse, N.Y.: Syracuse University Press, 1985. ISBN 0815626509.
* Richter, Daniel K. The ordeal of the longhouse: the peoples of the Iroquois League in the era of European colonization. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1992. ISBN 0807820601.
* Richter, Daniel K., and James H. Merrell, eds. Beyond the covenant chain: the Iroquois and their neighbors in Indian North America, 1600–1800. University Park, Pa.: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2003. ISBN 027102299X.
* Shannon, Timothy J. Iroquois Diplomacy on the Early American Frontier. New York: Viking, 2008. ISBN 9780670018970.
* Snow, Dean R. The Iroquois. Oxford, UK and Cambridge, MA: Blackwell, 1994. ISBN 1557862257.
* Tooker, Elisabeth, ed. An Iroquois source book. 3 volumes. New York: Garland, 1985–1986. ISBN 0824058771.

source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iroquois

Utah Jazz Information

2010-07-14T07:10:00.000-07:00

Utah Jazz Information
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The franchise began in 1974 as the New Orleans Jazz, based in New Orleans, Louisiana, but the team moved to Utah in 1979 after just five seasons. The Jazz were one of the most unsuccessful teams in the league in their early years, and it would be 10 years before they made a playoff appearance (in 1984). They would not miss the playoffs again until 2004. During the late 1980s, John Stockton and Karl Malone arose as the franchise players for the team, and formed one of the most famed point guard–power forward duos in NBA history. Led by coach Jerry Sloan, who took over for Frank Layden in 1988, they became one of the powerhouse teams of the 1990s, culminating in two NBA Finals appearances in 1997 and 1998, where they lost both times to the Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan. Both Stockton and Malone moved on in 2003. After missing the playoffs for three seasons the Jazz have returned to prominence under the on-court leadership of the franchise point guard Deron Williams. As of 2010, the Jazz are the only team in the Big Four sports leagues located in the state of Utah.

Franchise history

Early years in New Orleans

In 1974, the Jazz franchise began in New Orleans, Louisiana. The team's first major move was to trade for star player Pete Maravich from the Atlanta Hawks for two first-round draft picks, three second-round picks, and one third-round pick over the next three years.[1] Although he was considered one of the most entertaining players in the league and won the scoring championship in 1977 with 31.1 points per game, the record while in New Orleans was 39–43 in the 1977–78 season. Maravich struggled with knee injuries from that season onward.

Venue issues were a continual problem for the team while in New Orleans. In the Jazz's first season, when they played in the Loyola University Fieldhouse, the basketball court was raised so high that the players' association made the team put a net around the court so that players wouldn't fall off of the court and into the stands.[citation needed] Later, they played games in the Louisiana Superdome, but things were no better; due to high demand for the stadium, onerous lease terms and Maravich's constant knee problems. For instance, during the 1977–78 season, the Jazz were in the midst of a playoff drive when Mardi Gras festivities forced the team on a month-long road trip. Even if they had made the playoffs that year, they would have been forced to find another place to play in the event of a conflict.[1][2]

On their way out of the Big Easy, the Jazz were dealt one final humiliation when the Los Angeles Lakers selected Magic Johnson with the first overall pick in the 1979 NBA Draft. The pick would have belonged to the Jazz had they not traded it to Los Angeles to acquire Gail Goodrich.

1979–85: Move to Utah

By 1979, the Jazz were sinking under the weight of $5 million in losses over five years. Original owner Sam Battistone decided to move to Salt Lake City, even though it was a smaller market than New Orleans at the time. However, Salt Lake City had proven it could support a pro basketball team when it played host to the American Basketball Association's Utah Stars from 1970 to 1976. The Stars had been extremely popular in the city, but their financial picture inexplicably collapsed in their last two seasons, and they folded in December 1975 after playing only 16 games of the ABA's final season. Although Salt Lake City was not known for its jazz culture, the team decided to keep the name, as well as the team's original colors of green, purple and gold (the colors of Mardi Gras). Some were offended by the Jazz keeping the franchise name after moving from New Orleans, citing it as a metaphor for the theft of Jazz from its cultural roots.

The Jazz's attendance actually declined slightly after the team's move from New Orleans to Utah, due to a late approval for the move (June 1979) and poor marketing in the Salt Lake City area.[3][4] They continued to struggle for six seasons, in part due to a move to the tougher Midwest Division.

1985–90: Early Stockton and Malone era

In 1984, the Jazz drafted point guard John Stockton from Gonzaga University. In the next year the team added the second half of the NBA's greatest pairing in power forward Karl Malone from Louisiana Tech. In both the 1984–85 and 1985–86 seasons, the Jazz barely scraped into the playoffs. In 1986, the Jazz traded Adrian Dantley to Detroit. During the next few seasons, the Jazz began to establish themselves as a respectable team in their own right. Center Mark Eaton was, perhaps, one of the more notable defensive players of the era. Soon, Stockton and Malone became superstars, developing into a very effective combo, running pick-and-roll plays with great success. "Stockton to Malone" became a common phrase, as Stockton regularly found ways to pass the ball to Malone in good scoring position. Despite the regular season successes, however, the Jazz were never able to advance past the second round of the NBA Playoffs during the 1980s. During the 1988–89 season, Frank Layden stepped down as head coach to become president of the Utah Jazz. Assistant coach Jerry Sloan took over head coaching duties. Sloan guided the Jazz to their first 50-win season ever with a 51–31 record, also winning the Midwest Division. Once again, however, the Jazz fell in the postseason, losing to the Golden State Warriors in the first round for the second time in three years.

1990-1996

Throughout the early 1990s, the Jazz playoff woes continued, with the Jazz losing in the first round in 1990 to the Phoenix Suns and in the second round in 1991 to the Portland Trail Blazers. In 1990–91, the Jazz acquired Jeff Malone, and after the 1991–92 season they waived veteran Darrell Griffith. In 1991 the Jazz also moved out of the old Salt Palace and into the new Delta Center. In 1992, the Jazz finally made it to the conference finals, losing to the Portland Trail Blazers in six games. In 1993, the Jazz had a disappointing run in the playoffs again, losing to the Seattle SuperSonics in the first round. During the 1993–94 season, the Jazz traded Jeff Malone to the Philadelphia 76ers for shooting guard Jeff Hornacek, who provided high three-point and free throw shot percentage. The Jazz made the playoffs with a 53–29 record, shutting down NBA scoring leader David Robinson and San Antonio 3–1, then fought off a determined, upstart Denver Nuggets team 4–3 in the conference semi-finals (almost blowing a 3–0 series lead), and advanced to the conference finals, where they lost to the eventual NBA champion Houston Rockets 4–1.

In the 1994–95 season, the Jazz had significant depth and talent at their disposal and were expected to make a serious run for the championship. The Jazz finished with a 60–22 record during the regular season. Despite this, however, the Jazz lost to the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs in five games. Big man Greg Ostertag was added to the team for the 1995–96 season, and the Jazz reached the conference finals for the third time in history, almost overcoming a 3–1 deficit and narrowly losing to the Seattle SuperSonics 4–3.

1996–98: The NBA Finals years

In the next two seasons, the Jazz were finally able to capitalize on their regular season success. In 1996–97, the Jazz had their best record in franchise history at 64–18, with such players as Stockton, Malone, Hornacek, Russell, Ostertag, Antoine Carr, Howard Eisley, and Shandon Anderson. They finally reached the NBA Finals for the first time ever after beating the Los Angeles Clippers 3–0, Los Angeles Lakers 4–1, and Houston Rockets 4–2 to meet Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the 1997 NBA Finals. A three-pointer at the buzzer by John Stockton in Game 6 of the 1997 Western Conference Championship sent the Jazz to the finals. This shot remains one of the highlight shots of the Jazz franchise. In the finals, the Jazz lost to the Bulls 4–2, after losing the last two in the final seconds of the games (90–88 and 87–86). Malone won the MVP for the regular season for the first time ever.

During the offseason, the Jazz made no significant changes to their roster. During the 1997–98 season, expectations were high for another championship run. However, Stockton suffered a serious knee injury before the season began and missed the first 18 games. Despite the setback, the Jazz were still able to finish at 62–20. In the playoffs they beat the Rockets 3–2, the Spurs 4–1, and the Los Angeles Lakers 4–0 to advance to their second NBA Finals appearance in a row. Utah, an aged core made up of veterans Stockton, Malone and Hornacek, were facing a Lakers squad composed of Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, two young superstars of the NBA at the time. Though the Jazz were favored to beat the Lakers, since they owned home court advantage, there were doubters. Many[who?] felt the Lakers were far too talented and athletic and that the Jazz's age would show. Yet all thoughts of this were dispelled in game one, where the Jazz dominated the Lakers to a 112–77 victory. It was the worst playoff loss in franchise history for the Lakers and set the tone for the series. Though other games were far closer than what occurred in game one, Utah would go on to sweep the Lakers and return to the NBA Finals for the second straight year. In the 1998 NBA Championship, the Jazz took Game 1 at home 88–85. However, the Bulls overcame a slow start to win Game 2 93–88, easily took Game 3 96–54 and won a closer Game 4 86–82 to lead 3–1 in the series. The Jazz fought back to win Game 5 83–81 at the United Center and the series returned to Salt Lake City, where the Jazz had always been dominant. The Jazz held a lead in most of Game 6, but the Bulls rallied, and in the last seconds of the game, Michael Jordan made a controvorsial jump shot to win the game, 87–86. This loss highlighted the Jazz's struggles in the postseason, despite their overall, consistent success. Former referee Mike Mathis, an adamant critic of current NBA officiating, did not cite the supposed offensive foul on Jordan and stated it was the correct no-call in an article denouncing NBA officials following the Tim Donaghy incident.[5] The game was also controversial because of two incidents early in the game. In the second quarter Howard Eisley made a three-pointer, but the officials incorrectly ruled that the shot was taken after the shot clock expired.[citation needed] Later in the game, Ron Harper made a two-pointer after the shot clock expired, but this time the officials allowed it. Many Jazz fans[who?] also feel that these "phantom five" points also cost them the game, since the final margin was only one point.

1999–2003: Stockton and Malone's final years

In the 1999 season, shortened to 50 games due to a lockout, the Jazz finished the season 37–13, tied with the Spurs for the best record in the league. They defeated the Sacramento Kings in five games in the first round of the playoffs. However, they lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Portland Trail Blazers. Despite yet another disappointment, Malone was awarded his second MVP.

During the 1999–00 season, the Jazz finished 55–27 and won the Midwest Division but once again struggled in the postseason, losing to the Portland Trail Blazers, again during the second round. During the offseason, Hornacek retired and Howard Eisley was traded in a four-team deal that brought in Donyell Marshall. They selected promising high school basketball star DeShawn Stevenson in the first round of the NBA Draft. In the 2000–01 season, they went 53–29, but their playoff woes once again struck when they blew a 2–0 series lead in the first round of the playoffs to the Dallas Mavericks, a team that had not made the playoffs since 1990.

In the 2001–02 season, Andrei Kirilenko made his rookie debut, but overall the Jazz began to show their age and dwindling talent. The Jazz finished just 44–38 and lost to the Sacramento Kings 3–1 in the first round of the playoffs. In 2002–03, Marshall and Russell moved on to other teams. Matt Harpring, however, was brought over from the Philadelphia 76ers, contributing to the offense and experiencing his best season. The Jazz approached 50 wins going into the playoffs, ultimately going 47–35 and again losing to the Kings 4–1. After the season, the end of an era came when Stockton retired and Malone moved to the Lakers in the hunt for a championship ring with several other future Hall-of-Famers (The Lakers fell to Detroit in the Finals the following season, after which Malone retired).

2003–06: Rebuilding

In the 2003–04 season, the Jazz finished with a 42–40 record. The team featured several unheralded players who emerged into key contributors, including Kirilenko, Raja Bell, Matt Harpring, and Carlos Arroyo. In particular, Kirilenko demonstrated versatility on both offense and defense and earned a spot in the All-Star Game. Kirilenko helped the team late into the season's playoff hunt, in which the Jazz missed out by just one game to the Denver Nuggets, ending their streak of 20 consecutive seasons in the playoffs. Jerry Sloan finished second in the voting for the NBA Coach of the Year Award, losing to Hubie Brown of the Memphis Grizzlies.

In the 2004 offseason, the Jazz controversially obtained Carlos Boozer from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Free agent Mehmet Okur from the Detroit Pistons was signed, and Greg Ostertag left as a free agent to the Sacramento Kings. The franchise was again expected to contend in the West. The season began well for the Jazz, but a series of injuries, first to Arroyo and Raul Lopez, and later to Boozer and Kirilenko, caused the team to fall to the bottom of the division. There were rumors of internal discontent between the younger players and Sloan, leading to the trading away of Arroyo mid-season to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Elden Campbell (who was immediately waived). They ended the 2004–05 season with a record of 26–56, their worst since the 1981–82 season.

In the summer of 2005, the Jazz continued to shape their roster by dispatching some of their underperforming young players and trading three draft picks in order to acquire the #3 pick overall, with which they selected point guard Deron Williams of the University of Illinois. Raja Bell left the team for the Phoenix Suns, the Jazz re-obtained Greg Ostertag from the Kings, and oft-injured point guard Raul Lopez was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies.

The 2005–06 season was injury-plagued before it even started; Boozer missed the first 49 games and Gordan Giricek and Kirilenko both missed significant time due to injuries. Okur and Kirilenko, however, showed consistently good play, while Williams, despite a midseason slump, did not disappoint. However, rumors of discontent between Jerry Sloan and the young players persisted, while team owner Larry Miller continually expressed his displeasure with the team's effort. They stayed in the playoff race until the third-to-last game, when they lost to the Dallas Mavericks. The Jazz ended the season 41–41 and just 3 games out of the playoffs. Ostertag retired at the end of the season, having spent 10 of his 11 seasons with the team.

In the 2006 NBA Draft, the Jazz selected promising University of Arkansas shooting guard Ronnie Brewer in the first round and in the second round selected point guard Dee Brown and power forward Paul Millsap. Several young players were traded away for Golden State Warriors guard Derek Fisher, giving them a veteran point guard. The Jazz were heralded by several major sports websites for drafting well and making good offseason moves.[6][7]

2006-2010: Williams and Boozer era

The Jazz developed a very deep and well-rounded team during the 2007 season. Carlos mostly avoided injuries (although missed his first All-Star game selection due to a minor leg injury) and Okur, who had developed a reputation as a great clutch shooter, was selected to the All-Star game as well (as an injury replacement). Deron Williams improved considerably, finishing third in the league in assists per game with 9.3 (behind Steve Nash and Chris Paul). The team also developed a deep bench; in the 10 games that Boozer and Okur (the two leading scorers) missed, the team went 8–2. Paul Millsap became one of the biggest surprise rookies of the year and became a competent backup to Boozer. Despite the elevated play of the Jazz's budding stars, Kirilenko showed a significant drop in his statistics and had struggles adapting to his reduced role. This eventually led to a well-publicized breakdown early in the first round of the playoffs. The Jazz clinched the playoffs as the #4 seed with a 51–31 record.

The Jazz went on to face the Houston Rockets in the first round. The series was a physical, close-fought one, with each of the first 6 games being won by the home team. The Jazz were able to break this trend in the 7th game,taking advantage of Tracy Mcgrady's injury and the Rocket's injury depleted bench, beating the Rockets 103–99 in Houston. The Jazz then went on to face the eighth-seeded Golden State Warriors, who were coming off a historic upset of the #1-seeded Dallas Mavericks (who had gone 67–15 in the regular season, one of the best in NBA history). However, the Jazz easily handled the Warriors, winning the series 4–1. The Jazz went on to face the San Antonio Spurs, fresh off a controversial victory over the Phoenix Suns, in the Western Conference Finals, but were eliminated from the playoffs 4–1.

During the offseason, the Jazz gained a hometown D-League affiliate in the Utah Flash (based in Orem), that they share with the Boston Celtics. During the offseason, the Jazz selected shooting guard Morris Almond in the first round, although ultimately they made few lineup changes. The most significant move was in letting Derek Fisher go. Fisher had also become a fan favorite due to his daughter's well-publicized battle with a rare form of eye cancer; he moved to Los Angeles during the offseason to be closer to better care for his daughter, and later signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, with whom he won three championships from 2000–2002. Offseason controversy arose after Kirilenko led his Russian national team to a win in EuroBasket 2007 (the European championship), a tournament in which he was named MVP. After this, Kirilenko posted on a blog that he wished to be traded from the Jazz and would be willing to walk away from his contract. He later reaffirmed this in interviews. However, no trade was made and he remained with the team into next season.

During the 2007–08 season, after a trade that sent disgruntled shooting guard Gordan Giricek to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Kyle Korver, the Jazz ran off a record-tying 19-game home winning streak and improved on the road after a rough December. Despite the offseason controversy and trade talk, Kirilenko elevated his play, improving all stats from the previous season and seeming content with his new role more as a defender and a facilitator as opposed to a scorer. Carlos Boozer again won an All-Star selection, while Deron Williams continued to elevate his play, averaging 13.3 assists per game in March (as opposed to 10.5 for the season as a whole). The Jazz finished the regular season 5th best in the west with a 54–28 record. For the first time since the 97-98 season, the Jazz sold out every home game, and they possessed a phenomenal 37-4 home record; this was, however, offset by a subpar road record.

The Jazz once again became matched against the Houston Rockets in the first-round of the playoffs, this time as a #4 seed (although the Rockets possessed home-court advantage due to a better record). The Jazz jumped out to a quick 2-0 series lead in Houston, but lost the first game in Salt Lake City. After splitting the next two games, the Jazz dealt the Rockets a 113-91 blowout victory in game 6, placing them into a second-round matchup with the #1 seed Los Angeles Lakers. It was the first time these two franchises had competed in a post-season series since the 1998 Western Conference Finals. Four individuals from that series were present in this one: Laker players Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher, and Utah head coach Jerry Sloan and assistant coach Phil Johnson. Conversely, it was also the first playoff series meeting between Coach Sloan, and Lakers' Head Coach Phil Jackson since the Chicago Bulls defeated the Jazz in the NBA Finals that same year, 4 games to 2. Utah lost game 1 and game 2 in Los Angeles. However the Jazz held up their great home winning record by defeating Los Angeles in Games 3 and 4. The Jazz lost game 5 in L.A. and were eventually eliminated in Game 6. The Jazz made no major offseason moves during 2008.

The 2008–09 season was tough for the Jazz as they struggled with consistent injuries that continually disrupted the chemistry of the team, and although they were once again nearly unstoppable at home, they also once again possessed a poor road record. Utah's top three players all missed significant times due to sickness or injuries; Deron Williams missed 13 of the first 15 games, Carlos Boozer missed more than half of the season, and Mehmet Okur missed sporadic time due to both injuries and his father's sickness that forced him to travel to his native Turkey early in the season. On February 20, 2009, Jazz owner Larry H. Miller died of complications from diabetes. During his final months as team owner, his family, led by his son Greg Miller, ran the day-to-day business operations of the Jazz. The Jazz finished with a 48–34 record, causing them to slip to #8 in the competitive Western Conference playoff race, after which they were eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers for the second year in a row, 4 games to 1. The season would be the last for long-time radio and former TV announcer Hot Rod Hundley, who announced his retirement after being with the Jazz for their entire history (35 years). Despite the disappointment, Deron Williams proved himself to be one of the elite point guards of the league, averaging 19.4 points and 10.8 assists per game, second in the league, despite playing the entire season with a lingering ankle injury and also helping lead the U.S. Olympic basketball team to the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics as part of the Redeem Team.

During the 2009 offseason, Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur, and Kyle Korver all possessed clauses for the final year of their contract in which they could choose to opt out and seek a bigger deal - however, all 3 of them chose to "opt-in" and serve the final year of their contracts in Utah. In July, Okur signed a 2-year contract extension worth $21 million, keeping him with Utah through the 2011-12 season. However, despite Boozer's decision to not opt-out, Boozer asked for a trade after learning that the Jazz verbally expressed more interest in keeping Paul Millsap and was actively looking to trade him. Millsap, a restricted free agent, signed an offer sheet from the Portland Trail Blazers but Utah exercised their right to match the offer and signed Millsap.

In the 2009 NBA Draft, the Jazz selected point guard Eric Maynor #20 overall to back up Deron Williams. Veteran Matt Harpring retired, citing consistent injuries sustained from his physical playing style. They also added rookie shooting guard Wesley Matthews to the lineup after an impressive camp. After struggling to a 19-17 start, the Jazz went 34-12 the rest of the way, despite trades that sent Maynor and the contract of the retired Matt Harpring to the Oklahoma City Thunder and sending starting shooting guard Ronnie Brewer to the Memphis Grizzlies midseason, a trade which was openly criticized by Deron Williams.[8] The trade for Brewer cleared the way for the undrafted rookie Matthews to take over the starting spot. Deron Williams was selected to play in the All-Star Game for the first time, and after a controversial offseason, Carlos Boozer had one of his best seasons and missed only 4 games to injuries. He even suggested that he would be happy to stay with Utah long-term.[9] After returning from an early season injury, Kyle Korver set the NBA record for three-point field goal percentage in a season.[10] In a tight Western Conference, the Jazz finished the season 53-29 and lost the division in a tiebreaker with the Denver Nuggets, ending with the #5 seed, matched up with the Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs. Kirilenko, who had missed 13 of the last 15 games of the regular season due to a nagging calf muscle strain, re-aggravated the injury the day before the first game of the playoffs and is expected to miss the entire first round, while Mehmet Okur tore his Achilles tendon in the first game and will miss the entire playoffs. Despite losing out on the Northwest Division title race, the Jazz had the last laugh, defeating the Nuggets in six games. The Jazz were then were eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers for the third year in a row, in a sweep 4 games to 0.

2010 : Changes to the Jazz Core

On June 15, 2010, the Jazz unveiled a new color scheme and logo which represented a return to the old 'music note' logo. The team will unveil new uniforms on August 16. [11]

During the 2010 NBA Draft, the Utah Jazz selected Gordon Hayward and Jeremy Evans.

On July 7th 2010, Carlos Boozer (being a free agent) signed a 5 year 80 million dollar contract with the Chicago Bulls.

On July 9th 2010, Kyle Korver (being a free agent) signed a 3 year 13 million dollar contract with the Chicago Bulls were he will join Carlos Boozer who sign with the Bulls two days earlier.

On July 13, 2010, the Utah Jazz traded 2 future first round picks with the Minnesota Timberwolves for Forward/Center Al Jefferson.

Uniforms

Since the team's move from New Orleans to Salt Lake City in 1979, the Utah Jazz have worn several uniforms throughout their franchise history. From 1979-1996, the Jazz' home uniforms consisted of the "basketball forming J music note to write on Jazz" logo on the center chest, with purple numbers. The only modification to this uniform was the word "Utah" being added to the center chest logo in 1985. From 1979-1984, the Jazz' road uniforms were green, with the aforementioned Jazz logo on the center chest and gold numbers. For the 1984-85 season, the green road uniforms were changed to purple, with white trim added around the gold numbers. These uniforms were worn until the 1995-96 season.

For the 1996-97 season, the Jazz drastically updated their logos and uniforms, with a new color scheme of purple, copper and turquoise. Their new uniform featured a silhouette of the Wasatch Range on the center chest, with a stylish new Jazz script, and purple & turquoise details. On the road purple jersey, the white mountain range gradually fades to purple just above the numbers, which are white, with copper interior trim and teal outlining. On the home white jersey, the numbers are purple, with white interior trim and teal outlining. The Jazz wore these jerseys until the 2003-04 season.

The Jazz also introduced an alternate black jersey in the 1998-99 season, with the Jazz script on the center chest, but without the Wasatch Range silhouette. On this jersey, both the Jazz script and numbers are white, with purple interior trim and copper outlining, and copper side panels. These jerseys were worn until the 2003-04 season.

In the 2004-05 season, the Jazz once again updated their color scheme, logos and uniforms. The new color scheme, which the team used until the end of the 2009-10 season, consisted of navy blue, powder blue, silver & purple, though the latter color was only used on the primary logo and alternate logo. The team logo remained the same, for the exception of the new color variation. The new home uniform consisted of an updated "Jazz" script on the center chest in navy blue, with navy numbers, both of which had powder blue outlining. The new road uniform was navy blue, with a "Utah" script in powder blue on the center chest and powder blue numbers, both of which had silver outlining and white interior trim.

In the 2006-07 season, the Jazz introduced a new alternate powder blue uniform. This uniform features a Jazz script slightly different from the one of their home jersey and navy blue numbers below the script, also with silver and white trim. The nameplate on the back of the jersey was navy blue.

On June 15, 2010, the Utah Jazz unveiled a new logo and color scheme on the team's official website. For the 2010-11 season, the Jazz will revert to the team's original music note logo, with a new color scheme of navy, dark green, gold & gray. The team's new uniform set will be unveiled on August 16, 2010.[12]

Franchise leaders

* Career

o Games: John Stockton (1,504)

o Minutes Played: Karl Malone (53,479)

o Field Goals Made: Karl Malone (13,335)

o Field Goal Attempts: Karl Malone (25,810)

o 3-Point Field Goals Made: John Stockton (845)

o 3-Point Field Goal Attempts: John Stockton (2,203)

o Free Throws Made: Karl Malone (9,619)

o Free Throw Attempts: Karl Malone (12,963)

o Offensive Rebounds: Karl Malone (3,501)

o Defensive Rebounds: Karl Malone (11,100)

o Total Rebounds: Karl Malone (14,601)

o Assists**: John Stockton (15,806)

o Steals**: John Stockton (3,265)

o Blocked Shots: Mark Eaton (3,064)

o Turnovers: Karl Malone (4,421)

o Personal Fouls: Karl Malone (4,462)

o Points: Karl Malone (36,374)

* Per Game

o Minutes Played: Truck Robinson (43.35)

o Field Goals Made: Adrian Dantley (10.65)

o Field Goal Attempts: Pete Maravich (22.75)

o 3-Point Field Goals Made: Jeff Hornacek (0.92)

o 3-Point Field Goal Attempts: Bryon Russell (2.32)

o Free Throws Made: Adrian Dantley (8.27)

o Free Throw Attempts: Adrian Dantley (10.11)

o Offensive Rebounds: Truck Robinson (3.50)

o Defensive Rebounds: Truck Robinson (11.42)

o Total Rebounds: Truck Robinson (14.92)

o Assists: John Stockton (10.51)

o Steals: John Stockton (2.17)

o Blocked Shots: Mark Eaton (3.50)

o Turnovers: Pete Maravich (4.25)

o Personal Fouls: Danny Schayes (3.85)

o Points: Adrian Dantley (29.58)

* Per 48 Minutes

o Field Goals Made: Adrian Dantley (13.16)

o Field Goal Attempts: Pete Maravich (28.48)

o 3-Point Field Goals Made: Chris Morris (1.85)

o 3-Point Field Goal Attempts: Chris Morris (6.08)

o Free Throws Made: John Drew (10.97)

o Free Throw Attempts: John Drew (14.28)

o Offensive Rebounds: Ron Behagen (5.52)

o Defensive Rebounds: Truck Robinson (12.65)

o Total Rebounds: Rich Kelley (16.72)

o Assists: John Stockton (15.88)

o Steals: Carey Scurry (3.65)

o Blocked Shots: Mark Eaton (5.84)

o Turnovers: Jim Les (5.55)

o Personal Fouls: Eric Leckner (10.30)

o Points: John Drew (36.98)

** – Leads NBA

References

1. ^ a b Deseret News - Utah Jazz: Roots of Utah's team planted in New Orleans

2. ^ "Jazz Basketball Investors, Inc.". FundingUniverse.com. http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Jazz-Basketball-Investors-Inc-Company-History.html. Retrieved 2007-04-22.

3. ^ "New Orleans Jazz – Year Five". HornetsReport.com. http://hornetsreport.com/HRClassic/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=230. Retrieved 2007-04-22.

4. ^ Blackwell, Dave. "Utah History Encyclopedia". State of Utah. http://historytogo.utah.gov/utah_chapters/utah_today/utahjazz.html. Retrieved 2007-04-22.

5. ^ Former Nba Ref Blasts Officiating - New York Post

6. ^ Stein, Marc (2006-09-21). "Offseason review: Rating the West from Mavs to Griz". ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&id=2588267. Retrieved 2007-04-22.

7. ^ Ventre, Michael. "NBA Offseason Report – Utah Jazz". MSNBC.com. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8502769/?pg=33#anc_spt_NBA_OFFseason_APP. Retrieved 2007-04-22.

8. ^ Utah Jazz: Deron Williams sad to say goodbye. Deseret Morning News. February 19, 2010.

9. ^ Utah Jazz: Boozer wants to say. Deseret Morning News. February 24, 2010.

10. ^ Utah Jazz: Kyle Korver sets NBA record for 3-point accuracy. Deseret Morning News. April 15, 2010.

11. ^ Jazz Unveils New Colors and Additional Logo. NBA.com. June 15, 2010.

12. ^ http://www.nba.com/jazz/news/1011_newlogos.html?ls=iref:nbahpt2 Jazz Unveils New Colors and Additional Logo

13. ^ Salt Lake Tribune October 20, 2009 Jazz sign 12-year agreement with FSN Utah

source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utah_Jazz

Lady Gaga Biography

2010-07-07T07:03:00.000-07:00

Lady Gaga Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lady Gaga (born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta; March 28, 1986) is an American recording artist. She began performing in the rock music scene of New York City's Lower East Side in 2003 and enrolled at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. She soon signed with Streamline Records, an imprint of Interscope Records. During her early time at Interscope, she worked as a songwriter for fellow label artists and captured the attention of Akon, who recognized her vocal abilities, and signed her to his own label, Kon Live Distribution.

Released on August 19, 2008, her debut album, The Fame, reached number one in the UK, Canada, Austria, Germany and Ireland, and reached the top-ten in numerous countries worldwide; in the United States, it peaked at two on the Billboard 200 chart and topped Billboard's Dance/Electronic Albums chart. Its first two singles, "Just Dance" and "Poker Face", co-written and co-produced with RedOne, became international number-one hits, topping the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States as well as the charts of other countries. The album later earned a total of six Grammy Award nominations and won awards for Best Electronic/Dance Album and Best Dance Recording. In early 2009 she embarked on her first headlining tour, The Fame Ball Tour. By the fourth quarter of the year, she had released her second studio album The Fame Monster, with the global chart-topping lead single "Bad Romance", as well as having embarked on her second headlining tour of the year, The Monster Ball Tour.

Lady Gaga is inspired by glam rock artists such as David Bowie and Queen, as well as pop musicians such as Madonna and Michael Jackson. She has also stated fashion is a source of inspiration for her songwriting and performances. Gaga was ranked the 73rd Artist of the 2000-10 decade by Billboard.[1] As of May 2010, Gaga has sold over 15 million albums and over 40 million singles worldwide.[2] In May 2010, Time magazine included Gaga in its annual Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world. In June 2010, Forbes listed Gaga fourth on its list of the 100 Most Powerful and Influential celebrities in the world; she is also ranked as the second most powerful musician in the world.[3][4]

Life and career

1986–2004: Early life

Stefani Germanotta was born on March 28, 1986, the eldest child of Joseph Germanotta, an Italian American internet entrepreneur, and Cynthia Bissett.[5][6] She learned to play piano from the age of four, went on to write her first piano ballad at 13 and began performing at open mike nights by age 14.[7] At the age of 11, Germanotta attended Convent of the Sacred Heart, a private Roman Catholic school on Manhattan's Upper East Side,[8][9] but has stressed that she does not come from a wealthy background, saying that her parents "both came from lower-class families, so we've worked for everything — my mother worked eight to eight out of the house, in telecommunications, and so did my father."[10] An avid thespian in high school musicals, Germanotta portrayed lead roles as Adelaide in Guys and Dolls and Philia in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.[11] She described her academic life in high school as "very dedicated, very studious, very disciplined" but also "a bit insecure" as she told in an interview, "I used to get made fun of for being either too provocative or too eccentric, so I started to tone it down. I didn’t fit in, and I felt like a freak."[12][13] Acquaintances dispute that she did not fit in school. "She had a core group of friends; she was a good student. She liked boys a lot, but singing was No. 1," recalled a former high school classmate.[14] Referring to her "expressive, free spirit", Gaga told Elle magazine "I'm left-handed!"[15]

At age 17, Germanotta gained early admission to the New York University's Tisch School of the Arts on August 23, 2003 and lived in a NYU dorm on 11th Street. There she studied music and improved her songwriting skills by composing essays and analytical papers focusing on topics such as art, religion, social issues and politics.[7][16] Germanotta felt that she was more creative than some of her classmates. "Once you learn how to think about art, you can teach yourself," she said. By the second semester of her sophomore year, she withdrew from the school to focus on her musical career.[17] Her father agreed to pay her rent for a year, on the condition that she re-enroll for Tisch if she was unsuccessful. "I left my entire family, got the cheapest apartment I could find, and ate shit until somebody would listen," she said.[11]

2005–07: Career beginnings

Germanotta had initially signed with Def Jam Recordings at the age of 19, although she was dropped by the label after only three months.[18] Shortly after, her former management company introduced her to songwriter and producer RedOne, whom they also managed.[19] The first song she produced with RedOne was "Boys Boys Boys",[19] a mash-up inspired by Mötley Crüe's "Girls, Girls, Girls" and AC/DC's "T.N.T."[20] She moved into an apartment on the Lower East Side and recorded a couple of songs with hip-hop singer Grandmaster Melle Mel for an audio book accompanying the children's book The Portal in the Park by Cricket Casey.[21] She also started the Stefani Germanotta Band with some friends from NYU. They recorded an EP of their ballads at a studio underneath a liquor store in New Jersey, becoming a local fixture at the downtown Lower East Side club scene.[11] She began experimenting and taking drugs soon after, while performing at neo-burlesque shows.[8] Her father did not understand the reason behind her drug intake and could not look at her for several months.[8][20] Music producer Rob Fusari, who helped her write some of her earlier songs, compared her vocal style to that of Freddie Mercury. Fusari helped create the moniker Gaga, after the Queen song "Radio Ga Ga". Germanotta was in the process of trying to come up with a stage name when she received a text message from Fusari that read "Lady Gaga."[22] He explained,

"Every day, when Stef came to the studio, instead of saying hello, I would start singing 'Radio Ga Ga'. That was her entrance song. [Lady Gaga] was actually a glitch; I typed 'Radio Ga Ga' in a text and it did an autocorrect so somehow 'Radio' got changed to 'Lady'. She texted me back, "That's it." After that day, she was Lady Gaga. She’s like, "Don’t ever call me Stefani again."[22]

She was known thereafter as Lady Gaga.[20] The New York Post, however, has reported that this story is incorrect, and that the name resulted from a marketing meeting.[14]

Throughout 2007, Gaga collaborated with performance artist Lady Starlight, who helped create her onstage fashions.[23] The pair began playing gigs at downtown club venues like the Mercury Lounge, The Bitter End, and the Rockwood Music Hall, with their live performance art piece known as "Lady Gaga and the Starlight Revue."[24][25] Billed as "The Ultimate Pop Burlesque Rockshow", their act was a low-fi tribute to 1970s variety acts.[26][27] In August 2007, Gaga and Starlight were invited to play at the American Lollapalooza music festival.[28] The show was critically acclaimed, and their performance received positive reviews.[7][24] Having initially focused on avant-garde and electronic dance music, Gaga found her musical niche when she began to incorporate pop melodies and the vintage glam rock of David Bowie and Queen into her music.[29]

Fusari sent the songs he produced with Gaga to his friend, producer and record executive Vincent Herbert.[30] Herbert was quick to sign her to his label Streamline Records, an imprint of Interscope Records, upon its establishment in 2007.[31] She credited Herbert as the man who discovered her, adding "I really feel like we made pop history, and we're gonna keep going".[30] Having already served as an apprentice songwriter under an internship at Famous Music Publishing, which was later acquired by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Gaga subsequently struck a music publishing deal with Sony/ATV.[32] As a result, she was hired to write songs for Britney Spears and labelmates New Kids on the Block, Fergie, and the Pussycat Dolls.[32] While Gaga was writing at Interscope, singer-songwriter Akon recognized her vocal abilities when she sang a reference vocal for one of his tracks in studio.[33] He then convinced Interscope-Geffen-A&M Chairman and CEO Jimmy Iovine to form a joint deal by having her also sign with his own label Kon Live Distribution[18] and later called her his "franchise player."[34] Gaga continued her collaboration with RedOne in the studio for a week on her debut album,[32] spawning the future singles "Just Dance" and "Poker Face." She also joined the roster of Cherrytree Records, an Interscope imprint established by producer and songwriter Martin Kierszenbaum, after co-writing four songs with Kierszenbaum including the single "Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)."[32]

2008–10: The Fame and The Fame Monster

By 2008, Gaga had relocated to Los Angeles, working closely with her record label to finalize her debut album The Fame.[20] She combined different genres on the album, "from Def Leppard drums and hand claps to metal drums on urban tracks".[18] The Fame received positive reviews from critics; according to the music review aggregation of Metacritic, it garnered an average score of 71/100.[35] The album peaked at number one in Austria, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Ireland, and the top-five in Australia and the United States.[36][37] Its lead single "Just Dance", topped the charts in six countries—Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States—and later received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Dance Recording.[38] The following single, "Poker Face", was an even greater success, reaching number-one in almost all major music markets in the world, including the United Kingdom and the United States.[39] It won the award for Best Dance Recording at the 52nd Grammy Awards, over nominations for Song of the Year and Record of the Year. The Fame was nominated for Album of the Year; it won the Grammy Award for Best Electronic/Dance Album.[40] Although her first concert tour happened as an opening act for fellow Interscope pop group, the reformed New Kids on the Block,[41] she ultimately headlined her own concert tour, The Fame Ball Tour, which began on March 2009.[42]

The cover of the annual "Hot 100" issue of Rolling Stone in May 2009 featured a semi-nude Gaga wearing only strategically placed plastic bubbles.[43][44] In the issue she discussed that while she was beginning her career in the New York club scene, she was romantically involved with a heavy metal drummer. She described their relationship and break-up, saying of it, "I was his Sandy, and he was my Danny [of Grease], and I just broke." He later became an inspiration behind some of the songs on The Fame.[44] She was nominated for a total of nine awards at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, winning the award for "Best New Artist", while her single "Paparazzi" won two awards for "Best Art Direction" and "Best Special Effects."[45] In October, Gaga received Billboard magazine's Rising Star of 2009 award.[46] She attended the Human Rights Campaign's "National Dinner" the same month, before marching in the National Equality March in Washington, D.C.[47][48] Gaga released The Fame Monster, a collection of eight songs that dealt with the darker side of fame as experienced by her over the course of 2008–2009, while travelling around the world and are expressed through a monster metaphor. Her second concert tour, The Monster Ball Tour, was announced in support of The Fame Monster and began in November 2009.[49] "Bad Romance" was released as the first single from the album and topped the charts in eighteen countries, while reaching the top-two in the United States, Australia and New Zealand.[50][51] "Speechless", a song from The Fame Monster, was performed at The 2009 Royal Variety Performance where Gaga met and sang for Queen Elizabeth II.[52]

Gaga was chosen as of one the "10 Most Fascinating People of 2009" by Barbara Walters during Walters' annual ABC News special. When interviewed by the journalist, the singer went to dismiss the claim that she is intersex as an urban legend, responding to a question on this issue by stating: "At first it was very strange and everyone sorta said, 'That's really quite a story!' But in a sense, I portray myself in a very androgynous way, and I love androgyny."[53] In January 2010, she was named chief creative officer for a line of imaging products for Polaroid, stating that she will create fashion, technology and photography products.[54] The second single from The Fame Monster, "Telephone", which features R&B singer Beyoncé, became her fourth UK number-one single, while reaching the top three in Australia, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Canada and the United States.[55] In March, Rob Fusari sued Gaga's production company Mermaid Music LLC, claiming that he was entitled to a 20% share of its earnings. Gaga's lawyer Charles Ortner described the agreement with Fusari as "unlawful" and declined to comment.[56] In April, it was reported that her music videos gained over one billion viral views, becoming one of the first artists to reach this milestone.[57] Later that month, Gaga was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people of the year.[58] In May, in an interview with The Times, Gaga hinted at having Systemic lupus erythematosus, commonly referred to as lupus, which is a connective tissue disease.[2] In an interview with Larry King, Gaga confirmed that she does not have lupus but the results were borderline positive.[59]

2010–present: Upcoming third studio album

By March 2010, in an interview with MTV United Kingdom, Gaga stated that she had begun work on her new studio album and already finished writing the core theme of it.[60] Three months later, in a interview with Rolling Stone, she stated that her third studio album was finished, but it won't be released until early next year, probably in March or April 2011. She said: "It came so quickly. I've been working on it for months, and I feel very strongly that it's finished right now. Some artists take years. I don't. I write music every day.". She also stated that she's planning to announce the new album's title in the midnight of New Year's Eve, by inking to it permanently to her body.[61]

Musical style and influences

Gaga has been influenced by glam rock artists such as David Bowie and Queen,[62] as well as pop music artists such as Madonna, Britney Spears and Michael Jackson.[63][18][64] The Queen song "Radio Ga Ga" inspired her stage name, "Lady Gaga".[65][14] She commented: "I adored Freddie Mercury and Queen had a hit called 'Radio Gaga'. That's why I love the name [...] Freddie was unique – one of the biggest personalities in the whole of pop music."[64] Madonna told Rolling Stone that she sees "[her]self in Lady Gaga."[66] In response to the comparisons between herself and Madonna, Gaga stated: "I don't want to sound presumptuous, but I've made it my goal to revolutionise pop music. The last revolution was launched by Madonna 25 years ago."[64] Actress and singer Grace Jones was also cited as an inspiration.[67] She has also been likened to Blondie singer Debbie Harry.[68][69]

Gaga's vocals have drawn frequent comparison to those of Madonna and Gwen Stefani, while the structure of her music is said to echo classic 1980s pop and 1990s Europop.[70] While reviewing her debut album The Fame, The Sunday Times asserted "in combining music, fashion, art and technology, Lady GaGa evokes Madonna, Gwen Stefani circa 'Hollaback Girl', Kylie Minogue 2001 or Grace Jones right now."[71] Similarly, The Boston Globe critic Sarah Rodman commented that she draws "obvious inspirations from Madonna to Gwen Stefani... in [her] girlish but sturdy pipes and bubbly beats."[72] Though her lyrics are said to lack intellectual stimulation, "[she] does manage to get you moving and grooving at an almost effortless pace."[73] Music critic Simon Reynolds wrote that "Everything about Gaga came from electroclash, except the music, which wasn't particularly 1980s, just ruthlessly catchy noughties pop glazed with Auto-Tune and undergirded with R&B-ish beats.[74]

Gaga has stated that she is very much influenced by fashion and that it is everything to her.[8][17] She considers Donatella Versace her muse.[8] Gaga has her own creative production team called the Haus of Gaga, which she handles personally. The team creates many of her clothes, stage props, and hairdos.[75] Her love of fashion came from her mother, who she stated was "always very well kept and beautiful."[5] She said that: "When I'm writing music, I'm thinking about the clothes I want to wear on stage. It's all about everything altogether—performance art, pop performance art, fashion. For me, it's everything coming together and being a real story that will bring back the super-fan. I want to bring that back. I want the imagery to be so strong that fans will want to eat and taste and lick every part of us."[17] The Global Language Monitor named "Lady Gaga" as the Top Fashion Buzzword with her trademark "no pants" coming in at No. 3.[76] Entertainment Weekly put her outfits on its end of the decade "best-of" list, saying, "Whether it's a dress made of Muppets or strategically placed bubbles, Gaga's outré ensembles brought performance art into the mainstream."[77]

Critical reception of Gaga's music, fashion sense and persona are mixed. Her status as a role model, trailblazer and fashion icon is by turns affirmed and denied.[78][79][80][81] Gaga's albums have received mostly positive reviews,[35] with critics pointing out her unique place in pop music, the need for new movements in popular culture, the attention Gaga brings to important social issues, similar artists and the inherently subjective nature of her art.[82][83][84] Her role as a self-esteem booster for her fans is also lauded, as is her role in breathing life into the fashion industry.[85] Her performances are deemed as highly entertaining and innovative, with the blood-spurting performance of "Paparazzi" at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards listed as an eye-popping performance by MTV.[86] She continued such blood soaked performance at The Monster Ball Tour, where she wore a revealing leather corset and proceeded to be attacked by a man dressed in black who gnawed on her throat, causing blood to spurt down her chest and into her cleavage. She then lay dying in a pool of blood. However, during the shows at Manchester, the performance faced opposition from family groups and fans, in the light of a mass homicide event, after a local taxi driver slaughtered 12 people.[87] "It was extremely tasteless to see her pretend to be attacked in such a gory way. What happened in Bradford is very fresh in people's minds and given all the violence which happened in Cumbria just hours earlier, it was insensitive," said Lynn Costello of the organisation Mothers Against Violence.[88] Gaga's treatment of her fans as "Little Monsters" has inspired criticism, due to the highly commercial nature of her music and image.[79] To some, this dichotomy contravenes the concept of outsider culture. Writing for The Guardian, Kitty Empire stated that the dichotomy allegedly "allows the viewer to have a 'transgressive' experience without being required to think."

At (her performance's) core, though, is the idea that Gaga is at one with the freaks and outcasts. The Monster Ball is where we can all be free. This is arrant nonsense, as the scads of people buying Gaga's cunningly commercial music are not limited to the niche worlds of drag queens and hip nightcreatures from which she draws her inspiration. But Gaga seems sincere.[89]

Public image

Contrary to her subsequent outré style, the New York Post described her early look as like "a refugee from Jersey Shore" with "big black hair, heavy eye makeup and tight, revealing clothes."[14] Gaga is a natural brunette, however she bleached her hair blonde, because she was often mistaken for Amy Winehouse.[5] She often refers to her fans as her 'little monsters' and got a tattoo with that inscription as a tribute.[90] She has another six known tattoos, among them a peace symbol, which was inspired by John Lennon who she stated was her hero,[65] and a curling German script on her left arm which quotes the poet Rainer Maria Rilke, her favorite philosopher, commenting that his "philosophy of solitude" spoke to her:[91]

Toward the end of 2008, comparisons were made between the fashions of Lady Gaga and recording artist Christina Aguilera, noting similarities in their styling, hair, and make-up.[8] Aguilera later said she was "completely unaware of [Gaga]" and "didn't know if it [was] a man or a woman."[8] Gaga released a statement in which she welcomed the comparisons, due to the attention providing useful publicity, saying, "She's such a huge star and if anything I should send her flowers, because a lot of people in America didn't know who I was until that whole thing happened. It really put me on the map in a way."[92][93] Comparisons continued into 2010 when Christina released the music video of her single "Not Myself Tonight". Critics noted similarities between the song and its accompanying music video with Gaga's video for "Bad Romance".[94]

Gaga attributes much of her early success as a mainstream artist to her gay fans and is considered to be a rising gay icon.[95] Early in her career she had difficulty getting radio airplay, and stated, "The turning point for me was the gay community. I've got so many gay fans and they're so loyal to me and they really lifted me up. They'll always stand by me and I'll always stand by them. It's not an easy thing to create a fanbase."[96] She thanked FlyLife, a Manhattan-based LGBT marketing company with whom her label Interscope works, in the liner notes of her debut studio album, The Fame, saying, "I love you so much. You were the first heartbeat in this project, and your support and brilliance means the world to me. I will always fight for the gay community hand in hand with this incredible team."[97] One of her first televised performances was in May 2008 at the NewNowNext Awards, an awards show aired by the LGBT television network Logo, where she sang her song "Just Dance".[98] In June of the same year, she performed the song again at the San Francisco Pride event.[99] After The Fame was released, she revealed that the song "Poker Face" was about her bisexuality. In an interview with Rolling Stone, she spoke about how her boyfriends tended to react to her bisexuality, saying "The fact that I’m into women, they’re all intimidated by it. It makes them uncomfortable. They’re like, 'I don’t need to have a threesome. I’m happy with just you'."[44] When she appeared as a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in May 2009, she praised DeGeneres for being "an inspiration for women and for the gay community".[100] She proclaimed that the October 11, 2009, National Equality March rally on the national mall was "the single most important event of her career." As she exited, she left with an exultant "Bless God and bless the gays,"[47] similar to her 2009 MTV Video Music Awards acceptance speech for Best New Artist a month earlier.[101] Gaga is the most popular living celebrity in terms of social networks. She has close to five million Twitter followers and ten million Facebook fans.[102]

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63. ^ Reporter, Staff (2010-02-10). "Britney Spears/Lady Gaga collaboration in the works". The Sun (London: Pop Crunch). http://www.popcrunch.com/britney-spears-lady-gaga-collaboration-in-the-works/. Retrieved 2010-06-20.

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66. ^ Snead, Elizabeth (2009-10-12). "Madonna tells Rolling Stone Lady Gaga reminds her of herself. Is that a compliment?". Los Angeles Times (Tribune Company). http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedishrag/2009/10/madonna-tells-rolling-stone-that-lady-gaga-has-that-it-factor-.html. Retrieved 2009-10-14.

67. ^ Symonds, Alexandra (2009-07-10). "Lady GaGa: "Grace Jones, Androgynous, Robo, Future Fashion Queen"". Prefix. http://www.prefixmag.com/news/lady-gaga-grace-jones-androgynous-robo-future-fash/26057/. Retrieved 2009-07-11.

68. ^ Smith, Liz (2009-10-25). "Debbie Harry Would Love To Perform With Lady Gaga". Evening Standard (Daily Mail and General Trust). http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/showbiz/article-23694934-debbie-harry-would-love-to-perform-with-lady-gaga.do. Retrieved 2009-10-30.

69. ^ Simpson, Dave (2009-07-01). "Lady Gaga: Academy, Manchester". The Guardian (London: Guardian News and Media). http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jul/01/lady-gaga-review. Retrieved 2009-10-30.

70. ^ Petridis, Alexis (2009-01-03). "Lady Gaga: The Fame". The Guardian (London: Guardian News and Media). http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jan/09/lady-gaga-the-fame. Retrieved 2010-05-06.

71. ^ Hajibageri, Sarah (2008-12-14). "Lady GaGa: the future of pop?". The Sunday Times (London: News International). http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article5325327.ece?token=null&offset=0&page=1. Retrieved 2009-08-09.

72. ^ Rodman, Sarah (2008-10-27). "Lady Gaga". The Boston Globe (The New York Times Company). http://www.boston.com/ae/music/cd_reviews/articles/2008/10/27/lady_gaga/. Retrieved 2009-08-09.

73. ^ Sawdey, Evan (2009-01-12). "Lady GaGa The Fame". PopMatters. http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/68939-lady-gaga-the-fame/. Retrieved 2009-04-30.

74. ^ Reynolds, Simon (2010-01-22). "The 1980s revival that lasted an entire decade". The Guardian (London: Guardian News and Media). http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2010/jan/22/eighties-revival-decade. Retrieved 2010-01-22.

75. ^ Garcia, Cathy (2009-03-08). "Lady Gaga Burning Up Album Charts". The Korea Times (Hankook Ilbo). http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2009/03/143_40885.html. Retrieved 2009-03-10.

76. ^ Silva, Horatio (2010-03-04). "The World According to Gaga". The New York Times. http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/04/the-world-according-to-gaga/. Retrieved 2010-04-25.

77. ^ Geier, Thom (2009-12-11). "The 100 Greatest Movies.. Trends That Entertained Us Over The Past 10 Years". Entertainment Weekly (Time Inc.) 1079/1080 (74). ISSN 10490434.

78. ^ Buckner, Michael (2009-12-28). "The Year in Style | Lady Gaga". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/12/24/style/YEARGAGA1227_index.html?ref=lady_gaga. Retrieved 2010-06-17.

79. ^ a b Caramanica, Jon (2009-05-03). "An Artist Whose Chief Work Is Herself". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/04/arts/music/04gaga.html?_r=1. Retrieved 2010-06-17.

80. ^ Vineyard, Jennifer (2009-07-07). "Lady Gaga, You Are No Grace Jones". MTV. http://newsroom.mtv.com/2009/07/27/lady-gaga-you-are-no-grace-jones/. Retrieved 2010-06-17.

81. ^ Lewis, Luke (2009-08-09). "Lady Gaga Vs. Roisin Murphy - Spot The Difference". Yahoo!. http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/newmusicalexpress/2110/lady-gaga-vs-roisin-murphyspot-the-difference/. Retrieved 2010-06-18.

82. ^ Browne, David (2010-01-09). "Is Lady GaGa a saviour of Pop?". Entertainment Weekly 1091 (02). ISSN 10490434.

83. ^ Andres, Joanna (2010-04-09). "Heather Cassils: Lady Gaga's Prison Yard Girlfriend". Out. http://out.com/detail.asp?id=26601. Retrieved 2010-06-18.

84. ^ "Lady Gaga Fashion – Vote on 15 of Lady Gaga's Outfits". Elle. 2009-12-01. http://www.elle.com/Fashion/Fashion-Spotlight/Celebrity-Fashion-Lady-Gaga. Retrieved 2010-06-18.

85. ^ "Kylie Minogue thinks there's an element of her in Lady Gaga‎". Hollywood News. 2010-06-13. http://www.hollywoodnews.com/2010/06/15/kylie-minogue-thinks-theres-an-element-of-her-in-lady-gaga/. Retrieved 2010-06-18.

86. ^ Vena, Jocelyn (2009-09-13). "Lady Gaga Lets It Bleed During Eye-Popping VMA Performance". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1621395/20090913/lady_gaga.jhtml. Retrieved 2010-06-18.

87. ^ Roberts, Sorya (2010-06-03). "Fans protest Lady Gaga's blood-spattered Monster Ball show in England after shooting spree". New York Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/2010/06/03/2010-06-03_fans_protest_lady_gagas_bloodspattered_monster_ball_show_in_england_after_shooti.html. Retrieved 2010-06-23.

88. ^ "Gaga's bloody stage show sparks fury". Hindustan Times. 2010-06-04. http://www.hindustantimes.com/Gaga-s-bloody-stage-show-sparks-fury/Article1-552890.aspx. Retrieved 2010-06-23.

89. ^ Empire, Kitty (2010-02-21). "Lady Gaga at MEN arena, Manchester". The Guardian (london). http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/feb/21/lady-gaga-men-arena-manchester. Retrieved 2010-06-18.

90. ^ Odell, Amy (2010-02-03). "Lady Gaga dedicates her new 'Little Monsters' tattoo to her fans". Daily News (News Corporation). http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2010/02/03/2010-02-03_lady_gaga_dedicates_her_new_little_monsters_tattoo_to_her_fans.html. Retrieved 2010-04-02.

91. ^ Odell, Amy (2009-08-11). "Lady Gaga shows off new German quote tattoo while on tour in Japan". Daily News (News Corporation). http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/08/11/2009-08-11_lady_gaga_shows_off_new_german_quote_tattoo_while_on_tour_in_japan.html. Retrieved 2009-09-06.

92. ^ Reporter, Daily Mail (2009-02-03). "So who copied who? Lookalikes Lady GaGa and Christina Aguilera". Daily Mail (Associated Newspapers). http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1135704/So-copied-Lookalikes-Lady-GaGa-Christina-Aguilera-embroiled-style-row.html. Retrieved 2009-02-06.

93. ^ Temple, Sonic (2008-12-31). "GaGa: I'm thankful for Christina". OK! (Northern & Shell). http://www.ok.co.uk/celebnews/view/6299/GaGa-I-m-thankful-for-Christina/. Retrieved 2009-01-08.

94. ^ Thrills, Adrian (2010-05-02). "Christina Aguilera Copies Lady GaGa". Daily Mail (Associated Newspapers). http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1269136/Christina-Aguilera-copies-Lady-GaGa-dons-PVC-outfit-new-video.html. Retrieved 2010-05-10.

95. ^ Thomas, Matt (2009-07-09). "Going Gaga". fab (Pink Triangle Press). http://www.fabmagazine.com/features/362/Gaga.html. Retrieved 2009-08-11.

96. ^ Vena, Jocelyn (2009-05-07). "Lady Gaga On Success: 'The Turning Point For Me Was The Gay Community'". MTV (MTV Networks). http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1610781/20090506/lady_gaga.jhtml. Retrieved 2009-08-11.

97. ^ (2008) Album notes for The Fame by Lady Gaga [Liner notes]. Interscope Records (2726601).

98. ^ "NewNowNext Awards". 2008-05-03. http://www.logotv.com/video/franchise.jhtml?ctid=1956. Retrieved 2009-08-11.

99. ^ "2008 Main Stage Line-Up". San Francisco Pride. 2008-06-13. http://www.sfpride.org/celeb/mainstage_08.html. Retrieved 2009-08-11.

100. ^ Reporter, Daily Mail (2009-05-13). "Lady GaGa's wacky headgear almost knocks out chat show host Ellen DeGeneres". Daily Mail (Associated Newspapers). http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1181210/Lady-GaGas-wacky-headgear-knocks-chat-host-Ellen-DeGeneres.html. Retrieved 2009-08-11.

101. ^ Vena, Jocelyn (2009-08-14). "Lady Gaga's Shocking 2009 VMA Fashion Choices". MTV (MTV Networks). http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1621407/20090914/lady_gaga.jhtml. Retrieved 2009-08-19.

102. ^ Serjeant, Jill (2010-07-03). "Sign of the Apocaplypse: Lady Gaga Heads for 10 Million Facebook Fan Record". Wired.com. Condé Nast Digital. http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/07/sign-of-the-apocaplypse-lady-gaga-heads-for-10-million-facebook-fan-record/. Retrieved 2010-07-03.

A Brief History of World Cup Football

2010-06-28T08:35:00.000-07:00

A Brief History of World Cup Football

The FIFA (Federation Internationale Football Association) World Cup Tournament takes place every four years, and pits the best football teams from participating nations against one another to determine the world champion team.

FIFA qualifying rounds take place over the three years between matches, and competition is fierce for the 32 final positions.

The tournament is the pinnacle of international football, and it brings together fans from all over the world in a different location every four years. With national pride at stake, the matches are generally very intense and fun to watch.

The Early Years

The first World Cup Tournament was held in Uruguay in 1930, with teams from South America, Europe, and North America competing.

Before the second World War, the World Cup struggled to find enough teams who were willing and able to afford an international tournament every four years. L

ogistics made traveling with a team difficult, and the many wars and skirmishes throughout most of Europe and South America dampened the enthusiasm of fans to make the trip to watch their nation compete.

The outbreak of World War II caused it to be canceled in 1942 and 1946.

How the Tournament Has Evolved

After World War II was over, football and the World Cup became more popular than ever. Europe and South America dominated the tournament, and usually had an easy time defeating the few teams who competed from North America and Africa.

In 1982 FIFA expanded the tournament to include 32 teams, which allowed more teams from outside of Europe and South America to participate.

Since the expansion, there have been more and more teams qualifying and competing well from every corner of the globe.

As the event has gained more publicity, and smaller nations have experienced more success, the worldwide popularity has grown exponentially.

What Makes Brazil Special

Brazil is the only nation that has been involved in every single FIFA World Cup Tournament since 1930. The Brazilian team is often one of the best on the field, and they have taken part in some of the most famous matches ever played.

In 1930, Brazil defeated the Uruguay team in a match that is still talked about today, known as the "Maracanazo" match.

Brazil has won the tournament five times, which gives it a narrow lead over the Italian team, which has won four times.

World Cup 2010

This summer the FIFA World Cup Tournament will be hosted by Cape Town, South Africa. The build-up to this year's tournament has been tense, with accusations of poor officiating in several of the qualifying matches.

This tension should lead to some intense games between rival nations during the tournament. Cape Town has built new roads and structures to accommodate the crowds that are expected to descend on the city in early summer.

Tournament matches are televised and broadcasted over the radio to almost every country in the world, and football fans everywhere will be watching every match closely to see who is named the best in the world for the next four years.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Parks

10 Reasons For Installing An Anti-spyware System

2010-06-10T07:56:00.000-07:00

10 Reasons For Installing An Anti-spyware System

While the World Wide Web is a blessing in many ways it presents dangers in the form of spyware, adware, trojans and so on. While adware most often is not dangerous spyware can monitor your movements and your privacy is at stake.

Thieves can use the internet to steal bank and credit card information or important files form your computer system. Once spyware has entered your system it is time consuming to remove it.

So, it is important to adopt systems that protect your computer at all times like anti-virus software or anti-spyware systems. The reasons you need to install anti-spyware systems are many but the most important are:

1. A serious security breach can mean loss of business or even bankruptcy. Information on the computer system that contains financial customer information can endanger not just you but your customers too.

2. Cyber theft using spyware systems can destroy your personal or business credibility, customer base, and sales.

3. When a business is dependant on online traffic downtime due to infection by viruses or the effort to remove spyware can be a huge set back.

4. Important business plans and valuable research and marketing data destroyed by spyware can be devastating. Stealing files of a computer is like stealing a person’s or business’ intellectual property.

5. The existence of wireless connectivity can compromise your otherwise secure networks. Identity theft can give a criminal free access to your network of clients, as well as sales and financial data.

6. Spyware attacks can destroy your future goals and plans and put your family under threat. Personal information stolen off a computer can be used for criminal or illegal activities apart from indiscriminate use of bank accounts and credit cards.

7. Spyware can track your online activities and this can be sold to your competitors causing loss of sales and customer base.

8. Spyware systems can help competitors learn of your discount schemes or special offers well before you are ready to launch any marketing promotion. This means that you are exposing your business strategy online and giving others ideas that would have lead to increased profitability.

9. If you are in path breaking research of some kind your work could be stolen or data corrupted through spyware systems. This means years of research could be vulnerable and your standing in the scientific community could be compromised.

10. Spyware can expose your personal finance and investments to thieves and you could loose your nest egg because you failed to protect your system from cyber thieves.

The list of dangers due to spyware is endless and experts advice that the computers personal or business should be like an impenetrable fortress. You should be able to enjoy the joys and convenience of the World Wide Web without loosing your sanity and exposing yourself to cyber thieves.

By: Arthur Raise

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Top 5 Most Important Terms Used in the Insurance Business Top 5 Most Important Terms Used in the Insurance Business Top 5 Most Important Terms Used in the Insurance Business

2010-03-09T06:35:00.000-08:00

Top 5 Most Important Terms Used in the Insurance Business
By Aun Rizvi

Insurance is defined like a financial operation which occurs after an insurance contract or through law statements. The insurance company or institution is obliged to compensate a person or another company in exchange for a periodical paid amount of money.

Insurances are paid services that take over the obligation of paying for a broken or damaged object or property that takes place from independent reasons of the person which benefits from the insurance.

Terms used in the insurance business

The insurer is the insurance company or institution that sells the insurance, meaning that it takes responsibility for damaged goods or other insured services in exchange for a certain amount of money.

The insured is the person, company or institution buying the insurance. The insured is buying the insurance in order to prevent losses due to unexpected events that can happen. He contracts the insurance from the insurer through which he protects certain goods, properties, objects, services or damages that can be provoked to other people.

The insurance beneficiary is the designated person that can collect the compensation amount or insured sum, without having any obligations or involvement in the contract.

The insurance contract is a legal document through which are settled legal clauses between involved parties. This document comprises other legal documents like the insurance request, the insurance policy and contract conditions for basic insurance together with other possible contractual clauses.

The insured risk is an unexpected event that causes certain damages and that obliges the insurer to pay to either the insured or beneficiary the compensation amount settled within the insurance contract.

Legal issues of indemnity and damage

The indemnity, compensation or reparation is defined, in legal terms, as a process through which one party that contracted the insurance receives money for any loss covered within contract terms. Sometimes, an indemnity can also be a part of a rescission integrated in a program.

In this case, the property is exchanged for an amount of money, while the indemnity is requested only by the innocent party. On the other hand, damages are different because of the law of obligations and should not be mistaken for indemnity.

What prevention measures to take with insurance companies?

If you want to avoid any unpleasant surprises the ones who buy insurance policies should make sure that they read the contract many times before signing it and understand completely all their conditions and clauses.

For example, when you want to buy an insurance policy for your vehicle, you should make sure to check all available options. Not all companies have the same price, nor do they sell the same product. There are major differences between insurances sold by different companies.

Some of them don't cover all loss risks that might be necessary for the future policy holder, thus, make sure you carefully read all covered and uncovered risks before signing your new contract. If you don't pay attention to this step, you'll soon find yourself in an unpleasant situation.

You should also know that you have the option to ask for the insurance to be extended beyond your country. You can have your vehicle insured when you go away for a trip to a foreign country.

You also need to make sure that you can get compensated fast enough if an unfortunate event occurs. Some companies give you your money back 15 days after all necessary documents have been handed over to the insurer.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aun_Rizvi

Kim Yu-Na Biography

2010-02-24T05:04:00.000-08:00

Kim Yu-Na Biography

Kim Yu-Na (Hangul: 김연아, Hanja: 金姸兒) (born on September 5, 1990 in Bucheon, Gyeonggi-do) is a South Korean figure skater and the reigning world champion.

She is the 2009 World champion, the 2009 Four Continents champion, a three-time (2006–2007, 2007–2008, 2009–2010) Grand Prix Final champion, the 2006 World Junior champion, the 2005-2006 Junior Grand Prix Final champion and a four-time (2002–2005) South Korean national champion.

Kim is the first South Korean figure skater who has medaled and won at ISU Junior Grand Prix series, the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final, ISU Grand Prix series, the ISU Grand Prix Final, the ISU Four Continents Championships and the ISU World Championships. She is one of the most highly recognized athletes and media figures in South Korea.[1]

Kim is the record holder for ladies in the short program,[2] the free skating[3] and the combined total[4] under the ISU Judging System. Kim is the first female skater to surpass the 200-point mark[4] and also the first female skater to receive +2.20 grade of execution for jumps[5] under the ISU Judging System.

As of February 2010, she is ranked first in the world by the ISU.[6]

Personal life

Kim Yu-Na was born in 1990 in Bucheon, Gyeonggi-do, and moved to Gunpo when she was 6 years old. She had to train mostly at night due to the lack of skating facilities for daytime training. In early 2007, she moved to Toronto, Ontario, Canada for better training under Brian Orser. In 2009, Kim enrolled at Korea University[7] as a freshman, but she has been continuing her training in Canada.

Early career

Kim Yu-Na began skating when she was seven years old with her older sister. Her coach at the time, Ryu Jong-Hyeon, who was impressed with Kim's exceptional talent, strongly suggested to Kim's mother that Kim should continue to skate, predicting that she would become a world-class figure skater in the future.[8]

In 2002, she competed internationally for the first time at the Triglav Trophy, where she won the gold medal for the novice competition.

In 2003, at age 12, she became the youngest woman to ever win the senior title at the South Korean Figure Skating Championships. She won her second international competition at the Golden Bear of Zagreb, a novice competition.

In 2004, she became the South Korean senior national champion for the second time in her career.

2004-2005 season

In the 2004–2005 season, as a junior skater, she competed at the ISU Junior Grand Prix, which is a junior complement to the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating.

She won a silver medal in China and a gold medal in Hungary. She won a silver medal at the 2005 Junior Grand Prix Final with an overall score of 137.75 points, 30.80 behind gold medalist Mao Asada.

Kim won the senior national title on her way to the 2005 World Junior Figure Skating Championships.

At that competition, Kim won a silver medal again, earning 158.93 points, 20.31 points behind Mao Asada.

2005-2006 season

For the 2005–2006 season, Kim remained on the Junior Grands Prix. She was not old enough to compete at the 2006 Olympics, even if South Korea was granted a spot at the final qualifying competition, the 2005 Karl Schäfer Memorial. So, Kim remained on the 2005-2006 Junior Grand Prix and won both of her competitions, that were held in Bulgaria and Slovakia, to qualify for the 2006 Junior Grand Prix Final.

She won the Junior Grand Prix Final with a score that was 28.34 points ahead of silver medalist Aki Sawada. At the free skating, Kim landed seven triple jumps, including a triple flip - triple toe loop combination and a double axel - triple toe loop combination.

Kim won her fourth senior national title.

At the 2006 World Junior Figure Skating Championships, she competed against the defending champion Mao Asada. Kim won the gold medal scoring 177.54 points overall, with a 24.19-point margin of victory over Asada.

In the 2006-2007 season, Kim made her senior international debut at 2006 Skate Canada where she won a bronze medal after being placed first at the short program and fourth in the free skate program with a total overall score of 168.48 points. She won the 2006 Trophée Eric Bompard with a score of 184.54 points, 10.10 ahead of silver medalist Miki Ando. Those performances qualified Kim for the Grand Prix Final for the first time.

At the 2006 Grand Prix Final in St. Petersburg, Russia, Kim was placed third in the short program with 65.06 points and first in the long program with 119.14. She won the Grand Prix Final earning 184.20 points, by a margin of 11.68 ahead over silver medalist Mao Asada.

2006-2007 season

Kim wanted to defend her title at the 2006–2007 South Korean Championships, but was forced to withdraw due to an injury that she got before the event. In January 2007, Kim was diagnosed to have the early stage of lumbar disc herniation (L4~L5).[9]

Kim was selected to compete at the 2007 World Figure Skating Championships based on her performance from the season so far. Because of the placement of Choi Ji Eun the year before, South Korea had only one spot for the World Championships.

In March 2007, at the 2007 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Kim won the short program with 71.95 points, setting the highest short program score ever under the new ISU Judging System and consequently, a world record.[10] She placed fourth in the long program earning 114.19 points, and placed third overall with 186.14 points. She was 8.31 points behind silver medalist Mao Asada and 5.91 points ahead of fourth place finisher Kimmie Meissner. Kim's placement qualified South Korea two ladies entries for the 2008 World Figure Skating Championships.[11] Kim was the only lady skater whose triple-triple combination was recognized by the judges in both the short and the free skating programs in the 2006-2007 season.

2007-2008 season

Kim started off the 2007–2008 season winning the 2007 Cup of China with a total score of 180.68 points, that was 24.34 ahead of silver medalist Caroline Zhang. At the 2007 Cup of Russia, Kim won both the short program scoring 63.50 points and the free skate with 133.70 points, to finish first overall with 197.20 points, 24.43 ahead of silver medalist Yukari Nakano. She executed those jumps in the long program: a triple flip-triple toe loop combination, a triple loop, a triple lutz-double toe loop combination, a double axel-triple toe loop combination, a triple lutz, a triple salchow and a double axel. At the competition, Kim set a world record for the free skate score under the ISU Judging System.[12]

Kim's two wins qualified her for the 2007–2008 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final in Turin, Italy, where she went in as the reigning and defending champion. She won the short program with 64.62 points and was placed second in the free skate earning 132.21 to win her second Grand Prix Final competition with a total score of 196.83 points, by 5.24 points ahead of Mao Asada.

Kim chose not to compete at the 2007–2008 South Korean Nationals and withdrew from the 2008 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships a week before the event due to a hip injury.

In spite of a series of injuries, which caused her a persistent back pain, she competed at the 2008 World Figure Skating Championships. She was placed fifth in the short program with 59.85 points, but she rebounded in the free skate to win the program with 123.38. She scored 183.23 points overall, winning her second consecutive bronze medal at the World Championships.

2008-2009 season

Kim was assigned to the 2008 Skate America and the 2008 Cup of China Grand Prix for the 2008-2009 ISU Grand Prix season.

At the 2008 Skate America, Kim was placed first in the short program with a score of 69.50, standing out by the margin of 11.70 points despite a trouble in her double axel.[13] She went on to capture the ladies title by winning the free skate as well with a score of 123.95. Kim landed a triple flip-triple toe loop combination, a triple lutz-double toe loop-double loop combination, a double axel-triple toe loop combination, a triple lutz, a triple salchow, and a double axel. She won the event earning 193.45 overall, a score that was more than 20 points ahead of silver medalist Yukari Nakano.

Her success continued at the 2008 Cup of China, where she received a score of 63.64 in the short program and 128.11 in the free skate, placing first in both of them. In the free skate Kim completed a triple flip-triple toe loop combination, and a double axel, a triple lutz, a double axel-triple toe loop combination, a triple lutz-double toe loop combination, a triple salchow, and another double axel. She also earned a level four on all of her three spins and her spiral sequence. The combined total of 191.75 was nearly 21 points ahead of silver medalist Miki Ando, and her performance qualified Kim for a spot in the 2008-2009 Grand Prix Final.

At the 2008-2009 Grand Prix Final, which was held in Goyang, South Korea, she was placed first in the short program with 65.94 points and second in the free skate where she earned 120.41 points. She won silver medal with a total score of 186.35 points, 2.20 behind Mao Asada.

Kim competed in the 2009 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships. She set a new world record of 72.24 points in the short program[14] of the competition with a clean performance. She scored 116.83 in the free skating program, keeping the lead with 189.07 points overall and winning the gold medal.

During the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships, she set another new world record of 76.12 points in the short program, surpassing her previous world record by almost four points.[15] She performed a triple flip-triple toe loop combination, a triple lutz and a double axel as well as earning a level four on all her spins and her spiral sequence. She also won the free skating program, scoring 131.59 points and showing great presentation skills with her artistry and her musicality. She executed a triple flip-triple toe loop combination, a double axel, a triple lutz-double toe loop-double loop combination, a double axel-triple toe loop combination, a triple lutz and another double axel. As a result, she set a new world record total of 207.71 as well as winning her first World Figure Skating Championships title. She became the first female skater to surpass 200 points[16] under the ISU Judging System. Her margin of victory was a whopping 16.42 points ahead of silver medalist Joannie Rochette. Kim was the only female skater whose triple-triple combination was recognized by the judges in both the short and free programs during the 2008-2009 season.[17][18]

2009-2010 season

Kim was assigned to the 2009 Trophée Eric Bompard and the 2009 Skate America in the 2009-2010 ISU Grand Prix season.

At the 2009 Trophée Eric Bompard, Kim was placed first in the short program with the score of 76.08 points, which was 16.44 points ahead of Yukari Nakano, who placed second in that segment of the competition. She successfully executed a triple lutz-triple toe loop combination, followed by a triple flip and a double axel. Her spiral sequence and all the three spins were graded a level four. Opening with a triple lutz-triple toe loop combination and showing great artistic skills, Kim won the free skate scoring 133.95 points. She also executed a double axel-double toe loop-double loop, a double axel-triple toe loop, a triple salchow, a triple lutz and a double axel. She won the event with 210.03 points, 36.04 ahead of silver medalist Mao Asada. Kim set world records for the free skate and the overall score under the ISU Judging System at the competition.[19]

At the 2009 Skate America, Kim placed first again after the short program with the score of 76.28, which was 17.48 points ahead of her closest competitor Rachael Flatt. Like in the 2009 Trophée Eric Bompard, she beautifully executed a triple lutz-triple toe loop combination, a triple flip and a double axel. She received +2.20 grade of execution for her triple lutz-triple toe loop combination,[5] the highest ever given by the ISU in ladies' figure skating. She placed second in the free skate with the score of 111.70 points, due to unexpected mistakes in her jumps. Although it was one of her lowest scores, she still won the event with 187.98 points, beating silver medalist Rachael Flatt yet with a lead of 13.07. At the competition, set a new world record again for the short program under the ISU Judging System.[20]

Her victories in both Grand Prix events qualified her for the 2009-2010 Grand Prix Final in Tokyo, Japan, in December 2009. At the event, she placed second in the short program with 65.64 points, 0.56 behind Miki Ando. On the next day, she won the free skate with 123.22 points, 3.48 ahead of Ando. As a result, Kim won her third Grand Prix Final title with a total of 188.86 points. At the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, she scored a 78.50; a new world record.

2010 Winter Olympics

From February 23rd till the 25th she competed in the ladies event at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

On February 23rd, 2010, she competed in the short program, where she executed a triple lutz-triple toe loop, a triple flip and a double axel. Her spirals and her spins were all graded a level four. Her technical score of 44.70 points was the highest of the event and she was also superior to the rest of the competitors in the program components score, where she received 33.80 due to her interpretative artistic skills. As a result Kim scored 78.50 points, taking the lead by 4.72 over Mao Asada and getting her best score in the short program. She set a new world record for the short program.[21]

Coaching changes

In order to prepare for her senior debut in the 2006–2007 season, Kim trained extensively at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club of Toronto, Canada during the summer of 2006.

In March 2007, Brian Orser became her new full-time coach. Satisfied with the training environment in Toronto, Kim made Toronto her permanent training ground. Her coaching team includes Brian Orser, Astrid Shrubb, David Wilson and Tracy Wilson.[1]

Skating techniques

Kim landed her first triple jump at the age of 10, and at 12, she could use five triple jumps in her figure skating program.[22]

When Kim was 14 years old, she landed her first triple-triple combination jump at the 2005 World Junior Championships.[23]

Kim has executed three different triple-triple combination jumps in competitions: a triple lutz-triple toe loop,[24] a triple flip-triple toe loop,[25] and a triple toe loop-triple toe loop.[26]

Kim can also execute a triple lutz-double toe loop-double loop jump combination.[27]

Kim has received +2.20 grade of execution[5] for jumps, and she has also received +2.00 grade of execution for her spiral sequence,[28] for her steps sequence[29] and for her spins.[29]

One of Kim's signature moves is her bent-leg layover camel spin, frequently called the Yu-Na spin. Her other signature move is a layback ina bauer that she leads directly into a double axel jump, to a double axel-triple toe loop jump combination or to a double axel-double toe loop-double loop jump combination.

Kim is famous for her technical brilliance, high jumps, huge ice coverage, fast speed, superior artistry, lyrical style, grace and musicality,[30] and for the great ice coverage of her jumps due to her high speed take-off.[31]

Public life and endorsements

Kim's official sponsors are Nike, Kookmin Bank, and Hyundai Motor Company.[32]

Her skating music and other favorites were compiled in the album Yuna Kim ~ Fairy On ICE ~ Skating Music (Universal Music Korea, 2008).[33]

Kim was the headliner of the 2008 and 2009 Festa On Ice, which also featured world class figure skaters. IB Sports, Kim's agency, produced the ice show.

IB Sports put on another ice show, Ice All Stars 2009, which took place in Seoul on August 14–16, 2009. Michelle Kwan, who is a five-time World Champion and a twice Olympic medalist and who is known to be Kim's idol, joined the ice show.[34]

Kim was also named as an ambassador for the 2010-2012 Visit Korea Year.[35]

Kim has appeared on multiple commercials[36] in South Korea. She sings in some commercials and also sang in T.V. specials.[37] Her commercial for a new touchscreen haptic phone from Samsung Electronics, dubbed as Yuna's Haptic (SPH-W7700), debuted in South Korea on May 24, 2009.[38] In the commercial, she plays a rock singer, a teenager, and a writer to show off various features of the phone.[39] Samsung Electronics has sold over one million devices in a record seven months.[40]

References

1. ^ a b "Yu-Na Kim: The Best is Yet to Come". International Figure Skating. 2007-12. http://www.ifsmagazine.com/archive/2007/DECEMBER/INDEX.PHP.

2. ^ "ISU Judging System Statistics, Progression of Highest Score, Ladies SP". International Skating Union. http://www.isuresults.com/isujsstat/phslsp.htm. Retrieved 2010-02-03.

3. ^ "ISU Judging System Statistics, Progression of Highest Score, Ladies FS". International Skating Union. http://www.isuresults.com/isujsstat/phslfs.htm. Retrieved 2010-02-03.

4. ^ a b "ISU Judging System Statistics, Progression of Highest Score, Ladies Total Score". International Skating Union. http://www.isuresults.com/isujsstat/phslto.htm. Retrieved 2010-02-03.

5. ^ a b c "2009 ISU GP Cancer.Net Skate America, Ladies SP protocol". International Skating Union. http://www.isuresults.com/results/gpusa09/gpusa09_Ladies_SP_Scores.pdf.

6. ^ "Current ISU World Standings". International Skating Union. http://www.isuresults.com/ws/wsladies.htm. Retrieved 2010-02-03.

7. ^ "Kim Yu-Na Captures Skate America Title". The Korea Times. 2008-10-27. http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/10/136_33341.html.

8. ^ "김연아 “남 의식하기보단 자발적인 노력의 힘” 연습벌레 근성이 성공의 발판.". Newsen. 2009-05-18. http://media.daum.net/breakingnews/sports/view.html?cateid=1031&newsid=20090518110807256&p=newsen. (Korean)

9. ^ "Skate Phenom Diagnosed With Hernia". Donga.com. 2007-01-04. http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2007010487838.

10. ^ "ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2007 Tokyo (JPN) Day 4". International Skating Union. 2007-03-23. http://www.sportcentric.com/vsite/vcontent/content/news/0,10869,4844-131973-133281-18886-268075-news-item,00.html.

11. ^ "International Skating Union Communication No. 1469 Entries ISU Championships 2008". International Skating Union. http://isu.sportcentric.net/db//files/serve.php?id=597.

12. ^ "2007 ISU Cup of Russia, Day 2 report". International Skating Union. 2007-11-24. http://www.isu.org/vsite/vcontent/content/transnews/0,10869,4844-128590-19728-18885-280501-3787-4771-layout160-129898-news-item,00.html.

13. ^ "Kim surges to big lead after short at Skate America". Icenetwork.com. 2008-10-26. http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081026&content_id=54227&vkey=ice_news.

14. ^ "Kim posts record SP score at Four Continents". Icenetwork.com. 2009-02-05. http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090205&content_id=60765&vkey=ice_news.html.

15. ^ "Kim sets new standard in ladies short at worlds". Icenetwork.com. 2009-03-27. http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090327&content_id=63271&vkey=ice_news.

16. ^ "Top-10 ladies moments of 2008-09". Icenetwork.com. http://web.icenetwork.com/gen/photogallery/year_2009/month_06/day_02/cf5102118.html.

17. ^ "2009 ISU World Figure Skating Championships - Ladies SP judges detais per skater". International Skating Union. http://www.isuresults.com/results/wc2009/wc09_Ladies_SP_Scores.pdf.

18. ^ "2009 ISU World Figure Skating Championships - Ladies FS judges detais per skater". International Skating Union. http://www.isuresults.com/results/wc2009/wc09_Ladies_FS_Scores.pdf.

19. ^ "Kim takes gold in record-breaking fashion". Icenetwork.com. 2009-10-17. http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091017&content_id=7480284&vkey=ice_news.

20. ^ "Kim's short has license to kill". Icenetwork.com. 2009-11-14. http://web.icenetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091114&content_id=7667832&vkey=ice_news.

21. ^ "Figure Skating: 'Bond girl' Kim ahead". Vancouver 2010: Figure Skating. 2010-02-23. http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-news/n/news/afp-news/figure-skating--bond-girl-kim-ahead--rochette-third_291260NE.html.

22. ^ Song, Chang-Hoon (2009-04-01). "Studying Yuna Kim". Chosun Ilbo Blog. http://blog.chosun.com/blog.log.view.screen?blogId=24779&logId=3834417. Retrieved 2009-10-31.

23. ^ "2005 ISU World Junior Championships, Ladies QR protocol". International Skating Union. http://www.isufs.org/results/wjc2005/WJC05_LadiesQualifyingGroupB_FS_Scores.pdf.

24. ^ "2005 ISU Junior Grand Prix Sofia Cup, Ladies FS protocol". International Skating Union. http://www.isufs.org/results/jgpbul2005/jgpbul05_Ladies_FS_scores.pdf.

25. ^ "2005 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final, Ladies FS protocol". International Skating Union. http://www.isuresults.com/results/jgpf0506/jgpf0506_Ladies_FS_scores.pdf.

26. ^ "2005 ISU World Junior Championships, Ladies FS protocol". International Skating Union. http://www.isufs.org/results/wjc2005/WJC05_Ladies_FS_Score.pdf.

27. ^ "2005 ISU Junior Grand Prix Slovakia, Ladies FS protocol". International Skating Union. http://www.isuresults.com/results/jgpsvk2005/jgpsvk05_Ladies_FS_scores.pdf.

28. ^ "2008 ISU Cup of China, Ladies FS protocol". International Skating Union. http://www.isufs.org/results/gpchn08/gpchn08_Ladies_FS_Scores.pdf.

29. ^ a b "2009 ISU World Championships, Ladies SP protocol". International Skating Union. http://www.isuresults.com/results/wc2009/wc09_Ladies_SP_Scores.pdf.

30. ^ NBC comments at the 2009 World Figure Championships (Michelle Kwan and Dick Burton)

31. ^ Comment of NBC's Scott Hamilton (2:44)

32. ^ Kim Yu-Na Official Website-PARTNERS

33. ^ "Fairy on the Ice". Music Aladdin. 2008. http://music.aladdin.co.kr/shop/wproduct.aspx?ISBN=867812055X. (Korean)

34. ^ "Kwan to Join Yu-Na in Local Ice Show". The Korea Times. 2009-07-02. http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/sports/2009/07/136_47815.html.

35. ^ "Yu-Na Named Amb. of Visit Korea Year". The Korea Times. 2009-04-29. http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2009/05/139_44034.html.

36. ^ Yu-Na Kim commercial

37. ^ Yu-Na Kim singing live "Can You Hear Me?" at Angels on Ice

38. ^ "Yu-Na Becomes Model for Handset CF". The Korea Times. 2009-05-10. http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2009/05/123_44623.html.

39. ^ "록커로 변신한 김연아". 해럴드경제. 2009-05-22. http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=105&oid=112&aid=0002006816. (Korean)

40. ^ "미 언론 '김연아폰' 신기록의 힘은...". chosun.com. 2009-12-24. http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/12/24/2009122400181.html?Dep0=chosunnews&Dep1=hotnews&Dep2=news03. (Korean)

41. ^ "The Nymph of Figure Skating Waits for August". The Dong-A Ilbo. 2004-02-10. http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?biid=2004021114318&path_dir=20040211. There was miscommunication between ISU and Korean Federation.

source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Yu-Na

An Historical Perspective: From No To Yes In 7 Words

2009-10-27T07:49:00.000-07:00

An Historical Perspective: From No To Yes In 7 Words

We consider whether 7 words might be used to examine the deeper waves that underlie all changes. Let’s look briefly at the greater cycles of change, underneath the babble of so much detail and so many opinions — look at the major facets of human evolution, at least the Homo Sapiens bit.

We can say that civilisation began to express awareness significantly above the animal level when tools were used. Before that human behaviour very closely resembled that of certain animals—in particular by surrendering to the inevitable danger and hardships of life because no better condition was imaginable. This suggests Yes, the acceptance of what comes without resistance. The tooling-up of the hunter-gatherers coincided with their saying No! They no longer accepted fate and chose a new reality wherein nature could be tamed a little. The truth was affirmed that humanity was a significant partner in the co-creating of Earth conditions. ‘We are no longer sleeping children of the Earth Mother; we are awakening and growing up’. Our prehistoric Yes became No, the beginning of the story of civilization.

No

The Agricultural Revolution marked a major universal shift in humanity’s thinking and was clearly No-like. Fences were constructed around land, establishing both clear boundaries and the identity of those who were normally allowed inside them. People were required to choose to belong to a particular social group—and not to any other, and not to continue their hunter-gatherer meanderings. Foragers who wouldn’t invest their labour into putting down roots were excluded. Thus clans became nations and, protected within the walls of their city-states, they grew wealthy.

Hello

The Hello era that followed accelerated as people developed their languages, shared knowledge, skills and ideas and learned more about getting along with neighbours—who had become much more permanent. Without land to tie them down, the early hunters had had less need for social skills, being able to refuse involvement if they felt uncomfortable. As exchanges opened up, communication took on an even greater level of importance. To exchange surpluses and find ‘new breeding stock’ required that various groups reached out the hand of friendship in trade—or the less friendly version in skirmishes with neighbouring groups.

Curiosity also became a major factor that promoted travel and cultural exchange. Its twin sister inventiveness applied itself to overcome hardships and came up with ideas like yoking oxen and irrigation—mechanical devices that can be seen as early heralds for the next leap forward—the Industrial Revolution. The building of railways and telegraphs and spreading of newspapers even to the working folk are all clues that this period was the flowering of the Hello era. The world, previously an inconceivable concept, was now navigable by even the poorest wayfarer with enough spark and an ardent curiosity.

Thank You

As much as the seeds of Hello were clearly visible within the No-like Agricultural Revolution, the seeds of the Thank You era can be identified within the industrialization process. Leisure became increasingly known as a major social phenomenon—until it became widespread across all classes in the developed world. The poor were still relatively poor—yet only by contrast to the richer rich. In the middle of the 20th century many ordinary working people were rescued from domestic drudgery by washing machines and they could watch TV and drive cars. People became free to appreciate the good life, to express options about what they valued. The governments of rich countries gave compassionate aid to the hungry. And, at least for a while, we felt thankful.

Goodbye

The Information Revolution could be said to have arisen in the mid 1960’s when microchip technology enabled electronic things to come about. This made the processing of data incomparably faster and fanned the flames of humanity’s obsessional lust for information. Now we are given all the information we need to see that the Industrial Age was not handled very elegantly—we had forgotten to deal with all of its ramifications—and the first major complaints were becoming clear sounding. Words like ecology, global warming and CND were introduced into our language, firstly by a group of people who were born around the late 1940’s.

In the Goodbye era we would expect to observe the 4 keywords: realization, decision, completion and moving on. Well, indeed, now we are—at least some of us—coming to the realization of what the Industrial era has done. Next comes decision, and this is not so clear. Unfortunately, those who can really make a difference, the powerful Western industrialists, are not yet willing to decide. When they do decide we will need to go through a stage of completion. Our task is to reach completion on the Industrial Revolution—to clean up. Only then can we expect to move on.

There is good reason to expect a tidal-wave type of change as the baby-boomers of 1946/7, who were born to express humanity’s moving on from wartime, begin to retire at 60. This is the hidden bomb whose long shock-wave blast has rippled throughout the post-war period and is being projected into a future where it is ready to explode. Pensions will become increasingly tight and great pressure will arise to allocate diminishing resources to ageing and unproductive voters (as long as democracy holds). But these same people have had to compete all their lives for limited resources and have become quite used to making governments change their position—on matters like the Vietnam War. And we have to acknowledge that when they came of age in 1964, they pushed the boundaries of convention like never before.

As they approach retirement, they will do whatever they can to look after their own interests. Unfortunately, whereas now it takes three workers to fund one retired person during the next 30 years the dependency ratio will worsen and by 2036 it will need to be only two. We’ll all have to work harder, longer and more effectively by a margin of 50%. Either we wake up to this now and do something or we can learn to expect that as old folks we will be cold, hungry, sick and uncared-for. Goodbye is ruthless; a decision must cut the past from the future. We need to make a difficult decision that will change the face of economics and politics forever, and we need to make it now.

What’s next?

Please will be next, and unified intention, cooperation and prayer will be the qualities of the era. Please begins with vision, so perhaps we may pray for a collective vision of world peace brought about through a widespread shift of awareness. These major revolutionary shifts are happening more quickly as ‘time speeds up’. It took tens of thousands of years for hunter-gatherers to learn their lessons, thousands for the agricultural wisdoms to be assimilated and a couple of hundred until we saw the ambiguities of industrialization. So 40 years after the Information Revolution of the Sixties, we ought to be ready for another—a bedrock change in how we see things, how we think and how we act upon those thoughts.

Presumably this can be called the Consciousness Revolution.

By: JamesBurgess

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Harry Potter

2009-07-22T00:03:00.000-07:00

Harry Potter
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter, together with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, his friends from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The central story arc concerns Harry's struggle against the evil wizard Lord Voldemort, who killed Harry's parents in his quest to conquer the wizarding world and subjugate non-magical (Muggle) people to his rule. Several successful derivative films, video games and other themed merchandise have been based upon the series.

Since the 1997 release of the first novel Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, which was retitled Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the United States, the books have gained immense popularity, critical acclaim and commercial success worldwide.[1] As of June 2008, the book series has sold more than 400 million copies and has been translated into 67 languages,[2][3] and the last four books have consecutively set records as the fastest-selling books in history.

English-language versions of the books are published by Bloomsbury in the United Kingdom, Scholastic Press in the United States, Allen & Unwin in Australia, and Raincoast Books in Canada. Thus far, the first six books have been made into a series of motion pictures by Warner Bros., with the sixth, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, released on 15 July 2009.[4] The series also originated much tie-in merchandise, making the Harry Potter brand worth £15 billion. [5]

The novels revolve around Harry Potter, an orphan who discovers that he is a wizard.[6] Wizard ability is inborn, but children are sent to wizarding school to learn the magical skills necessary to succeed in the wizarding world.[7] Harry is invited to attend the boarding school called Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Each book chronicles one year in Harry's life, and most of the events take place at Hogwarts.[8] As he struggles through adolescence, Harry learns to overcome many magical, social and emotional hurdles.[9]

Wizarding world

Flashbacks throughout the series reveal that when Harry was a baby he witnessed his parents' murder by Lord Voldemort who was a dark wizard obsessed with racial purity.[10] For reasons not immediately revealed, Voldemort's attempt to kill Harry rebounds.[10] Voldemort is seemingly killed and Harry survives with only a lightning-shaped mark on his forehead as a memento of the attack.[10] As its inadvertent saviour from Voldemort's reign of terror, Harry becomes a living legend in the wizard world. However, at the orders of his patron, the wizard Albus Dumbledore, the orphaned Harry is placed in the home of his unpleasant Muggle (non-wizard) relatives, who keep him safe but completely ignorant of his true heritage.[10]

The first novel in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, begins near Harry's 11th birthday. Half-giant Rubeus Hagrid reveals Harry's history and introduces him to the wizarding world.[10] The world J. K. Rowling created is both completely separate from and yet intimately connected to the real world. While the fantasy world of Narnia is an alternative universe and the Lord of the Rings’ Middle-earth a mythic past, the Wizarding world of Harry Potter exists alongside that of the real world and contains magical elements similar to things in the non-magical world. Many of its institutions and locations are in places that are recognisable in the real world, such as London.[11] It comprises a fragmented collection of hidden streets, overlooked and ancient pubs, lonely country manors and secluded castles that remain invisible to the non-magical population of Muggles.[7]

With Hagrid's help, Harry prepares for and undertakes his first year of study at Hogwarts. As Harry begins to explore the magical world, the reader is introduced to many of the primary locations used throughout the series. Harry meets most of the main characters and gains his two closest friends: Ron Weasley, a fun-loving member of an ancient, large, happy, but hard-up wizarding family, and Hermione Granger, an obsessively bookish witch of non-magical parentage.[10][12] Harry also encounters the school's potions master, Severus Snape, who displays a deep and abiding dislike for him. The plot concludes with Harry's second confrontation with Lord Voldemort, who in his quest for immortality, yearns to gain the power of the Philosopher's Stone.[10]

The series continues with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets describing Harry's second year at Hogwarts. He and his friends investigate a 50-year-old mystery that appears tied to recent sinister events at the school. The novel delves into the history of Hogwarts and a legend revolving around the "Chamber of Secrets", the underground lair of an ancient evil. For the first time, Harry realises that racial prejudice exists in the wizarding world, and he learns that Voldemort's reign of terror was often directed at wizards who were descended from Muggles. Harry is also shocked to learn that he can speak Parseltongue, the language of snakes; this rare ability is often equated with the dark arts. The novel ends after Harry saves the life of Ron's younger sister, Ginny Weasley, by defeating an attempt by Voldemort to reincarnate himself through the memories he stored within a diary.[10]

The third novel, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, follows Harry in his third year of magical education. It is the only book in the series which does not feature Voldemort. Instead, Harry must deal with the knowledge that he has been targeted by Sirius Black, an escaped murderer believed to have assisted in the deaths of Harry's parents. As Harry struggles with his reaction to the dementors—dark creatures with the power to devour a human soul—which are ostensibly protecting the school, he reaches out to Remus Lupin, a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher with a dark secret. Lupin teaches Harry defensive measures which are well above the level of magic generally shown by people his age. Harry learns that both Lupin and Black were close friends of his father and that Black was framed by their fourth friend, Peter Pettigrew.[13]

Voldemort returns

During Harry's fourth year of school, detailed in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry unwillingly participates in the Triwizard Tournament, a dangerous magical contest with the young foreign witches and wizards of visiting schools.[14] Harry attempts to discover who has forced him to compete in the tournament, and why.[15] An anxious Harry is guided through the tournament by Professor Alastor Moody, the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. The point at which the mystery is unravelled marks the series' shift from foreboding and uncertainty into open conflict as the children are growing up. The novel ends with the resurgence of Voldemort and the death of a student.[15]

In the fifth book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry must confront the newly resurfaced Voldemort. In response to Voldemort's reappearance, Dumbledore re-activates the Order of the Phoenix, a secret society which works from Sirius Black's dark family home to defeat Voldemort's minions and protect Voldemort's targets, including Harry. The Order includes many of the adults Harry trusts, including Lupin, Black, and members of the Weasley family, but also some surprising members. Good and the dark characters are not so obvious. Despite Harry's description of Voldemort's recent activities, the Ministry of Magic and many others in the magical world refuse to believe that Voldemort has returned.[16]

In an attempt to enforce a politically correct curriculum, the Ministry appoints Dolores Umbridge as the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts. She transforms the school by a dictatorial regime and refuses to allow the students to learn ways to defend themselves against dark magic.[16] Harry forms a secret study group to teach his classmates the higher-level skills he has learned. The novel introduces Harry to Luna Lovegood, an airy young witch with a tendency to believe in oddball conspiracy theories. An important prophecy concerning Harry and Voldemort is revealed,[17] and Harry discovers that he and Voldemort have a painful connection, allowing Harry to view some of Voldemort's actions telepathically. In the novel's climax, Harry and his school friends face off against Voldemort's Death Eaters, who include the rich and arrogant Malfoy family. The timely arrival of members of the Order of the Phoenix saves the children's lives and allows many of the Death Eaters to be captured.[16]

In their sixth year, in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, our heroes have passed their OWL-levels and start on their specialist NEWT courses. Voldemort is leading another wizarding war, which has become so violent that even Muggles have noticed some of its effects. Although Harry and friends are relatively protected from that danger at Hogwarts, they are subject to all the difficulties of adolescence. At the beginning of the novel, he stumbles upon an old potions textbook filled with annotations and recommendations signed by a mysterious writer, the Half-Blood Prince.[18] While the shortcuts written in the book help Harry to excel at potions, he eventually learns to mistrust the anonymous writer's spells. Harry also takes private tutoring with Albus Dumbledore, who shows him various memories concerning the early life of Voldemort. These reveal that Voldemort's soul is splintered into a series of horcruxes, evil enchanted items hidden in various locations.[18] Harry's snobbish adversary, Draco Malfoy, attempts to attack Dumbledore, and the book culminates in a killing by Professor Snape.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the last book in the series, begins directly after the events of the sixth book. Voldemort has completed his ascension to power and gains control of the Ministry of Magic. Harry, Ron, and Hermione drop out of school so that they can find and destroy Voldemort's remaining horcruxes. To ensure their own safety as well as that of their family and friends, they are forced to isolate themselves. As they search for the horcruxes, the trio learn details about Dumbledore's past, as well as Snape's true motives.

The book culminates in the Battle of Hogwarts. Harry, Ron, and Hermione, in conjunction with members of the Order of the Phoenix and many of the teachers and students, defend Hogwarts from Voldemort, his Death Eaters, and various magical creatures. Several major characters are killed in the first wave of the battle and Voldemort resumes his intention to kill Harry. In an effort to save the survivors, Harry surrenders himself but the battle resumes as the parents of many Hogwarts students and residents of the nearby village Hogsmeade arrive to reinforce the Order of the Phoenix. With the last horcrux destroyed, Harry finally faces Voldemort. An epilogue describes the lives of the surviving characters and the effects on the wizarding world.

Supplementary works

Rowling has expanded the Harry Potter universe with several short books produced for various charities.[19][20] In 2001, she released Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (a purported Hogwarts textbook) and Quidditch Through the Ages (a book Harry read for fun). Proceeds from the sale of these two books benefitted the charity Comic Relief.[21] In 2007, Rowling composed seven handwritten copies of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a collection of fairy tales that is featured in the final novel, one of which was auctioned to raise money for the Children's High Level Group, a fund for mentally disabled children in poor countries. The book was published internationally on 4 December 2008.[22][23][24] Rowling also wrote an 800-word prequel in 2008 as part of a fundraiser organised by the bookseller Waterstones.[25]

Structure and genre

The Harry Potter novels fall within the genre of fantasy literature; however, in many respects they are also bildungsromans, or coming of age novels.[26] They can be considered part of the British children's boarding school genre, which includes Enid Blyton's Malory Towers, St. Clare's and the Naughtiest Girl series, and Frank Richards's Billy Bunter novels.[27] The Harry Potter books are predominantly set in Hogwarts, a fictional British boarding school for wizards, where the curriculum includes the use of magic.[27] In this sense they are "in a direct line of descent from Thomas Hughes's Tom Brown's School Days and other Victorian and Edwardian novels of British public school life".[28][29] They are also, in the words of Stephen King, "shrewd mystery tales",[30] and each book is constructed in the manner of a Sherlock Holmes-style mystery adventure. The stories are told from a third person limited point of view with very few exceptions (such as the opening chapters of Philosopher's Stone and Deathly Hallows and the first two chapters of Half-Blood Prince).

In the middle of each book, Harry struggles with the problems he encounters, and dealing with them often involves the need to violate some school rules—the penalties, in case of being caught out, being disciplinary punishments set out in the Hogwarts regulations (in which the Harry Potter books follow many precedents in the boarding school sub-genre).[27] However, the stories reach their climax in the summer term, near or just after final exams, when events escalate far beyond in-school squabbles and struggles, and Harry must confront either Voldemort or one of his followers, the Death Eaters, with the stakes a matter of life and death–a point underlined, as the series progresses, by one or more characters being killed in each of the final four books.[31][32] In the aftermath, he learns important lessons through exposition and discussions with head teacher and mentor Albus Dumbledore.

In the final novel, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Harry and his friends spend most of their time away from Hogwarts, and only return there to face Voldemort at the dénouement.[31] Completing the bildungsroman format, in this part Harry must grow up prematurely, losing the chance of a last year as a pupil in a school and needing to act as an adult, on whose decisions everybody else depends—the grown-ups included.[33]

Themes

According to Rowling, a major theme in the series is death: "My books are largely about death. They open with the death of Harry's parents. There is Voldemort's obsession with conquering death and his quest for immortality at any price, the goal of anyone with magic. I so understand why Voldemort wants to conquer death. We're all frightened of it."[34]

Academics and journalists have many other interpretations of themes in the books, some more complex than others, and some including political subtexts. Themes such as normality, oppression, survival, and overcoming imposing odds have all been considered as prevalent throughout the series.[35] Similarly, the theme of making one's way through adolescence and "going over one's most harrowing ordeals—and thus coming to terms with them" has also been considered.[36] Rowling has stated that the books comprise "a prolonged argument for tolerance, a prolonged plea for an end to bigotry" and that also pass on a message to "question authority and... not assume that the establishment or the press tells you all of the truth".[37][38]

While the books could be said to comprise many other themes, such as power/abuse of power, love, prejudice, and free choice, they are, as J.K. Rowling states, "deeply entrenched in the whole plot"; the writer prefers to let themes "grow organically", rather than sitting down and consciously attempting to impart such ideas to her readers.[39] Along the same lines is the ever-present theme of adolescence, in whose depiction Rowling has been purposeful in acknowledging her characters' sexualities and not leaving Harry, as she put it, "stuck in a state of permanent pre-pubescence".[40] Rowling said that, to her, the moral significance of the tales seems "blindingly obvious." The key for her was the choice between what is right and what is easy, "because that ... is how tyranny is started, with people being apathetic and taking the easy route and suddenly finding themselves in deep trouble."[41]

Origins and publishing history

In 1990, J. K. Rowling was on a crowded train from Manchester to London when the idea for Harry suddenly "fell into her head". Rowling gives an account of the experience on her website saying:[42]

"I had been writing almost continuously since the age of six but I had never been so excited about an idea before. I simply sat and thought, for four (delayed train) hours, and all the details bubbled up in my brain, and this scrawny, black-haired, bespectacled boy who did not know he was a wizard became more and more real to me."

Rowling completed Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 1995 and the manuscript was sent off to several prospective agents.[43] The second agent she tried, Christopher Little, offered to represent her and sent the manuscript to Bloomsbury. After eight other publishers had rejected Philosopher's Stone, Bloomsbury offered Rowling a £2,500 advance for its publication.[44][45] Despite Rowling's statement that she did not have any particular age group in mind when beginning to write the Harry Potter books, the publishers initially targeted children aged nine to eleven.[46] On the eve of publishing, Rowling was asked by her publishers to adopt a more gender-neutral pen name in order to appeal to the male members of this age group, fearing that they would not be interested in reading a novel they knew to be written by a woman. She elected to use J. K. Rowling (Joanne Kathleen Rowling), using her grandmother's name as her second name because she has no middle name.[47][45]

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was published by Bloomsbury, the publisher of all Harry Potter books in the United Kingdom, on 30 June 1997.[48] It was released in the United States on 1 September, 1998 by Scholastic—the American publisher of the books—as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone,[49] after Rowling had received US$105,000 for the American rights—an unprecedented amount for a children's book by a then-unknown author.[50] Fearing that American readers would not associate the word "philosopher" with a magical theme (although the Philosopher's Stone is alchemy-related), Scholastic insisted that the book be given the title Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone for the American market.

The second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was originally published in the UK on 2 July 1998 and in the US on 2 June, 1999.[51][52] Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was then published a year later in the UK on 8 July 1999 and in the US on 8 September 1999.[51][52] Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was published on 8 July 2000 at the same time by Bloomsbury and Scholastic.[53] Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the longest book in the series at 766 pages in the UK version and 870 pages in the US version.[54] It was published worldwide in English on 21 June 2003.[55] Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was published on 16 July 2005, and it sold 9 million copies in the first 24 hours of its worldwide release.[56][57] The seventh and final novel, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was published 21 July 2007.[58] The book sold 11 million copies in the first 24 hours of release, breaking down to 2.7 million copies in the UK and 8.3 million in the US.[59]

Translations

The series has been translated into 67 languages,[2][60] placing Rowling among the most translated authors in history.[61] The first translation was into American English, as many words and concepts used by the characters in the novels may have been misleading to a young American audience.[62] Subsequently, the books have seen translations to diverse languages such as Ukrainian, Hindi, Bengali, Welsh, Afrikaans, Latvian and Vietnamese. The first volume has been translated into Latin and even Ancient Greek,[63] making it the longest published work in Ancient Greek since the novels of Heliodorus of Emesa in the 3rd century AD.[64]

Some of the translators hired to work on the books were quite well-known before their work on Harry Potter, such as Viktor Golyshev, who oversaw the Russian translation of the series' fifth book. The Turkish translation of books two to seven was undertaken by Sevin Okyay, a popular literary critic and cultural commentator.[65] For reasons of secrecy, translation can only start when the books are released in English; thus there is a lag of several months before the translations are available. This has led to more and more copies of the English editions being sold to impatient fans in non-English speaking countries. Such was the clamour to read the fifth book that its English language edition became the first English-language book ever to top the bestseller list in France.[66]

Completion of the series

In December 2005, Rowling stated on her web site, "2006 will be the year when I write the final book in the Harry Potter series."[67] Updates then followed in her online diary chronicling the progress of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, with the release date of 21 July 2007. The book itself was finished on 11 January 2007 in the Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh, where she scrawled a message on the back of a bust of Hermes. It read: "J. K. Rowling finished writing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in this room (652) on 11 January 2007."[68]

Rowling herself has stated that the last chapter of the final book (in fact, the epilogue) was completed "in something like 1990".[69][70] In June 2006, Rowling, on an appearance on the British talk show Richard & Judy, announced that the chapter had been modified as one character "got a reprieve" and two others who previously survived the story had in fact been killed. On 28 March 2007, the cover art for the Bloomsbury Adult and Child versions and the Scholastic version were released.[71][72]

Achievements

Cultural impact

Fans of the series were so eager for the latest series release that bookstores around the world began holding events to coincide with the midnight release of the books, beginning with the 2000 publication of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. The events, commonly featuring mock sorting, games, face painting, and other live entertainment have achieved popularity with Potter fans and have been highly successful in attracting fans and selling books with nearly nine million of the 10.8 million initial print copies of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince sold in the first 24 hours.[73][74] The series has also gathered adult fans, leading to the release of two editions of each Harry Potter book, identical in text but with one edition's cover artwork aimed at children and the other aimed at adults.[75] Besides meeting online through blogs, podcasts, and fansites, Harry Potter super-fans can also meet at Harry Potter symposia. The word Muggle has spread beyond its Harry Potter origins, used by many groups to indicate those who are not aware or are lacking in some skill. In 2003, Muggle, entered the Oxford English Dictionary with that definition.[76] The Harry Potter fandom has embraced podcasts as a regular, often weekly, insight to the latest discussion in the fandom. Both MuggleCast and PotterCast[77] have reached the top spot of iTunes podcast rankings and have been polled one of the top 50 favourite podcasts.[78]

Awards and honours

The Harry Potter series have been the recipients of a host of awards since the initial publication of Philosopher's Stone including four Whitaker Platinum Book Awards (all of which were awarded in 2001),[79] three Nestlé Smarties Book Prizes (1997–1999),[80] two Scottish Arts Council Book Awards (1999 and 2001),[81] the inaugural Whitbread children's book of the year award (1999),[82] the WHSmith book of the year (2006),[83] among others. In 2000, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was nominated for Best Novel in the Hugo Awards while in 2001, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire won said award.[84] Honours include a commendation for the Carnegie Medal (1997),[85] a short listing for the Guardian Children's Award (1998), and numerous listings on the notable books, editors' Choices, and best books lists of the American Library Association, The New York Times, Chicago Public Library, and Publishers Weekly.[86]

Commercial success

The popularity of the Harry Potter series has translated into substantial financial success for Rowling, her publishers, and other Harry Potter related license holders. This success has made Rowling the first and thus far only billionaire author.[87] The books have sold more than 400 million copies worldwide and have also given rise to the popular film adaptations produced by Warner Bros., all of which have been successful in their own right with the first, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, ranking number five on the inflation-unadjusted list of all-time highest grossing films and the other four Harry Potter films each ranking in the top 20.[88][3] The films have in turn spawned eight video games and have led to the licensing of more than 400 additional Harry Potter products (including an iPod) that have, as of 2005, made the Harry Potter brand worth an estimated US$4 billion and J. K. Rowling a US dollar billionaire,[89] making her, by some reports, richer than Queen Elizabeth II.[90][91] However, Rowling has stated that this is false.[92]

The great demand for Harry Potter books motivated the New York Times to create a separate bestseller list for children's literature in 2000, just before the release of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. By 24 June 2000, Rowling's novels had been on the list for 79 straight weeks; the first three novels were each on the hardcover bestseller list.[93] On 12 April 2007, Barnes & Noble declared that Deathly Hallows had broken its pre-order record, with more than 500,000 copies pre-ordered through its site.[94] For the release of Goblet of Fire, 9,000 FedEx trucks were used with no other purpose than to deliver the book.[95] Together, Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble pre-sold more than 700,000 copies of the book.[95] In the United States, the book's initial printing run was 3.8 million copies.[95] This record statistic was broken by Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, with 8.5 million, which was then shattered by Half-Blood Prince with 10.8 million copies.[96] 6.9 million copies of Prince were sold in the U.S. within the first 24 hours of its release; in the United Kingdom more than two million copies were sold on the first day.[97] The initial U.S. print run for Deathly Hallows was 12 million copies, and more than a million were pre-ordered through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.[98]

Criticism, praise, and controversy

Literary criticism

Early in its history, Harry Potter received positive reviews, which helped the series to grow a large readership. On publication, the first volume, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, attracted attention from the Scottish newspapers, such as The Scotsman, which said it had "all the makings of a classic",[99] and The Glasgow Herald, which called it "Magic stuff".[99] Soon the English newspapers joined in, with more than one comparing it to Roald Dahl's work: The Mail on Sunday rated it as "the most imaginative debut since Roald Dahl",[99] a view echoed by The Sunday Times ("comparisons to Dahl are, this time, justified"),[99] while The Guardian called it "a richly textured novel given lift-off by an inventive wit".[99] A less positive impression of the first book came from female fantasy writer Ursula Le Guin, who said: "I have no great opinion of it. When so many adult critics were carrying on about the "incredible originality" of the first Harry Potter book, I read it to find out what the fuss was about, and remained somewhat puzzled; it seemed a lively kid's fantasy crossed with a "school novel", good fare for its age group, but stylistically ordinary, imaginatively derivative, and ethically rather mean-spirited." [100]

By the time of the release of the fifth volume, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the books began to receive strong criticism from a number of literary scholars. Yale professor, literary scholar and critic Harold Bloom raised criticisms of the books' literary merits, saying, "Rowling's mind is so governed by clichés and dead metaphors that she has no other style of writing."[101] A. S. Byatt authored a New York Times op-ed article calling Rowling's universe a "secondary world, made up of patchworked derivative motifs from all sorts of children's literature ... written for people whose imaginative lives are confined to TV cartoons, and the exaggerated (more exciting, not threatening) mirror-worlds of soaps, reality TV and celebrity gossip".[102]

The critic Anthony Holden wrote in The Observer on his experience of judging Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban for the 1999 Whitbread Awards. His overall view of the series was negative—"the Potter saga was essentially patronising, conservative, highly derivative, dispiritingly nostalgic for a bygone Britain", and he speaks of "pedestrian, ungrammatical prose style".[103]

By contrast, author Fay Weldon, while admitting that the series is "not what the poets hoped for", nevertheless goes on to say, "but this is not poetry, it is readable, saleable, everyday, useful prose".[104] The literary critic A. N. Wilson praised the Harry Potter series in The Times, stating: "There are not many writers who have JK’s Dickensian ability to make us turn the pages, to weep—openly, with tears splashing—and a few pages later to laugh, at invariably good jokes ... We have lived through a decade in which we have followed the publication of the liveliest, funniest, scariest and most moving children’s stories ever written".[105] Charles Taylor of Salon.com, who is primarily a movie critic,[106] took issue with Byatt's criticisms in particular. While he conceded that she may have "a valid cultural point—a teeny one—about the impulses that drive us to reassuring pop trash and away from the troubling complexities of art",[107] he rejected her claims that the series is lacking in serious literary merit and that it owes its success merely to the childhood reassurances it offers. Taylor stressed the progressively darker tone of the books, shown by the murder of a classmate and close friend and the psychological wounds and social isolation each causes. Taylor also argued that Philosopher's Stone, said to be the most lighthearted of the seven published books, disrupts the childhood reassurances that Byatt claims spur the series' success: the book opens with news of a double murder, for example.[107]

Stephen King called the series "a feat of which only a superior imagination is capable", and declared "Rowling's punning, one-eyebrow-cocked sense of humour" to be "remarkable". However, he wrote that despite the story being "a good one", he is "a little tired of discovering Harry at home with his horrible aunt and uncle", the formulaic beginning of all seven books.[30] King has also joked that "Rowling's never met an adverb she did not like!" He does however predict that Harry Potter "will indeed stand time's test and wind up on a shelf where only the best are kept; I think Harry will take his place with Alice, Huck, Frodo, and Dorothy and this is one series not just for the decade, but for the ages."[108]

Social impacts

Although Time magazine named Rowling as a runner-up for its 2007 Person of the Year award, noting the social, moral, and political inspiration she has given her fandom,[109] cultural comments on the series have been mixed. Washington Post book critic Ron Charles opined in July 2007 that the large numbers of adults reading the Potter series but few other books may represent a "bad case of cultural infantilism", and that the straightforward "good vs. evil" theme of the series is "childish". He also argued "through no fault of Rowling's", the cultural and marketing "hysteria" marked by the publication of the later books "trains children and adults to expect the roar of the coliseum, a mass-media experience that no other novel can possibly provide".[110]

Librarian Nancy Knapp pointed out the books' potential to improve literacy by motivating children to read much more than they would otherwise do [111] Agreeing about the motivating effects, Diane Penrod also praised the books' blending of simple entertainment with "the qualities of highbrow literary fiction", but expressed concern about the distracting effect of the prolific merchandising that accompanies the book launches.[112]

Jennifer Conn used Snape's and Quidditch coach Madam Hooch's teaching methods as examples of what to avoid and what to emulate in clinical teaching, [113] and Joyce Fields wrote that the books illustrate four of the five main topics in a typical first-year sociology class: "sociological concepts including culture, society, and socialisation; stratification and social inequality; social institutions; and social theory".[114]

Jenny Sawyer wrote in the 25 July 2007 Christian Science Monitor that the books represent a "disturbing trend in commercial storytelling and Western society" in that stories "moral center have all but vanished from much of today's pop culture ... after 10 years, 4,195 pages, and over 375 million copies, J. K. Rowling's towering achievement lacks the cornerstone of almost all great children's literature: the hero's moral journey". Harry Potter, Sawyer argues, neither faces a "moral struggle" nor undergoes any ethical growth, and is thus "no guide in circumstances in which right and wrong are anything less than black and white".[115] On the other hand Emily Griesinger described Harry's first passage through to Platform 9¾ as an application of faith and hope, and his encounter with the Sorting Hat as the first of many in which Harry is shaped by the choices he makes. She also noted the "deeper magic" by which the self-sacrifice of Harry's mother protects the boy throughout the series, and which the power-hungry Voldemort fails to understand.[116]

In a 8 November 2002 Slate Magazine article, Chris Suellentrop likened Potter to a "a trust-fund kid whose success at school is largely attributable to the gifts his friends and relatives lavish upon him". Noting that in Rowling's fiction, magical ability potential is "something you are born to, not something you can achieve", Suellentrop wrote that Dumbledore's maxim that "It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities" is hypocritical, as "the school that Dumbledore runs values native gifts above all else".[117] In an 12 August 2007 The New York Times review of The Deathly Hallows, however, Christopher Hitchens praised Rowling for "unmooring" her "English school story" from literary precedents "bound up with dreams of wealth and class and snobbery", arguing that she had instead created "a world of youthful democracy and diversity".[118]

Controversies

he books have been the subject of a number of legal proceedings, stemming either from claims by American Christian groups that the magic in the books promotes witchcraft among children, or from various conflicts over copyright and trademark infringements. The popularity and high market value of the series has led Rowling, her publishers, and film distributor Warner Bros. to take legal measures to protect their copyright, which have included banning the sale of Harry Potter imitations, targeting the owners of websites over the "Harry Potter" domain name, and suing author Nancy Stouffer to counter her accusations that Rowling had plagiarised her work.[119][120][121] Various religious conservatives have claimed that the books promote witchcraft and are therefore unsuitable for children,[122] while a number of critics have criticised the books for promoting various political agendas.[123][124]

The books also aroused controversies in the literary and publishing worlds. In 1997 to 1998 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone won almost all the UK awards judged by children, but none of the children's book awards judged by adults,[125] and Sandra Beckett suggested the reason was intellectual snobbery towards books that were popular among children.[126] In 1999 the winner of the Whitbread Book of the Year Award children's division was entered for the first time on the shortlist for the main award, and one judge threatened to resign if Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was declared the overall winner; it finished second, very close behind the winner of the poetry prize, Seamus Heaney's translation of the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf.[126]

In 2000, shortly before publication of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the previous three Harry Potter books topped the New York Times fiction best-seller list and a third of the entries were children's books. The newspaper created a new children's section cover splits children's sections, including both fiction and non-fiction, and initially counting only hardback sales. The move was supported by publishers and booksellers.[127] In 2004 New York Times further split the children's list, which was still dominated by Harry Potter books into sections for series and individual books, and removed the Harry Potter books from the section for individual books.[128] The split in 2000 attracted condemnation, praise and some comments that presented both benefits and disadvantages of the move.[129] Time suggested that, on the same principle, Billboard should have created a separate "mop-tops" list in 1964 when the Beatles held the top five places in its list, and Nielsen should have created a separate game-show list when Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? dominated the ratings.[130]

Films

In 1998[131], Rowling sold the film rights of the first four Harry Potter books to Warner Bros. for a reported £1 million ($1,982,900).[132] Rowling demanded the principal cast be kept strictly British, nonetheless allowing for the inclusion of many Irish actors such as the late Richard Harris as Dumbledore, and for casting of French and Eastern European actors in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire where characters from the book are specified as such.[133] After many directors including Steven Spielberg, Terry Gilliam, Jonathan Demme, and Alan Parker were considered, Chris Columbus was appointed on 28 March, 2000 as director for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (titled "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" in the United States), with Warner Bros. citing his work on other family films such as Home Alone and Mrs. Doubtfire as influences for their decision.[134] After extensive casting,[135] filming began in October 2000 at Leavesden Film Studios and in London itself, with production ending in July 2001.[136] Philosopher's Stone was released on 14 November, 2001. Just three days after Philosopher's Stone's release, production for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, also directed by Columbus began, finishing in summer 2002. The film was released on 15 November 2002.[137]

Chris Columbus declined to direct Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, only acting as producer. Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón took over the job, and after shooting in 2003, the film was released on 4 June 2004. Due to the fourth film beginning its production before the third's release, Mike Newell was chosen as the director for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,[138] released on 18 November 2005. Newell declined to direct the next movie, and British television director David Yates was chosen for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, which began production on January 2006,[139] and was released on 11 July 2007. Yates also directed Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,[140] for release on 15 July 2009.[4][141] In March 2008, Warner Bros. announced that the final instalment of the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, would be filmed in two segments, with part one released in November 2010 and part two released in July 2011. Yates is expected to return to direct both films.[142] The Harry Potter films were huge box office hits, with four of the five on the 20 highest-grossing films worldwide.[143]

Opinions of the films are generally divided among fans, with one group preferring the more faithful approach of the first two films, and another group preferring the more stylised character-driven approach of the later films.[144] Rowling has been constantly supportive of the films,[145][146][147] and evaluated Order of the Phoenix as "the best one yet" in the series. She wrote on her web site of the changes in the book-to-film transition, "It is simply impossible to incorporate every one of my storylines into a film that has to be kept under four hours long. Obviously films have restrictions novels do not have, constraints of time and budget; I can create dazzling effects relying on nothing but the interaction of my own and my readers’ imaginations".[148]

Audiobooks

The Harry Potter books have all been released on unabridged audiobook. The UK versions are read by Stephen Fry and the US versions are read by Jim Dale. Dale is also the narrator for the special features disc on the DVDs.

References

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Transformers: Cybertron

2009-07-16T08:45:00.000-07:00

Transformers: Cybertron
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Transformers: Cybertron, known in Japan originally as Transformers: Galaxy Force (トランスフォーマーギャラクシーフォース, Toransufōmā: Garakushī Fōsu?), is the 2005-2006 Transformers toy line and animated series, another co-production between Hasbro and Takara. It was aired in Japan as a separate rebooted transformers series, though in America, Hasbro marketed it as a sequel to the previous series, Transformers: Armada and Transformers: Energon by adding additional dialogue and reusing a number of screens to link elements of the Armada and Energon series to the show, giving the impression that it is a sequel.

When the destruction of Unicron results in the formation of a massive black hole, the planet Cybertron, home world of the Transformers, is threatened, and its population is evacuated to Earth, taking the forms of local vehicles and machinery to hide from humanity. As this occurs, Optimus Prime's elite team of Autobot warriors are approached by the ancient Transformer Vector Prime, who has emerged from his resting place in the void outside of time to inform them of the legendary Cyber Planet Keys, ancient artifacts of power which can stop the black hole and save the universe. Lost due to an accident during an attempt to create a cross-universal space bridge network, the Cyber Planet Keys now reside on four worlds somewhere in the universe - unfortunately, Vector Prime's map showing their location is stolen by Decepticon leader Megatron, and both forces relocate to Earth as the race to find them begins.
Megatron races Override

On Earth, the Autobots befriend three human children named Coby, Bud and Lori, played by Sarah Edmondson, who aid them in locating the Omega Lock, the focusing device for the Cyber Planet Key's power. With new "Cyber Key Powers" awakened in them, the Transformers battle on many fronts, searching for the Lock on Earth while Hot Shot and Red Alert head for Velocitron, the Speed Planet, which is the resting place of the first key. As Hot Shot competes in the planet's grand racing championship to win the key from planet leader Override, the Lock is located on Earth in the bulk of the crashed Transformer spaceship the Atlantis, and Autobot Overhaul heads for the next world, Jungle Planet, where the power of its Cyber Planet Key reformats him into Leobreaker. Megatron ingratiates himself with Jungle Planet ruler Scourge, while at the same time, his scheming lieutenant Starscream teams up with the mysterious Sideways, working towards his own goals.

Ultimately, the Autobots succeed in acquiring the Keys of both Velocitron and Jungle Planet, at which point the existence of Earth's own Cyber Planet Key is revealed. Starscream makes his power play and overthrows Megatron, stealing the Omega Lock and all three keys from the Autobots and using them to grow in size and power. Their forces bolstered by the ancient Autobots from Earth and the arrival of Wing Saber, who combines with Optimus Prime, the Autobots fight their way through a vengeful Megatron and defeat Starscream - but the battle is not without casualties, as Hot Shot, Red Alert and Scattershot are gravely wounded and rebuilt into the even more powerful "Cybertron Defense Team."

Returning to Cybertron, the Autobots use the Omega Lock and Cyber Planet Keys, which awakens the spirit of Primus, the deity who is creator of the Transformers, and Cybertron itself actually transforms into the god's body. After a battle in which Starscream taps the power of Primus and grows to planetary size - only to be defeated by Primus himself - the location of the fourth and final key is determined as Gigantion, the Giant Planet. Gigantion, however, exists in another dimension, having fallen through a rift in space/time, and while the Autobots are able to reach the planet, the Decepticons are led there by the enigmatic Soundwave. Bested by the planet's leader Metroplex, Megatron taps the key's power to become Galvatron, and Sideways and Soundwave reveal themselves to be inhabitants of Planet X, a world destroyed by the Gigantions, upon whom they seek revenge. Galvatron blasts them and Starscream into another dimension and acquires the Lock and Keys for himself, intending to use their power to accelerate the universal degeneration caused by the black hole and remake the cosmos in his own image. Vector Prime sacrifices his life to allow the Autobots to return to their home universe, and the five planet leaders confront Galvatron within the black hole and defeat him. With all the Cyber Planet Keys now in his possession, Primus uses their power to finally seal the black hole, ending its threat.

As the planet's various civilizations attempt to return to life as normal, Galvatron attacks the Autobots for one final time. Without any troops to call his own, Galvatron engages Optimus Prime in a one-on-one duel, and is finally destroyed for good. Optimus says "We're like the two sides of the same coin, forever connected, it has to be me who does this." With this final victory, Optimus Prime begins a new space bridge initiative, and the Transformers set sail for the four corners of the universe, and new adventures.

List of characters in Transformers: Cybertron

Cybertron Autobots

* Optimus Prime (Galaxy Convoy): As the Supreme Commander (Soshireikan) of the Autobot military, Prime organizes the evacuation of Cybertron and the relocation of the planet's inhabitants to Earth. Although a stern and methodical leader, he is a compassionate robot who deeply cares for each of his subordinates. At first, Prime is firmly opposed to interacting with the natives of the worlds the Autobots visit, but soon comes to realise the benefits of the allies the Autobots gain.

Prime transforms into a fire engine, and can convert into a secondary flight mode, or merge with his trailer into Super Mode. Later using the Matrix of Leadership replacing the role of the Spark of Combination, he combines with his fellow Autobot Leobreaker to form Savage Claw Mode (Liger Convoy) , and with Wing Saber to from Sonic Wing Mode (High-speed Mobile Supreme Commander (Kosoku Kido Soshireikan) Sonic Convoy) though the Autobots claim when Prime and Leobraker combine for the first time, "I didn't know Autobots could do that".. Whether he or Galvatron are the stronger, or if both are in perfect balance is unknown, as although Prime did ultimately destroy Galvatron in one final blow, it was with Vector Prime's sword, given to him in the last few seconds before they clashed for the last time. His Cyber Key Power makes his cannons more powerful ("Galaxy Cannon: Full Burst!). As Liger Convoy, his Force Chip special attack was Liger Grand Break; as Sonic Convoy, it was Sonic Double Impact or Galaxy Caliber.

* Jetfire (Dreadrock): As Optimus Prime's second-in-command, Jetfire always follows orders, but he is willing to take matters into his own hands to get things done. Now having picked up the native accent of the planet Nebulos, Jetfire transforms into a cargo plane based on an An-225 Cossack and can unleash a pair of twin cannons through the use of his Cyber Key Power (Dread Cannon - Full Burst). He also has a turbine wind attack (Jetstream, Turbine Wave in the English dub). He became leader of Cybertron after Optimus Prime leaves for the Space Bridge Project.

* Wing Saber (Sonic Bomber): Between the events of Cybertron and the Transformers: Energon animated series, Wing Saber developed a problem with authority, and departed from his duty with the Autobots after a dispute with Optimus Prime over the life of a human astronaut. Rejoining the Autobots on Earth in the midst of a battle with a super-powered Starscream, he renewed his ability to combine with Optimus Prime and become a valued member of his team. At the end he fought Starscream.

Wing Saber transforms into a jet resembling an A-10 Warthog. He is armed with a pair of saber swords (Flap Swords), and can activate the energy cannon mounted on his back with his Cyber Key Power (Galaxy Caliber). He combines with Optimus Prime into Sonic Wing Mode (Sonic Convoy, with the Force Chip special attack Sonic Double Impact).

* Landmine (Guardshell): Back in the day, the elderly Landmine trained many young Autobots, including his old friend Mudflap and Optimus Prime himself. During the opening stages of the crisis that sprung up around the black hole, Landmine was transported to Earth by Vector Prime to save him from the black hole's power, where he met and befriended the three human children who became the Autobots' allies. He transforms into a payloader, and can generate whirlwinds with the bladed wheels unleashed by his Cyber Key Power (Tornado Cutter, Cyber Tempest in the English dub). He also seems to be an homage to the Armada Character Scavenger, in transformation and role (as Optimus' mentor.)

Cybertron Defense Team

* Hot Shot (Exillion/Exigeyser): The brash youth of the Autobot team, Hot Shot's got a need for speed. An avid racer, he takes pride in the fact that he considers himself the fastest in the universe. Once on Velocitron, the Speed Planet, however, Hot Shot finds his title challenged by the planet leader Override, leading to many races, and a personal conflict between duty and ego. Later in the series, after being damaged by Megatron, he is upgraded into a new armored vehicle form as part of the Cybertron Defense Team (Vanguard Team). Hot Shot becomes the leader of Velocitron when Override is gone.

Hot Shot initially transformed into a swift sportscar that could be boosted to even greater speeds through his Cyber Key Power (Accel Wing). After being upgraded, he now transforms into a military APC armed with multiple missile launchers, and his Force Chip power becomes Double X Shot or Battle Dagger. The Cybertron Defense Team can combine their Cyber Key special attacks against a single foe (Triangle Attack), such as Galvatron.

* Scattorshot (Backpack/Backgild): The Autobots' main technical expert, Scattorshot spends most of his time in the base analyzing monitors. Though he can handle his duties with precision, he is known for being quite nervous and unsure of himself. After being damaged by Megatron, he was upgraded by the Omega Lock and made a member of the Cybertron Defense Team, becoming more sure of himself. He speaks with a Southern accent ( which possibly a homage to ironhide).

Prior to his reformatting, Scattershot transformed into a half-track missile launcher vehicle with Cyber Key Power grenades ("Ground Shot Up" or "Land Shot" in Galaxy Force). In his recreated form as a missile launcher tank, his Cyber Key Power transforms his launchers into a powerful rifle and rocket launcher ("Twin Search Missile" in Galaxy Force). The Cybertron Defense Team can combine their Cyber Key special attacks against a single foe (Triangle Attack), such as Galvatron.

* Red Alert (First-Aid/First Gunner): Red Alert is the Autobot Medical Expert and Chief Science Officer, as well as a long-time veteran of the Cybertronian wars. When the British 'bot and Hot Shot were sent to Velocitron, his matter-of-factness lead him to clash with the younger Autobot. Later, like Hot Shot and Scattorshot, he gained a new form after being damaged by Megatron and became part of the elite Cybertron Defense Team.

First Aid initially transforms into an ambulance armed with an electron wrench, a repair hammer, and two Photon Beam cannons activated by his Cyber Key (Photon Beam). After reformatting, he became an armored missile launching vehicle, equipped with a massive missile that generates powerful energy blasts (Giga Vanisher). The Cybertron Defense Team can combine their Cyber Key special attacks against a single foe (Triangle Attack), such as Galvatron.

Velocitron Autobots

The Cybertronian starship called the Ogygia came to rest on a barren world, which its inhabitants soon dubbed Velocitron, the Speed Planet. The world was decorated with vast race tracks, and the starship's occupants spent their days competing in races until, by the present day, their descendants filled their time with nothing but. The entire culture of Velocitron is built around racing and speed, and it's Cyber Planet Key is, naturally, a racing trophy that can only be acquired by defeating the planet's leader

* Override (Nitro Convoy): Long-time ruler of Velocitron, Override's life is dominated by racing, to the extent that she would not impart information, or even hold a conversation with anyone if they did not face her in a race. When Hot Shot arrived on Velocitron, the noble goals of the young Autobot swayed her to their side, and she joined the heroes in the greatest race of all - the race to save the galaxy. Override transforms into a race car(most likely a lotus), and her Cyber Key power allows her to boost her engine speed (Nitro Boost). She is armed with a double-barrelled blaster activated by her Cyber Key (Mach Shot). Known as the Sonic Commander (Onsoku Shireikan).

Override was originally conceived as a male character, and appears as such as in Transformers: Galaxy Force, the Japanese counterpart of Cybertron. Cartoon Network's desire that the show have a greater female presence saw Hasbro recast Override as a female - a change that, though seeming sheer coincidence, functions very well, given the character's friendship with Lori and rivalry with Thunderblast.

* Clocker (Skids): A young and spunky denizen of Velocitron, Clocker is a student of the racing master Brakedown, who met and befriended Hot Shot when the Autobot came to Speed Planet. He transforms into a convertible race car, and his Cyber Key activated a double-barrelled blaster (Smash Burner). He was in the race for the cyber key, but was dropped after the first race.

* Brakedown (Autolander): One of the oldest residents of Speed Planet and a friend and teacher to Clocker, Brakedown's wisdom as an experienced racer gives him a different perspective on situation than others, making him invaluable to young racers in training. Allying with the Autobots after meeting Hot Shot, he transforms into a dragster, and his Cyber Key activates a bladed weapon (Motor Blade). His relationship with Hot Shot is comparable to Hot Rod and Kup from the original G1 cartoon. He was in the cyber key race, but was dropped after the desert race.

Jungle Planet Autobots

When the Autobot starship the Hyperborea landed on the lush, green world of Jungle Planet, the ship's occupants adopted animal alternate modes, but as time wore on, they and their descendants took on the characteristics of the beasts they mimicked, becoming segregated and bestial. With parties of violent raiders attacking the weaker inhabitants, a feudal law of "Might makes right" came into effect, making the already untamed wilds of the planet even more dangerous.

* Overhaul (Jackshot) / Leobreaker (Ligerjack): Overhaul was once a famous Autobot soldier with a reputation for winning seemingly impossible battles. However, he was considered a loose cannon, and thus, felt alone. As a member of Optimus Prime's team, however, he realized he wasn't completely without friends or allies. Stranded on the Jungle Planet, he engaged planet leader Scourge in battle and called out to the power of the world's Cyber Planet Key when badly damaged, which reformatted him into the bestial Leobreaker. His doubts cause Nemesis Breaker to be born and Megatron gains Dark Claw Mode ability. Ever since he became Leobreaker he tried to take down Scourge.

As Overhaul, he transformed into a military offroad SUV, and his Cyber Key Power allowed him to launch a piledriving missile from his chest ("Anchor Shot" in Galaxy Force). Reformatted into Leobreaker, he gained a lion alternate mode and deadly Cyber Key Power claws (Platinum Claw, as well as Ultra Liger Drop), and could now combine with Optimus Prime into Savage Claw Mode (Liger Convoy, with the Force Chip special attack Liger Grand Break).

* Backstop (Saidos): A zen master of combat, Backstop trained the weaker fighters of Jungle Planet, but at the same time, advocated the values of fighting only when necessary, and striving for peace, rather than fighting for fighting's sake. These were values that his student Scourge could not accept, and he left Backstop's tutelage; when the Autobot Overhaul arrived on the planet, Backstop and his last remaining student Snarl trained him, and sided with Optimus Prime's forces in the battle to save the galaxy. He transforms into a rhinoceros, and his Cyber Key extends his horn into a bladed battering-ram (Bloody Horn).

* Snarl (Fang Wolf): As Backstop's student, Snarl was formerly friends with the planet leader, Scourge. He stayed at Scourge's side to keep an eye on his old friend, until Overhaul arrived on the planet and Snarl was branded a traitor for helping him. He formed a connection with the Autobot, and eventually left his planet to help Optimus Prime save the universe. He transforms into a wolf, with two armor-piercing fangs activated by his Cyber Key (Power Fang).

Gigantion Autobots

The fourth and final Autobot ship, the Lemuria, landed safely on this world. Some time into the colonisation of the planet, it fell victim to a tear in reality, and slipped through a wormhole into another dimension, where it was attacked by the warmongering inhabitants of the vile Planet X. Through the power of their Cyber Planet Key, the planet's inhabitants became gigantic in size and fought back, leaving Planet X with no option but to use their mightiest weapon, only to wind up destroying themselves in the process. Saddened by their planetary level of destruction, the Gigantions dedicated themselves to construction, covering their planet with gargantuan cities which they completed and then abandoned, moving on to the next project. To continue this ongoing task, they built new layers on top of the cities, repeating the process over and over, until the planet itself was colossal. In addition to the giant Transformers, Gigantion is also populated by Mini-Cons, who perform the small, intricate, detailed tasks of construction that the larger robots cannot.

For whatever reason, all the inhabitants of Gigantion speak with Scottish German and Irish accents.

* Metroplex (Megalo Convoy): The leader of the Transformers on Giant Planet, Metroplex is the largest of the large, the bravest of the brave and the kindest of the kind. He is physically powerful enough to best Megatron in mere seconds (an unequaled feat amongst the Transformers of this era), and joined up with the Autobots almost as quickly. He transforms into a bucket wheel excavator, and wields a gigantic axe, called Sparkdrinker. He can also assume a smaller "work mode" for more precise tasks. He is partnered with the Mini-Con Drill Bit (Horribull), who become a drilling vehicle. He can mount on Metroplex's right arm or the back of his axe. He functions as a coordinator, and plans all of the Mini-Con work in Gigantion. Many of those Mini-Cons consider him the leader of their planet. Metroplex lends Optimus Prime Sparkdrinker for Optimus to use as a bludgeoning weapon (Galaxy Giga Crush). His Cyber Key powers up Sparkdrinker (Megalo Crush/Axe Crusher), or he can throw it like a boomerang (albeit a very big one) (Megalo Boomerang). Known as the Gigantic Commander (Kyoshin Shireikan).

* Quickmix (Blender): Metroplex's right hand man and knows "a lot about a lot." His skill is as an advisor and a technical worker, but he can fight just as well as anyone, with a Cyber Key Power that transforms the drum of his concrete mixer alternate mode into a blaster (Mixing Cannon). His Mini-Con partner is named Stripmine (Killbull), who transforms into a mining vehicle. He helps to operate Quickmix while the latter is in vehicle mode. Stripmine's function is Heavy Machine Operations.

Ancient Transformers

* Vector Prime: As one of the first thirteen Transformers created by the race's deity, Primus. Vector Prime hails from the very beginning of Cybertron. Having removed himself from the linear universe eons ago, he existed outside of time, watching over the multiverse until the threat of the black hole emerged, forcing him to return to Cybertron and alert Optimus Prime's Autobots to the power of the Cyber Planet Keys.

Vector Prime transforms into an ancient Cybertronian spaceship. His sword, Rhisling, is sharp enough to rend the fabric of space and time and open portals to anywhere in the galaxy, while his Cyber Key Power generates a protective forcefield but rarely uses it (Repulsion Field, other powers are Time Relief and Action Field). He is partnered with the Mini-Con Safeguard (Roots), and is the guardian of the Mini-Con Recon Team, who he encountered on his journey. Also stranded along with the Recon Team, Safeguard bonded with Vector Prime when he rescued them and became his personal partner. Often functioning as a scout, he transforms into a small jet-like vehicle that can mount to Vector Prime's arm as a blaster.

Recon Mini-Con Team

This trio of Mini-Cons hail from Gigantion, but were stranded in space and time when a game of hide and seek went awry. Discovered by Vector Prime, they were brought to Earth by him, where they quickly befriended the Autobots' human allies Bud, Coby and Lori, due to having minds that function like human children's.

* Jolt (Hop): Transforms into a helicopter and is obsessed with Earth culture, from television to movies to the internet. Jolt is the only Mini-Con who can speak English.
* Six-Speed (Blit): Transforms from a race car.
* Reverb (Bumper): Transforms from a pick-up truck.

Cybertron Decepticons

* Megatron (Master Megatron) / Galvatron (Master Galvatron): Trapped within an energon sun at the conclusion of Transformers: Energon, Megatron was freed from his imprisonment when the sun collapsed into the massive black hole that threatened Cybertron. Having absorbed the remnants of Unicron's armor and power into his own body, Megatron is now arguably the most powerful Decepticon, and seeks to use the power of the Cyber Planet Keys to remold the universe in his own image. Despite recruiting natives from all the different worlds that the Transformers visited, Megatron was continuously met with failure, but upon his defeat by Metroplex on Gigantion, his Armor of Unicron tapped into the world's Cyber Planet Key and upgraded him into the insanely powerful Galvatron. He won more battles as Galvatron and stole the completed Omega Lock for many episodes.

Megatron is a Triple Changer, transforming from a Batmobile-like dragster into a Cybertronian jet. He can project devastating electrical blasts from his hands, and his Cyber Key activates many powers, including vehicle-mode thrusters, a claw shield (Death Claw) and his deadly "Death Machine Gun," (Death Machine Gun) with which he fatally injured Hot Shot, Red Alert and Scattorshot. He could also combine with Nemesis Breaker to form Dark Claw Mode (Liger Megatron) for a short period of time, with a similar Cyber Key power to Optimus Prime's Savage Claw Mode Cyber Key attack (Liger Death Strike).
As Galvatron, he retained all his previous attacks, could project dark energy, and shape it into a sword. In his final battle with Optimus Prime, he gained a new transformation in which his back wings/cape formed a cannon on his chest, which fired dark electrical energy (Death Cannon). His armor can also restore him.

* Starscream: Also freed from the sun upon its collapse, Starscream assumed the position of Megatron's second-in-command. But his experiences throughout the Transformers: Armada and Energon conflict had shaped Starscream into a bitter mech with his own ambitions, and he sought to acquire the power of the Cyber Planet Keys himself. Scheming with the mysterious Sideways, Starscream liberated the ancient Decepticons trapped on Earth and acquired the Omega Lock and three Cyber Planet Keys, allowing him to tap the power of Primus and grow to a gigantic height. Operating as a third factor in the remainder of the conflict, Starscream battled with Megatron, Optimus Prime and even Primus himself by growing skyscraper size and planet size. Note he became the same power crazy manipulator as Thrust from Armada.

* Thundercracker: The only Decepticon to take on an Earth mode, Thundercracker is an enthusiastic fighter, but somewhat lacking in intelligence and combat skills. He has a tendency to come up with grand but largely ineffective special attacks (The Japanese version has him parodizing lines said in Mecha anime characters), and would rather be a winner than be evil. He transforms into a Su-27 Flanker, and his Cyber Key activates the blaster in place of his left arm and in jet mode the Cyber Key power gives him a gun on his back (Thunder Hell, English: Thunder Cannon /Super Hell Special Deluxe/Big Spinning Thunder Hell Scattering Fireworks, English: Rain of Ultimate Destruction/Sure Kill Ultra Hurricane Slash And Crush Shoot, English: Triple Spinnin' Laser Willmaker/Drill Spinning Thunder Hell Electric Drop/Hissatu! Super Electric Lightning Shock Electric Thunder Cracker Punch!, English: Super Electric Lighting Thundercrackin' Punch/Hyper Ultra Big Missile Full Burst Maximum Alpha!/Hyper Ultra Big Missile Full Burst Maximum Beta Two). The Decepticons often ride on him a lot. In episode Ambush he did an electric punch. IN every Cybertron episode he has been featured he often turns into jet mode.

* Mudflap (Demolishor): Mudflap was an Autobot mentored by Landmine who was among those who evacuated from Cybertron and went into hiding on Earth. Growing dissatisfied with the Autobots' mission and human customs, he was persuaded by Starscream to join up with the Decepticons in a misguided attempt to try and save the galaxy without worrying about the affairs of humans. However, he found he could not stomach the Decepticon way of doing things, and ultimately left them; consumed with guilt over what he had done, he was given a second chance and welcomed back into the Autobot fold by Landmine. He speaks with a French accent.

Mudflap transforms into a truck crane. His Cyber Key extends his crane arm and deploys a massive saw blade (Mega Crane Blade), and also activates an arm-mounted missile-launcher.

Velocitron Decepticons

* Dirt Boss (Inch-Up): The most specialized Transformer on Speed Planet when it comes to traveling on multiple terrains, from bumpy, uneven paths to muddy quagmires. He hates Override and seeks to defeat her in a race, which proved to be all the reason he needed to join up with Megatron's Decepticons. Defeated in the race for Velocitron's Cyber Planet Key, he broke of his ties with Megatron. He transforms into a monster truck, but can convert to a "high speed mode" with a widened wheelbase through the power of his Cyber Key. In robot mode, his key deploys twin shoulder blasters (Shoulder Vulcan).

* Crumplezone/Dark Crumplezone (Landbullet/Armbullet): This big green brawler is the muscular half of the "Gruesome Twosome" and is hardly ever seen without his partner, Ransack. He is not especially bright, but his bulky frame possesses incredible speed when in his three-wheeled dragster mode, and great strength in robot mode. During a later battle on Cybertron, he was badly injured by a horde of Scrapmetal, but Megatron used the power of his Unicron Armor to reformat him into "Dark Crumplezone." His Cyber Key Power activates a pair of massive missile launchers (Land Bazooka, Arm Bazooka after his upgrade). In the final Planet Cup race, he modified himself to give himself extra speed (Ultra Tune Level 2 Ignition), but still lost.

* Ransack (Gasket): The smaller and most intelligent member of the "Partners in Crime" (although that's not saying much), Ransack makes up for his small size in nimbleness, agility, fairly quick wits, and the fact that he has a bigger partner that can beat up people for him. He transforms into a motorcycle with Cyber-Key-activated boosters that act as a double-barrelled cannon in robot mode (Exhaust Shot/Exhaust Boost). In the final Planet Cup race, he modified himself to give himself extra speed (Reverse Tune Ignition), but still lost.

Jungle Planet Decepticons

* Scourge (Flame Convoy): As a former student of the combat master Backstop, Scourge sought to bring peace to the Jungle Planet, but in using his vast strength to crush all opposition and accomplish his goal, he lost sight of his teacher's ideals and ruled the world through intimidation and shows of power. Hardened and cruel, Scourge espouses the mantra of "Might makes right," but he found his ideals challenged by Leobreaker and the Autobots. When he was ultimately defeated in combat by Optimus Prime, his pride and jealousy motivated him to join the Decepticons, but the hard lessons from Lori he would learn would eventually turn him to the side of light. In fact, Lori is the only one whom Scourge really fears. Known as the Dark Commander (Ankoku Shireikan).

Scourge transforms into a robotic dragon. His tail becomes a massive axe, while his Cyber Key deploys twin hydra-like heads over his shoulers in both modes, unleashing a deadly stream of fire breath (Death Flame/Flame Strike).

* Undermine (Dinoshout): One of Scourge's troops, who is somewhat shifty and underhanded. He transforms into a robotic Spinosaurus with a flail weapon for a tail, and a Cyber Key Power that deploys a blade from his fin (Crest Sword).

* Brimstone (Tera Shaver): One of Scourge's troops. He isn't very bright, and relies on Undermine and his leader to do the thinking for him. He transforms into a robotic Pteranodon, and his Cyber Key deploys twin blades from his wings (Slash Knife).

Earth Decepticons

The Earth Decepticons are the descendants of Transformers who came to Earth on the starship Atlantis. They were sealed away by Crosswise, but were freed by Starscream.

* Thunderblast (Chromia): Thunderblast is a female Transformer who initially served Starscream, but turned to Megatron's side based on how hunky he was. She has a flighty, fun-loving, girlish personality, but ultimately, her only loyalty is to herself, and she will join whomever is most powerful. She transforms into a speedboat, and her Cyber Key transforms her missile launcher weapon into an even larger rocket launcher (Phantom Wave). She is also lava impervious as she once swam on it, and she is a master of water travel.

* Lugnutz (Roadstorm): Although he was one of the Decepticons freed by Starscream, Lugnutz had very little interest in actually fighting for him. He's a very easy-going 'bot with a relaxed, beatnik-like attitude that means he would rather he cruising Earth's highways than fighting Autobots. If any of them were to get in his way, though, he wouldn't be averse to blowing them away with his rifle, Dutch. He transforms into a motorcycle, armed with a grenade launcher activated by his Cyber Key (Side Machine Gun).

Gigantion Decepticons

* Menasor (Moledive): A young Transformer from Gigantion who wanted to change his world's seemingly "out-dated" philosophy by force, Menasor fell prey to Megatron's influence, and joined the Decepticons. Ultimately, his Mini-Con partner Heavy Load (Bull Bull) showed him the error of his ways by leaping in front of Menasor's own drill. Unable to harm his own partner, he saw that he would only hurt Gigantion, and joined Metroplex and the Autobots. He transforms into a large-scale drilling machine, while Heavy Load becomes a dump truck. His Cyber Key power increase the power of his drills. His Force Chip special attack is Giant Drill.

Other

* Scrapmetal (Rumble): A army of drone-like, mutant mechanical lifeforms. While they bear the Decepticon symbol, they serve neither Megatron or Starscream, and act not unlike swarms of vicious insects. They come from worlds neighboring Cybertron, and swarmed to the planet when it was abandoned during the black hole crisis. They were faced down by the Cybertron Defense Team, who wiped out a large number of them. However, the Scrapmetal population clearly survived, as shown by the swarm that attacked and nearly killed Crumplezone. Later, a destroyed Scrapmetal was used by Coby to create his own pilotable Transformer, the "Cobybot" (Coby Rumble). They all transform into "spider-tank" vehicles, and come in varieties of red, blue, and yellow.

* Nemesis Breaker (Dark Ligerjack): An evil doppelganger of Leobreaker who was born from Leobreaker's doubts and the dark power contained in Megatron's Unicron Armor. Nemesis Breaker can combine with Megatron into Dark Claw Mode (Liger Megatron, with the Liger Death Strike Force Chip attack), in opposition to Optimus's Savage Claw Mode. His Cyber Key power is the same as Leobreaker. He is more beast than Transformer, and only speaks through growls and roars. Ultimately, he was destroyed by Metroplex, returning him to the darkness from whence he came.

Factionless Transformers

* Primus: The benevolent creator of the Transformers, Primus is the true form of the planet Cybertron. Each of the Cyber Planet Keys contains a portion of his power; upon the collection of all but the Gigantion key, Cybertron transformed into Primus's robot mode and defeated Starscream in battle using his own moons as weapons. Subsequently, the acquisition of the Giant Planet key reunited Primus's spark with his body, and he used his power to seal the black hole and recreate Cybertron as a new, idyllic world. His Cyber Key power unleashes energy from his hands which he used on Starscream but he deflects it.

* Unicron: As Primus's brother and ancient foe, Unicron sought to destroy life where Primus sought to protect it. Having been battled by the Transformers in previously in Armada and Energon, Unicron was ultimately defeated when his spark was imprisoned by Primus within an energon sun. The destruction of Unicron - the embodiment of evil - in this manner, however, caused a fundamental imbalance in the universe, which caused the sun to collapse in upon itself, creating the massive black hole that threatened not just Cybertron, but the entire multiverse. Although Unicron does not bear a Decepticon insignia on his body, he is assumed to be on the Decepticon side due to his extreme level of evil and his rivalry with Primus.

Planet X

Planet X was home to thieves, murderers and villains of all walks of life, who took their planet on a voyage of galactic conquest and destruction. That voyage came to an end, however, when Planet X encountered Gigantion, and destroyed itself in the ensuing war. The scattered survivors of Planet X allied themselves with Unicron in hopes of attaining revenge on the Giant Planet in the future, and served his will by acting as enigmatic operatives of misdirection and distrust amongst the Transformers.

* Sideways (Noisemaze): This master of deception had previously served Unicron by acting as an avatar for his spark during the war for the Mini-Cons in Transformers: Armada, and was preserved by his dark power following his seeming death at the end of that conflict. Returning during the search for the Cyber Planet Keys, he aligned himself with Starscream, considering him the best chance he had at revenge against Gigantion.

Sideways transforms into a spacecraft. His Cyber Key activates an arm-mounted bladed weapon, and switches his faction signal back and forth from Autobot to Decepticon.

* Soundwave: Soundwave made his entrance later on in the search for the Cyber Planet Keys, offering to guide Megatron and the Decepticons to the wormhole that would lead them to Gigantion. Once on the planet, he joined up with Sideways, and they both attempted to acquired the Omega Lock and Keys for themselves, only to be blasted into another dimension.

Soundwave transforms into a stealth jet fighter, and is partnered with the Mini-Con-like robot, Laserbeak. Laserbeak transforms from a condor into a battery bomb that stores in Soundwave's chest compartment, which deploys through use of his Cyber Key (Blaster Gun). (The animated version of Soundwave is not shown using his Cyber Key to "eject" Laserbeak, or to use it at all.)

Humans

* Coby Hansen: A mechanically-inclined boy who is often called on by the Transformers to do repairs. He develops a friendship with Landmine, and aids Hot Shot on Velocitron. Later in the show, he actually refits a destroyed Scrapmetal as his own personal vehicle called the Cobybot (Coby Rumble), with the special attack Hissatu Coby Shot, earning himself an Autobot Commission and an active role in the battles. The ending credits of the final episode show that he and Lori eventually married.

* Bud Hansen: Coby's younger brother, Bud is a kid through and through. He likes things that kids like, and he daydreams like kids do, although in Bud's case, his daydreams often become reality thanks to his friendship with the Autobots. Very little can phase Bud - his unrelentingly positive attitude keeps him from worrying too much about anything, even the possibility of his own demise. As the ending credits of the final episode show, he won an Academy Award for the documentary he produced about his adventures.

* Lori: The most level-headed of the group, she keeps Coby and Bud under some degree of control. As a city girl, she was not best pleased when her parents moved from a city to a small town in Colorado, but the adventures she had with the Transformers soon took her mind off that. Along the way, she gains a friendship with Override, and forms a connection with Scourge - both refer to her as "little sister." She even developed a rivalry with the female Decepticon Thunderblast. The ending credits show that she and Coby eventually get married.

* Colonel Mick Franklin: When the young Franklin was saved from a raging river as a child by Evac, he dedicated himself to acquiring information on the Transformers, eventually becoming a government agent and, to the surprise of the Autobots' child friends, an ally of the Autobots themselves. At the end of the series, he developed a romance with Dr. Suzuki, who - to his surprise - revealed they were engaged. The ending credits show that they do get married and have a child.

* Professor Lucy Suzuki: Professor Suzuki is not exactly held in high standing amongst her scientific colleagues due to her ideas about alien beings and the Hollow Earth theory, but that doesn't bother her. She quickly and easily befriends Coby, Bud and Lori due to their own open-mindedness about her theories, and becomes involved in investigating the Transformers for the government. When Colonel Franklin revealed that that his motives were peaceful, she became friendly with him, and eventually decided that they were going to get engaged. The ending credits show that they married and have a child.

* Tim Hansen: Coby and Bud's older brother. Has an unnamed girlfriend or fiance.

* Stanton: A mechanic who Coby spends a lot of time working with.

* Coby and Bud's father is a brown-haired man; he and Coby have been seen racing dirtbikes together. His mother is blonde.

* Lori's father, Ernie, is a real-estate developer who enjoys amateur astronomy. Her mother is a somewhat portly woman, and her career is unknown. In the English version, Lori has an older brother that is conspicuously absent.

Civilian Autobots

Autobots living on Earth while Cybertron is threatened by the black hole. Several of them have proven to be recurring characters.

* 4 ancient ancestor Transformers that are seen in "Balance."
* Longrack - An Autobot who transforms into an excavator.
* 3 cars resembling Blurr from the toy-line; they come in blue, red, & gold varieties.
* 2 Transformers that transform into submarines; 1 ended up discovering the remains of Atlantis.
* An excavator
* A truck
* A couple Transformers that turn into passenger planes.
* An Autobot that was seen transforming into a truck. Seen in the episode "Hidden".
* An Autobot that transforms into a taxi. Seen in episode "Search".
* An Autobot that transforms into a phone booth.
* An Autobot who turns into either a satellite or a space shuttle. Seen in the episode "Ship".
* An Autobot that transforms into a stoplight. In the last episode of the series, he transforms (his transformation scheme being similar to that of Mudflap), and his name is revealed to be Signal Lancer in the Japanese version. His unusual alternate mode has made him a favorite among fans of the series.
* Two Autobots who, apparently, turn into mailboxes.

Speed Planet Transformers

The denizens of Speed Planet. Most appear in the form of cars (most resembling the "Blurr" model), or in robot modes that resemble the usual generic models used in the series. There are, however, some notable exceptions.

* Buzzsaw - He transforms into a yellow and purple helicopter and could be seen flying overhead during several races on Velocitron. He resembles Cyclonus
* A blue, camera-like 'bot that served as announcer and "eye-in-the-sky" commentator for the big race.

Jungle Planet Transformers

The denizens of Jungle Planet. They all appear in animal form, and have transformations ranging from modern, mythlogical & prehistoric creatures, which means they must have visited Earth at some point. They include several that resemble an Apatosaurus, an owl, a deer, a giraffe, and a tropical bird

Ancient Earth Decepticons

Descendants of the original Transformers who came to the planet on the starship Atlantis. They inspired legends of monsters & supernatural creatures among the people of Earth. They were all captured and sealed in stasis pods by Crosswise for a number of years, until they were freed by Starscream. They have the ability to project an image around themselves that resemble fearsome creatures (examples being Count Dracula, a werewolf, Bigfoot, and some dragons). They can also transform into large "seeker ships" by merging with one another. They were all defeated and re-sealed, with the exception of Thunderblast and Lugnutz. However, Evac and Crosswise made a deal with Lugnutz, and released them to help in the final battle against Galvatron. Ultimately, a large number of them joined the space bridge project at the end of the series.

Giant Planet Transformers

The people of this planet all transform into construction equipment.

* A Transformer who takes the form of a crane. Seen in the episode "Giant".
* A Transformer who takes the form of a large dump truck.

Planet X Transformers

In the past, Planet X was populated by "mass production" types similar to Sideways and Soundwave, as well as numerous Mini-Cons fashioned in the same model as Laserbeak. There is a Japanese exclusive toy called Soundblaster, and his minion is a Laserbeak-type named Hell Buzzsaw.

Fun Publications Comic Book

Available exclusively to members of the Official Transformers Collectors Club, the short bi-monthly comic strip published in the club's newsletter - in addition to explaining away the plot holes that exist between the Armada, Energon and Cybertron animated series - expands the story of Cybertron to include many other characters. Primarily, these characters are from the parallel-universe-spanning Transformers: Universe toyline, but the comic has also featured several of the Cybertron characters not featured in the animated series. These include:

* Dark Scorponok - An inhabitant of the Energon comic book universe by Dreamwave Productions, where he was killed by Megatron, but revived as a zombie-like creature hungering for sparks. The reality-warping effects of the black hole transported him from his home universe into the animated Cybertron continuity, where he found himself on Cybertron and attacked Skyfall. He transforms into a construction vehicle themed to look like a scorpion, and his Cyber Key activates twin blasters in his tail.

* Skyfall - A Velocitronian native with no memories of his past who feels he has always been past of something greater than he knows, Skyfall came to Cybertron in hopes of finding out what they something was. He transforms into an A-10 Warthog, can manifest energon weapons and projects a protective forcefield. His toy was available exclusively through the Official Transformers Collectors Club.

* Downshift - Having previously appeared during the Transformers: Energon animated series, Downshift was shown being badly damaged in battle and being rebuilt into a new form. He now transforms into a green and black muscle car, and his Cyber Key activates a grabber claw in his front grill. (The real-world origin of his sports car mode is highly debated by fans. It appears to be an amalgamation of various features found on Plymouth, Dodge, Chevrolet, and Ford sports cars from 1969 and 1970.)

* Landquake - A Decepticon with powers like Skyfall, it seems this Transformer may be connected to him in mysterious ways. He transforms into a tank, and was also only available through the Collector's Club.

* Unicron - The Cybertron toyline included a new incarnation of Unicron in the form of a futuristic alien tank, the existence of which was intended to prove that despite the destruction of his body and the creation of the black hole, Unicron - and evil - would always exist in some form. The club's exclusive comic proceeded to explain the origin of this body by revealing that, before joining the events of the Cybertron animated series, Soundwave was able to free Unicron's essence from its imprisonment within the black hole, allowing it to possess a small planet. Unicron's essence corrupted the planet quickly, and its inhabitants went to war; the planet was eventually destroyed, and Unicron emerged in his new body from within the remains.

Toy-Only Characters

There are a number of Transformers in the toyline that do not appear in the show, most of which are American-exclusives.

* Armorhide - An Autobot. Transforms into a tractor truck. Possesses an Earth-Type Cyber Key. His extra bio on Transformers.com states that he's a new recruit who enjoys lightening the mood with comedy.

* Blurr - An Autobot who transforms into a futuristic race car. He is a remold of the Armada toy of the same name, and his appearance is based on the G1 season three character. His package bio mentions him as a racing veteran (such was true of his Micron Legend counterpart) and there are alternate bios for him which add that he is a veteran of the Armada and Energon battles. The new redesign of Transformers.com has modified Blurr's bio to depict the Armada/Energon version.

* Brushguard - A Decepticon who transforms into an offroad vehicle. His bio describes him as a botanist who seeks to use Earth plants to develop biological weapons against the Autobots. Said to be the cousin of Overhaul, whom he is remolded and repainted from.

* Cannonball - US exclusive repaint of Deluxe Red Alert, done as a Decepticon pirate.

* Demolishor - A repaint of the toy from Armada. Supposedly, the same character from Armada and Energon.

* Excellion - A repaint of Hot Shot in the spirit of G1 Hot Rod. He's an irreverent and somewhat violent soldier.

* Hardtop - A Decepticon who turns into a jeep. Possesses an Earth-type Cyber Key. His function is identified as a sniper. He has an extra bio that says he enjoys reading comic books.

* Repugnus - A repaint of Undermine. He is said to be against Scourge, and leads a separatist tribe in the Steelshard Mountains. He is the brother of Undermine.

* Runamuck - A Decepticon who ransforms into a car similar to a sedan. His toy is a remold of Armada Sideswipe. Based on the G1 characters Runabout and Runamuck.

* Shortround - A Decepticon who transforms into a hovercraft. He's somewhat of a nerd, an intense toy collector, and is infatuated with Thunderblast, as shown on the In space comics.

* Sky Shadow - A repainted toy whose backstory states him to be Jetfire, undercover as a Decepticon.

* Skywarp - A repaint of Thundercracker, upgrade of Armada Skywarp, who has never been given a show or character description in official fiction.

* Smokescreen - A repaint of Cybertron Crosswise, a homage to G1 Smokescreen and Action Master Rad. Racing upgrade to the Armada character.

* Swerve - An Autobot, and repaint of Clocker in red, black, and white. Swerve is a racer from Speed Planet who participates in underground "oil sport" races.

* Swindle - A Decepticon, and repaint of Hardtop based on the G1 character Swindle. He's Hardtop's brother, and is somewhat brutish and unrefined.

* Wreckloose - A denizen of Jungle Planet who transforms into a komodo dragon. Is one of Scourge's unseen lieutenants that specializes in ambushes.

* Deluxe Optimus Prime - A repaint of Armada Supercon Optimus Prime, representing a smaller body taken on by Prime to explore the Giant Planet.

* Cryo Scourge - A repaint of Cybertron Scourge.

* Sunstorm - A Repaint of "Legends of Cybertron" Starscream.

Mini-Cons

The Cybertron series features a strong presence from Mini-Cons, in the form of numerous repaints.

* Street Speed Mini-Con Team - Oval, Spiral, and Backtrack. They are meant to be new versions of the Mini-Con team of the same name from Armada, who they are remoulds of.

* Giant Planet Mini-Con Team - Deepdive, Overcast, and Longarm. They transform into a submarine, seaplane, and construction vehicle in that order. All three are said to be rebellious Mini-Cons from Giant Planet.

* Shockwave vs. Tankor - Repaint of Armada Terradive and Wreckage
* Razorclaw vs. Steamhammer - Repaint of Armada Terradive and Knockout
* Sky Lynx vs. Thunderblast (not to be confused with the Decepticon Thunderblast) - Repaint of Armada Gunbarrel and Bonecrusher
* Scattorbrain vs. Monocle - Repaint of Armada Iceberg and Drillbit
* Payload vs. Ascentor - Repaint of Armada Ransack and Dualor
* Kobushi vs. Landslide - Repaint of Armada Dune Runner and Buzzsaw
* Anti-Blaze vs. Thrust - Repaint of Armada Firebot and Energon Scattor
* Scythe vs. Ramjet - Repaint of Armada Makeshift and Energon Skyboom
* Checkpoint vs. Sunstorm - Repaint of Armada Prowl and Energon Wreckage
* Scrap Iron vs. Grindor - Repaint of Amada Astroscope and Energon Grindor
* Blastcharge vs. High Wire - Repaint of Armada Payload and Enegon High Wire
* Backblast vs. Sureshock - Repaint of Armada Sky Blast and Energon Sureshock

* Wal-Mart Tiny-Tin Exclusives - The Mini-Con Race Team members from Armada, Mirage, Downshift, and Dirt Boss, were all available individually with Tiny Tins, packaged with Hot Shot, Thundercracker, Landmine, Dirt Boss, Red Alert, or Override.

Japanese Exclusives

* Black Fang Wolf - A black recolor of Snarl available through Toys Dream Project.
* Soundblaster and Hell Buzzsaw - A recolor of Soundwave and Laserbeak, also available through Toys Dream Project.
* Black Nitro Convoy - A black recolor of Override available only through a Japanese magazine promotion. Said to be a clone of Nitro Convoy, created in a manner similar to Nemesis Breaker.
* Flame Convoy Sky Lynx Type - a redeco of Scourge in the colors of the G1 character Sky Lynx.
* Gasket Police Type - a redeco of Ransack in a police paintjob.
* As with many Japanese lines, a special gold-colored repaint of Galaxy Convoy was released in Japan.
* A slightly repainted Galaxy Convoy and Sonic Bomber were released in a gift set in Japan; this gift set remains the only way to get the "Cobybot" Scrapmetal toy.
* Bit - Repaint of Jolt
* Bug General and Bug Drone - Re-paint of Dead End, Armada Unicron's Mini-Con. The re-paint is a very minor change to the side of the toy in planet mode.
* Clamp - Repaint of Armada Hoist's Mini-Con, Refute
* Dice - Repaint of Backtrack
* Gauge - Repaint of Armada Sideswipe's Mini-Con, Nightbeat
* Jack - Repaint of Spiral
* Plier - Repaint of Reverb
* Plug - Repaint of Oval
* Socket - Repaint of Six-Speed
* Trigger - Repaint of Armada Cyclonus's Mini-Con, Crumplezone
* Wrench - Repaint of Armada Blurr's Mini-con, Incinerator
* Hellflame Mini-Cons - Graviton, Pulsar, Bulge - Remolds/repaints of Armada Emergency Team
* Caliber Mini-Cons - Hyakurai, Ichibi, Mugen - Remolds/repaints of Armada Air Military Team
* Megalo Mini-Cons - Zapmap, Gritbit, Zigzag - Repaints of Armada Destruction Team
* Platinum Factor, Platinum Element, Platinum Material - Repaints of Jolt, Six-Speed, and Reverb

source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_characters_in_Transformers:_Cybertron

5S in the Office Today

2009-06-25T22:52:00.000-07:00

5S in the Office Today
by Audrey L Thomas

Picture this scenario- an organized workspace, less stress, less chaos, a semblance of order. It would be nice to be surrounded by this thriving and productive environment. The goal of organizing a productive office like this one is attainable and sustainable.

More than sixty years ago Toyota created the 5S system, a method of organizing and maintaining neat and clutter-free manufacturing facilities that encouraged productivity. Today, manufacturing plants and offices world-wide have implemented the philosophies and practices of the TPS (Toyota Production System).

Lean Office principles of 5S may seem mysterious at first, but are quite sensible when focusing on each one individually. After 5S-ing the office and committing to keeping it in place, you will be able to concentrate on the tasks at hand more easily, and productivity will increase.
Let's take a look at the 5s' and see why they are a necessity in today's busy office environment.

S #1 --Sort

Scenario: As you look around your office, notice the items that have been tucked under your desk, piled on top of a filing cabinet or inherited from a previous employee when you began your job--three years ago. Even though you've never needed these items, you still have them. It's time to implement the first S - Sort.

Begin by considering: "What do I need to do my job every day?" Think of your office as expensive real estate. Only items that add value to your daily routines and tasks deserve to sit on your desk and take up space. When in doubt, move it out! (Or, in the environmentally-conscious spirit of recycling, give it to someone who needs it!)

Application: Conducting a sort/purge of filing drawers and hard drives will free up much-needed space. Reviewing your company's retention policy before starting this process helps you to make quicker decisions and gives you permission to either hang on to an item or release it. To help speed up the Sort process, have a large trash can and shredding bin available.

S# 2--Straighten/Set-In-Order

Scenario: You've just been handed a new project and your boss suggests a similar proposal which you worked on a year ago for another client. You open up your hard drive files and within sixty seconds, you're reviewing the previous file. It feels great to be able to locate an older document without having to spend hours looking for it. Straighten up your area by creating specific "homes" for files, objects and equipment. You'll use things more often and easily put them away when they are designated to a specific location.

Application: We've all seen pictures of a workbench pegboard with outline drawings for each tool. This is a prime example of Straightening and Setting in Order. You can do the same with the office supplies on your desk. Using electrical tape (available in several colors) create an outline on your desk for your stapler, 3-hold punch, phone, laptop, and other desk accessories. Instantly, you'll be able to see if something is missing or out of order.

Using labels will help in the Straightening process too. You can apply them to individual shelves, cabinets, and drawers in your office. They will act as visual reminders of what goes where and help keep you from stashing items where they don't belong!

S #3--Shine/Sweep

Toyota discovered that maintaining the equipment and deep cleaning the facilities decreased the number of breakdowns and the cost of repairs. A clean environment encourages organization and also is an attitude-booster.

Scenario: You need to retrieve something from the dreaded storage room. The last time you were there, it took an hour to uncover what you were looking for in the dusty, cluttered mess. Thanks to 5S, when you flip on the light switch, you discover that someone has already cleaned and organized to help this space undergo a major transformation. Ahhh, life's simple pleasures.

Application: Once a week (I like to do it on Fridays), wipe off flat surfaces such as desktops, filing cabinets and book shelves with a damp paper towel, cleaning cloth or disinfectant wipes. Talk to your IT department about their preferences for cleaning your keyboard and monitor. Use a can of air to deal with the dust bunnies hiding amongst the cords behind your computer and under your desk. Your equipment will run better, and you'll breathe easier in a clean, dust-free office.

S #4--Standardize

Bringing standardization into the office allows for systems to be put in place so everyone follows procedures the same way. This might mean creating a form used for inbound customer service calls, creating a color-coded filing system or using a checklist before sending product to the customer. Standardizing processes and procedures lowers the error rate (referred to as Waste of Defects) and ensures that 5S techniques will be applied.

Scenario: Several individuals in your department handle inquiry calls for new business. Your job is to follow up on the initial calls once leads have been qualified. However, the format of the information that you receive varies by who handled the call.

Application: Develop a standardized form (electronically or paper) for all initial inquiries to ensure that complete and thorough information will appear in the same format every time. Standardizing any process will cut down on errors (Waste of Defects) and increase productivity.

S #5--Sustain

We do not live in a paperless society yet, and the paper trail often leads to your desk. Paper, projects and "stuff" are constantly streaming into our offices so we must be proactive in returning items to their designated areas (straightening) and developing processes for handling incoming information and projects (standardization). After developing a daily routine of Sort, Straighten, Sweep and Standardize, the final 5S step of Sustain will occur more naturally.

Application: Just keep it up! Fight the urge to "put things away tomorrow." Make a checklist as a reminder to sustain all of your new good habits. Check the list at the end of every day, or at least at the end of every week.

S # 6--Safety
Many companies have added a sixth "S" - Safety. While this topic is common in manufacturing settings, it isn't considered a very relevant topic in the office. But safety issues always exist and are worth our attention. Obviously, any accident - whether on the manufacturing floor or in the office - costs the company money in lost labor and health benefits, and costs the employees in pain and lost salary.

Injuries related to tripping over loose cords, tangled cables or piles of "stuff' being stored on the floor is easily fixed. Also, if your desk surface is so full of papers, stacks and "stuff", you may be using your lap as a work surface, putting yourself at risk for strained neck and shoulder muscles. Addressing the well-being of employees will enhance the other S's and improve quality of work. Always put Safety first. The dividends are too high to ignore.

Application: Wrapping up this "S" is easy. Use bag ties or wire ties to keep cords from becoming tangled. Staple "snaky" cords to the baseboards, and file those piles away each day. Approaching your office with 5S in mind will eventually become second nature. Soon you'll find yourself sorting and straightening things at home and spotting areas that could be improved with a little standardization.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Audrey_L._Thomas

Get in Shape For Your Wedding - 5 Easy Tips

2009-05-20T08:27:00.000-07:00

Get in Shape For Your Wedding - 5 Easy Tips

With so many things to do and prepare before the big day trying to get in shape for your wedding can often get put on the back burner and neglected.

Normally, the ladies who come and ask me how they can get in shape for their wedding, often want to do so fairly quickly. Their timetable is pretty hectic, so some flexibility is required in what they can do and when they can do it, thus crazy diet and exercise regimes are a big no-no.

Here I'll tell you 5 things that you can do starting today to get in shape for your wedding.

1/ Stop snacking

Snacking is probably the single biggest reason that folks end up breaking their diet plans, and pack on the pounds without even realising. Controlling the temptation to snack will be key to you being able to get in shape for your wedding.

Snacking can be caused by a number of reasons, but is often linked to people not eating enough or at the right time, boredom, or emotional stresses (i.e. comfort eating).

The best way to combat and control snacking is to eat good hearty and healthy meals at the appropriate times. Plan your day so that you take time to eat a good breakfast, lunch and dinner, and this will help you to avoid the need to snack in between. Eating smaller meals more regularly will avoid the need to snack as there'll be less time between meals.

Try to eat more low GI (Glycemic Index) foods that have sustained energy release - things like oatmeal, bran flakes, and pasta, release energy slowly throughout the day meaning you won't feel so hungry. Avoid high sugar foods as these will only exacerbate the snacking problem, and make it more difficult for you to get in shape for your wedding.

2/ Avoid Stress / De-stress

Easier said than done when you're trying to plan a wedding right? I know things can get pretty crazy...organizing the ceremony, invites, caterers, the party, and don't even get me started on the dress! All this equals one thing...mucho stress!

If you want to get in shape for your wedding you'll have to manage your stress levels. Why? Well, it has been proven that high stress levels can contribute to weight gain and make it more difficult to lose weight. When stressed our bodies produce a hormone called Cortisol which increases blood sugar levels and slows metabolism. We also tend to snack more when we're stressed and indulge ourselves more as a way of comfort eating. All this combined makes it more difficult to get in shape for your wedding.

Controlling and reducing stress is never easy, but there are some things you can do.

Ask for help when you need it - no one expects you to be a superwoman...get others to do the little jobs that you don't need to.

Take time for yourself, have a nice hot bath, use essential aromatherapy oils and chill out. Go for a massage or spa treatment with the girls...or get your future hubby to give you a massage...this is a great way to be intimate and spend time together while helping to reduce the stress you're both going through.

3/ Sleep/rest well

Linked to stress levels, sleeping well is important to help you to get in shape for your wedding. A good night's rest will lower your stress levels, balance your blood sugar levels, and help you maintain a gorgeous glowing complexion.

Lack of sleep can contribute to overeating, as fatigue lowers your blood sugar level, and causes you to look for and eat more sugary high-fat foods.

4/ Diet wisely

The best way to get in shape for your wedding is to diet wisely. Most diets fail because they rely on deprivation. You know, it's all about taking something out, be it carbs, fat, red meat, solid foods, taste...you name it, it's been tried, and ultimately failed.

A great diet method that is really popular at the moment is called Calorie Shifting. This relies on you "shifting" or rotating food groups on a regular basis so your metabolism stays consistent and keeps burning fat. If you deprive yourself, your metabolism slows down 'cos it thinks your body is beginning to starve, so it takes more care of your fat reserves, and not less, meaning you'd find it more and more difficult to lose weight and get in shape for your wedding.

Make fat burning foods a part of your every day diet. The low GI foods like oatmeal, and green fibrous vegetables are excellent "fat-burning" foods and will help you to get in shape for your wedding.

5/ Exercise

Hey, I know it's annoying but it can really help you get in shape for your wedding. I think most people's biggest opposition to exercise is they find it boring...I agree, running on a treadmill at the gym for 30 minutes makes me want to poke my fingers into my eyes :)

So the answer is to do something that isn't boring. Sports are a great way to get intensive exercise without even realising and having fun along the way. Why not try swimming? Swimming is hugely underrated as an exercise and a great way to get in shape for your wedding. It'll help you get the toned and sexy body to die for, and it's often a great place to make new friends too.

Even simple changes to your daily routine can really help you to get in shape for your wedding. Taking the stairs instead of the elevator, and walking instead of taking the bus or car can really add up. If you don't believe me, get yourself one of those pedometers and record how many extra steps you do by changing your routines, and then work out how many calories you've lost in the process.

99% Of People That Start A Diet End Up Failing And Putting On More Weight Than When They Started. Can You Afford To Be One Of Those Folks?
Find Out The Best Wedding Diets Where Failure Is Not An Option.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julia_Strachan

Why Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) is the Best Choice for Curing Acne

2009-05-20T08:22:00.000-07:00

Why Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) is the Best Choice for Curing Acne
by Johny Moon

For years the main choices in trying to treat acne have been over the counter topical medications like face cleansing pads and creams which are highly ineffective as anyone who has ever suffered through acne knows well.

There is also the prescription drug Accutane which while it is very effective in treating acne it is used specifically for very bad cases of acne and it also has many negative side effects. Accutane is also very expensive. All of these reasons make Accutane not a very good choice for the vast majority of acne sufferers.

Luckily now there is a better choice. Vitamin B5. Companies like Vilantae have created capsules using vitamin B5 specifically to treat acne. Vitamin B5 works not by cleansing your skin but by stopping acne at it's source.

This makes a lot more sense than topical products like ProActiv when you think about it. Topical products attempt to cleanse your skin of acne. If you are an acne sufferer you should really realize by now that acne has nothing to do with how dirty or clean your skin is. One person could wash their face once a month and have no acne and another could wash their face 20 times a day and have a face full of it.

If you've been suffering from acne for a long time I bet you've been using topical pads and creams for quite some time with little to no success, am I right? I know that that could have been said about me 4 years ago before I heard about Vitamin B5 and tried it for myself. I had been using topical medications for 7 years and one day I just grew very frustrated that I could never have clear skin. I was getting pretty old by then (age 25) and it was extremely frustrating to me that I could never seem to clear my skin no matter how many topical medications I bought or how much I cleaned my face.

Vitamin B5 was a revelation for me. I got the bottles of vitamin B5 capsules and I followed the directions as far as how many to take (being as this was 4 years ago I don't remember the exact schedule.) and at first I was a bit worried about the large number of capsules that I was supposed to take but I found different ways of taking the vitamins like opening up the capsules and putting them in yogurt (my favorite trick.)

I was quickly a convert of B5 because right off I noticed one of the great side effects of Vitamin B5. Yes vitamin B5 does have side effects but they are POSITIVE! I actually had a great increase in energy when I began taking B5 and it wasn't that wired dirty feeling energy that you get from diet pills or drinking too much coffee it was fresh natural feeling energy like from a really great night sleep. That was a great way to start off with it and it was literally days when I started to notice my skin clearing up.

I took Vitamin B5 for about a year and had no pimples that whole year. At that point I was taking much less vitamin B5 (I had slowly been taking less and less) and I finally decided to try and stop taking it altogether to see what would happen. I was expecting to have to take it again.

But to my surprise I never did. It's now been 3 years since then and my skin is still clear. So not only did Vitamin B5 seem to treat my acne it actually seems to have CURED my acne. I hope you can see why I am such a big proponent of Vitamin B5.

I feel dumb now looking back at it, that I never tried anything else other than topical medications for 7 years! But you know that's all they show you on TV and in other advertisements. All of these big companies that sell this garbage they pass off as medication. They make a ton of money from people who are desperate to have clear skin and will keep buying the same junk even though it never does anything. They don't care that their products don't work and in fact that probably makes them better sellers because the people have to keep buying the products since they continue to have acne. See the vicious circle there and how it profits the big companies?

I've actually been reading some disinformation going around about Vitamin B5 and it's obvious to me that this is information being put out by the big companies because the last thing they want is for their to be a real acne cure. Think about this for a minute or two and you'll understand why.

If acne could be cured by taking a simple vitamin that is very inexpensive do you realize how much money these companies are going to lose by no longer being able to peddle their junky topical "medications"? Billions of dollars. So please do not be swayed by any of that nonsense. Use your own sense. Realize that topical medications clearly are not the way to treat acne.

Think about your own experiences with topical medications trying to treat your acne. Don't you think it's time you tried something different? Why waste another day doing the same thing you've been doing for years when it doesn't work?

Vitamin B5 Acne Treatment

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Johnny_Moon

How to Eat Coconut Oil For the Best Health Benefits

2009-05-20T08:19:00.000-07:00

How to Eat Coconut Oil For the Best Health Benefits
by Laura Ng

If I ask you to recommend a recipe using coconut cream, you probably thought of curry. But if I change it to coconut oil, what recipe comes to your mind then?

Indeed, both provide same nutritional benefits but we use coconut cream more often in cooking.

They're the best natural sources of MCFA (medium chain fatty acid) which provides incredible health-promoting properties. This healthful fat actually protects you against heart disease (yes, contrary to what we're led to believe), diabetes, cancers, liver and kidney diseases, osteoporosis, dental decay and skin infections, viruses, yeast and fungi.

It does wonders to your skin and hair too. And an excellent tool to help you lose that excess body fat.

Coconut cream is preferred because other than its sweet aroma, it gives a smooth consistency to the dishes such as curry when added in right quantity. But it turns rancid easily at room temperature due to presence of water within the cream. So, replacing your current cooking oil with coconut oil is the easiest and fastest way to start reaping abundant health benefits in just one food.

Types of Coconut Oil

First of all, you got to differentiate the two types for use - virgin and RBD ("refined, bleached and deodorized").

Virgin type is extracted from fresh coconuts at low temperatures and using natural extraction methods. It carries a subtle and delicious taste that makes you feel like eating the yummy cream paste. If you like natural coconut taste and smell, you must go for this virgin type.

RBD, also known as highly refined, is almost as nutritious as virgin type except for its colorless, tasteless and odorless characteristics. Instead of fresh coconuts, dried coconuts (copra) are used for extraction and the extracted oil then undergoes heat and chemical processing to rid its impurities, taste and smell.

This type suits you best if you're not used to the natural coconut flavor yet. However, some people worry about the hygiene condition of the way copra is handled and the chemical residue from the refining process.

Adding to the woes are companies who partially or fully hydrogenate coconut oil in order to maintain its solid form at higher melting point than its original at 76 degrees Fahrenheit.

Hydrogenation of oil produces harmful trans fat responsible for many illnesses including heart disease, cancers and diabetes. As a result, these people become even more doubtful of RBD oil.

Now if you're concerned over RBD oil but still like to try coconut oil with minimum taste and smell, I recommend that you look for high quality refined type that uses "expeller pressed" or "centrifuged" extraction method. This method involves a more natural refining process that produces very mild tasting, smooth and creamy texture.

Though it's not totally odorless, its flavor is so bland that you won't be able to notice the difference.

Let's find out the different ways you can eat the oil for best health benefits.

Raw Coconut Oil Diets

Salad Dressing

Dribble the virgin oil over your favorite salads to enhance the aroma and texture. However, salads are often served chilled. When added to cold salads, coconut oil hardens as it melts at pretty high 76 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees Celsius). One way to get around this is to mix with another oil that has a low melting point, such as olive oil.

Spread

I love to spread 2 to 3 tablespoons of the flavorful oil on two slices of wholemeal bread with a generous sprinkle of grounded flaxseeds. It's a simple yet appetizing spread.

Cooking with Coconut Oil

Sauteing, stir-frying and Deep-frying

Coconut oil can withstand high cooking temperature without breaking down into toxic substances or releasing free radicals due to its very stable saturated fat structure.

At smoke point of 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius), you can cook anything and in any way you want as long as you don't overheat it.

No matter what kind of oil, once overheated, will produce toxic by-products that can cause cancers.

How do you know if you've overheated the oil? Look out for this telltale sign - it starts to smoke.

Also, foods deep-fried in it don't absorb as much oil as in other vegetable oils. So, you won't have to worry about ingesting excessive coconut oil that may turn into your fat deposits.

Baking

Learn to substitute butter, vegetable oil and shortening for your baking with coconut oil as it adds sweetness to baked goods. As a guide, use three-quarter cup of the oil to replace 1 cup of shortening.

Don't worry about setting the oven temperature to slightly above its smoke point. The moisture in the food will keep the inside temperature well below 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius).

Adding in Beverages

You can simply mix it in your hot beverage, be it tea, coffee, hot chocolate or hot soup. Though it doesn't mix well and floats on the surface, it won't taste oily or leave an oily aftertaste in your mouth. In fact I enjoy the rich coconut taste in my drink very much.

Eating on Its Own

If eating directly from the spoonfuls is all right with you, I recommend a daily dosage of 3 1/2 tablespoons for adults. But you're still fine if you keep to just 1 or 2 tablespoons daily.

Coconut oil can be a very versatile food, only if you're open to new ideas. Explore cookbooks and recipes, create your own recipes, and learn from your friends - so many ways to incorporate the powerful nutrient as part of your diet.

Eating with coconut oil is no doubt a wise choice to better health. But to fully unleash its health potential, you should learn more about the health benefits of coconut oil. Besides that, you can discover other natural health remedies at Laura Ng's website which advocates only natural healing, without medication.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laura_Ng

Leptorexin Diet Pill

2009-05-20T08:15:00.000-07:00

Leptorexin Diet Pill

Leptorexin is a weight loss supplement that claims by taking it you will "Lose 7 Pounds Every 7 Days Effortlessly". The first thing you will notice about Leptorexin is lengthy list of ingredients; there are about 50 ingredients in this supplement. Leptorexin claims it will not only help you lose weight but it will also detox your body, eliminate acne, feel euphoric, suppress appetite, and build muscle. That is great if you are looking for all of those things, but what if you just want to lose weight?

Just what is in Leptorexin?

The list is long and we could probably write a book with information on each ingredient. Leptorexin contains 6 "Keys" which, according to their website, are:

1. Vitamins & Mineral blend - Vitamin C, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6, Chromium Polynicontinate, Selenium

2. Motivation & Hunger - Chocamine, Di-Caffeine Malate, Rhodiola Rosea, St. John's Wort, L-Tyrosine, Picamilon, Phenylalanine, hops, Phenylethylamine (PEA), Synephrine, Ginkgo, Siberian Ginseng, Ginger, 5-HTP, and Vinpocetine

3. Superfoods - Barley, Garlic, Cayenne, Buckwheat, Soybeans, Flaxseed, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Wheatgrass, Acai, and alfalfa. These ingredients supposedly help in eliminating acne.

4. Lean Muscle Matrix - Forslean, L-Glutamine, Creatine Monohydrate, L-Arginine, Avena Sativa, Mucuna Pruniens, Ipriflavone, Ecdysterone

5. Body & liver detox - dandelion root, milk thistle, licorice, cranberry, uva ursi, and sage

6. Anti Aging matrix - green tea, DMAE, acetyl-L-Carnitine, and alpha lipoic acid

While the ingredients are all listed, there are no specific amounts listed for any of the ingredients. This is your standard "proprietary blend" that we see a lot in the diet pill industry. It's completely out of the ordinary for companies not to use a proprietary blend these days, so we have a hard time making it count against anyone. (That being said, there are a few companies that disclose everything, so we do give special consideration to those).

Because Leptorexin contains a whole slew of ingredients, you're going to be dealing with multiple pills. Don't let this be a huge deterrent to you unless you have a hard time swallowing pills. What would worry me more is if Leptorexin were to list all of these ingredients and then only require one or two pills as the dosage...that would smell like a scam.

What does the Research say about Leptorexin?

Well, there has been no research done on Leptorexin itself, only on some of the individual ingredients. Several of the ingredients have been proven effective in weight loss, specifically Forslean and green tea. However, many of the ingredients are a bit disputed in their effectiveness, including 5-HTP and DMAE. Many of the other ingredients have not been researched enough to determine their effectiveness. Although some ingredients do have clinical backing, it is impossible to say whether or not these ingredients are effective in Leptorexin because the amounts of the ingredients are not disclosed.

Several ingredients are included as mood enhancers (including PEA and DMAE). PEA has been clinically proven to promote energy and elevate mood. http://neuro.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/7/1/6

The Leptorexin Website Claims:

"Recent Clinical studies prove the Effectiveness of 2 ingredients in the Leptorexin Lean Muscle Matrix:

1) Seventy-eight highly trained athletes were given either placebo, protein, or a key ingredient in Leptorexin + protein. The combination of Leptorexin's ingredient and protein resulted in up to a 13% reduction in body fat and a 6% to 7% increase in muscle tissue. This was within a period of only 10 days.

2) University study on another PATENTED ingredient in Leptorexin shows test subjects lost 9.9 lbs of body FAT on average in the course of 12 weeks. They were also able to GAIN Lean Muscle Tissue thus greatly increasing their metabolic rate and likelihood of long term success."

It is interesting that not only does Leptorexin fail to say which ingredients were tested, but they also fail to give any concrete evidence on when the studies were done or who conducted the studies.

Leptorexin Marketing

Leptorexin does most of the marketing by word of mouth. This is actually a very positive sign, since you can be assured that consumers won't refer their friends to an ineffective product. They do not have a customer service phone number, only an email address. On the up side, they do have a "Lifetime Money Back Guarantee". All you have to do is return your empty bottle (because they want you to try an entire bottle before returning it) and any unopened bottles for a "quick refund" minus shipping and handling.

How Much Does Leptorexin Cost?

Leptorexin normally costs $99.95 per bottle (a one month supply) but you can get a big discount if you buy direct.

Leptorexin Review Conclusion

Leptorexin does a good job at covering all the bases. By focusing on the ingredients key ingredients that are pretty pricey you are sure to see some great benefits. With a lifetime moneyback guarantee, it may be worth a shot but, of course, that's ultimately up for you to decide.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kaiya_Diaz

The Best New Skin Care Products For Teens

2009-05-20T08:12:00.000-07:00

The Best New Skin Care Products For Teens
by Jean_Helmet

It might be difficult to find the best new skin care products for teens. Teens tend to have more sensitive skin and are more prone to acne flare-ups than adults. It is good then to try to determine your teen's skin type.

Have you heard of the dry tissue test? You take a plain tissue (no lotion or medicated vapors) and shortly after your teen rises, have them wipe their face with the tissue.

If there is oil on the tissue your teen has oily skin, if oil is only on the center panel they have combination skin, and if the tissue is dry they have either normal skin or dry skin. In order to test for dry skin, have your teen wash their face with non-oil based soap.

That's it and if in a few minutes their skin begins to feel tight or like it's being pulled tight they have dry skin. There is no real test that can determine sensitive skin you and your teen will recognize sensitive skin if they skin irritations from their normal daily care routine.

Let's take a look at finding the best product for your teen. I think you would want one that addresses their tendency toward acne flare-ups as well as when their skin is relatively clear. Take a look at products on store shelves pick one and read the label.

Let's see if I can help you recognize particular ingredients of the product you are interested in. Do you see parabens listed (preservatives)? Parabens are known to be carcinogenic. Do you see paraffin on the label (mineral oil)? This will harm your skin in the long run. It kind of "seals" your skin so it can't release toxins.

What about fragrances are they on the label? Fragrances may be made with toxic substances as well. Do you see alcohols on the label, if they are they are probably petroleum based alcohols that is very drying to your teen's skin.

All of these ingredients have connections with the occurrences of some forms of cancer, depression, and stress disorders. Research continues to see if a connection between these ingredients and other health conditions exist.

There are wonderful all-natural alternate ingredients that will give great results without harmful side effects for your teen (and you).

Did you ever think the pit of an avocado has anything you can use? The rich oil that is extracted when the pit is pressed is wonderful for their skin. Did you have any clue that beeswax can be used for anything but candles?

Harvested from honey comb it is purified by special melting and centrifugal processes to get rid of all impurities. Did you know that highly purified olive oil (olivem) is great for your skin? All of these ingredients and more are safe and effective.

There is a strong skin care compound that is available has 3 active ingredients that does wonders for your teens skin. Together these 3 ingredients heals their dry skin from with-in, penetrates the skin easily as it begins become hydrated and smoother, renews collagen and elastin, and aids in tissue repair.

They are Phytessence Wakame (Japanese seaweed), Nano-lipobelle H-EQ10 and a new substance Cynergy TK.

Now finding the best new skin care products for teens might be a bit difficult. Your doctor, your regular pharmacist or your local health and wellness store might be able to help. They are worth checking out.

If all else fails, do a search on the internet for all-natural skin care products for teens. If you come across one you are interested in - visit their website. Most of them will have their product line and labels available for you and/or your teen to read.

Many supply a list of the ingredients and what they do on their sites as well. Most will allow you to order them online. A really good company will offer a free trial, free samples, and a money-back guarantee if you and your teen are not satisfied. They will also have links describing their research and product history.

A point of contact (email, regular mailing address, and/or a phone number if you have questions or a problem with their products. Good luck!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jean_Helmet

The Common Myths About Acne

2009-05-20T08:09:00.000-07:00

The Common Myths About Acne
by Michael Russell

Myth: Acne is a teenage ailment and will no longer be a problem when you reach adulthood.

True, it is usually associated with teenagers but many adults too suffer from acne, though the harshness may vary. Individuals over the age of 50 years rarely get acne. Five percent of women of the age of 40 years have acne, whilst in men it is only around 1 percent. It is estimated that about 75 percent of teenagers suffer from acne. Acne is said to be attributed to hereditary factors combined with many other factors.

Myth: Dirty skin or poor hygiene causes acne.

This is not true, however keeping the skin clean by gently washing and patting dry instead of rubbing dry as against vigorously scrubbing the skin when washing, would prevent the skin being infected by bacteria that give rise to acne.

Myth: Chocolates, fatty foods, pizza, fried foods and Coca-cola in the diet cause acne.

Scientific studies have shown that this is not the case. However consuming these, above-mentioned foods in moderation and eating a well balanced diet would be a healthier option. If, however you feel that eating a particular food/foods have an adverse effect on your acne, it is recommended that you avoid consuming these particular foods as they may be causing some allergic reactions. It has been found that foods with a high content of Iodine may aggravate the acne condition.

Myth: Stress causes acne.

Stress directly does not cause acne. However, stress could make the acne condition worse. Having acne as it is can be stressful for most and some medications used as a result of the treatment of stress may give rise to acne.

Myth: Sunbathing will help fight acne or improve the condition.

Sunbathing, instead of improving the condition could lead to other complications such as skin cancer, as sun exposure is the common cause for skin cancer and wrinkles.

Myth: Acne should be allowed to run its course.

This should not be the case today with the availability of so much knowledge and advanced treatment. Acne can be cleared up with the many products available today. However, if you have tried acne products and they have failed, then it is time you consulted your dermatologist.

Myth: Acne is caused by oily skin.

An oily skin could merely be a symptom of acne and not a cause. Generally, a person with acne has an oily skin, but is definitely not the cause of acne.

Myth: Acne is curable.

Though acne cannot be cured, it can be treated successfully to some extent.

Myth: You should not wear makeup if you have acne:

Not true. Make up does not cause nor does it aggravate the existing condition.

Myth: Acne can be caught by coming into contact with someone who already has it.

Totally false. Acne is not contagious

Myth: Having sex can give you acne.

This too is totally false. Even though testosterone, the sex hormone, is one of the major causes of acne, having sex definitely is not the cause of acne.

Myth: Scarring due to acne has no treatment.

Today, thanks to modern technology, one does not have to suffer with ugly scars for the rest of ones life. One can limit acne scarring by ensuring that it is treated as soon as it first begins to make an appearance.

Myth: The stronger the medicine used for acne treatment the better.

Generally, Benzoyl Peroxide is the widely prescribed medication for acne. A 2.5 percent of the medication is recommended as against a 5 to 10 percent of it. The 2.5 percent is found to be highly effective as well as gentle on the skin as against the 10 percent of it as it is harsh and it can dry out the skin and it also costs more money. Therefore if you a using a 2.5 percent Benzoyl Peroxide and it is working effectively, increasing the strength will not make it work better.

Myth: You can stop using your acne medication if it has all cleared up.

This is not recommended, as, if you stop your medication on your own too soon, it may cause your acne to come up again. Therefore, it is recommended you consult your dermatologist first before you take this action.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

Michael Russell - EzineArticles Expert Author

Effective Seo Tips To Boost Your Website Ranking And Web Traffic

2009-05-20T08:01:00.000-07:00

Effective Seo Tips To Boost Your Website Ranking And Web Traffic

Increasing website ranking and relevant traffic to the website is the principal area of concern for the webmasters.

That is the reason all the internet marketers feel the need of hiring one of the top SEO company for their marketing purpose.

There are several useful ways of increasing traffic that all the SEO service providers use.

Of course, reaching out to the niche audience is the basic purpose of SEO and you can follow the tips given below to achieve your online marketing goals.

Valuable Content
Content can make difference to the website traffic and conversion rate. Many visitors come to the website in search of information and if they find the content appealing and the services meeting their requirements, they may turn into buyers.

Make sure you add information-rich content to your website regularly that can make the visitors, including search engines, return to your site. Whatever optimization process the top SEO companies use for a websites ranking, building valuable content tops all the techniques.

User-friendly Website Design
Simple and attractive designs are the best way to keep the users engaged in your site. Most of the time, it is the navigation structure that makes difference to the visitors and conversion rate. If the visitors find the navigation easy, they may think of visiting the services page.

Make sure that the order, prices and services pages are accessible with minimum clicks making it easier for the visitors to decide instantly.

Keyword Research and Placement
Make thorough research before you select your keywords. Keywords and key phrases, if chosen properly, attract the niche visitors. Again, place the keyword in the right positions of your webpages such as title, headlines, Meta tags, within the first 25 words of the page content, etc.

It is one of the proven ways of increasing search engine visibility of your website. Once your website achieves top rankings in the search engines, you can notice a significant increase in the number of visitors to your website.

Keeping Track of the Search Engine Algorithms
The search engine algorithms keep on changing frequently. The major search engines use updated techniques to make their search results more useful for the users.

The top SEO companies try to keep track of the latest change in the algorithms so as to modify the webpages accordingly and maintain the high rankings on the search engine result pages. Moreover, it is important to know about the latest development in the search engine algorithm so that you can modify your SEO strategies as per the requirements.

Article Submission
Although there have been significant change in the link building processes, article submission has been a ubiquitous way of building links and driving traffic to your website. As the major search engines give importance to quality of the links rather than quantity, the article links are considered as one of the reliable source of building reputation for your website across the web.

Besides, articles are the best way of providing information to your prospects. The information and the links provided in the article definitely help your visitors to come to your website.

These are the effective methods of getting traffic to your website that most of the SEO companies include in their SEO services

By: Sarada sheldon

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Weight Loss Pills: Are They As Safe As We Think

2009-05-07T08:04:00.000-07:00

Weight Loss Pills: Are They As Safe As We Think

Within the diet industry, there are many schools of thought about the best way to lose weight. Should you give your money and time to monitored weight loss programs, boot camp-style intensive sessions, detox diets, or food-based plans. But the most controversial of all of them are weight loss pills.

When weight loss pills first hit the market, they were really nothing more than “speed”—a milder form of methamphetamine that would speed up your metabolism, forcing your body to get rid fat that had been stored up over time.

What the public was unaware of was that there were harmful side effects connected with these diet pills, such as high levels of addiction, a racing heartbeat, liver and kidney damage, and, in extreme cases, strokes or heart attacks.

Since then, scientists and nutritionists have learned much more about how the body works, and they have developed safer, more natural weight loss pills. These pills don’t replace a healthy diet plan, but instead work with your weight loss efforts in a variety of ways to help you lose weight.

However, not all of them may be right for you. As always, you should talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nutritionist to find out if you’d be a good candidate for any particular weight loss pill program. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the top fat loss pills on the market, and see what they’re really about.

7-DFBX

The name is short for “7 Day Fat Burner XTREME” and claims to be able to help you lose between 11 and 17 pounds in seven days. Its claim to fame is its ability to balance the body’s pH level while flushing toxins out of your body. This can be a way to kick start a diet, or push through a weight loss plateau, but it’s not a long-term weight loss solution—and even the company advises strongly against taking more than a 14-day supply at a time. Buyer beware.

Trimspa X32

Made famous by the late Anna Nicole Smith, the original Trimspa had Ephedra in it—a traditional Chinese herb used in China for over 5,000 years. It increases the blood pressure and the heart rate, and it was banned by the FDA in 2004 after several deaths were connected to dietary supplements containing Ephedra. In Trimspa X32, an African herb known Hoodia Gordonii is the active ingredient. The herb is supposed to be an appetite suppressant, but the FDA has not determined this to be fact and no clinical data has been published.

Nuphedragen

This is another controversial weight loss pill. Its active ingredient, phentermine, is rumored to have many of the same fatal side effects as the Chinese herb Ephedra. Nuphedragen also contains prescription-strength pain relievers, which can be addictive and unsafe. To many, this pill’s claim is that it will decrease your appetite, but it sounds more like it will get you high.

Acai Burn

Acai burn takes the best weight loss properties, and nutrients, found in Acai berries and stuffs all of that magic into a pill. Oprah made this the acai berry famous by promoting its nutritional benefits through her marketing machine. Since then it has been used in everything from powders to pills. It claims to boost your energy and flush out toxins, but many believe that the pills don’t quite pack the punch the necessary punch when it comes to nutritional value. There is no doubt within the medical community that the Acai berry is a wonderful thing. But it’s probably best to eat them, rather than take processed pills, masquerading as the real deal.

These are just a few of the literally hundreds of pills on the market. While some may bring about the desired results with very little side effects, nothing beats healthy eating and regular exercise to lose weight and stay fit. This is the only sustainable long term plan in existence.

By: Cornell Dayne

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

BMW Cars Video

2009-04-20T04:51:00.000-07:00

BMW Cars Video

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (info) (BMW), (English: Bavarian Motor Works) is a German automobile and motorcycle manufacturing company. Founded in 1916, it is known for its performance and luxury vehicles. It owns and produces the MINI brand, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

BMW Individual special edition 7 Series

BMW Sauber F1 Team -- Showroom Film

2009 BMW 3 Series Sedan Facelift

2009 BMW 5-Series in Irvine