38 Special, Yesterday and Todays Rock n Roll

Meredith Booney asked:

General summary of city:

Bruges, Belgium, from the Norse word ‘Bryggja’ meaning “mooring place,” is one of the three regions and the capital of Flanders. Bruges has a population of over 100,000 and covers an area of approximately 138 km. This historic city, with its natural link to the sea, became a commercial center for European trade in early medieval times, as the harbor filled with ships carrying wool, grain, and wine. In a short while, the door opened for trade with countries on the Mediterranean Sea and the first fleet of ships arrived from Genoa, Italy. With the increase in international trade and the influx of capital, Bruges soon became an extremely wealthy city and a worldwide banking market. Over time, however, internal revolts between the prosperous tradesmen and the common people of Bruges led to the subsequent decline of the city as an important center for trade. As silt began to form and fill the waterway, Bruges was replaced as a major seaport by the more accessible city of Antwerp. After its separation from the Netherlands near the end of the medieval period, Bruges today is no longer known for its maritime prowess, but for its preservation as a provincial city with a wealth of culture and history.

Places of interest:

Bruges, often called the Venice of the North, is actually much further inland, amid different arms from the sea, waterways created by repeated flooding from the North Sea. After constant dredging, the Reie River was turned into a network of canals, the Water Halls of the Market. The Court of the Market (Grote Markt), the Castle, and the small towns of Damma and Suis are visited by tourists in Bruges on riverboats owned by five families. The Market has a belfry tower from which you have a spectacular view of the city and the Provincial Court, on the east side of the square where the original water halls existed, is a wonderful example of neo-Gothic architecture. The statues of Jan Breydel and Pieter de Coninck, national heroes, are located In the middle of the market square. Within the museum adjacent to the Castle, The Shrine of the Sacred Blood houses the vessel that is carried in a procession every year on Ascension Day. The southern area of modern reconstructed medieval houses still reflects the original architecture of Bruges. In addition, there are several wonderful museums in the city such as the archaeological museum, with historical exhibits from the Stone Age and beyond. Another place of interest is the Groeninge Museum, which houses a magnificent collection of fine art, containing works by Flemish masters such as Van Eyck, Hugo van der Goes, Jacob van Oost, and the more recent expressionist masterpieces.

Things to do:

Walking through and around the ramparts that enclose this delightful, small city is one of the best ways to discover its charm. Carriages can be hired and scooters can be rented for an hour or a day of sightseeing, as well. Day trips by buses (fares are extremely reasonable) can be arranged to Sint-Trudo Abbey Male, former castle of the Counts of Flanders, and the Boudewijnpark and Dolphinarium, a theme park and panoramic aquarena. Take time for a stop at the Lace Center to watch the local artisans at work and the Antique and Flea Market where arts and crafts are featured. Exploring a bit further in the area around Bruges, you’ll enjoy the beaches at Zeebruge, a small seaside resort, and the quaint village of Lissewege located between the city and the coast. Zeebruge lies within 8 miles from Bruges, connected by a canal, and boat trips and visits to the exhibitions of the sea are popular things to do. There is no end to great shopping in Bruges, largely between the Market square and the old city gates. A number of small specialty shops are situated in the center such as De Kaarsengieterij, the oldest and only candle shop in Bruges. Here, you can find garden and interior candles, candle holders, and t-lights, or if staying in the city a while, take the opportunity to order hand-painted candles for gifts and special occasions.

Food & Drink:

Bruges is known for excellent food and restaurants, featuring French and Flemish cuisine. Mussels, steamed in beer or wine, are a favorite of the people in Bruges and are often served with a side order of French fries with mayonnaise. Waterzooi is a type of soup with cream, vegetables, chicken, or fish, and paling in’t groen consists of eels with vegetables and herbs. Popular selections for dining out, as might be expected, are in the variety of seafood that is available, from fresh salted herring to North Sea shrimp. Chocolate is a must for dessert or for purchase in the many shops or patisseries that surround the city and the Cote d’Or, with an inexpensive selection of chocolate bars. Wine is served in most places; however, with over 100 breweries in Belgium and 400 varieties, beer is the national drink in Bruges. There are three types of beer, lager or dark, white, and the lambic homebrewed beer, often flavoured with fruit. Beer is relatively expensive, but much stronger than beer from other countries. There are a number of restaurants and pubs such as De Garre that have great atmosphere and serve over 100 different varieties of beer.

Hotels & Accommodation:

Hotel Prinsenhof

Sofitel Brugge

Portinari

Patritius

Best Western Premier Hotel Navarra

Small Luxury Hotel The Pand

Relais Oud Huis Amsterdam

Minotel Azalea

Hotel De Tuilerieen

Die Swaene

Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce

Crowne Plaza Hotel Brugge

Walburg Hotel ****Restaurant

Hotel de Orangerie

Hotel De Castillion

Brugsche Suites

Graaf Van Vlaanderen

Hotel Asiris

Hotel Ibis Brugge Centrum

Hotel Cordoeanier

Hotel Botaniek

Hotel Koffieboontje

Hotel Jacobs

Scandic Brugge

Novotel Brugge Zuid

Hotel Groeninghe

Hotel ‘t Voermanshuys

Hotel de Pauw

Hotel Goezeput

Campanile Brugge / Bruges

Hotel Malleberg

Hotel Gulden Vlies

De Tassche

Entertainment:

Bruges is a fun-filled city, if you’re looking for some friendly nightlife. The nightclubs are small, but filled with lively conversation, drinking, and dancing. The Grand Café du Theatre features music from the 60’s through the 90’s, a large selection of beer, and snacks from 6 to 8 p.m. nightly. If you enjoy sports, the Snooker Palace is equipped with nine snooker tables, three dart boards, and a pool table. Backpackers in Burges will enjoy the Snuffels Sleep-In Bar, where plenty of beer is available and free concerts are held every two weeks. Another favorite nightspot is Kant, a sophisticated club with a great dance floor, serving the best champagnes and a variety of local beer and wine. Bars and pubs are popular, as well, such as Celtic Ireland on Burg Square and De Versteende nacht, for Wednesday night jazz. Larger nightspots are nearby in Antwerp and Ghent. Evening strolls to the market square of beautifully illuminated historic buildings, the tranquil parks, or lovers’ lake, are enjoyable pastimes while in the delightful city of Bruges.

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Jon Mercer asked:

The Fuzz Face is a classic guitar pedal, originally produced in England by Arbiter in the mid-1960s. The company was later sold and became known as Dallas-Arbiter, and they continued to produce the pedal under that name.

The original (Arbiter England) Fuzz Face pedals first began being imported into America in 1966. A strong argument could be made that it’s introduction contributed greatly to the burgeoning hippie movement, and the psychedelic rock scene that first took shape in the late 60s.

So what made the original Fuzz Face so special? One of the most unique aspects of the pedal is its smooth, transistor-based fuzz sound. It produced this rich, smooth tone with the use of the (now rare) PNP germanium AC 128 transistors.

Later editions of the pedal began using more modern components, and replaced the original germanium transistors. Unfortunately, modernizing the components of the pedal also took away much of the warmth and color of its original sound. For this reason, original Arbiter England models are now considered rare finds. A unit in good condition can sell at auction for more than $1000. Pretty expensive guitar pedal, huh?

Fortunately, you can also find good deals on these vintage guitar pedals if you shop around at online auctions, or local pawn shops. Many times an individual will have an old Fuzz Face pedal lying around and decide to sell it without knowing how rare and prized this classic stomp box actually is.

In these situations you might be able to buy one in great shape for as little as $100 or less. Of course, you have to do some shopping around to find bargains like this, but it is possible.

Tone-wise, the original Arbiter Fuzz Face is an amazing guitar effect. Legendary guitar heroes such as Jimi Hendrix and Pete Townsend have immortalized the this pedal on recordings from the 1960s and 70s. Many modern rock players also go ga-ga for its “creamy” transistor produced sustain. In fact, the Fuzz Face is probably more popular today than ever.

Unfortunately, there is a great deal of confusion about what an original Fuzz Face pedal actually is. Various companies produce stomp boxes that use the name “fuzz face,” but are in fact very different pedals, using completely different components.

For example, Jim Dunlop produces a “Jimi Hendrix Fuzz Face” pedal that is quite popular, but is NOT the original. Like the Dunlop model, many manufacturers produce a reissue or “reconstruction” of the classic Arbiter English version. And although some of these “remakes” are very good, and have established solid reputations in their own right, none are as revered as the original English version.

Even the Dallas-Arbiter version is slightly different from the original English model, and lacks a certain “bite” that is difficult to describe. Mind you, they still sound pretty great — just not quite as great as the original.

Trying to get your hands on original English Fuzz Face is not always easy, but with a little bit of persistence you can usually find one at a decent price by searching around. If the price tag of an original English model is a bit out of your league, consider one of the many high quality reissues such as the Cornell AC 128. Next to an authentic English-manufactured Fuzz Face, it’s one of the sweetest sounding fuzz boxes you’re likely to hear.

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515forums asked:

Positive outlook

After a season marred by scandals and a poor record Iowa looks to turn it around in 2008. 18 football players have been named to the 2007 fall academic all-Big Ten team, which is a good sign going into 2008. Hopefully the bad apples have left the tree. Douglas has transferred and hopefully both him and the University of Iowa can move forward. One way or another *knock on wood* we won’t have the same off the field problems this year.

The sophomores are experienced

Iowa had 31 first-year student-athletes see game action either on offense, defense or special teams in 2007. In addition to the 11 true freshmen, 20 redshirt freshmen saw the field. The Hawkeyes ranked third in the country in playing the most true and redshirt freshmen; North Carolina played 38 and Florida 33. Iowa tied for eighth nationally in playing 11 true freshmen.

Iowa had 11 true freshmen play in 2007: DT Cody Hundertmark, DB Cedric Everson, DE Christian Ballard, LB Jacody Coleman, DB Diauntae Morrow, LB Dezman Moses, WR Colin Sandeman, DB Jordan Bernstine, RB Jevon Pugh, TE Allen Reisner and OL Bryan Bulaga.

The 11 true freshmen are the most that have seen action under Kirk Ferentz in a single season. Iowa had seven true freshmen play in 2003 and 2000.

Ended on a Good Note

Iowa won four of its last six and just missed being selected for a bowl game. The Hawkeyes could return as many as 18 out of 24 starters (includes two kicking starters) for the 2008 campaign. Iowa was bowl eligible for the seventh straight season and finished in the Big Ten’s upper division for the sixth time in seven years. Nine starters return on offense,

Returning Starters

The Hawkeyes could return as many as 18 out of 24 starters (including the K/P).

Offense

Iowa loves to start the game on offense. Iowa has started on offense in 92 of its last 104 games. Iowa has started the game on offense in 94 of 110 games under Kirk Ferentz. The Hawkeyes scored 13 touchdowns and a field goal on their last 15 red zone possessions over the last four games in 2007.

On offense they could return 9. Iowa threw only seven interceptions in 2007 (six by Jake Christensen and one by Ricky Stanzi). The seven picks are the second-fewest thrown by an Iowa team. Iowa’s 2002 team established the school record for fewest interceptions (5). The Hawkeyes did not record a turnover in five games in 2007 (Northern Illinois, Iowa State, Wisconsin, Penn State and Michigan State).

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Iowa broke the school record for fewest turnovers in a season (13). The previous school record was 15 (nine interceptions and six fumbles), established in 1963 (eight games). Iowa ranked first in the Big Ten and 20th in the country in turnover margin (+8).

For 2007, Christensen completed 198-370 passes for 2,269 yards. The sophomore threw 17 touchdowns and only six interceptions. Christensen threw three touchdowns or more in three games in 2007 (Syracuse, Indiana and Western Michigan). He was 4-2 as a starter in home games and 13 of his 17 touchdown passes came in Kinnick Stadium. His passing yardage total (2,269) ranks 12th-best in a single-season at Iowa. In fact, it is believed that he became the first quarterback in NCAA Bowl Subdivision history to start his first two games against the same team.

The real question is: Can he be more accurate. The guy looked GREAT when he rolled outside the pocket, but when stood there he got sacked more than Drew Bledsoe!

TE Tony Moeaki sat out most of the 2007 season due to medical reasons. He will receive a redshirt! He was spotted as high as the top 10 TE during last season according to power rankings relating to this years draft.

Moeaki had been having a breakout season, prior to his injuries. In Iowa’s 35-0 win over Syracuse, the receiver had eight receptions for 112 yards and three touchdowns, which earned him rivals.com Big Ten Player of the Week and John Mackey Tight End of the Week accolades. All were career highs. He hauled in 14 passes for 170 yards in 2007. He was on the John Mackey Watch List, an award which goes to the top tight end in college football.

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Honored on the 2007 Sporting News Freshman all-Big Ten team were WR James Cleveland, OL Bryan Bulaga, DB Brett Greenwood, PK Daniel Murray and P Ryan Donahue. Iowa had the most players recognized on the team.

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Defense

As a unit, Iowa did not allow a touchdown until late in the second quarter at Wisconsin in game four - a streak of 13 quarters. The Hawkeyes didn’t allow a touchdown in four games (Northern Illinois, Syracuse, Iowa State and Illinois) in 2007.

The Hawkeye defense which ranked first in the conference in turnover margin and Red Zone defense and finished third in fewest points allowed (18.8 per game). They will return Six, and possibly seven starters return on defense. Senior Devan Moylan is petitioning for an extra year after sitting out most of the 2007 season with an injury.

First team all-Big Ten defensive tackle Mitch King is Iowa’s leading returnee on defense. Over 50 lettermen (only 37 last year) will be on Iowa’s spring roster.

Iowa ranked 13th in the nation in scoring defense (18.8), 20th in turnover margin (+8), 29th in rushing defense (122.0), 32nd in pass efficiency defense (115.7), 37th in punt returns (10.6).

FS Brett Greenwood intercepted an Illinois pass at the goal line to seal Iowa’s 10-6 victory over the then-18th-ranked Illini on Oct. 13. The play was nominated for the NCAAs weekly Pontiac Game Changing Performance Award.

DL Anton Narinskiy will return. He was a first team academic all-district honoree.

Special Teams

Doesn’t it suck when you have to brag about your punter? Not when you have this guy!

Punter Ryan Donahue punted 46 times for a 38.6 average through Iowa’s first seven games. Since the Hawkeyes’ contest at Purdue, the redshirt freshman raised his punting average to 41.1 on 86 kicks. The last five games he punted 40 times for a 44.0 average and downed eight inside the 20. Donahue had long kicks of 82 (Michigan State), 76 (Northwestern), 68 (Purdue) and 54 (Minnesota and Western Michigan) the last five contests.

Donahue broke two school punting records in 2007. The native of Evergreen Park, IL, established school records for punts in a single-season (86) and punt yardage (3,533). The previous records were held by Dave Holsclaw in 1978, 85 punts for 3,107 yards. I don’t know about you, but I dont think we want to re-set that record for most punts in a single season again anytime soon.

The redshirt freshman was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week Oct. 29, after averaging 51.6 yards on eight punts vs. Michigan State. Four of his eight punts eclipsed 50 yards, including an 82-yarder that is the second longest in school history. Donahue also earned freshman honorable mention all-American accolades by The Sporting News.

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Key Departures

Mike Humpal, Kenny Iwebima, Bryan Mattison and Charles Godfrey were all selected for the various post season bowls and will not be returning to the squad next year.

Offense

The losses are big as running back Albert Young and Damien Sims will have used up their eligibility. These 2 both finished in the top 20 all time in rush yards for the University of Iowa. Fullback Tom Busch will also be gone.

Defense

Gone will be linebackers Mike Klinkenborg and Mike Humpal, ends Bryan Mattisons and Kenny Iwebema and backs Adam Shada and Charles Godfrey.

Schedule for 2008 Season.

Aug. 30 Maine (Kirk used to coach there.)

Sept. 6 Florida International

Sept. 15 Iowa State

Sept 20 at Pittsburgh

Sept. 27 Northwestern

Oct. 4 at Michigan State

Oct. 11 at Indiana

Oct. 18 Wisconsin

Oct. 25 BYE

Nov. 1 at Illinois

Nov. 8 Penn State

Nov. 15 Purdue

Nov. 22 at Minnesota

Iowa has won 32 of its last 39 games (.821) in Kinnick Stadium, dating back to the 2002 season.

Again this year with no Ohio State and no Michigan on their schedule, Iowa has a chance to do extremely well this season. However, I thought the same thing last year when we went 6-6. They will open the season in Soldier Field against Northern Illinois once again this season. Homecoming has been scheduled for Indiana and as usual our big rivalry game, against Iowa State, is the 3rd game of the season. They have a shot at redemption after last years field goal festival in Jack Trice.

Iowa opened its 2007 conference schedule on the road (at Wisconsin) for the eighth time in nine years under Coach Ferentz. Iowa’s lone conference home opener, under Coach Ferentz, came in 2001 when it defeated Penn State. The Hawkeyes open the 2008 Big Ten schedule at home for the first time since 2001, vs. Northwestern.

Verbal Commitments

Iowa has the 39th ranked recruiting class according to Scout.com. Heres your recruits.

Recruit (# Stars) - Position - From - Ht/Wt

James Ferentz (3) - C - Iowa City High, IA - (6-2/250)

James is the son of current Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz.

John Wienke (3) - QB - Tuscola HS, IL - (6-5/210)

Led his team to the state title and turned down offers from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Miami (OH), Michigan and Purdue!

David Blackwell (3) - WLB - Cardinal Gibbons HS, Fort Lauderdale, FL - (6-1.5/208)

A multiple threat from his quarterback position in high school, Blackwell has the size and power to be a linebacker or running back on the college level.

Jonathan Gimm(3) - TE - Westfield HS, Houston, TX - (6-2/232)

As a junior Gimm was used primarily as a blocking tight end.

Brad Herman (3) - MLB - Metamora HS, IL - (6-4/220)

DeMarco Paine( 3) - CB - Hazelwood East HS, St. Louis, MO (5-10/166)

James Vandenberg (3) - QB- (Keokuk HS) Keokuk, IA (6-2/180)

High School Heisman Winner for the State of Iowa. Vandenburg finished his high school career by leading his team to a 3-A title and by setting a handful of passing records along the way. Among the records Vandenberg set are: most yards passing in a season (3,729), most TD passes in a season (49), most yards in a career (7,677) and most TD passes in a career (93). The senior also heads the list of 2,000-yard-plus passers in back-to-back seasons, racking up 2,654 yards in 2006. He Turned down an offer from Nebraska to play at Iowa.

Riley Reiff (3) - DE - Parkston HS, SD (6-6/230)

Standout wrestler who finished 34-0 and won his second Class B title at 215 pounds as a sophomore. Does this remind anyone else of Matt Roth?

Jack Swanson (3) - CB Naples HS, FL (5-10/175)

Jeff Brinson (3) - RB - Northeast HS, Saint Petersburg, FL 6-0/205

Talented running back who ran for over 1,000 yards in eight games as a sophomore and then finished his junior season with 1,197 yards and 23 touchdowns. He’s also one of the fastest backs around. He turned down offers from Michigan State, Florida and Kansas.

Khalif Staten (3) - WR - Abraham Lincoln HS, Brooklyn, NY (6-2/218)

Staten set a New York state record as a junior with 18 receptions in one game.

Nathan Guillory (3) - RB - Coffeyville, KS (5-9/180)

A JuCo Transfer who will be a Sophomore when he starts practice at Iowa.

Trent Mossbrucker (2) - K -Mooresville HS, IN (5-10.5/192)

He earned 1st place at Purdue’s Elite Quarterback Camp for speed passing accuracy. He is looking to be a kicker at the college level. His longest field goal kicked is 49 yards as a junior, Trent is 19 of 27 (field goals), 56 of 62 (extra points), and has kicked off 105 times with an average of just over 55 yards with 44 touchbacks. He’s also punted 55 times for an average of 32.8 yards. As a quarterback he’s passed for over 2,600 yards and 22 passing, 16 rushing touchdowns. I’m thinking he could be a fake FG threat?

Joe Gaglione (2)- MLB - Lake Catholic HS, Mentor, OH (6-3.5/213)

David Cato (2) - S -Mansfield Summit HS; Arlington, TX (5-10/190)

J.D. Griggs (2) - DE -Piscataway Township HS, NJ (6-4/220)

Jason Semmes (2) - DE - St. Mary Preparatory School; Orchard Lake, MI (6-3/220)

Marcus Malbrough (2) - DE West Brook Sr HS; Beaumont, TX (6-5/230)

Jewel Hampton (2) - RB Warren Central HS; Indianapolis, IN (5-11/200)

Injury Report

Ferentz said that offensive lineman Dace Richardson had knee surgery in the fall and emphasized that it was not a “standard” ACL repair. He said it is difficult to predict how long the recovery will take or when he will be back to full speed. Tight end Tony Moeaki’s hand/wrist will be 100 percent in June and fullback Jordan McLaughlin had surgery for a sports hernia last week. Wide receiver Andy Brodell “should be fine.”

Transfers

Dominique Douglas, Cedric Everson and Abe Satterfield have decided to transfer from the University of Iowa and will continue their collegiate football careers elsewhere. None of the three will be on Iowa’s roster when classes resume in January.

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Amir Khalighi asked:

Are you fond of watching concerts and musicals? Well, if you love seeing your favorite music artists perform on stage, then you are in definite need of concert tickets. Securing one is not that easy that is why you should know which ticket company to trust with your reservations. Sometimes, we are fond of getting concert tickets during the last minute. This is one of the things you should avoid because there is a lesser chance that you will be getting the best seats.

Moreover, major music artists who are scheduled to have a concert at the best theatres usually sell out easily. If you do not want to see the “sold out” sign before the ticket counter then you should buy concert tickets ahead of time. Most of the time, ticket companies already have websites where customers can actually buy concert tickets online. One of these is the Golden Circle. They have been selling concert tickets for many years already. If you find yourself a bit short of time to actually go to their ticket outlet, then you can just visit their website at Golden Circle. They specialize in giving you the best seats in town at very affordable prices. You can easily order from them in no time.

They sell out concert tickets for great alternative and pop rock bands like New Found Glory, Nine Inch Nails, Fall Out Boy, Puddle of Mud and so much more. They also offer concert tickets to classical concerts like Hilary Hahn, The Music of Harry Potter, The Philadelphia Orchestra, San Diego Symphony and so much more. Their concert tickets are guaranteed sold at their market values so why worry? Golden Circle could be your partner to seeing the most exciting concerts, shows, and sports events.

Keep in mind, some concert tickets are really hard to find that is why you should think about trusting a ticket agent that will answer to your needs. But sometimes, we are not aware which ticket agent companies to trust. Here are some pointers so that you will prevent ticket scams and frauds. Be sure that the company sells genuine concert tickets. Is the ticket agency trustworthy and recommended by your peers? Do a little homework by checking on the company background first. Is the contact information accurate enough?

Beware of sites that ask for your credit card information without any contact number or office you can come to. Moreover, in case the concert tickets were found to be invalid, at least you can trace them easily. After doing a background check, better read their terms and conditions first. These ticket companies surely have their own set of policies so make sure that you know these guidelines. Do they offer a customer guarantee if in case the concerts get cancelled? If you are planning to sell concert tickets, make sure that you choose the ones that will really sell out in a jiffy.

Major artists and musicians often have successful concerts so be sure you are updated with these events. Check out Golden Circle concert tickets because they are in the business for many years now. Selling Broadway, theatre, and concert tickets is their primary concern and they have been trusted by many people since then.

Stupid Facts

Rebecca Hollis asked:

Reading is one of the largest towns in the United Kingdom and has a population of over 143,124. This is the guide to Reading Tourist Information.

Reading, the county town of Royal Berkshire has existed since around 800 AD and is ideally situated near all the major motorways including the M25 and the M4 with quick rotes the Heathrow and Gatwick Airport. You are 40 minutes from the London Capital and major tourist attractions including Windsor castle and Royal Ascot Race Course which has become prestigious for it Royal Ascot Week in the summer attended by her majesty the Queen.

The Oracle Shopping Centre is located in the heart of Reading with designer out lets, Bars and restaurants with adequate parking. It has a beautiful 270 metre river running through and along side the complex giving the elegant wine bars a great view and a prime spot for a great night out in Reading.

For the younger generation there are many clubs situated in the town centre with some open until the early hour of the morning.

For the slightly older and reserved residents and visitors a beautiful stroll down the river themes is the great way to see the very best of what Reading has to offer as well as a number of arts centres, concert halls and art galleries.

There is great fun for all ages at the Hexagon which offers concerts, pantomimes and shows for the whole family Comedians, singers, dancers, musicians have all played at the venue which has been around since 1978.

Reading is now at the centre of the UK’s ‘Silicon Valley’, with international companies such as Microsoft and MCI located on its business parks. This has attracted young and ambitious people to the already thriving Reading Area.

The impressive Madejski Stadium is home the Reading premiership Football Club and has a ground capacity of 24,161 all seated. The Madejski Stadium was opened in August 1998 by john Madejski who made his fortune by producing the Auto Trader its cost was more than £50 million.

Reading university is one of the top 200 universities in the world with its impressive resume it twice receiving the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher Education (1998 and 2006).

Reading Berkshire is home to some wonderful hotels and guest houses including Renaissance, Millennium Madejski Stadium Hotel and the Holiday Inn offering both accommodation and conference facilities to suit all purposes. The Crown Plaza Hotel has spectacular views over the river themes while the impressive Great Expectations hotel is right in the centre of town giving choice to suit an individual’s requirements.

Reading’s Booming housing market has vast range of different and spectacular properties including period, 1930’s , Victorian, modern, spacious and new builds. The contemporary stylish apartments over looking the river have attracted the younger generation while the Large Victorian properties are ideal for the large families offer space, high ceilings and a touch of history.

Reading is not only a wonderful place to visit but is a great pace to live and work with great schools transport links and Features. I hope you enjoyed my travel guide to Reading and I look forward to meeting you in my city.

Stupid Facts

Phyllis Goldberg asked:

The new Pew Research Center Social and Demographic Trends survey measured dissatisfaction and pessimism in close to 2500 participants. The data indicates that Baby Boomers worry more than any other generation. And a recent study from the University of Chicago suggests that the boomer generation has never really been happy. One hypothesis is that they grew up wanting to make the world a better place - and it’s not.

No one could deny that the national conversation has become depressing. Some find it hard to get up in the morning, when all they hear about is tumbling home prices, the war in Afghanistan or Iraq and record oil prices. Pundits exclaim that the American dream is dying on the vine and we are all suffering from bankrupt spirits.

But are things really that bad? What’s happening may be a natural change in the seasons of life. Cultural pain is normal in crises and perhaps the Baby Boomers just haven’t been adversity-tested. After all, isn’t necessity the mother of invention? Follow some of these suggestions as you develop your inner strength and resiliency:

1. You know about physical fitness. Apply some of these principals to becoming more emotionally fit. Discover your usual emotional pattern and start a training program. In addition to nutritious eating and regular exercise, practice noticing the negative concerns that get your attention, how you end up feeling and what active steps you can take to change your thoughts.

2. Rather than seeing the glass half empty, turn your challenges into opportunities. Release your mind from worries, most of which never happen anyway. Take it one day at a time and accomplish what you can without dwelling on the ‘what ifs.’ Worrying takes a lot of time and energy - it’s counterproductive and destroys your peace of mind.

3. Free yourself from resentment and practice how to forgive. If you hold on to grudges toward your business partner or past hurts from your friends, you’re the only one who will be miserable. Let go of feeling sorry for yourself and you’ll make room for more positive experiences. As your attitude changes, your day-to-day life will become more pleasant.

4. Embrace simplicity and appreciate what you have. Enjoy your family and colleagues. Go outside on a cloudless night and look at the beautiful sky. Take your family camping for the weekend and roast marshmallows over the fire. Eat sandwiches on a park bench with a co-worker and visit during lunch hour. Give back by volunteering at a homeless shelter, soup kitchen or a boys and girls club.

5. If you’re feeling gloomy in these roller coaster times, invite friends over for a potluck dinner and have everyone bring their signature dish. Turn the conversation into a creative and supportive revival of the spirit. Discuss innovative ways to save on groceries, to use less gas, to network for a new job.

6. Don’t expect so much. Unrealistic expectations about things and people lead to disappointment. Stuff loses its shine and appeal. Built-in obsolescence makes you a slave to the latest style and the next upgrade. It never ends, and then you feel dissatisfied with what you have. In some situations try not to expect anything, and whatever comes your way will be a blessing.

It is true that, as financial crises go, this one is very personal. But perception doesn’t always match reality. According to the Pew Research results, the boomer generation enjoys the highest incomes of any age group surveyed. They are less likely to have been laid off and less likely to have trouble paying for medical care or housing. In fact, fewer of them said that someone in their household had to go to work in the past year or take on an extra job to make ends meet.

Home prices will stabilize, oil prices could stop going up and, for all we know, the global economy may be resilient. The bottom line is that contentment is elusive for some people. In the end, it’s important to realize that fulfillment isn’t to be achieved as a goal in itself, but rather as the result of living a good life.

(C)2008, Her Mentor Center

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Rich Russell asked:

The Nintendo Wii raised the bar when it comes to interactivity. The physical aspect gives you a whole new dimension of immersion in games, a new order of reality. But the Wii has cornered the market in the childish, family fun style games. With Rock Band, the Xbox 360 is back in the game, and with a bang. Wannabe rock and rollers can really get a feel for what it’s like to up on stage, in front of the adoring crowd.

You can, if you want to, pick an instrument and play solo, or have a jam session with others through Xbox live. But this thing really comes to life when you get your mates around to form a band. The complete set up comes with everything you need to rule the world. Lead guitar and bass guitar, a drum kit with four drum pads and a base bin pedal and, of course, a microphone to belt out those rock anthems.

The first thing is for each of you to choose your characters and give them personality with suitably over the top clothes and hairstyles. Next you’ll need a name for the outfit, a big, bad one. Now you are ready to prepare for stardom. New tracks are becoming available all the time from the Xbox LIVE Marketplace, to add to what is already available. Choose wisely and you could be onto a winner.

Rock Band will guide you on what notes to play. For the singer, it is just like karaoke, with the words scrolling across the screen. As you sing, you get feedback on the pitch of your voice on the screen. The more you all hit the right notes, the louder the music gets and the more the crowd get behind you. The stage lights go wild and the joint starts jumping. Hit a bum note and you bring the score down.

If you are in the zone, each band member has the chance to go into Bonus Mode. If you all do it together, you are in Overdrive and then things really go out of control. The music and the noise of the crowd will blow your mind. With your body tingling and your senses reeling, you run off stage and grab a beer, in true rock and roll style.

The great thing is that you can’t lose. If you really hit the spot, you’ll have the crowd at your feet, baying for more. But if you suck, they won’t be able to throw beer cans and ask for their money back. Speaking from experience, you don’t want to go that interactive. Or maybe you do. Something for the developers to think about! As it stands, the adrenaline rush you get is real enough.

This is the ultimate party game and the ultimate Xbox 360 game. If there is a rock and roll bone in your body, you just can’t help getting hooked into it. Get out of your dull existence and take a trip to rock and roll heaven. If you have ever stood in somebody’s garage, plucking tentatively at a guitar and dreaming of what might be, don’t dream any longer. Just jump right in and experience it for real.

Poker Blog

Art Gib asked:

In addition to being a state capital city and county seat, the 117 square mile plot of real estate known as Little Rock, Arkansas is also home to nearly 200,000 residents, the entire metropolitan area enjoying a population of over 840,000, making it the state’s most populated city.

What makes up today’s Little Rock, Arkansas real estate had humble beginnings. For several millennia prior to the arrival of the Europeans on the land, it was occupied by Native Americans of several different tribes. It wasn’t until 1541 when Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto came through that the takeover by Europe began.

A small rock formation was used by explorers and settlers as a landmark throughout Little Rock’s early settlement history. In fact, a French explorer even gave the formation the name of “La Petite Roche,” which is where the city derives its name.

The Arkansas territory was formed in 1819. Little Rock was named its capital in 1821.

Things to Do in Little Rock

For the night owl, the River Market District, located downtown, has an eclectic mix of bars, music and dance clubs, many of which offer live music. Many of the clubs are within walking distance of each other, making it easy to find the genre of music or scene that you are looking for.

For the more classically inclined, Ballet Arkansas is the state’s only professional ballet company while the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra puts on concerts nine months each year.

During the day, the River Market District includes a nostalgic bazaar-style market hall, while from April to October a farmer’s market is open. The Willow Springs Water Park is a popular attraction, but also has historical significance as one of the nation’s first water theme parks built in 1928.

Little Rock also houses Arkansas’ only zoo and the American Taekwondo Association (ATA) headquarters. Each year, the World Taekwondo Championships are held there.

Notable Residents

Music is an important part of Little Rock’s night life. As such, the city has produced some notable musicians including the band Evanescence, scat singer Richard Boone, Christian metal band Living Sacrifice, Green Day backup guitarist Jason White, and Jazz musicians Art Porter, Sr. and Jr.

Other well-known residents include General Douglas McArthur, Gil Gerard (actor who played Buck Rogers during the 1979-1981 television series), General Wesley Clark, as well as several famous athletes from sports such as basketball, football, and boxing.

So it could be said that Little Rock, Arkansas real estate is a great place to visit, and perhaps even a better place to live.

Poker Blog

Jacob Tapistry asked:

Bon Jovi Concert Tickets

Bon Jovi is a American rock band from New Jersey. Lead by lead singer Jon Bon Jovi and namesake Jon Bon Jovi first reached stardom in the 1980’s as a psuedo metal band. However Bon Jovi has proved to be much more then the scalings of a trend. His band has proven more durable then most, taking hiatus’ and restyling themselves several times.

John Francis Bongiovi began playing piano and guitar at thirteen. Learning from such artists’ Elton John songs. Raze would be his first bang at age thirteen. After his freshmen year at St Jospeh High School he was asked to leave, there in attending Sayreville War Memorial High school at sixteen he would meet David Bryan a future band mate.

Today Bon Jovi Concert tickets go for as much as 400 dollars. This is a startling feat considering how many times Bon Jovi’s gone hiatus. With the early succession of his first four scores, it surprised many that there would be only two albums in the 90’s. With 00’s already produced three albums fans already anticipate more with their recent revival.

As with any band stardom can often lead to disappointment in the concert ticket department as competition for tickets can even turn the cheap seats into gold. However not unlike any other band the best way to score Bon Jovi concert tickets is through first through presales then second hand tickets. Presales for many people often seem like a foreign language, however a few tips can turn Bon Jovi concert tickets into a reality. The first trick to scoring Bon Jovi Concert tickets is first to find out when they play. Second is to check in a few times a week and discover if they are having a presale. Third is finding the presale password to purchase tickets at a special time. Finding the presale password for Bon Jovi concert tickets can often be done by simply typing “bon jovi presale” and purchasing it from a presale password broker. After that it is a simple matter of waking up on the appropriate date and purchasing tickets right when they go on sale.

What Had Happen Wuz

Brian Solis asked:

It is 2008. Japan’s Baby Boomers are retiring. The implications are a topic no marketer can avoid.

In Japan the term “Baby Boomer” has a special meaning. It refers only to people born between 1947 and 1949, three years in which the number of babies born rose between 20 and 30%, increasing Japan’s population by, on average, 2.7 million a year. The 8.1 million Japanese born during this three year period are called the first Baby Boom (their children are the second). Author, and later head of the Economic Planning Agency, Sakaiya Taiichi, labeled them the “Lump” generation. Other authors described them as being like an ostrich egg being swallowed by a snake, straining the systems through which they passed.

Sakaiya wrote that, “In what had been a smoothly growing population, this sudden increase was abormal. It’s impact on society and the economy was huge.” In the 1960s this generation provided the labor to power the rapid development of Japanese industry. At the same time it created huge youth markets for fashion and mass media. Then in the 1970s, Japan’s Baby Boomers married, had children, and created huge demand for houses, electrical appliances and automobiles.

In 1959 Shonen Sunday and Shonen Magazine (“Shonen” means “youth) were launched, the first manga cartoon magazines to target youthful readers. That was when the Baby Boomers were still in grades four to six of elementary school. Heibon Punch (Everyman’s Punch) was launched in 1964, when they were in high school. Shiseido’s MG5, the first cosmet8cs line for men, targeted Baby Boomers.

At the start of the 1970s, Boomer weddings fueled the growth of the wedding industry . Most Boomers married spouses of around the same age. They were friends as well as husbands and wives, a step forward in equality between men and women. Their “New Families” were the primary driver behind the explosion in construction of “New Towns” in the suburbs.

Many new products and businesses were created to supply the wants and needs of this huge population segment. The middle-class lifestyle to which they aspired became the model for Japan’s becoming a middle-class society.

Then, however, came the First Oil Shock in 1973. The era of rapid growth stalled. Even so, however, this lump in the population kept rising in status and salary. Having entered Japan’s lifetime employment system during the period of rapid growth, this generation saw advancement and higher pay as rights. “They refused to give up the dream that tomorrow would be better than today,” writes Sakaiya. In the 1980s the seniority-based pay system remained strongly entrenched, but many boomers found themselves with meaningless titles and wages that rose only slowly. Still, at the height of the Bubble of the late 1980s, 32% of Japanese men in this generation regarded themselves as upper-middle class. In their teens 48% had seen themselves as lower-middle or low. As the Boomers turned 40 they had every right to regard themselves as a happy generation for whom upward social mobility was continuing.

Then, as the 1990s began, the Bubble collapsed. Boomer salaries plateaued. Many were laid off as companies restructured. According to a 2006 survey, now only 16% of Boomer men regarded themselves as upper-middle class, 38% said middle-middle, and 46% said lower-middle.

Changes in Baby Boomer Class Identification

Teens

40’s

2006

15.1

32.0

15.5 upper

20.6

46.7

38.2 middle

68.4

21.3

46.3 lower

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