text:
Мін Кьон Гап (;  ) — південнокорейський борець греко-римського стилю, чемпіон Азії, чемпіон Азійських ігор, володар та бронзовий призер Кубків світу, бронзовий призер Олімпійських ігор.

Життєпис

Боротьбою почав займатися з 1983 року.

Виступав за спортивний клуб Samsung Life Sports, Сеул. Тренер — Кім Йон Нам.

Спортивні результати на міжнародних змаганнях

Виступи на Олімпіадах

Виступи на Чемпіонатах світу

Виступи на Чемпіонатах Азії

Виступи на Азійських іграх

Виступи на Кубках світу

Виступи на інших змаганнях

Виступи на змаганнях молодших вікових груп

Джерела

Посилання

Південнокорейські борці греко-римського стилю
Південнокорейські бронзові олімпійські медалісти
Бронзові призери літніх Олімпійських ігор 1992
Борці греко-римського стилю на літніх Олімпійських іграх 1992
Чемпіони Азії з греко-римської боротьби
Чемпіони Азійських ігор з греко-римської боротьби
Спортсмени Сеула

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Косовико́вий хідни́к (, , ) — підземна виробка невеликої площі перерізу, розташована в закладному масиві в розкосині, що служить для сполучення косовика з виробкою, яка примикає до нього.

Здебільшого підривання бокових порід біля косовикового хідника не виконується.

Література

Гірничі виробки


I just tried the newest version of Tray Importer. It seems to not crash anymore, yay! What about CC in my houses that I do not use? For example, I have a blanket set that disappears when I place it, so I'd like to find and delete it. Will that show up in Importer? I have S4S but it won't let me set anything up or see my content. My CC folder is an absolute mess and I want to fix it.
I wish I had a photo. I don't believe it had a name. I will try my best to get it to appear again. I have tried Tray Importer on my MacBook, but it crashes whenever I use it.


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Q: How does Kylo Ren know when to contact this character? In The Last Jedi, we see that,

Kylo Ren is contacting Rey in order to get information about Luke (and also maybe turn her to the Dark-side) via some sort of Force-holographic projection.

But how does he know WHEN to contact her? How does he know what is the right time when Luke isn't around?
Is there an explanation given about it?

A: Those interactions are not controlled by either Rey or Kylo, they happen on their own to show a sort of connection between the two.
Snoke claims to have been the one arranging the contact, but events after his death make it unclear if this is the case. As it happens at least once after that, it could be that Snoke was working with a connection that was already there, merely set something in motion, or may have just been lying.
In any case, it doesn't appear that either of the parties involved initiate these moments; from their perspective, they just happen on their own, usually in moments of emotional stress. Kylo just happens to use the opportunity to try and get the info out of Rey.

A: I see a few issues with the premise of the question (spoilers ahead):
1- Kylo wasn't doing this - The first time the connection happens, Kylo questions Rey about it, thinking she's behind it somehow. He then mentions "the effort would kill you"; indeed, a similar use of the Force severely weakens Luke at the end of the film, so it makes sense that neither Kylo nor Rey would be behind this feat. Snoke claims he was behind it, which seems likely, given that he is much more powerful than Rey or Kylo. Later on, Rey and Kylo see each other again, but by then they've both experienced great personal/spiritual growth, and are also only a few miles away.
2- The timing wasn't perfect - Otherwise Kylo would've known to put a shirt on. Plus, the first time it happened, Luke was right there. Which leads me to my third point:
3- They didn't need to hide from Luke- As Rey trains with Luke, she realizes he has closed himself off from the Force. The first time she sees Kylo, she thinks Luke can see him too, but really he can only see the hole she shot through her hut. Only the last time Rey and Kylo meet, when they touch hands, does Luke see Kylo (because Luke has reconnected with the Force).
So, based on these three points, the Force projections aren't perfectly timed, and neither Rey nor Kylo are in charge of when they happen.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


A Stylish Detached Bungalow In A Popular Village Outside Pershore. With Three Bedrooms, Garage, Walled Rear Garden And Easy Road Access To Pershore And Evesham.
This Well Appointed Home Comprises Large Entrance Hall, Sitting Room With Snug Area, Kitchen-Diner, Utility, Two Double Bedrooms, Master With En-Suite, A Third Single Bedroom And A Luxurious Monochrome Family Bathroom. Outside Is A Mature Rear Garden Surrounded By A Grade II Listed Serpentine Wall. Garage And Parking. 1152 Sq Ft, EPC = C.


"Tiramisu" means "pick me up" in Italian (although according to Babel Fish it means "I pulls on", which doesn't really have the same ring to it). My mother-in-law told me that little children in Italy are often heard to call out "tiramisu" to their parents, which amused me. I can see my own Miss B, who is almost 2, saying "need tiramisu Mummy", but in her case she would definitely be demanding cake! In any event, a pick me up was timely this week, in which both Miss B and her 4 week old brother (who shall be known here as Squirt) had been sick. We spent Tuesday night and all of Wednesday in hospital with Miss B (who is now fine and back to demanding cake), so that the ladyfingers were baked on Wednesday night as light relief. At the time of baking I had been awake for about 40 hours, minus a few of those 'falling asleep sideways on a chair' moments while in hospital, so I figured I had an excuse if they were a bit crap. They actually turned out relatively well but, as you will note from the picture below, I did not bother to sift the lumps from the icing sugar before sprinkling the biscuits, so that the biscuits are decorated with attractive icing sugar lumps. It's a look that I'm sure will take off. I also lost motivation towards the end of the piping process, so that I only piped 24 biscuits rather than the 36 required. And those that I did pipe were, um, uniquely shaped. OK, they were crooked.
The rest of the components were made the next day, without any particular drama. I used sherry in place of marsala for the zabaglione as I had no marsala or port and was too lazy to go to the bottleshop to buy some. I also used lime zest in place of lemon. And, as I had fewer biscuits than required, I ended up with fewer layers in the finished tiramisu. Also, I think the biscuits should have been soaked for longer in the coffee, as the strongest flavour is citrus rather than coffee. Other than that, making the tiramisu allowed me a chance to spend some quality time with my friend the shiny red KitchenAid, which is a very good thing!
mmm…breakfast tiramisu – biscuits definitely needed more coffee. As do I.
This recipe makes 6 servings. I have recorded the recipe using the measurements that I used, which were generally by weight.
The recipe required making both the ladyfingers and marscapone from scratch. No cheating options allowed. I must admit that I wasn't entirely sure what marscapone contained, so I was pleasantly surprised by how simple it was. And just surprised that it was essentially curdled cream. Oh my thighs.
1/4 cup/60ml Marsala wine (or port or coffee) – I used sherry as I had no port or marsala and was too lazy to go the bottle shop.
yum…so you're going to be my baking guru now?
You wouldn't prefer a guru who had some idea what they were doing?!


Associated Press Nov. 6, 2012 Updated: Nov. 7, 2012 1:16 a.m.
Rising prices and chronic unemployment were heavy on the minds of voters Tuesday even as a glimmer of optimism peeked through. Four in 10 said the nation's battered economy is getting better.
Most everyone agreed there's still a long way to go. Voters were less likely to blame President Barack Obama for the economic troubles, however, than to point the finger at his predecessor, George W. Bush, according to preliminary results of a national exit poll.
In a much tighter race than the one that swept Obama into the White House, the poll showed him again leading among his key demographics of women, young people, blacks and Hispanics.
Republican challenger Mitt Romney was strongly favored by men, whites and those with family incomes of $50,000 or more. He was doing a little better among these critical groups than John McCain did four years ago, and also echoed McCain's lead among seniors.
Only a fourth of voters thought they were better off financially than four years ago when Obama was elected in the midst of the worst economic collapse since the Great Depression. Voters were most likely to say their families were doing about the same, and Obama led among that group.
A third felt worse off, and they were voting heavily for Romney.
The survey of voters as they left polling places showed 6 in 10 ranked the economy the top issue, way ahead of health care, the federal budget deficit or foreign policy. The majority who don't yet see economic improvement were roughly divided over whether things were getting even worse or just stuck in place.
About 4 in 10 blamed Obama for the nation's economic woes, and almost all of them voted for Romney.
Voters pointed to years of high unemployment and rising prices as the biggest troubles for people like them; those two worries far outstripped concerns about the housing market or taxes in the exit polls conducted for The Associated Press and television networks.
Overall, slightly more than half of voters thought the nation was seriously off on the wrong track instead of going in the right direction — usually a bad sign for an incumbent.
Three-fourths said the economy is poor or not so good, and they mostly backed Romney. Still, many voters like William Mullins of Lansing, Mich., felt Obama needed more time to fix things.
Only a quarter of voters were feeling enthusiastic about Obama's administration; at least as many were angry about it.
Romney's voters were a bit more likely to say they had reservations about their man. About a fourth felt that way.
The survey of 23,467 voters was conducted for the AP and the television networks by Edison Research. This includes preliminary results from interviews conducted as voters left a random sample of 350 precincts nationally Tuesday, as well as 4,389 who voted early or absentee and were interviewed by landline or cellular telephone from Oct. 29 through Nov. 4. Results for the full sample were subject to sampling error of plus or minus 2 percentage points. It is higher for subgroups.


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Child starts fundraiser to buy toys for Joplin tornado victims
Olive L. Sullivan
When 10-year-old Trinity Rose Berry of Carthage, Mo., heard about the deadly tornado in Joplin, Mo., she wanted to help, but she didn't know how. As she learned more about the devastation, she began to focus on an area that has always interested her: helping children.
When 10-year-old Trinity Rose Berry of Carthage, Mo., heard about the deadly tornado in Joplin, Mo., she wanted to help, but she didn't know how.
As Trinity learned more about the devastation, she began to focus on an area that has always interested her: helping children.
"She's always tried to help kids out. She's always liked them. She's got a big heart," said her father, Rhett Berry. "This evening, I heard all this noise out in the backyard. I went out there to see what was going on, and she had 10 kids out there teaching them volleyball."
The proud dad said he and his wife, Shelly Berry, who is Trinity's stepmother, had to go to Joplin with their dog to help with search and rescue efforts. When Trinity heard about it, she was more determined than ever to help.
She came up with the idea of raising money to buy toys to replace those lost in the deadly storm. Her goal is to raise $1,000 by July 16. Half will go to the Ronald McDonald House of Joplin, and she will use the other half to buy toys for children who are in shelters after losing their homes.
"We've raised $300 so far," she said Friday.
She spent that weekend selling raffle tickets for $1 for an event on July 16. Prizes include original artwork by Bob Tommey, a print by Andy Thomas, Precious Moments figurines, gift certificates.
Mary Berry, Trinity's grandmother, helped set up the raffle. She is a long-time employee of a local bank. She said there was some discussion as to whether they should hold a silent auction to take bids on some of the more valuable donations. Trinity held out for the dollar tickets.
"Trinity said she felt it would be more fair if we just drew tickets because some people might be able to afford to pay thousands of dollars for any painting they want, but someone who can only pay a dollar might like a painting just as much," said Mary.
She also said she was impressed by her granddaughter's sense of fairness and generosity.
"I am extremely proud of her, but I have been proud of her all of her life," Mary said. "She's one of the great blessings in our lives, and I'm glad she is able to pass this on.
"I can only imagine what those children are going through. Something as small as a stuffed animal can make a difference, and how hard is that to provide?" said Mary.
Trinity said her goal was simple, but she has been touched and a little overwhelmed by the success of her idea. She put up a Facebook page for her program, Children in the Eye of the Storm, and she reads all the comments personally and updates it herself.
"There was a girl who commented on the Facebook page who said her little nephew lost everything except his little blankie, and he hangs on to it all the time," she said.
The post, by Katy Kelley, reads, "I would just like to thank you for what you are doing! My 3-year-old nephew lost his home and everything that was near and dear to him, and being a 3-year-old, that is mainly his toys. We dug through the rubble and actually found his 'night-night' (his blankie), and it was like Christmas when we returned it to him. He is such a good little boy and normally would share anything and everything with anyone ... since this tornado, he holds on so tight to every single item he owns. Though toys seem like just toys, to him, they are his world! Thank you (for) your generosity!"
Trinity said the post made her "tear up," but it also shows why her program is so important.
She will be buying the toys to donate to the children in shelters. She said she has a wish list, but she will also be choosing things she thinks other kids will like. Her own favorites are stuffed animals and dolls.
"I enjoy stuffed animals. I just think they're fun because you can cuddle with them when you're scared," she said. "I like baby dolls because I can treat them like my babies."
Since she started her Facebook page and fundraising efforts, Trinity has been interviewed on the radio. Her parents say the experience is not only teaching her a lot but also helping her overcome her shyness.
"I would just like to thank everybody that's supporting her," said Shelly, Trinity's stepmother. "Without their help, she couldn't pull this off."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
More than 12,000 New Covid cases as NSW prepares for New Year's Eve
Ash Cant
29 December 2021, 5:12 pm ·4-min read
NSW has seen another steady rise in Covid-19 cases, just a day out from New Year's Eve festivities.
On Thursday, NSW announced there were 12,226 new Covid cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday night and one death.
There are 746 people in hospital across NSW and 63 in ICU.
NSW announced over 12,000 new Covid cases on Thursday. Source: AAP
On Wednesday there were 11,201 new Covid-19 cases in NSW and three Covid-related deaths.
As of Thursday, 95 per cent of the population aged 16 and over had received one dose of vaccine, and 93.5 per cent had received at least two doses.
There were 97,201 Covid tests to 8pm on Wednesday night, a huge drop in tests compared to those announced on Wednesday when 157,758 tests were carried out.
Grim Covid prediction for January in NSW: 'LUNACY'
Queensland to ditch PCR test mandate to enter the state
Pathology insider on why PCR tests are taking so long: 'The game's changed'
On Tuesday, 93,581 tests were reported to NSW Health.
On Wednesday, NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant warned "there is probably more disease in the community than the numbers reflect" as testing laboratories clear backlogs.
In addition to the Omicron variant sparking close contact alerts as positive case numbers surge, PCR test requirements for interstate travel have also caused significant delays to results.
Testing sites across NSW are under immense pressure. Source: Getty Images
Despite the spike in Covid-19 cases, Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks display will go ahead to wrap up 2021.
The City of Sydney says it can't predict how many people will turn out for the display, but five of the six locations it manages are sold out with about 17,000 tickets booked.
Tickets are still being sold for 25 other locations, which have capacity for almost 87,000 people.
Masks are encouraged, unvaccinated people are asked to stay home and tickets for viewing spots are limited, but the spiralling outbreak has largely failed to put a dampener on the event, which last year proceeded with crowds banned from the CBD.
Victoria's case numbers surge
Victoria's Covid cases have begun to climb rapidly, with 5,137 new cases being announced on Thursday, along with 13 Covid-related deaths.
The case numbers are a new record for the state.
On Wednesday, 3,767 new cases were reported.
As of Thursday, there are 395 people in hospital, with 55 people who are infectious with Covid-19 in the ICU, 45 who remain there but have been cleared of Covid-19.
Some testing sites in Melbourne have closed early on Thursday morning, due to capacity already being reached. Source: AAP
"Our thoughts are with those in hospital, and the families of people who have lost their lives," Victoria's health department said on Twitter.
Like NSW, Victoria's Covid testing ability continues to struggle under the strain of the caseload.
On early Thursday morning, multiple testing sites were closed as they reached capacity.
National cabinet scheduled for today
State and territory leaders, along with Prime Minister Scott Morrison are expected to meet for national cabinet on Thursday.
The emergency meeting was announced in response to yesterday's Covid figures, while the states struggle with testing capacity and rising hospitalisations.
"We're going through a gear change when it comes to how we manage testing arrangements, the definition of close contacts, how we furlough staff and isolate people who are impacted by cases," Mr Morrison told reporters on Wednesday.
One of the issues set to be discussed at national cabinet is the definition of a close contact, an update would define a close contact as someone who had four hours of contact with a positive case in a household setting.
The changes could also mean close contacts would quarantine for seven days, if a negative rapid antigen test is produced on day six.
"We just can't have everybody taken out of circulation because they just happen to be in a particular place at a particular time," Mr Morrison said.
Rapid antigen tests are also set to be on the agenda for the national cabinet meeting. Source: AAP
Subsidies for rapid tests are yet to be confirmed and they are very hard to come by in some parts of the country.
Both NSW and Victoria have ordered millions of the tests and already promised to provide them for free, but they won't be available until the end of January.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese accused the prime minister of passing the buck on testing to the states.
"We have the NSW government trying to purchase rapid antigen tests that will be available, wait for it, at the end of January, when we have a crisis right now," he said.
"We have businesses that are unable to open. We have people that are waiting day after day to get the results of the tests and we have some people who simply can't get tested so they are just staying isolated."
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
SA teachers concerned over school return
South Australian teachers remain "fearful and anxious" and unconvinced the state government can provide a COVID-19 safe working environment for students and staff when schools return.Australian Education Union officials met with Premier Steven Marshall and Education Minister John Gardner on Tuesday amid ongoing threats of strike action on the first day of term.
Tas manhunt after fatal targeted shooting
A gunman remains at large after a man was killed in an apparent targeted shooting at a home in Hobart's northern suburbs.The 32-year-old died at the Bridgewater house not long after emergency services were called around 1am on Tuesday.
63.5% of Australia's performing artists reported worsening mental health during COVID
Hailey Kean/Unsplash92% of performing artists experienced significant changes to their work during early stages of the pandemic – and at least half experienced depression. These shocking figures comes from new research talking to hundreds of performing artists from across Australia. The impact of COVID-19 was particularly devastating for performing artists because their artistic practice is highly ingrained in their identity. The disruption to performances during lockdown led performers to re-ev
Climate change could impact supply lines more than Covid-19
The Climate Council's Professor Tim Flannery spoke with Yahoo News Australia about how global warming will impact our daily lives. Interview: Michael Dahlstrom


Here's one for those cold winter days in the shop. The Vern Tardel cotton sweatshirt comes in black (for greasy days). V8 logo on front Vern Tardel logo on back.
Browse more Clothing gift or Tardel products.


It will come as no surprise to the owner of an older Aston Martin that the brakes are not really up to the performance levels needed for today's driving conditions. When a DB2/4 MKI or MKIII was a current model there was an enormous difference in the volume and speed of the traffic back then to now. Many of you have experienced the scenario of fast moving traffic on a motorway when the modern car in front of you brakes very sharply and unexpectedly. There is then the concern with older specification brakes that you will be able to slow down at the same rate.
At Trinity Engineering we have a wide range of upgrades from the very straightforward to the very complex, with a broad choice of options to suit your needs and budget. Knowing how you use your car and how regularly allows us to make the right suggestions and achieve the improvements you require.
The simplest form of improvement to any Aston Martin is brake pad replacement. Modern brake pad material has advanced massively over recent years and the improvement in braking performance with little additional wear to disc surfaces is a very sensible alternative to original specification parts.
For the Feltham range of cars from DB2/4 MKI to early MKIII we offer two packages. Firstly to convert the existing front drum brakes to discs in conjunction with improving the performance of the rear drums and replacing the master cylinder to give a substantial improvement over original specification. The ultimate package includes the additional conversion of the rear drum brakes to discs and completely redesigning the handbrake mechanism.
For the DB4 we offer the fitment of improved brake calipers with larger brake discs to replace the original Dunlop pistons. Additionally boosting the brake assistance moreover dramatically improves the feel and performance of the system. For the DB5 and DB6 range the factory brake servo upgrade replacing the original units along with the new specification master cylinder means that we no longer rely upon refurbishing these components.
When it comes to improving the brakes on the V8 range from DBSV8 to X-Pack Vantage we convert the original front brake discs to larger diameter cross-drilled vented discs with four-pot calipers and higher performance brake pads. The same conversion can be carried out to the DB7 six-cylinder range to achieve an improvement in braking efficiency owners of these cars would never have thought possible. Fitting the DB7GT specification brakes to any DB7 V12 Vantage is a sensible and cost effective upgrade without any unnecessary modifications.


text:
Why history? The hidden histories of black Victorians
15 Oct 2020, 16:00 - 17:00
The British Academy on YouTube
Sharing insights from the past that help us to make sense of the present.
Society in the UK today is hugely diverse, but what do we know about Britain's multicultural past before the arrival of the Windrush generation? In this event Caroline Bressey explores the hidden histories of the ordinary black men and women living in Victorian Britain whose untold stories have only been pieced together by historians in recent years. She will also discuss the work of early anti-racism campaigners who sought to challenge rising prejudice in this period, drawing parallels with the Black Lives Matter protests taking place across the UK today.
Speaker: Dr Caroline Bressey, former British Academy Mid-Career Fellow; Reader in Cultural and Historical Geography, University College London
Chair: Farhana Haider, Journalist and Broadcaster, Presenter for the BBC World Service's Witness History
This event will have live subtitles provided by Stagetext, delivered by MyClearText
Free, booking required
This event will take place on YouTube. The link to join the event will be sent to you in a confirmation email. If you have any questions about this event please refer to our Public Events FAQs. If your question is not answered, please email events@thebritishacademy.ac.uk.
Image: A photographic portrait of a black fisherman, taken by George Davison [1854-1930] in about 1900, probably in Lowestoft. Credit: Science & Society Picture Library / Getty Images


i am on day 4 of no sugar too!!! go us.
Sorry, not sorry. I had sugar today in the form of salted caramel ice cream. You are rocking the paleo eats and I think you and I should be the ones getting the chug on - not dude baby.
Loving the chicken salad! I feel in love with the salad bar at school and probably can't sit through the class without a container of salad to munch on.
I love all of these! Its so inspiring to see you eating so healthy. But pizza is so good too. ;) Andddd I'm definitely listening to the Frozen soundtrack as I type this. No judgement!


Operations Manager Alec May had his first job at the age of 14, when he started a lawn care business in his neighborhood to support his motocross hobby. "I've done motocross, enduro…I've ridden horses and bulls. If it can be ridden, I've ridden it," Alec says in his signature Alabama drawl.
"Well I've got the job for you," the man said. As luck would have it, Alec was talking to the then president of the Maritime Steamship Association.
Alec followed the gentleman's directions and went to a ship agency office in Mobile that was hiring. Alec got the job and finally met his match. Twenty-one years later, the maritime industry still holds his interest. He has worked at three different agencies, holding management positions at each one and working every port from Tampa, Florida to Brownsville, Texas.


Recently we enjoyed a group meal at Portofino. What an excellent experience!! Great service, excellent food and at very good value. Clearly restaurants that care about their customers can afford to add flourish to their presentation. Well done to all staff!!
Have you tried the lamb? With mustard sauce? Seriously, among the best meal we have had anywhere in Canada. If you have not tried this place, you are missing out. Service is very nice too. glad we live in Cochrane, but it would be worth the drive from Calgary.
Absolutely delicious! My husband and I initially went here because we had a won a gift card but we will definitely going back. Our dinner was amazing and it was matched by the service.
A most excellent dining experience!
Great steak sandwich and many pasta dishes for lunch and dinner! Looking forward to dinner there again tonight!!
Lunch today was magnificent. Service was stellar as always and ordering a special request for veal lemon which was not on the lunch menus was accommodated with a smile. Best food and service in Cochrane. Highly recommend.
Consistently excellent food and service. Always a pleasure. Please bring back the veal limone to the menu – I didn't get a chance to sample it!
Been enjoying the offerings here since 2008 and always the best of prepared dishes and great service.
Hands down the best canneloni I have ever tasted. Food and ambience we're excellent!
There is a reason why there are no negative comments. The food and service are consistently amazing. And the calamari is to die for.
Thanks so much for great food and great service. I'm looking forward to my next dining experience.
We just returned from dining at this resturant. It was beyond fabulous!! Our server was Joanne and she was great!! We just moved to Cochrane and are so happy that there is such a wonderful resturant to dine at!! Thank you for such a great evening!!
Fantastic! We had a group of 30 for a wedding rehearsal dinner. Pierre was VERY accommodating throughout our reservation and dining experience. From booking for wee ones and vegetarian meals, to the last minute (while we were dining) needs of gluten and dairy free diners in our group we were provided for in courteous and hassle free way. The staff were exceptional and the food was amazing. We highly recommend Portofino in Cochrane and will be sure to come back!
We have been customers of Pierre's since he first came to Cochrane and opened Portofino. He and his staff provide the most consistent, personal service and food quality we have ever enjoyed. The food is outstanding and the service is awesome. We are very fortunate to have an eating establishment of this caliber in Cochrane!
We had an amazing dinner tonight at Portofino. Best dinner in a long time! The red velvet cake is to die for!
A rare combination of excellent cuisine and superb service. Nice to know that quality still counts. We have never been disappointed.
Worth the drive (From Calgary) just for the Calamari! The Tenderloin in lobster butter was AMAZING and I absolutely love the attention to detail. The waiter even remembered after us only going for the second time how I prefer my water!
Dinner was fantastic as was the service. Appies of calamari, minestrone and french onion soup were really tasty and mains of pesto gnocchi, salmon dinner and cannelloni were superb. The kids had Caesar salad and spaghetti with meat sauce which they loved. Desserts were great, too. Cochrane has a real gem in Portofino. Will be back soon!
We love Pierre! He is our personal master chef extraordinaire and we miss him out in Cochrane but there is nothing better than a trip out for a wonderful meal.
Pierre has a firm handle on the 18 basic peasant ingredients of Italian cooking. I know few chefs who do! What makes Pierre great is that he also combines those ingredients properly and skillfully with the rest of his pantry then executes perfectly. I trust anything he presents would be worth trying and all would be an enjoyable taste sensation. Combine that with a nice, quite well layed out dinning room and great wait staff and some very reasonable prices and Viola! If you love Italian food (and I do; both to cook and to eat) then why wouldn't you eat here? A great find. Im telling all my foodie friends!


text:
Protesters recount moment Hollywood driver 'floored it,' striking woman
A protester who was hit by a pickup truck is attended to Thursday as paramedics arrive on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
By Kevin Rector,
Leila Miller
Vishal Singh has been to a lot of protests where motorists get a panicky look in their eyes as their vehicles become surrounded by demonstrators. He's even seen a few lurch their cars forward, anxious to pull off but too boxed in to go far.
But an incident in Hollywood on Thursday night was something different, said Singh, 27, who works on Netflix documentaries and frequently attends and films local protests.
The driver of a large truck drove into a protest in Los Angeles over the Breonna Taylor decision — briefly pausing before driving forward again, striking a woman and sending her flying onto her back along Sunset Boulevard.
"He floored it," said Singh, who was so close that his own foot was run over.
The hit-and-run occurred during a protest over the Wednesday announcement in Louisville, Ky., that the police officers who fatally shot Taylor during a bungled raid on her home there would not be charged in her death. It followed a summer of unrest, in L.A. and other cities across the country, in which police protesters and anti-protesters have repeatedly clashed.
The incident also sparked its own debate online, as videos of it landed on social media late Thursday — some showing the woman flying through the air, and others showing protesters pushing toward the truck just before the driver accelerated.
People comfort a demonstrator after she was hit by a vehicle Thursday night on Sunset Boulevard during protests of the Breonna Taylor grand jury decision. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Protesters square off with police aiming less-lethal weapons Thursday in Hollywood. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
A protester prays on Sunset Boulevard on Thursday as about 300 people march through Hollywood. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Friends embrace outside the Hollywood Forever cemetery after a protest march Thursday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Protesters are separated during a disagreement Thursday in Los Angeles. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Miracle Murphy chants Thursday during protests in Los Angeles. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Paramedics help a protester who was struck by a vehicle Thursday on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
A protester in Los Angeles waves a Black Lives Matter flag. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Activists lead chants from the back of a truck during a Hollywood protest. (Josie Norris / Los Angeles Times)
A Prius runs through a crowd of people on Sunset Boulevard and North Cahuenga Boulevard during a protest Thursday. (Josie Norris / Los Angeles Times)
Paramedics help a protester who was hit by a truck Thursday on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. The vehicle broke through the protest group. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
A protester who was hit by a truck is attended to as paramedics arrive on Sunset Boulevard. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Nijdeka Akunyili Crosby teaches her son Jideora, 3, how to raise his fist alongside her husband, Justan, and son Eziobi, 1, at Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Thursday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The scene near Hollywood Forever cemetery, where protesters gathered Thursday for a march.
Hundreds march downtown while protesting the Louisville, Ky., grand jury decision to not charge the police officers who shot and killed Breonna Taylor. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Protesters taunt a police officer outside LAPD headquarters downtown. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Hundreds march downtown while protesting the Louisville, Ky., grand jury decision to not charge police officers in the death of Breonna Taylor. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Byron Crenshaw and Sharon Smith hug each other while listening to a speaker in downtown Los Angeles. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
A lone demonstrator climbs a streetlight pole at the corner of First and Main streets downtown. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Protesters carry a picture of Breonna Taylor along Seventh St. downtown. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Protesters walk along Seventh St. downtown as diners take pictures from a restaurant. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Hundreds gather downtown to protest the Louisville, Ky., grand jury decision to not charge the police officers who shot and killed Breonna Taylor. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
A protester tips over a fence outside LAPD headquarters downtown. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Hundreds gather downtown for a Black Lives Matter demonstration Wednesday night.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Janaya Khan embraces Black Lives Matter LA cofounder Melina Abdullah. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Lorissa Torcero writes a poem while joining others downtown for the rally.
Merieme at the downtown demonstration. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Hundreds gather downtown to react to the Breonna Taylor case in Louisville, KY. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Masked protesters react to the Breonna Taylor case in downtown L.A. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Trai Icart joins the demonstration. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
On Friday, the Los Angeles Police Department said it was still investigating the incident.
Officers had stopped and identified the driver Thursday night, but then let him go. Capt. Steve Lurie, who commands the LAPD's Hollywood Division, said police were reviewing whether the driver — and another who drove a Prius through the same protest crowd — were "the suspect of a hit-and-run or the victim of an assault."
The truck driver told police that protesters had attacked his car first, and officers noted damage to the vehicle, Lurie said. On Friday, police said a preliminary investigation had determined that protesters had surrounded the man's truck and "began beating his vehicle with sticks and tried to open the door to his vehicle."
Police said the driver "cooperated with officers and provided information" when they stopped him several blocks away. They said detectives would be canvassing the area Friday looking for witnesses and video of the incident.
"While no arrests have been made, the investigation is still in its early stages and involves Hollywood detectives and investigators from LAPD's West Traffic Division," the LAPD said.
The woman who was struck could not be reached for comment Friday. The driver has not been publicly identified.
Driver plows through Breonna Taylor protest in Hollywood, hitting at least one person
A truck drove through a group of protesters in Hollywood on Thursday night, striking and running over at least one person as it sped through the crowd, footage shows.
But Singh and other protesters said the driver's account of what happened, as conveyed by police, was incorrect. They also said the police response — and their decision to let the man go after what they considered to be a violent attack — was ridiculous.
The driver was perched above the crowd because of the height of his truck, and was not in any danger, Singh said. He said the truck driver clearly saw the woman in front of him and hit the gas anyway.
"He was trying to drive around everybody, and just didn't care that she was in the way," he alleged.
Bri Riley, 23, a volunteer street medic at the protest, said protesters had tried to form a line in front of the truck to force it to stop while the crowd passed — a common tactic during street demonstrations to keep protesters safe. However, the pickup driver didn't stop.
"No one hit the car until he hit the person," Riley said.
In addition to the woman's injuries, Singh said his foot was run over and badly damaged, though doctors didn't think it was broken.
Austin Baffa, a freelance videographer from Orange County, was standing in the middle of the street filming when he heard yelling, turned around and saw the woman get sent flying.
"I sprinted over and threw my phone down and grabbed her and dragged her out of the way," said Baffa, 27. "As I was dragging her out of the way, the truck backed up and hit the gas again."
Baffa said he managed to pull most of the woman's body out of the truck's path. He then held her for about 20 minutes to keep her neck stable.
About 40 minutes after the driver struck the woman in the crowd, another altercation occurred between protesters and a motorist in a Prius.
Footage showed the Prius trying to maneuver through the crowd, riling protesters. The driver then drove off, but was followed by protesters in a black truck and a green Mustang, whose drivers attempted to box in the Prius with their vehicles.
People in the truck and the Mustang got out of their vehicles and attempted to pull the driver of the Prius out of the vehicle, but failed to do so. The Prius driver drove off again, and was stopped blocks away by police — where he cooperated, police said.
On Friday, police said video of the incident "depicted a potential assault" on the Prius driver by the protesters who jumped out of the other vehicles, and that an investigation is ongoing.
Kevin Rector
Kevin Rector is a reporter for the Los Angeles Times covering the Los Angeles Police Department. He started with The Times in 2020. He previously worked at the Baltimore Sun for eight years, where he was a police and investigative reporter and part of a team that won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize in local reporting. He is from Maryland.
Leila Miller is a foreign correspondent for the Los Angeles Times based in Mexico City. She joined the newsroom in 2018 and spent several years working on the criminal justice team. She was also part of the team that was a 2020 Pulitzer finalist for its coverage of the Conception boat fire off the Channel Islands. Born in Argentina but raised in Los Angeles, Miller is a graduate of Oberlin College and Columbia University's School of Journalism.


Prof. Madya Dr Jamel handing the school supplies to one of the children in KK3, HKL.
KUALA LUMPUR, 27 December 2015 - Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian France Institute (UniKL MFI) brought cheers to the children diagnosed with cancer from Wad KK3 of Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) in their "Back to School" programme. The programme, in collaboration with Kumpulan Kanak-kanak Kanser Ibubapa dan Sokongan (KIDS), a support group founded unofficially in 2012 by the parents of the cancer patients at wad KK3, HKL brought together the Management of UniKL MFI, staffs, parents and students in a fun filled yet emotional day.
The 'Back to School' programme is part of the UniKL CARE initiative (Community Action & Relief Effort), formed to encourage community volunteerism among UniKL students and staffs. The 'Back to School' programme this year saw UniKL donating school supplies in the form of school bags, stationaries and clothes to the children. The event was graced by Dean of UniKL MFI, YBhg. Prof. Madya Dr Jamel Othman and Puan Hamidah Tajuddin, representative of KIDS, HKL.
In his opening address to those who attended the event, Prof. Madya Dr Jamel said, "The 'Back to School' Programme is a symbol of hope for the children being treated in HKL. It indirectly motivates them and reaffirms their belief that things will be alright and they will be healthy again to return to school. This humbling experience is an eye opener for all of us and it just proves how grateful we should be to God for His blessings and our good health."
Meanwhile, Puan Hamidah Hamdan in her welcoming address says, " I am truly grateful to all who are responsible in making this event a success. This programme is a manifestation that academic institutes does not exist as a centre of knowledge only, but has the capacity to play a bigger role in championing the struggles and hardships of the 'rakyat'. This will definitely create a compassionate and loving generation who are highly intellectual with a noble personality."
Volunteers and their family members who sacrificed their Sunday in support of the event in a photo session.
Besides the school supplies, volunteers consisting of staffs and students spent half day mingling and interacting with the children and parents, some even having a quick tuition and revision classes with the children. Prof. Madya Dr. Jamel expressed his hope that in future programmes, UniKL will not only be able to provide material and morale support, but also expertise in helping our fellow Malaysians and contributing to the nation as a whole.


text:
Die Cerkiew św. Michała Archanioła ( Erzengel-Michael-Kirche, ) ist eine Holzkirche in Smolnik in der Woiwodschaft Karpatenvorland in Polen. Die Kirche gehört zum grenzübergreifenden UNESCO-Welterbe "Holzkirchen der Karpatenregion" und ist dem Erzengel Michael geweiht. Sie war bis 1951 ein griechisch-katholisches Gotteshaus und wird seit 1974 von der römisch-katholischen Gemeinde genutzt.

Lage
Die Kirche befindet sich auf dem Gipfel des Hügels, oberhalb des Baches Smolnik. Im Osten grenzt der Friedhof an die Kirche. Grabsteine sind nur noch spärlich vorhanden. Das alte Dorf ist nicht mehr vorhanden. Der neue Ort Smolnik liegt etwa 1500 Meter nördlich. Die Grenze zur Ukraine verläuft etwa 2,5 Kilometer östlich der Kirche.

Geschichte
Die Kirche wurde 1791 errichtet. – Smolnik war noch im Jahr 1900 von Ruthenen besiedelt. Von 473 Einwohnern waren 421 griechisch-katholisch, 458 ruthenischsprachig und 37 Juden. Der Ort wurde 1939 sowjetisch und 1941 deutsch besetzt. Nach Ende des Zweiten Weltkriegs verblieb er bei der Sowjetunion.

Im Jahr 1951 wurde die Bevölkerung umgesiedelt und die Region kam im Zuge des Polnisch-Sowjetischen Gebietsaustauschs an Polen. Die Gemarkung und das entsiedelte Dorf wurden dem landwirtschaftlichen Staatsbetrieb PGR Smolnik übergeben. Dieser ließ allmählich alle Gebäude abreißen. Eine Ausnahme blieb die Kirche, in der regelmäßig Heu gelagert wurde. Im Jahr 1956 wurde diese auf die Liste der historischen Kirchen gesetzt und 1969 in die nationale Denkmalliste eingetragen. Bis dahin wurde Vieles geplündert oder zerstört. Nach dem Eintrag konnte das Bauwerk in den Jahren 1969–1970 mit staatlichen Mitteln renoviert werden.

Im Jahr 1973 wurde sie der römisch-katholischen Gemeinde in Lutowiska überschrieben. Im folgenden Jahr wurde sie als Filialkirche dem Patrozinium Mariä Aufnahme in den Himmel ( Wniebowzięcie Najświętszej Maryi Panny) geweiht. Besucher sind die Bewohner des neu erbauten Dorfs Smolnik.

Das Gotteshaus wurde 2010 mit sieben weiteren Holzkirchen der Ostkirchen im Karpatenvorland und in Kleinpolen in die Tentativliste des Weltkulturerbes aufgenommen. Die Einschreibung erfolgte am 21. Juni 2013 gemeinsam mit acht weiteren Objekten aus der Ukraine.

Ausstattung

Die Holzkirche gehört zum heute seltenen Bautypus des Bojkenlandes, das an das Lemkenland (Łemkowszczyzna) grenzt. Nach der Zwangsumsiedlung der Bojken im Zuge der Aktion Weichsel fielen viele Kirchen 1947 dem Abriss oder Verfall zum Opfer.

Das Gebäude besteht aus gehauenen Baumstämmen, die horizontal verlegt sind. Das Bauwerk ist mit Schindeln verkleidet. Die Kirche ist dreiteilig angelegt und wird von drei viereckigen Kuppeln gekrönt. Ein Vordach läuft um das gesamte Gebäude und schützt das Fundament vor Regen und Schnee. Die polychrome Ausmalung vom Ende des 18. Jahrhunderts wurde 2009 restauriert.

Der geplünderte Ikonostase wurde vor der Umnutzung des Bauwerks entfernt. Teile der ursprünglichen Ausstattung befinden sich unter anderem in Museen in Lwiw (Lemberg) und Łańcut.

Siehe auch
 Holzkirchen im slowakischen Teil der Karpaten
 Holzkirchen im südlichen Kleinpolen

Weblinks

 whc.unesco.org: Wooden Tserkvas of the Carpathian Region in Poland and Ukraine. (englisch)
 NID / zabytek.pl: Cerkiew greckokatolicka pw. św. Michała Archanioła Smolnik. (polnisch; 3-D-Ansicht siehe PDF-Link)

Fußnoten

Holzkirche in Polen
Gmina Lutowiska
Kirchengebäude in der Woiwodschaft Karpatenvorland
Michaeliskirche
Mariä-Himmelfahrt-Kirche
Kirchengebäude im Erzbistum Przemyśl
Umgewidmetes Kirchengebäude
Bestandteil einer Welterbestätte in Europa
Bestandteil einer Welterbestätte in Polen
Kulturdenkmal in der Woiwodschaft Karpatenvorland
Erbaut in den 1790er Jahren


Trilixton Review – Can You Achieve Better Workout Recovery With It?
Trilixton is a powerful, nitric oxide-boosting pre-workout supplement, currently sold on a Dutch website and available internationally. It is manufactured in the United Kingdom by a company that is located in New York, New York, USA. The key ingredient, L-Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate, is a proven, potent nitric oxide booster, and has numerous other physical benefits as well, all backed by scientific studies. Athletes will experience an increase in energy, strength, and mental focus after just one serving of this supplement, all thanks to the effects of L-Arginine. This will allow them to work out harder, lift more, and recover more quickly after working out. With continued use, along with exercise, users will gain muscle, lose fat, and improve all of their athletic abilities.
Each day, individuals are instructed to take 2 tablets of this pre-workout supplement, either on an empty stomach or with a protein-rich beverage. After allowing 30 minutes for digestion and absorption of the amino acids, users will feel an energy boost, which encourages them to work out. Since there is no caffeine or other stimulants in this supplement, athletes will not experience a crash after working out. Instead, due to the longer term effects of L-Arginine, they will heal quickly and be ready to work out again the next day.
The manufacture of Trilixton is an international nutritional supplement company called Spring Life LLC. According to the contact information on their website, their corporate headquarters and mailing address are located in New York City, specifically in Manhattan. This means that they are incorporated in the United States and are therefore regulated by American commerce laws. However, it appears that their manufacturing facilities are located in the United Kingdom, as is the address where customers are instructed to send their return shipment. The distribution website is written in Dutch, and since shipping is available internationally, the supplements' ingredients and production are regulated by the laws of the European Union.
Spring Life LLC, which also sells products under the brand name Nathans Naturals, manufacturers and distributes other supplements, including a weight loss product called Revolyn. All customer service and other inquiries are directed to use the email address that is provided on the website on the Contact page. There is also a fax number for customers to send written communication, as well as the mailing address in New York, New York. Spring Life LLC does not have a large internet presence and has no public social media accounts, and there are also no public complaints about its practices or customer experiences.
Unlike many pre-workout supplements, which may take a few weeks to fully take effect, Trilixton goes to work after just one serving. Individuals are directed to take 2 capsules of the supplement approximately a half hour before they plan to begin working out. They can take these supplements on an empty stomach, although many athletes prefer to take it with a protein drink or other source of necessary macronutrients.
After taking the supplement, users will begin to experience the effects of the potent L-Arginine amino acid that is its primary ingredient. This amino acid is a powerful vasodilator, which means that it opens up blood vessels, allowing for increased blood flow and decreased blood pressure. The increased blood flow leads to greater muscle building as well as improvements in brain function.
L-Arginine also has reported effects on natural testosterone production, growth hormones, and protein synthesis, all of which will be experienced after just one serving. Individuals will experience greater strength and stamina, faster healing time, much more energy, and a better ability to focus on the exercises. Since users get fast results, they are driven to work out harder and more frequently, which leads to visible results in a matter of just a few weeks, including muscle gains, fat loss, and improved overall athletic prowess.
The one active ingredient in this supplement is the powerful amino acid L-Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate. There are 450 milligrams of this amino acid in each 2 capsule serving, which is the recommended daily serving size for adults. Supplementing with L-Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate, or AAKG, has been shown to improve athletic performance and increase results in a number of different ways.
First, AAKG increases the metabolization of nitric oxide, a proven vasodilator that increases blood flow to all parts of the body, including muscles and the brain. It also increases protein synthesis, which helps builds muscle mass and improves strength, stamina, and endurance. Finally, AAKG also helps the liver to rid the body of excessive ammonia that accumulates with exercise, so that individuals can work out longer for greater results.
Because L-Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate is such a potent and effective ingredients, users are cautioned not to take more than the recommended serving at any time. Individuals with pre-existing health issues, especially kidney or heart disease, should consult a doctor before using this pre-workout supplement. This supplement also contains Gelatine, Magnesium Stearate and Silica, and it may contain wheat, which means it is not appropriate for vegans or for those who follow a kosher or gluten-free diet.
One advantage of this supplement is that it is easy to use for all healthy adults. While some pre-workout supplements involve multiple pills, powdered drink mixes, or other complicated regimens, Trilixton is easy to use. Individuals simply take two capsules, the recommended serving size according to the supplement label, about 30 minutes before working out. Since it is easy to use, individuals are more likely to remember to take it every day, which leads to more consistent workouts and faster results.
The other advantage to this supplement is that its ingredient works quickly, with immediate results after just one serving. This is thanks to the proven effectiveness of L-Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate, which goes to work within a half hour after it is taken. Athletes will first feel an energy boost from the increase in the available nitric oxide, which provides quick energy and motivates them to start exercising. The AAKG also improves protein synthesis, blood flow to the brain, and healing, which allows for greater exertion, better focus, and faster recovery times. Users will feel the results after just one serving of this supplement, and will see the results after just a week of working out.
This supplement is manufactured in the United Kingdom and is available for distribution through the European Union, which means it is CE certified. CE stands for European Conformity, and this certification ensures that the product bearing it conforms to all of the regulations and standards of the European Union's governing bodies. The European Commission puts the regulations of supplements, including pre-workout supplements like Trilixton, under the purview of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), established in 2002. EFSA guarantees that products are safe and approved for use by healthy adults. It also uses rigorous testing and quality controls to ensure that the ingredients used are of high quality and that labeling is done accurately and completely.
This supplement is also sold in the United States, which means that its ingredients are considered safe and appropriate under American laws and regulations. This safety is guaranteed by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates all supplements and food products, ensuring their healthfulness for adults. Further, this supplement is manufactured using standard Good Manufacturing Practices, making it GMP-certified. All of these agencies and organizations have found Trilixton to be safe and its production is in accordance with international law.
Other pre-workout supplements left me feeling jittery or didn't work at all. Trilixton gives me the energy I need with no bad feelings and it works right away! I started taking this a couple of weeks ago and I love it. No crashes, no jitters, just lot of energy and a lot of results.
Wow! I love this stuff. I take it in the morning before I hit the gym and it makes me feel 100% better. I lift more than I used to, and I don't get tired after working out. Totally feel a big difference. Some of the guys at the gym have even asked me about it, and I tell them that Trilixton really works!
I did a lot of research before choosing the right pre-workout supplement for my needs. I was looking for a proven nitric oxide booster that would really give me more energy and strength, and AAKG fits the bill. This supplement gives me what I need to improve my body without a lot of fillers or other ingredients. I've been taking it for nearly a month now and feel the difference every day.
This is the BEST nitric oxide booster on the market. I'd been getting flabby and lazy, but once I started taking Trilixton I started lifting every day again. I've gotten bigger all over, and I've even lost the flab. I recommend this for anyone who wants to get results and doesn't want to wait for them!
Trilixton is a fairly new product in the pre-workout supplement market, so there has not yet been a great deal of media coverage of it. It has been the subject of some online supplement reviews, which praised the product for its key ingredient although it did not receive high marks overall. Some of these reviews are in English, but the majority are in German or Dutch, in keeping with the target audience for this supplement.
The manufacturer, Spring Life LLC, has little public record beyond its mailing addresses. It seems that it is affiliated with Nathans Naturals, which bills itself as an international nutraceuticals corporation. Nathans Naturals can be found on Facebook and YouTube, where individuals can share their experiences with the company and its products.
The primary ingredient of this supplement, L-Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate, has been the recipient of a great deal of media coverage as well as the subject of many published scientific papers. For example, there have been recent articles about the proven effects of AAKG in Men's Health, The Huffington Post, NewsMax, and The Guardian. Scientific, peer-reviewed studies on L-Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate have been published in journals such as Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care and the National Center for Biotechnology Information, and their findings have been reported in Science Daily and Science Magazine.
There is no explicit money-back guarantee for this product, but according to the Terms and Conditions page, customers who are not satisfied are able to return the supplement for a refund. It is unclear whether bottles that have already been opened are eligible for return, so customers should contact the customer service department to inquire before returning opened bottles. In fact, all customers must first contact this department before they are able to make a return and get a refund. To do this, customers should use the email address that is provided on the website, which is the only guaranteed mechanism for reaching a customer service agent. After receiving a customer's email, the agent will presumably respond with a confirmation that the return will be accepted as well as more detailed instructions for making the return.
Customers will then need to send the bottles to an address for Nathans Naturals in the United Kingdom. Customers are responsible for the cost of shipping this package back to the UK, and they are encouraged to use a mailing service that provides shipment tracking so that they can be sure the return is completed. All Returns must be made with 30 days of the original order. Refunds will be credited back to the original method of payment, minus the cost of shipping and handling when applicable.
All orders of Trilixton are processed within 1 business day of placement. Deliveries, which are available internationally, will be sent by Royal Mail or La Poste. Shipments should arrive within 3-5 business days, excluding weekends and holidays.
For customers who purchase a single bottle of the supplement, the cost of shipping is a flat rate of 4.95 Euros ($5.52), which covers deliveries to all countries and addresses. However, if customers purchase one of the larger package deals, namely the Total-Shred Package or Powerhouse Package, shipping and handling is free. Although these deliveries will be much larger and heavier, the shipping costs are rolled into the total price of the packages, at a much lower cost per bottle to the consumer.
If a customer needs to make a return, he will be responsible for all of the costs associated with shipping back the bottles of this supplement. The initial cost of shipping and handling is also not refundable, although this is not an issue for individuals who have purchased the larger packages. Customers with questions about shipping or delivery can contact a customer's service agent using the email address that is provided on the website.
Customers have limited options for contacting the manufacturer and distributor of Trilixton. The simplest method of communication, and the one preferred by the manufacturer, is to send an email to the customer service department and await a reply. This email address can be found on the Contact page of the website as well as the Terms and Conditions page, and customers are encouraged to use this method for all questions and concerns.
For returns, customers must first send an email to this address, after which a customer's service representative will authorize the return and provide further instructions. Returns should then be sent to a mailing address in the United Kingdom, where packages are accepted by an organization named Nathan's Naturals. Since the supplement is produced in the UK, customers may also be able to get information from this address about manufacturing practices, ingredients, and usage.
There is also a mailing address for the corporation that is located on Park Ave, in New York, New York. This Manhattan address will accept mail, although it will be a slower means of communication than simply using the email address. There is also a fax number, which may reach an agent, though it is unclear if it is regularly staffed.
Customers who purchase Trilixton directly from the website are protected by stringent online security measures. The order form page is secured with 126-bit Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption, which is the industry standard for online shopping. This encryption protects customer's personal and financial information from malicious third-party interference. The connection also uses a valid, trusted server certificate for all transactions. Finally, since all customers must pay with a credit or debit card, their purchases are also covered by the anti-fraud protections offered by all credit card companies.
The cost of the Trilixton supplement varies widely depending on the number of bottles that are purchased at one time. A single bottle is sold as the Lean Starter Package for 99.00 EUR, and though the website advertises free shipping, shipping and handling are actually an additional 6.90 EUR, bringing the total to 105.90 EUR or $130.51 for a 60-capsule bottle. If customers want free shipping and handling, as well as overall savings, they must buy one of the larger package deals.
For 99.90 EUR ($111.47), customers will receive three bottles of the supplement, an equivalent of buying two at full price and receiving the third for free. Shipping and handling are free with an order of this size. This Total-Shred pack provides a three-month supply of the supplement at a considerably lower cost than if customers purchased each bottle separately.
Finally, for customers who are confident that this product works for them, there is a Powerhouse Pack. In this package deal, customers pay $130.51 Euros for a total of 5 bottles of Trilixton. Shipping is free, and customers are effectively saving at least 30 Euros by purchasing this larger package deal.
The active ingredient in the supplement, AAKG, has been proven to increase nitric oxide metabolization, as reported in numerous peer-reviewed scientific studies.
This supplement starts to work with just one dose, and individuals will feel the results within 30 minutes of taking two capsules.
Trilixton increases energy without caffeine or stimulants, so users will not "crash" or feel jittery.
This supplement does not contain any necessary macronutrients, such as protein or carbohydrates.
There is no phone number provided for the manufacturer, and limited means of contacting their customer service department.
Customers with pre-existing health conditions, especially kidney or heart related, should not take this supplement.
Summary: Trilixton is a pre-workout supplement made with L-Arginine Alpha Ketoglutarate, a proven nitric oxide booster that also positively affects hormones, increases energy, improves concentration, and decreases healing time. This supplement is currently sold on a Dutch website, although it is manufactured in the United Kingdom by a company that is based in the United States and is available internationally. A single bottle is 60 capsules, which is a 30-day supply when taken as directed. Individuals report that the effects are felt after just one serving, with an immediate energy boost and improved ability to work out.
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text:
WHO found no evidence coronavirus started in lab, China says
China's foreign ministry Thursday told reporters the World Health Organization has said there is no evidence the coronavirus outbreak came from a laboratory, according to a report.
Spokesman Zhao Lijian was responding to a question about accusations the virus originated from a lab in Wuhan, China, according to Reuters.
Fox News reported Wednesday that there is increasing confidence the COVID-19 outbreak likely started in a Wuhan laboratory. Sources said it may have been part of an effort by China to show that its efforts to identify and combat viruses are equal to or greater than the capabilities of the United States.
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President Trump Wednesday told Fox News' John Roberts the administration is doing a "very thorough examination of this horrible situation" in light of the reporting.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also told Fox News the government "is working diligently" to find out where it came from.
The sources, who have been briefed on the details of early actions by China's government and seen relevant materials, said patient zero is thought to have worked at the lab and contracted the virus from a bat.
RELATED: Sources believe coronavirus originated in Wuhan lab as part of China's efforts to compete with US
One of the sources added it could be the "costliest government coverup of all time."
Additionally, the sources said the WHO was complicit from the beginning in helping China cover its tracks.
Trump announced Wednesday the U.S. is halting funding to the WHO over its handling of the crisis, adding that the organization ignored "credible" information in December that the virus could be transmitted from person to person.
"I would just say at this point, it's inconclusive, although the weight of evidence seems to indicate natural, but we don't know for certain," Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said regarding Washington Post reporting that said U.S. embassy officials warned about inadequate safety at a lab in Wuhan and about risky coronavirus testing being done on bats in 2018.
Secretary of Defense Mark Esper told Fox News, "most people believe it began naturally -- it was organic, if you will. I think in due course, once we get through the pandemic we're in right now, there'll be time to look back and really ascertain what happened and make sure we have a better understanding so we can prevent this in the future."
RELATED: CoronavirusNOW.com: FOX launches national hub for COVID-19 news and updates.
The virus was first discovered in Wuhan in December 2019 before it quickly spread through China and the rest of the world, infecting more than 2 million and killing more than 133,000 as of Thursday morning.
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philips | Random Thoughts - Randocity!
What killed the LaserDisc format?
There have been a number of tech documentarian YouTubers who've recently posted videos regarding LaserDisc and why it never became popular and what killed it. Some have theorized that VHS had nothing to do with the failure of the LaserDisc format. I contend that LaserDisc didn't exactly fail, but also didn't gain much traction.
LaserDisc did have a good run between 1978 and 2002. However, it also wasn't a resounding success for a number of reasons. While the LaserDisc format sold better in Japan than in the US, it still didn't get that much traction even in Japan. Though, yes, VHS recorders (among other competitive technologies at the time) did play a big part in LaserDisc's lackluster consumer acceptance. Let's explore.
While I won't go into the entire history of the LaserDisc player, let me give a quick synopsis of its history. Let's start by what it is. LaserDisc (originally named DiscoVision in 1978) began its life as a 12″ optical disc containing analog video and analog audio (smaller sizes would become available later) with discs labeled as MCA DiscoVision. In 1980, Pioneer bought the rights to the LaserDisc technology and dropped the DiscoVision branding in lieu of the LaserDisc and LaserVision brands. It also wouldn't be until the mid-90s that digital audio and digital video combined would appear on this format. A LaserDisc movie is typically dual sided and would be flipped to watch the second half of a film. They can also be produced single sided. Like VHS had SP and LP speeds that offered less or more recording time, LaserDisc had something similar in terms of content length, but offered no consumer recording capability.
● The first format is CAV. CAV stands for constant angular velocity. In short, CAV was a format where the rotational speed remained the same from beginning to end. The benefit for CAV was that it offered solid freeze frames throughout the program. Unlike VHS where freeze frames might be distorted, jump or be noisy, CAV discs offered perfect freeze frames.
It also offered a fast scrubbing speed and slowed play. Later LD players even offered a jog shuttle on the remote to reverse or forward the playback a few frames at a time to as fast as you could spin the wheel. CAV also meant that each frame of video was one rotation of the disc. Keep in mind that NTSC video is interlaced and, therefore, half of the disc ring was one half of the frame and the other half of the disc ring was the other half of the frame. It took a full rotation to create a full NTSC frame.
The NTSC format CAV disc only offered up to 30 minutes per side and a little more for PAL. A 90 minute movie would consume 3 sides or two discs. This was the first format of disc introduced during the DiscoVision days. Early content was all CAV.
● The second format is CLV. CLV stands for constant linear velocity. This format reduces the rotational speed as the disc reaches the outer edge. You can even hear the motor slow as the movie progresses playback if you're close enough to the player. I should point out that LaserDiscs read from the center of the media to the outer edge.
LaserDisc players also read from the bottom side of the disc when put into the player. It's just the opposite of a vinyl LP that reads from the outside in and from the top. This means that the label on the center of the disc refers to the opposite side of the media. The CLV format offers no freeze frame feature. Because the rotational speed drops as the laser moves across the disc, eventually multiple video frames would be contained in a single rotation. Any attempt to freeze frame the picture would show multiple frames of motion. Not very pretty. The freeze frame feature is disabled on CLV formatted discs.
The NTSC formatted CLV disc offers up to 60 minutes of video per side and a little more for PAL. A 90 minute movie comfortably fits on one disc. After CLV was discovered to hold more content than a CAV LaserDisc, this format is how the majority of movies were sold once the DiscoVision brand disappeared. Note that many movies used CLV on side one and CAV on side two when less than 30 minutes.
The intent for LaserDisc was to sell inexpensive films for home consumption. It all started with the Magnavox Magnavision VH-8000 DiscoVision player which went on sale December 15th, 1978. This player released on this day along with several day one release movies on LaserDisc. The format, at the time, was then called DiscoVision. Because 1978 was basically the height of the disco music era, it made sense why it ended up called DiscoVision. Obviously, this naming couldn't last when the disco music era closed.
The first players used a visible red laser consisting of a helium-neon laser. The light output looks similar to a red laser pointer. These LD players had pop up lids. This meant you could pop the lid open while the disc was playing, lift the disc and see the red laser in action. The problem with these first players was with the helium-neon laser unit. In short, they became incredibly hot making the unit unreliable. I personally owned one of these open lid style players from Philips and can assert from personal experience that these players were lemons. If they lasted 6 months worth of use, you could count yourself lucky. At the time, when your player was broken, you had to take your player to an authorized service center to get it repaired.
These repair centers were factory authorized, but not run by Philips. Repairs could take weeks requiring constant phone calls to the repair center to get status. The repair centers always seemed overwhelmed with repairs. It just wasn't worth the hassle of taking the unit in to be repaired once every 6 months, paying for each repair after the warranty ran out. This would have been about 1982 or so. I quickly replaced this player for a new one. I'd already invested in too many LaserDiscs to lose all of the discs that I had.
In 1983-1984 or thereabouts, the optical audio Compact Disc was introduced. These players offered solid-state non-visible lasers to read the CD optical media. As a result of the technology used to read the CD, LaserDisc players heavily benefited from this technology advance. Pioneer, the leading LaserDisc player brand at the time, jumped immediately on board with replacing the red visible laser with very similar solid state lasers being used in CD players.
Once the new laser eye was introduced, reliability increased dramatically. Players became more compact, ran cooler and became more full featured. Instead of being able to play only LaserDiscs, they could now also play CDs of all sizes. This helped push LaserDisc players into the home at a time when LaserDisc needed that kick in the pants. Though, adoption was still very slow.
The year 1984 would be the year of VHS. This is the year when video rental stores would become commonplace. During this time, I helped start up a video rental department for a brand new record store. It was a time when record stores were expanding into video rentals. I don't know how many VHS tapes I inventoried for the new store. One thing was certain. We did not rent anything other than VHS tapes. No Betamax, no LaserDisc and no CED rentals. We didn't even stock LaserDiscs or CEDs for sale in this store location. In fact, the chain of record stores where I worked would eventually become Blockbuster and who would adopt the same logo color scheme as the record store chain used. But, that wouldn't be for a few more years.
VHS was on the verge of and would soon become the defacto format for movie rentals. Why not LaserDisc? Not enough saturation in combination with LaserDisc having the same problem that pretty much all optical media has. It's easily scratched. Because the LaserDisc surface is handled directly by hands (it has no caddy), this means that the wear and tear on a LaserDisc meant eventually replacing the disc by the rental store. This compared to VHS tape that, so long as the tape remained intact, it could be rented over and over even if there was the occasional drop out from being played too much.
LaserDisc fared far worse on this front. Because there was no easy way to remove the scratches from a disc, once a disc was scratched it meant replacement. Even if the disc was minimally scratched, it could still be unplayable in some players, particularly the red visible laser kind. These older models were not at all tolerant of scratches.
While VHS tape movies cost $40 or $50 or even upwards to $70, LaserDisc movies cost $25 to $30 on average. The cost savings to buy a movie on LaserDisc was fairly substantial. However, you had to get past the sticker shock of the $800-900 you're required to invest into Pioneer to get a CLD-900 player. This at the time when VHS recorders were $600 or thereabouts. However, VHS recorder prices would continue to drop to about $250 by 1987 (just 3 years later).
LaserDisc player prices never dropped much and always hovered around the $600-$800 price when new. They were expensive. Pioneer was particularly proud of their LaserDisc players and always charged a premium. You could find used players for lower prices, though. Because Pioneer was (ahem) the pioneer in LD equipment at that time, buying into Magnavox or other LD equipment brands meant problems down the road. If you wanted a mostly trouble free LD experience, you bought Pioneer.
I would be remiss at not mentioning the CED disc format that showed up on the scene heavily around 1984, even though it was introduced in 1981. CED stands for Capacitance Electronic Disc. It was a then alternative format video media disc conceived in the 1960s by RCA. Unfortunately, the CED project remain stalled for 17 years in development hell at RCA.
CED uses a stylus like an LP and the disc is made of vinyl also like an LP, except you can't handle it with your hands. This media type is housed in a caddy. To play these discs, you had to purchase a CED player and buy CED media. To play the disc, you would insert the disc caddy into the slot on the front of the unit and then pull it back out. The machine grabbed the disk out of the caddy on insertion. As soon as the caddy is removed, the disc is begins to play. The door to the caddy slot locks when the disc was in motion. Once the mechanism stops moving, the door unlocks and you can insert the caddy, then remove the disc.
Because the CED is read by a stylus, it had its own fair share of problems, not the least of which was skipping and low video quality. LaserDisc was the consumer product leader in image quality all throughout the 80s and 90s until DVD arrived. However, that didn't stop CED from taking a bite out of the LaserDisc videodisc market. The CED format only served to dilute the idea of the videodisc and confuse consumers on which format to buy. This was, in fact, the worst of all situations for LaserDisc at a time when VHS rentals were appearing at practically any store that could devote space to set up a rental section. Even grocery stores were jumping on board to get a piece of the VHS rental action.
As a result of VHS rentals, which could be found practically everywhere by 1986, renting LaserDiscs (or even CEDs) was always a challenge. Not only was it difficult to find stores to rent a LaserDisc, when you did find them, the selection was less than stellar. In fact, because VHS rentals became so huge during this time, LaserDisc pressings couldn't compete and started falling behind the VHS releases. VHS became the format released first, then LaserDiscs would appear a short time later. This meant that if you wanted to rent the latest movie, you pretty much had to own a VHS player. If you wanted to watch the movie in higher quality, you had to wait for the LaserDisc version. Even then, you'd have to buy it rather than renting. Renting of LaserDiscs was not only rare to find, but eventually disappeared altogether leaving purchasing a LaserDisc the only option, or you rented a VHS tape.
If you weren't into rentals and wanted to own a film, then LaserDisc was the overall better way to go. Not only were the discs less expensive, the video and audio would remain the highest home consumer quality until S-VHS arrived. Unfortunately, S-VHS had its own problems with adoption even worse than LaserDisc and this format would fail to be adopted by the general home consumer market. LaserDisc continued to dominate the videophile market for its better picture and eventually digital sound until 1997 when the DVD arrived.
As time progressed into the late 80s, it would become more difficult to find not only LaserDisc players to buy, but also LaserDiscs. Stores that once carried the discs would begin to clearance them out and no longer carry them. Some electronics stores just outright closed and those outlets to buy players were lost. By the 90s, the only reasonable place to purchase LaserDiscs was via mail order.
There were simply no local electronics stores in my area that carried movie discs any longer. Perhaps you could find them in NYC, but not in Houston. Because they were 12″ in size, this meant a lot of real estate was needed to store and display LaserDiscs. Other than record stores, few stores would want to continue to invest store real estate into this lackluster format, especially when VHS is booming. In a lot of ways, LaserDisc packaging looked like LP records, only with movie posters on the front. This packaging was not likely helpful to the LaserDisc. Because they were packaged almost identically to an LP, including being shrink wrapped (and using white inner sleeves), these discs could easily be confused with LP records when walking by a display of them.
Marketing was a major problem for LaserVision. While there was a kind of consortium of hardware producers that included Pioneer, Philips and Magnavox, there was no real marketing strategy to sell the LaserDisc format to the consumer. Because of this, LaserDisc fell into the niche market of videophiles. Basically, it was a small word of mouth community. This was a time before the Internet. Videophiles were some of the first folks to have a small home theater and they demanded the best video and audio experience, and were willing to shell out cash for it. Unfortunately, this market was quite a small segment. Few people were willing to jump through all of the necessary hoops just to buy an LD player, then mail order a bunch of discs. Yet, the videophiles kept buying just enough to keep this market alive.
In addition to the hassles of bad marketing, the discs ended up with a bad reputation for a severe manufacturing defect. Even some commercially pressed CDs ended up succumbing to this same fate. The problem is known as laser rot. Laser rot is when the various layers that make up a LaserDisc aren't sealed properly or using correct adhesives during manufacture. These layers later oxidize causing pitting on the sandwiched metal surface. This oxidation pitting causes the original content pits to be lost over time ending up with snow both in audio and in video. The audio usually goes first, then the video.
Laser rot even appeared early on the earliest pressed DiscoVision media, we just wouldn't find out until much later. This indicated that the faulty manufacturing process began when the format was born. Laser rot caused a lot of fans of the format a lot of grief when the format least needed such a pothole. This problem should have been addressed rapidly once found, but there were many discs that continued to be improperly manufactured even into the 90s after the problem was found. The defective manufacturing process was something the LaserVision consortium failed to address, which tarnished (ahem) the reputation of the LaserVision brand.
For the videophiles who had invested heavily in this format, nothing was worse than playing a disc that you know worked fine a few months ago only to find it now unplayable. It was not only disheartening, but it gave fans of the format pause to consider any future purchases.
Not only were the average consumers turned off by the high prices of the players, consumers also didn't see the benefit of owning a LaserDisc player because of its lack of recording capabilities and its lack of readily available rentals. Some videophiles and LaserDisc format advocates lost interest when they attempted to play a 3 year old disc only to find that it was unplayable. At this point, only true die-hards stayed with LaserDisc format even among the mounting disc problems and lack of marketing push.
The manufacturers never stepped up to offer replacement discs for laser rot, which they should have. The LaserVision consortium did nothing to entice new consumers into the format nor did they attempt to fix the manufacturing defect leading to laser rot. The only thing the manufacturers did is continue to churn out upgraded LaserDisc player models usually adding things that didn't help LaserDisc format directly. Instead, they would add compatibility for media like CDV or 3″ CD formats or CD text. Features that did nothing to help LaserDisc, but were only added to help entice audiophiles into adding a LaserDisc player into their component audio system. This ploy didn't work. Why? Because audiophiles were more interested in music selection over compatibility with video formats. What sold were the carousel CD players that would eventually hold up to 400 CDs. Though, the 5 CD changers were also wildly popular at the time.
Instead of investing the time and effort into making LaserDisc a better format, the manufacturers spent time adding unnecessary features to their players (and charging more money for them). Granted, the one feature that was added that was desperately needed was digital audio soundtracks. These would be the precursor to DVD. However, while they did add digital audio to LaserDisc by the early 90s, the video was firmly still analog. However, even digital audio on the LaserDisc didn't kick sales up in any substantial way. This was primarily because 5.1 and 7.1 sound systems were still a ways off from becoming mainstream.
While LaserDisc did continue through most of the 90s as the format that still produced the best NTSC picture quality and digital sound for some films, that wouldn't last once the all digital DVD arrived in 1997. Once the DVD format arrived, LaserDisc's days were numbered as a useful movie format. Though LaserDisc did survive into the early noughties, the last movie released in the US is ironically named End of Days with Arnold Schwarzenegger, released in 2002. It truly was the end of days for LaserDisc. Though, apparently LaserDiscs continued to be pressed in Japan and possibly for industrial use for some time after this date.
The primary reason LaserDisc didn't get the entrenched market share that it expected was primarily poor marketing. As the product never had a clearly defined reason to exist or at least one that consumers could understand, it was never readily adopted. Then VHS came along giving even less reason to adopt the format.
Most consumers had no need for the quality provided by a LaserDisc. In fact, it was plainly obvious that VHS quality was entirely sufficient to watch a movie. I'd say that this ideal still holds true today. Even though there are 4K TVs and UltraHD 4K films being sold on disc, DVDs are still the most common format for purchase and rental. A format first released in 1997. Even Redbox hasn't yet adopted rentals of UltraHD 4K Blu-ray discs. Though Redbox does rent 1080p Blu-ray discs, they still warn you that you're renting a Blu-ray. It's clear, the 480p DVD is going to die a very slow death. It also says that consumers really don't care about a high quality picture. Instead, they just want to watch the film. Considering that DVD quality is only slightly better than a LaserDisc at a time when UltraHD 4K is available, that shows that most consumers don't care about picture quality.
This is the key piece of information that the LaserVision consortium failed to understand in the early 80s. The video quality coming out of a LaserDisc was its only real selling point. That didn't matter to most consumers. Having to run all over town to find the discs, deal with laser rot, having to flip the discs in the middle of the film and lack of video titles available (compared to VHS), these were not worth the hassle by most consumers. It's far simpler to run out and buy a VHS tape recorder and rent movies from one of many different rental stores, some open very late. Keep in mind that VHS rentals were far less expensive than buying a LaserDisc.
In many cases, parents found an alternative babysitter in the VHS player. With LaserDisc and rough handling by kids, parents would end up purchasing replacement discs a whole lot more frequently than a VHS tape. Scratched discs happen simply by setting them down on a coffee table. With VHS, they're pretty rugged. Even a kid handling a VHS tape isn't likely to damage either the tape or the unit. Though, shoving food into the VHS slot wasn't unheard of by the children of some parents. Parents could buy (or rent) a kids flick and the kids would be entertained for hours.
Here is what a lot of people claim to be the reason for the death of the LaserDisc. Though, LaserDisc never really died… at least, not until 2002. The one reason most commonly cited was that the LaserDisc couldn't record. No, you could not record onto a LaserDisc. It had no recordable media version available nor was there a recorder available. However, this perception was due to failure of marketing. LaserDisc wasn't intended to be a recorder. It was intended to provide movies at reasonable prices. However, it failed to take into consideration the rental market… a market that wasn't in existence in 1978, but soon appeared once VHS took off. It was a market that LaserDisc manufacturers couldn't foresee and had no Plan-B ready to combat this turn of events.
However, there was no reason why you couldn't own both a VHS recorder and a LaserDisc player. Some people did. Though together, these two units were fairly costly. Since most households only needed (and could only afford) one video type player, the VHS tape recorder won out. It not only had the huge rental infrastructure for movies, it was also capable of time shifting over the air programming. This multi-function capability of the VHS recorder lead many people to the stores to buy one. So, yes, not being able to record did hurt the LaserDisc image, but it wasn't the reason for its death.
Around 1984-1986, VHS tape recorders were widely available from a vast array of retailers including discount stores like Target, Kmart and Sears. You could also find VHS recorders at Radio Shack and Federated and in the electronics section of Service Merchandise, JC Penney, Montgomery Wards, Foley's and many other specialty and department stores.
You could also buy VHS units from mail order houses like J&R Music World who wrote in 1985, "We occasionally advertise a barebones model at $169… But prices have fallen significantly–15 percent in the past six months alone–and now a wide selection sells for $200 to $400.". That's a far cry from the $600-900 that a LaserDisc player may cost. Not only were VHS recorders and players available practically at every major department store, stores typically carried several models from which to choose. This meant you had a wide selection of VHS recorders at differing price points. While in the very early 80s VHS recorders were around $1000, the prices for VHS recorders had substantially dropped by 1985 helping fuel not only market saturation for VHS, but also the rental market.
1. They were way too pricey. The prices needed to drastically drop just like VHS machines. Instead of hovering at around the $600 mark, they needed to drop to the $150-$200 range. They never did.
2. They were difficult to find in stores. While VHS machines were available practically everywhere, even drug stores, LaserDisc players could only be found in specialty electronics stores. They could be found in the likes of Federated, Pacific Stereo and other local higher end component based electronics stores. Typically, you'd find them at stores that carried turntables, speakers and audio amplifier / receivers. While Sears may have carried Magnavox LD players for a short time, they quickly got out of that business and moved towards VHS recorders.
Because the manufacturers of LD players failed to get the players into the discount stores and they failed to price the players down to compete with those the $200-$400 VHS units, LaserDisc could gain little mass consumer traction. On top of this, the confusion over CED and LaserDisc (and even VHS) left those who were interested in disc based video in a quandary. Which to choose? CED or LaserDisc? Because CED discs and players were slightly less expensive (and inferior quality) than LaserDisc, many who might have bought LaserDisc bought into CED. This reduced LaserDisc saturation even further.
It wasn't the videophiles who were buying into CED either. It was consumers who wanted disc media, but who also didn't want to pay LaserDisc prices. Though, the mass consumer market went almost lock-stock-and-barrel to VHS because of what VHS offered (lower price, better selection of movies, rentals everywhere and recording capabilities).
LaserDisc's failure to gain traction was a combination of market factors including lack of marketing, poor quality media, high hardware prices, unreliable players, CED confusion, and the VHS rental market, but this was just the beginning of its downfall. At the tail end, even though LaserDisc did attempt a high definition analog format through Japan's Hi-Vision spec using MUSE encoding, even that couldn't withstand the birth of the DVD.
If the LaserVision consortium had had more vision to continue to innovate in the LaserDisc video space rather than trying to make a LaserDisc player an audio component, the format would have ultimately sold better. How much better? No one really knows. If the consortium had embraced MPEG and made a move towards an all digital format in the 90s, this change might have solidified LaserDisc as a comeback format which could have supported 1080p HDTV. Though there was a digital LaserDisc format called CDV and also Japan's Hi-Vision HD format, these never gained any traction because the LaserVision consortium failed to embrace them. Hi-Vision was never properly introduced into the US or Europe and remained primarily a Japanese innovation sold primarily in Japan.
Instead, the introduction of DVD is pretty much solidified the death of what was left of LaserDisc as a useful movie storage, rental and playback medium. Though, the LaserDisc media releases would continue to limp along until 2002 with the last LaserDisc player models released sometime in 2009.
What would kill the LaserDisc format? LaserDisc would ultimately die because of 1080p 16:9 flat screen HDTVs, which the LaserDisc format didn't properly support (other than composite low res or the short lived Hi-Vision format which was problematic). Ultimately, no one wants to watch 480i 4:3 ratio pan-and-scan analog movies via composite inputs on a brand new 16:9 1080p widescreen TV. Yes, some anamorphic widescreen films came to exist on LaserDisc, but that still utilized a 480i resolution which further degraded the picture by widening the image. Of course, you can still find LaserDisc players and discs for purchase if you really want them.
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