Bruce Lee is considered one of the greatest martial artists of our time. With using movies to express the feelings for many of the martial arts, Lee converted an entire world to the conclusion that martial arts needed a touch of sublime evolution. After Lee died, many would take heed to the ideas Lee tried to get across. The question is if we have stepped in the wrong hole of what he was saying in the first place.

Bruce Lee began his Wing Chun training in 1953 under Ip Man. The year would be 1958 when Bruce Lee would return to the United States to claim his rights to U.S. citizenship. During this short stint of martial arts, Bruce Lee was an avid boxer and fencing athlete. Bruce Lee also learned, what seemed to be, Yang Tai Chi Chuan from his father Lee Hoi Chuen. Lee Hoi Chuen, starting Bruce Lee early, would bring his son to the forefront of the Hong Kong Film Industry before the age of one.

As Bruce Lee was training in Ip Man Wing Chun, Lee would not have much time for the training with making films. Some would actually say that Lee would have at least two years worth of true training out of the five years. Ip Man would also have to send Lee to Wong Shun Leung to train further. Lee never finished his Wing Chun training. Even Bruce Lee would have to find connections, with other systems, to fulfill his nature of combat.

Jun Fan Gung Fu or Bruce Lee Gung Fu would be introduced to many students in the 1960s. One of them, Jerry Poteet, is considered one of the foremost authorities on the system of Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do. This statement, however, is not without giving credit to other foremost authorities like Dan Inosanto, Taky Kimura, and even Ted Wong. As it is true that Bruce Lee cross-trained with Tae Kwon Do legend Jhoon Rhee, Lee would tell Poteet something very astonishing. “Bruce Lee said, in actual application, he would never kick above the waist.” Many of you read this and figure this to be almost a lie or hypocritical since you have seen Bruce Lee do high kicks. You have seen Bruce Lee do flying kicks. Why would he tell his students one thing and do another? Bruce Lee told his students that you often lose speed and power when kicking to the head. The other truth to this is the upper body has to compensate for high kicks. Compensate, in this case, means that your human body must lean back. When you pull anything back, forward force can not be used to the maximum. Two extremes can not coexist or we can not serve two masters. This is especially true with the idea of inertia and gravity with the human body.

When using Wing Chun, it is a poor example of the idea of kicking high. The reason is that Wing Chun was created for high level self-defense. Abbess Wu Mei, the original monarch founder, had high kicks. She had used an Embroidery kick, which is a toe kick to the throat area, to finish off several opponents. When passing down her best knowledge, she taught Yim Wing Chun, for whose name is tagged to the fighting system, the low kicking methods. Abbess Wu Mei had traveled all over to many temples. The Northern Shaolin temple was known for high/flying kicks based on the mountain ranges. Bandits would not be able to defend against the kicks due to their fear of the mountainous ranges. When you think about Abbess Wu Mei being good at the Northern Shaolin System as well, to choose low kicking must have a profound reasoning behind it.

There is a principle everyone should understand. Just because and does not mean are the two best phrases because they put someone in a place of thinking for themselves and seeing options. Here it is: Just because you do a kick does not mean you are kicking to strike the opponent. The best example is the stop kick of Bruce Lee. It is the heel kick of Wing Chun. It is a low kick. If you use a fighting stance, like in Tae Kwon Do or Karate, and use the back leg to use this maneuver, it does not hurt the opponent worth a lick. So, what is it good for? The move is used as exactly how Bruce Lee expressed in the JFJKD system. It is used to stop the opponent from moving towards you at varied angles. If you were to high kick for this same issue, you would exhaust your kick and exhaust the footwork with it. This means your time to be clobbered has come.

If you have had an interest in baseball for a while, you surely know the story of Eddie Gaedel. For those of you who haven’t heard of him and don’t know the story, Gaedel was a midget, all of three feet eight inches tall, who played one game of Major League baseball.

Much is known of that day on August 19, 1951. The 26-year-old Gaedel stepped up to the plate for the St. Louis Browns against the Tigers as the first batter in the second game of a doubleheader. Wearing number 1/8, he walked on four straight pitches from Bob Cain. He was pinch-run for by Jim Delsing and his career ended as abruptly as it had started.

Eddie was not of course a career baseball player. He appeared in the game as a promotion concocted by Browns owner Bill Veeck.

Ordinarily, the story would end there. Stories about ex-major leaguers who played in only one game are not newsworthy, even the story of a pint-sized player. Nobody bothered to find out much about Gaedel after his fifteen minutes of fame. Nobody could tell you about Eddie the man instead of Eddie the ballplayer which is forever inscribed into the game’s annals.

But the story of Eddie Gaedel the man is worth telling.

After his famous game, St. Louis baseball writer Bob Broeg found him and started asking him questions. The first few questions were routine and Gaedel gave routine answers. Broeg then told him that he was what he always wanted to be, an ex-big leaguer. Eddie then became very proud of himself. The men shook hands and that was it.

Bob Fishel was the Brown’s publicist and spent a few days with Eddie before the game, the only baseball man to have a chance to know the man personally. “Veeck was looking for a midget, not a dwarf. When we saw him, there was no question that he was right. However, I didn’t think the world of him” without elaborating further.

Eddie appeared on several TV shows in the following weeks earning $17,000 a very large amount for those days. His playing contract had been for $100.

Three weeks after the game, on September 2, Eddie was arrested in Cincinnati for screaming obscenities. He tried to convince a policeman he was a big league player. He was arrested for disorderly conduct and released on a $25 bond. According to an interview with his mother Helen in 1971, Eddie’s tiny size had gotten him in trouble for a good part of his life.

Born in Chicago, his growth was stunted from the age of three by a thyroid condition. He was picked on as a kid according to his mother. He made it through high school and was an errand boy for Drover’s Daily Journal, a Chicago newspaper. He worked as the Buster Brown shoe man appearing at store openings in Chicago and St. Louis. He also worked in the Ringling Brothers Circus in the 50s and as a promotion man for Mercury Records but refused to go with the company to California because he was scared to go out.

In 1961, Veeck now the owner of the White Sox hired Gaedel and other midgets as salesmen in the box seats. This was because fans were complaining about vendors blocking their view.

The end was near however. Eddie was suffering from high blood pressure and enlarged heart. On June 18, 1961 he was mugged on a Southside Chicago street corner for the $11 he had with him. After the mugging, he apparently staggered home and died in his bed of a heart attack as paramedics were unable to revive him. The coroner reported he had bruises on his face and knees.

His mother, penniless and out of touch with her other children was devastated. Adding insult to injury, she was swindled out of Eddie’s bats and Browns uniform by a man claiming he was representing the Hall of Fame Museum. The only remnants the Hall of Fame has are pictures of his brief career with catcher Bob Swift on his knees to receive a head-high pitch.

Gaedel’s death attracted little notice. The only person connected with baseball who attended his funeral was Bob Cain. “I never even met him but I felt obligated to go” said Cain who was by then retired from baseball after a six-year career. “It kind of threw me for a loop that no other baseball people were there.”

Cain summed up Eddie’s life “It was a pretty sad situation. It’s a shame he had to die the way he did, but I guess he got in quite a bit of trouble off and on. He ended up with the wrong crowd.”

Although he has been retired for several years now, Michael Jordan is still widely regarded as the greatest basketball player to ever play the game. His influence was felt not only in the way the game was played, but also in how it was perceived around the world. Ultimately, his excellence at his sport was instrumental in catapulting the popularity of basketball and the National Basketball Association all over the world during the eighties and nineties. Beyond all this, Jordan was also a marketing force and was hands-down the most successfully marketed athlete of his generation and, possibly, all time. In 1999, Jordan was named by ESPN as “the greatest athlete of the 20th century.”

Jordan retired from the NBA after 15 seasons, during which he established a number of prestigious records. His 30.12 points per game average is the highest ever in NBA history. He also won six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls and was the MVP of the NBA Finals every time they claimed the championship. In addition, Jordan has been the NBA’s leading scorer for 10 straight seasons and was the league’s Most Valuable Player five times. He was also selected to the All-NBA First Team 10 times, the All-Defensive First Team nine times aside from leading the NBA in steals in three years. The Associated Press also ranked him as second only to Babe Ruth as top athlete of the century.

Jordan’s wizardry on the basketball court was evident from the very first time he stepped onto an NBA court as a rookie in 1985. He unveiled the full package – a dazzling array of dunks, ferocious defense and the amazing ability to score any time he wanted to. His leaping ability was off the charts and quickly earned him such colorful nicknames as “Air Jordan” and “His Airness.” In one playoffs game against the Boston Celtics in 1986, Jordan scored a record 63 points, which prompted the league’s then-reigning MVP Larry Bird to proclaim that he was “God disguised as Michael Jordan.”

The media has portrayed a number of players as “the next Michael Jordan” upon entering the NBA, including such renowned hoopsters as Grant Hill, Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter, who have all fallen short of their lofty billing. The latest to earn the sobriquet are LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, but they have a long way to go before they can earn the right to be called the next Jordan.

Sound bars are the perfect way to get great home theater audio without setting up tons of speakers or dealing with messy wiring. If you want unmatched audio quality, you owe it to yourself to find out more about soundbars. Sound bars, or sound projectors as they’re also known, consist of a single unit that houses multiple speakers to get the best home theater sound without multiple speakers and messy wiring.

If you have a plasma flat screen television, sound projectors are the perfect speakers to get great sound. As you probably already know, the little built-in speakers in most flat screen TVs simply don’t put out great audio for movies, music or video games. When you add a sound projector to the mix, though, you’ll get the best surround sound without cluttering your room up with speakers or tripping over wires all the time.

Sub-woofer Concerns

Some single speaker solutions don’t really provide the low end bass that you need to get the best quality audio. In fact, some soundbar systems include a wireless sub-woofer to make sure that you get the best audio experience possible. There are some sound projectors that do include sub-woofers, just make sure that you check before you purchase to know whether or not you’ll have to purchase an additional speaker.

SoundBar Types

Some soundbar systems are active and include their own amplification; this means that they simply plug into your television and start putting out great sound. Other models, however, are passive and need to be plugged into a home theater receiver to produce audio.

You can even add a sound projector into an existing home theater audio system for the ultimate in dynamic sound quality. Soundbars work great on their own, but when you add them into a full surround sound set up, you’ll be amazed at how much better movies, music and games sound. You’ll think you stepped into the local theater when you put a sound projector into the mix.

Whether you choose to integrate a sound bar into your existing system, or to simply use one on its own for better sound from your television, make sure that you get the best sound bar for your unique home theater set up.

Check out some sound bar reviews to see which models offer the best sound, and while you’re at it, look for the best deals to save some money in the process. You’ll be amazed at how much better movies sound when you crank up the volume on a brand new soundbar.

Six former wards came back to the California Youth Authority (CYA) earlier this month. This time they volunteered to return. They were on a mission to deliver a message to the wards at N.A. Chaderjian Youth Correctional Facility, which houses California’s most violent youth offenders ages 18-24. The diverse panel of ex-convicts purposefully stepped through the fences of Chaderjian as law-abiding citizens. They each wore visitor’s passes clipped on their shirts and security alarms attached to their belts for their safety in the event that a riot “kicked off”.

Once inside the razor wired fence, I observed the former wards, some who were once rival gang enemies, hugging, exchanging phone numbers and sharing personal family photos with each other. Meanwhile, a large group of heavily guarded and structured wards were being escorted on to the dim, sky lit, concrete gym floor. The CYA alumni’s immediately began greeting the wards with warm smiles and hand shakes. Once seated, Chaplain Carlton McAllister, a CYA alumnus, introduced the panel and offered a faith filled prayer and a joyful song of praise. As I scanned the audience, I observed many of the wards staring at the panel speakers during the song, appearing to wonder what the panel members were about and what they had come to say.

“You need to stop being punks, anyone can run behind a gang, but it takes a real man to live for Christ and to stand alone.” A quiet hush fell over the gymnasium. You could have heard a prison-made cuff-key drop, as Levon Davis, now also known as Dr. Levon Davis shot these words toward wards with a force that captured their attention. Dr. Davis, a once harden criminal convicted for a double murder stood before the audience of offenders a transformed man who presented a bold, thought provoking, and inspirational message. “If it comes down to you and your friends, your friends are going to snitch you off. They ain’t going to take the blame for you,” Davis said confidently and boldly. Some of the audience members snickered, while others nodded their heads in agreement. “Why hold loyalty to someone who is not going to be loyal to you? When it comes down to it, the only thing that is really stable, that will get behind you, is God. Christ is the Answer.” Davis spoke these words with conviction and from experience.

Davis has had experiences that have now distinguished him from his past life style and previous mistakes. He has excelled since his release almost 10 years ago from the CYA and is a rehabilitated man, a scholar in his own right. Davis earned his PhD in counseling, is president and founder of Blessed Faith Bible College, which is accredited to the doctorate degree, he owns and operates a Christian music production company, and if that isn’t enough, he is a devoted husband and pastor of Blesses Faith church in Sacramento, California. He has come a long way from the cellblocks he was confined to over 10 years ago and the reality of his life is that his new beginning was initiated behind the bars of the CYA. Davis told the audience that he took advantage of every vocational program offered to him at the CYA and in addition, he enrolled in a correspondence college while serving his sentence. Davis credits the CYA and his strong faith in God for his successful transition into society. The CYA provided him with the resources and opportunities to succeed, and it took his initiative and commitment to turn those opportunities into reality.

Another success story and former guest of the CYA was Noel Patillo, son of celebrity gospel artist, Leon Patillo. This former ward also had a word for the wards, which he communicated, in part, through rap. His artistic flavor and talent got the spirit moving throughout the gymnasium, and the audience was tapping their feet and bobbing their heads. His words were profound and chillingly descriptive. “My parents were separated, my dad was always on the road, and mom was a dope dealer. I grew up in a dope house,” said Patillo. In a private interview he told me that his dad always told him that he needed to “get it right” because God had something for him.

Patillo, a former Bay Area gang member who was incarcerated for attempted murder believed his path on the straight and narrow came in a round about way. “God kind of tricked me in to getting saved,” said Patillo. He confessed that initially his interest in going to church was more so an interest in the opportunity to see the women who would occasionally volunteer in the institutional chapel service rather than an interest in God. This passionate interest eventually led to Patillo’s exposure to a man from an outreach ministry who began to speak the Word into his life. Patillo stated that the man ministered the Gospel of Jesus Christ to him for three consecutive days, and on the third day, the man said the sinner’s prayer with him. “I felt a change at that moment. I no longer wanted to fight, because I was always mad. I was angry, because I was locked up, because I took a rap for my cousin. Even though I accepted Christ in my heart, I was still riding with the Bay Area, but my heart wasn’t in it. I finally got some courage, and I just told them I wasn’t ridin’ no more. I was going to do my program and take care of my kids.”

After his amazing transformation, another miracle took place in Patillo’s life, the miracle of his mother receiving Christ and him being the person to lead her through the prayer of salvation. “She was up visiting and God had been talking to me for a couple of months about this new life he gave me, and I said okay. That week she came up there, I brought my Bible with me, and I took her to Romans 10:9 – If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead you will be saved. This was someone who taught me the ways of the street, and here I was talking to her about Jesus. Then she just opened up her heart and started crying. I said the sinner’s prayer with her, and she accepted Christ. She started going to church after that.” Behind bars Patillo had received freedom from his physical and mental shackles and now he shared the gift of freedom through Christ with his mother.

After his release in May of 1995, Patillo earned his Associate of Arts Degree in Computer Technology. He is currently working toward his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Computer Technology. He is a youth pastor at True Vine Ministries in West Oakland, and he operates and owns a legal broker business. He has accomplished much despite his shaded past, and the CYA was where his miraculous transformation began.

Vanna In of Cambodia appeared before the wards looking like a preppy college student; however, his former lifestyle was anything but that of a college student. “I had no problem going to make a name for myself, or putting a gun to somebody’s head to rob them,” said In. He told me that he wanted to join the largest and worst gang. “If I was going to join a gang, I wanted to do it right. I wanted to join the most ruthless one.” In a private interview he disclosed that he came from a verbally and physically abusive home and that he was driven by his anger and the need to feel accepted at any cost, and at anyone else’s cost. He went on to tell me about his amazing conversion while awaiting trial for a gang related murder.

“When I was in jail in ’94, I started reading books by Chaplain Ray, who had all these books of inmates whom had given their lives to God. I was more interested in the stories than what God had done in their lives. I was reading the books just to kill the time. Then I was reading this one book called “Al Capone the Devils Driver” and in that book before each chapter there was a verse, and the verse that captured my heart was John 15:16 – For you did not choose me, but I chose you; I said what? Why would God call me after all the things I have done. I heard a soft voice that said, “Give your life to God” and as soon as I heard that, I closed the book. Then I started reading the book again, the voice said the same thing again, “Give your life to God”, but this time I said, okay. God you must be real, because you came to me a second time. So I woke up one of the brothers that use to witness to me and asked him to pray for me. It was about 2:30 in the morning. I use to worship a statue. Buddha never taught that we can be loved and forgiven and that God wanted to have a relationship with us. God gave me hope. When you have hope in God, no matter what you go through, you know your going to make it.”

After In’s spiritual awakening, he stated that he began reading the Bible daily and while incarcerated at the CYA he came across a young preacher named Levon Davis. “In January of 1995, I went to a Chapel service, I said wow! Look at this guy preach, and he’s an inmate, so I said, if God can use him, God can use me.” What a realization for this young man that God could use him for good. This revolutionary thought transformed his mind and ultimately his life.

I asked In what advice he would give to inmates to help them avoid the pitfalls of the streets once released? In said, “Separate yourself from the negative influences. What I learned from Y.A. was very good. I learned that insanity is doing the same thing expecting different results.” In’s achievements are commendable and the lessons he learned at the CYA were instrumental in helping him to break the vicious cycle of negative behavior in his life. The CYA provided the resources and the opportunity for positive change, and the hope he discovered in God gave him the will power and determination to follow through.

Joshua Ortega repeatedly stated in his high-powered message, “God is good!” He said, “I read the stories in the Bible and it seemed like Jesus was a pretty good guy,” as he gave a joyful chuckle. Ortega gave his life to Christ after picking up a Bible while incarcerated. He stated that he experienced joy at the CYA although his sentence was 35 years to life. He stated that the joy he experienced upon giving his life to Christ was equivalent to the joy that he now experiences after having his sentence miraculously modified by the court. He is now enjoying his freedom in society, has a great job, and is an active member in his church. Ortega commanded the floor with his presentation.

Richard Chandler took the floor and reminded his captive audience to look at the big picture. Chandler, a former gang member, spent 12 years of his life in the CYA and State Prison. He stressed the importance of family and considering how a person’s actions affect their loved ones and everyone around them. It was a message that emphasized a principle that many CYA counselors work to teach wards on a daily basis, accountability.

Shakir Villalobos, a former gang member from East Los Angeles, spent seven years in the CYA for a gang related murder. At age 12 Villalobos was jumped in to his neighborhood gang. “I was looking to find my identity, I was doing anything for their approval”, stated Villalobos. “If there is something on the outside that you’re not on the inside, then you’re on no one’s side.”

Villalobos was released from the CYA seven years ago and has been happily married for the past 4 years. He is the father of two beautiful daughters and is gainfully employed as a construction worker. He credits his success to the mentoring that he received at the CYA from Darwin Benjamin, a former Youth Correctional Counselor (YCC), and Chaplain Carlton McAllister. Villalobos stated that he still maintains a close friendship with his two mentors and remains accountable to them. He laughed as he told me how Benjamin calls him from time to time to ask him how his marriage is doing. He stated that he responds by saying, “Fine”, and then Benjamin will ask to speak with his wife.

Villalobos continued by sharing an analogy he received from Darwin that helped him explained how he connected with Christ and how he was able to view his relationship with Christ. “We all know how to dance for the neighborhood. When Jesus comes up to you, he doesn’t want you to stop dancing, he just wants you to change partners. When I heard that from Darwin, it just clicked in my mind, there is no difference. I wanted to switch my life to Jesus.”

There was one powerful testimony after another being shared with the wards at the CYA, and they cheered and applauded each speaker enthusiastically. At the end of the program, they all lined up and prepared to leave the gymnasium in an orderly fashion. I was able to witness something powerful from the looking glass of a photojournalist, which was very different. I was fully equipped with a duty belt as a Youth Correctional Counselor and prepared to respond to any occurrence, but I experienced a perspective from behind the lens of my camera that was gratifying and hopeful. I perceived that some of the gang tension had dissipated; many of the wards were leaving with smiles and their faces appeared to be illuminated with hope rather than snarling or shouting obscenities at their known rivals. They stood in line to leave the gymnasium and extended respect to the panel members by shaking their hands. From my perspective, some mental shackles were broken and some potential bridges were being constructed even if only within the minds of the wards. It was good to know that the wisdom of the panel had been imparted to these young men.

All of the panel members currently service their communities through outreach programs within their churches. Vanna In also works as a counselor at a non-profit organization helping high-risk youth obtain employment. “We are looking for guys that want to change, but can’t find a job because of their lack of skill, education, and criminal history.” All the speakers left their contact information for the wards, for guidance and assistance. Chaplain Carlton McAllister and N.A. Chaderjian Gang Coordinators, Don Nickerson and Bob Galano orchestrated this All-Star, successful event. They received heartfelt accolades from some of the panel members who expressed their appreciation for their encouragement and mentorship during their incarcerations.

McAllister, Nickerson, Galano and a team of others whom helped host the event, are optimistic about the future of the wards at the CYA. A large part of this optimism can be attributed to the new administration at N.A. Chaderjian. The institution has been plagued with gang violence since it opened in 1991. The administration’s approval of the organizer’s request to use former inmates as an arsenal to be deployed against the on-going campaign against gang violence has pioneered the way for the implementation of progressive and innovative programs at N.A. Chaderjian. The former inmates must meet certain criteria to participate in the program, including but not limited to being law-abiding citizens and possessing a willingness to pour back into an institution that was instrumental in their personal success.

Nickerson shared his thoughts about the success of the event. “Chaplain McAllister gathered an excellent group of young men to speak to our ward population. Their personal testimonies and the opportunity to make real change was inspiring. I have to believe they planted seeds in the hearts of the young men who attended the assembly. It is my hope that we can have future events that challenge our wards to become men of character and integrity.”

It appears that the program had a positive impact, because the percentage of incidence of gang violence in the institution has decreased as compared to past years and many gang members are severing their gang ties.

Photos and Story by Ray Johnson/Npaphoto.com

(Photos and Captions are available)

Aurelio Dominguez stepped into the meaty role of the Duke of Mantua in Virginia Opera’s season opener, “Rigoletto,” just one more coincidence that has propelled him onward while pursuing an operatic career. While filling in last summer for an ailing singer at the request of a Washington area amateur group, he came to the attention of Joseph Walsh, the company’s associate conductor and chorus master. Walsh happened to be in attendance to present a master class and cornered Dominguez afterward, saying, “We have to talk.”

The upshot was a meeting with Peter Mark, VO’s founder and artistic director, and an invitation to become a member of the company’s spectrum resident artist program. For the first VO production last season, he covered the tenor role of Rodolfo in “La Bohème” while singing Parpignol, followed by covering Tonio in “Daughter of the Regiment” and singing the role of A Peasant. Now he is starring as the roué who inadvertently causes the death of the woman he truly loves, Gilda, the daughter of the court jester Rigoletto.

Dominguez acknowledges that most opera goers regard the Duke as a despicable man, but his view is different. The Duke certainly is immature, not ready to start a family, and plagued by many issues to work out. Nevertheless, despite the fact that he doesn’t take marriage seriously, Dominguez believes the Duke has many good qualities. That perspective of him is revealed when he and Gilda sing “Caro nome,” a signal that he truly loves her and is willing to throw his power out the window for her.

Dominguez’s character had to be renamed by composer Guiseppe Verdi when the censors complained. Hailed today as one of Verdi’s finest operas, it was among several that necessitated a change in the story line. Verdi based the “Rigoletto” libretto on a story by Victor Hugo that depicted a king of France as an immoral womanizer. This was not acceptable to northern European censors during the Restoration period. He finally overcame their objections by turning the character into an Italian duke.

Dominguez earned this coveted role after a long, accidental journey to Washington, DC. Growing up in Caracas, Venezuela, he studied viola at the local conservatory. Between lessons, he chatted with the voice teacher in the next room who encouraged him to develop his tenor voice. Good fortune soon arrived in the person of Kathleen Wilson, a specialist in Latin American art songs, who was on sabbatical leave from the University of New Hampshire. Impressed with his voice, she was instrumental in helping him get a scholarship there.

After he graduated in 1999 with a degree in Music and Spanish, she encouraged him to pursue graduate work at Catholic University. He quickly became active throughout the Washington, DC area, singing with the Baltimore Municipal Opera Company, at the Asian American Opera Festival and as soloist or in ensemble at numerous musical events. Now a member of the Washington National Opera chorus, he was thrilled to meet and be directed by Plàcido Domingo, one of his heroes.

Poised for a rewarding career in opera, Dominguez hopes to perform the role of the Duke of Mantua with many opera companies in the future. In addition to the fun of portraying a socially dysfunctional man whose primary problem is the large number of women who throw themselves at him, the role comes with three meaty arias that are well paced, among the finest Verdi ever wrote, and suit his voice perfectly.

The Ultimate Attenuator, manufactured by Mark Gregg of Magus Innovations LLC, is an electronic device used for controlling the volume of an amplifier in a guitar. The device is directly mounted on the amplifier’s input jacks to achieve the best and most transparent sound. This attenuator functions similarly with other attenuators such as the fiber attenuator, Weber attenuator, and digital attenuator. The Ultimate Attenuator lessens the amplitude or power of a signal in a manner that the waveform is not distorted.

According to its basic schematic, this attenuator has a fixed resistor that is in series with the signal and switchable variable resistance to ground. The attenuator provides signal load in an easy way for the amplifier’s output transformer circuit. This loaded signal will serve as an input to an active-powered amplification circuit. The powered signal is then transferred by the attenuator to the speaker.

The following are some of the features of the electronic device: 100 watt maximum output, non-stepped continuous volume controller, bedroom switch, true bypass switching, dual speaker output jacks, plexi switch,100 volts tap fixed alternating current (AC) output, quiet cooling fan, variable line level output, and an all-steel construction. The 100 volts fixed AC tap protects the amplifier’s components and tubes. Meanwhile, the bedroom switch is utilized in settings where low volume is required. The plexi switch is designed to modify top end response. One benefit of this kind of attenuator is that it can be switched from 120 volts to 240 volts, meaning it can be utilized anywhere in the world.

Based on several product reviews, this attenuator is safe and reliable. Because it uses a load resistor with 30 ohm, the Ultimate Attenuator can receive signal loads of 4, 8, 16 ohms from the guitar’s amplifier. The company even offers a 2 ohm version of the product. The attenuator’s built-in low impedance power amplifier helps to achieve strong and high frequency response. The product also delivers low volume sound with least impact. There will be no changes in resistance even if the user turns the device down. This attenuator is even compatible with older and non-master volume versions of Marshall Amplifiers. The attenuator is also compatible with Mullard power tubes. However, one negative aspect of the product is its use of the 30 ohm load. According to critics, using a 30 ohm load will reduce the power regardless of the amplifier being used. Some users even suggest enhancing the product’s features such as the addition of switch to improve the bass or treble frequencies. Furthermore, many users find the attenuator very expensive. This is because there are other good devices found in the market sold for lower prices.

The latest version of the Ultimate Attenuator is the Nude 24 position model. This nude unbalanced attenuator model is more transparent and cheaper because it has no chassis. However, one downside of this model is that it will not properly fit on any component having an input jack closer together than.75 inch center to center.

Your ragdoll cat is probably a very important and ever present figure in your life, every tme you turn around you probably see the ragdoll following you around of flopped out on the floor, ready to be stepped on if you happen to step back without looking.

The ragdoll is truly a breed that loves people, or at least loves attention and affection, dare to ignore it for any length of time and the ragdoll will surely let you know. Most ragdoll cats are likely to be easy to train, at least easier than most other cats.

It is important that you leash train the ragdoll, as I’m sure you’re aware, ragdolls are intended to be indoor cats not outdoor. How many times have you panicked when you thought your ragdoll had escaped and run away, only to find him half an hour later curled up somewhere unexpected?

Yes, ragdolls do not belong outdoors, they may be intelligent creatures, but they also completely lack any common sense half the time. With a ragdoll cat, there is no such thing as street smarts, they will happily run into the road, approach any dog, cat or other animal they can find, or worse – jump into any pools of water. They do seem to love water, it is not unheard of for ragdolls to try and get into the bath or shower with their owners.

Your ragdoll cat may be the cutest cat in the world, and are obviously very sweet, but they can be very annoying too. If they wouldn’t follow you around all day, then you wouldn’t have to accidentally step on a fluffy tale or a paw without realizing it. And if they wouldn’t insist on lying on your laptop, every time you want to work or surf the net, you would be much happier.

Ragdolls do love spending as much time you as is felinely possible, they would never leave you side if they had the opportunity, and they absolutely hate it when you leave them alone, all that meowing isn’t for nothing, they really do not want to be left alone, and will insist on causing chaos if they are left for any length of time.

Your ragdoll cat can get very lonely and very depressed if you go out to work every day for any length of time, this needy behavior is often the reason the ragdoll cat can ends up in rescue centers so often. People are just not aware of the care needed for such a people orientated cat.

Ragdolls are huge cats, especially the males, but the females are big enough too; they just eat and eat and eat, every time you go into the kitchen the ragdoll is right behind you, like a tail, assuming that since you are in the kitchen you must be making him food.

Of course all your food is their food too, and you won’t hear the last of it if you are trying to eat a nice piece of fish, without giving any to your ragdoll cat. The ragdoll just does not give up, he offers your lots of cuddles, you offer him food.

The ragdoll cat is a charmer, a sweet laid-back and loyal pet, buy one who will get on your nerves one day and charm you the next. Purrfect.

Bahamas is one of the favorite, hot and evergreen tourist spot. The charisma and the aura of the place are spell- binding. It seems that nature has given it all to this place with its 15 superb and exclusive islands, beaches, and the lovely Bahamians. The location of the place is such that it brings it nearest of al the Caribbean islands. Situated a few miles away from the tip of Florida, Bahamas has everything to mesmerize its visitors.

The two well known islands of this place are-The Out Island and the Nassau or Paradise Island. The Nassau is also the capital of Bahamas. The Out islands are a bunch of several islands like- the Abacos, the Acklins also known as the Crooked Island, the Andros, etc. then there are also breathtaking Brry islands, Bimni, Cat Island with the amazing landscapes, the Exumas famous for scuba dive, fish and the like. The rare West Indian Flamingos can be a treat to the eyes at the Inagua islands; the pulse of romance can be aggravated at the calm, quiet yet beautiful Mayaguana islands. Last but not the least the San Salvador Island that take to a journey into the past when Christopher Columbus first stepped there.

Besides the islands there are horde of soft and sandy beaches with turquoise blue water that make you experience paradise on earth. The most vibrant, active and lively beach is the Cable beach Nassau where you and your kids can take up any activity from snorkeling, scuba diving to bouncing banana boats. The Guana Beach at the Abaco islands has eye catching corals in waters while the Pink Sands beach of Harbour islands are endowed with mystifying pink sand. Along with these there are fine Beach at the Cat Islands, Taino Beach with outstanding oceans, water slides, restaurants at the Freeport. The Stocking Island Beach facilitates you with a rented scooter or bike to explore the beach differently.

Apart from the scenic splendor, Bahamas is also admired for its ecstatic nightlife. The casinos, discos, bars, restaurants all are meant to keep up your spirits even at night. The casinos on the islands of Nassau and Freeport like Atlantis Resort, Marriott Crystal Palace Resort or the Bahamas Princess casino offer you all types of gambling games. Be it slots, Caribbean stud poker, slot machines, roulette etc. the casinos have them all. There are games for kids too at the Atlantis casino situated at the Paradise Island.

The means to Reach Bahamas, the people, the culture and some do’s and don’s-
There are two ways to reach this land of water. You can take either take a plane or the sea route. You can choose amongst a private jet or a relaxing Mailboat, which takes just $35 a trip. Cruise liners are also a pleasant idea to reach Bahamas.

Once you reach the place you might not have problems in interacting for the language spoken there is English. You will start having the wonderful fragrance of the place the moment you step there for Bahamians are too keen to warmly and whole heartedly welcome their guests. The perfect time to go to Bahamas is between September and May when the temperature of the place is around 70 to 75 degrees. Bahamas has something different to offer like its dress codes which is a little strict in the capital but benign at the Out Islands. Most of the Bahamians are West Africans. They are amiable, gentle and generous people who are too social and fun loving.

While heading for this ravishing place, do not forget to bring a photo identification proof besides your passport. It can be your license, Identity card or any such proof. There is an immigration form to be filled before stepping in Bahamas. Your luggage will be carefully checked before you move out of the island. There are several taxes like $15 departure tax, 10% tax for commodities over $600 (the duty free granted merchandise). The currency that runs is Bahamian dollars but US dollars are readily accepted.

So pack your bags and explore the allure of the land of islands and crystal blue beaches—Bahamas.

Distance plays a critical role in modern fencing. At its simplest the distance problem is “can I hit the opponent’s target area with my weapon, or do I have to use footwork to change the distance so that I can hit?” Traditionally, this problem is described in terms of short, medium, and long distance, in that order. In highly mobile modern fencing, this is an inadequate characterization of the distance problem.

We first have to define distance. Distance has been defined as physical distance between the two fencers measured by the extension and whether footwork (the lunge, and advance lunge) is needed to carry that extension of the weapon to target. Given the differences in overall reach, in sabre and epee the advanced target and multiple distances depending on the intended target, and the mobility of opponents, this has never been truly satisfactory. For example, a fencer can be at traditional medium (lunge) distance, but to catch an opponent have to deliver the attack by advance lunge inside the opponent’s response time and OODA loop.

The first change to thinking about modern distance is to reorder distance from further away to closer to the target. We do not start attacks at short distance with an extension. We have to get to the distance at which the extension can hit.

Second, there are two sets of distances, your and your opponent’s, and multiple subsets in epee and sabre, based on the target attacked and the target defended.

Third, we must include the opponent’s tactical intention in the equation. An attack met by the opponent collapsing the distance is no longer at lunge distance, and actually never was given the tactical intent of the two fencers.

Fourth, we need to use actual tempo as a determinant of the distance. An attack with an advance-lunge, even a fast accelerating advance lunge, is a two tempo action and inherently takes longer, and is thus tactically slower than an attack with a lunge. This is regardless of how the rules define an advance lunge for right of way purposes.

And finally, there are three special cases. Counteroffense occurs within a tempo. Infighting distance and passing distance are two special cases in which the action occurs regardless of tempo (infighting) and as an expanding tempo (passing).

So what is a better approach? The old division into 3 or 5 distances is less relevant in modern fencing than an approach based on the fluidity of action. I suggest distances that are actual envelopes of space and time:

Preparation distance – distance at which preparatory foot and blade work are required to get to the distance at which you can expect to hit the mobile opponent in a two tempo action (with tempo being defined actually as the time to complete a simple blade or footwork action regardless of how the rules define tempo for right of way purposes).

Two tempo distance – distance at which you can hit the opponent on the desired target with a two tempo attack. This may be the old out of distance if the opponent is stepping forward or the medium distance if the opponent can be expected to retreat under attack. For the defender, this is the distance at which either blade preparation or the final action can be defeated and in which the defender’s action can control the tempo required for the riposte.

One tempo distance – the distance where a one tempo blade action or combined one tempo blade and footwork action can result in a hit. This can be anywhere in the old advance-lunge or lunge distances. For the defender this is the envelope to defeat the final attack or the distance at which the advanced parry intercepts the early development of the attack.

Inside tempo or counteroffense distance – the distance at which the fencer under attack can hit with counteroffense. With fast footwork this can be anywhere in the attacker’s two or one tempo distances. The defender is operating literally within one of the attacker’s tempos.

Infighting distance – the distance at which tempo is largely irrelevant, the action is confused with multiple attempts to place the blade, and unusual attitudes are required to reach the target.

Passing distance – the opening distance as the opponent is past the defender and in which the referee’s assessment of the immediacy of the defender’s attempt to hit becomes the dominant factor as to whether there the hit is allowed.

This approach requires a good tactical understanding of both the attacker’s and the defender’s courses of action by both fencers, identifies the category of actions each will need, accounts for both fencers’ movement, and sequences the distances in the actual flow of the bout to start where the action starts. It is not something you teach in a beginner’s class. However, for intermediate and advanced fencers it should make distance more relevant, not just something you read about in the first chapter of a fencing manual.