For this week on Music Monday, I am featuring a 4 piece band from Brampton, Ontario called July! With Devin Moody on vocals, Andrew Falcao on Guitar/Vocals, Marc Sautter on Bass/ Vocals and Sam Guaiana on Drums, the band is complete and the sound shows just that!

“What we signed up for” is off of their sophomore EP, MMXII and I am quite certain, you will love it! So give it a listen, if you like what you hear, check the band out on twitter (@julytheband) and facebook (https://www.facebook.com/wearejuly)

-Jenna Melanson- Canadian Beats

We’re sure most of you have enjoyed Active Kickboxing Fitness Classes!

Some of you might even be interested to become an Active Kickboxing Fitness Trainer.

Missed our 1st seminar of the year earlier this month?

Fret not!

Active Red will be running its 5th batch and 2nd session in June 2013!

It’s about 2 weeks away, get excited!

For those of you want to find out more about this seminar, read what our pioner graduate, Daven Tan has to say about this seminar…

“Thank you very much for conducting the certification seminar! It’s really beneficial to me, be it as a fitness trainer or an exercise enthusiast. I am looking forward in applying what I have learned in my client’s fitness training.

As a fitness trainer, I have always been finding ways to improve my knowledge and skills, in order to add new elements to my clients’ fitness training, making their training more fun and more effective. I came across Active Red website and was excited to know that they are the Singapore representative of WAKO (World Association of Kickboxing Organizations) and is conducting Kickboxing Fitness Trainer course! I thought this was a good chance for me to learn and get accredited by WAKO. This course is unique as it not only teaches you kickboxing techniques, but also incorporating fitness concept, which is a perfect combination! Presenters Lester and Jason had conducted the course in a very practical and fun way which makes it easy for me to absorb the information. It’s really great to have attended this course and I can’t wait to apply it on my next client session!”

Introduction

With Kickboxing increasingly gaining popularity as an alternative or enhancement to existing fitness workouts, Active Red is proud to introduce its flagship ACTIVE KICKBOXING FITNESS TRAINING SYSTEM – an exclusive fitness workout that is both fun and result oriented!

Having removed the fight element, ACTIVE KICKBOXING FITNESS TRAINING is one of the most popular Kickboxing Fitness Training in Singapore today – over 10,000 clients have enjoyed Active Red’s flagship programme; and we are still growing!

About the Course

Due to overwhelming response, a special open invitation is exteneded to anyone who has a passion for Kickboxing, Fitness and people!

Active Kickboxing professionals will hand over the art and science of Kickboxing Fitness Training, perfected from 5,000 hours of padwork foundation training and over 20 combined years of martial arts’ experience.

Through powerful, concise and systematictotal body workout systems, these kickboxing skills will help you take your clients to a higher level of physical and mental conditioning.

Accreditation

Active Kickboxing Fitness Training System is accredited by THE WORLD ASSOCIATION OF KICKBOXING ORGANISATIONS (WAKO) – the sole governing body for the Kickboxing sport in the world.

Being an internationally accredited Active Kickboxing Fitness Trainer, the skills and knowledge acquired would be able to:

• For new professionals - get you started on a career in fitness.
• For existing professional - further enhance your existing training programmes and systems.

Clients will definitely feel secure and safe in the hands of an internationally-accredited Kickboxing Trainer.

Who is it for?

This course is designed specifically for Personal Trainers and Fitness Instructors who are highly motivated and constantly looking for new and exciting ways to keep their training sessions varied, interesting, motivated and result oriented. This course will enable you to add variety to your personal training session. This course is also an excellent stepping stone for individuals seeking a career in the fun and exciting health & fitness industry.

Space is limited – only 10 slots available.

Course Outline

• Equipment types and usage
• Professionalism in Personal Training Sessions
• Kickboxing Techniques
• Kickboxing Footwork
• 5 Major Padwork Systems
• Proven Kickboxing Drills and Combination
• Technique Correction
• Duty of Care
• …. and much more

Venue

Active Studio @ Atlas Chiropractic,

545 Orchard Road,

#05-11,

Far East Shopping Centre,

Singapore 238882.

(Next to Hilton Hotel)

Date:

2nd June 2013 (Sunday)

Time:

9.00 am – 7.00 pm

Course Presenters

Jason Lim

Director and Senior Kickboxing/Fitness Trainer, Active Red

Singapore Representative for World Association of Kickboxing Organisations (WAKO)

Lester Oei

Senior Kickboxing Trainer, Active Red

Level 4 WAKO Accredited Active Kickboxing Fitness Trainer.

Course Fee

This course consists:

• 1-day Trainer Certification Seminar
• International WAKO Accreditation
• Course Manual
• Active Kickboxing Fitness T-shirt…. and much more

 All for only SGD$700!

Valuable information

With strong support from clients and friends, Active Red has experience positive growth and expansion in 2011. In 2013, Active Red is optimistic about experiencing further growth, hence employment opportunities and course subsidies are abound. Contact us to find out more.

Register/Contact

Take your career the next level. Get certified today! To register for this seminar or for more information, please contact Jason @ 90921358 or email at jason@activered.sg

Keeping your fitness in check lately?

Well, let’s get started!

We conduct our Active Kickboxing Fitness classes at 2 heartland locations. Click image below to find out more and where exactly!

One more week till the new intake for Bishan CC commences!

Sign up now before all slots have been booked up!

What are you waiting for, sign up now before the slots are all taken up!

Bishan CC

Date: 13-May-13 to 1-July-13

Time: 7.30pm to 9.00pm

Pax: 16 slots

Yio Chu Kang CC

Date: 11-Jul-13 to 3-Oct-13

Time: 7.30pm to 9.00pm

Pax: 14 slots

What else?

Yes, we are happy to have expand our Active Kickboxing Fitness not only for ladies but the family!

Join in the fun with your child this upcoming June holidays with Family Fun with Active Kickboxing.

Gear up for a time of family fun as you bond over a session of fun and fitness!

Click on image below and stay tuned as more venues to be added!

Newly added: Tampines East CC!!

For fitness enthusiasts who are interested in our Active Kickboxing Fitness classes, we conduct classes at our Active Studio too!

Experience Active Red’s Kickboxing difference in a 1-hour introductory workshop at only $35 per session per person.

When your sign up for our package, this fee will be waived off – your introductory workshop will be considered as the 1st session of your package (works out to be $22 per session for adult package).

Introductory workshops are only held every Friday at 7pm.

Our award winning Active Kickboxing Fitness package will be priced as:-

Students (as low as $92 per month)

12 sessions package @ $276.00 NETT ($23 per class)

Adults (as low as $100 per month)

12 sessions package @ $300.00 NETT ($25 per class)

Find out more about our rates here! 

New beginners’ classes in April!

Wednesdays @ 7pm 

Thursdays @ 8pm 

For those who want a fun twist to their workouts and kickboxing, Active Kickboxing Bootcamp is back in MAY 2013. Click here to find out more!

Any further inquires , kindly contact:

Name: Jason Lim

Phone: +65-90921358

Email: info@activered.sg

Website: www.activered.sg

To find out more about Active Red, read about us here.

To choose an Active Kickboxing Programme, read about our different Kickboxing Programmes here.

Book your introductory workshop at Active Schedules.

To be a Certified Active Kickboxing Fitness Trainer, click on WAKO logo below:

Remember to follow us on facebook at:

“Like” Active Red Facebook Page

“Join” Active Red Facebook Group

For more info on WAKO, read about WAKO here.

To be updated on WAKO Singapore activities, join WAKO Kickboxing Singapore at:

“Like” WAKO Kickboxing Singapore Facebook Page

Take the pledge against slavery and join us at our next convention, which is at Chicago on July 22nd, 1856. Our guest speakers will be Harriet Tubman and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

However, it’s a far too early to be writing off any chance of a decent summer season – after all, it doesn’t officially start (for us meteorologists) for more than two weeks (on 1 June).

It appears the news stories are borne out of the current position of the jet stream, a band of fast moving westerly winds high up in the atmosphere. But why is this important?

A quick Jet stream explainer

The jet stream tends to guide the generally wet and windy weather systems which come in off the Atlantic. So, if it’s over us or just to the south, we tend to get a lot of wet and windy weather – which is what we expect through winter.

If the jet is to the north of us, it guides that changeable weather to the north to give us more settled conditions – which is what we expect in the summer.

(You can read a bit more about the jet stream, how it impacted our weather last year, and any potential connections to climate change in a blog story we wrote last year).

What’s going on now?

Right now the jet stream is sitting to the south of the country and it is influencing the unsettled weather we are seeing at the moment.

Forecast chart showing position of the jet stream at midday on 13 May 2013

It’s fair to say that this is roughly the position it was in for extended periods during the exceptionally wet weather that we saw last year, particularly in June.

Crucially, however, the jet stream does move around quite a bit and it can change its track significantly in just a few days. So the current position of the jet stream does not mean that it’s stuck in that position.

Looking ahead

Much like our weather, it’s a huge challenge to predict the exact track of the jet stream more than five or six days ahead, so there’s still a great deal to play for in the outlook for our summer.

In short, it’s far too early to write-off summer 2013 based on the current position of the jet stream.

To get the best information on what to expect you can see the latest detailed forecasts out to 5-days on our website, as well as a general view of what we expect out to 30 days.

You can find out more about the jet stream in our YouTube video.

we all wondering what apple gonna name the new iphone in the wwdc we all hope that apple change alot of things

We have previously written that iPhone5S,  changes  design phase, was modestly delayed from June to July,”

apple fans expecting killer iphone 5s or 6

Cancer

Reading this article online this morning, I was intrigued to note a date had been released for the upcoming Royal birth. (Interestingly, while it’s not Mother’s Day in the UK, I saw this on an Aussie news website on Mother’s Day!)

It’s rare for high profile women to announce a due date – and my first thoughts were that this date has been released to throw off suspicion. Announcing a date that’s a little after the baby is actually due is a great way to derail the press, and perhaps give the mother and new family some privacy around the real – earlier – due date.

Given this is one extremely high profile pregnancy that might make sense.

Kate, William and Eclipses
Knowing that William is born close to a New Moon Eclipse in Cancer, and Kate just prior to a Full Moon Eclipse in Cancer (she has the Sun in Capricorn), I thought one way to check the due date may be to look at the lunar phase for July 13.

My thoughts were that since both Mum and Dad were born close to major lunations (new or full moons), that both happen to be eclipses, this little one is perhaps also more likely to be born at a new or full moon.

July 13 has a crescent Moon, with the Sun in Cancer and the Moon in Virgo. The nearest major lunation is July 8, which is a regular New Moon (not an eclipse) in Cancer.

Could the *real* due date be earlier? Quite possibly!

The Solstice
The other Cancer/Capricorn lunation around mid year is the Full Moon on June 23, just after the solstice. While it’s a little early compared to the official due date, this Full Moon is more potent than the New Moon in Cancer on July 8.

If I was a betting woman, I’d pick either of these dates as more accurate due dates, with the June date ahead by a nose – based on educated guess work and astrological resonance.

Progressions, Full Moons, Virgo and Kate
An interesting side note is that Kate’s progressed Moon is currently in Virgo. While this sign is one of three considered fertile, Kate is currently in the progressed Full Moon phase, which is a time of heightened fertility.

Yes, I work with women – and men – around fertility and other health topics. Book a chart consult to find out more.

Venus Retrograde
And, for all of you who fret over having been born with Venus retrograde? Kate also has this in her chart – and managed to snag herself a prince!

(Of course, if you’ve studied astrology with me, you’ll know I consider the ruling planet of the 7th House as especially important in relationship matters, and with no confirmed birth time for Kate I can’t say what her 7th House planet is!)

For a detailed look at relationships based on your chart, including timing, order a 30min Love reading here.

William, Cancer King and Jupiter?
William is a born-on-the-Solstice baby. My theory on this is that Solstice babies have lives filled with extreme highs and lows. The two solstices – around June 20 and Dec 20 each year – represent the extreme highs and lows of the Sun. If you’re born then you capture this energy and manifest it throughout your life.

So William could have his first child born close to his birthday, and right around the time Jupiter, king of the heavens, transits his Cancer Sun – for the first time in 12 years.

Is this a time of king making? Perhaps. Either way, with an heir to a throne about to have his first child under a positive Jupiter cycle, the king – or queen – making symbolism is hard to ignore.

Manitoba and Northwest Territories (1900) (Photo credit: Manitoba Historical Maps)

Manitoba owes its name to two controversial characters, Thomas Spence and Louis Riel. If it had not been for them, Manitoba would have been called “Assiniboia” and included in the Northwest Territories.

When the federal government, in 1869, took over the territory that had been governed by the Hudson’s Bay Company, Louis Riel occupied Fort Garry and established a provisional government. Sir John A. Macdonald sent Donald A. Smith to negotiate with Riel (see my January 19 post) who stipulated that part of the area should be made a province and called Manitoba, not Assiniboia. He got the name Manitoba from Thomas Spence who had created a somewhat comic “Republic of Manitoba” in 1868 (I’ll write more about on May 31).

Delegates from the provincial government were sent to Ottawa, but two of them, Richot and Alfred Scott, were arrested when they arrived. Ottawa was seething over the execution of Thomas Scott. Later, Richot and Scott were released and “received but not recognized” by Prime Minister Macdonald, Joseph Howe, and George Etienne Cartier.

Their discussions led to the Manitoba Act being prepared and passed by Parliament on May 12, 1870. It came into effect on July 15. Manitoba was to be a new province with a legislative council and assembly, a constitution similar to the other provinces, and representation in the federal parliament.

Although Ottawa retained control over “public lands” to be used for railway building and settlement, a land grant of 1,400 million acres was kept in reserve for the children of “half-breed families.” This helped to solve the problem that had started the Riel uprising.
The Manitoba Act also included official use of the French language, and a guarantee of the continuation of educational rights of the various denominations at the time of union. Twenty years later this led to one of the hottest issues in Canadian political history: the Manitoba separate schools question.

When Manitoba became a province, a census was taken which showed its population to be 11,963 of whom 558 were Indians, 5,757 Métis, 4,083 English “half-breeds” and 1,565 whites. Catholics numbered 6,247 and Protestants 5,716.

Manitoba wasn’t nearly as big then as it is now. In relation to surrounding territory, it looked like a postage stamp until 1884 when the boundary was extended north to Hudson Bay.

The Manitoba Act is even more fascinating than what my post explains.  So to read more about it, I suggest the Winnipeg Realtors News, a great blog at the Provisional Government of Assiniboia. There’s a timeline of Louis Riel at the Government of Manitoba. Stats Canada has a piece on Census in early Canada. Two more articles worth reading are Solon.org by William F. Maton and the Canadian Encyclopedia.

For a not-really related article, but interesting nonetheless, I suggest visiting Manitoba town wants to secede from province, become part of Saskatchewan (globalnews.ca)

Disclaimer: This is a true story.  Except for the parts that aren’t.

July 1^st, 2013, a day that no one will ever forget. It’s the day it all began, and the day it all ended. During the month of July in the year 2013, almost 5 centuries ago, the NYPD released, what was supposed to be, a harmless, non-toxic gas into the subway lines of the 5 boroughs of New York City.  It was meant to be a test to see how the substance would spread through the subway system, in order to be more prepared for potential attacks of terrorism. We were assured it was safe, they promised us we had nothing to fear. They were wrong.

I raised my hood and lowered my head, allowing the shadows to mask my face as the Control Agents walked by with their genetic database scanners, which gave off a loud, electronic hum as they scanned the streets. The sound reminded me of a mechanical creature being tortured mercilessly. There was no sound more terrifying to outlaws like myself. Fortunately, I had acquired a genetic cloaking device before I escaped the military, which serves to scramble my EGIR’s electric pulse, so as to not be recognized by their scanners. So long as I don’t attract any attention, they won’t notice the fact that, according to their scanners, I don’t exist. EGIR’s, or Electronic Genetic Implant Readers, are required by law. They are implanted into the skull at birth, and therefore impossible to remove. If a child is not born in a hospital, and not reported for record and implant, the child will be taken away and discarded, and the parents imprisoned for treason, and suspicion of terrorism.

Terrorism has a very different meaning now than it did centuries ago.  It is the resistance, disobedience or outspoken or suspected opposition of the government. It’s strange to think of a time when there was freedom of speech and press. We have been taught in school, that it’s those very freedoms that lead to the downfall of society in the late 21^st century. Without being able to control the output of media, or the verbal and physical actions of the people, there was no way to prevent anarchy, terrorism, or chaos. Terrorism is now punishable by death, and one accused would be fortunate to be given such a sentence. The alternative is a life sentence in prison. There may have been a time that prisoners were fed and cared for, given books and television, as well as medical care. Not to mention visits from their loved ones. But not now. Prison is a death sentence, but a slow and torturous one. To be sentenced to imprisonment, is to be condemned to hell on Earth. Rations are dumped into the central court area, and the prisoners who are strong enough to fight for their food are the ones who survive. There’s not enough food provided for all to eat, and even if there were, the primal hoarding instinct that takes over in such conditions doesn’t allow for the rationality of sharing. Many prisoners will even eat the flesh of other prisoners, dead or alive. Survival of the fittest, at its best. If they do not die of starvation or cannibalism, they will die of infection, illness, or the genetic plague, as it’s been nicknamed, if afflicted by it, which one in four people are; and growing. For those of the “royal” class with particularly morbid fascinations, there are viewing rooms up above where they can watch the chaos ensue below. For their amusement, they will often provide violence inducing challenges to the prisoners down below through the loud speakers, to which the winner would be rewarded rations, antibiotics, or small weapons.

The “royal” class. There’s nothing royal about them. When I was a child, I thought they truly were royalty. They only act like they are, due to their unimaginable wealth.  They think they are Gods among men. They are not affected by taxes and are offered every financial break, as they are considered “the back bone” of this country, as it’s their circulation of currency that makes society and the government run so smoothly and efficiently. This has always baffled me. They are the backbone of this country, but when have any of them ever worked? The vast majority of the “royals” inherited their wealth. We break our backs so they can live comfortably. As a former prison Control Agent, I observed them making foolish bets, wasting their money on nonsense as most can barely afford food, and laughing at those they watch below them, suffering, starving, dying.

The world grew quickly into a different place after The Cataclysm, also known as July 1^st, 2013, the day the sickness began. The NYC subway gas tests, as it turned out, were not harmless at all. Time has lost much of the evidence, and war made it difficult to find out exactly what happened, but something in the gas created an awful disease, that we now call the genetic plague.

My generation and those before me wouldn’t remember, but war and terrorism broke out across the world like nothing any of us had ever seen. If the disease didn’t kill us, we’d surely kill one another. People didn’t get sick, not right away. However, after two or three months, reports of strange illnesses began to flood the news. Peoples bodies were rotting, and dying, while they were still alive. People began to suffer unexplained organ and system failure, their skin turning discolored and unsightly, the pain unimaginable. At first, medical professionals believed it to be a new virus, the likes of which we’ve never seen. Only, they could find nothing. At last, they discovered a strange genetic mutation. They searched for cancers but found nothing, because this wasn’t cancer. It was something entirely new, something no one could find a cure for. Until finally, P&B, Pharmaceutical and Biologics Laboratories, Incorporated, one of the leading pharmaceutical companies, through much research, trials and studies, at last found a cure. However, so many were suffering from the disease, the insurance companies could no longer afford to cover it, as they were going out of business due to the expenses. The cure, was also, not permanent. It had to be taken every 6 months, or else those afflicted with the disease would begin to rot where they stand.

Then, as other countries were being affected as well, they blamed America. Many people visited NYC from across the world in those days, so during the month the gasses were being administered through the subways, people from all nations across the world were proving to be affected as well. We had hoped that with the following generations, we would no longer have to worry. Except, the toxin that was in the gasses, created a genetic mutation that was not only passed down to our offspring, but it was a dominant gene as well; with no matter to whether both parents had the mutation or only one did.

The cure itself became of more value than currency to most countries, more valuable than oil, and nations across the world were fighting one another for the cure, in order to survive. With the vast amount of money P&B had accumulated from this cure, it allowed them to expand, across the nation, and then into others. Growing, and being able to help everyone around the world. P&B is everything, P&B is our savior. Unfortunately, there are still so often those who cannot afford the cure, and though it is now produced world wide, it is still too difficult to give out for free. So many rot to death still, but are normally put out of their misery.

PART 2 

As I was promoted through the ranks of the army, I eventually made my way to anti-terrorism field agent. This is where the best of the best are recruited. Five months ago, my squadron was ordered to take out a terrorist group once their cell was discovered. They called themselves The Defiance; a group of scientists and political activists who frequently spoke out against the government, making claims that P&B Labs, the leading global pharmaceuticals company, was responsible for the genetic plague. To speak out against the government, and to make such conspiracy claims is an act of terrorism. We were not informed of who they were, or what they did, just that our mission was to take them out. Any survivors would be imprisoned. In the camouflage of night, we surrounded them, preparing to strike. On my command, we raided the cell. We smoked them out, and proceeded to open fire when they tried to escape. Twelve soldiers surrounded the premises, while myself and five others raided the abandoned school facility they used as a hideout. We separated, so that we can search every corridor. I assigned each a direction, and I headed to the basement. I searched for any sign of life, my tech visor searching for heat signatures and EGIR’s. I noticed something strange. I couldn’t detect any EGIR, but there was a faint heat signature behind the wall. It could have passed off as a pipe or something giving off heat, until I noticed movement. I quietly approached the wall, and searched it until I found what looked like a slight separation. Slowly I readied myself, holding my gun in place, and then tore the false wall open. An older man ran, and with nowhere to hide, fell to his knees and cowered in the corner, begging me to listen to him.

“Please,” he cried. “You’re brainwashed! We’ve all been brainwashed, for centuries! Can you not see how wrong things are, how terrible and inhuman we’ve become? We suffer by the hands of our governments, but are so quick to turn one another in for small rewards. What have we done wrong? We only speak the truth. Once, long ago, they would call this a witch hunt. What happened to ethics? Trials? Mercy? Everyone has been taught to be terrified of terrorism, of the very prospect of terrorism, that we’ve learnt to see it everywhere. They want us obedient, they want us controlled.”

“The government has become what it has had to become,” I answered, “the government is designed to keep us safe, and people like you threaten the integrity of this country, and our national security.”

“You want mercy?” I continued. “Then I won’t kill you. You are under arrest.”

“You call that mercy?” He pleaded. “I’d rather die!”

“Fine.” I swiftly pointed my gun at his head, ready to pressure the sig (signature reader trigger, using the fingerprint and applied pressure of the assigned soldier), before he began to beg once more. Why was I listening? Normally I would shoot them on site, no second thought.

“Please, just listen to me! I have proof that P&B is behind the genetic plague! I was a biochemist for their pharmaceutical company, and though I was not granted access to their classified information, I was ordered to work on a biochemical agent that, upon testing, created a genetic deformation in the monkeys, very similar to the one that has plagued humans since The Cataclysm, only this one is slower, and more painful. Given what was provided to me, I realized that no one could have replicated this, unless they knew the original toxin. They claimed to not know what was introduced to the perfluorocarbon tracer gasses that day, or how, but that it was most likely an act of terrorism. Terrorists which, to the people, obviously meant they must have been working within the NYPD, infiltrating our system. We believed our national security was completely compromised. This sparked fear and uprising, and the people cried for new leaders. This gave P&B the perfect opportunity to step in. They backed many new politicians, and they’ve backed pretty much every winning president since. Do you think that’s a coincidence? Terrorists were responsible for The Cataclysm all those centuries ago, but it wasn’t from overseas, it was from within. It was them. P&B. And I have proof. I investigated my findings and kept them hidden. Another scientist there was a Defiance member, and that’s how I became involved. A brilliant computer hacker, he provided me with classified information access. And there, I found it. The same agent. The very cause of this plague. It was them, and the research was right there. I made copies, many copies.”

He reached into his pocket. I once again pointed my gun and placed my finger on the sig, ready to fire with just a little added pressure of my index finger.

“WAIT!” He yelled, pulling out a data card, the small data storage device, transparent and glowing blue, indicating current storage use. He then preceded to hand it to me.

“Here,” he said, “plug it into your drive, you’ll see.”

I looked at him, unsure why I was even listening to his words, unsure of why I was even considering it. For reasons unbeknownst to me, I cautiously took the data card from him. I held it in my hand, and considered for a moment whether I was going to give into his treasonous words. Then, I remembered. I remembered my oath to the army, my oath to follow orders and do as I’m told, for the benefit of the greater good.

I gripped it in my hand, then placed both hands on my gun. I raised it to his head.

“Death is too good for you,” I said calmly, “prison is where you belong. But I’m anything if not merciful.” I then pressed down on the sig, sending a bullet through his left eye, exploding through the back of his head, blood and brains splattered on the wall behind him.

On his wrist, I saw a thin metal band. Upon removing it, I understood why my tech visor did not find an EGIR. It was, what seemed to be, a genetic scrambler, or a cloaking device. I had never seen anything like it. I put it on my wrist, and it fit like a glove. Being a tech head myself, I was impressed by its workmanship and capabilities, despite who made it. I chose to hold on to it in order to study it’s engineering when I returned to base.

I regrouped with my squad, no prisoners taken. We headed back to our military standard vehicle, and began to drive back to base. I sat in the back, reflecting on the night, and what that terrorist had said to me. I loosened my left hands grip, and to my surprise, I had held onto the data card. Why would I do that? Of course, I had to turn it in to my superiors immediately upon returning to base, that was the appropriate action.

Upon returning to base, we were applauded by our piers. Soldiers hollering like wild dogs, our superiors nodding their heads in approval. Our commanding officer approached, and asked for us to head to his quarters in order to debrief.

In his dining area, he rewarded us with fine scotch and a first class meal of real meat, vegetables and potatoes. It was the first time I had ever eaten anything real. That was normally for the “royals.” Over dinner, we discussed the details of the mission, and informed him of everything we found. Almost everything. I was prepared to mention the data card, I had every intention of doing so. However, I did not.

Later that night, upon returning to my quarters, I took the data card out of my pocket, and held it in my hand. I contemplated what to do with it. At this point I can’t turn it in without being accused of withholding evidence and treason. I had two options; destroy it, or download it. Then, I chose to make a decision, and make it quick. Without hesitation, I inserted it into my drive. I put on my tech visor, and allowed the information to download into my cerebral data converter (or CDC); standard edition for all soldiers of medium security clearance or higher, installed directly into our cerebral cortex. The information streamed through my mind, my eyes closed, moving back and forth behind my lids, reading and listening to the information being processed. I saw everything, everything that scientist had warned me about, every word he spoke, it was all true. I fell to my knees, feeling completely beside myself. What have I done? Is our government wrong? Is what I’m doing wrong? Do these people deserve to die? What are they even guilty of, after all? Speaking the truth? It suddenly all made sense. I questioned my life, my actions, my ethics, and my principles. I questioned my duties, and my position with the military.

The scientist, that sly bastard, added a few bonuses to the data card. There were videos and reports of criminals who were imprisoned and murdered, so many wrongfully, and some for so little as being suspected without reason. Families torn apart, children taken away and disposed of, and every bloody incident in-between. I’ve been a part of this for so long, this horror, killing without question, simply because it was my orders to do so.

I had to make things right. I went AWOL. It was my only choice. I was now wanted for treason, so I had to be careful. I had to find a way to broadcast this information. Tech is something I was pretty skilled at, given my vast military tech training. This country needed an uprising. We needed a revolution. We needed to reclaim our governments, all around the world, from the grasp of P&B.

Five months later, I find myself here, hiding in the shadows, a hood and a small metal band on my wrist being all that are protecting me from being caught and killed, or worse, imprisoned.

I am making my way to NYC, where the main headquarters of P&B stood for the last 5 or 6 centuries. As it happens, they have the worlds largest satellite, capable of reaching every television, every screen, and every CDC around the world. Unfortunately, travelling between checkpoints is no easy feat when you’re on the run. Checkpoints are everywhere, every mile or two. I had to be extra cautious, and could not draw added attention to myself. However, I was close. One more checkpoint, and I was clear.

Passing through the final checkpoint, moving fluidly with the crowd, I was well disguised. With all of these people, they can’t notice if one person doesn’t have an EGIR reading. Then, someone tripped and fell into me.  He dropped his phone. Phones are extremely expensive, and not easy for most to afford. I then noticed how he was dressed. His clothes fresh, no holes or rips, beautiful stitching, clearly not hand done but by a machine. He was clearly a royal. The chances of bumping into a royal at a checkpoint is rare as most are allowed to pass through without question. They typically steer clear of the rest of us, except for on occasion, when they pass through and don’t have time for the traffic. Angered, he began to scream at me.

“YOU BROKE MY PHONE! You will pay for this! How dare you even come near me you piece of filth! Last time I ever pass through these slums! This phone is worth more than YOU!”

This attracted the attention of the Control Agents. They headed over, genetic database scanners humming away. I had no choice, there was no way this was going to work in my favor. I punched the guy across the face, knocking him to the floor. The Control Agents began running toward us, and I darted past the checkpoint. I ran through traffic, dodging people and cars, the Control Agents obviously unable to keep up. I was almost to safety, almost too buried into the crowds to be found. Until, suddenly, electricity surged through my body, the pain searing my every muscle, until finally, everything went black.

I woke up, everything quite blurry. Being tasered is an unpleasant feeling, to say the least. I tried to focus my eyes, until finally I could make out my surroundings. A white marble laboratory sparkled magnificently. Marble is something rarely seen to those who are not royals. It was as if an ancient Greek gods temple merged with a modern day, high tech laboratory. The Control Agents laughed as I awoke, struggling to my knees, hands cuffed behind my back. One Control Agent waved the genetic scrambler bracelet and data card in front of me, mockingly. I then saw them. Walking toward me. One quite thin and lanky, the other rather small with a head far too large for his body frame. I knew exactly who they were, having read about them in legends of the 21^st century. They walked toward me on their hind legs, proudly, as if they were human, rather than the small, filthy vermin that they truly were.

They smiled at me, clearly knowing they had won.

“Did you think you were going to come here and expose what we had done?” The small one laughed. The other chuckling obnoxiously.

“For so long, human kind has used my species to test their drugs and poisons, killing us without reason or cause. Keeping us enslaved in cages, cursing us with painful and horrible disease, ripping us away from our families and loved ones, with no concern or mercy whatsoever. We have suffered for so long, and it was your turn. You used us as lab mice, but now, you are the ones in cages. You are now the test subjects. Suffering not only by our hands, but your own, fighting one another for survival, for food, for money. Nations fighting nations, classes fighting classes, killing and torturing one another as you have us, fighting like the caged animals that you are. After achieving my immortality, I found I had not only the intelligence but the time I needed to finally accomplish my dream, the one dream I have had my entire life. To acquire power, to avenge my species, and finally… TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD!” He laughed maniacally, as the skinny one chuckled on.

Then a strange noise escaped him. “NARF!” He said, “gee, Brain, what are we going to do tonight?”

And he replied, “what we do every night, Pinky. TRY TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD!”

“But we already did that, Brain!” Pinky retorted.

“Oh, Right.” Brain agreed. “I don’t know, I guess watch some Netflix?”

“NARF! Okay!”

“Oh, by the way,” Brain added, “kill the human.”

He did it… he finally did it! HE FINALLY TOOK OVER THE WORLD!!!

HAHAHAHAHAHHAHA!!!!! Made you read!!!! I know, I know, I’m an asshole. I’m sorry, but this is what happens when I’m deprived of sleep. I don’t know if you should hate me because I made you read this only to come to such a terrible and ridiculous ending, or because I actually stayed up all night to write this nonsense.

I will say this. I PROMISED YOU NONSENSE! And nonsense, I have delivered.

Ever wondered why you see people gulping down drinks from their shaker bottles after their workouts at the gym?

The body’s glycogen stores are fairly limited, so the ability to resynthesize or replace glycogen is a critical part of recovery between events or even when training sessions are close together.

In some cases this replenishment may need to be accomplished in just a few hours.

Another large part of the recovery process is rehydration. Losses in fluid levels of more than two percent of total body weight can lead to drops in performance of more than ten percent.

So what can we take after a light or maybe grueling workout to refuel?

Best for Long-Distance Events: Cherry juice

How it works: Scientists suspect antioxidants are the key to limiting the inflammation and muscle damage after a half-marathon or other endurance event, and tart cherries are considered one of the most antioxidant-dense super fruits. Athletes have found it’s best to start “recovery” work a week early and regular consumption can help with muscle recovery even faster!

Recovery Rx: Drink 2 glasses a day for the 5 days before event, on the big day, and on the next day.

Best for Strength Training: Low-fat chocolate milk

How it works: Many experts have long touted milk as a magical muscle building drink—by ingesting protein after a strength training workout your muscles have the proper fuel to recover and grow.

Recovery Rx: Drink one glass of low-fat milk(opt for non-dairy if you like) immediately after your workout.

Best for Yoga or Pilates: Coconut water

How it works: Coconut water contains a tremendous amount of potassium, which researchers say ease charley-horse-style aches, and it contains enough antioxidants and minerals to replenish stores that have been diminished by light exercise, such as yoga.

Because of its low sodium content, coconut water isn’t right for recovery after more intense workouts like running.

Recovery Rx: Drink an 8- to 12-ounce serving immediately after class.

Also, listen to your body: Some of us may keep hydrated and fed-well enough during the rest of the day that we might not need any sort of beverage after a workout, even water.

To find out more on how our Active Trainers and registered dietician can help you attain your fitness and lifestyle goals, kindly contact:

Name: Jason Lim

Phone: +65-90921358

Email: info@activered.sg

Website: www.activered.sg

To find out more about Active Red, read about us here.

To choose an Active Kickboxing Programme, read about our different Kickboxing Programmes here.

Book your introductory workshop at Active Schedules.

To be a Certified Active Kickboxing Fitness Trainer, click on WAKO logo below:

Remember to follow us on facebook at:

“Like” Active Red Facebook Page

“Join” Active Red Facebook Group

For more info on WAKO, read about WAKO here.

To be updated on WAKO Singapore activities, join WAKO Kickboxing Singapore at:

“Like” WAKO Kickboxing Singapore Facebook Page

Stay tuned,
Aaron & Errin
http://www.Upness.org

It’s like I said, party people….it’s me, CEE-ROCK “THE FURY” rockin’ live with legendary PUBLIC ENEMY at club KB in Malmö, Sweden. And yes…..I was freestylin’!

This was definitely once of the biggest things to happen for me ever! I grew up and listened to PE and have the upmost respect for them. To actually rock with them live was surreal and an incredible feelin’. THIS IS WHAT TRUE HIP-HOP is all about, people! I hope this footage stays in your mind like it will always stay in mines.

One luv,

CEE-ROCK “THE FURY”
!Handzup! Network

It’s like I said, party people….it’s me, CEE-ROCK “THE FURY” rockin’ live with legendary PUBLIC ENEMY at club KB in Malmö, Sweden. And yes…..I was freestylin’!

This was definitely once of the biggest things to happen for me ever! I grew up and listened to PE and have the upmost respect for them. To actually rock with them live was surreal and an incredible feelin’. THIS IS WHAT TRUE HIP-HOP is all about, people! I hope this footage stays in your mind like it will always stay in mines.

One luv,

CEE-ROCK “THE FURY”
!Handzup! Network