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FRESNO — To the faculty and administrators who taught Rylee Bowen at Austin Creek Elementary School in Santa Rosa and allowed her to be rambunctious with a free spirit, she thanks you with all her heart.
Bowen, now a 16-year-old sophomore at Sonoma Academy, won the California Interscholastic Federation Division 5 state girls country championship at Woodward Park in 18 minutes and 12.3 seconds on the 5,000-meter course to carry the flag for Redwood Empire. It was her second consecutive state championship.
"I really didn't want to go out and take the lead too fast," said Bowen. "I just really wanted to run with her (Kiera Marshall) it was nice to know the course."
Marshall, whose St. Joseph Notre Dame team from Alameda finished second to Flintridge of La Canada for the team title, finished at 18:18.3 a six-second gap behind Bowen.
"I just wanted to stay close to Rylee, as close as I could," said Marshall. "We're similar (in their strides) running, I didn't really notice it, I just kicked as much as I could just to get a strong finish."
Sophomore Iris Berto from Technology was 28th at 19.38.4.
Bowen and her coach, former Petaluma High runner Dan Aldridge, had a plan of at attack and it paid off.
"We just wanted her to follow her," said Aldridge in referring to Marshall. "Rylee ran a strong pace (4:43 mile) and when it was time she made a strong kick."
Bowen and Marshall were all alone after the 2-mile mark at the start of the uphill climb running shoulder to shoulder.
"I just wanted to forget about it," added Bowen in reference to the hill. "I didn't think about it and just wanted to be consistent and when it was time to go down (the hill) I started kicking."
With 900 meters to go Bowen took off and was left running alone before a crowd of 15,000 fans cherring her on.
In girls Division 1, Delaney White of Santa Rosa took 12th in 17:50.4. While missing the medal awards by two places, she was in a race that provided a new CIF girls record.
Destiny Collins of Great Oak won in a record time of 17:09.
White's time placed her third best all-time by a Redwood Empire runner at the CIF meet. Julia Stamps leads the list at 16:43 (1996) followed by Trina Cox at 17:46 ('97). Those times were winning marks.
"I'm just happy with my finish," said White. "It was tightly packed at the start, I felt strong passing people on the downhill and I had established myself in the top 15."
In the Division III race, Cynthia Rosales of Piner was 51st at 18:57.
"She ran a personal best," said coach Luis Rosales. "Now she knows what to do to get better."
Brian Schultz of El Molino led the Redwood Empire boys with a seventh place medal finish in Division 4 at 15:38.7.
"The first couple of years here was frustrating," said Schultz, who ran the first mile at 5:48. "This time I eased into it, started passing people and I had more left in the tank as I headed for home That was my hope (top 10)."
Santa Rosa's Daniel Pride was 42nd in 15:52.1 and Lucca Mazzanti 105th at 16:28.3 in Division 1.


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Sydney Malayalee Association Inc. (Sydmal) welcomes your support and cooperation in strengthening the cause for which Sydmal is established. Sydmal encourages you all to become its members through choosing either of the two membership options that will better suite your individual need.
By becoming a member of Sydmal, you are not only becoming a valued associate of this great organisation but you are also becoming a proud contributor to the voice representing the Sydney Malayalee community. Below is a brief description of the two memberships that are currently available to choose from. Memberships are open to any Malayalee above the age of eighteen and living in Sydney or any part of New South Wales.
Ordinary Membership
This is an annual membership that expires at the end each financial year. Presently, there is a joining fee of $5.00 and annual subscription fee of $10 per individual. Memberships are non-transferable and can be renewed by logging on to our website.
Life Membership
Life membership is offered at a one off fee of $250 for a Couple and $150 for a Single. There is no joining fee or any other fee during the life term of the member. Life membership is non transferable.
Note: The life membership fee will not be used for the normal operations of Sydmal. These funds are kept aside for posterity and only returns earned from it will be used for its operating expenses.

subset: commoncrawl


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It happens all the time; you're done using your laptop but rather than shut it down you decide to put it on "standby" or "hibernate" until you're ready to use it again. So which one is it, standby or hibernate?
Many people consider the two interchangeable – no difference at all. NOT TRUE AT ALL! Here's what you need to know about the two:
STANDBY or SLEEP:
-Continues to use battery power! (so don't pull the battery out)
-Generally provides quicker "power down" and "wake-up" so you can use your laptop again quickly
-Does not continue to drain your battery (so you can pull it out and still start exactly where you left off even it's a year from now!)
-Takes longer than "sleep" to "power down" and "wake-up"
SLEEP essentially "holds" your system RAM in its current state so everything in memory stays there (at the expense of continuing to send a "refresh" signal and voltage to the cells). Conversely, HIBERNATE writes the contents of your system RAM into a file (hiberfil.sys) on your hard drive, then literally turns itself off. When your computer goes to restart, it notices that instead of loading all the files from the beginning, it can just rewrite everything into memory where it left off and continue from there. This file does take up an amount of hard drive space equal to the system RAM – though for most systems this is not an issue. For example, if you have 4GB of RAM and a 500GB Hard Drive, the hibernate option will use 4 of your 500 GB of hard drive space (less than 1%)!
Most laptops will know when your battery is critically low even while it's in sleep mode. It will then switch on momentarily to enter hibernate mode – so you should not lose any data.
Of course there's something called "Hybrid Sleep." Vista introduced this mode mostly for desktops (which usually do not have the benefit of a battery backup like laptops do). It allows the speed of wake-up that sleep provides, along with the assurance and security of hibernate. It does both: keeps memory active and writes the RAM contents onto the hard drive.
All in all, you should shutdown when you can (or if you have relatively low RAM of 1GB or less). When you prefer not to do a full shutdown, default to hibernate. If you know that you'll be using the PC again soon and the battery is not already too low, you should use standby or sleep.
Some computers have the hibernate option disabled or just not visible by default… call us and we'll help you get it sorted out. In windows XP you can go to "Start", then "Shut down" and press the "Shift" key when the standby/restart/turn off prompt appears. It will change the standby option to hibernate if your system has hibernate enabled!
Next topic: What's the right way to do a BACKUP?


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Sporty style meets safety in the SKECHERS Women's Synergy Sandlot Safety-Toe Work Shoes, which feature smooth nubuck leather and synthetic uppers and lightweight, shock-absorbing FlexSole midsoles for support. Cushioned, removable memory foam insoles offer comfort, and slip-resistant nitrile rubber outsoles deliver flexible traction. The aluminum alloy toes are lightweight and protective. Padded collars and tongues. Electrical hazard safe design. Soft fabric linings. Stabilizing heel overlays. Lace closures. Stitching and overlay accents.


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Julia's books with Nick are perfect for younger children. With Nick's instantly recognisable, bright, illustrations and Julia's rhyming text these books get children joining in with reciting the text.
Swing and sway! Sing and play! Stay and dance the night away!
The jackdaw wants all his friends to come to his party, but when he calls out his invitation the animals just touch their heads. Why won't they answer? And what do their actions mean? Luckily a brown owl can help him with the puzzle!


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Johnson took a cross-check to the midsection from Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook. According to Pro Hockey Talk, Seabrook was assessed a minor penalty for cross-checking on the play. Johnson had his head up as he tried to grab the puck from mid air, when Seabrook met him with a devastating hit to the ribs. Johnson underwent further evaluation Tuesday night with a lower-upper-body injury. General Manager Steve Yzerman said that Johnson is considered day-to-day, according to Tampa Bay Times. There is still no word on his estimated return.
Johnson is currently Tampa Bay's top point producer with five goals and 18 points through 15 games.
Like what you're reading? Subscribe to our email list for daily injury updates!
For more commentary and analysis, visit our friends at Last Word on Sports!


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Once again, we have a little good news on the home front. On a cold Monday morning with snow swirling around our Cold Springs manor, I got a delightful e-mail from Eva Barrows, editor at Imitation Fruit Literary Journal. They want to publish my not-quite-a-western, almost-a-fantasy short story, "Horse Sense" in their May 2012 edition.
My 2012 publishing string is pretty good so far. Rope and Wire published "Three Fingered Jack," The Storyteller Magazine has published "Good Times on Rios Two," and in March will publish "Uncle T," and now, Imitation Fruit will publish "Horse Sense."
I have two pieces coming out in anthologies. Flush Fiction, they publish "bathroom readers" has "Cold is my Love" coming out later this spring, and Bottom of the Hill Publishing will include "Big Bear's Christmas" in their Christmas anthology, probably scheduled out in late fall.
My fantasy novel "The Quest" is under review at a major publishing house in Boston right now, so I have all thirty eight of my fingers crossed on that.
Some writers stay within the confines of a certain genre, but I love writing mystery/crime stories, I have had several fantasy stories published, and westerns are really fun to write. I would rather be known as a writer than as a (specific genre) writer. Why limit the possibility of creativity if you don't have to?
Until next time, dear heart, read good books and stay regular.


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The author of Misquoting Jesus (2005) turns his attention to a question that has long puzzled historians: how did Christianity evolve from the faith of a handful of peasants in rural Galilee to become a dominant Western religion in less than 400 years? Bart Ehrman explores why Christianity was nearly fated to become an obscure sect of Judaism, and how it has revolutionized art, music, literature, ethics, economics, and law.


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What can we say about Gurkha? You either love 'em or hate 'em… But that's just what Cigar Wars is all about—you make the call!
We will say that this is one of the finer looking cigars from the brand—and hey, a nice cedar band never hurts.
The Heritage has a Rosado Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and Dominican, Pennsylvanian, and Nicaraguan fillers. It is a medium bodied cigar full of robust flavors. It is hand rolled in Nicaragua and comes in a rare 35-count box. This cigar was blended by our blending team at American Caribbean Cigars in Nicaragua, with the input of our in-house blender and National Sales Director, Juan Lopez, and the blessings of KaizadHansotia. The flavorful blend has rich coffee and dark chocolate tones with a subtle and well-balanced spice present throughout. "We're proud to release a fantastic medium to full-bodied blend in the Heritage Cigar. A true aficionado will not be disappointed with the wonderful collaboration of flavors in this cigar," says KaizadHansotia, President and CEO of Gurkha Cigar Group, Inc.Gurkha Cigars
- Wrapper: Rosado Ecuadorian Habano
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- Factory: American Caribbean Tobacco S.A. (Nicaragua)
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- Price: $7.60 – $9.50


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Gad Almaliah z'l was born and raised in Jerusalem. He graduated from the Bezalel Academy of Art in Jerusalem and studied at the School of Visual Arts in New York City.
The Mexican government sponsored Gad for two years to work with local artists at the University of Mexico. He was president of the Graphic Designers' Association of Israel for 15 years. In addition to designing stamps for the postal services of Israel, the United States and Mexico, Gad designed numerous posters and published several books on design. He designed coins and medals for the Israeli Government and created the emblem for the Six Day War.
He taught design on the university level in Israel and Canada in addition to serving on the faculties of School of Visual Arts and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.
Gad passed away in January of 2007. His wife, Joan Almaliah, continues to produce his Judaica designs, including embossed metal ketubot at The Design Lab in Boston, Massachusetts.
His contemporary Judaica is available at galleries and fine Judaica shops world wide. His pieces are treasured Jewish gifts for weddings, b/b mitzvah and life-cycle events.


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As a member, you gain access to activities such as Pitch Salons, debates, accelerator programs, matchmaking, workshops and export services. The BLOXHUB activities are carefully designed to help unlock the full local and global potential of businesses by connecting, sharing and scaling.
New perspectives, coffee and croissants every month. The BLOXHUB Mornings focus on innovation within urban development and address topics such as circular economy, livability, mobility, digitization etc.
From idea to business. The Match program offers counseling, workshops and network opportunities that help unleash the potential of your business.
Science Forum
Bridging research and practice. The science forum brings together industrial researchers, fellows and postdocs with the most creative and future-oriented businesses within architecture, design, construction and digitization.
Pitch Salons
Once a month, BLOXHUB match companies with a carefully selected expert panel to feedback on challenges and business ideas.


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Science supports the ability to further improve creativity throughout our life span. Harvard Business Review defied disciplined routines to encourage creativity as the core to doing things efficiently and effectively. Creativity will "deposit confidence in our cerebral bank accounts," according to Forbes.
It's a myth a person doesn't have a creative ability.
The body produces a chemical for the brain and nervous system to communicate. Serotonin regulates sleep, body temperature and libido. It also increases creativity. The production of serotonin increases when:
- exposed to bright light,
- engaged in frequent exercise,
- diet including chickpeas and wild seeds in place of meat proteins, and
- self-induced changes in mood.
Questions to Ask:
- What resources are used to maintain efficient and effective performance in your work tasks?
- What is the primary way you would increase serotonin production?
- On a scale from 1 (least) to 10 (greatest) is being creative in your work role important?
Improve your creative muscles with our Design Sensibility method. Schedule a coaching package today.


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Replica Tom Dixon Mirror Ball Pendant Small
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Replica Tom Dixon Mirror Ball Pendant Small
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Glass; carbon steel. Light bulb: 1 x E27, max, 60W.Adjustable cord length, max 200cm.Due to the nature of blown glass, inconsistencies may occur. These should be expected and appreciated.
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We don't take ourselves too seriously, until it comes to quality. We're ultra-selective about the timber, fabric, materials and finishes of every product. Put simply, we only sell the best.
Other Notes
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Replica Tom Dixon Mirror Ball Pendant Small


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Elasticated waist with continuous drawcord, in-line with European childrenswear legislation. Side pockets. Elasticated cuffs.
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Churches are losing both members and vitality as increasing numbers of young people disengage. Based on groundbreaking research with over 250 of the nation's leading congregations, Growing Young provides a strategy any church can use to involve and retain teenagers and young adults. It profiles innovative churches that are engaging 15- to 29-year-olds and as a result are growing--spiritually, emotionally, missionally, and numerically.
Packed with both research and practical ideas, Growing Young shows pastors and ministry leaders how to position their churches to engage younger generations in a way that breathes vitality, life, and energy into the whole church.
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text: Chapter 24 test concerns Class average improvement 71.2% Previous quiz average was 58% [13 point improvement] High grade-87% Low grade-50% Not all students are reading Not all students are asking questions Not enough students coming after school on Tuesday or Friday Essay issues "you have," "you had" Factual inaccuracies Spelling errors [ex. Verticle, buisness] What is a trust? Being vague 1800's Clichés-"cutting out the middle man,""things running smoothly" Grammar-"this is where," no one, noboby The organized labor Read p. 558-570 [quietly/independently] There should no talking whatsoever! Create notes, questions, comments on a sheet of paper to bring to discuss in class Wednesday/Thursday Look specifically at terms you must master and problematic vocabulary words Do not wait or procrastinate with the readings for this chapter I expect every student to have at least one question at the opening of Wednesday's class period What you should be looking for [1] What did it look like it cities such as New York, Chicago and Philadelphia? What was there? [2] What were issues/problems related to Dumbbell tenements? [3] What were issues/problems related to transitions in immigration during the 1880s? [4] Explain at least 3 significant aspects related to Italian immigrants? [5] Explain at least 3 significant aspects related to European-Jewish immigrants? [6] How did Jane Addams, Lillian Wald and Christian Socialists ease the transition of newly arrived immigrants in U.S. cities? 5 minutes for open questions Each student should have at least one question prepared to ask for any clarification Clear your desks except for a pen! Discussion groups [peer ratings] Chapter 25 America moves to the city Modernization of U.S. Cities Populations of major U.S. cities such as New York City, Chicago and Philadelphia doubled from about 40 million in 1870 to about 80 million by 1900. Big cities were often crowded [densely populated] Streets would be filled with vendors and domestic animals [chickens, horses, pigs] causing filthy and unsanitary conditions. High crime was rampant Urbanization of the United States concentrated large populations of people into cities. New immigrants such as Western Europeans [Italians and Jews] were drawn by the lure of industrial type jobs in factories. Accommodating the influx of immigration Cramped living conditions and poor sanitation facilities were common. Dumbbell tenements were designed to maximize space by using vertical design [multiple floors] with long, narrow construction. Communal bathrooms increased chance of disease transfer and lack of privacy Early tenements had poor ventilation [causing respiratory ailments] and poor natural lighting due to lack of windows throughout [one room had window] Prior to introduction of fire escapes deaths due to fire traps were common. Living conditions and Standard of Living Despite poor living conditions in cities the standard of living was far superior to the Old World in Europe for peasants [poorest, least educated] Public telephone service in homes was relatively affordable Indoor plumbing [running water and sewer connected toilets] and its convenience had supplanted out houses so typical in rural areas. Transportation Electric trolleys were used to transport people through city streets on top of metal tracks similar to those used by railroads. Mass transit lines were expanded in major cities such as Chicago and New York [powered by overhead electric power lines] Electric trolleys were eventually replaced by underground subways at the turn of the 20th century Public transportation allowed easy and cheap transportation to work for poor citizens Immigrant Labor and Work Many of the new immigrants from Western and Eastern Europe were from the peasant classes [uneducated, unskilled] and encountered discrimination and a language barrier. Immigrant children often assimilated quickly but spoke broken English Public school helped with adjustment Laborers often did piece work for local businesses by manufacturing textiles by hand doing sewing [most often women and their children]. Each item or piece was paid a price. Women also worked outside the home in sweatshops in unsafe conditions for very long hours for low wages Italian and Jewish immigrants Italian and Jewish immigrants came in droves to the U.S. in the 1870s to 1880s without money or formal education. Jews faced persecution [discrimination] Worked manual labor intensive factory jobs and sometimes selfemployed shop keepers when they could save enough money Ability to learn English helped advancement Formed immigrant groups [Padrone] to help each other and new arrivals Hull House Center in New York that was created to help new immigrants, especially women, transition to the New World. Help new comers cope with big city life and learn English Provided cultural activities such as block parties, rent parties and street festivals Women such as Jane Addams and Lillian Wald provided health care and job training for women. They advocated against child labor and sweat shops Mail Order Catalogs Department stores such as Montgomery Ward [1872] and Sears- Roebuck [1886] began mail-order businesses. Rural general stores were replaced for most household goods. The goods were generally very inexpensive and disposal The waste produced by packaging created challenges for cities for garbage removal management 5 minutes for open questions Each student should have at least one question prepared to ask for any clarification Clear your desks except for a pen! Discussion groups [peer ratings] What you should be looking for [1] What were the concerns of the nativists and how did they manifest themselves? [2] What was the role of the churches in confronting the many urban challenges? What about other non-church organizations' roles? [3]How did Charles Darwin's teachings affect American society? [4]What effect did men such as Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois have on blacks and American society in general? [5]What was the effect of Congressional legislation passed regarding higher education? [6] Why was the press such a formidable force in the U.S. [1860s to 1900]? Conflicts between the original and the new immigrants Nativism arose in response to the waves of new immigrants from non-English speaking countries from Eastern and Western Europe. Nativism was the cultural defense created by Americans with Anglo-Saxon ancestry who were not only white but spoke English and were usually Protestant Christian peoples. The new immigrants were only darker skinned in many cases but they spoke languages other than English and were Catholic and Jewish Protestants, Jews, Catholics, the Salvation Army and YMCA/YWCA Many of the older, gaudy Protestant churches in populated cities saw dramatic decreases in membership as the older Americans aged [Episcopal and Baptist churches among them]. The Protestant ministries disagreed with many of the old line Catholic beliefs [such as original sin and literalism]. Jewish and Catholic houses of worship exploded in membership with the arrival of the new groups. The Salvation Army provided assistance to the poorest by providing free meals [often holiday deliveries of turkeys and hot soup] YMCAs and YWCAs were founded in most major and minor cities by focusing on exercise-leisure and education activities [sports and gymnasiums]. Later the Ys provided very low cost lodging for poor/indigent people. The Impact of Darwin on religious thought The concepts of natural selection and survival of the fittest brought into questioned much of the Bible's teachings. Nature's whim and not God's will might be responsible for who/who survived and what did not. Many religious and leaders and parishioners at least considered more carefully the role of science in what occurred. Others considered to be religious fundamentalists stayed faithful to the "infallible Word of God." Nonetheless an alternative way of thinking became available thanks to Darwin. Differences of opinion on education With greater opportunity two different kinds of black leaders emerged. Booker T. Washington urged blacks to attain tangible, practical skills/trades such as carpentry, masonry and plumbing. Washington administrated the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama which trained blacks in basic skills and industrial skills. The goals was to be self-sufficient and "useful." DuBois, a Harvard PhD, believed formal, classical college schooling was preferable. He called Washington an Uncle Tom because blacks would be "limited" and second to whites intellectually. W.E.B. DuBois Booker T. Washington Expansion of Higher Education to the public Passage of federal legislation such as the Hatch Act and Morrill Act expanded access to higher education. Land and financial grants were dispensed to start public state colleges/universities. Prior to these schools higher education was private and costly limiting enrolling and hording knowledge among the elite. 5 minutes for open questions Each student should have at least one question prepared to ask for any clarification Clear your desks except for a pen! Discussion groups [peer ratings] What you should be looking for [6] Why was the press such a formidable force in the U.S. [1860s to 1900]? [7] How did the pragmatists influence American government and thought? [8] What was the role and effect of literary figures during the late 1800s? [9] What impact did women have on American laws and morality during the late 1800s? [10] What was the significance of leisure and entertainment in the U.S. during the same period? Muckraking and Yellow Journalism in the Press Both new immigrants and long standing Americans had a "hunger for words." Inexpensive newspapers [the Penny Press] proliferated in every major city Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst competed for readers and lucrative advertising dollars by publishing sensational and scandalous stories. Crime, corruption, sex and scandal attractive readers to the daily newspapers. The money and influence gained by these men struck fear in the heart of their enemies and the government. Pulitzer Hearst The Pragmatists in the Darwin Age Pragmatism is the belief absolute truths rooted solely in religious or idealist teachings in not valid. To find truth one must discover it through scientific testing, argumentation, experimentation and rebuttal. Two of the most well known American pragmatists were John Dewey and Oliver Wendell Holmes. Dewey created the Laboratory School in Chicago [experimental H.S.] focused on learning by doing. Holmes was a U.S. Supreme Court Justice who issues opinions [often dissenting] rooted in the effect or application of the law instead of heavily relying on precedent [previous decisions]. Influential American Writers and Commentators Horatio Alger described the wonderment of American opportunity for youths via industriousness [rags to riches] Walt Whitman's poetry expressed descriptive imagery and sentimentality related to important tragedies of the day [assassination of Lincoln. Mark Twain in a witty, sarcastic and satirical style criticized many of the social ills such as racism and economic disparities. Emily Dickinson was a poet who wrote hundreds of lyrical poems on random scraps of paper only to be discovered after her death. She was significant because of her gender and the first prominent female poet. Influential American Writers and Commentators Jack London wrote several stories describing rugged American adventurism in places such as Alaska [White Fang, The Call of Wild]. Stephen Crane wrote several short stories often casting moral judgments regarding the protagonists. Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote the classic tale Uncle Tom's Cabin that had a profound impact on the abolition movement. Ida B. Wells was an African-American print journalist who wrote a series of scathing articles about lynchings in N.C. and other Southern states. American Law, Morality and Conscience In 1873 a series of federal laws were passed aimed at controlling vice. The U.S. Post Office was prohibited from allowing any item considered "obscene, lewd, or lascivious" to be mailed. Later the list of banned items extended to contraceptives. The law was aimed at sexual repression and dictating public morality. Many American women were tired of witnessing the devastation that alcohol wrought on families. Rural men were especially prone to alcoholism because of isolation and depression. Domestic violence was also a problem. Christian religious women were the most active in trying have alcohol banned. Eventually states began to prohibit alcohol culminating in the 18th Amendment in 1919 American Leisure and Entertainment Vaudeville [French for voice of the city] shows were variety acts combined on stage in live performances. Singing, dancing, acrobatics and acting were part of the variety shows. Circus acts created by P.T. Barnum were very popular for their shock and awe value. Barnum's moniker "The Greatest Show on Earth" combined animal acts with unusual human characters [midgets, giants, and people with physical deformities]. Also some trickeries and deception. "There's a sucker born every minute and two to take 'em" American Leisure and Entertainment 19th Century Americans were very intrigued by the so-called Western traveling show millions of people watched from 1870s-1905. Former frontiersman, soldier and bison hunter Buffalo Bill Cody toured the U.S. and Europe with dozens of performers including female sharp shooter Annie Oakley who became very wealthy from the tours. Feats of skills, side shows, Cowboy-Indian reenactments and staged horse races were popular attraction. American Leisure and Entertainment Bare-knuckled Irish-American brawlers such as John L. Sullivan and Jim Corbett fought as prize fighters during the mid-late 1800s. In 1892 the two pugilists [boxers] fought before more than 10,000 spectators in New Orleans. Corbett defeated Sullivan handing the legendary Irish boxer in first and only loss. Championship boxing matches became enormously popular in the early 1900s. American Leisure and Entertainment Team sports became wildly popular with the advent of "basket ball" by Dr. James Naismith in 1891 at Springfield, Massachusetts and baseball by Alexander Cartwright in 1845 at Hoboken, New Jersey. The popularity of the two sports sprang from the expansion of leisure time among young American men. The desire to be competitive, physically fit but yet group oriented greatly enhanced the appeal of these sports. The two "games" remain highly regarded. Image Sources http://www.philaprintshop.com/images/kettfrmkt.jpg http://www.gutenberg.org/files/19198/19198-h/images/img59.jpg http://www.historyteacher.net/USProjects/DBQs2000/Images/DumbellTenement.jpg http://ephemeralnewyork.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/tenementfamilyphoto.jpg http://rpmedia.ask.com/ts?u=/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Candlestick_phone.JPG/65pxCandlestick_phone.JPG http://lh3.ggpht.com/_jQ16aCLBNVc/SX4xKE8AhfI/AAAAAAAACDE/7db0YWNJAgE/Italian+women+piece+work.jpg http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_CutCumGq8-Y/SedT6n2NRrI/AAAAAAAABcg/Hi4qouy-OzY/s400/housingmilestones-03.jpg http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/friends/2002spr/trolley.jpg http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAhullhouse2.JPG http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_72HXHkZzbsg/TIkUs79hbI/AAAAAAAAEOg/GR19TgMXxwU/s1600/pff910Sweatshop-1890.jpg http://www.lynetteabel.org/jane%20addams.jpg http://www.workingnurse.com/images/articles/big/tenementweb.jpg http://www.workingnurse.com/images/contentmgmt/LillianPortrait.jpg http://www.learnnc.org/lp/media/uploads/2009/07/sears_catalog_baseball.jpg http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_-l2C8nYmCV0/SW4M65BzhmI/AAAAAAAAD5A/kAn5LFztD0E/s400/Catalog1 http://www.everyculture.com/multi/images/gema_02_img0137.jpg http://www.jewishmuseummilwaukee.org/images/programs-resources/exhibitions/immigration/Sernovitz,Ted-&-Blanche-Ted%27s-mother%27s-parents-with-Tante-Chenya-and-brothers-taken-in-Lithiania.jpg http://www.enchantedlearning.com/europe/italy/Italy_color.GIF http://www.wiiw.ac.at/img/poland.gif http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/europe/russia/map_of_russia.jpg http://www.hellochicago.com/images/people/5252006salvation-army-1903.jpg http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~butlercounty/1914ymca.jpg http://easygaylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/ymca.420.jpg http://salvationarmy.ca/wp-content/themes/sacanada_v2/images/salvationarmy_logo.gif http://www.wilsonsalmanac.com/images2/darwin.jpg http://gardenofpraise.com/images/booker.jpg http://www.oaes.okstate.edu/oaes-images/hatchphoto1.jpg http://rebeccaedwards.org/images/campaign/pulitzer.gif http://web.timesunion.com/specialreports/tu150/overview/graphics/overview_hearst.jpg http://www.stephenhicks.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/dewey-john-young.jpg http://static.newworldencyclopedia.org/6/6a/Oliver_wendell_holmes_jr.jpg http://www25.uua.org/uuhs/duub/images/horatioalger1.jpg http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/s_z/whitman/003.jpg http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/images/mark-twain-1.jpg http://www.cswnet.com/~erin/emily2.jpg http://www.parks.sonoma.net/images/famousjack.jpg http://bookeats.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/stephen-crane.jpg http://www.nndb.com/people/451/000048307/stowe-crop.jpg http://likeawhisper.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/ida_b_wells.jpg http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_i_dmdMXW8Rk/TRYpOalZClI/AAAAAAAAAXw/mHEAzF1J_Lk/s1600/crosbyben nyburns.jpg http://media.web.britannica.com/eb-media/95/70795-004-70A8BDF3.jpg http://www.cambridge-intl.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/annie-oakley1.jpg http://faculty.uml.edu/sgallagher/woodhullarrest1.jpg http://frogblog.biz/wp-content/gallery/blog-visuals/buffalo_bills_wild_west_show.jpg http://images.imagestate.com/Watermark/2377997.jpg http://blog.library.villanova.edu/digitallibrary/files/2009/0 2/pug5a.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Alexander_Cartwright_B aseball.jpg


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Canada's fighter jet competition – Is Boeing in or out?
Last Friday was the deadline for companies to apply to the Canadian government to be on the supplier's list for the new program to provide a fleet of fighter jets.
Boeing spokesman Scott Day had earlier noted that the company would evaluate its participation in Canada's Future Fighter Capability Project " after the Government of Canada outlined the FFCP procurement approach, requirements and evaluation criteria."
Boeing's vice president for defence sales, Gene Cunningham, seemed to indicate that the company could indeed become involved. "That is certainly a possibility and we will let you know as that unfolds," Cunningham told journalists.
As readers know, relations between the Canadian government and Boeing have not been good because of Boeing's complaint against Quebec-based Bombardier over the C-Series passenger jet. That complaint led to the Trudeau government abandoning its plans to buy 18 Super Hornets as an interim fighter jet for Canada.
On Jan. 26 a U.S. trade panel ruled that Boeing was not harmed by competition from Canada's Bombardier. The 4-0 decision by the independent International Trade Commission effectively blocks the Trump administration from slapping 292 percent tariffs on Bombardier, the Associated Press noted at the time.
So is Boeing in or out on the Canadian competition? Did it submit a response to the Canadian government? The government certainly isn't saying at this point.
Boeing spokesman Scott Day declined to comment when asked Monday by Defence Watch. But he indicated the firm will be releasing details about its decision soon.


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Join us this Thursday, August 31 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for our annual curriculum night! You can attend your students class room presentation and see what they are doing in class. If you want, please come early, starting at 4:30 p.m. for our PTA Ice Cream Social. They are taking memberships for $5 and then your whole family can have ice cream! See you then!
Announcements >


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Let our growth management solutions help you scale.
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Rapid growth can have a significant impact on your supply chain. You need scalable space, flexible staffing, and sophisticated technology to handle the increase in order volume. It's crucial to maintain high service standards in order to keep your customers satisfied and loyal to your brand.
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October is Dental Month at Lakewood Veterinary Hospital
At Lakewood Veterinary Hospital part of our wellness program involves regular dental exams, much like your dentist suggests. Since dogs and cats don't brush their teeth, we often find they develop dental problems, as they get older. Dental problems do not affect just the mouth. These problems can lead to more serious health problems including heart, liver, and kidney damage, which makes it all the more important that you provide your pet(s) with proper dental care from the start. Let's work together to keep your pet happy and healthy!
Receive 10% for any dental procedures done during the Month of October.
To schedule an appointment please call 303-233-5614 or Log-in to your pet's personal PetPortal.


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New Jersey saw sunny skies for most of Friday with temperatures in the middle 50s.
News 12 New Jersey Meteorologist Dave Curren says temperatures during the overnight hours are expected to drop drastically.
The National Weather Service has issued freeze warnings for many parts of the state as temperatures potentially drop to the low 30s.
Saturday should see mostly sunny skies with temperatures of about 60 degrees. Temperatures could drop to the middle 40s overnight.
Sunday is expected to be mostly cloudy with highs in the middle 50s.
Rain is expected to begin the workweek on Monday.


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Thanks to your program I have my Mother back. She struggled for several years with her addiction to prescription drugs. We (the family) had tried so many different things. None of them worked. It's like she had given up on herself.
After 60 days her life was changed. I would like to thank you for helping her become the Mother we had missed for so many years.Not only did she overcome her addiction, but she was able to deal with the loss of her husband of 40 years.
The strength she found within herself would not have been possible without your guidance. Mom isn't the only one that healed through your program. We learned together as a family and understand each-other so much more respectively now." 4 years clean now.


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Would Dupuytren contracture massage be helpful or aggravate the problem?
I am in the very early stages of this problem and want to know about Dupuytren contracture massage. My problem started 6 months ago and want to try to turn this around sooner than later…. Not sure I can afford or even want to take everything on your plans….so if you could list out the TOP 6 supplements to take, could you let me know…? Would 6 even be enough?
Do you think massage helps Dupuytrens contracture? Or would it aggravate it?
I have one other question…..lets say I get the most expensive plan as well as the most expensive enzyme you sell…which would be a ton of money to maintain over the months….and I do get positive results…what is to stop it from coming back again like it might after surgery? I want to get to the UNDERLYING cause of this rather than treating the symptoms. I know some say it is genetic but I am wondering about diet etc. It makes no sense to spend thousands on supplements which it could end up costing that for the body to re absorb the tissue, which I believe the body is capable of doing…only to have it come back again…..
Regards, Catherine
Greetings Catherine,
Your thoughtful questions bring up many broad and interesting topics to explore that I believe will not only help you, but others as well.
The first point is that you do not need to "take everything" found in the DCI plans. These various plans are well rounded and balanced examples of what a person might need to use to enhance their healing ability against the foreign fibrous tissue of Dupuytren's contracture. No one knows what you might need to make this happen, or even if it will happen. The idea is to do as much, and to take as much of a variety of nutrients, as you think reasonable and appropriate to get the job done. The problem is that no one knows what you will need to get the job done. Because of this DCI recommends that you use a broad and diverse array of possible therapies, while monitoring the size, shape, density, surface features and degree of adhesion of the deep and superficial fibrous tissue in your hand plus the range of motion of the involved fingers, to determine the effectiveness of the therapy you are using.
As a second point, there are no top six therapies in terms of those that are most effective because the therapies are not used this way. They are all used in groups and combinations, and it is never recommended that any one therapy be used by itself as a solo therapy. Besides, if I could give you a top six list it would not mean that they would necessarily help you. What works for one person will not necessarily work for the next person in the same way.
Dupuytren contracture massage
Thirdly, Dupuytren contracture massage can be helpful, but extreme caution and care must be followed. I have seen internet discussions in which people have recommended deep and forceful pushing and gouging of the internal fibrous tissue to "break it up." This is a mistake that can lead to aggravation and spreading of of the initial problem. The best kind of soft tissue work is extremely light and passive manual stretching – so light that while you are doing it you think that it is too light to be effective. Dupuytren contracture massage must be done with grave caution since it can easily be misused, and you only realize you have overdone it when it is too late
Lastly, you ask about recurrence of Dupuytren contracture after DCI treatment. Dupuytren recurrence is a constant problem that has plagued surgeons for centuries and even to today. Please see Dupuytren Surgery and Recurrence of Hand Contracture. Even so, in almost 12 years of doing this work of helping people to deal with their hand contracture using Alternative Medicine I have never had the occasion of someone coming back who got good results to say that their problem recurred after using the DCI concepts of treatment. Perhaps there is someone out there who had their DC return, you never know, but no one has told me so. I suppose it is possible, but I have no knowledge of it.
Even if the DC did recur after DCI style treatment, the consequences would be far different than if the DC did recur after hand surgery. When a hand is operated on for Dupuytrens, normal healthy tissue is removed along with the diseased tissue. As a result of that hand surgery the hand is vastly different than it was before surgery; it has been diminished and is less structurally strong; not only are some tissues now missing, many are shortened and altered by the surgeon. When –not if – Dupuytren contracture recurs after the first hand surgery, the next surgeon will have less tissue to work with for the second hand surgery. If the second hand surgery is done then the next recurrence will be all the more difficult for the third hand surgery. For this reason many people find that after the 2nd or 3rd surgery – and sometimes even after the 1st surgery – that no more surgeries can be performed. These people face the possibility of either allowing the hand to develop full blown contracture or amputation.
All I can tell you is that it makes most sense to me to be as conservative as possible and to try as many non-surgical options as make sense to you before submitting to DC surgery. I am not against DC hand surgery, just very conservative about its use because of the dire results I encounter on an almost daily basis.
If I can help you in any way please let me know. TRH
Why not perform hand surgery before my Dupuytren contracture gets worse, while it is still small?
Hello: I have just recently been diagnosed with Dupuytren's contracture. I noticed a small hard bump/lump appear in the palm of my right hand, as well as one on the bottom of my right foot. I have just turned 50 and I am female. If the outcome is 'black and white', why not perform hand surgery to remove the bump BEFORE it grows into a long band deforming the fingers / toes? Why wait ?
The answer is simple: Dupuytren contracture recurrence after surgery. For more discussion of this topic see Dupuytren Surgery and Recurrence of Hand Contracture.
You are a little younger than average to develop Dupuytren's contracture (hand) and Ledderhose disease (foot), and for this reason you are more likely to have an ongoing problem with Dupuytrens; the earlier in life it starts, the more aggressive and difficult the palm lumps and cords tend to be. Your doctor is trying to delay your surgery for Dupuytren's contracture to delay the time when your first recurrence starts.
Let's say you had hand surgery the way that you propose. If you had your first Dupuytren's operation at age 50, it is possible to have your first recurrence start within two years. Following your idea of early surgery to prevent progression of the problem, let's say you had your second hand surgery as soon as the recurrence appeared, and the next Dupuytren's recurrence again appeared within the next two years. Following your idea of early surgery to prevent progression of the problem, let's say you had your third hand surgery as soon as that next recurrence appeared, and the next recurrence again appeared within the next two years. Again, you would theoretically have another surgery for Dupuytren's recurrence, with another recurrence, and so on.
The above example does not work for three reasons:
- Recurrence of Dupuytren's contracture tends to accelerate with each surgery, so that if the first recurrence did take two years to eventually develop, the net recurrence would be a little faster or sooner; maybe 18 months. And if you had another hand surgery after that recurrence, the next recurrence would theoretically be even faster or sooner; maybe 12 months. Of course, all these numbers are just made up, and could be faster or slower depending on your individual characteristics, family history, life history, clinical information and luck. Some people wait 10 years for their first recurrence of Dupuytren's contracture, but some people wait just a year – or even less – for their first recurrence to appear. Once the surgery starts, the process of recurrence starts; it is inevitable.
- Each Dupuytren's surgery "uses up" or removes normal hand tissue. You cannot have too many hand surgeries without soon having little normal tissue remaining. Depending on your individual circumstances you might only be able to have one, two or three hand surgeries in your life before your surgeon would inform you that you cannot have any more. What do you do at that point? You allow it to get worse, and perhaps become so bad in terms of pain that amputation is your only option.
- No good surgeon would perform an early Dupuytren surgery, such as you have proposed. Hopefully you would never find a surgeon who would agree to cut early, because he/she would know that this would be a terrible decision that would lead to a terrible result.
There are drugs that have risks that can be used, and there is surgery as an option for you to consider. I suggest that you should consider trying to avoid Dupuytren's hand surgery completely. Since your problem is early and small at this time you are in a good position to try to reverse this process naturally. I suggest you do some reading to see if this makes sense to you. You can always try it for 2-3 months of intense natural therapy while you are waiting for your Dupuytren's to progress. If it work, fine – look at what you have gained. If it does not work, as sometimes happens, you can always have your hand surgery when your surgeon thinks you are ready for it.
For further information about treating Dupuytren's contracture naturally you can read What is the best therapy to treat Dupuytren contracture? TRH
Since I am allergic to sulfur can I treat my Dupuytrens contracture with sulfur containing supplements?
Hello Dr. Herazy,
I have been looking at your various treatment plans for Dupuytren contracture. Each plan contains Fundamental Sulfur, or more technically methyl sulfonyl methane. I am allergic to sulfur drugs. Since I cannot take sulfur, will the treatment plans still be effective in treating the lump on the palm from my Dupuytrens?
As you know, sulfur sensitivity and allergies are not uncommon. Over the years I have worked with many people who have allergy to sulfur drugs, a few very severe, and they have used all the DCI sulfur mineral supplement (Fundamental Sulfur) without any reported problem. While I cannot predict how you might respond I can only tell you that others have no problem while using it like anyone else .
I assume the difference that a person with a sulfur allergy can use this particular sulfur product comes down to fundamental chemistry. The sulfur in these supplements is recognized by the body as a nutritional substance or food, and not as a foreign sulfur configuration of a drug that the body has never seen or metabolized previously; since this kind of sulfur is natural and organic, with the micronutrients and enzymes that are present with foods that contain sulfur, the supplement is more likely to be handled differently and appropriately by the body. It is different with a sulfur containing drug, whether oral or topical. In these situations the sulfur is not combined with chemicals in a way that is typical in nature.
If I can help you in any way with your Dupuytren's treatment, please let me know. TRH
Could statin drugs to control my cholesterol have caused my Dupuytren's contracture?
I have Dupuytren contracture; 59 years old white female. I have been on 80 mg of a statin for several years. I understand statin drugs can be very harmful to the liver, especially at this dose? Since, I have decided to stop taking it for that reason. Do you think this could have caused the Dupuytren contracture, since your above reply implies liver disease? I do not drink alcohol but could this high dose of the statin have caused liver damage leading to the Dupuytrens?
Thank you,
Greetings Jennifer,
You are correct that high dosage statin intake has been implicated in Dupuytren's contracture. The exact mechanism that statin drugs might cause Dupuytrens as a side effect are not completely understood at this time, although liver damage is often mentioned as a possibility. Please see Dupuytren Cause Could Be Related to Drugs
You should speak to the doctor who prescribed your statin drug for you, who did not explain the possibility that Dupuytren's contracture might occur as a result, and ask these same questions and listen closely to the answer. TRH
My 25 year-old son has Dupuytren's contracture. What treatment would you recommend?
Hi Dr. Herazy,
I came across your website while searching for more information on Dupuytren Contracture. My son had intricate surgery on his finger in June and recently noticed a small lump on the palm of his hand. It's not painful, but the doctor said it looked like Dupuytren Disease. He is only 25 years old and I am very concerned about the future. Have you seen this before in someone his age and can he stop the progression of this disease with your products? What treatment would you recommend for someone his age? There also may be a predisposition to this as I have a painful lump on the bottom of my foot that I will be checking out with a doctor. Thank you very much.
Greetings PG,
You are a good parent. Once a parent, always a parent. My youngest one of three is soon to be 38, so I know how this goes.
My guess is that you have a genetic predisposition to this excessive fibrous tissue response that your son has inherited from you. This is made even more so if both you and your husband/wife are also genetically predisposed with families coming from Northern Europe or Scandinavia. If this is true it would explain why some one who is so young has developed this problem. Perhaps your son has unknowingly made himself susceptible with other factors that increase the odds for Dupuytrens: diabetes, cigarette smoking, alcoholism, and prolonged hand stress like with manual labor. I also notice that many serious musicians who play piano or guitar seem to develop DC more than the average population. Any of these might explain this problem developing so early in his life.
I have seen this before in people in their mid-20s and it is usually accompanied by factors as I have explored above.
I would recommend the largest and most aggressive treatment he can sustain for at least 3-4 months of faithful and diligent work. If this problem is to respond at all to Alternative Medicine methods the treatment approach must be significant to make an impact on his condition. Please read Can I treat Dupuytren's contracture naturally without surgery or drugs? Dupuytrens is a tough problem. Half efforts are usually a waste of time. Allow me to explain why I think someone such as your son should be extremely interested – far more than most all other people – in avoiding surgery and getting natural conservative treatment to increase his ability to eliminate his hand nodule.
Hand surgery for Dupuytren's contracture is not a cure; any good surgeon will tell you that needle aponeurotomy, palmar fasciectomy or Xiaflex injection are just a temporary measure; the Dupuytren's contracture problem will always recur – it is a matter of when the recurrence will develop, not if. When someone in his 60s or 70s develops DC and has surgery, the Dupuytren recurrence factor is not as important because frankly at that age this person might not live long enough to develop the recurrence and have it evolve over a few years to the point that a second surgery is important to them. Many elderly people get their first DC surgery and just ride out the effects of the recurrence as they try to ignore a growing hand problem. But with a 25 year old person all of this strategy is changed.
A young person has a lifetime to not only develop one recurrence of Dupuytren contracture, but several or many. Some people can have a recurrence in just just 2-3-4 years and a few have recurrence in a year or less. With each surgery recurrence usually is made to come more quickly; with each hand surgery the rate of recurrence increases. It is as though the irritation and instability created by the surgery speeds up the recurrence phenomenon. Many times after a few surgeries are done it does happen that eventually amputation is the only viable option that remains.
With someone in his mid-20s this can be a great problem, since there are so many wonderful years that lay ahead. For this reason it is my opinion your son should do absolutely everything possible to avoid entering upon this slippery slope. I suggest that your son start as soon as possible to see if he can increase his natural ability to remove this foreign fibrous palm lump. As with anything in healthcare (like Dupuytren's hand surgery) there are no guarantees this will work, but when you consider the fact that his approach is without side effects, that in almost 11 years we have not had one report of recurrence after successful treatment, and that surgery can also be used at a later time if necessary.
I suggest he does some reading on the DCI site to learn how this approach is done. Let me know if you have any questions. TRH


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Sergio pocketed the letter against Sloan's wishes. "They just got a three hour head start is all," He stated looking at his sister.
Scott scratched his head in confusion. "Gave who a three hour head start?" He waited for an answer, but his older cousin just got up and went to his room. He turned his question to Aiya, "You read the letter. What is it?"
"Captain Gray," She replied, "headed out at lunch time today guarded by twenty of the Elite Guard. He's meeting the emissary in a hidden camp in the Ra Forest near Dryads' Retreat." She looked at her hidden blade and feathered the length of it once. "I've never been that deep into that forest before. I'm nervous."
"You don't believe those stories do you?"
"Just, because I don't worship the Ra doesn't mean I don't believe they exist. Most people don't believe in conspiracies, but here we are."
property of http://fictionalescapes.blogspot.com
"You're almost seventeen Aiya. You should stop letting dryads and nymphs scare you," Scott said mockingly. "You probably believe in merpeople too, don't you?"
"All I'm saying is that our government hasn't outlawed Ra worship. Mak is where the gods created us. We named our country for Mak. Just five blocks from here is where our god," she paused placing a clenched hand over her heart, "created humanity. Right here in Hiarlym City cousin. Our entire country is founded on the belief that Mak is the creator. If the Ra didn't exist the King would've outlawed their worship years ago."
"Enough you two!" Teagan quieted her only living inlaws before they could get into another one of their pointless arguments.
"She's right," Aiya said. "We should go get ready; our target is three hours ahead of us and I'd like to get him before he risks more of our countrymen's lives. We have friends in that army. Don't forget the matches and the kerosene. You never know when we'll need some fiery arrows."
Aiya went to her room; she was one of the few with her own room, a privilege for the best assassins. Not having time to bathe, she took off her wet and bloodied clothes, wiped away dirt and blood from her face with a damp towel. She dried off and put on her undergarments on before going to her trunk. Opening it she pulled out a white robe bearing a golden 'V' above the the right breast, Aiya did not know what the 'V' stood for, but one day she would. At least according to her brother she would. She laid the robe on her bed.
She grabbed her extra pair of leather boots from the trunk and set those aside. She grabbed her left forearm bracer, she rarely wore it. The bracer was leather and started at the bottom of her elbow. It didn't end around her wrist, but continued to her index finger where it wrapped around it coming to a point. She tossed it on her bed.
"Where are you? Damn it," Aiya spoke quietly to herself. "Ah there you are." She grabbed a thin leather strap with a clip on either on end. She sat on her bed and put it around her ankle. "I miss you mom."
She donned her left bracer with the finger armor and iron reaver claw then the right with the hidden blade and then she robed. She sat back down and strapped her leather boots onto her feet. Finally, after she stood, she went to her glass locker where she kept her knives and black dagger. The dagger was a gift from Prince Hamlin of Tannia, he told her that the blade was formed from the scale of a dragon injured in combat.
She opened the robe and slid throwing knives into hidden sheathes inside of the robe and clipped three onto both of her bracers. She sheathed the black dagger on her belt. She looked into the mirror on the wall above the glass locker and gave herself a smirk as she lifted her hood over her head. "Let's go kill us a Makian Captain," She spoke to herself.
She met her brother and cousin in the den before departing. Sergio sheathed his two backswords as they left the den. "Hope you kids are up for a run."
It was dark by the time they entered the forest. Luckily one of the moons was full and the other was partially eclipsed behind it. The unfamiliar sounds made Aiya uneasy. Fortunately, Sergio had ventured through the forests for many years with their father before their parents were killed. Unfortunately, their dad forbade him from going anywhere near Dryad's Retreat. They had no idea what was waiting for them.
Even on the dimly moonlit road the wagon tire tracks and horse hoof imprints were easy to track.
Ahead on the road Scott noticed a flickering light. "What is that, Sergio?" Scott asked his cousin.
"It's probably just a torch," Sergio answered almost condescendingly.
"It's too close to be a torch," Aiya added. "It's only about ten yards away."
"There's no way that a fire is burning that close to us and we're just seeing it now. We've been on this trail for the last fifteen minutes," Sergio sought reason even though he could clearly see that his sister was right.
Then as the flame so suddenly appeared it disappeared. Thwip thump! Thwip thump! Thwip thump! Aiya looked between her feet where she heard what sounded like an arrow hit the trail. That is exactly what it was. An arrow for each of them.
"There were three shots. If there was more than one archer we would've heard one single shot. You know, so they wouldn't give away their numbers," Aiya said. "Where are you," She yelled.
"If that was only one archer he sure is quick. I've never seen anybody nock arrows that fast," Scott said.
Sergio lifted his crossbow. He attempted to look for who shot the arrows. "Get off of the trail now!" Just as he yelled the command an array of arrows littered the trail. One arrow ripped Scott's pant leg as he dove off of the trail. There was easily over three dozen arrows protruding from the very ground the trio had just been standing atop.
"Still think there's only one little sister?" Sergio yelled across the trail.
"Only one way to find- Agh! Let me! Sergio help!"
Immediately Scott and Sergio ran through the trees pursuing whoever was swift enough to both sneak up on Aiya and then carry her away at such a fast pace. It was hard to see what was ahead of them as they ran by the trees, over the tangled roots, and under the low hanging branches that littered the forest, but Aiya kept screaming giving the boys something to follow. This was probably the narrowest deer trail Sergio had ever ran through, and he had ran through many.
As Sergio jumped over a fallen log he was tackled by what felt like a mossy tree with the force of a bull. Scott looked back momentarily, but knew Sergio would kill him if he gave up on Aiya so he continued forward. Something swung out from behind a tree, it felt like a thick cane when it connected with the side of Scott's face. He spun twice while airborn before finally hitting the ground.
Aiya was forced down against a tree. A bony figure scratched her as it roughly used twine to tie her wrists together. Aiya finally stopped screaming, but only because the terror that grasped her commanded silence. She was always told that dryads resembled beautiful women and protected the trees of this forest. The being that handled Aiya was more tree than anything else. It was made of branches and was definitely more male than female; it had a beard of moss that reached its knees. The thing turned and ran back the way they had came from.
After a few short moments a light appeared floating towards Aiya. The closer it got to her the more she could make out what appeared to be a tiny winged man wearing leaves. It landed on her shoulder. Aiya shot her hidden blade, it ripped through the twine. With one quick move she grabbed the tiny man and pinned him against the tree.
"Who are you and what was that thing?"
courtesy of http://barbericfrontier.blogspot.com
The tiny being stood on his toes and grabbed her ear getting as close to her ear as he could. "My name is Ghillie Dhu. You can call me Ghillie. That thing was an elmborn."
"And what on Sebat are you?"
"I told you I'm Ghillie. I'm the one that tried to scare you away on the trail. The dryads don't like nonbelievers in their territory. You shouldn't have came here."
Annoyed at the response Aiya continued the question and answer session. "Where are we?"
"We're near Dryad's Retreat by Elm Father," Ghillie Dhu answered.
"The Elm Father?"
"Yeah the one the Dryads protect. He is my life source. The elmborn are his spawn, well the Dryads create them from his bark anyway."
"Where are my brother and my cousin?"
"They'll be taken to the retreat."
"And what then?"
"Probably gonna be sacrificed to Elm Father unless they swear fealty to the Dryads and the other Ra."
"Which way to the retreat, Ghillie?"
"Follow me but stay quiet the Dyrads aren't kind to ladies especially the pretty ones."
Aiya stayed close behind Ghillie. The pixie flew right through many spots that Aiya struggled with in the dark, but eventually they made it. Aiya hid behind the trunk of a tree and looked towards her brother and cousin who were forced to their knees in the center of the retreat.
"Milly," said a beautiful feminine voice, "the elmborn have brought us two travelers."
"I see that Mila. Look at them; How handsome are they?" Milly's voice was just as beautiful, but sounded completely different it was as if her voice was draped in song.
Milly stepped into the moonlight. Her body was what men dream about and she wore nothing but a few leaves connected by twine. "Tell us humans, what are you doing in our forest?"
"Couldn't you have asked us that without beating us half to death first?" Scott asked sarcastically. The right half of his face was covered in blood and Aiya was pretty sure there was vomit on his shirt.
Aiya readied an arrow. A female's body pressed against the back of Aiya and slowly covered her mouth. "I wouldn't do that human," Mila whispered into Aiya's ear. Startled Ghillie flew away from the forest floor and high into the trees.
Aiya slowly released the arrow and put the bow on the ground. "Smart move," Mila said as she pushed Aiya into the retreat. She grabbed Aiya's wrist took her into the retreat to stand in front of Sergio and Scott.
"Maybe now you can answer my question," Milly said as she ran her hand across Aiya's throat.
"Don't harm her you demon!" Sergio yelled.
"Hehe! They all call you that right before you kill them sister," Mila said.
"Okay, okay. We're here to stop a meeting," Sergio admitted.
"The only meeting that's taking place in this forest is by our worshippers, now why would I want you to stop that."
"Because, if this impending war isn't stopped the Makian Defense Ministry will cut down at least half of this forest to fight off Dest's humongous army. Centuries of growth will be cut down in months, dryad."
Mila spoke, almost singing, "Sister I believe him."
"We are gods. Do you not think us capable of hindering a few saws and axes?"
"You're not gods. Mak is god on high," Scott said. "His daughter and son are the only other gods. The rest of us are merely his creations. What have you created besides those damned elmborn?" Scott stood. "I only now believe you exist, that doesn't mean I'm willing to worship something that is not a god. You're not even fit to walk amongst the heavens with the angels as I will one day do. Diabolus doesn't even want you in hell. You're stuck in this damn forest forever aren't you?"
"And one day you'll be stuck in this damn forest when all of your precious trees are gone," Aiya added.
"We Makians love this forest. We'll only cut it down if our hands are forced. You'll be forcing them if you don't let me do this."
Creator not found retrieved from http://abstract.desktopnexus.com
"Our god," Scott paused clearing his throat, "rewards us as well as protects us."
"I've killed many believers of Mak. Many of them are among the elmborn that captured you."
"We won't be as easy," Aiya said, smirking. She spun around deeply scratching Mila's face with her claw. Mila screamed and fell back. The wound healed immediately, but it still pained the dryad.
Art by Anastasiya Igolkina
Scott ran to Sergio grabbing a flask from his pack. Sergio unsheathed his blades and allowed Scott to pour the contents of the flask onto them. "Hurry with the matches little cousin."
Scott took a match from his pack and stroked it along a patch on his pants. He tossed the lit match onto a blade causing it to become engulfed in flames. Sergio connected the blades causing the other to catch fire. He turned swinging and striking an elmborn. As if the creature was made of dry sticks it immediately caught fire and began flailing wildly.
Risking injury Aiya dipped her metal claw and dagger into the kerosene flask and ignited them against her brother's sword. She struck an elmborn in the eye and pulled it forward. As she advanced she stabbed it in the back as it fell screaming to the ground. Soon the fire in the retreat allowed increased visibility for the assassins.
Aiya stabbed the ground with her claw once the fire engulfing her finger became too hot for comfort. While she was down Scott grabbed her shoulder and threw her back. One of Gray's Elite Guard barely missed Aiya's neck when Scott rescued her. Scott jumped forward punching the guard in the face. He stripped the guard of his weapon and continued to pummel his face and stomach. The guard fell to his knees. Sergio kicked him in the jaw. Three audible pops where heard. The first was the sound of the guard's jaw cracking, the second and most quiet was the dislocation of the jaw, the third was the sound of the guard's neck breaking.
"Stop!" A commanding female voice yelled.
The three assassins were surrounded by the Elite Guard and many Destian soldiers. The commanding voice was the emissary from Dest. Next to him stood Aiya's next victim.
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|Captain Gray
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What to CookDessert
Brown Butter Raspberries
In Cooking from Every Angle, we hear from our fearless leaders: Food52 co-founders Amanda & Merrill.
Today: Amanda shares a summery dessert with all the flavors of raspberry pie -- no crust needed.
I created this recipe in honor of EAT (RED), DRINK (RED), SAVE LIVES, a campaign to help fight AIDS (#86AIDS).
How do you get the flavor of raspberry pie without the pastry dough? It all began with a recipe for tomatoes, in which sliced tomatoes are laid on a plate, doused with sizzling hot browned butter, and showered with flaky salt. The result is hard to describe: rich, juicy tomato that reminds you -- happily -- of lobster with butter sauce.
More: Flaky salt makes everything better -- get to know our 10 favorites.
I wondered if the same magical effect would work with summer fruit. Raspberries share some of the same qualities of a fresh tomato – they're delicate and sweet yet have formidable acidity. I worried that plain browned butter on a raspberry might be odd, so after browning the butter, I dropped in some vanilla – which vaporized in the hot butter, amplifying its scent. Just as I'd done with the tomatoes, I spooned the butter on the raspberries, so it sizzled into the fruit, and then in place of the flaky salt, I sprinkled the wilting berries with raw sugar. I expected it to taste like buttery raspberries, but instead images of pie sprang to mind.
I was also reminded that while I love berries alone, I always feel a little sad when they're served uncooked for dessert. I have a remedy now. And my next target: peaches.
Serves 4
16 ounces raspberries
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Raw sugar, about 1/2 teaspoon per bowl, depending on the berries' sweetness
See the full recipe (and save and print it) here.
Photos by James Ransom


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We arrived at the first day opening of season, panton for entry in the sea stood and all hotel was ready. Rooms became better and more...repair was at the winter. The meal and service stayed very good. We was at this hotel last four years...More
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IBK Group
Welcome to the homepage of the IBK group.
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SOMERS, N.Y. -- As voters of the Somers school district prepare to cast ballots on a proposed schools budget, the district has released a 4-minute video providing a rationale for a $13.6 million bond that is included in the proposal.
District leaders have said the bond will fund a number of improvements to the district's infrastructure.
To view the video, visit the Somers school district's website .
The bond and the proposed 2016/2017 schools budget will be up for a vote on May 17 at Somers Middle School, 250 Route 202. The polls are open from 7 a.m.-9 p.m.
Click here to sign up for Daily Voice's free daily emails and news alerts.


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Experiencing cramps whereas pregnant could be a reason behind alarm to anticipating moms. The cramping can range from gentle to extreme, however are simply usually an indication of the stretching and rising uterus. Nonetheless, there are circumstances through which cramping could also be brought on by a major problem. So, must you be involved for those who expertise cramps? Listed below are a few of the widespread causes of cramps so you possibly can resolve whether or not they're regular or in the event that they want extra consideration.
First Trimester Cramps
Implantation Cramps If you happen to expertise cramping eight to 10 days after ovulation, you could be experiencing cramping on account of implantation.
Stretching Uterus One other reason behind cramps within the first trimester may be the stretching and increasing uterus. The ache happens when the ligaments that help your uterus stretch. Don't fear! Your physique is simply making ready itself on your rising child.
Miscarriage If you happen to expertise cramping accompanied by recognizing or bleeding, you must contact your well being care supplier instantly. This can be a potential warning signal of miscarriage. Nonetheless, recognizing or bleeding doesn't all the time point out a miscarriage, some ladies with bleeding throughout their first trimester proceed to have wholesome, completely happy infants! However with each bleeding, you must all the time inform your physician.
Ectopic Being pregnant Cramps within the first trimester can point out an ectopic being pregnant. It's critical situation and wishes fast medical consideration. As quickly as you expertise cramping accompanied by recognizing or bleeding, and stomach ache on one facet, contact your well being care supplier.
Different causes of cramping throughout early being pregnant embody gasoline pains and constipation.
Second or Third Trimester Cramps
Spherical Ligament Ache Spherical ligament ache is a gentle ache usually skilled in the course of the second and third trimester. It happens because the uterus continues to stretch and develop, pulling on the ligaments of the stomach and pelvis.
Preterm Labour If you happen to expertise cramping accompanied by again ache and gentle to extreme diarrhoea, and also you haven't reached 37 accomplished weeks, you could be having preterm labour. Instantly contact your well being care supplier or go to the hospital.
Braxton Hicks Contractions Chances are you'll expertise cramping brought on by irregular, intermittent, 'observe' contractions.
Early labour If you're near your due date, cramping and again ache are widespread signs of early labour.
Since it may be arduous to distinguish regular being pregnant cramping from a warning signal, it's best to debate any cramps throughout being pregnant together with your well being care supplier.
This data is just not meant to interchange the recommendation of a skilled medical physician. Well being & Parenting Ltd disclaims any legal responsibility for the choices you make based mostly on this data, which is offered to you on a common data foundation solely and never as an alternative choice to personalised medical recommendation. All contents copyright © Well being & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.


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This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 3099067.
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Practical ways to live better on less.
We all love shopping, however, more often than not our budget tends to disagree with our desires. Luckily, various stores give out deals to entice you to shop at their store. You can shop, just be smart about your spending. Set up a budget, find coupons, and stick to the plan! Check out a few of these great store freebies you can get just by signing up for an email list!
Kohl's – $5 in Kohl's cash
Express – %15 off coupon
American Eagle – %15 off coupon
DSW Warehouse – $5 off coupon
Old Navy – $10 off a $50 purchase
Pink by Victoria Secret – free underwear
What is your favorite retail store? What is the best promotion you have received through an email club?
What do you think?
Share your thoughts below


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Catherine Alliott
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Annie should be so lucky.
For almost as soon as Annie arrives her competitive sister and her wild brood fetch up. While Annie's louche ex-husband and his latest squeeze are holidaying nearby and insist on dropping in. Plus there's the surprise American houseguest who can't help sharing his heartbreak.
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Catherine has written fifteen bestselling novels and is translated into eighteen languages. She has sold over 3 million books worldwide.
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In the early days she produced a baby with each book - but after three - stuck to the writing as it was less painful.
She writes with her favorite pen in note books, either in the garden or on a sofa.
Home is a rural spot on the Hertfordshire borders which she shares with her family and a menagerie of horses, cows, chickens, and dogs, which at the last count totaled eighty-seven beating hearts, including her husband. Some of her household have walk-on parts in her novels, but only the chickens would probably recognize themselves.
All her novels are published by Penguin Random House internationally, and by No Shooz Publishing in America and will be available in the US in the Fall of 2017.
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|Follow PSU Field Hockey:
|Follow @PennStateFH
Nearly 70 Student-Athletes Receive Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Awards
Eight post perfect 4.0 GPAs during 2014-15 academic year
Gebhart Named to Academic All-America First Team
Nittany Lion standout adds another prestigious accolade
Lions Selected for USA Field Hockey Young Women's National Championship, Indoor Team
Lions under consideration for U21 national team, Mink to named to indoor squad
Matt Brown and Laura Gebhart Named CoSIDA Academic All-District
Nittany Lion duo now on ballet for CoSIDA At-Large Academic All-America honors
More Than 100 Penn State Student-Athletes Approved to Graduate this Weekend
Total of 101 Second-Highest; Student-athletes from 26 sports scheduled to receive diplomas
11/2/12 - Field Hockey vs. Iowa - Big Ten Semifinals
No. 1 seeded field hockey defeats No. 4 seed Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament Semifinals.
11/4/12 - Field Hockey vs. Michigan - Big Ten Championship
No. 1 seed Penn State claims the Big Ten Tournament Championship with a 2-0 victory over No. 3 seed Michigan!
9/23/12 Field Hockey vs. Michigan
9/23/12 Field Hockey vs. Michigan
NCAA Woman of the Year Nominee (2014-15)
Member of the 2013-14 U.S. Women's National Team
Captain of the 2013 U.S. Junior World Cup Squad
Captain of the U.S. Team at the 2013 Australian Youth Olympic Festival
First Team NFHCA All-American (2014)
Second Team NFHCA All-American (2012, 2013)
Third Team NFHCA All-American (2011)
First Team All-Big Ten (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)
Big Ten Freshman of the Year (2011)
Big Ten All-Tournament Team (2012, 2013, 2014)
NFHCA All-Mideast Region First Team (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)
Collegiate Women Sports Awards Honda Sports Award for Field Hockey Finalist (2014)
Capital One/CoSIDA First-Team Academic All-America (2015) Capital One/CoSIDA First Academic All-District (2014, 2015) Academic All-Big Ten (2012, 2013, 2014)
NFHCA Scholar of Distinction
NFHCA National Academic Squad (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)
AS A SENIOR IN 2014: Team captain started all 22 games and played the most minutes on the team (1,553), logging 70 or more in every contest ... Named a 2014 NFHCA first team All-American, first team All-Big Ten, NFHCA All-Mideast Region first team and a Big Ten All-Tournament Team member ... Finalist for the Collegiate Women Sports Awards Honda Sports Award for field hockey ... Finished tied for second on the team with 10 goals, tied for first with seven and assists and second with 27 points ... Posted 10 games with at least one point ... Led the team with three defensive saves ... Finished her Penn State career eighth on the all-time assists list with 45 ... Scored Penn State's lone goal in the win against No. 19 Michigan State (11/6) at the Big Ten Tournament ... Notched a goal and an assist in the 2-1 win against No. 8 Northwestern (10/31) ... Posted a career-high three goals and six points against Bucknell (10/14), scoring all three in the first 18:46 of the game ... Recorded a goal and an assist in back-to-back victories at Drexel (10/3) and at No. 14 Temple (10/5) ... Earned her first three-point game of the season (one goal, one assist) against Lafayette (9/14).
AS A JUNIOR IN 2013: Started all 19 games ... Named a Longstreth/NFHCA Division I second team All-American ... Secured a spot on the NFHCA All-Mideast Region first team ... Earned first team All-Big Ten honors ... Named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team ... Finished second on the team with 1,365 minutes played ... Led the squad with a career-high 14 assists ... Tied for fifth on the team with 16 points ... Concluded the season ranked third nationally with 0.74 assists per game ... Posted back-to-back two-assist games to start the season, first at No. 8 Old Dominion (8/30), then at No. 7 Virginia (9/1) ... Notched four total assists in a three-game stretch, with one at Lock Haven (9/11), one at No. 3 Princeton (9/15) and two vs. Delaware (9/20) ... Totaled one assist at Indiana (9/29) and two vs. Ohio State (10/11), before earning another at No. 19 Iowa (10/25) ... Scored lone goal of the season vs. UC Davis (10/26) ... Concluded the season with two assists vs. No. 8 Princeton in the NCAA Tournament (11/16) ... Named to the Gladiator by SGI/NFHCA Division I National Academic Squad and the Academic All-Big Ten team.
AS A SOPHOMORE IN 2012: Earned second team NFHCA All-American status ... Named first team All-Big Ten for second-straight season ... Placed on the Big Ten All-Tournament Team for orchestrating the team's second-straight Big Ten tourney championship ... Honored as an NFHCA All-Mideast Region first team selection for the second time in as many seasons ... Matched her career-highs in goals (6), assists (12) and points (24) for a season ... Started every game and recorded the third most minutes of anyone on the team with 1,447 ... Scored her first goal of the season in a 5-1 win over Temple (9/8) ... Picked up two assists in the season-opening win over No. 3 Old Dominion (8/24) ... Recorded a goal and an assist in a 5-0 shutout of Lock Haven (9/12) followed by scoring a goal and notching two assists in an 8-0 victory over Lehigh (9/14) ... Set a season-high in points with five off a goal and three assists (a career best) in a 7-1 win over No. 24 Indiana (9/21) ... Scored a goal in the regular season finale against No. 21 Michigan State (10/27) to help secure the Big Ten regular season title with a 6-1 win ... Team was 7-1 when she recorded at least one assist ... Earned Academic All-Big Ten honors ... Selected to the NFHCA National Academic Squad.
AS A FRESHMAN IN 2011: Started all 22 games she appeared in during her freshman campaign ... Rookie season was highlighted with a number of awards including first team All-Big Ten, Big Ten Freshman of the Year, third team NFHCA All-American and first team Mideast All-Region ... Recorded assists in her first four contests ... Had a breakout game against Virginia Commonwealth (9/18), recording one goal and two assists in part of a 6-1 victory ... Tallied one goal and one assist in a 4-3 overtime victory against No. 16 Northwestern (10/1) ... Had her first career multi-goal game against Villanova (10/4), netting two and assisting on one ... Scored in her second consecutive contest against Michigan State (10/30) in a 4-1 win ... Tallied an assist in the Big Ten title game against Michigan (11/6).
U.S. NATIONAL TEAM EXPERIENCE: Member of the 2013-14 U.S. Women's National Team ... Captain of the 2013 U.S. Junior World Cup Squad ... Captain of the U-21 Team at the 20 Australian Youth Olympic Festival.
HIGH SCHOOL: A four-year letterwinner in field hockey at Donegal High School, earning first team All-Pennsylvania honors all four years ... Her team won three-consecutive sectional titles (2008-10) and were District III champions in 2009 ... Named a Harrow Sports first team All-American her junior and senior seasons ... Has also competed on the U-16 National Squad, Holland Tours (2007, 2008) U-17 National Squad, U-17 Pan Am Cup (2009), 2009 BDO Junior World Cup, U-21 National Squad and U.S. Development Squad.
PERSONAL: Full name is Laura Gebhart ... Born on March 8, 1993 in Mount Joy, Pa. ... Parents are Dave and Crystal ... Has an older sister, Kristin, who played field hockey at American University from 2007-10 ... Mother also played field hockey at Lock Haven University ... Majoring in community and environment development.
ON CHOOSING PENN STATE: "I chose Penn State for its combination of academic excellence, campus atmosphere, field hockey program, players and coaches. There are so many great aspects of the University that drew me in."


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George Petritz invested in the business in 1966 when it consisted of a ski area with six rope tows, a chairlift, and a lodge with 21 rooms. He later became the general manager and in 1981 took on sole ownership.
George's daughter Chris MacInnes and her husband, Jim MacInnes, joined the resort in 1985. Jim now serves as president and CEO while Chris serves as COO.
The shareholders of the business are Chris and her five siblings plus Jim.
A succession plan is critical to business sustainability
Crystal Mountain is also the largest employer in Benzie County and provides up to 650 jobs during the winter and an additional 500 jobs in the summer. Crystal Mountain is an important asset which broadly impacts the regional economy and community vitality.
Developing a master plan for leadership
Crystal Mountain worked with Heidi Bolger, a principal with Rehmann Consulting, to create a Human Capital Master Plan.
This process started by meeting with the top 14 leaders of the company to identify leadership competencies which are consistent with the core values of the business. Bolger then led a process by which each leader completed a self-assessment to identify their own leadership competencies, and these results were then matched with what the group had identified as key leadership competencies.
Coming out of this process, each leader understood their strengths and opportunities for development, and each had an Individual Development Plan to guide their development as a leader.
"This process says to our leaders: 'You are important to the organization today and tomorrow.' This helped us to evaluate who had the potential, and what we can do to improve it. This also helped the leaders to think about their own futures," says Chris MacInnes.
"We looked at our organizational structure and determined how to modify the structure given the talent which we have – and identify areas where we need to bring in additional talent," says Jim MacInnes.
"We realized that this is a journey," notes Chris. "There is a lot of longevity among our staff. When someone leaves there can be a crisis mentality, 'What will happen when that person retires?' This creates a slightly unhealthy reverence for the status quo – and a lesser ability to be nimble and switch gears."
"With the Human Capital Master Plan, we understand there will be constant change. Some might be uncomfortable, but it is good for a resilient organization. We need to embrace it. It is key to communicate this to our staff, family shareholders and other stakeholders so that there is not a lot of concern when one person leaves… that mentality that the sky will fall," says Chris. "We need a thoughtful plan for leadership and leadership development – with competencies that support organizational resilience."
The 'water carriers' carry the culture
"That's the 'water carrier' piece," says Chris. "It is not only about the next generation, but also connecting with the legacy of leaders who have made a strong footprint. How do we keep that as part of our DNA? This is part of a family business – honoring that past."
"Water carrier" is a concept made popular by the furniture manufacturer Herman Miller Inc.
Employees who have been at Herman Miller for over 20 years are invited to become "water carriers." The model for the water carrier comes from Native American societies where the water carrier had a humble yet essential job in helping the tribe to survive. At Herman Miller, the water carriers introduce the company culture to new employees, and mentor new employees. They have helped to maintain the Herman Miller culture, rooted in the West Michigan culture of the early 20th century, for over one hundred years.
"This is the intergenerational legacy piece," notes Jim. "How do you share your vast and rich experiences that are part of our DNA? It is not just mentoring – it is also talking about the company, and positioning the company to bridge the transition."
Teaching future owners
To create this alignment Crystal has created a board observer position of nephews and nieces who may be its future owners. The board consists of outside board members plus Jim, Chris and one other family member.
Members of the next generation can serve a two-year term as a nonvoting board observer – attending all board meetings. "This is our family business transition at a governance level. We want the next generation of owners to understand their accountability to all of the stakeholders," notes Jim.
"It is the board's job to hire and oversee the CEO; guide the company from a strategic level, and assure continuity of the mission, vision and values," Chris says. "We are building a multi-generational governance structure that understands the difference between the board and leadership."
The importance of values
"The analogy is creating a better campsite. To be sustainable we must be profitable, but we are not greedy. We are concerned about our impact on the community, and know that our business is stronger if it's part of a healthy eco-system. This is really an important value – for us, our employees, owners and vendors, and our community. They get it -- and I take pride in that."


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7960 Soquel Drive, Ste. I
Aptos, CA 95003
10am - 7pm
S: 10am - 6pm
Su: 10am - 5pm
472 Alvarado Street
Monterey, CA 93940
10am - 7pm
S: 10am - 6pm
Su: 10am - 5pm
We would love to see your company benefit from the kindness movement.
Let's set up a Nice Girl Nation team and get your people moving too! Employees are the most valuable assets to any company. Healthy employees tend to be happier and more productive employees. Social support is a very important part of wellness programs - it builds a sense of camaraderie with your co-workers. You'll have a chance to experience activities with them that aren't related to work. Using the Nice Girl Fitness Festival as a part of your wellness program allows you to motivate and support your team by interacting with them in a positive way; encouragement they need it, as well supporting them on the road to their wellness goals. Plus, you'll be motivated by seeing other's positive results!
This is an amazing way to infuse, wellness, kindness and team building into your business today in a really fun and inviting way -while making a charitable donation to the YWCA!
Register your Nice Girl team HERE


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Halo Events Calendar
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