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Gongs away
Now that the Nobel Prize for Physics is sorted for another year, Margaret Harris examines the range of other physics prizes on offer, and how receiving awards can help - and sometimes hinder - a recipient's career
When Andre Geim received a phone call from Sweden's Nobel-prize committee last month, his first response was "Oh, shit". Not that he was unhappy about sharing the Nobel Prize for Physics with his fellow graphene pioneer (and University of Manchester colleague) Konstantin Novoselov. Far from it. It was just that winning a Nobel prize is "a life-changing exercise", as Geim told Swedish journalists shortly after the announcement was made.
But how much does winning a Nobel prize really affect a physicist's career? In the case of Geim and Novoselov, the effect may indeed reach "oh, shit" proportions, for two reasons. One is that the Nobel is unquestionably the most prestigious prize in physics. In the words of Carlo Rubbia, who shared the prize in 1984 for discovering the W and Z bosons, winning it is "certainly not a small perturbation". The other reason is that at the ages of 52 and 36, respectively, Geim and Novoselov probably have more career left ahead of them than most newly minted laureates; during the 2000s, the median age of physics laureates upon receiving the prize was just shy of 70, having crept upwards since the 1970s.
Of course, few physicists will ever find themselves packing their bags for Stockholm, or even come within a sniff of the prestigious Nobels. However, there are plenty of other prizes on offer, and thousands of physicists receive gongs of one kind or another every year. These range from named awards that carry significant amounts of prestige and cash to humble "best poster" certificates that come with warm congratulations and a textbook for a prize. For many, receiving these small awards will be a highlight of their careers.
Other fish in the sea
The Nobel prize is at the apex of the gong pyramid, but there is nevertheless a clutch of other international awards that can – and frequently do – claim runner-up status. Of these, the best established are the $100,000 Wolf prizes, which the privately run Wolf Foundation has awarded in most years since 1978. A well-regarded award in its own right, the Wolf Prize in Physics has gained some additional prestige in recent years thanks to its tendency to anticipate the Nobel: no less than 14 Wolf-prize winners have gone on to pick up Nobel medals in physics, five of them just one year later.
Other awards in the nearly Nobel camp include the Japan prize, which covers a broader range of subjects than either the Nobel or the Wolf prizes and is worth $450,000. The Japan prize counts Web pioneer Tim Berners-Lee and laser inventor Theodore Maiman among its awardees, and is sometimes called the "Nobel of the East". However, it is now being challenged for that title by the $1m Shaw prizes, which were established in 2004 by the Hong Kong businessman and philanthropist Run Run Shaw to honour achievements in astronomy, life sciences and mathematics.
Indeed, the past decade has seen a boom in big-ticket science prizes, with the $0.5m Gruber Prize in Cosmology (first awarded in 2000), the $1m Kavli prizes (2005) and, most recently, the 70.4m BBVA Foundation awards (2009) weighing in alongside the Shaw and older honours. Unlike winners of big research grants, recipients of these awards are not required to spend the money on academic pursuits. Some, however, do so anyway. For example, Jerry Nelson, the California Institute of Technology astronomer who won the Kavli Prize for Astrophysics earlier this year, told Physics World that he had "basically distributed it to noteworthy colleagues and institutions", after he had paid for several friends and family members to attend the prize ceremony in Oslo, Norway.
Financially, the many awards granted by learned societies (including the Institute of Physics, which publishes Physics World) will never rival those with links to deep-pocketed philanthropists. What they lack in monetary value, however, they often make up for in history and prestige. The Royal Society's Copley Medal, for example, dates back to 1731 and counts luminaries such as William Herschel, Michael Faraday and J J Thomson among its recipients. Nelson, who won the American Astronomical Society's Dannie Heineman prize in 1995, says that such awards were important to him because they "act as a reminder that what one is doing is of some interest and importance to others", even if they are "financially minor" in comparison to a Kavli prize.
Early birds
Most awards given in the physics community are designed to recognize past achievements, not to facilitate future ones. The exceptions are the "early career" prizes. These are awarded to scientists at the beginning of their careers, and evidence suggests that they can have a tremendous impact on the individual concerned. "Probably the most important prize I got, in terms of getting me started, was fourth prize in the US Science Talent Search, which I won when I was in high school," says Frank Wilczek of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who shared the 2004 Nobel Prize for Physics for his theoretical work on the strong interaction. "It showed me more of the big world and enhanced my self-confidence."
Many early-career awards provide more tangible assistance as well. The MacArthur Fellowships in the US, for example, come with $0.5m in research funding over five years, and are designed to support talented researchers early in their careers. Other early-career awards, such as the UK's Royal Society University Research Fellowships, make it easier for the recipient to find a permanent position by paying part of their salary for a few years, as well as providing start-up money for new projects.
The bottom line is that with or without a financial sweetener, early-career awards can be an important way of distinguishing a researcher from his or her peers. Faced with stiff competition for funding and permanent academic positions, those with a gong or two on their CVs are frequently at an advantage. "My previous awards and prizes helped a lot in terms of getting national and international recognition, and in promoting my career towards a chaired professorship," agrees JŸrgen Eckert, who last year was handed Germany's highest research award, the 72.5m Leibniz prize, and is now director of the Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research in Dresden.
The cloudy lining
There is, of course, a down side to winning a prize. One common complaint among winners of major awards is that finding time to do research becomes much more difficult, since they are expected to give interviews and speeches, and are frequently asked to serve on committees as well. But there are also more subtle effects, as Rubbia points out. "Having the [Nobel] prize forces you to always do things that are right," notes the former CERN director-general. "The capability of making a mistake, which is the driving force for scientific innovation – in the sense that you will only make progress if you make mistakes – is reduced."
A separate concern, Rubbia continues, is that having a Nobel prize "is a responsibility, in that you have to take positions and have opinions on a much wider range of topics". This can cause difficulties, he says, because "we have to realize that we are not experts on everything. The problem for most of my colleagues – and presumably me – is a tendency to become experts in areas that aren't part of our expertise. So you have to exercise some modesty."
The reverse problem of being pigeonholed as an expert in just one area is also a concern for some winners. Both Novoselov and Geim say they were already trying to "escape" research on graphene even before they won their Nobel for isolating it. That will almost certainly be more difficult now, although it is not without precedent. Only John Bardeen has ever won more than one Nobel Prize for Physics, but a number of laureates have made significant impacts in other fields. The best recent example is atomic physicist Steven Chu, who shared the prize in 1997 and is currently secretary of the US Department of Energy.
A more general issue with prize-giving is sometimes known as the "Matthew effect", after a biblical quotation from the Gospel of Matthew that runs "For to all those who have, more will be given...but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away." It is certainly true that some physicists receive an enormous number of awards. The medals and certificates won by the late Abdus Salam, for example, fill an entire wall and part of a small room in the library of the institute he founded, the International Centre for Theoretical Physics. As a passionate advocate for science in the developing world as well as a prominent theorist, Salam was a special case, but it is hard to argue with the notion that some physicists get more gongs than they deserve. And, inevitably, the law of diminishing returns applies. "Recognition for the same work that got me the Nobel prize means less to me personally, at a psychological level, since in some sense it's icing on the cake – not that there's anything wrong with icing," says Wilczek. However, he adds that he is "as gratified as ever" to see other parts of his work, or his body of work as a whole, properly appreciated.
But ultimately, Wilczek says, the most important thing that winners of any award can do is to keep a sense of perspective on what prizes are really about. "All prizes are nice to get, but most of them are, or should be, corollaries of achievements," he says. "It's the achievements themselves that are the core sources of pride and standing in the community." Something to bear in mind next year, perhaps, when – yet again – a phone call from Sweden fails to interrupt your work or slumber.
About the author
Margaret Harris is reviews and careers editor of Physics World.
This article originally appeared in the June 2010 issue of Physics World.
last edited: September 11, 2018


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Behavioral health unit opens at Beach hospital
24 beds now open and serving patients at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital
A 24-bed inpatient behavioral health unit is now open and serving patients at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital. The unit includes 16 beds designated for geriatric patients and eight general adult beds.
"These new inpatient beds will greatly improve access to care for patients in Virginia Beach," said Frank Gallagher, vice president for behavioral health services for Sentara Healthcare. "They should reduce the amount of time that patients spend in the emergency department waiting for a bed."
The number of patients seeking psychiatric services through the ED at Sentara Virginia Beach General has increased 111 percent since 2006, with notable increases in recent years.
- 2010: 1802 patients
- 2011: 2118 patients
- 2012: 2359 patients
- 2013: 2522 patients (projected)
"Psychiatric patients waiting for a bed for days in the emergency department often deteriorate," says Matt Angelelli, M.D., a psychiatrist and medical director for the inpatient unit at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital.
"The ED also has to commit a staff person to each patient to ensure their safety," Angelelli continues. "It's hard on patients and staff and these new beds should help us speed up admissions and improve care."
A multidisciplinary behavioral health task force has been working across the Sentara system for more than a year.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Hey guys, we are Studio OnMars from Finland. Our first game is a tribute of the great Counter Strike 1.6 called Critical Strike Portable. CS Portable is a cross-platform MMOFPS for Web, Android and iOS. The game has reached 2.5 million downloads on Google Play so far. The iOS version is coming as soon as possible. Gameplay video: Features: - Cross-platform 3D multiplayer FPS MMO game (Local/Online) between web, iOS and Android! - Single player mode: Player vs. Bots - Smooth and responsive customizable touch controls - All popular game modes (Classic, zombie survival, Team Death Match, ect.) - Customizable server settings: Player HP, player speed, zombie difficulty, modes: matrix mode, night mode, space mode, ect.) - Dozens of unique maps (and more added continuously) - Build and upload your own maps with Unity 3D HUD are customizable, you can change the size and location of each button Official site: http://cs-portable.com/ Company site: http://www.studioonmars.com/ Kongregate link: http://www.kongregate.com/games/IgorLevochkin/counter-strike-web-browser-based-port-v2 Anyway, iOS version will have a totally different look compare to the old ones so stay tune guys! Thanks for reading! Can anyone tell me how to post the Youtube link? /Edit: Thanks . You guys are the best


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If you have been designated to take minutes at an IS meeting, the following suggestions should make your job as recording secretary easier.
- Have ready the minutes of previous meetings and any other material you may need at the meeting, such as any key documents to be discussed.
- Obtain a list of committee members and an agenda from the chair. You can use the agenda as a template for taking minutes if you're using a laptop during the meeting.
- Prepare a sign-in sheet to pass around to those in attendance at the meeting or ask attendees to speak their names during a conference call. The sheet should request the following of attendees: Name, Institutional affiliation, Email address, and designation of Member or Observer.
- You may wish to use a digital voice recorder as a back up to your notes. If you plan to use a laptop, be sure to check battery life-span or bring power cords and an extension cord. Bring paper and pen as the ultimate back up plan.
What to Include in Your Minutes:
- Name of the committee or group and its hierarchical place within ACRL IS, followed by meeting name or kind (a regular or special meeting called to discuss a specific topic), and then date, time, and place of the meeting. For example:
ACRL Instruction Section Awards Committee
ALA Midwinter, Meeting I Saturday, January 12, 2008, 1:30-3:30 pm Ritz Carlton Philadelphia, Liberty B
Names of committee members present. Indicate the chair or co-chairs by using "(ch)" after name.
- Names of committee members excused / absent. You may need to verify with the chair before or after the meeting regarding excused absences.
- List of observers. Indicate name, and institutional affiliation
- A statement that the minutes of the prior meeting were approved, revised or not read.
- Announcements or issues for discussion from the IS Advisory Council meeting.
- Items discussed in order listed on the agenda. Briefly describe main points discussed and state actions taken. A full transcript of the discussion is not necessary, but be sure to include actions, votes, resolutions, motions, etc.
- Give complete information but be succinct. A structured format to your minutes may help. For example, you may wish to use headings such as "Agenda Item" followed by subheadings "Discussion" and "Action Taken."
- If a member of the committee is assigned a task or volunteers for an assignment, state clearly the person's name and the responsibility accepted. Be sure to note any deadlines.
- Minutes should always be objective and impartial. They should be factual and devoid of editorial opinions and comments.
- The time the meeting was adjourned and the place, time and date of the next meeting.
- A statement listing who was the recording secretary responsible for the minutes. Example: Minutes taken by Jane Anybody.
Action Items:
Include action items within your minutes (see points 8 and 9 above), or conclude the minutes with a section entitled "Action Items," listing the item(s) on which action is needed and the responsible committee member, as follows:
|Member Responsible
|Due Date
|1. Contact PPR Committee re: joint project & report back at next meeting
|1. Jane Anybody
|2. Conduct literature search & distribute results to committee by May
|2. Tyler Everybody
|3. Etc.
|3. Etc.
Proofreading and Distribution of Minutes:
Write up the minutes within two weeks after the meeting(s) and distribute them for proofreading, review, and approval to the committee chair, all committee members, and the Executive Committee liaison to the committee / group. Be sure to check for accuracy, any misspellings, and formatting consistency. Once the minutes are approved, the committee secretary or committee chair will upload them (in PDF format) to the IS Archive on ALA Connect. Consult the File Naming Conventions web page for the required file naming structure.
Additional Information:
A helpful title for novice minute-takers is Jane Watson's Minute Taker's Handbook: Taking Minutes at Any Meeting with Confidence (1992) ISBN 0-88908-994-9.
Originally prepared by the IS Communication Committee Instruction Section, Association of College and Research Libraries Revised 2003; Last update by Susan A. Vega Garcia, IS Secretary 2007-08, June 2008


text:
Find us on:
FORCE was founded on the principle that no one should have to face hereditary breast and ovarian cancer alone. FORCE is a national non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.
Review Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2015
List reviewed web resources
The Foundation for Women's Cancer, formerly the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation was founded by the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) in 1991. The Foundation for Women's Cancer is a 501 (c) (3) not for profit organization dedicated to funding research and training, and ensuring education and public awareness of gynecologic cancer prevention, early detection and optimal treatment.
Review Date: Tuesday, February 26, 2013
The mission of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) is to raise awareness and promote education about ovarian cancer. The Coalition is committed to improving the survival rate and quality of life for women with ovarian cancer. Through national programs and local Chapter initiatives, the NOCC's goal is to make more people aware of the early symptoms of ovarian cancer. In addition, the NOCC provides information to assist the newly diagnosed patient, to provide hope to survivors, and to support caregivers.
Review Date: Wednesday, September 07, 2011
The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance is the foremost advocate for women with ovarian cancer in the United States. To advance the interests of women with ovarian cancer, the organization advocates at a national level for increases in research funding for the development of an early detection test, improved health care practices, and life-saving treatment protocols. The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance educates health care professionals and raises public awareness of the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer.
Review Date: Thursday, April 07, 2011
Note: Documents in PDF format require the Adobe Acrobat Reader®. If you experience problems with PDF documents, please download the latest version of the Reader®.
Language Assistance Available


text: Deemed as both an "engaging" composer as well as a "sure, adept, and nuanced" percussionist by The Boston Music Intelligencer, Aaron Trant is an active musician in the Boston area and beyond. Cited for his "melodic, if unpitched, voice" (Spendzine), Aaron's eclectic knowledge of classical, jazz, rock, contemporary and improvised music has made him an asset to many ensembles throughout the United States. Aaron has received great acclaim for his original score and solo percussion performance of the Chris Marker film, La Jetée and is the cofounder, performer and composer for the After Quartet, one of the few groups dedicated to the art of live musical accompaniment of silent film. Aaron also acts as the assistant director, percussionist and composer for both the Boston based new music groups Firebird Ensemble and Primary Duo. Recent commissions and performances of his work include collaborations with soprano Lisa Safer, Firebird Ensemble, Endy Emby, Mark Gould, Prana, Primary Duo, After Quartet, the Boston Modern Orchestra project's Club Cafe Series and the University of Massachusetts at Lowell Percussion Ensemble. His percussion trio, Spiral, can be found on Bachovich Music Publications. Aaron has most recently been awarded a Meet the Composer grant from the New England Foundation for the Arts to compose a new score for the Manfred Noa 1922 German silent film 'Nathan der Weise'. The premier took place on September 11, 2011.


text:
Why Guests Choose to Travel with Us
(click on links below to find out more)
We take care of each and every detail of your trip providing a
first-class level of service and care, so that all you need to do is fully enjoy your travels, in worry-free fashion.
While traveling with us, you will have a personal local trip host, whom you can contact 24/7 by phone or email. He'll always be available to give you prompt, precise and meaningful assistance during your trip.
Our hand-picked guides are personable, professional, speak fluent English, and most importantly: they are eager to share their knowledge with you!
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Trip start date: you can choose any starting date you want for your trip, because all our trips have private departures. That is, you won't be traveling as part of a larger group.
Trip Duration:
7 days / 6 nights.
4 First-class tours and the best tour guides
(2 of them on a private basis).
All the airport transfers detailed below.
6 breakfasts + 1 dinner included in this trip.
3 Destinations visited:
(staying for 1 night)
Flight arrival in Buenos Aires, Argentina!
Welcome at the airport and transfer in private vehicle to your hotel.
Transfer in private vehicle to Buenos Aires Airport.
(staying for 2 nights, with 2 tours included)
Flight arrival in Iguazu.Depending on your flight arrival time you will have time to go first to your hotel or you will be taken directly to your tour and then to your hotel.
Behold the Breathtaking Panoramic Views of Iguazu Falls from the Brazilian Side (private tour)
With 80% of the falls located on the Argentine side, it is only from the Brazilian side that one can see almost all of them at once, in full, breathtakingly panoramic views.
The Brazilian side offers majestic scenic views of the beauty and entirety of the falls; this is because the Brazilian footbridge lies across the river from the falls, offering a unique perspective and epic scenic views, making the Brazilian side different and absolutely complementary to the experience from the Argentinean side.
This is a half-day private tour.
Witness the Unique Power & Might of the Iguazu Falls from the Argentine Side (private tour)
"You might have seen the photos. Even read about it. You might have visited other great waterfalls before. But you probably still have no idea what to expect when you come face to face with the almighty Iguazu Falls," stated CNN in their article "Iguazu Falls: Why this natural wonder should be on everyone's bucket list". To put that into perspective, Iguazu Falls is nearly twice as tall as Niagara Falls and nearly three times as wide. The late U.S. First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, was reportedly so impressed by the sight of Iguazu Falls that she exclaimed "Poor Niagara!"
In 1984, Iguazu Falls became a UNESCO World Heritage Site; and in 2011, it was selected as one of the 7 winners of the "New Seven Wonders of Nature" worldwide competition in which more than 100 million votes were cast.
Their size and scale are unlike any other waterfall on Earth. Made up of a system of 275 waterfalls, they have a staggering water flow of up to almost 3.5 million gallons (13 million liters) per second – enough to fill five Olympic swimming pools!
Unlike Niagara Falls, which is surrounded by developments such as casinos, a revolving restaurant, and coffee shops, Iguazu Falls are located within one of the few remaining inland rainforests in South America, the Atlantic rainforest, which is a haven for more than 2,000 plant species, about 400 birds species, and 80 types of mammals!
This is a full-day private tour.
Transfer in group vehicle to Iguazu airport.
(staying for 2 nights, with 1 tour included)
Flight arrival in El Calafate. Transfer in group vehicle to your hotel.Depending on your arrival time, you can relax at your hotel, enjoy your own explorations, or ask our local representative about suggested activities for your free time.
An Experience of Conquering the Mighty Perito Moreno Glacier!
Discover your inner adventurer as you explore and conquer one of the world's most awe-inspiring and unique glaciers: The Perito Moreno. This splendid ice giant showcases its mighty glory in the Patagonian Glaciers National Park, which has been declared Mankind's Natural Heritage site by UNESCO. The park's vast size not only gives it the distinction of being the largest ice mantle in the world after Antarctica, but also that of being the third largest fresh water reserve on the planet.
Now, picture yourself strapping on your ice spikes, as you begin trekking along this ice giant on a full-day discovery journey along one of the few glaciers in the world, which is actually growing and advancing.
Your full day of adventure will include a close-up navigation of the Perito Moreno Glacier and a visit to the seven panoramic balconies facing the front of the glacier where you'll have amazing picture-taking opportunities. After an adventure-packed day, you'll be able to rest with the satisfaction of having successfully conquered the mighty Perito Moreno!
This is a full-day group tour and has an age restriction (click on tour name above for details).
Transfer in group vehicle to El Calafate airport.
(staying for 1 night, with 1 tour included)
Arrival in Buenos Aires and transfer to your hotel in private vehicle.
Passion and Beauty: an Authentic World-class Tango Experience
You are cordially invited to an evening of live music filled with passion, sensuality and dancing, at one of the best Tango venues in Buenos Aires: La Ventana. Located at the heart of the historic San Telmo neighborhood, you'll enjoy a world-class Tango show in a restored tenement building (or, 'conventillo'). This enchanting show also boasts unique features of Argentine folklore.
As you step through the doors, you'll feel as though you have traveled back in time, with the interior of the building preserved in its original style. The show at La Ventana is a journey through the history of Tango, in which you'll experience different and authentic styles of this mesmerizing dance, each with its own particular set of music, dancing style, and costumes.
Tango is a universe onto itself as it creates a multi-layered marriage of music, dance, singing and poetry.
This tour includes group transfers and dinner with non-alcoholic beverages & wine.
Transfer from your hotel to Ezeiza International Airport in private vehicle.
We look forward to welcoming you again in Argentina!
|IMPORTANT: The order of the activities in each destination can change depending on weather conditions or other circumstances.
* For this itinerary the Unique & Exclusive accommodation is only available in Buenos Aires and Iguazu. For El Calafate the hotel included is the one mentioned in the deluxe category.
** In El Calafate, our Deluxe Category pricing does not include Deluxe category lodging, since none comply with our Deluxe standards. We are including for El Calafate in our Deluxe Category pricing what we call a "Comfort Plus" category lodging, which is somewhat nicer and thus more expensive than our Comfort category.
We can take care of booking all the needed domestic flights for your trip.
|Flight Route
|Total Flight Duration
|Buenos Aires to Puerto Iguazu
(Argentine side)
|1 hour and 45 minutes
|Puerto Iguazu
(Argentine side) to Buenos Aires
|1 hour and 50 minutes
|Buenos Aires to El Calafate
|3 hours and 15 minutes
|El Calafate to Buenos Aires
|2 hours and 55 minutes
Argentina is a very large country, the 8th largest in the world, in fact! As such, traveling by land is too time-consuming. For example, a bus ride from Buenos Aires to Iguazu takes about 18 hours (as opposed to 1 hour and 50 minutes by plane), and the bus ride from Buenos Aires to El Calafate takes about 40 hours (as opposed to 3 hours and 15 minutes by plane).
For a worry-free travel experience, we strongly advise letting us take care of your domestic flights. It's common for local airlines to make several flight changes before (and sometimes during) a trip. Taking care of domestic flights will allow us to closely monitor any flight changes, adapting your trip itinerary as needed.
Our flight issuing service includes: flights booking, daily tracking of flight status and changes, reconfirmation with the airline of each flight before each departure, booking of your flight seats, web check-in (not available for all flights) and assistance with your flights arrangements if there is any flight delay, change or cancellation before or during your trip.
(Prices do not include flights. Click on prices below to change currency)
|Comfort Category
|Deluxe Category
(except in El Calafate*)
|Unique & Exclusive
Category Lodging**
|Double occupancy room:
|$ 1,554
|$ 1,709
|$ 2,624
|Triple occupancy room:
|$ 1,384
|$ 1,509
|$ 2,224
|Discounts available for groups of 4 or more travelers. To get a quote for
4 or more travelers or for a single traveler, click here and fill out the form
The prices above do not include international or domestic airfare.
Our trip prices are final, you won't have to pay anything extra
* In El Calafate, our Deluxe Category pricing does not include Deluxe category lodging, since none comply with our Deluxe standards. We are including for El Calafate in our Deluxe Category pricing what we call a "Comfort Plus" category lodging, which is somewhat nicer and thus more expensive than our Comfort category.
** For this itinerary the Unique & Exclusive accommodation is only available in Buenos Aires and Iguazu. For El Calafate the hotel included is the one mentioned in the deluxe category.
We accept Paypal Credit: finish paying your trip up to 4 months
after your trip starting date, paying no interest or fees.
The total price for all 4 domestic flights needed for this trip starts at $397 per person, subject to availability at the time of booking.
Our airfares include a luggage allowance of 1 carry-on and 1 piece of checked luggage and also they allow reserving seats in advance, at no additional cost. Most airfares for domestic flights in Argentina don't include allowance for checked baggage nor the possibility to book seats with anticipation, but we always book airfares that allow these. The airfare we use also allows for flight changes, if needed (paying a change penalty).
This is a promotional rate, please note that regular airfares can be significantly higher. This means that the sooner you book your trip, the greater our chances of booking this, or similar, airfare.
Prices for domestic flights depend exclusively on their availability at the time of booking, usually with much lower rates available for flights booked well in advance.
For your comfort and peace of mind, we can take care of booking your domestic flights for you. Our services include: checking for all possible flight options to suggest the best flight itinerary and rate for your trip, flight bookings and issuing, daily tracking of flight status and changes, reconfirmation with the airline of each flight before each departure, booking of your flight seats, web check-in (not available for all flights) and assistance with your flight arrangements if there is any delay, change or cancellation before or during your trip.
Letting us take care of your domestic flight arrangements will let you enjoy a worry-free travel experience, as it is very common for local airlines to make flight changes before (and sometimes during) a trip.
We will provide you with the perfect travel companion: our renowned Travel Booklet!
This one-of-a-kind sidekick is full of useful information and personalized tips, for you to make the most out of your trip experience.
"I received the Travel book and it is absolutely the best trip plan that I have received in over 40 years of traveling. Not only are the daily trips described, but the essential data travelers seek as climate, clothing and phone contact numbers are included. Wonderful job."
- Mitch Samuelson and Joan Raskin
"The travel booklet was beyond helpful, from the restaurant recommendations to the tipping guidelines, to the suggested clothes to bring. They answered all our questions before we even had them."
- Sophia Yuen & Liza Chau
"The customized booklet prepared for us was with us every step of the way. What a terrific source of information from places to eat and shop, to hints on tipping, etc."
- Neal & Barbara Eisner
"The Travel Booklet was the best travel tool ever. I cannot think of any way to improve this excellent hand guide book."
- Joan McGirr
"The travel booklet had all sorts of additional important information and recommendations for shopping and dining. I had never seen anything like this before and it proved to be very helpful resource throughout our trip."
- Neill Allen and Nancy Van Gelder
Contact information for our local assistance team, who will go above and beyond in providing you with prompt, precise and meaningful assistance during your trip.
Day-by-day itinerary with detailed tour descriptions, pick-up times, etc.
Our favorite restaurant suggestions for each visited destination.
Full information about your booked hotels: addresses & phones, check-in / check-out times, distance to downtown and to airport, Wi-Fi availability, etc.
Detailed weather information for your travel dates and destinations, such as average rainfall and minimum and maximum temperatures you can expect.
Our clothing suggestions for each destination and specific suggestions for some tours.
All the information you'll need for your flights: airline and flight number, flight times, luggage weight limits, cost for extra weight, available mileage programs, etc.
Taking your mobile phone to Argentina, how to dial from and to every destination, etc.
Helpful tips and other useful information to make the most out of your vacation: time zones, pointers on currency exchange, tipping, advice on museums & art galleries of note, shopping tips, voltage information, etc.
All the necessary travel vouchers for your trip.
The Travel Booklet is designed and sent to you after full trip payment has been made. We will send you a printed version via FedEx, as well as a digital version via e-mail. Many guests download their digital version to their mobile phone (iPhone, Android, etc.) or tablet, which they bring on their trip.
All taxes for the ground services are included (e.g., hotel taxes, tolls), except for Iguazu where there is a hotel tax of $50 Argentine pesos (approximately USD 1) per person and per night (charged for a maximum of 2 nights) that can only be paid directly at your Iguazu hotel when you check-in (this amount may vary subject to the municipal policy).
To provide a worry-free trip experience we include all the necessary entrance tickets to national parks, as well as all other tour-related fees, which are sometimes not included or even mentioned by other travel agencies.
International airfare to and from Argentina is not included.
Domestic flights for this trip are quoted separately from ground services. Prices for domestic flights depend exclusively on flight availability at the time of booking, with much lower rates available for flights booked well in advance. This means that the sooner you book your trip, the lower the airfare will likely be.
As an estimate, the total price for all 4 domestic flights needed for this trip starts at $397 per person (subject to availability). This is a promotional rate, regular airfares can be significantly higher. This means that the sooner you book your trip, the greater our chances of booking this or a similar rate.
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Pocket as many pool balls as you can before the time runs out!
In this Battle Royale inspired .io game, you have 5 minutes to grab a gun and eliminate the other players to reach the number 1 spot! You've only got one life per round so keep an eye out for health and armor.
Find a hiding spot and let your foes battle it out or go in guns blazing. But beware, as the timer counts down the poisonous circle will close in leaving nowhere to hide!
There are no awards for this game!


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It takes months to build a Rose Parade float with lots of preparation, construction and decorating before it hits the streets of Pasadena in the Rose Parade. Miracle-Gro, who has a float in the 2014 parade on New Year's Day, did a video of the construction of their float at the Fiesta Floats facility in Irwindale. The 1 minute video is a timelapse of the float's complete construction.
Having trouble viewing on a mobile device? Click here: Miracle-Gro Rose Parade Float Video


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The Cliffs of Moher are some of Europe's highest sea cliffs. They've even been visited by Harry Potter
Yes, it's a long way down – 214m to be exact. And right below you'll find the roaring Atlantic Ocean. No wonder these soaring sea cliffs in County Clare are a landmark and a favourite film location.
If you're after visual drama, this is the place to come. Look east and you'll see the moody Twelve Bens; look left, and there's Loop Head Lighthouse. But moreover, look closely… this is where you'll find one of the biggest swells in Europe – Aileen's Wave – and if you're lucky you might even spot a surfer.
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"Being me has its privileges." Dumbledore wasn't joking. His job as headmaster of Hogwarts does come with benefits
At certain times of the year, just off the 214m-high Cliffs of Moher in County Clare, the conditions are just right...
Known to surfers as a "cold paradise", there's no better place to take to the water than Ireland's surf capital – Bundoran,...
For those familiar with the Cliffs of Moher, part of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark, the name...
With iconic cliffs at its edge, music at its heart and history all around, has west Clare cracked the formula for holiday...
Wake up to a beachside view, breakfast in a country house, or the bustle of the city.
Want to know more? Ask a question in our Community, they're the people who know Ireland best.
For more information on travel, accommodation and attractions have a look at our brochures and maps.
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Grace Lutheran, Maryland Ave., hold a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with Holy Communion will be held at 8 tonight. Monday, Dec. 24
St. John�s Lutheran, 310 W. Church St., holds two Christmas Eve services today Monday, Dec. 24 � a 5 p.m. Family Service of Lessons and Carols and an 11 p.m. Candlelight Communion Service.
Middle Cross Baptist, 3474 Crouse School Road, serves a free Community Christmas Dinner at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Dec. 25
Covenant United Methodist, 801 W. Franklin Blvd, holds a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 9 tonight, Monday, Dec. 24 with special music and Holy Communion. Covenant will join with Trinity United Methodist Church for a Lessons and Carols service at 11 a.m. on Dec. 30. The joint service will be held at Trinity United Methodist, 1513 Florida St.
Faith United Methodist, 1511 E. Ozark Ave., holds a Candlelight Christmas Eve Service at 11 tonight Monday, Dec. 23 featuring carols and readings to welcome in Christmas.
Providence Presbyterian, 2850 Union Road, holds A Christmas Eve candlelight communion service at 6 tonight. Monday, Dec. 24
Redeemer Lutheran, 1915 S. New Hope Road, holds a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service with Holy Communion will be held at 10:30 tonight. Monday, Dec. 24
Life of Worship Ministries, 405 Cherokee St., Kings Mountain, presents a Christmas Day Meal from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday. Dec. 24 The ministry is located behind Farmers Furniture Store. Dine in or carry out. Free. Call 704-300-4133.
St. Matthew�s Lutheran, 201 N. Piedmont Ave., holds a Candlelight Christmas Eve service at 11 tonight Monday, Dec. 24
Pleasant Grove United Methodist, 2069 NC 182, holds a Christmas Eve Community Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols at 5 tonight Monday, Dec. 24 Call 704-735-7511 or visit facebook.com/pleasantgroveumc.
New Covenant United Methodist, 14514 Lucia-Riverbend Highway, holds its Christmas Eve Communion and Candlelight Service at 6 tonight. Monday, Dec. 24 Call 704-827-4468
Ranlo Baptist, 1517 Spencer Mountain Road, holds its Christmas Eve Service at 10 tonight Monday, Dec. 24
Jesus is Love Holiness Church, 2603 Dallas-Stanley Highway, hosts a Christmas Eve giveaway starting at 7 a.m. today. Monday, Dec 24 Features free fruit, toys, clothes, and food given away while supplies last.
Send Faith announcements to email@example.com or fax them to 704-867-5751.


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The LeTourneau University Department of Theology is offering two scholarship opportunities for high school seniors who want to attend classes at LeTourneau University in the fall. To compete for the new scholarships, high school seniors must apply for acceptance to LETU (applications will be available on site) and must be graduating in Spring 2012. These scholarships are exclusive to this department, and are offered only during the dates and times listed below.
Scholarships will be offered at voice and instrumentation tryouts beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, in the S.E. Belcher Jr. Chapel and Performance Center on the LETU campus in Longview.
Students auditioning must provide their own accompaniment (iPod, CD, pianist) and will sing (or play) in front of a panel of judges. Students will be free to leave after auditioning their songs. Scholarships will be awarded according to talent and need. Accepted students will be notified when scholarships are awarded. Students who win the scholarships will be expected to be involved in the university's new choir. This competition is open to students of any major.
The Theology Department will also be awarding scholarships for theology majors during a preview and scholarship competition from 9 to noon on Saturday, April 28, in Room 104 Health-Hardwick Hall. This is specifically for students interested in pursuing a career in theology, Christian ministry, youth ministry worship arts and biblical studies. The preview event will include a full campus tour, information session with department faculty members, scholarship competition and lunch. The scholarship competition will consist of writing samples and faculty interviews. Scholarships will be awarded directly from the events of this day.
Students interested in these scholarships need to register and can get more information by contacting Barnabas Bridgman by email at email@example.com or by phone at (903)233-4336.
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- "I don't plan to die here, Luke. And while I don't think I can hold Borleias, I might be able to make it a name that causes little Vong children to whimper."
- ―Wedge Antilles
The Battle of Borleias consisted of a series of last-stand actions by the New Republic forces during the Yuuzhan Vong War after the Fall of Coruscant. It commenced with the New Republic's Fleet Group Three retaking the planet Borleias from a Yuuzhan Vong occupation force following their retreat from Coruscant, the galactic capital. Senator Pwoe and his advisors later arrived on the planet and ordered the commander of Fleet Group Three, General Wedge Antilles, to hold Borleias in a delaying action. Antilles complied, but only under the condition that there would be no more political influence in his defensive actions and requisitioned additional military forces for his command.
As expected, the Yuuzhan Vong sent a fleet to retake Borleias under Wyrpuuk Cha. While Antilles had planned to whittle away at Cha's forces in a war of attrition, the sudden arrival of the Star Dreadnought Lusankya as part of Antilles' reinforcements inflicted severe damage on Cha's fleet. In response, the Yuuzhan Vong sent a much larger force to seize the planet under noted strategist Czulkang Lah. Lah's goals were to seize the planet, destroy a supposed New Republic superweapon called the Starlancer Project, and capture Jedi Knight Jaina Solo. The Yuuzhan Vong's goals were thwarted early by Antilles' use of orbital bombardment to stall a ground advance, but Lah was soon reinforced and began slowly overwhelming the garrison.
However, Antilles deceived Lah, as Project Starlancer was a fake designed only to dictate Lah's responses. While the Yuuzhan Vong successfully retook Borleias from the New Republic garrison, they suffered heavy losses, including the death of Czulkang Lah and the loss of a Koros-Strohna worldship thanks to the use of Lusankya as a ramship. Antilles and his forces evacuated the planet after a sustained defense that cost the Yuuzhan Vong heavily. As a result of New Republic personnel, volunteers and Jedi such as Wedge Antilles, Tycho Celchu, Lando Calrissian, Luke Skywalker, Jaina Solo, Kyp Durron, and Jagged Fel, the New Republic was able to buy some breathing room from the Yuuzhan Vong invasion, which eventually allowed the election of Cal Omas and the formation of the Galactic Alliance. Also, the battle helped inflate Solo's reputation as an avatar of Yun-Harla, a Yuuzhan Vong deity.
- "We left Coruscant with just the ships on our backs. We need to take stock, take inventory…and calculate the enormity of the disaster that we've just experienced."
- ―Wedge Antilles on Borleias
The extra-galactic Yuuzhan Vong invaded the galaxy in 25 ABY and immediately began a campaign marked by atrocities, such as the destruction of the planet Ithor. The alien species carved a path through the galaxy, taking numerous worlds and devastating others. The New Republic engaged the Yuuzhan Vong, but were unable to prevent the invaders from breaching the Core Worlds.[8] One of the worlds that the Yuuzhan Vong seized as the staging point for their eventual assault on the galactic capital of Coruscant was Borleias, which sat on a hyperlane crossroads[3] in the Pyria system[4] of the Colonies[5] and was close to Coruscant. The planet was awarded to Domain Kraal, which set about demolishing the remains of the New Republic installation there and grew living grashal buildings over top of the ruins.[3]
In 27 ABY, the Yuuzhan Vong attacked Coruscant despite opposition from New Republic Fleet Groups One, Two, and Fleet Group Three in a sizable engagement. The fleets clashed in space, but Coruscant's defenses were breached and the planet fell to the invaders. The New Republic's Chief of State, Borsk Fey'lya, perished in the battle, leaving it leaderless. Surviving New Republic forces[8] as well as Jedi Master Luke Skywalker and a large contingent of Jedi who had been on Coruscant when it fell,[3] abandoned the capital to the Yuuzhan Vong and withdrew. As they took control of the planet, the Yuuzhan Vong began terraforming the galactic capital to resemble their original homeworld of Yuuzhan'tar.[8]
The battleEdit
New Republic capture of BorleiasEdit
- "Rogue Squadron to Borleias: We're back. We kicked your butt twenty years ago, now we're here to do it again."
- ―Colonel Gavin Darklighter
Having been driven from the galactic capital of Coruscant, elements of the New Republic's Fleet Group Three, without orders, attacked Borleias. Knowing that refugees from Coruscant would head to Borleias, Fleet Group Three's leader, General Wedge Antilles, intended to use Borleias as a temporary waystation for those civilians as well as divert Yuuzhan Vong attention. Two Yuuzhan Vong coralskipper starfighters on patrol spotted the vanguard ship of Antilles' force, Mon Mothma, and attempted to engage it, but Twin Suns Squadron under Master Skywalker destroyed one and forced the other away. Other coralskippers launched from Borleias were quickly defeated and Antilles ordered Twin Suns to escort three transports down to the surface for an assault on the Domain Kraal installation.[3]
Flying in the armed freighter Record Time down to the surface, Lando Calrissian unloaded twenty of his new YVH 1 battle droids. The Yuuzhan Vong initially used the foliage to provide themselves cover, so as to launch thud bugs and razor bugs at their opponents.[3] However, Calrissian had programmed his droids with a unique battle cry: "We are machines! We are greater than the Yuuzhan Vong!"[9] The warriors, whipped into a frenzy, immediately broke cover and assaulted the droids face to face, but the YVH 1s were able to easily defeat them. However, the Yuuzhan Vong had summoned a rakamat creature to assist with their defense. Calrissian, with a team of engineers, buried a load of explosives in the rakamat's path and detonated them once the creature was above them while the rakamat was distracted by X-wings of Twin Suns Squadron flying close air support. The rest of the battle was mostly a mopping up action, as the Kraal survivors were forced to retreat and regroup. Their facility was overrun swiftly by the New Republic, but Antilles elected not to use it as his base of operations on Borleias. He also rejected the remains of the previous New Republic outpost, which the Yuuzhan Vong had destroyed and grown their buildings over. Instead, he opted to refurbish the abandoned Alderaan Biotics facility that had been used years before by Imperial General Evir Derricote. The Yuuzhan Vong installation was stripped of gear for study and then destroyed while New Republic forces cleared a kill zone around the biotics facility and set up starship repair operations, living quarters, and command facilities inside the building.[3]
Holding the lineEdit
- "The Yuuzhan Vong are going to hit us here at Borleias. We need to draw them in, give them some success they don't deserve, so they'll grow to depend on and anticipate tactics that we can abandon when we need to."
- ―Wedge Antilles
In the chaos that followed the hasty retreat from Coruscant, several remaining members of the Advisory Council and a large segment of the New Republic military forces reconvened at Borleias. The newly self-appointed Chief of State Pwoe ordered Antilles to sacrifice Borleias in a holding action long enough for the Advisory Council to flee to heavily defended Kuat. Unaware of the surviving Senate members gathering at Mon Calamari, Antilles grudgingly accepted the order, but followed its letter, not its intent, using it as permission to strike against the centralized Yuuzhan Vong forces. Antilles also ensured he received the material he needed to complete his mission by stipulating to Pwoe that any volunteers from the scattered New Republic Defense Force who wished to join would be allowed to, that no politicians would return to oversee his efforts, and the Executor-class Star Dreadnought Lusankya would be assigned to Antilles. In return, Antilles agreed to hold Borleias and relinquish command of Fleet Group Three.[3]
In a meeting on Borleias, Antilles, Calrissian, Colonel Tycho Celchu, and other noted veterans from the Galactic Civil War, eventually including Han Solo and Leia Organa Solo, agreed to set up a network of Rebellion-style cells on worlds to allow the ideals of the Alliance/New Republic to survive both the devastation of the Yuuzhan Vong and the faltering New Republic government. As part of his planning, Antilles also arranged to role-play the Yuuzhan Vong commander while Celchu in turn took on the role of Antilles in order to facilitate a strategy of a punishing defense of Borleias against the inevitable Yuuzhan Vong response.[3] Upon request from Antilles, Skywalker took it upon himself to involve the Jedi present heavily in the defense of Borleias as well as in the establishment of the resistance network. However, the Jedi Master began to experience visions of darkness on Coruscant, which troubled him.[3]
During the fifth day of the New Republic re-occupation of Borleias, holodocumentarian Wolam Tser and his aide, Tam Elgrin, arrived on Borleias from Coruscant. They updated Antilles on the state of the Vongforming occurring on Coruscant and decided to stay on Borleias to document the defense. Little did Tser or any of the New Republic officers know that Elgrin had been captured by the Yuuzhan Vong while on Coruscant and pressed into service as a spy via mental conditioning that gave him severe headaches for not carrying out their wishes.[3]
Another arrival to Borleias following its occupation was the New Republic Intelligence unit Wraith Squadron[3] that Antilles had founded years earlier.[10] The Wraiths under Garik Loran also conveyed Antilles' wife and two children to Borleias. Their arrival eased Antilles' state of mind and allowed him to transfer command of intelligence operations to her, knowing that she had considerable experience in that area.[3]
An unexpected victoryEdit
- "It's the sort of victory that can cost us the war. We were hoping to get a Yuuzhan Vong commander of average skills, with an average fleet, and I suspect that we did. We were going to string him along for as much time as we could, but circumstances today dictated that we wipe him out right away. The next one they send is going to be much tougher, and that's going to make things more difficult for all of us."
- ―Wedge Antilles
In response to the New Republic seizure of Borleias, Yuuzhan Vong Warmaster Tsavong Lah and his analysts determined that Borleias had some significance to the New Republic. In a slight against Domain Kraal that had lost the world, the warmaster dispatched a fleet under Wyrpuuk Cha, a member of a rival domain, to reclaim the planet. Cha arrived in the Pyria system and was advised by his spies that Antilles was defending two locations, the biotics facility on Borleias and a sensor station on one of its moons. Cha dispatched coralskippers in an aggressive assault on both locations and while his forces sent against the biotics facility were repelled with heavy casualties, the sensor station's defense was far more susceptible to his onslaught. Little did Cha know that the weak defense of the sensor station was a ploy concocted by Antilles to lull Cha into a false sense of security and reinforce the impression that the biotics facility was the only location of importance.[3]
However, while Antilles had planned for an indecisive engagement to string along Cha in a war of attrition, he did not anticipate the arrival of Lusankya in the midst of Cha's fleet. The massive warship, under the flag of Commander Eldo Davip, immediately crippled Cha's flagship and killed the Yuuzhan Vong leader. Accompanying Lusankya was the Millennium Falcon, newly arrived from Hapes, and both ships came under immediate Yuuzhan Vong assault. Antilles dispatched two Star Destroyers, Mon Mothma and Rebel Dream, along with starfighter units including Twin Suns and Rogue Squadrons to clear a path for the new arrivals. Lusankya and her escort inflicted severe damage on the Yuuzhan Vong fleet until its remnants retreated. Meanwhile the Millennium Falcon and its passengers, Jedi from the Mission to Myrkr, outflew coralskipper pursuit to escape unscathed. The Jedi aboard the Millennium Falcon remained on Borleias, adding to its complement of Jedi at the garrison.[3]
Antilles and his defense had defeated the first Yuuzhan Vong response to the seizure of Borleias, but he was not pleased, knowing that the Yuuzhan Vong would return and in greater force. Additionally, while Pwoe had delivered the Star Dreadnought as promised, he had crewed it with an ill-trained and under-qualified skeleton crew. The commanding officer, Eldo Davip, was a mere commander on a ship that merited a full admiral as its commander.[3]
While much of the remainder of Wyrpuuk Cha's fleet had withdrawn, some of it had been commandeered by a rogue pilot of the original Domain Kraal occupiers, Charat Kraal, in a harassment and intelligence gathering campaign against the New Republic. Kraal's intelligence would later be put to use in further Yuuzhan Vong responses against the garrison.[3]
In the lull after the destruction of Cha, Tam Elgrin was employed as a spy by the Yuuzhan Vong. He was given orders remotely by the traitorous New Republic senator Viqi Shesh, who instructed him to get close to scientist Danni Quee, who was a lead developer of anti-Yuuzhan Vong technology. Shesh also had Elgrin plant listening devices that insinuated that high-ranking members of the garrison were spying on each other in an effort to sow distrust. Antilles and his wife were confused by the appearance of the devices, but countered them by scripting conversations for people to say around them. Eventually, Danni Quee deduced from a recording Elgrin had made on Coruscant that he had been captured by the Yuuzhan Vong. She reported this finding to Iella Antilles, who began monitoring Elgrin.[3]
To distract members of the garrison, lingering Yuuzhan Vong forces under Charat Kraal that were based out of the captured lunar station harassed the Borleias garrison to test its weaknesses. Their assaults were directed both against the ships in orbit and the biotics facility, but were fended off by the garrison. Kraal's intent was not to inflict harm, but rather to obtain information to deliver to the next Yuuzhan Vong commander sent to reclaim Borleias.[3]
Crafting a goddessEdit
- "We want them to suspect, not that you're somehow associated with Yun-Harla, not that you're a priestess or something, but that you are her."
- ―Sharr Latt to Jaina Solo
Shortly thereafter, Jedi Knight Jaina Solo, accompanied by fellow Jedi Kyp Durron and starfighter pilot Jagged Fel arrived on Borleias from the Hapes Cluster. Meeting with Antilles and her parents, Solo stated her intention to assist on Borleias. She also wanted to form a new starfighter squadron to experiment with tactics using Force-based coordination. As Luke Skywalker desired to visit Coruscant to investigate his visions of darkness, he turned over command of Twin Suns Squadron to Solo, and Durron and Fel joined the unit as well. Another idea Solo brought was cultivating the notion to the Yuuzhan Vong that she was the personification of Yun-Harla, the Yuuzhan Vong goddess of deception. During actions at Hapes, Solo had used trickery to thwart the Yuuzhan Vong and implied that she was associated with Yun-Harla. With the help of Wraith Squadron's psychological warfare experts, Solo decided to intensify her efforts. To facilitate this deception,[3] she was given top priority in weapons and repairs for her unit,[6] as well as special command privileges, even a porter.[3]
To prepare for the arrival of more Yuuzhan Vong, Antilles deployed a wide sensor net to augment his ground patrols, enlisting the help of the Jedi to do so. Luke Skywalker, his wife Mara Jade Skywalker, and newly-arrived Tahiri Veila roamed the jungle planting stakes containing gravitic sensors, knowing they were being observed by the Yuuzhan Vong. While the Yuuzhan Vong dug up the stakes, they didn't notice that the three Jedi were also deploying portable burrowing droids which contained the same sensors. Attempts to engage the Jedi were unsuccessful and resulted in several Yuuzhan Vong warriors being slain. In order to manipulate the next Yuuzhan Vong commander, Antilles developed a scheme that would dictate the Yuuzhan Vong to react when he wanted them to. The "Starlancer Project" was a fake long-range weapons system supposedly formed by the merging of Yuuzhan Vong lambent crystals and superlaser technology. The project allegedly was facilitated by crudely-constructed spacecraft dubbed pipefighters. Their test flights were closely observed by the Yuuzhan Vong.[3]
Arrival of Czulkang LahEdit
- "He's Tsavong Lah's father. An old, fierce, terrifying warrior and teacher of warriors. He's like the Garm Bel Iblis of the Yuuzhan Vong."
- ―Tycho Celchu
The Yuuzhan Vong did respond, and in force. Advised by one his aides, Maal Lah, that Garm Bel Iblis, the tactician most respected by the Yuuzhan Vong, was likely in collusion at the garrison on Borleias, Tsavong Lah felt he needed a mind of equal strategic prowess to command the counter-attack, and did not have the time to attend to the conquest himself. Lah personally went to visit his father and retired warmaster Czulkang Lah to enlist his help. The elder Lah, a warrior considered among the greatest strategists of the Yuuzhan Vong but relegated to training duties due to age, agreed to take command as long as he was allowed to remain on the front lines after the recapture of Borleias. The warmaster agreed and Czulkang Lah left to retake Borleias with the entire force of Domain Hul.[3]
Upon arrival, Lah released a number of civilian prisoners into space in ooglith cloakers from a Yuuzhan Vong vessel, dooming them to a fiery re-entry into Borleias's atmosphere. At the time of his arrival, Solo, Fel, and Durron were in space practicing Force-based coordination of their starfighters' weapons to fire synchronized laser blasts. Several coralskippers were sent to distract Solo and her flight from assaulting the larger ship. They were successful in doing so, but all the Yuuzhan Vong starfighter analogs were destroyed. As the hostages floated towards Borleias on a trajectory that would cause them to burn up during re-entry, Fel innovated a tactic to save them. With precise, low-powered maneuvering, he used his starfighter to change their momentum away from Borleias, buying time for shuttles to arrive and save most of the hostages. While his actions were applauded, Antilles and Celchu took this as a sign that the Yuuzhan Vong had returned with a more impressive fleet and commander.[3]
Upon arrival, Lah was briefed by Charat Kraal on the disposition of the New Republic garrison, including the pipefighters. Rather than executing him for suborning elements of Cha's fleet, Lah promoted Kraal for his initiative and assigned him to helping capture Jaina Solo. As her twin brother, Jacen Solo, was in Yuuzhan Vong custody and twins were held in special significance by the Yuuzhan Vong, her capture was deemed an important war objective to facilitate a twin sacrifice.[3]
During a test-firing mission, the pipefighters were escorted into space by Rogue, Twin Suns, Blackmoon and the Wild Knights squadrons while the Millennium Falcon conveyed a number of Jedi trainees to a hidden Jedi base in the Maw Cluster. Two squadrons of coralskippers were sent after each pipefighter and were engaged by the New Republic defenders, with Twin Suns engaged last. The New Republic defenders were able to fend off the assaults with ease, but the lack of intensity in the engagement prompted Wraith Squadron tactics expert, Voort saBinring, who was flying with Twin Suns, to suspect a trap. He was correct, as two Yuuzhan Vong interdictors and coralskipper reinforcements arrived to trap Solo. Her X-wing had been identified by a creature flung onto it by Elgrin.[3]
Cut off from reinforcements, a desperate unorthodox combat maneuver by Jagged Fel which involved him flying interference for a pair of shadow bombs controlled by Solo and Fel destroyed one of the interdictors and drew off the Vong forces to allow the rest of the squadron to escape. However, the maneuver left Fel himself surrounded, and Jaina refused to abandon him, disobeying direct orders. To save Fel, Kyp Durron manipulated the dovin basal on an interdictor ship until it destroyed itself and the three pilots escaped as New Republic reinforcements arrived. Though Antilles had originally planned on disciplining Solo on her return to Borleias for insubordination, Fel interceded on her behalf after learning she had affections for him, allowing her action to go unpunished.[3]
However, the engagement had another purpose crafted by Antilles. During the test flight, the pipefighters involved "fired" a blast that was aimed at the Yuuzhan Vong worldship over Coruscant. Actually, the damaging blast fired at the Yuuzhan Vong vessel was a long range turbolaser burst from a New Republic warship, but Tsavong Lah was deceived into believing his worldship had come under assault from a new superweapon. The Yuuzhan Vong were even more convinced after Tam Elgrin spotted Danni Quee working on the plans for the large lambent crystals needed in the pipefighter. Elgrin was prompted to kill Quee, but could not bring himself to do so. His compelled espionage was a source of guilt for him, but he felt unable to escape his pain-inducing conditioning.[3]
Emperor's HammerEdit
- "We're going to face them with an enemy they've never had the displeasure of fighting. We're going to hit them with the Empire."
- ―Wedge Antilles on Operation Emperor's Hammer
In response to the attack on his worldship, Tsavong Lah ordered his father to destroy the garrison in a swift, all-out assault. Reluctantly, Czulkang Lah complied, though he disagreed with the hastiness of the warmaster's orders. Thanks to both manned patrols and the sensor net Antilles had constructed, the New Republic garrison was aware of that Lah was commencing his push, but chose not to engage the landing forces as he preferred the Yuuzhan Vong to come to him.[3]
As the two forces prepared for battle, Tam Elgrin summoned the will to confess his role as a spy to Jaina Solo even as his conditioning caused cranial hemorrhaging due to his disobedience, and he was taken for medical treatment. Also, Luke and Mara Skywalker, accompanied by members of Wraith Squadron and Tahiri Veila, set out for Coruscant on an intelligence-gathering mission, using the confusion of the assault to slip through the defenses. They were flown out on the Record Time by Lando Calrissian and covertly inserted into orbit before Record Time was destroyed and Calrissian returned to Borleias in a B-wing starfighter.[3]
On the forty-eighth day of the New Republic occupation of Borleias, Lah launched a combined ground and space assault on the Borleias garrison, landing troops in multiple locations to encircle the biotics facility. Lah's initial plan had involved distracting the garrison with a space assault while his troops advanced on the biotics garrison relatively unnoticed, but he failed to achieve the element of surprise. Antilles deployed his ground and some starfighter forces to defend the garrison, including Twin Suns. Under Solo's leadership, the squadron was able to slip through the tree canopy and slip a pair of shadow bombs under two rakamats, destroying them. Their success was reined in, though, as Antilles ordered a retreat to match the rest of the defensive perimeter. The sheer number of troops and rakamats overwhelmed the beleaguered defenders and their accompanying dozen starfighter squadrons.[3]
Antilles continued to withdraw his forces until they were concentrated in a tight perimeter around the old Alderaanian Biotics facility, which was slowly being surrounded by concentrated Yuuzhan Vong ground troops. Many of his pilots chafed under the constant retreating until the Yuuzhan Vong were near the biotics facility. At that point, over the misgivings of Eldo Davip, Antilles initiated Operation Emperor's Hammer—the use of Lusankya to deliver an orbital bombardment to the massed Yuuzhan Vong ground troops, a tactic which they had never encountered.[3] After the loss of so many ground troops, the Yuuzhan Vong temporarily withdrew.[6]
- "I bring you ships and ground reinforcements to help you in your aims."
- ―Harrar to Czulkang Lah
Both sides, having been depleted by the major clash on Borleias, soon received reinforcements. The volunteer starfighter unit Taanab Yellow Aces under Wes Janson arrived, along with the supply transport Reckless Abandon, and were escorted through a wave of coralskippers by Rebel Dream and Twins Suns Squadron.[6] Janson had flown with Antilles years before in Rogue Squadron[8] and Antilles was pleased to have the veteran pilot's assistance.[6]
Czulkang Lah was also reinforced by a sizable Yuuzhan Vong force sent to him by his son. Tsavong Lah also sent a priest devoted to Yun-Harla, Harrar, to help with the capture of Jaina Solo. Upon Harrar's arrival, the elder Lah placed Charat Kraal under Harrar's command. With his forces bolstered, Lah was ready to launch his next sortie, which would both test the defenders as well as introduce a new intelligence asset since the neutralization of Tam Elgrin.[6]
Two matalok capital ships were dispatched to assault the biotics facility from low atmosphere and were engaged by New Republic starfighters, including Twin Suns and Rogue Squadrons. Several coralskippers rammed the protective shield around the biotics facility, allowing for one to crash-land and deposit a disguised Yuuzhan Vong agent onto the biotics facility grounds. However, Solo employed her newest weapon, a missile that fired dozens of decoy projectiles designed to emulate proton torpedoes and distract the Yuuzhan Vong defensive dovin basals. With the defenses confused, the real torpedoes fired by her squadron were able to mortally wound the matalok, destroying the vessel. The Yuuzhan Vong, disheartened by the loss of the warship, withdrew, as they had successfully inserted their operative.[6]
The Yuuzhan Vong operative, tasked with finding and destroying Project Starlancer, was able to infiltrate the biotics facility and even captured a Bothan mechanic who had been working on the pipefighter. However, he was discovered by a newly-freed Elgrin, who recognized the Yuuzhan Vong biots that the operative was using in his espionage. Elgrin followed the agent down a tunnel where the Yuuzhan Vong was torturing the mechanic for information. Elgrin distracted the warrior and freed the mechanic, but was unable to subdue the Yuuzhan Vong. However, security forces arrived and killed the infiltrator before he could kill Elgrin or escape.[6]
Solo continued devising new methods of confusing and deceiving the Yuuzhan Vong. Having been given a B-wing starfighter by Antilles, she recruited a shuttle pilot named Beelyath to fly it as an assault starfighter. However, the special privileges and resources afforded to Solo and her unit rankled with some of the other pilots. Furthermore, Jagged Fel was encouraged to return to Chiss space from whence he and his subordinate Shawnkyr Nuruodo had come by Nuruodo, who felt that their mission to report on the threat of the Yuuzhan Vong was complete. Though he decided to remain on Borleias and aid the defense, Nuruodo made him promise that if she died, he would return in her place.[6]
While Solo had been busy aiding the defense of Borleias, her parents had been establishing resistance cells on other worlds. Upon their return to Borleias, they found the planet besieged by the Yuuzhan Vong. Dovin basal minefields and coralskipper patrols were layered around the world. They also reported to Antilles that the dovin basals were now capable of pursuing specific spacecraft that were considered valuable to the Yuuzhan Vong, such as the Millennium Falcon.[6]
Despite his success in defending the besieged Pyria system against Lah's first major attack, Antilles knew he would not be able to resist a full scale assault by the Yuuzhan Vong forces. In the ensuing skirmishes, the Yuuzhan Vong targeted the space fleet, slowly whittling away at the numerically inferior New Republic forces. Lusankya was heavily targeted, sustaining severe damage and Antilles opted to instead co-opt the Star Dreadnought for another purpose than fleet engagement rather than continue repairing it. The return of Luke Skywalker and his party from Coruscant witnessed the near-constant bombardment of the biotics facility and ships in orbit. Due to casualties in Blackmoon Squadron, Skywalker and his wife were installed as the replacement commander and executive officer respectively.[6]
As Antilles prepared for the final clash with Lah, he had his wounded covertly ferried up to ships in orbit in preparation for an escape. The general also revealed his battle plan and the true nature of Project Starlancer to his staff. While Pwoe had demanded that Borleias be held to the end, Antilles had chosen to inflict severe losses on the Yuuzhan Vong and then retreat with as much of his command as possible.[6]
Final engagementEdit
- "In a minute, I will be dead. Too many clever minds, however heretical they may be, have undone me."
- ―Czulkang Lah's last words to Tsavong Lah
The Yuuzhan Vong had slowly drawn the noose around the Borleias garrison, but it was Antilles who dictated the timing of the final assault by launching his pipefighters and evacuating the installation. Convinced of the veracity of the threat posed by Project Starlancer, Czulkang Lah dispatched his forces to destroy the pipefighters before they could fire. Charat Kraal and a sizable force of specially-trained coralskipper pilots were sent to assault the elite squadrons protecting the pipefighters and specifically attempt to capture Jaina Solo. As the pipefighters reached orbit, Antilles also ordered Lusankya to break orbit as well and head for space. While the Yuuzhan Vong were focused on the pipefighters, Antilles had different objectives for the battle.[6]
The escort starfighters protecting the pipefighters jumped to hyperspace to rendezvous with Lusankya, which had been pulled from hyperspace near a dovin basal mine and close to the Domain Hul worldship. While the Yuuzhan Vong destroyed the pipefighters with ease, they were unprepared for Lusankya to appear so close to the worldship. Another surprise for the Yuuzhan Vong occurred when the Star Destroyer Errant Venture, which had been reinforced with defensive batteries removed from Lusankya, destroyed two mataloks before escaping to hyperspace. In fact, Lusankya was only lightly armed and crewed by a single individual. The entire final engagement was a massive trap by Antilles, who had converted Lusankya into an explosive-filled ramming ship designed to destroy the worldship in a plan he dubbed "Operation Emperor's Spear." Using technology developed by Danni Quee, Han Solo launched four missiles that mimicked the gravitic signature of the Millennium Falcon, which caused dovin basals to enter the system in an attempt to capture the Falcon. This prevented the withdrawal of Yuuzhan Vong worldship.[6]
Coralskippers from the Yuuzhan Vong worldship, soon reinforced by Charat Kraal's force, engaged the six squadrons protecting Lusankya, but sustained severe casualties. While Lusankya was heavily damaged, its engines remained intact, propelling it towards the worldship, which was hampered from jumping to hyperspace by the dovin basal mines. While the Yuuzhan Vong attempted to capture Solo, members of Twin Suns Squadron emulated her behavior and ship's gravitic signal so she could escape Yuuzhan Vong attacks. In another deception designed to exploit the Yuuzhan Vong fixation with Solo, she developed a weapon dubbed the goddess missile, which had the same gravitic signal as her X-wing. Wraith Squadron pilot Sharr Latt controlled the missile from the B-wing flown by Beelyath and used it to lure numerous Yuuzhan Vong pilots, including Charat Kraal, to their doom in a dovin basal minefield.[6]
The battle came to a head when Luke Skywalker signaled for reinforcements to assist Lusankya as the Star Dreadnought approached the worldship. Mon Mothma arrived, powering up its gravity well projectors to further hamper the worldship's motion. Quee's advances also allowed Mon Mothma to jam the yammosk war coordinators, disrupting Yuuzhan Vong synchronization. The New Republic forces pinned the worldship in place and defended Lusankya while Eldo Davip drove the massive Lusankya deep into the heart of the worldship where it detonated. Lah had realized that his vessel was doomed and contacted his son in his last moments, informing the warmaster of the Yuuzhan Vong success at re-taking the planet and his imminent death. Having locked Lusankya into a collision course, Davip escaped from the massive suicide vessel in a BTL Y-wing starfighter that had been concealed in Lusankya for his escape just as the prow of Lusankya rammed into the worldship and destroyed it.[6] For his efforts, Davip was promoted to major general.[11]
Meanwhile, having coordinated the evacuation from the biotics facility, Wedge Antilles found himself as the last man remaining on the planet's surface. With Yuuzhan Vong forces approaching, he took off in a remaining X-wing and set off to join the fleet when he came across a stranded transport undergoing repairs. Risking his life to defend the evacuees, Antilles singlehandedly held off Yuuzhan Vong ground forces and coralskippers. The pilot was able to add over a dozen coralskipper kills to his name and saw the transport to safety before his ship succumbed to battle damage. As his fighter was about to be destroyed, Rogue and Blackmoon Squadrons returned and drove off his attackers.[6]
- "Take us back to Coruscant. Take us back where we can look on victory instead of disaster."
- ―Harrar following the conclusion of the battle.
The Yuuzhan Vong were thrown into confusion by these losses and the surviving New Republic forces withdrew without any further major engagement. While they were successful in retaking Borleias, the Vong suffered heavily in terms of ships and personnel, including the legendary Czulkang Lah. This blow was enough to shake the confidence of Warmaster Tsavong Lah and blunted the Yuuzhan Vong offensive. Left in command of the remains of Charat Kraal's group, Harrar opted not to pursue, preferring to withdraw to Coruscant.[6]
Antilles and his fleet withdrew and continued to see service throughout the Yuuzhan Vong War. Jaina Solo's status among both the New Republic and the Yuuzhan Vong grew substantially as a result of the engagement. The Yuuzhan Vong came to regard her as an avatar of Yun-Harla, a notion which she exploited.[12] The resistance network laid by the Solos and other defenders of Borleias would also prove to aid in the war effort.[11]
Both Wolam Tser and Tam Elgrin escaped Borleias after having stayed for most of the siege to record holo footage of the battle and the defenders.[6] This footage was later turned into a holodocumentary dubbed Battle of Borleias. This documentary portrayed the defenders of Borleias as heroic and boosted both morale and recruitment for the New Republic's defense forces.[12]
The time it took the Yuuzhan Vong to recover allowed the New Republic to recoup, recover, and reorganize itself into the Galactic Alliance while planning new engagements against the invaders. The election of Cal Omas as Chief of State over other rivals such as Pwoe meant that the galaxy was able to be unified against the Yuuzhan Vong and the respite gained from the hitherto relentless Yuuzhan Vong offensive allowed the New Republic to implement a strategy of harassment and training until the Yuuzhan Vong ready fleet could be smashed at the Battle of Ebaq 9, which would also see the death of Tsavong Lah.[12]
Behind the scenesEdit
The Battle of Borleias was created for the Enemy Lines Duology by Aaron Allston as part of the New Jedi Order novel series. According to Allston's website, the first book, Rebel Dream begins a few days after Luke and Mara Skywalker's departure from Hapes as recorded in The New Jedi Order: Dark Journey, while the end of Rebel Stand overlaps the beginning of the next book in the series, The New Jedi Order: Traitor. Despite the backdrop of war and in particular the Battle of Borleias throughout the duology, Allston said that both novels are about families.[13]
Allston also said on his website that he didn't specifically name Operation Emperor's Hammer, which was featured in the Battle of Borleias, after the Emperor's Hammer fan group, but said it was possible there was a connection. Allston also described some of the backstory for the Yuuzhan Vong military commander in charge for most of the Battle of Borleias, Czulkang Lah. Lah was established as having earned his military reputation during internecine clashes within the Yuuzhan Vong, wargames, and against any other enemies that the Vong encountered during their flight to the galaxy.[13]
The Battle of Borleias was mentioned several times in later New Jedi Order books[11][12] and also in several subsequent reference works, including The New Essential Chronology, The New Essential Guide to Droids, and the The Essential Atlas. References in other works have also been made to Battle of Borleias, an in-universe documentary produced by Wolam Tser about the course of the battle.[12]
- The New Jedi Order: Enemy Lines I: Rebel Dream (First appearance)
- The New Jedi Order: Enemy Lines II: Rebel Stand
- The New Jedi Order: Destiny's Way (Mentioned only)
- The New Jedi Order: Ylesia (Mentioned only)
- The New Jedi Order: The Final Prophecy (Mentioned only)
- The New Jedi Order: The Unifying Force (Mentioned only)
- Legacy of the Force: Exile (Indirect mention only)
- Fate of the Jedi: Conviction (Mentioned only)
- The Official Star Wars Fact File 140 (YUU11, Do Or Die)
- The New Essential Chronology
- The New Essential Guide to Droids
- The Essential Atlas
Notes and referencesEdit
- ↑ The New Jedi Order: Dark Journey
- ↑ The New Jedi Order: Traitor
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 3.25 3.26 3.27 3.28 3.29 3.30 3.31 3.32 3.33 3.34 3.35 3.36 3.37 3.38 3.39 3.40 3.41 3.42 3.43 3.44 3.45 3.46 3.47 3.48 3.49 3.50 3.51 3.52 3.53 3.54 3.55 3.56 3.57 3.58 3.59 3.60 3.61 3.62 3.63 3.64 3.65 3.66 3.67 3.68 3.69 3.70 3.71 3.72 3.73 3.74 3.75 3.76 3.77 3.78 3.79 3.80 3.81 3.82 3.83 3.84 3.85 3.86 3.87 3.88 The New Jedi Order: Enemy Lines I: Rebel Dream
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 X-Wing: Rogue Squadron
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Star Wars: The Essential Atlas Online Companion on StarWars.com (article) (backup link)
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 6.19 6.20 6.21 6.22 6.23 6.24 6.25 6.26 6.27 6.28 6.29 6.30 6.31 6.32 The New Jedi Order: Enemy Lines II: Rebel Stand
- ↑ Rebel Dream states 12, and the Taanab Yellow Aces arrive in Rebel Stand
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 The New Essential Chronology
- ↑ The New Essential Guide to Droids
- ↑ X-Wing: Wraith Squadron
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 The New Jedi Order: The Unifying Force
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 The New Jedi Order: Destiny's Way
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Aaron Allston. Frequently Asked Questions: Star Wars Novels. Aaron Allston's Home Page. Archived from the original on October 4, 2012. Retrieved on October 4, 2012.


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For current American Idol contestant Erika Van Pelt, last week moving into the top twelve, handling the pressure of performing in front of an audience of millions should be a walk in the park.
After all, her very first gig with the Sultans of Swing, the Martha's Vineyard based event band most commonly seen at weddings and summer events, was a Nantucket wedding in which she sang two hours of overtime as a storm rolled in over the horizon.
Talk about a high-pressure situation.
"She was a little nervous," Sultans musical director Ryan Clauch recalled. "I mean, she's confident, but she wanted to do a good job."
There was no need to worry, though.
"The clients were just loving her," said Mr. Clauch. "It was a really long day for her, but she was a champion."
Ms. Van Pelt began performing with the Sultans three years ago, hired by director Jerry Bennett on the recommendation of bandmember Jeffrey Thomas (like Ms. Van Pelt, Mr. Thomas is a native Rhode Islander).
"Jeffrey, our singer, said to me 'Jerry, you gotta check this kid out,'" Mr. Bennet recalled in a phone conversation with the Gazette.
"I think she's such a great talent and a great person," he said, citing Ms. Van Pelt's ability to connect with a crowd — be it regional high school juniors at their prom or summer diners at the Wharf — as one of her many strengths.
"My favorite is when she goes into the crowd and does What's Up, the 4 Non Blondes song," Mr. Bennett continued. "She takes off her high heels and goes off barefoot, right into the middle of group."
But it is Ms. Van Pelt's voice, praised by American Idol judges for its unique tone, that carries the day.
"It's sultry, salty, passionate, soulful, uplifting," said Mr. Clauch. "I don't have enough nice things to say."
Last week, Ms. Van Pelt blew away the Idol judges with her rendition of Whitney Houston's I Believe in You and Me (the performance gave Jennifer Lopez "goosies", while Randy Jackson described it as "absolutely amazing").
"What she brings to the table is extremely versatile," Mr. Clauch said. "She would sing Ave Maria in church and do jazz during cocktail hour."
"Some of the judges have said, you know, don't be afraid to let it all out — and I think that's true. Some of those other singers on the show tend to oversoul. [Erika] has a coolness about what she does, and she should maintain that while [still] pushing the envelope," he offered as armchair advice.
And the best way to push that envelope?
"She can rap," Mr. Clauch said matter-of-factly. "In the middle of a song she'll superimpose a rap from the mid-90s .... maybe she's going to bust it out."
"I hope she does," he said. "She's really good at it; she has a lot of rhythm in her voice."
Sultans road manager Patrick Joyce agreed.
"No one's seen [that] on American Idol yet — I'm hoping she does something," he said.
"It's awesome hearing her perform," said Mr. Joyce. "I like feeling the energy from the band and from the crowd — it's just this magic moment that you get. That's really why we all do it."


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The United States has ten new citizens as of February 7th. The Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center's faculty and their family members were sworn in during a Special Naturalization Ceremony, held at the Presidio of Monterey.
The Institute's commandant, Col. Danial D. Pick, delivered the opening remarks welcoming each new citizen and briefly describing their path towards American citizenship. Section Chief Anita Erfan, from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, officiated the Oath of Allegiance, while USCIS officer Danilo Ayran, who was born in the Philippines, delivered keynote remarks about his own naturalization experience.
This was the third such ceremony held at DLIFLC, which was preceded by a USCIS outreach event, held earlier that same day. During the event, USCIS officials were on hand to introduce those interested in becoming U.S. citizens to the process and to answer any general questions. During the one on one segment, attendees at the outreach event could ask USCIS officers personally relevant questions. Almost sixty DLIFLC faculty and staff took part in the outreach event.
Story and photo credits
Story by Dusan Tatomirovic, DLIFLC PAO
130207-A-1550S-001 DLIFLC Naturalization ceremony, at POM. Photo by Natela Cutter, DLIFLC PAO
Posted Date: 7 February 2013


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In the early 1920s, Niels Bohr was struggling to reimagine the structure of matter. Previous generations of physicists had thought the inner space of an atom looked like a miniature solar system with the atomic nucleus as the sun and the whirring electrons as planets in orbit. This was the classical model.
But Bohr had spent time analyzing the radiation emitted by electrons, and he realized that science needed a new metaphor. The behavior of electrons seemed to defy every conventional explanation. As Bohr said, "When it comes to atoms, language can be used only as in poetry." Ordinary words couldn't capture the data.
Bohr had long been fascinated by cubist paintings. As the intellectual historian Arthur Miller notes, he later filled his study with abstract still lifes and enjoyed explaining his interpretation of the art to visitors. For Bohr, the allure of cubism was that it shattered the certainty of the object. The art revealed the fissures in everything, turning the solidity of matter into a surreal blur.
Black Peacock, 1950
This mobile is a powerful example of how an art form can be tailored to the physiology of a specific area in the brain. Calder's composition anticipated, artistically, the physiological properties of the cells of an area called V5, which are selectively responsive to motion and its direction. Viewed from a distance, the separate pieces of the mobile appear as static spots of varying sizes. But as the pieces move in different directions, each one stimulates only the category of cell that is selectively responsive to the direction in which the spot is moving. Semir Zeki, Neuroscientist, University College London © Christie's Images/Corbis
Bohr's discerning conviction was that the invisible world of the electron was essentially a cubist world. By 1923, de Broglie had already determined that electrons could exist as either particles or waves. What Bohr maintained was that the form they took depended on how you looked at them. Their very nature was a consequence of our observation. This meant that electrons weren't like little planets at all. Instead, they were like one of Picasso's deconstructed guitars, a blur of brushstrokes that only made sense once you stared at it. The art that looked so strange was actually telling the truth.
It's hard to believe that a work of abstract art might have actually affected the history of science. Cubism seems to have nothing in common with modern physics. When we think about the scientific process, a specific vocabulary comes to mind: objectivity, experiments, facts. In the passive tense of the scientific paper, we imagine a perfect reflection of the real world. Paintings can be profound, but they are always pretend.
This view of science as the sole mediator of everything depends upon one unstated assumption: While art cycles with the fashions, scientific knowledge is a linear ascent. The history of science is supposed to obey a simple equation: Time plus data equals understanding. One day, we believe, science will solve everything.
But the trajectory of science has proven to be a little more complicated. The more we know about reality—about its quantum mechanics and neural origins—the more palpable its paradoxes become. As Vladimir Nabokov, the novelist and lepidopterist, once put it, "The greater one's science, the deeper the sense of mystery."
Consider, for example, the history of physics. Once upon a time, and more than once, physicists thought they had the universe solved. Some obscure details remained, but the basic structure of the cosmos was understood. Out of this naïveté, relativity theory emerged, fundamentally altering classical notions about the relationship of time and space. Then came Heisenberg's uncertainty principle and the surreal revelations of quantum physics. String theorists, in their attempts to reconcile ever widening theoretical gaps, started talking about eleven dimensions. Dark matter still makes no sense. Modern physics knows so much more about the universe, but there is still so much it doesn't understand. For the first time, some scientists are openly wondering if we, in fact, are incapable of figuring out the cosmos.


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Facilities Master PlanIn 2010, Three Rivers College contracted with Dille and Traxel, LLC to assess the space needs of the college and to develop a Facilities Master Plan for its main Poplar Bluff campus. The results of this space assessment showed a deficiency to the tune of over 63,000 square feet of building space. It also identified several key areas of new and expanded programming that would provide services for the district currently underserved and additional income for the college.
This document proposes to expand the existing campus to provide Student Services, Applied Technology, Fine Arts, Fitness and Recreation, Athletics, Maintenance, and other renovations. By adding approximately 100,000 square feet to the existing campus, Three Rivers College will be in better position to meet the needs of its taxing district and beyond.
The goal for this master plan is to demonstrate the current need for growth, identify potential areas of development, and estimate project budgets. The intent is to help continue Three Rivers' reputation as a quality learning institution with a community setting and provide guidance for the ongoing development of a competitive campus for the future.
Three Rivers College is a growing higher education institution with a mission to provide quality, accessible, and affordable learning opportunities and services for academic scholarship and professional success. Established in Poplar Bluff, MO in 1966, Three Rivers is a public two-year institution that provides open-access higher education opportunities in Southeast Missouri. The vision of the college is to become the preeminent, cutting-edge community of learners with a student-first focus, and to operate as a vibrant, dynamic catalyst for the creation of opportunities that foster learning and student success.
The purpose of this Facilities Master Plan is to record a physical facilities design vision for Three Rivers College for a minimum of the next ten years. Several of the factors that affected the design of this document include new strategic and operational needs, safety concerns, efficiencies, and room utilization effectiveness. Together with the vision of the college administration we have created a plan to provide quality, technologically advanced instructional space as well as community environment that will serve the college well into the next two decades.
Here you can download the complete Three Rivers College Facilities Master Plan in the PDF format: