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- Apr 07, 2016
- 18 comments
- by Fully Filmy
The Love Run
Everything started on 29th May, 2015. I was getting non-stop raving reviews about Premam. Nowadays, everyone with a Facebook account write reviews. I really got frustrated and my inner self told, "**a kaelambu. Padam yepdi irukunu paapom." I went to Escape Cinemas, watched the movie wearing a 'frustration filter.' I could grasp few things but left out around 90% the movie offered. After I came to my room, I felt bad about myself.
Me, being an aspiring filmmaker, how could I be manipulated by others' personal opinion about a movie. Let it be positive reviews, but how can I get frustrated? I should've ignored and watched the movie with an open mind. I didn't do that. This is not right.
I went to watch it again. I could sense a silence in me. Everything changed. The movie not only offered great characters, visuals and music, it delivered an immense amount of technical brilliance. For a general viewer, he/she might be satisfied with the entertainment quotient alone, but for people like me, who pay immense attention to details and post production works, this movie is a goldmine.
I went to the same theatre again, again, again, and again. I watched it in theatre for six times.
"Will watch it one last time," that is what I told myself and went to the theatre. :-P
I had friends trolling me for this. :-P After the movie got pulled out of theatre, I even bought the original DVD. Why I watched it multiple times? Continue reading this blog till the end. You will know.
P.S.: Continue reading by listening to 'Premam' songs and scores. You will really get into the mood.
DIRECTION: Alphonse Puthren
"Cinema is a matter of what is in the frame and what's out." - Martin Scorsese
The Director has made sure what should be kept inside the frame. Being just the second movie in his resume, the amount of work done for every aspect of the movie is to be appreciated. A very sincere effort.
Flirting with reality
Audience get involved in a movie when they begin to relate themselves with the movie. This involvement requires the onscreen characters to go through the same life instances and emotions that the audience have been through or still undergoing. Let us have a look.
The Best Buddies
Not all are lucky enough to have the same best friends right from childhood, but some do.
The 'Lime' Connection
Some things never change. That is what makes being a close friend special. They remain always the same.
This is constant for everyone. Parents have a theory. I call it 'the parental theory.'"Whether you are good at studies or not, you must go to tuition." A stupid theory by the way.
A tea shop.
Guys waiting for girls to come out. Following one's crush. Friends encouraging the poor fellow to propose. You know the deal.
Crush calls
I bet there is not a single guy who hasn't made this call. If one hasn't, then he has missed one of the best adrenaline rush.
The thing is, the girl doesn't attend. It's always the father. Do you hear me? IT'S ALWAYS THE FATHER!
The Love gang
Guys have a rule. "Everyone can follow a girl till she decides her boyfriend. Then not to interfere with her personal life." Though guys follow this, it really is a killer feel inside, seeing your crush being followed by others. It freaking hurts.
The Pseudo-Gangster Phase
We all begin as a Johnson & Johnson baby boy at college and after we step into the second year, it's all..
" Kannu chuvakkanu pallu kadikkanu
Mushti churuttanu aake viyarkkanu"
Though banned now, it once existed. Devastating for some and exciting for few.
"Enter thy woman"
This one exists for 18 years somewhere in an unknown place, enters your life suddenly, hits your eyes, grabs your heart and changes how you view the world upside down. <3
Aaaaaaaannnnd drum roll.....this happens! Love at first sight. And it is dope.
The Staff(s)
College staffs are peculiar creatures. Some project themselves as very strict, but no matter how much they project they'll always be students' Mr. Bean.
Caught in the Act
For college students, especially last benchers, visiting the Principal or HOD's room is like falling asleep in class. Happens all the time. Messaging while the staff teaches. Writing assignments. Eating. Playing games. :D
The Acceptance
The void that always existed in us never gets filled until the one whom we love accepts us.
One must know, many guys pursuing engineering hide behind love to find solace from the enormous stress and rainstorm the course offers.
The Speed Breaker
Every single guy would've come across someone like this guy Arivu. These guys are vultures. Metaphorically speaking. They circle around your girl and wait for the right time. Then they....then they....you know the drill. :-(
The Last Stop
Remember me saying, "love at first sight is dope." Well this heart break is the exact opposite of that. The once existed void becomes existent again. The emptiness. The dullness.
The Rescue Team
No matter what the hardships one goes through, his/her friend never allows that person to walk that path alone.
The Reverse Effect
This slow motion reverse sequence depicts the visits we pay our old memories after break up. We tend to think about the times we were together with our loved ones. To think back, one must go back. Hence the reverse effect.
The above screenshot can be compared to Shakti dancing in 'Kadhal Sadugudu' from 'Alaipayuthe.' The sole difference is, Shakti dances in reverse out of joy. Malar's memory dances for the opposite. The most beautiful, uncanny resemblance is the long, and curly loose hair. <3
This is a devastating phase which almost everyone goes through. One's ex getting married. Imagine being invited to the wedding. Though one becomes an ex, the memories that have been made become a scare. A scar always leave a mark.
Remember the vulture I spoke about earlier. Yeah, the one that circled around your girl. I will leave the imagination of your ex getting married to that vulture. :-/
The Job and The Girl
As an Ex-Mechanical Engineer, I have heard some guys from my class say, "I will get into an IT company where I can find a girl to love." I am not joking. This is real. This happens. :-D
And enter thy second woman.
There are lucky ones who really do find their other half in IT industry. True story!
Happy Ending
We as humans, go through variety of emotions and phases in our life. At the end, we will always reach the place we always wanted. All is well. :-)
Friends Forever
I don't believe angels look after us from the sky, but I do believe we all have friends who will never let us take the fall and suffer. Friends are hard to find, once found, they are never lost. :-)
Come on, everyone loves comedy. We don't see any mindless ones here. Every single comic delivered are from the character itself. Innocence can be used to make acceptable comedies. The staff duo, the buddy duo, the hometown gang, dummy dance master, everyone. Nothing can brighten a movie like how laughter can.
Mass Touch
No one hates slow motion walks accompanied with mass background score. It's in our blood. \m/
These "mass" touches stirred the commercial element which resides in everyone.
Casting is of utmost importance in the pre production because these are the artists who are going to showcase the Director's vision to the people through the 35 mm screen. Premam is one of the movie which had the best casting right from main leads to the supporting ones.
The Director's decision to make a Tamizh character is to be appreciated. This not only added the necessary essence to the movie but also made Tamizh audience love Malar and the movie much more.
Everything I mentioned above helped the audience relate themselves to the entire movie. Not to a particular character alone. This is what I felt so special about the movie and where the Director succeeded where many Directors fail. Gethu pantaaru Alphonse! \m/
EDITING: Alphonse Puthren
"I'm all for the scissors. I believe more in the scissors than I do in the pencil." - Truman Capote
The scissor and the pencil are wielded by the same person here. Maybe that's why the Director was able to bring out the same vision he had in his head. Not saying editors can't do that, but when the Director is also an Editor for the same movie, things are a bit different.
I haven't seen any Indian movies with such editing experimentation. Jump cuts, fast forwards, slow motion, inserts, you name everything is right there.
Songs that involved Mary and Celine have fast forwards especially the'Contra' song. Now, if you take Malar, songs dedicated to her have intense slow motion shots. Her songs don't move fast because for a guy in his early 20's, everything revolving around his woman happens in slow motion. Watch 'Malare' and 'Unfinished hope.' You will know what I mean.
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Anand C. Chandran
"Cinematography is infinite in its possibilities...much more so than music or language."- Conrad Hall
Damn true! Infinity becomes definite through cinematography. Places that you haven't been to, places that are always in imagination, the inner thoughts, everything can be portrayed through the lens. The Cinematographer is the right hand of the Director who must know every bit of detailing the Director knows, so as to bring in the necessary output for the characters and it's surroundings.
The moment movie started, I could feel the depth. I figured it might be the 4k resolution.
For those to understand 2k and 4k resolution clearly.
So you see the regular full HD you have been seeing is kind of a younger sibling to 4k resolution. The number of pixels is twice the amount. Imagine the depth and details one could extract from Quad HD.
And later I found the Director's post saying..
It is disheartening to see when a Filmmaker feels bad when he/she can't get the expected output. Though many theatres lack 4k projectors, the theatre where I watched the movie had 4k projectors. I don't know whether the 4k projectors projected 'Premam' in 2k, but I could clearly feel the depth in the visuals.
Entire movie had moving foreground objects.
Foreground enhances the beauty of the frame. And if you notice, every shot will have motion. Movement and foreground added the necessary aesthetics to the entire movie.
Setting the Mood
Love stories are better told during rain. Clouds and rainfall add flavour to love. Sitting in dark, huge four walled room, how can one know what the characters feel? In comes mood and colour. If you look at the above screenshots, you can clearly see how the mood and colour had been maintained throughout the movie. Feels warm and cold at the same time. Loved it!
MUSIC: Rajesh Murugesan
"If music be the food of love, play on." - William Shakespeare
Yeah. That man in white shirt. He knows how to strike the chord.
'Aluva Puzha,' the first hit. The crush. Innocent love.
'Kalippu' is one of the best mass songs out there.
The classroom score.
'Malare' the most beautiful song in the movie, was love at first listen for me. Music. Lyrics. Expressions. Visuals. One could easily see the work the Director, Cinematographer and Music Director have done to make this song.
The one 'Unfinished Hope,' we all went through our break-up along with George.
Cinematography and colour sets the mood. Music carries it. One can't find the background score outclassing the artists. Everything was on par. Total sync. Music delivered exact emotions what the characters were going through. Lovely songs and excellent background scores. That's success for the Music Director.
That is what a Music Director is supposed to do, to take you along. The sadness. The void. The broken pieces. Reverse effect. Honest tears. Violent calmness. Cold days. Warm nights. Rajesh Murugesan did it all.
Now wait, we are forgetting someone. His name is Shabareesh Varma.The song architect. It's pretty hard to write all the songs in a movie that get gelled with the listener. He deserves each and every credit everyonedeserves. He's a lyricist. He acts naturally. He sings. Wow! That's a whole lot of talent baggage that he carries. I love this guy!
SOUND: Vishnu Govind & Sree Sankar
"Sometimes a well-placed sound effect can be more poignant than a boxing glove-sized punch line." - Jarod Kintz
To show their work, I must take a screenshot of every shot! The technical brilliance I was talking about was this. The camera shows the places. The sounds take you to them. Live sounds create a live atmosphere for the audience. With advanced sound systems installed in theatres, audience could feel the place.
The sound designers have done incredible sound works and these are few examples. Take a look at the scene where George is over the phone with his buddies, his feet keep clapping. That feet clapping sound is so real, you feel you are there hearing that sound.
See the screenshot below, top left, George sitting on floor, throwing his mobile down. When the mobile hits the step, a hard sound, not the real mobile hitting sound, that sound transitions itself to the next scene. Likewise you could see countless sound, music and dialogue transitions in the movie. Watch closely. These transitions help the movie to move smoothly. Sounds and visuals are cleverly juxtaposed.
Apart from other main departments, this sound department is what made me love the movie very much. Indian film industry doesn't take sound department as an important factor. Sound designers generally keep using the same old sounds. There exists no realism and honesty, but what Vishnu Govind and Sree Sankar did was just the opposite. Of course, the Director has a role in it, but providing the required sound as it is, is a big deal.
The Producer, Anwar Rasheed must be given the first and major credit for trusting the crew and providing them with ample amount of time to deliver proper goods. Producer providing time and freedom , that is gold for a Director.
"You cannot climb the ladder of success dressed in the costume of failure." - Zig Ziglar
These two made the characters look as real as possible. You don't see peppy clothes or painted faces. That is the beauty of it. Anything that crosses the line does one thing. It ruins it. If you look into typical Indian movies, you could find the actresses' face in one colour and below the chin, their true skin tone. Our country has been obsessed with being white. Being white means superior. This is how fairness cream companies have manipulated our people. This directly reflects on cinema.
"Makeup can help you capture a moment." - Carine Roitfeld
Take a look at any screenshot above, you will clearly see what I am saying. Makeup had realism in it.
"Lead roles are fun, but I'm especially happy other, more colorful supporting stuff has come along."- Paul Giamatti
A movie is nothing without proper supporting characters and this movie is a clear example of that. Right from choosing the artists and characterization, 'Premam' nails it.
Here's a few who need to be mentioned.
Roadside Romeo
There are such fellows who never tire until they find someone. Fact is, they go behind everyone. :-P
Laurel & Hardy
I don't want to write about them. Better watch them in action. :-)
Butter tongue
College rivalry is ubiquitous
I Think This Guy Likes George
Likes in the sense, he "likes" the other way.
1) Gets beaten up by George.
2) After suspension, George and his buddies come to college. This guy Faizal looks at George. I know others were shown looking at Shambu and Koya, but I will show you.
3) Faizal gets impressed by George's manliness. Later one day in canteen, he keeps staring at George.
If it's hard to believe, watch the movie again.
The Employee
After 'Rockaankuthu,' Jojo demands money rudely. Forgets he is talking to his friends.
What happens then? He later works under George for monthly salary. Jojo becomes Juju. This is what happens. :-D
Life's lesson: Treat everyone with respect. You may not know, one day you might need their help. (y)
This pretty girl likes George. She looks at him always. This is during first day at college. Her eyes! <3
This one during the 'Malare' song.
Here is the twist. There is a guy in the class who likes this girl. He keeps looking at her just like how she looks at George. This too occurs during the first day at college.
One day she doesn't come to college. Poor guy misses her.
At the canteen.
Tons of love stories are gone untold because many guys are scared to confront a girl to divulge one's feelings. Girls are silent in these issues. Not all, but that's the beauty about them.
So guys, man up and talk to the girl whom you like, else your story will be the same as the one above. :-P
There is a guy with Anjali. The one next to her in 'Malare' song and in the canteen. He might be her friend, or...or.. he may have feelings for her too. We don't know. :-/
The Handsome Man
Every phase of George's life starts with a reference to his looks.
1) School phase
2) College phase
3) Bachelor phase
It is clearly established in the movie that 'Love' means butterfly. We would've seen plenty of butterfly shots but this one looks...dull and sad.
This shot comes just after the song 'Kaalam Kettu Poyi' ends. They say guys don't forget their first love and first heartbreak. For George, this is his first heartbreak. To establish that, a sad and dull butterfly.
If you look in another perspective, it looks like a dried up butterfly. I don't know exactly if the Director tried to convey that, but when I saw this for the first time, I could only sense that. Remember me saying I could grasp a little things during Premam's first show, this is one among them.
She Looks Beautiful
George says this often and whenever he says, he loses that girl. The rooftop scene where George says Mary is beautiful. He loses her.
He tells Malar that she is beautiful. He loses her.
He doesn't say Celine is beautiful in the movie.
I found another reference about how George will never be with Malar. Shambu sings a song 'Kanmani Anbodu Kaadhalan' from the movie'Guna.'
In another scene where everyone are playing cards, we can see a scene from 'Guna' in the television.
What I am trying to saying is, Guna and Abirami get separated in that movie. This is a direct reference to George and Malar that they won't be together.
Back in my film institute days, I had people talking much about Malayalam movies. I didn't pay attention to that. 'Premam' was the first Malayalam movie I ever watched. From then, there is no looking back. I try my best to watch Malayalam movies in theatre. Mollywood has filmmakers who take this art form seriously.
Now back to our blog. Watch the movie with a little more attention, you would be amazed about the detailing.
It can be clearly seen, the movie underwent a serious pre-production work. It had all the necessary elements to make people love a movie.
We shouldn't forget about Nivin Pauly. Leading actors in our industry always want steal the thunder. They want major screen space and attention. One could see how much this movie paid attention to each and every character and their screen time. That is how an actor should be.
Movie had so much realism in it which was shown in a light hearted way. Direction, Camera, Music, Sound, Costumes, Makeup, Props. Everything had realism in it. That is why the audience were able to relate a lot with the characters, there was connection. Of course it had commercial elements too. That is needed. To say it in a powerpuff way, "Art, Commercial, and everything real. These were the ingredients chosen to create Premam." I couldn't resist from saying that. :-D
Premam was made with utmost care and honesty. No wonder it ran successfully for 300 days. We all had a glimpse at our past when we watched 'Premam.'
We must thank the Producer, Director and rest of the cast & crew for giving such a beautiful movie. <3
I won't say 'Premam' is Alphonse Puthren's movie because everyone's contribution is too damn high. Not a single department was left out. This is what is called a team work.
And..............she is beautiful! :-P
Thank you for being patient and reading. Leave your comments and what you noticed in the movie below. :-)
Written by Nirmal Sudarsana
18 Comments
Wow so many hidden references you were able to find. Naa tamilaa irundhttum find panna mudiyala…
- by Shalu
Shalini_Donthi My Facebook link has be given above. Anyway, my ID is nirmalsudarsanayahoo.com. And thanks for reading the decode. :-)
- by Nirmal Sudarsana
Wow!! I can't possibly tell what I had gone through while I was reading your blog! I must appreciate the rare talent of you inspecting each and every detail and my favourite part is the way you made it evident that Malar and George weren't gonna stay together . Like , credits man! The Guna song detailing and the movie being played in the TV. Observation skills ?? .
I have a small request. I'm a Hyderabadi. And I'm still watching Premam like 4 times a week. Like even now. This is no exaggeration. But Hotstar has only the Malayalam version whereas I don't just understand few words of it even though I managed to understand the entire movie. All I want is the entire translation of the movie. If you could just let me know where can I get it and all I'd be very grateful to you.
How can I contact you? Email id?
- by Shalini Donthi
I love how you pointed out so many details in this movie! Great write up for a fantastic film. One of my favorite Malayalam films.
- by moviemavengal
Such an unique way of putting full movie scenes in a lovely order. It's awesome.
This is my 1st Malayalam movie. One of my colleague knows my character and he only asked me to see this movie. After watching this movie( with English Subtitle-as I can not understand Malayalam), even my mp3 player has all the songs from Premam. Although I can not understand anything, but I can always feel those touching scenes in-front of my eyes when the music starts playing.
I too watch this movie more often now a days, don't know – something special in this movie , I am addicted to this movie now :)
- by Niraj
Well that was a gr8 review … Keep up the good work Mate ..
- by Saja
It was a long read but an engaging one. I love Cinema and I perfectly understood what you have written including all the technical details. If Alphonse had taken care of such minute details in the film. As a reviewer you have done your very best in not missing out the effort he had put in. Kudos! Keep going.
- by Subashini
Amazing!! Man, Premam was on my fave movie lists without knowing half of what you wrote and now you've made me love it more! Greattttt review :)
- by T
- by Ramkumar
Ohhh man… you're great… excellent write-up. I won't say it as movie review ;) Everyone can relate some part of movie with thier Life.
- by Senthil
Wowwwwwwww!!!!! OK I'm gonna watch the movie again!!! Premam mode on
- by Lizzie
Lovely read…enjoyed it…you covered all angles..and wrote it with pure enjoyment which could be felt in the words…
- by Maya
Review so very well written and captures intricate details..I could relate much to my thoughts on the lime soda scene and others…Same here premam was the first Malayalam movie I had watched so far…and started watching lot of them on theatres and DVDs.. Worth the watch..
- by Shobana
Superb review..
- by Nfsmatt
Anjali was present in the church choir along with George.
- by Hari
Bravado! Good write up depicting all the pluses of the movie. Keep rocking mate.
- by Kabiy
Really amused to read this☺.!!.that was a perfect way to appreciate a movie.!!.Great work ?..
- by Raghul
Hey Nirmal. You just reviewed Premam in Vera Level & made me realise how i missed out many great detailing in each n every shot. Kindly review many other cult movies in this style. It was a great write-up & awesome read!!!
- by Vigu


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An XY-mode Oscilloscope in your Browser
Check it out—an in-browser oscilloscope visualizing a few different songs using WebGL. The scope uses XY-mode, where the sample values of each stereo channel are mapped to each of the axes, instead of the X-axis representing time.
When you set up a scope this way, you can get some really interesting and unexpected patterns, such as Lissajous Figures.… Continue Reading

subset: commoncrawl


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In the last few days the Hungarian media has again been full of stories about perhaps the largest financial scandal in recent Hungarian history. It was a year and a half ago, on March 9, 2015, that Quaestor, a brokerage firm with close connections to the Orbán government, collapsed, leaving about 30,000 customers high and dry.
I wrote about the Quaestor scandal several times, but as background to today's post I recommend one article in particular, "A crime in search of a more coherent cover-up." In this post I described Viktor Orbán's desperate attempts to explain how certain government offices managed to withdraw billions of forints a day before the collapse of Quaestor. His efforts were less than successful. László Kéri, a political science professor who has known Viktor Orbán and his friends ever since college days, expressed his total disgust that "in three weeks [Viktor Orbán] could only come up with such an infantile, obvious, and slapdash story." A month later, at the end of April 2015, I wrote another post about Fidesz's waning popularity and the long shadow of the Quaestor scandal it was unable to escape.
Of course, interest in the Quaestor case eventually died down, especially since Csaba Tarsoly, the CEO of the firm, disappeared from sight, spending an obviously miserable year and a half in a Hungarian jail. He is a former shadow of himself, which speaks mountains about the deplorable conditions in Hungarian jails. Meanwhile some of the 30,000 small investors have been fighting for compensation. Not all of the cases have been settled. And people who had investments of more than 6 million forints ($21,500) are especially unhappy because their compensation will be capped at that figure.
No left-of-center opposition party bothered to keep the issue of possible insider trading alive. Only Jobbik issued a demand, addressed to the government party at the end of September 2015, to provide a list of Fidesz politicians and government officials who may have withdrawn their money from Quaestor in the last few days before the brokerage house's collapse. Their demand, of course, was not met.
Now that the prosecutor's office has finished its investigation and the case against Tarsoly and ten others is underway, interest in Quaestor has been reignited. Jobbik's search for possible Fidesz accomplices inspired N1TV, an internet television station with close connections to Jobbik, to investigate. On October 14 the television hit pay dirt, receiving a list of 333 Quaestor customers who withdrew money on the very day of the firm's demise. The TV station focused only on individual withdrawals of more than 10 million forints. Names of investors with relatively small withdrawals were withheld; the names of those with withdrawals of greater than 10 million forints were posted online.
György Szilágyi, a Jobbik member of parliament and party spokesman, held an "extraordinary" press conference, during which he said he found one name to be of special interest. On the list a certain Gábor Richárd Bolya, who according to N1TV used to work as a chauffeur in the prosecutor's office, withdrew 200 million forints from Quaestor on the crucial day, March 9, 2015. As it turned out, Gábor Richárd Bolya left his job at the prosecutor's office sometime in 2011, but, as Jobbik pointed out, in 2009 when the account was opened, he was still an employee of the prosecutor's office. Such substantial savings by someone who made his living as a chauffeur is suspicious, especially since not long ago the chauffeur of a Fidesz MP acquired 136 hectares of agricultural lands at a state auction, which naturally ended up in the hands of his boss.
Another questionable item is a 15 million forint withdrawal by Csaba Mátéfalvy, a former water polo champion, whose wife, Gyöngyi Bende, was at one point the communication director of Quaestor. Bende was quite ready to talk to the journalists of N1TV, even offering her opinion on the number of high officials at Quaestor who most likely had knowledge of the company's impending doom.
N1TV also interviewed the owner of a Kecskemét company that produces roller bearings. She seemed decidedly uncomfortable and annoyed with the questions about her withdrawal.
Today HVG published an article about another person with possible ties to Fidesz–Gergely Béla Telegdy, a young judge in Szeged whose specialty is administrative and labor law. He withdrew a relatively small amount of money, just a little over 3 million forints, but his mother, Irma Haszon, withdrew 33 million. According to Haszon, she and her son announced their intention to withdraw this large amount of money two weeks earlier because of an impending real estate purchase; it took that long to clear the bureaucratic hurdles. This might be a perfectly legitimate explanation, but suspicion will not die easily. Telegdy is known in Szeged as a darling of the present leadership and a favorite of Tünde Handó, head of the National Judiciary Office. Telegdy, while a student, was a HÖK leader in Szeged. The current HÖK chief, the notorious Márk Török, who simply cannot be removed from office although the university's administrators would dearly love to see him gone, found a strong supporter in Telegdy. These certainly aren't sufficient reasons to suspect Telegdy, but distrust of the government and anyone favored by it runs deep.
I'm certain that diligent sleuths will study those 333 withdrawals made public by N1TV and soon enough will find more names with ties to either the government or Quaestor management. György Szilágyi already expressed his hope that all withdrawals in the two weeks before the collapse will be made available to get a fuller picture of possible illegal activities. I assume that if N1TV managed to get the transactions from March 9 it should be able to acquire a list of earlier transactions from the same source. If names of highly placed individuals are on these earlier lists, N1TV's disclosure will not be good news for the Orbán government, which already has enough trouble with Jobbik's refusal to support the amendments to the constitution unless the government shuts down its large-scale settlement of foreigners who are ready to buy €300,000 worth of government bonds. But more about that tomorrow.


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The passing of Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer. But as anybody with a smartphone or laptop knows, it can be hard to cut the cord from the office, even on vacation.
And so it was with me during my "work-cation," when I spent the dog days thinking about how to make better virtual meetings--the kind of meetings many employees experience when they're working remotely or enjoying a holiday. Here are some things I learned about getting together online, in between rounds of golf and enjoying good times grilling out with my family, with my smartphone always in tow.
I discovered that simplicity isn't a side order. It's the main dish when it comes to connecting with people through technology. Conference calls and Webinars have turned into a sketchbook of frustration. We're all getting tired of the comedic chorus of "Who joined? ... Did someone just join? ... Are we all here?"
Technology should be a gracious host--show us the refreshments, the TV, the pool and the bar, then get out of the way. Technology shouldn't be the focus of online get-togethers; it can be clunky and annoying. Virtual meeting guests want a dependable, intuitive, easy-to-use experience.
Collaborating virtually is big-money business, as more than 4 billion people now use cellphones, according to McKinsey & Co. For about 450 million of those subscribers, the Web is a fully mobile experience. McKinsey reached the same conclusion I did: that productive collaboration isn't by itself the result of new tools.
"Many companies err in the belief that technology by itself will foster increased collaboration," McKinsey wrote. "For technology to be effective, organizations first need a better understanding of how knowledge work actually takes place."
Online Profiles Promote Small Talk
Knowledge is often passed through small talk, the chit-chat that comes before and after meetings. A digital version of this is what some people refer to as "profile stalking," or keeping tabs on people by reading their online footprint from Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter. This leads to ice-breaking conversations. But small talk rises to something bigger: relationship building.
For an online meeting, a Web-based profile or status update establishes a conversation starter. Communication tools that allow someone easily to view these personal nuggets spawn a community by connecting individuals through shared passions. Those common interests can springboard people into mutual business relationships.
Digital liberation like this feeds the multitasker lurking in all of us. We're all guilty of doing something else during a meeting, other than paying attention. We e-mail colleagues, smile at Webcams or order from
Some may call these acts unproductive. But as I tapped on my smartphone on the back nine to quickly "meet" with my team, I noted how others embraced the freedom of the virtual meeting. The ability to connect from anywhere, at any time helps us all be more productive.
And all this freedom from the meeting while you're in the meeting makes it more enjoyable. It's one of the most important things I learned this summer while refining iMeet, an online space where guests can customize how they conduct virtual or remote meetings whenever they want, wherever they want. Gatherings are more productive when they're simple, easy and fun. It's the atmosphere hosts would create by meeting at a
Productivity From Side Conversations
At the core of all my summer learning was that, however virtual meetings are conducted, they must enhance and promote productivity. The side conversation takes place (sometimes) quietly among colleagues, even as someone else presents. A digital version of this is instant messaging or live tweeting, which often can be productive. Beyond the technological renditions, impromptu confabs are good for in-person meetings, which can be made more engaging with times pre-planned for freestyle talking. Tearing down physical and digital boundaries alleviates the feeling of being imprisoned by the walls of a boardroom.
So many people think of "communicating" as more than instant-messaging, e-mailing or even talking. Technology makes possible virtual face-to-face meetings, even when guests are not physically in the same room. This counts for a lot during an age of global staffs, curtailed expenses and limited travel. But even for those who spend their summers--or any season--using smartphones and laptops as a means to stay connected while working remotely, will find that human connection remains the best way to make a point.
Boland T. Jones is the inventor of iMeet, a proprietary new way to meet that's designed to make it easy to get together online. For more information, go to iMeet.com.
See Also:
The Case For Telepresence
The Four Keys Success With Virtual Teams
Five Ways To Build A Virtual Company


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The First Day
Just looking over the photos Michelle has been posting on the Wilde Imagination Facebook Page has been exciting. You can feel the energy and cheer as people came from all over the country to Louisville to the Sealbach Hotel to celebrate Wilde Imagination.Day 1. We'll just be recapping the photo coverage here from the Wilde Facebook page, so definitely hop on over to each of the albums by clicking the titles to see more of each event. And we add in some tweets from collectors at the events too, who are tweeting on the #dollchat and #wildeweekend hashtags! (Special congrats to Twitter #dollchat favorite Lance who won best Male Costume!)
Above is the agenda for the first afternoon and evening so you can follow along
Some of the Fun
Lobby Meet-ups
Set Up for Raffle
Registration Begins
More Friends at Registration
BJD Meet-Up
Volunteer Meeting Hosted by Ann Rast
Jessica tweeted this great pic of her Ellowyne in the Table Favor Steampunk undergarment.
Phin & Thea
Imperium Park Fun and Games
Oh Costumes, Costumes, Costumes
Contestants/Winners of Costume Contest
Amazing Night Filled with Steampunk
Red Ribbon Opening for the Vendor Sales Room
Packed and Stacked Vendor Sales Room
Two Exclusives!
RESIN Ellowyne, Decadent Daydream, ONLY 125 pieces, $450.00 Exclusive Wilde Weekend Companion Doll
Graveside Flowers, RESIN Evangeline, Limited to 200 pieces, $450.00 Companion for the Wilde Weekend Exclusives


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OK, when in Puerto Rico. Wherever you are on the planet, isn't it just courteous to politely partake in the local culture? The fresh papaya, avocado, mango, Mahi Mahi, coconut, lime, cashew fruit (who knew?), plantains, tamarind, hot and hot hot sauce. . . and so on. Just living local.
There's also rum. Not exactly a cocktail maven am I, but decided to make several classics while here and asked my husband, brother and sister-in-law (who live here now and with whom we're having a wonderful, long family visit) to suffer through taste tests along with me. They agreed, and not that reluctantly.
So here's what we tried, based on some internet research, a couple of local bartenders, Charlie's influence (lots of fresh squeezed lime!), whatever fruit we had, and our own tastes and intuition: a classic Daiquiri, Rum tonic, Mojitos and Pina Colada. Thanks to Pirulo for his fresh basil and mint.
We four gathered beachside in comfy chairs and tasted. And tasted, and tasted. Four different cocktails exchanged, sipped and then curtain calls for a couple of them. Pina Colada's are delicious and rich like a desert. We could have sipped them all night long, but refrained. Less is more wins again: the Daiquiri and Rum Tonic, in their utter simplicity, allowed the good rum to shine through and are a cinch to make. We tried Mojitos with mint and with basil, both were delicious. Actually, we couldn't sway Jeana from the Mojitos.
One caveat. Cocktail recipes tend to be explicit on paper, but I'm pretty sure in real life there's plenty of winging it going on. I'll give an exact recipe here, but please, make it your own. Sweeter, sourer, juicier, rummier. However.
First of all, if you have a good rum, and you'll probably know it if you do, just sip it plain or over ice. After that, fruit is its classic companion. One story is that European sailors in Caribbean port ran out of whiskey and gin and decided to try the local liquor, which was rum – made from sugarcane. Fruit was abundant and the marriage was made and has lasted. Our good fortune.
FYI, for conversion: 6 t = 1 oz., 3 t = 1/2 oz. 3 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon.
Daiquiri Recipe
Ingredients for one cocktail: 1 1/2 oz light rum/ 3/4 oz lime juice/ 1/4 oz sugar syrup
Preparation: Pour the light rum, lime juice and sugar syrup into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes/ Shake well/ Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Rum Tonic Recipe
Thanks to Charlie and Poppy who introduced me to this cocktail – no one makes it better.
Ingredients for one cocktail: 1 – 2 oz. dark rum/ 3/4 oz lime juice or more/ Tonic to taste
Preparation: Fill glass with ice, add rum and lime/ Add tonic to taste/ Garnish with thin slice of lime.
Mojito Recipe
Ingredients for one cocktail: 6-8 mint leaves/ Club soda/ 1 lime, halved/ 2 oz light rum/ Mint sprig for garnish
Preparation: Place the sugar, the mint leaves, and a little club soda into a glass/ Muddle well to dissolve the sugar and to release the mint flavor/ Squeeze the juice from both halves of the lime into the glass/ Drop one half of the lime into the glass/ Add the rum/ Stir well/ Fill the glass with ice cubes/ Add the rest of the club soda/ Garnish with the mint sprig.
Basil Mojito, use basil instead of mint.
Ingredients for one cocktail: 2 oz white rum/ 6 oz pineapple juice/1 1/2 oz Coconut Cream/ 1 oz heavy cream/ Pineapple wedge for garnish.
Preparation: Blend all ingredients with approximately 2 cups of ice until nice and smooth/ Pour into a chilled hurricane glass/ Garnish with the pineapple wedge.


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Georgia households are among the most financially distressed in the country.
A new analysis by credit counseling group CredAbility found Georgians are still struggling with high unemployment and low home values, and only people in Nevada feel more stretched financially than we do.
The Consumer Distress Index looks at employment, housing, credit, net worth and how families manage their budgets. Georgia fell below the nation in every category.
CredAbility's John McCosh said all of those factors are tied to job growth. Recent announcements of 1,400 jobs at a new Caterpillar plant near Athens and 1,500 jobs at a new pharmaceutical plant east of Atlanta are good news, he said. But they're just the beginning.
"It's going to take more than 1,500 jobs in one corner of the state to turn things around and help the average consumer feel like they're in a stable place," McCosh said.
Georgia State University economic forecaster Rajeev Dhawan said the state ranked poorly because the recession here was worse than most other states.
"That affects your income ability, your ability to service your debt on housing and other stuff, which in turn means more foreclosures and delinquencies, which in turn means lower home prices," Dhawan said. "As your home values suffer, then your wealth goes down and you look bad on this index."
State labor officials announced Thursday that companies created 32,000 jobs last month. But other data released Thursday shows Georgia's foreclosure rate remains one of the highest in the nation.
McCosh said the good news is Georgians are saving more and their net worth looks better because their retirement accounts and investments have improved with the stock market.


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Like tiny Milano cookies, which means you can eat at least four times as many and it's still fewer calories. #cookiemath
Dorie's Brown Butter Vanilla Madeleines
Week 2 of my resolution brings you these wonderful fluffy little morsels.
Flamingo Cookies
Because everyone needs a little neon and glitter in their baked goods.
No Churn Cookies and Cream Ice Cream
Finally, an ice cream you can make without an ice cream maker and only 5 ingredients. Believe the hype, no churn ice cream is the way to go.
Cinnamon Bun Ice Cream
Make your own Ben & Jerry's inspired ice cream, because then you get a full quart instead of just a measly pint.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Throw Down: Part the Fourth
The throw down continues with a new champion.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Throw Down Round 4
Now taking applications for cookie testers who claim to hate the New York Times recipe. Inquire within.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Throwdown Part 3
The throwdown continues for round three. The apparently unbeatable New York Times versus the OG Nestlé Toll House. And who's the winner? Take a guess.
Almond Jam Thumbprints
Because even if the 95% of the batch looks like a failure at least five of the cookies were photo-worthy and recipe was too good not to share. Melt in your mouth, not in your hand, butter jam thumbprints.
Cookie Roundup
A quick round up of some classic cookie plate offerings.


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Flowers for Sympathy, Hand Delivered From a blooming plant or flower arrangement, Anything Your Heart Desires can help you comfort a grieving friend. We understand that words of compassion and comfort can be difficult during these times, so we have created a collection elegant sympathy flowers to convey your sorrow for the loss of a loved one. Anything Your Heart Desires delivers to all the local funeral homes in the Batavia NY and surrounding areas.
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Cummins' shock start for Australia in Johannesburg back in 2011 followed a similar script to the Agar phenomenon, and remains one of the best fast bowling debuts in Test cricket, despite it coming away from the hype of the Ashes.
At 18 years of age and with just three first-class matches under his belt, Cummins took seven wickets for the match and hit the winning runs in a nail-biting two-wicket win over South Africa that will go down as one of Australia's greatest.
However, Cummins found out quicker than most that no cricketer can stay with their head in the clouds forever.
Touted the future of the Australian attack, devastating injury problems have prevented him playing another Test since.
While 19-year-old Agar is preparing to fulfil a dream and play at Lord's, Cummins is in Zimbabwe on the comeback trail with Australia A.
Cummins has no doubt Agar has the maturity and balance in his life to handle his new-found stardom, but warned handling the inevitable downturns is the key.
"Maybe it's not an artificial high but I guess in careers, there's ups and downs. I think it's just about realising that," Cummins told AAP.
"Speaking to people who have been through it before, it's about trying to manage them.
"Realising the ups shouldn't be as high as they are. And the lows are never as bad as you think.
"One minute you can feel like you're on top of the world and, next minute, it can be forgotten pretty quickly.
"I don't think this is going to be forgotten but, if it's a career highlight, it's a great highlight to have for him."
Cummins is aware of the similarities between his debut and Agar's - both teenagers, both relative unknowns, not originally included in the respective Test squads and both with nerves of steel batting in the tail with pressure high.
"I suppose I knew what he was going through in some regards," Cummins says.
"I think he looked quite fearless and you're so happy and over the moon to be playing in a Test match that you just go out and soak it in.
"You know no matter what happens that no one can take it away from you. And that's something a lot of debutants feel. They just go out there and play without putting any pressure on themselves to perform."
Cummins is just 159 days Agar's senior and first came across the left-arm orthodox spinner in a NSW-Victoria under-17s match.
"We lost outright. I think Ash got me both innings," recalls Cummins.
They were teammates for the Australian under-19s and toured together again on the recent Australia A tour of the UK.
On the A camp, Agar roomed with Alex Doolan, and would stay up at night watching spin bowler clips on YouTube.
Cummins says it was surreal to watch Agar's magical 98 batting No.11 in the first innings when, just a few weeks ago, he was focused on simply getting back to Western Australia for a good pre-season leading into the Sheffield Shield.
"I was just back home in Sydney watching Ash go and it was just unbelievable," he said.
"Just how natural and how confident he was when he was batting was a bit of a breath of fresh air. I've seen a bit of him bat in the nets and he always looks like a proper batsman so I guess, while it was surprising, I think a lot of people who have played with him know he can bat really well."
The pair have exchanged text messages since, but it hasn't been entirely congratulatory.
Cummins says mates haven't let the chance go by to rib Agar over his new standing as sweetheart and heartthrob.
Marketing deals are sure to be waiting for Agar, who is also studying to be a lawyer, when he returns home.
But Cummins says the stardom won't change him.
"He's impossible not to like really," says Cummins, another genuine nice guy.
"The thing about him is he's got a really balanced life.
"He loves his cricket but, no matter what happens, he just looks at it as a sport.
"It isn't his whole life. He's got a lot of other stuff working for him too."


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This is my son. That there on his head is a toddler toilet seat.
The time was 9:38 pm.
The event was bedtime. It had been since 8:15 I might add.
The place was my bathroom, turned Junior Adventure Obstacle Course, as he climbed from the toilet seat, to the sink, to the radiator cover to reach a shelving unit about 6 feet up. He's quite a skilled and agile little climber, because while we heard him go in to "tinkle," we never heard anything else.
When he finally came out to the living room for help he was nearly panicking, because it would not come off. Not for him and not for us. Between hysterical laughter, we took turns trying to shimmy him out of the toilet seat, and asking him, futilely, of course, why he put the toilet seat on in the first place.
In the end, while Damon distracted him, I aligned it as best I could, and yanked, band-aid style. It actually scraped a bit of skin off his ear. I am hoping the pain of it will serve as a bit of a deterent from him acting on similar good ideas . . . at least temporarily.


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VENTURA, Calif. – Chicago radio station – ESPN 1000 – is reporting that Pro Bowl return man Devin Hester has reported to Bears camp.
Why is that significant to the Cowboys?
Hester's agent is Eugene Parker, who also represents Cowboys first-round draft picks Felix Jones and Mike Jenkins. With the Bears promising Parker that giving Hester a new deal remains a top priority, Parker is presumably now putting getting deals for Jones and Jenkins on his frontburner.
Don't be surprised if a deal is announced soon. My guess is Jones and Jenkins only miss today's opening workout.


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Mission Statement:
Every face tells a different story. As a makeup artist, my mission is to bring that story to life with my brushes, talent, and love of what I do. And whether that story is a one hour tale of natural and clean beauty, or a five hour saga of prosthetic application, I am devoted to delivering the very best my skills have to offer.


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In this example, the width of the div animates from 100px to 1000px, at the same time as the background animates from
linear-gradient(left, red 50%, white 100px, blue 100%) to
linear-gradient(left, red 10%, white 100px, blue 100%) (note that only the position of the first stop changes).
The first box shows the effects of "early fixup" (what the spec currently mandates), while the second shows "late fixup", where color-stops that are mis-ordered aren't fixed until just before they're displayed. The third box (added by Leif Arne Storset) shows interpolation of specified values rendered using the UA's default color-stop fixup algorithm.
The slider moves the transition from 0% to 100% completed.
Since both gradients specify the white color-stop at 100px, the white should always either be at 100px, or be at the same position as the red color-stop (if the red is at a position further than 100px). In the early-resolution gradient, though, the white stop ends up jumping "ahead" of the red stop (a full 20px ahead when the transition's at 50%).


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We produce beautiful books that bristle and shimmer with life.
A. G. Evans was a producer with the ABC for many years, working as a presenter, reporter writer and producer for television and radio. In 1989 he left the ABC to concentrate on freelance writing.
His first published book, The Conscious Stone, won the Western Australian Premier's Literary Award for non-fiction in 1985. Later books include Fanatic Heart (short-listed for the National Biography Prize).
Evans lives in Western Australia.
The University of Western Australia (M419)
35 Stirling HighwayCrawley, PerthWestern Australia 6009
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Resource Box: CarolAnn Bailey-Lloyd – Freelance Writer and Web Consultant for HolisticJunction.com, in association with CollegeSurfing.com – Educational Resources for Natural Healing Schools, Alternative Healing Diploma Programs, and other Alternative Medicine Schools.
Posts tagged: Healing
Alternative Healing Diploma: Earn Yours Today
Find Alternative Healing Diploma programs in the United States and Canada. Why should you earn an alternative healing diploma? There are several reasons why you might consider enrolling in one of a number of healing arts schools that offer alternative healing diploma programs; here's why: Holistic and natural health professions are steadily increasing in demand, and an alternative healing diploma can help you to attain professional alternative health careers that can be both personally and financially rewarding.
An alternative healing diploma can aid you in your quest to professional success. In many cases, alternative healing diploma programs encompass a broad assortment of courses. Whether you are interested in iridology, herbal studies, homeopathy, massage therapy, or natural health and wellness, an alternative healing diploma can lend you necessary knowledge and skills to provide these noninvasive health services to patients and clients, alike.
If you are already a natural health practitioner, such as a naturopathic doctor or holistic nurse, an alternative healing diploma in any number of natural healing modalities will only enhance your practice, and will certainly broaden your knowledge base.
An alternative healing diploma program can be quite comprehensive in nature. In a selection of alternative healing diploma programs, students can anticipate up to 1,000 classroom hours (i.e., massage therapy programs); which may include in-depth classes in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, CPR and first aid, holistic nutrition, and a number of associated studies. Other alternative healing diploma programs may be extended through correspondence courses or continuing education platforms.
Some alternative healing diploma programs may afford students with ease of access, as many holistic schools offer alternative healing workshops and seminars; and day, evening and weekend schedules. In a variety of these alternative healing diploma programs, students are sometimes extended academic opportunities to gain certification and/or licensure (depending on individual school).
Overall, an alternative healing diploma can help you to acquire needed capabilities to provide natural healthcare services to persons. In many cases, students who have successfully acquired an alternative healing diploma can go onto becoming professional massage therapists, holistic nutrition advisors, hypnotherapists, and herbal medicine practitioners.
If you (or someone you know) are interested in enrolling in one of several alternative healing schools to help find your dream job, let education within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you.
Alternative Healing Diploma: Earn Yours Today
© Copyright 2007
The CollegeBound Network
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NOTICE: Article(s) may be republished free of charge to relevant websites, as long as Copyright and Author Resource Box (above) are included; and ALL Hyperlinks REMAIN intact and active.
Natural Health College: Todayâ??s Healing Arts
Find Natural Health College programs in the United States and Canada. There is a large array of healing arts taught at a natural health college. Depending on which field of interest individuals have, one can enroll in a natural health college and earn a degree in naturopathic medicine or can participate in a condensed herbal medicine certificate program.
Of course, there are countless other natural healing and holistic programs like massage therapy, reflexology, and holistic practitioner courses in which one can enroll as well. With the growing demand for complementary therapies, a natural health college normally extends bodywork programs that are designed for today's massage therapist and alternative healing practitioner. Standard curriculums in a massage therapy program at a natural health college involve hands-on training in deep tissue massage, Swedish massage and sometimes, sports massage. Additional instruction in kinesiology, CPR and first aid and massage history and philosophies are given.
In a holistic practitioner program at a natural health college, students are introduced to a variety of bodywork techniques, as well as holistic nutrition and skincare, herbal medicine and iridology. Other studies in a holistic practitioner course include aromatherapy, hydrotherapy and basic first aid and CPR.
A natural health college may also supply extensive training in chiropractic, Chinese medicine and naturopathic medicine. These particular programs involve several years of in-depth study, and result in a degree and/or diploma. For example, a naturopathic natural health college teaches fundamentals of naturopathy, as well as herbal medicine, natural healthcare and nutrition, homeopathy, touch therapy and case taking. Depending on the state or province in which you reside, some extended educational programs at a natural health college require licensure and/or certification.
While a few healing arts programs (chiropractic, acupuncture and naturopathy) taught at a natural health college require some degree of formal education, others do not. It is always wise to review course curriculums prior to applying to any natural health college. A number of natural health occupations (massage therapists, holistic nurses, Oriental medicine doctors, chiropractors, naturopathic physicians, herbal medicine practitioners) also require continuing education units to maintain licensure and right to practice.
Overall, a natural health college offers prospective students a diverse selection of subject matter from which to choose; and is essential in achieving any one of numerous natural healing professions.
If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding natural health college(s), let professional training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you.
Natural Health College: Today's Healing Arts
© Copyright 2007
The CollegeBound Network
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NOTICE: Article(s) may be republished free of charge to relevant websites, as long as Copyright and Author Resource Box are included; and ALL Hyperlinks REMAIN intact and active.
Resource Box: CarolAnn Bailey-Lloyd – Freelance Writer and Web Consultant for HolisticJunction.com, in association with CollegeSurfing.com – Educational Resources for Natural Health Schools, Natural Health Colleges, and other Holistic Schools.
Careers in Holistic Healing
If you've been searching for enterprising ways to acquire a respectable and rewarding profession, there are a diverse number of careers in holistic healing that you may find quite intriguing. In addition to professions in holistic nursing, there are careers in holistic healing like massage therapy, holistic nutrition, acupuncture, chiropractic, and homeopathy.
Professional massage therapists are making headway in the healthcare industry as more patients are migrating to natural healing alternatives. These careers in holistic healing require somatic education and training from a quality massage school or technical college. To compete in these careers in holistic healing, students are opting for National Certification (through the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork) — which demonstrates the following: the candidate has completed a minimum of 500 required training hours entailing 125 hours of anatomy, kinesiology, and physiology; 200 hours of application, assessment, and theory; 40 hours pathology; 10 hours business/ethics; and 125 hours of related studies.
Careers in holistic healing like acupuncture can take you to foreign countries. In addition to extensive training in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theories and philosophies, candidates that participate in these Oriental medicine programs are often offered the opportunity to travel as exchange students to China and other foreign Nations for hands-on experience and training.
Other careers in holistic healing like chiropractic can be very professionally and personally satisfying. Though this particular holistic health occupation does require comprehensive education (usually up to four years post-graduate training), chiropractic practitioners administer gentle, non-invasive spinal adjustments to patients to help with common health issues like chronic pain and other musculoskeletal problems.
If you (or someone you know) are interested in learning more about these or other healing arts occupations, let professional training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, naturopathy, acupuncture, Chinese medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore careers in holistic healing near you.
Careers in Holistic Healing
© Copyright 2008
The CollegeBound Network
All Rights Reserved
NOTICE: Article(s) may be republished free of charge to relevant websites, as long as Copyright and Author Resource Box are included; and ALL Hyperlinks REMAIN intact and active.
Resource Box: CarolAnn Bailey-Lloyd – Freelance Writer and Web Consultant for HolisticJunction.com, in association with CollegeSurfing.com – Educational Resources for Careers in Holistic Healing, Holistic Schools, and other unique healing arts programs.
Holistic Healing Classes: Subjects of Study
Find Holistic Healing Classes in the United States and Canada. Individuals who are searching for innovative fields of study and would like to learn about holistic and alternative healthcare modalities will find that enrolling in one of numerous holistic healing classes can help them explore both ancient and novel healing arts.
Today, holistic healing classes are offered in simple learning platforms such as holistic seminars, workshops and in public community centers. As well, holistic healing classes may be more comprehensive in nature and integrated into certificate, degree and continuing education programs.
Students who desire to become holistic health practitioners can take holistic healing classes in healing alternatives, wellness and detoxification, energy medicine, mind-body-spirit medicine, and introductory Chinese herbal medicine. Others may elect to pursue holistic healing classes to become a spiritual healer. Certificate courses in this particular field of study involve studies in theology, prayer, mantra and meditation, spirituality, and other metaphysical subject matter.
Holistic healing classes in acupuncture may lead to a diploma, certificate or degree. Depending on the alternative health school in which you enroll, there are various holistic healing classes that are drawn from Oriental medicine philosophy and practices. While some holistic healing classes may be more geared toward needless techniques, such as acupressure, moxibustion, cupping and Chinese medical massage, other courses may involve more in-depth instruction in Tai Chi, Qi gong, acupuncture needling methods, TCM, herbal medicine, Chinese medical terminology and more.
A number of holistic healing classes entail studies in holistic divinity, animal healing, shamanic journeys, reiki, nutrition and supplements, essential oils, flower remedies, herbology, hypnotherapy, iridology, among others. In addition, there are very popular holistic healing classes that are centered on massage therapy. In these courses of study, students are taught about anatomy, kinesiology, physiology, and range of motion. Massage modalities that are offered through holistic healing classes encompass training in acupressure, deep tissue massage, sports massage, Swedish massage, touch therapy, medical massage, trigger point and countless other methodologies.
If earning your associates, bachelors, masters or doctorate is important to you then there are a number of holistic healing classes that are more advanced and comprehensive in nature. These holistic healing classes typically include practical and clinical instruction in chiropractic, naturopathy, Oriental medicine, orthomolecular medicine, and anti-aging and preventive medicine. In addition, professionals who have already attained some level of medical education will find that there are holistic healing classes in holistic nursing, holistic veterinarian and holistic M.D. programs.
There are several more holistic healing classes from which one can choose: some lesser known studies may include apitherapy (Bee products' therapy), animal therapy, bioenergetics, phytotherapy, naprapathy, Feldenkrais, Feng Shui, polarity therapy and many more.
If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding holistic healing classes, let career training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you.
Holistic Healing Classes: Subjects of Study
© Copyright 2007
The CollegeBound Network
All Rights Reserved
NOTICE: Article(s) may be republished free of charge to relevant websites, as long as Copyright and Author Resource Box are included; and ALL Hyperlinks REMAIN intact and active.
Resource Box: CarolAnn Bailey-Lloyd – Freelance Writer and Web Consultant for HolisticJunction.com, in association with CollegeSurfing.com – Educational Resources for Holistic Healing Classes, Holistic Schools, and other Natural Health Schools.
Herbal Medicines the Primitive Healing Practice
Medicines are there to eliminate numerous health problems in the body. And with advancement of science and technology, production of medicines for different purposes is enhancing and thus we can get rid of several health related troubles. By the term herbal we mean the medicine extracted or synthesized from the plants and its products. Medicines are the part and parcel of today's living where development has reached the peak, at the same time this development lead to the emergence of different fatal and non-fatal health problems.
Herbal medicines are the primary health management and this practice of healing a broad range of complaints or to boost health with plants and plant extracts are the principle of herbalism or phytotherapy. The concept of herbal medicine is the most primitive form of healthcare playing a vital role in the development of recent medicine which we are using today.
In other words we can define herbal medicine as the utilization of plants along with herb extracts intended for their therapeutic and curative value. The majority of the plants species found to have and produce chemical essences that facilitate in healing and supplementary physical treatments.
Herbal medicines are using at greater extent as these are associated with least side effects. Medicines though give immediate solutions to the health problems or illnesses, leave some side effects which become more fatal to the remaining body functioning system. Herbal medicines are extracted from the natural substances basically the plants and its products.
The practice of herbal medicines are prevailing since the prehistoric days and in India it is very famous and Indian Ayurveda has a big position in the world of herbal medicine. Nearly 80% of the world population is utilizing the herbal products in curing and preventing numerous diseases and its effects. Herbal medicine is associated with the primary health care programs.
All plant life generates certain chemical complex during their ordinary metabolic activities which can be further categorizes as primary metabolites for example fats and sugars available in the entire plants species and the secondary metabolites though found in smaller varieties of plants, particularly in specific species or genus. The identification of healing powers in the plants has lead to growth of various herbal medicines manufacture from different plants and plants extracts.
More than 80,000 plants species are found to contain medicinal properties and widely used in treating and preventing diseases. Herbal medicines are also using in association of other therapeutic programs like acupuncture and a good deal of prescription drugs are manufactured from the plants and plants extracts. Several herbal ingredients are found in the drugs used for healing and preventing diseases for example aspirin manufactured from Salix species whose common name is willow bark and digitalis made from Digitalis purpurea, foxglove.
The most common question arises is that if all the herbal products are beneficial and are they capable replacing the modern medication that is with drugs and associated chemical substances? The answer is that herbal medicines are used generally for treating mild cases and are less effective in case of the serious diseases, this can also be considered on the basis of the longer duration required for the herbal medicine s to effect. At the same time all the plant and plants extracts are safe to use and therefore is essential thing to consult the experts and doctors of the specific field.
Log on http://greatmedicalcenter.com/ to get information on the herbal medicines and pros and cons of herbal medicine. Nandeshori Devi Konthoujam has been associated with various sites like http://www.aboutlivingmylife.com/; http://www.wellbeingnew.com/, http://fortotalwellbeing.com/ etc. for articles on health related and various other topics.


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City of AbileneHome Menu
City of Abilene News
News Releases from Your City Government
Registration Now Open for Summer Camp 2017
Have the best summer ever at the Summer Playground Camp sponsored by the City of Abilene Recreation Division. Children ages 6 to 13 can select from 20 new camps operating every two weeks. You are sure to find something for every child!
Cost is $75 for 2-week sessions and $40 for 1-week session (August 14-18) and includes one t-shirt, one drawstring backpack, breakfast and lunch provided by AISD, afternoon snacks, field trips, and swimming at the new Aquatic Center.
Registration is now open and camps begin on Monday, June 5, 2017. Register at www.abilenetx.com/signup. Payment plans are available and can be set up with a valid credit card. Financial assistance is available on a limited basis.
For more information visit www.abilenetx.com/camps, email us at email@example.com or give us a call at 325-676-6217.


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|1,130 sq. ft.
|Property type
|Minimum Stay
|1 - 4 nights
Seawind 509 is a 2 bedroom plus bonus room with 2 bathrooms. The kitchen has stainless steel appliances set in granite counter tops. The master bedroom and 2nd bedroom have king beds and the bonus room has a set of bunk beds. The living room has queen sofa sleeper making the unit sleep 6 adults and 2 children comfortably.
Seawinds offers indoor/outdoor pool, interactive kiddie pool, hot tub, sauna, huge fitness room and grill area. Seawinds in located right beside the infamous 'Sea n Suds' restaurant.
This rental comes with our 'Stay and Play Package.' Each night you will receive:
-one free round of golf for one adult a day;
-one complimentary deep-sea fishing admission on a party boat for one adult a day;
-one adult fare upon a dolphin cruise a day(seasonal);
-one free video rental per visit;
-one adult admission to local water park a day(seasonal);
-fourteen free points to the amusement center a day.
*The 'Stay and Play Package' begins on the scheduled date of arrival and is not available on day of departure. Services are non-cumulative and non-transferable. All services are subject to change, subject to availability, and weather permissible. The 'Stay and Play Package' does not apply to monthly rentals. For detailed information text GULF to 95577
Tropical storm hit but still had fun!
This condo was clean and very nicely decorated. The beds & pillows were super comfortable which is a big plus! I loved the view from the 5th floor balcony. The location was perfect for an easy walk to The Hangout or other nearby locations. The property management staff was one of the nicest and most helpful I have ever encountered. I would give them 5 stars for the customer service!!!! The only drawbacks and reason for 4 stars instead of 5 were the elevators & the pool. The pool was very small and the pool area not very inviting for a facility this size. There were only two elevators which were jam packed quite often and we had to take the stairs many times after waiting 10-20 minutes. Overall I really enjoyed the condo and would definitely stay there again.


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Vendee Globe - Gamesa in footing mode + Interview with Mike Golding
by Emily Caroe on 26 Jan 2013
Mike Golding, Gamesa - 2012 Vendee Globe Mike Golding Yacht Racing
Vendee Globe 2012-13 skipper Mike Golding is in typical upwind trade winds conditions, very bouncy, bumpy seas with his sheets on Gamesa slightly cracked, eased a little, as he chases Jean Le Cam in fifth, 52 miles ahead. Le Cam continues to sail faster than Golding by over one knot.
As the leader is due to finish the Vendée Globe this Sunday, the British skipper confirms it is not a great stage of the race for him.
'I'm in footing mode right now and it is very bumpy, I am just crashing around a bit and it is going to stay like this for a while and so I had better get used to it! It is very difficult for me to see how I am going to catch Jean, I did it before by making strategic choices and so I have to wait until I get that chance again. Meantime it is very frustrating but I am pragmatic about it. It does look messy further on but my problem such as it is at the moment is trying to land a decent sized weather file because at the moment we are crashing so much that the link cuts off, so I can only get small files. Tactically there is not much I can do.
'This is not a great point of the race when the winner is getting close and finishing, because you just want to get there and get off at this stage. I have to say I don't like it, but I have some time to adjust to it.
'I had a nice e-mail from Alex Thomson [Hugo Boss] which, among other things, acknowledged that if they had not inserted the Crozet Gate he would have been back here with us, which is a nice thing to say. He has sailed well and I am sure will keep his feet on the ground, on the level about his race. We both now just need to bring it home safely. I believe I can get Jean but that would be a bonus at this stage, I need options.'
26 January 2013 12:05 GMT : Vendée Globe Live interview:
Mike, describe the conditions you are experiencing today?
Once we broke free of the Doldrums we have been on the wind in fairly strong conditions. I am reefed and on a small headsail in quite a sharp sea, so lots of slamming, it's very wet on deck and very warm in the day. There's really not much I can do to catch Jean [Le Cam] at the moment, I have to wait for a strategic option.
Do you see any strategic options opening up before the finish?
There will be strategic options before the finish, but in this section of the course, which is just a long, on-the-wind section, there won't be any options for several days. We are talking further ahead, four or five days ahead. I can't say there will definitely be options, but looking at the weather forecast longer term it looks like complex getting through the high pressure and that is probably good for me as it probably provides me with those options that I might need.
On a more personal level for you, how are you finding this last week. Are you getting more pressure from England, family and friends and sponsors, or have you got your mind set, focussed on the last week of racing?
Just focussed on the last bit of racing. I just want to get the horse back in the stable.
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The rupee gained on Wednesday, recovering from earlier losses after a government panel recommended an immediate increase in diesel prices, reducing some of the concerns about the country's finances.
India should immediately raise diesel prices by about 9.5 per cent or Rs 5 a litre, a government panel said on Wednesday, along with other measures aimed at cutting the government's huge oil subsidy bill.
The rupee also got a boost after Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan said on Wednesday the central bank risks excessive tightening given the lag in monetary policy.
The comments were seen as more dovish after the RBI raised interest rates for a second consecutive month on Tuesday.
"The market is getting more bullish after the diesel price hike
"There is strong support for the dollar at 60.90, while 61.80 is the likely cap at the moment."
The partially convertible rupee closed at 61.2350/2450 per dollar compared with 61.31/32 on Tuesday. It moved in a range of 61.23 to 61.60 during the session.
Earlier in the day, weaker Asian currencies ahead of the outcome of the US Federal Reserve's two-day meeting pressured the rupee, but gains in local shares limited a very sharp downside.
The Sensex rose on Wednesday to close at a record high, helped by strong foreign flows.
In the offshore non-deliverable forwards, the one-month contract was at 61.66, while the three-month was at 62.65.


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Penelope Young Andrade LCSW is the author of Emotional Medicine Rx: Cry When You're Sad, Stop When You're Done, Feel Good Fast. Founder of the San Diego Center for Psychosynthesis, her "Transformational Talk Radio" and her popular advice column, "Transformational Talk," have reached thousands of listeners and readers in southern California. During a devastating divorce, Penelope discovered an essential distinction between narrative driven and body led emotion enabling her to experience every sad, mad, scared feeling as a delivery system for well being. Her emotional medicine prescription integrates powerful elements of both traditional and alternative therapies including: Mindfulness, Family Systems, Psychosynthesis, Eidetic Imagery, Bioenergetics, Biodynamics, Somatic Experiencing (SE), Tantra, and Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP.) She has been an adjunct professor at San Diego University for Integral Studies, University for Humanistic Studies, and the Natural Healing Institute. She and her husband, Arturo, developed the VIVO Oral Focus™ method for body oriented self-soothing. Penelope lectures and trains therapists and lay audiences throughout the world, inspiring people about benefits of Emotional Medicine.
Check out the following Psychology CE Courses based on listening to Shrink Rap Radio interviews:
Jungian Psychotherapy Part 1 (6 CEUs)
Jungian Psychotherapy Part 2 (7 CEUs)
Jungian Psychotherapy Part 3 (7 CEUs)
Jungian Psychotherapy Part 4 (6 CEUs)
Jungian Psychotherapy Part 5 (7 CEUs)
Jungian Psychotherapy Package of the Five Above (33 CEUs)
Wisdom of The Dream (4 CEUs)
Positive Psychology (6 CEUs)
Pros and Cons of Positive Psychology (5 CEUs)
CERTIFICATE PROGRAM IN POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY (32 CEUs)
Body-Mind: Goodbye to Dualism (6 CEUs)
Brain: Insights from Neuroscience (8 CEUs)
Meditation & Psychotherapy (8 CEUs)
Insights from Neuroscience (8 CEUs)
Neuroscience and Healing (8 CEUs)
Get 10% discount on all lectures at The JungPlatform using our discount code: DRDAVE
A psychology podcast by David Van Nuys, Ph.D.
copyright 2013: David Van Nuys, Ph.D.
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Chapter 10 : Christmas and Back to School
|Rating: 15+
|Chapter Reviews: 4
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I have to say, Christmas is fun. Even when I'm grounded. They give Hugo tons of presents, which means they have to give me tons of presents. It's a fun time. They've already given me several books and a new carrier for Faithful.
Grandma sent us all Weasley sweaters. Once I heard Dad say that she still knits one with an F on it for Fred. That's so sad.
"Earth to Rosie-cakes." Ew. Don't ever call me Rosie-cakes again, Dad. "We got you this big package here." Which means they got Hugo a new broom and felt the need to get something else big for me.
He charms the box to float over to where I'm sitting and it settles down in front of me. "Here you go. Your mother had it specially ordered from Belgium." Um. Ok. What could they have possibly had specially ordered for me from Belgium? I mean, I really have no clue.
I grab the box and pull it closer. Surprisingly, it's feather light. Of course, that could just mean they charmed it that way. The paper on it rips easily and I pull open the flaps. Inside is a little scrap of parchment with words scrawled hastily in Dad's nearly illegible writing.
It should be here any day now. You'll love it!
"Uh, thanks, I guess?"
Mum beams at me. "We ordered it weeks ago, but it hasn't come in yet." I'm sure. They probably just ordered it last week or something. Although they probably got Hugo his broom in August. A Shooting Star 1000. Dad promised that I could have a broom next year if I try out for my House Quidditch team. I almost told him something Mum would have considered 'highly inappropriate,' but thought better of it at the last minute.
Hugo scampers up the stairs, undoubtedly to put on some clothes and go try out his new broom, and Mum and Dad turn to me. Or on me. "Now Rose, we're going over to Harry and Ginny's this afternoon, and then to the burrow so-" Oh god, another lecture on my behavior around others. I wonder how long this one will go on.
An owl raps on the window in the middle of Mum explaining that just because I'm not exactly like my cousins (shocking that they noticed), I don't need to pick a fight with them.
The owl is Harry's, it has a streak on its wing where Lily poured some potion on it when she was little and it glistens in the light. "I wonder what Harry wants." Mum murmurs under her breath as she lets Sickle in and takes the letter from his leg. As she reads it her face darkens. "Ron, apparently some death eaters have been causing trouble around his neighborhood and he and Ginny have been called in to help the ministry round them up."
"I thought we got them all in Azkaban years ago." Yes, because I'm so sure the ministry was able to get every single person on the face of this earth who supported old Voldemort.
Even Mum seems exasperated with him. "There will always be people who think Voldemort was right, Ronald. James, Al, and Lily are coming over now. They'll probably be spending a few nights here while Ginny and Harry are gone. Rose, go put sheets on the bed in the spare bedroom. Al and James can stay there and Lily can sleep in your room."
Some things never change. I remember when I was little, Harry and Ginny were gone all the time and James, Al, and Lily were always staying over here.
I think they spent as much time here as in their own home. Well, it may not have been that much, but they definitely did spend time here. I head up the steps and pull the sheets out of the dresser at the foot of the bed.
I make the bed and hear voices downstairs, voices referring to Mum as Aunt Hermione. Voices that mean I will be hiding in my room for as long as possible. I may not be as chicken as Rion about James getting his revenge, but I would rather have him get his revenge in an environment that I can fight back in.
Here I'm just a sitting duck. I sit on my bed and begin a letter to Rion, telling him about this stunning turn of events when James walks by my open door. By some miracle, or maybe it's just because Sophie's brilliant, his hair is still slightly pink. It's mostly gone back to black, but some strands are still fuchsia. I wish I could do spells that good.
Albus walks by after James and takes the time to glare at him. His hair is back to normal, thank god. I don't think I could take it if Rion's spell lasted much longer than mine. I haven't seen Victoire in about a week and a half, but her hair was definitely beginning to grow out. I'm sure she fixed it as soon my semi-permanent charm wore off. She's been showing off her magic since the second she turned seventeen. I can't wait until my birthday. Then I can apparate and meet with Sophie and Rion and stuff. Although I could probably convince Mum to let Sophie visit for a week or something this summer.
I finish the letter with a smiley face and sign my name with flourish. "Hey Dad! Can I use Pig?" Pig is Dad's ancient owl. He's almost 25 or some insanely huge age like that. Mum and Dad both have newer owls, but it's easier for me to just use Pig.
"What'd you say?!" Dad shouts up the stairs.
"CAN I USE PIG?!" I scream back.
"Rose Weasley! If you need to talk to one of us, come down stairs and do it civilly!" Great. I grab my letter for Sophie as well as the one for Rion and head downstairs.
Mum's in the kitchen making lunch the muggle way and Dad's reading the sports section of the paper. "Can I use Pig, Dad? I've got a letter to send."
Mum raises her eyebrows at me. "Again? I thought you used Pig just a week ago." I did. But that was only because Rion hadn't owled me yet and I needed an owl to send my letter to him. "And who are you sending this to?"
This is where my genius comes in. "Sophie. She's the Ravenclaw muggleborn I'm friends with." I smile up at them angelically (or at least not enough to make them suspicious). Mum nods and goes back to her cooking. "So can I, Dad?"
"Hmm? Oh sure. Hermione, did you know the Cannons are playing the Harpies next week?" I run off to find Pig and when I do I tie both letters onto his leg. He's so tiny the letters almost dwarf him. "Take the first one to Sophie and don't wait for a reply, ok? Then go straight to Rion. And don't even think about letting his father answer it." Pig hoots at me and flies out the window.
I don't really like using Pig to send letters to Rion, but what choice do I have? At least Mouse (Rion's owl) is trained really well not to show his father the letters. I think it's the only thing Rion really makes him do.
"ROSE! GET YOUR STUPID CAT OUT OF HERE!" Damn. Guess I better go save Faithful from the two evil boys. You'd think she'd be smarter than that by now, but no. She just has to go antagonize everyone in her way. Hopefully she scratched them. Faithful is an extremely good judge of character, if you couldn't tell.
"Rose, wake up. Rose. Rose. Rose. Rose." An annoying little midget voice yammers on and on while its owner pokes me repeatedly in the arm. "Rose. Rose. Rose."
"Ahhh! I'm up. Stop poking me!" Lily stares at me with her huge hazel eyes. To adults, they look full of innocence. To me, they look like the eyes of the devil himself. "What do you want?" Lily may not be my least favorite, but she definitely has the power to annoy me. And Hugo. And everyone else who can see past her innocent face which excludes any adults.
"Auntie Hermione says that if you don't hurry up she's going to leave you here and you can spend the next few months wishing you were at Hogwarts with your friends learning magic." She recites this all in one breath like she's reciting it word for word. Actually, Lily probably is reciting it word for word. She may be a cute little kid, but she has no brains whatsoever. She got the short end in her family, and believe me when I tell you that is saying something. "Are you coming or what?"
Oh right, Hogwarts! I leap out of bed, perform a series of gymnastics to get to my clothes which lay across a floor that is strewn with anything and everything, and change as quickly as possible. I'd forgotten that we went back to Hogwarts today! I get to see Sophie and Rion… Racing downstairs, I grab a piece of bread from the kitchen and run to the car.
Mum looks at me disapprovingly. "Your breakfast is a slice of bread? Rose, you're an eleven year old girl, not an animal." Yada yada, whatever. She has toast for morning which is the exact same as a slice of bread except it's warm.
"Let's just go!" I shout as I slam my passenger side door shut. James and Albus are already in the car, I notice as Mum begins to speed off. Dad must be staying at home with Lily and Hugo. I love that they care about us so much they don't have to come see us off.
When we reach King's Cross, Mum walks us in, but James runs ahead so as not to be seen with an adult. Even if I care enough to do that, Mum wouldn't let me. The only reason she let him was because she feels so bad for him and Albus and Lily since Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny haven't come back yet. There was this psycho going through blowing up all these muggles in his way, although since he's out in the country, that's only been a few.
We head through the barrier and the train is already waiting. Mum leans down and kisses me on the cheek. "Remember to owl us and pull those grades up. I don't want to hear from Neville or Minerva that your work is barely acceptable. You're a Weasley, you have the brains to be getting E's." Yeah yeah. I suck, so what else is new?
"Sure Mum. Anything you say. Can I get on the train now?" She nods and hands me Faithful's cat carrier as well as my trunk. She turns and says a few words of encouragement to Albus, who looks like he might cry. What a baby. "Bye Mum," I say loudly as I head over to the train and she doesn't even look up. I head down to a compartment and watch out the window for Rion to get here.
After a few minutes, he appears in with his father. Since I'm inside, I can't hear the pop, so it looks weird for him to just appear like that. His father looks really serious and Rion keeps nodding as though he's taking in every word Mr. Malfoy says.
He heads over to the train and I wave for him to come to my compartment. When he does, he's grinning. "Hey Stranger. Good winter break?" Peachy.
"Bet it was just as good as yours." He winces and sits down next to me. "Your father seemed a bit serious out there. What was that all about?" I'm a curious person, I just have to know what it was that Rion's dad seemed so obsessed with.
"Oh, he was explaining to me for the millionth time that blood purity is a serious thing and I need to make friends with people who are closer to being equal to me. He hates you." Good to know.
"I'm so hurt," I say, and sniff pitifully. Rion snickers and we continue to chat about meaningless things. The train starts up and for the first time I realize we're still missing Sophie. "Where's Sophie? Shouldn't she be here by now?"
Rion shrugs. "Who knows. Maybe she has decided not to associate with us anymore. Might have lowered her social status too much." Oh yeah, and maybe my mum decided that grades mean nothing. It's all possible.
At the moment the train door swings open and Sophie struts in. She looks livid, which is not a good sign. "What's wrong with you?" Sophie turns and glares at me, so I shut up. She can use magic better than I can, so shutting up is probably my best option.
"Hmm, what's wrong with me? I don't know." She tucks her hair behind her ear and the sleeve of her robe pulls up enough for me to see her arm. My eyes widen and Rion's mouth drops open. "Yeah, saw it did you? Well guess who did it to me. Guess."
"Uh, your worst enemy?" Rion asks and Sophie's eyes flash in a way that proved she actually did not want us to guess. "Sorry."
"Your cousin!" She shouts at me and I cringe. I should have figured one of them would take revenge eventually. It sucks that they did it on Sophie though. "I'm going to kill him very dead. We need to think of something worse to do to him."
"Just because he charmed your skin a bit-"
"A bit?" Sophie shrieks. "My entire body minus my face is rainbow colored!" Wow, that was some powerful spell. I know I couldn't do something like that. Of course, James is way older than me, so that could be part of it. "That boy is going to regret the day he was born. I am going to do whatever it takes to get back at him."
Going a little overboard there, Sophie. I love it. "Awesome, when can we start? What are we doing?"
"Wait a minute," Rion cuts in. "I don't want to start a war with a bunch of older students who know more magic than we do. That's kind of dangerous." And dangerous is my middle name. Well, I don't actually have a middle name, but you know what I mean. I like danger.
"We need revenge, Scorpius," Sophie tells him coldly. "My rainbow skin is not going to be forgotten about. We are going to cause James Potter as much pain as he deserves. I will use every Ravenclaw talent that is at my disposal and you two will try to scrounge up a few talents to help me."
That's fine with me as long as I get to be a part of the prank. "You have any ideas yet?"
Sophie nods evilly and Rion groans. "Oh lovely. Being friends with you two is scary. I don't want to get in loads of trouble with McG and the rest of them." Oh, deal with it, Rion.
"Deal with it, Malfoy. We're going to get revenge and you will help us." Rion shrugs and takes out a book, giving it to Sophie. "The Top Fifty Pranks for Students? I love you, Malfoy!"
Rion glances at me with a slight grin. "I go from being enemy number two to her hero. Go figure." I laugh and Sophie glares at me.
"Oh, go glare at someone else. I'm not scared of you." She continues to glare at me and I inwardly shudder. I am a tad bit scared of her. Just a teeny bit. And the second I know magic better than her, that tiny bit of fear is going away for good.
When she glances back down at the book, Sophie grins. "You are my favorite friend, Malfoy. I love you more than Rose." Yes, because that information wounds be greatly. I think I'll cry myself to sleep tonight.
Just as I'm thinking that, the compartment door slams open. It's James, with one of his buddies. "Hello, ladies. Liking your new skin, Arron? It suits your… personality." I put my hand on Sophie's shoulder to keep her from leaping at James, think better of it, and remove my hand. If she wants to leap at James, that's his problem.
"This is war, Potter. Deep psychologically painful war." She sounds pissed and I'm just glad her anger isn't directed at me. That girl can hold a grudge like no one I've ever seen before. It's absolutely terrifying in an awesome kind of way.
"Ooh, big words for a little firstie." He glances down at Rion and laughs. "Love the company you're keeping these days, Cousin. They seem so… in need of help." He's clever. Even Albus managed to insult us better than that.
"Go away, James. You bore us." I say this in my most bored tone, even though I really just want him gone so we can start planning our big prank.
"Your little girlfriends are defending you Malfoy, isn't that sweet?" Um, I thought that last comment was directed at me, not him. How are we defending him? "Of course, everyone knows Malfoys don't have the guts to defend themselves. Girls have to do it for them."
Sophie pulls out her wand and points it at James and his friend who are cracking up. "Go away, Potter. If you don't I will hex you within an inch of your life, understand?"
"We're not scared of you, ickle firstie." He does look a little paler than he used to though. James turns to his friend and says, "Come on, I'm bored."
When the door closes, Sophie laughs. "He looked like he was going to have a heart attack! Now what are we going to do to him?"
I don't know, she has the book. It turns out, this is a rhetorical question because Sophie opens the books and flips through it, muttering to herself. "Is there something wrong with her?" I ask Rion and he shrugs.
"Maybe she has deep psychologically painful issues." We crack up, but Sophie doesn't even hear us, so we go back to playing with Mouse and Faithful who have decided to wage war on each other. The rest of the ride to Hogwarts seems awfully long since we've lost Sophie to the world of books.
A/N: Hell froze over- I updated! Sorry for the wait. Life and my original stuff caught up with me.
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Blood Runs Thicker Than Water... Wanna Bet?: Christmas and Back to School
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