text:
Author's note: This is my first story on TSSA. I've never played FF X-2 so I
get all my information off fansites. If my rendition of the characters seems
off from their usual selves, or if I put a monster in the wrong location, I
Please send all comments to: [email protected]
Final Fantasy X-2: LeBlanc's Arena (F-beast, group)
by Lord Naughtius
"Another day, another boring shift," the guard muttered under her breath.
'They might as well call me a Greeter. I do more of that than anything else.'
Just then a large red airship flew overhead and landed not far away. The
guard immedediately recognized as Summoner Yuna's airship. 'Lady Yuna,'
she corrected herself. 'She's not a Summoner anymore.'
The Celsius landed near the LeBlanc Syndicate's headquarters in Guadosalam,
raising some dust as the landing gear touched the ground. Three girls exited
the vehicle and walked towards the main entrance of the Syndicate's
"Greetings Lady Yuna, Rikku, Paine." The guard said as the trio approached
the entrance. "What is your business with the LeBlanc Syndicate?"
"We have an appointment with LeBlanc." Yuna replied.
The guard checked her schedule sphere and found the time slot. "Go right in."
she said, letting them past the main doors.
Another girl met the three in the main foyer, not far from the entrance.
"This way please, LeBlanc is expecting you." With that she led the way to
LeBlanc's lounge.
* * *
"Welcome, girls." LeBlanc said warmly, beckoning Yuna, Rikku and Paine into
her personal lounge.
"Hello, LeBlanc, may Spira smile upon your day." Yuna replied diplomatically.
"Still the Summoner, I see." LeBlanc said teasingly.
"So whatcha ask us here for?" Rikku piped in cheerfully.
"Ah, yes." LeBlanc produced a remote control and pressed a button. A motor
could be heard whirring to life and the curtains behind her slid apart,
revealing a large oasis that could be seen through the floor-to-ceiling
"Oooooooh." Rikku said in awe, "Nice window."
Yuna tried to supress a laugh, but failed partly and turned it into a giggle.
Paine bit her lip trying not to smile, but in the end revealed a grin.
"It's what's outside the window!" LeBlanc shouted exasperatingly. She swore,
if it wasn't for her genius with machina, she would have written Rikku off as
another dumb blonde.
LeBlanc collected herself, presenting a calm demeanor once more. "I
thought you of all people would recognize this immediately, Rikku." LeBlanc
continued, "Perhaps you as well, Yuna, although your eye isn't as keen as
hers when it comes to machina."
"Machina?" Yuna wondered, looking at the oasis. "What do you mean?"
Rikku pressed her face up against the glass. "Yeah, it looks real from here."
"And if you were to touch it, it would feel real as well, but it's not."
LeBlanc said with a sly smile on her face.
"Wait a minute." Rikku said as the answer dawned on her. "Is this
holo-projection technology?"
LeBlanc nodded; a smug smile on her face.
Yuna recalled that the late Maester Seymour had given them a virtual tour of
Zanarkand with the same technology.
"But you can't touch holo-projections." Rikku said, voicing Yuna's thoughts
as well.
"You can touch mine." LeBlanc said with just a hint of superiority. She
pressed another button on her control and the oasis vanished, leaving behind
a massive circular room. "Let me present to you, LeBlanc's Training Arena!
Made with the very latest in technology, it can reproduce any environment
exactly, right down to the smallest detail. I also have a vast menagerie of
fiends, specially raised by my trainers. Some can't even be found in the
"Wow." Rikku said; in true awe this time. A touch of jealousy crept in,
however. Her people, the Al Bhed had been working with machina for
generations, yet they have yet to produce something like this. She turned
to face LeBlanc.
"Before you ask," LeBlanc said, preempting her question, "yes, I did hire
some Al Bhed to create this technology. If you want the best, hire the best
to make it. They studied the original technology and improved on it. I don't
understand it myself, but it has something to do with making light bend to
make it look like a normal object and then making it solid somehow. In the
end it mimics the shape of an object."
"It's still impressive." Yuna said, awed by the possibilities of this new
"There are limitations, though." Rikku reasoned, "You can't create food
with it. If you bit into a solid-holo fruit it would feel right, but you'd
basically be eating air. You can't create guns or poisons because of the
same reasons. You can only mimic a shape, not what something is made of."
"Correct." LeBlanc answered. 'The girl certainly lives up to her reputation.'
she thought. "Also, anything created in this arena stays in this arena." she
said aloud. "The technology doesn't extend beyond these walls and the
"Impressive." Paine said; the only thing she had uttered since arriving.
"But couldn't you create fiends also?"
"Yes," LeBlanc replied, "but the real ones function much better and all we
have to do is catch them."
"I want to market this technology. But before I can, I need to know it works
properly." LeBlanc told them. "That's why I've called you three here. Who
better to test my arena than two of the people who defeated Sin and one of
the most capable sphere hunters in Spira?"
LeBlanc pressed a button on her remote and a girl entered the room. "She
will lead you to the trainer's entrance." she told the trio.
After they left another servant girl entered LeBlanc's lounge, wheeling in
a chest and three large spheres on a cart.
"Leave them there." LeBlanc ordered her, indicating an area in front of the
After the servant left, LeBlanc settled down to enjoy the show.
* * *
Now that they were actually in it, the arena looked even more expansive than
from LeBlanc's lounge. The arena was made entirely of grey metal. To Yuna it
looked kind of like a blitzball stadium, only there was no apparatus where
the giant Water generator would usually be. There were several large
guillotine doors situated in the walls all around the arena and a separate
area for combatants to enter, which they had just come through.
"Alright, let's get started." LeBlanc's voice boomed over the public address
system and echoed across the barren room. "Where in Spira would you like to
train? Besaid? Bikanel Desert? Mt. Gagazet?" The arena shifted before the
girl's eyes from Yuna's island home to a hot desert to the ancient ruins on
Mt. Gagazet's peak.
"I can even feel the sand beneath my feet!" Rikku remarked. "Let's go to the
Calm Lands! she shouted, "I want to go after some Malboros!"
Yuna and Paine looked over at her in a mix of shock and wondering if she
had gone retarded. "Rikku, you know that Malboros are some of the toughest
monsters we've faced, right?" Paine asked.
"Yup!" Rikku returned cheerfully.
"So why do you want to fight one?" Paine reasoned further, confusion on her
"Because me and Yuna here fought and defeated Sin. Don't worry, we'll take
care of you."
Paine blinked at this piece of logic. "But – " she began, but was interrupted
by LeBlanc over the PA system.
"Calm Lands it is." With that the arena shifted once more into the Calm
Lands. One of the guillotine doors at the far end opened, letting a Malboro
"Time to kick butt, er, tentacles!" Rikku shouted, pulling out her twin
daggers and running towards the monster.
Yuna shrugged at Paine and ran off after her, pulling out her twin pistols as
she ran. "Idiots." Paine muttered unsheathing her sword and took off after
the other two.
* * *
The trio took position a few feet away from the fiend. "Have you all prepared
your status ailment defenses?" Yuna asked the group.
Rikku nodded.
"Yes." Paine said.
"Anybody notice this Malboro looks a little different?" Rikku commented,
"It's looks more blue than green and it's kinda smaller than the ones we
normally fight."
Yuna ignored her. "Alright, let's do this." she said.
Rikku went in first, making quick slashes against its tentacles, putting it
on the defensive. Paine rushed in next as Rikku fell back, cutting wide
swathes across the fiend's body and cutting off a tentacle or two. When she
fell back, Yuna opened fire with her pistols, giving the two girls time to
recover. The monster screeched in pain and fury over this attack and emitted
a series of sonic wave attacks from a crown of hollow tubes along its skull
The girls covered their ears. Yuna knew what this behaviour precipitated.
"Get ready!" she shouted over the cacophony.
The Malboro reared back its head, and opened its mouth. The girls took
several steps back and shielded their faces in preparation for the Bad Breath
attack. Instead of a dark poisonous cloud, the fiend sprayed a white mist all
over them. Rather than a noxious odour, the cloud had nearly no smell at all.
Rather than waste time contemplating their luck, the girls got back into
formation and prepared to attack again. Just then the Calm Lands shifted,
solidified, and shifted again. Bikanel Desert appeared in its place. The
Malboro shrieked at the feeling of hot sand underneath its tentacles and
rushed back towards the door it came from, shrieking every time its tentacles
touched the sand. It bumped into it once before it opened, letting it in for
some respite from the desert heat.
"Sorry." came LeBlanc's voice over the PA system. "I guess there are still
some glitches in the system. But since you're already in Bikanel, how about
fighting some Killer Hounds?"
Another door opened to the girl's right. The three repositioned themselves
and readied for battle. Three Killer Hounds stepped out into the desert sand,
a larger one in front and two smaller ones in back. Even so, those two were
large enough to tower over them with their heads raised.
"Let's attack the bigger one first." Yuna said. Rikku and Paine nodded in
response. The two rushed in together while Yuna took sniper shots at the
other two, putting them on the defensive and not letting them flank Rikku
and Paine.
Rikku slashed low while Paine slashed high. Rikku cut the Hound's legs while
Paine aimed for its head, occasionally dodging its jaws. The two rushed back
to Yuna, leaving the fiend bleeding profusely into the sand, but still
standing. The monster howled and an aura enveloped it and the two smaller
ones. Magically, the bleeding stopped and the damage done by the
blade-wielders healed.
"Damn." cursed Yuna. "Again!" she shouted. "Equip some elemental attacks!"
Rikku and Paine ran in again, their blades glinting in the light as they
slashed again and again. Yuna shot at the other two, just as before, except
this time she swore they were healing between shots. By the time they
regrouped the hounds were fully healed.
The lead hound howled again and the three charged as a group. The girls leapt
to the side to avoid them and regrouped further away.
"They're using Regen! Switch!" Yuna shouted, "Rikku, you be a White Mage and
Paine and I will be Gun Mages!", The other two nodded in response, and the
three activated their dress spheres. Swirling lights surrounded them as their
clothes and weapons disappeared. When the lights disappated, the girls got
the shock of their lives as they were replaced by nothing. No large elaborate
guns, no magic staves, no clothes, not even the boots on their feet.
"What happened?" Rikku shouted, balling up her fists in a pitiful attempt to
defend herself.
"I don't know." Paine replied, warily eyeing the beast in front of her,
backing away slowly now that she was unarmed.
Yuna winced as her feet now touched hot sand, cursing this dress sphere
malfunction for taking her boots as well as everything else. Rikku had her Al
Bhed ancestry to thank for her natural resistance to the discomforts caused
by sand, and Paine apparently didn't feel anything her namesake suggested.
The hounds advanced, easily separating the girls from their group formation.
One of the Killer Hounds charged Rikku, knocking her down onto the sand with
its paw. She looked up in fear as the monster advanced slowly.
Paine ran to help her, but the other hound ran ahead and cut her off. Paine
skidded to a stop right in front of the beast. As if it had a sense of
humour, the Killer Hound gently nudged her with its snout, pushing her
backward into a sitting position with her legs falling slightly apart.
A few feet away Yuna was left to fend for herself with her own hound.
Secretly she wished she was one of the other girls, for while she was faced
with the same fiend, this one was nearly twice as big as the other two.
Gathering some courage, she scooped up some sand in her hand and threw it at
the fiend's face. Momentarily blinded the beast took a step back and shook
its face free of the annoying particles. Yuna saw her chance and took it,
running swiftly to help Rikku. She didn't count on the fiend's keen sense of
hearing, however, and she was quickly sent sprawling in the sand by a well
placed swat of the paw. A little dazed, she raised herself on her hands and
knees, spitting the sand out of her mouth and brushing it from her eyes.
The fiend was now in no mood for more games. From the beginning of the battle
it had smelled something coming from these girls and it had him in heat.
Taking a whiff of her raised ass, it detected the scent of a female. Whether
the bitch was in heat or not, he was ready now and was determined to get what
he came for. Its cock lengthening, the hound moved into position, lining up
with Yuna's pussy. Being large enough to stand over her completely, there was
no awkwardness.
Feeling something poke her behind her, Yuna looked back and saw the hind
quarters of the beast. More accurately, she saw the underside of the hind
quarters of the beast, and with it, a monstrous cock dangling dangerously
close to her pussy. It wasn't even fully erect yet and she could see it was
nearly nine inches. Yuna quickly shuffled forward away from it, only to be
met with a growl near her head. Looking up she saw the fiend baring its
fangs at her, threatening her to stay where she was. The hound moved
forward, attempting to find the bitch's pussy again.
Yuna couldn't believe this was happening. There were no reports of fiends
ever behaving this way. Looking underneath her Yuna watched the cock come
closer and closer to her. What surprised her the most was that it looked
like a human penis, only larger. 'I suppose it makes a little sense.' some
small part of her logic reasoned, 'After all, fiends are just human souls
that were never sent. If it's got human needs, maybe if I satisfy them
it'll leave me alone.' Making up her mind, Yuna reached back, grasped the
cock and positioned it in front of her vagina. She rubbed the head around
her lips, letting its precum coat them, lubricating them. Then she began
thrusting back onto it, letting it penetrate her slowly, inch after inch.
LeBlanc enjoyed the show from her view in her private viewing room. The wide
window gave her a panoramic view of the entire arena while several recording
spheres treated her to up close shots of the three girls. She currently had
her attention on Yuna's, watching her pussy get pounded full of fiend cock.
She was actually surprised that ex-Summoner Yuna would be the first to engage
the beast, and without the full effects of the Malboro's pheremones to boot.
If anything she thought it would have been the Al Bhed, what with her chipper
can-do attitude and penchant for trying new things.
Turning her head to the other spheres she saw that Paine had not yet
succumbed - her fear was still clearly etched across her face. Rikku,
however, was coming along nicely. Manipulating the sphere a bit, she
zoomed in on her pussy and saw it was literally dripping wet - the
juices leaking out had created a damp spot in the sand right underneath
her lips.
The Killer Hound that was advancing on Rikku was starting to get affected by
the pheremones on the girl. Its cock emerged, swaying in the air as it became
more and more erect.
Rikku started noticing some changes in her own body as well. Even though her
fear had entrenched itself firmly in her head and was guiding most of her
actions, she noticed her body was listening to something else, as her pussy
had become extremely wet. 'Now's not the time for that,' she complained
inwardly, 'Paine is in the same situation I am and Yuna really needs -'
Rikku's train of thought came to an abrupt halt as she saw what Yuna was
doing. There she was on all fours, actually pulling the beast's cock into
her. Not only that, Yuna's moans and facial expression suggested she was
enjoying it.
A poke to her left cheek broke her out of her trance. Expecting to come face
to face with the fiend, Rikku was shocked to find she was facing an enormous
cock, glistening with precum at the head. Like Yuna she didn't expect a fiend
cock to look like a human one. The beast poked her with its cock again,
leaving a trail across her cheek as she pulled back. Expecting revulsion,
Rikku instead experienced attraction. In fact, Rikku noticed she was heating
up, and not all could be explained by the temperature. 'What's wrong with
me?' she thought, 'I'm practically horny for its cock right now.' Thinking
back to the strange species of Malboro, she had a moment of clarity. 'It must
have been what it sprayed on us!' Indeed, the pheremones were now having
their full effect on her. The clear-headedness fear brought was now being
clouded over by unbridled lust. She reached out and grasped the cock, pumping
it lightly. She was pleased to see that it had not yet reached its full
length. As she moved her hand over the rod it grew from a semi-hard nine
inches to raging twelve inches and nearly two around. Rikku had to use both
hands to pleasure the beast. Seeing a drop of precum build up at the tip she
reached out with her tongue and licked it, savouring the flavour on her
tongue. The taste of it fueled her libido even more. She opened her mouth
wide and stretched her lips over the cock head. She could only reach just
past the crown, but the fiend didn't seem to mind one bit. Rikku began to
suck on it, moving her head back and forth, using her tongue to get more
precum from the tip of the cock.
All this time Paine was caught in her own stalemate. After being knocked down
the fiend seemed to want to play with her first before it began attacking.
Any direction she moved, it would follow. If she moved backward, it would
step forward. If she tried to get up, it would knock her back down. By now
the pheremones were nearing their full effect in her. She could feel her
pussy was already wet despite the situation she was in.
The Killer Hound detected a new scent in the air coming off the girl in front
of it. It was different than the pheremones but no less potent. It leaned in
close, sniffing the girl from head to toe to find the source. When it finally
got to her pussy it gave it a lick to make sure it had found what it was
looking for. "Ahhhhh." Paine moaned as she arched her back. She hadn't
realized that she had this much tension built up in her. She desperately
needed release, and for some reason, didn't mind that it was a Killer Hound
doing it.
After the initial lick the hound went back for more, licking furiously over
her lips. "Ohhh, yes!" Paine screamed. Even though the hound was cleaning out
her pussy thoroughly, she was still producing more juice. It seemed to never
want to stop, not that Paine minded. She was now flat on her back, her legs
spread wide, giving the beast full access to her pussy.
Yuna had now completely surrendered to the beast pounding her pussy. She
stopped guiding its cock into her when she felt she couldn't take anymore
into her and was now letting it fuck her with abandon. The fiend couldn't
fit its entire length into her, but Yuna didn't mind. She couldn't even
remember the last time she had been this full. The Killer Hound was
furiously shoving twelve of its sixteen inches into her pussy. "Oh, fuck,
yes! Fuck my pussy hard!" Yuna screamed, although there as no way the fiend
could understand her. At last the hound thrusted its last into her and
unloaded its balls deep into her pussy. Since it was stuffed full of cock,
it began spraying back out, coating the last four inches still outside her
pussy and dripping down onto the sand. Yuna moaned as she orgasmed with the
beast, her juices spraying out and mixing with the cum collecting in the
sand below her.
The beast pulled out of her and Yuna's body landed on the ground with a splat
as it hit the puddle of girl and beast cum. Yuna turned herself over onto her
back as the Killer Hound made its way back to the door it came from,
wondering if such a ferocious animal had really just given her the most
pleasure she had ever had. Suddenly remembering Rikku and Paine, Yuna sat up
and saw the two girls pleasuring their own hounds. She laid back down,
smiling as she thought of how the hounds would return the favour.
LeBlanc smiled as she watched Yuna lying down in the sand, completely sated.
The other two still had a while to go and she was afraid the effects of the
pheremones would wear off of Yuna by then and go to waste. Deciding to
literally get more bang for her buck, LeBlanc summoned one of her trainers
to her lounge. "Release four more." she ordered, "Make sure they get the
treatment first." The girl nodded. "Hold on." LeBlanc said, just before the
trainer left the room, "Wait for my signal before you release them."
"Yes, LeBlanc." The girl replied and left the room.
Rikku couldn't believe how much she was loving fiend cock. The endless supply
of precum had shot her libido through the roof. She was kneeling down in the
sand sucking on the cock head and jacking the beast off with one hand while
rubbing her clit with the other. Though her pussy ached to be filled, she
couldn't bear to part with a cock in her mouth.
Yuna herself was just now getting to know the taste of Killer Hound cum. She
was rubbing her clit and finger fucking herself while she watched Rikku and
Paine. Occasionally she would bring her fingers up to her mouth and lick them
From her lounge LeBlanc saw that the time was right. She summoned the trainer
again. "Release them." she told her.
Yuna was nearly close to an orgasm when she heard a door opening and saw four
more Killer Hounds emerge, running straight for them. Getting up, she was
ready to run to the other girls and somehow tear them away from what they
were doing so they could defend themselves. As the hounds got closer, she
noticed that what she thought was a tail between their legs was actually
their cocks. She felt her pussy moisten again at the thought of another
beastial fuck. She wondered how she going to take all the cocks. She had yet
to be fucked up her ass, but it would mean her pussy would be empty. It would
be the same vice versa. As if in answer, one of the hounds tripped in its
excitement in getting to her, rolling down a sand dune and ending up at her
feet flat on its back. Yuna smiled. Though Yevon had been proven to be a
false religion, she felt someone up there was smiling on her from above.
The Killer Hound servicing Paine couldn't get enough of her pussy juices.
Every time it licked her clean Paine would cum, sending a torrent of girl
cum gushing out of her pussy. She was experiencing multiple orgasms by
this point, and because of all the liquid coating her lips, the beast
occasionally dipped its tongue between her folds.
Deciding it was time for its own release, the hound stopped licking Paine
and moved around to her head. Paine opened her eyes, wondering why the beast
stopped. Then she saw its giant cock just inches from her face with a drop of
precum collected at the tip. She reached out and grasped it, running her hand
back an forth across the shaft, wondering if it wanted her to do what she
thought it wanted her to do.
Yuna crouched down and began sucking the fiend's cock to its fullest length.
She could take it easily in the beginning, but found herself having to stand
up part way and crouch down again as she progressed. She soon had to get down
on all fours and suck it sideways to get at it comfortably. Two of the hounds
seized this opportunity and dove in for her pussy, their tongues licking all
over her pussy lips and asshole, cleaning her out of the previous hound's
cum. The last hound to get there circled the group dejected that it couldn't
take part. Sniffing the air, it caught the scent of two other bitches in the
area and trotted off to the nearest one.
Rikku didn't know what it took to get this hound to shoot its sperm into her.
It felt like she had been sucking it forever but all she got was precum.
Suddenly she felt something cold poke her in the back. Turning around she saw
it was another hound, and it was sniffing her. Once it got between her legs,
it licked her pussy and then took a step back and turned sideways, presenting
a profile of itself to her. Rikku, however, was more interested in what was
underneath it. Looking from the cock she had to the one in front of her, she
felt like her wish had been granted. Getting on all fours she reached back
and guided the first hound's cock into her dripping pussy. Then she reached
forward, grasped the second hound's cock and took it in her mouth. When the
hound behind her felt its cock being wrapped with a warm, wet, tight pussy,
it immediately thrust forward. This forced the girl to deepthroat the beast
cock she had at her lips. Rikku thrust back on the cock, pulling the cock out
of her mouth as she did so to try to get some control of the situation.
However, the fiend she was sucking was just as impatient as the one she was
fucking and thrust into her as the other hound pulled back. The two beasts
began to seesaw the girl between them, eager to dump their load into the
Yuna found that she loved having her ass licked, but she wanted a cock in
her even more. 'Three cocks.' she corrected herself. She stood up and
straddled the fiend she had been sucking, lowering herself on its twelve
inch cock. Though it was smaller than her last lover, she knew she could
take it, feeling the beast bottom out beneath her. Seeing her ass was free
once more, the hounds went in to lick it some more. However, only one of
them could fit at a time. Yuna had quite a task trying to get one of them
around to her head before the cock in her pussy got soft, but she finally
did it. She leaned forward and sucked it into her mouth. Then she reached
back and guided the last hound to her ass. Once it penetrated her she began
sucking and thrusting back on the cock in her ass, trying to set up a rhythm
between them. Eventually the hounds got it and began fucking her in time.
The hound in her ass would thrust forward, pushing her off the cock beneath
her and onto the one in her mouth. The beast in front of her would then
thrust forward as the one behind her pulled out, slamming her onto the cock
beneath her, whose owner began licking her swaying tits. Yuna felt like she
had been sent to the Farplane - she was being banged in all her holes and
was completely stimulated. It wasn't long before she started cumming.
Paine looked over to where Rikku was, and was amazed to see her servicing two
fiends. She was floored to see that Yuna was fucking three of them. Thinking
it would never be satisfied with just her mouth, Paine sucked it hard and
fast to get it fully erect before getting on all fours for the beast. She
didn't even need to guide it in, as it found the mark on the first stroke,
burying itself up to the hilt.
"Ugghhh!" Paine moaned as she was pushed face first into the sand. She pushed
herself up and braced herself on her elbows as the fiend plowed into her;
grateful that it had given her so many orgasms. If she hadn't been so slick,
she doubted she could have taken it all in.
Rikku was well on her way to her third orgasm by now. Her pussy had never
felt so full in her life and sucking on a cock kept her in perpetual bliss.
She learned to relax her throat so that she could take as much of it as
possible when she was thrust forward. Thrusting back with the fiend behind
her, she was able to take more and more of its cock up her pussy. In fact,
it was bottoming out in her right now. She could feel something hard hitting
her cunt lips with every instroke. Thinking it was more cock, she thrust
back with passion, eager to get all of it into her. With her help, the beast
was able to fuck its knot past her lips, tying with her in one last mighty
thrust. It howled as it finally knew release; shooting its sperm into her,
spurt after spurt.
The heat of the hound cum filling her up pushed Rikku into another
earth-shattering orgasm. "Mmmmm." she moaned around the cock in her mouth.
The added stimulation got that cock spurting as well. The first shot was
during a deepthroat and went straight down. After all the work that went
into getting it, Rikku wanted to taste every drop of it. The next spurt
filled her cheeks to the brim. She pulled her mouth off so she could swallow
it, letting the beast shower her entire face with cum before pulling it back
in. Breathing through her nose, she was able to fill her mouth and deepthroat
it at the same time. Once it was done, it moved away, its cock retreating
back into its sheath. Rikku couldn't move since she was tied to the hound
behind her so she stayed there, on all fours, using one hand to wipe her face
and lick up all the hound cum she could find.
Yuna didn't want her group orgy to end. Since she had starting cumming, she
hadn't stopped. But, like all good things, it was about to come to a close
whether she wanted it to or not. The hound pounding her ass came first,
shooting deep into her bowels. The sensation of cum hitting a virgin area
sent explosions throughout her body. She bucked up and down, slamming her
pussy on the hound beneath her and moaning around the cock in her mouth.
Like with Rikku's hound, this one couldn't hold out much longer under this
new sensation. The first spurt filled her mouth, some of it dribbling out
the corners. Yuna didn't have Rikku's talent, however, and had to pull it
out of her mouth while she swallowed. Thick ropes of jism covered her face
and hair. Yuna opened her mouth wide to catch what she could. Once the two
were done, they pulled out, leaving her with one more to satisfy.
Being in an awkward position, the hound couldn't thrust into her, and Yuna
enjoyed a good thorough pounding. She got off the beast and onto all fours.
The fiend didn't need further encouragement and quickly got up and speared
her again, slapping her pussy lips with its knot. "Ahhhhh." Yuna moaned
sensuously. She had missed this feeling so much, and she had only begun
fucking fiends not two hours ago. The two of them fucked in time. Whenever
the beast pulled out, Yuna leaned forward so that all but the tip remained
in her. Then she pushed back as the hound thrust forward, stuffing all she
could into her pussy. Before long, Yuna was cumming again, her pussy juice
spraying past the thrusting cock, coating the beast's knot and dripping
down into the sand. With this added lubrication, the hound fucked its knot
past her lips, tying them together as it shot its sperm into her. The
feeling of white hot cum filling her up made Yuna cum again, and for the
second time that day, her juices mixed with a hound's.
Paine was having multiple orgasms under the pounding beast. It seemed this
hound had a magic cock as well as a magic tongue. There was already a large
wet spot underneath the junction of the two where all the girl cum had
dripped. The power of this beast was unbelievable; Paine had left deep ruts
in the sand where her forearms were because the hound pushed her forward a
little bit with every thrust. Without warning, the hound fucked its knot
into Paine's pussy, howling as it dumped its seed into her. The two came
together, their juices mixing and sloshing around inside her.
LeBlanc smiled at the scenes on her viewing spheres. She summoned a servant
with her remote. "Bring the original recording spheres here. There are to be
no copies or backups made." The girl nodded in response. "Tell the trainers
to make a note of the potency of the Blue Malboro in a battle scenario."
"Yes, LeBlanc." the girl replied.
"Also, send some girls to take care of them." LeBlanc said, indicating the
three girls on the screens.
LeBlanc called another one of her servants over. "Make sure these get back to
their rooms without anyone knowing you were there." she said, motioning to
three dress spheres sitting in a chest on the floor beside her. The girl
nodded, picked up the chest and quickly left the room.
* * *
Yuna, Rikku and Paine rested on the desert sand, each tied to their own
Killer Hounds; each lost in their thoughts of what had just transpired.
'What was that weird blue Malboro?' Rikku thought.
'What did it spray us with?' Yuna thought.
'Where did the other four Killer Hounds come from and why didn't they
attack?' Paine thought.
'Why didn't the first hound attack me when it was finished?' wondered Yuna.
All three came to the same conclusion of the one person who had the answer:
Thirty minutes later the hound cocks softened enough the let the girls go.
They got up and walked toward one another as the fiends trotted back to the
"Are you two okay?" Yuna asked.
"Us?" Paine said incredulously. "You were the one taking on three Killer
Hounds at once."
"Three?" Rikku said, eyes wide in amazement. "I only managed two. By the way,
you got something on your face." Rikku reached out, wiped a drop of hound cum
off of Yuna's nose and licked it up. Paine was surprised at her behaviour,
but Yuna simply smiled.
"Lady Yuna! Rikku! Paine!"
The girls turn as they heard their names being called. Three servant girls
were running up to them, each carrying a robe.
"Please come with us." the lead girl said. "LeBlanc would like to extend her
apologies for what has happened to you. There was an accident in the holding
pen and four Killer Hounds escaped into the arena. It's amazing that you
managed to handle them all."
Yuna didn't buy the story one bit, but if she didn't know better, she could
have sworn she detected some admiration in the last part the girl said.
* * *
"Please, let us take care of you; don't worry about a thing" the servant girl
said. The three had led the famous trio to their spa area, where everybody
came to relax.
She directed them to the sauna. The servants removed Yuna, Rikku and Paine's
robes and laid them down on the benches. They removed their own robes as well
before they began washing them gently with sponges and sweet smelling rose
water. When they got to their pussies, the three servant girls dropped their
sponges and began using their tongues.
"What?" Yuna gasped as she sat upright. Rikku and Paine had the same
reaction. "What are you doing?" she asked the servant.
"Taking care of you." the girl replied with a smile. "I can tell that Tresk's
been taking care of you too."
"Who's Tresk?" Yuna asked.
"Why, the Killer Hound you fucked." the girl replied. She smiled. "I trained
him myself."
"It seems you had Rall." Rikku's servant said. Then she stood up and kissed
Rikku on the lips. "And Ymaq." she continued.
"It appears you had Gehk." Paine's servant girl said. "I know how rough he
can be."
Suddenly all the pieces fit together. The girls laid back down and enjoyed
the servants thoroughly. After Tresk and his friends, it was the most
relaxing thing they'd experienced all day. When the girls got to their
arranged rooms, they all fell asleep within minutes, each with a servant
girl beside them.
* * *
Yuna, Rikku and Paine stormed into LeBlanc's lounge and marched up to the
"Ladies, " LeBlanc said soothingly, "You look a little distressed. Wasn't
the spa relaxing? How was your stay?"
"Shut up. Why did you do that to us?" Yuna demanded.
"My arena needed a test run. As well as my fiends." LeBlanc replied.
"Enough with the double talk." Paine interjected, "You know what we're
talking about."
"Don't threaten me." LeBlanc said, her voice rising. "I have enough footage
to make you three whores known all across Spira!"
"But you won't use it." Rikku said.
"And why not?" LeBlanc sneered.
"Because then we'll be forced to tell what really goes on in this place. You
won't be allowed anywhere near a civilized area and no one would want to do
business with you ever again." Rikku said triumphantly.
LeBlanc blinked. "Well, it seems we're at an impasse." she said, her voice
calm once more.
"Not really, " Rikku continued, "You may keep the recording in your private
collection but we have some conditions for you."
"What are they?" LeBlanc asked.
"You'll never mess with our dress spheres again." Paine said, stepping
"You'll tell us everything if you want us to test your technology again."
Yuna said.
"You can never record us again and you'll let us come back whenever we want
and use your facilities however we wish." Rikku said.
LeBlanc was stunned at the last part. "What?" she said.
The girls smiled. "You heard us." Yuna said. "The next time we're here, you
roll out the red carpet. And have your 'Killer' Hounds ready." With that the
girls left the LeBlanc Syndicate, boarded the Celsius and took off into the
The End
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I must admit this is one of the coolest function with the ZEN X-Fi. Because with the X-Fi, you still have to explain to your friend what the hell is xtreme fidelity and how it restores the blah,blah,blah. But once you tell them your ZEN X-Fi is able to stream your porn from your PC to say the toilet, suddenly they will all look up to you with new foudn respect.
MSN / Yahoo! Chat on the ZEN X-Fi
Below is a video demo of how the ZEN X-Fi chat works:
Creative Centrale
Personally, I find ripping DVD a chore even with the iRiverter. Therefore, I wasn't having high hopes when I heard that Creative have included a DVD ripper with the Centrale. But after toying around abit with the ripper and ripping a couple of DVDs, I do find that it does a pretty decent job although there's still much room for improvement.
Last Words
The ZEN X-Fi is no doubt Creative's best sounding player to date. The X-Fi feature does dramatically enhance your music quality. It's form factor is very much like the ZEN. However, we're impressed at how they managed to squeeze in a speaker, Wi-Fi chip, X-Fi enhancer and yet deliver a longer battery life. The Wi-Fi function on the player isn't perfect but we guess it's a rather good to have. However, we do hope that Creative would improve on the chat function of the player (T9 dictionary maybe?) and also integrate the SD slot with the player's library. It isn't an impossible task as many of the other players in the market already has such a function. Maybe as we listen to Creative's Sound of Prefection on the ZEN X-Fi, Creative should Listen Up, to what it's consumer really wants from them.

subset: commoncrawl


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If you are feeling unwell but you are not sure of the best course of action to take, then our simple guide will help you decide.
There are a range of local NHS services to choose from and you don't always need to see a GP or go to A&E.
Scroll through the tabs above to read find out more about the different services available to you.


text:
Project Dreamland 3.0 Shabbat Dinner - SOLD OUT
Friday, March 15, 2019 • 8 Adar II 57797:45 PM - 9:00 PM
Registration is now closed for this event. Please contact our office (402) 556-6288 with any questions.
Sorry, Registration has ended.
|Share Print Save To My Calendar
Mon, May 20 2019
15 Iyyar 5779
Today's Sefirah Count Is 30
|היום שלשים יום שהם ארבעה שבועות ושני ימים לעמר
Today's Calendar
|Shacharit at Beth Israel
: 7:00a
|Jewish History - Your History with Rabbi Shlomo
: 12:00p
|Mincha/Mariv at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home
: 8:25p
Upcoming Programs & Events
Mincha/Mariv at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home
Monday, May 20 8:25p
Mincha/Mariv at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home
Tuesday, May 21 8:25p
Lag Baomer Bonfire
Wednesday, May 22 8:00p
Mincha/Mariv at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home
Wednesday, May 22 8:25p
Mincha/Mariv at the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home
Sunday, May 26 8:30p
Parshat Behar
|Shabbat, May 25
Candle Lighting
|Friday, May 24, 8:26p
|Motzei Shabbat, May 25, 9:35p
Lag B'Omer
|Thursday, May 23
New learning Series - Orot Hateshuva
Rabbi Kook's explanation on the progress of the world and how everyday creation improves, and how to be apart of that.
Rabbi Ari - "Wings of Spirit" Learning Series
Listen to Rabbi Ari's latest offering in his "Wings of Spirit" Learning Series. Join in the learning face-to-face weekday mornings immediately following Shacharit.
Jerusalem Day
Miss Shabbat services last week or prefer to read the monthly bulletin on-line? Click above for the past several issues of each.
New Beth Israel Shirt Design Now Available!
We are pleased to share a new design in our Teepublic store. Inspired by the mural on the historic Pinnacle Bank Building downtown and hand-lettered by Stephanie Plenner Gerber, Shalomaha is available as apparel, mugs, tote bags, and more! Click here for the link and get shopping now. Beth Israel receives a portion of each sale.
If I Can't Live in Israel, the Second Best is Omaha logo also still available. Click here.


text:
Investing in education of individuals in the region to allow them to contribute to the development of their communities.
Education plays a critical role in providing people with the essential skills and knowledge for personal growth and success. We believe this will then allow them to contribute to the development of their communities. Our key focus is on enhancing financial literacy: helping children and young adults learn the importance of money management, and providing them with vital skills to plan for the future.
Launched in 2007, Prudence Foundation partnered with the China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), to develop and roll out an insurance curriculum and course across schools in China.
Since 1997, we have supported the Chevening Scholarship Programme across Asia in partnership with local British Embassies and British Councils. Almost 100 candidates across Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore and Vietnam to date have benefitted from our sponsorship.


text:
Freeloader Friday: 46 free things to do this weekend
This week in free things to do we have a pro-bike race in Uptown, a few beer parties, and festivals in a variety of flavors. Come take a look.
North Star Grand Prix: Uptown Minneapolis Criterium
Each year, pro cyclists come to the Twin Cities for an intense, multi-day competition that pushes them to the limits. Friday's Uptown Criterium is probably the most intense leg for spectators, as flocks of cyclists zoom around sharp corners at terrifying speeds. There will also be plenty of freebies, samplings, a beer garden, free bike valets, and an adorable kids' race. Check www.northstarbicyclefestival.com for more info. June 16, 4-9 p.m. Free. Calhoun Square, 3001 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis.
The Pour Organs
With Die Ghost and Dude Corea. Jan. 21, 10 p.m. Free. 331 Club, 331 13th Ave. NE, Minneapolis; 612-331-1746.
The Right Here
With Benchmarks, Alone at 3 a.m., Cory Call, and Rafters. June 16, 9 p.m. Free. Hexagon Bar, 2600 27th Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-722-3454.
Red Bird Author Reading
Poetry and prose from Vicky Lettmann, Donna Isaac, David Oppegaard, Dorothy Schlesselman, and Craig Ruhland. June 16, 7 p.m. Free. Artista Bottega, 937 7th St. W., St. Paul; 651-493-0861.
St. Louis Park Parktacular
Featuring a Grand Day parade, live music, expo, food trucks, kids events, pony rides, and petting zoo. For complete lineup and times, visit parktacular.org. June 16, 6:30-11 p.m. June 17, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. June 18, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free; some events require $5 wristband. Wolfe Park, 3700 Monterey Dr., Minneapolis.
Stone Arch Bridge Festival 2017
Featuring artwork, family-friendly attractions, a vintage automobile show, free concerts, food vendors, and more. For more info, visit www.stonearchbridgefestival.com. June 16, 5-10 p.m. June 17, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. June 18, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Stone Arch Bridge, 219 S. Main St., Minneapolis.
The Comedy Corner Open Mic Night
10 p.m. Free. The Corner Bar, 1501 Washington Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-339-4333.
Cornbread Harris
Every Fri. 6-9 p.m. Free. Loring Pasta Bar, 327 14th Ave. SE, Minneapolis; 612-378-4849.
Jazz in the Lobby Bar
Featuring JoAnn Funk on piano with Jeff Brueske on bass. Every Fri. and Sat. from Nov. 4, 7-11 p.m. Free. St. Paul Hotel, 350 Market St., St. Paul; 800-292-9292.
Manitou Days
Three-week summer festival featuring parade, live music, picnics, Fourth of July fireworks, competitions, family fun, and more. For complete schedule and list of locations, check www.manitoudays.com. Daily from June 15-July 4. Varies. Downtown White Bear Lake, 4751 U.S. 61, White Bear Lake.
Star Trek Beyond
Fri., June 16. 9 p.m. Lake Harriet Park.
Todd Boss
Author presents his new book, 'Tough Luck.' June 16, 7 p.m. Free. Magers & Quinn Booksellers, 3038 Hennepin Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-822-4611.
Vic Volare
June 16, 6-9 p.m. Free. Hell's Kitchen, 80 S. 9th St., Minneapolis; 612-332-4700.
Vinyl Club
All vinyl nights with variety of DJs. Every Fri. and Sat. from March 9, 10:30 p.m. Free. The Lexington, 1096 Grand Ave., St. Paul; 651-222-5878.
World's Most Dangerous Polka Band
Every Fri. 7-10 p.m. Free. Can Can Wonderland, 755 Prior Ave. N., Ste. 4, St. Paul; 651-925-2261.
The Great Northeast Beer Carnival 2017
This Saturday marks the return of Insight Brewing's epic beer party. Try their grapefruit-tinged IPA Crazy Taxi, the super hoppy Dankbot, or the summertime delight Crazy Aunt, a gin-and-tonic-inspired ale (think shandy with a kick of lime). Starting at 2:30 p.m., a new cask will be tapped every hour until they're gone. This party will also see the release of Jupiter's Shield, a special brew made with sage and juniper and aged in a blackberry whiskey barrel. Order a glass for $6 or take it home by the bottle for $15. The party will be both inside and out, with live music from the likes of folk artist Preston Gunderson, the bluesy Darners, and Pleezer, a Weezer tribute band. To keep guests sated, food trucks Red Cow, O'Neills Cheese Curds, and Del Sur Empanadas will be stopping by. Other entertainment includes fire dancers, games, and a dunk tank. June 17, 12-10 p.m. Admission is $2 or a non-perishable donation item (canned foods, leashes, toys) to benefit Secondhand Hounds. Insight Brewing, 2821 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; 612-722-7222.
With Rykygynyzr, the Great Went, and Things That Loud. June 17, 9 p.m. Free. Hexagon Bar, 2600 27th Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-722-3454.
Tall, Tall Mountain
With Panther Ray and Cool Pollution. June 17, 10 p.m. Free. 331 Club, 331 13th Ave. NE, Minneapolis; 612-331-1746.
The Most Epic Used Booksale
All books will be $5 and under. All proceeds go toward supporting free fall literary event programing in the Twin Cities. Sat.-Sun. from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ancestry Books, 2400 Lowry Ave. N., Minneapolis; 612-521-4090.
Pet-A-Palooza 2017
With live entertainment, special exhibits, family fun. Sat., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Minnesota State Fair, 1265 Snelling Ave. N., St. Paul.
Extreme Noise Punk Rock Flea Market 2017
Bring crap to sell, trade, or whatever. Records, shirts, tapes, books, videos, and posters. Tables are free, but email [email protected] to reserve a spot. Sat., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Extreme Noise Records, 407 W. Lake St., Minneapolis; 612-824-0100.
Taproom Grand Opening
Taproom-only beers and a guest chef. Sat. 11 a.m. to midnight. Pryes Brewing Company, 1401 W. River Rd. N., Minneapolis; 612-787-7937.
5th Annual Maker Fest
Featuring art work and crafts from local artists and artisans, with hands-on activities, demonstrations, and music. June 17, 12-4 p.m. Free. Sun Ray Library, 2105 Wilson Ave., Maplewood; 651-501-6300.
Art from the Attic
Pre-owned artwork sale, including works from the Cargill corporate collection, benefiting art programs and activities for the Center. June 17, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Hopkins Center for the Arts, 1111 Main St., Hopkins; 952-979-1100.
Rain Taxi and the Commons celebrate reading. With soft drinks and snacks, prize giveaways, announcements. Sat. from noon to 2 p.m. The Commons, 425 Portland Ave. S., Minneapolis. RSVP at www.eventbrite.com.
Movies on the Lake: Star Wars: A New Hope
For updates and more info, visit www.facebook.com/comodockside. Screenings are at dusk. Como Dockside, 1360 N. Lexington Pkwy., St. Paul; 651-666-9491.
20th annual Midwest Regional Yo-Yo Championship
Featuring novice to pro skill levels, judged by Dazzling Dave. June 17, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Free. Mall of America Best Buy Rotunda, 365 N. Garden, Bloomington; 952-883-8800.
Fridley 49er Days
Featuring parade, carnival, live music, fireworks, family activities, food vendors, beverages, and bingo. Check www.ci.fridley.mn.us for more info. June 17, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Free. Fridley Common Park, 6250 7th St. NE, Fridley.
Hop Blast Wonder Pro-Am Beer Release Party
Featuring specialty beer taps, drink specials, meet and greet with Minneapolis mayoral candidate Jacob Frey, and live music from the Langer's Ball. June 17, 12 p.m.-12 a.m. Free. Clockwerks Brewing, 25 4th St. N., Minneapolis; 612-339-9375.
Live jazz band festival presented by the Rosemount Community Band, with food, drinks, and family-friendly events. June 17, 4-9 p.m. Free. Central Park, 2893 145th St. W., Rosemount; 651-322-6000.
Midtown Global Music Festival
Featuring live music from Maria Isa, Bryan Cee and the Wibesmen, Siama's Congo Roots, Roe Family Singers, the Command Steppers, salsa lessons by Rene Thompson, and salsa party by Q-Band, with food specials, kids zone, games, and crafts. June 17, 12-8 p.m. Free. Midtown Global Market, 920 E. Lake St., Minneapolis; 612-872-4041.
Minnesota Parent 4th Annual Kid Fest
Featuring music by the Teddy Bear Band and the Bazillions, children's yoga, face painting, and family activities. June 17, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Lake Harriet Bandshell, 4135 W. Lake Harriet Parkway, Minneapolis; 612-661-4785.
Sat., June 17 at 9 p.m. Sheridan Memorial Park.
Pavel Jany's Talking Strings
Every Sat. from Feb. 7, 6 p.m. Free. Loring Pasta Bar, 327 14th Ave. SE, Minneapolis; 612-378-4849.
Rock the Docks Featuring 8foot4
June 17, 5-8 p.m. Free. Charlie's On Prior, 3950 Green Heights Tr. SW, Prior Lake; 952-226-5253.
Mondo Queer Beach Party
Featuring grilling, giveaways, swimming, and fun, with proceeds donated to Minnesota Transgender Health Coalition. On East side of Lake Nokomis. June 18, 12-5 p.m. Free. Lake Nokomis Main Beach, 5001 W. Lake Nokomis Pkwy., Minneapolis; 612-230-6400.
With Blue Ox, Cold Colours, and Cloekwohlv. June 18, 9 p.m. Free. Hexagon Bar, 2600 27th Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-722-3454.
Yoga in the Park at Lake of the Isles
All-levels class. Hosted by Twin Cities Yoga Cooperative. Sun., 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. 2874 E. Lake of the Isles Pkwy, Minneapolis.
Boy Kisses Comedy Showcase
See the show before the boys head to LA. June 18, 7:30 p.m. Free. Universe Games, 711 W. Lake St., Minneapolis; 612-825-4066.
Pints For Pups
One dollar from every pint purchased from 6-9 p.m. will be donated to Canine Inspired Change. Sun. from 6-9 p.m. Stanley's Northeast Bar Room, 2500 University Ave. NE, Minneapolis.
North Star Grand Prix: Stillwater Criterium
Sunday's race in Stillwater is a brutal one, as many athletes break down physically and mentally while riding their way up the cruel Chilkoot Hill on each lap. There will be plenty of freebies, samplings, beer gardens, free bike valets, and an adorable kids' race each day. Check www.northstarbicyclefestival.com for more info. June 18, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. The Rivertown Inn, 306 W. Olive St., Stillwater; 651-430-2955.
Bethany Mota
Style vlogger presents her new book, 'Make Your Mind Up.' June 18, 1 p.m. Free. Mall of America Best Buy Rotunda, 365 N. Garden, Bloomington; 952-883-8800.
Blues Jam
Every Sun. from Jan. 11, 7-11 p.m. Free. Schooner Tavern, 2901 27th Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-729-4365.
Comedy Open Mic
Featuring local and visiting stand up comedians, hosted by Trish Cook. Sign up begins at 6 p.m. In the Poco Loco Lounge. Every Sun. from Feb. 12, 7 p.m. Free. Pepitos Tex-Mex Bar & Grill, 4820 Chicago Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-822-2104.
Dr. Joanne Cacciatore
Author presents her new book, 'Bearing the Unbearable.' June 18, 5 p.m. Free. Magers & Quinn Booksellers, 3038 Hennepin Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-822-4611.
Sunday School
Stand up comedy followed by late night karaoke in the Library lounge bar. Every 3rd Sun., 8 p.m.-12 a.m. Free. Mercy, 901 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; 612-252-7000.


text:
- Kosher salt
- 4 (8-ounce; 225g) salmon steaks,deboned and rolled into medallions
- 1 recipeHomemade Teriyaki Sauce
- Thinly sliced scallions, for garnish
- Lemon wedges, for garnish
- Fill a medium bowl with water and add kosher salt until it tastes like ocean water. Add fish medallions and let soak for 10-15 minutes. Remove from water and pat dry.
- Meanwhile,light one chimney full of charcoal. When all the charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and spread the coals evenly over half of coal grate. Alternatively, set half the burners of a gas grill to high heat. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Clean and oil the grilling grate.
- Place the rolled steaks on the hot side of the grill and cook without moving until seared on first side and fish releases from grill grate, about 2 minutes. Flip steaks, brush top sides with teriyaki sauce, and cook until bottom sides are seared and release from grill, about 2 minutes longer.
- Flip steaks again to set glaze, approximately 30 seconds. Brush teriyaki sauce over second side. Flip on more time to set glaze on second side. Transfer to cooler side of grill, cover, and cook until an instant read thermometer inserted into the center registers 110 to 120°F for medium-rare. Remove from grill, sprinkle with scallions and squeeze with lemon juice to serve.
Source : http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2016/05/grilled-salmon-steak-medallions-recipe.html


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THERE is an outbreak of Sexually Transmitted Infections at Chingwizi holding camp in Mwenezi with over 200 cases of syphilis and gonorrhea recorded in the past three months.
This is happening at a time when Non Governmental Organisations that were educating villagers about Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV and Aids are withdrawing from the camp after they exhausted their budgets. There are over 18,000 people living at Chingwizi.
In an interview with our Harare Bureau on Tuesday at Chingwizi, Masvingo provincial HIV and Aids co-coordinator Evos Makoni said 211 STI cases were recorded at the camp since April this year.
"People at Chingwizi are falling victim to the most common types of STIs especially syphilis and gonorrhea and all the cases are being handled at the local temporary clinic. We do not know exactly why the number of cases has been increasing but we believe it is because people are idle most of the time with nothing to do at the camp such that they end up indulging in unprotected sexual activities," Makoni said.
"We also think that because the camp dwellers have stayed together in a small area for quite long (four months) they are now familiar with each other to an extent that they have developed relations which may end up being sexual," he said.
Makoni said there were enough drugs at the camp to deal with the outbreak.
"The outbreak is cutting across all ages and sexes. We do not have a particular age group or sex that is not being affected," he said.
Makoni said a series of behavioural change campaigns with their local partners have been lined up to try and reduce the scourge of STIs at the camp.
"Nac (National Aids Council) will soon roll out behavioural change campaigns together with Regai Dzive Shiri, Plan International and FACT Chiredzi. These campaigns will be targeting families and we hope this will help in a way and arrest the scourge," said Makoni.
The outbreak of STIs is also being blamed on rampant prostitution at the camp.
Some women are resorting to prostitution for survival after they were left destitute by floods in the Tokwe-Mukosi basin in March. The floods swept away their belongings.


text: News Creative: 2015 Recap and 2016 Watch List Dec 31, 2015 The Ann Arbor area is an arts and culture paradise with performing arts, studios and galleries, film series, museums, special events and more — all easily accessible and incredibly engaging. 2015 welcomed a number of milestones and even a few historic moments, including: The University Musical ...Read more! Explorer: 2015 Recap and 2016 Watch List Dec 31, 2015 Many don't realize that the Ann Arbor region, also known as Tree Town, is a flourishing urban oasis — combining great vistas and scenic drives with an incredibly walkable downtown area. 2015 featured some historic events and amazing projects, including: The Huron River was named the 18th ...Read more! Historian: 2015 Recap and 2016 Watch List Dec 31, 2015 The Ann Arbor area has a rich and diverse history which is honored every day through historical markers, events, and preservation. This year, the Ann Arbor area celebrated its past with numerous events, milestones and ceremonies, including: In October, Willow Run Airport hosted the largest gathering ...Read more! Foodie: 2015 Recap and 2016 Watch List Dec 31, 2015 2015 was another amazing year for food lovers in Ann Arbor. Despite some sad and surprising departures from the scene, the number of new eateries definitely tipped the scales in foodies' favor! More than anything, the dining scene in the Ann Arbor area received a number of accolades, including: Best ...Read more!


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Top 27 Graphic Novels, Comics & Manga:
February 2018
A Mexican photographer's biography, a lifelong lesbian love-story between two black women, a meditation on the role of art and the artist, and a suite of graphic impressions of jazz and its legends.
Just some of the individualistic, involving comics on the menu for your perusal and pleasure this coming February. Explore and enjoy…
A Doorway To Joe: The Art of Joe Coleman
by Joe Coleman
The publisher says:
Finally, the complete monograph with all the work of the unique and subversive artist Joe Coleman. The visions of Joe Coleman – monstre sacré of the New York City art scene, infamous for his explosive performances and the eschatological sentiments of his icon-like paintings – have often been described as subtended by binary oppositions—the sacred and the profane, sinfulness and morality, the hero and the outcast, the artist within and/or against the rest of the world. These contradictory forces coexist, dividing us all, and Coleman's paintings, like obsidian mirrors, reflect them in their perpetual and often disquieting negotiation. 400pgs colour hardcover.
A Girl in the Himalayas
by David Jesus Vignoli
Archaia Press / Boom! Studios
The publisher says:
Beyond the peaks and valleys of the Himalaya Mountains lies a magical sanctuary. Protected from the chaos of man, it is home to immortal beings and mystical creatures. When Vijaya, a young human, is brought into the sanctuary for her protection, some immortals fear her presence may lead to their ruin. But as mankind draws ever closer to the sanctuary's border, Vijaya will have to prove that there is more to being human than the violence her new family fears beyond their borders. David Jesus Vignolli's debut graphic novel A Girl in the Himalayas explores the astonishing potential of the human spirit. 176pgs part-colour paperback.
Ben Katchor Conversations
by Ben Katchor, edited by Ian Gordon
University Press of Mississippi
The publisher says:
Author Michael Chabon described Ben Katchor (b. 1951) as "the creator of the last great American comic strip." Katchor's comic strip Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer: Stories, which began in 1988, brought him to the attention of the readers of alternative weekly newspapers along with a coterie of artists who have gone on to public acclaim. In the mid-1990s, NPR ran audio versions of several Julius Knipl stories, narrated by Katchor and starring Jerry Stiller in the title role. This volume features career-spanning interviews with the creator of the contemporary American comic strip Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer: Stories and other works. 192pgs B&W hardcover.
Best of Enemies: A History of US and Middle East Relations: Part Three: 1984-2013
by Jean-Pierre Filiu & David B.
£14.99 / $24.99
The publisher says:
A graphic history of US and Middle East relations which covers the tumultuous period that began with Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and ended with Obama's decision in 2013 not to intervene in Syria. Spanning 30 years of conflict and diplomacy, Best of Enemies is a breezy and engaging guide to the geopolitical events that shaped the politics of today. 104pgs B&W hardcover.
Bingo Love
by Tee Franklin, Jenn St. Onge & Joy San
Image Comics
The publisher says:
When Hazel Johnson and Mari McCray met at church bingo in 1963, it was love at first sight. Forced apart by their families and society, Hazel and Mari both married young men and had families. Decades later, now in their mid-'60s, Hazel and Mari reunite again at a church bingo hall. Realising their love for each other is still alive, what these grandmothers do next takes absolute strength and courage. From Tee Franklin (Nailbiter's The Outfit, Love is Love) and Jenn St-Onge (Jem & the Misfits), Bingo Love is a touching story of love, family, and resiliency that spans over sixty years. 88pgs colour paperback.
Dave Sheridan: Life with Dealer McDope, The Leather Nun, and The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers
edited by Mark Bursting
Fantagraphics Books
The publisher says:
Dave Sheridan collects the best of the legendary underground cartoonist's tripped-out comic strip hilarity. It includes Sheridan's solo comics, many reprinted for the very first time, and his collaborations with Fred Schrier and Gilbert Shelton (who writes the foreword), along with his record covers, beer labels, and advertisements for more…cough, cough…organic products. The book includes a biography and reminiscences from fellow artists, friends, and family members. 276pgs colour hardcover.
Devilman Classic Collection Vol. 1
by Go Nagai
Seven Seas Entertainment LLC
The publisher says:
The original horror manga classic that inspired the genre for decades. For ages, the demons that once ravaged the earth have been trapped, leaving earth to enjoy a time of relative peace. But that peace is coming to an end. Demons have risen once again, tipping the world ever closer to Armageddon. Gentle Akira Fudo may seem like an unlikely hero, but due to his pure heart, he is able to become Devilman - a human with demonic powers, and the planet's only hope of salvation. 680pgs B&W paperback.
Downward To Earth
by Robert Silverberg, Philippe Thirault & Laura Zucchini
The publisher says:
Ex-lieutenant Eddie Gundersen returns to Belzagor, where he had left behind his youthful illusions, the love of his life and his shameful past as a coloniser. He finds the planet re-turned to its two intelligent species: the Nildoror and the Sulidoror. Taking the lead on a scientific expedition to the borders of the indigenous lands, Gundersen must face his own demons and settle the score with a planet which still has hidden secrets. 108pgs colour hardcover.
Dust-Ship Glory
by Elaine M. Will
Renegade Arts Entertainment
The publisher says:
The adaptation of Andreas Schroeder's 1986 novel Dust-Ship Glory tells the true story of Damanus "Tom" Sukanen, a Finnish immigrant farmer who planned to escape the Dust Bowl conditions that laid waste to the Canadian prairies in the 1930s by building a full-sized ship in his farmyard, hundreds of miles from the sea. 176pgs part-colour paperback.
Flayed Corpse and Other Stories
by Josh Simmons & various artists
Fantagraphics Books
The publisher says:
Josh Simmons (Black River) returns with a harrowing and genre-bending collection of more than two dozen short stories. The individual stories in Flayed Corpse stand on their own and also complement each other in ways that only heighten the anxiety and dread pouring from the pages. Flayed Corpse also collects several collaborations between Simmons and other cartoonists, including James Romberger, Anders Nilsen, Tara Booth, Eroyn Franklin, Tom Van Deusen, and Eric Reynolds, amongst others. 164pgs part-colour hardcover.
by Ben Rankel
Renegade Arts Entertainment
The publisher says:
A historical mystery set in the tragedy of Frank Slide, one of Canada's deadliest natural disasters. Eve Lee is in a self-destructive spiral—her big plans for a new life in Frank have not at all turned out how she had planned. As Eve hits the bottom, she's forced to confront her expectations when her former lover disappears under questionable circumstances. But is there something sinister at play or is she simply being obsessive and self-centred? And will she be able to put her past behind her before she finds herself buried under it? 112pgs colour hardcover.
by Ho Che Anderson
Fantagraphics Books
The publisher says:
A sprawling contemporary saga with a science-fiction edge, Godhead explores the collision course between science and religion when a corporation creates a device that can talk to God. Is this humanity's salvation or the equivalent of a Doomsday machine? Godhead is Ho Che Anderson's most conceptually and thematically ambitious graphic novel to date, his first in over ten years. 192pgs part-colour paperback.
Incognegro Renaissance #1 (of 5)
by Mat Johnson & Warren Pleece
Dark Horse Comics
The publisher says:
After a black writer is found dead at a scandalous interracial party in 1920s New York, Harlem's cub reporter Zane Pinchback is the only one determined to solve the murder. Zane must go "incognegro" for the first time-using his light appearance to pass as a white man-to find the true killer, in this prequel miniseries to the critically acclaimed Vertigo graphic novel, now available in a special new 10th Anniversary Edition. With a cryptic manuscript as his only clue, and a mysterious and beautiful woman as the murder's only witness, Zane finds himself on the hunt through the dark and dangerous streets of "roaring twenties" Harlem in search for justice. A page-turning thriller of racial divide, Incognegro: Renaissance explores segregation, secrets and self-image as our race-bending protagonist penetrates a world where he feels stranger than ever before. 32pgs B&W comic book.
Is This Guy For Real?
by Box Brown
First Second
The publisher says:
Comedian and performer Andy Kaufman's resume was impressive - a popular role on the beloved sitcom Taxi, a high-profile stand-up career, and a surprisingly successful stint in professional wrestling. Although he was by all accounts a sensitive and thoughtful person, he's ironically best remembered for his various contemptible personas, which were so committed and so convincing that all but his closest family and friends were completely taken in. Why would someone so gentle-natured and sensitive build an entire career seeking the hatred of his audience? What drives a performer to solicit that reaction? Graphic novelist Box Brown takes on the complex and often hilarious life of Andy Kaufman. 272pgs B&W paperback.
Lisa's Legacy Trilogy
by Tom Batik
Black Squirrel Books
The publisher says:
Tom Batiuk spent several years as a middle school art teacher before creating the comic strip Funky Winkerbean in 1972. In 1999, Lisa Moore, one of Funky's friends and a main character, discovered she had breast cancer. Batiuk approached the topic with the idea that mixing humour with serious and real themes heightens the reader's interest. The Lisa's Legacy Trilogy collects three volumes - Lisa's Story: The Other Shoe, the collection of strips of Lisa's battle with breast cancer, as well as Prelude, the collection of strips about Lisa's courtship with Les, and The Last Leaf, which shows how Les and family cope with Lisa's death and continue their lives. 862pgs in three part-colour hardcovers in slipcase.
Lone Sloane: Gail
by Philippe Druillet
Titan Comics / Statix Press
The publisher says:
Lone Sloane, the Ulysses of space, cosmic freebooter and rebel, endlessly struggles against dark gods, robotic entities and alien forces. Written and drawn by Philippe Druillet, known for his graphic adaption of Michael Moorcock's Elric hit fantasy series Elric, The Return to Melnibone, and his work for Heavy Metal, such as City of Flowers. Third in the series, following The 6 Voyages of Lone Sloane and Lone Sloane: Delirius. 64pgs colour hardcover.
by James Kochalka
IDW / Top Shelf
The publisher says:
Two lovable dirtbag teens, tired of being bullied, build a robot battle suit to take revenge on their entire high school. But they never expected to become… kind of popular? Experience the thrill of keg parties, gym classes, bear attacks, first kisses, cafeteria trays, and car crashes… but with mechanical enhancement! It's an action-packed dark-comedy teen-romance for the ages, from Eisner Award-winning cartoonist James Kochalka (American Elf, Superf*ckers). Kochalka's first book for older readers in some time is like a love-child of Superbad, Carrie, Mean Girls and Transformers! Genuine high-school sweetness mixed in with robot action and insanity! 192pgs B&W paperback.
Neon Visions: The Comics of Howard Chaykin
by Brannon Costello
Louisiana State University Press
The publisher says:
In the 1980s, Howard Chaykin broke new ground in American comic books with a series of formally innovative, iconoclastic works that turned the traditional action-adventure tales of mainstream comics into a platform for personal expression, political engagement, and aesthetic experimentation. His original creations American Flagg!, Time² and the notorious Black Kiss, along with his reshaping of familiar titles like The Shadow and Blackhawk, generated acclaim and often controversy as they challenged expectations of the visual design and subject matter permissible in popular comics. Today, Chaykin remains a vital and prolific artist, but despite the original and influential nature of his work, he receives scant critical attention. In Neon Visions, Brannon Costello offers the first book-length critical evaluation of Chaykin's work and confronts the blind spots in comics scholarship that consign this seminal artist to the margins. He argues that Chaykin's contributions are often overlooked because his comics eschew any pretensions to serious literature. Instead, Chaykin's work revels in the cliffhanger thrills of heroic-adventure genres and courts outrage with transgressive depictions of violence and sexuality. Examining Chaykin's career from his early successes to compelling contemporary series such as City of Tomorrow, Dominic Fortune and the controversial Black Kiss 2, Costello explores how this inventive body of work, through its evolving treatment of the theme of authenticity, incisively investigates popular culture's capacity to foster or constrain individual identity and political agency. Challenging prevailing assumptions about the types of comics deemed worthy of scholarly attention, Costello reveals that the work of an artist as distinctive as Howard Chaykin demands a nuanced reading―one that confronts his unique approach to the comics medium, his blending of autobiographical themes and genre trademarks, and his engagement with comic books as artefacts of consumer culture. 384pgs B&W paperback.
Photographic: The Life of Graciela Iturbide
by Zeke Peña
Getty Publications
The publisher says:
Graciela Iturbide was born in Mexico City in 1942, the oldest of 13 children. When tragedy struck Iturbide as a young mother, she turned to photography for solace and understanding. From then on Iturbide embarked on a photographic journey that has taken her throughout her native Mexico, from the Sonora Desert to Juchitán to Frida Kahlo's bathroom, to the United States, India, and beyond. Photographic is a symbolic, poetic and deeply personal graphic biography of this iconic photographer. Iturbide's journey will excite readers of all ages as well as budding photographers, who will be inspired by her resolve, talent and curiosity. 96pgs B&W hardcover.
Speak: The Graphic Novel
by Laurie Halse Anderson & Emily Carroll
Farrer, Straus & Giroux
The publisher says:
The critically acclaimed, award-winning, modern classic Speak is now a stunning graphic novel. "Speak up for yourself―we want to know what you have to say." From the first moment of her freshman year at Merryweather High, Melinda knows this is a big fat lie, part of the nonsense of high school. She is friendless―an outcast―because she busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops, so now nobody will talk to her, let alone listen to her. Through her work on an art project, she is finally able to face what really happened that night: She was raped by an upperclassman, a guy who still attends Merryweather and is still a threat to her. With powerful illustrations by Emily Carroll, Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak: The Graphic Novel comes alive for new audiences and fans of the classic novel. 384pgs B&W hardcover.
The Beatles Story
by Angus P. Allan & Arthur Ranson
£12.99 / $17.99
The publisher says:
The original long-lost Beatles graphic novel. This was the very first graphic novel to chart the creation, evolution and break-up of the fab four, first published in 1981. The Beatles Story is an exceptionally drawn account of the band from one of the UK's leading artists of his generation, Arthur Ranson (Batman, Judge Dredd, Button Man). Written by Angus Allan, it includes fascinating insights into Paul McCartney and John Lennon's first encounter, their early gigs in Hamburg's Kaiser Keller, through to the recording of the legendary Abbey Road album and the band's break-up. First published in the pages of legendary UK youth magazine Look In, this beautifully illustrated account is a treat for both the devoted Beatles admirer and new fans alike. This new edition is published in the Treasury of British Comics line, a series devoted to restoring lost comics classics. 56pgs B&W hardcover.
The Beef #1 (of 5)
by Richard Starkings, Tyler Shainline & Shaky Kane
Image Comics
The publisher says:
The creator of Elephantmen and the creator of The A-Men join forces with Tyler Shainline (Liberty Justice) to bring you the story of Meat Men. Chuck is a mild-mannered meat factory worker who is a little in love with a strawberry picker named Mary Lynn. But everything changes when Mary Lynn falls victim to the Vodino Brothers…. 32pgs colour comic book.
The Highest House #1
by Mike Carey & Peter Gross
The publisher says:
The creators behind the Hugo Award-nominated The Unwritten, Mike Carey and Peter Gross, invite you into The Highest House, the story of a slave boy named Moth, who makes friends with a powerful entity called Obsidian that promises advancement and happiness. Clearly, Obsidian has a hidden agenda, but Moth has ambitions and plans of his own. Series covers by award-winning illustrator Yuko Shimizu. 32pgs colour comic book.
The King of Birds
by Alexander Utkin
Nobrow Press
£12.99 / $16.95
The publisher says:
'Greetings, best beloved, my name is Gamayun. I am a magical human-faced bird from Slavic mythology. Today I will tell you an amazing tale: the King of Birds. This is the story of how a small golden apple started a great battle. It all began with a mouse and a sparrow, but soon all the animals and birds were waging a mighty war. After all, the King of Birds forgives no one… but what will happen when he finds himself at the mercy of a plucky merchant?' When a merchant nurses the King of Birds back to health after he is injured in a great war, he is offered a great reward. Together they travel far across the land to the domains of the King's three sisters to claim the merchant's prize… but will they give up that which is most precious to them? Enter a world of magic and adventure in this stunningly illustrated comic based on traditional Russian folklore. Debut author Alexander Utkin retells the Slavic myths of his youth, illustrated in a bold new style. Utkin is an illustrator, comic artist, designer and musician from Russia. He studied at Moscow State University of Printing Arts, graduating in 2006 with a Master of Arts. 72pgs colour hardcover.
The Prince and The Dressmaker
by Jen Wang
First Second
$16.99 / $24.99
The publisher says:
Paris, at the dawn of the modern age. Prince Sebastian is looking for a bride - or rather, his parents are looking for one for him. Sebastian is too busy hiding his secret life from everyone. At night he puts on daring dresses and takes Paris by storm as the fabulous Lady Crystallia, the hottest fashion icon in the world capital of fashion. Sebastian's secret weapon (and best friend) is the brilliant dressmaker Frances, one of only two people who know the truth: sometimes this boy wears dresses. But Frances dreams of greatness, and being someone's secret weapon means being a secret. Forever. How long can Frances defer her dreams to protect a friend? Jen Wang weaves an exuberantly romantic tale of identity, young love, art and family. 268pgs colour paperback / hardcover.
Total Jazz
by Blutch
Fantagraphics Books
The publisher says:
In this freewheeling collection of short stories and vignettes, the famed French cartoonist examines not only the music, but the nature of the jazz subculture. The grumpy festival goer, the curmudgeonly collector, and many other fan "types" are the targets of his unerring gimlet eye, drawn in a range of styles as improvisational as Coltrane and Mingus. 96pgs part-colour hardcover.
Why Art?
by Eleanor Davis
Fantagraphics Books
The publisher says:
What is "Art"? Art can be self-indulgent, goofy, serious, altruistic, evil or expressive, or any number of other things. In Why Art?, acclaimed graphic novelist Eleanor Davis (How To Be Happy) unpacks some of these concepts in ways both critical and positive. A work of art unto itself, Davis leavens her exploration with a sense of humour and a thirst for challenging preconceptions of art worthy of Magritte. 200pgs part-colour paperback.
Your Black Friend and Other Strangers
by Ben Passmore
Silver Sprocket
The publisher says:
Passmore masterfully constructs comics about race, gentrification, the prison system, online dating, gross punks, bad street art, kung fu movie references, beating up God, and lots of other grown-up stuff with refreshing doses of humour and lived relatability, earning an Eisner nomination, an Ignatz Award for "Outstanding Comic," and NPR praise. 64pgs colour hardcover.


text: Perhaps this is the magic?.. The magic of the Sun, which gives the birth to a new day, a new sight, the new thoughts. Perhaps this is the magic of the Wind, which spreads our wings to find freedom? Or the magic of Faith and Love igniting the soul, illuminating one and all with its warmth? "Perhaps this is the magic…" – the slogan of the Artyom's Jewelry House is embodied by the masters of jewelry art in each piece of the brand. Be it an elegant women's collection CECILIA, combining the whole splendor of diamonds with the magic of black pearl, be it the beauty and royal luxury of the earrings BAROQUE or the pendant MY GUARDIAN ANGEL in the form of an angel, who is always with you. In the best tradition of jewelry art the company Artyom's follows the latest trends and presents the unique jewelry of its own design both in Armenia and in many other countries of the world, including the United Arab Emirates, the Ukraine, Russia, Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Georgia. All jewelry pieces are created with the use of the high-quality gold and natural stones. Coming to the Artyom's Jewelry House located at the address: Yerevan City, 24 Khorenatsi or visiting the official website artyom's.com, you will find your answer to the question: " Perhaps this is the magic?..".


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Cat in a Hat
(With Apologies to Stevie Smith)
by Clive Collins
I never toss it up and down,
This hat cost more than sixty pounds
With a tat tut tiddle my hat brown.
Flip up the brim to play the clown
And then like Bogart tug it down
With a tat tut tiddle my hat brown.
I like to wear it round the town.
But take it off when I sit down
In caff or pub or griddle my hat brown.
Oh lid, oh tile, oh titfer brown,
My crown that sits upon my crown.
PHOTO: A Cat in his Hat (Tokyo, 2010).
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: I gave up trying to write verse when my first girlfriend ditched me, but thought I might manage an affectionate pastiche of Stevie Smith's poem "My Cats". She also wrote a poem called "My Hat," but that is beyond the pale so far as I'm concerned.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Born in Leicester, England, Clive Collins has spent the greater part of his life working as a teacher in Ireland, Sierra Leone, and Japan. He is the author of two novels, The Foreign Husband (Marion Boyars) and Sachiko's Wedding (Marion Boyars/Penguin Books). Misunderstandings, a collection of short stories, was joint-winner of the Macmillan Silver PEN Award in 1994. More recently his work has appeared in online journals such as Penny, Cecile's Writers, The Story Shack, and terrain.org. He was a short-listed finalist in the 2009 Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction. A chapbook of his short stories is to be published by Red Bird Chapbooks in 2017.


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Apply for Health Care Jobs in [mmjs-city]
Search for Health Care jobs in [mmjs-city] as well as all over the country. Apply online for the jobs you're interested in & submit your resume so employers can find you!
Start Your Health Care Job Search in [mmjs-city] Now!
What Are The Most In-Demand Health Care Jobs?
Health care jobs are on the rise now, thanks to an increasing baby boomer population, new innovations in health care and research and of course, the continuing needs to push back a number of viruses and diseases which crop up every year. There are a huge range of health care jobs, from medical billing to open heart surgeon, but some jobs are going to be more in demand than others. What are the most in demand health jobs upcoming for this year?
1. Dental Hygienist: Due to the increasing baby boomer population with bad teeth, dental hygienists are going to be in demand for a while. It's a great job that pays well (median salary of $70,000), it's low stress since you work to your schedule with comfortable surroundings, you can do it with about two years of education and it has a growth of 38% from 2010 to 2020. Pretty cushy! However, if teeth and mouths gross you out, this will not be the place for you.
2. Biomedical Engineer: This job is probably actually tied with dental hygienists because it has a good work environment, it isn't too stressful and it's very interesting. Biomedical engineers are the people who make the equipment doctors have to use, from tools to MRIs, building them, designing them, inventing them and maintaining them. Because of the big boom in technology, the demand is expected to grow by as much as 62% over the next ten years and the salary is an average $87,000 which is nothing to sneeze at. The one thing which may make it less appealing than hygienist is that you will have to go to school for a longer period of time; however, you will command a greater salary at the end and you'll get to do some interesting technical work.
3. Occupational Therapist: Occupational therapists have held steady as an in demand job for a year or so now and it's easy to see why. They are found on a wide range of workplaces which require a great deal of physical effort such as construction jobs, rig jobs and other jobs where injuries are a fact of life. Occupational therapists help these people get back on their feet and ready for work again, so they are in heavy demand. Occupational therapists work regular hours, decide how much they are going to work, have a good salary and a solid growth rate, so it's well worth looking into.
4. Registered Nurse: Registered nurses are projected to have the highest degree of growth with 700,000 new jobs believed to be added between 2010 and 2020. The demand is growing because of the aging population, it requires face to face contact meaning that it cannot be done virtually or outsourced and there is more emphasis on preventative care and on taking proper care of an aged population. This all means that nursing is growing in demand and is a great place to find work.
4. Diagnostic Medical Sonographer: A long title for a technical, but very important, job. In this field, people merge tech and health care using imaging equipment to do everything from assessing medical conditions to checking on the gender of an upcoming baby. This job is growing in demand because of the improvement in medical technology and a greater demand for this technology to be used by patients. This in turn means that there requires more people to run the machinery! If you enjoy working with technology and with patients, this could be a good place to work.
5. Dietician: Finally, with a growing interest in eating healthy and weighing less, as well as more interest in intolerance's and allergies, dieticians are growing in demand. Dieticians work with clients and with doctors to help people eat better in order to remain healthy. It may not sound like much, but with more and more people paying attention to what they put in their mouths, the demand for some expert guidance is growing and that's where you could come in.
Of course there are many more healthcare jobs out there and finding your place in the system won't be terribly hard. You don't have to spend eight or ten years in school anymore to break into the healthcare industry; people can start out with a year or two of training and go from there if they so choose. These are simply several of the top growing jobs in the medical industry, but there are plenty of other jobs around. If you're looking to help people and find a job that will be around for a long time, health care is definitely a good field.


text:
Business of the Week: Zina.Afrika
Company Details:
- Company Name & Slogan: Zina.Afrika Design. Illustrate. Photograph.
- Location: Durban, South Africa
- What does your company do? I am a freelance graphic designer who also has several years amateur photography experience. I specialise in print and smaller projects. Perfect for smaller clients looking for a personal touch.
The Story:
- How did your company start and how did it grow? I worked as Junior Designer and then Creative Director for a small full service advertising agency in Durban. Once my family became a little bigger I realised I needed to be more flexible and so started Zina.Afrika on my own. I have been operating since 2011 and am loving all the exciting projects that come my way!
- How did you do things before PayPanther and how has PayPanther helped today? Before PayPanther I was using various free online bookkeeping programs but PayPanther has been an invaluable asset to my business. I am able to organise all my time & costs & keep track of everything online & access my information from anywhere! Its an awesome way to work & I couldn't do without it!
- What is your favorite thing about PayPanther? Definitely ease of use! For a designer (not an accountant) this is essential.
- What is one piece of advice you would offer other business owners in your industry? Join PayPanther!!! You will not regret it!
Follow Zina.Africa:


text:
Ogbonna hoping for late Euro 2016 call
Author: Matthew Kirk. Published: 29 April 2016 at 9:56am
West Ham United defender Angelo Ogbonna has "an obsession" with winning an Italy call for Euro 2016.
The centre-back left Juventus last summer to move to the Premier League, and believes he's done enough in England to be considered for the Azzurri.
"I really hope I get a call-up," Ogbonna told Gianluca Di Marzio's website.
"I have an obsession for the national team, it's a recurring dream of mine. Being called up for the Euros would be a magical ending to this great season.
"I've stopped [Liverpool and Belgium striker Christian] Benteke and I hope [CT Antonio] Conte took note.
"Conte knows me and he knows my qualities, and he knows what he needs in his team."
Ogbonna also discussed the biggest story in the Premier League this season, Leicester's unlikely title challenge.
"The Premier League is fantastic. So many top-players, the stadiums are magical, I think of Old Trafford, England's got a unique atmosphere that you breathe in everywhere.
"My West Ham has been one of the League's surprises. We took advantage of the big teams having a bad year.
"I think Leicester will win the title. They were simply the best team this year both physically and mentally, I would be delighted if they won."


text:
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text:
Continue reading "My Story – Losing a Loved One to Finding My True Calling"
Tag: cancer
Durriya Kapasi: From a Cancer Survivor to an Author
If there is anything stronger than cancer, then it's self-will.
One inspiring example of a cancer survivor is Durriya Kapasi. A lady, who stands strong, despite having fought the devastating disease, all thanks to her positive attitude, her fighting spirit, and a supportive family.
Although, cancer did temporarily put a halt to Durriya's dreams, but it was certainly not going to stop her.
Right after recovering from her ailment, and given a second chance to life, Durriya decided to pursue her dream of becoming a published author, and now as we speak, she is almost there. Her book, Once Upon a Genie is soon to release in March 2017.
Continue reading "Durriya Kapasi: From a Cancer Survivor to an Author"


text:
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Because Today is Special...
7 comments:
oh my gosh - you suck. no, really! you made me CRY goshdarnit!!! I love you too...now people, don't read my post...really - it blows compared to this one!ReplyDelete
My Awesomest Pidg - You are the "trick"-est girl, I know - and I wouldn't have it any other way:)
happy anniversary!ReplyDelete
Happy Anniversary! And how fun about your bloggy friend. I enjoyed reading her post too.. you guys are so silly. I just had an anniversary.. 3 years! I didnt blog about my hubby.. oops ;)ReplyDelete
How cute! And crazy that you have the same anniversary. (I hear twilight zone music) I mentioned you on my blog today cuz you're awesome! Happy Anniversary!!ReplyDelete
Well happy anniversary to you and Po and Nay and husband! Hope this day is nice and special for all four of you. I feel like there should be some clever couple/couple merger name the four of you get but I got nothing. Just know that once it comes to me it will make you wince.ReplyDelete
Oh yall are so cute. Oh and so are you and Po. ;-) Happy anniversary to everyone!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousNovember 6, 2011 at 10:36 AM
Happy anniversary!ReplyDelete


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Archive for October 18, 2016
Reasons You Should Purchase a Tankless Water Heater
If you are looking to get a tankless water heater, you may need to look into the same company that offers you propane services. Most of these companies that do propane service also help out with heating your home with a tankless water heater. You may not know this, but your tankless water heater is going to involve no heating tank, so you'll be using propane fuel to help heat up the water on the spot. Here is how a tankless water heater works and how heating your home with propane can be the best option for you.
Tankless Water Heaters Have Two Systems
Tankless water heaters have two systems, alth


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The National Association of Attorneys General announced a joint public/private initiative to prevent the illegal sale of cigarettes over the Internet. Participants in the initiative include Attorneys General from across the country, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and credit card companies.
"We are taking a multifaceted, multijurisdictional approach to halting illegal Internet cigarette sales, NAAG President and Vermont Attorney General William H. Sorrell said. "We believe this is the most effective and efficient strategy to enforce state and federal laws regulating online sales. We are very appreciative of the work by these companies."
"This partnership is an excellent example of how Attorneys General and ATF can work together successfully with support from private businesses," said Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden, co-chair of NAAG's Tobacco Committee.
"Today, public and private partnerships are the key to success for law enforcement. ATF investigations show that millions of dollars each year in illegal sales of cigarettes are diverted to fund terrorists and criminal organizations," said Michael Bouchard, ATF Assistant Director for Field Operations. "ATF will aggressively continue to pursue violations of law. However, through today's initiative, we are addressing the problem of illegal sales across multiple jurisdictions with tremendous support from the country's largest credit card companies. We welcome the help."
Negotiations with the companies were led by the Attorney General offices of New York, California and Oregon. Details surrounding the initiative were discussed today at a meeting in Washington, D.C. that included the Attorneys General of Colorado, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Vermont and representatives from the offices of the Attorneys General of California, Idaho, Louisiana, Maryland, New York and Wisconsin. Other participants included ATF and the major credit card companies. All participants agreed to work together to prevent the processing of payments for illegal Internet cigarette sales.
The Attorneys General and ATF commended the credit card companies for agreeing to take affirmative actions to prevent the illegal sale of cigarettes over the Internet, and for agreeing to work cooperatively with law enforcement in shutting down these illegal operations.
Virtually all sales of cigarettes over the Internet are illegal because the sellers are violating one or more state and federal laws, including: (1) state age verification laws; (2) the federal Jenkins Act (which requires that such sales be reported to state authorities); (3) state laws prohibiting or regulating the direct shipment of cigarettes to consumers; (4) state and federal tax laws; (5) federal mail and wire fraud statutes; and (6) the federal RICO law. Many of the sales made by foreign websites also violate federal smuggling, cigarette labeling, money laundering and contraband product laws.
According to Attorneys General, in addition to being illegal, Internet cigarette sales present a significant risk to public health. In particular, cigarettes sold on the Internet are much cheaper than cigarettes sold by brick-and-mortar retailers, because the Internet sellers falsely advertise that their cigarettes are tax-free. It is well-established that lower cigarette prices lead to increased smoking rates, which in turn lead to more smoking-related illnesses and deaths.
Moreover, Attorneys General said, while brick-and-mortar retailers check photo IDs to prevent children from buying cigarettes, the vast majority of Internet sellers have age verification systems that are inadequate, often simply requiring the purchaser to click a button stating that he or she is over 18 years old. Numerous studies have shown that the earlier an individual begins to smoke, the more likely it is that the person will become addicted to smoking, and thus age verification through photo IDs is essential to protect children from a lifetime of addiction and smoking-related illnesses.
All credit card companies have long-standing policies that prohibit the use of their credit card for illegal transactions. During the meeting held today, the state and federal authorities outlined the many laws that are being violated, and the companies agreed to take a variety of steps to ensure that their services are not used to facilitate these illegal transactions.
Among the many actions some of the credit card companies have adopted to stop illegal online sales are: (1) adopting policies to prohibit the use of credit cards for the illegal sale of cigarettes over the Internet; and (2) agreeing to investigate and take action with respect to any Internet sellers identified by law enforcement as using their credit cards for illegal online cigarette sales.


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