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Chapter One
The Genetic Revolution began after the destruction of Earth. In the century after humanity was scattered to the stars, those colonies that could maximize the genetic potential of future generations were the ones that survived. Genetic manipulation, so long Earth's greatest taboo, became the only way to ensure the long-term preservation of the human race.
The human genome had been sequenced and decoded long before war tore the planet apart, and it was only a matter of time before those who escaped turned their sights to the very code that made them human. They studied and tinkered, and in the end stumbled upon a number of genetic combinations that would maximize society's collective chance at survival. Each of the preferred combinations contained among them genes most likely to foster intelligence, social cohesion, and stability. These genetic predispositions were further ingrained and expressed with rigorous nurture programs. Genes that coded for autoimmune diseases, neurological disorders, and other traits seen as undesirable, were suppressed.
In the end, the seven "presets" were created – seven stable, pre-populated human templates that would fill seven desired niches in society. No two children were the same, given natural mutation post-conception, but all bore obvious similarities, and all underwent rigorous training specific to their type from infancy through early adulthood. The program was a massive success, and is seen as the single greatest contribution to the rise and dominance of Arvun Cristi in the post-Earth age.
- The Rise of Arvun Cristi, by Heinrich Strauss
Fifteen-year-old Augustus Hale pulled himself from the wreckage of the downed cruiser, gasping for breath. Darkness surrounded him, and for a heart-pounding instant he thought the crash had blinded him. He raised a hand to his head, and then gasped as pain raced up his side. His chest was tight, and a hot stickiness plastered the right half of his shirt to his body.
Lacerations – possible rib fractures – can I breathe?
He sucked in air and immediately coughed it back out again. The ensuing burst of hacking doubled him over and flipped the switch of his vision, allowing him to make out hazy, indistinct shapes through the thick black smoke that stung his eyes and burned his throat. Searching for fresh air, he knelt to the ground and brushed a hand across his forehead; it came away thickly smeared with a muddy mixture of soot and sweat. His chest ached, and a rattling wheeze followed every breath.
He gritted his teeth and probed beneath his jacket. A list of symptoms in red lettering ran down the right side of his vision, generated by his bionic eye.
Moderate lacerations; contusions; possible fractures; excessive smoke inhalation –
The downed ship sparked threateningly. Augustus threw himself to the side and covered his head with his hands, but it was a useless gesture. With a boom, a wave of blistering heat plucked him from where he lay and tossed him through the air.
Some synapse short-circuited in his brain, and his thoughts scattered. When they came back to him, he was on the ground. With a grimace of pain and still more coughing, he sat up and brushed off a layer of dirt and leaves. Adrenaline drove him to stand, and so he gathered his shaking feet and pushed himself upright.
The blast had thrown him clear of the billowing smoke, and he found himself surrounded by a wall of trees that looked like enormous, crooked buildings. Wild grass grew beneath his feet, astonishingly green in the late afternoon sunlight, and rich black soil smeared his sooty palms. Humidity squeezed him from all sides, so different from the ventilated air of Arvun Cristi, and aside from scraps of the downed ship, there was not a single piece of metal in sight.
Sudden vertigo clutched him, and he fell to his hands and knees. He almost retched, but slammed shut his eyes and breathed through his nose to hold back the bile. The feeling abated long enough that he dared to look at the world once more, but as soon as he cracked his eyelids he again felt sick. Nothing looked right, nothing flowed into anything else. It was all crooked, bent, curving – even the straight lines of the trees that towered above him were broken by bursting flowers, twisted vines, and smoking burns.
Burns… from the crash.
The ship – where's the ship –
He turned back, trying to find it, trying to find some piece of Arvun Cristi he could latch onto, but when he finally caught sight of it, a cold wave of dread swept over him.
The jumper lay like a ravaged animal, its belly ripped open, almost torn in half. The long, sleek body had survived the initial crash intact, but the fuel cells had blown once the fire had reached the rear compartment. A hollowed-out hull, scorched and twisted, was all that remained. Smoke billowed up into the crystal blue sky of the planet, almost obscuring the floating city orbiting above.
Augustus's mind reeled, and this time the vertigo was so intense that he couldn't hold back. Bile rose up in his throat, burning and choking him, and he turned away from the sight of his home to vomit across the alien grass at his feet.
Grass… there was only one place with grass on the whole planet.
The Rift. I'm in the soldamn Rift.
Disjointed pieces of memory came back to him: racing into the jumper when the breach alarms went off; hoping desperately that he wouldn't be sucked into space; knowing that his only chance of survival was to find a way inside. He shouldn't have been there, mother had always told him never to go to the shipyard –
But why had the breach alarm gone off? What had happened?
He grabbed his right arm with his left hand; heat emanated from beneath the organic mesh skin. The bionic limb was running internal diagnostics, checking major systems for malfunction. It must have woken him when he'd blacked-out after the impact, which was a good sign – it meant the BCI was still intact and functioning.
He twisted his right hand to expose his inner forearm. As he did, the skin pulled back automatically, revealing the manual input panel beneath.
The screen was blank.
Fear welled up in him. If the sleeve was broken, he was alone, with no way to activate his comms system or pull up a location map.
The Rift. I'm in the soldamn Rift. Are there even maps of the Rift?
The full scope of his predicament pierced the thick veil of shock that had cocooned him. His skin crawled, and his breath came in short pants. He recognized the signs of a severe panic attack just as his eye began to reel off his biometrics, the symptoms marching down the right side of his vision only increasing his anxiety.
Elevated heart rate approaching an excess of one hundred and sixty-five bpm; breathing too shallow leading to over-saturation of the bloodstream; loss of fine motors skills imminent –
The sleeve's blank screen blossomed with light, and the BlackHat OS image appeared. The Balthazar Industries insignia came next, superimposed over it, and then a progress bar that slowly began filling from left to right.
Restarting. The system had crashed, that was all.
Relief washed over and through him. As long as the WhiteSleeve was functional he could communicate. An odd electric tingle pulsed through the back of his mind as the BCI reset, booting up to connect his brain to the bionic arm and the various chips implanted throughout his body.
The organic mesh skin closed seamlessly over the manual interface, resealing itself. He tried to cup his fingers, and they responded sluggishly. He refused to let himself panic, though: the sleeve had the ability to self-clean when shut down improperly, and maybe it was simply doing the digital equivalent of some furious mopping. Still, the WhiteSleeve was only a prototype… could it be permanently damaged?
His fingers abruptly leapt together, and he managed to take a full, calming breath. He thought toward the sleeve – a trick it had taken the better part of a week to figure out – and thin slits appeared beneath each of his nails. The skin pulled back and repositioned to reveal tiny projectors that ran down the center of each finger. Thin red beams pulsed out, wavering and adjusting until all five were focused on a single point, and then snapped off. The projectors themselves turned on, and a small, holographic image appeared over his palm, ghostly white.
He thought again toward the WhiteSleeve; the blank image shifted and blurred. The more external of the two comms chips embedded at the base of his right ear vibrated to tell him he had connected to the satellite network orbiting the planet. The chips relayed the image he wanted to the sleeve, and the projection over his palm became a tiny full-color replica of the city floating in orbit above him.
Arvun Cristi – his home.
A thrill of anticipatory fear raced through him before turning quickly to surprise and confusion. The city-station was… fine, or at least appeared to be. It was exactly as it always had been – a thin, flat disc with a long spindle below that pointed toward the planet, and the city itself rising in waves above, capped by a dome of artificial atmosphere. The projection made the city look tiny, like a child's spinning top, but as Augustus shifted his gaze up to the sky, peering through the thin film of atmosphere and smoke, the sheer size of it awed him. He had seen images, of course, had learned all about the city's creation, but he had never been outside of it, never seen it for himself.
It loomed in the sky like an enormous moon. The planet Spes had a natural moon, Opis, in deeper orbit, but from here Arvun Cristi dwarfed it. The city was tilted to point toward Salus, the central star of the system, and therefore granted Augustus a perfect view of what should have been a disastrous atmospheric breach.
But the dome was fine. Nothing was out of place.
He blinked hard, trying to think. It didn't make any sense. He'd heard the alarms, they'd been all throughout the city. Response teams should have been mobilized. What had happened to his parents? Had they been inside? Everyone was taught from birth that to be caught outside in a dome breach meant death. If it had been a false alarm, though… but no, it had to have been a breach. There had never been a false alarm in the whole history of Arvun Cristi – Type Ones monitored the system around the clock.
Having trouble controlling his panic, he looked back down at his hand and thought toward the sleeve. The panel on the inner side of his forearm slid open again. He typed furiously, and as he did the hologram shifted.
The projection zoomed in on the dome, and with a rush of mingled relief and anxiety he realized he'd been wrong; there was activity. It was only centered on one spot, though, at the very apex of the dome, and the small, single-person ships sent to examine the breach were… moving away.
He looked back up at the sky, squinting in an effort to see through the smoke that had clouded the pristine air, but he couldn't distinguish any details. It just didn't make sense – the alarms were only in place in case the unthinkable happened. Types Ones had designed the city's prediction algorithms themselves, making them nigh on infallible. If a foreign object had been in-bound, automatic adjustments should have been made so that the object would have bounced harmlessly off the atmospheric field.
Had something slipped through a hole in the calculations? Was there a bug someone hadn't caught?
Metal shifted and screeched behind him.
He dropped the hologram and threw himself to the ground, covering his head with his hands. The screeching came again, but no explosion followed. He looked up from where he lay at the base of a tree draped in arm-thick vines – a tree! A living, planted-in-the-soldam-ground tree! – and glanced back.
A new figure emerged from the wreckage, pushing against a sheet of dislodged metal paneling that had trapped it inside. With a heave, the newcomer threw the obstruction aside, hacking and coughing as it did. Yet more smoke poured out of the hole, and the figure staggered forward and resolved into a teenaged boy scrubbing his hands across his face in an attempt to clear his tearing eyes.
A shot of adrenaline ignited Augustus, and his training took over. He rushed forward, already raking his gaze over the new arrival. His bionic eye began listing diagnostics line by line along the right side of his vision:
Burns on left shoulder, first degree; patient holding right side, possible rib injury; staggering but bearing weight, check right knee and ankle –
The ship shifted, and a threatening hum filled the air. He had just enough time to dive out of the way, pulling the other boy with him, before the pent-up explosion cracked through the air. It rushed over them, knocking the wind out of their lungs and driving them into the ground.
Stars winked across Augustus's vision as he gasped and choked for breath. He flopped onto his back and tried to steady himself, forcing his heart rate down. When he finally managed to catch his breath, he sat up. Ringing filled his ears, muffling all other sound, but he confirmed that all of his limbs were in their proper places and felt a small rush of relief.
The explosion had ripped the ship into rough thirds – the front half here, the back half there, and the center strewn all over the narrow valley in a hundred pieces. Trees leaned drunkenly all along the crash path, broken and tilted where they had not been ripped from the ground entirely. Small fires smoldered in the grass, though the air was so humid that none of them had developed into a blaze.
Again, hazy memories of the events leading up to the crash flashed through his mind: the ship starting on its own; the doors slamming shut; the autopilot engaging and flying them down through one of the docking platforms; a flash of green as they disengaged and shot straight for the surface of Spes....
And the other boy. He jumped in when I did.
He looked over at his fellow passenger and saw him staring at Augustus with a fierce, evaluative gaze. Eyeing each other warily, they both rose to their feet. They were within a year of each other, that much was clear, but the other boy was taller and full of thin, sinewy strength that showed through the sooty remains of his standard issue clothing. His thick sandy hair was so tousled that it stood on end like a keratin halo above eyes an astonishing electric blue.
"Are you all right?" Augustus asked. "How do you feel?"
"What are you doing here?" the boy replied.
"I – the ship… "
The boy looked him up and down in one quick flick of his eyes.
"Who are you?" Augustus asked.
"Jack," the boy said, his eyes standing out against his sooty skin like stars in deep space. His tone and gaze were wary. "Who are you?"
"Augustus Hale, Type Two Preset."
The boy's eyes narrowed.
"Hale," Jack said. It wasn't a question, but Augustus answered it anyway, confused.
Jack's expression flickered. It happened like a sudden eclipse, Augustus's confirmation passing over him and blocking out the light. His eyes darkened first, and then the darkness spread to the rest of him like a drop of ink on fresh paper. His brow furrowed, and his lips thinned into a tightly pressed line. Augustus was confused – no one had ever looked at him like that before, looked at him with something like hatred, so sharp it could almost cut.
"Hale," the boy repeated. His upper lip twitched.
A distant throbbing broke the tension. They turned as one to see a shape emerge in the distance, over the top of the hill that had halted the jumper's skidding crash.
A ship, making its way toward them.
"Damn!" Jack said. He rushed toward the ruined jumper, moving with surprising speed even as he coughed and wheezed from the exertion.
"Wait!" Augustus said. "Wait – it's still dangerous!"
The other boy didn't listen. He plunged back into the smoke, and Augustus was just able to make out a flurry of movement near the navigation console. Jack removed something and stuffed it into a cleverly concealed pocket sewn to the inside of his tattered red and black jacket – Red and black? What family wears red and black? – and then rushed back past Augustus, ignoring him completely. He ran toward the slope of the hill and began to ascend, only held back from a flat-out sprint by the steep incline and his still-inhibited breathing.
"Wait – where are you going?"
Jack neither replied nor halted. Cursing and wondering if the boy might have suffered head trauma in the crash, Augustus launched up the slope after him. His side throbbed with pain every time his right foot hit the ground, but the bleeding had stopped and his breathing had eased. He agreed with the diagnosis his eye showed: severe contusions, light lacerations, no fractures.
Lucky, he thought, shooting a glance back over his shoulder at the wreckage. Both of us, lucky to escape...
He slowed, and then stopped.
The insignia of Balthazar Industries stood out in the afternoon light on a twisted piece of metal paneling. Long burn marks marred the chipped paint, but the "B.I." over the bionic arm was unmistakable.
We just crashed a B.I. ship.
But before he could bring himself to contemplate the full gravity of the situation, something else caught his attention: the thick trees at the other end of the valley had begun to shift and sway.
A spike of fear jabbed through the floor of his gut, cramping his stomach. The cracking, snapping sound of the burning wreckage, the whoosh of the billowing smoke, and the deep throbbing hum of the approaching rescue ship all seemed suddenly very far away. He had been worried about the crash, about pulling himself from the wreckage, and then about the other boy; but now the true danger had arrived, the true terror.
The Rift had not been made for humankind.
The trees shook more violently, accompanied by the steadily growing sound of heavy footfalls that penetrated the shocked silence of his mind. Fear, raw and primal, squeezed him from every side, spurring him to action. He turned and ran, not daring to look back even when a high sucking sound, as of air pulled down a wet hole, joined the solid, vibrating percussion of the footfalls. He heard trees crack and topple, and their impact made the ground jump as he continued up the slope of the hill, pushing his already burning legs for every last bit of effort they could muster, knowing that his only hope was the approaching ship.
In his haste, he stumbled and fell sideways, catching himself on a rock outcropping just before he fell face first into the dirt. From behind him came the sound of a massive limb impacting solid ground – a deep muffled thump – and with it a shrieking cry that made his hair stand on end. He turned against his will, and found himself staring at a nightmare.
The creature was larger than most buildings. A dozen multi-jointed limbs sprouted from its back, covered in skin an offensively bright scarlet, and it had no head to speak of. It did have two immense forelimbs that ended in black claws, and hundreds of short legs that scuttled its gargantuan weight across the ground. Its thick, hairless skin was covered in sticky mucus that glistened in the light of the sun, and as it advanced the creature opened a circular orifice in the middle of its torso to reveal row upon row of needle-like teeth leading down a slimy corridor that ended in darkness. It seemed to swell, taking in air, and then it rent the air with another horrible, screeching bellow.
Visceral terror propelled Augustus the rest of the way up the hill. He scrambled and threw himself forward, all the while fighting to fill his lungs as his pounding heart swelled to take up extra space in his chest. He dug his boots deep into the rich soil for purchase and pulled out clumps of rock and grass as he scrabbled for handholds. Jack was above him, cresting the summit. What would they do when they got there? How far away was rescue?
The creature bellowed again, this time much closer. Augustus knew they had no chance if the ship didn't make it in time – the creature was one of hundreds of species kept in the Rift, creatures selected and bred for their lethality. Even if he and Jack somehow managed to escape this one, they would not escape the next. Nothing survived the Rift – nothing except the beasts.
He crested the hill, and found himself staring out at a barren landscape.
The jumper had crashed down just inside where the Rift's dome of artificial atmosphere met the inhospitable surface of the planet. Massive towers were visible in the distance on either side of the hill, two of thousands positioned around the perimeter of the Rift to contain the artificial atmosphere through a combined manipulation of gravity and magnetism. This close to the edge, the barrier was a thick, hazy film. The barren surface of the planet – the true surface – was just visible through it: a never-ending expanse of gray, sparsely broken by streaks of red and orange.
And high above that desolate landscape, flying toward them through the natural atmosphere of the planet, was their rescue ship.
Relief shook Augustus. The ship approached rapidly, growing larger with every second as the pounding whomp whomp whomp of the engine rattled his teeth. It began to slow as it neared the Rift, readying to pierce the dome of artificial atmosphere at a safer speed, and as it turned to perform the maneuver, a cold shiver ran down Augustus's spine.
The ship did not bear the mark of Arvun Cristi.
In place of the red-and-white insignia of the floating city was instead something gold and violet. As the ship continued its approach, he realized that the body wasn't right either: it didn't have the sleek, single-body shape of a Watcher ship but was instead shaped like a diving bird of prey from old Earth. It was run down, too – old, with a distinct gray cast – and had a number of non-standard modifications, including mounted guns.
The ship slipped through the hazy Rift atmosphere and began to descend, centering on the far side of the hilltop. Augustus covered his face with his hands as wind rolled off the ship and tore at his clothes, and Jack waved his arms madly. Augustus spun to look back at the creature, which had slowed but not stopped. Ships were not something it had dealt with before, so while it was wary it would not fear them; the Rift landing base was heavily regulated for just that reason.
Landing base – where's the landing base?
He tore his eyes from the advancing creature as the thought seized him. He looked back out over the cliff, through the artificial atmosphere, and saw nothing but the bare surface of the planet. He looked left, then right, scanning the area where the atmospheric dome met the ground, but saw no trace of a landing platform. He realized that the pale yellow orb of Salus was slowly creeping toward the horizon on his right, and that meant he was facing south.
We're at the southern end. We're on the wrong soldamn side.
The scavenger ship dropped to earth with the heavy mechanical sigh of landing thrusters, balancing easily on three thick legs that detached from the underside of its body. The resemblance to a diving bird of prey was striking; the craft had a thick central frame, an oval head, and two wings that swept back to either side. As it settled, the blue light of the landing thrusters cut out and the engine spun down, dropping the wind factor significantly.
A bellow of triumph came from behind him, and he spun back around.
The scarlet behemoth surged up the hill with renewed speed. Now that its rival, this metal bird, was land-born, it began to attack the steep slope of the hill with vigor, scurrying upward on the hundreds of legs that bore its weight.
Jack rushed toward the ship, hair whipping wildly in what was left of the wind. After only a second's hesitation, Augustus hurried after him, fear of the advancing creature far outweighing his fear of the unknown cruiser.
He clutched at the torn sleeves of his coat and tried to shield his eyes. By squinting, he was just able to see the ship's loading ramp detach from the underside of its body. Figures emerged holding military-grade particle rifles and wearing full exosuits in varying degrees of wear. None of the suits were new, and many of them looked to have undergone several years of intense use.
Scavengers, Augustus confirmed to himself, with no small sense of unease.
Both boys threw their hands skyward. The scavengers were larger than life, and with their helmets up and their solar visors down, they exuded secrecy and danger. The creature let loose another screeching bellow behind them, and Augustus cricked his neck as he turned back to see the scarlet behemoth crest the hill.
Fear gripped him so intensely that he thought his knees might give out. He began shouting incoherently, gesturing at the creature even though there was no way the scavengers could have missed it. He shouted for them to shoot it, to shoot it now, his mind nothing but a thousand terrified slivers of broken thought.
The scavengers opened fire.
Augustus had never seen or heard a particle rifle discharged, so when beams of blazing white-blue heat cracked from the ends of the muzzles, he was so shocked that his knees actually did give out, depositing him on the ground. The beams hit the creature and bored through various limbs, burning away patches of scarlet flesh and forcing it to pull up short in its headlong charge. The quality of its call changed from triumph to agony, and then the suited figures were in front of Augustus, blocking his view as they continued to fire, driving the creature back.
Others emerged from the ship, wearing an even more motley collection of suits, some of which looked to be not just years but decades old. One of them came straight for the boys, a figure with wide shoulders wearing black and gold and holding a particle rifle at the ready.
Instinct took over, and Augustus tried to retreat, but the figure grabbed him and held him in place. Another figure appeared, in the same black-and-gold suit as the first, and grabbed Jack.
The first scavenger pulled back Augustus's jacket and made a grab for his right wrist. Augustus struggled, fighting back as much as he could, but it was no use. The scavenger ripped back his jacket sleeve, and revealed the bionic limb beneath.
Chapter Two
The Genetic Revolution that established Arvun Cristi as the new center of humanity was driven by a number of families, chief among them the Strauns. Cassius Straun, who discovered the planet Spes, was one of the original immigrants that helped found the city. The Titan, his ship, was the first privately funded colonization vessel to leave Earth. Many did not think the plan would work, but once it did, a number of others followed.
The decision to leave Earth before her fate was decided, though, was seen by many as an act of cowardice. Most still hoped that the wars would end and the world would go on as it always had. Straun and the other First Families did not share that hope, and it was their pessimism that saved them and their descendants.
Every family aboard the Titan was there for a reason. Those that managed to bribe their way on board did so not with money but with accomplishments, skills, and genetic traits. Straun brought in a dozen families total – the largest of which were the Zhous, the Tomlins, and the Hales.
- The Rise of Arvun Cristi, by Heinrich Strauss
Augustus's right arm revealed, the man holding him froze. For a long moment, Augustus didn't dare to breathe. Would the man know the WhiteSleeve on sight? It was a prototype, but the idea had been played with before and maybe –
The man hit a button on the sleeve of his suit, and the visor inside his helmet retracted, baring his face. The rest of the helmet followed, unlatching and folding into the neck of his suit to reveal a square jaw, tan skin, and thin eyes. The man gripped Augustus's arm tighter and turned it over, looking for the external BCI ubiquitous throughout Arvun Cristi.
There was nothing to find. Even the integration sockets of the Brain-Computer Interface were absent – they'd been removed when the B.I. techs replaced Augustus's real arm with the WhiteSleeve. The new arm felt real, and the skin even technically was real, but it bore none of the telltale signs of integration any Arvun Cristi citizen should have had. Anyone who knew what to look for would have seen the signs of the WhiteSleeve – the hairless skin, the lack of freckles and scars, the thicker, wider fingernails – but otherwise it looked to be nothing but a natural arm.
The scavenger finished his cursory inspection and turned to call back to the others:
"No bionics! We've caught a natural!"
Augustus experienced a brief instant of disassociation where he was sure that the man was speaking about someone else, but then the words actually sank in. Shame and mortification washed over him, and his cheeks flushed with anger. He had never been insulted like that in his entire life. He'd never even been called a natural as a joke.
In his anger he didn't think, he simply acted. He ripped free of the man's grip, pulled up his left jacket sleeve, and thrust out his arm.
"I am not a natural," he said. "Scan me. Do it! Scan me!"
Taken aback, the scavenger examined him from under thin eyebrows the way he might have examined a five-legged cat. He did look down, though, at the arm Augustus had thrust toward him, and his gaze locked on to the swirling black lines. It was the code that specified his biological make-up, including information on his Preset class and his heritage as a Hale, all in keeping with Arvun Cristi law. No natural would have had that – only a legal citizen of the city-station.
The scavenger tapped a command into his suit sleeve, and a piece of the thick material pulled back to reveal a typical BCI implant. The man punched in another command, and the thin red light of a scanner came on. He ran his arm over the swirling black marks imprinted in Augustus's skin, and then a sharp ping sounded.
The scavenger looked down at the screen. His eyes widened and his face paled as he read the results, and Augustus felt a surge of satisfaction. He knew what the man was seeing: the profile of a Type Two Chromosomal Preset, complete with training records and birth certificate that marked him as a member of the primary branch of the Hale family. This would all be dealt with easily, now – no one touched a Type Two, much less one born to the Hales.
Then things went sideways. The man's face reddened as the blood that had so recently drained away flooded back, and his upper lip twitched with contempt.
Another scavenger appeared beside him, shorter and slighter. The new arrival's helmet folded back and away as the first scavenger's had, this time to reveal a woman. Augustus was shocked to see that she had the light olive skin and single-lidded eyes preferred by the Zhou family. In fact, she looked so akin to Wei Zhou, the famous Type Seven, that she could have been his daughter.
What is a Zhou doing here?
"A natural?" she asked.
"No," the first scavenger said with a sneer. "A Hale."
The woman's eyes widened. The man held out his sleeve; she glanced at the screen and then looked Augustus full in the face. For a long second she just stared at him, her bright hazel eyes wide. Then, her expression slowly changed, turning from surprise to…
I've never met her before in my life – why is she looking at me like that?
The harsh shout pulled the woman around, and the moment broke.
"We need to get back to the ship!" called a man who looked to be leading the group of scavengers holding rifles. His suit was black with gold highlights, just like the two men holding the boys. No house colors were black and gold – where had he gotten that suit?
"How much time?" Jenson, the Zhou woman, called back.
"None – they're here!"
The man pointed, and Augustus followed the outstretched arm to the sky. Another ship was approaching, this one the sleek white and gold of an official Arvun Cristi Watch cruiser. Hope swelled his chest: help had come after all. That was his way home; he wouldn't be stuck in the Rift after all, wouldn't be caught up with scavengers –
"Grab what you can, we're leaving!" the woman shouted down the hill. Augustus realized that the scavengers had converged on the downed B.I. cruiser and were stripping it bare. A the sound of Jenson's order, the scavengers redoubled their efforts, hauling back pieces of metal and pulling out valuable components. They had already picked clean the navigation console and dug through the guts of the single surviving landing thruster, so after a final sweep for any remaining scraps, they threw their loot on a chipped yellow hover-platform and hurried up the hill.
The scavengers with particle rifles had succeeded in pushing the Rift creature back to the tree line, but with the crew's imminent retreat, it sensed a new opening and burst into motion, ignoring in its craze the agony of its wounds. It was no use, though, Augustus thought – the scavengers would be back on their ship and gone before it regained the hill.
"What about the boys?"
Shocked back to where he was, Augustus glanced at the man holding him, and then toward the woman, Jenson. She had moved toward the loading ramp, but stopped and turned back before ducking inside. Her gaze swept once more over Augustus, and then came to rest on Jack. He had not fared as well as Augustus had: the scavenger holding him was thickset, with a wide jaw and brooding forehead, and the boy sported a bloody lip and further tears in his already tattered coat.
"Bring them."
Augustus had no time to react before the first scavenger seized his waist and lifted him from the ground. He shouted in pain as his bruised ribs met the man's shoulder, but no one seemed to care. He tried to struggle away, not at all sure where he'd go if he managed to fight free, but found himself too securely slung.
The pair of scavengers ascended the loading ramp as the ship's engine spun back to life. Augustus just managed to catch a glimpse of the second scavenger shoving Jack before him – the man did not seem willing to test his luck by slinging the boy over his shoulder – and then they were in the dark interior of the ship and his light-blinded eyes could make out only vague shapes.
As soon as they crossed the threshold, the monster's cries and the heavy sizzle-crack of particle fire were replaced by shouted orders, the sound of boots on grated metal walkways, and the deafening thrum of an ion engine. They moved through a wide area covered with large clusters of concealed cargo toward a door and staircase that led to a lower level. The stairs spat them out into a short, bright corridor that ended in a solid bulkhead door with a large wheel affixed to its center.
Without slowing, the scavenger holding Augustus walked the corridor, grabbed the wheel, and spun it with a single-handed jerk. He heaved the door open, stepped through, and unceremoniously deposited Augustus inside. Seconds later, the other scavenger threw Jack down beside him, and then the pair left, slamming the door behind them. The wheel creaked as it spun, locking them in, and then the boys were left in silence.
The impact against the hard metal floor had badly jarred Augustus' ribs, and he groaned and sucked in air as he tried to lever himself upright. He clapped a hand to his side beneath his jacket, and when he pulled it away traces of fresh blood glinted across his palm. He pushed himself the rest of the way up regardless, ignoring the protest of his tortured muscles, and looked around.
A single overhead light illuminated everything dramatically from above, rendering the nondescript room clearly visible. Slate-gray metal made up the walls and angular ceiling, and the floor was vaguely pentagonal. There was no furniture or ornamentation of any kind, and no other prisoners.
Augustus managed to pull himself into a seated position, still clutching his side. He caught sight of a wide horizontal vent high up one of the walls; as he watched, the slats shifted on oiled hinges, opening and closing at a measured pace to maintain a proper air mixture for the room. A small readout beside the vent blinked and glowed with pale-green numbers that fluctuated by the slightest decimal value every few seconds. Augustus had only ever seen something like that once in his life, but he knew what it meant. This wasn't a jumper built for short runs from Arvun Cristi to Spes or Opis – this was an interplanetary cruiser with full air regulation meant for extended deep space travel.
The pieces fell together: the way the ship was built, the suits the crew wore, and now the sophisticated circulation vents for ship-wide air regulation. Add that to the ship's heavy ion engine and the large cargo hold...
This wasn't some intra-system scavenger crew. These were inter-system pirates.
He swallowed hard, trying to work moisture back into his mouth. He knew next to nothing about ships – only what his father had shared with him on late nights when he couldn't sleep. Was he being a complete fool, jumping to conclusions?
A hacking cough broke through his spiraling thoughts.
Jack had risen to his feet and looked notably calmer than Augustus felt. His expression contained no trace of fear or panic, but deep concentration furrowed his brow and his lips were set in a thin, straight line. He coughed again, clearing his throat and spitting out a glob of sooty phlegm, then took in the vents, looked back at the bulkhead door, and finally focused on Augustus. It appeared as though he might speak – he opened his mouth as if to do so – but just then the ship quivered beneath their feet.
Augustus fell back against the wall as the floor began to vibrate with shocking intensity. Jack did the same across the room, and then without warning the ship tilted. The engine began to pound in earnest, and pressure pushed down on them.
We're in the air.
The shaking redoubled, pitching Augustus violently forward onto his hands and knees. He bear-crawled into the nearest corner, flipped over, and tried to anchor himself in place as the room tilted even more severely. The holding cell's single light flickered as the ship diverted power to the wildly thumping engine straining to take them up and out of the Rift's artificial atmosphere at speed.
The shaking continued, and with it came a building pressure that made it hard to breathe. An explosion rocked the ship from the outside, forcing it to veer violently before continuing its ascent and flattening the boys against the floor.
And then just as abruptly as it had begun, the shaking cut out entirely, and there was silence.
They were out of the concentrated atmosphere of the Rift, and maybe even out of the thin atmosphere of the planet altogether. Augustus felt a peculiar soaring sensation in his stomach as the pressure crushing him against the floor suddenly disappeared. Seconds later, he was floating.
Vertigo gripped him as his mind sought desperately to orient itself. He closed his eyes and shook his head, but the darkness behind his eyelids only made him feel as if he were floating in an endless void. He had been on a cruiser before, but never one without some source of artificial gravity; this was the first time that he had ever been truly weightless, and he decided immediately that he hated it.
He grabbed on to a set of straps attached to the wall, and told himself with as much conviction as he could manage that he would not be sick. He looked behind him, thinking that maybe he would be able to orient himself based on the direction of the door, and in doing so caught sight of Jack.
The boy's momentum had propelled him to the center of the room, where he now rotated slowly in midair. His eyes were closed and his head thrown back, his arms spread wide and the muscles of his face completely slack. It was as if every thought, every worry, had been pulled out of him, kept planetside by the gravity that had tried and failed to hold him down.
The image was so incongruous to how Augustus felt himself that he almost missed the glimpse he caught of the boy's inner forearms as his jacket sleeves floated free. Both arms were bare, showing no evidence of either implant scars or genetic identification.
Jack was a natural.
The ship jerked, and the world spun. The reintroduction of gravity yanked Augustus back downward, but he held on desperately to the straps set in the wall – what he now realized were safety straps meant to hold him in place so that he wouldn't smash his head against the holding cell's metal sides.
The ship veered, slowed, changed course entirely, and then accelerated again with shocking speed. Augustus lost his grip on the straps, flew through the air, and smashed into the unyielding metal ceiling. His left wrist broke with a loud crack. He made a sound halfway between a whimper and a cry, and the WhiteSleeve began pumping painkillers into his bloodstream, numbing the wound until it could be dealt with. Still, the pain was so intense that it was only with a huge effort of will that he managed to free his arm by rolling onto his back. The ship continued to vibrate and shake, much more violently than when they had left atmo, and Augustus found his mind devoid of thought.
He was looking down at the floor now – the solid metal floor he would slam into when the ship next changed direction. Depending on the speed, he might even hit with enough force for the blow to be lethal. He was staring his death straight in the face, and there was nothing he could do about it.
As if reading his thoughts, the ship rolled and then shot upward. He shot down, and the floor rushed up to meet him, solid metal ready to dash out his brains… but the impact never came.
Arms appeared out of nowhere, grabbing him around the waist.
The impact of the catch was so painful against his bruised ribs that he almost blacked out. He lost a second or two of time, and when he came back to consciousness, Jack was straining with the effort of holding him. The boy's tan face was almost purple with exertion, and a heavy vein throbbed along his forehead. He didn't seem to have any effort left to breathe, but his hands were locked tight, and even though his bare, sinewy arms shook with the strain, he refused to let go.
The shuddering stopped; the pressure lifted.
With a grunt, Jack released him. Augustus fell the last few feet to the floor and managed to land upright. He staggered as the room spun, and then backed up against a wall. He slid slowly down until he was seated on the floor, shaking uncontrollably.
He realized distantly that they were either back in full atmo or else someone had finally engaged the artificial gravity. His stomach began to settle, but his head continued to throb. The fingers of his broken left arm twitched and jerked in the aftermath of the pain, and he gaped at his lumpy wrist in bewildered fascination. The sight was horrific, but the painkillers had acted so quickly that all he could feel was a dull ache where there should have been agony.
Boots thumped against the metal floor as Jack disengaged himself from the safety restraints that he, at least, had managed to use properly. He crossed the room toward Augustus, but stopped a few feet away and seemed to consider something. Those electric blue eyes stared down at him with an intensity fit to burn a hole in the side of the metal bulkhead. Finally, he seemed to reach a decision, and he held out his hand.
Augustus stared at the it – tan and calloused, with dirt under the nails – for a long time before he looked back up into the boy's face. The darkness from before had faded – the darkness that had come when Augustus had revealed himself as a Hale – but there were traces of it still, traces that clung around the edges like dirt on a gilded frame.
The moment broke when something heavy thudded against the bulkhead. The wheel turned, the bolts retracted, and the door began to open.
Interested in reading more? Check out "Bones" on Amazon:


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Festival of Trees
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
This weekend my husband and I are participating in a craft show that is an extension of the Festival of Trees in Arkansas City, Kansas. It's a 3-day event, but hubby is really stepping up to the plate. He's manning the booth so that I am freed up to get other things done. Yippee! Today I actually got the tree up. Okay,…it isn't decorated, but it's shaped and ready for the lights. The lights are hubby's job. I also worked on laundry. I haven't seen the bottom of my hampers in weeks. Well, that's another story, and it has nothing to do with this post.
Here are a few of the trees at the festival. I am so inspired! Tomorrow I am putting up more of my decorations.
This is my favorite tree. It was decorated by the public library. The entire tree is made of stacked books. The covers were wrapped in black paper. I believe the picture ornaments were created at geekthelibrary.org . I'm not familiar with that site, but I plan on looking into it when I have a chance.
This tree has a gazillion references to Kansas. Sunflowers, Wizard of Oz, wheat, famous people from Kansas…It had me at the Wizard of Oz ornaments.
This red tree, donated by a local clinic, is decorated in sparkly candy ornaments. The lady decorating it said she had started last night, but had to run to the store this morning for more ornaments because the tree was bigger than she thought it would be. She was adding the finishing touches during her lunch hour.
I wish this photo was clearer. It is beautiful. I think it is called "Tea with Grandma". The garland is pearl beads, and the ornaments are ladies gloves, tea cups and other vintage pretties. This tree would be perfect for my home if I wasn't out numbered by men/boys/guys.
Cute little snowman tree.
Clever Santa tree.
Beautiful blue and white snow tree.
This is an interesting tree. It has no needles. The branches are wired stems. It was donated by the humane society. Each of the ornaments are photos of their animal "clients".
Alien tree. Imagine walking through your darkened house at night.
Safari tree.
Old fashioned rustic tree.
Table top trees.
More table top trees.
Lastly,…a few shots of my craft booth.
"Smile, Hubby."
Gifts galore.
Can never have too many ornaments.
Third Annual Festival Of Trees
December 02, 2011 – December 04, 2011
A Benefit for Habitat for Humanity.. A gallery of themed decorated trees, table top trees, wreaths, centerpieces, Nativity Scenes, Holiday music, door prizes, silent auction, Santa Claus visit, hot apple cider. Awards presented at 4 p.m. on December 4th..

subset: commoncrawl


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Bambo Nature Disposable Nappies - XL PLus - Size 6 - Jumbo Pack of 44
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Choose Bambo's tall bag of 44 XL-Plus nappies which are perfect for children between 35-66lbs because they are the most comfortable and environmentally friendly nappies around. The nappies have a thin perfect fit design with flexible side panels to allow movement while the materials is extra soft and dermatologically tested to ensure comfort and avoid irritation.
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Your Redwood Area Hospital has a talented and compassionate surgery staff that understands your surgery is a big deal. We will give you the time you need to feel as comfortable as possible with your care.
We offer a variety of same day surgical procedures, ranging from general surgical procedures, to orthopedics to ophthalmology.
If any complications should arise during your procedure or recovery, you can have peace-of-mind knowing you have the full resources of your hospital to support you. If a longer stay is needed for your recovery, you may be admitted to the hospital for additional skilled care or observation.
Before Surgery
- DO NOT eat or drink anything after midnight, including water.
- Notify the surgeon of any change in your physical condition such as "flu", cold, or a fever.
- Please leave jewelry, valuables and large amounts of money at home.
- Wear comfortable clothing and minimal make-up.
The Day of Surgery
On the day of surgery, you must first check in at the registration desk, which is located at the East Entrance on Fallwood Road. Please bring an adult with you to stay at the hospital during your procedure and recovery period.
A nurse will admit you to a Same Day Surgery room and provide you with a gown (or pajamas for children). You will wait in that room until the time of your scheduled procedure when a surgery nurse will take you to an operating room or procedure room.
Following the Procedure
When the procedure is over, you will be taken to the recovery room and then returned to your same day surgery room.
You will use a recliner or a bed during this recovery period. Nurses will carefully monitor your recovery, provide light nourishment, and give you instructions for follow-up care.
The adult who has accompanied you to the hospital can stay with you during your recovery period and should accompany you at discharge to aid in your transportation back home. Arrange for someone to stay with you at your home for the first 24 hours following surgery, especially if you have general anesthesia.
After Surgery
- The usual recovery period for same-day surgery is one to four hours.
- DO NOT drive a car, drink alcoholic beverages or operate complex machinery for 24 hours.
- Important decision-making should be delayed until you have made a full recovery from anesthesia (24 hours).
- If there are any complications during your surgery or recovery, you may require overnight hospitalization.
- A responsible adult should be with you for 24 hours. You may experience light-headedness and dizziness following surgery. DO NOT STAY ALONE!
Medicare, Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicaid, and private insurance companies encourage the use of short stay choices since they are cost-reducing alternatives and are also more convenient for the patient.
It is your responsibility to:
- Notify your insurance company before your admission and
- Obtain necessary prior authorization
To take advantage of same day services, you must actively participate in your own care. Carefully follow the instructions your physician and the hospital staff give you.
Annette Mertens, RN
Alissa Buchanan, RN
Kris Fischer, RN
Jenni Kuehn, RN
Renee Kodet, LPN
Bev Jensen, LPN
Jen Edwards, CST
Click HERE to learn more about our visiting surgeons and anesthetists.


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News Release
FINRA Expels WJB Capital Group, Inc. and Bars CEO and CFO for Misstating Financial Records and Net Capital Deficiencies
WASHINGTON — The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) today announced that it has expelled WJB Capital Group, Inc. for misstating its financial records and for engaging in securities transactions while it was below its required net capital. FINRA also barred the firm's Chief Executive Officer, Craig A. Rothfeld, from the securities industry, and barred the firm's Chief Financial Officer, Gregory S. Maleski, from acting in a principal capacity.
FINRA found that from 2009, when WJB Capital began to experience financial difficulties, through 2011, Rothfeld and Maleski misstated WJB's financial position on the firm's balance sheet. In one example, Rothfeld and Maleski converted $9.8 million in compensation previously paid to 28 employees into forgivable loans. As a result, the firm also failed to provide for the appropriate payment of taxes. Had WJB appropriately recorded these loans and tax obligations, its balance sheet would have reflected substantial losses in addition to those that it was already experiencing.
In addition, Rothfeld and Maleski misclassified certain items as allowable for net capital purposes; as a result, at various times in 2011, WJB engaged in securities transactions when it was below its minimum required net capital. For example, the firm improperly included receivables related to "non-deal road-shows" when they were not allowable assets under the net capital rule. As a result of the misclassification of these receivables, WJB misstated its FOCUS report and net capital calculations by at least $1 million on a monthly basis for approximately two years. The firm also misclassified a $1.5 million loan it received from its clearing firm as an allowable asset for net capital. Rothfeld, Maleski and WJB also failed to reasonably supervise the firm's financial and accounting functions.
Brad Bennett, FINRA Executive Vice President and Chief of Enforcement, said, "Both WJB's CEO and CFO hid the precarious financial condition of the firm, misstating the FOCUS reports and net capital calculations by as much as $4.4 million per month over a two-year period. The firm's supervision and accounting were seriously flawed."
In settling this matter, WJB, Rothfeld and Maleski neither admitted nor denied the charges, but consented to the entry of FINRA's findings.
This investigation was conducted by Howard Kneller and Steven Korostoff under the supervision of Susan Light. The Department of Enforcement was assisted by FINRA's Department of Risk Oversight and Operational Regulation, which referred the matter to Enforcement after the examination team discovered several questionable accounting entries in WJB's 2009 FOCUS reports.
Investors can obtain more information about, and the disciplinary record of, any FINRA-registered broker or brokerage firm by using FINRA's BrokerCheck. FINRA makes BrokerCheck available at no charge. In 2011, members of the public used this service to conduct 14.2 million reviews of broker or firm records. Investors can access BrokerCheck at www.finra.org/brokercheck or by calling (800) 289-9999. Investors may find copies of this disciplinary action as well as other disciplinary documents in FINRA's Disciplinary Actions Online database.
FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, is the largest independent regulator for all securities firms doing business in the United States. FINRA is dedicated to investor protection and market integrity through effective and efficient regulation and complementary compliance and technology-based services. FINRA touches virtually every aspect of the securities business – from registering and educating all industry participants to examining securities firms, writing rules, enforcing those rules and the federal securities laws, informing and educating the investing public, providing trade reporting and other industry utilities, and administering the largest dispute resolution forum for investors and firms. For more information, please visit www.finra.org.


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Latest News
DGK DEMO at Skatelab Saturday November 28th
The DGK team will be taking over Skatelab Saturday November 28th. Come watch DGK pro and am riders give it all they got! Demo starts at 2pm. Free to watch, or ride the 1-4pm session during the demo for $10. Don't sleep on this one. Be here!
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https://secureservercdn.net/188.8.131.52/k1w.374.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Pacific-Carpet-Tile-Cleaning-home-page-Newport-Beach-CA-300x81.jpg 0 0 Pacific Carpet & Tile Cleaning, Newport Beach CA https://secureservercdn.net/184.108.40.206/k1w.374.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Pacific-Carpet-Tile-Cleaning-home-page-Newport-Beach-CA-300x81.jpg Pacific Carpet & Tile Cleaning, Newport Beach CA2015-12-12 20:28:432015-12-12 20:28:43Stone Floor Cleaning - Newport Beach CA
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what services are included in the management mandate?
The support provided by Assidu's specialists covers every sector, which allows us to offer our clients active and comprehensive assistance. Our professional training and constant monitoring of the insurance market enables us to guarantee our clients the most up-to-date and efficient solutions.
- Risk management: The "risk management" model is based on four main stages: risk identification, evaluation, analysis and control. Assidu and its skilled workforce can help you with this delicate task.
- Management of insurance contracts: Listing and analysis of insurance policies in force, presentation of an optimisation project and possible solutions, adaptation of the insurance portfolio and monitoring of expiries, correspondence and discussions with insurers and institutions
- Advice: within the scope of professional and private financial provision
- Assistance: full assistance in the event of a loss
- Information: our advisors and specialists are available to tell your employees about the cover you have taken out on their behalf.
- Preferential conditions: Assidu clients can benefit from exclusive and preferential conditions through framework agreements between us and a number of insurance companies


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The Global Leader in Citizen eID & ePassport Identification Solutions
Entrust provides a variety of proven and trusted options for governments seeking to implement a citizen identification and ePassport programs. From citizen eID cards, ePassports, digital certificates and strong citizen authentication, Entrust offers expertise, affordability and versatility unmatched by any vendor.
Based on trusted public key infrastructure (PKI) technology, Entrust provides solutions for first- and second-generation ePassports, as well as numerous citizen identification initiatives. In fact, ePassport technology is based on two current standards: Basic Access Control (BAC) and Extended Access Control (EAC).
Both enable strong border control and authentication of identities and biometric datasets on today's machine-readable travel documents (MRTDs).
For citizen eID credentials, digital certificates, unified smartcards, strong authentication and more, governments seek proven methods to provide secure citizen access to eGovernment applications and services.
Entrust provides end-to-end security solutions for citizen-centric environments and the protection of digital identities. Entrust's citizen eID infrastructure can either be newly established or extended from an existing government Entrust PKI, such as an ePassport deployment, and provided either as software to be installed in-house or from a managed service.
Deploy a true "point-and-click" PKI system for strong border control and seamless authentication of identities and biometric datasets on today's electronic machine-readable travel documents (eMRTDs). Interoperable, scalable and validated by third-party testing, Entrust is the unquestioned leader in global ePassport security deployments.
Plus, Entrust provides the necessary solutions — whether via a hosted or in-house model — for both the proper issuance and inspection of today's advanced ePassports.


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Thomas returns from Paris and starts working alongside Ridge.
Thomas returned from his stay in Paris with big ambitions. Not only did he want to be a key player at Forrester Creations, he also wanted to be on the design team with his father. At first, Ridge was skeptical of his son's abilities—he went so far as to rip up one of Thomas's designs, saying the family name wasn't enough to land him the position—but over time, he grew fond of Thomas's work. For a while, the father-son team seemed to be working out great.
©JPI Photography


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Nick Soul
Quick news.
Hey guys so I really love going online and do enjoy everybody and the love that you give me! You're really awesome and you have made me 3 month in a row flirt of month and this past week I was model of the week. Can't thank you enough. I'm going to be with my family away for vacation till Thursday so I will be online probably on Friday. Love you guys enjoy your weekend have a good week and follow me on Twitter for my posts.
3rd month flirt of the month!
Hey guys!! So yes we got the flirt of the month again! I'm so thankful to have such a fans like you! You guys are the best! Thank you so much for everything! Kisses Nick
28th of July contest.
Hey everyone there's a contest today.. Thought to do something for us. Everyone who tips 1000 credits in total today get a ticket.
I'll be drawing one of my jocks that I usually wear during my show. It will be winners choice.
Draw will happen only if I'll be in 1st place on contest.
Thank you guys and have a good day everyone.
Big Bang 1st place!!! Leaders of my firework tippers.
Hey everyone!! Writing to you all to thank everyone for supporting me so much and bringing to here the 1st place! Love you guys so so so much!! You are the best!!
My big bang top 10 winner:
1st- HornyAussie85
2nd- imearth
3rd- dj21118
4th- jayson96
5th- bluestarcarrier
6th- lil_guy
7th- bikertop63
9th- Tat2dgySFO
10th- billyb1357
Will be contacting you in your inbox for the prize.
Thank you so much again everyone! Big love! Nick
Leader 2nd day of the Big Bang Contest!
1st place HornyAussie85- 266
2nd iamearth- 241
3rd dj21118-205
4th bluestarcarrier- 197
5th jayson96- 178
6th bikertop63- 58
7th lil_guy- 57
8th tbonentx- 54
9th TopCity- 50
10th drevil2378- 46
Leader 1st day of Big Bang contest.
1st HornyAussie85-266 fireworks
2nd bluestarcarrier-197
3rd tbonentx- 54
4th TopCity- 50
5th Ember38- 22
6th bikertop63- 22
7th davidintexas- 17
8th numeroUNOchino- 14
9th califguy71- 10
10- lil_guy- 8
Lets keep on going guys! Love ya and thank u
flirt of the month.
Hey everyone!! Im once again flirt of the month!! Thank you so much for your support youre giving me! Im so thankful to have all of you! Big love to you!!
RSS Feed
Want to stay informed? Subscribe to Nick Soul's RSS feed.


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Wealth and millennials: how they think, spend and save
The millennial generation – those born between the early 1980s and mid 1990s – are now either just joining the workforce, or well into their careers. As millennials gather the responsibilities of adulthood, financial and wealth management products come with the territory – this is the essence of financial mobility. Not surprisingly the wealth industry is paying close attention to this coming generation.
Possibly the most studied segment in history, millennials have been variously labelled as narcissistic, entitled, tech-savvy and ethically conscious. Their relationship with financial institutions is well documented. The financial crisis and subsequent scandals created a general feeling of distrust toward the industry, but millennials have started to emerge as the largest client opportunity in the coming years. In order to capitalize on the opportunity, wealth and asset managers must adapt to successfully serve this complicated and fiscally important generation.
The growing millennial impact
Last year 40 percent of the global adult population were under 35 years old. Today they account for US $1.3 trillion in direct consumer spending in the US. This figure will balloon over the next decade as the millennial generation is projected to account for 75 percent of the workforce by 2025 (source: Bank of America Merrill Lynch).
Three trends will dictate how this population will acquire and use their wealth.
First, as the current 18-34-year-old cohort enter prime earning years, their liquid assets will increase substantially.
Second, these younger generations are seen to be more entrepreneurial than their parents, which should accelerate the increase of their available assets: Deloitte found that 54 percent of millennials have started, or plan to start, their own business – 27 percent are already self-employed.
And thirdly, millennials should benefit from a transfer of wealth from their parents, the baby-boomers, driving a future wave of inheritance that wealth managers need to prepare for.
Behavioral characteristics
So how should wealth managers adapt to serve this group successfully? Critically, you need to get a good understanding of their behaviors.
Millennials are drawn to authenticity and want this reflected in how they live, work and invest. Long-established wealth managers steeped in the traditions of stability and continuity may need to rethink their own culture and recruitment policies to connect and engage this coming generation, using a more empathetic client communication approach.
They are socially and environmentally aware, not only concerned with the state of the world, but vocal about the need for change. Which means they don't consider profit as the sole success factor of an investment. Millennials seek out organizations and investments that prove their value with acts of social responsibility.
Nor has the impact of the global financial crisis been forgotten. This generation was greatly affected and as a result is more cautious and conservative than baby boomers.
This was also the first generation to grow up in a digital platform world, acknowledging technological innovation as a constant. They adopt early. They try out new services. They value utility. They resent friction.
Their financial habits are like everything for them, always online first – it is their default setting.
For millennials, technology is the key differentiator that wealth managers must be aware of. Deloitte found that 57 percent would change banks for a better technology platform solution. There is no reason to think wealth managers are not under the same scrutiny to offer client portal and client reporting advancements.
Financial advisory adaptations
Based on these different behaviors, it is fair to assume millennials are not being satisfied. But the opportunity to do so clearly exists, and for wealth managers who react it will be greatly rewarding. To combat distrust, financial advisors need to focus on pricing transparency and become more communicative and open, ideally with new choices of alternative investments, markets and products.
Most importantly, wealth managers need to better engage millennials digitally. The InvestCloud Digital Experience involves clients, provides an intuitive experience and is highly personalized, supporting many varied personas in order to work for each individual. Opportunities abound for wealth managers to advance the millennial client experience – not to mention to make advisor portal and other internal tools better for the management of this crucial client demographic. Now is the time to act.
To find out more about how we can help you digitally engage millennials, request a demo through our website at www.investcloud.com/Demo or call us at +1 (888) 800-0188.
#clientportal #advisorportal #clientcommunication #clientreporting #digitalplatform #financialmobility


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Posted in DefaultTag, music, talk, folk, americana, funk, producer, pop culture, Blues, soul, actor, singer/songwriter, austin music, podcast, multi-instrumentalist, guitar, studio, american music, country music, music fan, europe, songwriter, honky-tonk, composer, rock and roll, theater, band, live album, folk alliance, AAA radio, festivals, recording studio, harmonica | Comments
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As predators are reintroduced, group seeks to quell fears
By Gary Gerhardt, Rocky Mountain News
July 15, 2004
A study of the Northern Yellowstone elk herd, the largest in the U.S., found that 85 percent of deaths each year are due to hunters or harsh winter weather.
Wolves and other predators are responsible for about 15 percent of the total.
And wolves are not the worst violators among the predator group that includes grizzly and black bears, mountain lions and coyotes.
That finding was among the points wolf biologist Ed Bangs made to the state's Wolf Management Working Group in Denver on Wednesday.
For two days, the working group listened to game and fish officials and ranchers from Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, where wolves have been reintroduced.
Some wolves eventually will make their way to Colorado, and the state hopes to have a plan to deal with them by December.
The group's first challenge is separating myths from facts.
"I came in with a bias against wolves because I'm a hunter and I heard they decimated elk herds," said Michael Bond, a sportsmen's representative.
"But after listening to the game and fish people in Montana and Idaho, I'm learning we don't know enough scientific facts yet to make many assumptions."
Bangs, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wolf recovery coordinator for the northwestern area, said the group has to grapple with four main concerns:
Human safety: People fear wolves, although no human has ever been killed by one in North America.
Land-use restrictions: They don't apply to wolves. Wolves travel wherever they want.
Loss of livestock and pets: The management plan needs to address depredating wolves and how to compensate livestock owners.
Wolves compete for big game: Wolves kill, but they are not nearly as predatory as mountain lions, which take twice as many deer as wolves do.
As for livestock losses, Bangs said that since wolves were reintroduced in Yellowstone and Idaho in 1995, they have documented kills of 300 head of cattle, 800 sheep, 63 dogs (mostly herd dogs), nine llamas, 10 goats and one foal.
"However, we know the actual number could be two, four, even eight times that many. Livestock disappears, and how do we know what happened to it?" Bangs said.
Bangs warned the group to remember that "wolf management" -really is "people management."
"Wolves are not animals. They are symbols," he said. "They are either angelic or demonic, depending on your biases. And while we all experience wolves through their symbolism, most of us will never even see one."
As the group works toward a management plan, bickering still breaks out between wolf lovers and wolf haters, but it is subsiding.
"I think we have to know one another better, and small working groups will help a great deal," said Rob Edward of Sinapu, a predator advocacy group.


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WeeklyXposé is an online newspaper that highlights key issues plaguing our country and the world, while serving news as it happens. Every week we will bring you an Xposé, something you won't find anywhere else. Keep watching this space and coming back for more.
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Clyde Ramalaine – Columnist and Analyst
Clyde N. S. Ramalaine is an ordained and licensed member of the SA and USA clergy with over 25 years of service as a practicing theologian. Ramalaine's incisive political analysis and commentary on a variety of issues has appeared regularly in most SA newspapers since 2010.
His work continues, among others, to appear in The Thinker, the leading Pan African Journal for thought leaders. He participates in panel discussions on subjects of his interest, and has appeared on SABC and ANN7 platforms, among others.
A published author including annual anthologies of political commentary and a volume of poetry named Gekraakte Blare.
- He holds a BTH (Hons-Status) with double majors Systematic Theology and Sociology from the University of Western Cape (UWC).
- He also earned a MA Theology (Systematic Theology) Cum Laude from North West University (NWU). His dissertation "Black Identity and experience in Black Theology: A Critical Assessment" is considered a ground-breaking and very relevant work in Black Theology. In such, he successfully questioned the usage of the epithet 'black' from a socio -historical and theological perspective.
He serves as management consultant on strategy design, analysis, and communication services for the last 22 years with serving clients in both private and public sector domains.
Analyst for Weekly Xpose.


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Happy New Year! We went away just before New Years and spent some time with family and friends in Puerto Vallarta. It was so nice to get away and relax (especially since we had crazy cold temperatures here at home). I hope you had a wonderful holiday too! Here are a few pics from our trip. Keep warm!
Thursday, January 9, 2014
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The corpse of Kodak coughs up another odd partnership
Kodak isn't feeling very well. The company, which sold off most of its legacy assets in the last decade, is licensing its name to partners who build products like digital cameras and, most comically, a cryptocurrency. In that deal, Wenn Digital bought the rights to the Kodak name for an estimated $1.5 million, a move that they hoped would immediately lend gravitas to the crypto offering. Reader, it didn't. After multiple stories regarding the future of the coin it still has not hit the ICO stage. Now […]Read more


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This romantic comedy by the author of "The Man Who Was Peter Pan," which was the basis for the film and Broadway musical "Finding Neverland," is set in New York in 1911, when the Lower East Side teemed with poverty and possibility. An unlikely couple -- a 38-year-old Jewish butcher and a young Italian garment worker -- take dance lessons in a sixth-floor walkup and dream of a better life.
Back to All Events
Earlier Event: September 1First Friday Film Series presents: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Later Event: September 1First Friday Nyack


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Saturday, February 26, 2011
Luckily I recently had a chance to do a lot of watching, back seat driving, and even a little playing of Stacking, the new game by Tim Schafer and Double Fine Productions for the PS3 and Xbox 360. It is a humorous 3D puzzle platformer that really lives up to Tim Schafer's reputation, and I believe that it is potentially just as good as any of his other masterpieces.
In the game you and the rest of the population are Russian stacking dolls that all have some special, often strange, abilities. You are the smallest doll, Charlie Blackmore, which you use to stack with any other doll, incrementally one size up at a time. When stacked with other dolls you control the top most doll, but you can unstack at any time to combine abilities or just to stack again with smaller dolls. This stacking mechanism is used to solve puzzles around the game world, which have some unique attributes themselves. Every puzzle in the game has multiple ways of solving it and instead of hiding how many different ways and only allowing you to do each puzzle once you are told exactly how many ways each puzzle can be solved and you progress in finding all the solutions is recorded, but solving it more then one way is never required. This can be really great for people who like to get 100% completion in games, and can add a lot of content and playtime.
The first thing that should hit you about this game is its graphics. The graphics are simply amazing and realistic; With all the dolls, and their are a lot of them, being very detailed and beautiful. The environment is also great and unique and is a combination of steampunk and industrial age architecture and art.
But what really makes it seem like a Tim Schafer game is the story and the script. The storyline is presented like a silent film and concerns the Baron enslaving the Blackmore family and many other children and Charlie Blackmore's quest to free the children and his family. While this story is interesting my favourite part is the script of many of the smaller out of the way characters. These unnecessary conversations can be simply hilarious and one of my favorite parts of the game was simply stopping and watching a conversation between some unimportant characters. Also their is an attention to detail and a continuity and uniformity that really makes Tim Schafer's worlds come alive and seem real no matter how fantastical they are, which this game has in oodles.
3 comments:
Gnome want Stacking....... Mwaaaaaaa....ReplyDelete
how did I miss this? it looks so sexy in that conkers bad fur day kind of way (when it came out for the n64)ReplyDelete
I know, I was the same way when I saw my friend playing a Tim Schafer, Double Fine, amazing looking game I had never heard of.ReplyDelete
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So where is the next banking crisis going to hit?
The bursting of the housing bubble in the US wiped out about $300 billion in bank capital here. That led to the demise of WaMu, Wachovia, Merrill, Lehman, and Bear. It followed a classic boom/bust pattern: innovation leading to price gains, followed by leveraged momentum investing, followed by a bust and financial crisis. After the shake-out and bailouts of 2008, the stress tests of 2009 restored faith in our banking system.
In the aftermath, governments around the world borrowed and spent to prop up demand. In Europe, the banks lent to countries on the periphery, and when the market questioned the sustainability of that sovereign borrowing, phase two of the financial crisis kicked in and the Europeans needed a stress test of their own to restore faith in their system.
Now that the results are in and it looks like most European banks are okay, where is the crisis headed? My money is on Asia. News out of China indicates that Chinese banks lent about $1 trillion to provincial governments during the crisis. But only a fraction of the projects financed are paying for themselves. And $250 billion face serious default risks.
If Chinese banks see these kinds of losses, they also may face solvency issues, reigning in lending and growth. Could a stress test there help? Maybe. But the stress tests restored confidence because they were transparent about assumptions, risks, and results. When I think of China, transparency is not the first word that comes to mind.
Douglas R. Tengdin, CFA
Chief Investment Officer
Hit reply if you have any questions—I read them all!
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Larry Denny
Wed, 01/10/2018 - 9:30am admin
Larry Denny, age 77, Kadoka, S.D., died Monday, Jan. 8, at the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital in Philip.
Survivors include his wife, Karen, Kadoka; one son, Shawn Denny, Philippines; one daughter, Marilyn Bail, Lewiston, Mont.; one granddaughter, Amanda Untiedt, Lakefield, Minn.; one grandson, Justin Denny, North Dakota; two great-grandchildren, Jadlyn and Xander Untiedt; several brothers; and a host of other relatives and friends.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, at the Presbyterian Church in Kadoka.
A full obituary will follow in next week's newspaper.
Arrangements are with Rush Funeral Home of Kadoka.


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We are pleased to partner with two organizations whose mission aligns with ours by acting as their fiscal agent
Menomonie Community Garden - We are happy to be the fiscal sponsor of this great local gardening group. Founded in 2010 providing space for gardens, gardening education, and a gathering spot for community members. They offer plots for people to grow their own food. They focus on sustainable agriculture and work to establish a legacy of stewardship for the land in upcoming generations.
Multicolores Guatemala - In March 2014, Multicolores was formed with the goal of improving the quality of life of Maya artists and their families through programs which build knowledge, skills and self confidence. The Association is made up of 50 rug hookers from 5 communities and 12 embroiderers from 6 communities.The Association also supports the artists in finding markets for their handicrafts and promoting cultural exchange.
Bread for the World - Each year we take part in the Empty Bowl event in Menomonie WI
We've spent a lot of time on the ground in Guatemala and Honduras, which gives us a clearer picture of what's going on down there. We've had the opportunity to work with many inspiring individuals and groups, such as:
Open Door (Puerta Abierta) Children's Library - offers creative learning opportunities to Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala children through preschool and kindergarten classes, after school enrichment programs, reading hours, homework help, and the traveling library, which spreads the joy of reading to the most remote parts of Santiago.
Hospitalito Santiago Atitlan - is a small private nonprofit hospital serving 75,000 Maya living on the southern shore of beautiful Lake Atitlán in the Guatemalan highlands.
Sharing the Dream - is a non-profit organization that promotes fair trade with cooperatives and small businesses in Guatemala. We are committed to providing fair wages and employment opportunities to low-income artisans, which will result in creating sustainable markets for their products.
Guatemala Human Rights Commission - dedicated to promoting human rights in Guatemala.


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Trans Memorial Meeting at Toronto City Hall
On Wednesday September 24, 2014 the Toronto Trans Alliance Steering Committee had a meeting with Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, together with representatives from Sherbourne Health Centre and the 519 Community Centre to initiate a discussion about establishing a permanent Trans Memorial in the City of Toronto.
At this meeting, Kristyn Wong-Tam informed us that Toronto City Council has a major project underway to refurbish Allen Gardens. This project will include the construction of new buildings in the park and it is possible that the proposed Trans Memorial could be incorporated into these plans. This is very exciting because it means that there is a possibility that the Memorial could be constructed before Trans Day of Remembrance 2015. There is also a possibility of the City contributing funding under the existing tender which would relieve the community of the need to raise several hundred thousand dollars.
While Barbara Hall Park is also a possibility the timeframe here would be much longer because the refurbishment work in the park has just been completed for World Pride 2014, and there is no further work planned at this time. This means that a new tender would be required to build the Trans Memorial in Barbara Hall Park, which would take many years and would probably have to be privately funded.
The Toronto Trans Alliance remains committed to consulting with its diverse membership to find the best solution for the community.


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home | metro silicon valley index | movies | current reviews | film reviews
This Week's Revivals
By Richard von Busack
The Nightmare Before Christmas
(1993) Tim Burton's charming stop-action musical about Jack Skellington and friends is now in 3-D. (Plays valleywide.)
Lady for a Day/Ladies of Leisure
(1933/1930) An early Frank Capra comedy about an elderly apple seller (May Robson) who puts on a charade to convince her daughter she's actually a millionairess; some typical Damon Runyon gangsters (including Warren Williams) lend their talents to help. BILLED WITH Ladies of Leisure. Kay (Barbara Stanwyck) covers the waterfront, but not as a journalist; rich aspiring artist Jerry (Ralph Graves) takes her home, where he proposes to use her as his model for his painting of the figure of Hope. The result was the biggest hit in tiny Columbia Pictures then-history, and a huge boost in the prestige of Stanwyck, who was still a brunette at the time of this picture. Also starring the spectacularly ill-fated actress Marie Provost (see Nick Lowe or Hollywood Babylon) and Lowell Sherman as a wastrel—he was good at rotters, Sherman; S.J. Perelman commented that there must have been someone backstage spraying him with fungicide to keep the mushrooms from sprouting on him. (Plays Nov 3–6 in Palo Alto at the Stanford Theatre.) (RvB)
The Power of the Press/Hemo the Magnificent
(1928/1957) When a newspaper accuses a girl of murder, a cub reporter (Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.) has to use the newspapers to save her. The highlight of this Frank Capra film, according to Capra scholar Joseph McBride, is a procedural scene showing how a newspaper story goes from scratches on a reporter's pad to every newsboy in town. Released Oct. 31, 1927. BILLED WITH Hemo the Magnificent. What the more ambitious television looked like 50 years ago. Made for the Bell Telephone Hour by Capra, this is a kind of neoclassical bit about Hemo, the god of blood, defying puny mortals' comprehension of how the circulatory system works. Richard (Creature From the Black Lagoon) Carlson, and celebrity pedant Dr. Frank Baxter dispute the god's contention, using animation to illustrate our bloodstreams. Shamus Culhane's Talking Animals and Other People describes working on this with Capra, saying that Capra had more experience with animation than any director he knew about. Chris Elliot at the Stanford's Wurlitzer. (Plays Nov 2 in Palo Alto at the Stanford Theatre.) (RvB)
Send a letter to the editor about this story.


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Harrison Fisher
(1877 Brooklyn, NY - 1934 New York)
Fisher grew up in California, under the artistic guidance of his father, Hugo A. Fisher. His commercial art career began with routine design work for the San Francisco
. Moving back to New York, he started to develop his own style with sketches of girl's faces. Soon, he was turning out illustrations for popular magazines like
Scribners, Cosmopolitan, Life, The Saturday Evening Post
ultimately earning the title "King of Magazine-Cover Artists." At the height of his popularity in 1910, he was earning the unheard of sum of $50,000 a year. He was a close friend of fellow illustrator Howard Chandler Christy, and they agreed to paint portraits of each other. Christy completed his portrait of his friend, but Fisher died of a heart ailment before he could paint Christy. As a testament to his public stature, his eulogy was delivered by Broadway legend, George M. Cohan.
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I have perfected the art of the sweet potato fry. I've made sweet potato fries so many times that I have a very set formula for making them. I don't enjoy frying things, so I do mine in the oven. They're easy and tasty and go well with Cuban, Mexican and Indian food. :D
They're also good for holiday dinners. I just can't get on the "let's dump half a bag of brown sugar and some marshmallows into a pan with some sweet potatoes and maple syrup!" bandwagon. Sweet potatoes are sweet enough as is!
Step 1: Supplies!
- one large sweet potato
- sea salt (coarse)
- freshly ground black pepper, chunky
- good quality olive oil
- a peeler (optional)
- a sharp chef's knife
- a cutting board
- a large baking sheet (not pictured)
Step 2: Preheat the Oven and Prep the Sweet Potato!
Set the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
You can either peel the potato or leave the skin on - lately I leave it on every time. It adds nutrition and a nice chewy texture. :D
I don't worry about washing it, normally, but you can rinse it in the sink as long as you promise me you'll dry it off very, very well. If it's still wet the olive oil won't coat the fries as well, which will lead to soggy fries. And then you'll be disappointed with the fries and I'll be disappointed with you. :(
If your sweet potato has skinny ends, cut those off.
Step 3: Slice the Sweet Potato!
Most times, I will cut the sweet potato in half because they're normally very large.
Now, take a half of the sweet potato and cut it into large slices about 3/4 inch thick. You'll then cut the larger slices into fries. Your fries should be 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch thick.
Repeat this for the other half!
Sorry for the lack of action shots, I was doing this all by myself. :P
Step 4: Put the Fries on the Baking Sheet!
Just throw them all on there.
Sprinkle a good pinch of sea salt over them, and then apply a ton of freshly ground black pepper. I like to keep mine more chunky because it gives them a nice bite. :D
Drizzle with olive oil (Probably about 1/8 cup, I don't know, I just eyeball things.)
Now, mix it all together on the baking sheet. Make sure you're scooping the salt, pepper and oil from the bottom and mixing it in. Don't let the tastiness go to waste!
At this point you can add more olive oil if you want - just don't drown them. They should look glossy, but they shouldn't be sitting in a pool of olive oil.
Once everything's mixed, space out the fries on the baking sheet. Make sure they're all evenly spaced and not touching. They'll get soggy otherwise!
Step 5: Baking!
Then, take them out and flip them. I use my bare hands most of the time, but tongs work well too. (The first photo is after the first 15 minutes)
Once they're flipped, put them back in the oven for 10 minutes. :)
Both sides should now be dark brown and crispy and delicious. And hopefully spicy, if you followed my directions. Spicy is the way to go with sweet potato fries!
Keep in mind that I like mine REALLY dark and crispy. Should you want a lighter brown color, just reduce the cooking time a couple minutes for both sides.
Enjoy! :D
Additional cooking tips:
- these will not turn out very crispy at all if you're cooking anything else in the oven, or if the fries are crowded too close together. They'll sweat instead of crisp!
- keep an eye on them because ovens are tricksy little things. You don't want them to get black.
- also, a lighter colored baking sheet is preferable - mine are very dark and I've started to have to cut my cooking time a lot to avoid getting them too dark.
- Feel free to cut them smaller and cook them for less time - 10 minutes for the first side and 8 for the second works well for thinner fries.
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249 Discussions
May try this some time. Looks tasty.
I love simple recipes, and this fries are really tasty. Thanks a lot!
Sorry, as much as I love sweet potatoes, I don't think I could eat these, they look burnt! Are they really meant to be that well cooked? I'd be interested in someone letting me know. Thanks!
They said if you want less dark color to reduce the cooking time, they like'm dark.
With coconut oil (deodorized if you do not like the coconut taste) makes them even crispier. And healthier as coconut oil do not degrade at high temperatures like olive oil does.
I find that those stainless steel cleaning pads (no soap) does a great job cleaning the skin of these potatoes. Another recipe I had, you put the cut up potatoes in a large zip lock bag, add the olive oil and spices (I like Tony Chatchery) and shake well. Now ready to place on the pan. Great job on the instructable.
One gazillion Karma Points! These are one of our favorites. All I need now is to make a trip to the grocery store . . . .
yummy I love to eat sweet potato fries.
I love this recipe! But I am just concerned about you leaving the peels on! Sweet potato peels are actually toxic and you are not supposed to eat them!
I ALWAYS leave the skins on.. it makes for more crunch .. and I adore these chips.. we had a whole one each for lunch.. easy , healthy and so delicious
The skins are poisonous to dogs. As long as they are scrubbed and mold free they are perfectly healthy to eat.
Can you provide references to this? Thank you.
http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=64 says: "If you purchase organically grown sweet potatoes, you can eat the entire tuber, flesh and skin. Yet, if you buy conventionally grown ones, you should peel them before eating since sometimes the skin is treated with dye or wax; if preparing the sweet potato whole, just peel it after cooking"
Perfect! I wouldn't change a thing.
Added smoked paprika ground salt and pepper -delicious on my first attempt thanks big time
used to hate oven sweet potato but those fries are great.
Yummy !!! :-D I like it ! Thank YOU
These taste great! Added paprika for extra flavor. Oops I forgot to dry them off and got soft fries, but they still were tastey. Will definitely make these again...properly ?
tasty. I added paprika and cayenne. Sweet potatoes aren't yams. That's a very old misnomer.
Nice taste...


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Ambassador to discuss 'Arab awakenings'
Ambassador Sallama Shaker will address the Senior Men's Club of New Canaan in Morrill Hall at St. Mark's Church on Friday, Jan. 4, at 10 a.m. Her presentation, titled "Religion, Globalization, and the Arab Awakening," and discuss the Arab uprisings of 2011.
Shaker will provide an overview of the dynamics and root causes of the Arab awakenings -- one of the most important stories of the early 21st century across the Islamic world with the sweeping changes involving Tunisia, Egypt and Yemen in view of the religious and cultural diversity and nuances of each country.
She will explore the evolving scenes considering that the Arab world is at a crossroad, facing enormous challenges, as well as opportunities.
Shaker was the first appointed woman assistant minister of foreign affairs for the Americas in the history of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She was appointed deputy minister of foreign affairs for cultural, educational relations, technical cooperation, and dialogue for Egypt in September 2004. Prior to that, she was Egypt's ambassador to Canada. In addition to her current post, she has held several positions within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 1985 to 1990, Shaker served as the consul general at the Egyptian Embassy in Washington, D.C. She has also served as economic and political counselor at the Embassy in Turkey, as well as cultural and political attache at the Embassy of Egypt in Malta.
Shaker began her education at the American College for Girls in Cairo, Egypt.
She went on to earn her bachelor's degree in political economy at Cairo University. She holds two masters' degrees in political economy and economics, from Johns Hopkins University and the London School of Economics/Malta University respectively. In 1993 she received her Ph.D. in international development from American University in Washington, D.C.
Shaker was a senior associate at the Woodrow Wilson Center from 1992 to 1994, where she researched the impact of the first Gulf War on the economies of Egypt and Turkey.
For the past few years, she has been a visiting professor and scholar at Yale. Shaker is an expert in the so-called Arab Spring.
She has published many articles and books on the issues of peace and development in the Middle East. She is fluent in five languages and was a visiting professor at Claremont Graduate University, where she taught courses on development challenges and political economy of the Middle East and religion, development, and feminization of poverty.
The Senior Men's Club of New Canaan is open for new members. Applicants are especially welcome to attend this meeting. Visit www.smcnc.org for more information or call Membership Chairman Jerry Transue at 203-966-6050.