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Yekaterinburg ranks sixth in suitability for transition to cashless
A skyline view of Yekaterinburg
A team of programmers from Ural Federal University and the Institute of Mathematics and Computer Sciences took part in the 18th Collegiate Students Urals Programming competition on Tuesday.
Christina Khodova, a leading genetic researcher at the Skolkovo Foundation presented the organization's advancements in biotechnology at this year's International Day of DNA in St. Petersburg.
The caduceus, a Greek symbol representative of the medical profession
On Tuesday, the Ural branch of of the State Center for Contemporary Arts (NCCA) debuted the "1, 4 ... 19" exhibition, which features interactive virtual reality art pieces that deal with the complications associated with free will.
A Victory Day parade in 2005
A view of new residential complexes that will replace a historic flour mill on the banks of the Iset River
An Aeroexpress film took first place in the internet category at the sixth International White Square Festival of Advertising and Marketing last week.
Rostelecom announced that it will be offering free telephone calls and telegram services for Russian World War II veterans during the period of May 7-9.
Yekaterinburg Opera and Ballet Theatre
Koltsovo Airport announced last week that it has acquired a new Bezvodilnye AP-8850-SDA electric aircraft towing tractor as part of its program to update its fleet of aircraft maintenance machinery.
The flag of Sverdlovsk
Graduate students from Ural Federal University's Institute of Radio Engineering and Information Technology (IRIT-RTF) competed in the ASC 14 Student Supercomputer Challenge late last month in Guangzhou City, China.
Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works (MMK) recently announced the development of technology to make metal goods with a galvanil, zinc/iron coating--a strategic move that will allow MMK to expand its range of products and better fulfill its customers' demands.
Russian rail carrier Aeroexpress announced that it will be providing free rides on all its routes to veterans of World War II in celebration of Victory Day.
The Sverdlovsk city center
MegaFon was recently recognized as the best Russian telecommunications supplier in 2013 at the Goszakaz 2014 exhibition in Moscow.
A satellite image of the Crimean peninsula
Ural Yekaterinburg lost to Kazan's Rubin in the 28th round of the SOGAZ-Russian Championship at Yekaterinburg's Central Stadium on Sunday.


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Executive Moves
Tim Jones
Tim Jones, 56, was promoted to Vice President Market Development, Western Region. He previously held the position of Director Market Development.
|Job Title
|Vice President Market Development, Western Region
|Engel & Völkers U.S.
|Age (?)
|Start Date
|December 20, 2012
|Newly Created Position?
|Job Function
|Corporate Mgmt - Other Corporate Mgmt
|Job Description
|As Vice President of Market Development, Western Region for Engel & Völkers, Mr. Jones will belong to a team dedicated to the growth of the brand throughout the U.S., focusing on western states.
|Former Job Title
|Director Market Development
|Real Estate
|Company Headquarters
|New York, NY
|Company Description
|Engel & Völkers is a global luxury real estate firm specializing in the sale and lease of premium residential and commercial property and yachts. Engel & Völkers opened its first brokerage in the U.S. in 2006 extending its global network of 3,800 real estate advisors in 482 residential brokerages and 39 commercial offices spanning 36 countries offering both private and institutional clients a professionally tailored range of luxury services.
|Office Location
|420 Lexington Ave., Suite 2300 New York, NY

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Rtn. Krishna Prasad R
Kochi, India
Expertise & Accomplishments
Product Marketing, Public relations, Product positioning, Ad campaigns
Work Experience
Chandragupt Insitute of Management
Senior Administrative Officer
Jun 2012 - Jun 2013
Senior Administrative Officer
Managing all activities of the Institute
Implemented cost reduction policy
Chandragupt Institute of Management, Patna (CIMP) is an autonomous institution fully funded by the government of Bihar offering PGDM program for eligible students and engaged in offering Management Development Programs [MDP] for the government and PSU employees in Bihar. The institute is under the chairmanship of Shri. Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of Bihar. CIMP is one of the premium management institutes having an excellent standing in academics as well as management research. CIMP stand 20th position in India in Management research.
Genius Choice Institute
Director Consultance and Publication
Jan 2010 - May 2012
Director Consultance and Publication
The Institute has a consultancy division completely managed by me in coordinating local management consultants, chartered accountants, engineers, company secretaries etc on an on-call basis and undertakes development of the client"s business through resetting of all processes involved, including day to day general administration. We have a host of satisfied clients, including PSUs like Kerala State Coir Corporation Ltd, Foam Mattings India Limited, National Coir Research and Management Institute Etc.
Koncherry Coir Factories
General Manager
Jul 1997 - May 2009
General Manager
The family owned partnership firm is located in Cherthala, Kerala, and engaged in the manufacture and export of natural fiber floor-coverings. Coir, jute, wool, rubber and grass mats, matting, carpets Etc are manufactured and were exported to major buyers in USA and EU countries. The firm had a peak turnover of 98 Crores and had over 400 employees.
Chemolums Private Limited
Regional Manager
Jan 1993 - Jun 1995
Regional Manager
Managing depot operation Sales planning and achieving targets Managing staff and marketing executives Advertisement planning, participating in trade fairs Etc. Developed a new product concept of 2T oils for outboard engines "Chakara ™". For this purpose, I have negotiated with and entered in to an agreement with the government of Kerala organization "Matsyafed".
Cadila Laboratories ( Pharmaceuticals Manufacturers)
Medical Representative, Senior Field Officer
Sep 1982 - Dec 1993
Medical Representative, Senior Field Officer
Meeting and motivating doctors to promote medicines Organizing periodical continuing medical education for doctors in the assigned territory Meeting and motivate drug stores to keep adequate stocks and dispense our medicines asap Meeting medicine stocking Hospitals to buy our products Managing distributors and stockists Logistics planning and ensuring adequate product availability Meeting targets assigned to me Giving field training and motivating trainee medical representatives
Education & Training
Post Graduate Program on Creative Management
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text:
Between 500 and 700 people attended the Blue Mountain Academy's Grand Opening of its Health Food Store in Hamburg on Feb. 19.
"Blue Mountain Academy is excited to offer this store to the community," said Stephen Reese, VP of Finance & Business Development and Director of Blue Mountain Sign and Apparel at Blue Mountain Academy. "We hope that the store will educate our young people in multiple facets of life. One of the big areas of education is healthy eating and living."
The Blue Mountain Academy staff- and student-run store came to be after the company that ran the store previously moved back to New England in November, said Reese.
"The Blue Mountain Academy board voted to have the school start up the food store through the vocation program here at the academy," said Reese. "There are several purposes for the store. Supplying health food to the community and training young people in retail and wholesale store operations, stocking and cashiering, marketing, branding."
Reese said there will be vocation training for academy students in all areas of store operations including, but not limited to, branding design, marketing, sales, customer service, stocking, inventory controls and more.
"The nonprofit is there specifically for training and fulfilling the needs of the community," he said.
Sold there are bulk foods, some of which are grown on the Blue Mountain Academy farm; as well as dried fruits, nuts, juices, frozen vegetarian foods, canned foods, essential oils, organic candles, local teas, honey, and maple syrup, to name a few items.
"The store is open to the public and to wholesalers and distributors. Everyone is welcome," said Reese.
Reese said Blue Mountain Academy hopes the store supports the local community by supplying many local ingredients and foods, and also helps the community learn to eat healthier foods.
"The store also includes Christian books and literature as well for the community. The store will be setting up vegetarian cooking classes and health screenings," he added.
The store is located right on the Blue Mountain Academy campus at 2363 Mountain Road in Hamburg.
Reese said hours are a bit fluid currently but are set up to be Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.


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Expedition into Africa with Amazonia Expeditions
Join us for our African Serengeti Great Migration Trip from March 4-12, 2018 with an Optional Gorilla extension in Uganda from March 12-16 starting from $4250.
This adventure will be led by Amazonia staff biologist and celebrated nature photographer and author, Alfredo Dosantos Santillan.
A quick call can answer your questions.
[URIS id=1592]
Trip Highlights
View the full itinerary
Throughout this journey, you will get to experience the majesty of the great African Serengeti Migration and the peaceful Gorillas of Uganda. The highlights of the trip include:
- A trek into the center of the Ngorongoro Crater alongside several guides
- Several days of Safari rides alongside zebras, wildebeests, elephants, lions, and so much more during the peak migration season
- An optional additional excursion to Uganda to witness the Majesty of the peaceful Mountain Gorillas
- and more…
During your trip, you will experience many locations in Africa. Amazonia aims to provide you with the best experience, and so will be traveling to the following locations for accommodations. Please note that locations are subject to change with equivalent accommodations based on availability.
What Guests for are Saying
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Tanzania, Uganda and Gorilla optional two day gorilla encounter $1,900 per person
Deposit for Tanzania and Uganda (one day gorilla encounter) $1,300
Deposit for Tanzania Only $500
Deposit for Uganda Only $500 plus $600 x 1 or 2 day gorilla permit
Deposits are Non-refundable
Your deposit can be made by credit card with Paypal (click on the "buy now" button above). 3% service charge waived for deposit


text:
I HAVEN'T written a book report in a long time and I certainly don't make it a practice, to tell folks what they ought to read in their spare time, assuming they have any.
But, on the recommendation of a colleague, I bought a copy of Elmer Kelton's The Time it Never Rained, published originally in 1973 and put out in paperback just last year, and I'd encourage anyone who's ever watched a crop or pasture wither in the hot sun to read it.
Kelton's novel follows west Texas rancher Charlie Flagg through the drought of the 1950s. The book covers a lot of the socio-economic philosophy of the post-war years, including government's role in folks' lives, prejudice, and changes in agricultural policy that shaped much of what's in place today.
It also deals with what most novels take on, one man's fight to retain his independence in the face of overwhelming odds. It's a book about man versus the elements, man versus prejudice, man versus the forces of a government that tries to help but doesn't exactly know how.
It's a book about family, about trust and integrity.
It's a fine read.
In an introduction, Kelton writes that after first publication he received notes from all over asking if his hero Charlie Flagg was modeled after someone they knew. I felt the same way after I read it. I interviewed a number of farmers recently for a series we ran on the current drought. In each of those farmers, I can see a little bit of Charlie Flagg.
Some had gone through incredible ordeals, aside from the drought they were trying to survive. Some had carved out a good living in less than ideal conditions for farming or ranching. I can't recall a one who would have traded places with anyone else. Each man loved what he was doing and where he was doing it. I had a note from one recently who commented on a picture we ran of him and several of his neighbors. "The reason we're smiling in the pictures," he said, "is because we love what we do."
There also is a sense of responsibility that pervades Kelton's book that I've found in just about every farmer I've ever known.
One of Flagg's goals was to leave his ranch in better shape than he found it. I can't count the number of times farmers have expressed that same philosophy to me. They feel a duty to protect the soil that nourishes them and provides them a living. Most are proud to own a few acres, though many now depend on leases to make a living. But they also recognize that ownership is a fleeting entity that passes quickly to another generation and that to abuse the soil is to cheat the next occupant and perhaps the one after that of the land's full value.
Flagg was independent and persistent. Most Southwest farmers and ranchers I've met in the past year or so possess those same qualities. Many have struggled to survive successive droughts and continue to eke out a living with the most meager amount of moisture. They endure, somehow.
A comparison of the 1950s drought with the one currently gripping much of the Southwest is both uncanny and frightening. In Kelton's book, west Texas suffered for six years, and with each passing month without rain farmers and ranchers watched their crops or pastures decline a little more and their equity erode with the wind-blasted soil. Debts piled up. Banks foreclosed on landowners and the town began to die, one small store at a time.
Many rural communities in the Southwest face similar fates if agriculture doesn't turn around. The combination of low prices and the persistent and pernicious drought will kill the small towns, farm by farm and store by store.
It may take the combined wills of the many farmers and ranchers who embody the spirit of Charlie Flagg to hold these rural communities together.


text:
"Dad, Dad, you just can't do this to me. Come on, have a little sympathy for a guy, can't you?"
Hiccup had barely scrambled up to catch up with his father when Stoick shushed him with a big hand. "It's only for a couple nights, Hiccup."
"Well, any nights are going to be murder." He paced hurriedly beside his father, as they virtually raced down the stairs of the Great Hall on their way to the Haddock House. Hiccup glanced back, saw Heather and her Council thankfully delayed up at the top of the steps, Astrid and the rest of them unseen somewhere in the milling masses of tribesmen still talking into the night as the party came to a close. Hiccup turned back to his father, put out his hands desperately. "Dad, you know what's between Astrid and me. I can't just let some strange girl sleep at our house, especially Heather. I just don't feel comfortable with her. Like, at all."
Toothless suddenly bounded up alongside them, hummed a low growl at Stoick.
"Hiccup," his father said, heavily, "you're gonna have to let go of petty little reasons like that. It's got no place in a future chief's life."
"Dad--" He didn't like the sound of where this was going.
"I think Heather is a great example for you, and I'm delighted she suggested we take her in for the night. She wants to get to know you. Isn't that wonderful?"
Hiccup shook his head rigidly. "No, Dad, it is not." Hiccup looked back briefly as they crossed the grass and started for the stone path to their house. "I don't want to get to know her more. It's bad enough as it is. Astrid thinks--"
Stoick sighed exasperatedly. "What does Astrid think?"
"Dad, you know, she's getting ideas like, like I like Heather or something…"
"Well, if she's so jealous why don't you two do something about it? When I was about your age, I'd already taken your mother for mine."
"Oh come on, Dad, we're different, I just don't feel--"
"Hiccup!" his father snapped suddenly, reaching the front step of the house and bending down to look at Hiccup. He put out a hand, bobbing it pointedly in front of him. "Just pay attention to this Heather woman. You could learn a lot from her, and you and her could go a long, long ways towards reconciling and uniting our two tribes."
What? Hiccup crossed his brows and halted in front of his father, Toothless swirling around him, his black shape like a shadow in the night.
His father gestured him to come forward. "You don't think about those things, son, the way a chief can't just think about himself in matters like this. He's got to think of the good of the tribe, and its future."
"Aaand…" Hiccup leaned up closer to his father's bushy beard, "what does that exactly mean, for me?"
"It means, Hiccup, that maybe you should try seeing if you do enjoy Heather's company. You never know, our tribes might even get united by marriage." He opened the front door and stepped inside. Hiccup rolled on his heels suddenly, caught his balance on Toothless, who seemed to suddenly be right behind him. The dragon purred with concern and Hiccup stared at him, wide-eyed. He swallowed tightly. "Okay, Toothless, I think I just deciphered what Dad was trying to say." He'd heard of political weddings before, but Dad would never pull one of those on him. Would he? Man, he hoped not. He looked out over the landscape, saw Heather wave goodbye to her Council, begin to make her way up the steps to the house. Things were definitely not looking so hot right now. He stepped forward into the house, clapping the door shut behind him. "Dad?" he started, then noticed Gobber and Mulch fumbling around near the stairs to his room, a huge wooden something stretched out between them.
"Just git over to the right, Mulch, over, move!" Gobber was screaming, and the wooden thing jolted, almost tripping them. Hiccup looked at the thing again, saw a headboard, a post, the flat wooden surface. "Oh no…" He found his father standing cross-armed, pleased by the fire, looking up at the wooden bed getting hauled up to Hiccup's loft.
"Let me guess, Dad. She's sleeping in my room."
"Well, of course. You don't expect me to have her down here." He let out an easy laugh.
"The day just keeps getting better doesn't it?" Hiccup sighed. "Listen, Dad, you can't just throw her in there with me. It's not-- I mean, it's my room." He stepped up to his father, tried to look authoritative in some way. "Doesn't that count for anything?"
"Yes, it means you should welcome her."
Hiccup rolled his eyes. His father started moving off towards the stairway, and Toothless jumped towards the door, hissing gently. That was it. Heather was close. Hiccup turned to his father, gave it one more shot. "Dad, I just don't feel comfortable with her. And it would be, would be, uh, wrong to her." Yeah, that was a good one. "So, please, she can have my room. I-- I'll sleep outside with Toothless. It'll be fun!"
His father heaved another frustrated breath. "Hiccup, stop making this such a big deal. You have a responsibility."
"To her?"
"To me." Stoick took a deep breath, bent down suddenly and spoke much quieter. "This is a lot, well, deeper than I think I've made you think." He cleared his throat hoarsely, leaned down and whispered. "I wronged Rune once."
"I thought it was the other way, uh, around?" Hiccup pursed his lips, wondered how his father would react knowing he knew. But apparently his father wasn't quite listening. His eyes had moved over to the front door, which was slowly creaking open and the girl walking in. "This might be my last chance to make it up to him," Stoick said in a quick breath and then stepped forward towards the slim figure. "Heather!" he said warmly.
Hiccup sighed, watched his father be quite hospitable to the Skirra Véllite girl. There definitely was something more to the Story than he figured.
Hiccup cleared his throat carefully and stepped up the stairs to his room. Toothless swept up ahead of him, turned around by Hiccup's bed and swirled to face the door, his eyes narrowing and his snout curved into an insulted sniff. "Toothless," Hiccup put a hand out towards him. "Shh." He didn't want any more conflict here. It was enough to have the strange girl in his room.
Of course, it's not like it was going to be another Torch incident. He chuckled at the memory. It's just that he hoped Toothless and the girl wouldn't keep him up all night. Toothless didn't look like he was ready either to just let this happen. The dragon was just a bit protective and while he really wished Toothless could do something to get this girl out of his room, Dad wanted him to be nice and he had to play along. Maybe it wasn't going to be that bad.
So long as Astrid didn't find out and get crazy ideas in her head.
Heather followed the thin kid -- no, she had to start using his name. Hiccup. She followed this Hiccup up to his room, a lovely loft of a place with the edge of the floor cut away to reveal the main part of the house down below. She was about to step up to the main floor of the loft when that black dragon he owned suddenly huffed to a halt in front of her. His bared teeth flashed white in the semi-darkness, and she gasped, lashed her sword out quickly.
"Stop!" the boy screeched and she halted, turned to him and saw his small silhouette against the backdrop of faint golden light. The dragon hissed at her and she kept her sword aloft, stared the wild beast in the eyes. She wasn't about to let this scrawny nothing tell her what to do. She was her own boss, her own--
She put the sword down suddenly. This wasn't home, she whispered under her breath. She had a mission here. She looked up at Hiccup, the look of worry in his eyes, and then at the black dragon, its scales glinting in the candlelight around the room, heaving to every breath of that beast. She suddenly realized how beautiful this dragon was, how stupendous it was that it was standing here in front of her, semi-tamed, and that she could, if she wanted to, almost reach out and touch it. What a prize dragon it was.
It would be quite a prize when they subjugate Berk.
"When does he go outside?" she said finally, trying to keep to a minimum in her mind the fact that a killer of a creature was standing there in front of her, teeth bared. It was almost a help, in a way, to keep herself from thinking too much of the task at hand. She found it hard to think about the assassination without her nerves reacting somehow, especially now, so close to the time, and she couldn't afford that. The dragon distracted her, and she let it, stepping up into the room, skirting the dragon's snout and his fierce glare. The Night Fury growled at her, its green eyes hot and wild. She looked at Hiccup, but the kid was gazing down at his dragon, a mix of amusement and concern in his eyes.
"Umm," Hiccup stammered, "Toothless?" He walked up to the black beast and stroked its forehead, glanced up at her once. "Heather's just gonna be, uh, spending the night here," he told the black creature. "You understand that." The dragon sniffed, jolted his head sharply and eyed her through narrow glowing eyes. "Listen, Toothless, you got to understand that."
The dragon hissed, snapped his head at her. She smarted, wanted to whip out her sword again, but hesitated. The boy was trying desperately to soothe the creature. "Just put him outside." She stepped back, found her back against the short table by the little wooden bed. She whipped her sword around into its sheath.
Hiccup finally turned around to see her. The dragon slinked up to an incredibly wide, flat slab of rock in the opposite corner of the room.
"Are you getting rid of that thing?" she asked sharply, watching the black wings fold delicately around its body, the round smooth head snuggle into its feet, and the eyes, the eyes that kept staring at her.
"What thing?" Hiccup asked.
"That dragon." She eyed the beast hard, tried not to be afraid, looked, stared and burrowed, into its eyes.
"Toothless is not a thing," Hiccup's voice interrupted her stare and she sensed something convicted in it. She looked at him, found a pair of hard eyes looking at her.
She raised a brow and rose her frame slightly. "When will he leave?"
"He doesn't leave. He sleeps here with me."
She stepped back, saw the hiss in that dragon's eyes. "So you sleep… with a dragon?"
"Exactly." There was that conviction again. She peered at him, at his thin frame in the candlelight, the glint in his eyes from the golden light, the shadows sharply crossing his body.
She'd have to get that dragon out of here, somehow.
Hiccup turned away from the girl, frustrated with the whole situation. Now she was scared of Toothless, and Toothless was mad at her. Who exactly did Dad think was going to be sleeping tonight? He flopped himself on the bed, the wood smacking him. He peered up at her, the soft glow of the light playing off her gentle features and he suddenly felt incredibly uncomfortable. He jumped up and walked over to the slanted table on the other end of the room. He looked at the happy scattered mess of papers on the surface, the blueprints for that metal ship he'd been building, the never-ending stack of designs for Toothless' tail and rigging. He was still trying to find a way to consolidate the idea of metal and wing. The lightweight new metal was just too tempting to go unused in new and--
"What's this?"
He whirled. The girl, looking down at the parchments curiously, her finger lightly moving over a piece of the paper.
"Uh," Hiccup pushed the papers around. He cleared his throat. "Designs."
She picked up the ship blueprint, peered closely at the cross-section of a strange new ship, laden with masts and sails, and with a tapered hull much thinner than their ordinary Viking ships. The bow, so much thinner, cutting into the waves sharply. She looked up at him from above the paper. "I didn't know you invent."
He shrugged. "It gets boring around here."
She was not amused and continued to rifle through the papers on his desk. "This is incredible," she said, quite taken by the hastily-sketched designs and brainstorms he had. She took another of Toothless' stirrup and peered at its intricate working, drawing her hand over the paper.
"I-- I'm trying to design a new tail for him," he said, figuring he'd better make conversation, "with metal panels."
She put the papers down and got a thoughtful look in her eye. "You don't suppose I could borrow these at some point. I really want to show my father." She leaned up to look at him, the angle sending her face into a shadow, an odd sharp shadow.
If Hiccup were superstitious, he might have taken it as an omen. As it was, he just smiled awkwardly and bobbed his head once. "Sure, why not?"
Heather's bed had been placed to the left of Hiccup's in the back end of the room, next to the table with the blueprints. She took off her mantle carefully and unhooked the sword from her waist, laying them on the foot and posts of the bed. The kid was already in the blanket of his bed, burying his head in a book, trying to look busy, but clearly distracted. She could read through that kind of expression any day.
"What book is that?" she asked.
"The Book of Dragons," he said, not looking at her.
"Oh, then I guess this dragon is in there." She looked over at the Night Fury -- which was still gazing at her dangerously. She hissed back in her mind, willing the creature to sleep or maybe leave. She turned back to Hiccup. "Could I see that page?" She walked up to the side of his bed, stopped and looked down at him. He took his eyes off the book, seemed to cringe at her gaze. He flipped the book, stopped on one spot near the end of it. "Here." He handed the book up and Heather took it, observed the drawings and the detailed notes on its behavior.
Faster than any dragon.
Fire more powerful than any species.
Great maneuverability -- keep yourself strapped in.
Loyal, extremely loyal.
She put the book down, looked over at the beast, the hot killer eyes still gazing at her. The plan was to kill the prize dragon, with the tribe defeated. A beautiful species it was. Such a shame to… kill it. If they could just harness that power…
But just the same, its head would look beautiful mounted on the walls of their Hall like so many other dragons. The Night Fury suddenly put his head up and hissed at her. She turned down to Hiccup, handed him the book. "How did you ever tame this creature?"
His eyes perked suddenly, and he looked over at the dragon with a look she could only describe as love. Love. She looked back at the dragon, its eyes hot on her. Hate. She gazed down at the kid, as he happily described his meeting this Toothless creature, a whole horrid conflict with his tribe and keeping secrets, a rite of passage and a great huge dragon that eventually caused his physical handicap, but, more importantly, he said, the peace of the tribe and of Viking and dragon.
But this time, she had sat on the edge of the bed, and he was sitting up, legs bent upward, arms around them and head resting on his knees. He was totally lost to the world right now, consumed in this fascinating, she had to admit, story about him and his dragon. "So, is he still… very protective?" she asked cautiously, watching the burning eyes of the creature.
"Sure he is. I wouldn't still be here talking to you if it weren't for him."
Her brow perked. "So there's no chance he's going outside, then, is there?"
She jolted back slightly, realized what a mistake she'd almost made. She swung her legs up on his bed suddenly, to distract him, and put her chin in her knees. There was still a confused look on his face and she was getting sick of it very quickly. "Does he sleep?" she asked, getting desperate to get this charade over with.
He was still looking at her, now resting on the edge of his bed. "Uh," he stammered, "sure he sleeps. I just… don't know about tonight. He seems kind of… nervous." He avoided her eyes and started to slip into the covers. "You want to sleep now?" he asked, muffled as he rubbed his nose.
She turned back to look at the dragon, and it suddenly stepped up from its rock bed and slid down onto the floorboards. She watched it carefully, seeing something of intent in its eyes, but not knowing what it was. The dragon hissed lightly and walked up to her. She edged further into the bed. What was the thing trying to do? The dragon growled, brought his snout up behind her. She slid closer to Hiccup and the kid leaned up out of the covers suddenly. The dragon made another move and she pushed herself up against him. "Hey," Hiccup squeaked and flipped himself off the bed, getting to his feet quickly. The dragon nodded once and hummed threateningly to her.
"Toothless, what are you trying to do?" Hiccup moved around the bed, was kneeling by the dragon now. The dragon purred at him, lashed a hard eye on her and hissed. "Toothless, you got to calm down." He looked at her. "I-- I'm sorry he frightened you."
She stood up, not wanting to admit what really was quite true. "Will he ever go to sleep?" She stared down at the dragon. "He needs to go to sleep."
Hiccup got to his feet, led the creature over to its slab of a bed and spoke to it in hushed and gentle tones. She stepped over to her own bed, sat down on it with hot curses in her head. She looked over at the case of her sword hanging patiently on the bed post. The boy was still talking to the dragon. She slipped the sword out, the thin voice of metal slicing metal, and lay the curved implement on her lap. She pressed her palm around its hilt. The boy sounded like he was coming to bed now. She moved the sword over quickly, under her pillow. The moment that dragon was asleep…
Hiccup stared up at the roof, at the angle of the blue moonlight on the ceiling. He calculated it might have been around three hours now, ever since they made a sort of truce and him and the Heather person settled down to sleep. He looked over at Toothless again, saw that he still hadn't slept. Go to sleep, Toothless, at least someone should rest tonight. He turned over to his right side, peeked through one eye at Heather. Both his eyes popped open suddenly to find her staring pointedly at him, the thin spark in her eye muddled by the shadows.
"Hi," he said, very small, and brought his hand out to do some little wave.
She smirked and rolled over on her other side. He whispered a mumble that didn't quite make sense to him, just something to express his frustration. He waited another hour, and looked at Toothless again. The dragon was still breathing heavily. Hiccup turned to look at Heather. Her body was heaving gently in a regular pattern. Perhaps she was asleep?
He slipped out of the covers carefully, let his feet, slowly, slowly onto the ground. Toothless perked his head suddenly and Hiccup brought a finger to his lips. Toothless nudged his head up, his eyes alive in the night, and slid silently off the rock slab. Hiccup pressed his boot gently on the floorboards, tried to keep his metal prosthetic from making too much of a smack against the wood. Toothless nudged up against him, his eyes wide and pleased. He started to hum contentedly. "Shh, bud," Hiccup whispered, putting a hand to the dragon's mouth. Toothless blinked and slinked lower, jumping on ahead of him down the narrow flight of stairs, his wings and tail lifting tentatively to avoid any loud obstacles. Hiccup followed after him, and stepped on ahead of him to open the door. Toothless leaped out quickly into the night. Hiccup looked back briefly, at the far end of the house, at the dark shadow that was snoring away happily. This whole Heather mess certainly had him distracted from Induction preparation, didn't it? "Hm," Hiccup hummed, got an idea in his head. He closed the door gently and caught up with Toothless, who was sitting on his haunches on the stone steps, waiting for him. "Want to hitch a ride on your namesake, Toothless?" He patted the dragon gently, and Toothless hummed and nudged his head into Hiccup's chest. "Let's go. I could use the practice."
Heather felt the dragon -- and the boy -- leave the room. She turned over when she felt the soft patter of steps descend the flight of stairs. So much for tonight, she hissed, slipped out of the bed and patted to the stairs, watched the boy and dragon step out of the house and close the door behind them. She went back, grabbed her sword and mantle and slipped down the stairs.
"Man to port! Double the speed, get a move on, people, we need this ship to move, I said move. Get those paddles running, open the sails, let this water run wild in our wake. Let--"
Hiccup stopped shouting suddenly, slumped down on the deck of his metal ship, The Night Fury. He'd been screaming his head off for the past half-hour, to the empty rowing benches in front of him and the vacant deck populated only by an insomniac seagull and stray puddles of ocean.
"Toothless, do you think I'm doing any better?" He glanced up at the dragon, who was balancing precariously on the third mast's horizontal beam. "You know you should have just stayed on the shore, instead of fighting it up there?" Toothless, barely visible against the still-dark sky, squealed an objection and continued fighting his balance on the mast, his tail wrapped and wound tightly around the vertical pole for more leverage. Hiccup stroked the black tailfin beside him.
"Thank goodness you aren't frightened by my ship. Is it because it's so different from the drakkars?" Toothless hummed, caught his balance again and opened his wings out to the early morning breezes, squawking deeply. The ship heaved forward, catching the wind, and Hiccup put a foot out to keep from falling. "No, I think because you were there helping me build it from the ground up." He smiled, looked out over the ocean.
They were already quite a distance from Berk, the island now only a black silhouette to their left, made blacker by the very faint, almost indiscernible light increasing along the margin of the horizon to their right. Gentle black water lapped around the boat and into infinity on either side. It was still late summer, but the nip of autumn already teased its way up Hiccup's ears and fingertips and crawled through his coat into his chest and up his arms. He shivered, looked at Toothless still finding his place on the mast.
"Thanks for coming along, buddy. I couldn't stand another minute in that room."
Toothless hummed approvingly, looked fondly down at him. Hiccup patted Toothless' tail, then faced the empty benches again.
"Back to business," Hiccup sighed, half-heartedly, and bent down to grab the heavy sword lying on the deck. He mustered it up vertically, both hands gripping it, and started yelling at the top of his lungs across the water. The echoes swept clear across the waves, and he cringed. "This is such a stupid way to wage a war." He dropped the sword and waved his arm towards Toothless. "I mean, come on, the enemy will hear you clear to Valhalla. Shouldn't we try stealth for a change?" He sighed, looked at Toothless. "Not that I'm interested in starting any wars anytime soon anyway." He flopped on the deck, leaned his back against the mast. Toothless cocked his head, peered down at him in amusement.
"Okay, so now you're entertained." Hiccup feigned hurt, stuck his nose up at the gummy grin of the dragon. "Well I for one have to endure this humiliation tomorrow morning for this Induction nonsense in front of my entire tribe plus a whole other tribe and chief who just happened to show up in time. I'm gonna be leading Dad's Council on a ship screaming this stupid war cry, so you better stop laughing!"
But the dragon went right on grinning and gurgling noises at him, his eyes perking alive with play. The light around was beginning to rise and a peachy glow came over the amused creature. Hiccup smirked, started laughing. Toothless nudged his head forward, gurgled a smile at him again. Something ridiculous and happy played inside Hiccup all of a sudden and he laughed a pure, delighted carefree laugh, the dragon humming and gurgling and flapping his tail from side to side. Toothless gave him a grin and he wiped his eyes on his sleeve, still smiling uncontrollably. "Toothless, what am I gonna do?" he said, a laugh escaping him again. "I'm gonna burst out laughing tomorrow and that will really be great in front of Dad. I can see it now." He waved his hand, pumped his chest and lowered his voice. "Son, you're just what this Council needed. I'm so proud of you."
He laughed again, shook his head and brought a hand over his face, smiling in that hurt way that happens when you're too happy.
His hand stopped over his face suddenly. He slipped his palm down quickly and leaned back against the mast. "Why is it always like this, eh, Toothless? Why do I suck at just what he wants me to be good at? To be great at? Best at? When you're part of the War Council, Toothless, you can't just be average -- you're supposed to be the best." He looked up at Toothless, found a puzzled expression.
"I wish I could just be average."
Toothless hummed, purred softly. Hiccup glanced up, saw the dragon lifting his wings in the breeze and nudging his tail towards him. The red prosthetic tail. Hiccup looked at it, smiled.
"Thanks bud. You think very highly of me." He grinned up at him. "I suppose if I could befriend you, nearly anything's possible." Toothless yapped at him excitedly, rocking the boat.
"Whoa, now you keep still. I don't want to overturn this thing, and you wouldn't want your namesake at the bottom of the sea, right?" Toothless hummed quieter, finally settled his position on the mast to watch him.
Hiccup again lifted the unwieldy sword, opened a book lying on the deck and started reading commands and orders from it as he brandished the weapon. He bellowed and motioned towards the empty seats in front of him, imagining for a moment his father's Council there, watching him and hopefully heeding his numbing screams. Maybe Spitelout or Phlegma. They were the top ones in the Council, the toughest, most daring and bold, the quickest and fiercest. The ones he was supposed to lead tomorrow.
Training a deadly, man-eating dragon seemed a lot easier right now.
At least, that's what he told Astrid when she tried to give him pointers on how to deal with her mother, Phlegma, Phlegma the Fierce. That said it all. Ferocity and perfection, those two were hard to live up to. Now he knew how Astrid became, well, Astrid.
Not to mention Snotlout, who was happily trying to sell him his knowledge about his father Spitelout's tricks and preferences, though he could already guess what they were. Be tough. Show no mercy. Hiccup wrinkled his nose. Yeah, he'll show me no mercy tomorrow morning, that's for sure.
He sighed, bent down and read another of the string of phrases in the page-eaten book Gobber had given him. It had originally been his Dad's, the same one he had studied for his own Induction Day. Hiccup squinted down at the phrase at hand, ready to bellow it out, but it wasn't a command or an order this time. He looked closer, read it aloud.
"A chief and commander puts the good of his tribe first and foremost. To give great sacrifices, to give up what he treasures more than anything, may be the key to his victory. He must always do what is necessary."
Hiccup rose up from the page. "So this book is handing me advice too." He turned to Toothless. "What's that supposed to mean, do what is necessary? These books are awfully vague…" His voice trailed off suddenly, as he realized the presence of an unreal flickering glow around the ship and then the faint growl of creatures and the lilting splash of water, of movement, in the sea. He jolted up. The glow was rising out of the water, from underneath the waves everywhere in every direction. Beautiful, shimmering, wavering, yellow and white and green glowing dots like constellations crowding up from the depths of the sea, flickering, undulating auroras in the sea. A creature splashed out of the water, its long reptilian snout gurgling in the waves. It descended into the lights, glowing itself, growling and adding to the song that hummed from the waves.
Water dragons. Hundreds, thousands, of them, stretching as far as the eye could see. He dropped the sword, jumped forward and grabbed the metal right side of the ship. Hiccup let out a low whistle. Toothless was yelping above and behind him, and the little ship leaned starboard as the dragon leaned forward towards the vision.
The water dragons were beginning to crowd around the ship, lapping up to it curiously and sending the glow of their golden green eyes flashing over the metal. Their numbers were stupendous; they must have intersected the migratory path of these creatures. The boat was pretty far out to sea. It made sense. He'd never seen such large numbers of water dragons, perhaps because they migrated at night, in the early hours like now, rather than in the day. In fact, until the other night during the storm and today, he had barely saw a dozen at a time of these dragons at all. And today, he was much closer to them than ever before.
His eye caught graceful, flying motions ahead of him. He squinted in the darkness, kept his eye on the unearthly motion of the glowing orbs leaping through the air in front of him. He could make out thin wings, sharp wings, cutting through the air for a few seconds and then sailing back into the black waters, then back sailing again in the air. These dragons seemed to leap from crest to crest, never able to truly fly but only skim the water. Flyfish.
He glanced down, his gaze riveted suddenly on a quieter species swimming deftly besides the boat. He started back, stared closer. Some were totally blanketed in barnacles, but under the debris, the real creature awed him. Their wings were totally transparent, their bodies, milky translucent. He could see multitudes of these dragons through each other until the darkness engulfed them in the dark beyond. Their whitish organs were visible even from his vantage point. He could make out several glowing parts, the glow apparently ebbing with the dragon's mood. One large long organ lining the bottoms of their bellies was jet black, and he noticed black fluid oozing out of their mouths from between their teeth and staining the waters all around the ship and behind their paths of travel. Wonder what that liquid does for them, he mused, made mental note again.
A smaller school of dragons curved themselves around an adult version of their kind, the little dragons spry and happy and yapping in that unique way of offspring to their parents. The two species were beginning to crowd the ship, little baby dragons eyeing him widely and yapping back at their mothers, staring at him curiously. "Hey fellas," he said, leaning over and putting a hand out cautiously to them, "what are you staring at?" They eyed him even more fixedly, some of them glowing brighter as they swam closer. The singing in the sea changed pitch suddenly and grew more lyrical. He hummed the faint melody back, and the dragons by the ship started yelping and yammering sounds to him. He smiled. "Aaah, well, I'm not sure what I'm saying, so forgive any misunderstandings, all right?" He chuckled and hummed some more, kept talking and humming as the dragons continued singing, humming, and playing in the water next to the ship.
A blast rocked the boat suddenly. "Whoa!" Hiccup screeched as his back hit the deck. A column of water shot out to the right like a geyser raining down on the ship. Hiccup could faintly hear Toothless yelp as cold, raw water slapped Hiccup in the face and soaked into him, prompting a chilled gasp from him. He wiped his eyes and inhaled the air sharply again, his eyes locked at the emerging figure before him.
The Great Dragon.
A vast island of a head rose and towered out from the receding crash of water. A knobby, barnacled head teeming with glowing tendrils, filaments with shimmering orbs, like many layers of seaweed covering his body like shiny hair. The water-soaked mane of glowing tendrils sweeping over its great eye of a burning sun, taller than trees, sliced through with a black pupil in the center. A great eye.
Hiccup stumbled up, heard Toothless above him, screeching, humming even more excitedly than the first time he met the Great Dragon. He looked up at Toothless, saw the dragon leaning forward in the ship, looking into the great eye of the huge dragon, yapping, yapping like the little baby dragons to their parents. Hiccup leaned back, listened to this foreign sound come out of Toothless, this unmistakeable sound that he remembered last Snoggletog, when a hundred baby dragons dug the sound into his head and kept the whole village awake into the night, yapping at their mothers and fathers.
And now Toothless… He looked at the Great Dragon, humming at Toothless, the great buzz in his throat sending vibrations over the water and shivering the boat from side to side. Toothless yapped again, shook his head playfully at the huge water creature.
His naturalism couldn't be wrong. But if it wasn't, then that would mean the Great Dragon was somehow Toothless' parent? Something wasn't right with the picture. Unless… Maybe Toothless lost his parents? And this Great Dragon…?
He had to think about this a while. He suddenly realized how little he actually knew of his friend's past.
Toothless hummed excitedly at Ormarr and the Great Dragon throated a greeting laden with a poignant happiness.
The migration, Toothless hummed largely from his delicate post on the mast, where is it going?
The Great Dragon eyed Toothless' pose questioningly and sent curious, yellow light basking over the Night Fury. Sure that's a good place you have there, uh, Toothless?
Sure it is, Toothless growled, slipping again and catching his place. Trust me.
Ormarr throated a chuckle, and Toothless yelped at him, suddenly found himself in the old days, when Ormarr helped him recover from his father's death that time long ago. The little arguments they had and the fun they shared. Toothless suddenly noticed miniature versions of the sea dragon swimming besides his vast body, their trunk-like tails slapping the water and sending screaming pockets of water flying airborne and spraying Toothless.
So you brought the family. He hummed an exhilarated hum to Ormarr, then yelped to Hiccup to get his attention. Toothless almost laughed at himself for trying; Hiccup was already engrossed in leaning over the edge and watching the young sea dragons frolicking besides their parent, each one in itself the length of a Viking ship.
But the great dragon rumbled more heavily as he heaved besides the boat, like a massive ship scraping abreast a tiny one. His big eye engulfed The Night Fury in yellowing light so intense that Toothless had to turn his head away. Ormarr grumbled low. The truth is, he hummed, seriously this time, I'm leaving this area. I have to go back to the island. Skari followed me here -- to find you.
He's not forgotten the feud. He actually asked me just yesterday how he could find you.
Toothless shot his ear flaps up and swiveled back to face the yellow eye, a growl muttering low from deep in his throat. Tell him to get lost.
The Great Dragon rumbled. Already tried that. The burning eye flickered faster. Skrills aren't the most persuadable type -- especially Skari. And after the load of insults you both exchanged two nights ago. If I hadn't butted in--
I know. Toothless sniffed, growled at him. I couldn't help it, I was so mad. Toothless wrinkled his nose, saw Hiccup staring at him weirdly, stepping away from the vision on the edge of the ship and stepping up to the mast and putting a hand on Toothless' tail, stroking the fin that drooped down to the deck. Toothless could see that Hiccup had sensed something up, something wrong, between him and the Great Dragon, and the boy's words confirmed it. "Toothless, what's the matter?"
Toothless hummed, tried to be reassuring, shifted his eyes away from the boy, concentrated back to the great dragon. So I wasn't on my best behavior. I know, trying to have one out with Skari would not do us any good. Putting Hiccup's life in danger like that…
Ormarr's slitted pupil glanced down at the boy, back to Toothless. Not to mention your own life.
Toothless fluttered his wings in exasperation and shifted his footing on the horizontal beam. He didn't care that the boat rocked right now. Why would Skari still want to kill me after all this time? I hid in that volcano for sixty odd summers to get away from Skari and his ilk -- I thought he'd have died or something by now… He grumbled, hissing.
Ormarr hummed. Well, that's another little thing he told me. Apparently when you disappeared from the island, he even flew across the Great Sea to the Cold Lands to find you. The great dragon paused for a moment and settled deeper in the waters as Toothless's eyes opened wider at him.
The Cold Lands. Toothless looked out over the water, opposite the rising sun, where the horizon was still dark and cold. It'd been so long since he was there, that old place he used to call home, beyond Berk, beyond the whole archipelago, beyond the Great Sea, where his mother had died in the snows and the unending freeze.
He shivered.
Are there still Night Furies there? Toothless hummed to the great dragon. He could feel Hiccup's hand on his tail, a gentle, tense little hand that quivered as the great dragon hummed largely alongside the boat.
Ormarr gathered his breath again, growled and hummed, his eye strong on Toothless and yellow. According to Skari, yes. He swore you all should return and die there, like he almost did. Oh yes -- the ice is still thickening deeper and deeper in the winters like you told me. It's even worse now. White land all around where water should be. Skari couldn't even blast through the ice when he got himself trapped there looking for you. Only the sleep saved him all those years ago -- and he slept a bit too long in his opinion. Forty, fifty winters, he's not sure anymore. The thing is, he blames you for all his miserable life's ills and now he's out to return the favor on you and your family. The Great Dragon huffed, growled something sharp and frustrated.
Toothless slapped his tail against the mast. Of all the idiotic ideas. It's not like only Skari's parents died -- his did as well. So what was he thinking to get revenge on? He slapped his tail against the mast, suddenly heard Hiccup yelp. Toothless glanced down, moaned to see that he'd slapped Hiccup unintentionally. He leaped down and fell in front of the boy, who was rubbing his cheek. He moaned and licked the spot, nuzzling his hair.
"That's okay, buddy," he said, petting him, then looking up at Ormarr. Toothless could see Hiccup's nerves unfurl as his small green human eyes stared up at the Great Dragon. "What's with it with you two?" Hiccup whispered, and Toothless hummed something frustrated and short, wishing he could explain something, anything about what was going on. Hiccup's eyes shot wider suddenly and he leaned on Toothless. The water was rolling widely, and Toothless looked out, saw that Ormarr was now lumbering on ahead of the boat, the fleet of water dragons schooling around him and traveling on ahead. Suddenly something entered Toothless' mind, on you and your family. What family? Toothless jumped to the side of the ship, leaned out, roared. Ormarr! You told him I had no family, didn't you?
The Great Dragon paused, swirled the water in great waves as he turned to face Toothless again. Well, it might have come out, I don't know. Why?
Toothless inhaled, huffed a breath. I just hope he's not thinking of taking this out on-- Toothless looked back, at the puzzled face behind him, the red hair still wet from salty sea water and the eyes still locked to the huge creature before them.
Ormarr growled, the vibrations in his voice deep and heavy. He did mention something about a rider.
Toothless leaned back. So Skari did take note of Hiccup when they met in the storm two nights ago. And him and his ridiculous idea of revenge… Why? Did he have no more things to kill? He had to take it out on people, too? For no reason at all! What kind of a maniac was that. What kind--
Ormarr was suddenly closer again, the blinding yellow light in his eye glaring down at him and on the lilting little boat. You have bigger things to worry about than, than-- The eyes turned greener suddenly.
Toothless followed his huge gaze, found the light directed on the scrawny Viking huddling on the deck of the ship, back against the mast, shielding his eyes desperately from the intense and suddenly tangibly warm green glare.
What? Toothless bristled, unnerved that Ormarr could even conceive of belittling Hiccup.
The Skrills have already killed off enough of your species in the feud. Don't you remember your father? The light in his eye burned with green fire. I don't want to hear you screaming in the Spiral like he did. I won't be around to help you next time. You have to stop Skari or he'll be the end of you.
Ormarr heaved a roar, sent his offspring diving under the waves, his great tail hitting hard against the water and sending the boat surging upward upon a vast wave. Hiccup let out a yelp and Toothless swung back to steady him. Ormarr's low grumble reverberated from below the surface as the glow from his eye died under the waves. I don't know how long it'll be til Skari figures out you're on Berk. Take my advice and leave that place. Go back to the Cold Lands. You can find a warmer place in the South, I've heard. The swoosh of water swirled him in, as the morning light picked its way across the edge of the waves. Just go somewhere Skari won't find you.
Toothless growled, hissed. I can't just leave Berk. I can only fly with Hiccup for one thing--
Then take him along.
And that's the other thing. I belong here, with him, on Berk. I'm not running away.
Ormarr's form could barely be seen now, as the once-happy glow of thousands of water dragons swirled around into oblivion down in the depth of the sea.
Just don't let him get in your way, Dagr. Skari is smart; he'll use that boy against you.
Toothless stared at Ormarr's vanishing form, growled hotly and hissed. The last rumble faded under the waters; the shimmering specks lining the great body fading as the immense island sank under the sea. Toothless craned his head down, tried seeing the shape growing darker below the vortex of water that sucked the boat into a swirl.
The name's Toothless, he spat, but he knew the great dragon was too far to hear.
Even she, in her travels so far and wide across the archipelago and into that continent to the south, even she in all this hadn't seen the wonder that was this sight before her. The glowing vision of water dragons, those lights under the sea. Heather paused in her rowing, let herself be awed for a minute, and let herself go speechless as the one great dragon lumbered and lilted above the water, like a rolling island on the surface of the waves. The vision passed as the school of lights disappeared to the north. She sighed, refreshed to see the loveliness, the great power and beauty, of those creatures.
She took up the oars again, pushed on towards the north. She was sure she'd seen them go in this direction, but that ship of Hiccup's, it moved fast. The sails, so many of them, propelled the thing at a stunning speed even without a host of rowers manning the oars. It was incredible, she had to admit, and she repeated to herself to take those blueprints. Somehow she felt they would come extremely handy in the coming war.
She'd been thinking and thinking hard on how to accomplish her mission with the added complexity of this ever-present dragon. She could read people, and if this dragon was anything like that, she could tell that this beast was not going to leave Hiccup alone. The book did say "loyalty" was one of its better traits. She had to think about this in a different way.
In the early morning blackness, in the growing blushes of light, rowing across the water to find Hiccup's ship, the lap of water against her oar, she figured it out.
She spotted his ship finally, and she stopped rowing, let her little boat ease onwards gently. The silhouettes were clear, and sure enough, the dragon was there, jumping now onto the furled mast and Hiccup, looking up at him, his hands out in a sort of questioning gesture and the dragon, pacing the horizontal beam and rocking the little ship from side to side. She removed her mantle and lay it on the floor of the boat. She unhooked her sword and carefully placed it on top of the mantle. She stood up and tied her hair behind her, put her hands together and inhaled, jumped into the sea.
The water shot her through with a thrill of coldness. She crossed the hundred yards in a short time, pleased at her rate. Dad would have been proud. He'd held the record at Berk for swimming, he'd told her once, back when he was still part of the tribe.
She gave herself one more burst of speed, saw the hull of the metal ship up ahead, lunged upward and burst out of the water with a relieved gasp. She grabbed the edge of the ship.
She blinked and swept her hair behind her. It was time to put her game face on. She looked up at the kid, Hiccup, gaping down at her, no doubt taken off guard. The dragon jumped down from the mast and leaned over the edge of the ship. She wiped the stray wet strands away from her face.
"Heather, what are you, uh, doing…?"
"Swimming, you mean?" she answered cooly, floating her legs over near the top of the water. "I figured I'd better catch you and get started on those flying lessons." Her nerves started sparking again, and she bit her lip, turned and looked up at the dragon, who was leaning over, staring at her with an iciness again. That was also getting old.
"You want me to help you up?" Hiccup spoke again, his voice clear in the early morning stillness, with only the lap of her waves against the hull. She didn't answer, inhaled and put a hand up to the black dragon. "I want to be his friend," she said, and kept that hand in motion towards the dragon's snout.
The dragon opened his eyes wide and pulled away, hissing, rocking the boat in the opposite direction and lifting her up the side of the ship.
"Hey, Toothless, it's all right," the boy soothed, and Heather curled over the side of the ship, landed on the deck. He came over to her, offered a hand. She took it, and he pulled her up. "Sorry about that," he said, glancing at Toothless. "But… you've decided to be friends with him?" Hiccup turned around and smiled at Toothless. "Hey, buddy, she wants to be friends. That's a good thing, right, buddy?"
Toothless hissed, still didn't seem to be buying the idea. Don't worry, she told herself, this is the Dragon Whisperer. He'll make that dragon like her, and then he'll be comfortable enough to leave Hiccup and her alone.


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The summer of 1900 in Peking will ever remain as famous in the annals of the world's history as the Indian Mutiny; it was something unique and unparalleled. With the curious movements now at work in the Far East, it may not be unwise to study the story again. And after Port Arthur these pages may show something about which little has been writtenthe psychology of the seige. The seige is still the rudest test in the world. It is well to know it.
Wall--the Tartar Wall--that the number of carts passing in at midnight is far greater than usual; that the guards of the city gates now and again stop and question a driver. It is nothing.
Meanwhile the dust rises in clouds. It is very dry this year--that is all.
24th May, 1900.
* * * * *
We are beginning to call them Boxers--grudgingly and sometimes harking back and giving them their full name, "Society of Harmonious Fists," or the "Righteous Harmony Fist Society"; but still a beginning has been made, and they are becoming Boxers by the inevitable process of shortening which distinguishes speech.
have been talking about them a good deal to-day, these Boxers, since it has been the birthday of her most excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, and the British Legation has been en fete. Her Majesty's Minister, in fine, has been entertaining us in the vast and princely gardens of the British Legation at his own expense. Weird Chinese lanter


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Silvercillin Gel
Silvercillin Gel
4 oz
Add To Cart
Silvercillin™ is a highly effective antimicrobial preparation composed of pure silver complexed with purified water. Silvercillin™ uses Silver Sol Technology®, the term "sol" being a designation of a mineral permanently distributed into the structure of water. The silver becomes a part of that water molecule permanently so it will not fall out of solution or suspension. Silvercillin™ is an incredibly highly powerful, non-toxic form of silver, with zero build-up in the body, so it does not cause argyria (blue man syndrome).
- 24 ppm ASAP Solution (purified water, silver)
- Triethanolamine (TEA)
- Carbomer
*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.


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There are approximately 10 million people in this country with a hearing loss.
We do not notice them because deafness has the disadvantage of being an invisible disability. This makes it easier for deaf and hard of hearing people to be ignored or forgotten. But 10 million people make deafness the second largest disability in the UK.
A few facts and figures
- 10 million people (approx.) in the UK are affected by hearing loss (1 in 6).
- 6.5 million of these are aged 60 and over.
- 3.7 million are of working age.
- Around 2 million people use hearing aids.
- About 800,000 are severely or profoundly deaf.
- Many people with hearing loss also have tinnitus. They may also have balance difficulties.
- Hearing loss increases sharply with age – about a third of people aged 70+ have a hearing loss.
Words describing deafness and hearing loss
There are no hard rights and wrongs about the words you use to describe a person's hearing loss. However, generally accepted definitions are as follows:
- Deafened – people who were born with hearing and later lost much/all of their hearing.
- Hard of hearing – people who have lost some but not all hearing.
- deaf (lower case 'd') – people who have hearing loss; they may be born deaf or become deaf. They mix well in the hearing world and may communicate orally and be users of sign language.
- Deaf (upper case 'D') refers to people who are full members of the deaf community and who communicate almost exclusively with sign language.
- Hearing loss, hearing impaired – anyone with any level of hearing loss.
- Acquired hearing loss – people who were born with hearing and later lost some/all hearing.
- Acquired profound hearing loss – people who were born with hearing and later lost a significant amount or all of their hearing.
It might help to know that in a survey carried out by Hearing Link into the phrases that people use to describe their hearing loss, the following results came back from 269 people:
We asked: which words and phrases do you prefer to use?
The most common responses were:
- 'I'm hard of hearing'
- 'I have a hearing loss'
- 'My hearing's not so good'
- 'I'm moderately deaf'
- 'I am totally deaf'
We asked: which words and phrases do you dislike using?
The most common responses were:
- 'I have hearing difficulties'
- 'I am hard of hearing'
- 'I have a hearing impairment'
- 'I have a hearing loss'
- 'I am deafened'


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MANATEE -- The Manatee County Sheriff's Office is looking for a man detectives say grabbed an 11-year-old girl as she was walking to a Bradenton bus stop on Wednesday morning.
About 7:25 a.m. the girl was walking in the 5900 block of Fifth Street East when she was approached by the man, according to a news release.
"The girl says the man pulled over in his white van and approached her while she was walking," the report states. "She says he asked her some questions and then grabbed her arm. The girl was able to break away and fled the area."
The report described the man as being "older" and having gray hair. He was wearing a blue and white striped shirt and black pants.
The van was described as white with multiple windows.
The girl reported the incident later while she was at school, according to the sheriff's office.
The sheriff's office said detectives are working several leads in the case. Anyone with information can call the sheriff's office at 941-747-3011 or Crime Stoppers at 866-634-TIPS.


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Be the first YellowBot user to add photos or videos of Motion Picture Marine
Motion Picture Marine can be found at Venice Blvd 616. The following is offered: Boat Rental & Charter. The entry is present with us since Sep 9, 2010 and was last updated on Nov 14, 2013. In Venice there are 5 other Boat Rental & Charter. An overview can be found here.
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Book a free, no obligation debt consultation with a Licensed Insolvency Trustee in Digby, Nova Scotia. Learn about all your options including bankruptcy, consumer proposals, debt restructuring, and other debt help options.
68 Water Street
Digby, NS, B0V 1A0
Toll-Free: 1 (888) 455-6060
Tel: (902) 245-5553
Please send all correspondence to the Saint John office.
Monday-Friday - 8:30am-5:00pm
Grant Thornton Limited Digby helps Canadians with overwhelming debt get financial fresh starts. We are Licenced Insolvency Trustees (LIT), federally-regulated professionals who provide advice and services to individuals and businesses with debt problems.
LITs (formerly known as Bankruptcy Trustees) are the only professionals authorized to administer government-regulated insolvency proceedings that allow you to be discharged from your debt, such as consumer proposals and bankruptcies. Once you file a proposal or bankruptcy, we deal directly with your creditors on your behalf and unsecured creditors are prohibited from contacting you or filing legal proceedings against you.
There are alternatives to bankruptcy – let us help you find your best debt solution. Contact us for a free, no obligation consultation.
Grant Thornton Limited offers a free, no-obligation consultation to review all of your options—not just bankruptcy—to get out of debt. Watch the video below for more information.
Larry Crandall, LL.B., CIRP
Licensed Insolvency Trustee
Larry obtained his law degree from the University of New Brunswick in 2005. He was admitted to the Law Society of New Brunswick shortly after and then continued to practice with a law firm in Saint John, NB. Larry's law practice was focused on corporate and commercial insolvency but he also worked on consumer files on behalf of creditors.
Larry joined Grant Thornton Limited in 2009. Larry obtained his designation has a CIRP (Certified Insolvency Restructuring Professional) and became a licensed insolvency trustee in 2013.
Larry is a refreshing professional who wants to help individuals and entrepreneurs who need a FreshStart. Larry's primary focus is in the consumer practice of Grant Thornton Limited. Larry is fluently bilingual.
Kristi Neilsen (Stuart), BComm, CIRP
Licensed Insolvency Trustee
Kristi is fluently bilingual and has worked with us since 2003. She previously worked in the financial services sector, working primarily in client service.
In 2016, she won the gold medal for finishing the Canadian Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Professional's 2015 National Insolvency Exams with the highest standing in the country.
Kristi spends most of her time in our consumer practice and is responsible for ensuring that those who contact us for initial assistance with their financial difficulties are looked after. She is warm and outgoing and provides advice in a professional and empathetic manner.
Henry Francheville, CA, CIRP
Licensed Insolvency Trustee
Henry joined Grant Thornton Limited in November 2010 after working the prior five years with PricewatehouseCoopers Inc. as a Vice-President and trustee in bankruptcy in their Moncton office. In that time he worked exclusively in the field of insolvency. Prior to that, Henry had worked 20 years with local and regional Chartered Accounting firms providing accounting, taxation, insolvency and consulting services to corporate and individual clients.
Henry's work in the insolvency field spans close to twenty years. He has worked with both business and consumer clients as well as serving a variety of secured lenders. He receives personal and professional satisfaction in providing alternatives and guidance to those with financial challenges.
In addition to his professional work, Henry has a long history of involvement in a number of business, non-profit and sport organizations in various capacities.
Shannon Boucher
Shannon joined Grant Thornton Limited after graduating from the Business Administration – Accounting Program at NBCC in 2010. Prior to returning to school, Shannon worked for more than 10 years in Retail Management.
When you call or visit our office Shannon will be one of people with whom you'd speak to concerning your situation. She will determine what options are available to you and put at ease any questions that you may have.
Shannon is registered as an Insolvency Counsellor with the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy and is currently registered in the Insolvency Administrators Program with CAIRP.


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Heirloom Graphics Are Perfect For All Your Arts & Crafts Projects!Approx 3.5" x 5.0" - Vintage Bird Collage - 4 Graphics Vintage Flower Postcard Graphics. Fits well on 8.5 x 11 inch paper.Images have been digitally restored resulting in high-quality, high resolutiongraphics suitable for all your artistic needs. All images are 300 dpi and sent asJPEGS. These lovely graphics can easily be resized to larger or smaller sizes toaccomodate all your requirements. ****************************************************************************************************** WATERMARKS WILL NOT APPEAR ON PURCHASED ITEMS******************************************************************************************************Your items will be sent to your Etsy Email Address within 24 hours of purchase (usually sooner.)If you want them delivered to a different address, please let me know. If you have not receivedyour items in the time frame listed, please check your spam email box or contact me.Once you purchase my art files, you may print them an unlimited number of times forall your projects subject to Heirloom Graphics, Inc. "Terms Of Use" Policy.TERMS OF USE:YOU MAY:Use my digital images after you print them in your finished arts & crafts projects.You may Alter my images and incorporate them into your own arts & crafts projects.Sell finished tangible items which include my graphics. (If you sell on Etsy or other mass selling stores, please give my shop credit - "Heirloom Graphics - Etsy"YOU MAY NOTDistribute OR Share my graphics files.Incorporate them into any digital work or collage sheet and sell as your own.Sell printed sheets of my graphic in whole or in part.Make Supply Items with my graphics and sell them.Sell any of my graphics as part of a Scrapbooking Kit.Sell any of my graphics in jewelry DIY Kits.Mass produce my graphics for wholesale distribution (in part or whole)Use my digital images "as is" on any website or blog.Re-Sell any of my images on CDs.Claim copyright after purchasing my graphics.Thank you for your consideration!


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A Model Written Practice 2011 Edition This guide assists those who follow the 2011 edition of SNT-TC-1A to prepare employer-specific procedures for the qualification and certification of nondestructive testing personnel. It is organized to allow users to expand, limit or modify the content to match the individual employer's setting. Sample forms for maintaining employee examination and qualification records are included.
isbn-- 9781571172365


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STATE – Two-time Olympic Gold medallist Christie Rampone knows that sun protection is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, particularly for people like her who spend so much time outdoors.
The captain of the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team, Rampone will participate in her fourth Olympic Games this year in London. She is also a member of Team SCF, a group of professional athletes working with The Skin Cancer Foundation to raise awareness about skin cancer among active people. Those who spend extended time outdoors are particularly vulnerable to the cumulative damage caused by the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation; about 65 percent of melanomas and 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers are associated with sun exposure.
"Matches are usually outdoors and can be held at all times of day, so staying safe in the sun is really important to me," Rampone said. "Aside from being concerned about my own health, I also want to set a good example for my daughters, so I seek shade and cover up with clothing whenever possible and wear sunscreen every day."
Rampone and The Skin Cancer Foundation offer these sun safety tips for those with an active, outdoor lifestyle:
- Seek the shade, especially between 10 AM and 4 PM whenever possible. Schedule training, practices and games for the early morning or late afternoon.
- Do not burn. A person's risk for melanoma doubles if he or she has had more than five sunburns over the course of a lifetime.
- Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses. Clothing can be your most effective form of sun protection, so make the most of it with tightly woven or knit, dark- or bright- colored fabrics, which offer the best defense.
- For extended outdoor activity, use a water-resistant, broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside.
- Sunscreen running into the eyes is a perennial concern (and an occasional excuse for not wearing any), but the pros have ways of dealing with this: Rampone applies petroleum jelly to her eyebrows, since it keeps sunscreen on her forehead from migrating into her eyes.
- Reapply sunscreen every two hours or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating. Be careful to cover often-missed exposed spots such as the hands, ears and the back of the neck.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories like Aspirin, Ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin) and Naproxen (Aleve) make you extra-sensitive to the sun. If you use such medications for your aches and pains, be vigilant about protecting your skin.
Rampone knows that the damp weather in London is no excuse to skimp on sun protection. She has said, "The worst days aren't always the ones that are hot and sunny. It's the overcast days [up to 80 percent of the sun's UV radiation can penetrate clouds] when you're not thinking about the sun – then you really get burned."
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|Photo by Andrew Hitchcock (CC by SA 2.0)
Make a List
What departments and roles are you interested in learning about? Make a list of the people you want to talk to and think about what you'd like to learn from the conversation.
Follow the Communication Norm
Does your organization communicate mostly via email? Phone? Is it normal for people to stop by someone's desk to ask them a question? Pay attention to how the people around you work and interact and follow their lead when it comes to approaching your coworkers. Then, use that method to respectfully approach the people you want to meet with. Introduce yourself, tell them what department you are interning in, tell them your major and where you go to school, and tell them you're interested in learning more about what they do. Then ask if you could set up a time to talk. Be gracious and don't act like anyone owes you anything -- they don't.
Come Prepared
People are busy, so if they've taken the time to sit and talk with you make sure you come prepared. Do some background research on their department's recent successes, this person's role in the company, and take a look at the LinkedIn to get a sense of their background. Prepare a few questions and think about what you want to take away from the meeting.
Follow Up
Be sure to thank the person within 24 hours. If they've offered you some sort of advice -- like a book to read or someone else to talk to -- make sure you follow up on that action and let them know how helpful it was (even if it wasn't that helpful).


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Mario Balotelli is expected back at Manchester City tomorrow night - to watch new club Liverpool.
Balotelli, 24, is flying back to Merseyside tomorrow to complete his £16million move from AC Milan, and will be cheering them on at the Etihad.
The Italy striker may also meet his new team-mates for the first time before kick-off in their hotel.
Liverpool expect Balotelli to sign a three-year contract, worth around £85,000-a-week, today at their Melwood training centre.
But Anfield boss Brendan Rodgers expects the controversial striker's trip to Manchester this evening to be a brief one because he wants him to live on Merseyside.
Rodgers does not want Balotelli to settle back in the plush Manchester suburb, where he lived during his colourful career with City.
The fire brigade had to be called to his luxury pad in 2011 when fireworks were set off in his bathroom, while he liked racing quad bikes in the landscaped back garden.
Rodgers is keen for Balotelli to live close to his new Reds team-mates to keep him within their sphere of influence and to curb such excesses.
Mario Balotelli's career in pictures:
The Irishman feels he can control him because of the strong spirit and discipline he has engendered in the Liverpool dressing room.
Rodgers was impressed by Balotelli's attitude when he met the Italy striker for two hours on Friday evening and believes him when he says he wants to be a success at Anfield.
Liverpool will begin assessing Balotelli's fitness tomorrow and they hope he can be part of the squad for Sunday's game at Tottenham.
Balotelli's agent Mino Raiola claims the former City and Inter Milan forward knows he cannot mess up because this is his last chance at a top club.


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Search San Antonio Texas Homes for Sale
Advanced Property SearchBelow you can select search options to better narrow down your results. Choose between cities, property type, price, number of bedrooms and bathrooms... Use the SORT TAB to sort results by newest listings, square feet, acres, price and bedrooms. Under the MORE TAB you can find additional search criteria such as swimming pool homes, homes in golf course communities, foreclosure properties, addresses, high schools and much more.
LOOKING TO BUY A HOME Mission Realty would like to mention to you, that we work as a buyer's agent -- real estate professionals who works for buyers, representing their best interests throughout a real estate transaction. There are many benefits to using a buyer's agent and , just to let you know right from the beginning, all these benefits don't cost you anything! Call Now 210-544-4722 or Contact Us
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Cotton canvas
The Nashik Pouf has a low, round profile that will add another layer of height and style to your room. Made from a 100% pure cotton canvas, originally developed in France for ships' sails, this durable design features smart piping and a wide handle. Coupled with a low-sitting couch, the Nashik is an ideal height for resting your feet, and will serve to add height to your room. The non-removable polyester ball-filling is sturdy and will keep its shape whilst remaining lightweight.
Our range of canvas floor cushions and poufs are woven in India with 100 % cotton, a slightly lighter variation of traditional ship sails. It's a thick and durable fabric that won't stretch, and is easy to spot clean – ideal for a heavy use item. The seams have been reinforced with the piping, too, so no amount of lounging will stretch this collection out of shape.
Material: 100% cotton
Filling material: 100% polyester
Construction: Canvas
Product weight (kg): 0.375
Made in: India
Size: 45 x 10 (D x H)
Care: Spot clean only.
Want more information on materials, manufacturing and care: Read our buying guide
Free delivery & returns
Enjoy free delivery on all orders over £50 within mainland UK. Shop confidently, too, with 100 days free returns (including gifts!), so if you don't absolutely love your order, don't hesitate to send it back – free of charge, no questions asked. Visit our delivery page to find out where else we deliver and the associated delivery fees.
Good things come to those who wait
Occasionally, some collections may have longer-than-normal delivery times. As a thank you for your patience, you'll save on all products with a delivery time of three or more weeks: the longer you wait, the more you save.
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To the Editor:
David Carr, in his review of "My Paper Chase," Harold Evans's memoir of his newspaper career (Nov. 15), alleges that "a corrosive report on Bloody Sunday" constituted "one instance where he failed to publish when he probably should have." Carr is repeating a conspiracy theory long since discredited.
In the four days after the shooting of 27 civilians in Derry by the British paras on Jan. 30, 1972, Sunday Times reporters produced, in haste and with some emotion, an account that in sum alleged a premeditated plot to murder. Reading their file in London, Evans and his senior staff agreed that they had produced nothing close to the evidence needed to support their charge. So the file was not published. It later leaked, and enjoyed a samizdat afterlife in Ireland as "the suppressed truth." That was rubbish. The decision not to publish was a professional judgment of the sort any serious newspaper should be expected to make.
Evans promptly sent to Derry the paper's standing investigative team to attempt a more solidly based reconstruction of events. We were members of that team. Our findings, which differed greatly from the whitewash of the official inquiry, were published over four pages of The Sunday Times on April 23, 1972, under the headline "The Decision to Put Civilians at Risk." We found no conspiracy to murder. What we did find was a botched "snatch" operation, approved by the government in London without proper regard for the possible outcome, and in which the paras' commander lost all control of his troops. Our reconstruction remains by far the most detailed effort by any newspaper. Why Carr believes that Evans should instead have published a version of events that neither he nor his staff thought adequately sourced at the time and for which no evidence has emerged since, we find baffling.
Chevy Chase, Md.
New York


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Electricity a Byproduct of Indian Sanitary Revolution
We've pointed to a number of innovations that use farm animal wastes as the feedstock for energy production. In India, where a "quiet sanitary revolution" is providing toilets for people who don't have access to them (nearly 2/3 of the country's population), human wastes are being used to create electricity. Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, a group involved in the distribution of both standard toilets and "pay and use" community facilities, has added an innovative feature to its cheap, water-efficient comfort stations (shown above): an energy plant --
Sulabh's systems often come with an innovative modification: the attachment of a biogas plant. Through these plants, human waste produces biogas that, when mixed with diesel fuel, can power electrical devices such as streetlights. A similar technique of wet-sanitation is being replicated elsewhere in India by groups like BORDA.While we don't know what percentage of electricity generated by other means could be replaced by "humanure," the concept itself is brilliant. A bit of digging into Sulabh's website shows not only that the organization has engaged in wide range sanitation efforts, but also that it recognizes and addresses the relationship of sanitation facilities to public health and economic development, as well as to environmental concerns. ::The Christian Science Monitor


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Post by RightEatingHabits.com – There is no one magic formula or secret to the best way to lose weight. Losing weight could be as simple as eating the right kind of foods consistently and over time, you will experience natural weight loss. Whether you pile on the pounds or shed the excess body fat is affected by your food choices. Here is my top 15 natural weight loss foods to help you lose weight without having to sweat it out too much!
According to research studies published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the best way to lose weight is simply this: choose carbohydrates wisely.
The researchers recommended a low-carbohydrate diet for natural weight loss.
A low-carb diet is one that restricts carbohydrate intake, particularly, refined and processed carbohydrates.
The low glycemic diet is an example of a low-carb diet.
How low glycemic index diet can boost natural Weight Loss
My top 15 Natural Weight Loss foods
Some foods promote weight loss better than others. They are mostly low carbohydrate foods with good to excellent dietary fiber. The list below comprises primarily low glycemic foods.
1. Apples (GI = 39)
Make it a habit to eat one to two apples a day if you want to lose weight. The abundance of polyphenols in apples can help to prevent spikes in your blood sugar levels by slowing down carbohydrate digestion. Polyphenols are antioxidants which the body needs to fight free radicals and prevent cellular damage.
Another reason why apples are one of the best natural weight loss goods is its high fiber content. Apples are rich in a soluble fiber called pectin which slows down digestion and increases satiety.
Wash apples thoroughly to remove any pesticide residues. Apples have the highest pesticide residues, according to a US Department of Agriculture survey. Buy organic apples wherever possible.
2. Cherries (GI = 22)
Cherries have an even lower glycemic index than apples or grapefruits. The presence of antioxidant polyphenols in cherries makes it an excellent fruit for regulating and stabilising blood sugar levels.
For a healthy afternoon snack, eat a cup of cherries (74 calories, 117g). Munching a small bag of chips (100g) will however, load your body with over 500 calories!
3. Oranges (GI = 44)
About 93% of an orange is Vitamin C. A low GI food with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. The juiciness of the fruit makes you feel full so you are likely to eat less.
Eat a high-fiber fruit such as an orange or apple before meals to achieve the satiety effect.
4. Grapefruits (GI =25)
Lycopene-rich grapefruit is an antioxidant powerhouse known for its anti-tumor benefits to health. Rich in both Vitamin A and C, it is a zero-fat fruit, ideal for weight watchers.
Eat half a grapefruit in the morning or as an afternoon snack to boost your body's metabolism. Do not eat grapefruits with medications.
5. Prunes (GI =33)
The high concentration of soluble fiber in dried or fresh prunes makes it an ideal low GI food for diabetics. It can help diabetics and weight watchers regulate blood sugar levels. Keeping blood sugar controls under control is essential for weight loss.
Eat a handful of prunes to improve digestion and for a quick healthy snack. But don't overeat, A cup of prunes has over 250 calories!
6. Broccoli (GI = 15)
Most non-starchy vegetables, including cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower are ranked very low on the glycemic index. Include cruciferous vegetables as part of your meals two to three times a week. Cruciferous vegetables are one of the best natural weight loss foods as they contain very little carbohydrate.
For faster natural weight loss, aim to have more servings of vegetables every day, including cruciferous vegetables four to five times a week.
7. Cabbage (GI = 15)
Cabbage is known for its anti-inflammatory properties due to the abundance of antioxidant polyphenols. It also provides the nutrients needed for intestinal health. Cabbage is a natural weight loss food because it contains so little carbohydrate and it supports a healthy digestive tract.
8. Cauliflower (GI = 15)
Cauliflowers promote digestion and detoxification. Cauliflower contains phytonutrients that stimulate detoxification enzymes. It is a rich source of dietary fiber – over 9 grams in every 100 calories. Poor digestion is often one of the reasons for weight gain.
9. Celery (GI = 15)
Do you know that one cup of diced celery contains only 16 calories? It is a very low GIycemic Index food and it is ideal for keeping you full and improving your digestive health because of its high fiber content. Besides being anti-inflammatory, celery is a digestive aid for regulating bowel movements.
Wash celery thoroughly. It has one of the highest concentrations of pesticide residues. Best to eat organic celery.
10.. Lentils (GI = 29)
Packed with both soluble and insoluble fibers, lentils are one of the top natural weight loss foods. Eating just one cup of boiled lentils will provide 15.6 grams of fiber. The USDA recommends 14 grams of fiber for every 1,000 calories consumed. If you consume 2,000 calories a day, you will need 28 grams of fiber. A cup of boiled lentils will provide more than half of the daily recommended fiber intake! The body needs dietary fiber for efficient digestion.
Get more natural weight loss tips: Six Tips On How To Lose Belly Fat
11. Chickpeas (GI = 33)
About 65-75% of the fiber found in chickpeas is insoluble fiber. The low GI carb makes you feel full longer as the body takes a longer time to digest and absorb the nutrients from chickpeas. This high fiber legume is one of the top natural weight loss foods.
Soak chickpeas overnight reduces cooking time and makes it easier to digest the beans.
12. Oats (GI = 38)
Whole oats, oat bran and oatmeals are some of the most satiating foods. They make you feel full longer. And the beta gluten (a form of fiber) in oats can help to stabilise blood sugars.
Eat oats every day for a healthy breakfast and to boost natural weight loss. Why not try my whole oats porridge recipe?
13. Green Tea (GI = low)
Drink two to five cups of green tea every day to boost natural weight loss.
Benefits of drinking green tea: it improves a fatty liver condition, enhances the liver's detoxifying function, boosts your body's metabolism (so you will feel less lethargic) to help you shed any excess weight.
Combine green tea with regular exercise and healthy eating to promote faster natural weight loss.
14. Raw nuts (walnuts, brasil nuts, cashew nuts)
Not all fats are bad for you. In fact eating raw nuts could boost natural weight loss.
15. Lemon and Lime (GI =almost zero, very little carbohydrate)
Of all the natural weight loss foods, lemon tops the list for me. Drinking a glass of warm lemon water every morning has been my daily ritual for a long time. It is a natural "stimulant", a great perk-me-up for lazy mornings. It also gives your metaboliic system a kick in the morning!
Find out why lemon is the fruit weight warchers can't do without.
The above low glycemic index (low GI) foods are my perennial staples. Add more low GI foods to your meals every day to boost faster natural weight loss. If you have no time to prepare healthy meals, Diet To Go delivers low carbohyrdate meals to the door.
© Teresa Cheong, RightEatingHabits.com
The best way to lose weight – add this list of natural weight loss foods to your diet. And share the list with three more friends!
Possibly Related Posts:
- Eight Ways To Lose Weight Quickly
- New Study Shows Low Carbohydrate Diet Best Way to Lose Weight
- Study Shows You Can Re-wire Your Brain For Healthy Eating
- How to Make Matcha Green Tea: A Step-by-Step Video
- Benefits of Green Tea On Fatty Liver