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Lock, Selene, Suzanna, Khara, and Ayc in his Orkish form stood together on the docks with the forty other passengers from the barge. Guards surrounded the large group of people, and refused to let anyone pass.
The guards were arranged in a half circle around the throng of frantic commoners; at the center of the semi-circle stood a soldier who seemed to be in charge. He was speaking with the only surviving soldier from the ship, who was blatantly pointing toward Loch while they spoke.
"I don't like the looks of this," Loch said under his breath as three of the soldiers gathered and strode toward Loch and his companions.
"We didn't do anything wrong, so there's no reason to worry," Khara replied confidently.
The soldiers approached Loch warily and stopped a few feet away. Each had their hand near their blade hilts and distrust in their eyes. "This man says you and your kind attacked the ship with a large beast. Is this true?" He stared hard at Loch.
"That is absurd!" Loch retorted. "Yes it is true people of my race attacked us, but I helped defend the ship and sent away the Kraken." He turned toward the cowering soldier who had survived the attack, slightly cowering behind the soldiers. "I even saved this one's life when he was stuck in the sea."
The soldier in charge turned to the man, whose face had quickly turned from confident anger to meek embarrassment. "You failed to mention this Private Castor," he said in a very stern voice. "I told me this Aquan Elf was a spy and helped plan the attack on the ship."
Loch rolled his eyes as Private Castor stuttered and fumbled for words.
"Well yes he pulled me out of the water, but I figured that was just to trick me into trusting him…" He trailed off as he realized how paranoid his thoughts sounded.
"This man is with us, and we will vouch for him," Khara chimed in.
"And who are you?" the soldier in charge asked.
"We are the ones who saved these people from the attack. We're the only reason everyone is still alive, so I suggest you let us be on our way," Khara replied.
"You truly have my thanks for helping our people. That was kind of you," he hesitated, "however I can't let you leave. The order still stands to keep everyone here until the Magikai arrive. They will have questions for you, but once you answer them, they should leave you alone. They are terrifying, but if you are innocent, they forget you exist."
"It sounds like you don't like the Magikai being here," Khara said.
"It's not the biggest secret that I don't like the Magikai. They don't care about anyone but themselves, and they think they are better than everyone. Do yourselves a favor, and never wrong any of them in any way. They act as judge, jury, and executioner on the spot." He paused for a moment, "and there isn't anything we can do about it. Our laws don't even apply to them."
The group stood silently for a moment, mulling over his words, when from atop the barge, a female soldier yelled down to them, "Captain! I need to tell you something!" A tall Human woman ran down the gangplank and quickly made her way to them.
"Sir! There are signs of necromancy on the ship!" she said in a hushed whisper, so as not to create panic among the commoners still milling about, waiting to be set free.
The Captain stopped her, and pulled her to the side, glancing at the companions suspiciously. They continued to whisper between them, and Ayc became nervous on the inside. He knew it would be hard to explain his actions during the battle, and the last thing he wanted was to be caught by the Magikai again.
Khara slowly walked to a small group of people sitting on crates near the soldiers guarding the docks. "Well I didn't find anything out from the Captain," he said with a fake furrow and frown.
"That's a shame," replied a short Dwarven man, holding his wife's hand and cradling his sleeping child. "I wish we could leave. We need to feed our son, and gold only comes while your working. This is a waste of time."
"I agree. Time is money and this is definitely a waste of time," Khara said with a feigned glance of scorn toward the guards. Khara continued to make small talk with the Dwarven family while he strategically placed himself further from the Captain and his compatriots.
The Captain returned from his private meeting with the female soldier. "Which one of you was casting necromancy?" he asked.
The party exchanged glances and shrugs. "We have all known each other for a while now, and we don't cast necromancy," he looked slowly toward the Ork among them. "He, however, we have not known very long at all."
Ayc looked at Loch in bewilderment until he realized he was the Ork they were referring to. "Ork!" the Captain barked. "Did you cast some sort of evil spell upon our ship?"
"No," Ayc lied. His eyes shifted from his companions, who offered no aid, to the guards in front of him. They were tensed, and didn't seem to believe his response.
"Someone did, and from what it sounds like, you have no one to vouch for you. That makes you my first suspect. What happened on that deck?" he asked impatiently.
"They attacked. We attacked back." Ayc noticed the guards moving into an offensive formation around him.
"That's vague. I'm sure the Magikai will find better answers when they question you. I…" the Captain stopped short as Ayc shimmered a sickly reflective black. Instantly, the Ork standing before them disappeared, leaving behind a small wisp of black smoke.
"What just happened?" the captain roared as he stepped forward to where Ayc once stood. The soldiers began scrambling in different directions, searching for the dark magic wielding Ork.
Ayc reveled in the consumption of the soul inside him as he burned it and forced his body to travel through the Ethereal Realm. He suddenly found himself falling into the ocean, through the docks which now only existed in the material world. He forced himself back into the world of the living once he was fully submerged. He swam down a few meters, then transformed his body into a large barracuda. The sickly pops and clicks from his body morphing were dulled under the water. Once he fully transformed, Ayc swam quickly away from the docks, not wanting to be around for whatever he had just left behind.
Loch, Selene, and Suzanna all searched the docks with the soldiers, trying to find the Ork who had just eluded them. The Dwarven family which Khara was speaking with turned their attention to the sudden commotion near the barge. Khara saw his chance, and activated his Ring of Blink. His body was instantly ripped from the physical world, and he fell through the docks into the ocean underneath.
He was unable to fall far enough to be fully submerged when the magic of the ring ended, and he landed with a splash. A soldier on the ship pointed down below the docks and cried out, "under you! I see someone!"
The soldiers ran to the edge of the dock, swords drawn and eyes scanning the ocean surface. Khara kept his body down, and swam into the dark depths of the sea. His breath was running out, and the pressure was increasing as he swam deeper. Using his shape changing ability, Khara became a Sharkfolk. He was unable to breathe underwater, but his webbed hands and feet allowed him to swim much quicker. He darted sideways and put as much distance as he could between the soldiers on the docks and himself. He came up for air cautiously, but couldn't stop himself from gasping once his head was above the water. Luckily, he was far enough away that no one saw him. He took a deep breath and dove again, swimming even further from the danger on the docks.
Selene realized her friends were escaping, and intended to do the same. She ran toward the docks' edge, pulling Suzanna along with her by the arm. She intentionally tripped herself and pulled Suzanna with her as she fell into the ocean. "Oh my!" she cried out as they fell, in order to make it more believable. She planned on pulling Suzanna down, and swimming away from this mess.
Suddenly, Loch appeared underwater next to Selene, and pulled her up to the surface. "You must be more careful," he said in a stern voice. "The waters can be very dangerous."
Selene shot Loch a hot and angry glare as he helped her back up onto the docks. After a moment, Loch realized that Suzanna had not returned to the surface. He dove down, and grabbed her, pulling her heavy, armored body back to the docks. She coughed and sputtered as she was hauled up onto land.
"You must be even more careful," Loch said as he breathed heavily. "All that armor and you will sink like a rock."
As they regained their senses, Selene looked around to find another way to escape the situation. It was then that she saw a blue robed figure striding confidently through the scene. He had an obstinate air about him as he looked down his nose at all those around him. People cowered and shied away as he passed them, even when he paid them no mind.
The Captain which the group had been speaking with quickly greeted the blue robed figure. "Lord Taygon. We discovered necromancy on the ship, but our suspect used dark magic to escape," he said. He winced with every word of his poor report.
"Of course he did. Your level of incompetence contains no maximum height, does it Captain?" he asked with no emotion on his face.
"No sir. Sorry my lord," the Captain muttered through gritted teeth.
"I heard the Seafolk attacked, and yet I see one here with no shackles." the Magikai gestured toward Loch, still kneeling near Selene and Suzanna.
"Yes but he didn't have anything to do with…" the Captain was cut off by a quick gesture from the mage.
"I will speak with him myself Captain. Your reports are less than valuable," Taygon said as he beckoned toward Loch. "Come," he commanded simply.
Loch frowned as he was being spoken to like a common pet, but stood and walked to the mage. "Yes?" Loch asked as he stood before the robed Human.
"Your kind attacked. Why is this?" he asked.
"I don't know. I haven't had any time to find any answers," Loch replied. He didn't feel the need to divulge that he knew the name behind the attack, for the Magikai didn't seem especially trustworthy.
Taygon's face didn't change as he watched Loch with cold eyes. "And what is happening over there?" he asked as he pointed toward Selene and Suzanna.
"There was a bit…" Loch was interrupted by Taygon.
"I will question them myself. Secondhand accounts from detainees are for the Captain and his men. I only deal with firsthand information," he said which caused angry looks from the soldiers on the dock.
Taygon strode to the downed women. "Well?" he said as he stood above them.
Selene stood. "We fell into the water, but our friend helped us," she replied as she nodded toward Loch.
Suzanna attempted to stand, seeing her mistress being challenged by the condescending mage. As she stepped forward, to stand at Selene's side, she stumbled, still lightheaded from her near drowning. Selene reached out to catch her, suddenly found her body unresponsive.
Taygon held his hand out toward Selene, and she glowed a soft blue. Her body wouldn't move, and she watched helplessly as Suzanna toppled into the water again. Loch moved quickly, and ran toward the dock's edge, but suddenly he hit the ground hard. His body couldn't move and it felt like each muscle weighed hundreds of pounds.
Loch managed to turn his head toward Taygon, who was holding a wand with an embroidered M on it. He was pointing it toward Loch while holding Selene still with his spell from his other hand. They both tensed and fought the magic in vain as the bubbles slowed from where Suzanna had fallen in.
"Why are you doing this?" the Captain asked from behind as the Magikai showed his first emotion; a cruel smile.
"The Magikai are the nature of magic. Nature is cruel and takes lives if it's time. We shall see if it is her time," Taygon replied, almost in a daze.
Loch and Selene continued to struggle against their magical restraints, but they were unable to overcome the Magikai's power. The bubbles at the surface had stopped, and there was no sign of Suzanna.
Just when it seemed there was no hope, an unarmored Suzanna erupted from the inky depths of the ocean. She gasped desperately for air and flailed as she barely grabbed the side of the docks. She weakly climbed back onto land once again.
"It seems it's not her time. How unfortunate." Taygon turned toward the guards. "Put the three of them in shackles and lock them in a cell. I will question them after I've inspected more of this ship." He turned toward the ship and began looking it over from the docks, completely uninterested in Loch, Selene, and Suzanna. Once he turned his attention to the ship, Loch and Selene felt their bodies ease and were able to move their limbs.
Selene acted quicker than the guards, and grabbed Suzanna's arm. "Run!" she commanded quickly and she bolted away from the scene. The guards were still somewhat shocked at the Magikai's behavior, and the two women easily broke through the barricade. They sprinted away from the crazed mage and none of the soldiers followed.
"Why are you just standing?" Taygon said without taking his gaze from the ship. "Chase them."
The Captain was obviously morally torn, and he turned to his men. "Go ahead and chase them," he said halfheartedly. Three soldiers nodded, and ran after the women.
Loch stood with his trident held up defensively. "I do not wish to fight the king's guards, but that man is a monster and will never hurt my friends," he said angrily, his eyes locked on Taygon.
"Then just come with us," the Captain pleaded. "If you try to run, he'll just find you and make your life hell."
"I cannot," Loch replied. He glanced back and saw Selene and Suzanna dart into an alleyway, followed by the soldiers. He figured they were safe and now was his chance. He ran toward the water, but was quickly struck with that same heaviness in his body.
Taygon stood holding his wand toward Loch. "Now shackle him. I'm tired of your mistakes costing us interrogations," he said to the Captain with disdain in his voice.
Loch used all of his strength to force his body to move, even under the immense power of the mage's wand. The soldiers stepped toward him, shackles in hand, when Loch pushed his body to its very limit, and jumped into the water. He hit the surface hard, and sank fast. Relief and anger washed over him as he realized he'd escaped, but he couldn't forget the cruelty of the Magikai mage.
He swam away from the scene, intending to meet with Torrik, then perhaps find his companions.
Ayc swam near the surface of the water in his barracuda form. He bobbed up and down, surveying the scene as it unfolded. He watched as Khara transported under the docks, and swam to safety.
Swim to the next town and meet me at the inn, Khara heard in his head as he swam down the coastline.
Which inn, cam a reply in Ayc's mind.
The nicest inn, was all Khara heard in response as he swam away.
Ayc stayed and watched as a blue robed figure appeared on the docks. He watched as each of his companions escaped the dock and followed Loch once he'd made it to the water. He swam behind Loch, and did not go unnoticed by the skilled Aquan Elf warrior. Loch saw no threat, so he continued to a different part of the docks, where no one seemed to be near. He climbed out and began making his way through the city to find Torrik, his strongest ally in Torruga.
Ayc watched as Loch disappeared into the darkness of the city, and then swam toward the same direction of Khara. He knew he had to find a way to reunite the group, but he didn't know how to find his friends in Dromduur, especially with a mage chasing them.
Selene and Suzanna laid flat under a pile of discarded cloths as they listened to the sound of their pursuers come and go. They had managed to be unseen throughout most of the night, and felt it was safe to leave this city. In the morning hours, in a cramped alleyway, Selene rubbed charcoal and makeup on Suzanna, making her appear older and sickly. Selene then used her magic to alter herself. With a soft green flash, Selene suddenly appeared to be a Half Dwarf.
They left the alley, and walked through the streets toward the nearest exit, which was the western gate. Selene and Suzanna walked casually toward the guards at the gate. They looked the two women over, one Dwarf openly leering at Selene.
"What takes you out of Dromduur?" one of the guards asked.
"I have business in the next town and I am bringing my servant," she replied quickly.
"You mean Forgeton or Kosk?" the soldier asked.
"Forgeton," Selene said. "And quite frankly I am in a hurry to arrive."
The soldiers glanced at each other, then shrugged. Selene and Suzanna passed through without incident, and traveled along the road toward Forgeton, wanting to be as far from Dromduur as possible.
Ayc grotesquely morphed from a barracuda to a human, and exited the water a few miles outside of the city. He walked to the nearest road and traveled toward Dromduur, thinking no one would expect anything if he walked in through the gates. He happened upon two women walking away from the city. At first, he didn't pay much attention to them, but then he realized who one of them was.
"Suzanna?" he asked incredulously.
"Yes it's us," said Selene. "Where have you been?" she asked. It was now her turn to be befuddled.
"I had some business to take care of," Ayc lied quickly. "I'm just glad I found you. Where is Loch?" he asked.
"I don't know. We ran while he stayed behind. I think he was caught," she said with sincere worry in her voice.
"He wasn't caught," Ayc said.
"How do you know?" Selene asked. Her tone quickly changed to suspicious as she wearily eyed Ayc.
"I just do. I spoke with Khara, and he's meeting us in the nicest inn in the next town," Ayc said, ignoring the inquisitive looks from Selene.
"You mean Forgeton?" Selene asked, still squinting her eyes behind her darkened spectacles in distrust.
"I suppose. Just the next town on the coast. You go there too, and we'll meet up after I find Loch." Ayc already began walking toward Dromduur.
"You haven't answered any of my questions," Selene said angrily as Ayc headed out.
"In time," Ayc said slyly.
Ayc traveled to the western gates of Dromduur, where he was met by the town guard.
"What is your business in Dromduur?" asked one of the soldiers as he raised his hand to stop Ayc.
"I have business in town." Ayc remembered Loch mentioning a man by the name of Torrik, so he elaborated his lie. "A merchant by the name of Torrik."
One of the guards perked up at the name. "Oh I know of Torrik. He's not in Dromduur though."
"I know. I am here to see his associates." Ayc hoped his story was believable. He watched as they nodded in acceptance and opened the gates. "Thank you very much," Ayc said as he entered Dromduur. The morning light was bringing the large city to life, and people were beginning to go about their daily lives. Ayc asked a passerby if they knew of Torrik, and they pointed him in the direction of the merchants quarter.
Ayc followed the directions, and found Torrik's Shipping. A man was sweeping the walkway outside.
"Excuse me, I'm looking for an Aquan Elf. He's blue and has two tridents," Ayc said.
The man looked up from his chore. "I know of whom you speak. He was here only moments ago," he replied.
"Do you know where he went?" Ayc asked.
"He said he was looking for Torrik, which means he's going to Jettex," the man said.
"Which direction is Jettex?" Ayc asked.
"To the north," the man said, somewhat irritated by all the questions.
Ayc walked away, leaving the man slightly confused, but overall uninterested. He grumbled as he continued sweeping.
Ayc hurried through the streets toward the north, hoping to catch up to Loch before anything bad could happen.
Loch made his way to the north from Torrik's Shipping. He had found out that Torrik was in Jettex and intended to seek him out. As he walked, he was approached by two guards.
"Hey! You!" one of the guards yelled. "Stop there. We need to speak with you."
"What is this about?" Loch asked. He felt tense, for he was unaccustomed to being on the wrong side of the law.
"There's been instructions to apprehend all Aquan Elves in the city. We need to take you in," the guard said as they advanced cautiously toward Loch.
"I'm sure there is some sort of misunderstanding. Please go get your Captain. He will know what I am talking about," Loch said. He kept his demeanor calm, but knew he may need to defend himself. "I would of course compensate you for your understanding," Loch said as the soldiers hesitated.
"Compensation?" one of the soldiers asked, raising one eyebrow. "Jason go get the captain," he said to his partner.
"Seriously?" Jason replied skeptically. The other soldier nodded, and Jason started off down the street. "I get half," he said under his breath as he walked away.
"How much are you willing to compensate me for my troubles?" the guard asked.
Before Loch could answer Ayc appeared from behind him. "Sir I believe you dropped this gold back there. I retrieved it for you, so we'll be on our way," Ayc said quickly, dropping a few coins into the hand of the bewildered soldier.
"Oh thank you," he stammered. Then his eyes narrowed and he said to Loch, "just because your friend here found my gold, doesn't mean I don't want that compensation." He greedily smiled as he held out his hand.
Loch shook his head slightly and pulled five gold from his pouch. "Here. I apologize for causing you trouble." Loch's morality burned as he took part in this corruption, but he knew it was for the greater good after meeting the Magikai on the docks.
Ayc and Loch walked further north, then ducked into an alleyway. "We need to disguise you," Ayc said as he rummaged through his pack. "Here we go. This paint will change your skin tone at least." Ayc pulled out a small disguise kit and mixed together some pale cream. he applied it to Loch's skin, and it changed from a teal-blue to a more pale green.
"Now you look like a regular Elf instead of an Aquan Elf. That should be good enough to get us out of the city," Ayc said as he admired his handiwork.
"Thank you. I appreciate your skills." He paused a moment. "Where have you been?"
"I had business to take care of so I came here early. I heard about everything that happened so I found you so I could take you to safety. The others are in a town called Forgeton. It's the next town to the east," Ayc explained.
"I must go to Jettex," Loch replied. "I have a friend who is like an uncle to me there and I must find him. He will be able to help with all of this."
"We can do that later. We need to regroup first." Ayc looked up and down the street as they exited the alley. "Actually we need to get out of the city first. Just be inconspicuous."
"I will try," Loch replied. They headed west toward the western gate so they could leave to Forgeton. When they reached the gate, new guards were on duty, and they were accompanied by a man in red robes.
"Halt!" a soldier yelled as he stepped toward Loch and Ayc. "What business do you have outside the city?"
"We are meeting our friends in Forgeton," Loch replied honestly. Ayc's eyes widened as he realized Loch had no intention of lying to these soldiers.
The man in red robes stepped forward and looked intently at the pair. "What business did you have in Dromduur?" he asked.
"We're just travelling through to Forgeton," Ayc said quickly.
"Where did you travel from?" the robed man asked.
"We are traveling to find the Heart of Chymaron. We have been charged by King Weston so we must meet our friends," Loch said in all honesty. Ayc once again couldn't believe the Elf's ability to ruin any chance of lying.
"Interesting," the mage replied.
"Should we detain them lord Zilliat?" a soldier asked, readying his weapon.
"No that won't be necessary." The robed mage, Zilliat stepped forward, and placed his hand in the air between himself and Loch. A small white and blue pulse burst forth, then vanished as quickly as it had come. "Be on your way," Zilliat said as he motioned toward the gates.
Loch and Ayc exchanged quizzical glances, then walked out the gate as the soldiers opened it before them.
"Thank you," Loch said as they passed through. They walked for a moment, then Ayce stopped them.
"What did he do to you?" he asked Loch.
"I'm not sure. I feel strange, like I'm being watched by someone. I can't explain it," he replied, shaking his head.
"May I try something?" Ayc asked. "I believe I can dispel any enchantments he put on you."
"Yes of course," Loch said.
Ayc raised his hand, and pulled the energy from one his souls, and let out a dark pulse from his hand. Loch was enveloped in blackness, then it dissipated.
"I can feel that it's gone," Loch said. He shuddered slightly as the magic left his body. "I didn't know you could do that. It was much appreciated."
"I can do many things. Maybe one day you'll see all the things I can do," Ayc said with a smile. "For now let's just travel to Forgeton so we can figure out how to get to Jettex."
Loch paused for a moment, but didn't press the issue. He followed Ayc, and they traveled to Forgeton to join their companions.
Loch and Ayc arrived in Forgeton, a small town with no walls. Wisps of smoke rose from the many blacksmiths which gave Forgeton its name.
"Where is the nicest inn in town?" Ayc asked a local guard.
"Depends on your meaning of nicest," the guard replied, chuckling. "There are two inns in Forgeton; one on each side of town. Digger's in is great for making some coin if you're a gambler. Goldenrod Inn is more expensive but it usually has a much more mellow crowd."
"Many thanks," Ayc said as he and Loch walked toward the Goldenrod Inn. Ayc knew Khara and Selene would have chosen it even though the Digger's Inn sounded better to him.
They walked into the inn, and instantly saw Khara's familiar cat form sitting with the now normal Selene and Suzanna.
"I see you made it," Khara said with a smile. "Loch why do you look so pale?"
"It's makeup. With everything you guys did on the docks, we had to hide his identity," Ayc replied. Khara gave him a strange look, but didn't question his words.
"The plan we've come up with is to stay the night here, then go to Jettex in the morning," Khara said after a moment.
"I agree with this plan," Loch said quickly. "We need to get to Jettex as soon as possible. I may have an ally there and he could help us."
"Good," replied Khara.
The group headed to their rooms which Khara had procured, and slept. Ayc left and headed to the Digger's Inn where he set up a card gambling table. He enjoyed watching as the drunken patrons emptied their pockets trying to beat him.
During the middle of the night, inside the Goldenrod Inn, Zilliat stepped through the doors and slowly gazed over the mostly empty tavern. Three heavily armored soldiers with the symbol of the Magikai emblazoned on their breastplates followed behind.
"Hello lord Magikai," the barkeeper quickly said, bowing as he approached the robed figure. "What brings you here to our humble establishment? Anything you want is on the house," he said frantically.
"I am seeking an Elf and a Human who met with friends," Zilliat replied with a piercing gaze.
"Y.. Y.. Yes they came here," the barkeeper stuttered. "Just upstairs in the first three rooms."
"Get out and make sure no one touches my cart," Zilliat said sternly.
The barkeeper quickly complied and ran outside to watch the mage's cart. The few patrons remaining in the tavern sheepishly found their way out of the inn as well. Zilliat and his retinue went upstairs, and with a flow of magical energy, melted the handle of the first door they came to.
Suzanna was sleeping at the base of the door, and was startled when it suddenly opened.
"Mistress!" she cried out as she jumped to her feet to defend the now awake Selene.
"What is the meaning of this?" Selene yelled angrily.
"I am Zilliat of the Magikai. You will respect that. Did you meet an Elf and a Human here in town?" he said impatiently.
"No! Now leave my room. This is highly intrusive," she said, playing her best prudish noble lady.
Zilliat didn't waste any time. He walked from Selene's room to the next one, and repeated the process. He melted the handle on the door, and pushed it open. Loch was perched in the window, ready to jump. He had heard the commotion, and wasn't going to be caught by the Magikai after what he'd witnessed.
Loch dropped the twenty feet to the ground, and ran toward the nearest alley he could see. From the window Zilliat raised a wand with an M inscribed on it toward Loch, and with a jolt, Loch hit the ground. The all too familiar feeling of his body being pressed into the ground by an unseen force overtook him and he struggled to move.
"Go retrieve him," Zilliat said to his guards, and two of them jumped from the window. They stood above Loch, straining against the power of the mage's power.
"Go to hell," Loch managed to say as one of the soldiers used the hilt of his sword to knock Loch out cold.
Zilliat continued to watch from the window to ensure his prize had indeed been captured. His third guard walked out into the hallway and was met by a raging Suzanna, mace in hand. He deflected the first mace blow, but then felt a blade sink into his rib-cage from behind. He turned his head to see a flurry of fur as Khara stepped around him and stabbed him again in the side.
Suzanna's mace found its mark, and sunk deep into the guard's head. His limp body slumped to the floor. Khara quickly tossed one of his inebriroot smoke bombs into the room with Zilliat. He slammed the door as an explosion erupted with intoxicating smoke blowing outward. Zilliat coughed and gagged as the fumes seeped into his lungs. His mind slowed and he felt and exhilarating physical surge. He felt that he could take on the world with his own fists.
Zilliat easily jumped from the window onto the ground next to his guards, who had grabbed Loch's body by the arms and legs. He grabbed Loch with one arm and slung him over his shoulder. His guards looked at him curiously, but did not question his actions.
Khara activated his Ring of Blinking, and teleported through the floor to the kitchens of the tavern. He saw Loch's body over the shoulder of the red robed mage, and took action. He let loose his phantasmal dagger, and it hit Zilliat in the shoulder. Khara ducked down after his attack, and when Zilliat looked toward the window, he saw nothing. His intoxicated mind jumped to the only conclusion it could.
"The windows are attacking," he said to his guards who were defensively watching the windows. "Break them now!"
The guards looked at each other, then at Zilliat. "Lord Zilliat, are you feeling ok?" one of them asked.
"I'm fine. Just watch the windows!" he said angrily. He began marching around the side of the building with Loch in tow.
Ayc was making his way back to the Goldenrod Inn when he saw a commotion outside the inn.
"You can't go in there. The Magikai are here so it's best you find something to do for a bit," the barkeeper said as Ayc approached.
Ayc ignored him completely and dashed into the inn. He ran to the back of the inn and saw through the window as Loch was being carried around the side. Loch closed his eyes, and focused on the souls coruscating through his very being. He consumed their energy and harnessed it to create a rift in reality, just in front of the Magikai and his guards. The rift extended and expanded to create a doorway to the Abyssal Realm. Screams of agony and malice could be heard through the door and eight demons erupted forth from the doorway. Each was covered in bumps and warts with patches of hair clumped in random places about their bodies. Putrid mucus membranes protruded out from their backs and small swarms of flies flurried around their faces and gaping mouths.
Each of the creatures rushed Zilliat and his guards. They yelled out as they rushed the onslaught of demonic pestilence, however they were quickly cut down. The guards' swords glowed with an electric energy as they drew them and slammed them down on the oncoming creatures. Each blow spilled greenish black ichor onto the ground, but the creatures were relentless in their assault. Claws and teeth ripped portions of the guards off their bodies, and they were slowly dismembered and tossed aside like broken rag-dolls.
Zilliat threw Loch's limp body to the side, and roared in rage. Magical energy flowed from his body and engulfed him as he charged the eight demons. Their claws and teeth couldn't break through the magical barrier he had created, however he used his wand as a baton instead of using his spells. His mind was in a gleeful euphoria as blow after blow landed on the sulfurous creatures. His muscles strained as he continued to fight the beasts with his fists.
Eventually, the demons overtook Zilliat, and fatigue caused his body to fall to the ground. His spells ended, and the demons entered into a frenzy, eviscerating Zilliat's lifeless body, reveling in the death and gore.
"Go now. Keep people away," Ayc commanded. The beasts stopped their blood orgy, and fanned out into the darkness to do their master's bidding. Ayc climbed out of the window, and began disintegrating the bodies, covering them in a magically created fungus and withering them down to patches of nothing.
Khara looted the bodies, and took all he could in the short time he had. He made sure to take the soldier's swords, along with Zilliat's wand, staff, cloak, and belt pouch.
Selene ran around the corner of the inn with Suzanna closely behind. "We need to leave," she said hurriedly. "There are demons attacking and the guards are coming fast!"
"Seriously?" Khara said incredulously, staring at Ayc.
Ayc shook his head. He should have know better than to trust demons to keep people away quietly.


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Only doctors can prescribe
Unhealthy State - Anatomy of a Sick Society Maev-Ann Wren New Island Books, ?17.99 BEFORE a scalpel peels away the skin, the first task of any anatomist is to procure a good specimen to dismember. The ideal cadaver is intact, well-preserved and has all of the internal parts exactly where you expect them to be. Maev-Ann Wren's autopsy on Ireland's health service was no simple dissection.
She must have found the experience more reminiscent of a forensic post-mortem. The festering wounds and disjointed pieces she uncovers all indicate the slow and painful death our public health service has undergone. Her dissection is exemplary. But when there is no shortage of suspects and willing accomplices, difficulties can arise when apportioning blame.
Those of us who prop up a decaying health service in our daily tribulations might resent an outsider who sees fit to examine, diagnose and prescribe some new medicine. Ms Wren is neither an under-valued nurse nor an over-worked doctor. She is an award-winning journalist with degrees in history and economics. The analysis that spawned her book began just three years ago with a series of challenging articles published in the Irish Times.
She hails from a family of doctors and, rather tellingly, grew up in a house where Michael Foot's biography of Aneurin Bevan, the founding father of British National Health Service, had pride of place on the bookshelf.
It is hardly surprising therefore that Unhealthy State is a book with a distinctly left-wing perspective. Both front and back covers boast citations from her fellow traveller Fintan O'Toole: "Essential reading for any concerned citizen."
Ms Wren's book is rich on historical detail and for this alone it is a tapestry worthy of admiration. She charts the reforming zeal of the visionary Dr James Deeny and the uncompromising Dr Noel Browne. There follows painful accounts of the battered careers of many health ministers who spent their time fire-fighting in Hawkins House when they might have been better employed talking to those who strike matches.
The author is fulsome in her praise and promotion of free medical care, public salaries, investment of further State resources and social solidarity. Her arguments about equity of access are well founded. The book's criticisms of hospital consultants and their representative bodies have been well aired.
When viewed with a cold historical eye, albeit a jaundiced one, many pillars of the Irish medical profession shine none too brightly in the genesis of our two-tier health service. Reformers have been few. Reactionary conformists have been many. But to cast the profession as the villain is myopic and dangerous.
The medical profession is no more or no less powerful than any other professional sector in Irish society. There is not one hospital consultant elected to the Dail. Indeed, I cannot recall when one of their number ever achieved ministerial office.
Their representative union, the oft-maligned IHCA, has had an often overlooked no-strike policy since its formation. Sure, every basket has its rotten eggs. But those who neglect their public work for private benefit remain few.
No government has ever tried to enlist their expertise in overhauling what is patently an unfair system. A them-and-us mentality has pervaded the Department for Health for years and few ministers have been brave enough to desert their civil service trench and cross over to "enemy" lines.
Ms Wren's attentions are less rigorous when it comes to the many failings of State-sponsored healthcare, a service where huge increases in funding, albeit short-term, have been frittered away on propping up back-room jobs and bloating State salaries. Its greatest dereliction of duty - an age-old inability to vaccinate Irish children to anything even approaching international standards - doesn't merit a mention.
Proponents of fiscal and structural reform are attacked as being "motivated by their rearguard defence of lower taxes". There is little mention of the talent that is stifled by an inward-looking public health service, where innovation is actively discouraged and motivation is frowned upon as a dirty word.
Too late for inclusion in her tome was the news from the South Eastern Health Board that an obstetrics and gynaecology unit which has been granted an extra consultant, was ordered to maintain its workload as before, and not to engage in any extra clinical activity. Is it any wonder that senior doctors increasingly seek refuge in a private system that rewards initiative and encourages hard work? One early chapter is titled "The Unleashing of Private Medicine" as if is was some sort of wild dog that any civilised society would have shot and buried long ago.
There is scant recognition of the fact that this "growth industry" is attracting more and more "concerned citizens", that it delivers a high-quality service (albeit a limited one) and attracts a paltry level of customer complaints compared with a much better funded public health service.
Our failure to develop an equitable health service rests heavily on many shoulders. Ms Wren has a vision that many of us would like to share. But it is a journey that would be easier if ideological baggage was shed early on and scapegoats were asked to do some of the driving.
Dr Maurice Gueret is editor of the Irish Medical Directory

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Opponents rallied at noontime Monday at City Hall in advance of a City Council vote on the $45 million plan to remove cars and traffic from the center of Balboa Park.
Rep. Bob Filner, D-San Diego, who is running for mayor against Councilman Carl DeMaio, led the gathering of several dozen in the concourse outside the Civic Center.
He called the plan to charge for parking in a proposed garage a "DeMaio tax" on the assumption that DeMaio will vote in favor of the plan that would charge $5 for five hours of parking in the 797-space garage south of the Spreckels Organ Pavilion.
The garage, a new bypass bridge off the Cabrillo Bridge at the west entrance to the park and removal of cars and parking from two central meeting spaces -- the Plaza de California outside the San Diego Museum of Man and the Plaza de Panama outside the San Diego Museum of Art.
Mayor Jerry Sanders began the presentation on the plan by calling some of the opponents' arguments "some of most vile and idiotic comments imaginable."
The plan was instigated by Qualcomm cofounder Irwin Jacobs, who formed the Plaza de Panama Committee to raise about $31 million privately with the balance from a parking bond, to be repaid by the garage charges.
Opponents have objected to the new bridge as harmful to the historic look of the California Quadrangle, the group of buildings including the Museum of Man and its California Tower built for the 1915-16 Panama-California Exposition that put the park and San Diego on the map.
They also have raised questions about charging for daily parking for the first time in modern history.
Supporters say the new bridge is a small price to pay for clearing the two plazas of cars and traffic and the parking charge as acceptable, since about 80 percent of the remaining parking spaces in the central part of the park will remain free.
Jacobs followed the mayor to say alternatives to his plan fail to achieve his goal -- to remove all parking and traffic from the two plazas and connecting roads. He acknowledged preservationists object to the changes to the historic look of the west entrance to the park.
"But Balboa Park is much more than an historic resource," Jacobs said. "It is a gathering place for people, home to dozens of institutions, botaincial gardens, recreational amenities and open space that has evolved over time to meet many needs of a wide variety of park users."


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Nike Vapor Max New Arrival Black Red Affordable Sale
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How to Use ND Filters: Tips, Tricks, and Special Effects
Schneider's 36.5mm IRND 1.8 Mounted In-Camera Filter is an ultra precision multi-coated filter for the ARRI Alexa camera. This filter has a high efficiency multi-layer coating to minimize flare and ghosting.
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text: Ive been thinking a lot about the three lines that are out. Wer have the movie, Animated , and Universe. So far theese are the most complexed transformations we have had (besides alternators), but what will we have in the future? Is it possible to get a transformer toy to transformer like movie prime, (in the movie not the toy) or do you think this is as far as we will go? I personaly think alternators are as good as it's going to get, or can it be better?


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Philly Wine Fest 2008 Wrap-Up
Say what you want about Pennsylvania's antiquated liquor laws; the PLCB throws one hell of a party.
The PLCB and Philadelphia Magazine teamed up again to host the Seventh Annual Philadelphia Wine Festival on May 10. By successfully addressing a few key issues that have dogged past festivals, the PLCB delivered an event this year that will be hard to beat.
In the past, tight quarters and narrow aisles turned even the most polite, well-dressed group of sophisticates into a selfish, inconsiderate, elbow-throwing mob. But this year the PLCB finally chose a space large enough to accommodate Philadelphia's dedicated mass of wine lovers—the expansive Ballroom at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Sure, at times it felt like you were backstage at The Price is Right with the gaggle of lanky models in little black dresses attempting to cat-walk inconspicuously around the SUVs and Jaeger-le Coultre display cases in the center of the Ballroom. And yes, this spectacle would be easy to mock. But, presumably, lining up these sponsors made it possible for the PLCB to secure this venue, which is a decision that clearly paid off.
Also, at prior festivals the food always seemed to be an issue—there just never seemed to be enough to go around. This year, however, there was an endless supply of pastas. They were not the most refined dishes, with the exception of Penne Restaurant's wonderful Mushroom Cavatelli with Goat Cheese. But they were just what you needed to soak up the high-octane Cabs you were [ahem] "tasting" for the past two hours.
Then, of course, there were the wines. This year there seemed to be a larger selection of higher-end, artisinal wines—the type of wine you expect at a wine festival.
However, having this level of depth at the festival was—you'll pardon the expression—a bit of a cork-tease. Although all of the wines at the festival technically are available through the PLCB, many of the stand-out bottles are difficult to obtain. Some of them are available at the local PLCB specialty stores only in very limited quantities (see e.g., the Tuderi, below), while others can be purchased only through the PLCB's Special Liquor Order (or "SLO") process, which is pricey because it requires consumers to buy at least six bottles at a time.
Moreover, in stark contrast to the festival's bounty, the PLCB specialty stores, in case you haven't noticed, clearly are stocking less wine these days. Rumor has it that the wine inventory has been cut by 40%. And although the Chairman's Selection program is not dead, as I predicted it has become a thin shadow of what it once was.
After the jump, I'll talk about my three favorite wines at the festival. And tomorrow I'll share my secret on how to work the PLCB system to get your hands on these and other hard to find wines.
Best Wine: Remoissenet Bienvenues Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2005 (PLCB No. 21214, $239.99).
Most of the folks attending the festival knew there were certain wines you had to hit, like the First Growth Bordeaux. But judging by the amount of eavesdropping my friends and I witnessed as we talked about this Grand Cru white Burgundy, not everyone, it seemed, had it on their radar.
This Batard was over the top. Subtle aromas of wildflower blossoms. Minerals, fresh citrus and stone fruits, all of which were delicate and focused. Underneath, this princess cradled a deep, layered core of secrets she was only willing to whisper to you, slowly, one at a time. Seductively complex. You could spend the rest of your life courting this wine and not a minute of your patient adoration would be wasted.
There are 12 bottles of this wine at the 12th and Chestnut store. But at $240 a bottle, I'm still waiting for my financial aid application to be approved.
Most Exciting Wine: Tenute Dettori Tuderi 2003 (PLCB No. 23590, $45.99).
Alessandro Dettori is one of the most provocative wine makers in Italy today. The reason: he kicks it old school. Aside from temperature control after bottling, Dettori uses virtually no wine making technology. His wines are natural and unmanipulated—no filtration, no clarification and no stabilization. Maceration and fermentation for most of his wines, including the Tuderi, all take place in small cement tanks. Plus, his grapes are hand-picked and the wines are hand-bottled. For Dettori, it's clearly a labor of love. A defiant respect for tradition. And it's as close as you can get to true Old World Italian wine making without a time machine. The result is a true wine geek's wine.
The Tuderi is a brilliant example of this philosophy. The wine is made with 100% Cannonau (Italy's name for Grenache). Because there's no filtration, the pour looks as bright and as dense as a glass of V8. The sight may be a bit jarring to some, but the palate convinces you never to doubt the genius that is Alessandro Dettori: Bitter cherry, wild herbs, leather and spices tempered with refreshing, vibrant acidity. History and tradition never tasted so good.
The only problem with the wine is its availability. There are only 15 bottles in Philadelphia County, 9 of which are in Center City. The fact that that the distributor's rep had almost as many bottles at the festival that the PLCB has for sale in the entire county is deeply disappointing.
The Grape You Should Get To Know: Antonelli's Sagrantino di Montefalco 2003 (PLCB No. 24668, $31.99) and its Sagrantino di Montefalco Passito 2004 (PLCB No. 10057, $36.99).
Sagrantino is one of the greatest grapes you've probably never heard of. The reason: it's rare. Indigenous to Umbria, there are only about 250 acres of Sagrantino vines in existence and only about a dozen producers that work with it. And it's unlike any other Italian wine. Dense, big red brambly fruits, rich savory aromas, exotic spices and pronounced but well-integrated tannins make this wine fun to drink young.
Sagrantino's often made passito style—drying the grapes after they're picked to concentrate the flavors—for a lovely and unique dessert wine. It's exciting that these two wines are available through the PLCB. Unfortunately, there are only 4 bottles of the Sagrantino di Montefalco in Philadelphia County (Germantown) and none of the passito.
Tomorrow, I'll share my secret on how to work the PLCB system to get your hands on these and other hard to find wines.
For more pics of the festival, check out my Philly Wine Fest 2008 set on Flickr.


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10 Tips For Writing Your Resume"Who gets the job is not always the one who can do the job best, but who knows best how to get the job!"
 State University of New York Oneonta Career Development Center
As an employer, I knew the importance of a resume. On numerous occasions, I looked at a resume quickly, saw mistakes or sloppiness, and never looked at that resume again. Is that fair? Probably not because employers should be looking for someone who will be reliable and productive 40 hours per week for at least a few years and a bad resume (or a bad interview) doesn't mean a prospective employee can't be reliable and productive.
But life isn't fair. Employers are busy. While writing this article, in fact, I learned that the average employer spends about 30 seconds looking at a resume, according to the career development offices of Temple(Pa.) University and the Collegeof William & Mary (Va.). Thus, someone who writes a good resume might have more of an edge in "who knows best how to get the job!" than I thought.
Research Network Insider's tips for writing a resume include:
1. BE CONCISE: A one-page resume is preferable -- and not just because employers only spend an average of 30 seconds looking at a resume. Longtime executives often have only one-page resumes so your accomplishments and experiences must be extremely impressive to justify a two-page resume. If they're not, you risk looking very arrogant.
2. SPEND ON APPEARANCE: Your resume should be on high-quality paper and look like an original copy from a laser printer rather than a Xeroxed copy. Using colored paper rather than white paper might make your resume more noticeable. William & Mary recommends cream-colored paper.
3. WRITE A SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE: List your objective below your name and contact information and above your occupational and educational experiences. It should match the job you're applying for. Keep copies of the first resume you wrote in your computer and change the objective on the copies you send to employers whose openings don't match the objective on your original resume.
4. PREPARE DIFFERENT RESUMES: The reasoning for this tip is the same as the reasoning for Tip No. 3. One resume might emphasize your research skills and include academic and volunteer projects, while another resume might emphasize your on-the-job accomplishments. The chronology of your past jobs should be the same, but what you write about those jobs could be different.
5. USE ACTION VERBS: This is THE most important advice Research Network Insider can give. Don't focus on job titles and promotions. Employers want to know what your skills are -- what you can do for THEM. Thus, writing that you supervised 10 people on a 'research project' is not nearly as impressive as writing about the project's specific accomplishments.
6. THINK ABOUT ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Think outside the box. Think about what you did in college and in your community and charitable activities and whether that relates to jobs you are applying for. There are innumerable action verbs that can describe your accomplishments. The William & Mary website lists dozens of action verbs that you can use.
7. CONSIDER LISTING SKILLS: Your skills should be emphasized in each chronological entry, whether it be occupational or academic, but having a separate Skills section could also be beneficial. Note that the William & Mary website has action verbs for leadership, communication, research, technical, teaching, and organizational skills.
8. DON'T BE NEGATIVE: Ever. There is no reason to explain that you left Job X because your employer was a jerk. Your next prospective employer might not care and might think negatively of you for bringing up the topic.
9. EDIT: And then edit again. And again. And again. Editing as much as possible limits your mistakes and makes you think more about making changes that will improve your resume.
10. KEEP REFERENCES SEPARATE: Your resume's last line should be in a different font and say something like "I have four references who can be contacted about my skills." Write your references with their contact information on a separate piece of paper and provide that paper only if asked. Make sure three or four people are available to be your references and are prepared to discuss your skills.


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Question: G-d tells Moses in Egypt that he will not be going in to Israel. Only later on did he commit the sin of hitting the rock, and the nation is told he will not be going into Israel. Was Moses destined to sin or did he have free choice and failed?
Answer: Certainly he wasn't destined to sin. This is stated clearly in the Talmud "All is in the hands of Heaven except fear of Heaven." G-d knows the future and saw that Moses' sin would prevent him from entering Israel, but Moses wasn't compelled to sin. This is possible because G-d isn't bound by time and therefore there is no concept of past, present or future in His realm. Only humans are bound by time and therefore things appear to happen in different sequences. As far as G-d was concerned, Moses being told by G-d in Egypt that he wouldn't enter Israel and his hitting the rock happened all at once, so to speak.
Best Wishes, Rabbi Meir Goldberg


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Newly remodeled, affordable townhomes! Here at Hawthorne Communities, we offer beautiful three bedroom townhomes and two/three bedroom apartments. Hawthorne also features a fitness center, outdoor pool and playground. Minutes from Pittsburgh International Airport, Robinson Town Center, Settler's Ridge, and just a short drive to Downtown Pittsburgh. Located in the desired West Allegheny School District. Stop in or call to tour our community!
Please call below to find out about lease terms.
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Everyone is nice Horrible communication Horrible follow up Young/loud residents
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Noise free, No pollution and good service.
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They have changed the hours when the workout space is open multiple times. The cleaning lady badgers the resid Read Moreents and is extremely unpleasant. Landscaping is aweful.
The maintenance staff was great and typically would perform repairs within 24 hours.
June 11, 2014
Community is nice, well kept, pretty quiet. Maintenance is usually quick to respond for any issues.
January 28, 2014
As a first-time apartment tennant, I liked living at Hawthorne. I only have a few comments on what I didn't li Read Moreke:
1. I could hear everything going on or conversations of the apartment above me.
2. The laundry facility was so bad i.e. the dryer didn't dry clothes until you spent way too much to get clothes dry. I ended up going to a laundry mat. I assume that the maintenance personnel did not clean out the vents as they should be; especially when there was only one dryer being used by so many.
January 11, 2014
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Orchestra Bells
Orchestra Bells
These bells, made for the professional percussionist, feature carefully hand-tuned bars that maintain the Deagan tradition of exceptional purity and brightness, as well as maximum duration of tone.
Aluminum alloy bars are lightweight and will not rust. Satin finish bars reduce glare from sunlight when the instrument is used outdoors.


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Polycystic kidneys, CT scan
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This Master program is designed especially for international students and corresponds to the second year of the Master studies. Successful completion of this program leads to the award of a Master of Science degree (Master IFI Informatique : Fondements et Ingieneries) of Faculty of Science, University of Nice Sophia Antipolis in France. This degree will enable graduates to pursue a PhD in Europe.
Lectures are given in English. French speaking students are welcome, provided they have a sufficient level in English.
The aim of this program is to provide students with excellent academic or industrial career opportunities by offering high level coverage of networking principles that will help students to meet the challenges and make the technological choices of tomorrow in the domains of the Internet, T elecommunications and Distributed Systems.
Students of partner universities having an agreement with the University Nice-Sophia Antipolis are welcome and this track can also be validated in their country of origin.


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Sheridan Mellon Fenwick, a psychologist with a passion for the arts and travel, led Abbott Northwestern Hospital's Behavioral Medicine Clinic for about a dozen years until 1994. The next year she co-founded PsyBar, which became one of the largest providers of psychiatric and psychological evaluations for trials and other matters.
Fenwick, 71, died Oct. 15 at her daughter's home in New York City, said the daughter, Ashley Fenwick-Naditch Viola. Services were held Sunday at the Yale Club in New York City. Fenwick, who lived in Minneapolis for 18 years, moved in 1999 to Bonita Springs, Fla.
"She was very passionate about the arts and the community," Viola said. She said her mother kept fit playing tennis and biking and traveled to more than 30 countries. "It was more than travel for her, she liked real adventures," like safaris in Kenya or "riding a rusty old boat down the Amazon in Peru."
Fenwick was a trustee for Illusion Theater and for the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in the 1990s. In the early 90s, she chaired what became the Women's Foundation of Minnesota, which funded innovative programs for women and children.
"She was really wonderful, very committed to the community," said Michael Robins, executive producing director of Illusion Theater. He said Fenwick helped raise funds for Illusion before joining the board. He said she opened her Kenwood home several times to Illusion's guest artists.
Born in Pittsburgh, Fenwick earned a doctorate in psychopathology from Cornell University. She taught in the mid 1970s at Columbia University in New York. She wrote a book critiquing the 1970s human potential movement, Est, entitled "Getting It: The Psychology of Est," published by Lippincott in 1976.
David Fisher worked with Fenwick for 27 years after meeting her at Abbott Northwestern. He said they started PsyBar together in 1995 based on her idea of training and providing experts to do standardized, objective psychological or psychiatric forensic evaluations.
"She was extraordinarily intelligent," Fisher said. "She was also very protective of the people who worked under her, the psychologists at the hospital, including me. … Nobody pushed her around. She was a small thing, physically, but she was a powerhouse. Some people disagreed with her, but I never met anyone who didn't respect her."
Viola said her mother was wise, caring and a great conversationalist who could argue any point of view. She also had a sense of humor and knew how to keep her daughter busy. Viola said the grand adventure she remembers most was an African safari on which Fenwick assigned her then 9-year-old daughter to be "the animal counter." So the girl asked their fellow travelers to help by each counting a different species. She incorporated their daily tallies each night into a pie chart to show her mom, said Viola, now 34.
"She was very proud. She didn't want to break it to me that my data was completely false," Viola said.
Years later they had a good laugh when her mother told her that everybody made up the animal tallies they provided.
Fenwick married twice, to Murray P. Naditch, a research psychologist, and to Worth Bruntjen, a retired investment manager with Piper Jaffray, who died in 2005.
She is survived by her daughter Viola and grandson, Luca Viola, both of New York City, and by her stepsons Eric Bruntjen of Yakima, Wash., and Warner Bruntjen of Minneapolis.
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HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- The Huntsville Housing Authority is looking at buying 16 apartment units in Gurley and four others in the Moores Mill area as part of its ongoing mission to scatter public housing residents.
Executive Director Michael Lundy announced at Wednesday's Housing Authority board meeting that the agency must spend $280,000 in federal "replacement housing factor" dollars on new public housing by July 14.
A real estate agent working with the authority has identified 36 apartment units that are for sale and could be easily converted into public housing, said Lundy.
The apartments on Gates Street in Gurley and Riverside Drive in Moores Mill would become the Housing Authority's first public housing outside the city limits.
"It adds location diversity to our portfolio," Lundy told the board following an executive session to discuss potential real estate deals.
The agency is also eyeing eight apartments each on Cotton Row, where it already owns 12 units, and Halston Circle. Those apartments are all in northwest Huntsville near Oakwood University.
Lundy said he made Wednesday's announcement to satisfy a new state law requiring the Housing Authority to give at least 30 days advance notice before entering into a binding property purchase.
The agency is also running a legal advertisement about the Gurley, Moores Mill and northwest Huntsville apartments in The Times on Thursday.
While the notification law doesn't go into effect until later this summer, Lundy said he wants to begin complying now to "minimize criticism and show good faith."
Buying the Gates Street Apartments in Gurley's historic district is not as simple as agreeing on a price with the current owner.
The Housing Authority also needs the blessing of the Gurley Town Council and the Top of Alabama Regional Housing Authority, which operates the Gurley Gardens public housing development.
Lundy said he has already spoken with Gurley Mayor Stan Simpson, Madison County Commissioner Jerry Craig and the Top of Alabama Regional Housing Authority director.Simpson said that based on what he's been told, he believes the Housing Authority taking over the two aging apartment buildings "can be a very positive thing for Gurley."
"When you drive by the apartments, they need some injection of money," Simpson said Monday night. "Anybody that comes in and maintains them and keeps them in a better state is welcome."
"Knowing what I know so far, this will be an asset."
Any proposed apartment renovation would be reviewed by the Gurley Planning Commission, said Simpson.
If the purchase goes through, Lundy said, current residents who qualify for public housing assistance could continue living at Gates Street Apartments. Those who don't qualify would be allowed to stay until their lease expires, he said.


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Minka Kelly & Wilmer Valderrama Reunite for Dinner Date
Minka Kelly and Wilmer Valderrama were spotted catching up over dinner this week!
The 36-year-old actress and the 36-year-old actor were spotted grabbing dinner together at Palms Thai Restaurant on Wednesday night (August 31) in Hollywood.
Minka and Wilmer dated back in 2012 and sources tell JustJared.com that they are simply just friends these days.
"They have friends in common that have kept them in touch," a source told us.
Pictured inside: Minka going paddleboarding during a recent vacation at the Hard Rock Hotel Rivera Maya last month.


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text: I believe we Indians need to expand our horizon. We need to understand how beautiful it is to protect our wilderness, increase our forests. Reduce the man animal conflict. This will only happen when we visit countries like Africa, especially those that have managed to retain all their tribal culture, ethos , retained their wilderness and forests. We Indians need to understand how wealth and happiness are not related. We need to appreciate what we have. Africa especially has mastered the art of taking you back in time and keeping you there, all with present day luxuries. If you need to be amongst pristine wilderness, yet be pampered and spoilt then "Come With Me To Africa". AND PLEASE NOTE THERE IS NO EBOLA IN EAST OR SOUTH AFRICA!!!!!!!!!!! 2015 has the following trips to Africa- 1- Tanzania Zanzibar.* 2- Uganda 3- South Africa- **4- Kenya. (photos courtesy Thokozela Kenya)


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Pop Forecast Oct. 28: Arcade Fire, Ender's Game, JFK and more (with video)
Chris Lackner
"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows," Bob Dylan sang. But these days, a guide through the seemingly endless flurry of pop culture offerings is just what we need. With that in mind, here is what's on the radar screen in TV, music and film for the coming week.
Big releases: Ender's Game; Last Vegas (Nov. 1)
Big picture: It's The Last Starfighter (mercifully, without 1980s special effects) meets Starship Troopers meets Harry Potter meets Independence Day (mercifully, without Will Smith). Asa Butterfield stars as Andrew (Ender) Wiggin, a gifted child sent to a special military school in space (it's much like Hogwarts if Rambo, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld were co-headmasters), where they teach Earth's finest youth how to wage war against alien invaders. Based on an award-winning sci-fi novel by Orson Scott Card, the cast includes Harrison Ford, Ben Kingsley, Viola Davis and Abigail Breslin. On a side note, the alien race is known as The Buggers. Does this instil cause for alarm in anyone? I can see preparing diligently for a Klingon, Wookiee — or even Ewok — invasion. But worrying about Buggers? As usual, Earth's military gurus are being a tad paranoid and overzealous.
Meanwhile, Last Vegas is The Hangover meets Space Cowboys meets Grumpy Old Men. "I can't smoke, drink, eat salt or stay out past nine, but OK," Morgan Freeman's character says when invited to the bachelor party of his friend Billy, an old codger marrying an "almost 32-year-old" (Michael Douglas, basically playing himself) who reunites his pals (Freeman, Robert De Niro and Kevin Kline) to celebrate. Many jokes ensue that revolve around either being old, not being old enough, being young at heart, or how being old is better than being young.
Honourable mention: About Time (select theatres Nov. 1, all markets Nov. 8). In About Time, young British man named Tim (Domhnall Gleeson) learns he is the descendant of a long line of male time travellers. The best part? They don't even need a fancy, high-tech pod or a DeLorean! Their secret to time travel: Going into a dark place, clenching their fists, and thinking of the moment they want to leap to. (Confession: I tried this in my closet for countless hours last week, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't go back in time to stop American talent manager Scooter Braun from discovering Justin Bieber on YouTube). The movie's tagline says "What if you could relive every moment until it was perfect?" (Ladies, do not mention this line to your boyfriends when proposing this as your next date movie.) The career timing on this one is certainly right for Gleeson, a charming red-haired Irishman who looks like the inexplicable love child of Prince Harry and Michael Cera.
Big Event: JFK: The Smoking Gun (Nov. 3, Discovery Canada, 8 p.m. ET, CT, PT/6 p.m., 9 p.m. MT)
Big picture: Following Halloween, things turn even more ghoulish with a timely expose on John F. Kennedy's assassination, just weeks before the 50th anniversary of his tragic death. Who fired the fatal shot heard around the world? Was it accidental "friendly fire" from a Secret Service agent? Is there evidence of a decades-long cover up and conspiracy? More importantly, what would Carrie Mathison from TV's Homeland do to solve the case (other than stop taking her meds and rambling incoherently)? This Canada-Australian co-production examines whether the truth is out there. My guess is it was the Col. Mustard with a revolver in the Conservatory … err …. on the Grassy Knoll. Or maybe it was that time travelling Irish kid from About Time. Sure, he professes to use time travel only to find love. But where was he on Nov. 22, 1963?
Forecast: Get ready for conspiracy theorists to embrace another "second shooter" theory. Based on the work of veteran police Det. Colin McLaren, the two-hour special employs dramatic recreations and CGI to offer new perspective on that fateful day in Dallas, including new insights into JFK's controversial autopsy.
Honourable Mention: McMorris and McMorris (Nov. 1, MTV Canada, 9 p.m. ET/PT): This eight-episode series follows competitive Canadian snowboarders — and photogenic brothers — Mark and Craig McMorris of Regina as they shred slopes around the world. I've got some advance for them: Don't go to any parties with gold medallist Ross Rebagliati before any of your competitions. (And if you do, don't breath in any second-hand smoke).
Big releases on Oct. 29: Arcade Fire (Reflektor)
Big picture: Arcade Fire defines the phrase "go big or go home." Their albums are consistently brilliant, sprawling and epic. This time they wanted to record a collection of songs that fans can dance to, dominated by rhythm and percussion. Reflektor, co-produced by James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem, is heavily influenced by the '80s, with songs reminiscent of New Order, The Cure and David Bowie (who makes an appearance on the title track). The band recently told Rolling Stone in took creative inspiration from trips to Haiti (where they attended Carnival) and Jamaica, where some of the tracks were written and recorded.
Forecast: Arcade Fire's rousing anthemic rock is reborn under the influence of dance floor beats, disco, industrial sounds, '80s synth and Caribbean rhythms. What emerges is an ambitious 75-minute, 13-song testament to their talent. While it may not be as accessible as The Suburbs, this album reflects the band's determination not to rest on its laurels.
Honourable Mention: Los Campesinos! (No Blues): Oddly enough, this Welsh outfit sound more like classic Arcade Fire with their euphoric, rousing brand of indie rock. They certainly won't give you the blues.
Related articles
- Arcade Fire's Reflektor full-album live streaming now! (blogs.montrealgazette.com)
- Colbert Insults Arcade Fire, Band Plays Two Songs as the Reflektors Anyway (spin.com)
- Arcade Fire To Play Halloween Show At The Hollywood Palladium (kroq.cbslocal.com)


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Join us on our ATP AEGON Championships tournament analysis that takes place in London and find out who are the main contenders and the highest value Tennis Picks to place.
The AEGON Championships takes place in London and will be played on Grass.
Top Half of the Draw
After reaching the French Open final for the first time on his career, Andy Murray is looking for another successful journey on this event, where he's the defending champion. Murray loves to compete on this tournament, where he holds a 24 – 5 career record with four titles won throughout his career. It won't be an easy debut for Andy against the grass expert Nicolas Mahut, who already beat him once in 2012 on this event's first round. However, Andy got his revenge in the following year and once again, he should be too strong for the French.
Murray shouldn't experience any sort of problems on the following round, where he might face his fellow countryman Aljaz Bedene. Andy he might face an old acquaintance in the quarterfinals, Gilles Simon. The two players know each other well after some remarkable battles in the past yet, it's Murray who own the advantage on the h2h by 14 – 2. Looking to Murray's potential opponents in the semifinals, there are several good grass players such as Marin Cilic, Feliciano Lopez or Richard Gasquet.
None of them is an easy opponent on these game conditions; however, Andy usually finds his best tennis on the latest stages of the tournaments and with that in mind, the British should be too strong for any of them. After looking to Andy's draw until the final, the toughest match for him in our opinion is the first one against Mahut, not only because is his debut on grass in 2016 but also because he's facing a very good player on this surface who arrives in London after a great week in Hertogenbosch.
For that reason, our suggestion is to wait for the first match and if Murray survives to it, then you should place a bet on his tennis odds for the title that are currently at +125 on bet365.
Bottom Half of the Draw
If things look quite simple on the top half of the draw, where Andy should reach the final without many problems, the same cannot be said about the bottom half of the draw.
The quality is absurd on this half of the draw, where Stan Wawrinka is the highest ranked player. Stan is playing this event for the fourth time on his career, with his best result achieved in 2014 when he reached the semifinals. Despite Stan's recent improvements on grass, it's unlikely to see him with the required consistency to go all the way, especially with so many good grass players on his quarter such as – Fernando Verdasco, Bernard Tomic, Gilles Muller, Juan Martin Del Potro and John Isner.
With so many quality players on this 4th quarter, one thing is certain, whoever reaches the semifinals might struggle to present his best tennis on that match after so many tough battles in the previous days.
With this in mind, the value seems to be on the 3rd quarter, where Milos Raonic and Nick Kyrgios are the two main favorites. Curiously, these two players will face each other on the first round and even though Kyrgios' recent victories over Milos, Nick is not as reliable on ATP 500 events as he is on Masters 1000 and Grand Slams.
Raonic is very determined to do well on this grass season and with the support of John McEnroe, he can be even more dangerous. It won't be an easy road for Milos, but there is clearly value on his price at +900 on PaddyPower and for that reason, our suggestion is for you to add him to your tennis picks.


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Skip to comments.Reid to Senate Republicans: Filibuster deal in 36 hours or face nuclear option
Posted on 01/22/2013 2:41:23 PM PST by Sub-Driver
Reid to Senate Republicans: Filibuster deal in 36 hours or face nuclear option By Alexander Bolton - 01/22/13 03:29 PM ET
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is giving Republican colleagues 36 hours to agree to a deal on filibuster reform or he will move forward with the nuclear option.
I hope in the next 24, 36 hours we can get something we agree on. If not, were going to move forward on what I think needs to be done, Reid told reporters.
Reids trump card in negotiations with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) is the threat he will change Senate rules with a simple majority vote, a tactic known as the nuclear option. This maneuver would allow Reid to change the Senate rules with a simple majority vote, something that has never been done, according to parliamentary experts.
Critics call it the nuclear option but proponents, such as Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) say it is more accurate to describe it as the Constitutional option because the Constitution empowers each chamber to set its own rules.
Reid predicted the Democratic caucus would support him in reforming the Senates filibuster rule unilaterally.
If he did so, he would likely implement a relatively modest change, such as eliminating the filibuster on motions to proceed to new business.
Reid said talks with McConnell are not close to a resolution.
Were making progress. Not done yet, we got a long way to go, he told reporters while walking into the Senate chamber.
A senator briefed on the talks said it appears McConnell will have trouble rounding up enough Republican votes to support any deal he forges with Reid. Changing the rules under regular order requires 67 votes. Reforming Senate procedures through a standing order would need 60 votes.
A Democratic aide said McConnell could have difficulty mustering 12 Republicans to vote to change the standing rules under regular order.
The Left is certainly creative in coining buzz words and phrases guaranteed to scare the bejeebus out of the moronic low-information members of the public.
Our side should be so adept.
Who gives a ****? the House GOP leadership is so strong that only bills that pass with the "pre nukyalur" option voting thresholds would be considered? Oh, wait....boehner is still there.....
A) Make him do it, and B) Send Rubio, Lee, Johnson, Scott, and Cruz out on the media circuit right afterwards. Enough with the Sunday morning geezer club (McConnell, McCain, etc). Get strong, likable young leadership out front.
Ichabod McConnell should tell Reid to go eff himself. Let them do it; they'll cheat anyway when it serves them. Grow some balls.
Personally I think it's better to be polite, honest, and be a really good shot.
Then in 2014 we take the senate majority with Reid's new rule and Obama would be F'd!
Am I right on this?
Wow that's gonna backfire on Bobo when the Democrats lose the Senate in 2014 ... if a Supreme needs replacement 2014-2016, the furthest Left the GOP will give Bobo is Larry Tribe, a fairly conventional Liberal douchebag Harvard insider, instead of some 9th Panel Maoist ...
Dems are always portrayed as the 'bipartisan' 'moderates' versus the Republican 'extremists'.
I can't see the media successfully using that meme after this.
Sure, the dumbest sluts will continue to believe, but the merely-slightly-below-average-IQ voters won't.
The GOP doesn't need any help. They can do it themselves.
Good. Let's have the House shut down the free money spigot.
Let's play hardball. The republicans should understand by now that you can't have gentleman's agreements with marxists.
You are correct. The Reps must take the Senate. Obama has about 18 months to push his agenda through. The House will be the only place where he can be blocked.
Spineless ninnies.
For once, bring on street fighters.
Let Ted Cruz and Mike Lee speak.
The House can checkmate Reid's commie senate by cutting off all funding for senate operations.
The neuclear cliff option..sounds really scary don't it.
Im almost convinced they're all in on it but they have to make it look like a big fight.
Kabuki theater.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.


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The offseason is where championships are built. It's where teams can make that one acquisition that puts them over the top. And while much is made over the signings of prospects at the Major League level, what's often overlooked in the world of videogames is the roster of producers and designers. The people who make the team that shape the face of the game.In terms of baseball videogames, 2K Sports may have just made a Carlos Beltran-like signing.Ben Brinkman, the lead gameplay designer from EA's MVP series has jumped teams, signing with Kush Games to help re-create, re-shape, and re-think the MLB 2K franchise, beginning with 2K7."When I was interviewing for the job at Kush to run the MLB 2K franchise, they asked me: 'What did you like about the game, what didn't you like about the game?' My answer was I liked most of the stuff you guys did, what I didn't like is that you guys only did it most of the way," Brinkman said with a laugh as he met with reporters before the recent Game 3, Twins/A's, Marco Scutaro (Oakland's answer to Mark Lemke) trademark performance. "I didn't feel like a lot of the stuff was done, polished, tuned the way it should be, and that was something that I look at, something that if you build the game properly, you have plenty of time to do that stuff at the end, and that's actually what we're doing now. For example, the precision pitching, cool idea, but it looked like it only got about 75% of the way there. There were about two or three little things they could've done which we're doing this year, and I won't get into too much detail, but it will take it into completion and make it a lot more fun and a lot more interactive." Brinkman, like many baseball gamers, had his pet peeves about the 2K games. "One of them is the high hat (they all look like Fred McGriff), and the other is the batting. Guys would swing then completely slide and then start running. They'd be looking in left field when the ball was going to right field&#Array;stuff like that."Brinkman joined Kush in June and has already eliminated the McGriff clones and changed the batting animations, not to mention cleaning up the throws. "You would use the same throw everywhere. You would pick up the ball near the wall and you would use the same throw if you picked up or barehanded a ball and were throwing from third to first."And like the transition Brinkman witnessed from the Triple Play franchise to MVP, he realized it was time to take a step back and not add features, but clean up the ones that are already there. Make the gameplay actually feel like you're playing a baseball simulation."We've gotten back down to bare basics. We're not adding a ton of bells and whistles this year, we're going to take what we have and add some cool stuff to it. We're also going to pull stuff out that takes away from the authenticity of the game. Showboat catches come to mind. Turbo baserunning. We're getting back to making a game that plays a really great game of baseball. It's what people want that play baseball games. Same for people who play football games or play basketball games. Look at 2K7 basketball, that's why people love it, it plays a real good game of basketball. Same with hockey. That's what we're trying to do. Those are our models. We're looking at those and seeing what they do, and it's simple stuff, play a good game of baseball."The focus is finally back on the diamond. "First year, drill down to the core and get the core baseball game going," Brinkman said. "Year two, add some cool features, maybe some tersely modes, maybe redesign franchise. The third year, just wrap it up into a nice bow and nail it. We hope to nail it every year, obviously, with everything we do, but we looked at High Heat, even going as far back as Baseball Stars. I play games, and I think that's a big difference that wasn't on the team last year. I play the game three, four hours a day. I sit there and if stuff isn't working, it gets fixed immediately. I was told last year that because of the hardware transition, they didn't get the game up and running until super late, so they never had a chance to play the game and work this stuff out. They got it running and then had a little bit of time to tune and bug fix and try to get it out the door. Fortunately, we've had the game running every day this year and as stuff is getting implemented, tune it and bug fix along the way to get to a point where we just hit Alpha a couple of weeks ago and now we can just tune and we can bug fix the items we need to fix. We're not adding a bunch of features after Alpha, that gets teams in trouble."I asked Brinkman just how much of the game has been re-written from scratch and his answer was surprising. "Gameplay, if you play the two side by side, it should be a dramatically different experience. We've added thousands of new animations. All new pitching, all new hitting, all new throwing, all new catching, all new tagging. The locomotion system last year that never really got tuned, we've spent a lot of time figuring out what was broken and what do we need to fix to get it playing and moving right. Different stuff that they did last year that was really cool stuff, let's harness it and make it play well. It's cliché, and you've heard it a million times, but this is the next-gen baseball experience. All the stadiums redone, all the player models redone, faces redone. We've got accessories coming out our ass, no pun intended. Hats, all new hats, that was my one thing. We have to do hats. I'm tired of everyone wearing the same hat. So we'll have the crooked hat, the really firm bill, the sweat, the Derek Lowe sweat ring around the hat. Just little stuff like that. I don't want to get into it too much, but we really want to represent the game we're going to see today as closely and as authentically as possible. Baseball gamers want a game that plays well and represents baseball the way it looks and the way it plays."And Brinkman knows the pressure is on to produce as word is Major League Baseball wasn't too happy with the quality of the game, or the direction the series was headed."We're not going to repeat that," Brinkman says as he feels the pain of gamers who purchased 2K6. "I think we're going to get one more chance at this and we can't come out weak this year. We have to come out strong. That's our whole goal, our driving force.""All eyes are on us," Brinkman continued. "And we have to deliver or people are just going to say forget it and not buy a baseball game. That's bad for us, you can just imagine the ramifications there going forward. The pressure is definitely on, but it's exciting to have that pressure. Some people perform well under pressure, and I want to get our guys to realize that the heat is on. You guys had a chance last year and now it's time to really deliver. Everyone is buying into it and everyone's really on board with it. I'm pretty pumped about the product we're going to deliver this year."This is the year baseball games finally go back to playing pure baseball&#Array;and it's about time.Brinkman's right, the pressure is on. Luckily for Kush and 2K Sports, it looks like they finally signed the man who can bring them home a winner.Look for MLB 2K7 to hit the PS3, 360, Xbox, PS2, and PSP Spring 2007.
Major League Baseball 2K7 / 9 Oct 2006 3:10 PM PDT


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Bands and Artists Caribbean Regional and Ethnic Styles
New Jersey based singer, song writer, steel drummer and performer, specializing in authentic Caribbean styles of music. Includes audio samples, CD ordering, photographs, and performance schedule.
Top: Arts: Music: Styles: R: Regional and Ethnic: Caribbean: Bands and Artists
See Also:
- Top/Arts/Music/Styles/R/Regional and Ethnic/Latin/Bands and Artists
- Top/Arts/Music/Bands and Artists/By Style
- Chacon, Oswaldo - Cuban timba player based in the UK. Includes audio samples, discography, reviews, photo gallery, and links.
- Jr - New Jersey based singer, song writer, steel drummer caribbean and performer, bands and artists specializing in authentic Caribbean styles of caribbean music. Includes audio bands and artists samples, CD ordering, photographs, caribbean and performance schedule.
- Upstream - California based band playing Soca, Reggae, Ska, and Junkaroo. bands and artists Includes audio samples, CD ordering, performance listing, and mailing list.
MySQL - Cache Direct


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Baby's head is built of soft cranial bones and sutures, that are liable to get deformed on pressure. When a baby sleeps on supine or on back for long duration, there is continued pressure on the back of head, occiput area, causing flattening. This is caused by babies head weight. Sometimes even sores can develop if positions are not changed. This condition where the baby develops positional asymmetry and flattening of the head is called Plagiocephaly.
Although the plagiocephaly has been linked to learning problems as children grow [1] as well as Visual defects [2] , the studies have shown conflicting results. Nevertheless , the problem is sometimes a big concern to the parents.
Here is one video addressing the issue, Since the "Back to Sleep" Campaign was launched in USA against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, the deaths decreased significantly but with it increased the incidence of flat head syndrome by 5 folds.
Pediatricians suggest frequent positioning of the baby to avoid pressure on same spot, increase on-stomach play time ( Tummy time ) while child is under supervision and even helmets have been introduced.
When to really get concerned has been a question for parents.
If the flattening is severe, immediate consultation is required. Severe cases may require Cranial orthotic therapy.
In mild cases, get advice from your doctor. Frequent positioning and adequate tummy time may be sufficient.
1. PEDIATRICS Vol. 105 No. 2 February 1, 2000 , Long-Term Developmental Outcomes in Patients With Deformational Plagiocephaly Robert I
2. Visual Field Defects in Deformational Posterior Plagiocephaly R. Michael Siatkowski, MD
JPO Journal of Prosthetics & Orthotics: