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Famous staff
Aviva's rich 300 year history includes a number of famous employees; read about some of them below.
W C Bersey
The founder of the White Cross Insurance Association Ltd. (No. 1) is well known in the history of motoring in the United Kingdom. He took part in the famous emancipation run to Brighton in 1896. More than thirty motorists drove from London to Brighton to celebrate the passing of the Locomotives on the Highway Act, which raised the speed limit from 4 to 14 miles an hour.
Read more about the London To Brighton Veteran Car Run.
In 1897, Mr Bersey also founded, The London Electric Cab Company to run a fleet of electric cabs in London. Mr Bersey had designed the cabs himself. They were the first cabs on the streets of London not pulled by horses and an early example of electrically powered cars.
John Drinkwater
Poet and playwright John Drinkwater worked for the Northern Assurance Company at Nottingham and Birmingham between 1897 and 1909.
Born at Leytonstone, Essex, he was the son of a schoolmaster who turned to acting. He grew up in Oxfordshire and, on leaving school at 15, became an insurance clerk in Nottingham, moving with the company in 1901 to Birmingham. He found this work uninteresting and turned to literature, his first volume of poetry being published when he was 21. He wrote of one of his early insurance bosses "W H Knight liked insurance and he was patient with me because he knew I didn't".
A founder member of the Pilgrim Players he went on to become the first manager of the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. Drinkwater's first full-length play was Rebellion (1914) but his first real success writing for the theatre came in 1918 with Abraham Lincoln. He followed this with Mary Stuart (1921), Oliver Cromwell (1921) and Bird in hand (1927), a popular comedy. He also wrote stories for children and critical studies on William Morris, Algernon Swinburne and Samuel Pepys.
Cyril Fletcher
Broadcaster and comedian Cyril Fletcher, famous for his appearances on BBC TV's That's Life, joined the Scottish Union and National Insurance Company (taken over by Norwich Union in 1959) in 1930. He worked in the Foreign Department in Walbrook in London, opposite Mansion House.
Cyril organised the annual office dance and ran the unofficial office magazine for which he wrote "Odd Odes", which he was later to present on That's Life. Records show Cyril wrote stage show material in his lunch breaks while eating his sandwiches in "the back safe" - a strong room.
In March 1936 he was asked to be junior representative in Rangoon but he refused saying he was resigning to be a comedian.
John Haigh
Notorious as the acid bath murderer, John Haigh worked for Automotor Finance when J Nelmes Croker, later a general manager of General Accident, was a branch manager. Haigh was sacked for embezzlement. Nelmes Croker later joked that he was responsible for removing from the payroll the only man on the staff who qualified for the chamber of horrors at Madame Tussauds.
Read more about John Haigh.
Edgar Harrison
Edgar Harrison spent 40 years working for the Road Transport and General Insurance Company Ltd. He retired as senior Inspector at Bristol in 1967 and was given the role of Dan Archer in the Archers in 1968.
Rowland Hill
Rowland Hill, inventor of the penny post, was one of the auditors for Protestant Dissenters' and General Life and Fire Assurance Company from 1838 to 1840.
Read more about Rowland Hill.
L S Lowry
Artist L S Lowry worked in the Manchester Claims department of General Accident from 1907 until 1910 when he was made redundant.
Born in Stretford, Manchester, Lowry enjoyed drawing as a boy, but it was not until he started work as an insurance clerk that he was able to afford drawing lessons. He studied art in the evenings and earned £52 a year. He later worked as a rent collector, getting to know the poorer districts of Manchester. The mill, the terraced streets and their inhabitants provided the subject matter of some of his most famous works. "I'll always be grateful to rent collection, I've put many of the tenants in my pictures," he said.
It was not until the 1930s that Lowry achieved any kind of commercial success and he became one of the most popular British artists of the 20th century, best known for his atmospheric urban and industrial landscapes.
Elected to the Royal Academy in 1962, he died in 1976.
Dr Thomas Price
Dr Price the first manager and secretary of Protestant Dissenters' and General Life and Fire Assurance Company was a founder member of the British & Foreign Anti Slavery Society which organised the first World Anti Slavery convention held in London in 1840. A painting of this convention, featuring Dr Price, is in the National Portrait Gallery.
Leonard Rossiter
Actors Leonard Rossiter and Michael Williams both worked for Commercial Union and at one stage shared an office.
Leonard Rossiter spent six years in Liverpool Claims before embarking on his acting career at 28. He went on to become a popular comic actor, in films, stage and television, perhaps best known for his performances in the movies Billy Liar, Oliver, 2001: A Space Odyssey and two of the Blake Edwards Pink Panther series.
His television successes included Rising Damp and The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin.
He died in 1984.
Sir Walter Scott
In December 1824 Sir Walter Scott, one of the original shareholders of the Edinburgh Assurance Company Ltd, was voted in as an extraordinary director of the company. He also took out a life assurance policy which is still in the group archive. An extract from Scott's diary reads:
1825 December 13 – Went to the yearly court of the Edinburgh Assurance Company, to which I am one of those graceful and useless appendages, called Directors Extraordinary – an extraordinary director I should prove if they elected me an ordinary one. There were there moneyers and great oneyers, men of metal – discounters and counters – sharp, grave, prudential faces, eyes weak with ciphering by lamplight… off I came, my ears still ringing with the sounds of thousands and tens of thousands, and my eyes dazzled with the golden gleam offered by so many capitalists. - Sir Walter Scott
Don Thompson
Commercial Union worker and Olympic Gold medal winner, Don Thompson, set a new record in the marathon walk at the 1960 Rome Olympics. Mr Thompson, who was described as "a frail bespectacled insurance clerk", was also dubbed El Topolino or Mighty Mouse, and apparently prepared for his Olympic exploits by walking up and down in his bathroom.
Jayne Torvill
Jayne Torvill, is best known as half of ice dance champions Torvill and Dean. Born in Nottingham in 1957 she won her first major skating event, the British National Figure Skating Championship in pairs, in 1971 aged 14.
Together with Christopher Dean she won gold in the Sarajevo Winter Olympics of 1984 with a score which is still the highest ever scored by figure skaters for a single programme and included 12 sixes and the maximum possible nine sixes for artistic impression. The couple were also British Figure Skating Champions from 1978-1983 and again in 1994, European Champions in 1981, 1982,1984 and 1994 and World Champions from 1981-1984.
From the age of 16 Jayne worked for Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society's Nottingham branch in their accounts department later moving to the motor department where she wrote motor endorsements. In an interview with the staff magazine in 1980 she talked about working a full day in the office and then skating until two in the morning. In December 1980 she left the company to concentrate fully on her skating.
Michael Williams
Actors Michael Williams and Leonard Rossiter both worked for Commercial Union and at one stage shared an office.
Michael Williams followed his two years in insurance with two years in the RAF. He then successfully auditioned for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada) and in 1963 he was invited to join the Royal Shakespeare Company.
He co-starred with his wife, Oscar-winning actress Dame Judi Dench, in the 1980s TV comedy series A Fine Romance, and also featured in the drama September Song. They also both appeared in the Franco Zeffirelli film Tea With Mussolini.
He died in 2001.


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The National Space Centre Wins Unique Venue of the Year 2016 Award
The National Space Centre has been awarded the Unique Venue of the Year Award 2016 at the UK Events Awards last week, in a category that included the iconic View from the Shard, the venue atop the 95-storey £1.5 billion skyscraper in London.
The awards were hosted by The Drum in a prestigious black tie event in London's Grosvenor Square.
Other winners on the night included venues such as The O2 and Manchester Central, as well as Microsoft and Google, who both received awards for exhibitions and events.
The National Space Centre, alongside the educational and family visits, is a venue hosting conferences, launches, meetings, private parties and even weddings.
Working with the Operational and Educational teams, a dedicated Corporate team welcome over 20,000 people a year to the Centre, which helps support the charitable objectives of the organisation and utilises this amazing venue in periods where it is traditionally closed to the public.
This week also saw the team begin ten days of sold out Christmas Party Nights at the Centre, so it has been a very busy week for them.
Teresa Maguire, Head of Events at the National Space Centre, said; "It has been a fantastic honour for the whole team to receive this award for all their hard work. This year we have worked with some brilliant international, national and local companies to bring significant business tourism to the region. We know that this award will highlight not only the National Space Centre, but also the great offering we have here in Leicestershire, to hundreds of potential businesses to consider bringing their next conference to our great region."

subset: commoncrawl


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Another great episode with Kurotaki in the forefront.
I love Vividred, I like how they have complex characters while having that wondrous sense of child like wonder and near lunacy. I was not a happy or sane child.
ooooh dark chick given dark powers by a potentially evil otherworldly source.
And then they ruin it with gun panties. So close vividred. So close. But for a girl without powers she's pretty badass.
I kind of get the feeling Rei likes the group, but not the close personal contact they get all up in. Great character development for Akane.
I actually thought that Akane's mother had died in the explosions. This is actually something I'm glad happened.
I really enjoyed this episode, it seemed like a lot of development went on with the characters. Akane's story especially, and Rei's backstory too. Good stuff.


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To listen to this week's Epsom and Ewell talking news, click the Play button.
Tip: Try pressing the spacebar to pause and restart the audio player
The weekly news is just one of three sections of the Epsom and Ewell as described on the About Us page.
How to subscribe
Many of these news articles can be read in the local Epsom Comet.


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After 11 years of business and over 500 solar installations, we have learned a lot about the solar industry and the needs of our customers. One important lesson we have learned is that solar energy is only part of the story. It is one component in developing sustainable initiatives, but our clients often require more. The relationships we have built help us to develop holistic solutions for our clients.
Goose Creek's success is buoyed by meaningful collaboration with our friends and partners. We look forward to continuing our work together.


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There's a lot of transition taking place right now so this transfer feels very right to me. I am finishing my term as President of the Chicago Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and beginning a nationwide place as Chair-Elect for the Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Follow Group I have been chosen as a State Media Consultant for Chicago, Illinois starting in June and I will probably be embarking on educating some classes at a private University this fall. ALL forms of Vitamin B from yeast or rice bran (natural), Thiamine, Chloride, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine hydrochloride, Cobalamin or canocobalamin(synthetic). Seek advice from our nutritional information to help you in making the choices right for you. Penn State has named A. Catharine Ross head of the Department of Nutritional Sciences.
There is a significant loss within the nutrient worth of uncooked greens which were picked too long earlier than being eaten. The nutritional data is predicated on Au Bon Ache's normal recipes and individual items may differ relying on plenty of variables including variations in size and portioning which can be inevitable when gadgets are made by hand.
Analysis has shown that Purple Corn has ANTI-WEIGHT PROBLEMS potential, may IMPROVE BLOOD CIRCULATION, is beneficial as a DETOXIFIER and is useful for controlling BLOOD-SUGAR ranges. Thankfully, there are numerous corporations that provide wholesome eating plans and dietary solutions so there's not need for counting calories.
Other names for added sugars embrace: corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, fruit juice focus, maltose, dextrose, sucrose, honey, and maple syrup. This move (FDA & Massive Pharma management of the nutritional medication business) will force conventional medication practices on individuals who want pure and homeopathic treatments.


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Masterpost ~*~ Part 1 ~*~
They've been driving for an hour without saying anything, just listening to a series of classic rock stations that Dean dials in, as one fades away, there's always another to take its place. Sam finally decides he better tell Dean the rest of what their new legal counsel advised. "So uh, the lawyer said it would take a while to disburse the funds from Bobby's estate. At least a few weeks."
"We have to stick around?" Dean asks, a little surprised that Sam's let them drive away from Sioux City if they were supposed to stay.
"I thought we would have to, but no we'll just have to come back to sign the final papers when all the legal stuff with the will goes through. By the way, I asked him to go ahead and draw up estates for us, not that the tax laws will be changing any time soon, but it just makes sense with that much money involved.""Okay." Dean's not too sure what all that is about, but he's glad that Sam is handling the paperwork, and the lawyer seemed like he was on the up and up.
Sam takes a deep breath for what he's worried the most about Dean's reaction to hearing. "He also told me we should talk about wills and stuff too, so he can do them at the same time as the estate. We need to let him know details like who we're leaving our money to when we, you know, actually die for real."
"Oh, yeah, of course. That's the easy part." This doesn't seem like an unusual thing to Dean to be thinking about, not with so much money involved now.
"How so?" Sam asks, wondering why Dean's being so stubbornly obtuse about choosing a beneficiary, it seems like an open question.
"Well, who else do I have? I'm putting you down," Dean says, looking over at Sam hoping to get a clue from his face when he answers.
"What about Benny?" Sam asks.
"Why in the hell would I do that?" Dean asks, frustrated that Sam would bring Benny up in this conversation.
"You called him brother, seemed like he meant a lot to you," Sam states, voice gone flat and emotionless.
"Give me a break, what are you planning on putting down Amelia?" Dean jabs at Sam.
"Now, why the hell would I do that?" Sam asks, confused because he's told Dean several times now that it's over with her.
"Seemed like she meant a lot to you," Dean says.
Sam sighs, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah she did, but that's over now, I told you that."
"Whatever. So what're you going to do with all your money?" Dean asks, hands tightening on the steering wheel until his knuckles go white.
Sam's just glad that the part of the conversation he was dreading seems to be over. He takes a moment to think and then answers. "I want to buy a house with some land."
Dean goes very still and watchful, staring straight ahead out the windshield. Finally he asks carefully. "Can I come visit you sometime at this house?"
"What are you talking about? You'd be living there too," Sam says, still confused at his brother's obliviousness.
"Oh," Dean says quietly, hands releasing their death-grip on the wheel.
"Oh? C'mon Dean, really? You think I'm going to what, go off and live in a house by myself?"
Dean brings one hand off the steering wheel to rub at the back of his neck. "Well, I didn't know what you meant."
"See this is what I was talking about before! We never tell each other the important stuff, so you end up assuming the first thing I'd do is leave you or leave all my money to some woman I hardly know or something stupid like that. Because you never let me tell you what you mean to me. That would be the last thing I would want Dean, to live somewhere without you," Sam says, hating the sound of desperation in his voice.
"Really?" Dean asks, a little stunned by Sam's words.
Sam feels like screaming, that Dean just doesn't get this, how important this is to him, to both of them. But he says with steel control, "Yeah really. And the sooner you accept it that I'm not going anywhere, the better off you'll be. Guess I'll have to find some way of reminding you that actually works."
"Like what?" Dean asks, looking at Sam sideways because of that steel tone of voice, he really means this, eyes going back to the road quickly.
"I don't know! Something you'll actually remember," Sam declares throwing his hands up in frustration.
"Fine be mysterious, whatever. But I like your idea of buying a house somewhere. Together," Dean says with an emphasis on together so that Sam knows that he got it.
"How about we use some of our money traveling?" Sam suggests.
"Like we don't travel enough already?" Dean asks, confused because he thought the idea of buying a house was to not travel.
"Not hunting traveling, just looking around for where to live traveling, stay in nicer hotels, eat at nicer places, maybe even fly sometimes, that kind of thing."
"I like all of that except for the flying, but you already knew that didn't you?" Dean says, looking over at his brother out of the corner of his eye, keeping most of his attention on the road ahead of them.
Sam smiles when he sees Dean looking at him, happy that he was figured out so easily, taking it as a sign that they're clearing the way between them. "Yeah, but I had to ask. So what do you say? A Winchester tour of the USA to find our best spot to land."
Dean nods. "I could get on board with that."
"Where do you want to start?" Sam asks, voice openly happy, not bothering to reign in how much this is thrilling him that Dean's into this idea too.
"Well . . . how about we get a map and strike out the states we don't really want to bother with and plan it from there," Dean suggests with another quick glance over at Sam.
"Sounds good. Uh, we stopping anytime soon?" Sam asks.
"Yeah, 'bout an hour more, thought we'd stop in Madison tonight. You like that place, it's a college town right?"
"Madison's pretty cool, I'll look up somewhere for us to stay. And you spend the next hour wondering how I'm going to make you remember I'm not going anywhere." Sam wiggles his eyebrows which cracks Dean up and also gets him thinking. There's a lot of kinky shit in that big Sam brain, who knows what he'll come up with. He shifts in the driver's seat, suddenly uncomfortable and more than a little turned-on at the thought of what Sam could do.
"You okay over there Dean?" Sam teases.
Refusing to give in, Dean answers. "Yeah, 'm fine, you find us a place yet?"
Sam sees it, Dean's arousal at just the thought of Sam doing something to him and slides over closer so he's right up in Dean's space. "You like the idea of being reminded don't you?" Sam practically purrs.
"Sure, why not?" Dean asks, trying to sound nonchalant, but they both know that Sam's really got him now.
"You're going to love it, I promise," Sam whispers in his ear, pulling Dean's right hand off the steering wheel and up to his mouth. He meets his brother's eyes momentarily then closes his and kisses the soft inside of Dean's wrist. The kiss turns into a suckle then into a bite until Dean's squirming and almost pulling away, gasping a little at the heat he feels deep in his belly, throbbing in time with his pulse risen to the surface at his wrist. Sam opens his eyes, puts Dean's hand back on the steering wheel and then slides back over into his seat without another word.
Dean isn't sure how he keeps driving after that stunt, it's a good thing they were just on a straight highway. He realizes he feels completely aroused and curious and a little tiny bit fearful of what Sam is promising to do. It probably will be something different, and they've pretty much done everything sexual either of them is interested in. So what could Sam mean? He keeps driving, sneaking glances over at Sam, shifting in his seat and rubbing his fingers over the darkening mark on the inside of wrist.
The place Sam chooses is a bed and breakfast that is on the grounds of an old mansion. They're booked into one of the outbuildings which is called a "luxury suite" which cracks Dean up when Sam brings back the ornate brass key.
"Us in a luxury suite Sammy?" Dean laughs as they unload the car.
"Shut up. Wait 'til you see it Dean," Sam slams the trunk down and walks through the small formal garden to the front door of the small house.
The small entry hall opens up onto a cozy sitting room with a fireplace, but the main thing is the bedroom which is dominated by an enormous tester bed. Four carved wooden posts hold up a canopy of deep red velvet which cascades over behind the headboard.
"Well, I don't know if Bobby would like us spending his money quite this way Sam," Dean teases.
"You won't be thinking about Bobby soon. He wanted us to be comfortable, so get used to it, just for one night anyways. You go take a bath, I'll head out and get us some supplies for what I promised you." Sam grabs Dean's wrist and brings it to his lips, kissing the dark mark gently and meeting Dean's eyes. Without another word he's out the door with the Impala keys leaving Dean a little confused.
Dean investigates and finds an enormous claw foot tub which takes forever to fill but is heaven to lie and relax in after a day of driving. He finds himself thinking about Sam's promise about how Dean won't be thinking about Bobby and how Sam's going to find a way to remind him about how Sam's not going anywhere. He smiles to himself at the thought of Sam planning something like this, not really liking surprises, but enjoying the anticipation. It's been so long since he's been able to let his guard down, to really relax after that year in Purgatory the instinct to always stay alert is very hard to ignore. He dozes off in the hot water, replaying the vision of Sam coming undone beneath him earlier in the car, stroking the darkening mark Sam had left on his wrist.
Sam returns soon, and arranges all the supplies he's gathered and is coming back into the bathroom to check on his brother, just as Dean's finally getting out of the bath. He's stopped in his tracks in the doorway at the sight of his freshly washed and very naked brother. Sam checks his impulse to run over and get his hands all over that luscious glowing skin and instead just slowly looks at Dean from head to toe without saying a word. A pink flush flows up Dean's chest to his cheeks, heating them up further. Dean's embarrassed to be looked at? Sam thinks to himself.
Dean raises his eyebrows as if to ask. Why're you looking at me like that Sam?
Sam just smiles slow and wide and lets the lust and heat shine through his eyes so Dean can't miss it. Dean smiles back as soon as he sees the look Sam's giving him, instantly comfortable with whatever Sam's got planned. He crosses the room so that he's standing in Sam's space, right in front of him, the heat of the hot bathtub radiating off of him so that Sam can feel it through his clothes. Sam leans his head down and brushes his lips gently across Dean's ear whispering. "Go sit on the bed."
Walking towards the bed Dean sees that there are black silk cords tied to the four posters and he feels a flutter of anticipation rising up from deep in his belly up into his throat. They haven't done anything like this in a long, long time. Maybe not since the whole apocalypse thing went down. But he asked for it, so he's going to just go for it, he trusts Sam completely with this and knows that whatever's about to happen it will be worth it. He climbs up and makes himself comfortable in the middle of the turned down bed.
"What no mint on my pillow? You're slacking off Sam," Dean teases.
"Don't think you'll be wanting a mint Dean," Sam says seriously, reaching out to push Dean on the center of his chest gently so that he'll lie down. He makes quick work out of securing Dean's wrists and ankles to the four posters with the silken cords.
Dean doesn't say anything just watches his brother move efficiently and quickly, feeling a little out of control with how his belly swoops and plummets at the thought of what Sam might have planned for tonight. Even though he trusts Sam with his life, he's not sure how far Sam is going to go with this whole 'reminding thing'.
"I'm not planning on anything too crazy, but you got a safe-word just in case?" Sam asks quietly, hoping Dean's going to be on-board with what he's about to do. It's a real risk, but he knows he needs to take it, and doing it all at once is the only way he can see this working on Dean permanently.
Dean's eyes widen, and he answers with no hesitation. "Cherry pie."
"Got it," Sam acknowledges, standing up and turning away from the bed.
Feeling unaccountably nervous, when Sam's eyes aren't on him, Dean asks. "Sam, you gonna fuck me or what?"
Sam's arranging something on the bedside table that Dean can't see. He doesn't turn around to answer. "We'll see Dean. It depends."
"Depends on what?" Dean asks, hating the sound of the whine that's creeping into his voice.
Sam can tell this is the point where the evening will go one way or the other, so he turns around and looks at Dean closely from head to toe and back again. "Whether you behave yourself tonight or not."
"Thought you weren't gonna get crazy tonight," Dean challenges.
"No, I'm not. I swear. So to start, first you tell me what you want."
Dean looks away and mutters. "Just want to get off with you. You know, now that we kind of worked things out earlier."
"Dean, look at me. And be specific. Tell me what you want," Sam says flatly, staring down at Dean.
Dean glares up at Sam, daring him with his eyes to not follow through. "Blow me, fuck me, the usual."
Sam cocks his head slightly, seeming to have expected another answer. "You sure. Nothing else?"
With a small shrug of his shoulders, Dean says quietly. "No, it's uh been a while you know?"
A smile appears on Sam's face at that one, when he agrees. "Yeah, believe me I know. You didn't in Purgatory?"
"No, not with anyone else," Dean answers, shaking his head to emphasize the negative, and so he doesn't have to keep looking directly into Sam's eyes, this is starting to get uncomfortable, tied up, lying here waiting for things to start, Sam asking all these damned questions.
Sitting down on the bed so that his jeans-covered leg is barely brushing Dean's naked hip. "Just yourself huh?"
Finally getting a little physical contact sends a shiver through Dean's whole body, he lets himself settle before answering, wanting his voice to be as steady as possible. "Yeah, it was uh, too dangerous of a situation and I didn't want to anyways."
"Because it wasn't me?" Sam asks quickly, in the most sharply demanding tone he's used yet tonight.
Dean doesn't say anything. Just looks at him like he ought to already know the answer. Sam raises his eyebrows in an I'm waiting expression and Dean sighs, closing his eyes before answering. "Yeah, Sammy."
Sam gives him a second to recover because he knows that was hard for his brother to admit, he waits until Dean's looking at him to ask. "You're just mine aren't you?"
Eyes widening in surprise at such a direct question, Dean answers before he can stop himself. "Course, you know that."
"But do you Dean? Do you really know that? Earlier today you were thinking I'd go off and live in a house by myself without you or spend my inheritance on college or leave it to Amelia. So I don't think you get it. You're mine, but I'm yours too."
Dean doesn't answer, because Sam's right, he really doesn't believe that, he wants to, oh god does he ever, but no, not after the betrayal with Ruby. And this latest Amelia thing. He can't let himself go down that road again, he knows he'll be too hurt if Sam chooses someone else again. "But you were with her for a year, weren't you hers?"
"No Dean. I really wasn't ever hers. I never told her the truth about me, about my life with you. She never really understood why I fell apart just because I'd lost my brother. I know it never made much sense to her, and I didn't give that to her, because it was the only thing I had left of you."
Dean swallows against the emotion he feels all of a sudden, picturing Sam holding himself apart from this woman who was holding him together, just so Sam could remember him. "Okay Sammy."
"You're mine, but I'm yours too," Sam repeats.
Dean can't say anything, he can't even nod to agree, because he's not sure of his answer and he doesn't want to lie, but he doesn't want to disappoint Sam either.
Sam sees right away that he's not going to get an answer to the most important question of the evening, at least not yet. He says, in a low, sultry voice that wraps around the base of Dean's spine. "Just so you know, tonight's not about bondage or pain. But it might be hard for you. If anything I do is too far or too much, then you use your safe-word, okay?"
"I promise," Dean says in a small firm voice, eyes searching Sam's face. Because he doesn't understand what Sam means it's not about bondage or pain, why the ropes then?
"Good. Okay, so we'll start then." Sam turns around to face the table and comes back with a blindfold.
Dean gulps, not in fear, but, well, he's never done this, both blindfolded and tied-up, one or the other, but not both at the same time.
"Don't worry you won't have it on for long. Okay?" Sam says as he ties the soft blindfold securely over Dean's eyes.
"Wanna see you Sammy," Dean protests, sounding weak to his own ears, knowing that he wants this, whatever this is, if Sam wants it.
Sam runs his fingers lightly over Dean's lips, pulling back when Dean's tongue snakes out to lick at Sam's fingers. "You will see me, don't worry. This is about you for now."
Dean settles back, letting go of the last resistance he was holding onto. "Okay, do with me what you want."
"That's not what this is either. Just keep an open mind okay? You trust me right?" Sam asks.
"Yeah, course I do," Dean answers with the remaining bravado he has for the night, he's kinda used it all up at this point.
"Then just relax now," Sam says as soothingly as he can manage.
Dean tries to really relax, but it's hard, he's naked and tied-up and blindfolded and there's this thrumming left-over Purgatory instinct still running through him that won't let him let his guard down, ever again maybe. So he makes himself concentrate on and listen to Sam's movements, his hearing sharpened by the loss of his vision. There's the sound of what is probably a lid being removed from a bottle and then a glug of liquid. Then the unmistakable sound of Sam's large hands rubbing together, hopefully warming up whatever the liquid is. Hopefully lube so the show gets on the road more quickly Dean thinks to himself.
Sam puts his hands on the top of Dean's shoulders and begins massaging him lightly at first and then deeply, working the oil into his skin, moving down each arm to the fingertips and back up again. He gets more oil and moves onto Dean's chest, paying a lot of attention to the spots where the pecs connect to the trapezius, pressing in deeply until Dean moans for the first time. "That feel good Dean?" asks Sam circling his fingers around Dean's nipples but skipping them, the bastard.
"Yeah feels good," Dean answers, proud of himself for not begging that Sam work over his nipples. Or maybe Sam's forgotten how much he likes that.
"Don't worry Dean, I'll come back to them," Sam says, as if he listened in on Dean's thoughts.
"You better," Dean mumbles and then sinks back into himself to enjoy this massage Sam seems so intent on giving him. He's starting to feel like he's warming up to this thing, being taken care of by Sam with all of his senses aligned with Sam because he can't see.
"I remember what you like, don't worry about it," Sam says, grinning even though Dean can't see it, hopefully he can hear it in his voice. He pinches each nipple in turn to emphasize the point.
When Sam moves down to his belly Dean struggles with not responding to it as a tickle, but Sam keeps the touch strong, not light and teasing. Finally he's down below Dean's belly button, this should start to get good, Dean hopes. But no, Sam's massaging fingers go right on by, doing Dean's hips, the sides of his glutes, the inner and outer thighs, but carefully and intentionally staying away from where Dean really wants his touch. Dean can feel himself, hard and straining towards Sam's hands and tries to will it away. He's not going to beg.
Instead Dean lets himself just feel the touch of his brother all over his body. How good it feels, how right, how much he's missed it. How it seems like Sam knows exactly what spots to touch him in to release a bunched-up painful muscle or to give him an intense burst of pleasure. The inside of his knees, who knew? No one has ever touched him all over all at once like this, not with so much care and yeah okay, probably love. He's gotten his share of massages with happy endings before of course, but this is something different.
Not being able to see Sam he can use his other senses, he catches a whiff of Sam's shampoo as he bends over him to do his shoulders. He feels the roughness of Sam's right hand versus his left due to the calluses that handling guns leave behind even after a year off. He can clearly hear Sam's breathing speeding up as he works on Dean's inner thighs, probably because of being so near to Dean's thickening cock. Dean realizes this is the longest he's gone without saying anything during sex (is this even sex? he wonders), just groaning now and then in response to Sam hitting a good spot. He's then left wishing he could taste Sam, that's the only sense left out.
As if Sam's read his mind again, he feels Sam's lips on his and opens up hungrily as Sam kisses him deeply and carefully, drawing out the pleasure of exploring each other's mouths fully and completely. Dean's left wondering how Sam knew he wanted to taste him just then, but is interrupted in that thought when Sam breaks off and goes back down to massaging his legs all the way down to his feet. It's a real challenge for him fighting the urge to kick out, but luckily Dean's ankles are tied down. It's a good thing they are, he thinks, because he'd hate to kick Sam in the face or something stupid like that.
Sam massages Dean's feet harder, especially the sore instep and Dean feels the rest of his foot tense up and relax completely, his toes tingle as Sam pulls each toe and pushes hard on the balls of his feet. Running hands all the way back up his body, Sam stops back up at the shoulders and proceeds to Dean's neck, rubbing the back underneath where it's sore, always so sore from driving.
Sam stops and Dean feels him move away, off the bed. Dean misses it instantly, the warm presence of his brother right next to him. Right at his side where he belongs. But he doesn't say anything, he listens, and hears the sound of Sam taking his clothes off. Then he feels the bed dip as Sam climbs back up on the bed, kind of near his head. Dean opens his mouth expecting to be fed Sam's cock at this point, but no, Sam is climbing over and under him carefully so that now his head is resting on a pillow in Sam's presumably naked lap, his legs on either side of his shoulders. Dean guesses that Sam must be sitting up leaning back against the headboard.
Without a word, Sam just starts massaging Dean's head slowly, doing each section of it carefully and completely, finally ending with his face. The caring caresses on his cheekbones, eyebrows, forehead, around his lips are almost too much to bear without just moaning nonstop, Dean can barely control himself.
He's feeling wild at this point to touch Sam himself the only contact he has is Sam's hands on his head and the sides of his shoulders resting on Sam's inner thighs. He can smell Sam now though, the muskier scent of him is near to his face so he breathes that in deeply, it's a scent that he's really missed more than he'd realized. It's always meant home and love and pleasure, which he finds, it still does. When Sam's hands stop moving and are just holding the sides of his head, Dean wonders what the pause is for. Maybe Sam's reconsidering showing him that he's not going anywhere. Maybe this was it. Maybe Dean wasn't good enough or didn't behave the way Sam wanted. It must all show on his face, because Sam interrupts the long silence. "Dean, just relax, I'm just resting my hands for a minute."
Dean blows out a breath he didn't know he was holding in, releasing the tension that has built up worrying that he wasn't doing this right. He's pretty sure Sam knows he's not really into the whole BDSM thing, and that he's really not much of a submissive or anything, so whatever comes next will be new territory for both of them. He's proud of himself though, for not begging through this whole long massage process. And he feels good, all over good, like he hasn't felt in, well he can't think of how long really. He wishes he was on his front so Sam could have massaged his back too. Except for the hardness of his cock, Dean feels like he's melted into a pile of mush at Sam's hands. Dean moves his head back and forth a little and encounters something hard in Sam's lap under the pillow, so Sam's hard too, good. At least they're in this together.
Sam finally moves his hands, and it's not what Dean expects. He removes the blindfold. Dean looks up into his brother's upside-down face and meets his eyes. They're filled with so many emotions Dean couldn't possibly separate and name them all. "Need you to see this next part Dean," Sam says quietly, lifting Dean's head up a little off his lap, kissing him gently, the upside-down kiss both strange and wonderful. Then Sam's getting out from under Dean's head, propping it up on several pillows so Dean can see his own naked body stretched out, contained at four points by the black silk cords, still very erect cock waiting for attention. Dean almost complains about getting the show on the road already, but he stops, reminding himself that he's put everything in Sam's hands for the night, he's following Sam's lead on this and he waits without saying anything.
Sam gets off the bed and walks around to the foot of it, standing there so Dean can see all of him, powerful shoulders, perpetually tanned skin, black tattoo over his heart, the hard planes of his stomach, the deep v-cuts that point to his groin where his cock is just as erect as Dean's is. Dean's eyes travel back up to Sam's and he sees the darkness in them, which is the lust coming through and winning over everything else Sam is trying to do tonight.
As Dean watches he sees the lust give over to something else, a look that Dean recognizes but can't name. He's seen it on Sam, he knows he has, but he can't place it. When Sam gets on his knees and takes one foot in hand that's when Dean remembers, it's the hero-worship look that Sam wore up until his pre-teen years. How could he have forgotten it? It had been one of the best things about being Sam's big brother, knowing that he was a big damn hero to Sam no matter what he did or what he screwed up. Dean's only seen it a few times since then, and yeah he'll admit it, he's missed it. But what's it doing on Sam's face right now of all times? He wants to ask and is just about to when Sam finally speaks.
"Your feet Dean, these feet. Where have they taken you? You've been everywhere walking on these feet, Hell, Heaven and Purgatory and all over our part of Earth. They're always on the right path, I just need to look for them and I know where to go." Sam kisses each foot in turn and then holding both of them, one in each outstretched hand, he says with his eyes closed, solemnly as if he's praying. "I am thankful for your feet." He opens his eyes and looks up at Dean.
Dean is speechless, he has no idea what Sam is even doing here, kissing his damned feet and practically praying over them, but he can tell it's important to him. And maybe it's a little uncomfortable but he's not going to stop him. Not when Sam's looking at him like he hung the moon again.
Sam sees that Dean's accepting this strangeness, at least so far, and continues, kneeing his way up onto the foot of the bed, hard cock bobbing in front of him, in-between Dean's widespread and secured feet. He puts his warm hands on Dean's knees holding them firmly. "Your knees Dean, these knees. Where have they served you? When you've needed to bend, to move quickly, to be flexible and open to change." Sam leans over and kisses each knee in turn, his eyes closed again, with that prayerful look. "I am thankful for your knees." Sam opens his eyes slowly and looks up at Dean from his bent-over position.
Dean's feeling himself coming a little unglued, wishing that Sam had given him a heads up about what to expect tonight, this is so different than anything they've ever done, it's so damn intimate, even more than sex. He's feeling stripped bare in front of Sam and starts to try and put his walls up, but he looks at Sam there, bent over his knees, looking at him so openly and worshipfully that he just can't. He even manages a faint hint of a smile. The thought of safe-wording a fleeting memory at this point.
Seeing that tiny smile on Dean's face makes Sam's heart leap up in his chest with happiness, so he takes a deep breath and continues. Kneeling further up into the vee of Dean's body stopping when his knees are just grazing his inner thighs. Sam places one hand on Dean's balls and one over his still very hard cock. It leaps up at finally feeling something, anything. "Your cock Dean, this cock. How much pleasure has it brought you? Me? Us? Unending and exquisite physical pleasure and joy. " Sam closes his eyes and kisses the tip of Dean's cock, he lifts up a little, eyes still closed with a look of prayerful bliss on his face, "I am thankful for your cock." Sam opens his eyes and finds Dean's immediately.
Just watching Sam do this step by step is blowing Dean's mind. He's not sure how he's refraining from saying something to ruin it all, but he is, damnit he is, because he can tell this is more than just some slightly kinky weird sex ritual, it's way beyond that. The way he's starting to feel deep inside is just kind of, well, kind of clean. From his feet up to where Sam's just kissed him, his body feels purified. How can that be? He nods a little at Sam.
Sam sees that slight nod and decides he's going to carry on, Dean hasn't safe-worded, so it must still be okay. He moves up so that he's straddling Dean's groin, his own heavy, full balls resting on Dean's still hard cock, his own cock pressing between their stomachs as he bends over to place a hand over each of Dean's nipples. "Your chest Dean, this chest. Container of your compassionate heart, and where you carry your immense and admirable courage. Where you carry the mark of our brotherhood." Sam moves his hands off of Dean and leans over further to kiss each nipple in turn, then tracing the outline of the tattoo lightly with just the tip of his tongue. Not lingering or teasing, but as if in blessing. "I am thankful for your chest." Sam looks up from Dean's chest, so much closer to his face now that he can clearly see the emotions flowing through his eyes.
Meeting his brother's eyes so closely now Dean can see into their depths, that Sam means all of this stuff. Every damn word is the truth for him. He knows it deep in his heart, and it's filling him up, not just with feeling clean, but with feeling truly loved. He's not sure, but he might start crying at any moment and he doesn't want to ruin this, but he doesn't want to hold the feeling in any longer either. A few tears escape sliding down his cheeks, but he smiles at Sam so that he'll know they're the good kind of tears.
Staying where he is, even though he wants more than anything to untie Dean and gather him up in his arms and lick the tears off his face, Sam makes himself continue. He needs to finish this, for Dean, for them. He puts one hand on each of Dean's shoulders, pressing his weight down. "Your shoulders Dean, these shoulders. Strong supporter of weights and burdens unimaginable to anyone other than you. As well as solace and comfort for those you love." Sam leans over and kisses first one and then the other rounded, muscular shoulder, feeling it flex under his lips. "I am thankful for your shoulders." He tips his head up and opens his eyes to Dean's which are still a little teary, but brilliant with a fire inside that he hasn't seen in a long while.
Dean's not sure he can take much more of this, as good as it is, he feels like he's going to burst with everything he's feeling. Having Sam worship him like this is amazing, and he's surprised at how his body feels so good like he could leap off the bed and do anything. He struggles to stay in the moment, right here with Sam, following where he's leading them on this strange night. Sam's eyes are twinkling with more happiness than Dean can remember seeing for many years. This is good. This is a good thing. He's going to hang in there then, he can do it.
Sam remains there, still lightly sitting on Dean's groin, the small movements unavoidably arousing, but that's okay for now, it's keeping them connected at that level. He moves his hands up to Dean's biceps and holds one in each hand. "Your arms Dean, these arms. So strong to fight with, to protect and to prevail. Stronger still to enfold and hold those you love." Closing his eyes tightly Sam leans to the left and then the right kissing each of Dean's biceps. "I am thankful for these arms."
Sam opens his eyes and lets go of Dean's arms, keeping contact he moves his hands further up, past the silk cords at his wrists, to join with Dean's hands. "Your hands Dean, these hands. Clever and nimble and swift, practiced in the ways of battle and war. Soft and gentle in their healing passionate touch. These hands that have held me and touched me for my whole life long." Sam leans up to the right and to the left, to lift each hand up to the limit of the cord, up to meet his lowered face, eyes closed, expression as one on a penitent's face, receiving a blessing, and kisses each open palm in the center. "I am thankful for these hands."
Dean's beyond responding anymore, he's floating in a sea of Sam at this point. Sam's voice the wind pushing him along the waves. All of this is going into him and filling up the nooks and crannies that have always been starved and empty. He feels Sam let go of their entwined hands and watches Sam move up his body a little and misses the contact of the heat of their groins. Suddenly Sam's face is looming over his. A look from Sam that tells him to hold on almost done somehow gets through to him.
Sam brushes his fingertips over Dean's lips gently. "Your lips Dean, these lips. Talented and wise, able to speak your truth and to dissemble when needed. Full and flexible, always soft and warm, always kissing me where I need it." Sam leans down a little further and brushes his lips against Dean's so softly. "I am thankful for these lips."
A sigh escapes Dean at that slight touch of their lips, like he's been waiting for that particular kiss for his whole life. He and Sam have shared a lot of kisses over the years of course. But this one, this one is completely different somehow. Like it's locking in the feeling he has inside right now, the one he's missed all these years, and it's back, the rightness of knowing his brother is his, completely his, is back. And this time it's not going anywhere.
Tilting his head up slightly Sam looks down into Dean's eyes. They're kind of glassy at this point, still a little teary, overfilled with emotions, and just raw, pure Dean. No walls between them anymore. He touches each of Dean's eyelids reverently. "Your eyes Dean, these eyes. They've seen everything from Heaven to Hell and anything else in-between, me at my worst, death, rebirth, danger, opportunity, and still you see that vision of a better world, you hold that true vision for me." As Sam lowers himself closer to Dean's eyes, they close, and Sam kisses each eyelid softly. "I am thankful for these eyes."
With his eyes closed, Dean can go inside himself a little better and feel how it is having Sam worshipped him all the way from his toes to his eyes. There's a peaceful sense in him that this thing that Sam is doing has been coming for a long time. And he's glad that he got to stick around long enough to experience it. He opens his eyes and looks up into his brother's, feeling himself tip forward into the darkened hazel depths swimming above him. Their connection feels even stronger now. He's really wishing he could hold Sam now and tugs a little at his wrist bonds.
"Last one," Sam whispers, moving up a little further and settling down to sit on Dean's belly, the hardness of his cock pressing into Dean's solar plexus. Dean can feel his own, pointing up towards Sam as if it feels neglected. But Sam said this is the last, he takes a big breath of air and holds it in. Sam leans all the way over him and holds the top of his head. "Your crown Dean, this crown. Container of your brain, all your knowledge and skill, your memories, your fantastic mind. Your control and discipline, everything you've learned and loved here, in one place." Sam leans down, his chest over Dean's face momentarily, kissing the top of Dean's head. "I am thankful for your crown."
Lifting up off of Dean, Sam notices that Dean's eyes are closed again, and he looks like he's in a blissful sleep. He unties Dean's hands and then moves off to the side of Dean to undo his ankles. He blankets Dean completely with his body, and Dean looks up at him in surprise as if Sam's awoken him. Sam pushes himself up on his elbows, and gazes down into Dean's eyes.
"Dean, what I just did with you tonight is what I want you to always remember. You're not just a body to be objectified and used. All of your parts fit together into this amazing whole that I can never seem to love enough. Every single part of you is precious to me. Especially what's in here." Sam taps him lightly on the side of his head, "and in here." Sam presses gently on his chest, over his heart. "But all of it, all of you, is worth more than the world to me. And I will never leave you again, not in this life or the next."
There are no words left in Dean's mind, all he can do is mouth as clearly as possible, Sammy.
"Remember tonight when you see this." Sam lifts up Dean's right hand and brings his inner wrist up to his mouth, kissing his pulse, then sucking harder, adding a bite, pulling the heat and the blood up to darken the existing mark. They both are breathing more heavily, the intense feeling of it making Dean squirm a little under Sam's body.
"Do you know why I chose to bite you here earlier today and again just now?" Sam asks stroking his forefinger over the dark red mark.
Dean digs deep within himself and somehow finds his voice and answers honestly, "No."
"Because we can see it, all day, every day, and so can anyone else. When you're driving you can see it and so can I. Whenever you see this, I want you to remember what I'm telling you right now. I am not ever leaving you again."
"I believe you Sammy," Dean says, and is amazed to find that he does, deep down, really believes Sam this time, and he realizes in that moment, that this little fact is going to change everything for him. His whole life has been arranged around Sam, and most of it premised on the assumption that Sam was about to leave at any moment for something better. Dean looks at Sam with widening eyes that show he's accepting the truth that Sam's truly his now, for good.
Sam almost lets his tears fall at that small statement, it means everything to him. He's finally convinced Dean, after all this time, all the frustration and pain, he finally got through to his brother. There's a satisfaction that hits him, this deep feeling that he's got to share with Dean somehow, and it has to be now to seal the deal, tonight. This very moment when all their understanding, the past the future, now will fuse together as it always was meant to be. They don't usually take this kind of time and care with each other, but tonight, when he's got Dean in this state, he's going to. But he still has to ask, just in case. "After all that you still wanna?"
"You have to ask?" Dean laughs gesturing weakly at his still very hard and neglected cock.
Sam points at his own and answers. "No, I suppose not, a little obvious."
Dean's still feeling loose and out of his body, so Sam's able to manhandle him into the position he wants him in, a pillow under his ass, legs up and spread. He's just able to hold them spread apart, and is looking up at Sam with this almost heart-breaking open expression, it kind of takes Sam's breath away for a moment. Sam knows he's got to take it slow, Dean's so vulnerable right now, leaving himself open so wide and unprotected like this. Not just his body, but that little bit of himself that he's always held back from Sam. Seeing Dean finally release control, giving it up to him is exhilarating and Sam knows he has to reign in his impulses to take and command and possess. That's not what this is about.
After looking at Dean for almost too long, Sam leans over him and kisses him deeply, feeling the longing for completion and connection in Dean's kiss. They're still so far apart, they haven't joined together physically yet, and Dean's most of the way there, Sam holding himself back until he can't any more. He kisses his way down Dean's torso, teasing Dean's nipples to hardness, and lightly licking his cock, but not taking him into his mouth yet.
Just as Dean starts to voice his complaints at being neglected he feels Sam's tongue continue, further, past his balls and perineum, circling around his hole. Licking softly all around the entrance. Dean groans and tries to pulls himself apart even wider to give Sam room. He surrenders himself over to Sam's tongue and fingers. Taking whatever they give him now, with nothing held back. He's making noises that he's never made, saying things he'd never say, Sam's gotten him to a place he didn't know he could go. He didn't know there was such a place and that he'd ever want to get there.
Dean's begging and demanding and asking and telling as he feels himself opening wider and wider as Sam works his fingers in alongside his tongue. He's straining up, his cock bobbing on its own, seeking for friction or heat anything, something and he can't stop, feeling the words pour out of him, not caring anymore what he says, Sam knows it all anyways. Words of love and pain and loss and despair and ecstasy and commitment all jumbled together in a mass of emotion and pure feeling that he's stored up for too long.
And it all goes away like a soap bubble popping when Sam's suddenly entering him, taking him fully. Pushing through and past all the barriers until he's deep inside Dean, almost touching the place where he's set up camp in Dean's heart. A spark of connection and recognition completes this circuit and Dean feels lit up inside with love and joy that they've come back to each other; that this is home, when their bodies are joined. And yes he's saying all that out loud, but he doesn't care, because he's hearing Sam's answer even though it's wordless. It's an answer made with the actions of his body, pounding deep and hard and then slow and steady. Taking them up and down those hills of pleasure that they rarely get to. Drawing it all out in this exquisite near-torturous parade of sensation and delight and aching emptiness finally filled for good.
Dean feels himself crest and almost go over. Barely holding back his orgasm until he feels Sam lose the rhythm. It makes Dean go wanton and loose circling his hips, containing and trapping Sam there, pulling him in. Drawing out everything Sam has to give him and finally letting himself surrender and join Sam in that final bliss.
They can't move for a while, coming back to themselves, wrapped up and still joined, messy and sweating, breathing heavily. Sam's collapsed on top of Dean, and finally he pushes him a little, to get some space to breathe. Sam groans and pulls out, rolling onto his side and drawing Dean in close. Dean doesn't resist the snuggling for once, lost in the afterglow to end all afterglows. He's not even tempted to crack a joke or break this up. For once, he's wanting to remain in this feeling for as long as it can last.
Sam falls asleep almost instantly and Dean pulls the covers up over them both, turning himself so that he can watch his brother's beautiful relaxed sleeping face. His last coherent thought as he drifts off to sleep himself is that he always knew Sam loved him, but he never really had accepted that Sam loves him just as much as he loves Sam. Dreams of balance and equality come to him that night, soothing him with images of a future life with Sam always at his side.
Part 3


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30 Jan January Blog: Kicking off 2018 with The DJCC Networking Happy Hour
Posted at 12:42h in Happy Hour 0 Comments
January kicked off the new year Happy Hour style at The Stoneleigh Hotel in Dallas.
We loved the classic and elegant art deco vibe of this location nestled in Uptown.
What you missed: Our DJCC Communications team covered the entire night on Facebook Live (link) and Instagram @DallasJrChamber
Voices from Happy Hour
President Kathleen DeNooyerThis is a great start to the year! It is our Centennial year, 100 years for 2018 and we are very excited about it. I am thrilled to see everyone who has come out to our Happy Hour and will join us for our upcoming events.Board Member Lauren NovakMembership is great! We have a great turnout! Tons of people turned out for this happy hour!
Board Member Kay HallGood times!
With over 80 young professionals in attendance, we were thrilled to be the reason you had the opportunity to meet new people and spend time with DJCC members for our Networking Happy Hour.


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Just a day. Nothing newsworthy to report. No pictures to share with my friends. Only lame stories to share with my spouse. Today was just a day. It must not have been very significant.
I feel like there is this pressure to fill your day with activities that you can later share and brag about on social media. Or, perhaps not even to share or brag, but that if you don't keep up with everyone else online, you are somehow less than everyone else. It's easy to look into the rosy tinted windows of other people's Facebook feeds and think, "I didn't do any Funtivities with my kids today... we didn't go on any adventures... I didn't create a custom painting for my future baby's nursery... I haven't traveled anywhere that amazing..."
And then the conclusions that you don't even recognize, but permeate your subconscious nevertheless. Those conclusions are things like, "I must not be a good mom, I must be pretty boring, I must not be very creative and I must be trapped in my life of poverty or obligations." These are the lies that siphon into our thoughts and create feelings of sadness, worthlessness, frustration, anger and jealousy. And when I say lies, I mean LIES.
The Lie of Just a Day
Suddenly, seeing the accomplishments or good times of someone else is determining my character? No. The very idea of that being the logical succession of actions is laughable. And it's not that you are actively comparing yourself to other people. You are just thinking, "That looks fun!" "Wow, I wish I could go there!" "How did she make that?" "That is so cool!" These lies don't come from you, that's why you don't notice them slither into your soul. They are suggested to you, and unless you recognize what is happening, you will start to believe them.
'Just a Day's have been around for Forever
I have found that one of the best ways to combat the lies that so frequently affront us, is with truth. So, today, I hope to impart some truth about the lie of Just a Day. It is not JUST a Day
My childhood was full of days that many would qualify as Just a Day and I feel like I had one of the most incredible childhoods. My mother was amazing. She cared for us, let us explore, took us on adventures... but the most important thing, was that she loved us. She didn't have Pinterest to plan the perfect toddler craft. She didn't have Facebook to show her the latest recipes to make our meals look like farm animals. She didn't have YouTube to show us kid friendly videos.
And some days, I was downright bored. I would follow my mom around the house like a grumpy slug and complain of my boredom. I'm sure mothers of older children have heard the song. "Mom, I'm so bored!"
Sometimes she would just respond, "I'm sorry." And then we would be forced to try and fix our own problems, which is the last thing we wanted to do.
Other times she would try and give us ideas and we would always have an excuse to hurl right back at her. "No, that's too messy. It's too cold outside. I don't want to do that." But, if we were bored long enough on one of those, "Just a Day"s we would come up with something awesome and that is what we remembered forever.
What we did on the Days that were Just a Day
• We used to go out on the trampoline and use the added time in the air to perfect our Mighty Morphin Power Ranger Moves.
• If we had to do our chores, but didn't want to, we would make our stuffed monkeys do them for us.
• Once I convinced my siblings that it would be a good idea to run away with sleeping bags filled to the brim. We made it to the front porch and my dad found us around 3 in the morning when he went to let the cat out. My sister started laughing and we were caught!
• We made clothes for our dolls.
• We created food in the kitchen and to my poor mother's dismay, left the mess for her to clean up.
• We made a disgusting looking bologna casserole for a game show on TV. We were not selected.
• We played in a canal outside my grandmas house and my sister and cousin told me that a dead dog floating down the canal touched them... I still don't know if I believe that.
• We slid down the stairs in our sleeping bags.
• We paid my brothers one penny every couple of hours for them to pull us around the house in sleeping bags.
• We played princesses.
• We played barbies with the barbie house my Grandpa made for us... until once we opened the roof and a whole colony of earwigs was discovered.
• We stayed home while my parents went on a date night and cowered in the basement under a bed once because my brother accidentally admitted to someone on the phone that our parents were not home, so surely they were coming to break in or kidnap us.
• During a thunderstorm we went into our empty living room with blankets and would hide under them every time the thunder rumbled.
• We decided to race down the neighborhood on our scooters and bikes after dark and I broke my arm.
• We played outside in the sandbox and tried to build bridges.
• We made friends with the neighbor kids.
• We tried to invent things.
• We created mazes for our hamsters.
• We made cards, scrapbooked, and tried to figure out ways to fly.
Why Just a Day is AMAZING!
I hope you realize that no day is Just a Day, in the sense that every day matters. Every day is significant. Even though you may not see it now, there is something incredible about the days that are Just a Day. Not every day is going to be spectacular. Even if you spend the whole day lying on the couch, depressed or you just let your kids watch TV all day or your house is still a mess; the day was not wasted. That day was just a small note in a symphony that is shaping who you are. If every day was momentous, no day would ever feel special and we would become exhausted.
One of my favorite scriptures is "And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength... therefore, all things must be done in order." - Mosiah 4:27
I don't need to have a playdate every day. There is no need to have an immaculate house every day. If I neglect cooking for a day, no one is going to starve. I could do absolutely nothing noteworthy or "post-worthy" and my 'just a day' would still be amazing! I would still have a home. My husband would still loves me. My kids would still be happy and healthy.
Today is spectacular because my baby got some sleep or I called that friend I've been thinking about or I didn't get frustrated. Perhaps I actually wiped off the counter or I could have forced myself not to move because I've been sick and didn't want to overdo it. All of these are a great! My day is a success! Just a Day is the best day.
The One who Loves your 'Just a Day' the Most
I look at my kids and see their little accomplishments. My daughter throws her hands in the air and yells "I did it!" when she has accomplished something great. She put on her shoe! She put the papers on the floor! She ate the bite of oatmeal! She colored all by herself! She gave her brother a kiss! She put her baby in bed! She got the cap on the marker! Even though these seemingly insignificant achievements are irrelevant, I know better. She's learning independence. Her confidence is growing. She is expressing love and her happiness infects those around her. She brightens my day just by being herself. My baby girl is perfect just the way she is and I can't imagine condemning her because she didn't do anything that would seem incredible on social media.
I don't think our Father in Heaven ever condemns us for having a hard day. It seems impossible to me that he would look down at us and shake his head in disgust for not accomplishing as much as we would have liked. His expectations are different from our expectations. He loves us more than we love our children. He recognizes more than we do, just how much good we are accomplishing for those around us. If all we do all day is wipe the boogers off of our sick child's nose, he probably metaphorically shouts, "you did it!" But even more significant, I think he is eternally grateful for the service that we rendered that child.
And those who Love your 'Just a Day' who you will never know
"Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." - Matthew 25:37-40
You will never know how much you have helped someone just by living your 'Just a Day'. I can't count the number of times I have received a text, gotten a phone call, someone stopped by or said just the right thing that helped heal my soul. Most of these people don't know how deeply I needed them. And I guarantee that Heavenly Father was so grateful to His other children for helping me to feel loved even though they may have felt like they were having just another day'.
Don't ever feel bad about your "Just a Day". Your "Just a Day" could have been someone else's life changing answer to their prayers. Your life is never insignificant to Him and it will never be insignificant to those you are helping along the way.


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The 2,000,000 Calorie Buffet
All-you-can-eat restaurants are taking over the high street. Here you'll find limitless servings of food for a fixed price - and we Brits just can't get enough. Narrated by Jonny Vegas, this one-off documentary features the extraordinary diners who can eat four days of calories in one sitting; and the canny restaurateurs who know every trick going to fill us up quickly. Welcome to the world of the all you can eat - the fad diet that Britons are really getting stuck into.


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Ok, lets get heavy for a moment.
When Agent M was born, i like many other mums out there developed a horrible condition known as PND ... Post Natal Depression.
Cut to several years later and i still have that venomous little monster on my back.
**I recently started watching Game of thrones and the best way i can describe depression to those who have never suffered is to refer to the White walkers. Everyone was under the impression that they were gone but then the darkness creeps in and they wake up. Everything and everyone they touch turns to darkness and there is no escape when it gets hold of you. You can only try to ride it out till the winter ends and the summer brings the happiness. Deep down you will never really forget what can happen if the winter comes back.
At my absolute worst when Agent M was about 3 and my brain had decided that 3am was the best time to start remembering all the horrible things i would rather forget. having not slept properly in days, i got up and started to write out all the things in my life that made me smile or that i should be grateful for.
It was a struggle at first as i would just pick apart at everything but it eventually started to become a rather respectable list.
Years later i still have a page in my Filofax called "things that make me smile" which include
- M coming through for cuddles in the morning
- That first cup of coffee of the day
- Seeing my mum and sister
- Costa coffee Lemon cake
- getting nice things in the mail
- a long lie
- watching the snow fall
- listening to the rain while I'm snuggled up in bed
- Chinese food etc
Now, having depression when Agent M was little was made all the more worse cause i feel like i missed out on the special moments when he was growing up. All my thoughts and feelings were so negative that i didn't have the opportunity to enjoy him going through all his mile stones. His first birthday for example all i remember was being stuck in the kitchen cooking, fighting with his dad and crying in the bathroom. Not exactly memories to cherish.
Ive tried to keep diaries but they never last long so when i discovered a blog by a lady called Christie Zimmer and found her journal pages i jumped on the chance to try something new to 'encourage summer' so to speak. I printed out a couple of her pages and carried them around in my bag. Whenever i started to feel a dark mood creeping up i would note down all the good things going on in my life and try to focus on them.
The original 50 free printables aren't available anymore but i found Christie again on her blog Adventures in Guided Journaling and she has some beautiful printables that are available for free here
I downloaded some and had them printed out so i can keep a record of some of the good things as well as memories from day to day life. They come in colour or no colour so u can decide which you want.
She even has pages for kids that Agent M was thrilled about. I got him loads of pages printed so he can fill them in and we can look back when hes older
On her page is a link to her Etsy shop which i took a look at and found these beautiful little pocket journals. Having sold some things on EBay, i thought id treat myself to something that would be really beneficial to me and i wasn't disappointed. They are small enough to fit in the pocket of my Filofax so i can carry them about with me and the prompts in them really get the brain thinking of the different things that i have going on in my life on a day to day basis that i don't really focus on.
*the white thing is one of two cards that came with ... one of which was coloured in and sent to my sister.
I cant sing Christie's praised high enough ... shes a very talented artist and her pages have got me through some dark times.
Thanks millions :)


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OMG! Republican Walker Stapleton quotes NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg
The mere mention of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg incites Colorado Republicans so it was bit of shocker to see state Treasurer Walker Stapleton actually quoting the mayor in a recent press release.
Stapleton was touting the Public Employee Retirement Association board's decision to lower the assumed rate of return from 8 percent to 7.5 percent.
"Recently Mayor Michael Bloomberg publicly stated that an 8 percent return was 'absolutely hysterical' and even a 7 percent return is 'indefensible,' when the New York City pension plan was undergoing discussions to lower their expected rate of return," Stapleton said in the release.
Michael Bloomberg! New York City! What was the Republican state treasurer thinking? Didn't he get the memo about vilifying Bloomberg 24-7?
If @hickforco lets @MikeBloomberg set our policies why not "Celebrities" (and I use that term loosely)? http://t.co/GJ3uwASSIq #copolitics
— Kelly Maher (@okmaher) November 20, 2013
Bloomberg's organization, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, backed new gun laws the Colorado legislature passed this year, which so incensed Senate Republicans they hung New York's flag in their office. They accused Bloomberg and the White House of dictating to Colorado Democrats, including Gov. John Hickenlooper.
Bloomberg donated $1 million to fight the recall of two state senators who backed the gun laws — the lawmakers lost. And he donated $1 million to the campaign to pass Amendment 66, an education tax that got clobbered earlier this month.
Stapleton's spokesman, Michael Fortney, said the treasurer touted the mayor's position on public pensions long before Bloomberg became a polarizing figure in Colorado politics.
Stapleton has urged the PERA board for three years to lower its rate of return, warning of an eventual collapse and bailout of the pension system for 500,000 teachers and state workers. PERA has $23.5 billion in unfunded liabilities.
Stapleton scored another victory when Hickenlooper's office filed an amicus brief to the Colorado Supreme Court in support of the treasurer's lawsuit against the board. Stapleton sued PERA after taking office in 2011 an attempt to gain access to non-identifying financial information, which he says would help the board make more informed decisions.
"Vigilant oversight of PERA depends upon access to accurate and complete information so that decisions can be verified or changes can be implemented," Hickenlooper's office wrote in the brief.


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Overview of Fire Protection
Fire protection encompasses not only the fire service, represented by our community's fire departments and their members, but the civilians who work for fire departments in various roles, those who work elsewhere in government in fire-related roles, and those in the private sector who are involved in fire prevention or related pursuits.
North Carolina Fire Chief's Web Site
Fire Protection Technology Mission Statement
The Mission of the Fire Protection Technology Program of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College is to provide a positive environment for higher education that will contribute to increased knowledge of fire protection enabling students to better educate and protect the citizens of the communities they serve.
Fire Protection Recognition of Accomplishments
The college may recognize prior accomplishments for students enrolled in the Fire Protection Technology Program as follows:
- FIP 128 - NC certificate as a Fire Investigator
- FIP 136 - NC certificate as a Fire Inspector
- FIP 224 - NC certificate as a Fire Instructor
- FIP 230 - NC Certificate as a Hazmat Technician
*Prior work in other college programs may also be recognized. Documentation is required.
Check with the program chair after enrolling for more information.
Careers in Fire Protection
Firefighters are often credited with saving lives and property. But others in fire protection should be credited as being heroes. Now make no mistake about it, nothing in fire protection is as exciting as firefighting. But there are others who do not normally run into burning buildings or make dramatic rescues. However, they are just as committed to your safety as firefighters, if not more so, for these are the people who design, install, test, and maintain the fire protection detection and suppression equipment located in every commercial and industrial building in our community. In addition, there are people in state and local government who approve these installations and inspect them regularly to make sure that we stay safe. The insurance industry plays a role here as well. Insurance companies also inspect commercial and industrial buildings to make sure that their interests (reduced losses) are represented. Insurance company employees also investigate fires that occur to learn lessons that will enhance prevention activities, and to validate the claim. Our program can lead to a career in any of these fields.
How to become a firefighter:
Many ask us about getting a job with of the fire departments in our area. We are flattered to be asked but we have no real role in the firefighter-selection process, However, we may be able to shed a little light on how that process works.
Most fire departments hire personnel as vacancies occur within their organization. Firefighters are generally a pretty content group, so there is little turnover. However, there is always turnover as some leave and others retire. And, in some areas, fire departments are adding new positions. All of these represent opportunities for those who wish to join.
In most fire departments the selection of new personnel is a very competitive process. The chance of selection is based on such variables as the reputation of the organization, the nature of the economy, and the availability of alternatives for those who like this type of work.
Improving your chances of selection as a firefighter:
Given the competitive nature of the fire service hiring process, here are some suggestions on improving your chances:
Stay in the education process. If still in high school, stay there and graduate. If graduated from high school, go to college and get all the education you can. An associate (2-year) degree will soon be a minimum standard for entry into the fire service. Any college program is better than none, but we think that our program should be the most helpful. Regardless of your choice, take this activity seriously: You are spending good time and money to go to college. Make the most out of it, learn all you can, and establish a good record for yourself.
In addition to staying mentally fit, stay physically fit. While world-class status is not essential, lifting weights and running are generally recognized as good ways of staying healthy. Because of the nature of the work, fire departments select only healthy and fit people. This means you will have to pass a fitness test to get in.
Be a good citizen: Stay out of the grasp of law enforcement agencies. This means safe driving, no drugs, and of course no other crimes, things that will haunt you the rest of your life.
Finally, get involved as a volunteer firefighter or rescue squad member in your community. In most places the training for firefighter or emergency medical technician (EMT) is free. Get as much training as you can and become certified as a firefighter and EMT. These activities will show any prospective employer that you are really interested in the profession, not just a job.
Please keep in mind that you would certainly want the best firefighter to help you during your emergency and you would certainly want the best EMT to help a friend or family member during a time of need. Fire departments hire the best people who apply. If you want to be competitive in this process, you should try your best to be the best by doing everything suggested here.


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President Trump promised "truly great healthcare" a day ahead of a possible Senate vote but said "so far Senate Republicans have not done their job in ending the Obamacare nightmare."
The challenge will be persuading people like a 60-year-old in Palm Beach County making $20,000 a year why it's great if his net premiums rise 96 percent in 2020, or $910 a year, under the Senate bill, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis.
CBO: Senate health bill still leaves 22 million without insurance
It's a much easier sell for a 27-year-old making $60,000, who stands to save 34 percent, or $1,190 a year in Palm Beach County, on her premium after health-savings accounts and tax credits under the Senate plan, per the Kaiser analysis.
Trump spoke surrounded by families from states including West Virginia, South Carolina and Illinois he said suffered from rising premiums or doctors disappearing from health plans.
Gov. Scott blasts Obamacare, ups heat on Senate he may try to join
Senate leaders have called for a vote to proceed as early as Tuesday, but have struggled to find enough Republican votes for legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. It's not entirely clear what bill or bills will be considered. One measure would repeal Obamacare in two years without a replacement at the ready.
An initial Senate version would have raised Florida premiums on healthcare.gov an average of 69 percent, a Kaiser Family Foundation study found. After government subsidies, premiums would double for many consumers between 50 and 64. A subsequent plan would keep some ACA taxes and provide more money to the states to restore some subsidies or address issues like opioid addiction, and consumer effects would vary depending on how states use that money.
Trump says let Obamacare fail as Senate balks — stakes high for Florida
Generally, younger, healthier and higher-income consumers stand to save under Senate legislation while older, sicker and lower-income people stand at risk of paying more. In part that's because the plan lets insurers charge older people five times more than younger ones, up from three times now. AARP has fought that as an "age tax."
People who don't want insurance or think they could not afford it anyway would no longer have to pay a penalty under the Better Care Reconciliation Act. For that and other reasons the Congressional Budget Office projects 22 million fewer people will have insurance by 2026 compared to keeping current law in place.
"If Republicans don't Repeal and Replace the disastrous ObamaCare, the repercussions will be far greater than any of them understand!" Trump tweeted Sunday.
Vice President Mike Pence said "help is on the way. President Trump hears you."


text: Here we have some very nice camera work from Ed whom you may know from Youtube as 00GundamreviewsV2. Bellow you will find a selection of photographs that have been picked out for your viewing. You can find the remaining images as well as some words from ed concerning Gunpla photography on his personal blog. Ed's Gunpla and Figure blog.


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All correspondence regarding subscription within India should be addressed to:
The Circulation Department
Indian Academy of Sciences
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P.B. No. 8005
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Download the Order form (2018): Institutions and Individuals
DD should be arranged in favour of "Indian Academy of Sciences" payable at Bengaluru
All correspondence regarding subscriptions within India should be addressed to the Circulation Department of the Academy (email@example.com)
International subscriptions are processed by Springer (www.springer.com).
For details contact:
For the Americas (North, South, Central and the Caribbean):
Outside the Americas:


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An estimated 174,999 adults aged 65 years and over resided in the region in 2014. This number is predicted to increase to 324,373 by 2031; the proportion of older adults in the region will also rise over this time to 14.0 per cent.
Approximately half this growth will occur in Hume, Melton and Wyndham, with Brimbank and Melbourne also expected to experience high growth.
Wyndham and Melton LGAs are forecast to have the fastest growth of all municipalities, with their older adult populations forecast to grow by 152-154 per cent to 2031, an annual growth rate of 6.4 per cent.
Supporting older adults
NWMPHN supports older adults by:
- Coordinating care for older adults, particularly those with multimorbidity
- Ensuring that residential aged care facilities are sufficiently equipped to provide and/or facilitate access to high-quality primary care services coordinating end of life care.
Advance care planning
'Advance care planning is a series of steps you can take to help you plan for your future health care' (Advance Care Planning Australia).
Advance care planning is a process of planning for a time when you cannot make or communicate your decisions.
The process includes talking with people close to you about what your future health care wishes are. It can also include writing down your wishes and/or appointing a substitute decision maker. A substitute decision maker is someone who can let others know what your wishes are if you are unable to communicate them yourself.
Importantly, advance care planning is not just for people who know they are nearing the end of their life. It is something we can all do now to plan for the future.
Advance care planning can be implemented using the following three-step (A-C-P) approach:
1. Appoint
You can appoint someone you trust to make decisions for you when you are unable to do so. This person may or may not be a family member.
2. Chat and communicate
Talk to your family, friends and doctors about your values, beliefs and health-care preferences. Tell them about what is important to you. Also, talk to your doctors or other health professionals to find out more about what might be ahead.
3. Put it on paper
If there is something you feel strongly about, you can write it down in a written plan or directive, or in a letter describing your healthcare preferences. Make sure that you share this with those who may be involved in making decisions about your care in the future.
Find out more
Visit our Advance care planning page for more information.


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Throughout the majority of the season, the Riverside City College baseball team has been ranked in the top-20 according to the California Community College Sports Information Association (CCCSIA) poll and the California Community College Baseball Coaches Association (CCCBCA) poll. They lived up to the hype by placing third in the always formidable Orange Empire Conference (OEC) and earned the ninth overall seed in the CCCAA playoff bracket. They will travel to Bakersfield, CA to face off against the eighth-seeded Renegades this Friday in a best-of-three game series.
The Tigers finished the season with an overall record of 25-15 that included an 11-10 mark in conference play. In the OEC alone, the Tigers faced off against four top-20 teams and six top-ranked squads throughout the year to boast an RPI in the top-10 in California.
This is the third time the Tigers have advanced to the CCCAA playoffs under Head Coach Rudy Arguelles. He hopes to a part of his fifth state title in his 19th year being involved with the program.
The Tigers own production from top to bottom with sophomore Daniel Martinez running the show at the plate and on the mound.
Offensively, D. Martinez owns a batting average a hair below .300 with a .469 on-base percentage and a .466 slugging percentage. Of his 39 total hits, he has smacked 11 doubles, three triples, and launched a trio of long balls. He has driven in 22 runs, scored 26 times, and paces the team in walks with 35.
On the bump, he acts as the squad's ace. He possesses a record of 6-3 with a team-high 65 punch outs leading to an ERA of 3.05 in 73.2 innings pitched. Furthermore, he has recorded one save and owns a 7.94 strikeout-per-nine innings total.
Freshman left fielder Joseph Hodapp may be the most threatening bat for the Tigers as he paces the team with a .317 batting average, 40 hits, and 24 RBI. He has recorded an RBI in 18 games and has recorded four multi-RBI games. In the final seven games of conference play, he went 14-for-29 (.483) with eight RBI, two doubles, and two runs scored.
Freshman first baseman Dylan Kanoho has had a strong season and acts as a threat from the left side of the dish. Despite being sidelined for a four-game stretch, he compiled a .298 batting average with 18 RBI and 28 runs scores. He did most of his damage in the two-hole of the order in 36 games played. Freshman right fielder Junior Coleman follows closely behind with a .292 batting average and swiped 23 bags which ranks second in conference and tied for ninth in the state.
Freshman Alexander Salazar and sophomore David Barela round out the pitching staff. Salazar has filled many roles throughout the season by making 20 appearances and starting in 10 games. He owns a 3.28 ERA with 61 strikeouts and a team-leading 74 innings pitched. Barela has started in eight games and owns a 4-3 record with a 3.22 ERA. He has won two of his last three games on the hill.
Sophomore southpaw Graham Kuck has been lights out in the closer role by earning seven saves which is tied for sixth in the state. He owns a team-pacing 10.87 strikeouts-per-nine innings and leads the team in appearances with 23.
Bakersfield is paced by freshman first baseman Zach Williams. He posts a .340 batting average, and 50 hits that includes six doubles, five triples, and three homeruns Freshman infielder Hector Ruvalcaba follows with a .328 batting average and 43 this – eight acting as two-bagger.
Freshman Nathan Ortiz is their main arm with a record of 6-4 that includes 50 strikeouts, two saves and two complete games. Freshman Lane Cowan follows with a record of 3-2 and 44 strikeouts in 67 innings pitched.


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November means turkey, GPLv3 adoption
When you think turkey and Thanksgiving, you think about open source projects that have adopted the GPLv3, right?
Well, even if you don't, here's an update from Palamida about the 50+ OSS projects that have moved to version 3.0 of the GNU Public License over the past two weeks.
Since many people will be off next week, we would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving early. But onto non-food related issues, as of November 16th 4pm PST, our list has grown to 1151 GPL v3 projects, which is a growth of 56 new GPL v3 projects from last week. Our LGPL v3 count has increased by 1 project, bringing the current count to 95 LGPL v3 projects. The GPL v2 or later list has also passed a large milestone of 6000 GPL v2 or later projects. Over the last week, 76 new GPL v2 or later projects have been added, bringing the count to 6034 GPL v2 or later projects.
This thing keeps on chugging along. Suffice to say, I haven't heard the same levels of rhetoric and back-and-forth that I heard about the GPLv3 over the summer. Whether that's just information overload, vacation time, or genuine acceptance remains to be seen.


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For Future-Proof Ecommerce Leaders
sellers worldwide
A modern software
Secure & Powerful
We will fix your syndication struggle
- Quickly build 1000's of listings
- Sync inventory & assets
- Mass attribute assignment
- Solve listing errors in bulk
We will remove order fulfilment friction
- Universal order fulfillment
- Sync tracking & fulfillment
- Edit & manage invoicing
- Simplify fulfillment workflows
We will enrich your products listings
- Custom data for better listings
- Automatic product tagging
- Business Rules & ETL Tools
- Codex of 8M+ attributes
We will boost your visibility
- Product Graph™ Technology
- Built in SEO for Marketplaces
- Attributes-rich channels
- OMR = Organic Marketplace Reach
We provide all the tools for a better R.O.I
- Conversion tracking
- Auto-remove and stat-tracking
- Mazeberry, Google Data Studio…
- Smart UTM tag tracking
We interface with your entire stack
- Inventory management for PIM
- Custom Channels for retailers
- Seamless CMS Relationship
- Google LIA for Brick & Mortar
Case Studies
We use Shopping Feed to connect products from Shopify to various shopping channels, and sync orders placed on Amazon Marketplace. The tools are quite easy to use, and often being improved upon. Product data filtering and processing is very easy to use. Shopping Feed offers some of the most personable and direct customer support out of all the apps we use in the Shopify ecosystem.Jonathan B.


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SuperWonder Maternity photoshoots!
I already really loved you and with a lot of intensity. So much so that our love has overflowed and our lives have magically changed. That love increased all the time, now we are 3 🥰❤🌟 Happy Father's Day to our superman !!! The week our David is coming, I congratulate you on the father that you became my love !!! I love you @drjulianoguedes !!! ❤❤❤
The adventure continues 💫 #babyiscoming #pregnant #superhero #dccomics #happiness #mumtobe #love
Beautiful WonderMom! ♥🙌 Thank you @yenicv for sharing with us!!


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I'm sure you'll hear or you've heard the headlines today that "Catholics all over the world come together to begin the Lenten Season by celebrating Ash Wednesday or Aswoensdag (in Dutch)." Well, I'm a Catholic, and I feel like a world away from home celebrating Ash Wednesday tonight.
My wife, Vicki, and I are living in the town of Oss, the Netherlands (approx 1hr 30min south of Amsterdam). This whole "universal" thought struck me during Mass tonight. If the Church is really "universal" why am I shaking hands during the Sign of Peace with an older Dutch gentlemen while still on my knees. Vicki and I have been blessed to be able to attend Masses across the US and around the globe, and the only universal thing I've seen is that every diocese/country/continent does things different.
For some perspective, last summer in our Irish Church we hardly knelt at all during Mass. Now tonight in our new Dutch church it seemed like we knelt all night. Maybe not all night, but the zero padded kneelers made it seem like an eternity.
Despite the little differences it was a memorable experience celebrating Aswoensdag in a new Church, in a new country.
Maybe I should tweet the Pope about this whole universal thing before he leaves.


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There were mixed emotions this morning when whilst hurrying to put on my Kalenji running trousers I heard a distinct ripping sound. Yes, after about 2 years of pretty continuous usage one of my 3 pairs of long distance running trousers has finally expired.
Based on our principles of moderation I am now allowed to buy another pair of trousers or equivalent. I've tried other longs but so far the Decath(lon-gs) have been great because
- Unlike SKINS trousers they have a waist cord meaning they can be secured above the hips i..e they don't slide down over the course of a run
- They are based on compression technology, which over a long run keeps your legs fresher
- On the back and under the crotch are some meshed areas for breathability
- Since they come from Decathlon you can go in, try them on and they don't cost a fortune
- Possibly the only competitors would be Raid-Lite trousers but the sizing is difficult, there are close to no retail distributors and the price, well it is high.


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First off, I want to thank Amanda for letting me guest post on BFF week! Amanda and I have become good friends, and it means a lot to me that she chose me. One of the conversations we had recently along with some other bloggers was about the China Glaze OMG collection. I was able to get half the collection in 2009 before they acheived their HTF status. I'm kicking myself for not getting the other half then, but hindsight is always 20/20. I figured since it's BFF week it would be suitable to show you China Glaze BFF!
One of the polishes Amanda mentioned she like was s China Glaze LOL, so I added it as an accent to my BFF manicure.
The cornball in me can't help but think that when you're with your BFFs you share many LOLs. I know corny, but true! I think this manicure is definitely fitting. I hope you like this holo-rific post. Thanks Amanda!


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Everton manager Roberto Martinez says that not many players have the talent to rival Ross Barkley after the midfielder played a key role in his side's sensational performance in their 3-0 away win over Newcastle.
The 20-year-old set up Everton's biggest away win of the season so far with a superb first-half solo effort before Romelu Lukaku and Leon Osman both scored in the second half to seal the victory and maintain the Toffees' outside hopes of Champions League qualification.
Everton are fifth in the Premier League table, six points adrift of Arsenal with a game in hand, and still have the Gunners to play at Goodison Park on 6 April.


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Where Are You? How to Use 在 with Location in Chinese [ATWTI 12] Newbie PREMIUM
How to talk about location in Chinese
In this complete beginner course episode, we teach you how to use the important character 在 (zài) when discussing location. For example, how to say "Where are you?" or "I am at work".
Learn some basic Chinese grammar and word order so that you can begin asking where people are, asking for directions in a foreign city, or telling people your own location.
|Constance Fang, Fiona Tian
|November 21, 2017
|location, directions, travel, telephone, ATWTI, video
|asking for directions, finding, making plans
This is Basic content. Purchase a Subscription in the ChinesePod Store to access.
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