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An arrest has been made in the disappearance of Colorado missing boy Gannon Stauch. Letecia "Tecia" Stauch has been arrested on first-degree murder charges in the disappearance of her stepson Gannon Stauch. It has been nearly five weeks since Gannon was reported missing. According to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office at a press conference, the arrest occurred on the morning of March 2, 2020, in Horry County, South Carolina. El Paso County Sheriff's Office detectives, FBI agents, and members of the El Paso County 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office made the arrest of Letecia Stauch without incident. Letecia will… Read More
Tag: Missing Person
Shortly after midnight on May 14, 2008, Brandon Swanson mysteriously vanished in Marshall, Minnesota. Brandon had been celebrating the end of the spring semester with friends from Minnesota West Community and Technical College's Canby campus. Between 10:30 and 11:00 p.m., Brandon left the celebration and drove to another friend's home in Canby to say goodbye to a classmate that was also having a party. Friends say Brandon did not appear intoxicated when he left shortly after midnight to go home. Canby is approximately 45 minutes away from Marshall where Brandon lived with his parents. Brandon's parents received a call from… Read More
On a frigidly cold night in November 2015, Deanne Hastings vanished. Her disappearance would open a life struggling with bi-polar and leave a family with mysterious questions. What happened to Deanne Hastings? In November 2015, Deanne Hastings, 35, vanished in Spokane, Washington. The mother of three, and a beauty school student, was engaged to get married before she disappeared. She seemed to have it all. Deanne was born on February 27, 1980, in Pahrump, Nevada. Deanne was the second child and Carson was her older brother. According to Trace Evidence Podcast, Carson said they had great parents and wonderful childhood…. Read More
Tiffany Daniels, 25, mysteriously vanished on August 12, 2013, from Pensacola, Florida. She was last seen leaving Pensacola State College where she worked as a theater technician. Pensacola is the westernmost city on the Florida Panhandle in Escambia County. From the pristine beaches and Bay area attractions to day trips and nightlife, Pensacola is a popular tourist destination. On August 11, Tiffany started her day with a goodbye breakfast with her boyfriend, who had just been accepted into the robotics program at the University of Texas in Austin. Though he encouraged her to come with him, she objected. She said… Read More
The coronavirus has reportedly killed more than 1000 Chinese residents since the outbreak of a new coronavirus, restricting travel and forcing the quarantines. The Chinese government is under immense pressure to solve the crisis, and scientists are racing to find a way to contain the unnamed virus before it has global repercussions. In another disturbing, yet not altogether surprising, turn of events, persons who have been critical of the government's handling of the virus outbreak are starting to disappear. Many Chinese residents have taken to social media to document how the virus is effecting their communities and how those communities… Read More
For practically a quarter of a century, Kristin Smart's family has been through some unimaginable turmoil. Kristin Denise Smart disappeared in May of 1996, and was legally declared dead in May of 2002. Over the years, investigating authorities have received several tips regarding the circumstances of the young woman's disappearance, but recently, Kristin's family issued a statement that there might soon be a break in the case. Kristin was finishing up her freshman year at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California when she went missing. On May 24, 1996, Kristin went to a friend's birthday party, which… Read More
The family of 63 year-old Kenneth Wayne Jimson is still waiting for answers in his mysterious disappearance from Shelby, North Carolina almost two years ago. When he was reported missing back in December of 2017, authorities issued a Silver Alert for Kenneth because they believed that he was coping with a cognitive impairment. Like many other missing individuals with cognitive impairments, case progress has been stalled because of the transient nature of missing persons with those impairments. According to the Shelby Star, the last confirmed sighting of Kenneth was in the vicinity of Care Solutions on East Grover Street in… Read More
Tragedies can affect communities and society as a whole. Sometimes it only takes one person to make a difference that impacts us all. It was 24 years ago, on June 9, 1995, that a little girl vanished at a Little League baseball game in the small town of Alma, Ark., within the River Valley at the edge of the majestic Ozark Mountains. Beautiful Morgan Chauntel Nick, age 6, with long blonde hair and blue eyes has not been seen since. Morgan Nick is the eldest of three other children. She loved cats and according to her mother Colleen Nick, she… Read More
Most of us are aware of our inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But for most American's there is a lesser-known right . . . the right to go missing. As of April 30, 2018, there were 86,927 active missing person cases in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) at the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Of that number 14,411 are listed as endangered by authorities. While most cases will resolve quickly, others date back decades. "If you, as an adult, want to take off and need some time alone, you're entitled to do that," according to… Read More
The development of crowd-funding platforms such as GoFundMe has elevated an individual's ability to see their financial goals realized. Whether the goal is retaining support for a passion project, or simply garnering a smaller sum to pull through a financial crisis or emergency, crowd-funding is making it all possible. One type of campaign that is becoming more and more vital is GoFundMe campaigns for missing persons. When a person is reported missing, law enforcement jumps on the case to follow up on hot leads, interview witnesses, and gather evidence. While these services are obviously a public service, it's not uncommon… Read More
Police arrest estranged husband and his girlfriend in connection with her disappearance… Jennifer Dulous, 50, was last seen on May 24, 2019. The last time anyone heard from her, she was dropping off her five children at school in her black Chevrolet Suburban. Following that last point of contact, police investigating her disappearance have been following a trail of tangible and circumstantial evidence that paints a picture of a marriage fraught with control and intimidation, followed by an ugly custody battle that may have been the motive for a grisly, violent act. On June 1st, police arrested Jennifer's estranged husband,… Read More
(Sarah Galloway, 38, has Down Syndrome and went missing from Tucson, Ariz., on March 21, 2019.) On March 21, 2019, Sherry Galloway, 66, got out of the shower and, while sitting on her bed, "realized I didn't hear Sarah," she said. She ran to the door where Sarah had been sitting on the porch and looked down the road that leads away from the residence Galloway shares with her daughter in the community of Picture Rocks, outside of Tucson, Ariz. "My first thought was that she had just walked further down the road than she was allowed," says Galloway. "I… Read More
Mackenzie "Kenzie" Lueck, 23, is a vanished Monday, June 17, 2019, from Salt Lake City, Utah. She last contacted her family during the early hours of June 17, to let them know her plane had arrived. No one has heard from her since. During an intensive investigation of Lueck's disappearance, police made a grisly discovery Friday, June 28. On June 28, police announced they arrested Ayoola Ajayi, 31, in the kidnapping and murder of Mackenzie Lueck. Photo courtesy of Deseret News. After scouring a digital trail, Salt Lake City police have arrested Ayoola A. Ajayi, 31, in the kidnapping and… Read More
An automotive journalist took a motorcycle for a test drive, and that was the last anyone heard from him… Davey G. Johnson, 44, was on an extended test-drive of a motorcycle in California last week when he fell out of touch with his fiancé on the evening of Tuesday, June 4, 2019. He contacted his fiancé around 2AM on June 5th, apologizing for his radio silence, citing a dead cell phone and hazardous roads. "That part of the Sierra is just stupidly spectacular. Anyway, I'm so sorry I worried you. Yes, I am okay and alive, but I am WIPED." … Read More
Authorities and investigators in Texas have renewed vigor in their search for a four-year-old girl in Texas, following allegations the prime suspect knew of "a good place to dump a body." After chasing down multiple leads with search teams, Texas EquuSearch announced this week they would be suspending their search for Maleah Davis until they could refocus their investigation. Surveillance footage provided investigators with an insidious picture of the hours before and after Maleah's disappearance. On the morning of April 30, 2019, a surveillance photo shows Maleah walking with her mother's former fiancé, Derion Vence, through the backyard of their… Read More
Their due dates have passed, but these women have still not been found… The ticking of the clock is resonating as a heavy blow in Chicago, as communities continue to demand answers in the cases of two pregnant women who have disappeared from the south side over the last year. As of today, their due dates have passed, further compounding the concern and worry of friends and family. Back in October of 2018, we shared the story of 26-year-old postal carrier, Kierra Coles. She was three months pregnant at the time of her disappearance, and her projected due date was… Read More
As of April 30, 2018, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), reported a total of 86,927 missing persons in the United States. Though this number fluctuates month to month, the average number of 87,000 missing persons listed as active missing person cases in the National Crime Information Center at the FBI remains fairly consistent. Access to the NCIC computer database is restricted to use only by law enforcement. It's important to know there are different kinds of missing person cases in the NCIC database. The FBI categorizes missing persons into six different categories. Juvenile Endangered Involuntary Disability Catastrophe Most missing… Read More
Americans are captivated by missing child stories, haunted by the nagging specter of "What if this happened to my child?" The year 2018 was punctuated by a handful of missing child cases that were covered by mainstream media, including Jayme Closs, Mollie Tibbetts, and Karlie Gusé. Interest in missing children cases continues to grow with the production of documentaries and docuseries about famous missing child cases, like Madeline McCann and Jan Broberg. This cultivated curiosity can only benefit the ultimate goal of keeping a missing person's face in the public eye in the interest of unearthing unexplored leads in their… Read More
When you are in the midst of a traumatic experience, it's hard to look beyond the immediate crisis. When a loved one goes missing, it's hard to think about issuing a press release and why it may be so important to learn in the initial days folmlowing the missing person report. How important is a press release when some we love goes missing? Digital communication is the most used form of communication in the United States. When a person goes missing, it becomes paramount to notify as many people as possible in order to generate leads for law enforcement, and… Read More
High profile missing person cases stay with us as a nation. Despite lapses in coverage, when we see their photo again, we are reminded of the details we know about the case, our personal feelings based entirely in speculation, and remember all over again that there is still a family waiting for them to come home. The more mysterious the circumstances, the more we stare in horror, watching their family's world fall apart. Here are ten of the most fascinating and mysterious missing persons cases in recent history. 10: Karlie Gusé The night before she disappeared, Karlie Gusé was seen… Read More
When we see missing person cases in the news, we become fascinated on an exponential scale. This includes media coverage, their missing persons flyer, or podcasts about their disappearance. The farther away we are positioned from a missing person case—whether it's geographically or inter-personally—the more fascinated we are, like those who rubberneck to see the aftermath of a terrible accident. A person in Indianapolis who reads all of the news coverage about the Jayme Closs case in Wisconsin might do so without any sense of paranoia, because it's happening 400 miles away, and not in their own lives. Recent statistics… Read More
Last week, Tawana, Jabez Spann's mother, received the closure she'd been chasing since September 4, 2017. That Labor Day weekend was the last time she saw her son alive. The Sarasota teen went missing from his own front yard after having attended a candlelight vigil being held two blocks from his home. After a torturous 18 months without answers, she finally received the news she dreaded. Two men were checking a fence in a pasture in Manatee County when they made a grisly discovery: A human skull. They called 911. Jabez's remains identified from dental records. Sarasota Police Deputy Chief… Read More
Jayme Closs vanished October 15, 2018 and found alive 88-days later in rural Wisconsin. Photo courtesy WOKV TV. The recent disappearance of Jayme Closs, 13, and the brutal murder of her parents, gripped the nation for nearly 3 months. Jayme's abduction, and eventual recovery, has parents now wondering how safe their own children are when traveling to and from school. On October 15, 2018, Barron Sheriff's Department received a cell phone call from a local residence but were unable to make contact with the caller. We now know that urgent call came from Denise Closs, 46, just moments before she… Read More
The search for Savannah Spurlock is entering its 6th week, as law enforcement continue to reconstruct the events that led up to her disappearance. On January 4th, after spending some time with her mother, the 23-year-old had decided to go out with friends. It would be her first return to her social life since recently giving birth to twins. Her mother, Ellen Spurlock, was glad to see her daughter getting out to have fun again. She told the Lexington Herald-Leader, "I thought she needed a little break. She hadn't done anything for months since she just had the twins." The… Read More
If you watch a lot of crime dramas, either on television or on the silver screen, you might have heard a law enforcement character say something to the effect of, "You must wait 24 hours before reporting a person missing." It surprises many Americans that this is a myth perpetuated by mainstream media to cover narrative plot-holes. In fact, waiting even a few hours can compromise a missing persons investigation, as the first 72 hours are the most important when investigators begin searching for a missing person. Close your eyes and try to remember what you had for breakfast three… Read More
Jayme Closs's harrowing story of survival has captured the attention of the entire nation. The 13-year-old Wisconsin teen went missing almost three months ago on October 15,2018, after a cryptic phone call to 911 triggered a call from police to the Closs home where officers made a grisly discovery. Jayme's parents, James and Denise Closs, were found shot dead and their 13-year-old daughter was nowhere to be found. The slaying of her parents and evidence of a home invasion qualified the missing teenager for an Amber Alert by authorities, and search efforts immediately began for Jayme as investigators began to… Read More
How easy would it be to kidnap a child in a crowded place? Maybe the park, walking home from school or even sleeping in their own bedroom. Over again, we see parents of missing children making pleas for the safe return of their children on the news. We see the Amber Alerts and Facebook posts and immediately picture our own children's faces, thinking "What if it happened to me?" A common reaction to something so traumatic. A young child becoming the victim of a predator is every parent's worst nightmare, but the fact is, it is happening every day to… Read More
When a loved one goes missing, those closest to them become law enforcement's greatest asset. One of the tenets of any quality investigation is research and close examination of the subject's habits. Clues to a person's whereabouts or fate can often be found in their regular daily routine. However, when the missing person suffers from mental health issues, families and law enforcement are often without recourse. A person vanishing without a trace or without warning is terrifying enough; one day they're there, walking, talking, laughing, doing the things they love. Then one day, they're not. The void left by that… Read More
It is said, ambiguous loss is the most traumatic of human experiences, and when someone you love goes missing, it is a trauma unlike any other. Ambiguous loss occurs without understanding or closure, leaving a person searching for answers. Ambiguous loss confounds the process of grieving, leaving a person with prolonged unresolved grief and deep emotional trauma. Ambiguous loss can be classified in two categories, psychological and physical. Psychological and physical loss differ in terms of what and why exactly the person is grieving. Physical ambiguous loss means the body of a loved is no longer present, such as a… Read More
Today marks eight weeks since 16-year-old Karlie Gusé wandered away from her family home in Chalfant, California, without a trace, leaving her family and friends with many questions about her safety and whereabouts. Karlie's stepmother, Melissa Gusé, told investigators she observed Karlie in bed around 5:30 in the morning on October 13, 2018. When she checked on Karlie again between 7:15 and 7:30, Karlie was nowhere to be found. She had left behind all of her personal belongings, including her cell phone, before walking away from the property. The teen had told her parents the night before, she had attended… Read More
Many individuals who lived through natural disasters in the year 2018 lost loved ones to violent forces of nature. National news has been inundated, not only with updated death totals, but also long lists of names belonging to individuals who went missing during the disaster. The initial report in a missing persons case is a springboard for many complicated processes and procedures conducted by law enforcement and private investigators. Every relevant piece of information about the missing person must be collected, their last known whereabouts searched. If law enforcement determines the person is in immediate danger, or if they're a… Read More
For many families across North America, the holiday season has begun—a season for spending time with family and reflecting on the blessings in your life. For Hania Aguilar's family however, this joyous time of year has already been marred by her disappearance. On November 5th, 2018, a man dressed in black with a yellow bandana abducted the 13-year-old while she was outside her home at the Rosewood Mobile Home Park in Lumberton, North Carolina The incident has caused a fresh surge of panic in a town already pockmarked by cases of other missing women, with the Aguilar's neighbors keeping their… Read More
The FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC) contains over 89,000 active missing persons cases (as of May 2018). That's over 89,000 families who are left with a gaping hole in their lives and in their households—missing fathers who taught their children to ride bikes and were never too busy to help out with a science project—mothers who made PB&J sandwiches just right, and never forgot to leave the hall light on. Most notably, many families are left without half of their household income when a parent or guardian goes missing. The missing person may have set up a life insurance… Read More
1. Approximately 2,300 children are reported missing each day in the United States, that one child every 40 seconds. 2. Nearly 800,000 people are reported missing every year in the United States. 3. May 25 th is National Missing Children's Day. 4. In 1983 National Missing Children's Day was proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan and commemorates the disappearance of Etan Patz who vanished in 1979. 5. After the abduction and murder of their son Adam, John and Reve' Walsh helped create the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) in 1984. 6. NCMEC's Cyber Tipline began receiving reports in… Read More
The Mono County Sheriff's Office is fighting an uphill battle in their search for 16-year-old Karlie Guse. The teenager disappeared from her Chalfant, California home in the early hours of Saturday, October 13th, 2018. She is 5'7" tall, approximately 110 pounds, with dark blonde hair and blue eyes. At the time of her disappearance, Karlie was wearing a white t-shirt and grey sweatpants. Three weeks after her disappearance, law enforcement—including the Federal Bureau of Investigation—remain stymied in their search for Karlie. Law enforcement involved with the case have described Karlie as possibly being disoriented when she went missing around 6:30… Read More
Several federal laws in the United States are focused on the plight of unresolved missing persons and unidentified remains. Each law, the result of families of missing persons who searched every dark corner for their missing child and tirelessly worked to ensure changes would be enacted to avoid the pitfalls they experienced in search of their missing or murdered child. Each law represents a victim, who in their name, would ensure another child would have a better chance. As of May 31,2018, there were 87,608 active missing person cases in the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Crime Information Center (NCIC)…. Read More
Near the intersection of 81st and Vernon in the Chatham neighborhood of Chicago, Joseph Coles is waiting. Despite the days growing colder in the windy city, Coles has been living out of his car, a tan sedan, in front of his daughter's apartment building since October 2nd, 2018. That was the day that his daughter, 26-year-old postal carrier, Kierra Coles, was last seen. Now the desperate father keeps vigil in front of her building, thirsty for news of any developments in her case. The family's worry and confusion are only compounded by the fact that Kierra was three months pregnant… Read More
The news cycles this week have been dominated by another missing persons case in middle America, where a familiar refrain is ringing out across the media: "This does not happen here." It's a repeated sound byte from law enforcement and Barron, Wisconsin citizens alike as search efforts continue for 13-year-old Jayme Closs, who remains missing following the murder of her parents in their home on October 15th, 2018. A mysterious 911 call led law enforcement to the Closs home that evening. The dispatcher could not reach the person on the end of the line; however, a commotion could be heard… Read More
What does it mean for a child to fall through the cracks? It's a phrase we often hear following a tragedy involving children, like the one that killed six members of the Hart family in March of this year. Their family SUV was found in the water after having plummeted from a cliff's edge in Northern California. While the remains of the parents, Jennifer and Sarah Hart, and four of their six children were pulled from the wreckage, two of the children, Hannah Hart, 16, and Devonte Hart, 15, are still missing, yet presumed deceased. In the weeks following, the… Read More
Investigators in Tennessee have tied a missing Indiana woman to their murder investigation 33 years after her disappearance. New Year's Day in 1985, a young woman was found dead near Jellico, along Interstate 75, in Campbell County, Tenn. Police believed the woman had been murdered several days prior to being located along the highway. Campbell County is on the border of Tennessee and Kentucky. In 1985, investigators were unable to identify the young woman until decades later Tennessee Bureau of Investigations (TBI) agents saw a post about 21-year old Tina Marie McKenney Farmer's 1984 disappearance posted on a missing person's… Read More
In central Iowa, off of Interstate 80, there is a little town called Brooklyn. Eight weeks ago, if you googled, 'Brooklyn, Iowa,' you would probably get results from the regional newspapers, a community Facebook page not updated since 2016, and a few Google Maps results. Now the results are very different as the town name dominates news coverage of the man charged with the first-degree murder of 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts. The month-long search came to a grisly end when law enforcement discovered remains they believed to be the missing University of Iowa sophomore. Reports from the autopsy indicate she died… Read More
It's every parent's worst fear their child may be harmed while venturing into the world on their own. But, what parent could imagine "not knowing" where her only child is for nearly two years. That is the nightmare, Susan Park, the mother of missing actress Elaine Park is living. Elaine Park, now 22, vanished on January 28, 2017, after she was last seen leaving her boyfriend's home in Calabasas, Calif. Her unlocked charcoal-gray 2015 Honda Civic was found at Corral Beach in Malibu, parked on the shoulder of Pacific Coast Highway, with keys still in the ignition. Inside the car… Read More
A new website was launched Monday that has generated over 1,500 new tips received from people trying to help find missing University of Iowa student Molly Tibbetts. A spokesperson for Crimestoppers Greg Willey announced the reward fund has also climbed to nearly $400,000 which is a record for the 36-year old organization. The amount of the reward is likely to continue climbing a spokesperson for Crime Stoppers told the press. News outlets nationwide are continuously providing the public with updates, and the non-stop coverage is also breaking national records. The case is being compared to the disappearance of Natalee Holloway… Read More
(Kiera Bergman has been missing from Glendale, Ariz., since August 4, 2018.) Kiera Lanae Bergman, 19, was last seen by her best friend and roommate, Destiny Hall-Chand. The two young women worked together at a Glendale furniture store, just west of Phoenix, Arizona. Hall-Chand told the Arizona Republic that she and Bergman were at work on August 4, when Bergman became upset and asked to leave work early. According to Hall-Chand, Bergman's ex-boyfriend picked her up. When Hall-Chand returned to their Glendale apartment near 51st Avenue and Thunderbird Road, Bergman was not there but her car, keys, wallet, and purse… Read More
Americans across the country have a bizarre fascination with all things foreign. When it comes to international travel and foreign countries, attitudes can range from a wanton Western wanderlust to a macabre fascination with the fear of the unknown. Young people nearing a graduation often make plans to go backpacking through Europe in the hopes of broadening their horizons before taking the next step on life's path. Many volunteer to assist in relief efforts overseas following a natural disaster. Others travel overseas to visit with family they might not have seen in decades. On the reverse side of the coin,… Read More
Dalton Jack was at his construction job in Dubuque, Montana on the night of July 18th, 2018. He was working almost 100 miles away from his home in Brooklyn, Iowa. There, he had a sweetheart who was missing him—anxiously waiting for him to return so they could soon travel to the Dominican Republic to watch Jack's older brother get married. Her name is Mollie, and Jack is just one of many who love and adore her for being "the sweetest, kindest, most caring person." Now Jack, along with family and friends, police, and even the FBI, are conducting a furious… Read More
If you are a missing person, it helps to be white Jasmine Moody, a 22-year old Texas Women's University student mysteriously vanished on December 4, 2014, while visiting a friend in Detroit, Michigan. Nearly four years later, police are no closer to figuring out what happened to her. News coverage of her disappearance has long since vanished from the scene too, folding into the phenomenon of what is known as Missing White Woman Syndrome. Approximately 7:30 p.m., the evening of December 4th, Jasmine was last seen leaving her friend's home in the vicinity of the 3700 block of Baldwin, in… Read More
For the last two weeks, the family of a missing Norristown mother have been fearing the worst. Jessica Guidici, 32, had been missing for eight days when authorities finally listed her as missing. In her absence, four children were left without a mother. The longer family went without hearing from her, the more concerned they grew, as no one in the family who has spoken out about Guidici's disappearance made any indication she would leave her children of her own free will. Their concern was only compounded by the circumstances surrounding the last confirmed sighting of Guidici. She was last… Read More
When 5-year-old Lucas Hernandez was reported missing on February 17th, 2018, there was a great deal of speculation surrounding the circumstances of his disappearance. On that fateful afternoon, his father's live-in girlfriend Emily Glass, 26, reported she checked on him before showering, then took a nap. She claimed she awoke to find Lucas missing, and called the authorities. Lucas's father was working out-of-state and had left his son in Glass's care. Fruitless months passed in the search for Lucas with investigators unable to uncover any credible leads to his whereabouts. In a shocking twist, on May 24th, law enforcement received a… Read More
At Lauth Missing Person Investigations, we specialize in complex missing person investigations of endangered missing children and adults. The investigative team at Lauth Investigations has over 40 years combined experience working closely with the families of missing persons, local, state and federal law enforcement, along with national media and missing persons organizations throughout the country and internationally. Founded in 1995, Thomas Lauth is a nationally recognized Missing Persons and Human Trafficking Investigator and graduate of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy, who initially served as Senior Criminal Investigator for Marion County Public Defender Agency located in Indiana. Lauth has served as… Read More
It has been over a decade since Facebook first broke ground in social media. Since its inception in 2004, Facebook has gone from connecting people in close proximity—students on college campuses—to closing the gaps of space and time as old high school flames reignite their old love through the lines of Facebook Messenger. However, not even Mark Zuckerburg could have predicted Facebook would be used to connect family members and amateur investigators in order to uncover new leads in unsolved or cold cases. The social media platform hosts hundreds of discussion pages, like Cold Case Discussion Group and Missing Leads,… Read More
According to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), there are 86,927 active missing persons cases as of April 30, 2018. These cases include juvenile disappearances, endangered missing, involuntary or "non-family" abductions, those with disabilities, catastrophe victims and those entered into NCIC as "other." When a person we love goes missing, a time of great emotional turmoil and intense ambiguity follows. Dr. Pauline Boss said decades ago, having a loved one go missing is one of the most traumatic of human experiences. Not only are families trying to manage the trauma of "not knowing"… Read More
The month of May is a time to celebrate the women in our lives who brought us up. During this time, when they should have been talking of treasured childhood memories while visiting with family, one Baltimore family was in the grip of fear and uncertainty following the disappearance of a mother in their lives. Akia Eggleston, 22, was reported missing on May 7, 2017, and since then, both family and law enforcement have been trying to make sense of her disappearance. Was she a victim of intimate partner violence, or did she simply vanish without a trace? As… Read More
From the desk of Kym Pasqualini, Feature Crime Writer for Lauth Investigations Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), is where you will find nightclubs on the same street as mosques. Some describe residing in Dubai as "living in a bubble" where there as is an attitude of "live and let live." Dubai is one of the main and most populous cities in the UAE where islands have been built with beautiful luxury hotels and extravagant shopping centers that are attractive tourist destinations. Located on the southeast coast of the Persian Gulf, Dubai is the capital of the Emirate of Dubai and… Read More
Rarely do you hear on the news of an American missing in Jamaica. Most missing person cases usually involve tourists who come to visit the island on a cruise, typically docked in Ocho Rios or Montego Bay, and never make it back to the ship once it's time to depart. Typically, at the end of the investigation, the missing persons are normally found visiting a relative or staying in a nearby resort, claiming they simply wanted to spend more time on the island. A recent example of such a case happened this past February. Three U.S. nationals, 24-year-old Tricia Forrester, 35-year-old Glen Triston,… Read More
Near the southern tip of North Carolina, where I-74 and I-95 meet, there's a town called Lumberton. In 1995, the town became the two-time winner of the National Civic Leagues All-America City Award, which aims to recognize communities "whose citizens work together to identify and tackle community-wide challenges and achieve uncommon results." Unfortunately, in a matter of decades, Lumberton has fallen from recipient of the All-America City Award to the number one spot on the FBI's list of the top ten most dangerous cities in North Carolina. According to a 2016 FBI report, there were 393 violent crimes in Lumberton and analysts estimate an individual… Read More
You receive a phone call and hear the voice of someone you don't recognize. They tell you they have your child and will kill them unless you pay a ransom. They direct you not to call police or you will never see your child again. What would you do? You tell the person on the other end of the phone not to hang up. You don't want to disconnect with the one person that can reunite you with your child. You plead for your child's safe return. "Please don't hurt her. I will do whatever you want," you cry. They… Read More
In a few short weeks, it will have been two months since five-year-old Lucas Hernandez was last seen in his Wichita home. The search following his disappearance has been frustrating and fruitless, as investigators involved with the case remain stymied, leaving friends, family, and even strangers on the internet to provide their own armchair detective theories about what happened to the missing boy. Lucas was last seen on February 17th, 2018 in his bedroom in the home of his father, Johnathan Hernandez. On the day Lucas disappeared, Hernandez left him in the care of his stepmother, Emily Glass, 26. According… Read More
It was St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2018, a mother of three boys vanished into thin air in Longmont, Colorado. Rita Gutierrez-Garcia went out to celebrate with friends and family in the evening. The group went bar hopping to the Speakeasy located at 301 West Main Street and the Breaker's Grill located at 380 Main Street. Rita was last seen in an alley behind 3's bar talking on her phone at approximately 2:30 a.m. Deputy Chief Jeff Satur of Longmont Police Department said Rita was overheard telling someone on the phone she would get a ride from "someone else." Authorities… Read More
Millions of people are visiting our beautiful national parks each year. They travel from one side of the continent to the other to see the breathtaking tall Sequoia trees on the west coast to the pristine beaches of South Carolina on the east coast. Attendance numbers at national parks have set record highs in the last few years. According to Los Angeles Times, Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Sequoia and Yosemite national parks reported setting attendance records during 2016, with all parks reporting a 330.97 million people visiting our recreational parks – and hundreds, maybe thousands, of those people are now missing…. Read More
On February 13, 2017, best friends Abigail "Abby" Williams, 13, and Liberty "Libby" German, 14, planned to go hiking near the beautiful area of Monon High Bridge Trail, east of their small town of Delphi, Indiana. At approximately 1:45 p.m. that afternoon, a family member dropped them off at the abandoned bridge where they planned to hike. It was agreed they would meet their family back in the same location later in the afternoon. They both had the day off school, it was an unseasonably warm winter day, and Abby Abby and Libby shared a special friendship. They both loved… Read More
MISSING PERSONS What Happened to Jasmine Moody? In late November 2014, Jasmine Moody, a Texas Woman's University honor roll student, went to visit a friend in Detroit, Michigan. She disappeared, December 4, 2014, at approximately 7:30 p.m. leaving her friend's home, around the 3700 block of Baldwin. This location is situated in the Van Dyke and Mack area of Detroit. Her disappearance has baffled police and her family is convinced foul play is involved. According to a Detroit Fox 2 report, "Mystery of what happened to Jasmine Moody continues 1 year later," private investigator Scott Lewis said, "It was a December night,… Read More
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Disappearance of Relisha Rudd Is She Still Alive? Relisha Rudd, age 8, has been missing since February 26, 2014, from Washington, D.C. The strange circumstances regarding her disappearance prompted a nationwide search during 2014 only creating more mystery. Rudd was last seen at D.C. General Family Shelter, a homeless shelter in southeast Washington. The official search for Rudd began on March 19, 2014. Six days before, a counselor from Payne Elementary School had alerted D.C. Child and Family Services (DCFS) that Rudd had been absent several days from school and they were concerned about educational neglect. Officials told the counselor… Read More
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text:
Pension reform a must for Illinois!
May 25, 2011
Shame is in order for the deceitful public union-sponsored pension ads now airing which accuse politicians in Springfield of wanting to take away life savings and cut pension of their members.
My ire was particularly intense upon hearing a teacher-union sponsored pension ad which claims member teachers contribute 10 percent of their earnings, without ever missing a payment, into their retirement fund.
Teacher unions across the state have been successful in getting contracts for teachers that put the burden of teacher retirement system contributions completely or mostly on the local school districts. Two-thirds of all educators in Illinois contribute less than 1 percent of their pay to the TRS. Local taxpayers pick up the rest.
Illinois teachers and other public employee unions must stop spreading lies with ads to gain the sympathy of the public. No one is planning to cut life savings or cut the pension benefits public employees have earned, but there is a need to reduce retirement benefits employees earn in the future.
Shame, too, on Illinois politicians for failing to fund state pension plans decade after decade, choosing to instead spend money on priorities that provided instant gratification in wooing voters! As with Social Security, Illinois pension plans are Ponzi schemes.
It is undeniable that Illinois is at a fiscal tipping point. Generous pension benefits that the state cannot afford are at the root of this problem. It is no longer possible to kick the can down the road.
Illinois has an $86 billion pension debt that is equal to $20,000 in debt per Illinois household. By 2045, without reform, state pension payments will eat up close to 50 percent of the state's revenue.
In order to halt this state's economic death spiral and to set Illinois on the path to future prosperity, solutions must be found that will last into the next century.
Time is running out. The General Assembly adjourns on May 31. Call your legislators, urging them to vote "yes" on pension reform.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Our goal is clear; we want to give people with asthma a more effective role in their own treatment – and by doing so, put them back in charge of their lives.
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The debilitating effect of asthma
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The 1800 ASTHMA Helpline is a free service.
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We want to support people with asthma in their daily battle against the condition by making available access to information and support; funding world leading research and making new opportunities possible. We want to give all Australians with asthma the best chance of reaching their personal goals, whatever those goals may be.
Our work must reflect the everyday experiences of people with asthma and their treating health professionals. We believe the search for progress begins and ends in the intersection between the patient, the family, their community and their health professionals. We have achieved a lot in the last 50 years but we will not stop till a cure for asthma is found and the community is free from burden of the disease.
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Archived Vintage, Type-1 Forum
Survival Based Mask
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Topic: Survival Based Mask (Read 3935 times)
Survival Based Mask
December 14, 2003, 11:09:12 pm »
Survival Mask Discussion
This is not intended to be a primer or a flame war. This is merely supposed to be a
of sorts on the merits of different ideas in Survival based mask ideas, and the fact that I may highlight some things more traditionally found in primer pieces should be taken as a means of which to educate those that would assist in the discussion. I'm going to attempt to cover all my bases so everyone knows exactly where I'm coming from on my (many) opinions.
I realize I'm being a little hypocritical, but I would like this conversation to remain as
as possible. These boards have been heavily moderated as of late and I don't want to see anyone bringing down the quality of the posts in this thread.
Like most people, when I first heard of Vengeur Masque I scoffed at the idea. It appears to be trying to accomplish different things completely un-aided by the other. In fact, the decklist looked to be terrible. Then I goofed off with it, and found it to be surprisingly adaptive, powerful, and resiliant. Though I spent a lot of time messing around with Tainted Mask way back when, and a little time doing the same with Full English Breakfast thanks to iLL_DaWg doing the same, I came to realize Vengeur was much stronger than either of these decks because it was very difficult to hate out.
When Long and Rector were having their days in the sun, Survival based Mask was in trouble. Its speed sacrificed for resiliancy, it couldn't keep up with the fast combo decks in Vintage Magic. With the demise of Rector Trix, Rector Tendrils, and Long.dec, we are left with a much slower metagame, in which these mask variants are quite a speedy clock on their own. An explosive early start fueled by
Birds of Paradise
in to a second turn
Volrath's Shapeshifter
is clearly a good way to begin your game, and the ability to have these things removed and still have a very solid threat base is what I believe makes this archetype stand head and shoulders above traditional black tutor-based Mask builds.
Some examples of Survival based Mask
Ninja Mask
, originally by
Bryce Reynolds
, redux by
Ben Kowal
4x Survival of the Fittest
4x Volrath's Shapeshifter
4x Illusionary Mask
4x Phyrexian Dreadnought
1x Phage the Untouchable
1x Squee, Goblin Nabob
1x Gigapede
1x Psychatog
3x Birds of Paradise
3x Quirion Ranger
1x Black Lotus
1x Mox Emerald
1x Mox Jet
1x Mox Sapphire
4x Brainstorm
4x Force of Will
4x Duress
1x Ancestral Recall
1x Time Walk
4x Bayou
4x Tropical Island
2x Forest
4x Wooded Foothills
2x Windswept Heath
Vengeur Masque with White
, by
Carl Devos
1x Devout Witness
1x Enlightened Tutor
2x Swords to Plowshares
4x Birds of Paradise
2x Quirion Ranger
4x Survival of the Fittest
1x Sylvan Library
1x Squee, Goblin Nabob
1x Phage the Untouchable
1x Ancestral Recall
3x Brainstorm
4x Force of Will
1x Time Walk
1x Tradewind Rider
1x Voidmage Apprentice
3x Volrath's Shapeshifter
2x Meddling Mage
1x Black Lotus
1x Mox Sapphire
1x Mox Emerald
1x Mox Pearl
4x Illusionary Mask
4x Phyrexian Dreadnought
2x Forest
4x Savannah
4x Tropical Island
2x Windswept Heath
3x Wooded Foothills
Clearly, a different pair of philosophies accompanies these decks. While Vengeur Masque relies on utility and resiliancy to control the game state until its threats can take the win, Ninja Mask relies on the theory that if your opponent is dead there are no threats to control.
While there is no proof one of these theories is better than the other, it is true one must take them in to account when discussing the deck.
Card Selections of Survival Based Mask
The Bombs
At first glance it appears these decks would be terrible at duking it out with control, since they clearly have very little disruption and a mere four counters to force their bombs through. In reality, a careful Mask player has access to enough bombs to breach the counter wall just in to resolve the key card to break the game in half.
4x Illusionary Mask
4x Survival of the Fittest
4x(3x) Volrath's Shapeshifter
These are clearly the heart of the deck. A control player can not allow Illusionary Mask to hit the table, since any matter of nasty horrible things could come under it and sneak right below a counter wall. Likewise, a control player can not allow Survival of the Fittest to resolve, since it quickly turns itself in to a broken engine capable of allowing the Mask player access to a bomb every turn, and often two or three at a time. Volrath's Shapeshifter doesn't appear to be as harmful, but in fact might as well be considered Illusionary Masks #5-8. They turn Dreadnoughts in hand in to live cards, and can outright kill an opponent with the assistance of Phage.
Creature Utility
(And Dreadnoughts)
As good a strategy as picking up something heavy and smashing your opponent repeatedly in the face is, sometimes a different strategy is necessary to win a drawn out or dicey game. The slots for these types of options however must be kept either low in number or not necessarily bad on their own.
4x Phyrexian Dreadnought
1x Phage the Untouchable
1x Squee, Goblin Nabob
1x(0x) Gigapede
1x(0x) Psychatog
0x(2x) Meddling Mage
0x(1x) Devout Witness
0x(1x) Tradewind Rider
0x(1x) Voidmage Apprentice
The first three of these options are present in both lists, despite differing philosophy. Regardless of control or aggro, you want to be able to establish an engine, as well as put a threat on the board that must be answered.
is a helpful utility creature for many reasons. The most common reason is that it can protect your Volrath's Shapeshifter from Swords to Plowshares/other removal as well as pretend it's Squee #2. Some less common but still very possible (and in fact a fairly decent strategy) events are hardcasting Gigapede to mess with blue based control (acting as a must counter every turn that's very very difficult to get rid of, that just so happens to beat hard) as well as luring an opponent to use a Tormod's Crypt before Squee is established.
is likewise a good assistant. Though he makes a great auxillary beatdown creature, his primary purpose is to soak up removal and stack your graveyard to make Volrath's Shapeshifter better. If you're running black, there is almost no reason not to run a Psychatog for these things.
Meddling Mage
is clearly very powerful in a build running white, as it can stop all mannerisms of things very early and reliably. The mana cost is almost trivial, as Survival based Mask can find mana sources of any color very early and reliably. Add that to the fact he's a fairly decent beatstick, and you have a solid creature option.
Devout Witness
is another of those token Vengeur control cards, and something I don't find to be completely necessary. Carl Devos' accomplishments speak for themselves however, so clearly Witness must have some merit. Though I was unable to give Devout Witness much of a fair chance, I would imagine it's helpful for removing annoying things like Null Rod or Isochron Scepter.
Voidmage Apprentice
is a trademark of Carl Devos, being a survivalable counterspell as well as very powerful under a Mask. As strong as these abilities are, he's not a very efficient beatstick, nor is he very helpful without a Mask in play already.
Tradewind Rider
is interesting, to say the least. An additional flying creature to make a Phage kill simpler, he's also a great maindeck answer to anything that can be put on the table. Very befitting of the Vengeur strategy, however a poor choice for one attempting to follow the path of the ninja. This all comes back to a statement I made on the opening of this article:
Survival based Mask is extremely difficult to hate.
Things like Null Rod and Swords to Plowshares imprinted on Isochron Scepter are great, but not necessarily going to stop the well oiled machine these decks are capable of being.
Mana Acceleration
A line the Paragons' Rakso is known to say quite often, "This is Type One. Broken things happen." These are often true because of stupidly early explosive starts fueled by our moxen and Black Lotus, among other restricted cards. Some restricted mana accelerants are present in Vengeur/Ninja as well, amongst unrestricted cards such as Birds of Paradise.
3x(4x) Birds of Paradise
3x(2x) Quirion Ranger
3x On Color Moxen
1x Black Lotus
The obvious options here are the on color moxen and Black Lotus. When Vengeur first appeared on the scene, people were quick to assume that the off color moxen would be a natural fit in the deck. Running cards like Tradewind Rider, that may be the case. However, in a tighter more aggressive deck, the early acceleration they provide isn't enough to pay the multiple colored costs of cards in the deck. I'm assuming Carl Devos isn't running off color moxen for the same reason I'm not. Sol Ring is caught in the same limbo of off color moxen. Yes, it allows a first turn Illusionary Mask with no other acceleration, but without a Mask it has nearly no useful applications.
The options open to debate on this topic however are the unrestricted ones. The clear as day difference between Mr. Devos' build and my own (as well as Bryce's, TMD's kl0wn) is that I'm running a third shifter over the fourth birds. While four Birds of Paradise may appear to be a standard fit in the deck, I've come to realize that though they're amazing accelerators, the deck simply doesn't need a full complement. Rangers on the other hand are capable of beating down, pseudo-accelerating, and saving my lands from Wasteland hits. Likewise, they keep my graveyard tidy if I'm trying to win with a Shifter and there are Wastelands on the board. These are all great, and those are just the
of her ability.
Non-Creature Spells
No matter how good Survival of the Fittest is with a high creature count, it's just necessary to run a couple things that don't have a power and toughness in the corner. Disruption, control elements, draw power, digging, and tutorage all could have a place, depending on the build and the philosophy behind it.
4x(3x) Brainstorm
4x Force of Will
4x(0x) Duress
1x Ancestral Recall
1x Time Walk
0x(1x) Enlightened Tutor
0x(2x) Swords to Plowshares
0x(1x) Sylvan Library
One of the statements I've made a lot playing my build is that you must "trust the mize." Survival based Mask builds have a strong tendency to give you cards that completely change what you thought you were going to do. Rather than catch you off guard and ruin your opening game plan, running Brainstorm allows you to see what you'll be seeing for a few turns, to better strengthen your board position for the following turns. Brainstorm is a good card and almost always a good call in any deck running blue, but in these decks, it's absolutely essential. I think of it like a combo piece. Brainstorm + 1 good card in hand = combo. We can see from Carl's list that he felt a Sylvan Library would be better than his 4th Brainstorm, and perhaps he was right. I have tested this and found it to not work quite like that for me, since this deck so eagerly wishes to drop something else after ramping to two mana. Perhaps Carl's strategy works better with it since he's attempting to control the game state, and perhaps he only runs one since he also runs Enlightened Tutor, which I'll get to in a different section of this article.
Though the power is a no brainer, the disruptive base of the deck is heavily based on not just the colored mana your lands tap for but also the color of cards in your deck. With so many artifacts and green spells, keeping a blue count up to make the unanimous 4x Force of Will function all the time becomes a more important issue than in most other decks toting the counter. When it comes to color splash, once again we represent different theories and methods of attack. Carl's options clearly reflect his control aspects, trying to keep threats on the board from killing him. My choices in Duress clearly show that I want to force my spells down now, so as to start putting down the very threats Carl wants to be removing with Swords to Plowshares.
The Simplicity of the Manabase
Any deck needs a solid manabase. Survival based Mask has the pleasure of having a delightfully simple to configure manabase.
4x Tropical Island
4x(0x) Bayou
0x(4x) Savannah
4x(3x) Wooded Foothills
2x Windswept Heath
2x Forest
Simplicity at its best. Pick a splash color, run four of those duals, four Tropical Islands, some basic land, and a bunch of fetches. You'll notice I'm running one more land than Carl. This reflects accomodating for the extremely common sight of multiple wastelands in the northeastern United States, as well as more mana intensive utility goons.
Color Splashes
Splashing a tertiary color is not essential, however it is often beneficial. Here are the reasons for some of the splashes you'll see.
Withered Wretch, Duress, Coffin Purge, Cabal Therapy, Mesmeric Fiend, Psychatog, and the ability to hardcast Phage
Swords to Plowshares, Meddling Mage, Enlightened Tutor, Devout Witness, Sacred Ground, Seal of Cleansing
Anger, Flowstone Hellion
Now that all of the readers of this have a pretty good understanding of why Vengeur and Ninja look the way they do, we can begin to form educated decisions on sideboarding options and the general way to go about overpowering the powerful decks this environment has to offer. I clearly can offer more from the Ninja viewpoint than the Vengeur viewpoint, so
please excuse the biased reflections of my matchup analyses
Keeper can put up an exceptionally good fight like it's famous for, but what it can do that will really shut down your game plan is to hardcast Decree. I know it sounds crazy, but in playtesting, that's what ends the game. Cycling decree is too easy to work around with some Volrath's Shapeshifter manipulation, but working around flying, high power and toughness chumps is much more difficult. This strategy is what originally leaned me to running a Plaguebearer in my sideboard, which does not match my philosophy but was simply a necessary tool, much like Force of Will. Gigapede and Meddling Mage are great against Keeper, not to stop the many counters you need to break through, but to stop their Swords to Plowshares from removing your goons. Meddling Mage will obviously be nixed by Fire/Ice, and Gigapede by Coffin Purge/Ebony Charm, however like any matchup throwing enough speedbumps at your enemy will allow you the time to play your game the way you want to play it.
Your absolute worst matchup. Dragon can go off before even the aggressive strategy behind Ninja can put many threats on the board, and though it's easy to hate, it's difficult to hate effectively. Ground Seal is most likely your best option to stop Dragon, since it shuts off Verdant Force as well as their coffin purges for your Phage,
it cantrips. Some other options like Root Maze, Stifle, Coffin Purge, and Withered Wretch exist, however they aren't as smooth and low maintenance as Ground Seal. Ground Seal combined with other hate or a faster hand should be able to sneak past Dragon, but rest assured this is no easy matchup, and you'll be lucky to leave with a winning record against it.
Workshop Prison/Slavery
Another matchup where Ground Seal is insanely good, these aren't very difficult for you. With a high permanent count and threats that make Karn look like a pansy, you should be able to run these guys over pretty quick. If you're new to the deck, be sure you keep your Dreadnoughts away from the graveyard at all costs if Ground Seal is not in play. Workshop players usually know that if you weld a Dreadnought in for something, you must try to reach the 12 power limit. Clearly this is bad news, as it will most often be a one sided Wrath of God, targeting you.
Much more frightening than other Workshop decks, TnT can not only wreak havoc with your Dreadnoughts, but put them in the yard by itself through Uktabi Orangutan as well as find its answers as efficiently as you. Combine that with the common new sight of Duplicant in the maindeck, and you have a challenging matchup. Post board, you can bring in things like Ground Seal and Gilded Drake to shut off their better answers, but most important to these games is to keep Welder from hitting play. The annoyance he poses will no doubt make you tear your hair out in frustration.
Madness post Restriction
Madness pre-restriction was annoying, since it could push out fat as fast as you could, and it had a much easier to establish engine. Post restriction however it loses a lot of speed for more resiliancy, and you should be able to overpower it early, effectively swapping roles and slowing the game a turn. Be wary though, as many of the older builds packed Gilded Drake and as you would expect he's pretty good against you.
I will refrain from comment, since I've never even seen someone play this deck, let alone playtest against it.
As the unregs in a thread I guided noticed, U/R landstill is a tremendous annoyance for us. Fire/Ice is great for killing mana dudes, and they have an obscene amount of mana denial capable of stopping us from dropping even two cost bombs. The strategy here is to establish a decent manabase as early as possible, and not throw bombs at the counter wall until you can throw them every turn reliably. The manlands will put you on a clock, but you're capable of killing them much faster than they think. Other color splashes don't warrant nearly as much concern, since the real pain is Fire/Ice taking out your mana production and protection.
Blood Moon Control
Though these matches tend to play like textbook bombs through walls Mask vs Control, I felt I should add that Blood Moon and Back to Basics may look good against this archetype however they are not. Blood Moon can be easily stopped by fetching a basic forest or using Birds of Paradise to their fullest, as well as dropping threats under the mask for colorless mana. Back to Basics is easily thwarted by Quirion Ranger.
Let it be known that before I was comfortable with the black splash, I did in fact lose to fish. This shouldn't actually happen. Strong as Fish is, it's not capable of overpowering you without a lot of potent hate in the sideboard and a little luck. Think of it as a control deck with only four counters, and you'll see why. Null Rod isn't very efficient at hating you, since it only shuts off half your "masks" and doesn't come down very early since they keep their mox count at one or nothing.
Several options present themselves to make our difficult matchups more fair, and obviously it's very important to know which ones are best for a given metagame.
Given a high number of fetchlands and Worldgorger Dragons running around, Stifle is a good candidate for the sideboard. It also pitches to Force of Will. Unfortunately, despite its utility and fame for never being dead, it doesn't do enough in the matchups you want it for to win the game for you.
Ground Seal
An absolute must in any environment with welders and dragons. This is the only card I've found to be a huge bomb in the dragon matchup, as well as shutting off welders and turning otherwise bad matchups in to fairly good ones. The fact it replaces itself is just gravy, and extremely underappreciated given the importance of "trusting the mise" in this archetype.
Gilded Drake
A survivalable answer to stupid annoying creatures like Psychatog and opposing Dreadnoughts. He's also a decent beater under a mask if nothing else, and pitches to Force of Will. You can also play goofy shifter tricks with him if you need to. I highly recommend him.
I originally included Plaguebearer in my list to answer Angel tokens as I already noted, but since then I've found myself using him for many other things, such as overpowering Green Power Ranger, or digesting man-lands. His low cost and ability to (lightly) beat face are also huge boons.
Coffin Purge
More hate for Dragon, this one has a lot of negative synergy going on with Ground Seal, but they are not necessarily mutually exclusive. As we know, Dragon can Pernicious Deed Ground Seal out of existance, but with Coffin Purge we can sometimes buy a turn to drop a second Ground Seal, or also, remove Squees before Ground Seal even hits to stall the draw engine and allow you to win before they can find a Deed or the mana to use it.
You can't survival for it, it doesn't beat down hard. It is, however, a surprise that needs to be prepared for. Dragon intending to go off needs to check for it first, and they also much check first if they intend to leave an undefended deed in play until they get an untap step to use it.
Nantuko Vigilante/Uktabi Orangutan/Elvish Lyrist
While good survival targets that beat down, using these as your enchantment and artifact removal increases your reliance on Survival, unless they come in in large doses. Likewise, Vigilante is too slow to do anything against Dragon, and Lyrist isn't much good for anything else. I tend to stay away from these guys.
Xantid Swarm
Xantid Swarm is simply an amazing underrated card, that allows the Mask player to do stupid things against control completely unchallenged. If nothing else, Xantid Swarm is a Duress, Hymn to Tourach, or flagbearer for removal against decks like Keeper and UrPhid. Running more than one is a good thing, since you want them early, don't want to rely on Survival to get them, and seeing another is never a bad thing.
Chalice of the Void
I have never and likely will never advocate Chalice of the Void as a sideboard option, but if your metagame is chock full of storm combo, Chalice would not be a poor selection. The problem I have with it is thus.
-You don't ramp as high as Workshop or as fast, thus limiting its use
-You drop for one, and shut off your mana dudes, disruption, and digging spells.
-You drop for two, and shut off your Masks, your Survivals, and Naturalize
-You drop for three, and shut off Volrath's Shapeshifter
All of those kinda suck, and that's why I don't condone the use of it unless you plan to drop it for zero every time.
Arcane Laboratory
With Long being as popular as it was, Arcane Lab was probably a pretty good call. We all know I was never that impressed with Long, but now that it's dying anyway, Arcane Lab may or may not earn its keep against the current metagame. If there's a lot of TPS in your metagame, Arcane Lab would probably be a decent call.
With all that being said, here's the sideboard I'm currently using.
4x Ground Seal
2x Stifle
2x Gilded Drake
1x Plaguebearer
4x Xantid Swarm
2x Uktabi Orangutan
Now, I've highlighted most of the aspects of Mask construction and how it functions on the field. I'd like to begin the discussion with feedback from some of TMD's great members, most notably
Carl Devos
, since it was his original Vengeur Masque quite long ago that made the variants today possible,
Bryce Reynolds
, since he originally concocted the Ninja Mask philosophy and style, and
Steve Menendian
, since he's the largest advocate of Spoils Mask and his thoughts on why he likes it more than these survival based builds would likely generate a lot of thought and learning through discussion.
Survival Based Mask
Reply #1 on:
December 15, 2003, 01:47:59 pm »
I have to go to work in a few so I can't really go into much detailed discussion, but I'd like to start off by addressing some of the problems that the archetype has in the environment.
Mana denial: Fire/Ice is bad since it can take out your one-toughness guys while also removing unprotected Shapeshifters. Wasteland is bad because the deck runs on very few mana-producing lands (10 to be exact). Mox Monkey isn't really an issue since you aren't relying on zero-casting cost artifacts as a part of your mana base. I wish NEUS people would take a lesson from the Germans and stop running 5 strips in their decks.
Speed: This deck can win on the first turn very rarely. It goldfishes on turn 4 if all the pieces fall into place (which is what usually happens with the high concentration of synergetic combo components). That's slow for the current format.
Hate: Nobody hates Ninja Mask. Everybody hates Dragon. Dragon hate is almost as good against Ninja Mask as it is against Dragon. This is a dilemma.
Many of these issues can be avoided by simply outplaying your opponent (which is what I absolutely love about this archetype: it relies on playskill, mind tricks and knowing your deck over broken opening hands) but you can just get hosed sometimes, and it happens more often than I'd like to admit.
Survival Based Mask
Reply #2 on:
December 16, 2003, 01:54:43 am »
Many of these issues can be avoided by simply outplaying your opponent (which is what I absolutely love about this archetype: it relies on playskill, mind tricks and knowing your deck over broken opening hands) but you can just get hosed sometimes, and it happens more often than I'd like to admit.
The first half of this statement is what makes me want to ignore the rest of what you said, Bryce. That's what makes the archetype so great -- You
outplay your opponent, and work around any type of hate/hoser thrown at you.
I'm more than a little disappointed in the lack of interest of such a topic, but I'm hoping that by publicizing my list and the function of the deck, that more people will give it a shot and feel the desire to contribute to this discussion.
Survival Based Mask
Reply #3 on:
December 16, 2003, 04:18:59 am »
My comments:
When splashing white I would not play Sacred Ground SB. It is there against Workshop decks. Workshop decks will try to get Chalice out against you at X=2. Having 2cc answers is therefore not good. Good old Energy Flux would be better.
The red splash: I´ve tried it and seen other people try it. Flowstone Hellion is a joke in Survival-Mask, but Anger is great and don´t forget Gorilla Shaman. Unfortunately you have little defense against combo, so I can´t recommend splashing red.
When you are splashing Black you have an additional card vs Dragon: Snuff Out. Also decent to take out opposing Welders, Meddling Mages, Dreadnoughts, Metalworkers without loss of tempo. Don´t you hate guessing to leave U open for Stifle or to lay down your Birds?
Sylvan Library doesn´t convince me. It is another 2cc permanent, but I prefer drop Mask, Survival or even a Mage.
Ground Seal I find unimpressive, especially playing 4 of them. When sideboarding Survival Mask I always have trouble taking out cards. Therefore I play 1-2 cards of each in the SB. I would recommend a couple of Seal of Removal. They come out earlier which is more important than the cantrip effect. You can play 1-2 cards of each and still totally hate Dragon. Stifle, Seal of Removal, BEB, Crypt and Ground Seal. Against Dragon you can kick them all in, but they´re also playable in other matchups where your Ground Seal is dead meat.
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Zen Bamboo Sit Stand Desk
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THIS PRODUCT IS OUT OF STOCK – PRE-ORDER $150 OFF! Use the code 'PRESALE' at the checkout for delivery after April 30. This product comes with Zen's new 10 Year Warranty on all components.
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Bamboo Sit Stand Desk
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Available in 3 sizes with our square edge top to suit your size requirements.
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text:
How do you tell someone their comments sound racist? Or that they're joke seems sexist? Or any other -ist?
This video, from Jay Smooth, host of New York's longest running hip-hop radio show (WBAI's Underground Railroad), does a perfect job of describing a really effective approach. He nails it:
In mediator-speak, it's called separating intention from impact. We don't know their intention…but we do know the impact on us and others.


text:
AV Trinity are pleased to support the following causes
The Hopsice in the Weald
"AV Trinity have supported Hospice in the Weald for over 20 years through a variety of means, without which we could not continue providing the care that we do in the community. On behalf of all at the Hospice, I would like to thank AV Trinity for their continuous support and generosity. Your donations help to ensure that all our patients, their families and carers will always receive care that is completely free of charge" - Ewan Tuohy, Relationship Fundraising Manager
Delivering specialist care through a team of nurses, doctors, nursing assistants, counsellors and other professionals. Caring for people at home through our Hospice in the Home service and our Hospice Day Service as well as our Hospice in-patient ward in Pembury.
The Kit Wilson Trust for Animal Welfare
"The Kit Wilson Trust are delighted that AVT continue to support the animals in our care with various fundraising activities. AVT's former MD Karen Vidler who sadly died in 2016 adopted a wonderful dog from Kit Wilson a number of years ago. The staff at AVT have also demonstrated the same traits as Finn - loyalty, good humour and hardworking! We hope our partnership will continue for many years to come" Trudi Martin at Kit Wilson Trust - April '17
From modest beginnings the Trust has grown and in 1986 set up its Animal Rescue Centre in Hadlow Down, East Sussex. As well as the rescue and re-homing work the Trust is also involved in wildlife rehabilitation and runs an emergency helpline. Our very own "staff member", Finn, is an ex Kit Wilson resident who now lives with Gina who is in charge of Client Services at AV Trinity.
The Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre
"Thank you all so much for choosing our charity and for the amazing donation of £5,000" Polly at the Pickering Cancer Drop-in Centre – May '17
The centre is a self-funding registered charity. It was established by a group of cancer patients, who recognised the need to somewhere to go, to relax and talk with others in a similar situation. The also realised that families, friends and carers needed a place to find information and talk freely, without burdening the patient or each other. The Centre is run entirely by volunteers who give their time as and when they can or on a regular basis. The Centre is an independent charity and we receive no funding from the NHS.
3H - Helping Hands for Holidays
"It came as a very pleasant surprise recently to be contacted by AV Trinity. Being a long-established charity based in Tunbridge Wells, we had heard of the good works undertaken by AV in the charitable sector. Their support in helping us to help others proved to be invaluable and for that we are very grateful". Ed Langridge 3H.
3H were established in Tunbridge Wells in 1975 and have helped thousands of disabled children, adults and carers nationwide to get a break-away from the confinement of their living surroundings and to enjoy a change of scenery, contact with other people and the confidence to do things they may have thought impossible. Go sailing, ride a zip-wire, horse-ride, kayak - or just for low-income families with a disabled member to get a holiday away together. Last year alone, we helped 641 people to get a break. We can, with the help of others change people lives for the better.


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Improve Your Basketball Shot with These 3 Tips
Ever hear your dad or coach say "Nothing worth having comes easy?" Your basketball shot will thank you for paying attention to that. If you want to connect your shots like Stephen Curry, you're going to have to run through a few basic steps for a while. We've searched far and wide for the best tips to get nothing but net with your shots. Warm Up Before You ShootAll things that catch fire need to warm up first.Read More
Fantastic 2017 Indoor Projects from Sport Court North
As the cold weather whips outside, sports fans and athletes are moving indoors. As the season starts to hit its peak, this is the perfect time to think about the quality indoor projects available from Sport Court North. Let's take a look at a few projects from 2017 that we are particularly proud of: Our first example is an indoor court in Green Bay, WI that features 3 wall-mounted hoops on a Maple Select court with a Nike logo. This is a great space to practice – or play a …Read More
The Taylors Get a Sport Court: A Customer Testimonial
To start, I want to express the excellent experience I felt from the beginning of my interactions with Kevin Zwart from Sport Court North. Initially, I was very apprehensive that a court could be placed in my yard that would satisfy my overall size and cost needs. When I made my first outreach, Kevin was very upfront and professional. Kevin arrived for my appointment during a time that fit my schedule.Read More
One Person Basketball Games to Use on Your Sport Court
Practice always makes perfect. To become great at a particular sport, it takes a lot of time and effort. When you buy a basketball court from Sport Court North, you'll have plenty of time to practice your favorite sport.Read More
How to Choose the Right Basketball Shoes
Have you ever heard of the saying, "the right shoes can make or break an outfit?" Similar to this sentiment, the right basketball shoes can make or break your game performance. Choosing the perfect form-fitting and performance-durable basketball shoes can alter the way you train and perform on the court. Take a look at our guide for finding the right footwear below.Think About What You NeedIn finding the perfect basketball shoes, there are a variety of factors to take into considerat…Read More
The Benefits of an Indoor Court During the Winter Months
Winter months can be tough on a kid. Sure, there are days filled with sledding and ice skating, but there are also days where it can be dangerous to go outside. And let's face it, when it comes to many winter activities outdoors, there is usually a time limit.Read More
Mastering Your Basketball Skills On and Off the Court
As a basketball player, you can't become Michael Jordan or LeBron James overnight. It takes time and dedication to become a skilled athlete on the hardwood. And it's not just physical attributes that will make you a solid player.Read More
Could You Be The Next Michael Jordan?
"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed.Read More


text:
Finding a suitable environment for J.S. Bach's B-Minor Mass is no small challenge. Although ideally suited for the concert hall due to its duration, complexity and the personnel required in performance, it feels slightly unnatural to hear this monumental essay on the Latin rite displayed in such sterile conditions, far removed from its native liturgical context.
Perhaps this 'problem' is not a problem at all, merely the cognitive dissonance produced by our universal understanding of Bach as a devoutly religious person and his music as an expression of those religious beliefs. As a recent example, a March 30 article by Michael Marissen in The New York Times was titled "Bach Was Far More Religious Than You Might Think" and considers Bach to be "a religious conservative at odds with the progressivist currents of his day, and ours," supporting this spiritual biography with Bach's own marginal comments from his three-volume Calov Study Bible.
According to Bach himself, "the aim or final goal of all music shall be nothing but the honour of God and the recreation of the Soul." However, the B-Minor Mass was not performed in its entirety until 1859, more than a century after Bach's death, and has been a concerted work ever since. How, then, do we bridge this gap between Bach's loftily sacred aspirations for the B Minor Mass and the inherently worldly atmosphere of the concert hall?
At its recent April 6 concert, Tafelmusik's approach to the B Minor Mass was one of detail – and the expression achieved through that detail was little less than divine. With Ivars Taurins at the helm, every note had direction and every phrase had shape, and these microscopic musical elements translated into a macroscopic whole which realized Bach's detailed score in an unparalleled way. From the first notes of the Kyrie to the final Dona nobis pacem, nothing seemed out of place or beyond the performers' control, so that those in attendance were able to listen beyond the minutiae and hear the work in its entirety, like a painting in which each brushstroke combines with others to create a larger cumulative work.
Taurins' use of the soloists in the opening movement to create a terraced dynamic effect was very successful, as was the decision to have the solo quintet sing the Et incarnatus est. These changes in timbre and texture not only provided sonic variety but also allowed us to hear these fine singers more frequently, each of whom were superb individually and in the ensemble.
As in every Tafelmusik performance, tuning and temperament were exact and lent an additional degree of fidelity to the performance. Nothing is more luminous than chords played in pure intonation and we were treated to countless numbers of these throughout the evening, whether in the densely chromatic minor-key Crucifixus and Confiteor movements or the joyously major-key Sanctus and Osanna. The choir's use of German Latin added extra potency to the text, with elements of Classical Latin replaced by the slightly more percussive and pointed German, lending the interpretation a strong rhythmic vitality.
As the final chord of the Dona nobis pacem faded away, the outburst of applause seemed inadequate and improper, a worldly attempt at expressing appreciation for the incomparable profundity and beauty of the previous hours. Although a standing ovation was indeed deserved, it took this audience member more than a few minutes to regain his composure, and I remember neither leaving Jeanne Lamon Hall nor the return trip home – I was captivated and moved in a way that no other concert has managed to do in a very long time.
If there really are angels singing perpetually in the afterlife, I wouldn't be surprised to hear them singing the B-Minor Mass over and over again. It is a tremendous work of art – complex yet inspiring, superficially appealing yet deeply spiritual – and we should consider ourselves incredibly fortunate to have such magnificent interpreters in our midst.
Tafelmusik presented Bach's B-Minor Mass (conducted by Ivars Taurins, with soloists Dorothee Mields, Laura Pudwell, Charles Daniels and Tyler Duncan) April 5-8 at Jeanne Lamon Hall, Trinity-St. Paul's Centre (and April 10 at George Weston Recital Hall), Toronto.
Matthew Whitfield is a Toronto-based harpsichordist and organist.