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She could have been asleep. The night elf's features were perfectly relaxed except for her mouth, which frowned slightly as though her dreams were not pleasant ones. Her body was intact and largely unharmed, unlike many of the others they had seen in recent days. Tyrande Whisperwind knelt by the corpse to take a closer look. There was bloody kelp in the dead woman's hair and she reeked of the sea and slow rot. Dead several days. She had probably been one of the first victims of the Cataclysm, swept away by the flood. No priestess of Elune could bring her back now.
"Tyrande!" The high priestess's head snapped up as the voice of one of her closest confidants, Merende, rang through the air. Searching the shores along Rut'theran Village, she saw Merende comforting a younger priestess who sobbed into her white robes. Walking over, Tyrande began to understand why. The tangled body of a young night elf girl lay before them.
Her sister, Merende mouthed silently, indicating the grief-stricken priestess. Tyrande nodded and motioned for them to move away. When the area was clear, she turned her gaze to the corpse. She knew right away that there was no hope—the limbs were twisted at sickening angles and the wounds had been drained bloodless—but the night elves did not abandon their dead. The body would be cleansed, the injuries hidden, and the broken joints set right, before being committed back to the earth.
Tyrande crouched down and wiped the mud from the girl's face, whispering soft prayers for the moon goddess to guide her spirit and comfort her sister's grief. The grit slid away, revealing light violet skin and waves of dark blue hair. The almond-shaped eyes were still open, staring up into the clouded sky. It was a face much like one she had first seen many thousands of years ago. Tyrande shut her eyes against the oncoming tears.
Shandris… if only I could hear from you….
"How far were you able to travel, Morthis?" Malfurion Stormrage asked, handing the scout a mug of steaming hot cider. The other night elf gulped it down gratefully and suppressed a shiver. He was soaked to the skin after returning from his patrol, but comfort could wait until his findings were shared. The two druids took shelter in the uppermost room of the Cenarion Enclave.
"The winds were terrible. I could only reach Maestra's Post, but they had received some reports from Astranaar and Feralas." The scout settled himself on one of the wooden benches in the chamber, watching nervously as the branches of Darnassus's trees swayed outside.
"Astranaar still stands?" Malfurion's voice swelled with relief. He had been coordinating scouting patrols for days, but half of the druids couldn't even reach the mainland despite their best efforts. They were starved for news, and many had feared the worst.
"Yes, it was spared along with Nijel's Point, but the settlements along the coast have been less fortunate."
"What do you mean?"
"Darkshore is unapproachable. None of the druids who have been sent there have returned," the scout's voice broke with sorrow. Some of his friends were among the missing. "I had to fly all the way around to avoid getting caught in the gale winds."
"What of Feathermoon Stronghold?" Malfurion asked. Just as he had spoken, Tyrande's slim frame appeared in the doorway of the room.
"Feathermoon?" Morthis glanced at the archdruid as if uncertain whether or not he should continue. "The scouts were unable to make contact with anyone there. From a distance, they saw churning seas and… naga." His voice sunk to a whisper as he noticed Tyrande approaching them. "… Hundreds of naga." The monstrous, serpent-like creatures had mounted attacks against Feathermoon Stronghold in the past, but a full-scale assault was unheard of.
"Did they see anyone on the isle? Any survivors?" the high priestess asked sharply.
The scout shook his head. "No one." Tyrande's expression was crushing, and he felt, more than guessed at, her heartache. "But the skies were dark and it was raining heavily. I doubt the general is—" He paused, rethinking his words. "I mean, the Sentinels at Feathermoon Stronghold are most capable, High Priestess."
Tyrande sighed and placed her hand on his shoulder reassuringly. "Your courage and steadfastness have brought us this news, Morthis. Thank you for that. This is the first we have heard from the mainland since this tragedy struck. We will ask no more of you now. Please, rest."
The scout nodded and walked out in slow, tired strides.
Malfurion turned to his wife. Her beautiful, nearly ageless face was stricken with worry, fear, and a trace of the immovable determination he had come to recognize over their long courtship.
"There were five victims at Rut'theran," she said. "None whom I could save."
"Tyrande..." Malfurion enclosed her hands in his comfortingly.
"I have to go to her, Mal. Shandris is like a daughter to me." She paused. "Perhaps the only daughter I will ever have."
Her words stung. There had been a time when the future was limitless for the night elves, but sacrificing the World Tree Nordrassil's blessings had meant the end of that dream as well. The consequences of the night elves' new mortality were still unclear, but many felt a silent dread resting upon their shoulders. The children of the stars were no longer as ageless as their name implied.
"I understand, but why now? How do you know that the stronghold's fate is not already decided?" he asked, his brow furrowing in concern.
"Shandris has been in my thoughts since this all began. I cannot tell you how I know, only that I am certain of it."
"You have had a vision, then?" Malfurion knew that the moon goddess, Elune, had granted Tyrande such insights in the past.
"No, not this time. Elune has been veiled of late. My feelings come from within.... A mother knows when her child is in peril." She paused as he looked at her skeptically. "Not all bonds are in blood, Mal."
"But ever since this tragedy struck, we have been telling our people to stay in Teldrassil—not to search for their relatives on the mainland lest they find nothing but their deaths."
"Do you believe that I go to my death, then?" Her eyes glinted like ice.
"No," he admitted. There was no denying that the high priestess was one of Elune's favored and also a formidable warrior in her own right. "But I would not leave Darnassus during such dire times. I know that I have been absent too often before—it troubles me. I wish I had been there when Teldrassil was formed, when my brother met his end in Outland...." He sighed. "Yet I cannot change the past. I can only be here now." And I would have you here by my side, he would have added, but her expression silenced him.
"Illidan's fate was unfortunate, Mal. We were all helpless against it. His madness overwhelmed him until there was nothing left." She could still remember how strange he had seemed, almost alien, when Sargeras had burned out his eyes thousands of years ago. "We must spend our efforts on those who can be saved… or else we shall regret our choices time and time again."
She turned and walked out, her ivory robes swirling about her like a fast-rising storm.
General Shandris Feathermoon steadied herself as she balanced on the rain-slick beams of the inn roof. A dozen Sentinels were perched around her, each of them battered and bruised but nowhere near surrender. She raised her hand in a familiar signal.
"Volley!" The archers loosed their arrows toward the army of naga swarming below them. They were tired; only half of the arrows killed their targets, including Shandris's, which penetrated the eye of a naga siren. She thrashed violently for a few seconds before her serpentine form disappeared in the waves, but tens of others rose to take her place. The naga were in their element in the water, and their reinforcements arrived more swiftly than Shandris and her Sentinels could kill them.
"Brace yourselves," Shandris instructed as a wall of water rose up from the churning sea. The wave crashed into the inn's weakening façade, drenching the general and her forces. The Sentinel on her left, Nelara, took the impact hard and slid halfway down the roof before Shandris rushed after her and caught her arm. With some effort, the general pulled her up and back onto her feet. Glancing below, she saw that the bottom level of the inn was flooding rapidly.
"We have to get the survivors out and move to higher ground," Shandris ordered. "This building could snap at any moment. Nelara, take them to the tower! Everyone to my right, follow her." She signaled to half of the Sentinels. "Our chances will be better there." Nelara nodded and edged to the end of the roof before swinging onto the balcony below it. The others followed her, and Shandris winced to see the fatigue in their steps.
"As for the rest of you: we are going to cause such havoc that our enemies will not even notice that the others are leaving. Ash karath!" the general cried, raising her bow and firing off arrows furiously. She knew that her forces hung by a thread. Any slip in their concentration meant death for the rest.
To her relief, the elves rallied. Arrows rained down into the water, sending the naga scattering and hissing in frustration. The invaders' attacks slowed and it began to seem as though they were actually retreating. Moments later, none of them was clearly visible—just shadows beneath the waves. Shandris stole a covert glance at the rear of the inn. Most of the isle had flooded, but the Sentinels and civilians were still making good time on their way to the tower. When she returned her gaze to the sea, however, she realized where the naga had gone.
Their warriors had retrieved an enormous shell large enough to shelter more than ten of them at once, and were using it as a shield against the arrows as they trudged forward. Shandris signaled for her Sentinels to cease fire. "Meet up with the others. I will handle this." The other night elves exchanged a few incredulous glances and began moving off hesitantly. "To Nelara. Now!" she added.
Without waiting for acknowledgement, Shandris leapt down from the roof into the water below. The naga turned, rushing toward her with renewed vigor. She couldn't help but think of their long, twisted past. The aristocratic Highborne, led by Queen Azshara, had foolishly summoned the Burning Legion into the world and let the demons rampage until they were defeated by an army composed of night elves and other races. In the aftermath, the surviving Highborne had been cast to the bottom of the sea, where they had transformed into hideous mutations of their former selves... the naga.
She had been young at the time, but Shandris herself had fought in the war by Tyrande's side. The naga had failed to reclaim the glory of their ancestors, but she hated them with a ferocity that set her teeth on edge. Still, she waited, letting them move in until the timing was right. Closing her eyes, she began to whisper an ancient prayer to Elune, each word grounded in faith and reverence, just as Tyrande had taught her long ago when she had trained as a priestess of the moon goddess. The serpents encircled the night elf general, and she heard more than one low laugh of amusement ripple among them as she finished uttering the sacred words.
Elune's answer came swiftly. Streams of energy felled all of the naga around her even as they gaped in disbelief. When the last rattling death cry was silenced, Shandris surveyed the corpses in grim satisfaction.
"Your faith was always weak, Highborne filth."
It was a risky move, but it had worked. Though Shandris had never been half as powerful as her mentor, Tyrande, she remained fond of her early days in the temple. Her training had given her powers far greater than other Sentinels could claim and a solid alternative when bows, arrows, and glaives weren't enough. But the prayer was draining: it could not be said without a great cost.
Struggling against the waves, Shandris swam toward the shore until her feet hit the ground and then began trudging through the water toward the escaping civilians and the Sentinels. Something was wrong; they hadn't gained much ground since she had last seen them. As she closed in, she saw Nelara and her companions facing off against a much larger group of myrmidons. The residents of Feathermoon ran around them, panicked and desperate for shelter—each one of them as familiar and precious to her as a piece of her heart.
The researcher Quintis Jonespyre dashed ahead of the others, making for a risky opening between the Sentinels and a second group of approaching myrmidons as he headed for cover. Shandris remembered the long conversations she had shared with Quintis about Fandral Staghelm. Both of them had futilely hoped that Tyrande would formally reprimand Staghelm for his strange activities, but the high priestess had only reminded them that the Cenarion Circle operated outside of her authority. Still, Quintis had been shrewd enough to see the darkness growing within Staghelm before the others, and shrewder still to know that he would be safe from the archdruid while under Shandris's watch in the stronghold.
But none of Quintis's wits could save him now. The leader of the myrmidons caught sight of the sprinting night elf and raised his weapon. Shandris called out to warn Quintis, but he looked up just as the naga's trident sunk into his back. He stared at her in helpless uncertainty and then fell, his blood darkening the water until it slowly faded into the sea.
The light of dawn was masked by the stormy skies, but the citizens of Darnassus still found themselves retiring to their chambers at the usual hour. Perhaps for some, it was a means of solace—a familiar routine in the turbulent wake of disaster. For others, it was an excuse for time alone to dwell on their grief. For Tyrande, it was a chance to escape.
The high priestess took a quick look around, then stole out of the temple, making for a quiet path that ran behind the prominent structures in Darnassus. It was an inefficient route; however, she was anxious to remain unseen this evening. Rounding another corner, she reached the humble lodgings that she shared with her husband.
Tyrande opened the door, and a beam of light yawned across the dark floorboards. The rooms were deserted. She surmised that Malfurion was still at the enclave, and began to pack for the perilous journey ahead. It didn't take long for Tyrande to exchange her temple robes for her plate armor, which resembled that of a Sentinel. She retained only her simple crescent moon circlet as a symbol of her station.
Shifting through a large trunk, Tyrande removed her bow and quiver, then lifted out her beautifully crafted moonglaive. The dim light rippled over the weapon's three blades as she untied its coverings, and she could sense that all of the blessings it had received were as strong as ever. If Morthis's reports were correct, she would need them—along with every possible advantage—in order to succeed.
Tyrande was turning to leave when a familiar object caught her eye. A large potted plant sat on the shelf in front of her, its heart-shaped leaves curling along graceful branches. It was known as the alor'el, or "lover's leaf," and though they had been common thousands of years ago, the plants were gradually dying out across Kalimdor.
Somehow Shandris had procured one and bestowed it upon Tyrande and Malfurion on their wedding day. Smiling slyly, Tyrande's adopted daughter had been only too happy to tell all of the guests that, according to an ancient but completely unfounded kaldorei legend, the alor'el would only bloom for a couple who shared a perfect love. Naturally, she was confident that Malfurion and his wife would be the ideal candidates to test the legend's veracity. The other guests had cheered and toasted them, proclaiming their good faith, but the plant had yet to yield as much as a bud.
Still, it was the kind of gift that only Shandris could give. And Tyrande hoped it would not be her last.
"I will not let you die here today. I swear it." Shandris tightened her grip on Vestia Moonspear's wrist, but the priestess only wept harder.
"Latro—he fell behind! Oh, Elune, watch over him. He is gone; he is gone…." Her sobs increased, and Shandris noticed the few remaining refugees rustling nervously. Each of them fought back the same tide of emotion as they struggled to leave the war-torn isle.
"Your husband would want you to go on, Vestia. You must do this for him. For everyone who gave their lives here today. Please." Shandris gazed imploringly at the reluctant night elf. She could feel the tree tower shifting beneath her feet as its roots weakened; they didn't have much time left.
To her great relief, Vestia contained her sobs and allowed Shandris to guide her onto the hippogryph. The bird-like creature's navy plumage was nearly black from the rain, but his eyes remained bright and alert.
"Take her to the mainland. Be careful of the winds," Shandris warned, feeling grateful for the hippogryph's considerable intelligence. No ordinary bird could fly in such turbulent weather, but the noble creature before her stood a chance.
Vestia and the hippogryph disappeared into the filmy clouds, and Nelara came running up the ramp. "General! They need you below: the naga are trying to break down the tower!"
"Get the rest of the survivors to the mainland, Nelara. There are enough hippogryphs for you and most of the Sentinels. Request aid from Thalanaar as soon as possible."
Nelara rounded on her in surprise. "I am not leaving here. Even you cannot defeat all of the naga without aid—"
"You have done your duty, Sentinel," Shandris responded stiffly. "Your orders are to retreat."
"You will not reconsider, will you…?" Nelara lowered her head, and Shandris thought she saw a tear mingle with the raindrops sliding down her cheek.
"Someone once saved my life when I thought everything was lost," the general said slowly. "It would be my greatest honor to give that gift to another." She began heading down the ramp, toward the sounds of the battle. "Ande'thoras-ethil, Nelara."
"I will send a hippogryph back for you once we arrive!" she cried. "Wait at the top of the tower!"
It was hard for Shandris not to tell the younger Sentinel that the plan was impossible, but after a moment she heard Nelara call for the remaining hippogryphs and decided to leave her alone.
With her final orders in motion, Shandris dove into the chaotic battle that raged at the base of the tower. The narrow building was a natural chokepoint, and so far only a handful of Sentinels had successfully defended the structure from within by barricading part of the entryway and firing arrows at the naga who attacked from the other side.
Shandris took up her bow and began shooting with a steady, practiced rhythm. "You are relieved, Sentinels. Head to the topmost chamber; there are hippogryphs waiting for you."
The other night elves were too tired and wounded to question her orders. It pained Shandris to see that a few of their number had fallen and their corpses lay stiffening on the ground. One by one, the surviving elves filed out, leaving thin trails of blood in their footsteps. But seeing each of them depart filled Shandris with a newfound strength. Her arrows were buying lives now: every dead naga meant a few more seconds of peace for the fleeing residents of Feathermoon Stronghold.
But she knew that the tower's defenses couldn't last long. The naga's attacks were steadily breaking the barricade, and a flash of light appeared as a siren cast a spell in Shandris's direction. The general uttered a kaldorei oath and shielded her face as the barrier splintered, the fractured wood sending shards across the room. When she lowered her arm, the siren stood before her, flanked by a pair of imposing myrmidons. Her fine regalia, a sign of rank, sparkled in the low light. More and more naga massed behind them.
"You must be the general. I serve the lady Szenastra," she intoned. "Such a pleasure."
Shandris tightened her grip on the bow. "We shall see."
The naga commander examined her archly. For all of the scales and spines, her mannerisms were such a perfect imitation of Highborne condescension that they made the general's blood run cold. "This does not have to continue, you know. My lady has authorized me to offer you the terms of our peace."
"How overwhelmingly generous of her. What does she want, then?"
"Give us the head of your mistress, the false queen, Tyrande."
Shandris fired an arrow into the naga's sycophantic smile. The creature convulsed, grasping for her throat, but her screams only emerged as sprays of blood. Choking, she sank to the ground.
Shandris eyed the guards coldly. "Take that to your lady."
A second later, they were upon her. Shandris lashed out with her glaive, dispatching the first two myrmidons easily, but a trident struck her arm and knocked the weapon out of reach. Another blade buried itself deep into her side, tearing her breath away as she staggered back. The naga were everywhere, striking furiously, and there was only one defense she had left.
Shandris called to Elune and forced the last reserve of her strength into the prayer, though it flickered and died within her like a guttered candle.
Faith is the beginning of all things. That was the first lesson she had learned and memorized as a Sister of Elune. Tyrande recalled High Priestess Dejahna's severity as she examined the girls, quick to weed out any half-hearted pupils who had simply joined the Sisters because of their lack of magical aptitude. If your skill with the arcane is passable, but not strong, you may still become a sorceress. If your skill with a needle and thread is passable, but not strong, you may still become a seamstress. But if your faith is only passable and not strong, you will never become a priestess.
It was strange how clearly the words came back to her as she struggled to stay on the hippogryph. The winds were against them and the rain plastered her cerulean hair to her shoulders, but part of her mind was still in the old Temple of Elune in Suramar, where Dejahna's sharp eyes had gazed on her skeptically.
Why have you chosen this path, Tyrande Whisperwind?
Because, she had said, I want to protect others. Especially the ones I love. The high priestess had regarded her for a long moment afterward, and Tyrande never knew exactly what Dejahna had thought about that exchange, but she had long suspected that somehow the seed for her nomination as successor had been planted in that brief, earnest sentence.
There had been many times when she had questioned her predecessor's decision to appoint her as high priestess. How different would her life have been without the burden of leadership? Would she have needed to slay the Watchers to secure Illidan's aid against the Burning Legion? Would she have been forced to wait for thousands of years to finally wed her beloved? Would her people have suffered less during the War of the Ancients if their ruler had been more experienced?
Dejahna had been right: faith was her only guide. Now it drove her through a relentless storm to rescue the most capable general she had ever known from a danger that was vague but unavoidable in her mind. And she was alone. None of her words had moved Malfurion, even though she was certain of them.... It seemed that faith was a rare gift indeed.
The hippogryph squawked, and Tyrande peered over his antlered head. Feralas lay before them, and Sardor Isle was barely visible through a wall of fog. Somewhere beneath it, Shandris was waiting. Tyrande had to believe that she was still alive.
She tapped the hippogryph's neck, indicating that he should land to the south. It was easier to communicate through touch in the driving wind, and the creatures always understood the code. The hippogryph surged forward in response and spread his wings wide in an attempt to buffer the turbulence. Despite his efforts, the gale toyed with them, nearly sending the pair into the thrashing sea below. Tyrande slid to the far right edge of the saddle, hoping that the shift of weight would help the hippogryph correct himself. For a moment they hung like a leaf in the wind, and then the creature dropped sideways and swiftly banked toward the shore.
Tyrande clung to him fiercely. "Well, that was foolhardy, but effective." The hippogryph puffed up his feathers proudly as he landed on a patch of dry ground just outside of Feathermoon Stronghold. "I suppose that is why we are in this together. Stay close," she said, dismounting from him and treading cautiously toward the settlement.
Morthis hadn't lied. Feathermoon was in shambles, its structures crumbling and flooded. The naga were everywhere, rifling through the wreckage and patrolling the coast as if they expected reinforcements at any moment. Somehow in the rain and wind, they had missed her approach from the south. Or perhaps one lone night elf had not been a cause for concern.
It crossed her mind that Shandris could have escaped from the isle before the invasion, but she would not be content until she had completed a thorough search. Her fear for Shandris gnawed at her, turning her thoughts back to the dead girl on the Rut'theran shore. Tyrande pressed on, edging toward the nearest building and keeping an eye on the patrols as she went. She didn't mind the prospect of combat, but her mission would go more quickly without any unnecessary engagements.
The floorboards creaked beneath her feet and water streamed down from cracks in the roof as she entered the battered shelter. Scanning the area, Tyrande spotted a patch of lavender near one of the bookshelves—the tip of an ear? She ran forward, hoping that she was not too late. The bookshelf was wedged in a corner, and it took a sharp kick to move it, but the high priestess managed to shove it aside and find the body below. Reaching down, she lifted the night elf up out of the muddy water that had filled the structure.
She recognized his long braided hair quickly. Latronicus Moonspear, one of the foremost fighters against the naga in Feathermoon Stronghold. Now he rested in the arms of Elune. She closed his eyes and murmured the prayer for the dead. The words had become all too familiar on her lips in the past few days.
The rest of the room yielded only the body of another slain Sentinel, almost certainly killed by the naga, and dozens of abandoned supplies that had been ruined in the flooding. As she left, a party of naga scouts rounded the corner and saw her. The high priestess extended her arms and uttered a few words, sending beams of moonlight down upon her enemies before they could attack. The naga collapsed under her assault and she ran for the inn, searching beneath the water for any tracks—any signs of battle that could lead her to Shandris and the other survivors—but the floods had churned the earth into mud.
A shadow passed over her head, and Tyrande raised her glaive in alarm. An enormous bird circled in the sky above her. She paused, watching the creature in disbelief. It dove into a steep descent, and she began to recognize the dark plumage and the certain spark that lit the storm crow's eyes. The bird landed and, in a matter of seconds, shifted into the familiar figure of her beloved.
"I am sorry for making you wait." He smiled.
"Mal…" She embraced him. "You came after all."
"We fight as one now. Our friend Broll Bearmantle has taken my place organizing the druid scouts, and Merende tends to your duties in Darnassus."
"Thank you, my love. Feathermoon Stronghold is in dire need of our aid. I have not been able to find any survivors, and it is impossible to track them in this flood."
He nodded. "Perhaps I can help with that." The archdruid closed his eyes in meditation and reached out in front of himself, stretching his palms over the devastated land. Gusts of wind gathered around Malfurion as he drew them together in a massive cyclone. The murky waters began to ripple and recede as the fierce vortex drove them back into the sea. Then only the broken landscape of Sardor Isle lay before them, revealing a trail of corpses that led to the giant tree tower to the northeast.
But the spell had also alerted the naga. They came in from all sides, eager to investigate the cause of the receding water. When they saw the night elves, the serpentine creatures cried out in alarm, drawing in more of their troops. They were readying an attack. A naga sorceress, Lady Szenastra, appeared in the center of the growing group. Judging by the deference that the lady commanded from her subjects, Tyrande could tell that she was the leader of this army.
"Sardor Isle is ours now. You have come to your death, 'Your Majesty,'" Szenastra sneered.
"I am no queen," Tyrande snapped. "And I would sooner die than take that title. What have you done with the kaldorei who have made their homes here?"
"Your people sleep eternally now. Do you not see them?" Szenastra gestured to the corpses idly. "You may join them now, if you wish. My lady Szallah would find it most agreeable if you would be obliging. If not, I shall have to see to you myself." She signaled, and a cadre of myrmidons slithered forward.
Tyrande and Malfurion exchanged a look.
"How easily these fools forget defeat," the high priestess muttered through clenched teeth.
"We must give them a reminder, then," Malfurion said. Tyrande gave a quick nod. Lightning crackled through the air as the archdruid began to craft his spell. The clouds above the isle blackened even further, and the naga's heads shot up in alarm. Szenastra hissed out an order, and the naga army advanced on the pair of night elves.
Malfurion watched, unperturbed, waiting for the energies to coalesce. When the storm was fully formed, he slowly tilted his antlered head to the sky, and the heavens poured their wrath down upon the naga forces. Lightning shot to the earth—each bolt splitting into forks that seared through dozens of hapless myrmidons. As the troops dispersed in chaos, Tyrande began closing in on the sorceress.
Lady Szenastra was already trying to escape, but the high priestess unleashed a massive column of moonfire above her. The naga convulsed for a moment while the energy blazed through her, then she slammed to the ground, her glittering adornments swallowed by the mud.
Tyrande pressed on to the tower. The entrance was blocked by rubble, as though it had been sealed from the inside. Undaunted, she managed to clear away an opening with a few furious strikes from her glaive.
Inside the room, Shandris Feathermoon lay in a pool of blood that glistened across the floorboards.
A sob caught in Tyrande's throat as she rushed to the wounded elf's side. She fell to her knees and began to pray, scarcely able to form the words in her grief. "Elune, grant me this, if nothing else. Spare her; please… she is my daughter. She believes that I saved her, but it is she who has saved me… again and again. My life would be empty without her in it." Tears streamed down her cheeks, glittering like the trails of stars.
Malfurion ran up behind her, but she was too distraught to notice his presence until his hand had grasped hers. The simple gesture anchored her and, beneath it all, she could feel him add his power to hers as they tried to heal Shandris.
They watched her for a long moment, barely breathing. Then Shandris's eyelashes fluttered and she opened her eyes drowsily. Rolling her head slightly to the side, she tried to focus on the shapes hovering before her-shapes of people she knew. "Min'da? An'da?" she asked blearily, her brow knitted in confusion.
Tyrande had no words. Her tears dripped to the floor, further darkening the stained wood. She placed her hand on Shandris's shoulder and took a long breath. "Your parents still rest with Elune, Shandris. But you do not, thanks to Mal's aid."
"Tyrande knew you were in danger all along. She could think of nothing else," Malfurion added.
Shandris regarded them. "Well, perhaps I was not too far off the mark." She laughed, then winced in pain. "I-it… seems Elune has answered my prayers in the end."
Tyrande raised her eyes to Malfurion. "I believe she has answered all of ours."
Shandris woke to the strains of an ancient funeral hymn. Sitting up carefully, she gazed at the nearby window that looked out on central Darnassus. The familiar waterways were aglow with candles, each of the small round lights floating along the glassy surface like a wisp in the forest. Malfurion and Tyrande stood solemnly in the center of the proceedings as the people of Darnassus and the refugees from Kalimdor gathered around them.
Many of the night elves' faces were swollen and flushed from crying. Some looked as though they hadn't slept for days. Shandris knew their grief too well. Searching the crowd, she even saw Vestia standing alone at the edge of the gathering. They had lost so many. Nearly everyone had known someone who had perished in the past few weeks of turmoil.
Funeral biers began to roll in on wagons pulled by pairs of nightsabers who strained against the weight of the bodies. Tyrande stepped forward to bless the dead one final time before their interment. There was no sound save for the priestesses' hauntingly forlorn melody.
It hurt to watch, but healing could not come without first releasing the grief. Shandris knew that their people needed this time before they could face the challenges that lay ahead. She looked again to Malfurion and Tyrande, who stood together against the tide of pain and loss. Far above them, the clouds began to shift, and a thin sliver of moonlight illuminated their features. Elune knows her own, Shandris thought. We are not alone in this fight.
Reassured, she rose and limped across the room to take a dose of the soothing medicinal roots Malfurion had left for her. The large alor'el plant, her wedding gift to the happy couple, had grown tremendously since she had last seen it, and one of its tendrils tumbled down over the edge of the shelf. With a cry of joy, she noticed it was covered with buds on the verge of blooming.


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The most important criteria when entering into an agreement with a fiscal sponsor is mission fit. The mission of your project must further the mission of the fiscal sponsor. It is also important to remember that the fiscal sponsor must exercise control of the funds that it receives on behalf of the project and must ensure that the project is providing a charitable purpose that is in alignment with the fiscal sponsor's tax exempt status.
As a project, you need to know the scope of your work so you can select a fiscal sponsor that offers the appropriate services for your project's needs. For example, if your project will have employees, you will likely require a Comprehensive fiscal sponsor, and if you are working in the arts, a Pre-Approved Grant Relationship fiscal sponsor may better suit the work of your project.
To see a listing of fiscal sponsors from across the country, visit the Fiscal Sponsor Directory where you can search by state, issue, or keyword.

subset: commoncrawl


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An iPad, an Xbox, whatever our most desired shiny object under the Christmas tree happens to be is not as precious as the ability to celebrate Christmas freely and openly — with Santa at Macy's or midnight Mass at St. Patrick's, as casually or as devoutly as we wish.
When I see images of the Virgin Mary in Nativity displays, I can't help but think of a young girl in Pakistan who was killed right after we celebrated Thanksgiving here in the U.S.
Amariah Masih was 18 years old when she was allegedly murdered for refusing to give in to a Muslim man's advances. A Catholic girl from a small village in the Punjab province of Pakistan, she was killed while on an outing to fetch drinking water, not available within the village, for her family.
Typically, a rape victim in Pakistan will be imprisoned for unlawful sex and released on the condition that she marry the rapist, explains Nina Shea, director of the Center for Religious Freedom at the Hudson Institute. And since a Christian cannot be married to a Muslim under sharia law, the woman would be forced to convert to Islam.
The homilist at Amariah's funeral called her "a martyr." Young Christian women in Pakistan are far from the only Christian martyrs of 2011. Shahbaz Bhatti, the minister for minorities there, was assassinated for having the courage of his convictions. He was Pakistan's sole Christian parliamentarian when he was shot multiple times outside his mother's house in Islamabad in March.
In an undated interview obtained by Al-Jazeera after his death, Bhatti was asked about threats on his life.
"The forces of violence, militant band organizations, the Taliban, and al-Qaida … They want to impose their radical philosophy in Pakistan. And whoever stands against their radical philosophy, they threaten them."
But such animosity failed to stop Bhatti. Citing the example of Jesus Christ, he explained: "I am living for my community and suffering people, and I will die to defend their rights."
It was, in fact, the Taliban and al-Qaida that took credit for the assassination.
Christian martyrs abound. As we continue to cheer on a messy "Arab Spring," there have been attacks on Coptic Christians in Egypt. Earlier this year, I was visited by Cardinal Joseph Zen, the Chinese-born Catholic bishop emeritus of Hong Kong, who carries a desperate plea that the world not look away as Christians in his homeland continue to be oppressed for daring to worship as they choose.
And it's far from just Christians who suffer religious persecution. Try being a Sunni Muslim teacher in Saudi Arabia who discusses the Bible in class or makes favorable comments about Jews –prison terms and lashes for "mocking religion" should not be unexpected.
Christians believe that "the Word became flesh" (John 1:14) on that first Christmas Day. "The Incarnation of the Son of God is an event which occurred within history, while at the same time transcending history," Pope Benedict XVI declared in his traditional address from Rome last Christmas.
His Holiness went on: "In the night of the world a new light was kindled, one which lets itself be seen by the simple eyes of faith, by the meek and humble hearts of those who await the Savior. If the truth were a mere mathematical formula, in some sense it would impose itself by its own power. But if Truth is Love, it calls for faith, for the 'yes' of our hearts."
That "yes" may ask us to give up a comfort, rise to a challenge at the office, sacrifice time or money, or put our very lives on the line. For most of us, it won't be as dramatic as for Amariah or Bhatti or the late Punjab governor Salman Taseer, a Muslim, who was killed for standing up for Christians and others, calling for the repeal of Pakistan's harsh and vaguely worded blasphemy laws.
This Christmas season, we might all spare a prayer for young women like Amariah and brave men like Bhatti, and give thanks that we can enter our houses of worship without experiencing the fear that too many around the world live in — that their hearts' "yes" of faith may be their last.


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Why is it that not all IT organizations are web-enabling their legacy applications especially when the technology is not so new, or hard or even time consuming to deploy. However, there are tons of benefits in Web enable legacy application, which includes streamlined business processes, improved customer service, reduced cost and better integration with partners.
But what confuses enterprise is when and how to use web-enabling technology especially given the huge number of vendors and solutions that are available online today. Choosing wrong vendor actually led IT organizations to choose wrong and thereby fail to generate the expected returns. Now, the same firms disillusioned with the concept are unsure of going down the same road again. The article here, discusses the top three web-enabling technologies including – web to host, rejuvenation and legacy integration. Once you have clearly understood your end-users and their requirements, making the choice becomes easy.
The web-to-host solutions turns the browser into terminal emulator. There are no changes in the terminal interface or to the flow of the original legacy applications. Users can interact through these green screens, however, the difference is that they can access the legacy applications from their browser which means that there is no need for any installation of terminal emulation software on their desktops.
Unlike the Web enable legacy application, emulation in web to host is performed by a small Java applet that the administrator can publish along with some configuration settings for the different kind of session types, to any of standard web server. In this there is no need for writing of legacy codes or legacy software. The users need to connect with the legacy application, click on the link on intranet or portal to download the applet. Caching saves, the applet on the user's desktop usually when he or she makes subsequent requests. With every request only the modified files are downloaded.
Once the applet is loaded, it would establish a connection between the existing browser and the existing legacy application. To the legacy application this connection appears as any other emulation session. The users begin to interact with legacy application just as they would do with traditional windows based emulator. The basic standard macro, file transfer, printing features and keyboard mapping remains the same.
Most of the time, it is the administrators who benefit the maximum from the web-to-host technology. This is because the applet is delivered over the web and therefore there are hardly any kind of deployment or maintenance costs. It is somewhat similar to the Windows based emulators. Moreover, unlike the other Web enable legacy application, even the acquisition costs are lower.
Besides the lower TCO, the web-to-host applets allows the administrator greater management control and improved security options than the existing Windows based emulators. To cite an instance, it is much easier to restrict or expand user access to different hosts and session features. These sessions can also be authenticated and encrypted when secure connections are the most important thing of the day.
However, while the web-to-host applet comes with its benefits, there are still terminal emulators that come with complex green scree interface. This are rendered inappropriate for occasional usage employees, business partners or other stakeholders of the business. However, if one wishes to keep the legacy intensive users productive, at a much cheaper rate than the web to host is the best option.
Like the Web enable legacy application, this too has some special features and benefits. The Rejuvenation technology helps in converting the display of the terminal screen into HTML. To users, this green screen now appears and feels like a web page. Rather than using tabs and PF keys, the users can simply point and click on links or buttons. However, there is still one-to-one correspondence between the original legacy screens and the new web pages. In other words, the process flow of legacy application remains the same.
Each of the web enabled legacy application operates in a different way. Rejuvenation servers operate between the user and the legacy application. The user would initiate a session by connection to the rejuvenation server, which would in turn establish a connection to the legacy application. For each action that the user performs on the rejuvenated screen, in their browser, the server would place an equivalent request to the legacy application. After receiving new screen from the application, it is modified into that of the web page which appears on the user's browsers. Similar to the web to host, there is no need of change in legacy code. To the legacy application, all requests from the rejuvenation server looks like any other user.
Most of the rejuvenation servers comes with automatic and custom options. Auto-rejuvenation requires no need of programming, and the fields and layout present in the web page are similar to the original legacy screen. On the other hand, custom rejuvenation enables their user to make minor changes in the layout which would include hiding fields, combining single screens, and replacing codes with comprehendable texts. However, because the user is driving all navigation, any sure shot way of changing the application is limited.
Just after its launch, IT organizations viewed rejuvenation as a quick fix for extending legacy applications to a broader audience unlike that of web enabled legacy application. However, despite this the technology failed to fulfill the expectations for one reason which was that even the most extensive custom development work could change the flow or functionality of the legacy application. Furthermore, in most cases, the effort required takes more time as building a new web application using legacy integration technology. This is the main reason as to why rejuvenation are best suited in occasional usage among employees or tightly integrated partners. The users have already begun to understand the underlying business processes. Rejuvenation simply gives them an updated interface which allows them to work more effectively.
With the web enabled legacy application users can create custom web applications that are fully integrated with legacy applications. The user is presented with a new kind of web application that comes with a seamless user-interface that is specifically designed to attain the objectives that the application should accomplish. Furthermore, since the legacy application is integrated with the web application, there is no need for the developer to duplicate any kind of legacy business logic, transactions or even data processing. Just as important, the developer is not bound to one-to-one mapping of legacy screens to web pages. The process flow of the application can be radically different from that what exists in the legacy application.
Similar to the rejuvenation server, the legacy integration server is a middle-tier solution that operates between the user and the legacy application. However, despite this the legacy integration server does more than just convert the legacy screen into a web page. This encases a combination of legacy screens, data elements and navigational commands into components that perform complete business functions. The web application can use these components without being constrained by original screens or application design. The underlying legacy code remains as it is in its original place and functions.
The legacy integration servers componentize legacy functionality which would allow them to readily use it in new applications. Once these components are created in the web enabled legacy application, the web developers can use it over and over again without having any previous knowledge of the underlying legacy application or system. This level of acknowledgementinfact accelerates new application development.
However, as per the developers the biggest drawback in the web enabled legacy applicationis the time required to create new components. The good news is that most of the integration servers include graphical tools that ease the integration process. However, if effective, the same tools would isolate the component developer from the low-level details of interacting with legacy application. This will also automatically evolve to adapt to the changes in the legacy application, which would removing the need to constantly recreating components.
Web enabled legacy applicationhelps in changing the process flow of the legacy application and present the information according to what the users need making it a perfect application for all the stakeholders of the company.
One of the state departments of motor vehicles needed to open its mainframe functionality and provide secure self-service to thousands of drivers and business partners. Using the web enabled legacy application,it has built a self-service web site in just four weeks. With this, now constituents can make the necessary changes in address, renew car tabs, get tax information, and report vehicle sales real time. This actually led the agency to save some millions of dollars in legacy programming costs and cut license processing times by 75 percent.
Before deciding on the web enabled legacy application, it will greatly depend on the needs of end users. This would again depend on various factors like are they entering small or large amounts of data, or whether they need to access the host application all day, every day or even once a month? Will the users increase productivity by using green screen or a graphical web interface for their services?And lastly, but not the least, are the end users familiar to the legacy applications?
For those employees who are regularly in touch with legacy applications, web to host technology remains the best choice. One can reduce the ownership costs without sacrificing any host or emulator functionality. The rejuvenation technology can extend simple legacy applications to those occasionally usage employees or the tightly integrated business partners who are already familiar with the existing business processes. However, if one's objective is to reach towards new components, including business partners and customers, one would require to build an easy-to-use web enabled legacy applicationwhich would be powered by legacy functionality. For these users there are no better option than legacy integration.
With the web enabling legacy applications, organizations are greatly benefitted. The vendors of web enabled legacy applicationhelp in converting the existing legacy applications into web based applications that helps improving communication between teams, business partners and even customers. Helping the enterprise streamline workflow and data processes by reducing requirements for multiple channels of deployment.
Most of vendors come with skilled professionals who utilize their comprehensive experience and technical knowhow to develop and deploy the web enabling legacy applications from the existing ones and without disturbing the company operations at any time. Most of these vendors ensure that a smooth transition happens as it is closely followed and ensured that no data is lost in the process.
If wondering what to do with the existing legacy applications that no longer fulfills the business needs and objectives, most vendors would provide several options to consider your approach towards the web enabled legacy application. The developer can choose to use or reuse the existing legacy application. One can always use the existing ones or even replace the current one with a new one. When requested for a consultation, company vendors review the options available to help determine which is best suited to the business and budget.
The professionals will help save time and money when converting to web enabling legacy applications. By using a state-of-the-art web enabling legacy application, you will be able to maintain the competitive edge while efficiently serving your business needs with the latest technology.
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Bernardo's Catering Service
location on Google Maps.
in new tab.
on social media.
Our exceptional food, professional service, and creative eye for detail ensure you a truly special event with Palazzo Bernardo & Bernardo's Catering!
Book your next event with us, whether it's the wedding of your dreams, a corporate celebration, or a birthday party unlike any other. Every service is completely customizable, from the Bernardo's Catering menu to the ice sculptures to the decorations. Incorporating your personal tastes, we will tailor an event that will have your guests talking about your incredible vision. Our Palazzo Bernardo & Bernardo's Catering goal is to tailor every detail of your experience to exceed your event expectations!
Business Hours
Monday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed


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Helloooo my pretties! THE TURNING POINT by Marie Meyers is launching today! Why don't you leave Marie a happy book birthday in the comments? Enjoy the post.
For as long as I could remember, I was the girl with the plan. Good college, good medical school, good career. I would save lives instead of standing by helplessly, watching while they slipped away.
That was before my father called for the first time in fifteen years to tell me about the terminal illness stealing his life-an illness that might be stealing mine, too. It was before he gave me the name of a doctor and a plane ticket to Italy. Before I flew across an ocean. Before I realized how brilliantly bright life could be. Before I met Lucas.
He's everything I've always wanted, and the timing couldn't be worse. I can't do this to him-he deserves so much better. My head tells me I can't afford to fall in love with Lucas, but my heart won't listen. Lucas is fearless about the future, while I'm not even sure I have one. There's only one way to know what's ahead and it's waiting for me at home inside a plain, white envelope.
All I have to do is open it. . .
Goodreads // Amazon // B&N
Doesn't this book sounds like the bee's knees? RIGHT? Still want to know more...how are you not convinced you need to add this to you TBR-pronto?
Maybe this excerpt will convince you.
Lucas slowly trailed his hand down my cheek, over my neck, and across my collarbone—the only exposed skin. But my clothing didn't deter his southward pursuit. Even through the thin cotton of my shirt, I was hyperaware of his touch. How his fingertips grazed over the swell of my breast, lingering at the peak…teasing.
With each deliberate, enticing swirl of his thumb, my body came alive. Yet, it wasn't his gifted hand alone that made my breath come quicker and send shivers down my spine. It was his eyes. Always his eyes.
To say they were expressive was an understatement, just the tip of the iceberg. His eyes told a story. One of happiness, desire, intrigue, sadness, warmth, love—it all radiated from their bright cerulean cores, the center and focal points that surrounded his pupils. From the day we met, I wanted to swim in that ocean, be swept away by his gaze and get lost beneath the crushing waves of his stare. To be a part of his story.
I touched his arm, my fingers disappearing under his shirtsleeve. His skin was smooth over the hard, taut muscle of his bicep. I clenched it, feeling him flex as he moved his hand lower on my belly, lifting the hem of my shirt.
The instant he made contact with my skin, I sucked in a breath. "Are my hands cold?" he asked.
I moved my head side to side. "Very much the opposite." My voice was garbled and shallow. I attempted to clear my throat.
Feeling the branding touch of Lucas's hand moving up my body, he shifted his weight and sat up, lifting my shirt higher. I subtly raised my shoulders and he pulled my shirt over my head, tossing it to the floor.
His eyes slowly roamed my body, landing on every hill and valley. He watched the rise and fall of my chest, not allowing himself to touch until his eyes touched first. Even though this wasn't the first time he had seen me like this, tonight was different.
The night of his birthday, I'd wanted to give him everything I had. I was ready. I needed that last connection to him. But Lucas still thought he had to prove himself to me. He wanted me to know that every part of me was special to him, not a fleeting moment in bed.
But tonight was different. He was right here with me. There were no more secrets between us. He wasn't chasing a ghost from his past, and for once, I wasn't afraid of my shadowed future. I needed this. I wanted him…all of him, everything he was willing to give me. I needed to feel alive while I still had the chance.
Working my hand down to the bend of his elbow, I memorized how my fingertips flowed over his skin and how the hair on his arm bristled at my touch.
*Fans Self* Don't mind me. Just dying of swoon overload.


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We investigate the molecular mechanisms underpinning host manipulation by plant pathogens, with a particular focus on manipulation of Solanaceous plants by bacterial microbes in the plant apoplast (extracellular space). Our research activities also aim to improve molecular pharming of secreted proteins in plants. A key approach for our research is the display of protein activities by activity-based protein profiling (ABPP), a powerful functional proteomics technology that we have pioneered in plants.
We are currently collaborating with Chris Schofield and Jonathan Burton (Department of Chemistry) to synthesise and test an ABPP probes for phytochelatin synthase and cytochrome P450s, and with and Christina Redfield (Department of Biochemistry) to solve the structure of the cystatin-like Epic2B protein, which is a protease inhibitor secreted by the Irish Potato Famine pathogen, Phytophthora infestans.


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Thursday, 25 January 2018
12 comments:
a super male card, thank you for joining us at crafty catz challenge and hope to see you again soonReplyDelete
A great card, I just love Heartfelt Creations papers. Thanks for joining us this week at Crafty Catz. Lilly (GDT)ReplyDelete
A fabulous male card, love the little scene you created, thanks for joining us at Crafty Catz this week, Jac xReplyDelete
super card, thanks for sharing with us at CRAFTY CATZ x carolReplyDelete
Very cute card!!!ReplyDelete
I seldom see Earth Day theme cards, so this is very refreshing to see. Your brother is a lucky guy to get this featuring a favorite activity. Lots and lots of details to look at. Thanks for linking this to HIMCR's #336 color it challenge. Becca~DTReplyDelete
A perfect card for the gardener. Your colouring is fantastic...those jeans. Love your gardening goodies!ReplyDelete
Super card. I like all the pretty elements on it. Thanks for joining us at Scrapping4fun.ReplyDelete
Miroslava DT
What a very wonderful card and your work is excellently created.ReplyDelete
Love that image.
Thank you for joining us over at Scrapping4funChallenges.
Majda DT
Gorgeous cardReplyDelete
Not sure if you follow us!
Thank you for your lovely entry at Scrapping4funChallenges
Rachelle DT
Awesome card and love the colouring.ReplyDelete
Thank you for joining us over at Scrapping4FunChallenges.
Kelly (DT)
Wonderful and vibrant card.ReplyDelete
Love the images.
Thank you for sharing with us at Scrapping4fun Challenges.


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We are delighted to add another student to the TU family, and we welcome parents and families to university events. We understand that parents and guardians want the best for their student and that they have questions and concerns of their own. We're here to assist and support families in any way.
Hardesty Hall, Room 1125
Parent & Family Association
The TU Parent & Family Association (commonly called TUPFA) exists to help parents and families stay informed about life at The University of Tulsa, to create an opportunity for parents to connect with students and the campus, and to provide support for families as they go through their own transitions with a student away at college.
TUPFA is run by volunteers who are parents and families of current TU students, and who work closely with the professional staff in New Student Programs and Services, especially focusing on the early years of student transition into the campus community.
We would like to encourage both new and returning parents to become active in the TU Parent and Family Association. You will have the chance to build relationships with other TU parents, stay informed about campus life, and maybe even offer support to other parents and families as they send their student to TU.
Quick ways to learn about TUPFA include:
- Like the TU Parent & Family Association's Facebook page (no Facebook account is necessary).
- Sign-up for occasional emails from the TU Parent and Family Association.
- Contact the New Student Programs office at 918-631-2707 or email us at email@example.com.
Parent & Family Orientation
Check out this year's Orientation for Parents schedule.
Starting college isn't just a new challenge for students, it is also a time of new experiences and questions for parents and families. In conjunction with StartTU (New Student Orientation), the office of New Student Programs and Services offers an afternoon of orientation and programs for parents and families of new TU students.
Each year on the first day of Orientation, we host a Campus Information Session that includes a welcome by the Dean of Students, an introduction of the president of the TU Parent & Family Association and a gathering of key offices and services from across campus. This is a perfect time for parents and families to learn more about campus life and to ask questions and dialogue face-to-face with campus professionals.
We finish the evening with annual Matriculation exercises, a ceremony marking the entry of the newest class of student into the academic community, and a banquet dinner hosted by the President of the University. This event is open to all incoming parents and family members. No registration is required. Reach out to the Office of New Student Programs at 918-631-2707 or firstname.lastname@example.com with any questions.
The office of New Student Programs and Services also creates a more in-depth online publication aimed at informing parents and families of new and future TU students about campus life and what to expect in the first year your student is at college. This free online publication provides articles, suggestions and links on a wide range of material. Those interested can find the publication online here.
Parent & Family Day
All parents, new and returning, will want to attend TU Parent and Family Day, held in conjunction with Homecoming. Each fall, the University of Tulsa Parent & Family Association (TUPFA) hosts a Parent and Family weekend tailgate event which includes a catered meal under our tailgate tent before the Homecoming game, a Parent and Family Weekend t-shirt, complimentary Gilcrease Museum day-pass admission, and a discount code which can be used to purchase a ticket to the Homecoming football game.
The experience is always filled with TU spirit and includes an invitation to exciting events like the Homecoming bonfire and fireworks show. The weekend is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with your TU student as they continue to settle into life at The University of Tulsa.
Parent and Family Day 2019 will be on Saturday, October 26th. Registration will open in late August, and final details will be available once the start time of the football game has been announced.To watch for upcoming details, follow the TUPFA Facebook page (no Facebook membership is necessary) or reach out to the Office of New Student Programs at 918-631-2707, or by email at firstname.lastname@example.com
Academic Resources
TU embraces involved parents and families and looks forward to them being a part of our campus along with their students. Descriptions, dates and deadlines are important when making decisions, and we want to keep everyone informed.
Financial Resources
A TU degree is a valuable investment, and we are committed to helping your family determine the best way to pay for your student's education.
Student Life Resources
We want parents and families to rest assured that the health and wellbeing of its students is TU's No. 1 priority. Students are cared for academically, socially and physically from the moment they step onto campus.


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Mobile Version
News Page Pirates hijack tanker off Nigeria coast
Pirates have seized a tanker and its crew off the Nigerian coast, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) monitoring group says. The attack happened about 90 nautical miles south of Nigeria's economic capital, Lagos, on Saturday.
Last month, Nigeria and neighbouring Benin launched joint navy patrols to curb growing piracy in West Africa. Nineteen vessels have been attacked off Benin's coast this year - eight of which were hijacked.
Salvage workers in New Zealand have launched an all-out attempt to remove nearly 2,000 tonnes of oil from a container ship aground on a reef off one of the country's most spectacular coastlines.
The New Zealand navy has sent four ships to where the Rena is stuck, on a reef near the port of Tauranga on the North Island.
Bruce Anderson, the salvage manager for Maritime New Zealand's monitoring and response team, told the BBC much of the oil was still aboard the ship, but the situation did have the potential to be a "significant environmental disaster".


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A square clasp with a dotted design reminiscent of punched tin. A center push button helps to open the clasp with a slight twist. Zinc plated with 99.9% sterling silver. Usually only cord ends need to be inserted into clasp, not beads. This clasp works well with multiple beaded braids or flat fiber braids.
The only glue I recommend for attaching clasps to beaded and fiber braids is 2 part epoxy glue as it is the only glue to forms a secure, permanent bond. Step-by-Step instructions for using 2-Part Epoxy are on my blog http://kumihimoresource.com/kumihimo/2-part-epoxy/
L: 23.5mm
W: 25.5mm
H: 7mm
Hole size: 20mm x 2.1mm
Origin: European Union


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24 Hour Readathon Mini Challenge Halfway Meme
2. How many books have you read so far? I've finished 14
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? have no idea...i just grab from my TBR as i go!
4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? well we were supposed to go to bonfire tonight but luckily it rained so now I don't feel bad for missing it!
5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? no, not really. husband gets me food and I take breaks every 50 minutes to do stuff
6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? I'm really amazed at my pace! I'm on track to pass my mark of 19 books from the April readathon
7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? nope! love it just the way it is, but if you guys think of other things, will gladly accept them!
8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? so far things are going as planned so nothing yet!
9. Are you getting tired yet? still going strong! have caffeeine and i still have my 2 50 minute breaks I'll be taking later
10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered? make sure to read books that are enjoyable! if you get a boring book, STOP reading it and switch!


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Feb 11, 2015 – Peter Okoye's Wife, Lola Omotayo Pictured With White Mum, A Musician
Meet Mrs Omotayo, the mother of Lola Okoye, wife of Psquare musician Peter Okoye.
The American madam is a musician who is also a gifted organist and accordion player.
Lola was born to a Caucasian mother and a Nigerian millionaire father, Mr Dipo Omotayo, the founder of Silco Drilling and Completion Services, a Lagos-based oil and gas company.


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It is the summer of 2012 and Samantha Richman is making the two-week journey up the coast of California with her Dad. She looks on either side of her and sees the valley coast on her right with beautiful blue skies stretching toward the horizon and glances to her left where the sky meets the Pacific Ocean. It is her first time on the West Coast and the sweet smell of the air and the wind blowing through her hair leaves her wanting to see more.
The drive started after a four-hour flight to the busy city of Los Angeles. Richman was excited to explore a side of the country that she had never set foot on. "It was my first time on the West Coast and we drove north along the Pacific Coast Highway to San Francisco" Richman said.
A usually 5-hour road trip between Los Angeles and San Francisco was turned into a two-week road trip as the Richman's took their time meandering through the state, spending a couple nights in differing cities. "I never really travelled anywhere and California was somewhere I had always wanted to go," said Richman.
Celebrity houses sprouted up everywhere, leaving much to see and good stories to tell. 2 ½ men, the popular television show that is filmed in California, makes it the perfect area to stop while Hearst Castle came shortly after and "it was so beautiful. It has 140 bedrooms" and it was the home of William Randolph Hearst who was a renowned publisher in the early 1900's.
Richman could not think of a place she would rather go on vacation. "There is no humidity" she said, "we never get to experience this kind of beauty. There is such clean, golden air." Reveling in her experience, Richman smiled to herself remembering how she and her dad had decided to take the 2-week road trip up the coast of California because she had never had an opportunity to travel. "I love my dad. I'm an only child so spending time with him wasn't a problem. It was a good time."


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Pattern of primrose and pennywort.
Taking me, taking me,
Take me to meadows of childhood…
By Dic Edwards
This creeping, perennial aquatic herb is native to eastern North America where is grows in moist areas such as marshes, springs, and swamps. Here in the east there are places that it is becoming Endangered…Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. But in Europe it is considered an invasive species because of its tendency to develop large colonies!
Here in Delaware in can be found along the edges of ponds, creeks, and swampy areas. It often keeps its deep green color in winter. The small white flowers form in small clusters or umbrells from the leaf base. The flowers are on short stalks in the umbrell, and have 5 tiny, white petals.
The genus name, Hyddrocotyle, comes from the Greek and means water (hydro) cup (or small drinking vessel – cotyle). It is believed to have similar healing properties to its Asian cousin the Hydocotyle asiatica, which has been used to treat leprosy, itch, scrofula, rheumatism, ulcers, and secondary syphilis.
This member of the Carrot family was used by the Cohuilla Indians for greens.


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I am a new author from North AL who enjoys writing fiction fantasy books for young adult and children. I have a new book out for children: Gwendolyn's Wish. It is a great book for children of all ages. I don't know about you but I enjoy reading books that inspire, edify and encourage others. Visit my website for more info on me and my new books: http://tracykauffman.yolasite.com Would love for us to become friends.
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New fiber-viewing camera installed
Basler Ace GigE camera for fiber viewing
As the Unibrain firewire camera used for fiber viewing and spill-over guiding had to be replaced, we took the opportunity to update the guiding system to a new type of video-camera, with smaller pixels and a more reliable performance due to its direct connection to the ethernet. The frame to the left is an average of 84 frames obtained during guiding on a relatively bright, RV standard star. The post-fitted light losses indicate an average displacement of the target star of 0.29 arcsec with respect to the pinhole, and a total loss of 24%.


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Martin Pinaud has been my counselor this past year assisting me with the ramifications of a very difficult divorce. Martin demonstrates his professionalism through his excellent listening skills, guiding me with rational thinking and keeping me focused on y goals. I compliment Martin regarding his dedication to his profession and his attention to detail as he assists me (and my children) through this healing process of rebuilding my life. Martin Pinaud was recommended to me by another therapist and I am very grateful for this recommendation. I would definitely refer other people to him for counseling services.
Heather C.
School Psychologist


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It's An All Stallone Saturday on IFC
Posted by Melissa Locker on
There's a lot you can learn from Rambo — interpersonal skills, craft making, and international relations for starters — and IFC is just the place to give you that education. This Saturday starting at 8/7c we are showing "Rambo", "Rambo: First Blood Part 2" and "Rambo III" back-to-bloody-back. That's right it's all Rambo all the time, just the way you like it.
John Rambo is Sylvester Stallone and Stallone is Rambo. (In fact, we're pretty sure "The Expendables" actually thought they were casting Rambo in their movie. Must have been a big surprise when that guy from "Rhinestone" showed up!) Stallone is a bad ass in his role as Rambo, the tough-as-nails ex-Green Beret and Vietnam veteran with a heart of gold. It's his milieu. Hard on the outside but soft and gooey as a warm chocolate chip cookie on the inside, like when he rescues a charity worker (Julie Benz) or his best friend and mentor (Richard Crenna). But when Rambo is scary, he is really really scary. Just ask everyone who got in his way. And if you don't watch our all Stallone Saturday, he just might come after you.
Want the latest news from IFC? Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @ifctv.


text: Papandreou sees the municipal and regional polls as a litmus test [EPA] Greek residents have begun voting in local and regional polls amid threats by the country's prime minister to dissolve parliament if his government loses electoral support.Around 9.8 million voters are registered to vote in the first round of the municipal and regional elections that began on Sunday. "I am not glued to my post. I am only interested in fighting for my country ... It's up to the citizens to decide whom they trust to govern the country," George Papandreou told local media."Citizens will decide in today's election if we will hold steady on the path of salvation ... or if we will go back to decay and to the Greece of bankruptcy," the prime minister, who has been trying to enforce more budget cuts and structural reforms under $155.6bn EU and International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout, said.Papandreou also said that his decision would be based largely on how his candidates perform in thefirst round of elections in 13 newly created regions.However, he has not set a specific threshold for the support he requires.The ruling Socialist party came to power in October last year on plans to boost welfare spending. But they were soon forced to switch to pay cuts, tax hikes and a pension freeze after a debt crisis erupted when they revealed Greece's finances were much worse than expected.Budget deadline Papandreou has been widely criticised for threatening a general election, ahead of a year-end deadlineset by the EU and IMF under the bailout plan to slash the budget deficit."Holding early elections at this point would be a disaster" for the economy," Ilias Nikolakopoulos, a political analyst, told the AFP news agency."It would be unacceptable to Greece's creditors. No country that has accepted IMF support has called national elections in stride."Contrary to other deficit-ridden countries like Ireland and Portugal, the ruling Socialist party has a comfortable parliamentary majority and recent opinion polls give them a lead over the main opposition New Democracy party.But analysts say the most likely outcome of snap general elections would be a coalition or a single-party government with a wafer-thin majority. SOURCE: Agencies Europe


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Party Poker $1,500 Freerolls
Tournament Type: No-Limit Hold'em
When: Saturdays at 14:00 ET
Buy-in: Free
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The Party Poker $1.5k Freeroll is a weekly tournament where Party Poker adds $1,500 of their own money to the prize pool. You are eligible to play in this tournament if you have made your first real money deposit on Party Poker within 60 days prior of the tournament. Make sure to sign up early, as there are plenty of people interested in a chance at free money.


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Epson projectors are the #1-selling projector brand in the U.S. and worldwide for a reason. Their projectors have outstanding image quality that enhance communication, inspire collaboration, offer a low total cost of ownership, and have excellent reliability and service. Epson has a projector for every environment: corporate meeting rooms, small classrooms, and auditoriums.
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LifeStream Solutions is a unique collection of counseling services expertly offered in ways that encourage the development of a collaborative partnership between clients and me, as well as others that my clients and I enlist to make the most of healing, developmental and growth processes. I work to help clients assume control of their lives; and so I serve as a guide who offers support, knowledge, insight, questions and the opportunity to explore ways of thinking, being and interacting that can lead to the discovery of personally authentic and satisfying solutions.
It is fairly common for people to become stuck in unproductive cycles of you guessed it thinking, being and interacting that can lead to a downward spiral in our personal and social lives. Try as we might, we just can't seem get past that certain anger, that growing fear, that troubling thought, the memory of that experience, etc. If we knew what to do to get out of the rut, we would probably have done it long ago, right?
My role is to facilitate beneficial change using an appreciative person-centered way of relating that provides or reinforces the nurture, affirmation, safety and personal efficacy that people require in order to explore or re-explore their worlds. This sometimes involves encouraging or coordinating support from friends, family, social services or traditional and alternative healthcare professionals and collaborating with them to integrate the supplemental experiences or care necessary to achieve new and more useful ways of thinking, being or interacting.
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Book Club: The Top Five Dutch Cities for Expat Students
Combine the perks of big city living with a quaint, small town feel and you've got the atmosphere in Amsterdam. This city breathes coziness and, at the same time, acts as the Netherlands' capital and financial center. However, Amsterdam also promises a booming nightlife, a variety of museums, and charming surroundings, decorated with canals and architectural flair. For the year 2013 to 2014, Amsterdam ranked fifth in a list of the top ten student cities for the quality of living category, in the QS Best Student Cities report. However, it did fare poorly in the affordability category.
Rotterdam: Students Galore
Even though it doesn't attract as many international students as Amsterdam, Rotterdam has a culturally diverse population and a student-friendly vibe. It is home to Erasmus University Rotterdam. A social life is at your door step as international students reside in university housing near campus, where there are a variety of clubs and bars in the vicinity. Even though living costs match those in Amsterdam, rent is slightly cheaper. Plus, if you prefer to do your coursework in cafés, you have an array of study spots to choose from.
Groningen: Students Rule
If you are looking for a city where students have taken over, look towards Groningen. Percentagewise, it has the biggest student population; slightly less than a third of the city's residents are students (30%). It is also one of the most bike-friendly cities worldwide, made possible by the number of students and the flat landscape.
Leiden: History and Tradition
As the oldest university in the Netherlands (established in 1575), Leiden University has had time to build up an excellent reputation, thus ranking as one of the Netherland's top law institutions and 23rd in the world according to the 2014 QS Law Ranking. To top it off, the International Court of Justice is only ten minutes away by train.
Tilburg: Cultural Curiosity
For the international student who never gets tired of travel, Tilburg offers a great location between major European cities, such as Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and Brussels. It is the Netherlands' sixth largest city and may also offer career opportunities after you graduate: Tilburg is located in one of the fastest developing economic regions in the Netherlands. Multinational companies such as Fuji, Sony, Philips, and Ericsson have offices in the city.
Whether you feel like experiencing the Dutch culture or you want to meet other expats and global minds in the Netherlands, the listed universities give you many options.


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Archive for August, 2012
home renovations
Platinum Group provide quality home extensions in Ireland
1 Vote(s)
bf cheated and broke up with me after 6 1/2 years
My now ex bf have been together for 6 1/2 years, thick and thin. We're best friends too. We started dating when I was 20 and him 19. We've always relied on eachother for anything. I moved to college and graduated a year ago, him he still has about another 6 months left. Things were fine up till about month ago. In our college group of friends, he started coming home real late (we share a place for close to a year) course students life that's how it is sometimes..but he started hanging around this one chick in our group, she broke up with her ex and started flirting with everyone in the group
1 Vote(s)
Good Foods Boost Moods
Posted by psychieblogger in 3 Fatty Acids, American Chemical Society, Chemical Compounds, Chemistry Institute, Chocolate Blueberries, Cognitive Health, Common Foods, Depakene, Depression, Dietary Recommendations, Drug Molecules, Flavor Components, Manic Depressive Disorder, Mental Alertness, Mood Effects, Mood Enhancers, Mood Modulators, Mood Swings, National Autonomous University, National Autonomous University Of Mexico, Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Pines Institute, Psychology, Research, Specific Foods, Stress, Striking Similarity, Valproic Acid on August 19, 2012
New research reveals that some common foods enhance moods with a striking similarity to valproic acid, a widely used prescription mood-stabilizing drug.
"Molecules in chocolate, a variety of berries and foods containing omega-3 fatty acids have shown positive effects on mood. In turn, our studies show that some commonly used flavor components are structurally similar to valproic acid," said Karina Martinez-Mayorga, Ph.D., leader of the research team, which presented its findings at a meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Valproic acid, which is sold under brand names such as Depakene, Depakote and Stavzor, is used to smooth out the mood swings of people with manic-depressive disorder and related conditions, she said.
"The large body of evidence that chemicals in chocolate, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, teas and certain foods could well be mood-enhancers encourages the search for other mood modulators in food," she added.
While people have recognized the mood-altering properties of food for years, Martinez-Mayorga's team is looking to identify the chemical compounds that moderate mood swings, help maintain cognitive health, improve mental alertness and delay the onset of memory loss.
Her study involved the use of techniques associated with chemoinformatics ― the application of informatic methods to solve chemical problems ― to screen the chemical structures of more than 1,700 food ingredients for similarities to antidepressant drugs and other agents with reported antidepressant activity.
She noted her team plans to move from analyzing the database to actually testing the flavor/mood hypothesis experimentally. The end result may be dietary recommendations or new nutritional supplements with beneficial mood effects, she said.
"It is important to remember that just eating foods that may improve mood is not a substitute for prescribed antidepressive drugs," Martinez-Mayorga cautioned.
She added that eating specific foods and living a healthful lifestyle can generally boost moods for people who don't require medication.
Karina Martinez-Mayorga, Ph.D., who described research done while working at the Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, is now with the Chemistry Institute at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
Source: The American Chemical Society
Strawberries dipped in chocolate photo by shutterstock.
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I'm 19 years old and I'm a university student.
I have a problem with my personality.
For me, it's difficult to make a friend. Until now, I never trust a friend so I always make distance with my friends. I don't know. I never know the real reason why I become like this. In my heart and mind, sincerely, I wanna make lots friend. But in fact, I can't. I have no self confidence and always afraid for making faults or do some unusual things. I like to do everything by myself..
I always prioritize my prestige. I choose to hide under shell and do nothing because I'm afraid to know what
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Hi I have a dad that yells and my family cant take it and I am scared because of it.
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Help with my bipolar husband
I have been with my husband for almost 7 years. We both have Bipolar he has bipolar 1 and I have bipolar 2. I knew getting into this relationship it would be work but I married him anyways. We fought a lot and while later I was pregnant with my first child, my husband ended up having an affair with a girl from work. I finally found out and I was devastated. We did end up staying together and ever since then I have been trying to get over this problem of his. He is always mad at me and always yelling at me.We had a second child and she is completely attached to him and he is with her too.He le
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text: 0 47 By thelonetravelercarl In Indiana, United States of AmericaPosted July 13, 2018Spelunking the Marengo CaveMost of my co-workers went on a vacation while I was stuck in the workplace. I need to escape thus, I have decided to go on a road trip for a couple of days. It was a good timing since it was the [...] READ MORE


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The Fund for Excellence ensures that the School has the financial ability to thrive at a time when existing resources are stretched to meet an array of competing needs. These funds are utilized by the Dean wherever the need is greatest. Funds may be used to support research, purchase equipment, supplies, or travel that will advance the leading-edge work of our students, faculty and staff.
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How to Hit a Hand
Hitting a hand in Blackjack can sometimes be a risky man-oeuvre. The fastest way to lose the game is by going over the 21 mark (and we all know how easy that is). Whether a player should hit or stand depends on two major factors; the player's total, and the dealer's 'up card'). Sadly, there aren't any 'unified' strategies that incorporate all variants of the game and their respective addenda. We can only point out logical consequences that result from playing the game (hitting/standing) at its most basic levels. If you are interested about learning in greater detail, about things like 'odds', 'variables' and 'statistics'; you do have to learn some basic mathematics. For us regular players, there are a few things to learn before playing the game (successfully). Here are some simple answers to commonly asked questions, that are sure to clear away any misconceptions.
When Can I Hit?
A player is allowed to hit right after his hand has been dealt. A player can hit as many times as he wants; as long as he doesn't go over 21. Different variations of the game hold different rules in regards to hitting after splitting and/or splitting aces.
When Can't I Hit?
A player is not allowed to hit if he has a total of 21 or above (or if the dealer has a Natural/21). A player cannot hit after he's been dealt a double down. Some casinos forbid hitting after splitting, while others just after splitting aces.
Why Should I Hit?
The object of any blackjack game is to amass a total of 21 without going over (or having a Greater total than that of the dealer). You only get two cards at the beginning of each game; so unless you have 21 right off the bat, you will need a few more draws. Each individual hit adds to your total , as indicated by the rules: An Ace can be either 1 or 11. Number cards (2-10) correspond to their respective denominator and all face cards (Jacks, Kings, Queens) are regarded as 10s.The chance of drawing an Ace is 1 in 13. The chance of drawing any number card is 1 in 52 and the chance of drawing a '10 Card'(10,J,Q,K) is 1 in 4.
When Should I Hit?
Depending on the style of Blackjack in question, you will need a special 'strategy card'; which will tell you exactly when to hit. These sorts of strategy cards are available on every casino floor; and there are tons of them on the internet as well. Each strategy card corresponds to a particular variation of the game (all calculated using number theories, statistics and betting strategies), although there are some rules that are shared on all Blackjack tables. For example, you should always hit if you have a total of 8 or less in your hand.
When Shouldn't I Hit?
You shouldn't hit if you have a total of 17 or more in your hand. You shouldn't hit if you have a pair of 8s, 9s and 10s as well. Never hit if you have a pair of Aces! Hitting on a soft hand (a hand, where one of your two cards is an Ace) is a good idea only if you have a low total. Don't hit if you have a soft 17,18,19,20, unless the dealer has a 10 or an Ace showing.
The Dealer
Let's not forget that the dealer will be playing as well (and hitting, obviously). Unlike the players however, he is not allowed to choose whether to hit or to stand. Some casinos will have their dealers hit on soft 17s, while others will always stand on all 17s.
Hit on soft 17s – Some variations of the game are based around the rule that the dealer must always hit when he has a total of 17 or more as his initial hand, and has at least one Ace in his hand. Let's say that they dealer has an Ace and a 6 (11+6=17). He must then hit, turning his 11 into a 1. This way, even of the dealer draws a 10 card, he won't bust (1+6=7, 7+10=17). Now the dealer has a hard 17, meaning that he no longer have any more Aces to turn into 1s, thus he will stop hitting.
Stand on all 17s – This time, a dealer must stand if he has a total of 17 or more; regardless of whether he has an Ace or not. He won't be allowed to hit any more cards!
More Articles Covering Blackjack
Blackjack Basics
Blackjack Rules
Blackjack Variations
Multi Hand Blackjack
Single Deck Blackjack Rules
Vegas Downtown Blackjack
Vegas Strip Blackjack Rules
Atlantic City Blackjack
How to Hit a Hand
Splitting Hands in Blackjack
Insurance in Blackjack
Surrender in Blackjack
Standing a Hand
Blackjack Double Down
Splitting Hands in Blackjack
Blackjack Odds
Blackjack Strategy for Playing Hands
Blackjack Cards and Hands Value


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