text: Saffire Persian Feline of Light and Shadow Age 32 Female Utah Seen November 6th, 2011 Posted June 2nd, 2010 140 posts 14.8 Years 1 June 5th, 2006 at 5:45 PM This is rated PG-13 to be safe, but I think it's more PG if anything. Comments/crits/etc. are greatly appreciated. This is a rather comedic-esque one-shot with a twist at the end. Loyalty By: Saffire Persian "Loyalty is still the same, whether it win or lose the game; true as a dial to the sun, although it be not shined upon." -- Samuel Butler You hate him. There's no plausible end to how much you hate him. Loathe him. Despise him. Every day now you see him, walking in a casual, leisurely fashion, like everything is just a walk in a meadow, complete with fluttering Beautifly and a pond filled with lilies. He does not take life seriously. Hard work -- true hard work of blood and sweat and toil, not the sissy stuff – is certainly not part of his daily routine. He never has done a single day's hard work in his life – that you are sure of. This is one of the many reasons why you hate him. To you, he has no positive qualities – no saving grace that might redeem him in your eyes. What's worse is that he's trying to take someone you care about away from you. He is trying to take Riley away. The stupid git should have never caught her attention in the first place. Whatever absurdity that caused him to notice her is something you try not to think about. You think that it was the first time you both saw him. It was during your lunch break, and you and Riley were wandering the streets of Saffron. He was one of the men walking along one of the crosswalks, carrying a load of papers clutched in one hand and a book in the other. He barely had finished crossing the road before he ran straight into a street sign, too busy reading his book to notice the giant pole in front of him. (Or perhaps he was watching someone else, but you'd rather not think about that.) And, of course, Riley just had to go and help him pick up his papers that were, by then, scattered across the ground and being trampled upon. (She always does stuff like this, cleaning up other people's messes. Why she doesn't just leave idiots to be idiots is something you have trouble comprehending.) It was a sickingly disturbing by-the-book case of 'love at first sight', and to your horror, he began to make an increasing habit of following Riley wherever she went. (And wherever she was, you were. Wherever she went, you went. There was no her without you. So of course you noticed.) One of the first events where it was so glaringly obvious, was the time you were at the coffee shop (he, incidentally went to the same place Riley, you, and the rest of the Police Team did for lunch) and he was stupid enough to spill coffee onto one of your comrade's partners named Blaze as he walked past. Now, Blaze is not a patient creature, always on the lookout for an excuse to fight, and in your most expert opinion, he possesses the same amount of intelligence as the man of whom had just spilt steaming hot coffee all over him. The man didn't know what orange fury hit him, but, you suppose, he did try to put on a gallant fight, and was doing a remarkable job armed with only a worn, dog-eared book. (The thing is, he and Blaze might share the same intelligence, but he, unlike Blaze, does not possess the ability to breathe fire.) You were not one of the ones that helped pull Blaze off the man that day; however, Riley was. Her golden, hawk-eyed gaze could tame the most savage of creatures, and cause the most hardened of criminals to cringe in terror. But this man – this man dared to smile, telling her, once he had been helped up, that: "Everything's all right. Don't worry about it. Not your fault." He looked as if an angel had just snatched him away from the fangs of death, saying: "Thank you." You wanted to say: "We save people's lives all the time, rat. You're not that special." (You're just stupid.) But you didn't. You just glared at him as he walked out of the coffee shop like a drunken man. Riley, however, laughed. It was then you knew that the man was going to be more problematic than previously thought, because no one could make her laugh. (No one but you.) He was not going to take Riley away. There was no way on the face of the earth you were gonna let him. But, as it turned out, he was going to make your new mission in life hard. But then again, you've always liked a challenge. When they came home after their first date, you were waiting. You glared at him with a vicious smile of uninhibited malice. And even though you did not say it, he knew exactly what you were telling him deep within those burning eyes: Bring it on, rat. (The war is on! The bugles are blazing, the bells are ringing, and the drums are sounding! Ready, steady, go!) One day, not long after their first date, you hear the doorbell ring and rush towards the door, intending to get there before Riley can even dream of answering it. You can already guess who's outside the door. It's the Rat, as you now fondly call him. You think you can smell the roses and you also can hear him pacing nervously back and forth on the other side of the door. Through the slit where the mail comes through, you see him. He's dressed in a fancy shirt and tie, looking for all the world like he was going to some sort of awards ceremony. You snort, disgusted at his attempt to look nice. If this man really knew Riley (and you're glad he doesn't) he would've known Riley could care less about displays of fashion sense. By Entei, Riley doesn't even like flowers. You try to stop Riley as she comes into the hallway from the exercise room. You attempt to push her back, distract her from going to the door, in hopes that the Rat will go away. But she perseveres, answering the door, dressed in her athletic attire. Her face is a surprised one when she recognizes who exactly came to the door, and you feel a bit relieved. That meant that she didn't know he was coming. The man looks embarrassed, turning the same shade as the roses in his hand. He stutters, absolutely tripping over his attempts to form a coherent sentence. You grin, but your entertainment is short lived. She accepts the invitation to dinner , while all you can do is sit there and watch in disbelief as she takes the roses and puts them on the table instead of into nearest trashcan. She goes to get ready, and the man flops onto the couch with a long, heavy sigh, wiping his brow. You growl in disgust. When they depart together, you're left alone. You have no intention of leaving the house; you'll stay until Riley and the Rat get back. Your angry eyes move over to the table, where the roses are placed, and grimace. An odd, but satisfying idea then comes into your head, and you drag the roses off the table and into the backyard. There, you have the pleasure of watching the roses burn, their red petals curling and writhing from the fire's touch before being reduced to insignificant, dead ashes. Totally, and completely unimportant. Worthless. That's what they are. Your smile widens. You can't help it if you're a pyro. **** When they return, you're lying spread-eagled on the couch, watching some stupid, trivial talk show on TV. You hear them before they even come in the door, laughing and joking as if they were childhood friends. (It's you who has been with her since the beginning. Not him.) Your eyes darken, the dark flames of anger burning deep within your chest. He's not made for her. You knew that from the day you had the misfortune of running into him. She's everything he's not. He smells of cologne, the cheap kind you can buy at the local store. It's almost flowery. Just smelling it makes your eyes itch and water. She smells of gunpowder, of fire and ash – the scent of battle and triumph. It's not something that can be so easily acquired, nor can it be bought cheaply. He's dressed fine and conservative in white, neatly ironed, made to perfection. The tie is straight, not an inch off and his shoes are shined. He's one who has too much time on his hands. She's the total antithesis, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt with her hair tied in a loose ponytail. She doesn't care about whether or not her shoes are shined or if her shirts are ironed. She knows she doesn't have the time to waste on trivial appearance protocols; instead, she focuses on what matters most, knowing each day could be her last. He works in an office, reeking of paperwork and computers, entering meaningless bits of data into a machine. He doesn't have to worry about whether or not somebody might be waiting to attack around the next corner. Why, the worst wound he's probably received is a paper cut. She works outside, exhausting her body to the physical limit. She pushes herself, each day as difficult as the last, and it never gets easier. She has scars from where bullets have scraped past her and Pokémon have attacked her. They will never go away. Never. You bury your face into a nearby pillow, eyes narrowing. The more you think about it, the more certain you are this man is not made for her, nor is he worthy, and the more certain you are of that, the more determined you are to stop him. Riley prepares to sit down on a cushion to the right of you, so you move out of the way, making room for her, but when the Rat comes you obstinately refuse to budge from your place and let him sit by Riley. So, he's forced to sit on the other side of you, as Riley puts in an action movie. You can see him watching you out of the corner of his eyes, looking extremely nervous. And he should be, you think, making your welcoming smile as feral as you can possibly make it. For two hours, you endure the agony of sitting right next to him. You can't stand him at all, but know if you budge the consequences of those actions will be far, far worse. Already, you have stopped three of his attempts to put his arm around Riley's shoulders. You let him know exactly what you thought of his dirty, underhanded ways when he tried, snapping at him angrily, and sitting up straight against the back of the couch. After the third time, he resigned himself to watching the movie in silence. It was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless. **** Your efforts of sabotage seem to be working, but the Rat has been proving to be as persistent as the species of which he is being compared to. He has persevered, despite your numerous attempts to let him know you hatred and disgust for him. In fact, his advances have been extremely common and frequent the last few weeks. He's been spending more and more time at the house lately. He's even been there before work's been over, seated on the couch, reading a book. Riley's given him a key, it seems. You do not like this new development in the least, but all you can do is watch, and wait for the next viable opportunity. That opportunity comes on Sunday two weeks later. He enters the house in the early afternoon. For once, his clothes are not neat, and he has a rather bedraggled, rag-tag appearance – like he's run on the treadmill for three minutes. Even you're surprised by his sudden change in look, and Riley's concerned as well, though you see she's trying to contain her laughter at the same time. "My apartment's flooded. All of it," he says despondently, flopping onto the couch. For the first time you've heard him, he curses loudly, muttering something about 'Grimer' and 'pipes'. You string that together, and smirk. You didn't notice it before, too baffled by his appearance, but he does smell suspiciously like acid and sludge. Riley tries to look halfway apologetic and manages it. You don't even try. ****** Riley's gone to check the apartment out herself, taking some of your fellow police team mates with her. You know nothing about pipes and pluming, and you're totally useless when it comes to that stuff, or else you would have gone with her. Plus, you don't exactly savor the idea about having to wade through knee-deep, sludgy water – you really don't like it at all. So.... you are stuck with the Rat for the time being. Alone. Forty-five minutes pass. Currently, you both are staring at one another. You're sitting lazily on the floor, looking bored, and he is standing up just feet away from you, tapping his foot. You both make eye contact, and you immediately look away at a cuckoo clock on the opposite wall. Tick. Tock. Tick. Silence. Tick. Tock. Tick. You notice he's watching you, an unreadable expression on his pale, dirty face. You snort, feeling the tenseness in the air. It's an almost tangible thing. Tick. Tock. Tick. He shuffles his shoeless feet across the carpet. Then, breaking the silence, he says: "You know... I feel that there's some...animosity between us." Your eyes move from the clock to him rather lazily. Really? you think, rolling your eyes. What gave you that idea? But you don't say anything out loud. Instead, you watch him squirm. He looks frustrated. "Why am I even talking to you?" he says, brushing his hand through his hair and grimacing. "It's not like you listen to me." A pause. He sighs. "I smell like sludge. " You wrinkle your nose in response. He walks halfway towards bathroom, then stops by the living room table, brows furrowing. You don't move. Tick. Tock. Tick. "Out," he says. It takes you a moment to finally realize what he said. Out? OUT?! "Yes, out," he says, noticing your suddenly wide-eyed expression. He sounds a bit nervous, reaching for a red and white object on the table. You glare at him. Bite me. **** You stare, practically burning a hole through the glass door that stands between you and the inside of the house – and that rat. You're still fuming. How dare he use such underhanded tactics to get you out of the house. You never knew the Rat had that much of a backbone. He's been spending too much time with Riley, you decide for the umpteenth time today. She does the same thing when she wants you out of the house and you stubbornly refuse to leave for some reason for other. For her, though, it's justified, as unfair as it is. For him, it isn't. He'll pay for it. You continue to gaze through the glass, snorting before standing up, determined. He may have locked you out from this side, but you have other ways to get on – ones that he wouldn't know about, or think about. Your spirit heartened, you run down the stairs of the deck to the other side of the house, slipping through an entrance only you use. Riley locks it when she kicks you out, but the Rat wouldn't know about that now, would he? You're inside, enjoying the whirring sound of the air conditioner, a newfound sense of conquest rising within you. Slowly, you make your way down the hall. Steady, but sure, you don't make a sound as you carefully continue onward, step-by-step -- it's natural, just like another training exercise. Soon, the sound of running water greets you as you continue along the hall – that as well as some off-tune singing. You wince. Badly off-tune. But you've been taught to persevere, no matter what the situation. Your head peeks around the corner. Clear. Just like you thought it would be. And now that you're closer, you can determine exactly what the Rat is up to. He's in the shower. Eyes narrowing to tiny, cat-like slits, you decide he has been feeling much too comfortable inside the house as of late. You'll have to do something about that. Your grimace morphs into a grin as you gently push open the bathroom door. It never quite closes properly – never has; with a single push you can usually urge it ajar without it making much of a sound. Riley's never bothered to fix it. Besides, with that singing, you doubt he'll hear anything at all. **** Five minutes later, you find yourself back outside, your head dangling over the deck in contemplation. A pile of clothes and a towel -- his clothes and towel to be exact -- rests beside you in a great, jumbled heap. The Rat never even saw you, and you never saw him. You just dragged his clothes out of the bathroom, and the towel for good measure. They had been lying on the floor, just begging you to take them. So you did. And no, you don't feel the least bit guilty about it. In fact, you feel rather accomplished, and the clothing (acidic smelling as it is) is an apt emblem of your victory. Now, to burn or not to burn? That is the question. The more rational side of your brain tells you to leave his clothes alone – it's probably the best set he has, and perhaps the only set, depending on how bad his apartment's flooded. But the other side, the not quite so sane side, is telling you to make a bonfire out of it, and dance merrily in the flames and laugh like a mad man. **** It was a pity no one was around to see the green, red, and orange flames as they burned with manic frenzy. The acid, sludge, and other chemicals in his clothes turned out to be a bit flammable. (Hence the green.) But the fire has long gone out – its lifespan lasting a total of about three minutes. The clothes and towel had long since disappeared into a pile of soot, smoke the only hazy remnant from the raging fire. You still feel a bit giddy from your exploit, lying on the deck enjoying the sun. The door to the backyard creeks open, and you sit up. Riley emerges, looking triumphant. You rise to greet her, never mind the sewage smell. She laughs and waves before she spots the rather large pile of ash in the middle of the sidewalk. She sighs and shakes her head. "Burning things again, are we?" You shrug. "Well, I hope it wasn't anything important." You shake your head just as an unearthly, angry scream resonates from inside the house. Riley, rushes to the door, her face quickly changing from alarm to fear as she finds out the door's locked. "Come on!" she yells angrily (at you, or the keys, you don't know) fumbling with the keys as she tries to open the door. You stand up, taking your merry time as the door slides open and Riley rushes in, her gun now in hand, with you following close behind. Riley runs with practiced ease through the entrance, looking around every corner with her hawk-eyes. Finally, you both arrive to the long hallway that leads to the bathroom - the door is open, and just ten feet ahead of the door is a body, clothed in shadow. All the lights are suspiciously off. "Freeze!" Riley yells, and you decide, just for the heck of it (after all, why not?) to reiterate her command. The body moves, and says a familiar word, his voice barely a whisper, sounding suddenly stressed. "Riley…" Oh, it's no thief. It's only a rat. (Of course, you knew that all along.) Riley flips on the light switch. The lights chase away the shadows, and with the newfound light comes a very startling revelation. You blink as the idea takes hold, and **** your head. Make that one very naked rat. It takes a few moments for that idea to make its way into both Riley and the Rat's brain, both staring at each other, completely and utterly stupefied, their thoughts probably scattered like bowling pins. The Rat's yell of surprise and horror finally frees an embarrassed shriek from Riley. Both Riley and the Rat turn a deep shade of crimson, before making a very hasty retreat; Riley darts around a corner, while and the Rat bolts behind the bathroom door, slamming it shut. You, meanwhile, just sit and watch – it really doesn't bug you. There is a moment of warranted silence. Tick. Tock. Tick. Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Riley laughs – a short laugh as the shock of the encounter wears off. You can see her trying to find her voice, slowly shaking her head with her hand over her eyes. "Well," she yells loudly, her voice strained. "Um.. well. We umm.. fixed…er… your … Grimer problem." A quiet voice from behind the door answers, reeking with a high-pitched, fake sense of cheeriness. "Great!" Silence fills the room once more, until you hear the Rat sigh. "Umm… you don't have any clothes I could wear, do you? A robe another towel or something – anything." You snicker, and Riley, her face flushing back to its original color, looks confused. "I thought you had some." "Well, that's the thing…" he says back, chuckling nervously. "You'll probably think I'm crazy… but… well, when I came out of the shower, they were…umm…gone. The door was open, so I went out to go and try and find them – or something else… as I really don't have…err…anything and no one else was in the house at the time, and then… well…" "Gone?..." Slowly, the fate of what happened to the Rat's clothes seems to dawn upon her. She looks at you, wide eyed. "You didn't…" You don't make any motion to deny it. She slaps a hand to her face. "You did." ***** You had expected Riley to chew you out after your current endeavor, but she didn't. All Riley made you do in apology was bring him a sack of clothes (Courtesy of a male friend of Riley's). Once the Rat had gotten all necessary things to be able to be seen public he left, saying he'd be staying at a hotel until his apartment was fixed. Riley didn't bother to stop him. And to make matters even better, your venture, as it turned out, had been a success; you haven't seen the Rat for two weeks now. He hasn't called and he hasn't come over, nor has he been to the coffee shop at all – he didn't even let Riley know what hotel he was staying at. You've seen him but once, and he left the building as quickly as was humanly possible, both he and Riley blushing like mad. You enjoy the newfound freedom of not having the Rat trail you and Riley everywhere with extreme gusto, not taking a single moment for granted. For once, everything seems to be going back to normal again. Everything's finally as it should be. And you hoped it would stay that way. **** For another week, your luck holds out, and each day you come home, savoring the time spent with just you and Riley; although the police work has been keeping the both of you busy. Often, you've been coming home now, completely and utterly exhausted from the amount of work put upon you, to the point all you want to do is sleep. Right now, you're following a trail of a Rocket member uncover. It's tedious work, walking the streets of Saffron City day in and day out, following leads, and whatever else you can find. So far, those leads have been few and far in-between, and you've been following near-dead trails for days, but you feel your luck's about to change. (You've never failed a mission before, and you don't intend to start now.) The thought of failing makes you work at an almost obsessed pace, and you quite literally drag Riley along through the thick crowds of people and Pokémon alike each time you go out to work. And this day is no exception. So far, it's been like every other normal day: cars whiz by across the streets, vendors sell their wares, and constant battles from trainers are going on all around. It makes it hard to work; the sights and smells intermingle with one another, and with the constant jabber of the metropolis, it's hard to hear. You're used to working in such conditions, but the distractions do not please you in the least. All you concretely know is that he's here – the Rocket man. He's lurking about, using the crowds for cover. You've seen his picture, and know what he looks like, but even though he might stand out with a scar above his eye, Saffron is so crowded, even he could be easily overlooked. Suddenly, you hear a yell and you look up just in time to see a thread of long, white flame flash in the sky, before disappearing. Your heartbeat quickens, and excitement surges through your veins like electricity. It's the sign! Someone's found him! (But the thread of flame is also a call for reinforcements.) You need no more incentive, darting through the crowd with Riley close on your heels. You navigate through the maze of people – pushing, shoving, and yelling, your eyes fixed on where the flame had come from. You speed up as you break through into an open space, taking a moment to look over your shoulder. Riley's having a hard time breaking through, as she's clad in her civilian clothing. You'll have to go forward without her. Another shot of flame bursts in the sky just ahead of you, and it doesn't take long before you hear the sounds of battle – roaring, yelling, orders being given. You round the corner quickly, spotting the battle just a few yards away. Scared? (Not in the least.) Nervous? (Why should you be?) Excited? (Always.) Ready…. (Your heart is pounding; muscles tensing; eyes constricting…) Steady… (The thrilling song of battle is in your ears, increasing in volume at a rapid crescendo, filling your body with adrenaline and fire…) Go! You enter the fray in a matter of moments, dodging blasts of energy that ripple past you through the air. You can hear orders being given above the commotion, and through the mass of bodies, both friend and foe, you can see the Rocket you're after. But you'll have to get through his Pokémon first. You dodge to the side as another blast of energy shoots past you, your own fiery bullets finding their marks with amazing, deadly accuracy. You can see Blaze dart past you, roaring aloud, baring his fangs in a fearsome snarl as fire erupts out of his throat. On the other side, you can see Sinatra the Commander's Ninetales, slowly weaving her way through the pack of fighting animals, glowing white. Each tail is surrounded by a silver nimbus, and you can see the beginnings of Imprision at its work – the faint wisps as thin as fish line, but stronger than steel. She's just waiting for the opportune moment – for the Commander to give the final order. But the time is not yet, there are still enemies to dispatch. The Rocket's Fearow dives toward you, but your assault sends it reeling in pain, cawing as it attempts to keep afloat, while at the same time looking murderous. It dives. You brace yourself for the strike, but neither you nor the Fearow see Blaze's torrent of fire until it slams into the back of the bird mercilessly, singing both beak, talon, and feather to an almost blackened color, pushing it into the pavement. The Fearow has barely time to utter a frustrated caw before Blaze takes it down for the count. Then, through the mass of confusion, comes two almost simultaneous flashes of evanescent light. Out of the white haze, you hear the man giving an order to his newly appeared companions: two large Weezing. "Smog!" Immediately, all four heads release a spew of thick, purple gas. It clouds the air with its sickly purple haze, becoming larger, laced with poison. You can't see through the thick veil, and the Smog stings your eyes and obscures your vision, and all you can smell is the sickly, rotting scent. But you keep running. You have to keep running – you can't let the Rocket get away. Frustrated cries are coming from all sides of you as you run – the smog has no doubt filled the area, and it will take time to disperse. Your team's most lethal weapon: fire, cannot be used here, as you know from experience the deadly haze is flammable, and the merest touch of fire could trigger a large, devastating explosion. So all you can do is plow through, and hope you're heading in the right direction. You finally escape out of the smog into the free air. Looking around quickly, you spot Sinatra chasing after the Rocket and his remaining fighters as they flee across the street, just a foot behind them. But she'll need help. You rocket forward, dead set and determined to secure your goal. (You will not fail.) As you dash across the pavement, you look back over your shoulder; you see only the billows of violet and a few stumbling bodies as they clear the fog. One of them, you think is Riley. She had better be watching. Your eyes return to your the Rocket, now running at a dead sprint. You move onto the road, your concentration fully on the just yards ahead of you. You'll be upon him any time, now, and victory will be yours. But so concentrated are you on your goal that you don't see the car coming up the street. It's only when you hear Riley's panicked voice that you snap out of your reverie. You slow down, looking over your shoulder to see if anything's wrong. It's then, in that one terrible moment, that you hear the horn on the car blare and the warning cries of bystanders as they scream at you to get out of the way. (But the cries sound echoed, as if they're coming from a place far, far away.) It's then you smell the scent of burnt rubber on asphalt as the car tires screech against the road. (But the smells are dulled, like smoke from a fire long gone out.) It's then you see the car – a great monster hurtling toward you. It won't stop in time. (But you can't move; your legs are frozen, and your mind is in a shocked stupor.) They say that when you're about to die, your life flashes before your eyes, but it is not so. Your mind is a blank slate, uncomprehending – even the feelings of fear are dulled. It's like you're watching the coming events from behind another's eyes. Only one single word floats about in the blackened void. Why? Your eyes close, and your body prepares for impact – Suddenly, warm arms wrap around your torso, pulling you up and back. Then, you and the body collide against the curb as the one who picked you up throws their body to the side – away from the car as it darts past. You slowly open your eyes. You're alive. "That was close." A nervous laugh. The voice is familiar, your eyes widen. It's the Rat. Gradually, your thoughts kick back into gear, and the realization on what's just happened hits you like a Thunderbolt. Did he just…. save you? Stunned beyond all reason, you don't even utter a sigh of relief. All you can do is stare – stare at the man who has just saved you. You can't quite believe it. You don't want to believe it. "You're both so – so stupid!" Both yours and the Rat's head snap around at the sound of Riley's voice. She's standing just feet away from the both of you, tears brimming at the corners of her eyes. It's one of the only times you've seen her cry. "Riley…" "I don't want to hear it. " You blink, now deeply aware the Rat's arms are still around your torso. You wriggle out of his grasp, and walk slowly back onto the sidewalk, sitting at Riley's feet. The Rocket isn't of concern anymore – Sinatra will take care of him, and the rest of the team. Riley needs you now. "You stupid dog," Riley says, sighing as she sinks down to her knees, scratching you behind the ears. "You know better. You know better." She then embraces you, holding on as if she'll never let go, tears falling down from her pale face onto your red fur. You bark in reassurance - showing her that you're still here, giving her a lopsided grin. Her tears slowly fade, and her gaze leaves yours, wandering over to the curb where the Rat is sitting, looking at a small, shiny object in his palm. "What were you even thinking? The car… you..." He jerks, surprised, and the shiny object falls from his hand and into the ditch. He doesn't bother fetching it, and looks over his shoulder at Riley. He shrugs. "I don't know. People just do crazy things sometimes… for different reasons." You break out of Riley's embrace, a determined gleam entering your eyes. You step off the curve into the ditch. You spot the golden object hidden in bits of asphalt and dirt It's a ring. Crazy, huh? Well, his actions may have been crazy, but you're going to top it, right here, right now. You pick up the ring carefully in your jaws, and paw at the Rat's pant leg. He turns. You open your mouth just a bit, letting him see the diamond ring clenched carefully in your jaws, before depositing it in his outstretched hand. Definitely crazy. But… He quickly pockets it before Riley can see. He nods once, showing his understanding, before standing up and going to Riley's side while you watch on. …you suppose you can share… just this once. Battle ye not with a monster, lest ye become one. +Other Fanfictional Works+ In Her Dreams| Metamorphosis | Loyalty | Chance | The Ties that Bind | Dividing the Bones | Finding Courage Share Facebook Twitter Promote post… Respond Ignore User Report


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*Bury HF Walking Club
'The Club offers walks on 4 different days with 5 groups covering a range of distances, ascents and for different abilities, ranging from easier ambles of 3-4 miles up to strenuous 15 mile hikes.'
'To provide healthy enjoyment of leisure and to encourage love of open air and promote social friendship. All members are asked to support events and walks arranged for their enjoyment.'
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- Welwyn Garden City Centenary WalkCategory: Welwyn HatfieldDistance (miles): 12Created:

subset: commoncrawl


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Marrakech with Soludos.
March 15, 2016
Photography by my lovely friend Grant Legan
Greetings from this beautiful place I visited months ago with my Soludos family! This is the third post of some of my looks while we explored parts of Marrakech together.
The riads we visited were beyond beautiful, I couldn't help but daydream about living in a place like that. The tile work on both the floor and walls was exquisite, leaving them as perfect backdrops to take photos with!
The sandals gave each of my looks the perfect effortless look to prance around town. Take a look at all the beautiful places and of coarse all the beautiful Soludos shoes I wore!
See you in my next post guys, kiss!


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Title: A Conjuring of Light (2017)
Series: Shades of Magic – Book 3
Author: V. E. Schwab
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Fantasy
Extent: 624 pages
Release Date: February 21, 2017
Rating: ★★★★☆
Goodreads Description
Londons fall and kingdoms rise while darkness sweeps the Maresh Empire—and the fraught balance of magic blossoms into dangerous territory while heroes and foes struggle alike.
The direct sequel to A Gathering of Shadows, and the final book in the Shades of Magic epic fantasy series, A Conjuring of Light sees Schwab reach a thrilling culmination concerning the fate of beloved protagonists—and old enemies.
A Conjuring of Light, unsurprisingly, is probably my most anticipated release of the year. I have been completely enamoured by the characters and the magic ever since I picked up A Darker Shade of Magic last year, and the ending in A Gathering of Shadows just about killed me. While this series has some flaws, there's just something about it that pulls me in and transports me into a whole new world when I'm reading it. It's pure escapism.
Unlike the previous books in this series, A Conjuring of Light starts right in the middle of the action and wastes no time diving into the plot. You don't really get a chance to rest as the protagonists and villains gear up for that final confrontation. Fortunately, we're gifted smatterings of humour in the midst of all the chaos, thanks to the banter between the characters:
"What are we drinking to?"
"The living," said Rhy.
"The dead," said Alucard and Lila at the same time.
"We're being thorough," added Rhy.
One of my favourite things about the Shades of Magic series is for sure the magic. I've always been a fan of more… scientific or logical magic, shall we say, and I think Schwab has developed a world that's actually consistent. In this way, she forces her characters to take the hard way out, never once making it easy for them that victory actually feels impossible in some moments. Her writing, too, is smart and snappy as always, perhaps more action-packed than usual due to the plot.
Yet despite the world-building, despite the magic, despite the writing… the characters are what truly shines throughout this whole series and particularly in this book:
- Kell's concern for Rhy is extremely touching and I really appreciate that it was reciprocated in equal measure — despite the difficulties that these two have, they are unquestionably brothers and would do absolutely everything to ensure that each other is safe.
- Rhy has really, really grown. I've always liked him but I didn't love him until here; he really took charge and 'came of age', so to speak.
- Emira and Maxim, the King and Queen, played a bigger role in this book. I particularly appreciate Emira's dedication to being a mother (as opposed to just a queen) and Maxim's dedication to being a king (as opposed to just a father) — it provided a very interesting contrast that made me think.
- Holland's life is so, so tragic. I just want to wrap him up in a warm, thick blanket and give him a cuppa so he could finally breathe.
- Lila has had to be a badass in a different way in ACOL. I'm so proud of her for rising to that challenge and finally developing some… attachments.
- Kell and Lila, oh my god.
I really only have one major gripe with ACOL: while it's pretty thick, it avoids answering some questions I have about the characters even though it has plenty of chances for doing so. Instead, that space is taken by extraneous POVs from tertiary characters that I don't think really added anything to the plot. I get that loose ends can be 'realistic', but I want answers, damn it!
"Love and loss," he said, "are like a ship and the sea. They rise together. The more we love, the more we have to lose. But the only way to avoid loss is to avoid love. And what a sad world that would be."
I'd say this, however: that ending is just about as perfect as I think it could be. It's exactly what I imagined for the characters and yet still unfolded in a way that pleasantly surprised me. In the end, this whole series has been such a wonderful, magical ride — I know I'd be rereading it again and again in years to come.


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CARSON — The most prolific goal-scoring team in Major League Soccer had a terrible attack Sunday night in the first leg of the Western Conference semifinals at the Home Depot Center.
Then strapping defender Victor Bernardez let one fly on a free kick with seconds left to give the Earthquakes a stirring 1-0 victory over rival Los Angeles in front of a sellout crowd of 27,000.
The 6-foot-2 Honduran international stunned the Galaxy with another late goal to put San Jose a step closer to reaching the conference finals after more than 90 minutes of taut action that seemed headed for a scoreless draw.
Bernardez spent the game trying to fend off Los Angeles' galaxy of stars, including Ireland's Robbie Keane.
But when it was his time to strike, the center back had one thought:
"It's always to score," he said in Spanish.
The regular-season champions left MLS's star-studded team dismayed.
The Quakes had rallied three times against Los Angeles this year, winning twice and tying last month at Buck Shaw Stadium. Now the teams play Wednesday night at Buck Shaw; the series winner will be determined on total goals in both games.
The Quakes (19-6-9 in the regular season) have not lost at Buck Shaw Stadium in 18 matches dating to last season. They need only a tie to advance against Seattle or Real Salt Lake.
It could not have worked out much better for MLS's top-scoring team with 72 goals in the regular season. Keeping Los Angeles (16-12-6) out of the net wasn't easy. Keane hit the crossbar with a dangerous strike in the 85th minute that might have turned the game in the Galaxy's favor.
But second-half substitute Simon Dawkins gave San Jose one last try in extra time when getting fouled near the penalty area. Bernardez likes to take shots from distance — this one was about 30 yards out. He struck a low-lying ball that squirted underneath L.A. goalkeeper Josh Saunders as the Galaxy looked shocked.
It was the Quakes' ninth stoppage-time goal this year and sixth game-winner.
"I've seen that shot move in practice," teammate Chris Wondolowski said. "It's tough to stop."
Bernardez's goal adds to the memorable playoff matches the teams have experienced. The 2003 series was one of MLS's best in its 17-year history, when San Jose rallied from a two-goal deficit in the first game to advance to the conference finals.
Two years later, the Quakes won the Supporters' Shield as regular-season champions only to get bounced by Los Angeles in the first round of the playoffs.
Despite numerous injuries, the Galaxy had lost only one game in its previous 10, including a knockout playoff game against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Thursday. Los Angeles had won five consecutive playoff games until Sunday.
The Earthquakes don't plan to back off Wednesday, the players promised.
"It would be really foolish of us to sit back," said Alan Gordon, who played in the second half despite nursing an ankle sprain. "We're going to try to win the game."
The Earthquakes held the hosts to a scoreless first half despite being thoroughly outplayed by the Galaxy's superior passing and defending. San Jose had none of the dynamism that led to a 72-goal regular season.
The Quakes' only real threat came in the third minute when star forward Wondolowski broke free because of a misplayed ball by defender Tommy Meyer. But the league's leading scorer struck just wide from a difficult angle.
For the next 40-plus minutes, Los Angeles controlled the tempo, as the Earthquakes seemed more interested in keeping the score close in the first leg.
The Galaxy's best chance came in the eighth minute on David Beckham's short free kick that found two teammates behind the defense. But a twisting Keane headed it just wide of the net. An inch the other way and the Earthquakes would have been in trouble with goalkeeper Jon Busch on the ground.
Contact Elliott Almond at 408-920-5865. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/elliottalmond.


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As Fire assistant coach Mike Matkovich enters his second season with the first team, his boss will again be different from the year before. The Chicago soccer fixture enters his fourth season as an assistant coach in MLS, doing so with the distinction of serving under a different manager each season.
Hailing from Naperville, Matkovich found his beginning with the Chicago Magic, spending 18 years with the club while helping to build it into one of the most successful and well-respected youth clubs in the nation. His peak with the Magic came in 2000 when he was named NSCAA Coach of the Year.
"I take away a lot of pride from my time with the Magic," said Matkovich. "I played a big part in building an environmental academy at a time when those were mostly an afterthought around the country. We had a lot of success with our model, keeping it very professional and winning a lot of championships."
The very type of academy that Matkovich helped bring along during the 90's was an early predecessor to the current integrated club setup that the Chicago Fire now enjoy.
Following his time with the Magic, Matkovich took charge of the Chicago Fire Reserves (now Chicago Fire PDL), leading the club to a 79-15-4 record, four division titles and an appearance in the 2003 Premier Development League Championship match. During his time with the Fire Reserves, Matkovich coached current Fire defender Dasan Robinson as well as former Fire forward Chris Rolfe.
"This club has always been ahead of the game when it comes to player development," he remarked. "The PDL side, saw a lot of very good players come through, whether it was Dasan or Rolfe, or national team regulars like Jay DeMerit, Jonathan Spector, Brad Guzan or Ricardo Clark, the dedication to the concept has always been strong. With the recommitment to player development from our owner [Andrew Hauptman] and Carlos [de los Cobos], things will continue to go in the right direction."
With success abundant at the PDL level, Matkovich found his way north of the border, serving as an assistant coach to Mo Johnston for expansion side Toronto FC in 2007. The next year, Matkovich headed west, taking up with Chivas USA, under the direction of former U.S. international Preki. When a spot on Denis Hamlett's coaching staff opened up with his hometown club early last season, Matkovich made his way back to the Windy City.
"Working for different guys from year-to-year has been interesting. You realize there's definitely more than one way to skin a cat and part of moving around is about getting new ideas and finding different methods to work with players. I'm glad to be back because my desire was always to return to Chicago."
Now under his fourth boss in as many years, Matkovich takes on the duties of being first assistant to Fire head coach Carlos de los Cobos. His role under new management will see him return to his roots, taking bigger with the club's player development initiatives as well as playing a bigger part in scouting opponents, the rest he says, remains the same.
"A lot of the things I'll be doing are the same," he said. "Though specifically I work more closely with the players on an individual basis and try to be an outlet for them, communicating what the manager wants while also giving the guys a voice at the top that they feel comfortable with."
As the Fire look forward to their next preseason match, Thursday, February 25 against Chivas de Guadalajara, Matkovich is encouraged by the team's form and the way players have received the new coaching staff.
"We have a very competitive group of players in camp this year and I think that in part comes down to the level of trialists we currently have. Carlos and Alvaro [Briones] have been a breath of fresh air to the club and really have inspired the players to raise their game early on in preseason. There's still some time before we kickoff our but we're happy so far with the work the players have put in."


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Live from Paris Air & Space Show today: CryoSat
Today in the ESA pavilion at the Paris Air & Space show, ESA's CryoSat - Europe's first satellite dedicated to the study of ice. Results from measurements performed during the first year of the mission will be presented. Streaming starts at 12:00 CEST.


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For dairy producer Dino Giacomazzi of Hanford, Calif., the use of his smartphone is one of the greatest tools that he has on his farm.
Smartphones have revolutionized the way business is done across the world and the handheld multi-purpose devices can lead to improved efficiency in the dairy industry.
For dairy producer Dino Giacomazzi of Hanford, Calif., the use of his smartphone is one of the greatest tools that he has on his farm.
During the Elite Producer Business Conference in Las Vegas, Giacomazzi shared some tips with other producers on how he gets the most out of his smartphone during a workshop session called "Getting Smart with Smartphones."
Giacomazzi is a fourth-generation dairyman who runs a 950-cow dairy and farms 600 acres. Prior to coming back to the family operation, Giacomazzi worked in the music industry and later gained an interest in creating websites.
He describes himself as a "nerd and a tech geek" because of that experience working on Internet programing.
"That's why I have a lot of interests and spend a lot of time messing around with these apps. I try to find ways to use my phone to make what I do on the farm more efficient, make better use of my time and have access to more information," said Giacomazzi.
Apps are the most powerful reason to use smartphones and even tablets, like an Apple iPad or Microsoft Surface.
Giacomazzi uses an array of apps on his smartphone and tablet to help him in his everyday work on the dairy.
Here are some of the apps that Giacomazzi utilizes and a description of what he does with some of them:
- Remember The Milk: Is a task management program that is "cloud based," meaning data is stored via the Internet. He keeps notes on this app with a voice command note taker. It allows him to better manage his day-to-day operations by tagging tasks that need to be done with reminders that are geo-sensitive. For instance, if Giacomazzi is in town, a reminder can be sent to him that lists items that should be purchased for the farm.
- Dropbox: This cloud-based, file-sharing program can be installed on a computer. It synches between multiple computers and mobile devices to allow file downloads from anywhere. On Giacomazzi's farm, he has billing information kept on Dropbox, which allows him to keep up to date on his accounting. He also shares documents with his veterinarian via Dropbox rather than faxing or emailing them.
- Google Drive: A document program that can be accessed by multiple users to work on and it is totally collaborative. Giacomazzi uses Google Drive for in the field data collection on things like dry matter testing or treatments of calves.
- Evernote: It is a great place to store lots of information. He has created separate folders to store files like resumes for prospective employees or travel information.
- TeamViewer: The program allows the user to remotely control a desktop computer.
- Genius Scan: Is an app that acts like a scanner to create PDFs out of documents or images.
- Flipboard: Can create custom magazines and newspapers with subscriptions to various news websites like the Huffington Post or New York Times. The app can also follow Twitter and pickup links that are sent on the social media website.
- Duolingo: The free language education app is useful for producers who may have employees who don't speak English. It can translate documents and webpages.
Giacomazzi jokingly said, "I sort of think a smartphone is for stupid people." He related that you lose all this information that you've learned like math formulas or directions, and that smartphones serve as a place to store some of those excess memories.
"My smartphone has sort of become an extension of my brain. It gives me the opportunity to offload things from my own brain that the phone does better than I do," said Giacomazzi.


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What's the best way to set up a consultation or an appointment with a photographer during the COVID-19 pandemic?
The best way to set up an appointment or a consultation with a photographer near you during the COVID-19 pandemic is by conducting an online search. Start by scheduling a call with the photographer. If possible, it may be better to use a video call service so that the photographer can get an idea of the site location. Take this opportunity to discuss safety measures you can take during this time, as well as whether it's safe to complete the project now or simply postpone it.
Are there ways to be safe if I hire a photographer when social distancing?
If you decide to hire a photographer, see if the photographer can take photos outdoors or in a large space so all involved parties can maintain the recommended distance between themselves. You should also sanitize surfaces, avoid handshakes, don't make any other physical contact and use digital platforms to complete payments. Speak with a local photographer in your area to put a strategy in place.
How can I find out if a photographer is considered an essential COVID-19 service provider?
Consult your city or state's government websites, which typically have information on which services are deemed essential during the pandemic.
For national information, visit CISA's page on Identifying Critical Infrastructure During COVID-19. Here, you can find 16 different types of essential infrastructure sectors that can continue operating unimpeded during the pandemic. But some, not all, jurisdictions follow CISA's definitions of critical infrastructure.
Do photographers offer remote or virtual services?
Photography happens in person, but photographers may be able to offer other remote services safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, they may be able to offer editing and other post-processing services.
If you see that a photographer is offering remote services in their profile, contact them and ask what those services include.
Can I use digital payments to pay for wedding and event photography services?
As digital forms of payment and money transfer are becoming more popular, wedding and event photographers are likely to use digital services. These include PayPal, Zelle, Google Pay, Venmo, Square Cash and more. As you search online for local wedding and event photographers, ask them if they accept digital payments and, if so, which ones you can use. And make sure to have a strategy in place for safe social distancing.
Does a photographer need to enter my home?
There are many situations in which a photographer does not need to enter your home. It's not uncommon for people to prefer to have their pictures taken outdoors. If you're hiring a photographer, maintain safe distances, avoid being in the same room, sanitize all involved surfaces and conduct payment using digital platforms. You can discuss strategies as you complete your search for local photographers.
How much does it cost for a photographer for a wedding?
Finding the right wedding photographer can make a big difference for your ceremony. Nationally, the average wedding photographer's price ranges from $800 to $1,000, but costs can be much higher in areas like Chicago, New York or Los Angeles where some couples spend $2,000 to $5,000 or more for the photographer they want. Factors that can affect your wedding photographer prices include the photographer's reputation and experience. Heavy hitters can command top rates, especially during wedding-season weekends. Day of the week also affects your cost. You may get a $200 discount on wedding photographer prices if you get married on a Friday in November rather than a Saturday in June. Time onsite is also an important cost factor. Hiring a photographer to snap photos from the moment you wake up until after last call at the reception is going to cost more than five hours of pictures during the day. Multiple photographers, special lighting, and videography will also increase your costs. Ultimately you want to find someone who has a style you love and can provide the number of edited shots you want for a price you can handle. Learn more about hiring a wedding photographer.


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"Exploring Tools - Special Microscopes" is a hands-on activity in which visitors use a flexible magnet as a model for a scanning probe microscope. They learn that SPMs are an example of a special tool that scientists use to work on the nanoscale.
Product category
Download link
Spanish Files
Big Idea
Scientists use special tools and equipment to work on the nanoscale.
Learning Goals
Scientists use special tools and equipment to work on the nanoscale.
Nano Content Map
Nanometer-sized things are very small, and often behave differently than larger things do.
Scientists and engineers have formed the interdisciplinary field of nanotechnology by investigating properties and manipulating matter at the nanoscale.
Year created
Developed for the NISE Network with funding from the National Science Foundation under Award Numbers 0532536 and 0940143. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this product are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.
Development Process
NISE Network products are developed through an iterative collaborative process that includes scientific review, peer review, and visitor evaluation in accordance with an inclusive audiences approach. Products are designed to be easily edited and adapted for different audiences under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike license. To learn more, visit our Development Process page.


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34 Million American Gamers Play Roughly 22 Hours a Week
The gaming habits of over 34 million Americans are going to shock you.
Game Informer reports that a recent study done by the NPD group on nearly 8,000 Americans had some alarming results. This sample, of ages nine and above, provided the NPD group with enough data to make a shocking conclusion. The NPD group quantified that over 34 million people in the United States game for roughly 22 hours per week, which translates to over 13 percent of the entire week. To put this into perspective, working a 40 hour work week takes up almost 24 percent.
This data was taken between March 10-28 and included PC, console and mobile game players. Many traditional genres were observed by this study, including adventure, action, MMOs, racing, RPG, shooter, sports and fighting games. The most time logged by gamers were mainly done by console and PC players, but two-thirds of the entire gaming population sampled also played games on their mobile devices. NPD reports that about 74 percent of the surveyed people preferred owning physical gaming media over digital, which was at 79 percent with last year's study. This can be attributed to the popularity of digital game providers like Steam and the digital offerings of newer consoles. Also, 70 percent of all people surveyed play multiplayer games either occasionally or regularly.
Now if you'll excuse us, we have a controller in dire need of our attention.


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Irrigation School
Want to learn more about irrigation techniques? Texas A&M University's Irrigation Technology Center offers online courses geared toward farmers. A course on center pivot irrigation is already available. Additional courses are being added.
"We have big plans. We hope to develop in stages for growers interested in both studying and getting credit for studying," says Guy Fipps, Texas Extension irrigation specialist.
The irrigation courses are available for anyone and are eligible for continuing education credits. Completing them involves both reading and taking tests. They can be started at any time. Cost is $24.
For more information, go to the Irrigation Technology Center Web site at http://irrigation.tamu.edu.
Aerial Imagery System Helps Save Water
Traditionally, farmers irrigate by the calendar, but that can be wasteful—at times giving crops more water than they need. Doug Hunsaker, an ag engineer at the USDA–Agricultural Research Service's Arid-Land Agricultural Research Center in Maricopa, Ariz., is using remote-sensing technologies to conserve water by estimating crop needs at specific sections within fields, rather than assuming those needs are the same across the field.
Ideally, farmers could identify areas with high or low water needs with data transmitted to their computers and, using either a drip or a sprinkler system, adjust irrigation levels based on the data.
In a recent study, Hunsaker collected remote sensing images from aerial surveys of a 4-acre cotton field divided into 40 plots. The imagery tracked plant growth and water needs by capturing reflected light from the field in red and near infrared wavelengths; the bigger the cotton plants, the more infrared light captured in the images.
Hunsaker used a computer program to analyze the imagery, determine optimal placement of ground-based sensors and predict the variability of water needs throughout the field.
By conducting periodic aerial surveys during two growing seasons, he found that the system could accurately predict the diversity of crop water needs throughout the field. He is currently evaluating ground-based sensors that would reduce costs by eliminating the need for all but one aerial survey each season.
Energy Cost Calculator
How much money could you save if your pumping plant was more efficient?
A University of Nebraska online spreadsheet can help you calculate how much you can save by improving the efficiency of your system. Tom Dorn, Lancaster County, Neb., Extension educator, developed the simple tool, which requires entering data from irrigation records.
Step-by-step instructions will help you navigate the spreadsheet to determine your pumping plant's efficiency and the amount of money you could save if the pumping plant were operating up to Nebraska performance standards.
"With the information, irrigators can calculate how much they can afford to spend, based on the interest rate available," Dorn says.
When considering inefficiencies in the system, Dorn suggests, irrigators should look at the entire system, including the pump, gearhead, PTO shaft and power unit. Inadequacies in any part of that system can increase energy use. While it's costly to pull a pump, sometimes the cost of unneeded energy is high, too.
To access the spreadsheet, go to http://lancaster.unl.edu/ag/crops/Long_Term_Pump.xls.
Flow Meters
Flow meters get no respect. At least that's what Tom Scherer, North Dakota Extension ag engineer,
says his research indicates. Often, flow meters don't work because of old age or winter damage.
says his research indicates. Often, flow meters don't work because of old age or winter damage.
To take part in the sprinkler conversion program from the Natural Resources Conservation Service's Environmental Quality Incentives Program, center pivot flow rate must be checked. That means flow meters must work properly.
Flow meters can help work out a lot of management information for chemigation, selecting and modifying sprinkler nozzles, calculating pivot application rate, checking well production and tracking pump performance, Scherer says.
To protect flow meters, remove them from systems in the fall and store them in a warm place during the winter, Scherer says. Cover the hole in the pipe with a piece of tin.
Drought Dodgers
There is no need to stress out. More research aimed at corn drought is on the way.
Pioneer Hi-Bred is expanding its corn drought research efforts at facilities in Plainview, Texas, and Manhattan, Kan.
These locations have traditionally focused on sorghum and now will have additional research on corn. The expanded facilities will allow Pioneer to establish managed stress environments, including needed irrigation systems. Native and transgenic traits will be evaluated and characterized at the research facilities.
Joe Keaschall, Pioneer corn research director, wishes there was a magical gene for the development of drought-tolerant hybrids. "But truth is, drought is a complex issue with yearly variations in the timing and intensity of water deficit and high-temperature stress," he observes.
New yield test locations specifically targeted at drought product development have been established at the Manhattan facility. A breeding nursery has been established at the Plainview site, and several thousand inbreds are being evaluated. Also, limited irrigation sites have been established in Texas for targeted drought yield evaluation.
Both facilities will be dedicated to Drought I and Drought II product development initiatives. Drought I efforts combine native drought genes with needed traits in elite adapted inbreds for drought-prone areas. Drought II is focused on transgenic gene evaluation and integration into the most elite and adapted germplasm. Herbicide, insect and disease resistance will continue to be key traits for industry-leading drought hybrids.
Pioneer also conducts drought research in Garden City, Kan.; LaSalle, Colo.; York, Neb.; Woodland, Calif.; and Viluco, Chile.


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National Monuments around Naugatuck, CT
Add an Organization
African Burial Ground National Monument
Elk Street and Duane StreetNew York, NY
The African Burial Ground National Monument is the first National Monument dedicated to Africans of early New York and Americans of African descent...Read More »
Governors Island National Monument
10 South StreetNew York, NY
From 1794 to 1966, the U.S. Army on Governors Island was part of the social, political, and economic tapestry of New York City. Today the island is...Read More »
Castle Clinton National Monument
Battery ParkNew York, NY
Located at the southern tip of Manhattan Island, Castle Clinton stands where New York City began, and represents not only the city's growth, but...Read More »
Naugatuck Top Searches
Statue of Liberty National Monument
Liberty IslandNew York, NY
"The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World" was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the United States and is recognized as a unive...Read More »
Fort Stanwix National Monument
100 South James StreetRome, NY
For centuries, the Oneida Carrying Place, a six mile portage connecting the Mohawk River and Wood Creek, served as a vital link for those traveling...Read More »
Fort McHenry National Monument And Historic Shrine
2400 East Fort AvenueBaltimore, MD
Visitors to Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine should begin at the Visitor Center. A short 10-minute orientation film is shown two ...Read More »
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument
4068 Golden Hill RoadChurch Creek, MD
Harriet Tubman was a deeply spiritual woman who lived her ideals and dedicated her life to freedom. She is the Underground Railroad's best known co...Read More »
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I keep having this sensation like a baby kicking, but I am not pregnant. It is on the left side and it has been going on for a few days. I have not been eating anything unusual and I have been going to the restroom like normal. The sensation is about 4 inches to the left of my bellybutton and is driving me nuts! Anyone...?:confused:Reply Follow This Thread Stop Following This Thread Flag this Discussion
Recognize the risks associated with Crohn's disease.
Did you know that one in six US adults has high cholesterol?


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Evan Vucci / AP
President Barack Obama pauses as he delivers a speech at an interfaith vigil for the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012 at Newtown High School in Newtown, Conn.
Obama makes an explicit call to action after Newtown shootings… But will there be follow-through?... Breakthrough on fiscal cliff… The president's cabinet announcements might not come this week… Hillary Clinton faints, will miss this week's Benghazi hearing… And Nikki Haley set to announce pick to fill Jim DeMint's Senate seat.
*** An explicit call to action: Unlike his past remarks after other tragic shootings, President Obama last night made an explicit call to action when he addressed thousands who were grieving in Newtown, CT. "We can't tolerate this anymore. These tragedies must end. And to end them, we must change," Obama said. "We will be told that the causes of such violence are complex, and that is true. No single law -- no set of laws can eliminate evil from the world, or prevent every senseless act of violence in our society." He added, "But that can't be an excuse for inaction. Surely, we can do better than this. If there is even one step we can take to save another child, or another parent, or another town, from the grief that has visited Tucson, and Aurora, and Oak Creek, and Newtown, and communities from Columbine to Blacksburg before that -- then surely we have an obligation to try." Much like George W. Bush's remarks following 9/11, Obama's speech attempted to both mourn and galvanize. And he spoke as a parent and a frustrated American. It may be one of the most important speeches Barack Obama will give as president (depending on what happens next, of course).
Speaking at a vigil for families of the victims and other students from Sandy Hook Elementary, President Obama says, "God has called them all home. For those of us who remain, let us find the strength to carry on." Watch his entire speech.
*** But will there be follow-through? The president's speech, however, didn't offer any details of what he'd like to try to end future tragedies. But the Wall Street Journal, speaking to two administration officials, gets an outline of what the White House is possibly considering. "One possibility likely to be considered is a ban on high-capacity magazines, the devices attached to firearms that store large numbers of bullets and reload them rapidly." Meanwhile, on "Meet the Press" yesterday, Sen. Dianne Feinstein said she will introduce legislation at the beginning of the next Congress to ban assault weapons. "It will ban the sale, the transfer, the importation and the possession. Not retroactively but prospectively. And it will ban the same for big clips, drums or strips of more than 10 bullets. So there will be a bill." And even Sen. Joe Manchin, on "Morning Joe" today, said: "Everything should be on the table." But the question is follow-through. It's one thing for politicians to make calls for action in the hours after a tragedy; it's another thing for them to follow through with it weeks -- or months -- later.
The Daily Rundown's Chuck Todd talks about the latest in the Sandy Hook Elementary School rampage.
*** And on what issues? So Obama and others have raised expectations. Can they deliver? To pull this off in the gun area, the president is going to have to tackle every issue associated with these heinous crimes: gun laws, our gun culture, mental health, the de-sensitization of violence thanks to Hollywood and video game makers, and of course parental responsibility. If it's a LARGER policy discussion, it's much harder for the most ardent NRA-supporting lawmaker to walk away.
The fiscal cliff talks between the president and House Speaker John Boehner have seen some movement, with the Republican leader showing some willingness to budge on the president's demand for tax increases on the wealthiest Americans. NBC's Kelly O'Donnell reports.
*** Fiscal-cliff breakthrough: Friday's tragedy in Connecticut also has had this immediate effect -- it has made the debate over the so-called fiscal cliff seem so small by comparison. But there has been an important breakthrough in the negotiations. Per NBC's Mike Viqueira, House Speaker John Boehner has proposed raising tax rates on income of $1 million or more, and Republicans have upped their revenue target from $800 billion to around $1 trillion. The White House, of course, wants rates to increase for income above $250,000, but now there's the possibility the ultimate line will be somewhere in between $250,000 and $1 million. For their part, Viqueira adds, Democrats will move beyond their $600 billion proposed savings on entitlements. The overall number could be closer to the Republican revenue number on revenues of $1 trillion – or maybe just a tad under. The last administration number was $600 billion. What's more, both sides would agree to broad tax and entitlement reform by Fall 2013 (with more triggers), and they would raise the debt ceiling to last until the end of next year. Nothing is set in stone, but there's certainly more optimism in getting a deal than there was at the end of last week. The question worth pondering: Does what happened in Connecticut give both sides more room to negotiate and for lawmakers to swallow hard and cast a difficult vote?
*** Cabinet announcements might not come this week: After Susan Rice withdrew her name from consideration last week, the writing on the wall is that Obama will tap John Kerry as his next secretary of state. But that announcement might not happen this week. The New York Times: "President Obama is leaning strongly toward naming John Kerry, the Massachusetts senator and unsuccessful Democratic nominee for president eight years ago, to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state, according to administration officials and friends of Mr. Kerry. But the announcement will be delayed, at least until later this week and maybe beyond, because of the Connecticut school shooting and what one official called "some discomfort" with the idea of Mr. Obama's announcing a national security team in which the top posts are almost exclusively held by white men." We can tell you that the concerns about diversity -- or a lack thereof -- are real.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton fainted from apparent dehydration and suffered a concussion in the incident, according to officials. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.
*** Clinton faints, will miss Benghazi hearing: As for Hillary Clinton, we learned over the weekend that -- due to illness -- she fainted last week and sustained a concussion in the process. And as a result, she won't be testifying at Thursday's congressional hearing on Benghazi. We do wonder if there will be any pressure on her to testify at a later date. Indeed, GOP Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen released this statement on Saturday: "We have been combing through classified and unclassified documents and have tough questions about State Department threat assessments and decision-making on Benghazi. This requires a public appearance by the Secretary of State herself. Other cabinet secretaries involved should also be held publicly accountable."
*** Haley set to announce her pick: Finally, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) will announce her pick to fill Sen. Jim DeMint's (R) Senate seat at noon ET today, her spokesman said earlier this morning. As NBC's Ali Weinberg reported last week, these Haley's five finalists: U.S. Rep. Tim Scott, U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy, former state Attorney General Henry McMaster, former South Carolina First Lady Jenny Sanford, and Catherine Templeton, who heads state Department of Health and Environmental Control.
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Carry on or checked bag, this roller is a shape-shifter with an expandable design. Lightweight construction leaves room for more cargo and easy storage when not in use.
Pack to the limit and check it, or collapse and cram it overhead, the Burton Charter Roller offers flexible storage options for plotting your own course. Its expanded volume is big enough for a month of crashing at your friends' houses, or can shrink down for when you're running light. Stacked with road-ready features, it also includes internal dividers and external organizer pockets, rugged wheels to keep you rolling, and lockable TSA-grade zippers for security in dodgy locales.
- Carry-on: [22in x 13in x 11in] [56cm x 33cm x 28cm]
- Expanded: [22in x 13in x 14.2in] [56cm x 33cm x 36cm]
- Volume: 45L [Expands to 60L]
- Weight: 5.75 lbs. 2.6kg
- Fabrication: 600D Polyester TPE Coated
- Expandable Design from 45L to 60L Capacity
- ID Window
- External Zippered Pocket
- Internal Fabric Dividers
- Lockable, Contoured Zipper Pulls
- Meets Most Airline Carry-On Size Restrictions When Not Expanded, Hot Towel?
- Compactable and can also fit the other Burton Continental Drift Collection Bags inside for storage
|100% Polyester
Get informed by our price alert - free of charge and non-binding - as soon as a product price changes or hits a level you define individually.


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Palm Island Jumeirah, United Arab Emirates
Proba provides a close-up view from 600 kilometres away in space of the massive artificial Palm Island Jumeirah, currently taking shape in the Gulf of Arabia just off Dubai.
Designed as a prestige residential and relaxation area, the reef-like complex is built in the shape of a palm tree: it has a 17-frond crown around which is arranged a crescent, the back of which serves as a breakwater. The crown is connected to the mainland by a 300-metre bridge. Owners are due to begin occupying their properties by the end of 2005.
The Jumeirah has been built from 80 million cubic metres of land dredged from the United Arab Emirates' Jebel Ali port, whose approaches are being deepened to 17 metres. The Palm, Jumeirah is the first of three Palm Island projects now taking shape. Swiftly following it are the Palm Jebel Ali and the newest and largest Palm Deira. Together the three Palms are set to extend the country's coastline by around 200 kilometres.
This 7 December 2004 image was taken by Proba's High-Resolution Camera (HRC), which acquires black and white 25-km square images to a resolution of five metres.


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For our family Michaelmas is a season. We celebrate many festivals throughout the year in our home but when we celebrate Michaelmas, it signals the beginning of the time when we look within ourselves more deeply, the time when the darkness of winter sets in. St. Michael is the patron saint of the sea and maritime lands, of ships and boatmen. St. Michael's story can be complicated and is not easily understood by younger children. We are not a Christian family so reading about St. Michael from that perspective is not the way we choose to celebrate this time. Instead, we briefly talk about that story and regard Michael as "Michael the Victorious" and still use his name to learn and celebrate as many Waldorf (Rudolf Steiner) followers do.
This year we took the entire week to focus on the story of St. George and the Dragon. This story goes nicely with this week because it also has the good versus evil theme. St. George who is good, fights the dragon who is evil. In her book, "A Journey Through Waldorf Homeschooling (Kindergarten)", Melisa Nielsen says that this festival has great significance especially for young children still battling their inner will. The battle of good versus evil is one they know well! She also says that older children also often see the battle (from the book), mirroring battles that could be going on around them and their "need" as children to try to understand it all.
We read, drew, baked dragon bread, reinacted the story and had a fun time. Here are the photos, please refer to my bread making entry for a great bread recipe that can be used to bake the dragon bread. Just shape it like a dragon and bake it until it appears done!


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Saturday, February 20, 2010
Posted by Brittnie at 10:45 PM 4 comments
Monday, February 8, 2010
Evan (& BYU) @ UCI
#3 BYU played at #11 UC Irvine this last weekend, which is within an hour of my parents house. So we drove down with one of the other VB wives, Amanda, for the games and stayed with my parents. It was a quick trip, but it was so fun! I couldn't have asked Evan to be any better on the long car drives! He was so good! We were able to enjoy some nice warm weather on Thursday, but had rain on Friday. But we were just happy it wasn't snow, we didn't even really mind it!
(I was so busy trying to get the little one to smile that I chopped off my Dad's head...opps!)
Posted by Brittnie at 11:59 AM 5 comments
Monday, February 1, 2010
No Way
My baby just turned 6 months. Really? Half a year already? Really? I can not believe it! He's getting so big! And he is just so fun. We sure do love him a lot!
Posted by Brittnie at 11:40 AM 5 comments
The Cougars traveled to UCLA this past weekend to take on the Bruins. Back at home we had to settle for an audio only broadcast and "live" stats online. I wish we would've been able to watch this one because it was intense! BYU dropped the first set 38-40! It was a long, hard one to lose, especially after having 6 set points. Dang. Unfortunately they lost the next 2 games to give UCLA the sweep. One highlight was Reed's ace!
Saturday night was a battle to the end. But don't worry, the Cougars were victorious in 5! It was a big win for the team. They played so much better Saturday night and came away with what they deserved. Reed played so well and came away with 7 blocks!
Thanks to members of the Wives Club for coming over to watch stats pop up and keep me company! Love you guys!
Posted by Brittnie at 11:25 AM 1 comments


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WASHINGTON, DC — Many House Republicans concede the government shutdown likely won't be resolved until the next major congressional deadline in mid-October when Congress needs to raise the nation's debt ceiling.
"I don't see anything happening with the shutdown until we get to some kind of a plan for a bigger agreement," Louisiana Rep. Charles Boustany told reporters after House Speaker John Boehner and other GOP leaders huddled with House Republicans on Friday.
Like the fight over the government spending bill, Boehner faces a splintered GOP conference on what kinds of demands should be attached to legislation raising the debt ceiling.
Boehner told fellow GOP legislators earlier this week that he doesn't want the United States to default on its debt and would try to prevent that even if it meant getting help from Democrats to pass the necessary legislation.
This means he sets aside a practice conservatives insist he follow known as the "Hastert rule," according to a Republican House member who requested anonymity to talk about the private meeting.
The "Hastert rule" adopted by former GOP House Speaker Dennis Hastert, is the practice of not permitting a vote on any legislation in the House unless a majority of House Republicans back it.
Boehner never pledged to follow the rule when he assumed his post, and has been criticized by some House conservatives and several outside groups for those instances when he allowed votes on measures that passed with more Democrats than Republicans.
But Boehner is adamant that he will not do what Democrats and President Barack Obama want – take up a "clean" increase in the debt limit — a point he reinforced to reporters on Friday.
"I think the American people expect if we're going to raise the amount of money we can borrow we ought to do something about our spending and the lack of economic growth in our country," Boehner said at a news conference.
Congressional Democrats repeat, as does the president, that they will not negotiate over the debt ceiling.
But the last time Congress wrangled with this issue in 2011 Obama did negotiate and at the last minute Congress passed legislation that contained some major deficit reduction measures as part of the debt limit increase.
Even though the debt deadline is less than two weeks away, top House GOP leaders didn't discuss on Friday how they plan to address it.
Instead, multiple GOP members leaving that session said it focused primarily on the current strategy to keep passing piecemeal bills that fund parts of government and insist that Democrats need to sit down and negotiate over a government funding bill.
But there are smaller group discussions about how to address the debt limit. The speaker met Thursday with a small circle of GOP members with whom he regularly consults to get a pulse of what House Republicans want as part of a deal to increase the Treasury's borrowing authority.
"Boehner told us that we've got to get something with regard to budget and the debt in order to raise the debt ceiling" one GOP member who attended the session told CNN.
Boustany doesn't like the term "grand bargain" — the name given the deal that eluded Boehner and the President in 2011, but he thinks House GOP members could get behind what he called a "substantial budget agreement" as part of the debt ceiling talks, though he's concerned about "the short time frame."
Boustany outlined what he thinks could serve as a framework — some of the changes to entitlement programs that Obama has suggested before and some detailed targets for tax reform, both items that Republicans want.
He believes in return GOP members could agree to raise the debt limit potentially through the rest of Obama's term.
Mentioning that Democrats have pushed to eliminate the forced spending cuts that came out of the last budget deal, Boustany said "turning off sequestration is something we could put on the table in exchange for other savings. We're looking for a real debt management approach."
But the House Republican who met with Boehner said given the calendar there may not be the time to get big policy changes in place for the things that Republicans would agree to and also get some Democrats on board.
"Everyone understands that the Obamacare issue may be out of reach, probably always was, but if the president thinks he is going to be able to hold ground with negotiations on the debt limit he sounds like Ted Cruz," that lawmaker said.
Multiple House GOP aides told CNN that despite the meetings with Boehner and others on the debt ceiling, there's still no consensus on what conditions they'd attach to a debt increase.
By Deirdre Walsh
CNN's Dana Bash contributed to this report.
™ & © 2013 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.


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The musical legacy of John Barry is being celebrated by the orchestra that had such a significantly close association with him during his lifetime, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
There are countless recordings to highlight, but one of my favourites is the seminal 1972 album which was simply titled, The Concert. The quality of performance is exceptional and it's also special as it was the first symphonic concert of John Barry's music during 1972's Filmharmonic Royal Albert Hall extravaganza. Just 10 years prior to this concert he was still playing as part of his John Barry Seven, career progression at its finest!
"Some of his most performed pieces are here but when scored specially for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, another dimension is added. The James Bond Suite takes on a new size and I am sure will be regarded as a work of major importance. If Bond is 007, Barry is 008." - Lyricist Don Black, as featured on the original sleeve notes.
We should be thankful that some of these expanded symphonic arrangements for Barry's first concert were recorded (at Abbey Road Studios) for us to treasure for all time. The two Moviola albums are good yes, but there's something extra special about The Concert album. Coming full circle, the emotional John Barry Memorial Concert was graced with the RPO's playing and to quote The Guardian's Ian Gittins: "It was a fittingly magnificent tribute".
How appropriate then that the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra are continuing this distinct and historical association by performing a series of concerts from the 3rd to the 5th October in South England. Nic Raine will conduct and Tommy Pearson presents. Both gentlemen have their own John Barry stories, so no doubt they'll be shared during the mini-tour. Featured soloists are Alison Jiear & Lance Ellington. The first of these concerts is in Portsmouth and in true celebratory fashion, we have some tickets to giveaway for this premiere night of wonderful music. 5 pairs to be precise. All of your favourites will be played, from Zulu to Dances with Wolves. From Born Free to Bond.
All you have to do is email email@example.com with John Barry as the subject header and you will automatically be entered into the prize draw. The RPO marketing team will contact winners via email next week so ensure you keep checking your inbox. This giveaway closes Tuesday 1st October.
Good luck and I hope you'll be the one experiencing John Barry's music resonating around Portsmouth's Guildhall next Thursday, courtesy of the RPO & FSM!
- Tim


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Title: Inteligensi Embun Pagi
Author: Dee Lestari
Publisher: Penerbit Bentang
February 2016
710 pages
I grew up with Supernova series since it was launched back in 2001. Dee Lestari, as the author, took 15 years to end these series. All big fans of Supernova would impatiently wait for this 6th book, Inteligensi Embun Pagi. I was also curious about the ending and what would happen to all characters of the series.
Well…I have finished the book couple days ago and now I got a mixed feeling. I found something went wrong in this latest book. It's just too thick with many pages that simply could be skipped because I didn't get the point of the writing either. Moreover too many new characters, no deep description of existing characters, lots of 'technical' terms and WHY oh WHY this book turned into a teenager-science-fiction with a mission to save the world? HUGE disappointment.
I guess not only the readers but also the author grew with these series. If we compare each book of Supernova series, we will find differences for each of them, such as the characters, the plot, and others. Every written story will definitely be influenced by author's feeling, surrounding, inspiration, and many more. I don't know whether Dee wrote this latest book in a hurry (since her fans kept asking her to finish this book) or she just wanted to surprise her readers with this unexpected yet disappointing ending.


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If you've been driving around in Sacramento, chances are you've seen some billboards advertising companies that buy houses. Often times they say things like "We Buy Sacramento Houses!" or "Cash For Your House". Are these "we buy houses in Sacramento companies" credible? How do I know if the local house buying companies out there are honest […]
Tag Archives | we-buy-houses-scam
We buy houses in Sacramento companies – are they credible?
By Darren Brown on June 6, 2016 in sellers
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Page One
Safeway to Unveil Latest Design for College Avenue Store
Safeway will unveil the latest design for its College Avenue store April 29 at the Claremont Hotel in Oakland, even as neighbors complain that they are being left out in the cold.
The supermarket chain's latest proposal comes in the wake of a long series of public meetings held to discuss community concerns about the scale of the proposed expansion and its threat to local independent businesses.
In an e-mail to College Avenue neighbors Tuesday, March 31, Elisabeth Jewel of Aroner, Jewel and Ellis, the consultants hired by Safeway to do community outreach, said that "updated and modified plans" for a new store and retail space at College and Claremont would be shown at the meeting.
"Come take a look at what we are planning for you in a new, light-filled, energy-efficient building with lots of free parking for everyone," wrote Jewel, who is on vacation and did not return calls for comment.
Safeway's plans to remodel the existing 25,000-square-foot location met with loud opposition at a community meeting at the Peralta Elementary School last June, prompting company officials to arrange a series of "stakeholders meetings" to arrive at a consensus about the size, scale and design of a new store and accompanying small shops.
Facilitated by Pamela Hop-kins, managing partner of Berkeley-based ENACT Global Consulting, the meetings saw representatives from the Rockridge Community Planning Council, the Claremont Elmwood Neighborhood Association, the Rockridge District Association, Concerned Neighbors of College Avenue Safeway and College Avenue merchants discuss and debate the proposed design with Safeway officials.
Susan Shawl of Concerned Neighbors, a group opposing Safeway's expansion plans, said that she had been disappointed by these meetings.
"Safeway said they wanted to listen to us but they are totally stonewalling us now," said Shawl, adding that the grocery chain had not yet rescheduled the last stakeholders meeting that was supposed to take place Dec. 10.
Esperanza Greenwood, director of public affairs and government relations for Safeway's Northern California division, did not return calls by the Planet's deadline.
"Independent stakeholders have not had any word about this process ending," Shawl said. "We really wanted to work with Safeway. We are not against them. If this was Whole foods, we would have done the same. It's nothing personal—it has to do with out-of-scale development in a residential neighborhood."
More than two weeks after the fifth meeting on Oct. 22, Jewel sent the stakeholders an e-mail saying that Safeway had hired a new architect, Ken Lowney, for the project.
Last April Safeway replaced architect Kirk Peterson with San Francisco-based MCG Architects.
"After the most recent stakeholders meeting last November, the Safeway team decided to take a deep breath and evaluate next steps," Jewel said.
"We recommitted ourselves to taking the time needed to come up with the best-designed proposal we could—even if that meant delaying coming back to the stakeholders and community members with a new plan."
Lowney, Jewel said, would bring decades of experience to the project, having designed markets, offices and mixed-use developments all over the Bay Area, including converting the old Cadillac dealership on Harrison Street in Oakland into a Whole Foods store.
"Safeway is confident that this local architecture firm can deliver a store that will be successful for Safeway while honoring the long-established values of College Avenue, Oakland," Jewel said. "Ken is fortunate to have a detailed record of your comments and concerns expressed during each stakeholder meeting and in your many e-mails. He will use this record to inform the design, taking into account the unique needs and perspectives of neighbors, merchants, residents and many others who care very deeply about this neighborhood."
Lowney is scheduled to meet with a neighborhood architects group Wednesday to discuss the design.
Shawl said Safeway had not discussed any details about the store's design during the stakeholders' meetings, spending time mainly on less important things, such as bicycle racks and landscaping.
"We asked them what their bottom line was as far as size at the first meeting and they came back with a bunch of flowery words with nothing about the size," Shawl said. "Some people think this was a waste of time. I am not sure whether it was or wasn't but am disappointed at the way Safeway ignored neighborhood opinion."
Safeway officials said at earlier meetings that they would like to convert the building into a "lifestyle store," a concept that involves softer lighting, sleek modern counters and shelves and earthier tones for the walls and floors.
They have defended their need to expand by pointing to the store's lack of a full-service meat counter, extensive organic produce section and flower shop—services some neighbors contend are already present across the street at the smaller niche shops.
"I am very frustrated. All these meetings didn't seem to have resulted in anything," said Stuart Flashman, chair of the Rockridge Community Planning Council, which opposed the scale of the project.
"I wish they would listen to the community first. Maybe the meetings were not heading in the direction they wanted, so they dropped it."
Shawl said she would still go to the meeting at the Claremont Hotel to see the new plans.
"Of course I am going to be there," she said.
Safeway plans to submit a formal application to the City of Oakland to begin the entitlement process after the meeting.
Safeway will be displaying the new drawings and architectural renderings for the College Avenue neighborhood store from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, at the Claremont Hotel on Ashby Avenue. Neighbors are encouraged to walk to the meeting if possible.
Parking will be available from 6:30-9:30 p.m.


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(Phoenix, Ariz. – Feb. 28, 2006) Attorney General Terry Goddard announced today a plea agreement with three defendants in a home repair fraud ring. The three defrauded an elderly Tucson woman of $11,000 by falsely promising to repair the roof of her home.
Gary Miller of Illinois and Gary Mitchell of Ohio pleaded guilty today to financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult. The third defendant, Sheila Miller, 30, of Illinois pleaded guilty earlier this month to solicitation to commit theft by control. The pleas follow indictments by a Pima County Grand Jury in 2005.
According to the indictment, the three defendants in January 2004 approached an elderly Tucson woman who suffered from dementia and told her they noticed that her roof needed to be repaired. They offered to do the job for $2,600. The woman agreed and gave them a check, but the roof repair was never done. The defendants returned to her home on other occasions and asked for additional checks.
This happened five different times because the victim did not remember the defendants from the previous visits. When Gary Miller tried to cash the last check for $2,600, the bank teller became suspicious and notified police.
The three defendants are known to authorities as part of a "gypsy family" from the Midwest. They visit Arizona during the winter months and prey on the elderly, taking money for home repairs that are never done.
The three defendants each face up to 3.75 years in prison. They are scheduled to be sentenced on April 24, 2006, by Judge Howard Fell. Assistant Attorney General Paul Eckerstrom prosecuted this case.