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Western Weyr - Hot Springs Cavern
Created by the fires of the volcano a pocket of ancient air has created this huge open cavern in the black stone. Most of the floor is covered by bubbling mineral water that gleams azure in the dim light of glows. Swirls of green, blue, red, yellow, black and white are awash on the walls and floor, earmarks of earlier times when the hot water boiled out of its bed and rose to fill the dark cavern.
A few signs of humanity can be found. A trunk with soft fluffy towels, soap and a boardwalk erected through the middle of the four pools so that people can find their way to the hot water without burning their feet along the way. It is rumoured that an hour in the hot water can melt away even the worse of troubles, leaving a person relaxed and ready to face a new day with vigor.
Evening. It's rather late, actually. Dinner is long past, chores should be done. The entire Weyr is quieting down and preparing for bed, it would seem. Keelyra is enjoying a nice soak by her lonesome… and by her relaxed expression: she's happy that way. The teen is settled into one of the mid-sized pools, hair piled up on her head. She's settled in so that the edge of the pool supports her head so she can just soak.
Another individual seems to have the same idea of a nice long soak as well this quiet evening. Kelthero wanders into the hot springs at a slow pace, his expression distracted but the candidate looks obviously tired from the chores he was assigned earlier in the day. His movements are automatic as he wanders over to trunks to gather up a towel and all the other necessities before stumbling over to the nearest pool he can reach. All the while, his gaze seems unfocused, his mind far elsewhere as he strips out of his clothing and slides into the water. Its not until he's submerged and settling comfortably that he realizes he's chosen the pool with Keelyra relaxing in it. Oops. "Uh, sorry." He mumbles towards the other candidate. "Didn't realize you where there."
It's not as if Keelyra noticed until the splash of another person entering the waters rang in her ears… and plopped wetly upon her face. She blinks a few times, lifting her head. Hair tumbles into the water from its precarious pile. "I didn't realize you were there," she replies, in a mild kind of confusion.
Confusion is right, because Kelthero only looks back at her with a puzzled frown. "Guess we're both out of it then." He muses as he relaxes back against the pools wall, arranging himself so that the water comes up just to his shoulders and he can comfortably rest his head on the edge of the pool. Water ripples a little as his arms move to cross loosely across his chest below the surface - a sign that the candidate isn't entirely relaxed as he normally would be. "Long day?" he asks, glancing back over to Keelyra as he does, a vague smile following shortly after.
Arms had been left to drift all akimbo in the water, but now they're busy getting hair back up on top of head. Keelyra gropes around on the edge of the pool until she finds the clip that must have fallen out. Errant locks restored to former order, she looks back to Kelthero. Obviously, she's not as discomfited by being naked in the waters. Part of growing up in a Weyr, likely. "Was up before dawn for my chores. I'm so tired I couldn't sleep… so I decided to come in here for a bit."
"That early, eh?" Kelthero grimaces a little before giving the other candidate a slightly sympathetic look. "Which chores did you get?" he asks, before smirking. "I was stuck on lookout duty. Kind of like what I did before, only I'm stuck watching for ships. It was…" There's a pause as Kelthero fumbles for the right words, but is too tired and simply gives in to old habits. "… mindlessly boring." He admits, chuckling dryly. It's not the nakedness that unsettles him. It could be the candidate is simply restless, unable to wind down no matter what he does - and becomes clearer in his next comment. "I hear you on the sleep bit. Not been getting much myself."
"Gathering eggs and milking… I sometimes had to do that before I was a candidate, but-" Keelyra's sentence is interrupted by a broad yawn that she covers with hands curled into a dripping fist. "I used to have my own room, too. Some of the other candidates stay up so late… and they're noisy, too."
Kelthero smiles crookedly. "Ahh, that's not too bad of a chore." He casually remarks as he unfolds his arms and leans forwards a little from where he sits. Suddenly his own face begins to contort a little as the candidate tries to fight yawning himself. Cursed contagious yawns! In the end, he avoids it by pushing away from the edge and ducking quickly under the water. When he resurfaces, he immediately heads back to his previous seat, hands raised and pulling back the hair from his eyes. "You were lucky then, to have your own room." Kelthero replies, resuming the conversation without skipping a beat this time. "The dorms I was in before was just as crowded." He admits with a smirk. "But you're right, some of the others do stay up way later. One of these nights, I'll end up throwing something to get 'em to stop."
"I didn't have my own room for long… I was still in the dorms with the other kids until I met my dad and he offered me a room in his weyr." Keelyra shrugs and moves finally, drifting through the water towards where a bowl of what is presumably soapsand sits on the edge. She grabs a handful and begins scrubbing slowly. Ahh, lazy baths. "You'd think those that want to stay up would be polite and go out into the lower caverns or something."
"You're really lucky then. A rider for a father and then you get your own room as a result?" Kelthero chuckles dryly, shaking his head a little. "I went from one crowded dorm to another. I don't think I've had my own room since I left my home hold." That seems to surprise the candidate for a moment and he snorts in amusement at his own comment. "You'd figure, eh? Ah well, can't blame them. Some are far from home, others are young. Maybe they figure we've got some sort've curfew?" He shrugs as well before gathering his own soapsand and promptly begins to scrub away. Lazy baths, indeed.
"Apparently finding out he had a kid is making him want to make up for lost time or something," Keelyra explains, giving a bit of a shrug. She smirks at Kelthero, though there's an edge of weariness to it. Long day indeed. She works at scrubbing from wrist to elbow; the area dirtiest from the day's work. "Maybe. Do we have a curfew? I've not heard of one. Either way, being all loud in the dorms doesn't help those of us gotta be up early."
"Ahh… I see." Kelthero's reply is awkward at best concerning fathers and lost time. Too tired to fish out a better answer, he simply focuses on scrubbing and rinsing - automatic moves that require little thought. It's late evening now in the Weyr, most chores long done and probably most residents thinking of sleep. Kelthero is putting off as much time as possible before having to head back to the dorms, it would seem, instead taking a lazy bath in one of the medium pools. "I don't think so? Think they would have mentioned curfews." He says with a slight smile. "No, it doesn't help but it's something we'll have to live with for now. Although it is getting /sorely/ tempting to do something about it."
Zi'on suddenly enters the caverns. Clothes? None! Mud? All over! Where has he been? Who knows. But outside there's a screaming headwoman, yelling about someone tracking mud all over her cavern. The bronzer runs and jumps into a random pool! It's Keely and Kelthero's pool! "Wooooooooo!" Splash! At least he's shaken the headwoman. Though he'll probably get a whuppin' later. Some weyrlings never grow up. And now everyone who was eating in the caverns is scarred for life.
Once again, Keelyra's face is wet. Fortunately though, for just how much she's splashed at, the girl was not as zoned out as she was when Kelthero had entered the hot springs. In fact, the hollering of the headwoman draws her attention and she's splashed merely because she's staaaaAAaaAAAaaaAring. And then Zi'on's in the water and she realizes her hair is now soaked. Oh nooo. "Now I have to wash it," she mumbles under her breath.
Kiley is, sadly, coming after the commotion. Luckily, though, she was far enough away not to be associated with the naked mud covered bronzerider. Because she really wasn't. She's far more quiet in her entrance and the abandonment of her clothing to join in at the pool in which everyone is gathered. Once settled in, she looks to Keelyra and offers a smile before allowing that to drift towards Kelthero and she inclines her head in a sort of greeting. "How are you two?" Pause, and she peeks at Keelyra. "Are you doing better? Did you work things out with Draval?"
Well, he /was/ having a lazy bath - which is now interrupted by the sudden leaping splash made by the mud covered bronzerider. Lifting an arm up to shield the worst of the water splashed his way, Kelthero mutters some half voiced curse before he can hold back his tongue. The screams of the headwoman earn a deep frown, but most of his annoyance seems especially reserved for Zi'on. Kiley's arrival distracts him though for the time being and he nods his head a little in return. "Tired." Kelthero admits. "Yourself?"
Zi'on stays under the water for a long time. Really long. In fact, you see his pursed lips come up for a breath at least once before he finally surfaces. And when he does, he slowly peers over the side of the pool, to make sure that no one is chasing after him. Then he looks at his poolmates. "Keely! Do you see the headwoman out there? Is she gone?" It seems like she is, so the bronzer relaxes. At least the dunk has removed most of the mud from him. He relaxes against the side of the pool. "Whew. Hey, ya'll." At least the excitement is over?
"I… guess, maybe. I dunno. I don't think I like having a brother." Keelyra stumbles over her words as she replies to Kiley, staring at the spot where Zi'on went under the water. When he surfaces and addresses her, she stammers and looks towards the cave entrance. "Uh… I think so." Her voice is somewhat faint, peaking in timbre.
Kiley offers an apologetic smile towards Kelthero in Zi'on's place, "I'm doing great. I've had a free day." And she is entirely chipper about it, too. "What chores were you doing today?" Then, she's peeking over at Zi'on with a furrowing of her brows. "What were you doing?" Though brows don't stay furrowed for long as she turns full attention towards Keelyra and nods once. "I see, I hope things work out better. You don't have to interact with him if you don't really want to."
Kelthero waits until the bronzerider actually resurfaces for good before throwing questions at him. "What in Faranth's name did you do to have her scream like that?" he asks, sounding annoyed and awed all in one. Being tired apparently also brings out no manners in him. There's a glance to the trail of mud and the remaining evidence on Zi'on, obvious clues for Kelthero to use, but he seems to want to pry the story out of someone. Keelyra's comment on brothers distracts him long enough that he snorts slightly. "Be glad you have one at all. They're not half bad." Then his glance slides back to looking between Zi'on and Kiley and the candidate simply settles back against the pool's wall. It's to Kiley though that his attention finally shifts to, smiling faintly in return. "Ahh, seems to be a lucky day for you then. I was on lookout duty, of all ironies."
Zi'on blinks at Keely. "You have a brother? Whew. She chased me around the bowel twice. I'm exhausted." He grins at Kiley and Kelthero. "Ah you know. There was a bunch of mud in the pens. Some of my friends dared me to take off all my clothes, jump into the big mud puddle and then run through the caverns. It got serious when they started offering me marks." He laughs. "Idiots. I made five marks!" He rubs some sweetsand over his head. "Siblings aren't so bad. I got a whole bunch, but I haven't met too many of mine."
"Yeah. Just found out about him recently," Keelyra tells Zi'on, relaxing somewhat. It's a strange mixture of behaviors when the bronzerider is about. That balance between the comraderie of a fellow weyrbrat and the heartache of a girl with a crush. "Y'know how it goes." If /anyone/ knows how randomly meeting siblings goes, it must be Zi'on. "That's a lot of marks." As for the siblings not being bad thing… she just shrugs. It's hard to adapt to the idea when you're already in your mid-teens.
"A little bit lucky, having time to relax and not do any sort of duties are nice. No chores, no craft." She stretches out in the pool before she's beginning to wash. "Well, that seems like it is one of the easier chores? And you know what you're doing already, so, there's a bonus?" Kiley lifts her brows slightly, trying to find the bright side, it seems before she's turning a very serious look towards Zi'on. Face would meet palm if palm were not soapy. "You…" Her head shakes and she doesn't even give a full answer to him, merely shaking her head and resuming her washing.
Kelthero looks utterly dumbfounded at Zi'on when he gets the full story on the bronzerider's entrance. In fact, the candidate's tired mind has stuttered so bad that he can only stare at the rider, mouth open slightly to fire a reply that never comes. Instead, he simply closes his mouth and shakes his head sharply. "Shells, remind me never to get into bets with you then." He finally manages to muster up some form of a reply, smirking at Zi'on as he does. Then he breaks out into a crooked grin. "You did that for only five marks?" he decides to tease in the end. Now that surprise and annoyance have worn off, Kelthero reaches over to scoop up some soapsand again to finish what was interrupted. To Kiley, he also grins. "No Craft either, on your free day? Sounds nice." He then shrugs his shoulders. "It's a little easy, but a little dull. Basically watch for ships all day."
Zi'on nods to Keely. "Hm. I see. I dunno. It can be alright. I mean, siblings are like any other weyrbrat. You either like them enough to hang around, or you just kind of tolerate them. I dunno how your brother is." The bronzer grins to Kiley. "What?" Then to Kel. "What?" He laughs. "Well, they dared me. And five marks was enough. I'm gonna get maybe a new soldering iron or maybe some materials for my next project. I want to make something useful for Enka, but I can't think of anything good." He lifts himself up to sit on the edge of the pool so he can scrub. He grins. "I would have done it for less than five, probably." There's a lot Zi'on would do for five marks!
"I just dunno if I can trust him," Keelyra says in a lower voice. The girl breathes in a slight sigh. "He says all the threats to get me in trouble were just teasing, but how can I be /sure/." And then the bronzerider is revealing himself outside the bath again. Keely is suddenly very intent on scrubbing her hair.
"Well, I could have chosen to do some of my craft stuff, but I decided not to. I do my own scheduling for craft duties, really. And yesterday I got a lot of extra work done so I was able to relax today. Though if I had gotten chores today, I would've stuck to doing the rest of the program." Kiley smiles, "it was pretty nice. Maybe you'll get one tomorrow." Her nose wrinkles and she nods, "it does sound dull. You can't do much else if you're watching for ships the whole time." Attention flickers to Zi'on and she shakes her head, "can't believe you, that is all. Shells." A sigh and she lowers herself into the water and murmurs, "at least you're using the marks for something productive…" As for Keelyra, she glances over and sighs. "He can't get you in trouble unless you actually /make/ trouble." And then under the water she goes to get her hair wet.
Kelthero can only shake his head again, "I don't know. I'm not the type to go streaking, I guess. Hard to imagine you actually did it to fund your project!" Now the candidate is just finding the whole situation amusing - can't be helped! "Nah, five marks is a good bet. Considering you had to roll in mud." Never mind the naked streaking part. It's the mud he's figuring is the worst? The last of his scrubbing done, Kelthero dips under the water one last time and as he surfaces, he places both hands on the pool's edge and hoists himself out. Reaching for his towel, he sits so that his legs still dangle into the water, his gaze shifting to Keelyra for a moment. "That's what brothers do though!" he simply says before turning his attention back to Kiley. "I'll take your word for it. And maybe I will, but I won't hold hope on that." He then begins to dry off with his towel, no doubt finished with soaking in the water for one night.
"Well, has he gotten you in trouble?" Surely Keely's done something worth getting her into trouble by now. Zi'on seems certain of it! "Or you could just not tell him stuff. At least until you're sure." Zi'on grins to Kiley. "You can't? Anyways, that's what sucks about dating the weyrwoman. I mean… what do you get her as a present?" The bronzer laughs and shrugs. "Meh. We used to do it all the time when I was younger. Or, my favorite prank was to come in here and steal everyone's clothes and go running out with them. Then there were streaking people all over!" He laughs. He finishes up with his scrubbing, so Keely can relax again. He slides back into the water to rinse off.
"Not yet," Keelyra says, brow furrowed. "It just seems so suspicious and all. He just said he was V'yet's son and that his mother told him so… but even dad didn't know about him." She's not a very trusting sort. At least not of other weyrbrats. They cause issues — just like Zi'on is describing now. The girl does relax once the bronzerider is back in the water, ducking beneath to rinse her hair of the sand. The long locks drift around her while she's underneath. Upon surfacing, she tries to gather the mass into a more manageable bundle.
Kiley surfaces and pushes her hair from her face, she doesn't look back towards Kelthero as he climbs out of the pool, attention carefully transfixed elsewhere even as she nods her agreement. "I wouldn't hold my breath for it, either. It is entirely random." A slight smile, though turned away, it is directed towards him. She busies herself with running her fingers through wet locks and considers Zi'on. "I guess I can, once I think about it long enough. And you've said this many times before. Why don't you ask her if she wants anything or could use something? You did well enough with trying to surprise her with a computer." She reminds with a smile. Her hair is wrung out and fingers trail through again with a soft sigh.
Kelthero suddenly glances over to where his clothes are piled up and promptly shuffles them more behind him and out of reach. "Go figure that'd be your favorite." He mutters, laughing as he gives his hair a quick rub down with the towel before pulling his legs from the water and drying them off as well. "Exactly, so it's purely chance. It'd be nice though!" Kelthero flashes Kiley one last grin before sorting through his clothes and slipping back into them. Stifling a yawn with the back of his hand, he then raises it in a slight half wave to those still in the pool. "High time I get back and try to sleep. 'Night!" And even before replies can be given, he's already turning away and slowly wandering back out and towards the bowls.
Kelthero goes home.
Kelthero has left.
Zi'on peers. "You mean you think he's lying about being your brother? That would be… strange. Why would he want to do that?" Zi'on certainly caused issues. he was rather good at that. There's a sigh to Kiley, then. "If I ask her what she wants… then it's not a surprise. It's not romantic and spontaneous. It's just… asking her if she wants something. And then buying it for her. That's boring." There's a wave to the departing guard. "See ya, Kel." Then he turns back to the ladies. "What would you want your guy to surprise you with. And nothing to do with computers, Kiley." He peers at her.
"He /might/ be. I mean, it'd be strange, but it's strange enough to be asked who your dad is and have the person suddenly say it's their dad too and neither you nor your dad ever heard of them before." Keelyra makes a bit of a face, shaking her head somewhat. At the question, her cheeks darken a bit. "I dunno. I've never gotten gifts from… a boy like that. Don't guys give jewelry a lot?"
Kiley waves a farewell towards Kelthero, inclining her head. "Night, Kelthero." And then attention shifts back towards Zi'on and she sighs, "but that is easier than struggling and getting something she doesn't like and finding out after you give it to her." Cheeks color a shade at the mention of boring and she slinks down lower into the water. The question has her staring at him, especially once computers are taken out of the equation. "A charm made by my brother for my bracelet." More coloring to her cheeks and she avoids looking at either of the two in the pool.
Zi'on blinks. "Yeah, that is pretty strange. I mean, at least all my siblings start with a Z for their name. So I can tell if they're related to me. Though all my cousins also have Z-names, so it can be confusing." But L'ton was well known and generally knew his kids. The bronzer nods and shrugs. "I'm not too sure what kind of jewelry Enka likes though. I guess I'll have to find out if I want to do that." He peers at and nods to Kiley. "I don't want her not to like it. But I want it to be a surprise." He blinks at the computer crafter then. "Your brother makes charms? Maybe I'll get Enka a necklace or something…"
"That's convenient at least. All starting with the same letter. But his doesn't." Keelyra will get to the bottom of the mystery someday! Or at least just suffer the fact that after over 14 Turns, she suddenly discovers she has an older brother. One or the other. "What kind of jewelry does she wear? Or, uh, does she have a favorite outfit? You could get something to compliment it."
Kiley listens to the talk of siblings and lingers in silence for that. She's not a weyrbrat and doesn't have this problem. Instead, her gaze focuses upon the bronzerider and she nods, "which is why I think it is easiest to ask." She smiles and nods once more in confirmation, "he makes jewelry. He's Journeyman Jeriel and he's still located at the Smith Crafthall." She stretches out and then glances at Keelyra, frowning slightly. Mouth opens, then closes for a moment before she adds in. "That's a good idea. Just observe what she wears and see if you can find something to match."
Zi'on nods about his siblings. "Yeah. Though I have way too many siblings. Is this the only one you've got?" At the question about Enka's jewelry the bronzer gives a blank look. "Uh… I think I've seen her wear a necklace? Favorite outfit? Nothing sticks out really. She has a lot of clothes." Not only would Zi'on have to actually pay attention to what Enka was wearing in that case, but somehow magically figure out what jewelry went with it! "I can't ask. That'll defeat the whole point." He stretches a bit. "Well I think I'm clean. Guess I should try to get some sleep in." The bronzer climbs out of the pool and goes to grab a towel.
"Only one that I know of," Keelyra says as she finishes fingercoming through her hair, getting it back in proper order. The girl gives a bit of a sigh, "I hope it's the only one. I'm not sure I could handle dealing with more. I don't know how you do it." She smirks briefly as Zi'on fails to remember much about Enka's fashion tastes. Is that a triumphant smirk or just an amused one? Who knows. She lifts hands and stares at fingers. "I'm getting all wrinkly. Time for me to get out, too."
Kiley chuckles softly, "I know. Ask my brother, then, if you want. You can tell him you're my friend." A pleasant smile and she shifts to relax against the side of the pool as Zi'on climbs out, eyes closing and simply relaxing. "Sleep well, Zi'on." There's a slight finger wave before eyes peek open towards Keelyra. "You, too, Keelyra." A brighter smile for the younger girl and then the computer crafter resumes her soaking for a little longer before she, too, is departing.


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subset: commoncrawl


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Join Greg as he unboxes StarCraft II Heart Of The Storm Collectors Edition. The box has been signed by StarCraft II's cinematics team, tools team, artists, development team, etc. Get a first look at the art book, sound track, behinds the scenes, and much more.
Heartstone Presentation/Interview With Ben Brode Recap-Pax East 2018
The Witchwood expansion!
Published , by Steve Tyminski


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Truckload linehaul rates fell again in July from the same time a year ago, marking the fifth straight month of year-over-year declines, according to latest readings from the Cass Truckload Linehaul Index.
The drop of 1.6% puts the measure at 122.5, but that is up 1.1% from June and is at its highest level since April.
Analysts at the investment firm Avondale Partners predict that pricing will remain down as much as 3% year-over-year for the remainder of 2016.
"Several factors continue to contribute to increased capacity, including driver pay increases; newer, more reliable trucks; overall fleet growth and an easing of the 34-hour restart rule," the report said.
The index is an indicator of market fluctuations in per-mile truckload pricing, isolating the linehaul component of full truckload costs from other components, such as fuel and accessorials, providing a look at trends in baseline truckload prices.
Meantime, intermodal pricing fell 2.4% year-over-year in July, representing 19 straight months of declines.
Despite the drop in the Cass Intermodal Price Index the reading of 123.5 is 2% better when July is compared to June, following three straight month-over-month falloffs.
Historically, there is a "high degree of correlation between truckload and intermodal pricing," according to analysts with Avondale Partners. As contract rates for trucking continue to lose strength and move further into negative territory, "[this] would imply even more potential weakness for intermodal pricing," the report said.
The intermodal index is an indicator of market fluctuations in per-mile U.S. domestic intermodal costs, and includes all costs associated with the move, such as linehaul, fuel and accessorials.
Both the intermodal and the linehaul indices are based on costs as of January 2005 and use a base value of 100. Data is derived from actual freight invoices paid on behalf of freight payment processor Cass Information System and its clients, which totaled $25 billion in 2015.
The reports follow the release of the Cass Freight Index, which measures freight activity across all domestic modes, showing during July overall shipment volumes and pricing were persistently weak, with increased levels of volatility as all levels of the supply chain continue to try to work down inventory levels.


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There and Back Again . . . a Tale of Three Admissions Coordinators
They say lightning never strikes twice. In the case of Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, however, a special kind of lightning has struck three times for a very positive impact for students. All three of EICC's Admissions Coordinators are successful graduates of the colleges!
Although a great story all on its own, there's much more than just the common link with their Associate's degrees. All three share a passion about making students' college dreams come true. Because they've walked down a similar path, they bring a lot of first-hand experience with them when working
with students. They've 'been there', 'done that', and can speak from the heart about what it takes.
Kelsey King – Scott Community College Admissions Coordinator
Kelsey graduated from Scott Community College in 2009 with an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences. She then went on to obtain her Bachelor's degree from Western Illinois University. "SCC was first on my list of colleges to attend after high school. I was able to live at home and work while going to school which saved me thousands of dollars," she says. "My experience with Scott was great. What I liked best were the relationships I developed with faculty, my advisors, and other students. Everyone was helpful and cared about my success," she adds. She was also pleased that her credits from SCC transferred easily to Western Illinois University. "I found that the courses at Scott were just as interesting and educational as those I took after transferring to WIU. I felt very prepared to move on with my studies there." The best advice she can give to potential students is to make the time for a campus visit. "Websites and brochures can only tell you so much, so you really need to experience the college first-hand," she explains. "I enjoy helping students. From orientation to graduation, I can probably anticipate the questions or concerns students may have about coming to college by relating in part to my own experience here."
Heather Evans – Clinton Community College Admissions Coordinator
A 1996 Associate of Arts (Education) graduate from Clinton Community College, Heather was also a recipient of a Paul B. Sharar Foundation scholarship. She went on to receive her Bachelor's degree in Communication Studies from the University of Iowa. When asked what she liked best about CCC, she is quick to answer: student life. "I was in Student Senate, wrote articles for the student newspaper (The Gallery), and made some incredible lifelong friends," she explains. She remains a strong proponent for student involvement. "I know how important it is to be involved in student life. I can share those experiences with prospective students and help them realize community colleges have an active student life experience that helps prepare them for their next transition," she adds. "I gained a stronger confidence in myself in my studies while at CCC and that helped me to be a bigger self-advocate in a much larger community at the University of Iowa." She also tells students the making one of the EICC colleges their first choice is a decision they will not regret. "Make time for a campus visit, ask questions, actively engage with people, and apply for scholarships. We will help you plan a college experience that works for you."
Elizabeth Medina – Muscatine Community College Admissions Coordinators
Elizabeth graduated in 2009 from Muscatine Community College with an Associate's degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences. "I decided to go to MCC, because I knew I could explore my different options, while being able to obtain the credits I needed to graduate with my A.A. I felt right at home and the instructors knew me on a first name basis," says Elizabeth. "The great part about my decision is that I was able to explore and not feel like I was switching majors all while saving a great amount of money," she adds. She received her Bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences from Western Illinois University – and notes that her transfer experience was very positive. But it wasn't always that easy. As a first generation college student from a Hispanic family, Elizabeth felt her share of uncertainty about a college education. "I know what it feels like to not know what you want to do. It makes you feel lost. I was a student that thought 'I can't do this'," she explains. "I came to MCC as a quiet student. At the end of my two years, I was much more comfortable sharing my ideas, speaking up in class, and knowing more about myself and what I wanted to accomplish. When I talk now with students that have thoughts like I did, I can connect with them because I understand. I love being able to show how our campus culture and pride makes all of our students feel so encouraged and motivated to work toward their academic success."
Channeling Their Energy
Between the three of them, these Admissions Coordinators touch the lives and college experiences of literally thousands of students every year. Whether through one-on-meetings to work through an academic plan for a returning student, taking part in dozens of college fairs throughout eastern Iowa and western Illinois, hosting high school students for campus Visit Days as well as visiting them at their schools, or spending hours at community events, Kelsey, Heather and Elizabeth are the friendly faces of EICC for all prospective students.
Their expertise in working with students, parents, faculty, and community members in promoting the value of a college education – and helping students feel confident in their decision-making – is due in large part to their own personal experiences as students with EICC. Each brings a unique perspective to her role. They give great advice because they've completed a similar journey and appreciate how the journey is different for everyone. And their positive attitudes are contagious.
"It's never too late to put one foot forward in the direction you want to go," muses Elizabeth. "You will find yourself somewhere along the way – it could be taking an elective, attending a campus activity, or being involved in a student organization – when it all clicks and you'll say 'I found it. This is for me'."
For more words of advice from our Admissions Coordinators, take a few minutes to watch a series of "How To" and "College Tips" videos they've produced. You'll find them on our website at eicc.edu.
Call us – we're happy to help!
Heather Evans, Admissions Coordinator
Clinton Community College
1000 Lincoln Boulevard, Clinton, IA
(563) 244-7007
Elizabeth Medina, Admissions Coordinator
Muscatine Community College
152 Colorado Street, Muscatine, IA
(563) 288-6007
Kelsey King, Admissions Coordinator
Scott Community College
500 Belmont Road, Bettendorf, IA
(563) 441-4007
Or call toll free: 1-888-336-3907


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If you want to jump into a role as a cosmetology instructor in South Dakota, we are ready to help you rock the salon scene. Schools such as Desaree and Company have instructor programs designed for current beauty professionals. Their programs includes courses that help you learn how to design lesson plans, be a leader, and identify the strengths and weaknesses of your students, so you can help them work towards their true potential. No matter what kind of instructor you want to become, it all starts with the right education.
So why are we the authority on schools that offer cosmetology teacher training programs? In the past several years, we have helped over two million students like you find and compare the best beauty school programs in your area. Just use the search above or check out the beauty school listings below to figure out what programs are appealing to you. In a matter of months, you can step to the head of the class and inspire the next generation of cosmetology students to live their dreams too!
- Cosmetology License + 1000 Hours Work Experience + 1000 Hours Training + 12 Hours Instructor Education
- Junior Cosmetology Instructor License + Attend Commissions Instructor Seminar
Before you make the decision to enroll in a South Dakota cosmetology teacher training program, you need to look at all the programs and courses available to you. To become a great teacher you will need to understand how to execute the most effective teaching methods geared towards all types of students and learning styles. Its also essential to know the regulations and laws that apply to South Dakota cosmetology teachers.
South Dakota teacher training topics
- Student assessment
- Learning styles
- Teaching methods
- Student retention
In South Dakota, the fees for renewing your cosmetology instructor license are $20, and paid to the South Dakota Cosmetology Commission. The fees are due by your birthday every year. South Dakota also requires instructors to complete 12 hours of continuing education courses to stay current every year. These courses are Board approved and will help you maintain your skills in teaching, cosmetology and adhere to the policies and regulations set forth by the board. You can qualify for the exam and requirements with 2,100 school hours.
Beauty school instructors work with students to help prepare them for exciting careers in the beauty industry. Instructors often specializing in a certain area, including nails, hair, makeup, tanning and more. To become a beauty school instructor in South Dakota, an individual must obtain a secondary education degree and have extensive experience in their field. There are currently over 116,000 people employed as instructors across the country with an annual salary of $49,470. Some exceptional beauty schools in South Dakota include:
- Headlines Academy - Rapid City, SD.
- The Stewart School - Sioux Falls, SD.
- Desaree & Co School of Beauty - Sturgis, SD.
South Dakota Cosmetology Commission
500 East Capitol
Pierre, SD 57501
Phone Number: 605-773-6193
Fax Number: 605-773-7175
E-mail Address: firstname.lastname@example.com
The South Dakota Cosmetology Commission can answer questions about getting, transferring or renewing your South Dakota cosmetology license.
Becoming a successful cosmetologist in South Dakota can be a daunting task and will require consistent networking with reputable organizations of like minded individuals. Below are a few organizations that we recommend.
- International SalonSpa Business Network, https://salonspanetwork.org/
- International Spa Association, http://experienceispa.com/
- National Association of Screen Make-up Artists and Hair Dressers, http://www.nasmah.co.uk/
- National Latino Cosmetology Association, http://www.nlcamerican.org/


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Quick and Easy Property Inspection
Most property inspection apps only allow you to perform full, template-based inspections of an entire property. zInspector is different from the rest because of the Simple Photo Inspection feature. This feature allows you to quickly and easily perform partial inspections, rather than requiring you to inspect an entire property. Simple Photo Inspections from zInspector will save you time and give you an extra level of inspection convenience.
Need to request maintenance for a broken window? Want photographic proof of posting a notice? Or maybe you only need to inspect one room and not the entire house? With Simple Photo Inspections from zInspector, it's as easy as 1, 2, 3.
1. Open your zInspector app and select "Simple Photo Inspection." This will let your app know that you're not performing a full annual or move in/out inspection, but that you still want all the same documentation capabilities. You will still be able to set the condition for a room and take photos directly from within the app.
2. Select the property you're inspecting, or create a new one. If you select an existing property, you'll be able to view and edit any old documents and photos that already exist for it. This can be useful if you want to compare old and new photos side by side, an option available on the web portal through your Timeline. If you create a new property, you'll be able to either define an entire home or just a particular area to inspect.
3. Fill in the details of the inspection. zInspector has tons of options for you to choose from, or you can create your own, ranging from setting the condition of a room to posting a notice about necessary maintenance. Put in photos and notes and voila! You can turn the completed Simple Photo Inspection into a PDF report with the tap of your screen and send it to whoever needs it.
Keep Track of Employees
Any photos that you take during a Simple Photo Inspection are automatically time/date stamped and tagged with the property location in Google Maps. Now you'll know exactly when your leasing agent was at the property for an appointment! All employees will have access to photos taken at any property, but only the account owner can make edits. That way, all your employees are on the same page, but your documents and photos will remain secure.
Simple Photo Inspections from zInspector allow you to easily take pictures at properties on the go and use them later in formal inspections. zInspector makes it easier than ever for you to perform routine or even spur of the moment checks on your properties.


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What are the advantages of taking part in the "WG International" programme?
"WG International" allows all participants to gain valuable experience and personal enrichment.
Interculturality: You can experience your flatmates up close and learn about a different culture firsthand. A new outlook and a new awareness broaden your horizon both generally and with regard to internationalism for the job market. Nowadays job seekers are expected to have intercultural competence.
Flexibility and Tolerance: Being open for and able to adjust to something different requires a high degree of flexibility and tolerance, and this has a positive effect on key skills.
Exchange: Typical life in a shared flat often depends on the interests and character traits of the flatmates involved, so you can discover, for instance, how much fun it can be to cook together.
Experience: The time spent at university is one of the most memorable times in the life of a young person. There are unforgettable experiences, and lifelong friendships are established.
Language: Flatmates can be in constant contact with a language different from their own. Both the international student's native language and the constant contact with German provide an enrichment for both sides.
What are some general advantages of a shared flat?
- Higher quality of living: Large flats shared by several students are more convenient than one-room apartments because they typically have large commons rooms like a kitchen and/or living room
- Lower costs for utilities (water, electricity, rent, internet)
- Other cost savings such as from buying groceries together
- Always in good company and doing things together
- You and your flatmates are always there for each other


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Instructions for use
Ocean Leaves® Liquid Seaweed Extract All-Purpose Plant Food
Instructions for Use: Shake container well before each use. Add the required amount of solution to water in a watering can or sprayer and stir.
|Dilution Rates
(Solution to Water)
|Instructions for Use
|15ml: 6 Litres
|Apply as a root drench each time water is required.
|15ml: 6 Litres
|Drench rootball in solution before transplanting.
|Growing on & Mature Plants:
|30ml: 6 Litres
|Apply either as a root drench or as a foliar spray, thoroughly wetting the leaves, every 10 – 14 days during growing season.
|Fruit crops, Tomatoes and Salad crops:
|30ml: 6 Litres
|Spray several times before & during growing season.
|Lawns & Turf:
|For each 12m2 area, apply 30ml of solution mixed in 6 Litres of water
|Apply monthly during the growing season.


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There have been some recent developments around data protection law. What are they and what do you need to do?
Marketing and Fundraising
The ICO (the data protection and privacy regulator) is taking a very robust line as evidenced by its recent enforcement action and guidance. Most readers will be aware that the ICO fined the British Heart Foundation and the RSPCA late last year for breaches concerning their fundraising practices. In addition to this, the ICO has recently announced an intention to fine a further 11 charities.
You should ensure that your marketing and fundraising practices comply with data protection law. It is also worth keeping in mind that the definition of marketing is very broad. It goes beyond selling products or asking for donations. As such, an email telling alumni about your plans for the next five years is likely to count as marketing.
When carrying out marketing and fundraising, you should keep the following in mind:
- Transparency You should ensure that individuals are told how their personal data is used for fundraising and marketing purposes. This should be done via the appropriate privacy notice. Transparency is particularly important for the more privacy intrusive practices such as wealth screening (which in some cases, according to the ICO at least, will also require consent).
- Consent Some fundraising practices require consent. For example, it is usually unlawful to send a marketing email unless the recipient has consented. Consent must be freely given, specific and informed. It must also be accompanied by a positive action. As such a statement such as 'You consent to us sending you fundraising emails. Please email us to opt out.' is not valid consent by any standards.In order to cover off the transparency and consent requirements, we envisage more schools using 'opt in' tick boxes to obtain consent as appropriate with a detailed description of how personal data is used for fundraising purposes.
- Existing Data Even if you are satisfied that your school has a compliant privacy notice/consent form in place going forward, you will also have to consider what steps to take to make your existing database compliant.
- GDPR You should also be mindful of how the GDPR will impact on fundraising practices. The ICO's position appears to be that 'opt out' consent is no longer lawful under the GDPR.
The General Data Protection Regulation
The General Data Protection Regulation (GPDR) will replace the Data Protection Act from 25 May 2018. Although implementation is still over a year away, you should be taking steps now to ensure that they are compliant. This includes:
- reviewing information security arrangements to check that they meet the standards required by the GDPR
- checking policies and procedures for GDPR compliance
- considering how to meet the requirement under the GDPR that schools must be able to evidence compliance with data protection law
- updating privacy notices, which will require additional information to be included. For example, under the GDPR individuals must be told about their right to complain to the ICO.
Schools are increasingly being targeted by criminals via sophisticated cyber-attacks. Emails are particularly vulnerable. For example, a fraudster might intercept an email from a supplier to your school and replace the supplier's bank details with their own. Another common attack involves the fraudster sending an email to parents requesting payment of school fees, but again, the payment details are the fraudster's and not the school's.
To ensure that you are adequately protected against such risks, you should:
- check that your IT systems are sufficiently robust so as to prevent school systems and email accounts from becoming compromised
- train staff to be vigilant and how to spot the risks (such as suspicious emails)
- consider whether your current practices are secure - for example, is it really appropriate to send the school's bank details to parents via email
- have a security breach action plan in place - this can be used as a checklist so that a school can respond quickly should a breach occur


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The offense was scoring at will and the defense was making life hell for Jalen Hurts, and for a time No. 13 Baylor seemed like a safe bet to rocket up the rankings, leading No. 10 Oklahoma 28-3 early in the second quarter on Saturday night. But Oklahoma's offense, like a Ferrari so many times under head coach Lincoln Riley, instead became a tank, plowing right through the Bears' defense with drive after drive after drive.
In fact, after trailing by 25, Oklahoma ran 72 plays for 351 yards while its defense pitched a second-half shoutout, and the Sooners came back to win, 34-31. The 25-point rally is the largest in Oklahoma history.
Playing without All-American wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, the Sooners leaned on Hurts and the running game, overcoming three Hurts turnovers in the process, as the quarterback threw for 297 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 114 more. Most importantly, the Sooners snapped the ball 95 times and held the ball for 40:46, limiting Baylor to just 16 plays after halftime.
Oklahoma forced a Baylor punt to open the game and, taking over at their own 47, quickly moved into the red zone, but Hurts was sacked on a 3rd-and-5 and the Sooners settled for a 39-yard Gabe Brkic field goal.
Charlie Brewer had Denzel Mims streaking wide open for what would have been a 78-yard touchdown on the first play of the ensuing drive, but skipped the ball to him. It didn't matter. He hit Mims for 11 yards on the next snap, kicking off a 78-yard touchdown drive that Brewer himself capped with a 2-yard keeper.
After forcing one of the rarer sights in college football — an Oklahoma three-and-out — Baylor went up 14-3 on a 30-yard connection that missed earlier, as Mims got about as open as a receiver can get on a 30-yard fade route.
Facing an uncharacteristic 14-3 deficit, Oklahoma added to its own misery with a pair of Hurts turnovers. The first came deep in his own territory, when the quarterback placed the ball on the ground in an attempt to steady himself and simply lost the ball, which Terrel Bernard recovered for Baylor at the OU 27. Brewer kept for 23 yards on the final play of the first quarter, then added the final four on the first snap of the second.
On Oklahoma's next possession, the Sooners reached the Baylor 36 when Grayland Arnold stepped in front of a Hurts pass and returned it 71 yards to the OU 9, where he was finally tackled by Hurts himself. A second Brewer-to-Mims scoring strike put Baylor up 28-3 at the 11:02 mark of the second quarter, and putting the Sooners on the wrong end of a 48-3 run dating back to the fourth quarter of the Iowa State game.
Oklahoma finally stopped the bleeding with an un-OU like 14-play, 75-yard, near 6-minute drive, one that was extended when a 4th-and-5 incompletion at the Bears' 33 was wiped away due to defensive holding by Baylor's Jameson Houston. Hurts' 5-yard pass to Austin Stogner made the score 28-10 with 5:06 left in the first half.
Baylor answered the Sooners' prolonged drive with one of its own, moving 61 yards in 13 plays, but stalling at the the OU 11 as the Bears settled for a 28-yard John Mayers field goal with three seconds left before halftime.
Oklahoma accepted the ball to open the second half and rumbled down the field, moving 74 yards in a deliberate 12 plays, consuming 5:44 of clock, as Stogner's second short touchdown catch cut the deficit to 31-17.
Baylor's offense picked up right where it left off as JaMycal Hasty broke free for a 32-yard run into Sooner territory, but he forced the ball out of his own hands and OU's Pat Fields grabbed the bouncing pigskin, giving the Sooners' their first takeaway since their win over Texas Tech way back on Sept. 28. Led largely by the ground game, and the ground game led largely by Hurts, Oklahoma moved all the way to the Baylor 4 on a 2nd-and-goal play when Baylor's James Lynch knocked the ball from Hurts' hands and recovered it in the end zone, keeping the score at 31-17 with three Hurts turnovers serving as the difference.
The Bears, though, went three-and-out and Oklahoma mounted another long drive, this time going 90 yards over 13 plays and 4:59, and a 19-yard grab by Theo Wease pulled OU within 31-24.
When Baylor's offense stepped on the field at its own 22 after the ensuing kickoff, the Bears had run all of four second half plays to Oklahoma's 36, gaining 38 yards to OU's 215. Baylor desperately needed a drive and they didn't get one, as a Tyquan Thornton drop on 3rd-and-9 doomed the Bears to a second consecutive three-and-out.
Oklahoma took over at its own 23, but by that point it didn't matter where the Sooners got the ball. The drive could have started in Norman and Baylor's once-fierce, now-gassed defense still wouldn't have stopped them. This time, OU went 77 yards over 13 snaps and 6:01, tying the game with 5:25 to play on a 2-yard lob from Hurts to Brayden Willis (plus a Brkic PAT).
Needing a drive even more than they did last time, Baylor got one first down (thanks to pass interference against Mims) but could not get another as Brewer threw incomplete on 2nd- and 3rd-and-11 and Oklahoma, which trailed 28-3 early in the second quarter, took the ball at their own 27 with 4:15 to play and a chance to take the lead. Oklahoma got its lead, but it wasn't a knockout blow. This drive totaled just eight plays and 59 yards, stalling at the Baylor 14 and resulting in a 31-yard Brkic field goal, the true freshman's 12th make in as many tries as a Sooner, to put Oklahoma back in front for the first time since leading 3-0 early in the first quarter.
Trailing 34-31 with 1:45 to go, Baylor quickly moved to the Oklahoma 40, but Brewer was nearly intercepted by Sooner linebacker Nic Bonitto on 2nd-and-10 and then was intercepted by Bonitto on 3rd-and-10, completing the second half shutout and the record comeback.
With the loss, Baylor's 11-game winning streak and its surprise College Football Playoff hopes are now history, but the Bears (9-1, 6-1 Big 12) can still forge a rematch with OU (9-1, 6-1 Big 12) in the Big 12 Championship.