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Apropos of nothing, with Tottenham Hotspur adrift in the middle of the English Premier League and the Bills languishing at the bottom of the AFC East, there hasn't been much futbol joy or football joy recently. (Though that's changing, with the nattily initalled man-beast QB J.P. Losman muscling the Buffalo Buffaloes to victory with game-ending drives in two consecutive weeks.) Recent developments aside, most sports happiness comes via youtube, where the boffins have plucked the best little nuggets from world sporting events, thus eliminating the need to watch entire games. Folks will decry European-cum-Canadian snobbery and tell me to just go home, but if you're into sports at all, this has to make you smile:
Frank Lampard for Chelsea vs. Barcelona, October 31st, 2006
And this. . .this shouldn't be allowed:
At least not in the physical universe we inhabit.
Ronaldinho for Barcelona vs. Villareal, November 25, 2006


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When we've put in effort to solve a problem, we want our solution, decision, or agreement to have every chance at long-run success. Here's a powerful way to improve our plan's ability to stand the test of time: Go back to the future and test it with a premortem.
In traditional problem-solving we learn to look ahead and consider the ramifications of our plan: What could go wrong? What will probably go right? How can we fail-proof the agreement or solution we've just worked so hard to craft?
Considering how our agreement will survive the future is just plain smart if our goal isn't just agreement, but an agreement that really works over time. And here's something else that's smart: Future-proofing in a way that increases the chances we'll do it well.
It's called a premortem and it uses the idea of "prospective hindsight."
Better than foresight
The typical way to look ahead is to use foresight — to stay in the present and try to imagine what might go wrong down the road.
But if we tweak that approach and replace foresight with prospective hindsight, we get better results. The researchers whose work ultimately led to the idea of a premortem defined prospective hindsight this way:
Instead of standing in the present and asking, What could go wrong? we mentally stand in the future and ask, What did go wrong?
Why does this work better? One reason may be the time shift in perspective. The cognitive "flip" from present-looking-forward to future-looking-back seems to help us more successfully identify places our agreement, decision, solution, or project could fail.
The main virtue of the premortem is that it legitimizes doubts.
Daniel Kahneman
Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman, whose bestselling book Thinking Fast and Slow [amazon affiliate link] helped make the premortem idea well known, identifies two more reasons. It helps overcome the groupthink that can take over once a decision appears to have been made. And it helps prevent the suppression of doubt. Says Kahneman,
"As a team converges on a decision—and especially when the leader tips her hand—public doubts about the wisdom of the planned move are gradually suppressed and eventually come to be treated as evidence of flawed loyalty to the team and its leaders. The suppression of doubt contributes to overconfidence in a group where only supporters of the decision have a voice. The main virtue of the premortem is that it legitimizes doubts."
A premortem may be the best way to circumvent any need for a painful postmortem.
Gary Klein
Conducting a premortem
Cognitive researcher Gary Klein, who coined the term premortem, says, "The premortem operates on the assumption that the 'patient' has died, and so asks what did go wrong."
The general process is pretty straightforward:
- I usually introduce it like this: It's a year from now. You're looking back on this day and shaking your head in regret because the decision you reached here was a spectacular failure (Klein's phrase). What are all the plausible reasons it failed?
- Ask everyone to work on their own for a few minutes, writing down every reason they can imagine for the failure. Particularly encourage things they hadn't originally said out loud for fear of being impolitic or seen as uncooperative. (An alternative approach is to ask people to write the story of the failure instead of a list. Sometimes the idea of telling a story frees the mind differently than list-making.)
- When I'm working with a pair (business partners, for example, or a couple), I invite each to take turns sharing items on their list, while I record them on a flipchart or whiteboard. I take care to reframe any accusatory language into terms that capture the failure reason without inflaming the situation.
- When I'm working with a team, I ask each person to read aloud one reason from their list and we go around the room this way until I've recorded all the reasons on a flipchart or whiteboard. (With a larger group, like a team, another approach is to split the group in two: One works on the reasons the decision failed, the other on why it succeeded.)
- Then begin working through the list, using the items to strengthen the agreement and prevent the pitfalls.
A few important tips to keep in mind:
- The premortem should take place when you've almost reached an agreement or decision but haven't yet formally committed yourself to it. You want enough detail fleshed out to have a solid decision to look back on, but not have fine-tuned so carefully you've inadvertently started feeling committed to it.
- Make sure that everyone who is knowledgeable about the decision is present.
- In business settings, I haven't found the word "premortem" particularly problematic. I've found that in some personal settings, such as working with a family, the word sometimes makes people uncomfortable, perhaps because it invokes autopsy. So I will often skip using the label and just describe the activity.
- Sometimes it's useful to conduct the premortem at a separate time from the drafting of the initial plan or agreement. If people are tired, I'd rather they have some energy for the activity, because otherwise, they may attempt to gloss over the process just "to get things over with." That's not the goal here, to do something for the sake of doing it. The goal is a decision, plan, or agreement that has a better chance of standing the test of time.
- If you're worried the premortem will raise the conflict's heat again: It could (though I find it rarely does). That's not a good enough reason, in my book, to skip it. Fear of making things uncomfortable is a very unfortunate reason for going forward with a decision that hasn't been adequately vetted.
- If you're a mediator and find yourself hesitating about premortems in general or a specific premortem, it may be time for a look inward. What is motivating your hesitation? Sometimes an almost-done agreement is very seductive to a tired or tested mediator and we need to push ourselves to fully do our job and ask the question that could unravel parts or all of the agreement. Better for it to unravel while you're still sitting there, than later, when you're not.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Taiwan Open Of Surfing Hosted by Taitung County Government commenced day one of competition with a strong international field of athletes taking on building 3-4ft swell for Round 1 of the men's 1-Star ASP Qualifying Series (QS) division that's co-sanctioned by the Asian Surfing Championship (ASC) and Round 1 of the men's Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS).
Indonesia's Ketut Semadhi posted the highest score of the men's QS Round 1 against Taiwan's Ching Yo Fan and Chung Yi Hsu with a 12.85 in improving conditions.
"It was really fun out there and it's a really good wave,†Semadhi said. "This is my second time to Taiwan, it's fun, it's new, there's so many breaks and places to surf and you can surf so many spots alone, which is part of the reason why I came over here."
Dai Wako was one of four Japanese competitors to win their heats today, standing out in the conditions on offer. Wako will face strong competition in his Round 2 heat tomorrow from Indonesia's Made Rondi, USA's Keith Saitep and local Ching Yo Fan (TPE).
"It's my first heat so I just wanted to be relaxed, get as many waves as I could, get ready for the second round and that worked out really well for me,†Wako said. "This is my first time in Taiwan and it's really nice to be here. I didn't really know what to expect before I got here but it's awesome."
Local surfer Fu Cheng Chang (TPE) managed to steal the lead in Heat 2 with a 6.75. It was a close battle for second place between Hong Kong's Wolf Wertheimer (HKG) and Joe Keogh (HKG) with the pair finishing the heat separated by a mere 0.20. Wertheimer's last minute wave was the difference and saw him advance into Round 2, where he'll face off against Ryota Matsushita (JPN), Kuo Heng Liang (TPE) and Takumi Nakamura (JPN).
"At first it was a bit slow but then I kind of found my rhythm,†Wertheimer said. "The conditions were okay, it just depends on what waves you could get, I think the waves are getting better though. I'll be surfing in the Pro Junior later today, so having already been out this morning gives me confidence and I think it's important to just keep catching more waves."
The men's LQS Round 1 kicked off just before midday in tricky conditions as a front moved through the event site, clearing up shortly after with improving and building swell. Two-time ASP World Longboard Champion and a threat in all conditions, Taylor Jensen (USA), is a stalwart of the Taiwan Open of Surfing and managed to take out his heat with a single wave. Jensen, along with Nic Jones (AUS) will have a busy week ahead competing in both the QS and LQS events.
"I'm actually competing in the QS here as well, I did it last year when I came over and I think I came fifth, so I decided why not get a couple of extra surfs in,†Jensen said. "I guess the two disciplines kind of help each other a bit, the longboarding kind of smoothes out your shortboarding and your shortboarding kind of progresses your longboarding but it's hard going from one to the other, heat by heat. This is my fifth trip to Taiwan and I've done this contest three times. You can always score uncrowded quality waves.â€
Taiwan's Chien Chi Len (TPE) had a solid heat against fellow countrymen Chi An Chen (TPE) and Hou Cheng Li (TPE), making the most of the conditions on offer and displaying some stylish longboarding for the local crowd.
"I enjoyed that heat a lot, the conditions were good and the wave face was quite good for longboarding,†Len said. "It's great to have an event like this here in Taiwan and be able to compete in my home country."
Jack Entwiistle (AUS) opted for the clean lefts on offer in his heat, displaying critical manoeuvres that linked together seamlessly, fitting the judges traditional longboarding criteria which scored him an 8.00 and a 6.00, finishing the day with the second highest score of 14.00 (out of 20).
"I'm stoked to get some decent scores,†Entwistle said. "The wind started to drop off a bit and I managed to get a couple of good lefts. I've been here for a week so have just been getting to know the competition break a bit better and practising, which helps. I was here last year for the Taiwan Open of Surfing which was really fun. There's some good competition here so hopefully I can get a few spots better this year. I love Taiwan, there's such friendly people and I love the culture and food and beautiful landscape, it's a great country."
The 2014 Taiwan Open of Surfing runs from November 11th - 17th


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looking forward the question is how to get more serious about drink preparation. honestly there are a lot of questions. getting more busy in the summer- how do we do it better. not entirely sure how to find the answers, and before we opened a coffee shop my advice to any business owner would be not to get better, but create the illusion of movement.
two weeks ago we received large blocks of crystal clear ice (which i would like to attribute to Frank now of Heart Coffee Roasters, but the person who wanted them was not me). Because of the ice we needed a good saw. On johns advice (navarre) instead of Browns Lumber we went to Woodcrafters. what an amazing place- honestly (michael parich) i had no idea, it was my first time there. Of course whenever i go to these places people laugh at me, because they think saws are for wood.
On a basic level we have started to hand cut clear ice for an offshoot business by Sakiko (my wife/partner..) who will be making shaved ice this summer at courier. Lately I have been busy and have probably started and ended a number of amazing ideas including baked potatoes, granola, etc. But the shaved ice idea is super cool, and its not my own. We did a trial run during the day of the Pride Parade last weekend- and it was awesome.
Other awesome things. New coffee arrived from el salvador, and kenya. Guatemala coffee has left the port and is on the way. ive got 5 samples to cup today. we have new grinder blades from ditting that we have never had before.
much much more to come. also looking for people who want to work. crazy.


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If you can't find panko (extracrisp Japanese breadcrumbs), substitute plain dry breadcrumbs. Crust the skinned side of the salmon for the best looking dish.
How to Make It
Preheat oven to 400°
To prepare sauce, spoon yogurt onto several layers of heavy-duty paper towels; spread to 1/2-inch thickness. Cover with additional paper towels; let stand 5 minutes. Scrape into a bowl using a rubber spatula. Add sour cream and next 8 ingredients (sour cream through 1/4 teaspoon salt). Cover and chill.
To prepare salmon, place fennel, coriander, and cumin in a spice or coffee grinder; process until finely ground. Combine spice mixture, breadcrumbs, 2 1/2 teaspoons salt, and black pepper in a shallow dish. Dredge skinned side of salmon in spice mixture. Heat a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Add half of salmon, crust side down; cook 3 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer salmon, crust side up, to a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Repeat procedure with remaining salmon. Bake at 400° for 8 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Serve with sauce. Garnish with cilantro sprigs, if desired.


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Workplace Health Promotion
Workplace health promotion is defined by the European Agency for Health and Safety at Work as:
The combined efforts of employers, employees and society to improve the health and wellbeing of people at work.
The outcomes achieved through a combination of :
- improving the work organisation and the working environment;
- promoting the participation of workers in the whole process of workplace health promotion;
- enabling healthy choices
- encouraging personal development.
Workplace health promotion means more than meeting the legal requirements for health and safety; it also means employers actively helping staff improve their general health and wellbeing.
Within this process, it's essential to involve employees and take into account their needs and views on how to organise work and the workplace. Because making workers feel better and healthier, workplace health promotion leads to positive outcomes like:
- reduced turnover and absenteeism
- enhanced motivation and improved productivity
- as well as improving the employer's image.
Overview of Health Promotion Programmes
Workplace health promotion can cover different topics and often closely related to safety risk assessment.
Some workplace health promotion issues that link to an improved safety culture:
- Enhancing wellbeing at work, for example, enabling flexible working hours or working from home
- Healthy eating at work, giving information on healthy nutrition as well as offering healthy canteen food or facilities to prepare own food
- Tobacco awareness, including supporting and individual trying to give up
- Participation of employees in the process of improving work organisation and environment (Consultation Regulations)
- Mental health promotion, offering courses for managers on how to deal with stress and tension or providing counselling services or employee assistance programmes
- Exercises and physical activity, offering sports courses, encouraging physical activity, promoting an active and healthy culture at work
- Health monitoring, offering professional health checks such as blood pressure or cholesterol level.
How Can Occupational Health Help?
Occupational health helps by starting and developing workplace health promotion campaigns. The campaigns must suit the workforce, achieved by knowing the staff or talking to reps or sending out questionnaires. What would they like to have? What are they likely to participate in?
Advertise Workplace Health Promotion Programmes
Decide the programme, agree on the format and get funding. In other words, get senior management commitment.
Next, how to reach all employees? Consider:
- Posters
- Leaflets
- Workshops
- One to one assessments
Not everyone likes the same method of delivery. Some will enjoy talking about themselves, others may prefer reading alone.
Measuring Success
Occupational health should have considered the goals and objectives for each workplace health promotion programme.
Things like:
- Expected attendance rate
- Reduced absence
- Reduced turnover
- Staff survey improvements (before and after qualitative statements)
- Better morale
- Before and after questionnaires about health improvement
- Improved knowledge of personal health
- Looking for cost-effective workplace health promotion programmes with the potential for maximum impact depending on staff needs.
Further Action
- Companies can download quizzes and toolkits from the NHS Choices website. All free of charge.
- See also Workplace Health Management Practices from NICE
- Toolkits for wellbeing covering stress, suicide etc
- Wellbeing programmes
- Steps for a Wellbeing Programme
October 2018


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loose bytes n.
Commonwealth hackish term for the padding
bytes or shims many compilers insert between members of a
record or structure to cope with alignment requirements imposed by
the machine architecture.
--The Jargon File version 4.3.1, ed. ESR, autonoded by rescdsk.
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Intellectual property disputes are becoming a common problem for creative people and business people alike. From South Florida to Washington State, people have been having to choose how to handle intellectual property disputes. There are a few options to consider.
Pros: Litigation is a process involving a judge hearing evidence from both parties and deciding. This allows businesses to gather up any evidence they feel is prudent and present it. It also allows either party to appeal if they are not happy with the judge's decision.
Cons: This process takes a long time. Companies are required to do their own fact collecting, which can mean a costly investigation. This is often not a viable option for small companies.
Pros: Meditation focuses less on who is right and who is wrong. The goal is to find a compromise that works for both. Mediation is a cheaper option. It is also confidential, so that nothing talked about during the process is applicable in court.
Cons: Companies have to compromise. They will not always receive exactly what they are asking for. Sometimes, companies are unable to come to an agreement and must decide upon another way to handle the problem.
There are advantages and disadvantages of both options. These options give companies and individuals choices regarding how they can handle their intellectual property dispute. Companies should consider the outcome they are hoping for, how much money they want to spend on the process and which option is going to give them the best results. For more information, it is best to contact a reputable attorney in your area today. He can also set you up with a reputable mediator if you so wish.


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The Space Sciences Laboratory (SSL) at the University of California, Berkeley is a nationally renowned lab created to better understand Earth's atmosphere and space environment, the Sun, Solar System, and the Universe.
See the pages below for student's projects from previous summers of the ASSURE REU program
ASSURE 2015 Projects
The ASSURE program, supported by the National Science Foundation, provides up to ten summer internship placements for undergraduate students to conduct cutting-edge research projects, supervised by leading experts in the space science and engineering fields.
This program is dedicated to providing opportunities for enthusiastic and dedicated first generation college students, underrepresented minorities, community college students, and any students for whom a research opportunity may be a challenge. Students majoring in physics, math, astronomy, astrophysics, computer science, chemistry, geology, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and other related subjects are encouraged to apply.
Applicants must be currently enrolled in a degree program leading to a baccalaureate or associate degree, and must also be enrolled in classes for Fall 2018. Students who are transferring from one college or university to another and are enrolled at neither institution during the intervening summer may participate. Participants must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or permanent residents of the United States.
No research experience is required for this program. We are seeking motivated, self-starting students with an interest in space sciences and engineering who are eager to learn and expand their skills and experiences. Although not required, a basic understanding of computer programming will be helpful, as this is an important component of all projects. Check out last years project descriptions and results for examples of ASSURE student research.
Check out our FAQ page to see if it's been answered. If not, contact firstname.lastname@example.com
This is an NSF funded REU site (grant number 1461277)


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What Our Parents Think
In March 2018, every family received a questionnaire inviting comments on a number of key issues for the school. We received an excellent response with 37 questionnaires returned. Thank you to all parents and carers who took the time to give much valued input into the school improvement process. The results of this survey are below.
If you would like to give your views to the Parent View website, please go to:


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I know I have not been posting as often as I use to but I promise I have been working on some things that are so much fun for this year. Excited for what is yet to come.
Yesterday, Made Real founders hosted an event along with many other female entrepreneurs from New York. The vibe at this event was more than just exhilarating. This was a place to come, connect with people and leave with a positive push towards success and awesome Mani or hair did. I took the opportunity to do my hair (humidity was beyond insane) with Elena, owner of Su'juk Brooklyn. Ladies, she worked wonders on my hair and every other female with curls while Virginia was setting the summer braids in the mood. Though I didn't get the chance to get a Mani, ladies in the section where Fleury Rose and Eda Miori with modern designs of stripes and color of your choice. Lovely pieces by La Paloma Vintage were all eye catching and breathtaking thrift finds. And can't forget the ladies of Made Real Vodka including Pam Jones, Iran Ortiz , Yoli Garcia, Ory Diaz, Alex Vega , Janelle Marie Llyod, Kala Jerzy, and Leomarlis Bojos. Besides their daytime jobs and side time hustles, they were all able to unite under one roof and bring such an amazing event with great vibes and style.
Every single one of these ladies showed that success is what you make of it and stay motivated. Aspire to inspire.
LOVEEE my curls!!! Carried on into the next day! Simply Perfect.
You can follow all these ladies through Instagram by clicking on their names above. Also check out We Are Made Real.com for updates on events and where to purchase.
Follow me on Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr for my daily fashion updates.
Till Then


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Cary Personal Injury Lawyer
At Crumley Roberts, When You Come to Our Firm You Become a Part of Our Family
Most of our clients come to our firm during the most difficult moments of their lives. This is when our mission to care like family makes all the difference. When you come to Crumley Roberts, you become a part of our family. You receive friendly, compassionate attention. Your questions are answered as quickly as possible. We make ourselves accessible to you, day and night, to address your concerns. When you work with a Cary personal injury lawyer at Crumley Roberts, you work with someone who treats you as far more than a client – we care like family, listen to learn, and do what's right.
It takes a wholehearted, caring approach to help someone truly in need. When an accident claims a life too soon or a dangerous product causes serious injury, Crumley Roberts is there. When a car accident leaves one or more victims with lasting injuries, Crumley Roberts is there. When a worker is left disabled due to an unsafe workplace, Crumley Roberts is there. We are Crumley Roberts, and we serve our clients and the community to make Cary and all of North Carolina a better place to live, work, and play.
How Crumley Roberts Can Help
What can we do to help if you have been seriously injured as a result of another's negligence? While you focus on healing and spending time with loved ones, we can:
- Handle any and all communication with the insurance company, your employer, and all other interested parties.
- Investigate the circumstances surrounding your injuries to determine fault and liability.
- Gather evidence of the value of your claim based on medical bills and more.
- Keep you informed every step of the way, so you know exactly what is happening with your case.
- Seek a fair settlement from the insurance company that will cover all your expenses, including ongoing care and loss of future earnings, when applicable.
Our phone lines are always open. We welcome you to call a Cary injury attorney at (919) 439-6447 to talk about your case and how we can help.


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I didn't run out to get ingredients for these (read: right foot still swollen). I tried to find a recipe to make with what I had and also fitting into my husband's requests for the day.
Why do I call these moderately healthy? Read my post here about levels of health in baking. This recipe uses butter and sugar, so it's not healthy by my standards but for a fun treat, it uses WW flour and you can use all unprocessed ingredients to make it a better choice than Oreos, for example! But be careful if you're watching your wasteline!
Check out the recipe…
If you haven't checked out 101 cookbooks yet, you should! Heidi is amazing. She had the idea in 2003 to start blogging the thousands of recipes she already had in her cookbooks! She is a photographer, which makes her blog amazing! She gives tips and tricks on photography, cooking and baking on her blog. She uses natural and whole foods in her ingredients! She is a great resource for recipes! These cookies are teeny so I included a quarter to show you the size.
5 ounces good-quality semi-sweet chocolate bar (70% cocoa or more)
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour (I used WW flour)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup walnuts, very, very finely chopped (by hand)
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
scant 1 cup natural cane sugar (or brown sugar)
scant 1 tablespoon molasses
1 large egg
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup turbinado sugar (I didn't this part of the recipe was necessary. I actually liked them better without this! So, try it both ways and decide!)
Preheat your oven to 350F degrees, racks in top and bottom third. Line a couple baking sheets with parchment paper.
Finely chop the chocolate bar into 1/8-inch pieces, more like shavings really. Try to avoid big lumps and chunks, which make flattening out the cookie dough later more difficult.
In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, oats, walnuts, and shaved chocolate. Set aside.
Using a mixer (or by hand) beat the butter until fluffy. Beat in the sugar and mix until it is also light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl once or twice. Beat in the molasses, then the egg, mixing until both are well incorporated, scrape down the sides of the bowl once or twice. Beat in the vanilla. Add the flour mix and stir by hand until the ingredients barely come together into a uniform dough.
101 cookbooks likes these cookies even smaller (I think) than I made them. These were 2-3 bite cookies for me. Hers were about 1/2 teaspoon each! I used 1/2 Tablespoon each! Roll each into a ball shape. Use two fingers to flatten each dough ball into a thin, round patty with two fingers. (Optional: sprinkle the top of each cookie with a pinch of large-grain sugar….I didn't like this part of the recipe).
Bake for 7 minutes or until cookies are golden and fragrant. Remove from oven, and cool on a wire rack.
Makes about 12 dozen tiny, bite-sized cookies.
source: 101 cookbooks


text: Hey Janek, I've got my first show in NYC as a band leader coming up in early July. I was wondering, when should I start sending out stuff to the Village Voice, NYT, etc etc.? I don't want to send it too early and risk it being lost and not published. Thanks!


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Munich Re said it is "reinsuring performance guarantees that Chinese photovoltaic manufacturer Yingli Green Energy gives to its customers for multi-crystalline modules. The insurance solution covers the long-term technology performance risk of Yingli's photovoltaic modules under an agreement with Yingli Green Energy's Cayman Islands-based holding company."
In executing the agreement Munich Re's coverage protects the manufacturer as it "enables it to manage the long-term, technical guarantee risk on its balance sheet," the bulletin explained. "In the event of an unexpectedly large performance loss below guaranteed performance specification, Munich Re indemnifies Yingli for its performance warranty obligations."
The announcement noted that "Yingli grants customers worldwide a performance guarantee of up to 25 years. The agreement covers Yingli against the risk of its multi-crystalline modules failing to achieve, during the first ten years, a power output of at least 91.2 percent, and in the following fifteen years a power output of no less than 80.7 percent of the nominal power output specified on the module's original product label."
Munich Re also said that it "offers customers of Yingli the complementing Option Cover insurance. This innovative solution covers the risk borne by operators that solar module output falls below the guaranteed level, but the manufacturer can no longer be held liable under its warranties due to insolvency. Without such insurance, banks may provide necessary funding at less favorable terms.
"Thus, the performance guarantee cover together with the Option Cover constitutes a major milestone in the implementation of photovoltaic projects, offering critical financial protection. Prior to the agreement being signed, Munich Re had conducted an in-depth review of Yingli's product quality control and manufacturing processes. In implementing this insurance solution, Munich Re has involved one of its specialty primary insurers."
Liansheng Miao, Chairman and CEO of Yingli Green Energy, commented: "Our state-of-the-art manufacturing lines and choice of suppliers have conveyed trust and reliability to banks, investors and rating agencies. Our partnership with Munich Re serves as another powerful edge for differentiation in a competitive market environment."
Thomas Blunck, member of Munich Re's Board of Management, added: "We are delighted to have concluded this contract to support Yingli in their forward-looking global growth plan. With our expertise, we can assume very special renewable energy risks and help provide greater investment security. We see considerable growth potential in risk transfer solutions for renewable energy."
Source: Munich Re
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News Find us
November 2015
For Khadija Adam, ARCE/Luxor Conservation Manager, JJ Shirley, Visiting Researcher at the University of Pennsylvania and John Shearman, ARCE/Luxor Associate Director, the third week of September was a whirlwind of lectures, travel and conversations with new friends and old. It was the ARCE Chapter Tour - a weeklong journey that took the speakers to Chicago, Boston, New York, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. Warmly welcomed by chapter presidents, members and guests Adam, Shirley and Shearman treated their audiences to an in-depth look at how the conservation and epigraphy field schools and the practices utilized in TT 110 have brought to light new information about the construction of the tomb and the career of its owner, Djhuty.
Dr. Jack Green, Chief Curator and Research Associate, Ms. Simona Cristanetti Assistant Conservator, and Ms. Alison Whyte, Associate Conservator, all from the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago share the chronology of this important First Intermediate Period coffin recently conserved and put back on display for the first time in almost two decades.
Heliopolis once stood at the centre of the ancient Egyptian sun-cult, a core element of ancient Egyptian religion for more than three millennia. Today the site is seriously threatened by new construction and a rapidly rising water table.
October 2015
ARCE Cairo hosted an exceptional group of 20 young Americans and Egyptians on October 19 as part of the Shafik Gaber Foundation East-West: The Art of Dialogue Fellowship. ARCE Director Dr. Gerry Scott welcomed the Fellows and provided an overview of ARCE's history in Egypt. Read more >>
ARCE is pleased to announce the awarding of a short-term fellowship to Mr. Shaaban Ahmed Abdelgawad, who will conduct research for his master's thesis from Cairo University.
September 2015
Your voice is needed now! Show your support for international education (including ARCE Fellowships) and foreign language learning. It takes just one minute. Here's how >>
August 2015
Short on ideas for summer reading? Start with this one-on-one interview with Janis Susan May, author and proud founding member of the North Texas ARCE Chapter.
Publishing simultaneously under four pseudonyms, the author shares her deep passion for Egypt and writing and then reveals the genesis of her current project, A Killing at El Kab.
With the support of the Antiquities Endowment Fund Grant (AEF) from the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE), the Conservation Lab at the Oriental Institute is undergoing a project to study and conserve the First Intermediate Period painted wood coffin of Ipi-ha-ishutef, army scribe and commander.
Laura Mora, one of the most influential painting conservators of the twentieth century, passed away in Rome at the age of 93, on May 30, 2015.
July 2015
ARCE staff in Egypt were pleased to welcome the newly arrived USAID-Egypt Mission Chief, Sherry Carlin, to two of ARCE's most high-profile projects recently.
ARCE and USAID, with the support of the Ministry of Antiquities, would like to congratulate the recent graduates from ARCE's 2014 – 2015 Conservation Field School!
March 2015
The American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) is pleased to announce that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded a grant to continue ARCE's work in the areas of Luxor, Sohag, and Cairo.
An exciting opportunity to share the new discoveries with the Minister of Antiquities, Governor of Luxor, USAID/Egypt Mission Chief, and Egyptian media.
Testimony submitted to the House and Senate Subcommittees on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs for Fiscal Year 2016. The House version is provided here.
ARCE is delighted to announce that Associate Director, John Shearman, and his TT 110 team in Luxor have discovered a previously unknown private Dynasty 18 tombs of Rebiu and Samut at Sheikh Abd el Qurna, Luxor
Read about the most recent season at Malqata, the ceremonial palace complex of the 18th Dynasty king Amenhotep III on the west bank at Thebes.
February 2015
ARCE partners with the Middle East Studies Center (MESC) at Portland State University (PSU) for a five-week seminar entitled, Egypt in Flux: the Ebb and Flow of History.
The Oriental Institute recently received a grant from the Antiquities Endowment Fund of the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE) to conserve an important ancient Egyptian coffin in their collection.
The International Council of Museums, in an effort to fight against illicit traffic in cultural goods, compiles the Emergency Red List of Egyptian Cultural Objects at Risk. This list aims to help art and heritage professionals and law enforcement officials identify Egyptian objects that are protected by national and international legislations. View the Red List for Egypt.


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V8-powered Volvo 240s are as common as spray tans in Minnesota. Not that there's anything wrong with that (the swaps, not the tans). Hell, we built one and raced it. But one particular Scandinavian decided to take it to the next level with a V10 pulled from the last-gen BMW M5.
Speedhunters has a great profile of Jesper Andersson the man behind this track-focused 242 coupe. It's got the aforementioned 10-cylinder heart transplant (originally destined for an E46 project), a Getrag six-speed from an E39, a thoroughly worked-over suspension, and a set of Porsche 997 GT3 brakes that could slow the Earth's rotation.
But more amazing than the hardware is Andersson's attention to detail. It's ridiculously clean. Everything has been painstakingly worked, reworked, torn down, and rebuilt in a quest to think, uh, outside of the box.


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- Facility Maintenance Janitorial Services
- 14.08.2017
Choosing a Janitorial Services Company
Choosing a Janitorial Services Company
Flexibility and Reliability
1. Your Commercial Cleaning Company must be able to work when you need them be it early mornings or evening shifts – they must be flexible enough to fit in with your companies work schedule. Reliability is also essential because if your janitorial company starts and finishes late, this will have a knock on effect on other scheduled events. To ensure standards are maintained a good relationship between the Office Manager and the Office Cleaning Supervisor must be developed to address any potential issues that may arise.
Meeting Your Companies Needs
2. The Janitorial Contractor should be able to meet your companies office cleaning requirements that are unique to your premises. The Janitorial contractor should also carry out a thorough assessment of your organisation's needs and they must accurately quote to ensure your high cleaning standards are being met. To make your life easy select a service provider who can cover the full range of office cleaning services you require. This also means you will only have one point of contact for all your services.
First Point of Contact
3. Look for a janitorial contractor that offers an account manager that can oversee all cleaning processes and can be the first point of contact if any issues arise. This will ensure that any issues will be dealt with promptly.
Do Your Research
4. Before committing to any janitorial contractor, do some research, for example read the testimonials to check if they are a trustworthy and reliable organisation. You can also check their quality of service, legal credentials, Insurance and accreditation are in place too.
Quality of Staff
5. The office cleaning staff in your premises are representing the janitorial contractors. Each member of their staff needs to be trained to the highest standards for cleaning but also behave in a manner you would expect from your own workforce. A polite and friendly workforce is testimony to the great management skills shown by the cleaning contractor.
Health & Safety
6. Health and safety is an essential element that all office cleaning staff must be trained to a very high standard. Health and Safety is crucial when cleaning in offices populated by people and workers on a daily basis. Your janitorial contractor should carry out risk assessments when necessary and ensure staff are up-to-date and fully trained in the latest developments to health and safety legislation and ensure all cleaning equipment is serviced and maintained.
DSC Solutions has been offering an extensive range of expert commercial cleaning and facility maintenance services in Lancaster, PA for over 15 years.
Call (717) 271-6366 or submit the inquiry form and one of our company representatives will be in touch to discuss your company's office cleaning requirements and organize a site visit.


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Good On Ya, Professional Colleague — Milestone Down Under for LinkedIn
Professional networking site LinkedIn topped the 2 million member mark in Australia.
Professional networking site LinkedIn topped the 2 million member mark in Australia.
LinkedIn opened an office in Sydney in January 2010, recently adding another site in Melbourne, and it has 20 employees there in sales, marketing, and recruitment.
The fastest-growing sectors in Australia, according to LinkedIn: think tanks, higher education, and hospital/healthcare. The most common last names there are Smith, Jones, Brown, and Lee. LinkedIn added that 485 members listed winemaker as their job description.
LinkedIn managing director for in Australia and New Zealand Cliff Rosenberg said:
Given that we focus solely on the professional audience, this is a significant milestone for us. Our growth has been driven by Australian professionals using LinkedIn to network, build their online brand, gain insights from the community, and find new career or business opportunities.
Since we established local operations, we have seen strong demand and response for our recruitment and marketing solutions services. We have also had success in establishing local relationships with Optus and Vodafone Hutchison Australia to offer our members free access to LinkedIn on their mobile to drive further usage.


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Latest Story
IN THE DARK Chapter 17
{ Being Lonely and Dumb }
😭 It Still Felt Like Yesterday ☀
After the guy had melted his back twice, I ordered him to stop.
Rex was screaming in agony and his screams rang out painfully in the air.
His screams were so loud that it could pull down the whole building.
But I don't give a damn!
"Why did you kill my parents?" I asked with a smirk as I looked at his flushed face and red, puffy eyes.
He's like a mess, especially with his hair sticky to his sweaty face.
"You bitch, let me go! You already know why so why are you still asking me?!" He groaned and winced in pain.
"Seems you haven't learnt your lesson huh?
Place the hot iron again on his back!" I ordered viciously.
"No, wait. Don't do it. I'll talk but please don't put that thing on me again. It hurts!" He cried out before the guy could place the hot iron on him.
I smiled and leaned closer to him.
"Start talking right now!"
"Fine, I'll talk."
"Get the recorder ready and press the start button!" I ordered at the guy with the hot iron.
He nodded and soon, he was back with a clip recorder.
He placed it on top of a desk not too far away. A reasonable distance and turned it on.
Rex breathe in and out before talking.
"I was jealous of my best friend, Connor.
We were both business associates but he was doing better than I.
He was having more bigger client and contract, more than I.
I wasn't happy because we were both doing the same business and it was even I who introduced him into the business.
The one that got me more vexed was when…." He stopped and took in a deep breath.
I stared keenly at him, for him to continue.
He looked at me and a tear slide down his face.
"The one that got me more vexed was when an endorsement that was supposed to be mine was given to him.
It was supposed to make me more richer than he was.
It was huge amount of money worth 30 billion dollars.
But I don't know what happened, the business persons said they weren't gonna do business with me again as they've seen someone more better.
And just like that, the contract was given to Connor.
I was so mad, enraged and embittered because of it.
He took what was supposed to be mine from me.
And then, I sent men to kill him so that I wouldn't have him competing with me with my client.
But he escaped death four good times.
Then, one day, I was about entering his office when I heard him on a phone call.
He was talking to his wife and he said they would be leaving the country in two days time.
I arranged my men and we both sneaked into his house at the middle of the night, the day he was supposed to leave with his family.
And then, I successfully killed him and his pregnant wife.
I managed to manipulate the companies he had over to my name.
I needed to pay off the loan I borrowed.
I had borrowed a huge amount of money from a fellow business man and I couldn't pay back.
So, I gained all his companies and I was able to pay off the loan.
I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to.
I was carried away with jealousy and greed.
I'm really sorry." He explained with tears rolling down his face in fast current.
I wiped my own tears and stared murderously at him.
The memory came back in a flash and it felt like yesterday.
I still felt the hurt in my heart.
Everything I became after the incident.
It was too painful.
"Then, why were you after their daughter even after getting what you wanted?
You successfully killed him and took over his companies, so what else did you want from his daughter?" I questioned.
"I wanted to kill her because I felt she might become a threat to me someday.
I feared that she might come after me especially if she knew the truth about her parents death and the person behind it.
I didn't mean to!" He cried out again.
"You deserve to rot in hell!" I snarled angrily and stomped out of the room.
I sat on the corridor and wept bitterly.
Even if I torture him to death, it wouldn't bring back my dead parents neither will it erase the pain I felt in my heart.
The pain of loosing both parents was still piercing in my heart like sword being shoved into my heart.
The memory still hurts!
I missed my parents.
I missed my once happy and united family!
If only I could turn back the hands of time and save them.
If only I could bring them back from the dead.
But it's too late already, because they're dead!
They're never coming back to me but their memories will continue to linger on forever in my heart.
Your thoughts on this chapter below 👇.
Xoxo 💋.
© Scholastic Treasure ✍.
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Latest Story
THE VIRGIN Chapter Ten
[ She's The Mafia's Sweetheart ]💕💋
✍🏽Written BY: Nuella Emerald
𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝗧𝗘𝗡- "𝑼𝒏𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝑻𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒔 𝑨𝒕𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕"
-𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝.
" Hey man, you can't just hit a woman like that." Grey begins as he steps in front of me hiding and shielding me away from the menacing hands of Zane.
Zane was breathing heavily, each exhale and inhale spelling furious anger. His face was scrunched in sheer rage and his hand was still uplifted and frozen in that position, his other hand was clenched so tightly, his veins were scarily vivid. With his current composure, he would've killed me within a second if he had a dagger or a gun.
The ingridiency of the slap I received not less than a minute ago was nothing but intense anger. The moment it landed on my cheek, I felt not only pain but betrayal. I can't believe Zane raised his hands on me. My cheek was throbbing hot, it was indeed very painful. Tears had already began to trickle down my face.
" And who are you to tell me that huh?" Zane retorts then fixes his wrathful eyes of me. His gaze on me was piercing, extremely piercing. What was he thinking?
" I can't believe you settled for this punk Isabella. I mean, look at him. Am I not better than him?" Zane questions me then his demeanor changes immediately. He has a small gape on and his gaze was aloof, like as if he just remembered something.
" Oh, I see, I see it clearly now. You've been sleeping with him huh? You've been secretly fucking this inept and then you lie to me that you're a virgin? How despicable can you be Bella?" Zane allegates and I'm bewildered at that. What gave him the fucking impression that I was lying? Furthermore, the impression that I've been sleeping with Grey. A man whom I just met not less than an hour ago? Shame on you Zane for being so petty.
" Zane, are you mad? How will you lay such whorish allegations on me?" I snap at him and he grunts then begins to charge towards me in his fit of rage and I immediately flinched and recoiled with a shaky and fearful demeanor to the back of Grey who seemed like he was willing to fight for me.
" Oh she still has the mouth to talk? You slut, a motherfucking bitch! A stinking lying harlot." He throws demeaning names at me as he walk to me in a way that suggests imminent harm and I hide myself the more behind Grey.
Where the fuck are the securities mounting this gate? Are they deaf? Can't they hear that there's a man here about to kill me.
" I won't have you call her names." Grey warns sternly and Zane laughs sarcastically jeering spite at him.
" And what are you going to do about it, punk?" Zane retorts after laughing.
" Oh, move aside, I didn't come here for you." Zane adds then shoves Grey aside exposing my cowered self.
" You cheated on me with some random dude at a party? You kissed him Isabella, and you let his hands hold you in places you wouldn't even allow me to touch. You cunt!" Zane says and raises his hands once more to slap me but Grey strikes and catches his hand mid-air halting the action.
The Ball. How did he know that I kissed Ryder? Except…. Ava told him! Ava that fucker, she told him. Well then, I guess Zane's anger is completely justified but still… I saw him pants down with another girl and I didn't even react this way. So to me, he's kinda overreacting.
" What is going on here?" We hear strange voices ask and we look to see the security officers hurring to the scene.
" Thank goodness." I inwardly heave a sigh of relief.
" Excuse me sir, please let go of that man." One of the security officers said to Grey. Grey reluctantly lets go of Zane's hand but not before giving him an intense death stare and the security officers arrive the scene.
" What's going on here?" The other security officee asks as he stands akimbo while the first one swings his black baton in a circular motion.
" This man here assaulted this woman, verbally and physically." Grey states then throws his arm over my shoulders. Whaaat? No, no, no Grey. You cannot just put your arms around my shoulders all willy nilly in front of my boyfriend, it can even make matter worse.
I pinch his back and he flinches at that. He turns to face me and I give him a look that simply depicts to him to take his damn hands away from my shoulders. He codes then slyly removes his hands from my shoulder and I shrug.
" Is this true ma'am? Did this man assault you." The security officer asks me and points at me. Grey and I then share a look. Wouldn't it be kind of wrong to tell on my boyfriend? Like report him to the officers and probably have him sent to jail.
" Yes officers but it was nothing serious. It was just a simple misunderstanding which we have sorted out. Nothing to worry about." I say and a nervous chuckle follows. The two officers then look at me then at Grey, then at Zane.
" But we heard noises." The officer says with a suspicious demeanor.
" Like the damn woman said, everything has be sorted out and there's nothing to worry about." Zane says in a curtly manner.
" Alright then. Good day." The other officer says. They turn to leave but not without looking down at us in a stern manner.
" Great Isabella, you just saved your boyfriend who was just about to beat you to death from going to jail." My conscience sarcastically tells me.
" This is not over." Zane warns pointing his finger at me before he turned around and left. He entered into his vehicle then drove away.
Grey and I watch as Zane recklessly and speedingly drives away and we continues to watch him until he was far out of sight.
I started to trod down the street as the journey to the family's mansion continues and Grey immediately trails after me.
Not a single word was said as we walked to the mansion probably due to my mind racing around numerous topics including my father's kidnap and Zane's display of anger. I'm sure Grey decided not to say a word because he might have found it awkward to start up a conversation after what just transpired.
Or maybe not, maybe he's just afraid to start up a conversation with me probably due to the fear that I might snap at him. Either ways, I'm not open for a conversation and it's much better if we take this journey in silence.
We arrive at the family mansion and stood outside, behind the large and massive metallic gate that guards our house. I take out my phone from my back pocket them dialled Karissa.
" Hey, where are you?" Karissa impatiently asks immediately she answers the call.
" I'm at the gate. I'm not with the security codes anymore so you have to come open up." I answer.
" Okay. But what's wrong? Your voice sounds so feeble and drained, like you've been crying. What happened?" She questions. I can't tell her Zane publicly harassed me, she'd rub it in my face for eternity and not a single action of sympathy will come from her.
" It's nothing."
" I see you've started hiding things from your sister. Well okay, since you don't want to tell me what's up with you, I won't pester forward. I'll be out in a second." Karissa says and I hang up then put my phone into my pocket.
After a few seconds, I hear footsteps pattering closer and I assume it's Karissa. Few moments after that, the light atop the gate turns green and the gate automatically slides open revealing Karissa in a yellow mini laced gown.
" Mum's breaking down. The news hit her hard and-" Karissa immediately pauses her statement the moment she say Grey.
" Who's he?" She asks sternly.
" That doesn't matter. I need to see mum." I say and grab Grey's hand then walk in. I could feel Karissa's eyes settled on Grey and I even though I wasn't looking. The gate closes and Karissa follows us as we walk into the mansion.
I enter into the living room and see mum wailing and blubbering uncontrollably on the floor. I felt touched instantly mere looking at her, she's suffered a lot this past few months.
" Mum." I call out to her then rush to where she sprawled on the floor. I knelt beside her and had one of my hands at her back patting her and the other one stroking her leg. I did that to pacify her but it seems like her wails increased the more.
" It's okay mum, it's okay. Everything is going to be alright. We will find dad wherever he is an very soon everything will be back to normal." I encourage her. But her wails didn't cease, in fact seeing her cry insinuated foggy eyes and I immediately began to sob as well.
I turn around when I hear the sound of someone coming down the stairs. I turn to see Caleb walking downstairs in a gray sweatshirt and matching coloured sweatpants and slides. His hands were in his pocket and he looked like he had shed a few drops of tears too.
" Bella." He calls out softly to me the moment he sees me.
" How did it happen?" I asked in general.
" Well, Caleb and I decided to go to the arcade while mum went out with some of her friends. She returned before us and when we finally came home, we met her crying." Karissa begins. I turn and see her standing by the door, Grey was standing few feet away from her.
" We asked her why she was crying and then she told us she came home and didn't find dad. And all she found was this note." Caleb concludes as he finally reaches downstairs.
He walks to me and hands me a small brown coloured note.
" I've regained what's rightfully mine. Taking Alfredo is just a bonus dose of payback." I read the note out loud amidst my sniffling.
" What does that even mean?" Karissa questions.
" Let me see." Grey offers then walks to me and collects the note then began to examine it while he stroked the beards on his chin. Caleb and mum noticed his presence and they didn't seem so appeased by it. Oh Grey, I'm going to in a lot of trouble because of you.
" And who's he?" Mum asks amidst he tears.
" He's uh, a friend. Uhm, my car broke down on the way here so he dropped me off." I explained with nervosity filled in my stomach.
" You let a stranger into our house?" Caleb whispers to me and I shake my head in disaffirm.
" He's not a stranger." I lied.
" Well, sorta." I add.
" If dad were here, he'd surely have your head chopped off." Caleb says.
" Has anybody called asking for a ransome or something?" I asked generally.
" No. Nobody has called." Karissa answers.
" This type of kidnap isn't one that requires a ransome. This note clearly states that whoever kidnapped Mr. Alfredo did it because Mr. Alfredo took something that belongs to him. But according to this note, it seems like the kidnapper has already recovered that stolen property and he kidnapped Mr. Alfredo as added revenge." Grey explained with his eyes still fixed on the note.
" Okay who's this guy?" Karissa asks and Grey walk up to her with a grin.
" And how is he able find out all this." Caleb adds.
" My name's Grey DeWitt and it's a pleasure meeting a member of Isabella's family. We've been friends for such a long time and Isabella here didn't tell me she had such a beautiful sister. Are you single?" Grey asks then takes Karissa's hands and shakes it and I mentally face palm myself for bringing him here in the first place.
What in tarnations? What is he doing!? This guy is crazy, I'm fully convinced that he has gone totally crazy! Hitting on my sister during a serious matter like this? Well fuck me for bringing him here, it's all my fault. Damn you Grey.
" Let go off me." Karissa says the violently takes her hand away from Grey's and he smirks at her.
" As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted." Grey says as he walks back to his initial position before he went to Karissa's.
" If there's anything I've learnt from movies then it will be the fact that every note has hidden messages." Grey begins then sits on the couch and crosses his legs so casually.
" Can I get some oil?" He requests and everyone scrunches their faces in puzzlement.
" I didn't speak Spanish neither did I mutter or stumble my words, I don't get why you all look so surprised." He says.
" Fine. I'll get the oil." Karissa says with a furrowed forehead before going into the kitchen.
Few moments later, she returns with a small cup with oil inside of it. She hands it over to Grey and he snatches it from her. Karissa is agaped at that and she snaps.
" Okay, what is the meaning of this? Bella, can you please take this friend of yours out of this house since he clearly lack manners.?" Karissa demands and Grey chuckles as he sets the note on the side table then gently smears the oil over it.
" No, no. He's up to something, look." Caleb opposes then points at Grey and everyone's attention was fixed on him.
" Come closer." He tells us and I help mum stand up to her feet then we join Karissa and Caleb as we walk to where Grey sat.
" Look at this." Grey says drawing our attention to the paper which was dampened with oil. But something was different, there was a new inscription on it, like a street name.
" Octavian Avenue." Grey states.
" I believe there's a ninety percent chance that this street is where the kidnapper or whoever wrote this letter resides and it could also be the place where Mr. Alfredo is." Grey explained and it made perfect sense although it did sound very clumsy for the kidnaper or whover wrote this letter to use a paper in which their address was written on it.
" This is probably where one of the secret hideouts of the skulls is located" Karissa points out taking the note from the table.
" Perhaps one of the kidnappers noticed the address and tried to fade the ink." Caleb adds and we all second.
" We should inform Tianna of this new development." Caleb suggests bringing out his phone then he walks away from the scene.
Grey's phone rings and he excuses himself from our presence.
" The next time you bring in outsider into our house, I will not take it likely. Do you hear me?" Mum chides immediately Grey excuses himself anf I tersely nod at that.
Oh jeez.
" Uh, it's been a pleasure meeting Bella's family, but I'm afraid I have to leave now." Grey announces as he comes back to the limelight.
" Yeah, I'll be going along with you. You have to drop me back home, remember?" I tell Grey and he nods.
" I'll be back later this evening mum and I'll stay here at the mansiom for a few days okay." I say to my mum and peck her cheeks and she nods.
" Be strong okay, we'll find dad surely. And I just want you to know and keep this knitted in your heart that wherever dad is, he's safe and thinking of you." I add and put my arms over her shoulder then draw her closer to me and rub her upper arm as she sniffles.
" What about clothes?" Caleb asks.
" I left some easy wears in my closet, I'll use those." I reply then walk to Grey.
" Shall we?" He asks and I nod.
" Bye Guys." I greet and we exit the mansion.
" What was that for? Why did you hit on Karissa?" I immediately scold the moment Grey and I stepped outside. He chuckles.
" I just felt like it. You know, the feeling just whoosed in and I was like "hey, why not hit on Bella's sister." " He says in a sarcastic tone and I roll my eyes and shake my head at that.
" But you know, you're really smart, I really underestimate you. How did you know there was a hidden address?" I ask Grey as we walk to the main gate.
" I watch a lot of movies." He answers then reflexly kicks a pebble in front of him as we walk. I smile at him then he smiles back. Silence followed.
The silence made room for Zane to finds his way into my mind. I have to apologize to him, even if he doesn't want the relationship to go on anymore, I still need to apologize to him for cheating on him. He did the same when he cheated and I should do that as well. I'll go to his house right now and render an apology, probably that'll be the last time he may want to see me. Ugh, I don't know and I'm confused. But I do need a ride to Zane's…
" Uh Grey." I begin.
" Yeah?"
" Thanks for uh, standing up for me when Zane tried to attack me." I appreciate and he smiles charmingly.
" Zane, your boyfriend?" He questions and I nod.
" Yeah."
" He's a psychopath. You shouldn't be dating someone like him. You're way to much of a wonderful person for him." Grey says and I keep silent. Yeah, I've been told a lot that Zane is no good for me. But what makes life interesting is seeing how thin the odds of something happening seems at first and how it later turns out to be the perfect match. A popular Physics term states that "Unlike terms attracts" and I feel like that statement perfectly describes Zane and I's relationship.
" But did you really cheat on him?" He questions and I arch my brown at that question. Why does he want to know?
" That's uhm, a topic for another day." I swiftly dismiss the motion. He nods
" Say, I just want to ask you for one teny tiny favour, yeah?"
" Sure, what do you want?"
" Uh, can you please drop me off somewhere."
" Where?" He quickly asks.
I mentally debate myself on whether to tell him it's Zane's house. He may decide to rebuke me from going there or probably even decline from taking me there. So I don't think I should tell him.
" It's a friend's house. One of my girl uh friends, yeah, one of my girlfriends from school." I say to him with twitchy eye and mouth movements. The truth is that I'm really bad at lying and I sincerely hope Grey believes me.
" Alright. I'll drop you off." He says with a smile and I inwardly pump my fists in victory.
Grey rides me to Zane's house. We didn't talk much during the ride because my mind was practically cracking up words to say when I see Zane. Admitting that I kissed Ryder is one thing, the guilt I will forever feel for hypocrisy is one thing that worries me. But Karma always finds his way back huh?
" Which turn am I taking?" Grey asks and I'm jolted out of my thoughts and I blink my worries away for the mean time.
" The left one. Down the curb there." I answer and he nods. He tilts his motorcycle to the left and I close my eyes and exhale loudly as I brace myself.
Few minutes passed and Grey's motorcycle stalls in front of Zane's porch. He kicks the side stand down then places that leg on the ground while the other was on the foot peg. I alight from the motorcycle with a grunt.
" We're here." He says.
" Yeah."
" Thanks." I say with a small smile then turn to leave.
" Say a greeting to Zane on my behalf." He says and my eyes widen at that. How did he know I was coming to Zane's? Oh, darn me for not knowing I was talking to the smart and witty Grey. Off course, Zane would figure out I was lying, what was I thinking?
" You thought I didn't know?" He asks as I turn to face him.
" Why did you want to come here?" He further asks.
" To apologize to him for cheating. His anger back there is completely justified because I'm at fault." I answer.
" He slapped you Bella and he was ready to do worse if not for my intervention. A man who raises his hand on a woman is no man, in fact he is a coward. You don't deserve a coward as a boyfriend Bella, you deserve far much better."
" You have the right to your opinions Grey just as much as I have the right to do whatever I please. Right now I just want to apologize to Zane and get this horrible day over with, okay?"
" But he slapped you, called you names! Leave that fucker alone, he doesn't deserve your apology. Now come on, let's go." Grey says and I felt bad on behalf of Zane.
" I cheated for Christ's sake and I have to apologize. And I won't have you insult my boyfriend in my presence." I rebuke him then turn my back against him breathing vehemently.
" Okay, do whatever you want. But just know that I won't be here to hide behind when he gets violent." Grey says then starts the ignition of his motorcycle.
" Here." He says and I turn to see him extend a two hundred dollar bill to me.
" Why?" I ask.
" I know you didn't bring money along with you and since your car broke down and I'm heading home now, there's no way you'll be able to find your way back home. So use this to take a taxi or something." He says and it immediately struck me that I was actually moneyless and stranded and have absolutely no way to get back home.
" Thank you." I say then walk up to him and take the money.
" I want it paid back with a million dollars interest." He winks and I chuckle.
" Thanks for everything."
" Welcome kiddo. See you later chica." He says with a smile before riding off.
Once again I exhale then walk up to Zane's sturdy brown colored door and plant a soft knock.
" Zane?" I call out to him.
Few moments later, the door opens and I see Zane. His eyes are red and he was only clad in a white singlet and blue stripped boxers. His nose is stained with a white powderish substance and in his hand in a rolled up paper probably containing crack and it was lit at one of the edges. Seems like he's been smoking and sniffing narcotics. Shame.
" What are you doing here?" He questions.
" I came to say I'm sorry."
𝑵𝒖𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒂 𝑬𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒅©
©𝖠𝗎𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗌 𝖭𝗎𝖾𝗅𝗅𝖺 𝖤𝗆𝖾𝗋𝖺𝗅𝖽'𝗌 𝖡𝗈𝗈𝗄𝗌 📚
Latest Story
THE VIRGIN Chapter Nine
[ She's The Mafia's Sweetheart ]💕💋
✍🏽Written BY: Nuella Emerald
𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙉𝙄𝙉𝙀- 𝑨 𝑳𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝑵𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝑺𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒔- 𝑷𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝑰
~Barely Edited…Except some clumsy errors😴
" Hurry quickly to the mansion. We just found uh, a strange letter here as well." Karissa adds then hangs up.
Multiple feelings and thoughts enclouded my head immediately the news of my father's kidnap fell on me like a heavy rock; it literally broke me into thousand of pieces.
Feelings of devastation, despondence and sheer puzzlement engulfed my being. In such a small period of time, disheartening calamities have befallen our family and that prooves that truely, mum and dad weren't wrong when they constantly warned us about the bad eyes and enemies our family's affluence attracted like honey to bears.
I recollected the broken pieces of my being and hurriedly rushed to my closet and threw a polka-dotted boyfriend jacket over my jean bumshort and white strapless crop top. With my fox fur slides on, I picked up my car keys and scurried out of my condo.
I headed straight to my car and entered into the vehicle. I then inserted the key into the keyhole then twisted the key in a bid to turn on the ignition. Once again, the ignition failed to kickstart just like that night on my way to Leslie's. I tried it multiple times but it refused to kickstart.
I pressed one of the lower buttons underneath my dashboard to open the bonnet and I heard it click open. I then alighted the vehicle and rushed to the front of the car then raised the already open bonet to it's highest length. I began to touch some thingies and wires in the engine hoping it'll solve whatever problem that decided to occur now of all fucking days!
Why didn't I ask Grey that night what exactly he did to make the car work? But no, I didn't because I was too smitten over his handsome face. Crud, I'm doomed if this doesn't work.
I lathed the bonnet door shut and rushed back into the car and twisted the key again hoping the ignition will kickstart since I've touched some wires. But fuck no! It didn't work. I decided to try it one last time and luckily for me, it worked! Thank the stars!!
I heaved a huge sigh of relief as I stepped on the acceleration pad and drove out of my garage. My joy didn't last for so long because not up to half way down the street, the car tottered and stopped, emitting a heavy fog of black smoke.
" Fuck." I cussed again then hit the steering wheel with a clenched fist furiously, a loud honk blared immediately afterwards.
I alighted from the vehicle again and stood in front of it in a state of puzzlement. What am I going to do now?
After this whole shit, I'm definitely getting a new car.
" What's going on here?" I heard a familiar British voice question and I turned back to see Grey leaning on his stalled motorcycle with folded arms and dark shades on, he also had one of those smirks on his face.
" Your car still giving you problems ey?"
" You know for a daughter of the famous mob boss, Alfredo McKenna, you shouldn't be driving all these problem giving cars. You should be riding a Benz or a Beamer or even a-" He adds and I immediately getsture to him to keep quiet. The fuck? He can't be yelling my father's illegitimate status all willy nilly! He chukles and keeps quiet settling down with a sly grin on his face.
" So where you off to?" He questions taking off his shades revealing his wonderful set of blue sparkly eyes.
" My family's mansion."
" Why?"
" Since when did I not have the right to visit my family's mansion? Besides, I don't have to answer to you and neither don't have time for chit chat Grey. I need this car working so I can get to the mansion in time."
" In time? Is there something important happening there? Like a large feast or a party?" He says in a ludicrous manner then flashes his brows.
" Can you just help fix the car?" I ask in a drawled manner. Right now, I'm in a very bad mood due to the news I just received and frankly speaking, I'm void of all emotions and not even Grey trying to be oblivuously funny can help alleviate my downcast demeanor.
" You want me to fix it? Like use my magic fingers on it like last time so it'll start working again?" He asks cockily wiggling his fingers.
" Yes Grey." I answer with an eye roll.
" Is it an emergency?" He asks and I groan tilting my head backwards in frustration. More questions?
" Yes Grey, it's an emergency."
" Well if it's an emergency, we don't have time to start fixing the car. We need to get to your family's mansion as quickly as possible." He says and I arch my brown in puzzlement. We? What does he mean by We?
" I'm sorry, "We"?" I question and he nods in affirm as he flashes his brows. He then proceeds to get on his motorcycle and sit astride on it. He turns the key and the ignition starts.
" Yeah "we". Hop on chicka." He says. I mentally contemplate and debate myself whether to allow him drive me to my family's mansion which is basically supposed to be a secret to outsiders. But heck, I'm hopeless, I need his help.
" Fine." I reluctantly agree then open the driver's door and grab my phone then removed my car key from the keyhole. I then shut the door and locked the car.
I walked to his motorcycle which wasn't far eased up from my car. I straddle my legs around the passenger seat platform on the motorcycle.
" All good?" He asks as I adjust myself on the seat platform.
" Yeah."
" Hold on to me tight." He says and I inwardly cringe as I slowly wrap my arms around his torso. Ugh, my hand around him sends some irky streaks down my spine. Definitely can't wait for this ride to be over.
" Hope you know how to ride this thing well?" I question and he scoffs.
" Duh? Do you think I started riding today?" He says with a chuckle and I roll my eyes. He switches on the ignition and pulls the clutch closer to the handle bar and the motorcycle kicks starts and we begin the ride.
" A simple yes wouldn't even fine. Jeez."
" I love to add a little bit of sass, you should know by now." He says then turns back to give me a wink then turns back to his initial position.
" The closest thing I am to knowing you is your name." I answer.
" Well you would've known more than that if you were nicer to me chicka."
" That's the nicest I've ever been to any starnger, you should be damn thankful."
" You call that nice? Here I am giving a free ride to a pretty girl I just met less than thirty minutes ago even though she was so rude to me by the way. Now that's being nice, take some lessons will ya." He says and I laugh. Take lessons to be nice? Hillairous, just hilarious Grey.
" Besides, where exactly are we heading?" He questions.
" Uh Rivers Luxorious Estate, Brooklyn."
" Oh, Rivers Estate ey? For the rich and fancy. You know, I've always wanted a rich girl as a friend."
" Who ever said we were friends?" I scoff, he hums a puzzled reply. What gave him the impression that we're friends, tch.
" Oh, so we're not friends?" He asks and I hum and affirming reply.
" Yes we aren't. Strictly neighbors."
" Well then…" He says and I didn't really pay attention to his actions instead I feasted my eyes on the wonderful scenery. Suddenly, the pace and speed of the motorcycle began to slow down and I furrowed my brows and scrunched my face at that. What's happening?
He slows down leaning the vehicle to the side of the road and it came to a halt. He turned off the ignition and laid down the side stand.
" Why did you stop?" I questioned.
" Well since I'm not your friend, I might as well pull over so you can walk all the way to your destination. I don't think I should be giving rides to someone who isn't my friend." Grey turned to face me and replied and my lips formed a gape immediately those words flew out of his mouth. Oh so he can be this narrow minded?
Normal Isabella would've gotten down from the motorcycle without saying a word of protest and I will forever loathe and hate Grey and I will never talk to him ever again. But I'm desperate, I need to get to the mansion in time and if accepting that I'm his friend will make him take me there then so be it.
" Fine. I'm your friend." I mumbled almost inaudibly through gritted teeth.
" What did you say?" He questions with a smirk and I exhale loudly with an eye roll.
" I'm your friend! I'm your friend! Okay? There I said it twice." I admit and he chuckles and shakes his head. He turns back to his initial position and turns on the ignition and resumes riding the motorcycle.
" Jeez. And you call me the petty one." I jeered.
" Nice crop top, really shows off your skin." He compliments.
" Thank you. But why the complement now? Didn't you see me in the outfit earlier when you came over? Why didn't you compliment me then?"
" Even if I wanted too, I would've had a change of mind immediately you welcomed me with your cold attitude."
" Touché." I say and he chuckles.
Grey continued to be the witty, sarcastic hunk he is throughout the ride but I didn't pay him much attention because what roamed around in my small head was my dad's kidnap, who was responsible for it and why the person kidnapped my dad. I also inwardly prayed that he is okay wherever he is and he hasn't been killed or hurt badly.
I was trapped in my own world of thoughts. At this point, my family is far from being safe. In fact, it seems like our lives are hanging on a single thread and can be cut at any time. I'm very sure the SKULLS are the one behind this.
" Earth to Isabella?" Grey's accented voice calls out to me and I was immediately jolted back into reality as I blinked my thoughts away.
" We're at the gate of the estate. I'm not allowed to enter with the motorcycle because it's againt the rules blah blah. We'd have to walk." He says and that's when I began to realize my environment.
" Oh. Let's walk then." I drawl then we both alight the motorcycle.
" I'll be back Benita." Grey says and pecks the window glass of his motorcycle and a blatant demeanor of stunned surprise swept across my face for a split second.
" Wow, he named his motorcycle as well. You're a weirdo on so many different levels." I say to him and he snickers as he stalls the vehicle by laying down the side stand.
" Yeah, the motorcycle means a lot to me." He says stroking the side of the motorcycle with a smile on his face like he was reminiscing something.
" So, let's get going. I need to really rush to the mansion quickly. We've wasted enough time here."
Suddenly a red sedan eases up in front of Grey and I with a screech. We were both puzzled and we shared a look before fixing our gaze on the sedan. The door opens and Zane alights from the vehicle looking furious and angry.
Where did he get money to buy a car? He never told me about this, and we spoke yesterday night and still he didn't tell me about it. Hmm.
" So it's true?" Zane begins with a tone dripping of sheer rage as he pointed at me. A puzzled comportment engulfs my entity as Zane began his fuss.
" What are you talking about?" I question him and he doesn't reply, instead he walks over to where Grey and I stood in a menancing manner.
Before I could utter any word, the next thing that occurred was a resounding slap across my face. I immediately cowered and clutched my left cheek.
𝑵𝒖𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒂 𝑬𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒅©
Latest Story
THE VIRGIN Chapter Eight
[ She's The Mafia's Sweetheart ]💕💋
✍🏽Written BY: Nuella Emerald
𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝗘𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧- 𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝑨𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒐𝒐𝒓.
I still can't believe my eyes, like how the fuck is this possible? I'm utterly puzzled, transfixed and frozen at the spot. My brain is still yet to process this man's presence which came as a shocker.
" Take A Picture, it'll last longer." He quipped with a loopsided smirk. His utter immediately jolts me out of my state of stunned puzzlement. I release a nervous chuckle in remark to his tease as my cheeks flutter in embrassment.
Not only is he good looking, eloquent and articulated but he's full of sarcastic wits. Damn you stranger for being this perfect.
" Hi." I blurt out the first thing that comes to my mind and I immediately regretted it the moment it flew out of my big mouth.
" You've said that word twice already, is that the only word you know? Are you retarded or something?" He questions with a chuckle and I mentally face palmed myself for not thinking of any other word to say but those two fucking letter words I've said previously. He is facetious; overly facetious, in fact rudely facetious…if there's a term like that.
I stupidly let my eyes roam over his features again. It seems like the presence of this witty hunk has rendered me controlless over my own organs.
He's in a ripped jean trouser with a white T-shirt that had a caricature graphic of SpongeBob Squarepants in black and white. Hold on a second, guys who wear ripped jeans and ride motorcycles are considered tough and hard guys huh? Well, it's kinda absurd to see one of them wearing a T shirt with cheerful Sponge Bob on it. Cute though.
He had a black leather jacket over the T-shirt. The jacket is almost similar to the one he had on that night, just a few minor designs that differentiated both. His outfit is crowned with a black cap that had a grotesque inage of a skull on it invertedly placed over his side swept hair and soled with a pair of black boots that had some spikes at the back. Rugged.
Typical Manhattan bad boy, nothing different. But he's very handsome, I must admit again. His fairly scanty beards added a touch of manliness to his defined skull which harbored his amazing facial features. Witty, Handsome, Bulky and Wonderfully Accented; a spec, I likey.
" Done eye fucking me yet?" He taunts a jeer then smiles frivolously. Haha, he's got a bad mouth too. That's just great. Nevertheless, I won't stand here and have some dude throws jeers at me like breadcrumbs to ducks.
" Boy, imma slam this door shut if you don't proove to me in exactly five seconds that you knocked on my door to tell me something important rather than sass me." I snap annoyed by his last utter.
" Oh, I finally made her say other words apart from "Hi" " He jeers a mock then smiles smuggly. He mimicked my voice in a high pitched manner as he said "Hi" and waved his arms girlishly. I scoff and roll my eyes.
" 5, 4, 3, 2, 1." I countdown unamused then proceeded to close the door but he halts the action by swiftly placing one his foot inside my house.
" Hold on feisty chick. You can't get rid of me so quickly." He says and chuckles then one of those annoying smirks of his makes it's way to his face. It'll be callous for me to chop of a man's left foot with my door, so I'll open it.
I reluctantly open the door back and he removes his foot then takes it back it to it's initial position, next to the right foot. I stare at him in an apathetic manner; void of emotions, pale and kinda docile. His presence is beggining to disgust me but I still need answers to my question.
" Well you are certainly one of the few people who doesn't find my tease and wits amusing but hey, not everyone has a good sense of humor." He chortles and I roll my eyes.
" Anyways, I'm Grey, your newest and very good looking next door neighbor and my first intention was to come here and ask for a plumber's number." He says with emphasis on "very"
" My sink got clogged." He adds from the side of his mouth then chuckles to himself.
" I knocked on your door and when it opened, I was greeted by the sight of a quite interesting girl so I decided to amuse her with my sassy comments."
" Do you sass every girl you meet?"
" Only the prettiest ones." He flirts with a lopsided grin. I roll my eyes again at his cheap attempt to flirt.
" Well they were more hurtful rather than funny." I say with crossed arms and he snickers.
" Who ever said they were meant to be funny?" He retorts and laughs. Okay that's it, I'm done being sassed by Mr. Grey here. In fact, what kind of name is Grey? For Christ's sake, who settles down and names their child after a colour? A freaking colour! Not even an interesting color like Red, Blue or Greene but Grey? Like seriously Grey? Grey the gloomiest and most boring of all colors? Hell nah.
" Closing my door now." I say to him then once again proceeded to shut my door.
" Hold on, Hold on. I'm sorry, okay? Jeez, you don't have to be cold and petty to me." He says and I groan loudly then open the door once again.
" Why don't we go back in time to five minutes ago when you had googly eyes scanning through my handsome bod. You were clearly smitten, I don't blame yah." He adds smuggly then flahses his eyebrows and flexes his muscles.
" The Sponge Bob on your T-shirt has way more muscles than you'd ever have." I tease him sarcastically and he titters.
" Funny not funny. If only your sarcasm were just as good as your looks." He sighs then just strides into my house with his hands tucked into his pockets. Who barges into a house with no permission. The world we now live in, sigh.
" What gave you the efforntry to just waltz into my house? Do you lack the simplest tier of manners?" I question him annoyed by his disrespectful act.
" Nice house." He says completely ignoring what I just said as he looks around my house.
" Thank You." I say sternly through gritted teeth, my frustration building up.
He turns around and meets with my scrunched face and angry demeanour then he chuckles.
" Come on. You don't expect me to wait outside while you get the number. The least you could've done was to invite me in and serve me hot cocoa with crackers but no, no, no, instead you decided to be feisty and cold to me so I helped myself in. Or are you hiding something illegal that you don't want me to see? Drugs? Cocaine? Ammunition? Human heads? Dirty Laundry? Narc-"
" ENOUGH!" I yell covering my ears halting him from going any further with his annoying statement. I was damn fed up, what the hell? How can a guy this good looking and still be so annoying?
He stops talking and shrugs in surrender.
" I'm going in right now to get the number from my phone and when I give it to you, I want your annoying self out of my house. Do you get me?" I fire at him and he just stays there smiling at me saying no word whatsoever. The fuck?
" I'll be waiting." He replies with a smile still vivid. The way he calmly replied me despite my furious outburst kind of pacified me and toned down my anger a bit, in fact I felt kind of guilty for yelling at him.
I sigh then go into my room and get the cell number of the plumber who usually fixes our clogs back at the mansion. I walk back into the living room then hand him the piece of paper in which the number was written on.
" Thanks. I'll be leaving now." He says and turns to leave, I nod without saying a word. But then I remembered I haven't asked why he has the looks of the motorcycle man and the voice of the waiter. Could it be some kind of weird coincidence? I don't know, I'm just thinking pure rubbish now.
" Wait." I drawl and he pauses without turning to look at me.
" I have something to ask you." I add and he slowly turns to face me, my eyes meet with his handsome face once more.
" Do you remember me?" I question and he furrows his brows and scrunches his face in puzzlement and in a split second, that facial expression quickly fades away.
" Yeah, you're the girl who has a low sense of humor, tells bad sass and jokes and also just yelled at me a second ago. Why?" He says, his statement dripping of sarcasm. I roll my eyes at the return of his spunky behavior.
" Haha, very funny." I say sarcastically and he chuckles.
" I'm talking about two weeks ago, on a rainy Tuesday, you helped fixed my car. And on that same day, I met a writer who's voice is exactly the same as yours." I say. His eyes roll from side to side and his lips twitches in the same manner as well as he probably tries to search his memory.
" Oh yeah, I remember you. The damsel in distress who was stranded and the same damsel who visited Leslie's and tipped me." He says as he remembers me.
" I have a limited memory. Although it is strange that I forgot meeting a beautiful girl like you." He said with a sly smile and I blushed bashfully, hope he didn't see that.
" I made her blush. Impressive." He says cockily and I roll my eyes.
" But when you talked to me while fixing my car you had an American accent but at the restaurant, you had a British accent and even up till now, you've been talking to me in a British accent. How is that possible?" I ask curious for answers.
" Oh what a simpleton you are. Haven't you head of people who are talented in voice acting, voice overs, voice-" He recites them sticking out one of his fingers at each thing he listed in the same manner as one does when counting.
" I get it. You're talented in doing voices." I halt him and make a face. He chukles and stops
" So what's your name?" He asks on a friendly note.
" Isabella, Isabella McKenna." I reply.
" McKenna, interesting. What does it mean?" He asks.
" It means child of a handsome one." I answered and he hums and nods.
" Any relations to popular mob boss Alfredo McKenna?" He questions and I became nervous instantly. Is it safe to tell him about my father's status? I don't know him from anywhere, I shouldn't admit to a total stranger that my father is in other words, a rich criminal.
" I'll take your awkward silence as a yes." He says and I was about to protest but his phone rings. I swallow in my protest.
" Got to take this. See you around Isabella." He says with wink removing his phone from his pocket and he walked out of my house.
Wow that interaction we just had is nothing short of crazy, weird and annoying. I still had more questions to ask like why he had weird hair at the restaurant and why he suddenly decided to help me that night. I do hope to see him again so we can finish up the discussion, well he's my neighbor so that's inevitable. He does seems like a pretty interesting character despite his sometimes annoying behavior. But that doesn't mean I've decided to be friends with him, something about him still irks me.
I hear my phone ring from inside my room and I hurriedly went to attend to it. It was Karissa calling, what on earth could she possibly want? Hope she doesn't want to send me to some cosmetic store to get some sort of weird expensive cream because I ain't doing no such crap.
" Waddup?" I greet immediately I take call.
" You have to rush to the mansion immediately, dad's been kidnapped." Karissa announces.
𝑵𝒖𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒂 𝑬𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒅©
Thanks For Reading❤✨
What are you thoughts on Mr. Grey?
Alfred has been Kidnapped, by who?
Please drop your comments.
A/N: There was a mistake in the last chapter. The man in the video had a 𝘀𝗸𝘂𝗹𝗹 💀 tattoo on his arm, contrary to the viper tattoo I said he had, it was a mistake. And the name of the mafia gang is 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗞𝗨𝗟𝗟𝗦 rather than the Viper which I also mistakenly wrote in the last chapter. The mistake has been rectified in the previous chapter, just had to let y'all know.
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text:
A pilot project run by the CDC to speed up Norovirus detection times cut the median reporting interval from 21 days to three days. The surveillance network included five sentinel states and the analysis spanned three years, reported the CDC.
The network, named Norovirus Sentinel Testing and Tracking (NoroSTAT), fills a gap that has hindered governmental and health agencies from deploying quick responses to outbreaks. In addition, NoroSTAT data links with additional reporting systems to provide a more complete view of outbreaks.
Since the initial pilot in 2012, the CDC has expanded the NoroSTAT network to include nine states.


text:
A part of the leading integrated healthcare provider's network in GCC, Aster Al Raffah Hospitals & Clinics opened its 3rd Hospital in Ibri, the 9th facility in Oman.
16 May, 2019, Dubai, UAE: Delivering upon its commitment to improve the availability and accessibility of quality healthcare services in Oman, Aster Al Raffah Hospitals & Clinics are now serving patients with its newest 22-bed Aster Hospital located in Ibri. The new facility further strengthens Aster DM Healthcare's offering in primary and secondary care services in Oman.
The inauguration of the new facility was officiated by His Excellency Sheikh/ Khalaf Salim Abdullah Alishaqi , Wali of Ibri and Ms. Alisha Moopen, Executive Director & CEO of Aster and Medcare Hospitals & Clinics- GCC, in the presence of officials from various ministries, public authorities, staff of Aster Al Raffah Hospitals & Clinics and the residents of Ibri.
Dr. Azad Moopen, Founder Chairman and Managing Director of Aster DM Healthcare said, "Sultanate of Oman is top on our strategic plans. We already have 2 hospitals at Muscat and Sohar with 6 clinics in Oman. The inauguration of the new facility in Ibri reaffirms our commitment to the people of Oman to cater to the growing needs of the population while making quality healthcare easily available and more accessible for people."
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Alisha Moopen, Executive Director & CEO of Aster and Medcare Hospitals & Clinics, GCC said, "The inauguration of Aster Hospital, Ibri is a testament of our effort to make healthcare closer to the people we serve. With 3 hospitals and 6 clinics in Oman; we are the second largest private player in Oman and we take great pride in being the most preferred and trusted healthcare player which brings the global experts from our 2000+ doctors across Aster available to our Oman patients so that one can see the best expert for all scenarios."
Aster Hospital offers a comprehensive range of primary and secondary healthcare services. Conveniently located in Ibri, opposite grand hypermarket, the new facility will function 24/7 to accommodate requirements of all customers requiring healthcare services. The hospital boasts of highly qualified and skilled doctors and offers specialty services in Anesthesiology, Critical Care Medicine, Dermatology, Orthopedics, Dentistry, ENT, Gastroenterology, General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Urology, Pediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynecology and Visa Medical.
Aster Al Raffah Clinics are currently operational at Amerat, Al Khoud, Ruwi, Liwa, Sohar and Ma'abela. The other 2 Aster Al Raffah Hospitals, operate in Sohar and Ghubra (Muscat).


text:
3221 Helen St
Oakland, Ca 94608
Great Investor Owner Occupy Opportunity! Live in one unit and collect rent from the other. This Victorian has some of the original characteristics of it era. The units feature a grand entrance with a large open living room area with high ceilings and a kitchen/dining combo with natural light. Deck off the upstairs bedroom; perfect to relax and have that morning cup of tea/coffee. Large backyard perfect for gardening and for family/friend gatherings. There is storage shed in the rear for your convenience. There are two parking spaces and lots of off-street parking. Conveniently located to Restaurants, Shopping, Freeways and Oakland Airport, Quick freeway access to San Francisco and a few minutes from Emeryville.
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Better Homes Realty
5942 MacArthur Blvd #Suite B, Oakland, CA 94605


text:
IBM Working to Increase Food Supply to Feed Growing World Population
February 11, 2019 |
IBM researchers around the world are already working on solutions at every stage of the food chain. They are helping farmers maximize crop yields and developing ways to curb the epidemic of waste that destroys 45 percent of our food supply.
Later this week, IBM scientists behind this year's 5 in 5 will present at Science Slam at Think 2019 in San Francisco. The event will be on Wednesday, February 13 from 10 – 11 am Pacific time.
IBM has digitized and captured all aspects of agriculture, from the quality of the soil to the skills of the tractor driver to the price of melon sold at the market. Accurate simulations and AI will be used to accurately forecast crop yields and enable credit to be provided to farmers.
* Blockchain will be used to reduce food wastage. Blockchain in the supply chain will let everyone know exactly how much to plant, order, and ship.
* IBM is mapping the microbiome in order to protect us from bad bacteria.
* IBM researchers are creating powerful, portable AI sensors that can detect foodborne pathogens anywhere and everywhere they might turn up. These mobile bacteria sensors could dramatically increase the speed of a pathogen test from days to seconds, allowing individuals up and down the food chain to detect the existence of harmful E. coli or Salmonella before it becomes an outbreak.
In an email interview with Nextbigfuture IBM Fellow, Donna Dillenberger said: "The smartphone sensor that detects food pathogens is one form factor. We could embed sensors and AI into shipping containers carrying food."
* IBM is developing innovations like VolCat. VolCat is a catalytic chemical process that digests certain plastics (called polyesters) into a substance that can be fed directly back into plastic manufacturing machines in order to make new products.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN Report on Food Wastage
The level of losses differ from one stage of the food supply chain to another, depending on crop type, level of economic development, as well as social and cultural practices in a region. In the case of fruits and vegetables, according to an FAO study loss at harvest and during sorting and grading dominate in industrialized regions, probably mostly due to discarding during grading to meet quality standards set by retailers. In developing regions, while losses at harvest and during sorting and grading are also high, losses during processing (14% – 21%) are much higher than those in developed regions (less than 2%). The distinct difference highlights the need to improve processing technologies for perishable products like fruits and vegetables in developing regions. The food industry can make a substantial contribution in this area by developing and disseminating low-cost and effective techniques such as drying.
SOURCES- IBM, Interview, Food and Agriculture Organization
Written By: Brian Wang. Nextbigfuture.com
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More than a third of Michigan students enrolling in state colleges take high school-level courses that may not be doing any good.
That's the conclusion of three separate national studies examining the level and the impact of college remedial classes.
Those studies conclude that many of the 23,000 Michigan students taking remedial courses don't need them. And those who take the courses seldom end up with a college diploma.
A Bridge Magazine analysis projected that, by 2018, more than 37 percent of jobs will require a bachelor's degree or more, compared to 29 percent today. While more teens are going to college, more than a third are considered unready for college-level work in at least one subject. For students attending a public university or community college, the public is, in essence, paying twice for students to learn algebra.
What are the chances your child will be asked to enroll in a remedial class in college? See how your school compares in college readiness, including the percent of students enrolling in college who enroll in remedial classes.
Senior Writer Ron French joined Bridge in 2011 after having won more than 40 national and state journalism awards since he joined the Detroit News in 1995. French has a long track record of uncovering emerging issues and changing the public policy debate through his work. In 2006, he foretold the coming crisis in the auto industry in a special report detailing how worker health-care costs threatened to bankrupt General Motors.