text:
Girl's Claim of Religious
Persecution in School
is a 'Rush to Judgment' as Allegations Against
Teacher are Dropped
by Conrad Goeringer
December 3, 1999
It sounded outrageous -- a public school teacher requiring a young student to curse as part of a class assignment, and later ordering her to erase "WWJD?" ("What Would Jesus Do?") from a class blackboard, all in direct violation of religious rights. Some Christian groups and web sites promptly reported the story, especially when the Rutherford Institute -- a "religious liberty" advocacy organization -- denounced the incident, and mulled possible legal action. The Virginia-based organization announced that it was representing the student and her parents, and demanded that school officials give a written reprimand to both the offending teacher and the principal, and distribute copies to other school personnel.
The youngster's mother originally told local news media that the incident "boggles my mind," adding, "I'm sure a child would be disciplined any other time for cussing at school."
For some, it was simply more disturbing confirmation that religious beliefs and believers are "under attack" in schools, communities and other institutions. Accounts like this -- "Christian horror stories" -- are often reported by religious web sites, newsletters, and radio or television programs like the "700 Club." This incident reached some religious media, and the Rutherford Institute quickly "went public" with the story.
There is one problem though. The story turned out to be a hoax.
Should the Institute, and media, have checked out the claims?
It all began in Pleasant Hill, North Carolina, when sixth-grade student Hanna Darnell claimed that she had been sent to the principal's office and threatened with suspension after she refused to recite the word "damn" during a literacy exercise because of her religious beliefs. The students were reportedly reading aloud from a book, "Number the Stars," which discusses the Holocaust. Hanna told her parents that she refused on three occasions to recite the word, and was then sent by her teacher to see the principal. The youngster also claimed that a week after the cursing incident, she was scrawling "WWJD" on the blackboard with several representations of Christian crosses as part of a "feature one child" program, which encourages students to write about themselves. The teacher ordered her to erase her messages.
The alleged incident took place in October; and the Rutherford Institute quickly become involved. Steve Aden, litigation counsel for the Institute, told the Elkin Tribune newspaper the school had violated Darnell's rights.
"This girl is as good as a little girl gets," Aden declared. "She was obviously troubled over either swearing against her will or being suspended as rebellious."
"It seems there's a disrespect for Hanna's sincerely felt religious belief that's unwarranted by the separation of church and state," he added.
The Tribune noted: "Aden feels the Rutherford Institute has enough verification to take legal action if necessary."
Closer to home, though, there was some skepticism. Words of caution came from a local pastor, Nelson Granade, who defended the elementary school's principal, Vickie Hugger. Hugger had allegedly threatened the youngster with in-school suspension if she did not return to class and recite the offending passages which included the word "damn" from the book.
"I know Mrs. Hugger to be a loving Christian person," said Rev. Granade, "who is an active member of the First Baptist Church... Mrs. Hugger is the kind of light we need in our schools."
More questions arose several days later, when the Tribune reported that other students were not verifying the accusations made by Hanna Darnell. A school attorney said that the charges against the principal and teacher, Carolyn Settle, were unfounded. Parents were described as "amazed" by the scope of the accusations. At this point, even the Rutherford Institute was beginning to have second thoughts.
A legal coordinator for the organization, Ron Rissler, revealed that he had only spoken to Hanna and her mother. The Tribune noted that he "isn't concerned whether the accusation is true or not."
"Hanna has nothing to lose," said Rissler. "Some other parties may though. If we find it faceless we'll handle the situation appropriately."
By now, though, the story was being reported by groups like Christian World Ministries, which operates a daily news service. The alleged incident in North Carolina was carried in a dispatch saying that the sixth-grader "was punished for refusing to curse in class," and had been ordered to remove the "WWJD" remarks from the class black board.
The Tribune revealed another salient fact of the case: the girl's mother, who still believed her child's account, did not bother to check with school officials but instead contacted the Rutherford Institute.
"I know my child has the right to speak about Christ," Mrs. Darnell declared. "I like to have my ducks in a row when I go to talk about something like that." Rutherford's Ron Rissler said that the Darnells were advised to not contact school officials "because of the nature of the accusation."
Rutherford Institute issued a press release about the charges on November 16, claiming that the teacher and principal had violated Hanna Darnell's constitutional rights. At this point, the group demanded that the school issue a formal written apology and circulate it throughout the school system. Principal Hugger, though, vehemently denied that the incident occurred, and informed the Tribune, "I'm telling you straight out -- it never happened."
"I have never disciplined the child and she was never in my office," said Hugger. An assistant principal said that the Darnell youngster was never in his office either, and that students had been reading passages from the "Number the Stars" book since 1990. She noted that the book is on a list of approved resources issued by the State Department of Education.
On November 24, the story took another twist. The Tribune headlined, "Girl admits teacher didn't make her cuss," and reported that Hanna had informed her parents that she was never forced to read the offending words in school.
"Joyce Darnell and her husband had sat down with Hanna and told her the allegations weren't holding up...," noted Tribune reporter Mark Gray. "Hanna finally came out and said it was a lie, the mother said."
The sixth-grader stood by her claim that she had been forced to erase "WWJD" from the blackboard, but Ms. Darnell reported "she is not going to pursue the matter any further."
She says that did happen," Joyce Darnell said, referring to the alleged "WWJD" incident. "But it may come out later on that she lied about that also."
A Rutherford Institute press release dated November 24 declared that the group "expresses regret after fraud is disclosed."
"The Rutherford Institute was contacted on November 8, 1999 by the mother of a sixth grader at C. B. Eller Elementary School alleging that her daughter's civil liberties had been violated," said the press broadside. "After Rutherford Institute legal staff spoke directly with the sixth grader and her mother, they followed standard procedures in such cases by contacting school administrators, explaining the student's constitutional rights and tendering a formal demand that the violation be corrected. However, after extensive investigation by attorneys for the school and The Rutherford Institute, and continued questioning of the twleve-year-old, the student confessed to having lied..."
The release adds that the Rutherford Institute was "deceived and misled."
Questions remain, though, about the sequence of events, and whether Rutherford contacted officials to verify the youngster's accusations before taking the story public. In the November 19 issue of the Tribune, School District Superintendent Joe Johnson denied that the incident occurred, and added that the school had received a "complaint" from the Rutherford Institute "on Monday," November 15 -- less than a week after the alleged violations. In addition, the parents had not attempted to verify the accusations -- again, according to the Tribune, on the advice of the Rutherford Institute.
Principal Vicky Hugger told the paper that the Darnells and the Institute should have first spoken with all of the parties involved and not tried the case in the news media. She and teacher Carolyn Settle added that while they will not take steps against the student's family, they are mulling possible legal action against the Rutherford Institute.
School attorney Fred Johnson told the Tribune that he is drafting a letter to the religious rights group which will ask for a formal apology.
The incident raises concerns not only about claims of widespread "persecution" of Christian students in the nation's public school system, but also about what factors may be behind prompting a student to fabricate charges in this particular area. Are religious parents becoming hypersensitive, possibly encouraging their youngsters to seek out alleged violations of their religious rights while in school? Are advocacy groups, parents, and Christian organizations, which often publicize cases involving alleged violations of the rights of religious students, doing all they can -- and should do -- to verify such claims?
At least in one case, serious questions remain. Truth, and the reputations of students, teachers and others -- not "religious rights" -- may be the real victims.


text:
Michael Clayton Movie Reviews
Michael Clayton
Release Date: Oct 12, 2007
Genre: DramaSuspense/Thriller
Rating: (R)
User reviews on Michael Clayton
My choice as this years top movie
entertai nment for three resons:
1- George Clooney, 2- Tilda Swinson
and 3- An excelent story line. This
is true cinema entertainment. Tony
Gilroy's script is outstanding.
I Loved it. I loved that Michael caught a whiff of himself and took that long overdue bath. It was believable and well acted. I loved that it showed how hard it is for us to see things unless they land on our front yard.
An engaging and intelligent thriller. About a "fixer" for a powerful law firm (George Clooney) who jumps into action when a colleague's (Tom Wilkinson) bizarre behavior jeopardizes the law firm. Great look at a world where questionable behavior leads to large financial rewards and it's easier to be complacent rather than to stand up for what's right. Clooney gives one of his best performances as a complex person whose morality is not so easily defined. Terrific acting by Wilkinson and Tilda Swinton as the firm's determined lawyer who will stop at nothing to defend a billion dollar lawsuit against the firms' cooperate client.
The director, Tony Gilroy chose to frame the story as a flashback which is one of the things that can make the story hard to understand at times but eventually it all becomes clear. This is a movie with intelligence and demands no less of it's viewers.
Write a review for Michael Clayton
Login to write review:

subset: commoncrawl


text:
AT&T Galaxy Note 8.0 hits the multi-device Samsung bundle June 21st
This week the folks at AT&T have revealed the release information surrounding the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 along with pricing for the machine on its own. This device mirrors the capabilities of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 Wi-fi edition, here coming with 4G LTE connectivity from the big blue network in the USA. Bundles have been ushered in with this release also, attaching it to the Samsung Galaxy S 4 and the Samsung Galaxy S 4 Active as well as the Samsung Galaxy Note II.


text:
Oct 16, 2013 8:20 AM
Sexy librarians think they're all that - but all they do all day is push around books written by sexy scientists! The Become A Scientist T-Shirt ($15) takes an active approach to recruiting today's youth. How can the career of the Ghostbusters be bad?
If you've got a product or service that you'd like to promote on Outblush, click here to find out about our advertising opportunities.
Outblush is a blog for girls who love to shop. Our staff digs up the best clothes, home stuff, beauty items, and more. New items are posted every day — bookmark us and check out:


text:
This is a world that is on the brink of change, a world having to come to terms with what mankind has produced from itself. This is a world where the Phoenix force tired of Professor X and Magneto wasting their potential to change the world for good and rewound them in time to give them a second chance. This is a world where mutants are hated and feared, where superhero teams like the Avengers never occurred because who would trust a person with powers strange and incomprehensible?
In short, this is a world where anything is possible, timelines have been rewritten and the entire mutant question is a new and terrifying one. Starting from the beginning, our world is only just realising the extent of the talents that can be born out of the human genome and how it deals with the rise of mutants and superhumans...well, that's up to you.
Welcome to Wake of Humanity, an AU Marvel roleplay opened in May 2011 that accepts both canons and OCs and where any facets of any Marvel comic-verse continuity can be drawn upon when crafting a character. We are an 18+ site with an emphasis on gritty realism, character-driven story development and being a relaxed roleplay community where everyone has bountiful options for joining in the plotting since organic is how we roll.
All new accounts require validation. We appreciate your patience with this. (No, you haven't done anything wrong.)
Quick Login!
Hey gang, show us you care by clicking the topsites button once per day to vote for us! We love you long time.
WoH News!
February 8th
- The first activity check of 2015 has been completed and a lot of canons and faces are open, lets snag 'em up and get playing!
Important Links
Application station
Getting Started
Pellverse Guidelines
Canon list
Face claim
PENNI, Admin
AM, Admin
LELL, on holiday
Skinned by
Graphics made by Penni and Lell.
Plot created by Penni.
X-men, The Brotherhood, Marvel and everything related belongs to Fox, Marvel and Disney. This site is for entertainment purposes only, and makes no profit of any kind.
Original Characters and Posts are owned by their creators.
Welcome Guest (
Log In
Resend Validation Email
Create your own social network with a free forum.
Learn More
Register Now
Welcome to
Wake Of Humanity
. We hope you enjoy your visit.
You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.
Join our community!
If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:
In the Wake Of Humanity
A Difference in Time and Space
Archived Threads
Go to first unread post
Search and Rescue...Maybe
, Tag: Hellion
Track this topic
Email this topic
Print this topic
Jan 1 2012, 09:01 PM
Registered Mutant
Group: Activist
Posts: 207
Member No.: 263
Joined: 4-December 11
This wasn�t exactly where Elyse thought she�d end up when the day began, she decided, thinking back. She�d gotten up, showered, dressed, and headed over to the office to make herself an average cup of coffee and go over yesterday�s files. The office had been empty, so she figured Rahne and Jamie were out working already and went about her business. The morning had passed fairly quietly; she�d made some follow up calls to people she�d spoken to yesterday, did some online research, and called to check on a fax request she�d sent to get archived documents for a particular case. Most people didn�t realize that a lot of detective work was dull and involved lots and lots of research, phone calls, and being told �I need authorization in writing before I can release any information to a third party�. Frankly she�d gladly pay anyone who could come up with a way to send electronic shocks through the phone, just to get the smug, bureaucratic tone out of some of these people�s voices.
It was around lunchtime, and Elyse was nibbling on the last bit of the sandwich she�d brought with her when the door opened. The couple that entered had been clean, neatly dressed and looked to be middle class, in their mid-forties. Just an average man and woman. The story they told however, wasn�t average. Their sixteen year old daughter, Angie, had disappeared, and they had no idea how to find her. They would have gone to the police if it wasn�t for the fact that Angie had grown scales and flicked out a seven-inch tongue at them before disappearing. Their fear was that the police might not want to help find a mutant child, and that even if it did, it might turn into a witch hunt before it was over. Elyse found herself agreeing with them, and immediately agreed to take the case. The Tylers gave her a picture of Angie, pre-mutation, and a good enough description that Elyse was able to come up with a rough drawing of what the girl looked like now. Given that she didn�t know if the change was permanent or not, it was best to have both images on hand.
After the parents left, Elyse started making some phone calls. Discreet inquiries at the local police stations and hospitals turned up nothing, and just to be safe she called the morgues as well, but got nothing as well, which frankly was a relief. Finding a live person was always to be preferred. The next places on her list were the homeless shelters, but Elyse already knew that the people who ran those centers wouldn�t talk to just anyone over the phone; she�d have to go in person. Elyse locked up the office and hit the street. The first couple of shelters turned up nothing, but the fourth one she visited, while it still didn�t have the person she was looking for, did have an employee who took her aside and made a quiet suggestion after hearing Elyse out about how desperate the Tylers were to find their daughter. The woman told her to go to Hoyt Street Station and enter the tunnels; that she�d heard there were mutants living below the city, ones who couldn�t pass for normal and so hid themselves from the world.
Thanking the woman, Elyse went to Hoyt Street. The neighborhood wasn�t very appealing, and the subway station was even worse, but she supposed that was perfect for people who wouldn�t like crowds and wouldn�t want to draw attention. The station was relatively quiet when she entered, and ignoring the looks she got from the few people there, Elyse jumped down onto the track and started walking into the tunnel. She walked for awhile, leaving behind the lights of the station, until there were just the occasional lights of the access points that the transit employees used to service the tunnels. Rats scurried by every so often, and Elyse was disgusted to notice that some of them were the size of cats. Suppressing a shudder, she continued on, until a growing noise coming from up ahead caught her attention. It sounded like shouts, with one person crying. Elyse drew her Glock with her left hand, released the safety and advanced. Gang activity maybe? Rape? This would be the perfect place for some asshole, or group of assholes, to take a victim for a little �fun�. Whatever it was though, she was putting an end to it.
But what Elyse found when she arrived on the scene surprised her, though maybe it shouldn�t have, given what the woman at the shelter had told her. Two groups were having it out with each other. One seemed to be made up of your average garden-variety street punks, armed with various blunt objects and knives, while the other was made up of mutants. And not just mutants, very noticeable mutants; their differences so obvious that one couldn�t even help but stop and notice. It seemed that the woman was right; there were people down here in the tunnels. Elyse could see the sound of the crying, too. Huddled up against one wall was a young girl, or at least she�d look like a young girl if it wasn�t for the green scales and the tail that swept out behind her. The parents hadn�t mentioned the tail, but Elyse was pretty sure that was Angie Tyler. She looked scared to death, and Elyse couldn�t blame her a bit. First her body had changed, now she was caught up in the middle of a battle. The girl was definitely
having a good day.
Elyse was itching to join the fight. Idiots like these completely pissed her off; they were no better than the creeps who had nearly killed her back in Boston, and she would just love to join in and make them regret even
about bothering a mutant. She couldn�t do that though. Her first priority was to make sure that Angie Tyler got back to her parents safe and sound, and as she was on the other side of the area these people were in her way. Deciding to get their attention, Elyse raised her gun into the air and fired.
Jan 1 2012, 11:44 PM
Julian had taken a slight detour from the halls of learning and exercises focused around ordinary people who had found out that they had extraordinary powers. While to some it may have seemed like something out of comic books, which frankly it sounded like a bad sitcom, it was the life that Julian Keller now had to face every day of his life for what he imagined would be the rest of his life. These trials and tribulations weren't actually all that bad when you really thought about it. Despite having been transplanted across the country, he had found a familiar niche to fall into, and had excelled at the use of his powers. Julian had spent years perfecting the use of his powers and had achieved a decent amount of success in his quest to truly master them.
Today however had nothing to do with mutants, classrooms, or training of any type. In fact it had little to do with anything, except of course New York City. With classes out for the winter break there was only so much mulling about the school that one could do until they went crazy, and Julian had reached that point at least a week ago, which mean that this little adventure was more than over due. There wasn't really a point to it, he was mostly aimlessly wandering about people watching and just taking it all in. It was a strange experience to view flat-line humans going through their daily lives completely unaware that there were those of a superior genetic breeding all around them interacting with them in every one of their daily lives.
This wasn't always the case with those of the race
Homo Superior
some of their powers and abilities manifested with side effects, no fuck that idea, they simply didn't look like the baselines and that upset them. Baseline humans just couldn't accept that not everyone fit into to some lovely cardboard cut-out ideal that was created in the years preceding his father. Mutants as they were often called by the media, had overcome this obstacle and for the most part were accepting of their kin without question. Unfortunately the situation that Julian had just walked into was not the understanding friendly kind, and in fact looked like something he had seen in the history films of World War Two.
There was a group of what he presumed to be mutant haters that had surrounded a tiny mutant who appeared to have assumed some sort of reptilian form. He was unsure as to the nature of his kin but he knew that it was much smaller and upon hearing it cry out, presumed that the mutant was a female and was quite afraid of the group of men surrounding her. Suddenly Julian was hit with an overwhelming rush of rage and seemed to boil up out of the pits of his soul. He had heard of such things occurring and he had made his disgust quite vocal, but he had never actually witnessed one in person, so his reaction had caught him by complete surprise. So much so that Julian didn't even realize that he was already fifteen feet off the ground, enveloped in a bright green aura, telekinetic energy flowing off him in waves.
The group was so focused on tormenting, attacking, and possibly killing the little young mutant that they were completely oblivious to his presence at their little party. That was of course until he hurled a manhole cover with his powers into the back of one of the hate mongers, sending him flailing into the corner, possibly paralyzed. Others may have been more gentle, or come up with a different method for solving this little puzzle, but Julian was not afraid of doing what was necessary, especially when you consider that these were grown men attacking a child, and that act needed to be punished.
With one of the attackers down the young mutant realized that their lines had been broken and without so much a word she took off towards an abandoned subway entrance. Julian turned an attempted to get her attention and that was when his inexperience in dealing with real world combat situations. When the gun shot rang out, the girl paused for a moment and Julian froze, and that was when the pain zapped through his body like a lightning bolt and he fell to the ground, his side oozing blood through his clothes. The sight of the blood must have been enough to reinforce her flight response, as she took off down the subway tunnel with no regard for what was going on behind her.
Julian slowly struggled to his feet, with enough time to realize that the group attacking the girl had seemingly ignored him or assumed that he was no longer a threat. That was a mistake he would make sure they regretted. Slowly he made his way down into the tunnels following the clear path that their intrusion into this almost forgotten place had made. When he finally caught up to them he was greeted with yet another gunshot which instantly brought back the pain of his side to the forefront of his mind, yet this time not only was the source not from the gang of mutant haters. It was from someone that hadn't seemingly been involved before, Julian wasn't sure if he she was involved but she was packing heat and that just seemed to irk him. With the initial shock of the most recent gun shot, Julian became aware that there were a lot more players in this little game now and it seemed that he wasn't the only one Lizzie(as Julian had coined her in his head) had in her corner. There was a group of mutants who shared Lizzie's condition that her mutation was very much visible at all times, so their understanding of her situation and their sympathy was plain to understand. The only wild card that remained was the hot blonde with the gun, but Julian had no intention of being shot twice in one day, I mean once made him a bad ass, twice made him a dumb ass.
Without warning his body started glowing green again as he realized that those bigots now had the little girl cornered and her terrified screams could be heard for most likely miles in the tunnels.
"Does everyone in this town find it necessary to carry a fucking gun? Doesn't anyone have any other means to solve things...."
With his words trailing off, the true strength of Julian became apparent as the bricks of the very walls in the subway began shaking with the pulse of his power.
Jan 2 2012, 12:51 AM
Registered Mutant
Group: Activist
Posts: 207
Member No.: 263
Joined: 4-December 11
The nice thing about guns was that they tended to get peoples� attention. Not everyone�s of course, some of the combatants were just a little too into what they were doing to pay attention to anything else, but most of the people closest to the side of the area that Elyse was on stopped and looked in her direction.
�I suppose it would be too much for you to stop what you�re doing.�
Elyse said, and lowering her gun, she aimed it in the direction of the group of people closest to her. And since the lack of an index finger made her primary right hand useless for pulling a trigger, she extended the next arm down through the slit in her jacket and used it to pull out her second gun. Elyse usually carried two pistols and a taser when she went out to work. She didn�t know if it could be considered too much, but having learned the hard way, she preferred to be prepared these days.
The second gun she aimed towards the next group of people over, her mutation allowing her to divide her concentration so that if someone in either group did something stupid, she could get a shot off in either direction. She then began to step around the edge of the battle, towards where Angie sat curled up on the ground.
�I just want to have a few words with the young lady over there.�
Elyse said, taking another step. So far no one in the groups that had stopped made a move, but the attackers were looking rather hostile now that she�d shown herself to be a mutant, while the defenders looked a little less hostile toward her, but still wary.
Elyse hadn�t gotten very far when a kind of green glow started lighting up the area. When a male voice started ranting about guns she looked up and saw a young man hovering in the air. If this had been any other situation she would have been a little more appreciative in her glance, as he was drop dead gorgeous, but right now she was trying to get a scared sixteen-year old out of a war zone. At the same time he must have been using some other kind of power, as the entire area began shaking. That managed to do what gunfire hadn�t, and as bricks began randomly popping out of the walls, the humans gave up and began running, some dropping their weapons as they left. Some of the other mutants ran too, a couple of them stopping by Angie first and gathering her up to go with them.
�NO! Angie, don�t go!�
Elyse cried out, lowering both of her weapons.
�Your mother and father hired me to find you, they�re worried sick. Please come with me.�
she said.
Angie just hid her face in her hands, looking away, and the mutant that held her gave Elyse a disdainful look.
�Go away and hide what you are, pretty one.�
he said, the words coming out in a hiss from the mottled skin of his face.
�Hide and be thankful that you can. The child is better off with us. We will care for her now.�
And with that, he ran off with Angie down the tunnel with surprising speed, the other mutants following him. One of them stopped and shot a blast of energy up at the ceiling, causing a rain of brick and dirt to crash down, blocking the tunnel and aiding their escape.
Elyse swore. There was no one left in the chamber now. Well, almost no one. Looking up, she could see the young man still hovering in the air.
�Are you happy now?�
she demanded. She didn�t know how she was going to track Angie Tyler now. These tunnels went all over the city, and if the transit authority in New York was anything like the one in Boston, it would take forever for the damage to the tunnel to get cleared up and repaired.
Jan 2 2012, 05:58 PM
Julian was quickly reaching the limit of what he was able to do. He didn't know who this group of heavily mutated mutants was, nor did he want to be responsible for hurting his own kind, not when it was obvious that the common enemy among them were the baseline humans who had thought it alright to terrorize that poor girl simply because they were afraid of what she might become one day. He did however know that the wound from the gun shot wouldn't kill him, but the loss of blood was beginning to sap him of his strength, both physically and mentally, not the best combination for a telekinetic eh?
The blonde woman with the gun in her right hand, and her right hand? That was odd, but either way. Her intentions seemed to be to protect the girl as well. Which allowed Julian to divert his attention just a bit, focusing his attention on the few remaining baseline humans that still remained in the tunnels.
"Are you happy now?"
Seriously? Who was this chick, aside from being attractive and having three arms, she was either clueless or was oblivious to what was going on. The pain in his side had heightened since he had stopped hovering and was now back on tera firma. He couldn't tell if the wound was still bleeding since his shirt was pretty well soaked. Defineately not one of his better days, that was for sure.
The blast did not shock Julian in the slightest as the ceiling dropped down between the odd couple of would be hero mutants and the victimized girl with her new found friends. Now it was just him, the blonde and a mountain of rubble and she seemed pretty pissed off about at least one of the three things remaining, so Julian decided that it would be best if he solved that problem.
"Well let me see if I have the key somewhere on me.."
Putting pressure on his bloody right side, Julian reached down deep in himself and brought forth the strength needed to amass enough of his own willpower to send forth a blast of energy from his left hand slamming into the pile of rubble and sending it scattering further down the hallway. With a sigh Julian flashed a "told you so grin" at the blonde and then feel down to his knees. The last blast having sapped him of any remaining strength he might have had since the gunshot.
"Looks like I found my key, so do you have a name or should I just call you
Odd Hands
Julian's attempt at humor was a pretty sad one, but then again Julian's current health condition was currently pretty sad as well. Hopefully this blonde's good will would extend to bleeding Hellions.
Jan 4 2012, 01:18 AM
Registered Mutant
Group: Activist
Posts: 207
Member No.: 263
Joined: 4-December 11
She turned away in disgust before he answered. Part of it was self-disgust. Yes, Elyse knew that she should have been happy that the fight was over before anyone got seriously hurt, and honestly she was, but couldn�t the guy have waited until
she reached Angie Tyler before trying to bring the place down? She brought out two more hands and started brushing dirt and brick fragments out of her hair, thinking. Maybe if she could get her hands on some good maps of the tunnels; there had to be some at City Hall, right? Maybe there was another way around to find where that tunnel went to. Of course by then Angie and her new friends would be long gone; hell, they were probably long gone by now anyway. It was better than doing nothing though.
Her attention was brought back to her immediate surroundings and the fact that she wasn�t alone by a voice and the sound of a blast. Startled, Elyse saw rock go flying and looked up at the young man who had caused the quake, or whatever it was that drove everyone away. She looked just in time to see him collapse to the ground. Looking a little closer, she also so that he was bleeding. Despite her need to continue looking for Angie, Elyse felt compelled to make sure that he was okay. She put her guns away and went over to him, kneeling down next to him.
Just as she was about to play the Good Samaritan though, he had to go ahead and ruin it by opening his mouth. Elyse gave him a dirty look, but the fact that he was wounded kept her from slugging him. Her father had told her never to hit a man while he was down.
�If it wasn�t for the fact that you�re bleeding, you�d have a black eye, buster.�
she said, moving his jacket aside to take a better look at the wound.
�And it�s Elyse. I don�t need to know your name, because as soon as I get you to the hospital, you�re the doctors� problem. They can call you John Doe for all I care. Can you get up?�
she asked.
Jan 4 2012, 01:45 AM
Who the hell did she think she was? Buster indeed. Tho she had a point, he was bleeding and they had seemingly lost the trail of the girl that they both had seemingly been attempting to rescue, and had failed miserably.
Julian reached his hand up and allowed her to help him to his feet, slowly but steadily. There was no denying that this one was altruistic to the core, not only had she taken such a serious interest in this seemingly unimportant girl, but she hadn't backed down where obviously outnumbered when she arrived. This was in no way a discredit to her obvious status as a mutant, but he was unsure the exact extent of her mutation. Aside from the six arms of course, but Julian had been around those of mutant kind, and they always were capable of surprising you in the most absurd ways.
"Well that depends, did you intend on dropping me off at the hospital before or after you found that little girl, Angie was it?"
Despite his arrogant manner, Julian was if anything a patriot when it came to his fellow mutants. Granted he would much rather curl up next to the six armed blonde standing next to him than the lizard girl they were chasing, but all the same, you didn't have to be sexy to be saved, but it helped a bit. Once he was to his feet, Julian was amazingly aware of exactly how much pain he was in and he wondered if he would be able to continue this little tunnel delving expedition.
"because if you think you're gonna just drop me off and chase after that girl alone, you've obviously taken a blow to the head....You're outnumbered, tho obviously quite handy, but still. Two are always better than one.....okay, well one and a half."
It was foolhardy, arrogant, stupid, and probably at this point, slightly suicidal. And that was just about Julian Keller in a nutshell. No one would ever accuse him of being cautious, then again, no one would ever accuse him of being a coward. Two things he was perfectly ok with.
Turning to her, waiting for an answer, he grinned that slick Cheshire cat grin of his.
"So what do you say Elyse, need a hand?"
Jan 4 2012, 11:39 PM
Registered Mutant
Group: Activist
Posts: 207
Member No.: 263
Joined: 4-December 11
He can�t be serious�
Elyse thought to herself after helping the young man up. From the amount of blood that was showing, he had a nice wound going on. Did he really think he�d be able to come along and help?
She ignored his comments�
never fails, no matter how bad of a shape a guy is in, he *still* has to make hand jokes
�she thought in annoyance�..and yanked his shirt up to take a look at the damage.
Apparently someone else besides her had been packing at this party, because that was definitely a gunshot wound. He�d be no help at all in this condition, and would probably just end up bleeding to death if he tried to tag along. Elyse had never run across anyone like the group of mutants who had made off with Angie, and she had no way of knowing to what lengths they�d go if they decided that they needed to defend the little girl they�d just taken in as one of their own. Being fellow mutants may mean little if that happened.
the one who�s had the blow to the head, if you think you�re in any kind of condition to help. We�d be down to just a half if I have to drag your ass with me.�
Elyse took a look at the tunnel. He�d cleared away most of the rubble, so she�d have no trouble getting through there on her own.
�I thank you for cleaning up the mess you made, but I think I can handle it from here. The only thing you can give me a hand with is getting you back to the station so I can get you an ambulance.�
Jan 5 2012, 01:50 AM
Julian gritted his teeth when she once again threatened to take him to medical services before he was allowed to make sure that little Lizzie was alright. Granted Julian usually had a ulterior motive for what he did, but every once in a while he had a truly heroic moment in which his true nature shined through and this just happened to be one of them.
"About that mess? Unless you'd like it to suddenly turn into an igloo around you, so unless those extra arms of you turn you into Hulk, you're bringing me along and that is the end of it"
Granted it was a bit of a stretch given his current condition what with the blood loss and all, but even Julian wasn't sure exactly where his limits were when push came to shove. Sure the school tested them and made them push themselves, but not in conditions like this, blood wasn't spilled at the school, the training sessions weren't like real life fights, even pain was limited.
"And if that energy manipulator brings the roof down on you, then what? Gonna shoot your way through it with that gun?"
Julian didn't like acting like that much of a dick, but she was about as stubborn woman as that damn Besty Braddock, granted her cleavage made up for her bitchiness, but still, can someone really have a two week long period every two weeks?
Julian pushed himself to his feet slowly and stared the blonde women in the eyes, there was no doubt, no fear, and no hesitation behind those eyes. Julian was many things, but he was not the type to ever back down from a cause that he truly believed in. Not for this woman, not for the school, not for anyone.
Jan 6 2012, 01:36 AM
Registered Mutant
Group: Activist
Posts: 207
Member No.: 263
Joined: 4-December 11
Elyse glared as he gave his ultimatum. Was he trying to kill himself? The man belonged in an ER, not the New York subway tunnels. Playing hero was all fine and dandy until someone got killed, and it would probably be him if he left this wound untreated. She was screwed if he decided to put all that rubble back though. As much as she hated it, she had no choice.
she said curtly.
�Have it your way. But if you bleed to death I refuse to be held responsible.�
Actually that wasn�t true; if he died while trying to help out on this she�d feel horrible, which is why Elyse would have been much happier if he�d just agreed to be taken to the hospital like any sensible person who�d been shot would. She didn�t want that kind of guilt.
He brought up a good point about the mutants who had run off with the girl, but she had hoped to try to talk to them before it got to the point of ceilings being brought down again. Also, he may be suicidal, but there was no doubting the man�s determination, or his obvious desire to help. Elyse had no argument against what he said though, and she ran a hand through her hair in frustration. Her power was useful for herself most of the time, but against people like the ones they�d just ran across, there wasn�t a lot she could do, and she wasn�t going to fight against another mutant without a damn good reason first. So far all these people had done is tried to help Angie, which is exactly what she was trying to do.
�I was hoping to reason with them.�
Elyse said, a little more calmly this time.
�I�m a private investigator; Angie�s parents hired me to find her. They�re scared to death for her and just want her to come home. I don�t want to get into a fight with anyone, especially not these people. But I need to make them understand that I�m not the bad guy.�
She looked him over again. Yeah, he was standing up straighter now, but how long would that last, before blood loss weakened him too much? She hadn�t had a chance to completely check him out, either. Was the shot a through and through or was there still a bullet inside of him?
Jan 11 2012, 03:06 AM
Julian was finally starting to understand this woman a bit. She was the truly heroic type; she cared for anyone who had been harmed by those who had stepped outside of the bounds of friendly society. In the little girl�s case it had been because she was judged and attacked because of it. In Julian�s case it was because he had been shot. Granted, he probably could have done something to stop it from happening, but still he was bleeding and despite the fact that she had just met him, she seemed honestly concerned for his well-being. Such pure emotion was rare amongst even the most compassionate people, let alone someone you randomly met in the sewer.
Having finally understood her motivations, Julian relaxed his aggressive personality and let he demeanor soften a bit. Looking about the tunnels through the growing cloud of dirt and dust he saw what he wanted; namely a length of pipe that would suit his purposes as something of a crutch or cane. Summoning up a bit of his strength as a telekinetic he brought the piece of pipe over to him in quick fashion and grasped it with almost perfected precision as it came into reach. Placing one end firmly in the ground and gripping the upper half of the pipe he braced himself up and began moving himself forward, deeper into the tunnels in search of the lost girl.
Julian also realized that she was a woman of her word in the few moments of back and forth that they had endured. The simple fact that after a short gun battle, a random mutant, namely Julian, bleeding; and then the ceiling caving in, just to returning a lost mutant girl to her parents, yeah this was a woman of severe personal discipline and character. The importance of those traits wasn�t lost on Julian, though he wasn�t exactly the biggest fan of simply following a cause blindly without regard to what had happened in the recent moments, but that kind of dedication was certainly something to be respected.
This whole situation was fucked and it was made even worse when the blonde woman reavealed that she was working for the young girl�s parents in an effort to bring her back. Those mutants who had taken her didn�t seem like they had any interest in letting her go back to her
parents. Granted Julian wouldn�t had argued with the other mutants over her parents, in regards to mutation, when it came to those who had survived and thrived with severe mutations they obviously had more experience than even Julian and in his mind it almost seemed like they might have been the best solution. The wild card factor was that Julian felt like he owed Elyse something, maybe it was because she had shown honest concern for no reason, or maybe it was her altruism, but he honestly sympathized with her, and he wanted to help her.
Looking back towards the woman while he slowly made her way forward, Julian grinned just a bit.
�You promise to not give up until we make sure that girl is safe, and I promise to die somewhere nice and quiet where you won�t have to worry or feel bad�
For once Julian wasn't being a smartass, he was simply being practical. They both wanted the girl safe and she was worried about his health. If she trusted that he would survive, perhaps they could make sure that the girl was okay and then he would worry about how much blood he had lost and where it had gone.
Jan 12 2012, 01:05 AM
Registered Mutant
Group: Activist
Posts: 207
Member No.: 263
Joined: 4-December 11
Elyse watched carefully as a metal pipe flew into his grasp.
�she thought to herself, realizing finally what his power must be. Now
would be a handy power to have; she just had to hope that he was able to keep himself together enough to use it if it became needed. She fell in step beside him as he started making his way through the tunnel. He seemed to be moving slowly but steadily, and she�d have to be content with that for now.
Apparently he was okay enough to be cracking jokes, even if they were bad ones.
�That�s not funny.�
Elyse muttered when he talked about dying somewhere nice and quiet. She�d almost died somewhere nice and quiet; well, about as quiet as the average Boston alley can be. She could still almost hear the sound of the traffic going by as she�d lain there, beaten and mutilated, with a bullet put in her for good measure. It would have been too easy for her to just bleed to death, which is what her attackers had intended. It had been a couple of months since then, the bruises were gone and the bones and bullet wound had healed, but it was still too close to home and she couldn�t laugh, even if he was just trying to lighten things up.
She listened, expecting to hear the rumblings of the city above, but other than faint noises echoing at either end of the tunnel, it was relatively quiet, now that the battle had ended and the participants run off in their separate directions. It made her wonder about the group of mutants who had run off with Angie.
�Have you ever heard of these people before?
Elyse asked quietly as they walked.
�I�d heard of all kinds of things supposedly living in the subway tunnels, but never people.�
What kind of life must it be, hiding down in the tunnels like this? Where did they sleep? Were any of them able to go out and keep jobs, or did they scrounge or steal for a living? The man had told her to hide what she was and be thankful, and it was obvious that he and the others in that group could not, as apparently Angie could not. And they wanted her to live down here with them.
Jan 14 2012, 05:43 PM
Funny? Really, I mean who was trying to be funny. Everyone had heard the joke that started with:
So there I was balls deep in sewage...
seriously, that was a classic after all. No the humor she seemed to be recognizing was anything but that. In truth he was simply using his trademarked sarcasm to mask how much pain he was in. While the bullet hadn't hit anything vital, it had definitely hurt something fierce and the loss of blood wasn't helping him feel all warm and fuzzy. Well maybe a bit fuzzy, but warm wasn't in the cards.
Her question hit a nerve and Julian had to take a breath so he didn't overreact, after-all she couldn't possibly guess his take on the whole situation and he was pretty sure that her question was something in between idle conversation and curiosity. Letting go of a slight sigh as he peered around a corner and signaled her that this was they way the group they were following had gone he finally answered her.
"They aren't people. People don't steal children away from their parents no matter how altruistic they feel they are being or whose interests they are trying to serve. Mutant or Human, once you cross that line you become one thing, and that is a monster."
Most of the school would have been stopped dead in their tracks to hear Julian speak so passionately about such matters, in particular when it involved someone that he not only didn't know, but someone who wasn't a well shaped twenty-something year old.
Without pausing for her to answer, Julian continued his rant as they ventured down the tunnels, their voices no doubt echoing off on the closed in walls that had them closed in on two sides.
"Any crime against a mutant, if its perpetrated by a baseline or another mutant is inexcusable. It is a crime against our very nature, we are
Homo Superior
we have evolved, we should have overcome such petty ideas as oppression. We were given our powers to set right the balance of power, the strong are to protect the weak, not prey upon them."
Julian stopped himself and realized that he was pretty sure he had crossed the line from casual conversation into preaching, and that was not something he was found of doing. Yes he had his opinions, just like every other intelligent creature on the planet, but that didn't mean that she was his captive audience to be forced to hear said opinions, especially when she had not asked for them. Allowing the silence to fill the air as he waited for her to answer there was one question that kept plaguing him as they went deeper into the tunnels. Where were the X-men? Wasn't this exactly why the school had been formed? To stop and prevent crimes against mutants or crimes done by mutants? Suddenly a lot of what he had learned over the past few years came into question.
Jan 16 2012, 11:34 PM
Registered Mutant
Group: Activist
Posts: 207
Member No.: 263
Joined: 4-December 11
Elyse couldn�t believe what she was hearing. She�d heard mutants called many things, both back home in Boston and here, but little of it had ever been positive, and never had she heard anyone refer to them as being superior. Ever since her mutation had developed, it had been something to hide, to be ashamed of. She�d grown to like what she could do with her ability, the advantages it gave her in some things, but she was always afraid of the consequences of discovery. The fear and distrust of her fellow officers had caused her to quit the police department, and then the pure hatred she�d experienced from the men who attacked her only increased her discomfort with showing what she was. So it was a little odd to hear such strong opinions about mutants that weren�t negative.
She had to agree with him about the people who made off with Angie. Even if it seemed like she wanted to go with them, or at least hadn�t tried to stop them from taking her, she�d just been through two very traumatic experiences; discovering she was a mutant
being attacked for it, and there was no way the girl could be thinking straight right now. She needed the chance to talk to her parents about what was going on. Plus there was the additional factor of her still being a minor. Elyse wasn�t a cop anymore; she couldn�t just arrest them all for kidnapping. There was always citizen�s arrest, but somehow she just didn�t see these people going for that.
The young man grew silent, and Elyse considered his words. His belief in them was obvious, and she was a little envious of his confidence.
�You sound so sure of why this happens to us, that it�s not just a fluke of nature.�
�that we�re not freaks..
she thought to herself as they walked.
�So God wants us to be heroes then? Not a bad idea, I guess, but it would�ve been nice for him to say something about it at some point.�
Jan 22 2012, 03:09 AM
Heroes, its a funny word. They were nothing more than opportunists and Julian knew this without question. They were beings who simply happen to be at the right place in the right time and did the right thing. Granted that sounded like something that took effort, but in truth it was simply timing and anyone who had every truly been in a bad situation knew that. They were the people who felt they deserved something based on a simple notion that people were granted more based on what they had done in their lives without any real introspection about their own.
Julian had never considered himself to be one, but that also had a lot to do with the fact that Julian didn't subscribe to the concept of heroes as most of the world did. Having super powers and wearing tights didn't make you a hero, it just meant that you had some sort of advantage over the rest of the populace and it was more what you did with that advantage that made you a hero or not.
"God is a crutch for those who are too afraid to take hold of their own destiny and accept responsibility for their choices."
Julian paused for a moment as the faint echos of a child's voice could be heard up ahead of them. It seemed that they had either caught up to them or found the place that the other mutants had been living at.
"You willing to do what it takes to bring that girl home to her parents?"
It seemed like a simple question and yet there was a lot unsaid within those words. The truth of the matter was that someone might die here today and that was a truth that Julian and Elyse were going to have to be able to live with. The conviction of the others had already been shown, now it was a matter for the two unlikely allies to decide if their conviction was strong enough to fuel their desire to bring that girl back to her parents.
Jan 25 2012, 03:45 AM
Registered Mutant
Group: Activist
Posts: 207
Member No.: 263
Joined: 4-December 11
If Elyse had been asked, she would have said that her definition of a hero was a little different than that of her companion, whose name she still hadn�t gotten. It wasn�t necessarily having powers, or some other kind of advantage over others. A hero saw a problem and fixed it; they did what was right, no matter what it might cost them personally. She saw them every day while growing up. Her father and his fellow officers, and those with similar duties; they were her heroes. She�d attended award ceremonies for those who stood out, and funeral services for those who had fallen. She understood the risks involved in being a hero, and that people did it anyway, knowing those risks, made her appreciate them even more.
�So you don�t think there was reason behind this whole mutation business; that it just happened?�
Elyse asked, with no censure in her tone, just curiosity. Despite being what she considered a semi-practicing Catholic, she usually didn�t judge others for their beliefs, and with the progress made in science, understood how atheism would make sense to some.
�By the way, what�s your name?�
Despite what she�d said earlier, now that they were going into this together, she didn�t feel right calling him �hey you� or even �John Doe�.
They continued on and as they walked down the tunnel, Elyse could hear sounds off in the distance. It seemed that they were getting closer, and she slipped one of her lower hands down to check that the safeties on both guns were off. The young man�s next question threw her off a little, although she supposed she shouldn�t have been surprised, given that they seemed to be reaching their goal. There wasn�t anything in his tone that she could use to determine how he meant that question; if this had been her early days back in Boston it would have been meant as a doubt to whether a female officer could step into a man�s shoes. This man so far hadn�t given any indication that he had those types of prejudices though.
�I was a police officer in Boston; I have had to kill in the line of duty before.�
Elyse said.
�And kidnapping is kidnapping; whether they�re mutants or not, if the situation calls for it, I will do what�s necessary. I�d like to avoid that though if possible.�
She then glanced at her companion.
�What about you? Have you taken someone�s life before? Do you think you could live with it afterwards if you do? Even if you�re perfectly justified, if there�s nothing else you could have done, it�s not an easy thing to live with.�
She still remembered the incident; a burglary gone wrong. She remembered feeling sick seeing the body of the culprit on the ground, knowing she had put them there. Elyse had gone to her parents� house, spent the evening talking to her father, and even after being assured that she�d done the right thing, and knowing she could and would do it again if necessary, it was something that weighed on the mind.
0 User(s) are reading this topic (0 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:
Next Oldest
Archived Threads
Next Newest
Close Topic Options
Track this topic
Receive email notification when a reply has been made to this topic and you are not active on the board.
Subscribe to this forum
Receive email notification when a new topic is posted in this forum and you are not active on the board.
Download / Print this Topic
Download this topic in different formats or view a printer friendly version.
Forum Jump
Before We Begin
- The 4-1-1
- Breaking Headlines
- Questions anyone?
Cerebro Files
- Character Information (+3 sub-forums)
- Application Station (+5 sub-forums)
- Character Claims (+1 sub-forums)
- Character Communications (+9 sub-forums)
- Filing Cabinet (+17 sub-forums)
The Xavier Institute - The United States
- First Floor (+8 sub-forums)
- Second Floor (+6 sub-forums)
- Third Floor (+7 sub-forums)
- Attic (+1 sub-forums)
- The Basements (+8 sub-forums)
- The Grounds (+7 sub-forums)
Upstate New York - The United States
- Westchester County Homes
- Westchester County Proper
- Westchester County Businesses (+5 sub-forums)
The Brotherhood Headquarters - The United States
- Entrance and Ground Floor (+2 sub-forums)
- Second Floor (+4 sub-forums)
- Third Floor (+1 sub-forums)
- Fourth Floor (+1 sub-forums)
- The Basement (+4 sub-forums)
The Hellfire Club - The United States
- The San Remo (+4 sub-forums)
The Morlock Realm - The United States
- Hoyt Street Station
- The Abandoned Deep (+2 sub-forums)
- The Sewers (+3 sub-forums)
- The End of the Line (+2 sub-forums)
New York City - The United States
- New York City Proper (+2 sub-forums)
- New York City Businesses (+25 sub-forums)
- New York City Homes (+12 sub-forums)
New Jersey - The United States
- Sandy Hook
- New Jersey Commerce (+2 sub-forums)
Washington Metropolitan Area - The United States
- Washington DC
- Virginia
- Maryland
Los Angeles - The United States
- Los Angeles Proper
- Los Angeles Residential (+3 sub-forums)
- Los Angeles Business
The Eisenhardt Academy - The United Kingdom
- Eisenhardt Academy Teaching Buildings
- Eisenhardt Academy Residences
London - The United Kingdom
- London Proper
- London Residences (+2 sub-forums)
Everywhere Else
- North and South America (+1 sub-forums)
- Europe
- Asia
- Australia
- Africa
- Other
- The Past
- The Dream Board
A Difference in Time and Space
- Out of Character (+5 sub-forums)
- Advertising (+2 sub-forums)
- Archive (+7 sub-forums)
Hidden stoof
- IC Chat (+2 sub-forums)
- Suggestions!
Hosted for free by
* (
Terms of Use: Updated 2/10/2010
) | Powered by
Invision Power Board
v1.3 Final © 2003
IPS, Inc.
Page creation time:
seconds |
Skinned by


text:
On Windows 2003 it is possible via the registry to set a custom interval for updates.
This is done via the following registry key:
After adjusting this key and then restarting the Windows Time service, when I update the time changes to (for my setting) one day from the time I clicked the update button.
What I don't know how to do is set the exact time at which the update occurs?


text:
Fire Fighter! (DK READERS)
Format Post in For Children BY Angela Royston
Shared By Guest
The author of Fire Fighter! (DK READERS) is Angela Royston Featuring redesigned jackets, interiors, and up-to-date vocabulary throughout, DK Readers now have a fresh new look! Stunning photographs combine with lively illustrations and engaging, age appropriate stories in DK Readers, a multilevel reading program guaranteed to capture children's interests while developing their reading skills and general With DK Readers, children will learn to read-and read to learn! Ring! Ring! Ring! It's the fire alarm! A house is on fire! The fire fighters are on their way!. The Author of this Book is Angela Royston This title is available at BookMoving on Angela Royston's eBooks, . Array ISBN . Fire Fighter! (DK READERS) Textbook, course, ebook, pdf, download at bookmoving . Fire Fighter! (DK READERS) available in English.


text:
Our Spring Garden Party was moved inside due to days and days of rain. We started with a beautiful a Double Cream Brie Appetizer Board that is very simple to make. Each couple shared the appetizer. Next we moved on to a Chopped Caprese Salad that was light and tasty. It was accompanied by home made Crusty European Bread that I will share the recipe for later.
Chopped Caprese Salad
Crusty Bread
Everyone loves bruschetta and caprese salad so I decided to serve a light salad that was a cross between the two for our second course.
Chopped Caprese Salad
4-5 large Roma tomatoes, chopped
1 container marinated mini mozzarella balls
2 T. finely sliced fresh basil
3 T. red wine vinegar
3/8 C. extra virgin olive oil
3/4 tsp. salt
dash black pepper
1 large head romaine lettuce, finely sliced
Cut the mozzarella balls in half. Gently toss the tomatoes with the mozzarella balls and the remaining ingredients in a bowl. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes but no longer than a couple of hours. In serving container place a small handful of shredded romaine then top with the tomato mixture. Garnish with fresh herbs. It is too early for my basil so I garnished with fresh oregano from my garden.
Serve with crusty bread to soak up the extra dressing.
This recipe was likewise ready to be plated. We had the romaine lettuce in the glasses and the caprese salad in the bowl marinating in the fridge. The garnish was already washed and wrapped in a paper towel in the fridge. All we had to do was scoop some caprese salad on top of the romaine and top with a garnish. So easy and so refreshing. A piece of bread on the side completed the salad course.
Watch for my next posting with the recipe for the King Crab Meat Cocktail with Dipping Sauces


text:
Paid Internships Crowdfunding Portal
Paid Internships Crowdfunding Portal
In recent cases, gaining extensive work experience through internships is becoming illegal. Some interns are now filing class action lawsuits. Other's remain uninformed and have taken no action. However, one thing is clear, interns who work for private companies need the facts on legal and illegal internships, or they risk being taken advantage of.
In two recent high profile cases, one involving a well-known fashion industry publication, the other a Hollywood movie studio production company, it is highlighted how easy it is for interns to be taken advantage of. Both cases are examples for how interns are seeking experience to work at prestigious private companies, and remain unpaid.
As it was explained in a recent post on the California Employment Lawyers Blog, a previous intern for Harper's Bazaar magazine filed a lawsuit against Hearst Corporation as well as the magazine. According to Howard Law, P.C., the intern claims that she worked full-time hours without compensation.
In the other recent case, two interns are filing a class-action lawsuit against 20th Century Fox. The interns were working for Black Swan, an award winning film that grossed more than $300 million. According to an article in NPR, the two interns are suing the company to gain back money for the "wasted" hours they worked.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, there are six criteria that must pass in order for an internship to be unpaid. First, the internship, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is similar to training, which would be given, in an educational environment.
Second, the internship experience is for the benefit of the intern. Third, the intern does not displace regular employees, but works under close supervision of existing staff. Fourth, the employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern; an on occasion its operations may be actually impeded. Fifth, the intern is not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship.
Lastly, the employer and the intern understand that the intern is not entitled to wages for the time spent in the internship.
Brooke Neuland, a sophomore journalism major from Iowa, has been searching for internships for the past three months. She's been in hopes of finding the perfect opportunity for Summer 2012, but now her feelings are changing. Once she read the U.S. Department of Labor's rules on internships, she was shocked to find that most of her potential internships could be illegal.
"I've just been really focused on trying to find a great internship for the summer so I can add it to my resume and expand my personal network," Neuland said. "But now that I know I could be an illegal unpaid intern, I'm only searching for paid internship opportunities."
Interns shouldn't have to file class-action lawsuits against top private companies just to get paid a fair wage. In most cases, this wage is just an hourly minimum wage, enough to compensate for the hard work that interns put in. But after companies have abused their intern privileges, they are now being held accountable and paying the price.
Recently, when doing a simple search on internships.com, it becomes clear that companies are not as eager to pay their interns. For the city of Chicago, 350 unpaid internships came up in the search results. When searching for paid internships, only 145 appeared, less than half of the unpaid results. This shows the lack of initiative from companies to pay their interns. Most companies could argue they don't have excess money to be paying their college interns. This is understandable, but is also close-minded. There are other ways around using revenue for compensation.
An example of a company using a different method for paying interns is Internet WebPages Newspaper Internship Fund. IWN Internship Fund uses crowdfunding to pay and hire deserving college students. As defined by the Macmillan Dictionary, crowdfunding is the use of the web or another online tool to get a group of people to finance a particular project. The students chosen for the internships must meet a certain list of criteria, such as maintaining at least a 3.0 GPA. Most positions are part-time and get paid on average $1,500 for the summer.
Crowdfunding is being used by various websites to fund ideas and projects, but not funding interns. IWN Internship Fund is using innovative ideas to find ways to guarantee interns get paid what they deserve. Ideas such as this, is exactly what is necessary for the future of internships across the country. Otherwise, more class-action lawsuits may follow.
Sorry, comments are closed for this post.


text:
View all
List Price:
$14.95 (Save 0%)
Evelyn Resh, MPH, CNM, is the Director of Sexual Health Services for Canyon Ranch Health Resorts. In addition to her twice-weekly lectures on women's health and sexuality at Canyon Ranch in Lenox, Massachusetts; and/or Tucson, Arizona, Evelyn travels the country and the world giving lectures and presentations on women's health and sexuality for a variety of groups and conferences. She appears regularly on the Joan Hamburg radio show
Beverly West is a best-selling author whose series Cinematherapy, the Girls' Guide to Movies for Every Mood (350,000 copies in print) has spawned eight sequels and has been translated into nine languages.


text:
Scrabble word: FEEDERS
In which Scrabble dictionary does FEEDERS exist?
Scrabble (US/Canada)
(61 pts)
Scrabble (UK)
(61 pts)
Official Scrabble (OSPD)
(61 pts)
(61 pts)
Words with friends
(46 pts)
Hanging with friends
(46 pts)
(7 pts)
Lexulous (US)
(52 pts)
Definitions of FEEDERS in dictionaries:
- noun - an animal being fattened or suitable for fattening
- noun - someone who consumes food for nourishment
- noun - a branch that flows into the main stream
- noun - a machine that automatically provides a supply of some material
- noun - an outdoor device that supplies food for wild birds
- noun - an animal that feeds on a particular source of food
- adj - to give food to [v FED, FEEDING, FEEDS] : FEEDABLE
There are 7 letters in FEEDERS: D E E E F R S
Scrabble words that can be created with an extra letter added to FEEDERS
All anagrams that could be made from letters of word FEEDERS plus a wildcard: FEEDERS?
Scrabble words that can be created with letters from word FEEDERS
7 letter words
6 letter words
5 letter words
4 letter words
3 letter words
2 letter words
Images for FEEDERS
Other Resources
SCRABBLE is the registered trademark of Hasbro and J.W. Spear & Sons Limited. Our scrabble word finder and scrabble cheat word builder is not associated with the Scrabble brand - we merely provide help for players of the official Scrabble game. All intellectual property rights to the game are owned by respective owners in the U.S.A and Canada and the rest of the world. Anagrammer.com is not affiliated with Scrabble. This site is an educational tool and resource for Scrabble & Words With Friends players.


text:
In conversation with dianne reeves
On your last album, there's only one song that you've written. Is there a reason why you compose less than you did before?
Well, we've been touring so much that it was only during the last year that I could take some time off to write. Since I had already had the idea for this last record, I only included one of my tunes in it, but the rest of the original material will be on the next.
Also, I guess I'm a singer first. I like to write songs, but I like more than anything to find songs that, whether I write them or not, really address my life. So I find myself singing the things that feel good inside of me. These songs all have stories behind them, and I can't wait till I sing them live on stage.
The last one, "Today Will be a Good Day" is different as far as the sonic approach is concerned, so it's at the end and I chose to explain why I wrote it because it's about my mother, who's very important for me. It was a gift to her. The other songs, like "Just my Imagination" or "Loving You," make me reminisce about a place and a time in my life that was very special, and I love the fact that I can still access to them emotionally through music.
Some also reflect the journey of my graduation from imaginative love to what I've come to know love to be at this time of my life. And that's something that's abiding, uncompromising and compassionate. And it includes the love for self and all the love that you can give to change things. It's such an amazing powerful present!
You were talking about being eager to sing these songs onstage, but a lot of listeners here in Europe have the feeling that your studio records are a bit overproduced, compared to the rawer quality of your live performances.
As I grow older I become more refined. I've come to understand that my voice is not just the instrument that you hear, but it's my soul. Anytime I do a record, I'm baring my soul and I give 100% of who I am. Besides, the taste of listeners differs from country to country. As an artist, I have no control on that, and I can only be the best of who I am.
Recently I've been touring a lot around the world with a group that hasn't been recorded yet : only me and two guitars (Russell Malone and Romero Lubambo). From now on, I'm going to tour either with this group or with the group that's on my last record. So, for me the records are a jumping off point. I'm a jazz musician, so what you will hear onstage will be different from night to night. I love what happens during a recording, but I like it to be the beginning of moving the music to another place.
You were just talking about the evolution of your voice, and as a singer you definitely have a maturity that enhances your music. How do you view the actual fad for young so-called jazz singers?
Honestly, I don't concentrate on those things. Everybody has the right to express themselves in a way that they wish to, and the success depends on the taste of the public. Sometimes they like simple melodies with uncolorful voices, and it's not the first time in history that uneventful recordings have been successful. When there is a major machine telling people what they should listen to, then people listen. All I know is that I can do what I do, and thank God, I do it enough that it sustains my life, that I can still be passionate and that I don't have to compromise on the things I want to say or do. So I just say « live and let live ».
I know that you teach singing? What do you teach to young wannabe jazz singers?
I do lots of master classes and clinics, and the thing I emphasize most of all is that your voice is not your instrument. You can convey what you have to say clearly just by talking. So if you happen to have this instrument that is a voice or a piano, how do you translate what it is that is inside of you into this instrument? And then how do you refine and define this particular instrument? I spent a long time singing the way that I do because I listened to great singers and great musicians who all said you must have your own unique sound. So I always wanted to be counted among those whom you recognize in just a few seconds. I tell my student that one of the great miracles in the world is that you are unique, so just find out this uniqueness. Whether it may garner a big audience or not, if you love it, are passionate about it, and know where you want to take it, that's what's important. I tell these young students to find out how they want to sing. It might even not be jazz. You are a musician before being a jazz singer. Abbey Lincoln said that jazz is a spirit. As a singer, if you want to front the band instead of being a co-creator with the musicians of the band, then you are not a jazz singer, for example.
The banner of jazz has been thrown around a lot, and used by the industry to promote things. But if you want to start as a jazz singer because of that, how long will you last? So I don't tell my student to try and sound like anybody else, be it Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae, Ella Fitzgerald or Dakota Staton. I tell them to listen to these great voices that have lasted, to check out how they could sing the same song differently because of what they each were, and to try to find this type of identity inside themselves so as to make a song their own. Jazz is improvisation, and this doesn't necessarily mean scat but the ability to improvise different variations, to phrase differently on the same theme, night after night, in interaction with the rest of the band. Just like anything else, it is a discipline.
Let's talk about the George Clooney movie Good Night and Good Luck now, if you don't mind. How about the sudden exposure it gave you?
I think it's great and it has served me well. First, the film is very intelligent and I think it really speaks to the world about our civil liberties. I love the way George Clooney integrated the music, making it the soothsayer or the Greek chorus of the film, because the songs he selected take on a totally different personality, which is amazing because there are love songs that turn into songs about the FBI or what have you. I also loved the fact that I had to sing these songs from the period when the story takes place with respect of the time, in a 'clean' way, and with no extra type of concepts that we have about this music nowadays. I also loved the fact that George Clooney allowed me to sing live, like they did in the studios at that time. When I received the script I thought: "That's interesting: you're doing a soundtrack and they send you the script." But then I realized that I really had to play a part, and George Clooney explained to me what he expected of me, and I found it amazing.
Part of this role that you and the music play in this film seems to be an emotional counterpoint to what happens in the plot, for example, when the main character comes to see you sing "How High the Moon" after one of his friends has committed suicide because of the McCarthy campaign against him.
The plot and the dialogues are so heavy in this film that the music had to bring some kind of relief. In the scene you talk about, Clooney wanted a very slow version of the song, and while they shot the scene, I was really in front of the actor who impersonated Edward R. Murrow, behind the studio glass so I could really see his face and reflect the sadness of what he expressed. This was like my shining moment. When I went to the premiere in New York, I was sitting next to Mr Clooney and I hadn't seen the film. When it came to this scene, he grabbed my arm and said "Here it comes." And it made me cry because I had never seen myself on a big screen.
Did you know George Clooney before?
No, but when I asked him why he had selected me he said that his aunt Rosemary Clooney was a big fan of mine and had told him a lot about me.
Aren't you afraid that this film may give your new fans a distorted image of you, and that they may expect the same vintage routine onstage and on record?
Not at all. On the contrary I think they are curious about what else I can do than what they saw in the film. Some didn't know me before, so they have gone back in my catalog, trying to discover what I did before. I guess my audience is more mature than you may think it is, and it accepts that an artist is multifaceted. As far as this is concerned, today is a good time for me.
June 15, 2008 · 4 comments
Fran McIntyre
// Jul 06, 2008 at 07:10 PM
Thanks we need to hear more about singers like Dianne Reeves. Keep them coming! Great interview!
// Jul 15, 2008 at 02:59 PM
Thanks. I'm a big fan of Ms. Reeves and her live shows are awesome!
// Mar 09, 2009 at 05:01 AM
From the very first note, and from her entire delivery, we see the wonderful influence of Sarah in Dianne. Dianne's performance is captivating and breath taking, a true gift for any jazz fan or music fan in general. Her performance in Good Night and Good Luck was essential, and superb; and she captured the mood and style of the period exquisitely.
// May 06, 2009 at 06:25 PM
I just learned of Ms.Reeves through a jazz class I am taking in college. Just listening to her makes me daydream, drift off to this romantic place. I am truly inspired by her and I am interested in learning more,also hearing more of her.


text:
Weddings At The Grand America ~ The Host Of The Winter Bridal Extravaganza
We know that Halloween hasn't even arrived yet, but sooner than you think Christmas will have passed as well as New Years and we will be in the heart of Wedding Show Season. Make sure to mark your calendar for Winters Number 1 wedding show at Utah's most extravagant Location.
We couldn't be more thrilled than to be hosting the annual Winter Bridal Extravaganza at Utah's most luxurious location, The Grand America Hotel. Believe us when we say, this is one place that will take your breath away.
Photo By Elizabeth Taylor Frandsen Photography
Magical Settings, Exquisite Detail, Exemplary Service ~ The Grand America
Once you pass through the enormous Northern Italian white and gray marble lobby, past bellmen in dapper vest suits, the fragrance of fresh cut flowers wafting about you from a large center urn, you may wonder to yourself, "what can I expect from the Grand America Hotel that other venues can't offer me?"
Photo By Dezember Photography
Your wedding will be a lasting memory of one of your life's most important milestones. Let us make that memory truly extraordinary. The Grand America Hotel promises magical settings, exquisite details and exemplary personal service backed by a rich history of excellence. Venues at the Grand are unmatched in style and design. Choose from an intimate reception in the Grand Salon, with its Italian marble accents, French doors and access to a private Renaissance-style garden patio, or entertain guests at a grand banquet in the Imperial Ballroom, dancing beneath hand-blown Murano chandeliers. The Garden Courtyard, with its impeccably landscaped parterre beds and classic water fountains, sets the scene for a romantic day or night wedding. This Five Diamond Hotel is the perfect compliment to the glamor and class of the ring adorning the bride's left hand. As the only hotel in Salt Lake City with the prestigious honor of AAA Five Diamond recognition, you are sure to experience the difference that designation makes in service, food and overall ambiance. Our team of Executive Chefs are available to create custom menus including Indian, Cajun, Persian, Halal and more to make your culinary experience one to remember. With an amazing on site Pastry Kitchen, we can create everything from small chocolate truffle favors to a wedding cake that reaches over five feet tall and tastes just as spectacular as it looks.
Photo By Elizabeth Taylor Frandsen Photography
At The Grand, you will be working with a wedding professional to assist with all aspects of the big day – from floral decor, reception entertainment, and photo and video services to coordinating a day at the Grand Spa for the bridal party or a catered dinner brought to you by world-class chefs.
Think of The Grand as a hotel where you purchase not only your catering, but also your cake, flowers, linens and almost everything else (excluding your dress and the groom!). Whether you are looking for a simple dinner for 30, a ceremony in the immaculate Garden Courtyard or an extravagant reception for over 500, we can create the experience you're looking for. You will work with only the best of the best to make sure your wedding runs impeccably. We do not require you to work with specific vendors when it comes to items such as entertainment, floral, cake, etc, but we do offer many referrals based on your needs and wants. Wedding packages can be a great way to determine cost and see exactly what you get for the money but The Grand America Hotel prefers an a la carte approach which makes your day a one of a kind event rather than selecting from Package A, B or C. This allows you the flexibility to choose what you want instead of being told what you'll get.
Photo By Swensen Photography
The Grand America is the host hotel of the 2014 Winter Bridal Extravaganza.
The Winter Bridal Extravaganza
January 11th, 2013
11:00 – 5:30
At The Grand America Hotel
Photo By Dezember Photography


text:
Motorola Defy coming to India on January 24?
The rugged, water-resistant Motorola Defy – already launched in the US (via T-Mobile), Europe, and Australia – could be released in India next week.
A tipster informed AndroidOS.in that Motorola dealers across India would start selling the Defy next Monday, on January 24. The handset's exact price is not known yet, but it's said to be around 20,000 INR ($438).
The Defy is currently running Android 2.1. However, Motorola has officially promised an upgrade to Android 2.2 Froyo for the second quarter of the year.
Hopefully, there will be no faulty Defy units sold in India. Anyway, in order to better decide if the smartphone is for you, check out our Motorola Defy review here.


text:
Swizz Beatz Mashonda Alicia Keys Updates
Swizz Beatz Mashonda Alicia Keys Updates – Swizz Beatz who recently divorced his wife Mashonda has revealed that he did not have an intimate relationship with Alicia Keys.Swizz Beatz said on the split with Mashonda:
"I can no longer ignore the harmful rumors, that my friend Alicia Keys is in any way linked to my marital circumstances or to the decision that [my wife] Mashonda and I have made to separate."
Swizz Beatz added:
"I am disappointed that some have chosen to try and tarnish Alicia's reputation by irresponsibly implicating her in a situation that she has absolutely nothing to do with,"
"This experience has been one of the most difficult times in my life, and as was stated when we announced our separation several months ago, I ask that you continue to respect my privacy in dealing with this personal matter."
That's the latest in the Swizz Beatz Mashonda Alicia Keys drama.
Category: Alicia Keys, Black celebs news
Comments (13)
Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed
I Think u guys look cute together 🙂
SWIZZ: "I am disappointed that some have chosen to try and tarnish Alicia's reputation by irresponsibly implicating her in a situation that she has absolutely nothing to do with,"
"This experience has been one of the most difficult times in my life, and as was stated when we announced our separation several months ago, I ask that you continue to respect my privacy in dealing with this personal matter." WHATEVER!!!!
MY thoughts: Now who do you think you are trying to fool, nobody is trying to tarnish no reputation, now if it wasn't true she should of came at your wife and inform her their was nothing going on. You see if Alicia was just a friend she should of been both you and your wife friend, their for you and your wife during the time of divorce. (Oh I get it she is just your friend) Don't try to stick up for her for your stupidness and being less then a man not knowing how to deal with things.
You state your marriage was over months ago than you should dealt with that instead of being in another womans face. Friends don't move in a manhattan penthouse together…..Now what nobody not tarnishing s$$t.. Alicia and yourself tarnished it.
Dude you really need to quick lying to yourself. Bottom line is no matter what you and your wife decided You Were Still Married to Her while you were seeing MS INNOCENT. (which she is not) But hey it just makes you like everyother man and her like every other s$$t over the history of women dating MARRIED men. LOL you are H I L A R I O U S!!!!!!!
I actually feel bad for Mashonda, i saw her letter to Alicia, and I saw nothing wrong with it, I am definitely disappointed in AK, as far as Mr. Beatz, a mans gonna be a man.
Mr. Beatz, who is tarnishing Alicia's reputation? If you really were a man and really respected her, you would have gotten your personal affairs squared away BEFORE you started your "fling" with Alicia. And what about your wife/ex-wife and son?
A man is a man…no matter who he is…blaming everybody but himself for "dirt" he kicked up.
" KARMA" by Alicia comes to mind right now, listen to your own song Alicia. Hope you don't end up in Mashonda's place at the end of this tumultuous road; you are known to be a well respected and intellectually stimulating woman; don't allow a man to take that away from you, sis.
you cheated Swizz….and what goes around comes around!!!!!!! I was a fan of A.K. until I read Moshonda letter…may God give you strength..truth is this hurts!! now she pregnant all of a sudden WOW…and has a huge smile on her face LOSER..both of you!!!!!!! if he cheated on his wife think of what he's gonna do to you A.K. WOW!
It is easy for us to give negative criticism to others, but we need to take a look at ourselves, and see that we are not perfect. However, I feel sorry for Mashonda and I wish her the best.
I can't wait to see what happens when everything unfolds for AK that B****! God bless you Mashonda!
I feel sorry for Mashonta.Overall she is a very strong woman thou.As for AK you will get it back,it doesnt matter if its yrs from now.She will see that day again.All smiles will be frowns.And they both think nothing is wrong with that "WHATEVER". I use to like that chic.
AK 2 the motherf*cking world!!!!!!!!!! If Mashonda was doing her homework, her husband wouldn't b looking outside and man is only human. Alicia ignore the critics ppl can change.
@All on me…I totally agree. People here act like if they fell in live with someone they would wait until their divorce is finalized until they have sex….get fckn real!…You mf just saying that because you wanna judge somebody. Get a fckn life and leave theirs alone vecausr if you claiming you would have waited… YOU A DAMN LIE
@just so you know.
learn the difference between the words then and than. its an easy one.