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5 Most Horrifying Things About Monsanto
Monsanto is the conglomerate mastermind behind many of the pesticides and genetically engineered seeds that pervade farm fields around th...
Monsanto is the conglomerate mastermind behind many of the pesticides and genetically engineered seeds that pervade farm fields around the world. Monsanto produces the world's top-selling herbicide; 40 percent of US crops contain its genes; it spends millions lobbying the government each year; and several of its factories are now toxic Superfund sites.
1. Profiteering poisonous chemical company posing as agribusiness.
Remember the horrors of Operation Ranch Hand during the Vietnam War, when the US military designed a chemical warfare program and used the herbicide and defoliant Agent Orange to kill and maim 400,000 people (estimated by the Vietnam government), and ultimately cause birth defects for 500,000 children? Monsanto made that possible.
Monsanto began as a chemical company in 1901 and was responsible for some of the most damaging toxins in US history, like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's), and dioxin. Consumer advocacy group Food and Water Watch (FWW) released a report on APril 3 detailing Monsanto's role in chemical disasters, Agent Orange, and the first genetically modified plant cell. The report shows that the "feed-the-world" agricultural and life sciences company Monsanto markets itself as today is only a recent development. The majority of Monsanto's history is involved with heavy industrial chemical production, including the supply of Agent Orange to the US for Vietnam operations from 1962-'71.
Ronnie Cummins, executive director of the Organic Consumers Association told Common Dreams, in response to the FWW report:
Despite its various marketing incarnations over the years, Monsanto is a chemical company that got its start selling saccharin to Coca-Cola, then Agent Orange to the U.S. military, and in recent years, seeds genetically engineered to contain and withstand massive amounts of Monsanto herbicides and pesticides. Monsanto has become synonymous with the corporatization and industrialization of our food supply.
Another example, according to the FWW corporate profile, is a Monsanto plant in Sauget, Illinois that produced 99 percent of PCBs until they were banned in 1976. PCBs are carcinogenic and harmful to multiple organs and systems, but they're still illegally dumped into waterways. They accumulate in plants and food crops, as well as fish and other aquatic lifeforms, which enter the human food supply. The Sauget plant is now home to two Superfund sites.
Monsanto's chemicals continue to impact the world, both inside and outside of the United States, and Monsanto has settled a number of chemical lawsuits in the last couple of years alone. Scientific studies have linked the chemicals in Monsanto's Roundup pesticides to Parkinson's disease, Alzheimers disease, autism and cancer.
Another example of Monsanto's chemical folly came in February when a French court declared Monsanto guilty of chemical poisoning of French grain grower, Paul Francois. The farmer suffered neurological problems including memory loss, headaches and stammering after inhaling Monsanto's Lasso weedkiller in 2004, and blames the agri-business giant for not providing adequate warnings on the product label.
AlterNet published an article in April titled, "Exposed: Monsanto's Chemical War Against Indigenous Hawaiians," which details a series of protests on the five Hawaiian Islands Monsanto and other biotech companies have turned into the world's "ground zero" for chemical testing and food engineering.
2. Building a monopoly, putting farmers out of work.
There is nothing more quintessentially American than the independent family farmer; and there is nothing more un-American than stomping out that farmer's livelihood to bolster your corporate monopoly. Monsanto is attempting this as it sues small farmers out of their livelihoods time and again.
You might have heard about the 75-year-old soybean farmer from Indiana, Vernon Hugh Bowman, who was ordered in the beginning of May to pay Monsanto $85,000 in damages for using second-generation seeds genetically modified with Monsanto's pesticide resistant "Roundup Ready," treatment. He pulled the seeds from the local grain elevator, which is usually used for feed crop, and planted them. The court decided Monsanto's patent extends even to the offspring of its seeds, and the farmer had violated the company's patent.
Bowman is by no means the only US farmer to be sent into debt at Monsanto's hands. Monsanto reported enormous profits from 2012 to shareholders in January, while American farmers filed into Washington, DC to challenge the corporation's right to sue farmers whose fields have become contaminated with Monsanto's seeds. Oral arguments began on January 10 before the U.S. Court of Appeals to decide whether to reverse the cases' dismissal last February. The corporation's total revenue reached $2.94 billion at the end of 2012, and its earnings nearly doubled analysts' projections.
In the article, "Monsanto's Earnings Nearly Double as They Create a Farming Monopoly"—originally published in Al Jazeera and reprinted on AlterNet on January 16—Charlotte Silver outlines how Monsanto has increased the price of the Roundup herbicide and exploiting its patent on transgenic corn, soybean and cotton, to gain control over those agricultural industries in the US, "…effectively squeezing out conventional farmers (those using non-transgenic seeds) and eliminating their capacity to viably participate and compete on the market." The company also uses its power to coerce seed dealers out of stocking many of its competitor products.
Monsanto was under investigation by the Department of Justice for violating anti-trust laws by practicing anticompetitive activities towards other biotech companies until the end of 2012. The investigation was quietly closed before the end of last year.
Monsanto exerts vast control over the seed industry. It started buying out seed companies as early as 1982. Some of Monsanto's most significant purchases were Asgrow (soybeans), Delta and Pine Land (cotton), DeKalb (corn), Seminis (vegetables) and Holden's Foundation Seeds (in 1997). Monsanto is unmatched in its tactics for squashing its competition, but the US has not put its antitrust laws into practice to clamp down on the corporate monopoly it's forming.
3. Controlling the food, privatizing the water.
Half of the Earth's population will live in an area with significant water stress by 2030, according to estimates from the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development. Corporations like Monsanto (along with Royal Dutch Shell and Nestle) are vying for a future in which free water supply is a thing of the past, and private companies control public water sources.
According to a government report titled "Intelligence Community Assessment; Global Water Security," by 2025, the world's population will likely exceed 8 billion people, and the demand for water will be 40 percent higher than sustainable water supplies available, with water needs of around 6,900 billion cubic meters due to population growth.
Private corporations already own 5 percent of the world's fresh water. Billionaires and companies, including Monsanto, are purchasing the rights to groundwater and aquifers. In an even more ominous twist, Monsanto is accused of dumping its plethora of toxic chemicals, including PCBs, dioxin and glyophosate (Roundup) into the water supply of various nations worldwide. Then, seeing a profitable market niche, it has begun privatizing those water sources it polluted, filtering the water, and selling it back to the public.
4. Running the FDA, writing its own protection laws.
Ex-Monsanto executives run the United States Food and Drug Administration, the agency tasked with ensuring food safety for the American public.
This obvious conflict of interest could explain the lack of government-led research on the long-term effects of GM products. Recently, the U.S. Congress and president together passed the law that has been dubbed "Monsanto Protection Act." Among other things, the new law bans courts from halting the sale of Monsanto's genetically modified seeds.
The pro-Monsanto "Farmer Assurance Provision, Section 735," rider was quietly slipped into Agricultural Appropriations provisions of the HR 933 Continuing Resolution spending bill, designed to avert a federal government shutdown. It states that the department of agriculture "shall, notwithstanding any other provisions of law, immediately grant temporary permits to continue using the [GE] seed at the request of a farmer or producer [Monsanto]."
Obama signed the law on March 29. It allows the agribusiness giant to promote and plant GMO and GE seeds free from any judicial litigation that might deem such crops unsafe. Even if a court review determines that a GMO crop harms humans, Section 735 allows the seeds to be planted once the USDA approves them.
Public health lawyer Michele Simon told the New York Daily News the Senate bill requires the USDA to "ignore any court ruling that would otherwise halt the planting of new genetically engineered crops."
5. Continuing environmental nightmares.
As Tami Canal points out, studies have linked Monsanto and other biotech conglomerates to the decline of bee colonies in the US and abroad.
Their environmental blunders don't stop there. In 2002 the Washington Post published a piece titled "Monsanto Hid Decades of Pollution," outlining the corporation's pollution of an Alabama town with toxic PCBs for decades without disclosure.
The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) published an article debunking Monsanto's claim that it is a "leader and innovator in sustainable agriculture."
While Monsanto advertises its technology as important to achieving such goals as adequate global food production and "reducing agriculture's negative impacts on the environment," the UCS says in reality, the corporate giant stands in the way of sustainable agriculture.
For one, Monsanto's policies promote pesticide resistance. "Their RoundupReady and Bt technologies lead to resistant weeds and insects that can make farming harder and reduce sustainability," reads the UCS article.
The article also notes that Monsanto's policies increase herbicide use, which can cause health effects, and perpetuates gene contamination, as engineered genes tend to show up in non-GE crops. Additionally, the UCS says Monsanto is a purveyor of mono culture because it focuses only on limited varieties of a few commodity crops, reducing biodiversity, and as a result, increasing pesticide and fertilizer pollution.
The union points out that Monsanto's lobbying, advertising and stronghold over research on its products makes it difficult for farmers and policymakers to make informed decisions about more sustainable agriculture.
Finally, UCS says Monsanto contributes little to helping the world feed itself, and has failed to endorse science-backed solutions that don't give its products a central role.


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In the Aura is everything you have been, everything you are and all that you will be!
I hope you find this site interesting and are inspired to find out more. I am very practical and logical in my approach, despite the spiritual subject. I don't believe we should dissociate from either part of ourselves – the physical or the spiritual- it is about integrating both aspects into our daily lives. Then we find it far easier to flow with life and the changes it brings.
I welcome your questions and comments.
Here are links to video clips taken
whilst I was giving a public demonstration of
Reading the Aura using some
of the latest technology.
In this first clip you join me in the middle of the introduction & apologies for the poor quality, it is an amateur recording but is interesting even so.
You will see I have immense fun with this machine and I often comment how easy it is to demonstrate how our thoughts directly affect our aura. One of the best ways I have found, is to threaten the person that I will tell them a naughty joke – just the simple threat of doing such a thing sends a rush of energy to the base chakra which will usually enlarge, flash or shoot the color red around the aura. This lovely lady was no exception – infact she did it right on cue!
Please feel free to join me on facebook.

subset: commoncrawl


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Hi, I'm Kat.
I can be contacted via email at: firstname.lastname@example.com or through my twitter @b3spectacled. I can also be found at Pinterest and Instagram
I am a twenty-something living in Southern California (the San Diego area!) with a love of candy holidays and fantasy novels.
I really can't imagine life without the Internet. When I was a kid, I was really keen on having my own Cardcaptor Sakura fansite (remember Angelfire or Geocities?) and I would create character bios and wanted to scan all of the images from my CCS artbook and be a legit website owner. And although you probably don't see a ton of stand alone fansites anymore (hello, Tumblr), I'm still here on the Internet, trying to figure out what to do with my chunk.
Bespectacled is my way of documenting things in my life while hopefully being clever and witty (or hopelessly awkward) along the way.
As of September 2016, I'm still trying to figure out how to transition my blog from the mostly beauty bits that I've been writing about to something a bit more personal and covers the wide range of topics that I'm interested. Hopefully in the future you'll see more posts on the books that I'm reading, my hobbies like video games and sewing, and more consistent blogging in general!
I use a Sony NEX-5T to take my blog photos and Adobe Photoshop CS2 to edit my photos.


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This article belongs to NecrusIV. Please do not edit this article without their permission.
Jacinta Hansen · Alison Katsura · Eric Lysander · Miki Albraun · Mathieu Dalton · Laurence Valentine · Elder Duma · Li-Pau Nao
- Monday blues. A Change of Perspective.
It had been many days. Everything had changed, and yet, everything was still so much the same.
A boy lay perched on a balcony railing, bathed in a soothing dark blue glow that spilled up from the city far below him, contemplating in silence. The air was constant and cool as it muffled the noise that emanated from below. He had chosen this spot to get away from all the pressing issues and stresses of daily life, and it was often where he found himself veiled by a painful and confusing daydream of past memories, its multitude of events stitched together like a tapestry. He observed the thousands of people shuffling about their daily routines below him. With their differences cast aside, each person was the same. Each had their own pain and grudges, each were bound to a ubiquitous oppression that their country enforced upon them like chains. He wanted to end this vicious cycle that plagued everyone, but the mere thought of were to start… frightened him.
Underneath it all, he was a simple boy, burdened by a momentous duty that was impossible for him to even consider. A child constantly bound to live in the shadow of his father, Kenneth Lysander, a man who was in all aspects more capable than himself, and even he fell victim to this incurable pandemic of hatred that was so unimaginably dominant in this world.
In all the years this "simple boy" had stood in his place, staring at a door of opportunity that lay wide open in front of him, not a whisper of will shone within him to conquer this fear.
Hope itself however, was long ago something that he used to swear by. It was a passion to achieve that bubbled up within him as he grew up, but it vanished along with the same love and encouragement that caused it. Now, his life was little more than a great empty ruin of past ambition, plastered only with the memories of pain, abandonment and a feeling of complete worthlessness. The future did not seem any more welcoming than the past.
But, despite this constant weight on everyday life, he has still dragged himself along the events of life under a false guise as if something in this unhappy chain of events actually meant something to him. He lived wearing a mask, a façade of what people expected him to be, and as such, he's had to bear the pain of his emotions slowly decaying away in silence.
In his mind he was beyond help. He was convinced that It was impossible. That, in a world full of hate, the dignities that lied within love and selflessness had all been violated and crushed beneath the advancement of time. Nobody in their right mind would put aside their own pain to help the next person in such a world he lived in. The darker path was always so much more tantalising. He knew that if he wished, he could abuse his powers and use them to commit horrendous deeds.
After all, a peaceful change was a thing that was utterly improbable. His feelings would never abate, at least not while he remained alive. It was often at the very end of his trails of thought that he found himself coming to the conclusion that there would be no such thing as this pain once he was gone. In a wickedly twisted sense, death seemed to be the only resemblance of a good feeling that still existed within him.
Within that very point, also lied a second reasoning for his choice of this elevated retreat: escape was merely a footstep away…
A voice broke his train of thought from behind him, a feminine, stern and militaristic tone. "Sheesh, don't ask permission for leave or anything. What the hell are you doing up here Eric!?"
That very tone, so pushy and dominating. It annoyed him. It was the voice of Alison Katsura, his superior officer and assigned trainer. Eric's annoyance of her almost laughable tactical miscalculations a mere two months ago was still fresh within his mind.
"Trying to get away from people like you." He replied coldly, even refusing to make any form of eye contact with her.
"What was that?" She spat, expecting him to immediately apologise for such a comment. She strode over to him, looming above with hands on her hips. Eric slowly stood up to be on her level as their glances met, a seething hate held itself within his eyes, hiding lazily.
She sighed. It was clear to her that he was tightly wound up again. Tying to calm the situation down with a different approach, she reassuringly placed her hand on his right shoulder, and said "Look…"
Eric smirked, and immediately grabbed her wrist with his left hand, hastily forcing his body weight forward into the empty space on her right with a violent slide forward as her hand splayed outward, forcing his right arm against her elbow as she twisted painfully into a locked grip, and she squeaked slightly.
"For fuck's sake Eric..." She cussed, clearing her throat. She forced her body weight back angrily, loosening his grip and freeing her back leg just enough to lunge it forward, exasperated, with a side piercing kick into his stomach. Eric broke the grip with a grunt and fell back, hitting the ground behind him painfully.
Alison walked over to where he lay, straightening up the clean-cut creases of her uniform. "Get up." She spoke bitterly. Eric shifted his body weight onto his arms as he lifted his body up, stepping up onto his knees. He stared at the ground.
She grabbed his collar and lifted him off the ground, clenching his throat. looking at his features with contempt. "I didn't come here for a bloody bitch session kiddo. We need you back at the block." She groaned.
Eric refused to look up. He just smiled silently as his arm started to rapidly chill, freezing at the point where Alison was holding on to him. She suddenly let go as the subzero temperatures stung her hand.
"Ow!" She exclaimed, "you little bastard!"
"Once again the fantastic tactical genius of Miss Katsura is displayed in its finest form," he snapped with a chill in his voice. He swayed, arrogantly, so full of himself.
Out of thin air, the hand of Alison's that had been damaged by the Ice Elemental became engulfed in flame, cancelling out the damage effortlessly.
"Eric! Enough of this! You stop this NOW!" Alison commanded, annoyed at his disobedient behaviour.
Eric, a smug smile firmly planted on his face, raised his left arm and pointed his palm again at her wounded hand, but his perception was a fraction too slow. Alison threw herself at him ,knocking his arm out of the way with a defensive crescent kick. The rest of his body followed, and once again his face was against the ground.
"Get up and walk. Now." She exclaimed, as the sound of metal handcuffs clicked around his wrists.
"This is what It's been reduced to. It's pathetic… Eric. It really is." She choked, utterly disappointed in him.
She had never realised her duty in being a fit legal guardian for him would come to this. Gone was the time where there was room for verbal reasoning. There was only black and white now, and she was hard up against her last resort: pure physical discipline.
Eric struggled up sorely, jerked upwards by the metal rings that bound his hands, and began to walk with Alison trailing watchfully behind him. She still felt the need to yell at him again, or perhaps simply cry instead. She sighed, as she bottled up these emotions once again.
Such a familiar feeling to her.
"Rather fascinating, actually." came the placid feminine voice of Miki Albraun, as she turned away from a pixelated greyscale image that encapsulated the main projection screen, barely straying away from a rather emotionless monotone. "There hasn't been an official statement released yet, but the truth does remain, the so called beloved Elder Khoury has been assassinated." She resumed her place on her chair, softly resting her chin on her hands. Often the difference between sleepiness and deep contemplation within her was hard to define. "When did you receive this?" Laurence Valentine replied inquisitively with clasped hands against the large illuminated table that lied in the centre of the room. Jacinta was on the right end of its glossy surface, sipping silently out of a mug, as Mathieu Dalton sat on Laurence's left, leaning back with crossed legs and analysing data on a tablet that flickered with a blue luminance in his hands.
"We received the image around fifty minutes ago from one of our now active sleeper agents within the sanctuary." Spoke Mathieu in his distinct dark, velvety voice. "There are a whole host of suspects, though this kind of work is far too specific and specialised to be a typical run-of-the-mill job."
The image on the screen depicted a fuzzy image of the robed body of an aged man, as frothing blood seeped out his eviscerated corpse.
"Acid rounds… an unusual choice of murder no doubt." Observed Laurence, slightly bewildered at the peculiar choice of weapon used in killing him.
Mathieu added a quick analysis, saying,
"A clear sign of capitalist pseudo-aristocracy. The murderer evidently has more arrogance than care when it comes to leaving clean trails."
The large plasteel door from behind them slid open with a hiss of hydraulics, as Alison and her estranged companion entered the room. Eric looked hateful and bitter. He too was chained by something, bound to this inescapable duty, sharing this fate with the so many others who populated the surface. He despised the very thought of it. The moody air around Alison vanished as she saw the image on the screen, eyes widening with surprise and deep intrigue.
"It's nice to see that rebellious workmate of ours checking in." Joked Mathieu, turning his attention towards Eric with a smirk. The light faded slightly from his eyes as he noticed Alison holding her wrist, massaging out a slight trauma that must have occurred to it earlier. It was only recently that he taught Eric the 2nd kup level defence exercises.
Eric refused to reply.
"You salute the rank, not the man, Eric.
"Sorry, sir…" He murmured in a moderately audible tone. He stood to attention, edge of his hand angled against the side of his head, and the other stiffly at his side.
"Discipline is Important. You've let to fully understand that. At ease." Spoke Mathieu, swivelling around as he readjusted his carbon-black framed glasses.
Looking around, Eric noticed Jacinta sitting silently in the corner of the room. "That mug…" He thought, a quivering worry popped up within him. "That belonged to... Mum..." He quickly avoided staring at her for too long in case she noticed, there was more than enough people within this place that had the wrong idea of what he was like underneath. He felt almost sick, he didn't like people touching his things. Hadn't they violated enough already of what little hope remained within him?
If only she… If only anybody within here had any scrap of brain cell left within them capable of realising what his mother meant to him. That mug was among the sparsely few things that was left of hers.
"We'll need to act quickly before panic settles in." Continued Mathieu, immediately detracting attention back on to what was important.
Alison then provided her opinion after some silent thought. "We should take advantage of the lack of power, stand in his place, and muster up the nation ourselves."
"Bad idea." Replied Mathieu. "If we made a public presence we'd be playing right into our enemy's hands."
"Mm… It'd give them a believable excuse to wipe us out. For example, wouldn't the mere thought of a secretive organisation of so-called "terrorists" having access to such knowledge before it gets into the hands of the media seem frightening? Even if some do believe we're out for a noble cause, nobody in their right mind would support Guardians when their governments are looking right over their shoulders." Added Miki.
"We must always act as a tertiary party no matter what." Continued Mathieu.
"So we just sit on the bench for this thing, again?" Assumed Laurence. There was a tone of annoyance in his voice.
"Welcome to politics, Laurence." Replied Mathieu. Making a personal note of Laurence's eagerness, he continued,
"For one thing, we're a very weak fighting force on worldly terms, the bulk of our power comes through manipulating power shifts to our advantage."
"In that case, there's always the idea of a "puppet power" approach." Stated Alison, crossing her arms as she leant in the doorway.
"Well, that could work. However it is too risky. The parliament are already in a similar kind of situation. The public would get suspicious. Also, he could come to be corrupt and we'd be blamed. He'd no doubt consider about letting the population know of our existence, even exploiting it to gain political support…" Replied Mathieu.
"True." sighed Alison, ending with a lowered tone.
"Then there's that whole Calypso Industries affair." Sighed Miki, twirling a lock of hair in her finger as she failed to think of anything but dead-end plans herself. "Even if we were to miraculously find out a way to muster up the people they'd crush us without a second thought."
"Financially they are a nothing but a husk of what they used to be, a toothless lion too old for its game. But against us and our dwindling funds it's a different story. Not to mention its miraculous ability to stay alive as this Sector spirals down into a recession." Added Mathieu with a slightly discouraged laugh.
"Talk about being stuck in a rut…" Complained Alison.
"Why don't we take Calypso out of the equation then?" Eric cut in, breaking his silence.
Alison forced herself to not groan. Personal grudge ruins the efficiency of plans, but she knew exactly what he was up to.
"We'll definitely win the support of the people without having to rely on assuming the position governmental power. We would only need to reveal ourselves as typical 'political activists'."
The room fell silent. Everyone was surprised on Eric's sudden interest in his career.
"Maybe he's trying to cover up his insubordination with sugary words…" Thought Mathieu. "Nevertheless…"
"The boy has a point. Seems like somebody here actually does want to get off their backs for once. If anything, it would be the most likely choice to result in a successful mission." Speaking amusedly. "But again, we ARE outnumbered. Unless.."
"That doesn't automatically ensure loss. For example the ancient general Alexander III of Macedon was outnumbered every time he fought against neighbouring empires. He rose as victor every time." Relayed Miki purely from general knowledge.
"Yes, Intelligence most certainly beats the numbers when it comes down to it. Hence, we will need to plan everything - meticulously." Replied Mathieu.
"Ironically, the Persian Empire he conquered was a husk of a superpower drained from the tax levies of their kings. Much like Calypso is today." Continued Miki. She enjoyed history, and it was often that she would relate real-life examples to figments of the past.
Laurence added an opinion,
"Even then, it would still be tactically advantageous to muster up some form of external support. Perhaps a mercenary company, or engineering a riot… even going as far as the apparently absurd idea of recruiting."
"Unfortunately, the political atmosphere is too unstable for upfront recruiting. This will have to be our only option, no matter how unreliable it may prove to be." Mathieu replied.
Eric decided to cut in again, hoping his contribution would detract Alison, as well as anyone else from any thoughts of bringing up what happened earlier. He was in no mood for punishment. Alison herself was far too engulfed in bitterness to make any more inclusions to the topic. "Bloody Eric," she thought "That kid tries to wriggle himself out of every goddamn situation…"
"Well, we have time don't we? If we spend out efforts purely on sabotaging Calypso we can also secure their resources. Sure it's not much… but, it's a starting point." Stated Eric.
"Haha, indeed Eric. Building the tallest tower begins with the placement of a single stone." Recalled Mathieu in an interestingly poetic fashion that he held a liking for. "Once we gain control of their infrastructure and what financial assets they have left, we will have no doubt eclipsed the government's in their power."
"Strategically, it looks beneficial enough. Well, seems like a good idea, clever thinking there, Eric." Laurence coyly spoke, a small grin on his face, "If we remove Calypso from the equation there'd merely be the parliament in power, and us with bonus resources."
"Doing so will plunge ourselves into a tight situation no doubt. But it will another small push towards gradual world peace." Added Miki. She smiled ever so slightly.
"Id say… mhm... the mission has a seventy percent chance of success, so I'm certain we'll manage. Very well then, we'll think about it. Until then, resume normal duty." Spoke Mathieu.
Laurence and Miki got up in their own time, leaving the room. Jacinta was the last of the three to leave. Upon her exit, Mathieu quickly finished up organising the data he was recording on his slate, and he swivelled around in his chair, angling a finger towards Eric. He gestured towards himself.
"Eric. Alison. I'd like to speak to you two. Eric... in particular."
Eric's stomach sunk slightly, Mathieu's skill in logic was truly beyond measure. As per their requirements as subordinates, orders were orders, and they immediately stepped up in front of him. Alison kept her arms crossed, however Eric was unusually attentive.
Mathieu glanced as Alison's arm. There were several faint red spots upon her hand, suggesting damage from cold. There was clearly enough evidence for a well-stood inquiry. He glanced at Alison and said,
"Another incident?" Speaking under his breath. She simply nodded, removing eye contact from him afterward, biting her lower lip slightly. She didn't fully feel like punishing him. He had a very good reason behind his destructive behaviour, but It was the right thing to do.
"Eric. I see you're putting your newly acquired red belt defence movements to use."
Eric groaned from under his breath. "Caught."
"What is the third tenant of he student's oath, Eric?" He asked sternly.
"Screw the tenants," he mumbled. He noticed anger slowly melt into Mathieu's eyes, and was overcame with guilt "Uh I mean… it's, I." Eric continued hastily "I will never misuse Taekwondo..."
He felt like an idiot. They were treating him like a whingey little kid. What's worse, the cheesiness of this martial arts bullshit was getting on his nerves.
"It is. You are to show courtesy, integrity, self control and respect. I've taught you these countless times. You still haven't learned this. Have you?" He sighed, as he stood up, taking off his glasses with both hands and slipping them into his shirt pocket.
"I'll have your leisure privileges revoked for a week as punishment." He continued, sounding a touch angered.
Alison's eyes widened. She actually felt better now, knowing that Mathieu was on her side.
"I'll also put you on duty the entire week as well. Full time. There will be no breaks aside from sleeping."
Eric just stood in complete silence, staring blankly at the wall at the other end of the room, fighting back a tide of more bitter anguish. It seemed as if Alison had deliberately cornered him in front of Mathieu like this. Now he couldn't even turn to Laurence to bail him out.
"You'll be on duty on Jacinta's ward, which would be useful. She still needs some treatment due to the particularly harmful effects of her outburst.
"Jacinta?" Mumbled Eric. Memories of the time he saved her in those months past flashed through his mind. He sighed.
Adding a less aggressive light to the conversation, Mathieu continued "Stop complaining Lysander. You don't know how well you've got things going your way."
"Define well. Hah, It's bloody hard… being a Guardian." laughing nervously in an attempt to free his guilt a little.
"Then define 'Hard'," Mathieu continued with a slight smile. "In my opinion, hard is being the only experienced guardian on the planet. Then having to fill the places of the five others... whilst training your only surviving associates." placing his hand on Eric's shoulder gruffly.
"We're living in an eventful world Eric. There's absolutely no time to be spent goofing off. Channel your bitterness of this world to work harder. It is not at all a wrong thing to do."
Alison laughed to herself slightly. "That is very true." That same piece of advice was given to her years ago by the last Commander of Ghost_K. There'd been much within her life that she had been bitter about, a feeling that has remained very much the same unto this present day. But working hard for so long gave her a feeling of courage and perseverance like she's never had.
"Very well then. You both may resume duty." Spoke Mathieu, and he was off.
Eric was about to leave, turning away instantly in the pursuit of being alone once again, before a hand grabbed his shoulder, hauling him back.
Alison said one thing, and one word only before letting him go, without a single hint of eye contact.
"Don't let the bitterness consume you Eric. Please don't let your hate control you. Please. Just… just try for me. Is it really that hard to ask?"
She then pushed him away, before leaving the room without any further contact.
"But… bitterness is something that can so easily consume a person. Dad, this Is right… isn't it..?" Eric's thoughts trailed off as he began to slowly walk down the north-eastern corridor towards the medical sector.
One thing slipped into his mind into the very last moment. It wasn't until much later that Eric realised this.
Alison was on the brink of tears.
Midday. The clock clicked to twelve with an elaborate chime, as the congregation of hope-starved and desperate citizens crowded around the base of the Sanctuary's gargantuan silver tower complex dozens of metres below. A proud, aged man stood in the centre of the room, slipping on his ceremonial crimson robes in preparation for the immediate event. The high ranking associates beside him were instructed to leave on the word "Ensure the body is disposed of in the traditional manner. Integrity is essential if we must gain power through the hearts of the masses." The balcony doors slid outward on the sign of his presence, as the man strode out purposefully, the chromed sceptre of rule clasped firmly in his supercilious hands.
Elder Duma smirked to himself ever so slightly, before resuming practised noble features once he was in range of the cameras. The crowd had already began to roar with the mere sight of a lesser elder holding the staff of their beloved ruler. The man swiftly held out both his arms, filled with charisma. His robes fluttered heavily in the breeze as he proclaimed boldly, "Citizens of the Democratic Republic of Upper Africa!"
He elegantly composed himself, filled with an air of sadness that he acted so gracefully. He held his collar tightly, stealing for himself every eye of the crowd as he glanced away from them, winning their hearts with the false promise of shared pain and empathy, and continued "It is with deep sorrow that I must inform you… of the heartless assassination of our dearly beloved, Elder Khoury!"
A tide of uproar exploded through the crowd, as every man and woman were consumed with mixed emotions of fear and confusion. They held onto every word of their elder in impatient anticipation, and security could barely contain the extents of its marked barriers. Duma savoured the chaos like a sweet sensation dripping off the edge of his tongue. How he enjoyed this exercise of raw power.
Amongst the throes of the desperate crowd, a single man remained still, smiling in an amused observation. He was slightly unshaven, with long grey flowing hair, holding a briefcase with the stylised image of a hawk stencilled into its cover, features obscured by dark sunglasses and black fedora. His purpose of presence was a mystery to all that surrounded him.
He spoke to himself quietly, observing the events that encircled him like the shuffling and playing out of a deck of cards.
"Throw the tiniest thread of hope into a pit of despair…"
"But do not fear, my fellow citizens! Chaos will not reign supreme! It has been long overdue for Khoury's efforts to this glorious nation to be repaid! With my deepest gratitude, I myself have assumed his place as primary elder!"
The crowd burst into hopeful cheers and screams, leeching on the good tidings of their elder like it was the very last scrap of life within their reach.
And watch the countless desperate bow before you." Continued the stranger, even allowing himself a slight chuckle.
Duma paused, as he changed gears into a more reassuring tone. "Trust in me, and soon all of your concerns, will be laid to rest!" a tone of compassion ever present in his carefully constructed words. He at last concluded his brilliant speech with the final words of reassurance, sealing the loyalty of the masses permanently to his rule. "Rejoice! A future of peace and prosperity will be ensured! It's my solemn promise as your elected leader."
The mysterious suited stranger within the crowd had all the information he needed. With that, he readjusted his glasses, and left the premises without so much as the faint clatter of his polished shoes.
Jacinta was pulled out of a barely conscious sickness to the sound of a door sliding open. She was still struck with a dreamlike haze that she had been drifting in and out of constantly, and she hadn't the slightest clue as to why this was happening to her. In her most conscious times, the only thing she could feel was a barely contained terror, and an indescribable feeling that her life was, somehow, slowly draining away. She heard a sigh from the other end of the room, and she opened her eyes, but couldn't focus on him. It sounded like that boy she heard earlier.
Eric stood there quietly, unsure of what to say. Memories of her bursting into tears only eighteen days ago flickered through his memory, and he felt reluctant to say anything. He noticed his hand had begun to rub up against his left elbow nervously.
"If I just… If I make a good first impression… then at least things wouldn't get any worse" He contemplated. He didn't like being around strangers, they always seemed hostile and selfish. Kindness was the last thing you had to expect with anybody you didn't know. However, something was different about her.
He slowly walked over to where she lay, and sat on the lonely grey plastic chair that was accompanying her bed. "Duty on wards" was a difficult concept to define, such a duty was entirely dependent on the needs and condition of the patients. However, Jacinta did not seem to actually need any kind of attention. He shot a glace at Jacinta's heart rate monitor, and instantly realised that something was wrong.
- 41Æu below norm.
Her elemental stability was plummeting. Values below average were like a silent poison to any elemental.
Eric shot up quickly from out of his chair, cursing hastily under his breath, lunging himself over to the other edge of the her ward as he ripped open the draws, looking for a neutraliser injector frantically. Upon finding one in the lower draw, the snatched it out and readied it.
" Expiry date; fine. I'm sure it's not boiling or anything so screw the recommended usage temperature."
The injector was of an odd shape. It was comprised of two glassy cylinders arranged at opposite ends of one another, meeting at a perpendicular central shaft which held the needle and activation button on it's other end. It was as designed the rest in the palm of the holder.
He cast aside its box aside with a reckless throw, sliding it with a forceful precision into the plastic socket temporarily attached to the side of her neck, then forcing down the button. The injector hissed and bubbled, and the blue liquid within the twin glassy vials vacuumed out hungrily.
"Nghh!" Jacinta sputtered, with a cringe, as she writhed upwards. A mysterious tingling sensation rocketed through her body, and within seconds, her perception slowly returned.
He pulled out the injector and threw it on the ground. It shattered, exploding with its hundreds of tiny fragments across the entire floor.
Eric found himself leaning right over her limp body, arms pressed into each side of the bed. His heart felt like it was in his throat, as he choked helplessly on this recurrent raw emotion that had been building for far too long. He exhaled, as the element of panic continually remained within his voice.
"What the fuck is with the condition of this place!! Everything is falling apart!" He strained from under his breath, enraged, struggling to keep inaudible in order to not wake his patient.
This place never failed to make him sick. Here he was, a supposed "good" doer of the world, when the very world around him was crumbling helplessly. It was as if the very fabric of existence itself had betrayed him. From a dark and secluded place that coiled itself up in the inside of his skull, It seemed like killing this frail, vulnerable Jacinta then and now would have been the best thing for her.
"How can anybody bear living though such torment. Good deeds are so meaningless!" he cursed. His father continually flashed through his head like a slow, ceaseless shutter that blinded him with its anguish.
A beep sounded, pulling him violently out of his thoughts. He focussed his attention towards the heart rate monitor on his right, and the anger within him weakened and died away. The monitor had increased to five points above stability.
He slouched back down in the chair heavily and buried his head in his hands, letting off a sigh as his adrenalin cooled down.
"It's okay… It's okay. It worked. She's okay." he repeated to himself. He was so used to being helpless in the way of preventing people's deaths that what had just occurred to him felt far too corporeal and false to feel right.
There was a long silence, and in time an awkward feeling settled down upon him.
Now he was unsure whether or not she was actually listening to the entire thing. On top of this, he realised he had never given out compassion so freely before, let alone have somebody so easily step into his personal bubble. Looking after a stranger was entirely against of what constituted him a person.
But this feeling wasn't unpleasant. A random act of compassion... felt absolutely nothing close to what he was expecting.
He remained in his chair, letting himself simply exist alongside this state of mind instead of running away angrily, feeling like a whelp.
"What on earth; why do I feel like this?!" He pondered. With every thought this weirdness simply wound tightly around, remaining alive as it danced upon his emotions.
Jacinta coughed, catching Eric's attention. He lifted his head up exhaustively and glanced at her as she opened her eyes tentatively. She blinked as the ceiling slowly drew into focus, and turned her head to glance at him. Their eyes met.
They were a deep, distant blue. Something so fragile and wounded seemed to lie within them. It was indescribable. It was an air… a kind of feeling that he was simultaneously struck with. It became too much to look at any longer, and In the heat of the moment he simply looked away.
She looked so broken. It was a nauseatingly familiar feeling of his.
A silence fell over the room that lasted several minutes.
"Thank you." murmured Jacinta, puncturing the bubble of miscommunication as she cleared her throat.
"Mm?" exhaled Eric, surprised to be met with gratitude.
"I said thank you." In a clearer tone.
"Mhhm... Don't mention it." He mumbled.
Another silence. Eric found himself continually thinking about cutting in with reasoning as to why he was in her personal space. Again.
"I was so frightened." continued Jacinta, with voice emanating as a soft and deathly whisper.
It was evident that she was scared and nervous to the point where she was barely able to retain control. The pieces of the puzzle fell together within Eric's mind as the situation began to make sense to him.
Jacinta had just endured being suddenly thrown head first into a duty she wasn't prepared for. Being cruelly chained to all this discipline, to these towering expectations and the unimaginably high threat of death on top of it all. It was enough to break anyone.
"What… what's happening to me…" She continued. There was a distinct tone of sadness.
"Just don't think about it." He relayed, noticing he came off as a little too cold.
"Mhm..." she came ruefully.
Jacinta seemed so much like him. She seemed to be filled with such great pain, and he was already growing to loath it. He wanted to make it go away. Amongst this newly hatched desire rose a confusion. He couldn't believe why he was suddenly capable of such compassion, was this side of him merely locked away?
As unthinkable as the concept was to him, his feelings towards the fact that perhaps goodness could exist in this world, began to open themselves up to change.
He felt that she should simply talk to her in an attempt to calm her down; she deserved that at least. He knew from experience that the mental effects of elemental depletion usually took a few hours to clear up, for all he knew she could be struck with this frightened daze for a long while yet.
He wanted to make sure that this time, Jacinta would have the company that he himself didn't have in the same situation many years ago.
Eric assured her with a faint smile. "It's okay to be scared."
"Are you scared?" She whispered.
That was a difficult question. He was scared - very much so - but agreeing with her would not be in the slightest reassuring. He lay in a uncertain silence, before finally breaking the tension with a lie.
"Mm. No."
A white lie shouldn't hurt.
"You learn to push past it." He said. Alison came into his mind as the statement left his tongue. "Odd."
She was beginning to sound distressed.
"Is it, really that easy?... I don't think I'll be able to control this. I feel so trapped. I want to run away, from this place, I want to be... be alone….."
All of a sudden she clenched her eyes shut tightly to hold back tears, turning away from him and she clutched herself protectively. Eric acted immediately, quickly pushing aside all grudge and placing his hand softly upon hers in a desperate attempt to calm her down, holding onto it ever so loosely. It felt warm.
"Shhh…" He hushed, letting out exactly what he felt freely from his mouth. "Please don't be scared Jacinta. You can control it."
"I want to leave!"
"No. Don't run away, please. You'll control it. I… I'll make sure that you can!" He reassured tersely.
Tears sat weakly on the edge of her eyes, frozen as the tension within her caved away. She began to breath slower as her early stages of hyperventilation cooled down, falling silent as she descended into a relaxed state.
"Did that help?"
The room fell quiet, She lay in silence for an anxious stretch of time.
Fear shot through him dryly. Eric couldn't tell what exactly she was feeling right now.
He quickly let go of her hand and crossed his arms uncomfortably, getting up out of his chair as he seeped with regret. What on earth possessed him to do that!? He didn't above anything want to creep her out. Not this early on. Was this just a natural behaviour of his?... to damage friendships from the very start of their development?
He rudely turned to walk away, however his attempts to leave her side were interrupted.
"No. Don't go." She mumbled. She opened her eyes again and looked at him. That fragility was still within them. It coaxed him back immediately.
"I liked that." She whispered. "I'm sorry if I'm asking too much but just… just stay here for a little longer."
"Of course." He comforted, hesitantly sliding his hand back onto hers.
Eric thought about that lie. How silly it sounded once presented in front of another person. He felt that he wanted to remove it's falsehood. "Pushing past it." Alison can do it; so what's the loss in him trying?
"Haha. Oh dear…" Eric thought, laughing to himself silently upon the realisation of why here was here in the first place. It contradicted his normal work ethic records entirely. His previous attempts to leave would have been pointless, as this was his assigned duty after all.
So now here he was, holding the hand of a girl that he barely knew, helplessly fighting back awkwardness for the sake of looking after another who shared his own pain. And now, he was even reconsidering his own motives simply for her.
"Talk about some sheer bloody commitment to ward duty..."
"Haha, well, that panic issue has been secured, and through another pathetic grab for power nonetheless…" Sighed Li-Pau Nao to his assistant information officer, leaning heavily in his chair as he flicked data across a large multi-monitor screen. A heavily clipped replay of the phrase "...It's my solemn promise as your elected leader." played over the speakers quietly.
"Hmm?" Mumbled Miki curiously, directing her attention away from her laptop. She analysed the video up on Nao's screen as he replayed it, and her eyes widened.
"This was around seventy eight minutes ago." Added Nao.
"Elected. What a silly little lie." Laughed Miki in a faintly sarcastic manner as she listened intently.
"This isn't good." He observed, speaking worriedly. "My data suggests that not only does Duma have ties with Calypso Industries but that they had a hand in Khoury's death…"
"It's to be expected. They're corrupt to the core." Miki stated.
"Quite so, but."
He paused as he mentally sifted through information. "Well I can't help but think that winning the support of the population won't be as easy as we have hoped it to be, infinitely harder to be perfectly honest..." He continued. He looked at Miki as he anticipated a response.
Miki frowned. This situation had just descended into a critical phase before they even had the whisker of a chance to properly prepare. "The point that lies within sabotaging Calypso still remains. We still gain supplies. However, the whole thing will have to be delayed…"
"But the manpower would have been very handy." Nao concluded, finishing her sentence. The young man began to look annoyed. It was becoming difficult for him to keep calm and collected.
"Mm." Miki nodded in agreement. "If only this nuisance of a thing had happened after we destroyed them… hah, if it were a perfect world. Mathieu won't like this, as if the situation could be any more dangerous. Our plans to sack Calypso will now be much more difficult to execute in the future, especially when government officials begin to overrun the place. We must act quickly before this happens."
"Agreed… but not only that, the company will be quickly revived through trusts funds with the Sanctuary knowing how the oligarchy operates. Eventually both will be absorbed into the same superpower of a corporation. God, when that happens, it'd be a shameful loss if we even tried" He added.
"This is especially the case due to our depleted supply of sufficient guardians. Two children and, myself… " Cut in Miki, sound ever so slightly disappointed.
Nao laughed nervously, "It'd be a death sentence. Oh, no offense to your ability or anything though, haha..."
"Hah. I appreciate your kindness, but you can't argue with hard facts." Replied Miki with a quick smile. "If this happened an hour or so ago then we've got some urgent catching up to do. We need to report this to higher authority immediately to determine the best course of action."
"Yes." concluded Nao in solid agreement.
"Reginald…" spoke Mathieu with nothing but bitter disappointment. The mere thought of this murderer sitting on the rustic throne of African rule burnt him deeply. "Slipping so ungratefully into this honourless title of Elder Duma." he laughed with disposition. He cooled himself down quickly, refitting the glasses on his face and cracking this knuckles in his right hand as he quietly observed the course of events that had just presented in front of him.
Both Miki and Nao waited silently at his side for their superior to come to a conclusion.
"What's your conclusion?" Asked Miki with a last inclusion.
Political upheaval. A mastermind of the masses assuming the yoke. The resumption of total political control over the people once again. These events would at any time bring fourth Ghost_K's exposure and following destruction. They were like vermin to this nation, living in muddy derelict holes underground as their predators poked and prodded around relentlessly for any sign of their hideaways, even if it did mean one bloodied square metre at a time. Duma knew they were hiding within this political zone, and he was well aware the worldly prices that were on offer for a live capture of every single one of them. Mathieu had been betrayed, such a promise proved to be too tempting for Duma, something like petty tradition or honour failed in withholding these desires.
"Honour has become extinct." Cursed Mathieu mentally.
"Our little affair with Calypso - out the window." He stated bluntly.
As prey, victory against larger opponents relied on extreme tactical precision and speed. That meant…
"There is no choice. We'll have to deal with Duma immediately." He stated sternly.
They had no other alternative other than removing Duma himself out of the picture. And if that wasn't enough, he was far too well aware about Ghost_K's aspirations and typical behaviour when intercepting world events; this deed was most certainly well overdue.
He applied pressure to the side of his collar-mounted communication bead, and spoke into the Block's public channel. "All staff, prepare immediately for battle stations, condition three! I repeat, battle stations, condition three! Comply immediately!"
"Sir?" Replied Nao, eager for further orders.
"Issue a base wide alert. Ready the guardians and yourself Agent Nao. We need all the resources we have available."
"Yes. Understood." Replied Nao affirmatively, before swiftly exiting the room.
A worried look plagued Mathieu's face. Keeping calm in the midst of chaos was naturally a calm situation for him; but that was only with a visible assurance of victory somewhere inside these piles of political carnage. Puzzles meshed together only when there was sufficient pieces on the board to begin with, and manpower was at an all time low. There was only four capable guardians, Alison, Nao, Laurence and himself.
That Jacinta girl could be readied just in time given an hour or two. This could serve as a rushed introductory course, squeezing out what little potential that lied within her and putting it to its maximum use. The though mildly struck him with the memory of the last time an inexperienced Guardian had been deployed in a high risk field operation, especially so with what had happened to Laurence.
He made a personal note to take the past mistakes in that field into full account. But: while ideally such a mission required all hands on deck, for this time only, she was completely out of the question.
"And then there's Eric" He sighed to himself.
He immediately assumed that delinquent would be consumed by fear and not want to even think about it, and like Jacinta, he decided that shouldering any more risks would be stupid, for both of the children's cases. He pushed the very thought of recruiting them aside.
"Poor kid…" He thought. Memories of the boy's father entered his mind from the hazy, long dormant corner where he deliberately locked them away.
"You're being awfully quiet. This isn't like you." Interrupted Miki.
"I need to think." He cut in, realising that he had entered a continuous pattern of paces across the room. "I have worked with Duma in the past, Information Officer Albraun. We were once acquainted soon before the African aristocracy was dissolved and this nation fell into the grasp of a capitalist oligarchy. That man knows how to play the cards, and he plays them with pinpoint precision…"
"That's also what you assigned me to do." She replied in a lukewarm tone. "I've decided to actively take part in this mission myself. I'm certain this would be of benefit towards the efficiency of our command structure."
Mathieu halted. "Are you certain? But.. Your.."
"My artificial body?" She finished his sentence, crossing her arms. She was unwilling to tinker around this truth with subtlety. "Placidity isn't the mother of success Commander, risk is."
"This is a risk you that you burden yourself with then." He continued.
"I understand." Assured Miki calmly. She proceeded to connect a translucent magenta cube- shaped memory drive into a socket in the side of the central table, as a holographic map of the ensuing operation simultaneously projected itself upon the main view screen with a flash of light. "I've managed to get a hold of a blueprint of the sanctuary thanks to some faithful agents of mine."
"Ahh, yes. Excellent." responded Mathieu, as he leant against the table, grasping its edges confidently as he focused on the screen.
The twin doors behind them slid open with a metallic whine. Eric was the first to enter the room, hands in pockets, fully equipped and ready for duty.
"Surprise, surprise." He smirked as he threw his mission pack around his shoulder.
"Eric?" Replied Mathieu. He was practically short of words, absolutely startled to receive his presence.
Jacinta shuffled around hurriedly, accompanied by the loud presence of warbling alarms that echoed violently through the halls. She had Eric's backpack clasped firmly in her hands, throwing in whatever useful commodities she could find within this destitute complex.
Upon leaving, Eric told her that she had to take part in this mission. Already, this began to terrify her to the point where she began to feel nauseated. But she couldn't argue against this, being instead wedged inside the paper thin corridor of decision that was decided for her. It felt as if they were all waiting for her, expecting her to perform perfectly, ready to judge her.
She didn't know to deal with this.
"No!" She whimpered, as the thoughts painfully stabbed themselves through her fragile heart, ignoring her sincere pleases for it to stop. She shivered colder than the room itself, as every reflex that writhed out of her forced itself instinctively towards running away.
She couldn't stop thinking how much she may hurt Eric once she left, and if this backpack meant anything to him. But she was frightened, she wanted to go back to a place she where she had complete control and familiarity, even if it was up on the cold streets.
All she wanted was to be alone. This string of several whole weeks comprised of nothing but her leeching off of other's compassion. It made her extremely uncomfortable, evoking the feeling as if she was an imposter, and that she didn't deserve this in the slightest; as if she was only an ungrateful little runt. She tinkered around the hope that Eric wouldn't mind, making herself believe that her absence would not be felt.
He seemed to be the only one who actually took the time to think about her. But no, this time, she had to push somebody away from her once again.
Her personal space was to only ever be taken up by her own anxiety. Nothing else was allowed. It dictated her life, her actions, her thoughts, becoming one with her course of destiny. It was her master.
She sighed heavily, swallowing the urge to break into tears. Picking up a piece of scrapped paper and a pen, she scribbled down the first thing she felt in attempt to sooth this urge of regret, and she was out of here.
"I'm sorry. "
"Thank you for everything. "
She stormed down an empty corridor, snatching her handbag from the locker she was kindly allocated, and left for the exit lifts on the far edge of the complex. To her advantage, she knew the non-combat use exits were on the exact opposite of the command bridge, so if there was a chance of her bumping into somebody, it'd be at its absolute minimal.
Emotional sickness swelled up inside her, and she bit her bottom lip as she fought back tears angrily, cursing her own weakness.
"Hold it together Jacinta. You've only got yourself to watch out for you…"
|K21 - Dusty Blinds · K21 - I'm With You · K21 - Prayer · K21 - Kindred · K21 - Degenerate · ...
|Prequels & Stand Alone Stories
|Vallarian Trilogy · Ortus Continuity · Antecedence Double Trilogy · Artificial Elemental Trilogy · K21 - Broken Faith · K21 - Substantial Illusions · K21 - Judgement In Duty · K21 - Aces High · K21 - Limitless Sun · K21 - Distorted Closure · K21 - Loose Ends · K21 - Attache Case


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Darren E Cowley
United Kingdom
Mainly spend my time creating customised templates for Ableton, Max4Live and the Akai APC40... then when i get time i try and get a mix together, i usually end up going back in time though!!
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Mandarin Chinese Conversations
I will talk to you! We can talk about absolutely anything and I can help you with pronunciation/tones if you have any specific issues you want to target.
I also have basic knowledge (i.e. what I remember from 12 years of public school education in Taiwan) of Chinese and Taiwanese history and culture, literary Chinese, calligraphy, and cross-strait politics if you are interested in any of these areas :)
Training & Qualifications
I am a native speaker from Taiwan!
Reviews of Jonathan
Joyce Odette received unit of Chinese English Translations from JonathanJul 01, 2016
About Jonathan Pan
I am a college student on summer break looking to learn a little bit here and there and delve into areas I wouldn't otherwise during the school year (also looking for an organic chemistry tutor, thoug...h). Simbi is cool!show moreOpen to other proposals
Jonathan Pan is looking for:
- Fitness
- Yoga
- Dance
- Experiences
- Fun & Quirky
- Friendship/Listening
- Food
- Fresh Produce
- Learning
- Tutoring & Mentoring
- Classes & Webcasts
- Music Lessons
- Art Lessons
- Learning: Other
- Language Lessons


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Comment Policy
Comments on articles are moderated and those determined by editors to be crude, overly mean-spirited or that serve primarily as personal attacks will be deleted.
Editorial Policy
The Charger Account is an open public forum that invites comments and Letters to the Editor, which should be 400 words or fewer and must include the writer's name and a method of verification. All submissions from readers are subject to laws governing obscenity, libel, privacy and disruption of the school process. Letters may be edited for length. Opinion pieces, including columns, reflect the opinions of individual writers, while unsigned editorials reflect the majority opinion of the three-member Editorial Board, not the school, the school district or any other employee. The Editorial Board, made up of three student editors, makes final decisions on content. One faculty adviser provides guidance and feedback.


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The Communication industry has been undergoing considerable business changes for many years. While growth areas have been evident through data-oriented services and integrated mobile applications, carriers have been challenged with unprecedented competition from internet giants and declining voice revenue. The factors that are bringing about new business challenges while presenting new opportunities include:
The Unisys Communications Services provides an architecture and roadmap to help our clients quickly recognize revenue opportunities through the rapid, low-risk deployment of new services. Our enterprise-quality solution helps communications service providers add user services efficiently and effectively while leveraging their current investment. And our new business models take the risk out of new service deployment. Unisys Value Added Services – voice, video and data – can be provided across networks and integrated with formerly disparate services and vendors. The rich set of services provided by Unisys enable our clients to offer more capabilities to their customers and compete more effectively. Unisys provides these services through an agile and open/modular service creation and deployment architecture that supports current and next-generation networks, allowing introduction of new products and services to a broader subscriber base at lower incremental costs, positively impacting service innovation and time to market.
Unisys builds incremental revenue for communications companies through advanced features and services that either increase call connectivity, enable additional service fees, or help reduce churn. These Value Added Services include an extensive array of complementary voice and data services with a high degree of interoperability with all of our Messaging and Converged User Services:
Unisys Communications Solutions address today's business challenges and opportunities through a new initiative called Modernization of the Messaging Application (MoMA). The MoMA initiative provides an evolutionary path to modernization that leverages existing assets while delivering true voice and Internet convergence with:
MoMA enables faster time to market for Voice over IP and integrated web-based services through platform and network interface enhancements that build upon Unisys' strengths in mission critical messaging solutions. This is accomplished through the rapid development and integration of voice, web, and enterprise services provided by Unisys' enhanced service creation and delivery framework.


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SIR – The expats who live in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa and complain about their British frozen pensions are forgetting one thing.
That is that those countries do not have reciprocal pension agreements with the UK and if they did the state pensions they receive in the countries they now live would presumably be reduced as an offset. I believe this is what happens with the reciprocal pension agreement countries, such as the USA and those in the EU.
After leaving school in England, I worked for 10 years in London and thereafter I have lived in Canada. I would not want to see my Canada state pension reduced as a result of a Canada reciprocal pension agreement with the UK. I took the option of paying a large sum to enhance my otherwise pittance of a UK state pension. I knew it would be frozen.
Perhaps the solution is to have reciprocal agreements between the UK and the relevant countries, with the proviso that the affected expats can elect to either have their UK pensions unfrozen with the downward effect on their country of residence state pensions, or vice versa for those who do not want their country of residence pensions affected in any way, ie keep their UK pension frozen.
Charles Wackett
Dartmouth, Canada


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An essential goal of the Fund for a Better Waterfront (FBW) has been to create a park along the river's edge that unquestionably belongs to and is accessible to all — people from every walk of life, for generations to come. FBW has relied on the best thinking in urban design and planning to achieve this goal and ensure that new waterfront development serves as a model for other communities to emulate.
Over its 25-year life, FBW has been highly successful in Hoboken. But to finish what we started back in 1990, we need your support. Individual contributions have been our most important and dependable source of sustenance. In this coming year, FBW will pay special attention to defeating the Monarch towers proposed for a pier at the Weehawken Cove, achieving a stellar plan for Hoboken's central waterfront and securing Union Dry Dock as public space, thus connecting one of the final missing links in Hoboken's waterfront park. For details on these projects, please follow the links below.
Donations to FBW, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, are fully tax-deductible. If your company can match your contribution, be sure to participate in that corporate match program. Donate through PayPal or send a check to Fund for a Better Waterfront, P.O. Box 1965, Hoboken, NJ 07030.


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Sophia White
Sophia White ('90 / America)
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'The Lot Of The Poet'
The lot of the poet is no easy one.
Such burdens weigh the hands that wield the pen!
A poem cannot just get up and run,
A witty string of puns or pretty verse,
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Kenneth H.
ACA Technology
5th Period
Breakfast For Dinner
------------------------------------------------------The Debate
This ancient question is about to be answered by none other than yours truly. Are you ready? Are you excited? Because you shouldn't be, the answer is obvious. Breakfast for dinner is waaaaaay better than dinner for breakfast, since usually, you can just microwave a Hot Pocket™ or something for breakfast, but you for dinner, you'd have to cook a steak or something. Seriously, who eats steak for breakfast? (Unless it's one of those breakfast croissants, those are great) I don't care what I eat for breakfast, therefore allowing me to eat whatever I want for dinner. Loopholes, man. You gotta love 'em.
Since you've pretty much sat through my paragraph-long rant on breakfast for dinner > dinner for breakfast, here's a free recipe that I found on Google that you should be able to find but I'm putting it here nonetheless.
Bacon Pancakes - Because Why Not?
- Directions
- Preheat griddle or skillet.
- Prepare pancake batter by mixing Bisquick™ mix, milk, and eggs in a medium bowl.
- Place bacon strips on griddle or skillet, leaving plenty of room in between them. ...
- Cook for 2-3 minutes per side or until golden brown.
- Serve with syrup.
Oh, yeah. When you're making these you can sing this song. This song may or may not be from one of my favorite TV shows.
Bacon pancakes, makin' bacon pancakes,
Take some bacon and I'll put it in a pancake,
Bacon pancakes, that's what it's gonna make,
Bacon pancaaake! (repeat?)
Think Dinner for Breakfast is better than Breakfast for Dinner? Post your debate down below!
------------------------------------------------------Copyright Stuff (You can ignore)
I do not own any of these pictures or directions. All rights to their respective owners. Especially Adventure Time. <3


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Ms Texas United States Model
Helena Marie OModel Female Houston, Texas, US
My MM URL: http://www.modelmayhem.com/HelenaMarieO
Mayhem # 1563090
About MeHI everyone, mY name is Helena Maria a.k.a. "Mary" a.k.a "Marie" ( I preffer Marie) O. I blow 24 candles on Aug 2010. I live in Houston and also visit N.Y. alot because my dad stays overthere and grew up on that side. I have more pictures but I cant put them all here, and i aint payin for this.lol.I worked with so many photographers, did alot of music videos for latino music, and also hosted a latin explosion show for a video countdown, that was a couple of years ago so I am looking to upgrade my picture port. I am looking to work with proffesionals only, I see myself working with someone truly talented. I dont like ports that only show girls in bikinis and lingerie, to me that is not true talent, anyone can take a picture of a beautiful woman half naked, I want to see some fashion and and editorial impressive work. I have high expectations for my self and from those who wish to work with me, xoxo.Helena .Maria .Ochoa.
It's ridiculous how big boobs can make some girls so cocky and think they are super models now. The boobs is the only thing that makes you hot, so thats sad. If they are so successful why the fuck do they have a MM? Dont they get enough help from their Pimps, I mean "mamagers"lol...or "agencies"?.
I always speak my mind, very outspoken person, and I keep it real 100%. I am not going to pretend to be this "classy" and "well spoken" model and at the same time have bulgar, trashy pictures. Thats not what I do, I am how I am what you see is what you get, one real model. I am ALL NATURAL, don't need no boob job to get to wjere im going. This is my personality and it has actually booked me many jobs and spokesmodel assignments in N.Y. You can watch me on Latin Explotion Tv. and many music viedos I will put the links for.
XoXo Helena

Have you worked with Helena Marie O? Add Credits for Helena Marie O! >>
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Since the day, actor Farhan Akhtar has separated from wife Adhuna Akhtar, many actresses including Shraddha Kapoor, Aditi Rao Hydari and Kalki Koechlin were blamed for breaking Farhan's 15 years of marriage.
Nargis Fakhri's Oops Moment, Look Who Just Grabbed Her B**bs!
But it seems like Farhan has decided to put all the rumours to rest as recently, the actor was spotted flaunting his love for his alleged love-lady, Aditi Rao Hydari, at the royal dinner last night (April 10, 2016).
Check Out Here Candid Pics From The Royal Dinner:
According to the latest reports, the duo was seen holding hands,throughout the party, without caring what others would think.
New INSIDE PICS Of SRK, Aishwarya & Others From The Charity Gala Dinner In Mumbai!
Not just that, we also heard that Farhan and Aditi arrived and left the venue together. It seems like Farhan has made up his mind about making his alleged relationship with Aditi official, doesn't it?
Interestingly, , it is not for the first time, that their PDA moment have been captured on camera. Not so long ago, Farhan had decided to make an entry into Karan Johar's party, hand in hand with Aditi.
About a month ago, during Femina beauty awards, which was also attended by Aditi, when reporters asked her take on her alleged affair with Farhan, Aditi gave a rather confusing reply and had said, "I wouldn't want to comment on anyone's personal life. Everyone deserves peace and dignity and I would like to give that to them, and so should everyone else."
Well, that's one strange fact about the B-town. Here, relationship status of Bollywood celebs change at the drop of a hat!


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At last, these classic jazz pickups are once again available!
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DeArmond Rhythm Chief 1000 Pickup Gold GYPSY
Now the legendary DeArmond tone is available for Gypsy Guitars!
DeArmond Rhythm Chief 1100 Pickup Gold
The classic DeArmond tone is back!
DeArmond Rhythm Chief 1000 Pickup Gold
DeArmond Rhythm Chief 1000 Pickup Nickel
DeArmond Rhythm Chief 1000 Pickup Nickel GYPSY
Phil Jones Bass D-600 Digital Amplifier
08/18/2017 07:35:09 PM:Phil Jones PURE SOUND D-600 Digital Amplifier
Phil Jones Bass Compact 4 Lite Extension Cabinet with Cover
08/18/2017 07:33:38 PM:The Compact 4 Lite is made for those who seek an ultra-light weight bass cabinet.
3250 NW 59th St Seattle, Washington 98107 United States
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Description & PreventionYou're not tired; you're exhausted. You dragged yourself through the day doing the bare minimum. It could be that you're coming down with a bug that's going around. Or maybe you just have too much to do. Or maybe you have anemia.
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Symptoms or no symptoms, women who have anemia tend to have plain and simple iron-deficiency anemia. The body needs iron (and plenty of it) to manufacture red blood cells. These red blood cells contain hemoglobin, the protein responsible for transporting oxygen in the blood. With too little iron, you have less hemoglobin, less oxygen, and less energy. In other words, you have tired blood.
Things You Can DoStock up on iron-rich foods. "The best sources of iron are red meats, especially organ meats, such as liver, because they contain heme iron, the form most completely absorbed by the body," says Dr. Harris. "But organ meats are high in saturated fat and cholesterol, which can contribute to heart disease. So instead look for lean cuts of steak and extra-lean ground beef."
TreatmentIf a blood test shows that you have mild anemia, Dr. Harris says that your doctor might recommend over-the-counter supplements that provide up to 18 mg of iron a day, the Daily Value for premenopausal women. If your anemia is more severe, your doctor will likely prescribe high-dose iron supplements of up to 180 mg a day, adds Dr. Harris. Women doctors advise against taking iron supplements without a doctor's supervision, because too much iron can be toxic.Tags: Other Health ConditionsCopyright © 2017 Rodale Inc.
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Dr. Paresh Shah
Doctor Detail :
Dr. Paresh Shah is a Psychiatrist in Ashram Road, Ahmedabad
Other Speciality
Narayan Chambers, 2nd Floor, Nehru Bridge, Bihaind Patang Hotel, Ashram Road, Ahmedabad
Phone No.: +919825336733.
Share your genuine experiences and reviews about the doctor!
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We help you search for a Stone accordion tutor. Accordion tuition are a brilliant method to begin a stimulating new hobby, pick up a new skill and attain confidence with accordion. Use our service to find Stone accordion teachers and choose which best matches your needs so you can start your accordion lessons in Stone straight away!
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Syncronys International, Inc. Announces Their New, Advanced, Large Scale Solar Power Generation Products for Use as Emergency, Commercial and Back-Up Power Sources(May 03, 2012)
MANDEVILLE, LA -- (Marketwire) -- 05/03/12 -- Syncronys International (PINKSHEETS: SNTL) is pleased to announce their new, advanced, large scale solar power generation products for use as emergency, commercial and back-up power sources. The new solar generators will include three power sizes, ranging from 10kWh to 25kWh. These products represent the latest in technology and design and are in the final development stage. Rex Gay, Syncronys CEO, says that "The new products complement our existing line of small and medium solar generators. These heavy duty solar generators have been designed to be tough, weatherproof, with fast deployment and simple operation. They will utilize high performance lithium-ion batteries for ultra-reliability and durability." Syncronys sees immediate applications as emergency power for the oil and gas industry and first responders to natural disasters, standby and emergency power for data centers, and temporary primary power for large commercial projects. Syncronys International has developed a comprehensive strategy of providing total energy solutions for a wide range of green energy applications, Micro Utility, Micro Grid and Smart Grid initiatives on any domestic and international level, and is committed to help make a difference in the World and help provide sustainable, affordable, clean alternative energy to everyone in every walk of life.
Safe Harbor:
Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimates," "expect," "future," "intends," "may," "plans," "should," "will," and similar statements. SYNCRONYS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
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Related Keywords: solar power, generation products, emergency back-up, commercial back-up, generators, oil and gas, Marketwire, Inc., , Environmental Technology, Green Technology,


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Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara | Epic Off-Road | Top Dir
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara | Epic Off-Road | Top Dir : Again make sure to check out their channel and subscribe because they have great off-road content, but I noticed that they partnered up with : http://www.euro4x4parts.com/ I checked them out and I highly recommend that you do the same!
Euro4x4parts.com opened for business on the 4th of September 2000 in France and on the 1st of January 2006 in Spain. Within 10 years the company the team had grown to 20 employees across both offices. To read more about them and to use their services go visit their website I provided 2 links, soo enjoy the video!


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True Reads
Take a look at this pocket guide from National Geographic before you go out for a gaze on a cloudless evening. Night Sky of North America is the perfect book to bring along with you anywhere a lack of light pollution permits you to see the stars, the planets, and more.
Living in a home that contains more than 200 feet of bookshelves, Jeremy and Justin had no choice but to fall in love with books. For their second birthday, they received library cards and bags with the library logo on them. It was not uncommon for them to leave the library lugging two or three bulging canvas bags containing 50 or more picture books.
DK Publishing and the Smithsonian Institution worked together to create a fascinating book for kids (and adults) who are fascinated by the world around them. The Elements: A Visual Encyclopedia of the Periodic Table makes what could be a dull subject very shiny indeed.
Sure, you have your basic periodic table for quick reference. But every element gets its spotlight, with truly interesting facts and many intriguing photos. Take iridium. It's a shiny black metal that's 22 times as dense as water. That's heavy. You can find it in meteorites, compasses, the Chandra X-ray Observatory, and Badlands National Park in South Dakota.
Are you inspired by life, whether light or dark, to mark moments or passages with words that dance, shout, or whisper your personal truth? You might be poemcrazy. Author (and poet) Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge certainly is. In her book, she shares how she sees the world as a poet as she's progressed from shy teen to mother to writing workshop presenter.
The best science teachers bring their subjects to life. They intrigue and entrance their students, often by explaining how everyday events they have observed, such as swirling a dollop of milk in a cup of tea or coffee, are really quite similar to what happens elsewhere in the Universe on both a much larger and much smaller scale. By hooking their students' interest in a relatable way, a great teacher can inspire them to see their world differently, to open their minds, and to understand the underpinnings of our daily lives.
For women caught in war zones, there are choices to be made. Try to get by as best you can, protecting your family if you have one, or throw in with the men defending your country, risking your own life. The 15 women whose stories are told in Women Heroes of World War II, the Pacific Theater all made difficult choices. Even so, as much as they were able, they resisted the invaders who overran their countries.
Central Rappahannock Regional Library's Rappahannock Reads runs throughout the month of February and is an opportunity for everyone in the community to read and discuss the same book. CRRL's 2017 Rappahannock Reads title is Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race, by Margot Lee Shetterly, which tells the true story of the African American female mathematicians who went to work as "human computers" at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) in Hampton, Virginia, during World War II.
"I was unhappy for a long time, and very lonesome, living with my grandmother. Then it was that books began to happen to me, and I began to believe in nothing but books and the wonderful world in books — where if people suffered, they suffered in beautiful language, not in monosyllables, as we did in Kansas." (From The Big Sea, one of Hughes' autobiographies)
The 2017 Youth Media Awards, announced in January, include several awards for teen literature. Read about the winners and honorable mentions below. The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) also creates multiple booklists each year for young adults, that usually have a specific theme. Check them out and read some of the winners.
This readalike is in response to a customer's book-match request. If you would like personalized reading recommendations, fill out the book-match form and a librarian will email suggested titles to you. Available for adults, teens, and kids. You can browse other book matches here.
Chicken Soup for the Teen Soul: Real-life Stories by Real Teens
Teenagers write honestly and poignantly about the issues they face and how they overcame them with strength and insight. Delving into the corners of their souls, these poems and personal experiences reveal special moments—a first kiss, the loss of a friend, a chance meeting, or that connection with a special teacher, grandparent, or even a pet. (catalog summary)
1 Year, 100 Pounds: My Journey to A Better, Happier Life by Whitney Holcombe
At age fourteen, Whitney Holcombe stepped onto her bathroom scale and a number glared up at her: 230. That number controlled her life until one day she went for a walk that changed everything. A little bit memoir and a whole lot of advice, "1 Year, 100 Pounds" follows Whitney s journey to battle obesity, negative self-image, and peer ridicule. Through following a healthy diet and exercise routine, Whitney shed the pounds without pills, trainers, or surgery. And along the way, she discovered the confidence to love her body. (catalog summary)
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Growing Up: Stories About Growing Up, Meeting Challenges, and Learning From Life
Collects anecdotes from teenagers about friendship, peer pressure, self-acceptance, family life, relationships, and overcoming obstacles. (catalog summary)


text: In the original books, kryptonite was lethal to both humans and Kryptonians. Green Kryptonite affected Kryptonians instantly, but it took time for humans to feel the lethal affects. But in time, green Kryptonite would kill ALL types of animal life. There were also other colors of kryptonite. I remember that one color was poisonous to plants... it think it might have been yellow. But with there being so MUCH kryptonite (or asteroid pieces) so numerous around Smallville, it should have been impossible for Clark to survive there. In fact, the kryptonite should have killed all animal life in the area. It would have been impossible for Lana to stay alive wearing the piece of kryptonite in her necklace. All the kryptonite that embedded itself inside her skin should have killed her as well. But his is going by a definition of the original story. I've actually come to love what they've done with Smallville... it really was a great reboot of Superman. I can see why the series lasted so long. I just read that Ryan James' brain tumor was most likely caused by overexposure to kryptonite.


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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Tazo® Tea. All opinions are 100% mine.
Fairly often I'm asked, "What does your day look like?, and my answer is, "It's a little bit different every day." This consistent variance is one of the elements I enjoy about being a blogger, and about working from home. If you've ever wondered what my day-to-day is more or less like, in collaboration with Tazo® Tea, and in celebration of their exciting, unique, and delicious tea blends, today I'm sharing a snapshot of my daily routine with Tazo Tea.
As you guys know, as part of my 101 in 1001, last month I completed my very first 30-day yoga challenge; a yoga class every day for 30 days. Practicing yoga every day (versus 3 days a week) at 4pm has been such an awesome addition to my day-to-day, that I've decided to keep it up and continue on. I basically love it! Yoga at 4pm means that I get home from class at 6pm, have dinner until 7pm, read for a half-hour or so, and by 8-9pm am sound asleep in bed. After 8 hours, I rise and shine at 5am, shower and have breakfast, and am in my home office at 6 or 6:15am.
At 9 or 9:30am I'm ready for a snack, which includes my favorite hot Tazo Tea blend: Passion®, an exuberant herbal infusion of hibiscus flower, orange peel, rose hips, and passion fruit flavors. With those ingredients, you can imagine how amazing this hot tea's aroma and flavors are. Passion always delights my senses and pairs perfectly with my daily apple and six almonds. After gathering my tea, apple, and almonds from the kitchen, I bring it all back to my desk and joyfully sip and snack away over my laptop.
Tazo's Passion tea is an excellent healthy compliment to the water I drink throughout the day. Made with some of the finest-quality tea leaves, spices and botanicals, Passion adds a refreshing dash of flavor to my daily routine, with no caffeine and no calories. Tazo Tea adds a little excitement to my day, any time of the day, and is always convenient to pick up at our local grocery store.
After snack time, I work for the next few hours until Noon, and then lunch. On this particular day I'm focused on writing, so after lunch it's back to my laptop, where I type away until 3pm. Next I change and pack my bag for yoga, and am out the door at 3:30pm. You know what happens next!
I hope you've enjoyed this snapshot of my daily routine with Tazo Tea. To find the perfect Tazo Tea for your day, check out Tazo.com to find Tazo near you. I'm sure that in addition to Passion, you'll want to try Zen™, and Awake™ English Breakfast, too. Also, don't forget to join in the fun on Tazo's social channels, as well. Enjoy!


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The GriefCare Place offers support groups that give those grieving the loss of a loved one by death the understanding of the grief process and encourages them that healing will come. All grief support groups are at no cost.
All groups will meet at The GriefCare Place at 4499 Darrow Road in Stow in the Keystone Vet building - entrance in rear. Call the office for further information and detailed directions at 330-686-1750 or email: firstname.lastname@example.com Monthly meeting calendars are posted on the website, www.thegriefcareplace.org.
Weekly Group Sessions
Until Healing Comes -- This group is the foundational progressive program for any adult who has experienced the death of a loved one. This group will meet on Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. and will be led by Lou-Ann Redmon.
After Suicide -- This group is designed specifically for any adult who has experienced the loss of a loved one through a completed suicide. This group will meet on Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. and will be led by Maribeth Lieberth, MA LPC-CR.
Upcoming programs
Kids' Fall Time Camp -- On Thursdays, Oct. 20, 27 and Nov. 3, 10, 17. Each session will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. This is for children ages 6-12 who have experienced a significant loss, such as that of a parent, grandparent or sibling. Through fun activities, incorporating art, music, books and play, children will learn about and explore their grief with similar aged peers who have had related experiences. This group will be led by Mike Johnson with help from several volunteers. There is no fee for attendees. Snacks will be provided. For more information or to register your child(ren), contact The GriefCare Place at 330-686-1750.
Also, Maribeth Lieberth, LPC-CR will offer two sessions, Oct 6 on "How to help a grieving child" to the parents/guardians who bring their child(ren) to the above camp sessions. RSVP when registering your child to 330-686-1750.
Helpful Hints for Holiday Hurts -- Need help during the holidays with the loss of your loved one(s)? Our Helpful Hints for Holiday Hurts will be on Tuesdays, Nov. 15 and Dec. 13. Both sessions will begin at 7 p.m. and will be at Faith Fellowship Baptist Church. Call 330-686-1750 for further information.


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An interest rate fixed for 3 years
The Scottish Widows Bank 3 Year Fixed Term Pension Fund Deposit Account is ideal if you want to earn a fixed rate of interest on the cash element of a pension fund and don't need access to it for the next three years.
- Interest will be paid monthly, quarterly or annually to either another Scottish Widows Bank deposit account or an external bank account held in your organisation's name.
- Minimum deposit of £10,000 maximum £5,000,000.
- Available to new and existing Scottish Widows Bank customers.
- Accounts available in issues for limited periods of time at interest rate determined before each issue.
- No partial withdrawals allowed, and you can't close the account before the maturity date.
- Postal applications only – to secure the interest rate you're applying for we'll need to receive your application before the start date.
See our interest rate page for details of current issue and rates.


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Emekus unwraps a viral video for the remix of his street smash "Bojom", which features Orezi.
The clip features Emekus and fans having a good time while highlighting the "Bojom" dance step.
Emekus – "Bojom" (Remix) ft. Orezi
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Nice work emeka.pf might hav robbed u but they challenged n now see how far u v come.congrats but d dance step hard oo