text:
Chapter One- Life Anew
Legend is often based on history, and history formed from legend. Such is the stuff of many tales; such is the fulfillment of dreams. Life's' secrets are for beyond mortal comprehension. This, however, does not seem to daunt the sages and philosophers throughout time. Nor does it do but form a basis for religion, of men grasping at straws far beyond the scope of understanding, man or beast. The truly wise do not question that which has been set, for no light graces the path of the lost. Most simply say that "it was,†for some inexplicable cosmic power or event had shaped the world and, indeed, life itself. Such feeble minds cannot grasp the scope of the infinite; they are for more likely to go quite insane. However, perhaps such beliefs are not completely false. There are powers high above and all around. Powers that drive the path of history, with peace or war. Those who, in ways forever unreachable by any ordinary being, can manipulate our very existence itself. For example; there grows a flower on Mallor IV, very common and oft unnoticed. However, that flower is not only found on that small world. It is, in ways nature never intended, flourishing on a world so unlike Mallor IV. This flower, as only a small example, was transported to the world of the dragons – a world whose true name is utterly incomprehensible to all but it's inhabitants, a word of such power that it's mere mention could cause catastrophe to the speaker untrained… and the world on which the poor soul stood. The dragons, of course, kept this name a secret, instead calling the planet simply "Dragon World.†Dragons are themselves a mythical race, held in distrust by many as simply not existing- this is not true. Dragons simply exist when and where they would be best suited. As an example of this, dragons live on a small world named Krynn – a place where mountains run thick, forest grow unchecked, food lives in surplus, and the dragons are held in awe and reverence. On the other hand, polluted, uncontrolled worlds such as Terra are deemed inhospitable, and dragons do not live there. Only a few of these mythic beasts can transport easily between worlds and times, and these are held in utmost respect. Such dragons are often unique, marked from birth as those set apart by fate. One such dragon is Shadowhunter, Chaos Dragon, Member of the Dragon Council…and expecting father. Those sensitive to the currents of destiny, as Shadowhunter was, knew that these dragonets would be exceedingly powerful…One in particular was steeped in magic and fate. This young one would be known as Myriad.
Two dragons lay comfortably on a mountain plateau, speaking softly to each other. Dragon World's second sun was just cresting the horizon, basking the lush forests in soft light. Small animals poked their heads out of their burrows, chattering to each other and immediately going off on the daily hunt for food. Larger animals lay in wait for the ripe morning prey, knowing that a moment's patience would bring a feast later. In addition, a small herd of deer-like animals went to the sparkling river, crushing dew-wet grass underfoot as they walked. Small white flowers, fresh in blossom, lay scattered about towering trees, providing a morning snack for them. Wispy white clouds promised a warm, bright day for the inhabitants of Talecar Valley, with not a hint of rain. Near the middle of the valley jutted Shadow Mountain, named for it's master- the great dragon Shadowhunter. Many dragons flocked to ask him questions, wishing for help shaping their lands, often. Or perhaps to request his presence at a Council meeting. This morning, however, was joyous and peaceful. Dragons of all sizes and colors circled silently throughout the orange morning sky, too many to count. All waited for the hatching of the eggs of their leader. Dragon eggs were rare, and the type of bond Shadow and his mate, Celesta, shared was even more exceptional. It was a day of joy for the peaceful Dragon World.
"Ah, what a lovely day this is, my dear Celesta. I could not ask for more than I have…†sighed Shadowhunter in contentment. He was a truly massive dragon, reaching nearly four hundred feet in length- a size matched only by the Dragon Slayers of millennia past. Shadowhunter recalled that dark time most clearly- for he was also to be as old as time itself. This apparently immortal dragon was covered in black scales the size of a man's head- and stronger than any weapon ever made. Some of the scales, especially those near his head and neck, were shot through with gold in striking contrast. Each of his four feet sported ivory claws, each larger than a man, and each capable of cleaving a tree in a single swipe. Beyond this, Shadow had magical powers beyond any seen before. It was oft rumored that he could shape time and space itself to his will. Yet, despite his majesty and power, he never grew tired of his world's own quiet glory. He looked fondly upon his mate, Celesta, a three hundred foot female who sported ruby-hued scales. While he was an obvious embodiment of power, she was beautiful and sleek, skillful beyond her mere 2,000 years.
"It is indeed, Shadowhunter…it seems a sign from the gods that our children please them. And imagine! Two strong children, and so soon!†Indeed, it was rare for dragons to have children. Unlike humans, dragons were not always 'in season'. As a whole, they are solitary creatures, comfortable within their lairs and upon large piles of gold and silver. When dragons mate with another, it was a special thing itself, and completely devoting on to another, becoming as one. Children, though, did not come easily, even to these couples. They may go through the motions, giving mutual pleasure, but dragons simply are not often fertile, even with both in season. For this reason, mating was only between very close dragons, after much self-inspection, and was kept throughout their long, long lives.
Celesta and Shadowhunter lay together, watching the coveted eggs and guarding them from non-existent threat. Dragon World was at peace, and all dragons were happy to hear of their mutual triumph. Tired, Celesta curled into a more comfortable position, her wings and tail folded closely to her. The children were safe, the day was glorious, and all was well. Shadowhunter smiled as he saw his precious wife taken to sleep with puffs of smoke shot out her nose. He was tired, too…strangely so. He lifted his head abruptly, casting about to find the culprit.
"Who's there?!†The mammoth dragon instinctively covered the precious eggs with his body, still searching for whoever had tried to put them to sleep.
"Speak!†Shadow roared, as he still could not find another dragon. The activity in the sky quickened. Was it time? Were the eggs to hatch? The excited onlookers wondered.
Your children will be in love with war. One before, one with, one after. Beware, for dark forces draw near. One has the potential to save…. Beware.
"You speak nonsense! Dragon World has not seen war for millennia! SHOW YOURSELF!†At the lack of response, Shadowhunter roared again at the sky, at the world that had so frightened him. A pillar of fire shot from his mouth, narrowly missing a blue dragon watching hopefully. What was wrong? they said. Have the eggs been taken? The joyous fervor began to turn to anger, to fear. The day was being spoiled by this mysterious visitation.
"Wait! There! The EGGS!â€, cried a golden female. The dragons near her, startled, looked to the plateau. It was true! The eggs were hatching. Shadowhunter immediately lost his anger and forgot the incident. He would think upon it…. later. "Celesta! The eggs hatch, my dear!†Celesta snapped upright immediately, ecstatic eyes focused on the two large orbs in front of them. One was a milky blue, with swirls of sapphire adding to its perfection. The other was golden, with a slight green cast to the smooth eggshell.
A jagged tooth poked through the shell of the blue egg, cracking it a little. The top section bulged slightly, the dragonet inside struggling to break out of its prison. The waiting dragons watching anxiously as the egg shuddered violently. At last, a red head broke through! The child! The baby dragon tumbled out of the shell; its wings fanning the air gently. It would be some time before he, for it was a male dragon, could fly. He looked about with almost a glare in its watery eye. The scene was so funny, and yet so tense, that Shadow could not help but laugh. "Little child of mine, I call you Sheel, after the legendary red who saved us all from the Slayers. Wear your name with pride.†Shadow nudged his youngling gently, urging it to greet its proud mother. "Go on, lit-…†Shadow stopped as another dragonet stepped out of the blue shell.
This one was a blue, sapphire in color. He (the twins were boys) darted out quickly with undiminished energy, bowling over its read brother. The tussled for a moment under Celesta's kind eye before she separated them with a talon. "And I shall name you Skye, who loves life above all else.†Skye looked up at Celesta's eye, large as he was, and battered her claw. Twins! A glorious day indeed! The dragons above roared in joy, releasing blasts of fire and ice in tribute to their new sons. Twins.
The dragons' jubilation, however, fell as they saw that the second egg, golden of color, remained inert. No young dragon poked its egg tooth out of the soft shell, nor did there seem to be any motion inside. Some of the dragons circled off as the egg remained still for several hours. The day wore on, almost al the dragons having spiraled off into the clear blue sky. Shadowhunter remained confident in his third son, whom he new was very special indeed. Celesta did not share his great knowledge, though, and began to worry. What could have gone wrong with this third child of theirs? The twins had long since fallen asleep under her watchful gaze.
"Why don't you go inside, my dear? Do not worry, I shall watch most carefully.†With a loving look, Celesta woke their new babies and herded them into the mountain lair, where they were revitalized by the smell of fresh meat. Their admirers and well-wishers would keep them well supplied for a time, while they spent the days lavishing affection on their twins.
As she disappeared inside, Shadowhunter sighed. "I know you are well and alive, my son. But what keeps you inside?†Shadow sent a tendril of thought towards the shell, looking for answers. The dragon lay curled inside, not seeming inclined to break out of its shell. All at once, his probe was seized by an untrained yet immensely powerful mind. His son…
My dear son, why do you not break free? Such glory waits to be explored!
A wordless set of images filled Shadow's mind in response, staggering him with its intensity. Fear. Dark. Cold. People. As each picture picked through his thoughts, he realized just why his youngest did not come to his father.
Do not be afraid, young one. I am here, and your mother, and your brothers. You need not fear with us. I promise, I will never hurt you, and will do all in my power to protect and teach you, my dearest.
The youngling appeared to consider this. While the language was yet beyond him, the feelings that ran strong in Shadowhunter's – his father's – speech were warm and comforting. The egg began rumbling as the last child explored, trying to find a way outside. Dark. Light. Trust.
I promise, my son. Now come, see the glorious light of day.
After a moment's scratching, his last son's head popped out of his shell. The eyes seemed to drink in his surroundings, wide with wonder. It was a wondrous sight- the day had remained cloudless and blue, the sun just beginning to set. The tall mountains they both stood upon, Shadow Mountain, were some of the most beautiful to be found the worldwide. The valley below was bathed in the sun's light, revealing rivers and lakes, tall evergreens, bountiful wildlife; all natural wonders in the Talecar Valley. Behind him, the mouth of their home, their lair, yawned invitingly. Celesta came padding out with the first children, Sheel and Skye, nipping at her claws. Her eyes looked upon her third child, brimming with happiness and love… and then recoiled, casting a quick glance at her husband before sheparding Sheel and Skye back inside. The third born looked hurt that it had frightened its mama. Though young, the child's gifts were indeed strong.
"What can this mean, Shadowhunter?â€, asked the red urgently.
"It means that this one has a grand future in store for him… though other dragons cannot know. No…I cannot allow him shunned as I was!†the frustrated dragon said while pacing the plateau, his great length allowing only a few steps. "Yes, dragon kind is at peace, but this one…†here he looked at his child, "…he will anger them. There are those opposed to change. We shall hide him, hide his colors. We shall not speak of this further. Nobody must hear before we are ready. You understand?â€
Celesta was scared by his sudden fervor. "Y…yes…Shadow…â€
Shadowhunter relaxed visibly. "Yes, good. I shall take care of his appearance. And we shall call him Myriad, he of many colors and of mine. And he shall be…†he trailed off.
Just like me…
Chapter 2- Manifest Destiny
"Come now, Myriad! You can do better than that!," Skye exclaimed as Myriad's sword clammered into a distant wall. "Ach, looks like he's in his own world again. 'tis a poor dragon that can't keep his mind on a bloody duel! Come, Skye, let us fight!" Sheel scowled when Skye waved hiim off. The three humans stood near the center of a sparring circle, easing sore muscles. Or, perhaps it would be better to say: the three dragons stood their, albeit in human form.
"I still don't understand why we must wear these pathetic human bodies while fighting. It's a waste of time, and I for one won't go around concealed among these humans. Dragons are the masters of all, not some pitiful servant to humanity! If you want something, TAKE it!," Sheel exlaimed, the fire of battle bright in his eyes. The young dragon, a hundred years of age, wore his human form like an ill-fit cloak.
Skye sighed. "This again? You keep going on about this every day! "
"It's because I'm right! Because- "
"You're an overly angry young dragon whose impatience will get him killed one day," said Shadowhunter, striding into the chamber. He, as always while in human form, wore gold-trimmed black armor, with a styalized K on the breast. A cloak clasp in the form of a yellow bird's head (he called it a Chocobo, Sheel called it lunch) held his black cape up. And on his side was a black scabbard, holding his large sword. "And until you understand that, and can wear the human form comfortably, you will never be the great warrior you so want to be." Sheel recoiled at the rebuke, but still looked like he didn't agree.
"At least I'm not Myriad! This is the third time this week that he's been distracted!"
Shadowhunter looked at his youngest, his eyes momentarily pitying before they snapped back to Sheel. "Be that as it may, you cannot use his distraction as an excuse. Maintaining human form is an excersise in control, as well as strengthening your magic. Do you doubt my judgement?," he added, as Sheel looked stubborn.
"Good." Before Sheel registered a movement, his sword had been knocked out of his hands- it now stuck quivering in the wall-, and his father's sword at his throat. "See that you don't forget again, hmm? Myriad, come with me." Myriad silently left, leaving an astounded Sheel staring at the sword in the wall.
"What's wrong, my son? I myself have noticed you being distracted more often than not. Is there something wrong?," the great dragon inquired, concerned for the health of his son. Beyond his natural fatherly love, he was concerned that this may affect his future unless resolved. To be what he was destined to be, Myriad must be at peak physical and mental health. Anyone who could not focus would not triumph. However, Myriad showed no strain keeping on his human form; that of a young man, with shoulder-length brown hair, intent eyes, and loose green leather armoring. So it must be something else...
"I....I see such colors!," he exclaimed passionately. "You must think me quite mad," he added as Shadow's eyebrow shot up. "Oh, no, my son. I don't think you mad at all." He turned and looked at the Talecar Valley, for they stood upon the same plateau that the children were hatched. Myriad felt something about this place....something about him... "Please, tell me what you see."
Startled at shadow's calm and almost relieved tone, Myriad continued. "These...colors. I feel as if I can see power iteself. You are very strong in colors, more than any I've seen.," he added, nodding at his father, who appeared unsurprised. "My boy, what you see are..." "And the pictures! I see things, wonderful and terrible things! But when I try to focus on them, they dissapear!" His father sighed, as if this was an expected, but unwanted, problem. He proceeded to explain that what Myriad saw was indeed a being's magic, and possible futures that each might take, a sign of his growing power. "But this is not for you to know. No, not yet. In time you shall be... like me." Shadowhunter laid a cool hand upon his son's brow. Myriad relaxed as the bright colors and fantastical pictures dimmed and died. He had not realized just how much they pained him. "You will remember when it is time. my wonderful son..." Myriad stood quietly, seeming entranced. Shadow stood looking out over the valley, wondering where the future would take his young one. But now he heard Celesta's inquiring touch, and knew that this must wait.
"Myriad.", he said softly.
Myriad woke from his half-awake state. "Yes, father?"
"It is time for us to go inside. Celesta waits for us." The two walked back inside, revelling together in the beauty of their home. Myriad would not remember their talk for some time, Shadowhunter was certain. He would have to train Myriad properly before his gifts re-emerged, however. And his colors... Myriad was now a green dragon with impressive control over the wind. But his true form, too, would also emerge. And his father hoped to be there for him.
"Then, Myriad's powers are beginning to manifest?," Celesta asked worriedly. She, despite all her skills, knowledge, and power, was still a normal dragon. Like anyone, she held unconcious bias against those unlike herself. That Myriad was her son did not matter; in fact, it only served to heighten her fears.
"Relax, my dear.," Shadow said soothingly. They sat together in the kitchen of their lair- much like any other chamber in the vast mountain, it was sizeable enough for the two full-grown dragons to sit comfortably. Shadowhunter was back in his scales, so to speak, and look peacefully at Celesta. "Trust me, Myriad's powers are quite under control. I've supressed them for now, though I must be sure to train him...and yet not let him know..." He trailed off, pondering the problem. "Ah, well. Suffice to say, his growing powers are one of the least of my concerns." Then he looked embarresed, as if he'd said something without having meant to.
"What....are these more important things?" Celesta asked nervously, worried anew.
The Chaos Dragon sighed. "I didn't want to worry you, my dear.... but there is war brewing." At Celesta's expression, he quickly continued. "The youngest of our dragons have grown tired of peaceful living. They want to roam the multiverse, ruling humans as they see fit. Nor are they the only ones strangely aggressive... there are increasing signs of war on the human worlds, those I can pay attention to. I plan to leave soon, do what I must to stop them. now that you know, I can leave sooner." He sighed again.
Now that Celesta had been forewarned, she noticed things that she had not noticed of her husband before. The slight droop of a wing, the clench of his jaw... her husband, believed omnipotent, was tired and grim of the future ahead.
"Tell me what I must do," her voice firm.
Her husband looked upon her with amazement, which soon softened to love. "You must take care of the training of our sons. I am sorry, my dear, but you cannot help me in the worlds afar. Our sons... they will be focii for the upcoming chaos. If they do not learn, then they cannot help. Do you understand?," he asked, tone pleading.
"Of course, you will let me know if I can do more to help?" Her wings fanned restlessly, then stilled as her husband slowly nodded assent. "That is all I can ask. I shall this for you... for love."
"For love.."
Shadowhunter sat in the dim afternoon light, petting his dear pet Choco. The chocobo pens he had made extended a quarter of one side of the mountain, stopped only by a rock face jutting out the cliff. It also extended several hundred feet away from the mountain, taking in grasslands and forests. Choco cooed softly as its master scracted its crest feathers idly.
"Choco, I need your help.," he finally said. The chocobo at his side cocked its head and warked curiously. Shadow smiled, knowing Choco was as intelligent as he. The merry eye housed the mind of a joker, the morality of a really moral thing, a thirst for good, and the body of an overgrown canary. Perfect.
"Then, without furthur ado, let me get you started, eh?" The chocobo warked again happily, whatever it said causing the dragon to chuckle. "Right you are. Here, then..." His beloved pet and friend blinked, finding its simple mind filled with information... and power. Choco was one powerful bird now. The two spent the rest of the evening talking softly, and watching the sun dissapear. Shadowhunter now had his Avatar.
Chapter 3- Blah, Blah, School, Blah.
Shadow left three days later. Nobody knew where he had went, but it was noticed that his favorite chocobo was also gone. Celesta honored her agreement to train the children, hers taking the form of dragon lore, mainly. While the three were already amazing warriors (which neither told Sheel), they did not understand the tapestry of history, and those laws that bound dragon kind. Skye especially took to this aspect of their training, though Sheel, predictably, ignored Celesta more often than not. The only course study he paid attention to was war.
Myriad glanced up from his notes to see Sheel engaged in what appeared to be a war game. Different-colored stones lay on a marked sheet of parchment, and appeared to be tokens of each side's forces arrayed on a map. He was amused to note that the red stones- those he figured to be Sheel's own forces- were camped inside the chocobo pen of this very mountain. Glancing at Skye, Myriad flicked his fingers at the stones lining the map, using his wind control to arrange the tokens in a line of script:
Focus, Sheel. Not all life is a war.
The red dragon glowered at his brother before moving the map away. Celesta's hand came down on his shoulder when it was gone. "I would suggest focusing, son, as Myriad's rather injudicious use of magic says. Both of you focus on the work at hand.†Both assented before turning to their class work- an assignment asking for a report on the formation and function of the Dragon Council. Sheel's already had a topic line written, hastily scratched out. From his position, Myriad could make out "…dusty old ineffectual geezers.†He smirked, as he looked down at his own paper, still blank. The green had been referring to his notes before writing anything, preferring to play it safe. Skye, of course, was already up to a full sheet of parchment, and was now beginning to describe…. was it true? the personal histories of each sitting Council member in exquisite detail. Myriad shook his head at the strange obsessions of his brother. The three of them were as different as night and day- Sheel on one extreme, Skye on the other. Myriad thought glumly that he was just a nobody, destined to be overshadowed by his auspicious family. Shaking his head again, Myriad signed and applied himself to his work.
The past three years have been so busy, Myriad thought ruefully. While we haven't been as focused on war exercises, mother had been giving us so much history that, punctuated by literacy lessons, have kept us all so occupied. I wonder why this sudden rush in work?…Dad. It has to be. But how could this have anything to do with him? Myriad almost slapped himself as the obvious answer came to him. Of course- she's scared for him! I mean, we've seen the love they share…. not like Sheel's 'conquests'. Myriad looked at his older brother again, his –both of their- distraction evident. Just a week ago, Sheel had flown some female. Myriad didn't care himself, preferring solitude and peace over the incessant chattering of female kind. Then his wayward thoughts turned back to his father. But where IS he, and why did he leave? Myriad felt lonely without Shadowhunter around. Sheel's aggressive attitude, Skye's jokes and games, and Celesta's odd coolness towards him did not ease it at all.
"Myriad! Pay attention!†His raven haired, red robed mother stood above him. He flushed in shame as he realized Skye had turned in his sheets, and Sheel had a full paragraph on him. "Yes, mother…â€
Two weeks later, Shadowhunter returned. Exhausted, he immediately went to sleep, refusing to answer any questions before he awoke.


text:
Fun Things To Do In Philly – Are We Missing Something? Send Us Your Upcoming Philadelphia Events
- This event has passed.
Mr. Sonny James @ Morgan's Pier
September 12, 2015 @ 9:30 pm
An event every week that begins at 9:30 pm on Saturday, repeating until September 20, 2015
DJ Statik aka Mr. Sonny James is a writer, DJ, producer, videographer, and actor. He is also co-founder of Philadelphia's most prolific and well-respected DJ/Production crew, Illvibe Collective. Sonny is the official tour DJ for the legendary MC Bahamadia and other prominent international hip-hop artists. Famously noted as "your DJ's favorite DJ," His sets regularly hit popular venues across the world: Insert Coins (Las Vegas), Santos Party House, SOBs and LPR in New York City; Philly's Voyeur Nightclub, Silk City, and Morgan's Pier; Tube Station (Berlin), Djoon (Paris), and DUSK Complex in Atlantic City. He is an annual staple at the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, TX and at Miami's Winter Music Conference in South Beach. Statik's full and diverse roster includes a DJ residency for Heineken Green Room; events affiliated with two.one.five magazine; the legendary Beat Society producer showcase; and Illvibe Collective's highly anticipated traveling dance party series, BODYROCK—now in it's 14th year. in 2014, he was personally invited to the White House to DJ the African Summit dinner for President Obama, The First Lady and over 50 more world leaders.
WATCH THE FIREWORKS FROM THE CAMDEN WATERFRONT STARTING AT 9:30 PM – GREAT VIEWS FROM MORGAN's PIER!
$5 Cover Starts at 9:30pm

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Who doesn't like a good bubble butt for some sweet anal fucking? A perfect ass is hard to come by, so when it does it is something to marvel, and to shove your hard throbbing cock into! At PornMD.com we love to show off our hot porn stars with amazing behinds in a selection of free videos as great as these men's' bottoms. Come watch these sexy guys show off their amazing glutes, then get the most terrific rim jobs, or straight up pounded hard in the sweatiest bareback sessions you've ever seen! There is no dick too large for these hotties and their bodacious buns! See how much man meat they can take. Horny babes who take it in the rear are such fantastic sex partners and they know it. They are ready for anything, including your big rod! These hunks just can't wait for you to fill them up with hot sticky cum!
©PornMD.com, 2020


text:
In Bilbao you will be able to treat yourself to five-star cuisine enjoyed in unique and emblematic spaces. The Guggenheim Bilbao Museum has a restaurant where you can sample the culinary arts with dishes such as steamed hake, suckling pig and cod tripe, presented in an innovative way, in keeping with the museum's own style. Another interesting proposal is the restaurant in the Palacio Euskalduna. This is on the upper level and has a covered terrace which offers beautiful views over the new Bilbao. The menu is a good example of signature cuisine which combines tradition and creativity, to produce new sensations. Very nearby is another museum restaurant, located in the Fine Arts Museum. Here you can enjoy its meticulously-prepared minimalist cuisine while you gaze out over one of the best views in Bilbao.
Have you found this information useful?


text:
Interactive Shopping Experiences, intuitive usability and unlimited connection possibilities - these name just a few of your advantages with Shopware 6.
Get an impression yourself and instantly access Shopware 6 with the 30-day trial version. Explore the new administration by creating products, test the Rule Builder or dive into content and commerce with the Shopping Experience feature. You can view the results directly in your shop storefront at any time.


text:
Moderator: Community Team
b.k. barunt wrote:Snorri's like one of those fufu dogs who get all excited and dance around pissing on themself.
suggs wrote:scared off by all the pervs and wankers already? No? Then let me introduce myself, I'm Mr Pervy Wank.
Serbia wrote:Puff, you got to change your sig.
XenHu wrote:JESUS CHRIST! ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FUCKING MIND?!
That is all.
aage wrote:Never trust CYOC or pancake.
Wayne wrote:Wow, with a voice like that Dancing Mustard must get all the babes!
Garth wrote:Yeah, I bet he's totally studly and buff.
Users browsing this forum: No registered users


text:
In this episode of Shop Talk Matt shares some of his experience on the business side of developing and launching a product. There are a lot of lessons he's learned about the pitfalls that stand in the way between a project and a successful commercial product.
0:25-Soliciting Peer Review
Recently Ken McClain of Biomimetix came in to show us his Biomimetix Open Source Servos(BOSS). Ken wanted to get our feedback on his project, and we were able to give him advice based on our experience in the smart servo market. When you have other people reviewing your project you can get a fresh perspective that will catch problems and opportunities that you might have missed. Peer review can also establish relationships that can lead to awesome collaborations.
5:10-Ideas Are Cheap
Matt also talked about how many different people try to pitch products and ideas to Trossen Robotics. More often then not, these pitches are ideas, not finished products. There are a million ideas out there, but only a small percentage have actual products behind them. Real value comes from execution of an idea. Having a finished, tested and documented product is what really matters.
7:38-What is the Trade Off?
Matt talks about the trade offs that occur when you start selling your products through resellers. In exchange for exposure to your product and marketing, you need to give your resellers good margin. Without a healthy margin, resellers can't operate. Resellers need to document products, learn about them, answer tech support questions and more. Matt also talks about other hidden costs for resellers in stocking products.
12:20-What suggestions and tips would you give to people who want to show their products to retailers?
If you're serious about showing your project to a reseller, you need to be ready! You should have a finished product (and if you don't, be very clear that you are just soliciting feedback). You also should have pricing, both MSRP and wholesale. You need to do your own research your competition and similar products to figure out what you will sell your product for. Documentation is a must, including tech specs, dimensions and instructions. If you're not ready for prime-time and you're soliciting feedback, make sure to keep your questions short and direct.
17:56-Embracing Open Source
Another consideration when launching a product is how open you want to be with it. The Open Source movement has taken the tech world by storm, and there can be a lot of benefits to launching products openly. One great example of companies is Adafruit industries.
Being overly protectionist in the current market can have a negative impact on your product before you can even get it to market.
Tags: business development


text:
The superoxide-generating enzyme Nox2 contributes to hypertension and cardiovascular remodeling triggered by activation of the renin-angiotensin system. Multiple Nox2-expressing cells are implicated in angiotensin II (AngII)-induced pathophysiology, but the importance of Nox2 in leukocyte subsets is poorly understood. Here, we investigated the role of Nox2 in T cells, particularly Tregs. Mice globally deficient in Nox2 displayed increased numbers of Tregs in the heart at baseline whereas AngII-induced T-effector cell (Teffs) infiltration was inhibited. To investigate the role of Treg Nox2, we generated a mouse line with CD4-targeted Nox2 deficiency (Nox2fl/flCD4Cre+). These animals showed inhibition of AngII-induced hypertension and cardiac remodeling related to increased tissue-resident Tregs and reduction in infiltrating Teffs, including Th17 cells. The protection in Nox2fl/flCD4Cre+ mice was reversed by anti-CD25 Ab-depletion of Tregs. Mechanistically, Nox2–/y Tregs showed higher in vitro suppression of Teffs proliferation than WT Tregs, increased nuclear levels of FoxP3 and NF-κB, and enhanced transcription of CD25, CD39, and CD73. Adoptive transfer of Tregs confirmed that Nox2-deficient cells had greater inhibitory effects on AngII-induced heart remodeling than WT cells. These results identify a previously unrecognized role of Nox2 in modulating suppression of Tregs, which acts to enhance hypertension and cardiac remodeling.
Amber Emmerson, Silvia Cellone Trevelin, Heloise Mongue-Din, Pablo D. Becker, Carla Ortiz, Lesley A. Smyth, Qi Peng, Raul Elgueta, Greta Sawyer, Aleksandar Ivetic, Robert I. Lechler, Giovanna Lombardi, Ajay M. Shah
Fibroblasts are a dynamic cell type that achieve selective differentiated states to mediate acute wound healing and long-term tissue remodeling with scarring. With myocardial infarction injury, cardiomyocytes are replaced by secreted extracellular matrix proteins produced by proliferating and differentiating fibroblasts. Here, we employed 3 different mouse lineage-tracing models and stage-specific gene profiling to phenotypically analyze and classify resident cardiac fibroblast dynamics during myocardial infarction injury and stable scar formation. Fibroblasts were activated and highly proliferative, reaching a maximum rate within 2 to 4 days after infarction injury, at which point they expanded 3.5-fold and were maintained long term. By 3 to 7 days, these cells differentiated into myofibroblasts that secreted abundant extracellular matrix proteins and expressed smooth muscle α-actin to structurally support the necrotic area. By 7 to 10 days, myofibroblasts lost proliferative ability and smooth muscle α-actin expression as the collagen-containing extracellular matrix and scar fully matured. However, these same lineage-traced initial fibroblasts persisted within the scar, achieving a new molecular and stable differentiated state referred to as a matrifibrocyte, which was also observed in the scars of human hearts. These cells express common and unique extracellular matrix and tendon genes that are more specialized to support the mature scar.
Xing Fu, Hadi Khalil, Onur Kanisicak, Justin G. Boyer, Ronald J. Vagnozzi, Bryan D. Maliken, Michelle A. Sargent, Vikram Prasad, Iñigo Valiente-Alandi, Burns C. Blaxall, Jeffery D. Molkentin
SCN5A encodes the voltage-gated Na+ channel NaV1.5 that is responsible for depolarization of the cardiac action potential and rapid intercellular conduction. Mutations disrupting the SCN5A coding sequence cause inherited arrhythmias and cardiomyopathy, and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) linked to SCN5A splicing, localization, and function associate with heart failure–related sudden cardiac death. However, the clinical relevance of SNPs that modulate SCN5A expression levels remains understudied. We recently generated a transcriptome-wide map of microRNA (miR) binding sites in human heart, evaluated their overlap with common SNPs, and identified a synonymous SNP (rs1805126) adjacent to a miR-24 site within the SCN5A coding sequence. This SNP was previously shown to reproducibly associate with cardiac electrophysiological parameters, but was not considered to be causal. Here, we show that miR-24 potently suppresses SCN5A expression and that rs1805126 modulates this regulation. We found that the rs1805126 minor allele associates with decreased cardiac SCN5A expression and that heart failure subjects homozygous for the minor allele have decreased ejection fraction and increased mortality, but not increased ventricular tachyarrhythmias. In mice, we identified a potential basis for this in discovering that decreased Scn5a expression leads to accumulation of myocardial reactive oxygen species. Together, these data reiterate the importance of considering the mechanistic significance of synonymous SNPs as they relate to miRs and disease, and highlight a surprising link between SCN5A expression and nonarrhythmic death in heart failure.
Xiaoming Zhang, Jin-Young Yoon, Michael Morley, Jared M. McLendon, Kranti A. Mapuskar, Rebecca Gutmann, Haider Mehdi, Heather L. Bloom, Samuel C. Dudley, Patrick T. Ellinor, Alaa A. Shalaby, Raul Weiss, W.H. Wilson Tang, Christine S. Moravec, Madhurmeet Singh, Anne L. Taylor, Clyde W. Yancy, Arthur M. Feldman, Dennis M. McNamara, Kaikobad Irani, Douglas R. Spitz, Patrick Breheny, Kenneth B. Margulies, Barry London, Ryan L. Boudreau
Congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS) is an inherited channelopathy associated with life-threatening arrhythmias. LQTS type 2 (LQT2) is caused by mutations in KCNH2, which encodes the potassium channel hERG. We hypothesized that modifier genes are partly responsible for the variable phenotype severity observed in some LQT2 families. Here, we identified contributors to variable expressivity in an LQT2 family by using induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) and whole exome sequencing in a synergistic manner. We found that iPSC-CMs recapitulated the clinical genotype-phenotype discordance in vitro. Importantly, iPSC-CMs derived from the severely affected LQT2 patients displayed prolonged action potentials compared with cells from mildly affected first-degree relatives. The iPSC-CMs derived from all patients with hERG R752W mutation displayed lower IKr amplitude. Interestingly, iPSC-CMs from severely affected mutation-positive individuals exhibited greater L-type Ca2+ current. Whole exome sequencing identified variants of KCNK17 and the GTP-binding protein REM2, providing biologically plausible explanations for this variable expressivity. Genome editing to correct a REM2 variant reversed the enhanced L-type Ca2+ current and prolonged action potential observed in iPSC-CMs from severely affected individuals. Thus, our findings showcase the power of combining complementary physiological and genomic analyses to identify genetic modifiers and potential therapeutic targets of a monogenic disorder. Furthermore, we propose that this strategy can be deployed to unravel myriad confounding pathologies displaying variable expressivity.
Sam Chai, Xiaoping Wan, Angelina Ramirez-Navarro, Paul J. Tesar, Elizabeth S. Kaufman, Eckhard Ficker, Alfred L. George Jr., Isabelle Deschênes
Isolated left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) results from excessive trabeculation and impaired myocardial compaction during heart development. The extracellular matrix (ECM) that separates endocardium from myocardium plays a critical but poorly understood role in ventricular trabeculation and compaction. In an attempt to characterize solute carrier family 39 member 8–null (Slc39a8-null) mice, we discovered that homozygous null embryos do not survive embryogenesis, and exhibit a cardiac phenotype similar to human LVNC. Slc39a8 encodes a divalent metal cation importer that has been implicated in ECM degradation through the zinc/metal regulatory transcription factor 1 (Zn/MTF1) axis, which promotes the expression of ECM-degrading enzymes, including Adamts metalloproteinases. Here, we have shown that Slc39a8 is expressed by endothelial cells in the developing mouse heart, where it serves to maintain cellular Zn levels. Furthermore, Slc39a8-null hearts exhibited marked ECM accumulation and reduction of several Adamts metalloproteinases. Consistent with the in vivo observations, knockdown of SLC39A8 in HUVECs decreased ADAMTS1 transcription by decreasing cellular Zn uptake, and as a result, MTF1 transcriptional activity. Our study thus identifies a gene underlying ventricular trabeculation and compaction development, and a pathway regulating ECM during myocardial morphogenesis.
Wen Lin, Deqiang Li, Lan Cheng, Li Li, Feiyan Liu, Nicholas J. Hand, Jonathan A. Epstein, Daniel J. Rader
Induction of the cell cycle is emerging as an intervention to treat heart failure. Here, we tested the hypothesis that enhanced cardiomyocyte renewal in transgenic mice expressing cyclin D2 would be beneficial during hemodynamic overload. We induced pressure overload by transthoracic aortic constriction (TAC) or volume overload by aortocaval shunt in cyclin D2–expressing and WT mice. Although cyclin D2 expression dramatically improved survival following TAC, it did not confer a survival advantage to mice following aortocaval shunt. Cardiac function decreased following TAC in WT mice, but was preserved in cyclin D2–expressing mice. On the other hand, cardiac structure and function were compromised in response to aortocaval shunt in both WT and cyclin D2–expressing mice. The preserved function and improved survival in cyclin D2–expressing mice after TAC was associated with an approximately 50% increase in cardiomyocyte number and exaggerated cardiac hypertrophy, as indicated by increased septum thickness. Aortocaval shunt did not further impact cardiomyocyte number in mice expressing cyclin D2. Following TAC, cyclin D2 expression attenuated cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, reduced cardiomyocyte apoptosis, fibrosis, calcium/calmodulin–dependent protein kinase IIδ phosphorylation, brain natriuretic peptide expression, and sustained capillarization. Thus, we show that cyclin D2–induced cardiomyocyte renewal reduced myocardial remodeling and dysfunction after pressure overload but not after volume overload.
Karl Toischer, Wuqiang Zhu, Mark Hünlich, Belal A. Mohamed, Sara Khadjeh, Sean P. Reuter, Katrin Schäfer, Deepak Ramanujam, Stefan Engelhardt, Loren J. Field, Gerd Hasenfuss
Unbiased, "nontargeted" metabolite profiling techniques hold considerable promise for biomarker and pathway discovery, in spite of the lack of successful applications to human disease. By integrating nontargeted metabolomics, genetics, and detailed human phenotyping, we identified dimethylguanidino valeric acid (DMGV) as an independent biomarker of CT-defined nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the offspring cohort of the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) participants. We verified the relationship between DMGV and early hepatic pathology. Specifically, plasma DMGV levels were correlated with biopsy-proven nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in a hospital cohort of individuals undergoing gastric bypass surgery, and DMGV levels fell in parallel with improvements in post-procedure cardiometabolic parameters. Further, baseline DMGV levels independently predicted future diabetes up to 12 years before disease onset in 3 distinct human cohorts. Finally, we provide all metabolite peak data consisting of known and unidentified peaks, genetics, and key metabolic parameters as a publicly available resource for investigations in cardiometabolic diseases.
John F. O'Sullivan, Jordan E. Morningstar, Qiong Yang, Baohui Zheng, Yan Gao, Sarah Jeanfavre, Justin Scott, Celine Fernandez, Hui Zheng, Sean O'Connor, Paul Cohen, Ramachandran S. Vasan, Michelle T. Long, James G. Wilson, Olle Melander, Thomas J. Wang, Caroline Fox, Randall T. Peterson, Clary B. Clish, Kathleen E. Corey, Robert E. Gerszten
Atherosclerosis is the underlying etiology of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death worldwide. Atherosclerosis is a heterogeneous disease in which only a small fraction of lesions lead to heart attack, stroke, or sudden cardiac death. A distinct type of plaque containing large necrotic cores with thin fibrous caps often precipitates these acute events. Here, we show that Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase γ (CaMKIIγ) in macrophages plays a major role in the development of necrotic, thin-capped plaques. Macrophages in necrotic and symptomatic atherosclerotic plaques in humans as well as advanced atherosclerotic lesions in mice demonstrated activation of CaMKII. Western diet–fed LDL receptor–deficient (Ldlr–/–) mice with myeloid-specific deletion of CaMKII had smaller necrotic cores with concomitantly thicker collagen caps. These lesions demonstrated evidence of enhanced efferocytosis, which was associated with increased expression of the macrophage efferocytosis receptor MerTK. Mechanistic studies revealed that CaMKIIγ-deficient macrophages and atherosclerotic lesions lacking myeloid CaMKIIγ had increased expression of the transcription factor ATF6. We determined that ATF6 induces liver X receptor-α (LXRα), an Mertk-inducing transcription factor, and that increased MerTK expression and efferocytosis in CaMKIIγ-deficient macrophages is dependent on LXRα. These findings identify a macrophage CaMKIIγ/ATF6/LXRα/MerTK pathway as a key factor in the development of necrotic atherosclerotic plaques.
Amanda C. Doran, Lale Ozcan, Bishuang Cai, Ze Zheng, Gabrielle Fredman, Christina C. Rymond, Bernhard Dorweiler, Judith C. Sluimer, Joanne Hsieh, George Kuriakose, Alan R. Tall, Ira Tabas
The master cytokine TGF-β mediates tissue fibrosis associated with inflammation and tissue injury. TGF-β induces fibroblast activation and differentiation into myofibroblasts that secrete extracellular matrix proteins. Canonical TGF-β signaling mobilizes Smad2 and Smad3 transcription factors that control fibrosis by promoting gene expression. However, the importance of TGF-β–Smad2/3 signaling in fibroblast-mediated cardiac fibrosis has not been directly evaluated in vivo. Here, we examined pressure overload–induced cardiac fibrosis in fibroblast- and myofibroblast-specific inducible Cre-expressing mouse lines with selective deletion of the TGF-β receptors Tgfbr1/2, Smad2, or Smad3. Fibroblast-specific deletion of Tgfbr1/2 or Smad3, but not Smad2, markedly reduced the pressure overload–induced fibrotic response as well as fibrosis mediated by a heart-specific, latency-resistant TGF-β mutant transgene. Interestingly, cardiac fibroblast–specific deletion of Tgfbr1/2, but not Smad2/3, attenuated the cardiac hypertrophic response to pressure overload stimulation. Mechanistically, loss of Smad2/3 from tissue-resident fibroblasts attenuated injury-induced cellular expansion within the heart and the expression of fibrosis-mediating genes. Deletion of Smad2/3 or Tgfbr1/2 from cardiac fibroblasts similarly inhibited the gene program for fibrosis and extracellular matrix remodeling, although deletion of Tgfbr1/2 uniquely altered expression of an array of regulatory genes involved in cardiomyocyte homeostasis and disease compensation. These findings implicate TGF-β–Smad2/3 signaling in activated tissue-resident cardiac fibroblasts as principal mediators of the fibrotic response.
Hadi Khalil, Onur Kanisicak, Vikram Prasad, Robert N. Correll, Xing Fu, Tobias Schips, Ronald J. Vagnozzi, Ruijie Liu, Thanh Huynh, Se-Jin Lee, Jason Karch, Jeffery D. Molkentin
Defective protein quality control (PQC) systems are implicated in multiple diseases. Molecular chaperones and co-chaperones play a central role in functioning PQC. Constant mechanical and metabolic stress in cardiomyocytes places great demand on the PQC system. Mutation and downregulation of the co-chaperone protein BCL-2–associated athanogene 3 (BAG3) are associated with cardiac myopathy and heart failure, and a BAG3 E455K mutation leads to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). However, the role of BAG3 in the heart and the mechanisms by which the E455K mutation leads to DCM remain obscure. Here, we found that cardiac-specific Bag3-KO and E455K-knockin mice developed DCM. Comparable phenotypes in the 2 mutants demonstrated that the E455K mutation resulted in loss of function. Further experiments revealed that the E455K mutation disrupted the interaction between BAG3 and HSP70. In both mutants, decreased levels of small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) were observed, and a subset of proteins required for cardiomyocyte function was enriched in the insoluble fraction. Together, these observations suggest that interaction between BAG3 and HSP70 is essential for BAG3 to stabilize sHSPs and maintain cardiomyocyte protein homeostasis. Our results provide insight into heart failure caused by defects in BAG3 pathways and suggest that increasing BAG3 protein levels may be of therapeutic benefit in heart failure.
Xi Fang, Julius Bogomolovas, Tongbin Wu, Wei Zhang, Canzhao Liu, Jennifer Veevers, Matthew J. Stroud, Zhiyuan Zhang, Xiaolong Ma, Yongxin Mu, Dieu-Hung Lao, Nancy D. Dalton, Yusu Gu, Celine Wang, Michael Wang, Yan Liang, Stephan Lange, Kunfu Ouyang, Kirk L. Peterson, Sylvia M. Evans, Ju Chen


text:
"A timely and well-written book! … [It] helps parents prepare their children for the future…."
–J. Kevin Nugent, Ph.D., Director, The Brazelton Institute, Children's Hospital Boston and Harvard University; Professor, Child and Family Studies, University of Massachusetts Amherst
"This book is sure to become a classic! … Parents should appreciate this important book. Pearson … inspire[s] all of us to celebrate the richness of linguistic diversity in our lives."
–Kenji Hakuta, Ph.D., Lee L. Jacks Professor of Education, Stanford University, Author of Mirror of Language: The Debate on Bilingualism
"This is a book that inspires confidence that the choice of bilingualism is a good one for parents, for children, and for our society."
–Donna Christian, Ph.D., President, Center for Applied Linguistics, Washington D.C.
"Pearson has used her keen insights about the issues that parents are concerned about to paint an in-depth and interesting-to-read handbook."
–Fred Genesee, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, McGill University, Co-author of Dual Language Instruction: A Handbook for Enriched Education
"Barbara Pearson' s [book] is a wonderfully written, sparkling composite of research results, personal narratives, practical advice, and wise enthusiasm for the project of bilingualism […]."
–Thomas Roeper, Ph.D., Professor of Linguistics, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Author of The Prism of Gramma
"I thoroughly agree with the author's insights and recommendations which are both research-based and flexible and comprehensive enough to accommodate different family situations."
–Lourdes C. Rovira, Ed.D., Associate Superintendent, Curriculum and Instructional Support, Miami-Dade County Public Schools
"I enjoyed reading Raising a Bilingual Child and found it informative and accessible."
–Chris Rosenberg, Principal, Starr King Elementary School, San Francisco


text:
Boy in school flap over cystic fibrosis
PALO ALTO 11-year-old's mutation for cystic fibrosis makes him unsafe, officials say
By all accounts, Colman Chadam is a healthy, active 11-year-old boy who fit right in at Palo Alto's Jordan Middle School as a new kid in town.
Except now, school officials believe his genetic makeup means he is a health risk to some of its other students and ordered that he be moved to another district middle school 3 miles away.
Colman carries the genetic mutations for cystic fibrosis - but his doctor and parents say he does not have the disease. His parents, out of an abundance of caution, made the disclosure about his condition on a medical disclosure form when he began the school year.
The district - also out of an abundance of caution - decided that Colman would need to change schools seven weeks into the year because other students at Jordan have cystic fibrosis.
While the disease is not contagious, the bacteria those with cystic fibrosis carry can be dangerous to people with the same disease, and non-siblings are advised to stay at least 3 to 6 feet away from each other.
Colman's parents, Jaimy and Jennifer Chadam, tried to persuade administrators that Colman doesn't have classic cystic fibrosis and therefore isn't a risk.
On Wednesday afternoon, teachers pulled Colman aside to tell him to say goodbye to his friends.
"They made this decision without seeing one medical record on my son," Jennifer Chadam said. "We were shocked and dismayed."
Friday, the Chadams took the district to court to try and keep their son from being moved. The judge did not allow Colman to return immediately to Jordan, but did schedule a hearing to determine if he should be moved.
Dangerous infections
Cystic fibrosis comes in many forms, but is typically associated with mucous buildup in the lungs, causing dangerous infections that can be fatal.
While Colman carries the genetic mutations, he has never had the classic lung problems, has never required treatment and tested negative on a sweat test, the definitive diagnostic tool, his parents said Thursday.
A few weeks into the school year at Jordan Middle School, school officials took note of Colman's medical history, information that eventually was shared with another Jordan parent whose two children have classic cystic fibrosis and are predisposed to chronic lung infections.
"The school district freaked out," Colman's mother said.
It was unclear Friday whether Colman's medical privacy rights were violated during the process. Until the Oct. 25 hearing to determine whether he can stay or must go to Terman Middle School, Colman will stay at home doing an independent study, his parents said.
An 'unusual situation'
Palo Alto Unified administrators did what they thought best given the information they had and the significant risk to students, said the district's attorney, Lenore Silverman.
"This is a very unusual situation," she said. "The district is not willing to risk a potentially life-threatening illness among kids."
The administrators sought medical advice, Silverman said Thursday, which resulted in a recommendation from Dr. Carlos Milla, of Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, saying that, ideally, children with cystic fibrosis would attend separate schools.
The recommendation was not based on knowledge of Colman's specific medical history, his parents and their attorney said prior to Friday's court appearance.
Colman's only link to cystic fibrosis was a genetic test done 11 years ago, his mother said.
"Honestly, if I felt Colman was a risk to others, I would move him," she said. "I don't want anyone to get sick."
Genetic testing
In decades past, far less was known about cystic fibrosis. It was thought that a child either had the disease, typically determined by a sweat test, or didn't.
With the help of genetic testing, researchers have found that 1 in 25 people are carriers, and there are up to 2,000 genetic variations.
In the evolving field of cystic fibrosis diagnosis and treatment, there is debate about which variations mean someone has the disease versus being a carrier only.
Because of Colman's rare genetic combination, his parents and doctors have closely monitored him to make sure he doesn't have the disease.
His physician has documented that he doesn't, and he never had a clinical diagnosis of the disease, his parents said.
"For some reason, the school district wants to diagnose my son before the doctors know how," Jennifer Chadam said.
If a child has a normal sweat test and doesn't have classic cystic fibrosis pulmonary issues, "that child is at absolutely no risk to the children that have classic cystic fibrosis," said Dr. Dennis Nielson, UCSF chief of pediatric pulmonary medicine and head of the UCSF Cystic Fibrosis Clinic. Nielson has no specific knowledge of Colman's case.
Other possible protocols
Still, school districts have wide latitude in identifying health and safety concerns and in taking action.
Yet even if more than one child at a school has classic cystic fibrosis, it's unclear whether a midyear transfer is necessary.
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation outlines standard protocols - disinfecting, wiping desks, washing hands, different classrooms, for example - to put in place in case multiple children with classic cystic fibrosis attend the same school.
The Chadams hope their son will be able to stay at Jordan, which his brother also attends.
He was the new kid in school back in August and was just starting to feel settled, his parents said.
His Jordan teachers told his parents he was "optimistic and enthusiastic and overall, awesome," Jennifer Chadam said. "Now he's been told he's unsafe."
Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: email@example.com


text:
Chrono Rage
What do you need help on? Cancel X
Chrono Rage is a fast paced shoot them up for the PC for casual as well as hardcore gamers. Chrono Rage confronts the player with a pixel swarm coming from the past and ready for battle. Great dexterity, nerves of steel and blazing reflexes are the weapons needed to tame this game.


text:
Views: 13
Desire:Acute sense of need of achievement or attainment of what is believed to be essential for the fulfillment of their needs.
Passion:strong interest in something, the thing that arouses such interest.
When you have a big desire to win and great passion for Tennis, you are in a best way of thinking.
When you think In this way, your emotions are coinvlte and you feel a great energy and what will come out of your mouth is: I can certainly do it...Your mouth will speaks according to what is in your heart.
© 2020 Created by Mark / The Mayor. Powered by


text:
Welcome to the world of Circu, a world full of magic and fantasy, where your dreams turn into reality! CIRCU's vision is focused on being part of the child's world, being present in the most ambitious, luxurious and charming decoration projects and interiors for children.
Design unique, exclusive and magical furniture with an exceptional design.
Our hand-crafted and hand-tailored pieces are made by the best and most experienced craftsmen in Portugal, combining the finest materials with a lot of passion, so we can deliver only the highest quality furnishings.


text:
Write Your Own Review
Linen dresses, cotton dresses and sweaters on our website are designed by designers in our team, including 8 top designers from China, Japan, France and India.
Our dresses are not mass produced. So we have very low stock inventory, to ensure girls dressed in our clothes unique and stylish.
We only pick up fabrics of the best quality and in the latest pattern, to keep the dresses soft, breathy and in fashion.
Flattering cut for every dress. You will find special and pretty details for very dress, inspired either from the traditional Chinese, Japan, France or India elements.
Our dresses are handmade by honest and smoke-free family company.
Notice: Our dresses sells out very fast. Most of them won't come back in stock again. But we have new designs frequently.
We ship worldwide by USPS or DHL. Tracking numbers provided.
You may contact us via email: email@example.com or telephone: 008615120060286
Linen dresses, cotton dress, summer linen dress, plus size linen dress, linen sundress, linen maxi dress


text:
They waited for this, struggled through bleak years for this, anticipated it and anticipated it, then the first day of the Raiders' thrilling new era of salary-cap freedom arrived and …
Wait, the Raiders actually lost more good players Tuesday than they acquired?
That was an odd thing to happen on the first day of the NFL's movement period, especially for a franchise almost bereft of decent talent already.
Oh, and the Raiders also began the day with more than $50 million in available cash under the salary cap limit.
Result: They lost good young left tackle Jared Veldheer to Arizona, lost solid young defensive end Lamarr Houston to Chicago, and lost productive tailback Rashad Jennings to the New York Giants.
Nobody is claiming that those three are destined to be superstars or even would have done much to prevent yet another 4-12 Raiders season in 2014.
But they were among the Raiders' most valued players — possibly the three most valuable — and none of them got mega-bucks to leave the Raiders.
In fact, Veldheer got less than the Raiders eventually paid to land former St. Louis offensive lineman Rodger Saffold, who has missed 17 games in the past three seasons.
And it's not like the Raiders are teeming with credible replacements for any player, at any position, which is partly why they've gone 4-12 the past two seasons.
Just as a reminder, Veldheer, Houston and Jennings were three of the four pending free agents that general manager Reggie McKenzie suggested in January that he most wanted to keep.
The fourth was safety Charles Woodson who is 37, still unsigned, and not very valuable any more.
My general point: The Raiders had more than enough cap space to afford re-signing all three, but they couldn't afford the talent drain if they left.
And the Raiders ended up taking the loss, anyway.
Now let's be clear, it's not like huge infusions of free-agent spending are guaranteed to bring success and in fact many teams have caused enormous problems by spending too much and too wildly.
That would include the Raiders, many times, which is a large part of how they got into this sorry state a decade ago, by the way.
Sitting out the hottest free-agent bidding isn't usually a bad way to play it in March and Tuesday's inactivity wasn't all by itself a devastating blow to the Raiders' immediate or distant future.
But that has to be added to McKenzie's very shaky 2013 draft, the signing of Matt Flynn and various other non-terrific McKenzie moves over his tenure, all leading to the current bottom-rung roster.
What you have left is a franchise that does not quite seem to have a lot of upward momentum, precisely when the owner, the players and the fan base presumed that the tide was about to turn.
Of course, there is plenty of time and money for the Raiders to sign other players to solidify some of the team's most glaring weaknesses.
But now the Raiders also have more weaknesses, after losing Veldheer, Houston and Jennings, with zero guarantee that McKenzie can even bring the Raiders back to their 2013 talent level.
Again, when you have more than $50 million in cap space and very little talent, you should be adding talent, not waving bye-bye to your most valuable assets.
McKenzie could've ensured keeping one of the trio by using the franchise tag — Veldheer was the likeliest option — but for some reason the G.M. decided not to.
He could've easily tagged Veldheer for $11.6 million in 2014 and had plenty of spending money left over; McKenzie could've signed Saffold, too, and then he'd have himself the foundation of a new-era Raiders offensive line.
But instead, McKenzie watched Veldheer, Houston and Jennings walk and instead re-signed Darren McFadden to a discount deal.
Jennings was healthy and consistent last season for the Raiders, and as usual, McFadden was neither.
And remember, McKenzie used his first two draft picks in 2013 on cornerback D.J. Hayden, who missed most of training camp and half of the season with injuries, and offensive lineman Menelik Watson, who was coming off a major injury in college and only played five games for the Raiders last season.
Here's my motto for McKenzie's Raiders: Get injured, get paid; stay healthy, stay away.
How did the Raiders lose talent Tuesday when they should've been able to keep almost everybody they wanted?
Maybe McKenzie was fibbing about how much he liked Veldheer, Houston and Jennings … and it's clear from the contract offers that he liked Saffold better than Veldheer, at least.
OK, we'll see how Saffold does in 2014.
And maybe McKenzie also badly miscalculated the market and the players' feelings about the Raiders.
Either way, McKenzie's track record seems to suggest that he made a blunder in some way to produce what happened Tuesday.
This was supposed to be the dawn of a new, aggressive Raiders financial era and now it's almost worse. The Raiders have money but Tuesday at least just couldn't find many good players who wanted to take it from them.
Read Tim Kawakami's Talking Points blog at blogs.mercurynews.com/kawakami. Contact him at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Raiders land former Rams lineman Rodger Saffold. PAGE 3


text: Langkawi Cable Car ADD TO TRIP PLANNER REMOVE FROM TRIP PLANNER At 709 metres above sea level, the cable car ride up to Langkawi's second highest peak is truly an experience not to be missed. Throughout the 20-minute ride, you will pass over jungle waterfalls and a thick carpet of virgin rainforest. On a clear day, you can see parts of Thailand towards the north and Indonesia towards the south-west. Travelling at a steep incline of 42 degrees, over a distance of 2.2 kilometres from the base station to the two mountain-top stations, even the gentlest breeze is enough to send one's stomach churning. But once you get used to the sensation of being airborne, the ride quickly turns into an amazing, exhilarating experience. At the top, a sky bridge offers a breathtaking view of Langkawi. Remember to wear comfortable shoes as it is quite a walk up to the hanging bridge. The cable car operates from 10am to 7pm, subject to weather conditions. The service may be halted during strong winds. The cost is MYR 15 for adults with a MyKad and MYR 5 for children (prices subject to change). Getting Here By Car or TaxiLangkawi Cable Car is located on the southwest coast of the main island, just a 30-minute drive from Kuah Town and only 15 minutes from Langkawi International Airport. Your best bet is to either hire a car or a taxi for the day and explore the island at your own pace. Who To Contact Langkawi Cable Car Address:Panorama Langkawi Sdn Bhd Cable Car Station, Oriental Village Burau Bay, 07000 Langkawi Kedah, Malaysia Phone: +604-959 4225/1225 Fax: +604-959 1121/4121 Email: email@example.com Visit website Related Brochure View all brochure


text:
Where ideas learn to fly
The Lufthansa Innovation Hub in Berlin is developing the future of travel. We visit the think tank belonging to Europe's biggest airline.
If you want to know what the future of travel will look like, you had better be fit. The only way to get to Lufthansa's Innovation Hub in the two-story attic apartment of an old building in Berlin's Mitte district – where 32 tech-savvy men and women are thinking hard about revolutionary developments like self-driving, flying taxis – is to climb the stairs the old-fashioned and most sustainable way: on foot. This is probably no accident. Startups everywhere, not just in Silicon Valley, are expected to be fast, agile and flexible. In short, everything that traditional German corporations with their underground parking, lobbies and elevators, are often not. This is why Daimler, Thyssen-Krupp and Deutsche Bank are spending money on labs, hubs or accelerator programs. In Germany, there are now roughly one hundred such startup-like units whose purpose is to advance digitalization within the companies that are funding them and open up new areas of business. Rather than feel threatened by the next big technological innovations, companies are driving them themselves. In 2017 and 2018, German business magazine Capital and management consultancy Infront Consulting evaluated 60 German labs and accelerators: The Lufthansa Innovation Hub was the front-runner.
Fifth floor, up under the roof: a sparsely furnished, 350-square-meter space. In 2016, the Hub moved into the shopping triangle between Rosenthaler Straße, Neuer Schönhauser Straße and Weinmeisterstraße in Berlin. It looks temporary, but Lufthansa will be financing the experiment until at least 2020. Highlighting the Hub's autonomy, a green MS-DOS lamp on the wall serves as an additional logo alongside the Lufthansa crane. For employees from other parts of the Group, this is their first experience with a startup. For those from the startup world, it's their first time working for a big company.
Rather than feel threatened by the next big innovations, companies are driving them themselves.
Gleb Tritus, 33, fair hair, three-day stubble, easy smile, is not an elevator guy. He has founded four startups, including an online marketplace for concert tickets and a shopping platform for cosmetics. In addition, he has also supported other startups in the role of business angel. Tritus has been with the Innovation Hub from the start – since 2014. Today, he's the managing director of this wholly-owned Lufthansa subsidiary, responsible for the development of the Innovation Hub – and for changing the way we travel.
There's quite a bit that Tritus would like to change. "All that waiting around is a real waste of time – the long trip to the airport, the security checks, the time spent at the gate. Then there's often a disconnect between the information on the airport information boards, what the airlines communicate and what digital travel updates provide. Here the flight is on time, there it's delayed and elsewhere it's not even shown. Luckily, everyone involved is working hard to improve transparency and create a seamless travel experience." Unnecessary disruptions while traveling on business is something Tritus and his team have also experienced. Working closely with Lufthansa is crucial because of the airline's specific knowledge, and the team visits headquarters in Frankfurt at least once a week. The team focuses especially on areas where they can create immediate value for travelers and have the means to change things. "The lines in front of security are an important part of a customer's experience," Tritus says, "but airport operators are in charge of their own infrastructure, so in areas like that, we need to collaborate and work with what already exists."
Baggage delays are another matter entirely. LINEA, a system developed by the Hub, informs customers by email or text message if their baggage won't arrive as planned. After clicking on the link, you choose your preferred mode of compensation: a voucher, miles or a direct payment. "Customers no longer have to go to a counter and fill out a form," says Tritus. The model is currently being tested for delayed luggage only, but it will eventually also be used for flight delays, rendering companies that claim compensation on behalf of passengers superfluous. Tritus and his team also designed a new type of ticket called a Flightpass, a kind of strip ticket for air travel. Within a week, they had a sales model in place: an online shop all set to sell 300 tickets. The tickets proved so popular that the Lufthansa subsidiary SWISS launched a trial run, selling out within a day. Set up a hypothesis, create a prototype, confirm the hypothesis: exemplary! "We were able to gain new customers who also flew far more often," Tritus says with satisfaction. And they did all that without months of testing or spending lots and lots of money.
In 2016, the travel industry achieved worldwide sales of 2.3 trillion euros. Indirect sales were even higher, reaching 7.6 trillion. The sector is growing far more quickly than the world economy. Despite or perhaps because of the increased importance of digitalization, online bookings, evaluation portals and platforms such as Uber and Airbnb are changing travel behavior. How can you prevent an online ticket agent from popping up overnight and disrupting ticket sales? Or Google Home or Amazon Echo from jumping in? The team analyzes technical micro- and macrotrends to find answers to questions like these.
Enter tall, dark-haired trend and market analyst Lennart Dobravsky, 31. He monitors 2500 selected travel sector startups for the Hub. "These include inspirational platforms (Where do I want to go?), booking and sharing (How do I share my experiences with friends and family?)," he explains. The conference room where he and his colleagues are sitting boasts white walls, a white table and a whiteboard covered with neon-colored sticky notes. The next five years of the Lufthansa Group's digital strategy are being planned right here, but the team has its sights on the more distant future, too: How will the travel experience change on ultralong-haul flights with no stopovers? Will people jet around on virtual flights like at the VR restaurant First Airlines in Tokyo? Can blockchain technology make tickets transferable? The trend analyst investigates how close these technical revolutions are to becoming reality.
"One trend that is already establishing itself is the hyperpersonalization and individualization of the travel experience," says Tritus – technologies, in other words, that accompany the customer from the booking stage to the end of their trip. Airlines tend to focus on safety and security, speed, noise control and emissions, and are subject to high cost pressures, so it's not always easy to take individual wishes into account. This is where the Lufthansa Innovation Hub comes in. Take, for example, airlinecheckins.com, another Hub project. It works like this: Users send their booking confirmation to the free service, which automatically checks them in online according to their saved seat preferences once check-in is available. Their boarding card is then sent to them by email or text message. The service is available for more than 200 airlines and has been very well received. "Users send us thank-you emails and suggestions for improvement," says Tritus. And what's in it for Lufthansa? "We learn how travelers tick even if they don't fly with us." Age, place of residence, destination, ticket price: Data like this is an important competition factor, even if it's shared.
External programmers have had access to selected Lufthansa Group data via the Open API interface since 2015. Fares and catering inventory can be integrated into online services and travel apps. "Making this data available had huge symbolic value," says Tritus. Just recently, access to booking functions was granted as well. So a provider who offers customers in Tokyo an evening in Paris by way of VR glasses and a fancy French meal could conceivably offer air tickets along with the dessert. "This could open up new, highly lucrative distribution channels for our company in the medium term," Tritus prophesies. Investment possibilities could also arise: "If we notice that an app is doing very well, a Lufthansa investment might speed up the process and we would then participate in its growth."
Not all of the projects conceived at the Hub are immediately successful. Some are scrapped, others are put on ice. But if you're flexible and fearless and like to try things out, you can help shape the radical change that is currently shaking up the airline business. In other words: Don't wait for the elevator if you want to take off.
The future of travel starts here
Buy flight time for a fixed price per minute and choose from 110 European destinations.
If you want to insure your laptop but not buy trip cancellation insurance, an individualized policy is what you need.
This app lets you reserve access tickets to airport lounges worldwide – regardless of the airline you're flying with.


text:
By Will Swanton
BRISBANE, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Former U.S. Open champion Samantha Stosur conceded there was no magic solution to her problems on home courts after a shock loss to Sofia Arvidsson in the opening round of the Brisbane International on Monday.
The world number nine, who has failed to match expectations in Australian tournaments, lost 7-6 7-5 to the Swede five weeks after ankle surgery and only a fortnight before the Australian Open.
"Just really disappointed again, leaving Brisbane so early," Stosur told reporters. "I think it was some good tennis and some pretty average tennis at times."
Stosur said the surgery and the subsequent shortage of training had not played a part in her defeat.
"I wasn't going into the match thinking 'Oh my God, I haven't done this or that'," she said.
"I gave myself every opportunity to try and play as well as I could but for sure, I have not practised enough.
"I guess going into the match you want to think that that's going to be enough, but I think tonight it probably showed that it certainly wasn't enough.
"I have a fair bit of work to do ahead of me. You could put it down to being a bit rusty and it's the first match."
Saturation media coverage and public expectation is again accompanying Stosur's attempt to add the Australian Open to the U.S. Open title she secured by upsetting Serena Williams in 2011.
"I don't know how much of that really played into it," she said. "I've said it before, it's great playing out on a court where you've got the crowd behind you and trying to cheer you on and all that."
Stosur's last tournament before the Australian Open starts in Sydney on Sunday.
"I know that panicking doesn't help anyone get a good result or feel better," she said. "There is no magic dust that's going to make anything go away or fix it overnight or anything. I'm not the first player to have their home grand slam and not perform.
""There has been a few Australian and French players, you name it. It's a tough thing.
"Again, would I rather have a grand slam in my country than not? I would.
"All you can do is try and play your best. I know that people believe in me and what I'm trying to do are the right things. You just really want to perform right here, right now. That's what I'm going to keep trying to do." (Editing by John Mehaffey)


text:
NSA Whistleblower Edward Snowden's Claims Are Believable Because We've Heard Them Before
With a video interview released Sunday by The Guardian, we now know 29-year-old contractor Edward Snowden as the whistleblower behind leaks of secret NSA spying programs.
There's a big reason why many are quick to believe his claims of vast government surveillance — with the NSA intercepting millions of phone calls and emails, and having supposed access to tech companies — because we've actually heard it all before.
Many will debate over the coming days and weeks whether he's a hero or a traitor — or if he's possibly stretching the truth — but it's worth noting another, perhaps even more credible whistleblower that worked for the NSA.
His name is William Binney, a 32-year veteran of the secretive agency, and one of the best codebreakers in NSA history — who appeared in an Aug. 2012 video shot by Laura Poitras for The New York Times.
Binney detailed a top-secret surveillance program called "Stellar Wind" — the scope of which had never been public — which tracked electronic activities, including phone calls, emails, banking, travel records, and social media, and then mapped them to collect "all the attributes that any individual has" in every type of activity and build a profile based on the data.
"So that now I can pull your entire life together from all those domains and map it out and show your entire life over time," Binney said in the interview.
From The Times:
"The decision must have been made in September 2001," Mr. Binney told me and the cinematographer Kirsten Johnson. "That's when the equipment started coming in." In this Op-Doc, Mr. Binney explains how the program he created for foreign intelligence gathering was turned inward on this country. He resigned over this in 2001 and began speaking out publicly in the last year.
Another whistleblower named Thomas Tamm — an official with the Justice Department — also came forward after uncovering the Bush administration's secret authorizations to intercept emails and phone calls inside the U.S. without warrants.
From Michael Isikoff, writing in Newsweek:
The unit had special rules that appeared to be hiding the NSA activities from a panel of federal judges who are required to approve such surveillance. When Tamm started asking questions, his supervisors told him to drop the subject. He says one volunteered that "the program" (as it was commonly called within the office) was "probably illegal."
In his interview in a Hong Kong hotel room, Edward Snowden told The Guardian the "intelligence community in general is focused on getting intelligence wherever it can by any means possible."
With programs like Stellar Wind, and this week's uncovering of PRISM — he may be right.
Watch the full interview with William Binney at the NYT --->
Please follow Military & Defense on Twitter and Facebook.
Join the conversation about this story »
See Also: