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Our Readers Recommend posts are always great! I love hearing from you who the best businesses to frequent are, especially since I obviously can't try the whole county out myself!! When it comes to dance studios for your beginning dancer, here's what our Dance Moms recommend! We've included the comments from Facebook, the number of moms who wrote "recommend" posts, and the number of "likes" that posts got for each studio, total. Some moms don't feel the need to write a new post when their favorite has been mentioned, but we want to include their support!
Studios, by "region" and then in alphabetical order (or I think, anyway- but remember, I had brain surgery…)
Dance Studios for Kids in Haymarket/Gainesville/Bristow:
AG Arts– private, professional ballet classes and coaching. Caters to a lot of home schooled dancers. Simply the best! (recommended x2, 2 likes)
Gainesville Dance Center– They are so great!! Starts at age 3 and up (recommended x1, 1 like )
Gainesville Ballet– our daughter has had the wonderful opportunity to dance on-stage in two Nutcrackers, Coppelia, and Swan Lake beside professional and pre-professional dancers who gently mentor and support. She is now age 7. (recommended x1, 2 likes)
Tiny Dancers- started out daughter there at 2 with Mommy and Me classes, now she's 5 she's been in 2 recitals! Tiny Dancers is geared towards kids 2-12. (recommended x1, 1 like)
Dance Studios for Kids in Manassas:
Academy of Russian Ballet– Much more modest performances than the other places I've seen. Starts at age 3, three professional productions a year with guest artists (optional participation) students have gone on to the Bolshoi Academy in Moscow and other programs. (recommended x2, 5 likes)
Centreville Dance Academy (This isn't PWC, but since some of you are soooo very close to the line) (recommended x1, 1 like)
Northern Virginia Dance Academy- Professional, reasonable, end of year performace free and open to the public. We love it there and appreciate the emphasis on modesty. (recommended x1, 1 like)
Showcase Dance- great program for all ages, appropriate costumes, reasonable prices! (recommended x1, 1 like)
Spotlight Dance- great teachers and prices (recommended x3, 3 likes)
Stage Door Dance Studio- Starts at age 3…love these ladies & all the very talented dancers they create! One daughter started at 3, the other at 2, they both love it! (recommended x2, 1 like)
Virginia Dance Center– starts at age 2 and has dance camps over the summer. Has mommy and me class and summer camps. Great instructors and staff!! The training is incredible!! (recommended x6, 17 likes )
Dance Studios for Kids in Woodbridge/Lake Ridge/Dumfries/Montclair:
All That Jazz- starts at age 2, All That Jazz is wonderful! Ms. Rebecca and her entire staff are fabulous! You can watch them dance on TV from Lobby or a double mirror by class! The teachers are the best! My youngest does creative movement and my oldest did hip hop. (recommended x6, 27 likes )
Dance Etc- We love Dance Etc.! (recommended x2, 1 like)
DeGrasse Dance Studio (recommended x1, 1 like)
Linda's Ballet Workshop- Ms. Linda is THE BEST!!! Her philosophy is to dance for the love of it. No pressure…just a love of dance!! We have been at Linda's Ballet Studio in Lake Ridge for 3 years. Our daughter started at 3 years old. We love it there! Reasonable prices and FABULOUS teachers make it an ideal studio. You won't be disappointed. Linda's Ballet Workshop hands down! They even have adaptive ballet for handicapped students. Also love Linda's! One more for Linda's Ballet she taught me for 14 years and is now teaching all 3 of my girls. We LOVE it there- learn to dance for the love of it- no matter your size, age, or skill level! Perfect for little preschoolers to adult dancers! (recommended x9, 29 likes)
Reader recommendations are voluntarily offered, and do not suggest an endorsement from PwcMoms. If you'd like to add your suggestions or endorsement, do so in the comments!


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Cleveland's all-star designer
Kelsey Holmberg, Contributing Reporter
April 1, 2016
Most designers would be caught completely off guard by a task like making a garment entirely out of cotton swabs, bandages, safety towels and a thermometer wrapper. But for Valerie Mayen, it's no problem. "I love working with unconventional material," says Mayen. "If you have the same canvas...

subset: commoncrawl


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Austin Althoff '14 – Four days, seven alumni speakers, and eight presentations later the inaugural Healthcare Immersion Program has come to an end. I believe this program was a great experience that examined the many different aspects of the ever-changing healthcare industry. It was very interesting to hear the different aspects of the healthcare industry from people who practice medicine, work in management, and work on the business development side of the industry. These discussions provided important information on how the future of the healthcare industry and the Affordable Care Act will affect patient, physician, and those involved on the business aspect of the industry.
On the first day of the program we heard presentations from Barney Niezer '78 and Dr. Frank Kolisek '82. This was very interesting as Mr. Niezer has been involved in hospital management and development in Fort Wayne, while Dr. Kolisek is an orthopedic surgeon for Ortho Indy. Mr. Niezer gave an in depth analysis of how hospital development has affected the Fort Wayne healthcare system, and how this will affect the future of the healthcare industry for Fort Wayne. Dr Kolisek gave a very good perspective of how the changes in healthcare from the early 1990s and the Affordable Care Act are affecting physicians and private practice. This was very interesting information that showed how the way physicians provide healthcare has been changing and will experience even more changes in the immediate future.
For day two we were able to tour St. Vincent Hospital and the Peyton Manning Children's Hospital with Dr. Bernie Emkes '70. This was an awesome experience as we got to see the aspects of how a big hospital organization operates. We even got to meet another Wally, Dr. Little '92 who is one of the two main doctors in the E.R. of the Peyton Manning Children's Hospital. After our visit to St. Vincent, we visited Scott Benedict '98 at Tx:Team. Here we got to learn about how companies are providing on-site healthcare to its employees. Additionally, this showed how companies are working to provide healthcare to its employees.
For our final day in Indianapolis we were able to hear from Dr. John Miller '76, Mike Haugh '86, Jim Miller '80. Like the previous days we were able to hear about the healthcare industry from a physician's viewpoint and the viewpoint of those on the business side. This entire program provided different information and viewpoints of the healthcare industry as whole. It was very useful information that has made me a much more informed individual about the current state and future of healthcare in the U.S.
Our trip came to end on Thursday with presentations to the Wabash Community over what we had learned from our three days of immersion learning. I believe my peers and myself helped to provide important insights on what we had learned about the ever-changing healthcare industry. I would like to thank Dr. Frank Howland and Ms. Betsy Knott for organizing this program. Additionally, I would like to thank all of our alumni speakers for contributing to the program and the Lilly Endowment Fund for making this trip possible.


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Rockin' Kids Sing-Along is a musical playgroup designed for all-ages fun and specializing in early childhood development. Rockin' Kids Sing-Along is hosted by Stephanie Pepitone, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and former punk rock singer/guitarist. Stephanie plays acoustic guitar and leads families in singing, dancing, and music making. Featuring original children's music and family-friendly rock 'n roll favorites.
• Dance & Movement
• Instrument Petting Zoo/Jam session
• Finger Plays
• Nursery rhymes and counting songs in English/Spanish/Chinese
• Fun songs that promote early literacy and early math skills, peace promotion, & more
• Storytime
NOTE: This date/event is in the past. Keep browsing.
Date(s) - 04/17/20
10:30 am - 11:15 am
$10-20 sliding scale per family
Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the activity organizer or venue as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.
COVID-19 Coronavirus note: In the event that local health officials ask for "social distancing" strategies that include canceling large gatherings, some of these pre-planned activities may be canceled or rescheduled: concerts, festivals, playtime, sports events, storytimes, and other gatherings.


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United Ladies' SSE Womens' FA Cup adventure for this season came to an end with a first round proper defeat on Tyneside.
United boss Dan O'Hearne made three changes to his last starting XI, recalling Evie Robinson, Alex Hickerman and Tania Marsden.
United had an early blow when they lost leading goalscorer Nat Shaw through injury when she pulled a hamstring and is expected to be out for a couple of weeks. At the half-time whistle it was Newcastle taking a 1-0 lead in with them after a 42nd minute free-kick was deflected into the net off a Blades player.
The second half saw Newcastle go two ahead after 49 minutes through McKenzie and the game settled for sure eight minutes before the end with a third from Lyons with United chasing the game.
O'Hearne made no excuses: "The outcome was they were better than us on the day, plain and simple. "We are a new team in the Premier Division playing against established teams who have been at that level for years so it's work in progress and we are a lot healthier than we where we have been for the last few years."
The team can take some comfort when considering that this was only United's sixth loss in the calender year from their 29 games played.
Blades: Houldsworth, Robinson, Neary, Froggatt, Hartley, Bell, Spurr, Hickerman, Pearson, Shaw, Marsden. Subs: Marshall, Barker, Kenyon.
On Sunday fourth place United return to league action with a home fixture with fifth placed Radcliffe Olympic.


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n concrete terms, the so-called video lottery terminals (VLTs) belonging to the ten approved concessionaries are controlled by a central server on the premises of the state monopoly. A variety of well known casino games is offered.
This system guarantees the state complete control: manipulation at the terminal site is technically impossible and the supervisory authority has unrestricted access to all data, also enabling the correct calculation of duties payable. In Italy the number of video lottery terminals permitted by law is restricted to a maximum of 14 % (currently around 57,000 terminals) of the total number of gaming machines. A maximum of 150 terminals is permitted per location. Novomatic has a market share in video lottery terminals of around 40 per cent, making it the number one supplier in Italy.
Adria Gaming International, a 100 % subsidiary of Novomatic, manages this expansion in Italy. The company, with its seat in Rimini, has succeeded in concluding long term supply contracts for video lottery terminals with eight of the ten concessionaries. The firm also holds a majority share in G.Matica, one of the ten licensees, having increased its stake in the company with its seat in Rome to nearly 81 per cent as recently as July 2011. Together with further subsidiaries, Novomatic currently also operates 70 amusement arcades in Italy. The large demand for video lottery terminals in Italy also has an impact on the production in Gumpoldskirchen which has to run multi-shift operations.
Franz Wohlfahrt, CEO of Novomatic, is delighted that their 10,000th video lottery terminal has started operation in Italy. "We are proud that our technology is successful in one of the most modern gaming markets in the world," Wohlfahrt explains, and adds that, "Our activities in Italy are of great significance because the Italian video lotteries are setting a trend in Europe, possibly even worldwide. The strict regulation by the Italian authorities already serves as a model for many countries planning to expand their gaming markets." According to Wohlfahrt, Novomatic recognised a long time ago that "strictly regulated gaming markets, high system reliability and unrestricted transparency for state regulatory authorities are key issues for the future of the industry."


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Another split squad series, another sunny and hot afternoon, another set of mixed results. At least today's results leaned positive for the Yankees.
Game 1: Yankees at Detroit
Some of the Yankees traveled about 40 minutes east to visit the Tigers again in Lakeland and honestly battled their way through the afternoon in an oddly evenly-matched game. Nestor Cortes got the started and pitched his way into the 3rd inning, only giving up a lead-off solo home run in the 2nd.
Then the Yankees and Tigers kept the game close for most of the game, thanks to the great defense and pitching on both sides. The Yankees didn't find their breakthrough until the 7th. Voit led-off with a walk and was pinch-run by Brandon Wagner. Miguel Andujar then hit a big double, and Wagner made an effort to score the Yankees' first run. But a great relay got him out at home, with Andujar making it to 3rd on the throw. He was then pinch-run by Cabrera, who finally scored a Yankees' run on Ryan Lavarnway's single.
Another out later, the Yankees loaded up the bases with 2 walks. But a pitching change and a pop-up ended their attempt to break the tie. But Brandon Wagner broke it in the 8th with a 2-out solo home run, and the Yankees had their lead for the first time all afternoon in Lakeland.
It didn't last long. In the bottom of the 8th, Danny Farquhar came out for the Yankees to try to protect the lead. A lead-off single was quickly caught stealing 2nd for his first out, and after another out, he loaded up the bases with 3 consecutive walks. David Hale came on in relief and promptly walked in the tying and final run.
Final score: 2-2 tie
Game 2: Pirates at Yankees
Meanwhile, back home in Tampa, the Yankees battled the visiting Pirates for the afternoon. JA Happ got the start at Steinbrenner Field, pitching 4 innings and struggling a bit in the middle. In the 2nd, with 1 out and runners on the corners with singles, a sacrifice fly scored the Pirates' first run. And back-to-back solo home runs in the 3rd gave the Pirates a solid lead.
The Yankees finally found their offense in the 4th. They loaded up the bases with walks to 3 power-hitters — Judge, Stanton, and Bird. Gleyber Torres was then walked to scored Judge for the Yankees' first run of the day in Tampa. With a new pitcher, Troy Tulowitzki ground into a double play, but it still scored Stanton and moved Bird to 3rd. Clint Frazier's single then scored Bird to tie up the game in a single inning. Then in the 5th, Gio Urshela led-off with a solo home run to put the Yankees in the lead.
Adam Ottavino's 5th inning was just filthy stuff, catching the eye of both fellow Yankees and their opponents. It was very much a "blink and you miss it" kind of inning, with the new Yankees just getting 3 straight strikeouts. Chapman followed that up with a solid 6th inning of his own, and things were looking up for the Yankees as they tried to gain some further momentum.
But Dellin Betances had a bit of a struggle in his 7th inning. He gave up a lead-off triple, due in part to some sun-influenced defensive issues. A single then scored that runner to tie the game up again. After a solid strikeout, he walked 2 batters to load up the batters. Jonathan Holder came in to try to save the inning, giving up a sacrifice fly that put the Pirates back on top.
In the bottom of the 8th, the Yankees weren't going to let this game go just yet. Jackson led-off with a single and then scored on Zack Zehner's monster 2-run home run over the left field concourse to get the lead back to the home team. Tommy Kahnle's final 4 outs closed out the game and protected the Yankees' lead.
Final score: 6-5 Yankees
One to watch: I'm going to give today's honor to Gio Urshela, who's really been rising in recognition this Spring. And today, in addition to being the Yankees' starting 3rd baseman, he also hit that great home run in the 5th to put the Yankees in their first lead of the afternoon. He was traded to the Yankees late last year after stints with the Indians and Blue Jays, playing in the big leagues with both previous teams. He's not really been on anyone's radar, but he could potentially be some great back-up for the infield should problems arise this season.
Next up: after an off-day tomorrow (Monday), the Yankees will take on the Orioles at home Tuesday night. There's 15 scheduled games left, just a little more than halfway through the Spring, or about 2 weeks.
In Yankee Universe news: Babe Ruth's last living daughter, Julia Ruth Stevens, died Saturday at the age of 102. Ruth adopted Julia when he married her mother in 1929, but she remained an avid fan of Ruth's original team, the Red Sox, being a frequent fan in the stands up until a few years ago. Our thoughts and condolences are with her son, two grandchildren, and four great grandchildren at this time.
Go Yankees!
{Media note: Neither game today was broadcast, so there was minimal video highlights to share. Apologies, fans!}


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Automation service contracts: Extend in-house engineering
Remote support, distribution or direct, upgrades, and software are among key automation service contract considerations.
Automation service contracts extend expertise of in-house engineering and improve productivity. Here are key questions to ask when considering an automation service contract, according to Mark Lewis, manager of technical services, Beckhoff Automation. Control Engineering and Plant Engineering (CFE Media) asked Lewis a few questions about automation service contracts.
CFE Media: Have automation service contracts changed over the last five years?
In short, automation service contracts are more important than ever. With a large pool of engineering talent approaching retirement age, these contracts will likely only increase in their critical importance. With the increased demand for operational efficiency and so many OEMs going out of business over the past five years, more end users than ever must seek service help from automation suppliers in addition to local contract service providers. When you combine this reality with the constant march of rapidly emerging technologies, specialized help to supplement in-house engineering departments is often required. Of course, the easiest way to find this specialized help is to enlist the aid of the vendors that supplied the equipment to begin with. While a reliable service partner is key, forward-thinking users should actively seek improvements to the quality and reliability of their production line by using new technologies. Users should integrate a modern hardware platform, such as PC-based control and Industrial Ethernet. This reduces over-reliance on service contracts to keep outdated legacy equipment alive on machines that aren't competitive.
CFE Media: When should I consider an automation service contract?
The short answer is that users should seriously consider an automation service contract anytime the cost of lost production exceeds what the business model can allow. Companies that have implemented a good overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) system should have a head start in this area.
This lost production could have several mechanical/electrical causes; however, it could also come in the form of engineering projects running over budget or missing deadlines due to a lack of expertise on staff. The best OEE calculation in the world won't help in that scenario. When the financial viability of a plant is at stake, it can really pay to have an experienced automation vendor handle mission critical service contracts.
CFE Media: What are questions clients always ask about automation service contracts?
The cost of service is of course the most obvious, so it's imperative that machine builders and end users find automation vendors that have service departments that are easy to work with, and fair in their pricing and the fine print of their contracts. Another important consideration: users should also inquire into the availability of their vendor/service partner's spare parts stock and response time for parts delivery and the service itself, be it via telephone or in the form of a technician or engineer providing support on-site.
CFE Media: What questions should clients ask, and may not think about, with automation service contracts?
a. Can the vendor provide remote support via an Internet connection?
b. Does all of the service and support offered come directly from the vendor/manufacturer or is it through a distribution channel? This is important as distributors may have less access to key industry experts or even the vendor's product developers.
c. How will further upgrades be handled? Will the platform I am installing today carry me as far into the future as I need it to go, and what will it cost me when the time comes to upgrade again?
d. Will I have to pay for software I have already purchased once? Unnecessarily difficult and expensive software license management is one of the most common frustrations that drive users to change vendors.
CFE Media: From your experiences, what are key lessons learned when working with clients on automation service contracts?
Results are best when the clients approach their automation service providers as a tightly integrated partner rather than "just a contractor." Automation vendors that can truly collaborate with their customers to move technology forward, but still respect the intellectual property (IP) of the customer, are the best to work with. Beware the automation vendor that wants to "own" your code, which essentially means your entire machine. What happens when the design is done and machines in the field must be serviced? What does the cost of support look like then? What happens if the vendor starts to view your business as a "small customer"? What if the vendor goes out of business? The most important lesson of all is to protect the IP of your machines when hammering out the details of any major service contract.
CFE Media: How/when is the contract fulfilled or finished?
The service contract is fulfilled when the goals and objectives laid out in the established project time line have all been accomplished to the satisfaction of the user. A truly great end to any service contract is when the user becomes self-sustaining and can transition to more autonomous operations with its production running at optimum efficiency and the integrity of its IP secure.
– Edited by Mark T. Hoske, content manager, CFE Media, Control Engineering and Plant Engineering, email@example.com.


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- "Squibs. They'll sell you a bucket of air if you let them, and keep the bucket."
- ―Han Solo
Squibs were a sentient species from Skor II known for collecting, trading, and haggling. Adult Squibs had humanoid bodies that averaged a meter in height. They were covered in colorful fur and had pointed snouts, tufted ears, and large eyes. Squibs tasted objects by rubbing them over their fur. They were gregarious, insatiably curious, and obsessed with haggling and deal-making. It was said that the easiest way to get information from a Squib was to propose a trade.
Skor II was rich in natural resources, but they were unevenly distributed. As the Squibs developed the compulsion to collect and stockpile baubles, some tribes settled down while others became nomadic traders. Over time, a complex system of trade and barter emerged. After their first contact with the galaxy at large, the Squibs established themselves as galactic scavengers and rivals to the Ugors, another species. King Ebareebaveebeedee, who vocally supported the Galactic Republic during the Separatist Crisis, struck agreements with galactic interests to place Squibs aboard capital spacecraft as laborers. The Galactic Empire considered such Squibs slaves, but they provided salvage vessels with the locations of Imperial dumpsites. The species later signed a pact of mutual support with the Alliance to Restore the Republic.
Squib salvagers reclaimed, refurbished, and resold rubbish both planetside and deep in space. Many worked directly for a corporation known as the Squib Merchandising Consortium, while others operated independently. Although most stayed within the law, some found work as forgers, thieves, and even crime lords. The Solo family had several encounters with the Squibs Emala, Grees, and Sligh, a family unit who operated as black market art dealers and information brokers.
Biology and appearanceEdit
- "You're like a nexu! One color when you're a baby, another when you're grown up!"
- ―Allana Solo, on the dappled fur of a growing Squib
Squibs were small, sentient, humanoid[1] mammals[2] with both rodent[17] and canine characteristics.[18] They ranged from 0.8 to 1.2 meters in height[11] and weighed twenty-two kilograms on average.[4] Their pink skin was covered in fur[5] that ranged from white,[6] gray,[7] black, and brown[8] to blue,[1] violet,[9] and red.[1] The coat offered some protection from cold weather,[19] but, more importantly, it served as an olfactory organ, able to pick up scents at a distance[20] and ascertain intrinsic details—such as penetrating through a disguise[8] or identifying a forgery[21]—when rubbed against.[1] The species had both male and female sexes, although non-Squibs often had difficulty determining the sex of a Squib based on her or his appearance alone.[22]
Squib eyes were large in relation to the skull and located on the sides of the head.[1] They came in shades of blue,[9] yellow, red,[1] and brown.[5] Their large ears often sported tufts of fur whose color could differ from that of the main coat;[9] the ears pointed upward[10] and could pivot to zero in on specific sounds.[11] The short Squib muzzle[23] tapered to a bewhiskered[17] black nose.[1] Their mouths were full of forbidding, sharp, white teeth,[19] and their flexible cheeks were capable of storing items.[24] The species had nimble, five-fingered hands and five toes on each foot.[1] Non-Squibs often considered the small beings humorous[25] or cute in appearance.[26]
The Squibs had quick metabolisms[27] and relatively short life spans. A Squib was considered a child—referred to as a fuzzling[20]—until nine standard years of age.[11] As he or she matured, the fur changed color, a phenomenon that caused a dappled appearance on the back;[28] similarly, the eyes[26] and ears grew more quickly than the rest of the body, causing the latter to flop until the rest of the fuzzling's body grew enough to catch up.[28] Sexual maturity occurred at thirteen standard years. Beginning at around thirty-nine years, a Squib entered middle age,[11] when the fur grayed and the face wrinkled.[23] Squib life expectancy was about sixty-five standard years.[11]
Society and cultureEdit
- "Dibs on the big pieces!"
"Eat hot trash, Ugorian slime!"
"Death to all single-minded fanatics of Ugor!"
- ―Squib crew of Thrifty
Squibs were cheerful, gregarious, and overconfident to the point of egotism.[1] Their biology led to a common Squib greeting: rubbing a person's palm across the cheek fur. As Squibs often wore gloves, the gesture conveyed more information than a simple handshake.[29] They were friendly and non-threatening, making them quite likable—at first. Over time, Squib acquaintances could grow to regard the beings as slightly annoying to downright obnoxious;[3] over many encounters, the Human Leia Organa Solo came to strongly dislike the species, for instance.[30] Furbag[31] and furball were derisive terms for Squibs.[32]
Squibs were inherently curious. They handled anything that interested them, usually by rubbing it against their fur with little forethought as to whether doing so might be harmful.[1] Squib curiosity and propensity for haggling made them unabashed pack rats. Although the species had no need for clothing to protect themselves from the elements, they wore clothes and footwear for reasons of appearance and extra storage;[19] typical clothing included pockets and pouches to stuff with odds and ends that caught their eye, since a Squib could never tell when a particular item might be useful in making a deal.[10] Still, individuals left fur exposed to facilitate olfaction.[11] Their accumulative drives earned the species a reputation as thieves among some members of the galactic community.[33]
Cheerful overconfidence was a definitive trait. The typical Squib response to a threat was not to fight or flee, but to bluff and bluster. Such behavior was particularly evident when the Squibs were out of sight, as when communicating from a Squib spacecraft.[34] However, their sharp teeth were a favored means of intimidation when they felt such a tactic was necessary.[35]
Squibs were known for resourcefulness[22] and improvisation.[10] The traits manifested themselves in both Squib technology and art. For example, many Squibs sported homemade ion blasters, cobbled together from spare parts, which they used to disable droids they wished to reclaim.[36] Squib artists utilized found objects—i.e., garbage—which they organized into intricate and beautiful works.[37] For example, the audience chamber on the Squib Momship Thrifty featured a mural of Squib craft, one of the collapse of the Paradise system, and another of the Rebel Alliance operatives who helped to bring it about.[34]
- "Got nice go-go vehicle here, pal, still work good, sorta, but it's a classic. Trade for new talkie-talk shiny man. Good deal. Wanna trade?"
- ―A Squib trader
To Squibs, bargaining was an art form. The highest compliment one could pay a Squib was that he or she bargained well,[38] and a Squib denied the chance to haggle for any length of time could grow withdrawn and melancholy.[39] Some members of the species claimed to have trained in the Mystic Martial Arts of Squib Combats and Transactions,[40] and the species celebrated a holiday called Haggleday.[41] Haggling was superior to all other impulses, and the Squibs were experts at it.[38]
Squib bargaining followed three major rules: 1: If something was free, it was a good deal; 2: bargaining was the highest form of communication; 3: when dealing with the Squibs' nemeses, the Ugors, all bets were off.[42] Still, a few other principles applied. First, Squibs preferred to bargain face to face.[34] Such a scenario allowed them to play up their small, unassuming appearance and make their opponent feel overconfident.[3] Next, by tradition, the party who wanted something—usually the Squib—had to make the first offer. The furry beings could be insistent on the point, refusing to talk or answer questions until a potential business partner made the first move.[42] Persistence—to the point of pestering—was a favored tactic. Squibs continually asked for things that the owner had expressed no interest in parting with, hoping that the mark would eventually give in out of sheer annoyance.[11]
The haggling process itself was more valued than any spoils obtained. In Squib reckoning, a good bout of bargaining let both sides think they were getting the better deal at least once. A key to Squib success was to involve as much complexity and as many individuals as possible:[38] the more intricate a deal, the better, and a confused customer was a good customer.[43] Squibs preferred to trade for things whose values were not easily comparable, thus preventing anyone from really knowing who got the best bargain.[38] By involving several partners, any losses were spread out, and the chances that any one party felt any more than mildly ripped off were minimized.[3] Although the negotiations themselves could be quite intricate, the terms of the deal could preferably be completed quickly, without lengthy payments or interest—considered more the Ugors' style.[38]
Squib ideas of value differed from those of most other beings. Worth was determined by something called kRR value, a concept not easily translatable. Gaining a great quantity of something or obtaining something novel was highly desirable.[38] Squibs preferred to trade things they could see and touch; abstract commodities, such as information, were less attractive.[44] Anything could be brought to the bargaining table, including a Squib's own offspring.[40] The species' legends told of a mythical, idyllic junk heap of the ancients.[45]
A deal was a binding oath. Squibs went to great lengths to ensure their arrangements went through, and members of the species were incredibly loyal to their business partners, even accompanying them—saving their lives if need be—to help them complete their end of a bargain.[46] Nevertheless, Squib interpretations of business arrangements could be fluid and subjective; many of their partners later found themselves wondering whether the Squibs were still adhering to the terms at all.[47] Nonetheless, the beings genuinely shunned deception and theft, so any apparent reneging was often perfectly justified in their own minds. For example, they believed that cheating was perfectly acceptable as long as they did not lie outright.[38] The Squib crime lord Slythor, for instance, often threw in a droid designated R4-B11 with deals he made; what he kept secret was that the droid was programmed to kill the business partners and return with the goods Slythor had traded them.[48] Despite such flightiness, many beings knew Squibs to be mostly honest;[3] in fact, members of the Morseerian species often preferred dealing with Squibs to other species.[49]
- "Us Squibs learn real good Basic. Study 'em up lots from examining plenty good garbage, you bet."
- ―Spilferithimus-narlamos
Squibs read, wrote, and spoke a language called Squibbian[50] or Squibbal.[51] The language developed from Old High Squibbian, a tongue that remained in use as a secret form of communication for spies to convey the coordinates of trash dumps[52] and for traders to avoid being understood by those with whom they were bartering.[53] The species reckoned time using a measure known as the cergl-unit.[34] Squib names tended to be rather long, although the beings usually adopted shorter forms for use with non-Squibs. For example, the names Galaneever-marmalios, Meelawindemort, and Sleerinwilpher-remalior shortened to Galan, Meela, and Wilpher, respectively.[11] Other short Squib names included the masculine names Grees and Sligh, and the feminine names Emala, Muatisi, Pika, and Veeshu.[19]
Members of the species had high-pitched voices.[54] Most spoke Basic, and, although some achieved fluency,[55] most Squibs' command of the tongue was less than perfect. Few Squibs could read and write the language.[11] They often had thick accents,[56] and their knowledge of idiom could be quite limited. Determining what information Squibs were trying to convey could prove onerous:[3] they might speak too quickly, combine seemingly incongruous subjects in a single breath, or mention things that seemed of no relevance to the discussion at hand.[44] Squibs peppered their Basic with unusual expressions, such as koovy,[12] and often ended sentences with "you bet."[57] When bargaining, Squibs were meticulous about explaining terms, however. Trading with Squibs was a sure method of getting information from them.[3] Squib body language employed their unique physiology: their whiskers trembled to express indignation,[19] their ears drooped to convey discomfort[28] and went back when alarmed,[26] and their hackles stood on end to show nervousness.[5]
- "So, dealers with abridged decks, we of lofty Squib greet you in name of universal buddy-buddyness, irrespectful of differences in station, no less."
- ―King Ebareebaveebeedee
Groups of related Squibs formed a family unit.[19] Beyond the immediate kin network, their homeworld, Skor II, was governed by the Squib Polyanarchy, autonomous communities under the rule of a mostly hands-off king.[27] In addition, all Squibs were employees of a species-wide corporation called the Squib Merchandising Consortium,[1][43] which held important contracts with galactic and planetary governments to collect, refurbish, and resell refuse.[3] The degree of involvement varied;[1] at one extreme were individuals such as Squib diplomats, recognizable by the ceremonial Fizz-Pop Cap (with foil cluster);[23] at the other were independent traders.[1] The head of the Consortium was known as the Illustrious Chieftain of Junkyards. During the latter years of the Galactic Republic and early years of the Galactic Civil War, a Squib named Ebareebaveebeedee served as both the Illustrious Chieftain and the Squib king.[34] All Squibs were beholden to High Squibbian Law, a system that, among other things, forbade the king from using the ceremonial items hanging from his robes[23] and stipulated that possession was nine-hundred-and-ninety-nine one-thousandths of the law.[58] The Polyanarchy was historically apolitical,[11] although it supported the Galactic Republic during the Separatist Crisis[12] and signed a pact of mutual support with the Alliance to Restore the Republic sometime between the battles of Yavin and Hoth.[59]
One major arm of the Consortium and a major Squib employer was the Squib Reclamation Fleet.[60] Its vessels followed capital ships from one jump point to the next, collecting garbage jettisoned along the way.[15] Squibs worked on the capital ships as garbage collectors and conveyed to the fleet the coordinates of dumps and any trade opportunities in the area.[3] The Reclamation Fleet was shadowed by vessels of the Squibs' rivals, the Ugors, who regularly swept in, attacked any Squib craft, and grabbed as much salvage as possible.[15]
- "Alien scavengers, identify selfs or face quick obliteration by awesome Squib weaponry, you bet."
- ―A Squib aboard the Thrifty
The Squibs had access to all aspects of galactic technology, although it differed from the standard in that it was often created from salvaged components refitted in ways the original makers never intended.[10] Companies such as Fegegrish Heavy Industrials sold personal gear specifically designed for the Squib species, such as the shoulder-mounted Squib battering ram,[61] which weakened obstructions at the molecular level.[62] The Squibs themselves refurbished scavenged items for resale on the galactic market; they could be quite successful at this endeavor when they returned such items to factory-like conditions.[63] In contrast, Squib-designed inventions often proved a hard sell to other species. The C2-R4 multipurpose droid flopped due to its poor aesthetics and bafflingly over-abundant functionality. Squib inventors rarely lost heart, however; a failed product simply afforded the chance to bargain with the creditors.[64]
Squibs excelled at tractor beam technology.[65] Their tractor beams rivaled the best in the galaxy, and Squib spacers became experts at using them. For example, Squib needle ships had no weaponry or shields, instead relying on ten tractor beams—rumored to be among the most powerful in the galaxy[66]—for defense.[3] If attacked, the crew used quick and precise manipulations to erect a wall of garbage around the ship and hurl pieces of refuse at the enemy.[67] The popular garbage grabber was a personal tractor beam with a claw at the end for gathering salvage from hard-to-reach places.[16] Squib engineers developed whole weapons based on tractor beam technology. Called tensor weapons, they attacked with invisible—but loud—compressed waves of tractor energy and disrupted the target's cells. Amberlandrax Armaments marketed a rifle of such design during the Galactic Civil War.[68] Squibs sometimes took advantage of the noisiness of such weapons to convince dismissive beings to pay attention to them.[69]
Squib starshipwrights constructed spacecraft from second-hand materials. The main vessels of the Squib Reclamation Fleet were the tapered, fifty-meter needle ships, each crewed by twenty individuals.[67] The fleet flagship was for many years the Wholesale.[40] Other important vessels were the Momships,[27] one of which was the personal vessel of the Squib king. Ebareebaveebeedee's vessel was the Thrifty.[70] Others traveled in tramp freighters[71] or Squib scout ships, small craft armed with but a single tractor beam.[72] Some Squib craft were considered "Uglies" similar to those employed by pirate groups.[73]
Evolution and early civilizationEdit
- "Beware of smiling Squibs."
- ―Old traders' saying
The Squibs evolved on Skor II, a small, dense world in the Squab system,[71] just west of the Rimma Trade Route in the Outer Rim Territories.[74] The planet possessed a diverse ecosystem, varied terrain, and vast resources spread far across its surface. Early tribes of Squibs thus were forced to travel from region to region to find necessities. Accumulating material goods became an ingrained part of the Squib psyche, leading some tribes to found small villages. Those who maintained their nomadic lifestyle took on the added role of merchants, trading foreign goods with their sedentary counterparts. Bargaining became a deep-seated part of Squib culture.[1]
The Squibs advanced to the point of mass production and developed a peaceful, species-wide government called the Polyanarchy. Sometime before[75] 3640 BBY,[76] a Dorcin trader discovered their world. After a spirited round of negotiations, the offworlder gained mineral rights to some frigid wastes, while the Squibs learned the intricacies of starship technology.[1] Shortly after the Ruusan Reformation, the Squib species had become well enough integrated into the galaxy to merit an entry in a Jedi training manual, The Jedi Path, by the Jedi biologist Bowspritz. The researcher noted that Squibs had helped to get him out of trouble in the past, but that the experiences cost him a great deal of credits. Among marginalia added by other Jedi in one copy of the book, Obi-Wan Kenobi noted that he considered them thieves.[33]
The Squibs' natural curiosity and mastery of haggling helped them to carve out a niche as interstellar garbage collectors and scavengers.[1] While Squib settlers colonized other planets,[77] Squib companies signed contracts to haul rubbish from populous worlds while other corporations refurbished the junk for resale.[1] Skor II became a prosperous trade world with a major population center at Metrobig City. Sometime before 20 BBY, the planet joined the Galactic Republic.[12]
Meanwhile, the Squibs' activities put them in direct competition with another scavenger species: the Ugors. Over time, the species developed a fraught antagonism,[1] practically to the point of war.[23] The Squibs came to regard the Ugors as their hereditary foes,[67] and the Ugors made the Squibs de facto demons in their religion of trash worship.[78]
Reign of EbareebaveebeedeeEdit
- "Our ultrastrong loyalties and royalties to Republicness and whatever it may stand for will not let splitty-types coax-haggle Squibbish into leaving, no matter the size of the haggleprize."
- ―King Ebareebaveebeedee
Sometime before 40 BBY, Ebareebaveebeedee became king of the Polyanarchy. His reign proved something of a golden age. Under his initiative, the species struck deals with various galactic interests to place Squibs aboard capital ships as garbage laborers.[23] To many observers, they were little better than slaves, although it was understood that they were allowed to keep any scrap that caught their eye. In the eyes of the Squib government, Squibs so employed were embedded spies, whose job was to communicate the coordinates of capital-ship garbage dumps to the Squib Reclamation Fleet.[15]
Despite overtures from the Confederacy of Independent Systems, Ebareebaveebeedee enthusiastically supported the Galactic Republic during the Separatist Crisis, declaring that his people were "going nowhere" and that the Jedi were "koovy."[12] In month 15 of 21 BBY, Metrobig Interplanetary Blastport was seized by the Separatists. Jedi Master Mace Windu[79] and Commander Cody[80] led Republic forces to drive away the battle droids and recapture the spaceport in the Battle of Skor II.[79] Ebareebaveebeedee erected a bronzium statue in honor of Windu and named him "Big Time Hero of Beyond-Squib Eliteness."[81] The Squibs found their homeworld in uncontrolled territory for the remainder of the war.[82] Still, during the conflict, Squib scavengers cleaned up after battles; the Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano thus considered Squibs to be good sources of intelligence on Separatist movements.[33]
After the rise of the Galactic Empire, the Squibs suffered a minor hiccup over the salvage of orbital wrecks.[83] The incident was followed by an even graver threat: early in the New Order, the Squibs found themselves elbowed out by their rivals, the Ugors, as much of the galaxy came to rely upon Ugor waste disposal services.[84] The Ugors even secured an exclusive Imperial license not only to collect Imperial garbage dumps in deep space but also to accept dumps from Imperial ships visiting the Ugors' home star system, Paradise.[85] Ebareebaveebeedee countered by securing permission to allow Squib sanitation workers aboard Imperial vessels, a ploy that perpetuated his network of informants.[3] The Squibs were forced to rely even more on their spy network; armed with its intelligence, their craft could swoop in and snap up as much garbage as possible before the Ugors arrived to chase them away.[56]
The Squib King largely kept his people out of the Galactic Civil War[11] after its outbreak in 2 BBY,[86] and the species traded and dealt with members of both the Galactic Empire and the Alliance to Restore the Republic. Alliance and Imperial Intelligence tried to track Squib vessels to the bases of their enemies, but the species made sure to secure the secrecy of their markets.[11] The species profited from the galactic conflict by scavenging equipment from battle sites, repairing it, and reselling it; several military-issue Arakyd 74-Z speeder bikes made their way to the civilian market in this way.[63]
Sometime between 0 and 2 ABY,[59] the Squibs hit their nadir. Their intelligence revealed that the Ugors had obtained a gravity well projector with which they were bringing order to the junk in their home system. The greater organization granted the Ugor salvage fleet greater efficiency and drew new customers to both dump their garbage[87] and seek rare pieces of flotsam and jetsam.[84] The king thus reneged on his earlier policy of neutrality: he made a deal with a group of Rebel operatives to provide information on the location of an Imperial ship they sought in exchange for the projector. When the Rebels and a Squib diplomat named Spilferithimus-narlamos removed the contraption, the Paradise system fell back into disarray. Ebareebaveebeedee then declared a pact of mutual support between the Squibs and the Alliance.[88] By 137 ABY, Skor II had fallen within territory controlled by the Sith Lord Darth Krayt as part of his Galactic Empire.[89]
Squibs in the galaxyEdit
- "Secret agent Dono to Momship. Hope you enjoying plenty big treasure dump. Plenty good stuff left on big-ship, you bet. Have place-numbers for next big-ship stop. Will transmit in super-secret Squib code. Starting now."
- ―Dono
Although a few held mundane jobs, such as flying air taxis on Coruscant,[30] garbage was everywhere, and Squibs were anywhere the garbage was.[1] Capital ships contracted Squib sanitation workers to handle onboard refuse. A telltale sign that Squibs were aboard was that ejected trash had been stripped of potentially valuable parts.[90] Many galactic citizens came to regard the diminutive beings as no more than laborers, an idea that persisted well into the days of the New Jedi Order.[11] Especially during the days of the Empire, Squib garbage workers kept a low profile and avoided contact with their employers; others broke their contracts due to mistreatment.[90] Rebel Alliance operatives cultivated disaffected Squibs to gain valuable logistical and operational intelligence about Imperial vessels.[91] In 3 ABY, undercover Alliance operatives were subcontracted by the Squib Jeremos to work aboard the Star Destroyer Indomitable. They used their position to gain access to sensitive areas of the ship and further their mission.[92] Squib salvagers occasionally hired non-Squibs to help them in their duties.[75]
Some Squibs were fringers,[11] scavenging on a single planet. For instance, Squeerie led a team on Almas around 32 BBY and helped a group of agents working for the Human Jedi Master Lanius Qel-Bertuk to find his lost Wookiee counterpart, Kirlocca.[93] Sometime after Order 66 at the end of the Clone Wars, members of Squeerie's group, led by Jiminaldo-mabbramsti, or Jimi, encountered agents of Jedi Master Denia while fighting with a group of Ugors over the salvage of a damaged droid in the ruins of Almas Academy.[94]
The offworlders mediated the dispute.[58]
However, immediately thereafter, a group of Dark Lizards attacked all parties.[95] Maja was a Squib who purchased salvage rights to a waste field on the third moon of Kothlis around 4 ABY. He was trapped in a Plexus Droid Vessel and soon found himself facing a group of adventurers who needed information from the conveyance. As a good Squib trader, Maja gave up his would-be personal craft for the right price.[96]
Other Squibs took to a life as spacers. Some acted as scouts,[11] passively scanning deep space for interesting junk, while others tracked vessels to reclaim their garbage dumps.[3] Squib vessels joined the wreckage of the Hoth asteroid field while attempting to salvage the remains of the Mugaari pirate Icanis Tsur 's ship.[97]
During the Galactic Civil War, a Squib spacer was present at the bar called the Maze when a group of would-be Rebel Alliance operatives fled Imperial stormtroopers.[18]
In 13 ABY, the crew of a Squib prospector vessel was detained on the Quarantine Enforcement Cruiser Lycoming.[98] A Squib tourist in Piringiisi on Sullust survived a dianoga attack, alerting the authorities to the presence of the predator in the mud pits there.[99] Circa 24 ABY, a Squib salvage scow recovered artifacts from the ruins of the planet Byss, including a copy of the book The Jedi Path.[100]
Squib traders traveled to even the most remote and secretive locations to sell reconditioned goods, prompting many top-secret installations to completely rethink their security procedures upon the arrival of such unexpected company.[11] They were one of the few species from the known galaxy to have established any significant presence in the Unknown Regions, and their language served as one of the many lingua franca used in that area of space.[101] Indeed, one Squib scout made first contact for the galactic scavengers with a pair of explorers of the Chiss species.[102] The species was so well established that Squibs were among the many targets presented by the holographic shooting range of Almas Academy.[103] A Squib named Kwilper wandered from spaceport to spaceport selling pieces of art he had fashioned from salvaged junk,[37] and in 3 ABY, a Squib named Veeter found himself stranded on Dalicron-4, desperate to repair his ship and return to his wandering lifestyle.[39] Occasionally, roving Squib traders obtained goods whose value even they could not imagine. One found himself the center of a bidding war among parties interested in a data storage unit with an important decryption program.[104]
Squibs opened second-hand shops in spaceport towns.[3] Around 0 BBY, Macemillian-winduarté helped run Jawa Traders, a droid shop on the planet Tatooine.[7] The gray-furred Squib had to deal with thugs hired by Jabba the Hutt to collect protection money from him. At one point, a group of spacers helped him resist such a shakedown; Macemillian-winduarté loaned the offworlders a landspeeder in gratitude.[105] In 9 ABY, Arrejis Mellaha operated Serooin's Gear on the smugglers' world Betha II.[106] In 13 ABY, Sheebareevadee ran Sheebareevadee's Emporium of Interstellar Goods on the planet Gamorr.[107] Other Squib traders included one on the planet Asation[108] and another on the planet Kabal.[35]
Other Squibs took up the life of scoundrels.[11] Their ranks included petty thieves, such as the pickpocket-turned-Rebel Smileredon-Verdont,[16][32] forgers, like the two Squibs employed by the Sljee Jeseej on Coruscant,[109] infochants, such as Burnout space station's Blasnic,[110] and full-fledged crime lords, such as Slythor, who controlled salvage operations on the junk planet Korad.[14] Four Squib thieves were tasked by the Human Rebel operative Quip Fargil on the planet Sriluur to steal components from an Interdictor cruiser to help upgrade the hyperdrive of the freighter Millennium Falcon.[111]
The family unit of Emala, Grees, and Sligh[19] were a trio of scoundrels who had dealings with the Human Solo family over the years. In 8 ABY, they were working as information brokers, selling data to the New Republic. They teamed up with the Solos to obtain the painting Killik Twilight, which contained hidden data sensitive to the New Republic.[13] They later worked with members of the criminal organization known as the Invisible Shell, but when their patsy, the Jenet Ludlo Lebauer, learned of their scheme, he froze Grees in carbonite. The Squibs manipulated the Solos into helping them rescue their companion on the casino planet Pavo Prime.[5] Following the Yuuzhan Vong War, the three were still selling artwork, and their organization had grown to include Emala's children, Krafte and Seneki, as well as Squib assassins.[112] By 44 ABY, the trio had found work with the Human Admiral Natasi Daala, the former Chief of State of the Galactic Alliance, who sent them[113] to become test subjects for Moff Tol Getelles, who was conducting trials of a serum, derived from a creature known as the droch, that had the ability to restore youth to its taker.[28] During their tenure with the Human officer, the information brokers became familiar with Getelles' hidden laboratory complex, which was masked as a mine called the Moon Maiden on the mining moon Hagamoor 3.[26] There they discovered Daala's plot to oust Head of State Jagged Fel of the Imperial Remnant from power.[51] The Squibs' involvement was revealed when they crossed paths with the Solos later that year. In return for information about the experiments, the Solos granted the Squibs safe passage to Coruscant.[51] On the galactic capital, the Squibs turned over a stolen vial of the serum to Fel under threat of arrest.[28] They next took a job for the Human Lydea Pagorski, an Imperial Lieutenant who served as Daala's campaign manager in a race against Fel. The Squibs led Pagorski to Getelles' abandoned Moon Maiden base, where she set up a campaign headquarters. Things turned sour when Pagorski revealed herself to be a monstrous dark side entity known as Abeloth, intent only on drawing a constant stream of victims into the base[26] to feed off their fear and anguish.[114] Meanwhile, the Mandalorian bounty hunter Boba Fett tracked the Squibs to the base in his hunt for a pair of scientists who had manufactured a nanokiller tailored to his genetic makeup.[26] While three other Squibs remained with Pagorski and enslaved workers in a fire bulkhead,[114] Sligh fled into hiding upon Fett's appearance. He was later discovered by the former Jedi Knight Tahiri Veila, who interrogated him through the Force and discovered the Squibs' dealings with Pagorski.[26] Soon, the Squibs in the fire bulkhead came under attack from the Human Jedi and the Mandalorian bounty hunter, whom she had rescued.[114] The pair of Humans then defeated Abeloth in the chamber beyond.[115]
A few Squibs had a talent for the Force. Some Force-sensitive members of the species had no knowledge of their gifts and remained on Skor II,[116] but others were trained as Jedi.[11] A popular series of children's stories from the time of the Republic focused on a roguish Squib Jedi who was rumored to be based on a real individual.[11] The series went to several volumes; the third was titled Busteromuchmacho and the Vermillion Shadow.[58] Years later, in 35 ABY, a Squib Jedi was training at the Jedi Academy of the planet Ossus.[117] A small number of Squib nobles plied the spacelanes.[25]
More than 220 years before the Battle of Yavin, a Squib vessel crash landed on the planet Holador.[77] The survivors broadcasted a distress signal and hunkered down to be rescued, to no avail. When their equipment failed, they were forced to revert to a primitive lifestyle. Over seven generations, the Squibs took to worshiping their comm relay as a Holy Icon and hoping for the day offworlders would once again return them to the stars. A Twi'lek bounty hunter named Kelyan tried to convince the village that a group of visiting adventurers was dangerous.[77]
Nevertheless, the village elder, Alexem, was convinced that she was manipulating the tribe.[77]
Behind the scenesEdit
- "Staging tip: If you ever need to completely diffuse a tense argument scene, have a Squib look directly at 'camera,' like on panel 3. It works like a charm."
- ―Pablo Hidalgo
The Squibs were introduced by Brad Freeman in the West End Games adventure Scavenger Hunt, published in 1989. The story sends a group of Rebel characters after the Imperial ship Elusive, the location of which is known only to the Squib king, Ebareebaveebeedee, and his crew.[15] Later that year, Troy Denning gave the species a more complete write-up in Galaxy Guide 4: Alien Races. The book indicates that they were intended as a sort of comic-relief species that, unlike Ewoks, could be encountered anywhere in the galaxy and interact with characters on a more technologically level playing field. West End's Squibs are more dexterous than the average species, but they are slightly restricted in intelligence, strength, and technical aptitude.[3] The Wizards of the Coast version of the species, detailed in both Alien Anthology (2001) and Ultimate Alien Anthology (2003), also has high agility, now coupled with lower-than-average common sense and perceptive abilities.[11][116] With the change to the Saga edition of the Wizards' system, Squibs suffer a penalty to strength, but a bonus to their agility. They gain the additional ability to retry any attempt to manipulate technology.[118] Several sources summarize material from these books without adding new information on the species.[119]
The information above assumes that encounters with Squibs in various role-playing scenarios follow the most profitable course for the player characters. Nevertheless, several alternatives are possible. For instance, in the 1996 adventure New Recruits and Rebel Guns, the encounter between a Rebel Alliance player character and a Squib spacer in a bar called the Maze is offered only as a possibility and is not integral to the overall plot.[18] In the 2005 adventure Strike III, the Squib leader Alexem and his tribe may decide to attack the player characters if they fail to convince him that they do not have hostile intentions.[77] Finally, in 2008's Echoes of the Jedi, the player characters have the option of ignoring the dispute between Jiminaldo-mabbramsti and his Ugor rivals, but doing so nets them a smaller reward.[58]
Denning has featured the Squib characters Emala, Grees, and Sligh prominently in five novels and one short story,[120] and the trio has appeared in Fate of the Jedi: Ascension, by Christie Golden, as well. Pablo Hidalgo, another Star Wars author, has expressed his affection for the Squibs in his blog.[121] One of his players portrayed a Squib character named Smileredon-Verdonté in a campaign of Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game that Hidalgo refereed. The character—with a slightly modified name—later featured in Heroes & Rogues (1995) and as a regular in the Rookies webstrips.[122][123] Hidalgo's chronicle of the Battle of Skor II explains why a Squib character in Galaxy Guide 7: Mos Eisley is named "Mace Windu," the same as the Jedi character played by Samuel L. Jackson in the prequel films: the name—and variants—has appeared in George Lucas's notes and drafts for the Star Wars saga since 1973.[124] According to Hidalgo's article, the Squib (whose full name is Macemillian-winduarté), was simply named for the Jedi hero who saved his home planet. Although Denning's Squib characters tend to speak standard Basic, Hidalgo's speak in what he describes as "Squibberish," a babbling, imprecise version of Basic punctuated by Squibbian words like "koovy."[121][125]
The species has caused some problems in Star Wars fiction. For example, the word is misspelled Squibb in the Star Wars Adventure Journal articles "Murder in Slushtime"[107] and "The Gree Enclave".[108] The novels Shield of Lies[126] and Shatterpoint write the species' name in lowercase. The Official Star Wars Fact File 138 claims that the Squibs hail from the Paradise system along with their rivals, the Ugors.[127] More recent sources, such as The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia, contradict the notion,[128] so the Fact File seems to be in error. "HoloNet Waystation," a non-licensed roleplaying adventure in Challenge 74, suggests that Tatooine was too remote for Squibs to visit.[129] The assertion contradicts the presence of Macemillian-winduarté living there as a trader, as established in Galaxy Guide 7: Mos Eisley[7] and the short story "Spare Parts."[20] Sources are ambiguous as to the relationship between the Squib species and the Squib battering ram. Galladinium's Fantastic Technology describes the battering ram as part of its write-up for the Squib species[62] as an example of something available to members of the species.[130] However, in The Bounty Hunter Code: From the Files of Boba Fett, the in-universe narrator, bounty hunter Boba Fett, explains that the device was named for the Squibs—not designed by them—due to their penchant for getting into places they were not supposed to be.[131]


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British director Sarah Gavron's (Brick Lane) fact-based film Suffragette kicks off with a bang, literally, with Carey Mulligan and Anne-Marie Duff (Shameless) picking up rocks and throwing them through store windows in the first few seconds of the trailer.
Suffragette is a period film set in early 20th century London when women weren't allowed to vote.
Why are these women acting so outrageously? Well, because they are outraged at the standards placed on them. Statements like "Women should not exercise judgment in political affairs" and "If we allow women to vote, it will mean the loss of social structure" are heard in a voice-over in the trailer.
When asked if she's a suffragette, Helena Bonham Carter's character answers, "I consider myself more of a soldier."
These women were pushed into a corner, and they pushed back, as seen in the below trailer courtesy of ComingSoon.net:
The Houses of Parliament allowed the film to shoot scenes in the historic chambers. This was the first time commercial filming had taken place in the government facility, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
If it weren't for the crew member holding the clapperboard, the below photo might be mistaken for the actual suffragette movement:
The film is set to hit U.S. theaters on October 23, 2015, also starring Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady) as British activist Emmeline Pankhurst and London Spy's Ben Whishaw as Sonny.
What did you think of the trailer?
See More:
WATCH: Carey Mulligan on Why Her 'Madding Crowd' Character is Irresistible
Personality Quiz: Which British Heroine Are You?
10 Baddest Brits In History (Or Popular Legend)


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This is what the church should celebrate today!
Archive for the 'Christian Theology 101' Category
Reformation Day 2014Friday, October 31st, 2014
Session 1 – PrologamaMonday, June 14th, 2010
We begin with an examination of our pre-suppositions, the lay of the land so to speak. These are some of the terms and concepts that we will need going forward.
– examine the basic terms (eg. theology, doctrine)
– what is theology
– what types of theology are there and why
– the justification for studying theology
Christian Beliefs – no reading required
Bible Doctrine – pages 1-32
Audio/Video – sorry none in place yet.
Basic Theology @ TWNMonday, June 14th, 2010
We are offering our first most formal seminar/course this Summer.
Basic Christian Doctrine aka Systematic Theology 101
A foundation examination of the doctrines defining essential Christianity, Orthodoxy and heterodoxy. The course is mainly aimed at Christian believers. The teaching is Reformed in theological flavour.
We will spend about one session on each doctrines, covering the material over 12-14 weeks.
Each session will be instructor lead with associated discussion. Additional optional discussion may be available locally on Friday evenings as part of our regular Colossisns 3:16 gatherings.
Text: Bible Doctrine by Dr. Wayne Grudem (ISBN 0310222338)
Optional substutute: Christian Beliefs by Dr. Wayne Grudem (ISBN 0310255996)
Since the sessions are is Wednesday evenings and a couple of people can not fit that in their schedules, we will be experimenting with recording the lecture portion in audio or possibly video for posting here. This would allow anyone who would find it profitable to 'attend'.
It is an experiment. Our intent is to encourage and strengthen fellow believers and to glorify our Lord.
If you are a believer in Ottawa, Canada, and wish to attend, please email us.


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Twitter is increasingly being used by television networks to boost potential advertising revenue and to help the networks to be able to engage directly with viewers.
According to a report by the Australian newspaper the Herald Sun it is Twitter that is proving to be one of the most important modern tools when it comes to attracting new advertisers to take out spots during hit shows.
No longer are viewers passive in their experience of a programme, increasingly instead anyone sat at home watching one of their favourite shows is encouraged to give feedback and opinion on how they feel about the show by taking to Twitter.
The use of Twitter not only allows television networks to be able to get a feel for the audience response to a show immediately but it is also being used as a tool equal to ratings to see how well a show is performing for advertisers.
This year alone in Australia the popular reality talent shows The X Factor and The Voice have been using Twitter while the reality show Big Brother has also used social media and Twitter to be able to interact with the viewers and it looks like this could be the future for television networks as television and social media become increasingly interlinked.
Michelle Prak, an expert in social media, told the Herald Sun that the increase in social media interactions can easily be turned into real revenue if used correctly.
She said: "When TV networks harness social media in this way, they're drawing people back to "live" TV rather than delayed or taped viewing, which many people have been used to in order to avoid watching commercials."
She added: "For the networks – and their advertisers – hashtags are providing golden opportunities.
"It not only encourages people to watch shows, but to share what they're watching with others who may not have tuned in. Twitter also provides insights into viewers opinion that were previously gained only in market research."
In Australia some of the most popular shows on Twitter include MasterChef Australia, which saw its account grow by over 30 percent while over a million fans liked the show The Voice and at its peak there were over 1,600 tweets about Big Brother.
These sort of statistics show that the link between social media and television is only growing stronger and now viewers are able to interact with their favourite shows not just when they are being aired but at anytime of the day with other fans who are also interested in the show.
Twitter is leading the way as the most popular form of social media for television networks mainly because it requires very little investment and provides unrivaled instant feedback for shows.


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While developing and refining his therapeutic modality since 1973, Dr Gary has added further areas of expertise – as transformational presentation coach and court jester – to accompany the muscle stretching with uniquely integrating affirmations ~ spoken out loud, in rhyme, in whisper, in song.
By reaching his clients through as many senses as possible simultaneously – including breath, sound and visualisation – patterns of perception and expression shift dramatically.
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Tag Archives: sunscreen
Through running my Harley Street clinic I've been lucky to gain an insight into how women think and feel about the ageing process. And lets face it, nobody enjoys the effect growing older has on their looks. However ageing well … Continue reading
Posted in Anti-Ageing, Ask the expert, Body Beautiful, celebrity, cosmetic surgery, Glowing Skin, Harley Street Skin Clinic, Lesley Reynolds Tagged anti ageing, anti ageing tips, best eye liner, best eye lines, curry, exercise, exercise tips, fast weight loss, get slimmer, monthly massage, shapewear, skincare, skincare tips, slim for summer, slimming tips, slimming world, SPF, suncream, sunscreen, wrinkes, wrinkles Leave a comment
Can you recommend a good sunscreen for my face which won't clog pores. I find most of them too thick and chalky. Some of the latest SPFs are featherlight and invisible. Try Medik8 Physical Sunscreen, a new broad spectrum SPF30 … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged ageing, antiageing, beauty, beauty tips, blocked pores, Lesley Reynolds, skin, summer, suncream, sunscreen Leave a comment
What you DO and DON'T want in your beauty products.
It pays to limit chemical overload in the products you're regularly putting on your skin, particularly if its sensitive and prone to allergies and breakouts. Therefore, try to limit the use of products containing the following, where possible: 1. Sodium … Continue reading
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MR & MRS SURGERY ISSUE 13 IN A SPOT OF BOTHER? It's enough dealing with wrinkles but adult acne is right up there on the list of problems affecting women today. Even glam stars like Cameron Diaz and Victoria Beckham may … Continue reading
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Anti-ageing tips with Lesley Reynolds
Through running my Harley Street clinic I've been lucky to gain an insight into how women think and feel about the ageing process. And lets face it, nobody enjoys the effect growing older has on their looks. However ageing well … Continue reading
Posted in Anti-Ageing, Ask the expert, best, Body Beautiful, celebrity, cheekbones, christmas, cosmetic surgery, festive, Festive Fixes, glittery eyeshadows, Glowing Skin, Harley Street Skin Clinic, Lesley Reynolds Tagged beauty, beauty tips, curry, make-up, manicure, massage, nails, posture, sleep, slimming shapewear, SPF, sunscreen Leave a comment
Best- Tidy up Imperfections
Do you suffer with spider veins, red dots, sun spots or crepey cleavage? Take a look at our column in this weeks 'Best' issue to read about our beauty and health tips…
Posted in Anti-Ageing, Ask the expert, best, Body Beautiful, celebrity, cosmetic surgery, health, Lesley Loves Tagged acid, beaty, beautysecrets, beautytips, Best, cleavage, clinic, damage, exposure, freckles, harleystreet., health, holiday, hormonal, moles, remove, skinbrightning, spots, summer, sun, sunscreen, veins Leave a comment
Festival…beauty survival!
Festival season has well and truly begun – and as everyone's headed over to Glastonbury today…they'll be a number of girls fretting about their beauty routine, as let's face it – limited supplies means no time or space for exfoliation, … Continue reading
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When should we start worrying about wrinkles?
You may have seen today's feature on the Telegraph which is all about women worrying about wrinkles from the age of 24 – http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/news-features/TMG10846305/Should-women-be-worrying-about-wrinkles-at-24.html So should we be worrying about getting wrinkles at such a young age, or should we just … Continue reading
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Daily Express: How to stay safe in the sun
Summer is on its way, so take a look at my column in today's Daily Express to find out how to stay safe in the sun! http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/style/477342/Using-sun-cream-and-staying-safe-in-the-sun
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Best: How to 5:2 your skin regime
We've all heard of the famous 5:2 diet, but here's how to get your skin into the same shape – all revealed in my column in this week's Best!
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* C$ hits 77.07 U.S. cents before rebounding
* Bonds mostly higher, adjusting to Bank of Canada news
* Bank of Canada cuts overnight rate to 0.5 percent
* BoC may take extra steps to pump money into system (Updates to close)
By Ka Yan Ng
TORONTO, March 3 (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar fought back on higher oil prices to finish nearly unchanged on Tuesday after hitting a three-month low in the morning after the Bank of Canada cut interest rates to a record low.
The currency swung in a wide range, between C$1.2808 to the U.S. dollar, in the overnight session to a three-month low at C$1.2976 to the U.S. dollar at midmorning.
The Canadian dollar CAD= closed at C$1.2911 to the U.S. dollar, or 77.45 U.S. cents, compared with C$1.2914 to the U.S. dollar, or 77.44 U.S. cents, at Monday's close.
The Canadian dollar recovered as the price of oil edged higher above $41 a barrel. It often tracks the price of oil CLc1, a key Canadian export.
"You're getting buffeted by concern about the U.S. recovery ...however with oil prices rising over the course of the day, that's been an offset. The Canadian dollar has had a hard time finding direction," said Paul Ferley, assistant chief economist, at Royal Bank of Canada.
The currency lost early gains against its U.S. counterpart after the Bank of Canada cut its key overnight rate by half a percentage point to 0.5 percent and said for the first time that it may turn to unorthodox measures to further stimulate the economy. [ID:nN03241]
Measures such as buying assets in the market to expand the money supply may be among options the central bank is considering. It pledged to unveil a detailed framework in April.
"You've got a whole gamut of things coming out of this policy statement to suggest that rates are going to remain low in Canada for a considerable amount of time," said Stewart Hall, an economist at HSBC Canada.
The currency rallied ahead of the rate announcement as the U.S. dollar -- which has been a safe haven choice -- weakened on dulling risk aversion and after the Reserve Bank of Australia unexpectedly left interest rates on hold.
The Australian dollar, a fellow commodity-linked currency, was one of the top performing currencies on Tuesday.
Canadian bond prices were mostly higher across the curve as they adjusted to the Bank of Canada's rate cut announcement.
Only the 30-year bond was in negative territory, in line with its U.S. counterpart, a day after a massive rally brought on by sharp losses on the equity markets.
The interest-rate sensitive two-year bond extended the previous session's gains, rising 13 Canadian cents to C$103.07 to yield 0.970 percent. The 10-year bond climbed 18 Canadian cents to C$106.76 to yield 2.978 percent.
The 30-year bond lost 42 Canadian cents to C$124.05 to yield 3.631 percent.
The Bank of Canada's statement on Tuesday prompted at least one bank to revise its forecast for rate cuts after the central bank said it would consider taking extra steps to pump money into the system.
TD Securities now forecasts the Bank of Canada will cut its overnight rate by another 25 basis points to take it to a record low at 0.25 percent. TD also gives a greater than 50-percent probability that the central bank will opt for some less conventional ways of pumping money into the economy after the April 21 rate decision. (Editing by Peter Galloway)


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Does anyone have any good information about principle based reserves for secondary guarantee products. I hear it is going to be a very hot topic in the upcoming years and I would like to learn as much as I can about it.
D.W. Simpson
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Does anyone have any good information about principle based reserves for secondary guarantee products. I hear it is going to be a very hot topic in the upcoming years and I would like to learn as much as I can about it.
I could go at length. My job will be closely tied to implementing this when it comes.
Basically there will be a model regulation and three actuarial guidelines. The basic methodology is a gross premium valuation with margins. There will be requirements for scenarios as well as a formulatic floor.
Go to the American Academy of Actuary website (www.actuary.org), click on Life and look at some of the links there. Look especially on the right hand side for the "Principles-based project" link (direct link: http://www.actuary.org/risk.asp).
You can get at the draft model regulation and guidelines here: http://www.actuary.org/risk/reserving_life.asp .
This is still under discussion and review, so check back often. The goal for having this done is early 2007. Based on what we see elsewhere (Variable Annuity CARVM), I am not optimistic as the regulators are quibbling over details and there are so many more details to worry about with this project.
I was reading an issue of ... I can't recall, but it was an interview with someone expressing their views about the implementation of PBR. I got the impression that the individual felt that PBR wouldn't realistically be implemented until 2009, if we're lucky.Originally Posted by FSA
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I throw down my smart phone because it's as useless as an empty pack of cigarettes. I stand irritated and itchy. Facebook has been running its greedy little fingers all over my emotional body. The level of anxiety keeps bouncing back up. I pace back and forth feeling powerless; feeling pointless. I willingly participate in a system where I don't matter. That thought hurts.
The muscles in my shoulders harden into solid rock. Tension moves down my arms and up my neck resulting in a pulsing pressure pressing against the inside of my skull. I realize that I'm not breathing. My vision darkens. I've got to get moving.
Sliding into the bedroom for shoes, I perch on the edge of my bed when my heart clamps as flashes from the past come flying through my mind. The rape at 15 has already been playing on a continuous loop for the last two months, but now other images begin to surface.
Flash to the boyfriend who had said I was lucky he'd even look at me since I was so fat and had old lady boobs. Just thinking about his disgusted face looking down at me, my breasts can't help but to feel shame. Flashes of his temper, him grabbing my leg and planting a hard punch deep into my thigh. Day after day, until I become polka dotted.
Had that been abuse? Or a deserved punishment? Had I asked for it? Had it been all my fault?
I see how the hard edges of me splintered out and became dangerous. I see how my shell of spikes formed along with a lashing tongue.
Flash to casting directors putting their hands on those same bruised thighs, whispering with wet lips an invitation to the strip club down the street. Was that harassment? Enticement? Paying the piper?
Flash to the generous man who had claimed to just be a friend. However, when trapped by a snow storm, he insisted that sex had always been inevitable. Totally blindsided, I laid there stiff as a board, staring at the snow falling across the window. I recall my stomach clenching as he peeled off my jeans, then my long underwear, followed by all four pairs of my socks.
Why hadn't I said, "Stop"? Was it because he had bought dinner? Maybe if I had spoken up, he wouldn't have gone on to press other women into crossing their own boundaries.
Then, the realization:
Holy shit! I wasn't born a controlling bitch. I was made. Men made me. With every assault, every invasion, every manipulative insult.
Flash to the pervert at work ogling my cleavage as if it was a quest he must conquer. Flash to the bosses and managers defending pigs then calling my speaking up "not being a team player."
If men want women to be softer and nicer, then stop f*cking assaulting us!
Still sitting on my bed, I desperately try to grab hold of these insights before the threads slip through my fingers and I go back to pretending I'm whole. I worry about the cortisol coursing through my body and so many other women's bodies right now in every corner of our world. I make myself breathe when all I want to do is scream.
Why didn't I know better? What do I do with all this revelation? This is huge. Where do I find the time to dig down to the roots and discover the real me beneath all the layers of protection that have accumulated? Is it better to break out of the shell, or fortify it into a wall and arm it with daggers and bombs?
How many other women (and men) out there are currently going through the same awful process of ripping off the scab of very old wounds?
I shake as I brush away my tears and wipe my hands on my jeans. I finally tie my shoes, grab keys, and head out to go shopping. Because, no matter what is happening on social media and capitol hill, got to do my civic duty by buying things.
The imbalance of gender power is coming up for discussion. Read more in "Cards Against Humanity: Battle of the Sexes"
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It's St Patrick's day which, for East Pennsylvania where I currently reside, means beer, green shirts and people who truly have no business imitating the Irish briefly acting like they just fled the Great Potato Famine. Last March 17 I heard my first, "Top of the morning to you" from my Jewish friend before 6:30am as I was getting in my car! But Holidays are "Holy-Days" and this day belongs to someone whom I find to be more holy than average. (Not that the Catholic church has inquired of me recently about who to canonize.)
Patrick is a towering figure for those of us in professional religion. Not only did he plant his own church, he planted dozens. And not only did they affect the culture around them, they revolutionized it within a few decades. Part evangelist, part pastor, part spiritual warrior, part social prophet, Patrick seems to almost have been superhuman. His preaching moved people from spiritualism to the Gospel. His shepherding connected them with churches and abbeys that sprung up across the landscape. His poetic "Breastplate" is still a prayer the world-wide church sources for inspiration. And his prophetic outcry against the pillaging that the "Christian" Britons pursued against the Irish foreshadows the present focus on human trafficking. If Patrick is not a hero don't look anywhere but the Scriptures to do better. (His chasing the snakes from Ireland is thought to be over the top by historians and scientists but for those of us in ministry work, it hardly seems the most difficult of his accomplishments.)
Yet, lesser known is Patrick's rocky road to ministry. Born in Roman-colonized Briton he was taken captive by Irish raiders while still a boy. He spent years of his life as a swine herd on the hills of Ireland away from his family before escaping. When he returned home, his cultural development had been turned in a rather odd direction compared to his contemporaries; he found it hard to fit in. Some have wondered if he ended up back in Ireland due to the social ostracization he faced when trying to re-enter society as a young adult after so much time away. And somehow after years of training as a priest, he decided his call was to return to the "barbarians" that were the source of his painful life. Forgiveness like this is rare indeed.
So… beyond the saint is a sad story turned holy ending. As it turns out, this is a bit of a thing. Peter and James in the New Testament wrote about it. Jesus predicted it. The church, though not so much in East Pennsylvania, lives it. Difficult times create great saints. Patrick is neither the first nor the last though he may be my favorite.
On this St Patty's day I think it's worth noting what the celebration should be about. It should be celebrated that we get to "stand on the shoulders" of men and women who have paid a higher price than we for the amazing goodness God created through them.
Consider Martin Luther. Under interrogation at the Diet of Worms, he famously stated, "I cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God. Amen." Hundreds of seminarians have pictured Luther bravely bellowing these words in the face of his accusers. But it actually it took him over a day of considering, fearfully wondering what would become of him if he was no longer a priest of the church. Humbly after weighing his options and definitely in fear for his life he decided to take his famous stand. Centuries later many celebrate the Reformation's beginnings without remembering the cost to Luther as a person.
Consider Jonathon Edwards, fired from his church after preaching the greatest sermon of our country's early history and playing a seminal role in its First Great Awakening. He and his family almost starved when moving to missionary work among native people after being let go.
Thomas Aquinas, one of the church's greatest thinkers, completed the massive Summa Theologica. Requiring most of his life, this work is the first great systematic theology. Yet three months before his death, Aquinas had some sort of vision, which lessened the value of his writing to the point he gave it up completely. He died after stating that his work was only "so much straw."
These men lived out the words of AW Tozer who famously wrote it's impossible for God to use anyone mightily until they are wounded greatly. (My paraphrase for the technical among us…)
Back to Jesus, Peter and James. Jesus sent his disciples out calling them "lambs among wolves." Edwards likely believed it when his church pink-slipped him. And Patrick no doubt saw the irony when his recent converts disappeared on a British slave ship kidnapped by Christians who thought the Irish barbaric. The wolves have often been inside the church it appears. Peter, previous to himself being crucified, wrote about the usefulness of "various trials" that prove faith genuine. James admonished the church to consider it "joy when we face trials of many kinds" as character results.
So happy St Patrick's day and here's to us all benefitting from great people of the past whose pain God has used again and again. Where would we be without the depth of thought, seriousness of devotion and remarkable humility of "saints" who have gone before us. Their pain made a way for us to celebrate!