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Book #7 of Keeper of the Lost Cities
In this unforgettable seventh book in the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling Keeper of the Lost Cities series, Sophie must let the past and present blur together, because the deadliest secrets are always the ones that get erased.
Sophie Foster doesn't know what—or whom—to believe. And in a game with this many players, the worst mistake can be focusing on the wrong threat.
But when the Neverseen prove that Sophie's far more vulnerable than she ever imagined, she realizes it's time to change the rules. Her powerful abilities can only protect her so far. To face down ruthless enemies, she must learn to fight.
Unfortunately, battle training can't help a beloved friend who's facing a whole different danger—where the only solution involves one of the biggest risks Sophie and her friends have ever taken. And the distraction might be exactly what the villains have been waiting for.
Chapter One ONE
SO IS IT STRANGE COMING here and not being the one on trial?" Keefe asked, checking his expertly styled blond hair in a shiny facet on one of the jeweled walls before he followed Sophie into Tribunal Hall. "Because I'd be happy to help you break a few laws if you're feeling left out."
"Me too!" Ro—Keefe's bodyguard—jumped in. Her pierced nose crinkled as she surveyed the empty auditorium, which was built entirely out of emeralds. "Ugh, you guys have really out-sparkled yourselves with this place. It's basically begging me to smash something."
"No one will be smashing anything," Sandor—Sophie's bodyguard—warned. "Or causing any other problems!"
The threat didn't sound all that terrifying, thanks to Sandor's squeaky voice. But he backed it up by being a seven-foot-tall goblin warrior—and by folding his gray arms across his bare chest and flexing some seriously impressive muscles.
Ro flashed a pointy-toothed smile and patted the rows of daggers—a recent addition to her ogre arsenal—strapped to her toned thighs. "I'd like to see you try to stop us."
"Believe me, I'd enjoy every second," Sandor growled, gripping the hilt of his giant black sword. "I still can't believe the Council is allowing you into these proceedings."
Neither could Sophie.
Then again, she hadn't expected to be invited either.
The Tribunal was supposed to be restricted to members of the Vacker family, since it was only a sentencing hearing—and mostly a formality. Alvar was already being held in the secret prison the Black Swan had designed specifically for him. The Council was simply deciding how many years he'd have to stay there.
But Alden had stopped by Havenfield that morning and explained that he'd gotten permission for Sophie to attend. And when she'd light leaped to Eternalia, she'd found Keefe and Ro already waiting.
Keefe looked dressier than usual, in a starched white shirt with a fitted black jerkin and an embroidered gray cape—and Sophie was relieved to see it, since she'd decided to show her support with a dusty-rose gown that was much more Biana's fancy style than hers. She'd also used the gold-flecked eyeliner Biana had been telling her would bring out the glints in her brown eyes—even though she hated drawing more attention to their unique-for-an-elf color.
"What?" Sophie asked, wiping under her lashes when she noticed Keefe staring. "Did I smudge it?"
"No, Foster. You look… perfect."
She blushed at the slight catch in his voice—and then wished she hadn't when he flashed his trademark smirk.
"Did Alden tell you he wanted you to be here for moral support too?" she asked, stopping in the center of the hall as she realized she didn't know which of the hundreds of seats were theirs.
His smile faded. "Yeah. He said Fitz was going to need a friend today."
"He said a lot more than that," Ro muttered.
"Relax, Foster," Keefe said, shooting Ro a glare before he pointed to the crease that had formed between Sophie's eyebrows. "No need to get all crinkly on me. Nothing's going on. Alden's just… worried about how Fitz is going to handle this."
"So am I," Sophie admitted.
Anger was often Fitz's crutch in emotionally fraught situations—and nothing brought out his fury more than his traitorous older brother.
"Yeah, well, now I'm stuck listening to a bunch of stuffy, know-it-all elves arguing with each other," Ro groused as she twisted one of her choppy pigtails, which she'd recently dyed the same vivid pink she'd painted her claws. "It almost makes me wish I were still bedridden. Seriously, who thought having twelve Councillors was a good idea?"
Sophie was tempted to point out that the system was much more balanced than having a single power-hungry king. But since Ro was the daughter of the ogres' fear-inspiring leader—and the elves' alliance with King Dimitar had become rather shaky after the Neverseen almost killed Ro during their attack on Atlantis—she decided it was smart to avoid that particular conversation. Especially since the elvin Council was far from perfect.
She turned toward the twelve jeweled thrones that filled a large platform at the front of the glinting green room. Each had been ornamented to reflect the style and taste of the Councillor whose name was displayed along the top: Clarette, Velia, Alina, Terik, Liora, Emery, Oralie, Ramira, Darek, Noland, Zarina, and Bronte.
Sophie knew some of them better than others, and there were a couple she'd even grown to trust. But she would never stop wishing that there was still a simple, sturdy throne for Councillor Kenric.
Kenric had been kind. And funny. And one of Sophie's most loyal supporters.
And he'd still be alive if it weren't for her.
She tried not to let herself think about it, because the guilt might shatter her sanity. But she could still feel the stinging heat of the flames—still hear the crunches and crackles and screams as the jeweled tower melted around them. And she'd never forget Fintan's taunt as he'd ignited the Everblaze to prevent her from retrieving his memories.
Sophie had only been in Oblivimyre that night because of a direct order from the Council. But if she'd been stronger, faster, smarter than Fintan…
"You okay?" Keefe asked, flicking a strand of her blond hair to get her attention. "And before you answer, remember: You're talking to an Empath. Plus, you've already pulled out two eyelashes since we got here, and I can tell you're dying to go for a third."
She was.
Her eyelashes itched whenever she felt anxious, and tugging on them was such a relief. But she kept trying to break the habit, so she held her hands at her sides and forced herself to meet Keefe's ice blue eyes. "I'm fine."
When he raised one eyebrow, she added, "I'm just frustrated. I wish the Council was holding a Tribunal for Fintan, not Alvar."
Keefe leaned slightly closer. "I wouldn't let the Fitzster hear you say that."
"I know. Or Biana."
The younger Vacker siblings had been counting down the days to Alvar's sentencing—and Sophie didn't blame them for wanting everything settled with their older brother.
She glanced over her shoulder, grateful the auditorium was still empty, so she could ask the question she'd been trying not to say.
"Doesn't this feel like a waste of time?"
"Because Alvar can't remember anything?" Keefe asked.
Sophie nodded.
Alvar had been a longtime member of the Neverseen, involved in many of their cruelest schemes before Sophie and her friends found him drugged, bleeding, and trapped in a cell in an abandoned hideout. And when he'd finally regained consciousness, he couldn't even remember his own name.
He didn't seem to be faking, either. Sophie had checked. So had Fitz. And Alden. And Mr. Forkle. And Quinlin. And Councillor Emery—along with every other Telepath the Council trusted. None of them could find a single memory in Alvar's head, no matter how deeply they searched. The Black Swan had even brought in Damel—a trained Washer—who'd told them that Alvar's past had been scrubbed cleaner than he'd realized was possible. And Sophie had tried using her unique telepathic abilities to perform a mental healing, but it hadn't made a difference. Neither had any of the elixirs a team of physicians had given him.
Alvar's mind wasn't broken or damaged.
It was… blank.
Sophie had never felt anything like it—and she'd experienced some pretty bizarre mental landscapes over the last few years. There was no cold, suffocating darkness. No sharp, fragmented images. Just soft, fuzzy gray space.
"I don't understand why the Council is focusing on someone with amnesia," she whispered to Keefe, "when they have Fintan in custody and they're doing nothing."
The former leader of the Neverseen had been captured during the raid on Nightfall. But Fintan had cut a deal with the Council for his cooperation. So he was currently being held in a prison built specifically for him, in exchange for sharing the location of a small supply of the antidote to soporidine—a dangerous sedative the Neverseen had developed for some still-undetermined purpose. He'd also demanded that all Telepaths be kept far away, to ensure that no one could mess with his memories. And while the Council did at least make him agree to help them gain access to his old cache—a small, marble-size gadget that contained dangerous memories called Forgotten Secrets—either Fintan was sabotaging the process, or caches were flawed inventions, because weeks had passed and they hadn't recovered a single piece of information.
"You think he's planning something," Keefe guessed.
Fintan had already proven that he was the master of long, intricate schemes. He'd destroyed Lumenaria—and freed Vespera from the castle's dungeon—with a plan that required key members of the Neverseen to allow themselves to be imprisoned. He could be pulling a similar trick again—and Sophie knew she could find out if the Council would just let her meet with him.
But all of her requests for a visit had been denied. And when she'd asked the Black Swan's Collective for help, they'd told her the Council wasn't giving them access either.
"Why is Fintan still calling the shots?" she murmured. "He already gave us the antidote."
"I don't know." Keefe seemed to debate with himself before he added, "But he's never going to cooperate. So do you really want to do another memory break on him? After what happened with Alden—and Kenric…"
Sophie stared at her hands, tracing her finger along one of the thumb rings peeking through her lacy gloves. The engraved bands had been a gift from Fitz, to identify the two of them as Cognates—and the rare telepathic connection made them far more powerful together than they'd been the last time they'd taken on Fintan. She'd also manifested as an Enhancer, which meant she could boost Fitz's mental strength with a single touch of her fingertips. So she had no doubt that they would get past Fintan's blocking and find whatever he was hiding.
But… memory breaks were horrible, brutal things—even when they were necessary.
"I don't see any other choice," she admitted. "Even if he's not part of some bigger scheme, Fintan has to at least know what Vespera's planning."
"But he won't know what my mom's up to," Keefe reminded her. "And she's the one running things now."
Sophie wasn't entirely convinced that was true.
Lady Gisela had seized control of the Neverseen when she'd tried to destroy Atlantis. But Vespera only allied with her because Keefe's mom trapped her in a force field and threatened to leave her there until the Council arrived to arrest her. And Vespera didn't seem like the type who'd cooperate for long—especially since she'd insisted that she and Lady Gisela had opposite visions.
Then again, Keefe's mom had already clawed her way back to power once, so she must be taking precautions to make sure no one could overthrow her again.
"We have too many villains," Sophie said through a sigh.
Keefe snorted. "You're not wrong."
She wasn't even counting the other members of the Neverseen. Or the ogres who'd defected from King Dimitar. Or the dwarves who'd disappeared months ago, presumably to join the rebellion. Or—
"Hey," Keefe said, fanning the air the way he always did when her emotions started to spiral. "We've got this, okay? I know it doesn't feel like it—"
"It doesn't," Sophie agreed.
They'd been trying to come up with a plan for weeks and still had nothing. And whenever the Neverseen kept them stumped like that, people got hurt.
Sophie had even risked using Keefe's old Imparter, which his mom had rigged with a secret way to contact her. But Lady Gisela was either ignoring them, or she'd severed the connection. And the Black Swan had confiscated the gadget in case anyone could use it to monitor them.
Keefe grinned. "You're so adorable when you worry. I've told you that, right?"
Sophie gave him her best glare, and his smile only widened.
He stepped closer, reaching for her hands. "Let's just get through today, okay? Then no one will be distracted by Alvar anymore, and we'll be able to focus."
"Yeah. I guess."
"Hmm." He traced his thumb over the sliver of skin between her glove and the edge of her beaded sleeve. "There's something you're not saying right now. I can feel it."
The other question she'd been trying not to ask, because she was pretty sure she knew what her friends would say.
"Come on, Foster. It's me. You know you can trust me. And you already know all of my worst secrets, so…"
It was the sincerity in his eyes that made her glance over her shoulder again, making sure the room was still empty before she whispered, "Do you think it's weird to punish someone for crimes they don't remember committing?"
"Weird?" Keefe asked. "Or wrong?"
"Both, I guess."
He nodded and stepped back, running a hand down his face. "Well… everything about this is weird. But, just because Alvar doesn't remember the creepy things he did, it doesn't mean they didn't happen."
Sophie knew better than anyone what Alvar was capable of. And yet… the few times she'd seen him since he lost his memory, he'd seemed different.
He wasn't slick, or arrogant, or angry.
He was terrified. And desperate. And he'd spent the whole time begging everyone to realize he wasn't the person they thought he was.
"He could still get his memories back," Keefe reminded her. "Just because we haven't found the right trigger yet doesn't mean the Neverseen didn't plan for one."
That was another reason Sophie wanted a chance to poke around Fintan's head. They'd recovered Alvar months before Fintan was arrested, so he had to know why Alvar ended up in that cell.
But since the Council wasn't cooperating, Sophie had convinced Mr. Forkle to bring Alvar to places from his past, like the apartment he'd been living in and the destroyed Neverseen hideouts they'd found. They'd also spent days exposing Alvar to random images and sounds and smells—even tastes—trying to trigger a hint of familiarity.
None of it had caused even the tiniest flashback.
And she was starting to think that nothing ever would.
"I'm not saying I trust Alvar," she said, turning to stare at the hundreds of empty seats. "But I also know how terrifying it is to stand in this room and face the Council, and I can't imagine going through it without even remembering why I'm on trial. I mean… Alvar's future is being decided by a past he doesn't believe is his."
"But it is his," Keefe argued. "It's not like we're making this up. He helped kidnap you and Dex, and he helped the Neverseen grab Wylie and torture him, and he helped abduct your human family—and that's only the stuff we know about. I saw what he was like when I was pretending to join the Neverseen. He was all in. One-hundred-percent committed to their cause, no matter what they asked him to do. And he'd still be just as dedicated if they hadn't gotten rid of him—if that's really what happened. Do you want to let him off the hook just because they wiped his mind to keep him from telling us their secrets?"
"No. But keeping him locked up in that miserable cell still feels… unfair, somehow."
"Ugh, you elves overthink everything," Ro grumbled. "It's simple: A traitor's a traitor, and they need to be punished so everyone understands there are consequences for treason. If you're not willing to end him, lock him up and destroy the key. Or better yet, leave it hanging in his line of sight so he has to stare at it forever, knowing he'll never be able to reach it."
"For once the ogre princess and I agree," Sandor added.
Sophie sighed. "Well, I guess it's a good thing I don't have to make the decision."
"It is," Keefe agreed. "?'Cause I'm pretty sure Fitz is going to have a meltdown if the Council gives Alvar anything less than a life sentence."
The idea made Sophie cringe.
The elves called their life span "indefinite," because so far no one had ever died of old age. So if Fitz got his wish, Alvar would be spending thousands of years locked away—maybe even millions. And his cell wasn't just cramped and stuffy. It was buried in the middle of a putrid bog and smelled worse than imp breath.
Keefe moved back to her side, leaning in to whisper. "I do get what you're saying, Foster. Punishing the bad guys is supposed to be easier than this—and way more fun."
"Yeah," Sophie said quietly. "I've been angry at Alvar for so long, I never thought I'd end up feeling sorry for him."
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand this is why we're going to be stuck here for hours," Ro whined.
"Nah, I'm sure the Council already made their decision," Keefe told her. "They're just putting on a good show for the Vackers."
"Wanna bet?" Ro's grin looked dangerous when she added, "I say we'll be here until sunset—and if I'm right, you have to wear ogre armor to school, instead of your uniform."
Keefe smirked. "No big deal. I would rock that metal diaper. But I say that this hearing will be done in an hour—and if I'm right, you have to call me Lord Hunkyhair from now on."
Sophie shook her head. "You guys are terrible."
"That's why you love us!" Keefe draped his arm around her shoulders. "You should get in on this, Foster. I'm sure that devious mind of yours can come up with some particularly humiliating ways to punish us if we're wrong."
She probably could. But no way was she risking having to wear a metal breastplate to Foxfire. Ro's looked like a medieval corset paired with spiked metal bikini bottoms.
"Hard pass," she told him.
Keefe heaved a dramatic sigh. "Fiiiiiiiiiine. I guess I can't blame you, since I already owe you a favor. Any thoughts on what my penance is going to be, by the way? Don't think I haven't noticed how long you've been stalling."
"I'm not stalling," Sophie insisted. "I just… haven't figured out what I want."
"Yeah, I know." The teasing tone faded from his voice, replaced with something that made Sophie very aware of how close they were standing. "Take your time," he told her, the words mostly a whisper. "Just… let me know when you figure it out. Because I—"
The doors to the hall burst open, cutting off whatever else he was going to say.
"Oh good. Here comes the elf parade," Ro muttered.
"The Vacker parade," Keefe corrected. "And get ready for it. They're the sparkliest of us all."
They really were.
Sophie's jaw even dropped a little as she watched the legendary family filing into the hall in their elaborate gowns and perfectly tailored jerkins and jeweled capes. She'd thought she was used to the extreme wealth and ageless beauty of the elves. But the Vackers demanded attention in a way she didn't know how to explain. There was something striking about each and every one of them—which was extra impressive considering how different they all looked from each other. She spotted every hair color, skin color, feature shape, and body type. It probably shouldn't have caught her by surprise—the family line went back thousands of years, and elves didn't separate themselves by appearance the way humans often did. But she was so used to how closely Fitz, Biana, and Alvar resembled their parents that she'd foolishly imagined all their relatives with similar dark hair and pale coloring.
She studied everyone as they passed, hoping she'd catch a glimpse of Fallon Vacker—Fitz and Biana's great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather. She'd been trying to meet with him for months, hoping he could tell her more about why he'd sentenced Vespera to the Lumenaria dungeon. But he'd been annoyingly uncooperative.
There were quite a few males with pointy ears—the trademark of the Ancients—but Sophie didn't know any other details about Fallon's appearance to help her narrow it down. And she couldn't ask Keefe—the hall was way too quiet. No one said a word as they climbed the auditorium's stairs and took their seats.
And yet, somehow, the silence grew thicker when the doors opened again and Alden and Della strode into the hall, followed by Fitz and Biana and their goblin bodyguards, Grizel and Woltzer.
Sophie had seen her friends shattered by grief, shaking with anger, sobbing with hysterics—even battered and bloody and half dead. But she'd never seen them looking so… timid. Their clothes were dark and boring, and they kept their teal eyes focused on the floor. Biana even disappeared for longer between her steps than her vanishing ability usually caused.
So did Della, who'd worn her long hair pulled back into a simple knot, along with a gown and cape that were dull gray, without any frills.
Alden's cape and jerkin were equally plain.
Not that any of it helped them draw less attention.
The air in the room shifted, turning hotter and heavier with each stare sent their way—a blast of searing judgment aimed at the family of Vackers who'd brought scorn upon the name. And Fitz and Biana seemed to shrink under the weight of it, ducking their chins and picking up their pace as angry murmurs began to swell—starting as a low rustle and growing into a pounding thrum.
Sophie tried to think of something to say as they drew closer, but her mind wasn't cooperating—and for once Keefe didn't seem to have a joke ready. So she was forced to go with the less-than-inspiring "Hey."
Biana's head snapped up. "Whoa, what are you guys doing here?"
"Your dad didn't tell you he got us in?" Keefe asked, dropping his arm from Sophie's shoulders when he noticed Fitz staring at them.
"I wanted it to be a surprise," Alden explained. "I hope that's okay."
"Of course it is!" Biana practically tackled Sophie with her hug—but Sophie hugged her back as gently as she could.
Biana kept claiming that she'd recovered from the brutal injuries she'd suffered in Nightfall, but Sophie had noticed that Biana always wore long sleeves now and chose gowns and tunics that covered her neck and shoulders.
"By the way, you look awesome," Biana said, pulling away to admire Sophie's dress. "Now I'm wishing I braided my hair or something."
"Oh please, you look amazing," Sophie assured her. "Like always."
It wasn't a lie.
Even in a hall full of Vackers, Biana managed to shine.
So did Fitz—though Sophie was trying not to notice.
"Hey, Fitzy," Keefe said, elbowing Fitz's side. "Wanna join our bet on how long this Tribunal is going to last? You get to name your terms—oh, but if you lose, you'll have to wear a metal diaper to school and call me Lord Hunkyhair from now on."
"Uh… yeah, no," Fitz said as Biana asked, "Hunkyhair?"
"Lord Hunkyhair," Keefe corrected. "What? It's accurate." He tossed his head like he was in a shampoo commercial. "I think we need to make it a thing either way—don't you, Foster?"
"I think you're ridiculous," Sophie told him.
Then again, Biana was giggling. And Fitz's lips were twitching with the beginning of a smile. Even Alden and Della had relaxed a little.
But everyone turned serious as Alden motioned for them to follow him toward a narrow silver staircase that led up to a platform with a row of chairs facing the Councillors' thrones.
Fitz offered Sophie his arm, and she tried to ignore the way her insides fluttered at the gesture. He was probably only doing it because everyone knew that climbing things without tripping wasn't one of her strengths—particularly when she was wearing heels. But her face still grew warm as she hooked her elbow around his.
It got even warmer when he told her, "I'm glad you're here."
"So am I."
She meant it, even though the buzz in the room was shifting tone—and she caught enough scattered words to know many were now talking about her.
"Raised by humans."
"Genetically altered."
"Project Moonlark."
There were also a few mentions of "matchmaking" in the mix, and Sophie decided she did not want to know what they were saying. Especially when she noticed Keefe's smirk.
Fitz guided her to a chair on the far left of the platform and took the seat next to her, with Keefe sitting on his other side, followed by Biana, Della, and Alden. All the bodyguards took up positions behind them.
"Where's Alvar going to be?" Sophie whispered, noticing that there were no empty seats.
Alden pointed to a portion of the floor that had a square pattern. "That platform will rise once he's standing on it."
"He has to face the Council alone," Della added quietly.
"And it looks like our time starts now," Keefe told Ro, as two dozen heavily armed goblins marched into the hall and took up positions around the Councillors' thrones.
"They call that security?" Ro huffed. "I could take them down without even drawing a dagger."
Fanfare drowned out Sandor's reply—which was probably for the best. And Sophie's insides squished together as all twelve Councillors shimmered onto the platform in their gleaming silver cloaks and twinkling circlets.
Ro snorted. "Wow. Do the jewels in their crowns seriously match their thrones?"
"I suppose you'd rather we ink our adornments to our skin?" Councillor Emery called back.
His deep, velvety voice bounced off the emerald walls—but Ro didn't look the least bit intimidated as she reached up and traced one of her pink claws over the tattoos swirling across her forehead.
"I doubt you guys could handle the pain," she told him.
"I think you'd be surprised what we can bear," Councillor Emery responded.
His skin was usually a shade similar to his long dark hair—but whatever memories inspired his statement had turned him slightly ashen.
"But that's not what we're here to discuss," he added, taking a seat in his sapphire-encrusted throne, which matched both his circlet and his eyes. "I know many in this hall have important assignments to return to. So let's not waste time."
"Did you hear that?" Keefe asked Ro as the other Councillors sat in their respective thrones. "They're not going to waste time."
"Psh—like that's going to last," Ro argued.
"Bring in the accused!" Emery commanded, and four additional goblin warriors marched into the hall, flanking a hooded figure who blinked in and out of sight with every step, just like his mother and sister.
Alvar had never been as effortlessly attractive as his younger siblings, but he'd always made up for it with immaculate clothes, perfectly gelled hair, and a build that looked like he'd spent hours working out every day. He would've been horrified by the scrawny, battered person he'd become. His loose gray cloak seemed to swallow him, and greasy strands of his dark hair hung in his pale blue eyes.
But worst of all were the curved red scars marring his gaunt face.
"The Council better get this right," Fitz whispered as the platform raised Alvar to the Councillors' height.
"State your name for the record," Councillor Emery ordered.
Alvar gave a wobbly bow and drew back his hood. "I'm told it's Alvar Soren Vacker."
"You sound as if you don't believe that to be the case," Emery noted.
"I don't know what I believe," Alvar told him. "Like I keep telling you, I have no memory of my past."
Fitz reached for Sophie's hand when Councillor Emery closed his eyes. As spokesperson for the Council, Emery's job was to telepathically mediate all arguments, to ensure the Councillors presented a unified front for the audience.
Several long seconds passed—and Ro's grin widened with each one—before Emery asked Alvar, "Do you understand why we've brought you before us today?"
Alvar bowed again. "I understand that certain charges have been raised against me. But I have no way to verify them."
"Are you implying that we're liars?" a sharp voice barked.
All eyes shifted to Councillor Bronte, the oldest member of the Council—with the pointy ears to prove it, along with the piercing stare of an elf who could inflict pain on anyone he wished with a simple glance.
Alvar shrank back a step. "Of course not. I'm just… emphasizing my predicament. You keep outlining my crimes—but I feel no connection to any of it. Just like I feel no connection to anyone in this room, even though I'm told you're my family." He glanced behind him, studying the intimidating crowd before his eyes settled on Alden and Della. "I wish I could remember you. I wish I could remember anything. But since I can't, all I'll say is… whoever did these horrible things that you've accused me of—that's not me. Maybe it used to be. And if that's the case, I'm truly sorry. But I promise I'm not that person anymore."
"Right," Fitz muttered, loud enough for the word to echo off the walls.
"I understand your skepticism," Councillor Emery told him. "We have doubts as well."
"Then let me prove myself!" Alvar begged. "I realize the chance of regaining my freedom is slim. But if you did decide to grant it—"
"We'd be endangering the lives of everyone in the Lost Cities," Councillor Emery finished for him. "Whether you remember your past or not, your connection to the Neverseen poses a threat we cannot ignore."
Alvar's shoulders slumped.
"But," Emery added, and the whole room seemed to suck in a breath, "your current imprisonment also creates quite the conundrum."
Fitz's hand shook and Sophie tightened her hold, twining her gloved fingers with his as Councillor Emery closed his eyes and rubbed his temples.
Ro leaned down and whispered to Keefe, "Settle in for a long debate, Betting Boy. And get ready to prance around school in our tiniest armor."
Keefe shrugged.
But Emery stood, pacing twice along the platform before pausing to face Alvar. "I'll admit, none of us are entirely comfortable with what I'm about to say—but we're also not willing to issue a sentence while there are so many uncertain variables."
"WHAT?" Fitz blurted, jumping to his feet.
"We understand that this is an emotionally challenging situation for you," Emery told Fitz. "That's why I'm tolerating your interruptions. But surely you can agree that the primary goal of any punishment must be to prevent further crimes from being committed. And we cannot determine what's necessary for your brother in that regard until we discover who he is now. We need to witness how he interacts with others and study how he behaves in ordinary situations—which cannot happen in his isolated cell. But since we can't trust him either, we must move him to an environment where we can keep him constantly monitored and separated from our larger world while still providing ample opportunities for us to take his measure."
Sophie noticed the total lack of surprise on Alden's and Della's faces the same moment she realized that this was why she'd been invited for moral support.
A quick glance at Keefe told her he'd come to the same conclusion.
So neither of them gasped with the rest of the crowd when Emery announced the Council's decision. But she still felt a sour wave of dread wash through her when he said, "For the next six months, Alvar will be returning to Everglen."
Publisher: Aladdin (October 8, 2019)
Children's Fiction > Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic
Keeper of the Lost Cities series curriculum guide (pdf)
Flashback (pdf)
Book Cover Image (jpg): Flashback
More books in this series: Keeper of the Lost Cities


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Only those candidates that will be short listed are called for interview or other selection procedure.


Lack of progress on this front is contributing to rising discontent against him.
Another Marawi-like siege is likely to occur.
Is Duterte Wrecking the Philippine Economy?
A closer look at how the Philippine president is impacting his country's economic prospects.
The relationship has implications not just for bilateral ties, but potentially for the region and world as well.
Many of Duterte's policy plans would not be possible without the fiscal discipline practiced by his predecessor.
Duterte rode a wave of anti-establishment sentiment to victory. But how he will actually govern?
Joseph Goebbels makes a surprise appearance..
Aquino jumpstarted the Philippines' military modernization efforts, but the country still has a long way to go.
The legacy of People Power in the Philippines remains ambiguous.
The country's economy has done well, but this year faces some serious challenges.
China is hoping the South China Sea issue won't get raised on what looks to be an ice-breaking trip for Xi Jinping.
The country has made remarkable strides in recent years.
Law and order continues to be a problem in the country's south.
A brief look at Grace Poe's platform.
Manila's South China Sea strategy is more about strengthening national unity than changing China's behavior.
Some diplomatic innovation may be the best chance to manage disputes and forestall conflict.
A look at some of the faces in the region's new generation of change seekers.


text:
An Ice Road to Reconciliation
By Asha Kerr-Wilson
Posted on March 22, 2017/Last updated on March 27, 2019
From the Catalyst, Spring 2017
2016 broke the record for the hottest year ever, the third year in a row to do so. The causes and effects of this climatic change are increasingly obvious in Canada. But Indigenous peoples are on the frontlines.
Across Canada, Indigenous peoples are taking action to protect the land, water, and air – and their way of life. In B.C., the West Moberly and Prophet River Nations have mobilized farmers and environmental organizations alike to stop the construction of the Site C dam. The Elsipogtog First Nation put their bodies on the line to protest fracking on their land in New Brunswick. And in southwestern Ontario, the Chippewa of the Thames are just one among several nations who have issued challenges in the courts over the impacts of pipeline projects and resource exploration and extraction.
Climate change affects the lives, lands, and cultural heritage of Indigenous peoples more directly and dramatically than most Canadians. But many communities in the more isolated and northern regions go unseen and unheard.
In December 2016, I had the opportunity to visit the Ojibway First Nation of Pikangikum. I travelled with the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF), the Anglican Church of Canada's aid and development agency. This remote community in northwestern Ontario is on Treaty Five territory. It is tucked into the beautiful forested landscape on the edge of Pikangikum Lake.
Many here rely on outdoor water pumps. This is their only access to water for all household needs, even in cold and stormy winter weather. We were there to meet members of the community and to see the work of PWRDF and our partners to bring running water into homes.
Although the weather makes hauling water a challenge, it is also a key asset to the community. Through the winter, this otherwise fly-in community relies on an ice road for most of their supplies, including food and fuel.
Climate change is putting this ice road at risk. Winters are warmer and start later in the year. And now community leaders are concerned that access to the seasonal ice road is getting shorter and less certain.
During my visit to Pikangikum, I briefly experienced the limited and expensive access to supplies and travel. We spent an uncertain extra day there after flights were cancelled due to bad weather. Yet for the people of Pikangikum, the impact is much more serious. The loss of a reliable ice road will have disastrous impacts on a community already suffering from limited resources.
The people of Pikangikum continue traditional Indigenous practices of hunting, fishing, and gathering as part of their cultural heritage and way of life. But climate change is destabilizing the nearby boreal forest. Increased wildfires and insect outbreaks are expected. Plant and animal species, such as the caribou, are already showing signs of population decline. With risks to both traditional and mainstream sources of food and supplies, the community is stuck in a lose-lose situation.
The people of Pikangikum are simultaneously at higher risk of the immediate climate change consequences and the least able to fight the causes and adapt to new realities. Their power comes from diesel-run generators that serve a local electricity grid. In a community with unpaved roads and heavy snow, big trucks are needed to get around. Even though reductions in GHG emissions are possible, they would have little impact. And frankly, Pikangikum has more immediate concerns. The community struggles with crises of health, social welfare, and crime. These are largely the result of the ongoing history of colonialism along with restricted resources and geographic isolation.
As settler people, we must understand the impact climate change has on the land and people. Only then can we can find common concerns that open opportunities to build relationships. Despite these challenges, Pikangikum, like many isolated and northern Indigenous communities, represents an opportunity for reconciliation between Indigenous and non-indigenous peoples.
This is not a new idea. Many fighting for environmental justice recognize the vital stake and leadership role Indigenous people have in this cause. And climate justice is also a part of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
One road to get us there may well be made of ice and serve a small Ojibway Nation in northwestern Ontario.
Photo: The streets of Pikangikum. Credit: Allie Colp.
Asha Kerr-Wilson
Asha has been interested in environmental and social issues for many years, but became especially interested in the places in which the two areas intersect early in her university career. While doing her B.A. in Environmental Studies with a minor in Justice Studies at the University of Regina she found that the two issues were strongly connected inciting a passion for ecological and climate justice issues. This led her to get more involved in addressing these issues in her community including joining the Board of Directors of the university's on-campus environmental and social justice non-profit organization. Raised and active in the Anglican Church, Asha became involved with the Anglican Church of Canada's relief and development organization, the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF), in 2014. Through her volunteer work with PWRDF she seeks to live out the commandment to "love thy neighbor" with a global reach by sitting on the organization's Youth Council and Board of Directors. Having lived in many parts of Canada growing up, Asha is pleased to be living in the nation's capital and working to influence positive change around national ecological justice issues.
Indigenous Justice | News: Climate Justice
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The gun comes with fiber optic sights. The wrong sights are shown in the image.
Formerly known as the Marksman 2004, now called the Beeman P17.
Outstanding accuracy and velocity. Single-shot pistol produces up to 410 fps. Totally recoilless and no CO2 required. Add a dot sight on the 11mm dovetail.
Cody Kaucic won our facebook contest to name this airgun combo!
Target-style trigger provides crisp let-off and minimum take up. Custom shaped, finger groove grip helps improve shooting comfort and aids with accuracy. Polymer frame is durable and lightweight, cast aluminum pump body and valve body, and steel barrel and main valve provide long life and repeatable accuracy. Includes automatic safety, and rear sight is adjustable for windage and elevation.
Things I liked: Gun has a lot of punch for being a pump gun. I thought I was buying a CO2 gun and was disappointed when I found it was not until I opened it and shot it. Totally changed my mind. I enjoy target shooting with it.
Things I liked: Nice package deal. Handy little pistol and surprisingly accurate. Shot about a 1.5" group at 10 meters right out of the box after just a bit of windage adjustment.
Where is this made? US? China?


Role in DuckTV: After moving up the ranks from sideline reporter to anchor, Childs is now one of three sports producers for DuckTV. It's a leadership and teaching role that runs the gamut from big-picture responsibilities—running team meetings, managing the staff, assigning stories—to nuts and bolts like securing game credentials and athlete interviews, creating rundowns for the teleprompter, and calling the show.
Biggest challenge of being a producer: I have to do this before my schoolwork, because there are so many people relying on me. I'm on call all the time. If anyone has something wrong with a camera, I pick up the phone. I've been in Corvallis at midnight when I get a call from someone locked out of Allen, and I have to walk them through the steps of getting in to edit.
On being a woman in a male-dominated field: It's been really cool to work on a team of all-female producers. Especially in sports, that's not common. It's empowering. Going into a male-dominated field is sort of scary, but at the same time there are so many resources now. Things are changing. A lot more females are getting into the industry, so it's a good time to do it.
Ever watch the news and wonder what it's like to be the one holding the mic—the reporter on location, the sportscaster covering the big game, the anchor at the desk?
Become part of DuckTV, and you can.
Audition for the school's student-run television network and you'll help produce six to seven original news, sports, and creative episodes each term. You get one credit a term for the DuckTV class, but the real reward is total immersion in the broadcast world. DuckTV team members don't just read from a teleprompter. They literally run the show.
Applying the skills they learn in broadcast classes, students cover the big games and breaking campus news, rain or shine. They pitch stories, secure press credentials, write scripts, edit video, and create rundowns. They shoot on location and in the studio. They do all the public relations and social media. They even write and act in fictional comedies and dramas.
Of course, things don't always go as planned in TV. Sometimes you can't land the interview you need. Sometimes the technology breaks unexpectedly. And sometimes you have to stay late on a Sunday to finish final edits. But every obstacle is an invaluable lesson, propelling you one step closer to your dream job.
Speaking of that job, you'll need an attention-grabbing reel—the broadcaster's equivalent of a portfolio—to land it. Fortunately, after a stint or two on Duck TV, you'll have more than enough high-quality work to show the world the broadcast superstar you've become.
Jessica Waite is a multimedia journalist at the NBC affiliate in Eugene, where she reports, produces, and anchors. She's also in charge of the NBC 16 franchise "Acts of Kindness," featuring people who make a difference in the community through thoughtful or selfless acts.


text:
Ashley Cockrell
Cheerios—Clinically Proven to Lower Blood Cholesterol
This slogan has constantly been used to advertise Cheerios, a toasted whole grain oat cereal, as a heart-healthy choice for breakfast. This claim serves to inform consumers about a food choice that can help lower blood cholesterol, a major risk factor for heart disease. According to the National Vital Statistics Report of 2005 for the Center for Disease Control, heart disease is the leading cause of death for American Indians and Alaska Natives, blacks, whites and Hispanics (link 1). However, studies among people with and without heart disease have shown that lowering high blood cholesterol levels can reduce the risk of dying of heart disease and reduce the risk of developing heart disease, respectively.
According to the Cheerios website, Cheerios is the only leading cold cereal that is known to have effects on lowering cholesterol in addition to a low fat diet (link 2). General Mills, the corporation that produces Cheerios, claims state that eating three cups of Cheerios, as part of a diet low in saturated fat, is effective in reducing elevated cholesterol levels. However, many people have begun to question exactly how much of a protective effect do you really see when assessing the results of Cheerios on lowering cholesterol. Should Cheerios really be a necessity in the diets of those who have high cholesterol? Are there other alternatives that may produce more substantial effects?
When addressing this topic, it is first important to define some basic terms used in the literature:
Hypercholesterolemia- condition characterized by extremely high blood cholesterol levels (link 3).
Low-Density Lipoproteins (LDLs)- type of lipoprotein that carries cholesterol in the blood to the body. Also known as the "bad" cholesterol because it can lead to a build up of cholesterol in the arteries and may cause heart disease (link 4).
High-Density Lipoproteins (HDLs)- type of lipoprotein that carries cholesterol away from the blood in to the liver so that it can be excreted from the body. Also know as the "good" cholesterol because it causes a decrease in blood cholesterol levels and can reduce the risk of heart disease (link 4).
Dietary Fiber- parts of plants that cannot be digested, specifically complex carbohydrate. There are two types of dietary fiber: insoluble and soluble (link 5).
Soluble fiber- found in whole grain oats and dissolves to form a gel in your digestive system and then it binds to cholesterol so that it can be excreted from the body (link 6).
Meta-analysis- the statistical procedure of combining data from multiple research studies that are similarly related in order to plan effective methods for further research (link 7).
Beta-glucan- type of cellulose that is the component of soluble fiber in oats. It is the active agent that gives soluble fiber its cholesterol lowering effects (link 8).
Cheerios: The Popular Claim
The Cheerios website states that only certain breakfast cereals can provide the benefits of a soluble fiber, with Cheerios being one of them. Three grams of soluble fiber daily has been proven to substantially lower cholesterol levels; cheerios only contains 1 gram of soluble fiber per cup. Therefore, Cheerios claims that eating three cups of Cheerios cereal daily, in addition to a diet low in saturated fat, will help to reduce elevated blood cholesterol levels. The website offers evidence to support the claim by presenting a clinical study done by Cheerios to test the effects of the cereal on LDL cholesterol levels. The double-blind clinical trial sampled 135 men and women between the ages of 40 and 70, with high cholesterol. First, as a pre-treatment, they were placed on a diet that was low in fat and cholesterol. After this period, participants were randomly placed in treatment and control groups. The treatment group ate a total of 3 ounces of whole grain oat Cheerios per day, which contained 3 grams of soluble fiber, and the control group ate cornflakes that contained no soluble fiber. Results show that the treatment group lowered their cholesterol by 3.8% and their LDL cholesterol levels were lowered by 4.2% compared to the control group. However, the site does not give the source of the clinical study, when it was conducted, or where the information is published. Therefore, consumers should consider that this clinical study may or may not be reliable because there is no verification of publication.
Even so, an article by Business Net, "Hook, line, and cheerios", points that Cheerios does not lower cholesterol much (link 9). The article explains that in the General Mills study mentioned previously, the LDL cholesterol count only fell by 7 points (from 160 to153). This drop in seven points is significant coming from one source of food; however, consumers have to consider that in actuality they are taking in three servings of cheerios and therefore 450 calories from the cereal itself (not to mention the calories of milk). It is not practical to consume extra calories and fat from this cereal only to gain a substantial amount of soluble fiber. Therefore, Cheerios was testing the obvious in its clinical study, but consumers are unaware of that factor. Maybe if the company had tested the specific effects of eating one cup of cheerios which contains only 1g of soluble fiber, consumers would be aware that in actuality they are not getting a substantial amount of soluble fiber. Cheerios is using the claim that eating 1-1/2 cups twice a day or roughly 3 cups of Cheerios per day can lower cholesterol by 3.8%, in order to persuade consumers to buy Cheerios because of its supposed heart-healthy benefits.
With all the conflicting views on Cheerios and other whole grain cereals containing soluble fiber circulating through the media and the cereal boxes themselves, numerous research projects have been completed to find the true answer to the effects of differing amounts of soluble fiber on lowering cholesterol. While each study used slightly different criteria to asses the effects of different sources of soluble fiber, the benefits of oat products and oat-containing cereals were made evident.
There is uncertainty about the effects of soluble fiber on lowering cholesterol because the range of effects varies greatly. The reason for the variation includes varying dietary control and background diets, small sample sizes, changes in body weight, different dosages of fiber and different types of subjects. Therefore, a meta-analysis of 67 controlled trials was performed in order to quantify the cholesterol-lowering effects of major dietary fibers (Brown et al., 1999). The trials tested the effects of soluble fiber products such as oats, psyllium, pectin, and guar gum. The average dose of 9.5 g soluble fiber was administered over a 49 day treatment period, while 38 studies show subjects who used the subject's usual diet as the background diet and 29 studies had subjects who whose background diets were low in fat and cholesterol. The diets of the participants before the study is important because soluble fiber is known to be more efficient in lowering cholesterol in addition to a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Furthermore, 85% of the studies used in the meta-analysis the control fiber group that used wheat bran and corn flakes, both low in soluble fiber, and a cellulose-based placebo.
The results of the meta-analysis show that normal doses of soluble fiber from oats, psyllium, pectin, and guar gum each significantly reduced both total and LDL cholesterol. However, none of the soluble fibers had a significant influence on HDL cholesterol. Most importantly, the meta-analysis concluded that the dosage of soluble fiber is very crucial to its effects. The normal range of intake is, for example, 3g soluble fiber from oats, but only decreases the total and LDL cholesterol by 2%. Therefore, the higher intake of soluble fiber, the more of a protective effect it will have in lowering cholesterol levels. However, it is important not to consume too much soluble fiber because side effects such as gas, bloating, and abdominal cramps may result. Diet is also a necessary co-factor in addition to soluble fiber in order to reduce cholesterol. Some of the studies in this meta-analysis reported subjects who were on a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol and others that continued with their regular diets before the study. Results may have been more stable and even higher if data was recorded for more subjects that were all on a similar diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol.
Furthermore, a study assessed the cholesterol-lowering benefits of oat-containing cereal in Hispanic Americans (Karmally et al., 2005). One-hundred fifty-two Hispanic American women ages 30-70, with low-density LDL cholesterol levels between 120 and 190 mg/dl were included in the study. The participants were placed on a Step 1 diet for five weeks, and then randomly assigned to either a control group of an unbranded corn cereal without soluble fiber or and an experimental group of Cheerios containing beta -glucan. The daily dose of beta-glucan was 3g, the known dosage of soluble fiber needed to produce positive effects. Following testing, the experimental group showed a reduction in LDL and total cholesterol levels, while the control group did not experience an effect on LDL or total cholesterol levels. However, it is noted that both groups were on a low saturated fat Step 1 diet approved by the National Cholesterol Education Program. Therefore, the results of the study "support the FDA-approved health claim that 3g of soluble fiber will lower cholesterol and thus reduce risk of heart disease if consumed with a low-saturated fat, low-cholesterol diet" (Karmally et al., 2005). However, the participants of this study had low-density LDL cholesterol levels. Possibly, the study may have shown more reduction in cholesterol levels if participants with high LDL cholesterol levels were tested instead. Studies show that larger reductions in cholesterol levels are seen in trials in which subjects have an initial high blood cholesterol level (greater than or equal to 229 mg/dl) particularly when a dose of 3g or more of soluble fiber is consumed (Ripsin et al., 1992).
Interestingly, the difference in oat bran and wheat bran products has been the key to the effectiveness of lowering cholesterol levels. Multiple studies have also demonstrated that incorporating oat products into a diet causes a modest reduction in blood cholesterol levels (Ripsin et al., 1992). One such study tests the effects of oat bran and wheat bran on plasma cholesterol concentrations by randomly assigning twenty-three men with mild hypercholesterolemia to either an oat bran or wheat bran cereal diet (Whyte et al., 1992). The study determined that 12 g of oat bran fiber per day lowered plasma cholesterol levels 6% more than 12 g of wheat bran fiber, which contained less soluble fiber. Since men with extremely high cholesterol levels would help to detect major decreases in blood cholesterol, the efficacy of this study may be valid. However, only twenty-three men were tested, which is not a very large sample size. Furthermore, participant's diets were identical with respect to average consumption of total fat and saturated fat. Therefore, this factor excluded the absence of fat as an explanation for lower cholesterol levels by oat bran. Conclusively, oat bran lowered blood cholesterol levels even in the presence of saturated fat in the diet simply because it contains a greater amount of soluble fiber than other oat products.
Oat Bran or Whole Grain Oats…What's the difference?
Cheerios are made from whole grain oats, which include all three parts of the grain kernel: the fiber-rich bran, the starchy endosperm, and the nutrient-filled germ. On the other hand, oat bran consists of only the bran portion of the grain seed, which contains B vitamins, trace minerals, and the most fiber out of all three layers (link 10). Fiber content of whole grains varies—many high fiber foods, such as bran cereals, are not whole grain, while some whole grain foods may not be rich in fiber (link 11). Therefore, oat bran is guaranteed to have higher soluble fiber content than whole grains because it contains the one part of the grain kernel that contains the most fiber. According to an article, the consumption of an adequate amount of soluble fiber may reduce cholesterol levels by 10 to 20 percent (Nuovo, 1989).
Consumers don't be fooled!
Soluble fiber plays a major role in lowering high cholesterol. Specifically, Cheerios a leading brand of cereal has had minimal effects on lowering blood cholesterol levels. The recommended intake of 3g of soluble fiber or more can substantially lower blood cholesterol if consumed in addition to a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Therefore, Cheerios recommends that eating 1-1/2 cups twice a day or roughly 3 cups of Cheerios per day Cheerios will lower blood cholesterol because the cereal only contains 1g of soluble fiber per cup. This means that consumers would have to eat 3 bowls of Cheerios per day in order to obtain its positive effects of soluble fiber. However, while adding fiber to their diet, consumers would also be adding sugar and three times as many calories. Thus, eating 3 cups of Cheerios in order to achieve the recommended 3g of soluble fiber is not a practical approach. Therefore, Cheerios does not realistically produce the substantial benefits of lowering cholesterol as advertised by General Mills.
Moreover, since the dosage of soluble fiber is critical to its protective effects, consumers should consider other products that contain a more concentrated soluble fiber content such as oat bran (6.3g soluble fiber per 100g) and oatmeal (5.1g soluble fiber per 100g). The daily recommended intake of dietary fiber recommends 14g of soluble fiber per 1,000 calories, which is roughly 28g for a 2,000 calorie diet (link 12). Most importantly, consumers should make sure not to add butter, sugar, and other condiments that may add extra calories and fat if they are simply seeking the benefits of the high fiber content in these foods. Additionally, consumers must remember that in addition to a diet high in soluble fiber, they must consume food low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Conclusively, for the most beneficial results choose oatmeal or oat bran over Cheerios, because they have more of a protective effect in lowering high cholesterol and therefore, Cheerios is not the only key to a heart-healthy breakfast.
Anderson, J.W., Spencer, D.B., Hamilton, C.C., Smith S.F. et al. (1990). Oat-bran cereal lowers serum total and LDL cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic men. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 52(3), 495-499.
Brown, L., Rosner, B., Willet, W.W., Sacks, F. (1999). Cholesterol-lowering effects of dietary fiber: a meta-analysis. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 69, 30-42.
Karmally, W., Montez, M., Palmas, W., Martinez, W., Bransetter, A. et al. (2005). Cholesterol-Lowering Benefits of Oat-Containing Cereal in Hispanic Americans. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 105, 967-970.
Nuovo, J. (1989). Use of dietary fiber to lower cholesterol. American Family Physician, 39(4), 137-140.
Poulter, N., Chang, C.L., Cuff, A., Poulter, C. et al. (1993). Lipid profiles after the daily consumption of an oat-based cereal: a controlled crossover trial. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 58, 66-69.
Ripsin, C.M., Keenan, J.M., Jacobs, D.R., Jr., Elmer, P.J. et al. (1992). Oat products and lipid lowering. A meta-analysis. Journal of the American Medical Association, 267(24), 3317-3325.
Whyte, J.L., McArthur, R., Topping, D., Nestel, P. (1992). Oat bran lowers plasma cholesterol levels in mildly hypercholesterolemic men. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 92(4), 446-449.
link 1- http://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/statistics.htm
link 2- http://www.cheerios.com/ourCereals/Cheerios/CheeriosAndCholesterol.aspx
link 3- http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=hypercholesterolemia
link 4- http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=180
link 5- http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=3439
link 6- http://www.healthcastle.com/fiber-solubleinsoluble.shtml
link 7- http://www.meta-analysis.com/
link 8- http://www.medicinalfoodnews.com/vol02/issue6/b_glucan
link 9 - http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0813/is_/ai_n15691320
link 10-
http://www.cheerios.com/forAdults/HeartHealthyEating/WholeGrain/WhatIsWholeGrain.aspx
http://www.generalmills.com/corporate/health_wellness/your_health_detail.aspx?CatID=7781&SelectCatID=7781&section=yourhealth
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/nutrition/nutrition_for_everyone/basics/carbohydrates.htm


text:
Q: how to get all rows where specific column = id of other row in different table I am trying to get all rows in a payments table where I have another table called projects I want to get all rows that in payments table where project_id column = ID of the row inside projects table I am using Laravel framework please help me this some the code
Payment Model
<?php

namespace App;

use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;

class Payment extends Model
{
    protected $table = 'payments';

    public function projects() {
        return $this->belongsTo('App\Project');
    }
}

Project Model
<?php

namespace App;

use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;

class Project extends Model
{
    protected $table = "projects";

    public function payments() {
        return $this->hasMany('App\Payment');
    }

}

Route File
 Route::get('special/{project_id}', 'SpecialController@index');

The index function in the Controller
<?php

namespace App\Http\Controllers;

use App\Project;
use App\Payment;
use Illuminate\Http\Request;

class SpecialController extends Controller
{
    /**
     * Display a listing of the resource.
     *
     * @return \Illuminate\Http\Response
     */
    public function index(Project $project_id)
    {
        return view('special.index')->with(['projects' => $project_id]);
    }

This is my problem please help
All the best

A: In your controller, I see that u have injected an instance if Project, but named as $project_id. Thats not an id, id would have been resolved to an instance of Project.
public function index(Project $project_id)

just a note. use index method to show the listing, unless its a nested resource.
public function index(Project $project)
{
    //assuming that $project is an instance of Project
    $project = $project->with('payments')->get();

    //$project will now include the related payments as well
    //if you want to check do this, for debugging uncomment next line
    //dd($project->toArray());

    return view('special.index')->with(['project' => $project]);
}

whats happening in code is that $project is retrieved with its related payments. in with('payments') the 'payments' is the name of the relationship.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Denver, Colorado. May 22, 2014 – Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services (LMCLS) will launch DigitalGlobe's WorldView-3 commercial remote sensing spacecraft, placing it into orbit on August 13. WorldView-3 will be launched aboard an Atlas V rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
Longmont-based DigitalGlobe is a leading provider of commercial high-resolution earth observation and advanced geospatial solutions. WorldView-3 is the first multi-payload, super-spectral, high-resolution commercial satellite for earth observations and advanced geospatial solutions.
Operating at an expected altitude of 617 km, WorldView-3 will have an average revisit time of less than one day and will be capable of collecting up to 680,000 square kilometers of imagery per day, further enhancing DigitalGlobe's capacity for rapid and reliable collection.
The range of customer applications enabled by the DigitalGlobe constellation is expanded by WorldView-3's ability to sense both the visible spectrum as well as deeper into the infrared spectrum. Its data-rich imagery will enable customers to search for new sources of minerals and fuels, manage forests and farms, and accelerate DigitalGlobe's exploitation of Geospatial Big Data™ – a living digital inventory of the surface of the earth.
LMCLS is the exclusive provider of Atlas rockets to all non-U.S. government customers. The launch is scheduled for 11:29 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time.


Mark Stone, Matt Duchene and Robin Lehner are long gone from Ottawa, but certainly not forgotten.
Not quite midway through the opening round of the NHL playoffs, the spotlight is shining brightly on the former Senators stars.
While it's now all about tomorrow and a rebuild for the Senators organization, it's hard not to notice what the three ex-Senators have done over the past week. For Senators fans, their success is a bit like pouring salt into the wound of painful trades.
–Lehner, once upon a time deemed the Senators goaltender of the future, has backstopped his New York Islanders to a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
–Duchene, who originally came to the Senators in the hopes of realizing his wish of an extended playoff run, has become the offensive leader for a Columbus Blue Jackets team on the verge of knocking out the Tampa Bay Lightning in what could go down as one of the most colossal upsets in NHL history.
–Stone, meanwhile, went into Monday's action atop the NHL playoff scoring race, fresh from the first hat trick of his career – that's right, he never scored one during his stellar career in Ottawa – in giving his Vegas Golden Knights a 2-1 series lead over the San Jose Sharks.
In the big picture of the sporting world, of course, it was Tiger's weekend; a remarkable comeback to the top of the golfing world.
Yet just as the Woods celebration was calming down late in the afternoon, Lehner was being heralded for yet another stellar performance in the Islanders net, stopping 25 of 26 shots. Lehner owns a 1.62 goals against average, with a .951 save percentage.
For those who forget the history, Lehner lost his spot in the Senators organizational depth chart in 2015, sitting out with a concussion during the remarkable Hamburglar run.
He was then traded to the Buffalo Sabres, along with David Legwand and his contract, for the first-round draft pick that eventually became current centre Colin White.
Signed as a free agent by the Islanders last summer, Lehner's personal recovery from addiction to booze and pills, a bipolar disorder and suicidal thoughts, had made him the leading candidate to win the Bill Masterton Trophy.
Now, he's pouring playoff gravy on all of that. Before the current post-season run, Lehner had only 49 minutes of NHL playoff experience, mop-up duty in a series against the Penguins while with the Senators in 2013.
If the Islanders 3-0 edge on the Penguins can be considered a major surprise, the Duchene-led Blue Jackets advantage on the Lightning is akin to David taking down Goliath.
Only 1:44 into Sunday's game, Duchene scored to set off the infamous Columbus cannon, setting the tone for what became a 3-1 victory and the commanding 3-0 series lead. Duchene leads the Blue Jackets in playoff scoring, with two goals and three assists.
Playoff success is what Duchene hoped for when the Senators made the colossal deal to acquire him in 2017.
As difficult as it is for Senators fans to watch, there is a potential silver lining. Should an extended Blue Jackets playoff run – they've yet to win a single post-season series since joining the NHL in 2000 – lead to Duchene signing a long-term contract extension, the Senators will receive an additional first round draft pick in 2020. In the original trade deadline deal, the Senators also received the Blue Jackets 2019 first-round pick, along with prospects Vitaly Abramov and Jonathan Davidson.
As Duchene and company were basking in the Sunday victory, Stone was just getting started in Vegas.
A mere 16 seconds into Game 3, Stone opened the scoring with a breakaway backhand goal over the shoulder of Sharks goaltender Martin Jones.
He finished off the Sharks with a pair of third period goals, along with a pair of second period assists, to complete a five-point night. For those not still awake as Sunday turned to Monday, the wild Stone jubilation would have seemed familiar to Senators fans who have seen his emotional outbursts in the past.
The return for Stone included star 19-year-old defenceman Erik Brannstrom, who could join the Senators as early as next season. The Senators also received a 2020 second-round draft pick and centre Oscar Lindberg, who had a strong finish to the regular season in Ottawa, but likely isn't going to re-sign here in the summer.
That's the future the Senators have to bank on from losing Stone.
For now, though, Stone has six goals and two assists in three games, his name and photo front and centre where NHL.com lists its statistical leaders. The line of Stone, Max Pacioretty and Paul Stastny, who all came from elsewhere this season, has combined for 10 goals and 12 assists in a mere three games.
If it's any consolation to Senators fans, it's that all three of Stone's goals came with former Senators captain Erik Karlsson on the ice, unable to contain him and the rest of the Golden Knights.
Karlsson has five points in three games and is tied with Winnipeg's Dustin Byfuglien for the playoff scoring lead among defencemen, but Karlsson and the Sharks have struggled defensively.
Seemingly, everywhere you look in the NHL playoffs, there's a Senators connection somewhere.


One year ago, marked a day of hate and death at Charlottesville. White nationalists and supremacists marched into Charlottesville with Tiki torches, swastikas and confederate flags as symbols of hate just like the KKK and Nazis did. What role did the Libertarian Party play in this day of hate?


text:
Korvettenkapitän est un grade d'officier utilisé dans les marines allemandes.

Bundeswehr
Korvettenkapitän est grade d'officier dans la Deutsche Marine, la composante maritime de la Bundeswehr. Selon les Codes OTAN des grades du personnel militaire, ce grade correspond à celui de Lieutenant Commander de l'US Navy.

Article connexe
 Codes OTAN des grades des officiers des marines militaires

Grade militaire de la Deutsche Marine
Grade militaire de la Kriegsmarine
Grade militaire de la Kaiserliche Marine

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Merry Christmas! :) I hope you all had a great time celebrating this festive season with your loved ones!
My family has always celebrated it pretty mellow-- the important thing is to catch up with friends, family and just be together :) I think I'm more emo these days because my sister is getting married next year! So a few times this past week, I remember that this will be the last Christmas she will spend with us. *sniff sniff* lol! As if they cannot visit us, eh? :P But you get my drift, still, I am so excited for her new season to the point that I have spent hours today making her wedding mood-board! :P Stage sister?!
Well, family is family and I love them to bits!


text:
Korver made it clear he is aware of his privilege when he expressed his feelings on the situation of his teammate, Thabo Sefolosha, that occured when they were members of the Atlanta Hawks. Sefolosha had his leg broken in a case of excessive force and brutality at the hands of the NYPD in an obvious racial profiling incident. At the time of the incident, Korver admitted to first thinking, "Well, if I'd been in Thabo's shoes, out at a club late at night, the police wouldn't have arrested me. Not unless I was doing something wrong."
Korver also reflected on Oklahoma City Thunder MVP Russell Westbrook's interaction with a couple of fans at the Jazz home arena in Salt Lake City during a game last month. He wrote, "This wasn't only about Russ and some heckler. It was about more than that. It was about what it means just to exist right now — as a person of color in a mostly white space. It was about racism in America."
Again, Korver deserves praise for recognizing and admitting his privilege, as well as calling a spade a spade, and using the word racism. Too often, many white people will go through mental gymnastics to avoid using the word, because it's such an ugly and vile concept. But, that is what racism is, ugly and vile. Korver went to a place Utah Jazz owner Gail Miller wouldn't go, following the Westbrook incident. In a statement Miller read to Jazz fans following the incident, she said:
This should never happen. We are not a racist community. We believe in treating people with courtesy and respect as human beings. From time to time, individual fans exhibit poor behavior and forget their manners and disrespect players on other teams. When that happens, I want you to jump up and shout 'stop.' We have a code of conduct in this arena. It will be strictly enforced.
Whether Miller believes the greater Salt Lake community is racist or not, is kind of beside the point. Something happened and is happening between NBA players and some fans. This isn't an isolated situation, it's a reflection of the larger issue in the macro society, and a prominent white player on her team says something needs to be done. Korver writes,
"How can I — as a white man, part of this systemic problem — become part of the solution when it comes to racism in my workplace? In my community? In this country?"
He knows he doesn't have all the answers, but believes the following:
"I know that, as a white man, I have to hold my fellow white men accountable."
This is where the rubber meets the road. Admitting privilege is hard, calling out racism as a white person is hard, holding other white people accountable for their racism is harder. How does Korver plan to do this? Standing up and applauding after a racist fan is banned from the arena for life, while the right thing to do, is the bare minimum and easy. What are his plans for actually holding his fellow white men accountable?
Racism is a foul scourge woven into the fabric of this country that manifests itself in many obvious, and not so obvious (to some), ways. How will Korver work to root this out? He laid down the challenge of holding his fellow white men accountable, so we (the collective) must hold him accountable to his words. Will he call out his fellow white athletes across sports to stand with him in solidarity for their teammates and colleagues of color?
Many of my colleagues in media often romanticize about the healing power of sports and the great responsibility athletes have to use their platforms for good. Kyle Korver has made a step in the right direction. Who else will Korver solicit for support? What other prominent white athletes will step up?
Since Korver's piece published he has received a lot of "atta-boys", retweets, and likes on various social media platforms. Now what? Holding people accountable is hard. Will he campaign against policies that continue to marginalize people of color, even if that means impacting some of his own privilege? When working to eradicate the scourge that is racism, will he recognize that we don't have the luxury to do it in a manner that makes white people comfortable? Does he know what it truly means to hold people accountable in this way?
Korver said it is incumbent on him to listen and educate himself on racism in America. That is true. It is also on him to act. If he means what he says, and we must take him at his word, the information he seeks is out there. If he doesn't know, he'll quickly come to know what the injustices his teammates, colleagues and people of color talk about daily. He'll come to know, if he doesn't already, the inherent advantages the privileged classes are afforded at the expense of others. But, what will he do?
Yes, that's a lot on Korver's shoulders, but he wrote the words. This is on him and other members of the privileged class. It is not the job of the oppressed to educate the oppressor, though people of color will continue to do so. What will you do once you're educated Kyle Korver? Actions speak louder than words.
The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of BET Networks.
Written by Jarod Hector
(Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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The item Functional ecology, (electronic resource) represents a specific, individual, material embodiment of a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in University of Missouri-St. Louis Libraries.
Issued by: British Ecological Society.
Began with: Vol. 1, no. 1 (1987).


Hit us up if you would like that drink. You were completely correct in what you said. Question, answered. Thank you. In other news, I was surprised how much I enjoyed driving the TI. It seems pride really is a scam. BMW managed to shine through. Even in a well priced, mid 90's, 4 cylinder, compact. A nice balance. Turismo Internationale Peace, David.
Haha I will take that as part of innication, and buy you a beer or something, if you are right.
Hey, This seems to be an awesome site. A wealth of knowledge, with heaps of cool people around the place. Thank you. We should be picking up a little E36 M-Sport 318TI within the next few weeks. I will flick some pic's up once I have it home and tidied up. In the meantime, I am doing a bit research into the old girl... Cheers. Respect, David. * For those that have already seen the pre edited version of this post; I'm still getting my head around this site, and how it all works; turns out this is the intro, but I actually have a question as well... Time for another edit session. Thanks, David.


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Maria Tsaneva
J. W. Waterhouse: 175 Paintings and Drawings
John William Waterhouse was an English painter who worked several decades after the break-up of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, which had seen its zenith in the mid-nineteenth century, leading him to have gained the moniker of "the modern Pre-Raphaelite". Borrowing stylistic influences not only from the earlier Pre-Raphaelites but also from his contemporaries, the Impressionists, his artworks were known for their depictions of women from both ancient Greek mythology and Arthurian legend. He was a painter of classical, historical, and literary subjects. His early works were of classical themes in the spirit of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema and Frederic Leighton. The latter works reveals Waterhouse's growing interest in themes associated with particularly tragic or powerful femmes fatales (Circe Invidiosa, Cleopatra, La Belle Dame Sans Merci and several versions of Lamia), as well as plein-air painting. In the 1890s he began to exhibit portraits.
Serov: 131 Paintings and Drawings
Albert Bierstadt: 132 Paintings
Durer: 201 Paintings and Drawings
Ghirlandaio: 96 Frescoes and Drawings
Carl Larsson: 112 Watercolors


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Q: How to use MIDI keyboard with seq24 I want to set some MIDI from a MIDI keyboard on a loop using a sequencer, and it seems like seq24 would be the simplest way to do this. However, seq24 doesn't show up in JACK connections, and I don't know how to connect my keyboard to it. It also doesn't play sound when I use the on-screen input (probably is related to not showing up in JACK). How do I fix it? thanks!
If another program is better, I'd use that too. I have qtractor and rosegarden installed, but I don't know how to loop things with those programs without copying and pasting..

A: Try starting seq24 with the -m option or edit $HOME/.seq24rc and look for the [manual-alsa-ports] section. It should be set to 1.


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Q: Calling two mysql tables with DISTINCT this is my ongoing internal/learning/base for other things project.
I have a mysql db with multiple tables but mainly I'm using two of them; links_sp and link_fields_sp.
I'm searching links with php script that looks like this.
$query = "SELECT * FROM links_sp WHERE status='active' AND type='shopping' AND language='en' AND MATCH(link_url,link_title,link_keywords,link_details) AGAINST (? IN BOOLEAN MODE) $order_clause";

Search looks like this:

*

*ebay.com, laptop, sony, 15 inch

*ebay.com, laptop, toshiba, 15 inch

*bestbuy.com, laptop, sony, 15 inch

*ebay.com, laptop, dell, 15 inch

*amazon.com, laptop, sony, 15 inch
etc etc ..
Works perfectly and simple, but what I would like to have is to use DISTINCT with url host so it shows only one result from one host:

*

*ebay.com, laptop, sony, 15 inch

*bestbuy.com, laptop, sony, 15 inch

*amazon.com, laptop, sony, 15 inch
and so on..

I'm storing urls in links_sp table under link_url column and url host for each link in link_fields_sp table under url_host column. Also each link has link_id column and respectively same id in other table.
I tried:
$query = "SELECT DISTINCT * FROM (SELECT * FROM links_sp WHERE status='active' AND type='shopping' AND language='en' AND MATCH(link_url,link_title,link_keywords,link_details) UNION ALL SELECT * FROM link_fields_sp MATCH(url_host)) AGAINST (? IN BOOLEAN MODE) $order_clause";

but i'm doing something wrong.
Appreciate any input.
Thank You.

A: "SELECT DISTINCT" operates across the entire row, just a tiny difference in ANY column position can cause the row to be considered different to every other row. These 3 rows are "distinct":
ebay.com, laptop, sony, 15 inch
ebay.com, laptop, toshiba, 15 inch
ebay.com, laptop, dell, 15 inch

NB. The use of * in select distinct * makes it less likely that the number of rows will be reduced because for every added column there is more liklihood of differences being introduced. By contrast the following will reduuce the number of rows:
Select distinct domain from table

GROUP BY is the alternative and using this opens up many many more options. However even with this you need to consider how you will summarize the data.
Originally MySQL defaulted to a non-standard approach to the group by syntax where it is permitted to have many columns in the select clause but fewer listed in the group by clause (e.g. 20 columns in select clause but just 1 in the group by clause). e.g.
## non-standard sql syntax in MySQL
select   domain, type, supplier, size from table
group by domain

But consider this carefully: What does this query do as soon as there are multiple values in type, supplier, size? The results in those columns are "indeterminate" (there is no definitive logic in wht you see in those columns) if you use this non-standard approach.
By contrast the SQL standard requires that every "non-aggregating" column of the select list is also listed in the group by clause. e.g.
## standard sql syntax for group by clause
select   domain, type, supplier, size from table
group by domain, type, supplier, size

(that example produces the same results as select distinct would)
So, to use group by to achieve a smaller number of rows, but with some "logic" applied to the other columns you could do something like this:
## standard sql syntax
select   domain, max(type), max(supplier), max(size) from table
group by domain

However while this reduces the rows, the other columns are somewhat arbitrary and the vales meeting the MAX() condition might not come from the same rows. This is quite a challenge then because it is easy to reduce the rows, but making the other columns useful at the same time isn't.
In MySQL a common technique to overcome this difficulty is to use GROUP_CONCAT or a combination of CONCAT() with GROUP_GONCAT() see queries 6 & 7 below
SQL Fiddle
Setup:
CREATE TABLE Table1
    (`domain` varchar(11), `type` varchar(6), `supplier` varchar(7), `size` varchar(7))
;

INSERT INTO Table1
    (`domain`, `type`, `supplier`, `size`)
VALUES
    ('ebay.com', 'laptop', 'sony', '15 inch'),
    ('ebay.com', 'laptop', 'toshiba', '15 inch'),
    ('bestbuy.com', 'laptop', 'sony', '15 inch'),
    ('ebay.com', 'laptop', 'dell', '15 inch'),
    ('amazon.com', 'laptop', 'sony', '15 inch')
;

Query 1:
select distinct * from table1

Results:
|      domain |   type | supplier |    size |
|-------------|--------|----------|---------|
|    ebay.com | laptop |     sony | 15 inch |
|    ebay.com | laptop |  toshiba | 15 inch |
| bestbuy.com | laptop |     sony | 15 inch |
|    ebay.com | laptop |     dell | 15 inch |
|  amazon.com | laptop |     sony | 15 inch |

Query 2:
select distinct domain from table1

Results:
|      domain |
|-------------|
|    ebay.com |
| bestbuy.com |
|  amazon.com |

Query 3:
## non-standard sql syntax in MySQL
select   domain, type, supplier, size from table1
group by domain

Results
|      domain |   type | supplier |    size |
|-------------|--------|----------|---------|
|  amazon.com | laptop |     sony | 15 inch |
| bestbuy.com | laptop |     sony | 15 inch |
|    ebay.com | laptop |     sony | 15 inch |

Query 4:
## standard sql syntax for group by clause
select   domain, type, supplier, size from table1
group by domain, type, supplier, size

Results:
|      domain |   type | supplier |    size |
|-------------|--------|----------|---------|
|  amazon.com | laptop |     sony | 15 inch |
| bestbuy.com | laptop |     sony | 15 inch |
|    ebay.com | laptop |     dell | 15 inch |
|    ebay.com | laptop |     sony | 15 inch |
|    ebay.com | laptop |  toshiba | 15 inch |

Query 5:
## standard sql syntax
select   domain, max(type), max(supplier), max(size) from table1
group by domain

Results:
|      domain | max(type) | max(supplier) | max(size) |
|-------------|-----------|---------------|-----------|
|  amazon.com |    laptop |          sony |   15 inch |
| bestbuy.com |    laptop |          sony |   15 inch |
|    ebay.com |    laptop |       toshiba |   15 inch |

Query 6:
## use group_concat
select   domain, group_concat(type), group_concat(supplier), group_concat(size) from table1
group by domain

Results:
|      domain |   group_concat(type) | group_concat(supplier) |      group_concat(size) |
|-------------|----------------------|------------------------|-------------------------|
|  amazon.com |               laptop |                   sony |                 15 inch |
| bestbuy.com |               laptop |                   sony |                 15 inch |
|    ebay.com | laptop,laptop,laptop |      sony,toshiba,dell | 15 inch,15 inch,15 inch |

Query 7:
## use both concat and group_concat
select
       domain
     , group_concat(concat('[',type,',',supplier,',',size,']')) type_supplier_size
from table1
group by domain

Results:
|      domain |                                                   type_supplier_size |
|-------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|  amazon.com |                                                [laptop,sony,15 inch] |
| bestbuy.com |                                                [laptop,sony,15 inch] |
|    ebay.com | [laptop,sony,15 inch],[laptop,toshiba,15 inch],[laptop,dell,15 inch] |


May I point your esteemed attention to a little Android game by the name of Cloud Raiders? It is a strategy game on the steamfantasy side of things, dragons, airships, skypirates, and from the looks of it, cute graphics and a lot of action, it could be tremendous fun to play. The ratings on the Google Play page also point in the fun-direction (4,3 out of 5 stars).
MOSCOW, RUSSIA and SAN FRANCISCO, CA–(Marketwired – Feb 4, 2014) – Game Insight, a world leader in mobile/social games, has announced a swashbuckling new chapter in strategy games: Cloud Raiders. This exciting new game pits players and their armies of sky pirates against fabulous monsters and the most deadly adversaries of all: other players.Cloud Raiders will be released first for Android devices, and will be launching in the near future for other mobile and social platforms, including Facebook, iOS, Windows 8, and Windows Phone 8. The game is being developed by innoWate, the creator of the popularMy Country games.
Cloud Raiders takes action-packed strategy games to dizzying new heights by entrusting players with a massive island stronghold floating in the sky. Players assemble armies of ruthless raiders while also fortifying their bases with defensive emplacements to fend off enemy invasions. Over time, players can also form in-game clans with their friends to blast their foes right out of the skies by launching daring player-versus-player (PvP) raids.
In Cloud Raiders, players can fortify their bases with anything from cannons to traps to magical artifacts, while leading their own troops into battle. Players must be ready for anything, including encroachments from massive monsters and legendary buccaneers that wander the skies in search of easy prey — as well as raiding parties sent by enemy players in search of loot! In order to keep their own holdings safe and conquer this brave new world, players can research and unlock new troop types, brew powerful potions to strengthen their forces, launch mighty cannon salvos to even the odds, and build ever-larger armies of axe-wielding marauders, grenade-lobbing bombardiers, and fire-breathing dragons to win the day!
Cloud Raiders will be available for Android in the nearest future. Stay tuned for more updates on this dynamic new chapter in strategy games!
Founded in 2010, Game Insight is a global-facing developer and publisher of varied, user-focused, and free-to-play games for all major mobile and social platforms, including iOS, Android, Facebook, and Web. We are a team of more than 800 passionate game developers who actually play games ourselves. Our internal network consists of 17 different studios that constantly create and update high-quality games, many of which have already become #1 top-grossing hits in mobile application stores and on social networks around the world, which has led Game Insight to build a global audience of more than 150 million users. Visit http://www.game-insight.com/ for more info.
For those of you who want to give the game a shot, I have a code ready which gives you 700 gems, all you have to do is comment or send me an æthermail.
The raffle ends Monday after Easter. Good luck one and all!


For this week's installment of the Central Wisconsin Golf Card, we head to Inshalla Country Club in Tomahawk.
Jason Kahle and his uncle bought the course just a little more than a year ago.
He knew when he had the chance to get into the golf game, it was a chance he needed to take.
"We both played here a long time. Knew the family real well, and when they decided to get out of the business, we wanted to be able to keep it local and keep them employed," Kahle said.
Their signature hole is the par 3 14th hole.
"Challenging par 3. Water up the whole right side. The green is not very deep, but it's wide from left to right. It's a very challenging hole."
Jason played the hole as you'd expect: tee shot on the green, and a simple two putt for the easy par. Me, on the other hand, didn't show up to play, and had a few more strokes than I'd like to admit.
Kahle said it doesn't matter if you play like him or like me, though. The course has a little something for everyone.
"It plays very well to all skill levels. A good golfer can come out here and challenge himself, having to put shots where he needs to. And the average weekend golfer can come out here and enjoy themselves and shoot a good round."
For more info on the course, visit https://inshallacc.com/.


Residents of Leduc know how to stay active. This Alberta city is home to a wide variety of sports amenities and parks, including but not limited to Alexandra Park Ponds, Leduc Reservoir, and West Point Lake, which all have surrounding park areas. Leduc residents are also hard at work, with the oil and gas industry having long been the foundation of this steadily growing economy (the population has actually been jumping for the past decade). If you live here, you probably know what's important in life. Take care of your home and use Housekeeper.com to find a qualified professional today.


text:
April 9, 2018 12:07PM PT
Norway's Maipo Prepares Dystopian Thriller 'Fortress,' Season 2 of 'State of Happiness' (EXCLUSIVE)
By Elsa Keslassy
Elsa Keslassy
International Correspondent @elsakeslassy	FOLLOW
Elsa's Most Recent Stories
Luc Besson's EuropaCorp to Be Taken Over by Vine Alternative Investments
France's National Film Board Faces Presidency Crisis
CREDIT: Maipo
Leading Norwegian company Maipo is developing "Fortress," an ambitious dystopian thriller, and is preparing the second season of "State of Happiness" ("Lykkeland"), the historical series which is competing this week at Canneseries.
"Fortress" is created and penned by two high-profile Norwegian screenwriters: John Kåre Raake, whose track record includes Nordic blockbusters such as "The Wave," Roar Uthaug's disaster movie, and "Ragnarok, a family film based on Viking mythology;" and Linn-Jeanethe Kyed, who notably co-wrote "Børning" and "Børning 2," a action-comedy movie franchise set in the world of illegal sports car racing, and Benjamin Ree's critically acclaimed documentary feature about the Norwegian chess prodigy, Magnus Carlsen.
"Fortress" takes place in a near future in Norway which is now secluded from the rest of the world by a wall built by the nationalistic government. Norwegians live in absolute sovereignty, relying only on their own homegrown resources and caring solely about national affairs. But when a malicious epidemic starts spreading in the country, officials embark on a race against time to find who is behind the epidemic and seek help to find a cure from foreign organizations which are reluctant to provide any support.
Synnøve Hørsdal, who is producing "Fortress" with Ales Ree at Maipo, said the concept of the series echoes some tendencies of the politics happening in the western world today.
The producer said that in addition to examining the consequences of political decisions that have been made, it will mostly be a suspenseful character driven thriller.
Meanwhile, Maipo is also developing the second season of "State of Happiness" with Mette M. Bølstad ("Nobel") back on board to write the show. Set to world premiere in competition at Canneseries on Tuesday, the first season of "State of Happiness" takes place in the summer of 1969 in the coastal town of Stavanger and follows four young characters who come from different backgrounds and are thrown into a whirlwind of opportunity during the oil boom which turned Norway into one of the world's most prosperous countries.
"State of Happiness"'s second season which will set the action five years later years afterwill also bring back the cast, including British actor Bart Edwards ("UnREAL"), as well as newcomers Anne Regine Ellingsæter Malene Wadel and Amund Harboe.
Hørsdal said one of the biggest challenges Maipo faced to make "State of Happiness" was raising the financing for the 10 million euros series. "Everybody says 'we want to make different shows that are not Nordic Noir but the reality is that it's difficult to raise financing for ambitious drama series that are not crime-based."
Maipo is behind some of Norway's biggest films, such as "The Ash Lad: In the Hall of the Mountain King," and Anne Sewitsky's anticipated "Sonja – The White Swan" about Sonja Henie, the famous ice skater-turned-Hollywood star.


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Luke Thayer
Name : Luke Thayer
Shows : College
Sure he's funny with his unorthodox view of social norms and insight into the choices people make but look at those eyes! Luke is the creator of the popular live comedy show, "The Living Room" in New York City and has been in numerous comedy festivals across the country and nternationally. He also tours comedy clubs and colleges across the country. Has Luke been on TV? He sure has! He has been seen on Fox's Laughs, Brain Games on Nat Geo, Tyra, Food Network, and All Night with Joey Reynolds on NBC, and Comcast's Trial By Laughter. Luke's also been a guest in Funny Or Die Originals and College Humor videos and listed in the NY Post's Comics' Favorite Jokes. Luke will be making an appearance on "You Can Do Better" on TruTV this year. Originally from the midwest, Luke now lives in New York City and part time in Los Angeles.


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Lust For Life is Lana Del Rey's fifth studio album, following 2015's Honeymoon.
I love the sound of the record, it has everything that I love sonically. I made my first 4 albums for me, but this one is for my fans and about where I hope we are all headed.