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As Inslee Allows More Counties to Open, King County's Public Health Officer Warns of 'Serious Storm on the Horizon'
by Carolyn Bick
Cases of COVID-19 in King County and throughout the state of Washington may be going down, but Public Health — Seattle & King County's Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin says that this is just the calm before the "serious storm on the horizon."
"I think we may be watching the tide silently recede before a tsunami," Duchin said in a Feb. 12 press conference, referring to what he and many other health experts around the country believe has the potential to be "a very large and destructive fourth wave" of COVID-19 cases driven by the B.1.1.7 variant, an extremely contagious and probably deadlier variant of the original novel coronavirus. It is one of three variants that have been detected throughout the United States.
"[B.1.1.7] is silently doubling about every 10 days, and it is expected to become widespread in the next month or so, as exponential growth accelerates," Duchin said. "What [exponential growth] means is that the larger an outbreak gets, the quicker it accelerates. … We need to continue to do everything we can to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in all aspects of our lives and get our numbers and hospitalizations as low as possible, before the variant reaches this critical mass and erupts."
Duchin appears to be one of the only health experts in Washington State who are trying to warn the public that this wave is upon us. In contrast, health officials at the state's Department of Health and Governor Jay Inslee are painting rosy pictures of the state's situation, focusing most of their attention on the arrival of a vaccine. Inslee has even gone so far as to open up five more regions to Phase 2, which allows for indoor dining, indoor gym use, and indoor religious ceremonies, according to the State's Roadmap to Recovery plan.
Inslee had previously opened up both the West region and the Puget Sound Region to Phase 2. He did so by removing the requirement that regions must meet all four metrics laid out in the Roadmap to Recovery to move into this phase. Now, regions must only meet three metrics, which means that these regions aren't necessarily doing any better. Officials have simply moved the artificial goalposts of what they want to use to determine the health of a region.
Moreover, as Duchin noted in a Jan. 29 press conference, the Roadmap to Recovery and these metrics were created before the arrival of the much more contagious and probably deadlier coronavirus variant. The variant has been detected in King County, Snohomish County, and Pierce County, all of which are now open to Phase 2 activities. As of this writing, 15 cases of the variant have been detected in the state. Just a few days ago, only five cases had been detected in the state.
Duchin has not spoken directly about Inslee's decision, except to say in the Jan. 29 press conference that the "mixed messaging" the decision reflects is "very challenging." In the Feb. 12 press conference, he said that while he is "very glad to report that our new cases continue to fall," this doesn't mean that we are in the clear — not by a long shot.
"Because we started a fall from such a high altitude, even though we are still falling, at the moment, we remain at a high level of COVID-19 transmission," Duchin said.
At the time of this writing, King County has seen almost 80,000 cases of COVID-19 since the outset of the pandemic. Of those cases, more than 5,000 people have been hospitalized, and 1,300 people have died, Duchin said.
"We've had 39 more deaths since we spoke a week ago," Duchin said. "Our seven-day average of new cases is about 200 cases a day. Our 14-day incidence is about 156 [people] per 100,000 [people], which is still considered high-risk. We saw 15 hospitalizations per day in the past week, and about three people died of COVID-19 every day last week."
Additionally, Duchin said, health disparities persist amongst the state's most vulnerable populations, particularly in South King County. Areas such as Auburn, Renton, Kent, Federal Way, Tukwila, and SeaTac are seeing cases rates that are three times as high as in central Seattle. The hospitalization and death rates are also three-to-four times higher in these areas.
He also highlighted the fact that these disparities also persist in vaccination rates.
"Compared with people who identify as white, people who identify as Black are three times more likely to be hospitalized and over 50% more likely to die. And those who identify as Hispanic are six times more likely to be hospitalized and three times more likely to die," Duchin said. "Yet, these groups are underrepresented among those who have been vaccinated."
He said that these disparities also extend to healthcare workers, as public health experts are seeing more doctors and nurses than medical assistants and technicians — many of whom are People of Color — getting the vaccine.
"We want to encourage everyone who works in a healthcare setting to please come forward for a vaccination. It protects both you and those around you," Duchin said.
Duchin said that health officials have been working hard to address these disparities, such as opening vaccination sites in Kent and Auburn but that "we clearly need to do more to close those gaps." He said that PHSKC is doing "new outreach to high-risk, hard-hit communities." This outreach includes a partnership with Microsoft to launch a new vaccine site for older, high-risk adults and their caretakers in Redmond. This partnership involves several community organizations to reach out to older adults in Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities, as well as in Russian and Ukranian communities.
Duchin also said PHSKC has created a set of vaccine equity principles to address inequities across the board and that PHSKC is supporting vaccination efforts at its Kent and Auburn vaccination sites by "engaging with 20 community partner organizations serving older adults and working with our community navigators to help … schedule appointments for elders." He said that these efforts have so far been successful and that PHSKC looks forward to expanding these efforts as more vaccine becomes available.
According to top national health expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, enough vaccines to get everyone vaccinated should be available starting in April, though it will likely take several more months to get enough people vaccinated. Fauci's statement came after the Biden administration's efforts to ramp up vaccine production and Johnson & Johnson's recent Emergency Use Authorization filing for a one-dose vaccine.
Duchin said that the best things people can do is to wear tight-fitting masks, as per the Centers for Disease Control's most recent guidelines, and to avoid gathering together. His reminders of best practices come just before Valentine's Day, when many usually go out to restaurants. Last week, Duchin tweeted out a ProPublica article entitled, "Why Opening Restaurants Is Exactly What the Coronavirus Wants Us to Do." The article warns that governors' decisions to allow indoor dining and other indoor activities before vaccinations become widely available "could create superspreading playgrounds for dangerous variants and squander our best shot at getting the pandemic under control," according to epidemiologists and public health experts.
"We cannot become complacent, because we are not close to a 'We got this' moment," Duchin said.
Carolyn Bick is a journalist and photographer based in South Seattle. You may reach them here, and can check out their work here and here.
Featured image: The CDC's variant tracker shows 15 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant detected in the state.
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B.1.1.7Biden AdministrationCOVID health disparitiesCOVID VariantCOVID-19 PandemicCOVID-19 VaccineDr. Jeff DuchinFeaturedGov. Jay InsleePhased COVID-19 Vaccination PlanPhased ReopeningPublic Health - Seattle King CountyVaccine Equity Principles
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Cycling, Running and Triathlon are essentially seasonal sports, they need to be as endurance training and racing is hard on your body but it is generally due to the short days and poor weather limiting available events. As the season closes you will need a rest to allow your muscles and joints to repair, but it is easy to lose motivation as your mind and body take the opportunity to recover. This is not helped by the dark cold days and adverse weather which also reduces enthusiasm to train. For some a few weeks pass then normal service is resumed, unfortunately for many it is not quite so easy.


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Shyamal Krishna Bashak () (born January 1, 1967) is a Bangladeshi artist, and served as senior artist cum audio-visual officer of the National Museum of Science and Technology in Bangladesh for 20 years, and was previously chief artist of daily newspaper Bhorer Kagoj.

Early life and education
Born to Narayan Chandra Bashak, a prominent makeup artist in Mymensingh, a city in Mymensingh District in the central region of Bangladesh, Shyamal was instructed in the arts from a young age. He would go on to receive his Masters of Fine Arts in printmaking from the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka where he would attract attention by receiving the Dhaka University Central Student's Union's Ekushey Padak for his design work commemorating the Language Movement.

Career
After completing his master's degree, Bashak would participate in both group and solo exhibitions including "Life Line & Light" a three-man exhibition at the Bangladesh National Museum, and "Save Human" a set of 4 exhibitions to raise funds for flood relief in Bangladesh. He would later be recruited by Bhorer Kagoj to serve as chief artist, until he joined Bangladesh's National Museum of Science and Technology as their senior artist cum audio-visual officer where he would spend two decades making significant improvements to the galleries and various displays, carrying out the design and implementation of "Science Park" while still working on independent exhibitions throughout Bangladesh and internationally.

Attacks
It was reported that on May 29, 2013 Bashak was assaulted by Islamic fundamentalist co-workers in attempt to purge prominent Hindus from the National Science Museum. The severity of the assault and his prominence led to the attack being covered across Bangladesh, which led to further attempts on his life including a shooting in December 2013 which, while not killing Bashak resulted in him crashing his motorcycle and receiving serious injuries, and a firebombing of his home a year later.

References

External links

Bangladeshi painters
Bengali male artists
Persecution of Bengali Hindus
University of Dhaka Faculty of Fine Arts alumni
1967 births
Living people

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Penryn, England (November 30, 2017)—Allen & Heath has announced the availability of the latest ProFactory channel libraries for its Qu Series digital mixers.
Following collaborations with Shure, Sennheiser and Audio-Technica, the new presets cover a range of popular sE Electronics microphones, including the V3, V7, VR, 4400a and RNR1.
ProFactory Mic Presets offer engineers a parameter-based starting point "to get the best possible sound quickly and easily," offers Allen & Heath promotional materials.
The team at Allen & Heath worked closely with sound engineer Frederik Brandt Jakobsen at sE Electronics, who developed the optimal settings for each microphone and instrument combination.


The Quincy Cardigan will go with everything from PPLA this fall. Its stylish and comfortable and will warm your tween when the nights get chilly. This long sleeve tee from PPLA goes perfectly with a pair of denims or PPLA girls leggings.
Welcome to PPLA kids clothing fall collection! This "young and free" bohemian girls clothing line is a spin-off from a fashion-forward women's line. PPLA or People's Project LA Kids Clothing is inspired by the Los Angeles way of life and designed with strong-willed girls in mind. PPLA kids clothing is a movement for the free spirited. It is a call to action for girls with a thirst for adventure and a passion for originality. PPLA clothing brings you one-of-a-kind pieces meant to be worn with love by the effortless, stylish girl. PPLA sets the mood and helps girls pave the way to creating an incredible style and journey that is entirely their own. With a moto "People's Project LA: Born to be free. Born to be you," this incredible bohemian girls clothing collection is sure to become one of your girl's favorites.
Welcome to PPLA kids clothing spring collection! This "young and free" bohemian girls clothing line is a spin-off from a fashion-forward women's line. PPLA or People's Project LA Kids Clothing is nspired by the Los Angeles way of life and designed with strong-willed girls in mind.


Aleia made a loud crunch as she bit off half of the greasy pork skin. After savoring the taste by slowly crunching down the rough texture, she finally swallowed it. Getting a decent taste of the things she progressed to take down every last bite of the snack. It was fresh and hot, the salesman was not wrong for once on the taste. The only shame was the amount of grease they used to fry it, perhaps some more seasoning will do it far more justice.
You know, you're gonna get fat if you keep on eating like this. The hollow voice seems to ring in her ear above all other sounds, causing her to flinch as she adjusted. For the most part, her brother had remained silent and she had become used to it. What he said was true though but street food was amazing. It was good enough that she was actively licking at her fingers before finally rubbing the rest onto her sleeves. Hey! Who's gonna wash that?
"I'll do it later," she reassured aloud, knowing full well that later meant close to never. Most people would probably think she was talking to herself but at the very least she didn't care if she seemed crazy. Her brother was speaking to her and she needed to keep up the conversation, which was the respectful thing to do after all. That is not how it works, besides aren't you on a mission here? I mean, I am still heavily against you being in this guild but if you're in it, you need to do work!
"Yada yada yada, you need to learn to relax, that might be why you look so pale all the time," Aleia replied, stretching up her right arm and balling her hand into a fist. That was her horrible attempt at a joke. Her brother should know her well enough that she will do the mission but for once she didn't feel that it was all that important. Perhaps it was because this was her first time visiting Waterfall city or maybe it was due to the snack but she just didn't feel as though she can put all her power into this particular one.
"What were we doing again?" she asked, giving out a long yawn after taking her left arm to help her loosen up her shoulders. It wasn't like her to be so absentminded but the city had taken up far more of her brain power for her to pay attention. We were going to meet our employer, a Mr. Jaio as I recall. He said he will meet us in a cafe around Nunem Street by noon. She responded by giving an understanding nod and took out her own map of the city.
"By the looks of it, we're on the other side of the city and it is now eleven," she nodded some more, trying to keep up a sagely appearance. There was a moment of silence as she continued to walk farther in the opposite direction. GET MOVING! Her brother's voice made her ears ring and her body involuntarily turned around and made a run for it.
"Thank you for meeting me here, I am Phelas Jaio and I desperately need your help," a portly short old man, with an all too sinister mustache for Aleia's liking, stated. She nodded, taking her seat, still surprised that he was waiting after her untimely arrival. She quickly ordered a cup of coffee and put on her best respectful smile she can afford. The man didn't mind as he poked at his fresh piece of cake.
"Yes, I uh, I'm not familiar at all with you magic folks but I believe this job is for you," he began after clearing his throat. It made her wonder what other health problems he could be having at this age.
"Well you see, a good friend of mine, Bianca, has been taken against her will. I shudder at the thought of what she might be experiencing right now," he continued, nervously stirring his cup of tea. She nodded, paying more attention to coffee than the man once it had arrived. Taking a sip, she couldn't help but frown before putting a good bit of sugar into the drink. It tasted far more tolerable afterwards.
"I fear that some dangerous mages might be guarding her, so please find her before it is too late, I have done all I could but these are the only locations I believe she can be," he said, taking out a map and slipping it over to her. She had her own and wondered if she should do an exchange but decided not to. He could probably afford losing a map or two as long as he got his friend back safely.
"One more thing, this is what she looks like and she might be going with the name Stacey," he said, reaching into his coat once again. The picture she was handed was of quite a beautiful girl. She turned her head to the side as if fully registering the contents. Giving a nod of a confirmation that she got all the information she needed, she quickly gulped down the rest of her coffee. It is not right to waste any food and even worse when someone else is paying for it.
She waved a farewell before beginning to walk briskly away from the man. Throughout the whole conversation she had let him do all the talking. He was well prepared it seemed, this meant he had plenty of money to spare if he was able to narrow it down like this. She didn't need to know any more than this. Where to first?
Erik stood, facing the main gates of waterfall city. The sun had now risen high into the sky. It was around noon, perhaps a little later. It would be a lie to admit Erik wasn't already a little late, even after getting up so early and walking all night! Still, at least he managed to arrive in Style. He took a deep sigh gazing into the majestic and beautiful city. The oh so familair sound of gushing waterfalls seemed less calming than ever. He gripped the strap f his leather black handbag slung over his right shoulder. He was home, for the first time in years too.
He walked into the city, the clacking of his heels drowned out by the chitter chatter and hussle bustle of Waterfall City streets. He looked casually around, not expecting anyone to even notice him. Both his connections to this place have passed, yet why did he feel such a strange connection? He felt nervous just stepping inside, that same feeling as from when he was young. Maybe there was no way to shake his connections to this city... Maybe he didn't have to either. Another soft sigh escaped his delicate rosey lips as he stared at the Melodic Sirens building overlooking Waterfall City. Not another moment had passed before Erik snapped himself out of the trance.
He pulled his attention away before moving elsewhere in the city. Minutes passed as his usually erect dignified posture slouched ever slightly in an increased pace. His breathing rate had also increased, tardiness was such an undignified quality. Erik would just have to hope for his own sake that the client would be late too. Although, who shows up late to meet their bodyguard... A bodyguard huh? Erik allowed himself to regain a presentable stature as the job began to sink in. Him, a body guard? He had never guarded anyone's life before, not successfully! Yet, he was a mage now! He could fight! He was stronger than last time! This time, he knew what he was doing! Yet, what exactly would this job entail... Who is he protecting, and from what?!
Eriks pace further slowed as he entered the park. He inevitabley came to a halt, looking all around him and examening this oh so familair park. He was to meet his client here, but where was she, what did she look like? His attention seemed more focused on the park right now. He had almost forgotten just how very big the park acctually was! It took up a fraction of the town! Lush green scenery with neat little cobblestone paths, beautiful shrubbery and flora too! Happy families and cute little critters, a usual innocent park scene was portrayed in this very city. He took a step forward, continuing slowly. There was only one solution, individually he asked women who were alone. One of them had to be his client! His trained eyes managed to look past any judgemental looks and gazes, especially by passerbys.
Erik then spotted a relatively tall woman, with gorgeous long cotton, almost cloud like hair! It draped down to her very feet. She was dressed in a delicate and cheap pink gown with cheap but simple jewlery. Erik could only assume she didn't have much in the way of funds. Perhaps she had spent most of her money hiring a body guard... In which case, Erik could not fail!
The woman turned, revealing her soft fragile face. Her wide emotion filled eyes were delicate, like flowers. She appeared somewhat sensitive but also cold.
What could she possibley need protecting from...?
In all honesty, she chose the park first because she happened to stroll past a food stand. All she had to eat was some pork skin and a cup of high sugar contented coffee. It was about time for a break anyways but to her dismay the food stand was on break. Aleia had to recoil back in horror, seeing how close the food was beyond it. Strangely the people on break didn't care to lock up and she couldn't help but stick her head in. After taking in the emptiness she had encountered her first dilemma. To work on an empty stomach was one thing but to have it so close in her reach was another. Of course she had her own food but they were emergency rations and wouldn't taste as good (most of the time) as street food.
"No, stealing is wrong," she nodded more for herself than for her brother. Even though she was in Obscura Fabula that didn't mean she didn't have standards. Actually the guild was classier than she seemed to represent it. Perhaps that was another reason she didn't actively display her guild tattoo. That and the fact that she might actually be stopped and troubled by others they knew the truth.
Perhaps she should wait for their return… Better not waste any time we should finish up here. If you're so hungry, finish the park and go to a restaurant. Her brother's voice rudely cut into her thoughts and she had to freeze for a second. Unfortunately he had to say the truth and make a good point to it. With the money she gets from the job, she could get herself a decent meal. Actually, that was enough a reason for her to get pumped up about the mission.
"I got it but where are we to start?" she asked him, he always had an answer to her question and this shouldn't be any different. I don't know maybe you should go ask someone. That reply was overall very unsatisfying but she nodded an approval. She had to move quickly from spot to spot and perhaps repeatedly. This seems like real busywork in her opinion.
The first area she visits just so happens to be the playground. There weren't all that many kids there, only about one small group. But she believed that kids were sharp for their age, more so than their parents might think. Throwing away the idea to keep going, she approached the closest child, a young girl that was helping with a game of jump rope. The steady hit of the rope had an almost hypnotic effect as she seemed to forget why she approached them.
"Do you want to play too?" the little girl asked. She didn't seem to register it until the rope stopped. She unconsciously nodded yes but shook her head when her conscious returned. The girl gave a quick sly look to her friends; at least that was what Aleia perceived.
"Umm have you seen this woman?" she asked, taking out her picture. The girls looked at it for a moment and nodded.
"We'll tell you if beat out high score, 54 jumps, that is all you need!" she called out. It wouldn't be too difficult as the rope was plenty long enough for her. They had challenged and she will answer.
Erik came to a halt. For a moment he was speachless, staring at the porcelain woman who stood before him. Her style was simple and clearly it had a low price tag. Yet, she maintained a sense of simple elegance to her, from her long fluffy cloud like hair to her soft and fragile skin. Erik Stared into her eyes for a minute. They were like glass; two pools of emotion and colours that seemed to reveal everything. What really caught Erik's attention was not her ensemble, rather the saddened and deteriorated expression breaking through her withered eyes. She seemed tired... Exhuasted if anything! Erik inevitabley noticed the brewing silence and bowed his head gently.
Erik peered back at her with a new expression of curiosity to accompany her question. At the same time however, it was analatical. She didn't seem in anyway phased by how he dressed, how he acted, or how he spoke! Maybe she was just too disheartened to even notice. Erik had to fight his frown back, a spawner for wrinkles. Stacey looked to the floor for a moment at the mention of her name. She nodded silently.
Erik's gaze remained focused on the girl. Though it was a light stare; he didn't want to worry or frighten his client. Erik was perfectly capable of, if not talented at, minding his own business. With ease he shrugged off his supicions. He was hired to protect her, from whatever, and that is what he shall do!
Stacey smiled meekly. It was weak, but a smile none the less. It seemed to spark a reaction in Erik too as a pleasent smile presented itself across his ruby lips.
Erik let a semi-awkward but relieved smile escape his lips. He shifted his handbag back over his shoulder in an attempt to reposition it as it slid progressivley down his arm. He nouncholantely gazed from side to side, not entirely sure of what to do next. He couldn't afford to stand here in silence, doing nothing! Erik's left arm exrtended limply across his chest as he rested his right arm atop it, pressing his right index finger against his chin in contemplation.
Stacey nodded softly before gazing eastward. With a gentle sigh her head darted back to Erik and she gazed directly into his eyes, a piercing stare of desperation as she made her plea.
Erik looked at her in shock. He had no idea what this girl was going through but, it was his job to protect her. Without any further questions he nodded.
Stacey's frown lightened to a half-smile, causing Erik to smile sweetly. She approached Erik, standing closer to him as the two began to walk through the park. Where should he take her? Where was away? For now... For now away just meant anywhere but here. Erik decided to take her through the park in a roundabout path and to the exit of Waterfall City. As the two walked Erik peered down at the girl, standing awfully close and muttering to herself.
Erik pretended not to notice, only frowning in pity and discomfort. This girl was troubled. Erik just put his arm gently around her and smiled at her.
"Don't worry. We'll be fine!".
Stacey clearly disagreed, darting her gaze away from Erik, watching the angles around them. She was full of paranoia, how long exactly was Erik to protect her? He was beginning to hope he hadn't signed up for something too dangerous, a full time life risking job? At his rank, he wasn't ready for that. It had nothing to do with his confidence in himself, not at all. He knew his limits and his strengths, he was a decent mage. Yet... someone's lifei n your hands is a big issue. No, it was only marked C-rank. It couldn't be that dangerous. Erik accepted this task with that knowledge in mind! He could do this!
Suddently Erik felt a soft pull on his arm. His thoughts came to a halt, as did Stacey! He curiously looked at the girl who now stood staring at the kids playpark. She was silent. Erik was unable to see the tears welling in her eyes from his angle. He looked to her, then the playground. He was almost disgusted as he saw a woman jumping rope with the children. Ignoring the fact she was far overage, what was she wearing?! Her atrocious outfit was just ,offensive!
Erik thought to himself in a plea. Clearly though, that wasn't what Stacey was staring at. Once again her mind was a mystery to him. Although, they had just met. He looked back to her. Softly he rested his right hand on her shoulder.
It took a moment but eventually she turned her head away and wiped her eyes. With a soft nod the two stepped forward once again, continuing their journey through the park.
"52…53…54…55! Hah I beat the record!" Aleia exclaimed in victory pumping her fist downwards, striking the air in front of her. She was now sweating from the sudden exercise. At least her body was ready for more exercise. While she was playing with the children, she had failed to notice the two passing people. If she paid any attention she would have noticed that one of them is the woman she was looking for.
"So where is the woman," she asked, now taking in deep breathes of air when the excitement died down and all that was left was exhaustion. One of the girls began to speak but she lifted her hand to signal her to wait a second or two to catch her breath.
"Mister, the woman you are looking for went that away," the girl stated, pointing to distant figures. Great going genius, hurry up and catch up.
"Okay I got it, I'm on the way, jeez," she said out loud, startling the girls. Before she could charge off, the girls had made sure to force a promise to play with them in future. With that in mind, she charged forward towards the mysterious figures. The person next to the quickly approaching green haired woman was definitely one of those she was warned. Another mage was going to be a troublesome obstacle but her main goal was the girl. She thought it would be best to take the other person down first before retrieving the target.
Without so much of a word, she loosened the buckle of her sugar pouch. The tiny sweet crystals ran through the opening of her fingers. She grabbed a handful of the sugar in her hands and left it in her pouch. Her magic caused the crystals to roll itself into a ball that she brought above her head. A well placed shot to the head would be the safest bet but she didn't trust her aim at this distance, so she aimed for the chest area of the…man? The truth is however that she was not prepared for what happened next. She should have moved more quietly but it was too late now. She should have also expected that the client wasn't all that truthful in his description of the situation.
"Watch out!" Stacey warned, whirling to face the oncoming mage. She knew that Jaio would send someone after her, although she was expecting more goons than an actual mage to come. It was right for her to be paranoid it seemed. With all her experience she could tell that the man…or women… look almost as startled as she was. It didn't keep the mage from attacking however as whatever that white ball in her hand flew towards their general direction.
Requirements: Must have an external source of pure sugar.
Effect: The user creates up to 3 compressed balls (3 inches in diameter) of hard sugar and capable of launching it in high speed 10 meters in a straight line within their view at approximately 5 m/s. These sugar are as hard as a rock at best of times. They 'explode' on impact by that I mean they turn into a cloud of sugar dust on impact. It can cause blinding in the best of circumstances but it is still sugar in the end.
Erik walked pacefully alongside Stacey. He was blisfully unaware of the oncoming mage, as well as the sugar attack she had just launched. Suddenly he was alerted by the shout of stacey. The link was broken between Stacey and Erik as she turned to face the oncoming foe. Erik every slightly behind pivoted on place. It was... that thing! That insult! That disgusting, ugly, little! Erik had no time to complain, acting fast he knew he had to protect Stacey. Erik twirled behind Stacey to avoid the oncoming sugar ball. The ball crashed into the ground in a cloud of sugar dust.
Erik's right hand shot skyward immediately as he called out.
Almost instantaneously four large petals emerged from underneath Stacey. The yellow tipped magenta petals gracefully closed, wrapping themselves around Stacey in a protective shield, an enclosed flour. Erik stood behind the flower for a moment. Stacey would be unable to move inside, but at least she would be safe inside. The seconds behind the flower caused many thoughts to rush through Erik's head. A real fight, with a real mage?! This was a C-rank mission, exactly how strong was this mage? Could Erik fight her or... him? Well, he had to! But... what a strange magic... sugar? He spoke up from behind the flower.
Erik spoke in an obnoxious effeminite tone.
As Erik stood behind the petal barrier his right arm slowly began to transform.
His right arm was replaced with a large venus fly trap, connected to his elbow by a series of three extendablei intersecting vines. This girl... she was trying to hurt Stacey. She was the one who caused such fear and sorrow? Well, there was no way she was taking Stacey Away. She was going to have to get through Erik first! Erik pivotted out from behind the flower and shot his right arm forward. The large crunching fly trap on his arm extended towards the girl like a spring, attempting to crunch into her.
Range: Self / Anyone within a 10 meter range of Erik.
Effect: Ivy means Dependence and Endurance. Once this spell is activated a four petal flower immediately engulfs the target. The petals of this flower are a magenta colour and gradient into a soft yellow towards the tips. This spell can be targeted on anyone within range, including Erik himself. While inside this flower the target cannot move but in exchange is protected from any external force be it magical or physical. The target can be freed from the flower upon Erik's command. The flower will shatter after taking a force equal to three base spells, two Tier 1 spells or a single Tier 2 spell.
Effect: Phlox means "Our souls are united". This spell transforms part of Erik's right arm, from elbow to hand. This part of his arm becomes a series of three flexible vines twisted around each other connected to, at the end of the vine, where his hand should be, one large venus fly trap like plant, with thick thorns on the outside and sharp teeth. The arm can be swing and extend at will and the trap can open and close like a mouth to grapple and crunch.
With all things considered, Aleia was probably now facing a real member of Fairy Tail. She knew little about what the members and at least this person was not one of the more famous one. Regardless she was facing a mage in combat, it was actually long overdue since the time she had killed that celestial mage. If Bianca was truly held prisoner, she would not have called out like that and that expression of horror was toward her approach. It was a shame he…she…it, forget it; this person is a man for easy categorization.
"Your silly outfit isn't any better!" she rebutled when the man had called out on her outfit. What was wrong with it? For the most part it was comfortable, colorful, and great for traveling out in the wild. While his outfit…it just looked weird! She began to yell a variety of curses, calling him a less than desirable human being. It would have continued further if the man had not called out his attack.
She barely saw the plant arm swing at her. It would have probably been a clean hit against her if she had not quickly dodged to left. It wasn't too far from a clean hit; actually it might have been a perfect attack as the mouth crunched down on her right arm. She almost yelled out in pain but forced it back with only a grunt to describe her pain. A normal person might stop now but she was determined to face the man down.
Effect: The user inhales a puff of enchanted sugar that enhances their energy through mouth and/or nose. It allows temporary increase in speed and perception (From 10 mph to 12 mph, as for perception not enough to see flying bullets but it definitely makes the world seem clearer than before) as long as it is maintained whenever it begins to weaken. To farther clarify on perception, the user becomes more aware of their surroundings. They begin to see smaller details in front of them. Each time the user maintains this spell, the larger quantities of sugar will be required. Once the sugar enters the body, it cannot be retrieved. Long uses of this spell can cause fatigue for an extended period of time. The ability does not stack upon itself in terms of buffs.
Erik'sexpression retracted to one of shock, and slight disgrace, as this disgusting man lady insulted HIS outfit?! Who was she to comment on Erik's outfit! Had she even bothered to stop and look in the mirror today?!
Erik called out in aggrovation as his attack hurdeled towards the girl. This woman, man, thing, had SOME nerve! Here she was, dressed like a circus reject and failing to kidnap a helpless girl and she dared to call him, LESS THAN DESIRABLE? A sly and manical grin spread across his face as mouth crunched down onto her right arm. It wasn't his first target but it would have to suffice. He allowed a confident and untroubled expression to return to his face.
You think this can stop me?!
Erik turned to the girl in surprise as she pulled the plant out of her arm. Erik snarled as he immediately retracted his arm. He wondered just how strong this girl really was? He had never even heard of a magic htat utilizes sugar. It sounds silly but, it would be even stupider for him to underestimate it, or any magic at all for that matter. What was the limits of this magic, and just how strong was this woman? Erik tried not to think about it, even if he couldn't win he had to keep trying for the sake of the client! Thoughts of discourgement were the last thing he needed right now. Surely someone wih such poor taste couldn't be stronger than him. Erik watched as dug out a handful of sugar. She needed sugar to cast her spells so, maybe if Erik could disarm the bag? Erik refused all distractions as he focused attention on the girl. The sugar pretty much defied gravity before whisking itself into her mouth. What was she doing, having a snack? Suddenly there was a burst of speed and the girl ran directly towards Erikm her fist extended towards his face.
Erik's brow furrowed, his expression tightening as the woman increasingly approached. His mind tried to analyse the moment and possibilites within the few seconds he had. He couldn't really avoid the oncoming attack, so he naturally went to block. He positioned his hand in an 'X' formation blocking his face. However, rather than raising his arms high enough so that both his arms would block it, he had them raised so that instead his hands would block his face. The venus fly trap was positioned infront of his left hand, allowing for the propability that this woman would punch directly into the thick thorns of the fly trap's exterior. After the punch made contact Erik tried a quick punch to the womans gut using her left hand.
The sugar was sweet, the sugar was good, and the sugar was energy at the purest. It had its advantages and quite frankly some very annoying disadvantages. The more she used it, the greater the toll it had on her body. Once she finished this stupid mission, she was bound to feel quite a bit of fatigue and her ripped arm. Thank goodness that the energy helped her ignore the gnawing pain.
Thanks to her increased perception, it didn't take long for her to realize that the man had brought up his arms in defense, hoping she will stake her fist into the spikes. That was one annoying magic he was using. All she wanted was to pretty much take this girl against her will back to that suspicious looking man. That unneeded spike against her outfit had made the situation a hundred times worse.
"You're the one who made this personal," she said, gritting her teeth as she decided on her next course of action. She brought up her next arm and released her rolled up fist. She was not going to run into those spikes if she could help it and instead jumped upwards. She pounced the man, like a cat trying to take down a bigger cat. This man was her prey and she wasn't bound to give up as long as she was conscious.
Erik resisted the urge to verbally lash out at this woman. He allowed her petty insults to bounce off him, because he knew who was the real clown here. He was a lady, and ladies such as himself, were too dignified to partake in such petty slandering. Instead he stood his ground, behind his guard. However, the fist he expected never came. He expected a swift punch to the thorns but, clearly this girl was smarted than she looked. The sugar she ate... it must have been her magic. That burst of speed couldn't have come from anything else but magic. Erik was both shocked and impressed, this girl was smarrter than she looked. Everyone knows to expect the unexpected, even in the most certain of situations! However, this particular "unexpected" was particurarly confusing. Rather than a move, a shift or a turn, the girl pounced. Like a cat, the woman pounced into the air and onto Erik, forcing him backwards onto the floor. Erik fell backwards with an "oomph", a coud of dust blowing from underneath!
Erik lay on the floor, wrestled down by this woman who now sat atop him. He pulled back his right arm and, without firing, aimed the venus fly trap at the girls face.
The venus fly trap extended forwards in an effort to punch the girl off of him.
Aleia was glad she finally got something on this man. It was jump a small thump on the ground but it was her fault he was there. One day people will truly rue the sugar mage! It sounded more deadly in her head than it would have out loud. Not that this man was any trouble…she has totally faced stronger opponents or rather she had lucked out and survived. The impact of the shock made a rough humph on her side as well but it was hopefully rougher for the guy here.
With her sugar rush spell still active she saw the punch coming. However seeing and successfully dodging was two different things. Instead she did what she hoped was the best course of decision at the moment. She half jumped and half pushed to get as much distance from the strike as possible. It worked, a little bit but she still got a rough punch in the face. It impacted against her mask and caused her to stumble backwards. She struggled to remain balanced but it was too late for her mask. The punch had not fully shattered it, but it was chipped and launched into the air. It did not fully break though and she thanked her brother for advising her to use a better material than what she originally picked out.
The fact that it had fallen off made her unconsciously look behind to make sure it was okay. Idiot, focus on the fight! Her brother had finally spoken up during the whole time she had been fighting. It worked though and she snapped back at the man, her eyes blazing with anger. Who cares if he saw the star imprinted into her eye? If she got a good hold of him…he won't remember a thing. The punch wasn't much at all but it did cause her to bite her in cheek. She could taste the blood in her mouth and tomorrow, she will probably have a puffy cheek but this was a danger of being a mage.
"You think you can get away with humiliating me like this!" she called out, spitting out a bit of blood and saliva next to her. She then tried to create some more sugar balls but found that she lacked sufficient sugar. Apparently the contents had dumped when she leapt and got punched. They were within range of her other spell. So for now, she forced herself to calm down. The sugar that littered the place began to float back into the air and surround her immediate atmosphere.
"Have some sugar balls," she said lightly, her face a sinister grin. Some of the sugar soon formed into three small balls and propelled towards the man.
Effect: The user gathers PURE sugar that might have fallen to the ground or hands in the air. From there the user can allow a small veil of sugar to surround her in which she can choose to recover back into a container or proceed to use the actual Sugar Veil. Larger molecules of sugar can be converted into powder sugar form during this time as well for use with Sugar Rush.
Erik smiled condescendingly as the thorny punch made contact with her face. Even as she tried to jump backwards in escape Erik managed ot land a successful punch. However, her jump managed to avoid most of the attack and the punch only resulted in the mage stumbling backwards. Erik wasted no time hopping to his feet and dusting himself off. Normally he wouldn't allow himself to get distracted in a battle but, as the mask flew off the girls head Erik turned on the spot. He got a good look at his back, but what he saw was in no way good. Erik was NOT impressed. All down the back of his new Layla Demacia jacket was dirt and grit. It was simply disgusting! Erik offered the girl nought but a smile as the mask cracked and chipped against the floor.
As Erik spoke he turned slightly, gesturing to the dirt now along the back of his outfit. He was surprised when he, at first, recieved no response. He turned back to normal and stared at the girl with a somewhat curious look. Erik had gotten the impression that this was a girl whose quick with a response. She just seemed to stare at the mask for a moment while biting her cheek. "She's leaving herself wide open" thought Erik as he began to prepare launching an attack. His actions were halted by her voice. Erik looked at the floor in disgust where she had spat out her mixture of blood and saliva.
Erik's gaze shot from side to side, analysing the sugar that now lay spread around them. The sugar that littered the park floated into the air and surrounded the girl. Erik stared with anticipation, raising his arms slightly in preperation to act. The sugar began to warp itself into three hard looking balls before launching themselves in Erik's direction. Erik said nothing but wasted no time to react. His let hand swung upwards, stopping once extended horizontally outwards from his body. However, before Erik had the time to react he felt a sequence of painful blows to his chest and stomach area. He was winded, forced back a few steps, his left arm immediately cradling his stomach. He had underestimated the distance between them. He raised his head to look at the woman, still focused on the battle, but a now lingering cloud of sugar dust seemed to fade his vision. The attack was hard like rocks, exploding upon impact and leaving large stains of powdered sugar on the front of his new outfit. That would have to be adressed later. Forcing himself to bear the uncomfortable winded feeling, he extended his left arm once again.
Almost instantaneously a bundle of hundreds of glowing pink flower petals appeared in front of his hand. The petals flew towards the woman, formed together in a clean and perfect tunnel formation. The tunnel spun directly towards the woman.
Effect: Viscaria means literally "invitation to dance". This spell summons hundreds of glowing pink flower petals. The petals soar toward the target in a long tunnel formation (1 an meter in diameter), directed by Erik's hands. The petals shatter and scrape repeatedly against the target. At its current level the petals can only travel in a straight line once fired and leave a few bruises and many cuts and grazes. The petals cannot be blown off course by wind spells but may be burned before contact.
Aleia would have stopped and danced for a second if the battle wasn't so serious. She was glad that the sugar balls had actually made contact with the man's body. They weren't capable of killing, at least not yet but they still hurt as far as she was concerned. All she could do was a fist pump and a quiet yes. If anything she was happiest knowing that she had ruined part of his precious outfit. It was just oh so satisfying seeing her sugar balls explode into dust around him.
"Bring it Pink Man!" she grinned, for some reason she was quite happy now, to the point of elation. The man had got what he deserved for all those hits. She was going to feel them quite a bit the next day but it was a small price to pay for revenge. Actually she was not clear if the revenge was for the insult to her outfit or the actual fight. Regardless, the main point is revenge!
Don't forget what we came here for… Well that was a wakeup call. Her brother was right; the main point wasn't beating the crap out of the man but to 'rescue' the girl in that shield. At least she was nicely tucked out the way, making it possible to go wild. That might have actually been the best plan from the start but now was too late to have any regrets.
When the man called out some word with V in it, she thought he was talking to her. Unfortunately it was just another attack aimed at her. The dust from the sugar helped lower visibility but not completely. She needed to respond quickly, so she dove…to her right. It worked though, the petals zoomed right past her but she collided with something else. A stupid tree was in her way! She had put so much effort into the dodge so that when she collided with the tree there was an instant KO. It even sucked that she landed face down on the ground as well. This was the worst day ever.
Erik stared with delicate concentration as the tunnel of petals danced towards his target beautifully. Erik smiled somewhat confident, perhaps even enjoying the fight? Or maybe he was just taking pride in the name "Pink Man", there was nothing wrong with that, Pink was a fabulous colour. Still, he wasn't going to get distracted, he knew this girl wasn't something to joke about. If he lost concentration for even a moment this CLOWN could get the best of him.
The attack drilled towards the woman, who skillfully jumped to the right. Erik didn't allow the swift dodge to sway him, and maintained an unphased but confident look on his face. A true woman must remain calm in all situations. He was prepared for another attack but... not for what happened next. Erik stared in disbelief as his eyes stared at the now unconcious woman.
Erik allowed a delicate sigh to escape his lips as he strut towards the woman by the tree. He analysed her, raising his right arm slightly. He could just finish this, he should! This woman was a danger to his client's safety! Yet, she didn't seem harmful... As Erik looked at this clown of a woman, he didn't see evil, or danger. With a gentle shake of the head he turned away, picking up the mask that had been knocked off during their little... quarrel. He placed the mask down gently next to the girl and sat her up against the tree.
Erik spoke with a semi-sarcastic tone. This girl... whatever her name was... She was down right eccentric; It drastically annoyed Erik. He sharply turned his head away in dissapproval.
Erik walked towards the protective flower and swiped his right hand horizontally. Gracefully the petals unwinded and folded downwards before dissappearing into the earth below. Stacey emerged, dropping to her knees. Erik smiled politely and offered his hand out.
Stacey extended her hand, delicately accepting Erik's as she stared up at him, then to the woman behind him. She smiled and rose from the floor.
Erik smiled and dusted his shirt off before efemminetly stroking his chin with his right index finger.
Stacey nodded and the two left the park together. Not much longer afterwards, the two arrived at the large gates of Mermaid City.
Stacey spoke as she skipped towards the gates and stared out to the wilderness before her.
Stacey turned and bowed politely.
Erik stared into the womans eyes as she rose. He seemed to see... sincere emotion, true gratitude? Erik was oblivious to why she needed to escape so bad and, why she was targeted by that mage?! Just who was she? It was really none of his business but... He didn't want the girl to get hurt.
Stacey spoke as she stepped forward, pulling out an envelope and handing it to Erik. Erik took hold of the letter.
Stacey sighed and let go of the envelope, instead cuffing Erik's hand.
Erik wasn't completely convinced and yet, what could he do about it?
Stacey let go of Erik's hand and turned, leaving Mermaid city behind her as she left.
Aleia was off snoring into her dream full of fluffy pink cotton candy clouds and desserts before a very irritating poke began to twist the world. The cotton candy clouds began to swirl, the sweet taste soon vanished from her mouth and there was no more meadows to frolic in. All she could hear was the twisted laugh of the devil incarnate, PINK MAN. She finally lifted her head to find the girls she was playing with before. The leader had found a stick to poke at her, a concerned look on her face. By this time it seemed as though the sun was almost completely gone.
"Mister it is getting late and being out is dangerous," she warned, putting her arm over one another to show how serious she was. When she finally came to, she felt the pain inflicted from her head slamming so heavily against her head. She had to make sure no part of her skull just so happened to poke out. When she was satisfied, a sigh of relief escape her mouth.
"You'll regret the day you messed with me," she uttered under her breath, gritting her teeth. A small trickle of blood began to leak from the side of her mouth from the strength she put into the clench.


text:
Home/DISCOGRAPHY/SONGS/PARADISE BY THE "C"
Paradise By The "C"
This song was 64 x played live .
This songs has been heard live by 734 users.
First time played on: 19/05/1978
Latest time played on: 02/08/1988
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Bruce Springsteen Sings the Alphabet
Episode: Paradise By The "C"
Source: www.alphabeticalspringsteen.com
From the albums:
First 5 times played:
19/05/1978 Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ
23/05/1978 Shea Theatre, Buffalo, NY
24/05/1978 Palace Theatre, Albany, NY
Latest 5 times played:
02/08/1988 Estadio Vicente Calder�n, Madrid
30/07/1988 Weserstadion, Bremen
25/07/1988 Idraetsparken, Copenhagen
19/07/1988 Trabrennbahn, Berlin
17/07/1988 Equestrian Stadium Riem, Munich
Played in:
26/05/1978 The Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
29/05/1978 Music Hall, Boston, MA
02/06/1978 United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD
03/06/1978 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
08/06/1978 Dane County Coliseum, Madison, WI
09/06/1978 Milwaukee Arena, Milwaukee, WI
14/06/1978 Music Hall, Omaha, NE
16/06/1978 Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, MO
20/06/1978 Red Rocks Amphitheater, Denver, CO
24/06/1978 Paramount Theatre, Portland, OR
25/06/1978 Seattle Arena, Seattle, WA
26/06/1978 Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver
30/06/1978 Berkeley Community Theatre, Berkeley, CA
05/07/1978 The Forum, Los Angeles, CA
07/07/1978 The Roxy, Los Angeles, CA
08/07/1978 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, AZ
09/07/1978 Sports Arena, San Diego, CA
14/07/1978 San Antonio Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio, TX
16/07/1978 Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, LA
21/07/1978 Auditorium, Nashville, TN
28/07/1978 Jai Alai Fronton, Miami, FL
29/07/1978 Bay Front Centre, St. Petersburg, FL
04/08/1978 Civic Center, Charleston, WV
05/08/1978 Louisville Gardens, Louisville, KY
09/08/1978 The Agora, Cleveland, OH
10/08/1978 Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, NY
12/08/1978 Augusta Civic Center, Augusta, ME
15/08/1978 Capital Center, Largo, MD
25/08/1978 Veterans Memorial Coliseum, New Haven, CT
26/08/1978 Civic Center, Providence, RI
28/08/1978 Stanley Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA
03/09/1978 Dow Event Center, Saginaw, MI
06/09/1978 Uptown Theatre, Chicago, IL
09/09/1978 University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN
10/09/1978 Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati, OH
12/09/1978 War Memorial, Syracuse, NY
13/09/1978 MassMutual Center, Springfield, MA
29/09/1978 Boutwell Auditorium, Birmingham, AL
29/06/1988 Stadion Feijenoord, Rotterdam
02/07/1988 Stockholm Stadion, Stockholm
07/07/1988 RDS Arena, Dublin
09/07/1988 Bramall Lane, Sheffield
12/07/1988 Waldstadion, Frankfurt am Main
14/07/1988 St. Jakob Stadium, Basel

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Lack of rest does not stop Stanford from rout of San Francisco - Women's College Basketball - Are You Watching This?!
Nov 29, 2007 - 7:47 AM PALO ALTO, California (Ticker) -- Freshman Kayla Pedersen scored 18 points as fifth-ranked Stanford rolled to a 96-61 victory over San Francisco on Wednesday.
Candace Wiggins added 13 points for the Cardinal (6-1), who sat the majority of their starters in the second half after arriving home from the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands late Monday.
Only playing 20 minutes, Pedersen went 8-of-9 from the field. Jillian Harmon added 16 points off the bench for Stanford, which beat San Francisco for the 14th straight time.
Shay Rollins, the younger sister of National League MVP Jimmy Rollins of the Philadelphia Phillies, led the Dons (3-4) with 19 points.


Have you heard of a fruit called dragun fruit (pitaya)? It is an exotic fruit with a sweet and delicate flavor, also known as "dragon fruit". The fruit grows as part of two plants belonging to cactus family of South and Central America.
It has become widespread in all parts of the world. The shell of fruit is red, pink, purple or yellow, and leaves are similar to artichoke leaf. The contents of juicy fruit are usually white or purple and have thousands of small black seeds.
In every 100 grams of fruit, 87% water, 1.1 grams of protein, 3 grams of fiber, 0.16 mg of B2 vitamin, 20.5 mg of vitamin C, 8.5 mg of calcium, 1, 9 mg of iron and 22.5 mg of phosphorus.
After a certain age, bones begin to lose their strength and density. This process occurs primarily in women. You can eat dragon fruit (pitaya) to help prevent arthritis and keep bones healthy.
This fruit is a good source of calcium and magnesium, which are two components that help to maintain bone strength. It is a nutrient rich in calcium, increasing bone density. In addition, was discovered that magnesium found in pitaya kept bones healthy and strong.
Pitaya is rich in fiber, helps bowel movements, releases digestive juices and provides smooth passage to digestive system.
It helps prevent constipation, bowel syndrome and even colorectal cancer by regulating bowel function with fiber. In addition, has been observed that dragun fruit (pitaya) stimulates healthy intestinal flora.
Vitamins and minerals in dragon fruit, together with high water content, make skin healthy and shiny. Vitamin C, also known as an antioxidant in pitaya, helps to keep our skin healthy and moist, suppresses free radicals and prevents harmful effects on our bodies.
In addition, this vitamin also helps in the treatment of sunburn, acne and dry skin, so dragon fruit is a good source for prevention and treatment of various skin problems.
It is rich in other antioxidants such as dragon fruit, carotene and lycopene, along with presence of vitamin C, which helps improve function of immune system.
These antioxidants help reduce risk of prostate cancer by reducing number of available tumors while preventing development of other cancer cells.
A study in Malaysia showed that, along with physical activity, consumption of lycopene-rich fruits and vegetables helped significantly reduce risk of prostate cancer.
Fiber is actually an undigested carbohydrate and has great health benefits. The recommended daily intake of fiber is 25 grams per day for women and 35 grams per day for men.
Pitaya contains 3 grams of fiber per 100 grams of fruit, and although fiber is better known as preservatives of digestive system, various studies also prove to be effective against type 2 diabetes, heart disease , and healthy body weight.
As mentioned, dragon fruit is rich in fibers that help stabilize blood sugar levels. In addition, dragon fruit consumption is associated with a decrease in blood sugar levels. This suggests that regular daily consumption of exotic fruit may be beneficial in the prevention and even treatment of diabetes.
Pitaya can help improve our heart health by increasing good cholesterol (HDL) and helping to lower bad cholesterol (LDL). This is due to vegetable based oils found in pitaya. Fatty in Pitaya also helps reduce risk of atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke.
As mentioned above, dragon fruit is an antioxidant but rich in vitamin C that protects our immune system. Vitamin B1, B2, B3, calcium, phosphorus, iron, protein and fiber vitamins contribute to improving function of immune system.
White blood cells in our immune system attack and destroy harmful substances, strong antioxidants, such as vitamin C and carotenoids, can neutralize free radicals and protect white blood cells against damage.
Pitaya is one of the few fresh fruits that contain iron. Iron plays an important role in the transport of oxygen to all parts of body and helps turn food into energy.
Unfortunately, many people cannot consume enough iron, and according to studies, 30% of the world's population suffers from iron deficiency. To combat iron, we must consume iron-rich foods such as meat, fish, vegetables, nuts, cereals and of course pitaya.


The NCAA Tournament Challenge is back by popular demand! Do you have what it takes to create a winning bracket? It is time to prove it! Join the crew of Heartland Bowhunter and see if you can pick the best NCAA tournament bracket. Signing up is quick and easy. Visit www.espn.com/bracket. Create a bracket. Join the group named Heartland Bowhunter TV. The top three entries will receive prizes. The tournament starts in just a couple of days so sign up soon! NOTE: Each participant is limited to 3 entries. Anyone with more than 3 entries will not be eligible for prizes. Feel free to invite your family and friends!
1st Place Prizes– Trophy Ridge Micro Hit-Man 5 bow sight, HB5 DVD, and HB black trucker hat.
2nd Place Prizes– 1 Dozen Carbon Express Maxima Blue Streak arrows, HB5 DVD, and HB black trucker hat.
3rd Place Prizes– 6-pack of NAP Realtree Quickfletch arrow wraps/fletchings, HB5 DVD, and HB black trucker hat.


Every year in the Summer semester, the Department of Art History, Film and Visual Studies puts on a colloquium in conjunction with the Journal of Art Historiography, which is affiliated with the Department.
This year's colloquium, which is taking place on the 7th and 8th May 2014, will address the relationships that exist between, on the one hand, academic art historians and, on the other, museum professionals, and aims to consider how art history as a discipline affects curatorial practices, and vice versa, how curatorial practices can affect art history. In particular the colloquium seeks to explore how innovative museum and gallery curating can impact on the kinds of objects that are usually deemed to fall under the remit of art history and, on the flip-side, what is usually excluded. Can innovative curatorial practices break down the conventional boundaries that have been thought to exist between "fine art" and "material culture", for example?
The colloquium is being organised by postgraduate students from the Department of Art History, Film and Visual Studies and Dr. Camilla Smith, and there is still time to submit proposals for papers for consideration. The deadline for receipt of abstracts for papers of 300 words is Thursday 19th December 2013. Abstracts should include title, contact details and affiliation and be sent by email to arthistoriography@gmail.com.


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The surname "Labonta" is not included in the US Census Bureau's ranking of surnames with 100 or more people. Since fewer than 100 people with this surname were included in the 2000 Census, it is relatively uncommon.
Histopolis currently has 1 grave(s) with the surname "Labonta".
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Surnames that Sound Like "Labonta"
The surname "Labonta" has a Soundex code of L153. The following 148 surname(s) may sound similar to "Labonta" since they share the same Soundex code.


Three frames: in first frame there is a side view of a mountain biker admiring the wide shot of a picturesque valley with many hills covered with greenery and the mountain range. In the second he meets and salutes a small plane flying not very high. In the third frame he continues moving. The video was captured at dull day with cloudy sky at Koktebel, Crimea.
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Junkyard Tycoon MOD APK is a virtual business game of vehicles simulation from Lana Cristina. It is a game specially made for the lovers of vehicles and automobiles. Do wanna start your own vehicle business? Then this game is for you. Its a freemium game with in app purchase, but you have the mod apk so you don't need to worry about anything.
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Junkyard Tycoon MOD APK is very unique and i must say its the first of its kind. The control system are amazing and the gamplay is unique and addicting. It is a very unique and extremely entertaining game from Lana Cristina.


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" We shall be unable to turn natural advantage to account unless we make use of local guides. "


A cold wind creeps up my spine causing a quick series of shivers to overcome me. I look around; pure darkness... nothing else. Where am I? Who am I? What happened to me? These questions come flooding into my mind, but I can remember almost nothing. The only thing in my memory; a scene playing over and over in my head.
I stood there, my fists clenched tightly around a ball of some sort. I could feel something approaching me, quietly, slowly, calmly. I turned around quickly, and scanned the room, I could see boxes and trunks, piled on top of one another, like in a storage room. The walls were painted a bright, clean white, but not much of it was visible as the boxes blocked the wall from view.
I could hear loud noises, not too far away. It sounded as if people were fighting; bangs, crashes, and booms echoed and bounced off the walls. I felt a slight urge to go and see what was going on, but I stayed put, not wanting to get mixed up in anything I didn't have to be involved in.
I continued to observe my surroundings, taking in every little detail, from a piece of chipped paint on the wall to the numbers on the marked boxes. I also came to notice a small device on the wall. It looked like a pin code keyboard with odd symbols on rather than numbers. I walked towards it, wanting to take a closer look.
There were eleven buttons on it, each one very different from the other. There were nine little buttons with a unique symbol - like a hieroglyph - on each one of them. Then there was a larger one with the word ENTER printed clearly on its surface in bright green letters. I punched in a few random symbols and pressed ENTER, nothing happened. I tried again, with four different buttons this time. Then I pushed the ENTER button, a soft clicking noise sounded in my ears, had it worked?
I felt vibrations crawling up my legs and through my whole body until there was a large hole in the wall where there used to be none. I pushed a couple of boxes aside, and prepared myself before walking trough. I took a step, and then wham. Pain shot through me like a bullet through ice. It began at my head, reaching my feet as I fell to the ground, unconscious. The ball slipped from my hand and rolled across the floor.
Now I am here, in this dark space, not being able to recall anything else about my life, just that one sliver of memory. I blink, trying to get used to the darkness, it doesn't help. I start to hop up and down, a cold sensation coming over me. These little hops soon turn into jumping jack, and those into small jogging circles as the temperature decreases quickly. I rub my hands up and down my arms, I can feel goose bumps protruding from my skin.
I hear people yelling in the distance, the first sound I heard for a long time... at least, I think. I walk over towards what I think are the walls and graze my hand against it, using touch as sight. I feel a bumpy popcorn-like wall, and then wood. I stumble for a door knob and come across a handle. It's locked. I continue to go around the room, hopping for another door, or even a window, but this is pointless as the room is pitch black, and I would have been able to see the stars in the night sky.
My legs turn to jelly and I fall to the ground. I crawl forward, having barely enough energy to pull myself anywhere. My hand becomes cold, it is resting upon something. I fumble around, trying to pick up the object with frozen fingers. It turns out to be a key, and my hopes arise. Using my one last ounce of strength I crawl towards the wall army style, fit the key in the lock, and turn it with a click. It opens, and light seeps into my non-adjusted eyes, it takes me by surprise. I throw my hands to my face, trying to block out the powerful glare of the bright light. I soon become used to it and warmth pours energy into my body. I get to my feet and march out the door.
I walk into a room, vibrantly illuminated with candles, ceiling lights, and open windows, which let the sun come drifting in. I could hear many footsteps, almost perfectly in sync approaching me. Soon the room was swarmed with uniformed men, the letters ILP largely written on their bullet proof vests.
It is silent, the only noise I heard is the loud breathing of a couple of the men. "Come!" A loud voice suddenly booms. The man who had spoken takes a step forward and puts his arm out towards me, I don't take it. Two more of the ILPs step forward, and I feel as if I have no choice but to listen. I stalk out of the room, the rest of the men following close behind.
Many of the men are dispatched as they bring me into a room that reminds me of a science lab, though I cannot remember when I would have seen one.
Jars filled with other worldly creatures and pickled substances line the walls, one balances awkwardly on the edge of a shelf. Beakers, measuring cylinders, and other objects sit on tables and cupboards. Most are filled with an odd coloured liquid of some sort. There are multiple sinks, and stained dish cloths lie everywhere. I can see a broken beaker, a strange green acid bubbling on the ground, dissolving what looks like small shards of glass. A short old man in a lab coat sits in a large chair in the other end of the room. In front of him; a small circular item, floating in the air like a strong detracting magnet.
"What is this?" He asks with a small frail voice. It is much different to the voice of the ILP commander. I walk closer to the object, taking a better look. It is the size and shape of a ping pong ball, crimson red in colour and it looks heavy, much heavier than it should look, or feel for that matter.
"I don't know," I reply. I recall that scene and play it over in my head one more time. I immediately remember holding this object in my hand, I just don't know what it is.
The scientist leaves the conversation at that and continues to examine the ball. I peer over his shoulder, not wanting him to prod the thing with needles, or study it too closely. He grunts, and I take a step back, assuming that was what he wishes. He grunts again, and I take another step back. He seems okay with this and keeps poking the object. The scientist begins to violently cough and I rush to his side. Dust covers his face, and I see that there is a gaping hole in the ball as it drops to the ground.
The ending was a little confusing to me, I have to say, but I really like your writing style. Your descriptions, your adjectives, they are very, very articulate. This is definitely a well-told story.
Woah. Nice story, nice description, breathtaking flow! Luv it!
Hmm this was interesting . Are you planning on turning this into a mini series? I thought it should have a been a little longer with details because its kinda vague and then suddenly she's an agent. It sounds like it would make a cool novel/novellet.
That does sound like a cool idea, but I don't think I would have the patience for it. Lol. And yeah, sorry about the end, I wanted to try to make it a cliff hanger, but it kind of turned confusing. I think it will stay that way though, I'm too lazy to fix it. Lol.


Developed in the Soviet Union in 1932 by Yevgeny Alexandrovitch Sholpo and Georgy Rimsky-Korsakov at the Central Laboratory of Wire Communication in Leningrad after several years research into performer-less music; the Variophone was an photo-electrical electronic instrument. The particular method used by the Variophone was a type of optical audio recording designed to allow the composition of lengthy polyphonic pieces of music. This was achieved by cutting sound waves into cardboard discs rotating in synch with a 35 mm movie film. This was then re-filmed and played back on a normal movie projector that and amplified through a speaker. In a simple 'overdubbing' process the process could be repeated to create multiple layered tones.
Soundtracks were able to contain up to twelve voices, recorded as tiny parallel tracks inside the normal soundtrack film area. By 1931 with the help of Rimsky-korsakov, Sholpo produced soundtrack to the film 'The Year 1905 in Bourgeoisie Satire' and again in 1932 a synthesised soundtrack for 'A Symphony of Peace' and many other soundtracks for films and cartoons throughout the Thirties and Forties. At the end of the long 1941 Siege of Leningrad, the Variophon was destroyed during a missile attack. After World War Two, Evgeny Sholpo became the director of the new 'Scientific‐Research Laboratory for Graphical Sound' with Boris Yankovsky at the State Research Institute for Sound Recording, in Leningrad..
The fourth and final version of Variophone was never finished, despite promising experiments in musical intonation and the temporal characteristics of live musical performance. The laboratory was moved to Moscow and Sholpo was removed from his position as director. In 1951, after a long illness, Evgeny Sholpo died and his laboratory was closed.Archive material from the Variophone was recently transferred in 2007 to the Theremin Center.
The hand drawn optical synthesis technique was also used later in the 1960's by Daphne Oram in England.


Plymouth's new £4.9million waste transfer station will formally open today, ahead of the closure of the city's landfill site next year. Capable of handling 140,000 tonnes of rubbish a year, the facility at Chelson Meadow will be officially opened by Lord Mayor David James - although it will not become operational until 2008. The building will receive the city's waste before it is transferred to South East Cornwall after the closure of Chelson Meadow tip on March 31. When the 12-metre-high, 65-metre-square steel-framed transfer station comes into operation, Plymouth's waste will be transferred to the Lean Quarry commercial landfill site near Liskeard as an interim measure while the city council develops its new waste management plans. The council has outlined four possible sites for future waste facilities: at Coypool, Ernesettle, Chelson Meadow and Moorcroft Quarry. Viridor Waste Management has been awarded the contract to manage the facility and provide haulage of waste for disposal at Lean Quarry.
This transfer is going to see a lot of extra large vehicles out on the road so expect to see more new Viridor refuse trucks hit the road.


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Tag: American Airlines
FAA Releases Recordings of Airliners' Encounter with UFO Over Arizona
by Brett Tingley March 9, 2018 (mysteriousuniverse.org)
• On February 24th, 2017 above Southern Arizona, a Lear Jet pilot informed the Albuquerque FAA that 'something' had passed overhead. Said the pilot, "I don't know what it was, it wasn't an airplane, but it was–the path was going in the opposite direction." The FAA responded that no aircraft were flying above them One pilot then says "a UFO', and another pilot affirms, "yeah".
• FAA air traffic control then contacted American Airlines Flight 1095 (Airbus) flying above the Sonoran Desert National Monument and told them to watch for anything flying overhead. A few minutes later, the American Airlines pilot said, "yeah something just passed over us, like a–I don't know what it was, but it was at least two-three thousand feet above us. Yeah it passed right over the top of us." The craft was flying at an altitude of 40,000 feet. Speculating as to what it could have been, a pilot suggests it may have been a Google balloon, or, jokingly, a UFO.
• [Editor's Note] See 6:12 minute audio of the FAA air traffic controllers and pilot's in flight conversation below.
In November 2017, several commercial aircraft flying over the California/Oregon border area encountered an object in the skies the likes of which their pilots had never seen. Like in many UFO cases, the object maneuvered in ways impossible for today's conventional aircraft and was completely unresponsive to radio and radar systems. The sightings were confirmed by both the FAA and NORAD, and a Freedom of Information Act request just last month uncovered audio recordings between air traffic controls and pilots made during the encounter which add a few details about pilot's descriptions of the large, white unidentified aircraft flying at a high altitude.
To add to the mystery surrounding that November encounter, new recordings released by the FAA of a separate encounter months earlier seem to be describing an eerily similar object in the skies flying at altitudes much higher than commercial aircraft. The incident occurred on February 24th, 2017 above Southern Arizona. Flight N71PG, a Phoenix Air Learjet 36, and American Airlines Flight 1095, an Airbus A321, were flying above the Sonoran Desert National Monument when crews of both airliners spotted an unidentified, unresponsive aircraft flying over them at an estimated 40,000 feet.
The incident began when the Learjet first spotted the object. After seeing the object pass over his craft, the Learjet pilot told the FAA that something did pass overhead, remarking "I don't know what it was, it wasn't an airplane, but it was–the path was going in the opposite direction." An audio recording of the conversations between pilots and air traffic controllers with the Albuquerque FAA was recently released by Tyler Rogoway at The Warzone. In the recording, pilots can be heard asking the FAA if they knew of any aircraft flying above them, to which of course the FAA responded they didn't. One pilot can then be heard chuckling "a UFO!" to which another affirms "yeah."
Air traffic controllers then asked the incoming American Airlines pilot to watch for anything flying overhead, to which the American Airlines pilot responded a few minutes later with "yeah something just passed over us, like a–I don't know what it was, but it was at least two-three thousand feet above us. Yeah it passed right over the top of us." Pilots and air traffic controllers then speculate about what the object might have been, with a few suggesting a Google balloon and others merely laughing it off as just a "UFO."


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U.S. destabilizes region by attacking Iraqi, Syrian groups: Iran
June 28, 2021 - 18:36
TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman has reacted to U.S. attacks against Resistance groups in Iraq and Syria, calling the attacks a step in the wrong direction.
Speaking at his weekly press briefing on Monday, Saeed Khatibzadeh said, "The U.S. still continues along the wrong road in the region."
The U.S. Department of Defense announced airstrikes on the positions of Iraqi and Syrian groups in the border areas of Iraq and Syria. The Pentagon said in an official statement that its fighter jets had targeted two weapons depots and military installations in Syria and a position in Iraq.
"Specifically, the U.S. strikes targeted operational and weapons storage facilities at two locations in Syria and one location in Iraq, both of which lie close to the border between those countries," the Pentagon statement said, claiming that the facilities have been used by Kata'ib Hezbollah (KH) and Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS).
The Pentagon also said that the airstrikes were carried out at the U.S. president's direction and were in line with the U.S. "right to self-defense." The Pentagon also justified its move by saying that the groups targeted were "Iran-backed militia groups," which "are engaged in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks against U.S. personnel and facilities in Iraq."
Khatibzdeh said the U.S. air raids are yet another indication that the Biden administration is following in the Trump administration's footsteps in terms of pursuing hostile acts against Iran whether by using sanctions or regional airstrikes.
"Unfortunately, not only in the field of imposing oppressive sanctions against the Iranian nation, but also in the field of regional behavior, we see the continuation of the failed U.S. policy and legacy in the region," Khatibzadeh lamented.
'Sentimental behaviors'
He described the U.S. move as "sentimental," calling on Washington to let the region's people determine their destiny away from foreign interference.
"The advice to the new administration in the United States is to change its course instead of these sentimental behaviors and instead of creating crises and living in tension and creating problems for the people of the region, it should let the people of this region decide their own destiny without their intervention," Khatibzadeh continued.
"What the United States is doing is disrupting regional security, and one of the victims of this disrupted regional security will be the United States itself in the region," the spokesman pointed out.
Syrian state news SANA reported early Monday that the border area with Iraq in the far eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor was subjected to an aerial attack by warplanes after midnight, which caused the martyrdom of a child and the injury of 3 civilians.
SANA's reporter in Deir Ezzor, quoting local sources, stated that warplanes believed to be American attacked with missiles at around 01:00 a.m. on residential houses near the Syrian-Iraqi borders in the countryside of al-Bokmal on Monday.
The border area with Iraq in the eastern region has been subjected in previous times to more than one attack by the American occupation air force, which works to undermine the efforts of the Syrian state and its allies to enhance security and stability in the eastern region and to eliminate the remnants of Daesh (ISIS) terrorists and to prevent their infiltration between Iraq and Syria, SANA added.
Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada issued a statement confirmed that its positions were targeted by the U.S., noting that the American strikes martyred a number of fighters. "At 2:00 in the morning of Monday, on June 28, 2021, the United States of America carried out an airstrike targeting the headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Forces, the 14th Brigade stationed on the Iraqi-Syrian border, as part of the sacred national duty," the Iraqi group said in a statement.
Al-Jazeera quoted Iraqi security sources as saying that there were four attacks in the al-Hurra area in Bokmal, Syria, near Iraq's Anbar province, followed by explosions that may have been caused by explosions of weapons storages. The network quoted sources close to the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces as saying that at least four members of Kata'ib Hezbollah and Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, as well as members of the PMF, had been martyred in the attacks. The Qatari news television also quoted the Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada as saying that the forces had announced that they would henceforth enter into a "relentless war with the American occupiers" and threatened to target U.S. aircraft in Iraqi airspace.
In response to Monday's attack by U.S. fighter jets on the PMF positions, Iraqi resistance groups issued a joint statement declaring that they would not remain silent in the face of U.S. troops in Iraq and would take revenge.
"We have said before that we will not remain silent in the face of the continued presence of the American occupying forces, which is against the constitution, the decision of the parliament and the will of the Iraqi people," the joint statement said, according to Fars News.
The statement went on to say that the American occupying forces are continuing their crimes by attacking the PMF forces. The Iraqi resistance groups also vowed to take revenge for the fallen soldiers.
The al-Fatah faction, a parliamentary bloc close to the PMF, issued a statement leveling trenchant criticism against the U.S. for targeting the PMF positions.
"The targeting of the PMF affiliates confirmed the futility of the U.S. presence in Iraq. The Iraqi government must immediately and without delay must act to expel the foreign troops from the country, especially the Americans," the faction's statement said.
The statement went on to say that the United States seeks to maintain chaos and conflict in Iraq with these aggressions. Therefore, the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces should order an investigation into the targeting of the PMF positions, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should condemn this aggression, it added.
Social media users in Iraq also called for the condemnation of the U.S. move.
A spokesman for the Iraqi Armed Forces Command responded by condemning the US airstrikes on the Iraqi-Syrian border and calling on everyone to calm down and avoid escalating tensions. General Yahya Rasoul said that "This U.S. airstrike is a clear violation of Iraqi sovereignty and is rejected."
He called on everyone to calm down and avoid any escalation of tensions in any way, and said that Iraq will conduct investigations, take measures and establish the necessary contacts at all levels to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
Hossein Amir-Abdollahian condemns U.S. attacks on Syrian soil
U.S. carries out deadly airstrikes in Iraq and Syria
Iran rejects involvement in attacks on American facilities in Iraq
Advisor condemns U.S. attacks in Iraq
Iran condemns U.S. attack on Syrian soil
Saeed Khatibzadeh
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman
airstrikes
Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF)