text:
Portsmouth student peeled in potato laptop scam
A student in Portsmouth has fallen victim to the classic potato PC scam, parting with £600 for nothing more than a bag full of spuds, the Portsmouth News reports. The unnamed 27-year-old was shown a bagged Sony laptop by a "man in the back of a car" parked at the rear of Debenhams in Slindon Street, Portsmouth, on 6 March. He …
Tuesday 11th March 2008 11:40 GMT Anonymous Coward
expensive lessons learned...
dont buy off a dodgy bloke in a car park... with a deal to good to be true
id be be keeping quite about it myself...
paris because even she wouldnt be so thick to get caught out
We'll chances are he thought the laptop was "iffy" anyway. So if he's stupid and selfish enough to pay for a potentially stolen laptop, then on his head be it....
Tuesday 11th March 2008 11:40 GMT Paul Charters
Serves him right, really...
I mean...seriously....what kind of fruitbat buys a laptop from a back of a car?
Anyone who talks to you in the street to sell you something is going to rip you off...it's that simple!
Tuesday 11th March 2008 11:40 GMT Robert Hill
Absolute idiocy...
£600 for something out of the back of a car??? Even PC World (rip-off kings of High Street) will sell you a brand new laptop, with warranty and in a box, for £600.
People, if you are going to get scammed, at least fall for deals that LOOK worth your while!
Paris, 'cause not even she is that dumb...
Tuesday 11th March 2008 11:40 GMT Richard
This seems like a varient of the bloke who turns up in a van with some "high quality" speakers. Sells them to you, leaving you to discover that you have a high value brick.
I very nearly laughed in the guys face when someone tried this scam on me.
Paris Icon, coz even she wouln't fall for this scam.
A real hussle
If only they had watched this scam on "The Real Hussle" a few months back.
Tuesday 11th March 2008 11:52 GMT Chris Collins
So waht was the spec on those spuds? Desiree or Marris Pipers? Fool and his money...
Tuesday 11th March 2008 12:20 GMT Matt
@ Anonymous coward
sounds like they had been watching the real hustle!!!
lol, what a spud. Seriously can't believe that he went to the police though. Anyone that greedy or that stupid deserves to be parted with their cash.
Mine's the one with the Vaio in the pocket.
Tuesday 11th March 2008 12:20 GMT Dogbyte
I'd have understood if it had been cheap as chips...
The greasy white one with the batter stains, please.
Tuesday 11th March 2008 12:24 GMT Stu
She said WHAT!?
"I would advise members of the public to refrain from buying high-value goods from people out of the back of cars or vans. If you do choose to make a purchase, ensure that you have the goods before you hand over any money."
Is that an actual quote from that constable???
This is typical police-person stupidity - I think the statement should have gone something like this -
"I would say to the public that they should NEVER, under any circumstances, buy ANY goods from people out of the back of cars or vans, or in the pub. If you do choose to make a purchase, understand that there is a high possibility that the items are stolen, or are faked, or could actually be a sack of potatoes. Such persons should not be dealt with due to possible violent tendencies and connections with organised crime / terrorism. If such items are found on yourself they will be confiscated, and you may face prosecution for ownership of stolen goods."
Her statements nearly encourage such nefarious dealings.
*I Always wanted to use the word nefarious in a posting!*
Hot potatos
Hahaha - wonder if the spuds were stolen too?
Tuesday 11th March 2008 12:39 GMT bluesxman
hardly a new scam
As an impoverished student I remember some dodgy geezah approaching me in a supermarket car park (blocked me in actually, tosser) trying to sell me a jen-u-wine Tag Heuer for about a ton "just like the one pictured in this BMW magazine I happen to have with me". Span me story about how he had these left over samples he had to shift, or some such malarkey.
I pointed out I was a) a student; b) in possession of a shiny new watch I'd just been given for Christmas; c) brassic; and d) simply not fucking interested in his dodgy knock-off £10-a-go-from-some-market-stall shite. OK I didn't actually mention "d", I value my teeth.
Anyway, this was early 1995 and I'm sure it was an old ruse even then. Point to my story? Not a great deal.
Tuesday 11th March 2008 12:40 GMT Stuza
Far too many Darwin contenders out there
Another example of this: This weekend I had a guys come round to buy my Gumtree advertised car. He was up for taking it without checking the paperwork, getting in the car or even taking it for a test drive.
I had to force the guys to go for a test drive with me and practically ram the paperwork down his throat. Aparently I had a "nice family" and we appeared very "trustworthy".
Too many people need protecting from themselves....
Paris? She'd of looked great in a bikini on the bonnet
Tuesday 11th March 2008 12:40 GMT Hedley Phillips
Serves him right
He was more than happy to buy something knowing full well that the method of sale made it a high possibility that the item was stolen.
So, if he is happy with the idea of theft and benefitting from someone elses misfortune, then why is he complaining that he has been the victim of a scam/theft?
Maybe he should have gone to the University of Life and learnt not to be such a selfish <insert word here>
What's the betting
That he actually got scammed for £100, but said it was £600 to the police to try and make an insurance claim? I can't see anyone being stupid enough to hand over retail value for a back of the van laptop...
Tuesday 11th March 2008 12:40 GMT Fluffykins
The Peelers are coming.
Tuesday 11th March 2008 12:40 GMT Ferry Boat
At least he can...
cut the spuds in half, carve 'I'm a fool' into them, dip spud-half in paint and press to forehead.
Ah, potato-print the inkjet of the early 70's.
Tuesday 11th March 2008 13:01 GMT Daniel Wilkie
Real Hussle
And way before that there was almost the exact same thing on an episode of Road Wars, only they were using bottles of water in laptop bags instead ;)
Tuesday 11th March 2008 13:03 GMT cor
In fairness to the dupe,
It is not uncustomary to purchase second-hand goods out of the back of a car in E. Africa, where not every place has a PC-World type shoppe mall.
It is however, unfortunate that he chose not to get ripped off by PC-World, at least then he could get them back...
@bluesxman
By not letting the cat out of the bag he bought a pig in a poke.
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/282900.html
Tuesday 11th March 2008 13:03 GMT Gordon
This is a well-known scam. Often it's a bottle of water in there.
I tend to agree. The bloke probably thought "I'm getting it for cheap because it's knocked off". Poetic justice, if that's the case. He thought he was going to profit from someone else's misfortune - but ended up getting stung himself.
What kind of idiot pays 600 notes for a laptop from a car boot, anyways? You can get a decent new, warranteed laptop for that from any number of retailers. And they'll be there next month if it goes wrong.
Tuesday 11th March 2008 13:03 GMT George Johnson
"Too good to be true? Probably is!"
OK we can all get fleeced sometimes, when we get caught on the hop, but seriously? Putting aside the stupidity of buying anything out of the back of a car, regardless of price, didn't he even just open the bag after paying up to make sure it was in there? I do that with a £10 item from Argos, before I leave the car park!
Old Trick
A friend of mine at university thought it was a good idea to buy a bag of pot from a bloke in the street at Leeds. Ended up a hundred quid poorer and with a bag of christmas tree clippings - it still brings tears of laughter to my eyes remembering him desperately trying to smoke some of his 'pot'
Tuesday 11th March 2008 13:08 GMT Robert Harrison
600 quid!
A fortune! When I were a student lad, I wish I was heavy to the tune of 600 quid to be ripped off me in a dodgy scam. I had to make do with just enough hard-earned[1] to get blind drunk at every opportunity.
Mines the one with the traffic cones and pint glasses in each pocket.
[1] back when grants were still available that is.
Tuesday 11th March 2008 13:08 GMT Keith Glass
P-p-p-p-powerbook, anyone ???
It's far too easy to scam most people these days. Anyone else remember the P-p-p-powerbook ??
Can't believe...
...that there are still chumps out there that still fall for this. Caveat Emptor has never been more appropriate.
Tuesday 11th March 2008 13:17 GMT bothwell
@cor
Portsmouth is not in East Africa, however, so our student's still a dumbass.
Actually, Robert Harrison is quite right as well - I was a student not five years ago and I certainly never owned 600 squids at a time with which to be ripped off wiv.
Tuesday 11th March 2008 13:17 GMT Rik
Technology Refresh Warning ! ! !
Never, ever buy a bag of Jersey Royals. This old 32 bit technology was superceded years ago and the current 64bit Maris Piper is sure to be outdone soon too. In short, Jersey Royals are no longer supported. Clearly the seller in this case knew that and cleverly avoided the subject, perhaps distracting him with his stripy shirt & mask. Let this be a lesson to all of us, NOT ALL POTATOES ARE JERSEY ROYALS and NOT ALL 64bit SPUDS ARE MARIS PIPERS!!!! In the words of Shaw Taylor - 'Keep 'em peeled'!!!!
Tuesday 11th March 2008 13:31 GMT Graham Bartlett
@Robert Hill
£400 from Tescos at the moment. And you can find new laptops (from legit companies) for £300 on t'Internet. Sure, I've been ripped off before, but never to the tune of that kind of money. What a prat.
Tuesday 11th March 2008 13:31 GMT milan
Being stopped in the street when a car pulled up beside me, I thought they wanted directions.
Ello mate, we just dropped some stock off at Argos for our boss, turns out he handed over too much to us and Argos signed for the lot anyway.
We gotta get rid of them before we go back to work. I've got all this kit, Solid gold gen-uuuuine necklaces, bracelets and take a look at this corker, what a bloody diamond in that. Tell you what. Bung us 50 quid and it's yours. A few sharp words later they took off...about 20 ft to the next bloke that obviously looked like a mug.
a minute later, said mug dips into pocket, hands over cash, has something pretty much thrown out the window at him and they screech off like a bat out of hell. Said mug was still standing there looking into a bag and looking seriously depressed when I passed him by.
Tuesday 11th March 2008 13:32 GMT Reminds me of a time
when I used to live in Lagos
guys used to sell bottles of 'spirits' up and down bar beach that looked the real deal until you realised the bottle of bells or other whisky had been drilled at the bottom and refilled with cold tea.
it was worth beinig ripped off just to be part of the ingenuity behind it.
re: Old Trick
and i've got the rest of the xmas tree if anyones interested
school chum of mine got ripped off for a £15 bag of sage and then to add insult to injury was totally shown up when he was lifted by the rozzers who then laughed him out of maccie d's in the st johns centre
ah sweet 6th form days at city of leeds high school
Shamed to admit
I had similar trick pulled on me, bought 2 pounds of King Edwards from a shady greengrocer, when I got home there was an iPhone in the bag. I was gutted.
Tuesday 11th March 2008 14:34 GMT Burt
The earliest Jersey Royals are currently £10 a kilo. If he got a Vaio + charger pack's weight of those bad boys then he'll be quids in.
Get y'self down Charlotte Street quick.
Tuesday 11th March 2008 14:34 GMT Markie Dussard
Why does anyone care?
Old adage: you can't con an honest man.
I have bought from boot of car
It was a nice plant at a car boot sale..
A friend of mine....
Fell for a similiar scam.
He thought he was buying a bag of gold chains and watches.
He parted with his hard earned and and ended up with a bag of flour.
Much to the amusment of us.....
@ AC
..."I can't see anyone being stupid enough to hand over retail value for a back of the van laptop"...
Remember he was a *Portsmouth* student :P
Tuesday 11th March 2008 14:59 GMT Martin Owens
Quotish
"The world seems blessedly free of honest men" - Moist von Lipvig
Tuesday 11th March 2008 15:27 GMT Raymondo B
Could have been a foreign student
As cor says, this sounds like a foreign student who got ripped off. They would be less informed of the UK laptop market and might be used to 'back of a van' sales for exclusive goods back home. Probably someone called John Smith though.
Tuesday 11th March 2008 15:27 GMT Caspah Scottorn
Saw this for real last year in Scumpton
I saw this happen to a pair of Chinese students in the back of East Street in Southampton. I couldn't believe my luck seeing this scam in action as I was walking by. The guys doing the sale jumped into a beaten up Astra and made a very quick wheel spin exit while the students opened the bag and found a yellow pages.
Tuesday 11th March 2008 15:27 GMT J
All to say is
Ha. Ha. Ha.
the most polite mugging..
I ever experienced was to the tune of as tenner for a bag of 'lavender' I was advised would be a good thing to purchase by three lads on Oxford Street, Manchester.
well.. I say lavender..could have been some knock-off rosemary in there... and it was 3am and I was a student and heading home from Rockworld.. all weighed against the dentistry bills and reconstructive surgery they were very politely not mentioning whilst standing either side of me..
overall, a simple transaction... and the sympathy from my dealer friend and the laugh afterwards over a couple was worth it..
grave coment on society
1. perfectly acceptable to shout loud and proud your own stupidity while expecting people not to judge you.
2. student (and a dumb one) with £600 to spare - just plain wrong.
Paris because the internet needs more pics of girls.
Tuesday 11th March 2008 15:50 GMT William Towle
Strawberry! Quick!
Did it really happen, or is it just more policemen blindly believing something from their inbox again?
[ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03/05/strawberry_meth/ ]
Tuesday 11th March 2008 15:57 GMT Nick Rutland
@speakers
Actually this seemed to be the preferred sales channel for this particular brand of speaker. A friend of mine (in our contractor days - too much money) bought a pair and took them home. Thye were fine: not special, but the value was about ok. We did a search the next day when he told us, and got a reference to a guy in Berlin who'd had exactly the same experience - same brand, same spiel. A bit more poking around got us to a collective site about this brand. The general opinion was that the deal was OK: you got a receipt, and people who turned up at the address to return unwanted speakers got their money back (cash, natch). No questions asked. There was even one guy who, ah, 'upgraded' the amount he'd paid, and got that back.
Honest people get villains a bad reputation, I say.
Tuesday 11th March 2008 16:08 GMT Slaine
ha ha ha OMG - I've wet myself again
...and did anyone catch what subject this "Brain of Britain" is studying at tertiary level in Postmouth?... degree in fastfood cuisine possibly, MBA personal welfare and social interation perhaps, or how about ROV hairdressing?
Oh! sorry mate - thought this was MY jacket.
Tuesday 11th March 2008 16:24 GMT Edward Fingleton
That offer...
...must have been appeeling
Tuesday 11th March 2008 16:48 GMT Herby
For the price...
He could have gotten one of those EEEpc's WITH the nice model (probably only an hour, but...)
Of course if the spuds were nice imported Idaho russets from here in the USA, it would have been a little less painful.
My question, why potatoes? Aren't bricks a bit cheaper (easier to find "surplus")?
Tuesday 11th March 2008 20:39 GMT Sam
Should have kept his Eyes about him.
People like that should be Fried.
Did he get depressed and go and get Mashed?
Did his friends Chip in to help him?
The Jacket.
Jacket potato.....OK, I'll fuck off.
Tuesday 11th March 2008 20:39 GMT Warren
Could end in a Darwin Award...
Due to being properly skint, he could try the old favourite of filling up the top drawer of the desk with oats, pour over a pint or two of milk, hey presto! flapjack diet FTW!
Darwin attempt, because the last guy to do this after blowing his grant (remember them) on a hi-fi, forgot the limes and nearly died of scurvy!!
[tale recounted from an old salt at Loughborough Uni]
Tuesday 11th March 2008 20:39 GMT Maverick
@ Shamed To Admit / AC
" . . . when I got home there was an iPhone in the bag. I was gutted."
C|N>K
Tuesday 11th March 2008 20:39 GMT Morely Dotes
Bloody git
Buying a Sony at any price, from any source, is a good way to get a rootkit virus.
Tuesday 11th March 2008 20:39 GMT frymaster
"You can't con an honest man"
Yes you can!
It's just harder; both to con them, and to find one first. Hence no-one bothers
Wednesday 12th March 2008 00:06 GMT John H Woods
never heard of ebay?
Dell Latitude C640 from ebay: 72 quid. Another 1/2 Gb of Ram, 15, and a wifi card 10. Ubuntu. (although i actually got a windows xp pro licence with the laptop). So wtf?
Wednesday 12th March 2008 00:06 GMT Simon Day
@Markie Dussard
Actually you can con an honest man, quite easily usually.
The thing it its just not sporting - not to mention the severe difficulty in finding them!
Its so much easier conning dishonest people, besides they are so many more of them!
For those that want a crash course with a little entertainment on the side may I recommend a copy of Terry Pratchett's Going Postal - which if you have a couple of spare quid on you I can do you a sweet deal on an original signed hardback edition, if you'd just step towards the back of my car....
Wednesday 12th March 2008 00:06 GMT Andy Enderby
When I rule the world......
Sounds like a good test case for my two suggestions for new laws. Intent to receive stolen goods, and not being in possession of a full deck. Case proved, ship the pillock off to Anthrax Island for 5 years or so.
As suggested elsewhere in this thread, I do feel the copper should have been a tad less sympathetic and more forthright.
Wednesday 12th March 2008 00:06 GMT Anonymous Coward
Twenty-seven
27 year old student? Maybe he had to repeat a few years at school.
That would make sense I suppose.
May his student friends should..
..chip in.
Wednesday 12th March 2008 08:56 GMT Wayland Sothcott
Scams target the dodgy people
The buyer knows the deal is a bit dodgy but greed carries it through. It's a sort of nudge nudge, wink wink between the buyer and seller. The seller does not have to come up with a convincing story and the buyer by the same agreement accepts the obviously fake reason for selling.
Serves him right. Very brave to admit it though. I feel sorry for the government employee who lost their laptop though, it could have my data on it.
Wednesday 12th March 2008 09:41 GMT jason
spud head
Wednesday 12th March 2008 09:57 GMT R. Jones
Been there, seen that
When I was a student there ten years ago I was stopped not far from that spot, only this time for the speaker scam. Ironically I was actually on the lookout for some decent speakers at the time, but the ones on offer looked a bit crap frankly. And, well, I don't tend to buy from geezers out the back of vans, oddly enough.
Remember them? They had a big presence in Portsmouth at one time.
Except that in the case of Portsmouth it stood for In Bred Mutant.
Jeez, it's a dump. And the locals think it's so great. Usually because they've never been anywhere else.
Paris as even she's got more brain cells than some of the local beauties.
Wednesday 12th March 2008 11:02 GMT Slaine
...going postal, making money...
...good books - VERY good books.
Now then, before the "urban myth" team get involved, there was a tale I heard in my distant youth, many many moons ago, of the mythical student who survived for a term on "Porrage Oats" after blowing his first grant in 2 weeks. The story I heard suggested that this student then elected to go on an oat-only diet for the following terms and thus to release the grant money for infinitely more important substances. Desk drawers were given over to the storage of prepared porrage which could then be portioned out as required. After a suitable length of time, the individual was apparantly diagnosed as the first "modern history" case of scurvy in the UK.
I had always assumed this to be a myth. I discovered over the recent festive visits that my aunt actually studied with that very real student. And if you're reading this, "nice one!!!"
Icon, because she keeps something nicer in her drawers.
Wednesday 12th March 2008 13:47 GMT Simon Painter
And while you're at it...
I have some lovely italian leather jackets for sale... no, I am italian and have been over for a trade show but don't want to pay for these samples to go back on the plane so that's why I am selling them out of the back of a rental car in a motorway service station.
Paris Hilton because she's nearly as fake.
Wednesday 12th March 2008 15:07 GMT Jay
"The heist was perpetrated by two ne'er-do-wells: the salesman, described as white, British, between 40 and 50 years old and 5ft 6ins and 5ft 8ins in height, and with grey hair;"
The bastard operator hard at work? or merely an imposter? And who is this ARY? [Asian Raced Youth]
Thursday 13th March 2008 19:57 GMT Anonymous Coward
As the WPC in question....!
The quote from me is actually correct. The reason I put it in those words, is that there will always be some stupid person who will buy things like, irrespective of the advice they are given.
It is not up to me (or any other police officer) to tell everyone what to do, just to try to advise them how best to protect themselves - and you never know - they might just get the real laptop out of these guys one day!
Also, the victim of this scam is an East African bloke who is studying to be a plumber at the local college - nothing to do with university at all.
Friday 14th March 2008 08:53 GMT Simon
When a would-be receiver of stolen property gets stung, it brings a smile to the face of honest people.
Thursday 20th March 2008 10:00 GMT Henry Lockwood
@Simon Day et alii
Yes, Terry Pratchett's latest books are good examples of the "humorous conman" trope. Another recommendation: older, but still good: is Harry Harrison's Stainless Steel Rat series. Stick to the earlier ones though; some of the later novels aren't quite as funny.
PS: what a twonk. Really.


text:
PW Staff Websites (Schoolwires)
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Magic Adventures School Age Child Care
Alumni Spotlight: Samantha Seestrom
Samantha Seestrom, a 2012 Monticello High School graduate, has had an interest and a passion for the creative outlet of writing for as long as she can remember.
For a long time, however, Seestrom kept her jottings to herself. Early in her high school career she found herself dabbling with little notes and anecdotes in her notebook, with an occasional story idea mixed in. She loved it, but admits now that the idea of moving beyond that stage, and opening her writing up for the approval (and therefore the potential criticism) of others was an intimidating next step.
Just six years down the road, Seestrom may still deal with that anxiety occasionally, but the general public wouldn't know it.
The Monticello graduate turned school district employee now has two novels to her name ("Surrender Your Soul" and "Ashes of the Sea") and is scheduled to publish "Blood in the Sand," which will complete her debut three-part series, by January of 2020. The series is about a water-breather (mermaid) named Marina who ventures into the human world under the orders of her adopted mother Cordelia to carry out a dark task but ends up countering a number of complications along the way. Through two books, the series has received a groundswell of fan support and acclaim on websites like Amazon.
"For so long I didn't let people read my writing, not even my parents," said Seestrom. "To finally have something published, and people can buy it, and they're spending their money on it? It is just insane for me."
It certainly wasn't an easy path for Seestrom to get here, but it was a path fortified by her own self-motivation, as well as the support of family, friends, educators, and colleagues.
Seestrom, who now works as an Early Childhood Family Education and Preschool Paraprofessional at Eastview Education Center, found her original inspiration from teachers at MHS.
During her junior year, she took a science fiction and fantasy class with Mr. Russell.
"That was a big door opening experience for me," she said.
With some experience writing for others under her belt, Seestrom signed up for a dystopian short story competition her senior year.
That opened up the opportunity for her to work more with Mr. Russell, who edited Seestrom's story.
"He was awesome," said Seestrom. "He was the first person to tell me that I should continue to do this."
That seed of confidence that Russell planted grew slowly, and started to come to fruition the year after Seestrom graduated from Monticello High School.
In 2013, the 19-year-old read a book called "90 Days to your Novel." Soon after, in the month of October, she sat down and wrote 50,000 words in 30 days.
"I was spending a good five to six hours a day writing," said Seestrom, who was holding two other jobs at the time as well. "I did not have a social life, at all. I would literally lock myself away in the bedroom and just write for hours. I just cranked that book out."
However, it would be another four years until Seestrom put the finishing touches on her first novel. She went through the regular process of quarrying agents, only to receive rejection after rejection. Still, at first, Seestrom took heart. Almost without fail, the agents told her they enjoyed her writing, they just weren't looking for a mermaid story at the time. However, as the rejections piled up, so did the anguish.
Seestrom acknowledges that as time went by, she started to become discouraged. She knew self-publishing was an option, but she'd always viewed it as a last resort. With some hesitation, she decided to look further into it. Her research, and conversations with those in the industry, started to change her perspective.
"I kind of realized if you can self publish, and get the reviews and the feedback, and in the future you have this writing history ... then maybe people will look at it and say 'OK, we can take a chance on you,'" said Seestrom.
Enough people directed Seestrom to go that route that she eventually pulled the trigger. Her first reaction? That was easy. Her second? Anxiety over the pending feedback.
But, that wouldn't last long. The reviews, online and in person, started pouring in and they were overwhelmingly positive.
To date, the first book has 26 Amazon reviews. Seestrom's debut effort has registered a remarkable 25 five-star ratings and one four-star rating. Her second book, Ashes of the Sea, was published earlier this fall and the first review for that novel is five stars as well.
"The feedback has been amazing and the supporters have been amazing," said Seestrom. "I'm so so shocked and thrilled that people have enjoyed what I wrote, and that they want more. It's just a really, really cool feeling."
When Seestrom sat down to write her first novel, she envisioned it as a single book. However, once she started to quarry publishing agents, she learned that producing a series gave her a greater likelihood of attracting both publishers and readers. At that point, she decided to turn "Surrender Your Soul" into a three-part series titled Breathers.
She admits that she didn't have the whole series planned out when she worked on book one, but she's developed a clear vision as she's worked through the series, and she knows what readers should expect in the final chapter, even if she won't share.
"I have the whole thing in my head [now]," she said. "I know exactly how it's going to end, I know who's going to die, and who's going to be happy … I just need to sit down and write it."
Avid readers will be excited to learn that characters have been aged by five years for the third book, growing along with both the author and readers.
"They're more adults now, and the book is going to take on a few more adult problems compared to the young adult problems they've had as teenagers," said Seestrom.
The young author acknowledges that there are definitely certain aspects of the book that she's taken from her own life. More surprisingly, however, is that aspects of the book have later shown up in her own life.
Seestrom relayed one such story, about a scene from the first book that involves the two main characters riding in the car and hearing the song Apologize by One Republic while on their first date. That portion of the book was written in 2013.
In 2015, Seestrom went on her first date with her now long-term boyfriend, and the scene essentially played itself out in his car, with the same song coming on the radio, and him asking the same question about it that's asked in her book. It was all a surreal experience for Seestrom.
But in many ways, this whole experience has been surreal. From a high school student with a talent for writing but being unwilling to sign up for creative writing because she was hesitant to let others read it to a young adult with two published books available for sale on Amazon, book signings under her belt, and a third book on the way. It's been quite a six year stretch since high school graduation for the Monticello product.
One thing she says she knows for sure is that she would have never reached this point if not for the help, support, and encouragement from so many people in her life.
The support of her family has been one of the most important factors in turning her into the writer she is, and giving her the strength to become a published author. There have been many others too, including her editor, friends and boyfriend. Then there's been the support from her past educators, something that has completely blown Seestrom away.
Mr. Russell was the first one to really help push her down this path, and for that Seestrom dedicated the first book to him. Kari Green, Monticello Middle School Library Media Specialist, edited Seestrom's first draft of her first book.
"She gave me so much good feedback, and she really encouraged my dream," said Seestrom.
And Deb Rathbone, former English teacher at Monticello High School, has been one of Seestrom's biggest cheerleaders.
"The way that the people who taught me back in high school or middle school have continued to support me since graduating is crazy," said Seestrom. "It's just so awesome that we have teachers that continue to teach beyond the time their students are in the classroom. And it makes me feel like I can continue to do this."
Seestrom expects her third book to be out in January of 2020. Both Surrender Your Soul and Ashes of the Sea are available online at Amazon. Seestrom is also on Twitter at @SamWritesBooks and can be followed on both Facebook and Instagram at @samanthawritesbook. Information about future books, as well as book signing opportunities, can be found on her social media pages.
1010 West Broadway Monticello, MN 55362 763-272-2400 Fax: 763-272-2409

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


According to Iranian officials, Tehran's strikes on Islamic State fighters inside Syria carried a wider message.
An Iranian military truck carries a smart bomb during a parade on the occasion of the country's Army Day, Tehran, Iran, April 18, 2017.
For the first time in its involvement in Syria's six years of civil war, Iran has launched missiles against Islamic State (IS) targets in Syria.
According to a statement released by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the June 18 missile strikes hit targets in eastern Syria that Iran holds responsible for the recent IS attack in Tehran that killed 18 people and wounded 50. The IRGC statement said that the strikes targeted the terrorist group's gathering centers and bomb-making factories. The missiles were launched from IRGC bases in Iran's western provinces of Kermanshah and Kurdistan.
Tasnim News Agency reported that the city of Deir ez-Zor was targeted specifically because many of the IS fighters had fled there after suffering setbacks in other parts of Syria and in Mosul, Iraq, where Iraqi forces are forcing the group to retreat. Comments by the IRGC and Iranian officials have led many to believe that the move was not only about taking out those Iran blames for the Tehran attack.
Conservative writer Mehdi Mohammadi posted on Telegram that the strikes were more than "just a response" to the IS attack in Tehran. He wrote that the strikes demonstrated Iran's missile capabilities to those "who sent terrorists to Tehran" and that Iran's "unexpected" response "was a deep message for the supporters of terrorists." Mohammadi also wrote that the strikes show that ties between IS fighters in Syria and Iraq can now be targeted.
The timing of the strikes has led some to believe the message was also intended for the new US administration, which is adopting a policy of regime change for Tehran and is reportedly seeking to confront Iran militarily in Syria.


text:
Thai island flooded after heavy rain and storms
#water #shops #weather #local #homes #rain #asia #climate #floods #storms #rainy
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A Thai island was hit with flash floods after heavy rain and storms.
Weather footage shows the torrents of muddy water sweeping through the streets of Phi Phi island in Krabi province, southern Thailand, after continuous rainstorms on November 18.
Locals captured the moment the deluge battered their homes, resorts, bungalows, and shops before flowing to the sea.
Holidaymakers and residents were forced to flee to higher grounds for safety. No deaths have been reported as the situation returned to normal on the same day.
A local said: 'This happens whenever there's a long and heavy rain, but the flood never lasts long as the water would just flow from the top and straight down to the sea.'
Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia such as Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines are nearing the end of their tropical monsoon rainy season, which last until late November. Soaring temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius are often followed by powerful tropical storms with thunder, lightning, rain and flash floods which cause rivers to flow faster and become dangerous.
Many of the under-developed nations struggle to cope with the heavy rain due to under-investment infrastructure.
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PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE ■ THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2006 ■ WWW.POST-GAZETTE.COM W-35 1 6 8 10 11 'Walking to the Sky' is a bold statement for CMU The dialogue concerning the role of public art (and the process for its acquisition and installation) has been lively at Carnegie Mellon University, as it is likely to be anywhere an artwork is introduced into a public arena (Patricia Lowry's "CMU crafts a compromise on artist's controversial sculpture," March 15). As head of the School of Art, a member of the University Public Art Committee and an artist for three decades, I careen between joy and distress over the reactions I observe: joy that the dialogue attests to the power of art; distress at the lack of understanding about the nature of art in general, much less contemporary public art. Artworks essentially make propositions about reality, thus their power to please or provoke. Embodying the artist's perception, experience and interpretation, art may reflect the world as it is, should be or perhaps never can be, might identify with or distance ourselves from the world that is revealed, the language in which it is conveyed, or the context of it presentation. The degree to which it meshes with our own take on the world often determines the intensity of our reception. Our responses will never be uniform, nor should they be. How we approach art reveals much about ourselves as individuals, a community, a culture. Can we allow ourselves to indulge our senses, let our minds roam, contemplate reconfigured or invented realities? Do we entertain the unfamiliar, trust our own instincts, rely on experts, dismiss the difficult, savor the mystery? Are we enslaved or propelled by tradition? Should we operate from or leap ahead of scientific conclusions or aesthetic principles of the past? However we answer these questions, do we respect the visionaries among us and beyond? As the College of Fine Arts at Carnegie Mellon enjoys its centennial year and Pittsburgh approaches its 250th anniversary, the time could not be more propitious to celebrate our leadership in creative disciplines. Questioning ourselves is one way to move forward, and art asks a lot of questions. Making the arts visible is about showing us who, why, where and how we are as a human beings. Such questions can be examined with rigor or pleasure at home and in the classroom, on campus greens and in city parks, or in less predictable places. Recent gifts to Carnegie Mellon have multiplied the places for such contemplation, from the Regina Gouger Miller Gallery to the Kraus Campo. And now we have the dramatic "Walking to the Sky" by prominent alumnus Jonathan Borofsky. This soaring sculpture reflects our aspirations of transcending the ordinary. The people represented, in their diversity, dress and gait, appear to go about their normal business toward a destination that is anything but normal. The sculpture merges the workaday with the wonderful. Given such symbolic resonance, the sculpture's proposed site near the Forbes/Morewood avenues intersection is optimal. There it can offer a bold statement to first-time visitors and passing traffic and daily encouragement to all. It can also create an asymmetrical and dynamic focus for a campus that has a somewhat amorphous foreground. Hornbostel's elegant elongated expanse would remain a deep sweep into campus, announced by a contemporary herald. As we rush toward our studios, labs, classes or offices, "Walking to the Sky" stands as an open invitation to ignore the laws of gravity, walk a little taller, reach a little higher, live a bigger dream. Susanne Slavick Head of the School of Art Carnegie Mellon University Outbreak of rudeness My husband and I recently attended a production of "Wicked" at the Benedum. We enjoyed the play very much; it was funny and great entertainment, and we thought the cast was really good. Now to the audience: Beside us sat a woman with a crinkly water bottle and a great thirst who surreptitiously took photos with her camera phone; her husband read his program with a small flashlight, not just checking on a performer or a song but really reading, and the light was bright enough to be very annoying; we sat behind an adult who couldn't sit still and changed positions so often that it was difficult to see; and a man behind us carried on a lengthy conversation with his companion. The tickets were not inexpensive, to say the least, and what might have been a very enjoyable experience was ruined by the rudeness of our fellow theatergoers. One seems to encounter this sort of rudeness wherever one goes these days: loud cell phone conversations; loud conversations in restaurants where overhearing cannot be helped and the subjects are not what we would want to hear in any case; children running through stores and restaurants as though they were at the playground and parents doing nothing about it; and teenagers at the mall walking six abreast and not giving an inch of ground to others. Courtesy and civility are nonexistent in our present culture. Perhaps there are so many of us that we are reacting as rats do to crowded conditions. Nancy McFarland Reeser Freeport All seats good for PSO It saddens me to think of the fiscal state of many arts organizations in Pittsburgh these days. What saddens me more, however, is how some PSO subscribers tend to take the only American symphony ever to play for the pope for granted. While some longtime subscribers never write in praise of concertmaster Andres Cardenes, they have no problem sending angry letters about how they no longer have their aisle seat ("Seat switches for new ticket packages anger some symphony subscribers," March 15). These tend to be the same people seen making for the exit because God forbid they have to wait in line at the parking garage rather than participate in a standing ovation for PSO favorite principal oboist Cynthia Koledo DeAlmeida. Who knows? Perhaps even dining at one of the fine restaurants within walking distance to Heinz Hall (with your former symphony neighbors) would be nicer than sitting in the garage breathing car exhaust after the concert — but then again they haven't been doing that for 25 years so I suppose that would constitute a change in routine. The bottom line is that along with Pittsburgh's aging population come fewer ticket holders. The PSO is too great of a commodity to be subject and reduced to juvenile bickering over seat assignments. I happened to be in the last row of the balcony for Mariss Jansons' final concert in Pittsburgh, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the dynamite Mendelssohn Choir, and I assure anyone that it sounds just as good as being front and center (as long as it's on the aisle). Meanwhile, let's all support our struggling arts organizations as best we can. Carson Connor Zajdel Tallahassee, Fla. (formerly of McMurray) Were they Seen? Once again, the Post-Gazette missed an opportunity to highlight the achievement of African-American youth. In your "Seen" column on March 20, you highlighted Dr. Lee Jones as keynote speaker at the NEED Dinner and said that seven college presidents were in attendance. What about the 37 young people who received scholarships that night? Don't they deserve recognition? Brenda E. Lee Wilkins FEEDBACK Diether Endlicher/Associated Press "Walking to the Sky" is a sculpture by Jonathan Borofsky that is planned to be installed on campus at Carnegie Mellon University. WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK Send letters, along with your real name, neighborhood and daytime phone number to: E-mail: letters@post- gazette.com. Fax: 412-263-1313. Mail: Feedback, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 34 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.


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The Make Space is an area for activities and for showcasing local makers, alongside the Woman's Hour Craft Prize.
Every weekend during the exhibition it will host one or more specially programmed events such as workshops, demonstrations and discussions, including several with the artists featured in the exhibition.
During the week local makers will take over the space for a few hours, presenting mini displays and drop in activities. It's all part of a bumper summer of craft at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery.
When there are no events on, please use the Make Space by helping to create Museum Birdgarden – a community cross stitch/embroidery piece designed by Vicky Harrison of Crafting the City (see below).
Keep an eye out for changes and additions – or just drop in whenever you're passing and see what's happening. Do check back before you travel, as the events may change. Entry is included with exhibition entry unless otherwise stated. Buy an exhibition ticket once and it lets you in as many times as you like.
Watch Rita Floyd, one of Stoke on Trent Potteries' last fully trained ceramic flower makers, at work in Neil Brownsword's installation.
Gordano Textile are a group of 12 artists who are passionate about sharing their deep knowledge of textile techniques and inspirations. Join in with demonstrations and learn some stitches, or try your hand at weaving.
The Factory will be displaying and selling work by residents, artists, volunteers and local businesses.
Multi-disciplinary fine artist Amanda Chambers demonstrates the Japanese ceramics technique of 'throwing from the hump.' She will be talking about her projects including her miniature tea pots, the influence of Japan, and the making process.
Toni Burrows uses recycled materials to create beautiful mosaics. Browse her mosaic pieces and discuss the process. A range of cards, books and prints will be available for sale.
Lou Baker blurs the boundary between craft and fine art by developing established knitting and stitch techniques to make soft sculptures which provoke a range of conflicting responses. Try on some incredible wearable soft sculptures with an optional photo shoot.
Join The Design Trust for this great workshop. From uncovering your niche to setting business goals, improving your marketing or answering your finance questions – this is a must for makers and small creative businesses.
Emma Giacalone is a textile artist who specialises in freehand machine embroidery. During this session, you will be able to watch the construction of this fabric artwork, to understand the process of drawing with thread, and even contribute to the finished artwork.
Browse the display of fabric dolls and watch Javiera Morales demonstrate how to make them – you can even have a go yourself.
Join Angie Parker and learn new weaving and textile skills in this weaving workshop. Browse the display of rugs, textile work, tools and information.
Learn and develop skills in woven and 'knitted' darning. Bring along any damaged items that you would like to repair (optional). Materials provided.
Join Tammy Crawford-Rolt for a drop-in workshop in woodwork and make your own small indoor hanging planter.
Clifton Quilters are enthusiastic about patchwork and quilting, both by hand and machine. Assist with the design or stitch patches which will be incorporated into one of the finished quilts.
Laura Porter demonstrates her abstract knitted portrait work. Have a go on a loom and browse the products for sale.
A lace making workshop with demonstrations, Q&A's and talks about the origins of lace as well as teaching beginners how to make lace.
Join Fi Harris and other members of the Avon Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers for a day of 'tasters' and demonstrations. Watch spinning, knitting and weaving and have a go at 'fill the gap' braiding, peg-loom weaving and big knitting.
Local lace makers will demonstrate and teach the basic bobbin lace making techniques.
Explore the displays of Jessica Bartlett's glass work, tools and drawings with discussions of her work process.
Join Amanda Cooper for a live demonstration of beautiful body painting.
Bristol Print collective is a trio of artists who deliver printmaking workshops. Join them for a demonstration of lino cut techniques and stitched prints, and take rubbings of pre-prepared lino cuts.
Watch sculptor and designer Peter Marigold at work moulding his patented invention, FORMCard.
Join passionate fashion artist Chloe Haywood for a headpiece workshop. Have a go at making your own beautiful headpiece using various fabrics, straw, beads and wire. Once you've finished you can have your own selfie photoshoot (optional) with your homemade headpiece, and the chance to win a prize for the best selfie!
Accompany Anna Gravelle and browse the displays of pieces of tuft work textiles/furnishings, plus a film showing how the process works; inviting feedback from visitors.
Join Holly Bennett as she demonstrates sculpture making and the process, displaying work at various stages of completion, as well as finished sculpture work.
Silversmith Kim Thomson will be displaying work and demonstrating cutting shapes.
George Harding displays resin work and shows the process of resin-encapsulating through photographs, film and examples of components at different stages of completion.
Neil Brownsword makes installations using ceramics, performance and film. His recent work has highlighted the risk of losing traditional skills in the British ceramics industry.
Join Bristol Etsy Group members who will be showcasing a wide variety of skills including candle making, felting, badge-making and lasercut jewellery.
The Make Space is available for adding to the stitch graffiti piece.
Emma Bassey – crochet group. Join in and learn to crochet!
Learn the art of leathercraft with Esther Keen who will be teaching how to make a card-holder, purse, key fob or cuff. Esther will also have her own work available to buy.
Spend the day with Mary Watson from Mareware ceramics and watch her demonstrate the process of making a 'Lovely Lady' ceramic vessel. She'll be running short pottery workshops on wheel-throwing on the Friday, sign-up for these with Mary on Thursday. Mary will also have work available to buy.
Find out how Laura Youngson Coll manipulates this super-fine material into detailed, delicate sculptures.
Watch out Sleeping Beauty! Sarah Harris will be bringing her replica medieval great wheel to the Make Space. Pop in and have a go! The wheel is turned by hand, while you step back and forth in a slow dance, spinning and winding thread.
Explore upholstery with Harriet Page and watch her demonstrating upholstering a chair, displaying a 'half-made' sample chair and a series of smaller items which will also be for sale.
Contribute to a quilt which Jessica de Salis will be making in the space. She will also be displaying and selling her colourful silk scarves.
Join Corinne Welch and Cathey Webb and browse a display of hand-made books and learn to make simple folded books. Grab yourself an instruction handout to take away.
Holly Berkley is a wire work artist and teacher. She will be demonstrating the art of wire woven flowers and displaying her finished crowns, lapel flowers and wire work bonsai. You can also learn to make your own beaded ring to take away (£10 fee).
Sunday: Vicky Harrison of Crafting the City will run a session of her project THREAD and teach people a modern version of Bayeux Tapestry stitch. All abilities welcome.
Jewellery designer Sarah Cammish will be demonstrating how to make hair pins using Swarovski pearls and crystals. She'll also show you how to make your own beaded flower.
Discover conceptual textiles and contemporary sculptures with Marina Iodice. Explore her displays of sewn sculptures and help her sew another sculpture.
Irene Banham aspires to make furniture which combines engineering and art. Browse her handmade furniture, tools and materials as she describes the process of making her woodware, from conception to completion.
Join Bath Knitting & Crochet guild, and have a go at knitting and crochet. It's their 40th Anniversary in 2018! Have a chat with the artists about their work and what makes them special.
Bristol Lace Group will be demonstrating a wide variety of lace techniques and styles in different colours. Have a go and make a simple lace bookmark.
Inspired by a week spent drawing at the Eden Project, Vicky Harrison has created Museum Birdgarden – a large piece of even weave fabric that uses images of her sketches. There will be a basket of specially chosen yarn for visitors to add to the work. A table and some instructions will be provided so that you can sit with your friends to stitch. This is an adult only activity, suitable for beginners or experienced stitchers.
Entry is included with exhibition entry unless otherwise stated.
Buy an exhibition ticket once and it lets you in as many times as you like.


After suffering two defeats in a row, Kolkata Knight Riders will look to get their Vivo IPL 2019 campaign back on track as they face Chennai Super Kings at 4 pm today at Eden Gardens.
A batting collapse against CSK in Chennai and being unable to defend a par total against Delhi Capitals costed us dearly just a night ago.
The points table is wide open for top six teams. Skipper Dinesh Karthik and his Knights will look to strengthen their position to finish in the top four and will take this game as a do-or-die match as we are halfway into the tournament.
Two bad results in last two matches, surely DK and co. have a lot to ponder ahead of Sunday's afternoon clash against MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings.
Not everything is so dark as it seems for KKR. They have got better off CSK at Eden Garden in their three previous encounters. Last time KKR lost to CSK in Kolkata was way back in 2013.
CSK has the lowest win percentage (40) at Eden Garden than any other venues. DK should also be wary of the fact that all three wins came while chasing down totals.
The loss against CSK in Chennai was an eye opener for the team. The batsmen didn't chip in despite Andre Russell finishing the innings in style. Against Delhi Capitals, we didn't put enough on board as per Skipper Dinesh Karthik's during post match press conference.
The team definitely missed Sunil Narine's experience in the previous match. While Kuldeep Yadav has been economical, he is yet to take a wicket in middle overs this Vivo IPL. KKR can't let the toss decide the match results. All three losses came while defending (against DC it went to the super overs).
If we go by Dhoni's words after RR vs CSK match, we are expecting some changes to their playing eleven. Already at the top of the points table, CSK can afford to test their bench strength.
CSK has a very similar bowling attack as ours. With three spinners in Harbhajan, Jadeja and Tahir, the clash between the two sides can go down to the wire.


Guests: Jeff Cohen, Dwayne Hunn, Joshua Kors, and Veronica Montoya.
Time of guest appearance: Start of show - Jeff Cohen, author of "Cable News Confidential" discusses Hillary Clinton. 30 minutes in - Dwayne Hunn, an activist, discusses the National service plan. www.worldservicecorps.us 60 minutes in - Joshua Kors from The Nation discusses Sp. Jon Towne, pre-existing personality disorder, and PTSD. 90 minutes in - Veronica Montoya discusses Schip Policy Director, and the Latino Coalition for a healthy California.


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Taking regular brain breaks can help you stay strong and push to the finish line!
Small business owners work hard each day and get bogged down in tasks that take extended concentration. CPA and accounting professionals are especially worn out as deadlines approach, but also in the summer when tackling projects that were postponed until after big deadlines. Brain breaks are a simple, effective way to prolong your concentration and help you push through to complete a project or complex task.
Many people feel like taking a break is a waste of time.
The thinking goes that they will get more done if they just continue working; however, scientific research has shown that brain breaks can actually improve the quality of your work and your ability to focus on a task for an extended period of time.
Heidi Hanna, health and stress expert, recommends taking a five to ten-minute brain break after every 50 minute period of working with deep concentration. A brain break doesn't just mean scrolling through Facebook. A true brain break is a shift in the type of activity you are doing.
Breathe. Close your eyes and take a long slow deep breath in. Let the air out as slowly as you can. Repeat. You can also roll your head from side to side or roll your shoulders forward and back. This is especially a good break if you have been hunched over a keyboard all day.
Walk. It doesn't have to be outside, but if you can, do it! Even just a walk into a different room can give your brain a break from the same old view. Walking also gets your heart pumping and renews your energy.
Stretch. This may not be possible everywhere, but if you can, do some stretching. Simply touch your toes then stretch your arms to the ceiling. Another is to bend your arm behind your head as though you will scratch the middle of your back, then use the other hand to pull your elbow. This provides a great, simple stretch, without causing your office colleagues to wonder what you're up to!
Snack. Eat a healthy snack, but not at your desk while you are working. Take a true brain break by eating elsewhere. (Do not reach for that break-room donut either which will only leave you with a sugar crash.) Have healthy fruits, vegetables, or proteins like hard-boiled eggs, a cheese stick, or Greek yogurt to give you energy without the regrets.
Play. Take some time to have fun by playing a game – though not a computer game, but a game away from the screen. Some offices have dart boards set up or a putting green. If your office doesn't, you could make up a game office Olympics style: how many paperclips can you throw into a paper cup?
Chat. Have a face to face or phone conversation – nothing long and not with a co-worker who is in the middle of a task. Just 5-10 minutes to use your brain differently. Be sure it's not too serious, and bonus points for laughing!
Calm. This app for your smartphone developed by sociologist and sleep researcher Dr. Alex Pang makes meditation easy with some prompts for five minutes of relaxation. There is also a library of soothing nature sounds.
Remember a brain break is not a waste of time. A brain break is a smart tool to use to let your body and your brain do its best work.
Which one of these brain break ideas will you use this week at the office?


A natural extension of Life Time's Commitment Day, Commit – A Month of Motivation exists to help people achieve their commitments, total health objectives, athletic aspirations and fitness goals in the coming year. Throughout the month of January, Life Time is hosting special classes and events to inspire individuals to monitor their commitments.
Life Time's 130 destinations are featuring a variety of health and fitness experiences and activities weekly for all ages, including Yoga Week, Studio Week, Cycle Week, and TEAM Training Week. Participants in small group training programs (SGT) are among the most successful when it comes to reaching their health and fitness goals and achieving real, lasting results.
Yoga Week (Jan. 2-6): Whether you're new to the mat or an experienced yogi, Life Time yoga provides incredible mind and body benefits, builds strength, restores flexibility and helps to de-stress both the body and the mind. Try BE, SURRENDER, ROOT and FLOW in Life Time's sampler class on Jan. 6.
Studio Week (Jan. 8-13): Go with what you know, or try something new. From new programs such as Gluteus MAXout to longtime favorites like Barbell Strength, Life Time's instructors are passionate, the studios are beautiful, and the energy is beyond compare. Do what moves you with the sampler event on Jan. 13.
Cycle Week (Jan. 15-20): Beginner or road racer, you decide the pace and intensity that work for you. Try a highly charged cardio challenge with AMP, measure your motivation with some friendly class competition with EDG or conquer the road with PWR in Life Time's sampler class on Jan. 20.
TEAM Week (Jan. 22-27): From weight loss support to the ultimate fitness challenge, TEAM Burn, TEAM Cut, TEAM Bootcamp and TEAM Alpha are a boutique of progressive programs that are designed to keep members motivated in 2018 and moving forward to a stronger, healthier year. Try Life Time's TEAM training during the sampler event on Jan. 27.
For more information about Life Time's TEAM Training program, visit www.lifetime.life/training-types/group-training.html.


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text:
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.IO;
using System.Text;
using System.Diagnostics.Contracts;
using System;

// Disable the "this variable is not used" warning as every field would imply it.
#pragma warning disable 0414
// Disable the "this variable is never assigned to".
#pragma warning disable 0067
// Disable the "this event is never assigned to".
#pragma warning disable 0649
// Disable the "this variable is never used".
#pragma warning disable 0169
// Disable the "new keyword not required" warning.
#pragma warning disable 0109
// Disable the "extern without DllImport" warning.
#pragma warning disable 0626
// Disable the "could hide other member" warning, can happen on certain properties.
#pragma warning disable 0108

namespace System.Reflection.Emit
{
  sealed public partial class MethodBuilder : System.Reflection.MethodInfo, System.Runtime.InteropServices._MethodBuilder
  {
    #region Methods and constructors
    public void AddDeclarativeSecurity(System.Security.Permissions.SecurityAction action, System.Security.PermissionSet pset)
    {
    }

    public void CreateMethodBody(byte[] il, int count)
    {
    }

    public GenericTypeParameterBuilder[] DefineGenericParameters(string[] names)
    {
      Contract.Ensures(Contract.Result<System.Reflection.Emit.GenericTypeParameterBuilder[]>() != null);

      return default(GenericTypeParameterBuilder[]);
    }

    public ParameterBuilder DefineParameter(int position, System.Reflection.ParameterAttributes attributes, string strParamName)
    {
      Contract.Ensures(Contract.Result<System.Reflection.Emit.ParameterBuilder>() != null);

      return default(ParameterBuilder);
    }

    public override bool Equals(Object obj)
    {
      return default(bool);
    }

    public override System.Reflection.MethodInfo GetBaseDefinition()
    {
      return default(System.Reflection.MethodInfo);
    }

    public override Object[] GetCustomAttributes(bool inherit)
    {
      return default(Object[]);
    }

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    public System.Reflection.Module GetModule()
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    public override bool IsDefined(Type attributeType, bool inherit)
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    internal MethodBuilder()
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    public void SetCustomAttribute(CustomAttributeBuilder customBuilder)
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    public void SetCustomAttribute(System.Reflection.ConstructorInfo con, byte[] binaryAttribute)
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    public void SetMarshal(UnmanagedMarshal unmanagedMarshal)
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    public void SetParameters(Type[] parameterTypes)
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    public void SetReturnType(Type returnType)
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    public void SetSignature(Type returnType, Type[] returnTypeRequiredCustomModifiers, Type[] returnTypeOptionalCustomModifiers, Type[] parameterTypes, Type[][] parameterTypeRequiredCustomModifiers, Type[][] parameterTypeOptionalCustomModifiers)
    {
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    public void SetSymCustomAttribute(string name, byte[] data)
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    void System.Runtime.InteropServices._MethodBuilder.GetIDsOfNames(ref Guid riid, IntPtr rgszNames, uint cNames, uint lcid, IntPtr rgDispId)
    {
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    void System.Runtime.InteropServices._MethodBuilder.GetTypeInfo(uint iTInfo, uint lcid, IntPtr ppTInfo)
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    void System.Runtime.InteropServices._MethodBuilder.GetTypeInfoCount(out uint pcTInfo)
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    void System.Runtime.InteropServices._MethodBuilder.Invoke(uint dispIdMember, ref Guid riid, uint lcid, short wFlags, IntPtr pDispParams, IntPtr pVarResult, IntPtr pExcepInfo, IntPtr puArgErr)
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      get
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    public override System.Reflection.CallingConventions CallingConvention
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      get
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      get
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      get
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      get
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      get
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      get
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    {
      get
      {
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    public override System.Reflection.ICustomAttributeProvider ReturnTypeCustomAttributes
    {
      get
      {
        return default(System.Reflection.ICustomAttributeProvider);
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    public string Signature
    {
      get
      {
        return default(string);
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    #endregion
  }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Morehouse College Investigating Anonymous Account Of Gang Rape
Morehouse President John Silvanus Wilson, Jr. announced the investigation on Wednesday, one day after the college said they were waiting for a formal complaint.
Posted on May 5, 2016, at 11:13 a.m. ET
Moses Robinson / Getty Images
John Silvanus Wilson Jr.
Morehouse College is investigating anonymous reports made on Twitter that some of its students allegedly gang raped a woman from Spelman College, President John Silvanus Wilson, Jr. said in a statement Wednesday night.
The historically black, all-male institution came under fire Tuesday after a Twitter user who identified herself as a student at Spelman — the historically-black, all-female institution and Morehouse's unofficial sister school — posted a series of tweets saying four Morehouse students raped her in a bathroom during a party.
The woman, who shared her story under the handle "Raped At Spelman," did not identify herself, the Morehouse students, or where the assault took place. She said that after she reported the incident to Spelman and went to the hospital for a rape kit, the college's department of public safety and dean ultimately encouraged her to let it go given Spelman and Morehouse's close relationship.
The tweets sent shockwaves throughout the colleges' wider network, the Atlanta University Center Consortium, prompting two widely shared hashtags — #RapedByMorehouse and #RapedAtSpelman — and protests on both campuses on Tuesday.
In a statement released Tuesday, Morehouse stated the college would investigate the allegations once they were formally reported. "The allegations are quite serious and Morehouse openly welcomes the reporting of any such allegation for a full and swift investigation," the statement read.
Wednesday's statement from President Wilson said that the college has now launched a full investigation into the allegations. "Both our Office of Campus Safety and the Title IX Office have been activated to fully investigate the allegations with the limited information that we have," Wilson wrote. "The information anonymously shared on Twitter was our very first indication of this incident. Now that we are aware of these allegations, we are determined to pursue the investigation to the fullest extent possible."
The statement did not say whether someone had come forward to report the rape. Morehouse did not immediately respond to a request for comment on how the decision to investigate the allegations was made.
In a previous statement to BuzzFeed News, Spelman President Mary Schmidt Campbell said the college "is conducting a full and thorough review of these events."
Both Spelman and Morehouse are currently under federal investigation by the Department of Education for possible violations to Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education. In January, BuzzFeed News detailed the experiences of two Spelman students assaulted by Morehouse students who encountered obstacles reporting sexual assaults to authorities on both campuses. In the wake of the article, both colleges announced changes to their sexual assault policies and initiatives.
Anonymous Account Of Gang Rape Sparks Outrage At Spelman And Morehouse


text:
Louise Brown
Louise Brown - a female celebrity - born on Tuesday July 25th 1978, in Oldham, England.
Louise Brown possesses a great talent for creativity and self expression, typical of many accomplished writers, poets, actors and musicians. She is also witty, owns the gift for gab, and savors the limelight.
Brown is optimistic and masters the resilience to overcome many setbacks. Thanks to her gift for self expression, she can be the life of the party, and the center of attention. When used constructively, Louise's talent for self expression can be a great inspiration force in the world, uplifting others, and bringing much success and happiness to her. However, Louise Brown could easily squander her talent by becoming a social butterfly.
Her talent for the expressive arts is so abundant that Louise may well have felt drawn to becoming an artist while still very young. However, these artistic abilities can only be enhanced through discipline and commitment to the true development of her talent. In other words, creativity is the gift that can give Louise Brown the comfort and luxury she desires, but not without continual focus and discipline.
Louise Brown is emotional and vulnerable. She can be generous to a fault, but when hurt, she withdraws into a cloud of silence, eventually emerging from her reticence with jokes and laughter that cover up her true feelings. More...
More flavors to Louise's personality
Louise Brown is full of energy, always on the go, fidgety, and quite hyperactive. Life is in a constant motion for her and she devours it powerfully.
She has great ability to put thoughts into action, and there is no wait once she sets her mind on something. Where others tend to think or dream, Louise already takes action while radiating energy, enthusiasm, and livelihood around.
Her physical stamina is strong, and she loves mental and physical exercise. Louise Brown keep herself physically or mentally busy at all times, and she feels better spending time outdoors and eating natural foods.
Limited space is a major challenge for Louise, while exercise, proper diet, and rest are critical for her health. A good walk in the fresh air serves as an intellectual vehicle for her.
Entrepreneurial and progressive, Louise Brown is ever-striving, heading for the top, and enjoying an enterprising, ambitious and determined personality to do things well, and an unyielding dedication to her plan until the goals are achieved.
There is danger, however that her trait of determination and dedication will shift to stubbornness, making Louise cling to ideas and projects well past their fruitious season. It is a good idea for her to keep fresh pipeline of ideas to make it easier to replace outdated plans by new and better ones.
Patient as she is towards her goals, Louise's flying, ravaging temper endangers her relationships with the very same people that will help her to accomplish those goals. She should use her strength of will to study and practice anger management.
Louise Brown makes a good performer, but at the same time she can be quite intense and serious.
Her artistic talent is emphasized in the performing arts where sensitivity and understanding for people and situations is called for.
Louise can easily gain high respect in the community, being understanding of the views of others, and she often tends to achieve her goals.
When balanced, she is compassionate and emotionally secure. Brown is also a natural healer, with leadership qualities and the ability to genuinely empathize. She also radiates love and spiritual happiness to those around her.
When unbalanced, drama queen is not an unfamiliar term to Louise, and she often likes to give advice to others even when her own life is a mess.
By becoming aware of her emotions, she can gain control over them rather than have her emotions control her life. And the reward is great because then she shows vast depth of understanding while keeping her emotions checked.
Tour Louise's menu and gain more insight into her personality traits, relationships, strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes, compatibility with you and with others, and much more.
July 16th 2019 finds Louise Brown in a need to demonstrate dependability, so she must not make promises she cannot fulfill.
It is a demanding day, yet lots of progress can be achieved through it, and Louise has to keep focused and avoid procrastination.
You and Louise
Other female celebrities born on the same day as Louise Brown
Diam's (1980)
A Cypriot French-language rap artist who expresses her strong political opinions in both her lyrics and public persona, and gained public recognition as a songwriter in 2005 with "Ma Philosophie" - a huge number one hit for Pop Idol star Amel Bent
An American adult actress and model who is the Penthouse Pet of the Month for February 2000 and is an inductee for the NightMoves, AVN and XRCO Halls of Fame
Shantel VanSanten (1985)
An American model and actress who featured in Teen Vogue and Seventeen magazines, and played the roles of Quinn James in the hit CW teen drama series One Tree Hill, and that of Detective Patty Spivot in the CW show The Flash
Rosalind Franklin (1920)
Estelle Getty (1923-2008)
An American actress and comedian with appearances in film, television, and theatre, best known for her role as Sophia Petrillo on The Golden Girls (1985-1992), for which she won an Emmy and a Golden Globe, and on Empty Nest (1993-1995)
Margarita Zavala (1967)
Katherine Kelly Lang (1961)
An American actress and model, best known for her role as Brooke Logan on the CBS Daytime soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful (1987–present), and Mary in the television movie Desperate Lives (1982)
Jessica Adams (1964)
Evie Clair (2004)
An American singer and pianist who has released a number of original songs, including "For You" and "Love You One More Time", and became a music star when appeared as a contestant on the twelfth season of America's Got Talent
Francesca Chillemi (1985)
An Italian actress, model, television personality and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Italia 2003 beauty contest at age 18, and is best known for her roles in Cado dalle nubi (2009), Che Dio ci aiuti (2011) and La figlia del capitano (2012)
Louise Brown personality profile | © Copyright 2009-2019 Celebrities Galore and Master Numerologist Hans Decoz


Your loan is here, Bear Dance!
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Through the new heat dissipation technology, optimized production Process, continuous research and development, the company will become a company trusted from our customers.
One year after the establishment of the corporation, GramLED applied heat dissipation technology patent, design patent, and trademark registration. It acquired the KC certification and high-efficiency technology. Because the company's technology was recognized among domestic large enterprises, it has been supplying its products to them.
Gram LED will become a Global No. 1 product by putting its priority to customer values based on convenience with basic principles of core strategy, such as Easy, Add value, Safety, and Enterprise value.
Based on creativity, change, action, and unity for Upbringing of corporate culture and Social Contribution, We will become a creative and practical GramLED that encourages the organizational communication and the unity of the organization and do not fear about changes.
As Gram LED BI Color is colors of Brown family (C40%, M65%, Y90%, K35%), the circles of points around the Logo in a gradation form signifies LED, meaning willingness to shed lights of Ease's LED towards the world. The logo is divided into a boldic and a light calligraphic style to increase the readability of Gram and LED.


text:
A Waffle Paradise Circulation: 192,103,792 Issue: 630 | 31st day of Sleeping, Y16
The Editor's Quill
by parody_ham
Co-written and thumbnail by cosmicfire918
Editing is a difficult skill to master, but an important skill to have. Such a tool set is as useful for the reviewee as it is for the reviewer. No one is a perfect writer, and no one can analyze their own work with a perfect level of objectivity. When you are in your own head, it is next to impossible to catch every weakness in your work. Critically analyzing writing is not an effortless task, and if done incorrectly will likely hurt your reviewee's self confidence and perhaps even reduce their drive to continue writing. Here we will cover elements of strong editing based on own experiences as writers and reviewers for the Neopian Times. These findings can be applied to your own work as much as they can to your editing partner's and ultimately lead to stronger pieces from both parties.
There are, in general, a variety of different literary aspects that an editor will often look for in a piece. Beyond that, general words of advice will be offered in regards to ways in which one should structure their critiques, including comments and styles to avoid. A summary of the topics to be covered are as follows:
Proofreading versus editing
Aspects of a strong story
Allowing the writer stylistic freedom
The editing tone
Being honest
Professional critique in an informal setting
For the review recipient, we will be detailing the following topics:
Dealing with feedback (positive and negative)
Defending your work (if necessary)
Self-confidence and the writer
Proofreading versus editing:
Many writers have received peer "reviews" with a few commas added, perhaps even a quotation mark or two for luck, but little to no critical commentary. This sort of feedback is not literary editing. Proofreading involves searching for and correcting misspellings, grammatical errors, and awkward or improper sentence structure, among other issues. Proofreaders are the technical gurus of the English language. Rarely do they look beyond the surface issues of a piece's writing, and even more unusual are proofreaders who point out big picture problems such as story continuity. Don't get us wrong, a good proofreader is as necessary as a good editor. Minor grammatical tics in one's writing have a tendency to build up and an error-ridden story is as likely of a candidate for rejection as one with an inconsistent storyline. Even so, a well-polished piece requires outside analysis of larger issues within the prose and content. And remember, a skillful editor can also be a solid proofreader just as much as a proofreader can excel as an editor, but good writing ultimately requires both.
Aspects of a Strong Story:
The ideal editor will have a strong sense of what belongs in a solid story. Plot, setting development, and character development are all crucial aspects of a narrative, especially a long-form narrative such as a series. The editor should be constantly on their toes, watching for any weaknesses, inconsistencies, or errors in the storytelling. Pay close attention to believability in dialogue, proper (or improper) use of detail, pacing, and making sure character arcs are followed through. For more detail on what makes a good story, we advise searching back issues of the Times, as many excellent guides on how to write a story (or an article) have been published over the years. Those who read a lot of narrative prose will also begin to develop an innate sense for good storytelling that will serve them well in this area.
Allowing the Writer Stylistic Freedom:
No two people will write in the same way. Do not prevent a writer from telling their story their way unless there is an actual weakness to be addressed. Kanrik, head of the Thieves Guild, inexplicably being a yellow Chia in a story is completely erroneous to his on-site portrayal and should be pointed out to the writer. Kanrik's favorite food being Chips and Curry is a matter of personal interpretation and has nothing to do with the inherent literal quality of the work. Avoid commenting on elements of a story's content that you find disagreeable simply out of personal opinion.
With that being said, keep in mind the tone of the writing. If it is a humor piece about someone using Chia Flour (a Battledome item that transforms one's opponent into a yellow Chia) on Kanrik, that is a very good reason for him to change species and colour. Likewise, many people enjoy spoofing Neopian characters and plots. Try not to be offended if their goofy portrayal of Dr. Sloth is not the almighty villain you like to picture him as.
A good rule of thumb in this area is: analyze how well the writer got their ideas across, not how much you liked their ideas.
This holds true on a prose level as well. Do not comment negatively on someone's prose structure simply because it is not what you are used to reading. Many writers shift into a slightly different voice when writing, especially if they are telling the story from a certain point of view or wish to imbue a certain tone to their scene. Different writing is not incorrect writing if it is still technically sound and clear to read.
The Editing Tone:
No matter the editor's personal opinions about the piece, objectivity and professionalism are the keys to crafting helpful commentary. By this we mean that one must keep themselves out of their critique as much as humanly possible and treat their fellow writer as a respected peer, no matter their skill level. Keep yourself detached. Your emotions should hold no sway over the words that you choose. Furthermore, all writers will take pride in their work. That is, after all, why they seek peer review: to improve. If the writer's personal feelings are ignored, they may take to heart the editor's personal feelings about their work. In worst case scenarios, some writers may even quit altogether.
Be honest:
Honesty is the best policy. Be tactful with your word choice, however, especially if the subject seems particularly touchy. Nonetheless, if you think a part of their piece needs work, let them know. If they are not informed by you, someone else will tell them later. Or worse, their only feedback on the matter may be a rejection letter. Save them the trouble now and you will be doing a huge favor for them in the long run.
Professional Critique in an Informal Setting:
For a majority of the people reading this article, the Neopian Times receives the bulk of - if not all of -their creative attention. Some, such as Carolyn, hope to practice their craft enough to break into the professional writing world. There are, however, plenty of Neopian Times participants that are casual writers, those who write simply for the joy of writing. Others are already professionals, but enjoy the Neopian Times as a creative outlet in their spare time.
With that being said, unless a writer specifically asks that they wish to be edited at the professional level, do not approach the editing task as such. The standards for acceptance into the Neopian Times are purposely set lower than publishing standards in the professional editing world. Keep that in mind as you work. In most cases, the writer whose work you are editing is not trying to write the Neopian equivalent of a best-seller. It is unwarranted to crack down on them with a higher level of critique than they might be able to handle at this point in their writing career.
The road to being an acclaimed writer is one taken with baby steps, and feeding the inexperienced or casual writer a comprehensive list of everything minutely wrong with their work may only serve to overwhelm and discourage them (as well as make them hesitant to get their work edited in the future, which would be a huge mistake). Unless a writer tells you that they want you to tear their work apart, approach an editing project with the attitude of giving the writer an overview of what they can look out for without pointing out every example of a particular weakness. That way, it will not continue to crop up in their writing.
Dealing with Feedback:
Receiving positive feedback can be a great reinforcement for a writer. It feels good to be told how and why a certain passage is strong, or a particular character tugs at the editor's heartstrings. Beware, however, that all writers—even our idols—have places where their writing needs to improve. Receiving mostly positive comments can mean that a particular piece is strong, but there will always be topics that were not included in a critique. It does not necessarily mean these parts of your writing are weak, but that they did not stand out as much. Celebrate the successes of your writing, but pay attention to what is unsaid. For those are areas that, while good, could be polished more in order to shine.
Editors are human. Not every statement or opinion about your work will be correct. If you disagree with an editor, let them know, but do it tactfully. They did, after all, just spend hours poring over the details of your piece.
Some of the best rebuttals clarify the purpose of a section or a character's actions. This can quickly become a conversation on its own, where editor and writer can bounce ideas back and forth about the clarity of a section or ways in which improvements could be made. Keeping in correspondence with your editor is extremely important in this regard. It is better to solicit critique from someone whom you know you can keep in touch with, rather than someone who will dash off after a few paragraphs and then never talk to you again.
Self-confidence as a writer:
The old saying, "You are your own worst critic", is often true. There are, unfortunately, some critics out there who aren't much gentler. Don't let their voices - or your own - sway you from something you love doing. Getting a particularly harsh critique does not mean you are a bad writer, or that you should stop trying. After all, our editors have received their fair share of negative feedback as well. Good writers are the ones who never gave up. So long as you enjoy what you are doing, keep trying. You'll be amazed what you can do.
In the end, as a writer, you are entitled to your own creative vision. While the way you get your ideas across can always be improved, your ideas themselves have the right to be respected. Take the critique that you think works, and leave what you think does not. And avoid molding your work to please other people. Even if it sounds "good" to them, you will be far less satisfied with it.
Further commentary from members of the Neopian Times Writers' Forum:
"Basically, it's all about constructive criticism, as you mentioned earlier. Just saying 'your story stinks, you need to improve' doesn't even cut it as that statement alone can/will demoralize the poor author and may cause the author to quit writing entirely. As an editor, one needs to elaborate on where the issues lie, such as flat characters. Give the author some reason to improve the story."~Lupehunter (note: NTWF name used)
"Give examples both in their writing and examples from other sources of the point you're trying to make. If the author sees the same example used in another context, it might make it easier to see how their own writing can be improved. All authors take a certain amount of pride in their writing, so changing it is hard. Seeing the same point made in a different context can make it easier."~ fhn_ladybug
Editing is just as important a part of the writing process as writing itself, and editors deserve far more appreciation than they often receive. It is our hope that this article will help editors hone their craft, help writers understand the editing process, and help writers and editors learn how to work with each other better.
Note from the authors: Looking for more information on editing or a beta reader for your story? Try asking at the "Neopian Times Writers' Forum", a recommended fansite.
One Way: Part Eight
"You must really know your way around this place," Amadeus remarked, while we were still walking in uninhabited hallways. I shrugged.
"I've only been here for most of my life."
by ellbot1998
Returning after a seven year hiatus can be rough
by kackcheeka
Dressing the Part – Famous Neopians (Part Two)
The heroes and heroines of Neopia's plots and events have long been admired by Neopians. As such, it seems only fitting that pets from all corners of the globe would seek to emulate these famous Neopians in their customizations.
by katiecoo802
My Monocerous Encounter
Like other Neopets, I grew up being told that the Monocerous was a vicious monster.
by fe_chef


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