text:
Dallas Buyers Club LLC Files Case in Connecticut
On September 5, 2014, Dallas Buyers Club LLC filed two federal copyright lawsuits in Connecticut, targeting 56 unnamed Doe defendants. This may be a two-edged sword, as Connecticut has the highest per-capita income of the United States: the guilty are more likely to have collectible assets than, say, the average person in Mississippi; yet the innocent are also more likely to possess the financial wherewithal to fight back and not settle, potentially exposing Dallas Buyers Club LLC to having to pay defendants' attorneys fees.
Eric Osterberg of Osterberg LLC is representing Dallas Buyers Club LLC. According to his biography, Osterberg has been practicing Intellectual Property law for more than 20 years. He is admitted to the federal courts in Connecticut, Massachusetts and both the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Whether people in these jurisdictions will be targeted in the future by Dallas Buyers Club LLC remains to be seen.
These are the new Dallas Buyers Club LLC lawsuits:
3:14-cv-01281-SRU Dallas Buyers Club LLC v. Does 1-27
3:14-cv-01283-JBA Dallas Buyers Club LLC v. Does 1-29
Like each previous federal lawsuit filed by Dallas Buyers Club LLC, the company alleges these as-yet anonymous Doe defendants illegally downloaded the movie Dallas Buyers Club using BitTorrent or similar peer-to-peer file-sharing programs without paying the appropriate license fee.
If you receive a letter from your ISP notifying you it received a subpoena to reveal your identity relating to a Dallas Buyers Club LLC lawsuit, read our prior post Dallas Buyers Club lawsuits – How to Respond to an ISP Letter.
Its is not a good idea to download the Dallas Buyers Club movie using BitTorrent or similar software, especially in states like Connecticut where Dallas Buyers Club LLC is actively suing. If you are a parent make sure your children are not doing this; if you have roommates make sure your roommates are not doing this, as being a target of a federal lawsuit like this over a movie download is not fun, not fair, and is avoidable.
Antonelli Law can help you nationwide if you receive notice that your ISP has received a subpoena to disclose your information, or you have received a summons or waiver of service regarding a Dallas Buyers Club LLC lawsuit. Call Antonelli Law at 312-201-8310 and speak with one of our attorneys experienced with BitTorrent copyright litigation, visit our web page on Dallas Buyers Club LLC lawsuits, or use the contact form below to request a convenient time to have a detailed free initial consultation about each of your options.
Antonelli Law has helped more than 100 clients who faced being targeted in a Dallas Buyers Club LLC lawsuit and can help you, too.
[contact-form-7 id="10″ title="Case Contact"]


text:
What It Takes to Be a Peace First Mentor
Peace First believes in the power of young people to change the world. By becoming part of the Peace First community, adult mentors join with youth to create a better world together.
Interested in being a Peace First Mentor? Share your email with us and we'll follow up:
Peace First mentors are volunteers. Ready to apply? Fill out the online application.
Spring Mentor Cohort Information:
We are formally rolling out our mentor training program in Spring 2019! Mentors are able to connect to young people working on every issue imaginable, from over 120 countries. And they can do it anywhere with an internet connection, for just about 1-2 hours a week!
Our mentorship program gives in-depth support to mentors and mentees alike, and trains adults in a youth-led model of youth support, training adults in how to be allies in youth-led change.
We want you to apply this spring--here's what you need to know!
Applications are open now! Apply here.
March 1: the deadline for applying to be in our April training cohort.
Mid-March: we'll let you know your application status by mid-March.
April 1-30: Training starts on April 1, and is 2 hour/week online commitment to be completed any time through the end of April.
May 1 onwards: Once you've completed the training, you'll be eligible to be matched with a young mentee!
There are three simple ways you can help ensure a strong community of adult allies joins our Spring 2019 training: sign up to learn more at this link, apply if you're ready to get started, and share with three people who you think would be a good mentor.
What will I do as a mentor?
As a Peace First Mentor, you will coach a team/individual on their peacemaking project, using tools from the Peacemaking Journey--which we'll train you on! You'll have regular support from the Peace First team throughout.
Here's what you'll be responsible for:
- Serving as a friendly, caring community member who can help mentees get oriented to the Peace First community.
- Support mentees in integrating Peacemaking Journey tools into their project development process and provide targeted support for the group's leader.
- Share relevant resources and skills.
- Provide guidance and feedback, and celebrate and encourage mentees.
What is the time commitment for being a mentor?
- You commit to mentorship for at least one year.
- You'll be matched to a specific project for at least a year or the duration of the project (if shorter). If the project completes before the end of the year, you'll be rematched to a different project.
- Spend a minimum of two hours each week engaged in online mentoring activities. A standard approach is to log in at least four times a week for a minimum of 30 minutes each session. You can also agree on another time frame that works for both you and your mentee.
- Respond to direct youth inquiries within 48 hours.
You also will take part in larger mentor trainings and community:
Complete initial online training (four lessons, a training recorded by a group of over 20 global Peace First community members, lasting approximately two hours each).
Attend/view ongoing training webinars.
Regularly participate in online mentor-only discussion group.
Complete periodic program surveys and evaluations.
What does Peace First look for in potential mentors?
Peace First is looking for caring adults passionate about transforming a narrative of violence through supporting and accelerating youth leadership. Characteristics of Peace First mentors include:
Being encouraging and supportive
Fostering cooperative (versus prescriptive) relationships with youth
A deep belief in the power of young people to lead
Patient and flexible
Respectful of individual differences
People who speak Spanish and/or Arabic in addition to English are strongly encouraged to apply
What are the benefits of being a mentor?
Play a role in transforming a global narrative of violence to one of peacemaking
Learn new skills in coaching and supporting young people to create powerful peacemaking projects
Training sessions and group activities
Mentor support group
Learn how to be an adult ally to young leaders
What support does Peace First provide?
Secure platform in which all communications with youth take place
Initial and ongoing training
Opportunities to access ongoing support
Fostering a community of mentors committed to peacemaking
Help with navigating any questions, problems, joys, and achievements that you or your mentee experience
What is the application and screening process?
Complete online application
Successfully complete initial pre-match training (about 4-8 hours of training, which can happen with a cohort of others or on your own)
Background check, completed by an external vendor, which will check the following:
Identity Verification
Sex Offender Registry Check
Global Watchlist Check
National Criminal Records Check
County Criminal Records Check
Provide the email addresses two personal references, who must complete a Personal Reference Form
Am I eligible to apply to be a mentor?
You are eligible to apply to be a Peace First Mentor if:
You are at least 26 years old
You have proficiency in English (We hope at some point to be able to run our program with monolingual non-English-speakers, but for safety and capacity reasons, we currently need all mentors to be proficient in English. Being multilingual with English and additional languages is very helpful! Our mentor program currently supports mentor relationships in English, Spanish, and Arabic.)
Your application and background check are approved
You successfully complete the pre-match training (four two-hour lessons)
You believe in the power of young people to transform the world
You are comfortable communicating online--and have access to regular internet
Interested in being a Peace First Mentor? Share your email with us and we'll follow up.
Ready to apply? Fill out the online application.
Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Technical difficulties? Email us at firstname.lastname@example.com. We are happy to help!
Even if you can't make the April 2019 training, we want you to get involved--sign up on email and we'll move forward on a timeline that works best for both of us.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Area book lovers will have the opportunity to meet with other readers who share the same love for literature, for a lively discussion on a wide variety of popular books, from contemporary bestsellers to tried-and-true classics. Fort Bend County Libraries' new University Branch Library, 14010 University Blvd. in Sugar Land, is starting a monthly book club that will meet on the second Monday of every month.
The first meeting of the University Branch Library Book Club will take place on Monday, January 9, beginning at 1:30 pm, in the library's Conference Room 1. The book to be discussed is Little Bee, a novel written by Chris Cleave.
The book club is free and open to the public. Area residents are invited to join in this inaugural meeting of the University Branch Library's Book Club and help to launch the new club to a great start!
For more information, call the branch library at 281-633-5100 or the library's Public Information Office at 281-341-2677.


text:
It was a privilege to give the keynote address on Dignity in Caregiving at the Hawaii AARP conference yesterday. The poetry writing workshop I conducted after giving the address led to very deep probing by caregivers. Those who have attended my sessions in the past are familiar with my one blade of grass to get ink on paper. One caregiver discovered as she wrote, that her mother was the blade of grass.
Following is an email from Linda Nagata, a former caregiver- member of my poetry writing support group in Honolulu.
Aloha FOF (Friends of Frances),
It was my honor to attend the above conference yesterday and hear our favorite keynote speaker. Frances, in her boa, once again had the crowd spellbound. You could have heard a pin drop in the conference room. She read her poems and talked about caring for her mother -and even things I had never heard her talk about before. It is always emotional to hear her, and as usual there were tears in my eyes. Frances truly does a great service for other caregivers by letting them know what they are thinking, feeling and doing all have value.
Frances inspired me to come home and read more of our poems from Breaking the Silence. I still laugh over Elaine's "More Glimpses of a Daughter and Mother",and Jason's always are so deeply felt and thought out. It has now been 21 years since my mother departed. Last night was the first time I was able to read my own poems and not cry. Imagine – 21 years it has taken me to get to this point! At least I have reached it, and I consider that an accomplishment.
Thanks Frances for all the encouragement along this bumpy road.
Care giving, as Linda points out, does not end when our loved ones are gone. Linda explains this in her poem written after attending our poetry support group.
Sensei (Teacher)
She came notebook and pen in hand
To lead me out of my morose state,
Encouraging, cajoling, insisting
Write, write, write.
Others spoke of current dilemmas, emotions.
I was stuck in the past —a dozen years gone by.
"Why am I so emotionally delayed?" my mind asked.
Then the wiser voice said, learn and move on.
Sensei says write, write, write,
Write about one small thing
I try to focus on one small thing
Dredging up the aged memories
Like buried garbage they are not pleasant,
Helplessness, anger, resentment.
Write, write, write
A miracle happens
The bitter emotions, softened, turn
Into acceptance and peace.
Write, write, write.
By Linda Nagata: from Breaking the Silence: A Caregiver's Voice
Linda, after exploring her grief through poetry, left the group saying she was now ready to move on. It looks like she finally did.


text:
by Simon Daish
In this episode Lee Sangsu reveals his favourite K-pop group and tries his hand at dancing.
Lee Sangsu also gives his best Emoji impressions and shows Adam his unusual special talent – make sure to stick around until the end of the video to see Adam's hilarious attempt.
Watch episode 43 of Ask A Pro Anything with Lee Sangsu:


text:
(WACO) – The tradition of Del Rio High School graduates traveling more than five hours north to attend Texas State Technical College in Waco continues to grow.
"We're especially proud that the Del Rio community values the work that we do and entrusts their students to us," said TSTC Provost Adam Hutchison. "It's a relationship that we intend to keep strong for many years to come."
Brenden Paradis, 19, is one of at least 15 Del Rio students who were enrolled during the fall semester in TSTC in Waco's Welding Technology program. He just finished his third semester in the program.
"The reason so many come here is because our (Del Rio High School) welding instructor, Tod Townsend, pushes us beyond high school and to get a college education," Paradis said.
Knowing that many of Del Rio's welding students have enrolled at TSTC since the late 1990s, as estimated by TSTC faculty members, made going to college easier for Paradis.
"All of the guys, at first, room together, but after the first year a lot tend to go out on their own," he said.
Paradis became interested in welding after attending a job fair during his freshman year of high school. He was impressed with sculptures on display that were made by welders.
"I would tell (other) students to really think about their future before their senior year comes up," Paradis said. "If you haven't decided on something, it makes it difficult to pick a path to go down."
After graduating in 2019 from TSTC, Paradis plans to take a summer advanced pipe course on campus and then work in custom fabrication.
Roger Gonzalez, director of career and technical education for the San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District, said district staff looks at job opportunities in the area and reviews Texas Workforce Commission data to adapt classes for students. Some of the school district's most popular career and technical education (CTE) courses are in aircraft technology, health sciences, law enforcement and welding.
"We want our students to graduate with more than a high school diploma and be future-ready," Gonzalez said. "The school district continues to invest and expand the CTE program with the use of technology and industry equipment to better prepare our future graduates with expansion of industry certifications and dual-credit opportunities."
Gonzalez said the students in Del Rio's welding program build strong relationships with one another, making the transition to college a little easier.
"It seems TSTC is the destination for most of our welding students due to its excellent reputation within the welding community," he said. "Our welding students never leave us, at least not entirely. Every chance they get, they come to our welding class and share their positive college experience with our current high school students. I believe the reputation and the bridge established between TSTC and our welding program is evidence of our current and future success."
One Del Rio resident has started what he hopes is a new tradition for Val Verde County students attending TSTC.
Andres Hernandez, 19, of Del Rio finished his first semester in the Automotive Technology – Toyota Technician Training and Education Network, or T-TEN, specialization program. He is among the first generation in his family to go to college.
Hernandez said he has enjoyed the different teaching styles he encounters at TSTC and knowing more about automotive electrical systems.
Hernandez became interested in automobiles when he was a child because of his father, a mechanic. He learned about TSTC when a recruiter visited his high school when he was a sophomore.
"I knew most of the welding students go here (to TSTC)," Hernandez said. "It helped me because I would know some people here."
Hernandez said he misses his family occasionally but enjoys living on campus. When he is home for visits, he gets work experience as a lube technician at Toyota of Del Rio. He said he also works on tire rotations and other routine maintenance.
For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to www.tstc.edu.


text:
Every quarter OSU's College of Business brings the Portland business community together for short discussions and networking around ideas and strategies on how we can work together to advance women in business.
Join us for our August meeting where our guest speakers will provide insights from their experiences on how to drive action and solutions. Our inspiring panelists this quarter include:
We are committed to educating and supporting future women in leadership. While attendance is free, donations are encouraged to make possible the activities of the OSU Women in Leadership student club, which serves students of all majors, men and women, across OSU.
Tuesday, August 7, 2018 at 5:00pm to 7:00pm
NAVEX Global 5500 Meadows Road, Suite 500, Lake Oswego, OR 97035
$10 Donation
Carissa Larson
No recent activity
Login to interact with events, personalize your calendar, and get recommendations.


text:
Another World
"The love of a practice, the effort of trying to master it, gives us a different portal through which to enter the world and, thus, another way both to see new places and to draw from our innate beings the things that are potentially contained within it." Janna Malamud Smith
I have been moving on with how I can use my latest style of B&W processing with my micro 4/3 cameras. Since I use to make lots of pictures of clouds when I had nothing else to photograph, I decided to try my latest preset for LR on clouds. I like it and I will be using it more often. Today was a good time to try it since we have lots of clouds and it is quite cool and miserable outside. I just stepped out into our front yard to quickly get these images to work with.


text:
Chapter 7
The characters of the Southern Vampire Mysteries belong to Miss Charlaine Harris. No infringement on my part is intended. The characters on True Blood belong to Mr. Alan Ball. No infringement on my part is intended.
I have no BETA, editor, or other such charming person. All mistakes are my own. This Story is rated M.
Chapter 7
Sookie was doing her best to maintain. Tears, laughter, hysteria, rune magic, it all paled to what was going on at the moment!
There was Eric, chained to the wall with just a flimsy silver cord. The-never ending Viking war machine was captured with just some delicate ribbon, it looked like to her. Of course, there was the smell of burning flesh from time-to-time so it must have the desired effect on him.
There was Bill Compton, the low life piece of Were shit that had killed her brother…or…where ever Lafayette was now…down on his knees and giving Eric a blow job!
Nora was screaming at the top of her lungs for Bill to hurry up and for Eric to hurry up and why did she have to bear the burden of the family's good name!
And on top of all of that, Eric was in her head doing an imitation of a Southern Gentleman with a heavy Georgia drawl discussing the proper way to give a blow job and Compton must have never received one or given one in his human or undead life.
"Stop it," she hissed back at him. "I am gonna' bust a gut over here to keep from laughin' out loud."
"Why Miss Stackhouse…I am shocked that you find watching two guys well you know…." he gasped, "do things that happen in porn movies, funny!
Believe me, this is not funny. Very sad. And very un-porn like. Compton has no-o-o-o-o skills."
"I mean it," she threw back at him. "DO NOT!" and then she had a coughing fit to cover the laughter that had to escape.
"Odd just continues to happen," Eric chuckled when the door opened and Sookie, against her better judgment, just had to look. There stood…well…that would have to be a Spanish Senorita in full 18th century regalia. To include black lace fan and a black lace mantilla, draped over a diamond studded peineta that was about a foot tall resting in her upswept, overdone, dyed black hair. "This," Eric chuckled in her head, "is the Countess Elizabeth Báthory de Ecsed."
"Darling," she cooed to Nora as she approached her. "Why so angry? Why so loud? Why so un-lady like? I had no idea you knew such foul words. And…how many times did you utter Were shit? Why darling one, what you said from your mouth, I would not hold in my hand," she tisked under her breath and looked forlorn.
"I am so sorry, Elizabeth," she reached for her. "So sorry for all the ugliness. I know how much you dislike that. I am just trying to finish up this wretched business before I sent Compton up to you."
"Yes," she laughed, "I can see he has his mouth full. But dearest, you have no need to sorrow. The Viking is actually here! You have accomplished what I thought would never be possible. You are my lovely one," she sighed as she pulled Nora in for a kiss.
Then it just all went to hell as she staked Nora with her fan.
"But, but you love me," the dying vampire gasped out.
"I know," the Countess kissed her again. "I do. But I love to be dressed in your blood even more," she smiled gently at Nora as she pushed her tongue into Nora's mouth.
"Bitch," she managed to moan and Elizabeth bit her tongue and felt the blood flow and fill her mouth.
"Yes I am, dearest," she patted her face with her other hand.
"No," Nora was now sobbing. "Please, no. I am begging you. I gave you Eric…"
"Yes you did my sweet child," as she licked the bloody tears from Nora's face and then pushed the fan through Nora's heart.
There was one final sob of "Bitch!" before Nora exploded and Nora goo went everywhere.
"Nicely done," Eric commented to the countess with a bow of his head. "All though, I was looking forward to ending her myself."
"Eric," she walked toward him and pushed Compton down onto the floor out-of-the-way. "We could have saved all this trouble if only," she sighed, "if only you would just have returned my calls," she grinned at him as she admired his crotch.
"Bethie," he sadly shook his head. "You realize you are covered in Nora goo. And frankly, that is just not your best look and is not at all appealing."
"Oh Eric really," she huffed. "Of course it is. I am the Blood Queen. And did you do her hair?" she asked pointing to Sookie.
"Yes," he nodded.
"Exquisite," she said clasping her hands to her breast. "You have such a gift."
"I was a sailor," he responded. "Knots were my specialty."
"I have heard you have many specialties," her voice was low and soft.
"I am not fucking you Bethie," he stated, his voice and face set.
"Oh Eric," she sighed. "Why would you say such a thing? You know," she grinned, "I could just fall on that staff you have sticking out."
"I do not associate with mass murderers," he smiled at her.
"Seriously," she laughed out loud and then frowned. The staff had disappeared.
"Do you want me to rephrase that?" he arched an eyebrow at her. "I was being polite. After all, we do have company. Would you want Druid House to know you have drained thousand of innocents just so you could bathe in their blood?"
"Well," she tapped Eric with her fan, "when you put it that way that is not who I would want for a next door neighbor, either."
"Point made," Eric replied.
"Well pox upon it all, Eric," she pouted. "I wanted to be your last."
"My last what?" he queried.
"Sexual partner. I need you drained of your seed, your essence, you know, your man stuff. We have about ten minutes before the horizon event and then we have tomorrow night and then…well. You are out of time."
"Man stuff," he chuckled. "Just what is this about?"
"The solar eclipse. I need you for the sacrifice. And apparently I now have a virgin to offer up as well. Although not called for in the prophecy, I don't see how it could hurt."
"Prophecy?" Eric rolled his eyes. "You spent entirely too much time with the whoring priestess Nora."
"No, not Nora…" she rolled her eyes. "The Were shit that child believed. No," she placed her hand on Eric's chest and let it linger there.
When Eric shook his head, she sadly withdrew it.
"In the Cordillera Cantabrian," she said trilling all the r's, "a cave was found."
"In the Pyrenees," Eric said looking at Sookie.
"This is my story, Eric, and I should have your complete and undivided attention," she lightly tapped his face with her fan to bring him back to her.
"Sadly I am running out of dark, so I will just cut to the chase. The scrolls said that if you sacrifice a vampire magicker during the total eclipse, then his essence, I just want to stress that…the scroll said his. I am not just picking on you. I could have gone with a female if that was what the prophecy called for.
Anyway, the male shall go from human form to that of a dragon and he shall be mine to command. And the virgin just makes this perfect. She shall be chained and you shall have her as your first meal as dragon. I would think that would endear you to me even more and as a dragon you would want nothing more than to please me."
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Eric rolled his eyes, again.
"No, and stop with the eye rolling. You are completely discounting everything I am saying with such an act.
Now, Nora told me that you have some type of beyond the norm vampire magic. She did not know what it was but she heard you and Godric talking about it one time."
"What?" Eric sputtered.
"Well, maybe she was eavesdropping, she was not real clear about where she was when she heard it."
"You mean because I can fly and she could not! Is that what this is about? She was jealous of me and my child because we could both fly and she could not!" Eric rolled his eyes again. "Fucking Were shit," he hissed.
"I don't know why she did not like Pamela," Elizabeth was shaking her head, questions in her voice. "I find her to be most delightful. Very smart and very sexual. And up for anything. Literally. And enjoys everything.
And…" she hemmed and hawed…. "not that you would know," she frowned at him, "But, I am an animal in bed and earlier tonight Pam and I were sharing an intimate moment afterwards and even she said you had something that at times would just about scare the human back into her."
"What!" he yelled. "She did what?"
"Did she also tell you that we do not fuck skanks?"
The room stopped breathing. That would be Sookie.
Bethie and Bill both took a breath and stared in disbelief at Eric's crotch.
"Was…was that your penis?" Elisabeth asked, her voice trembling.
"It was," Bill said nodding his head. "It was, I swear. I saw the mouth move and everything. I swear," he said crawling a bit closer. "My gawd," he giggled, "I sucked a penis that can talk!"
"Eric…" Elisabeth leaned in for a closer look. "Does your penis talk?"
Before Eric could response, King Eric stepped up!
"Of course I do. I am King Eric and I have talked since we dug out the first night of being vampire." Hissing, King Eric dropped his fangs and lunged at Compton who yelped and scrambled back out-of-the-way.
"You suck at giving blow jobs!" he snarled at Bill and then turned to the Countess. "And I don't do skanks. I have done the world a favor and from time to time I have gutted my fair share."
"What?" Elisabeth took a step back.
"No one suspects me. Eric had a knife made especially for me. If I had not left it at home, oh woe is me, we would not be here at this moment."
"I think that nicely makes my point," Elisabeth laughed out loud but to be on the safe side took another step back. "Now, I have three hundred Weres guarding this place and Eric, I know your child ratted you out but in bed, But please keep in mind I am a powerful force of nature. She could not help talking about you. Especially when I plied her with my special ops training interrogation. I led her gently down the path of telling me everything I wanted to know. Indeed, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. And in our undead heart, you would not want her to be tortured."
"Don't count on that," he made a scary vampire face to enforce his words.
"Oh come on!" she said stamping her foot. "You really are no fun. I have no idea what all your hype is about. The Viking, this; The Viking that! Straddle him and you have bragging rights forever!"
She was back to staring at his crotch. "Just as dead down there as your unbeating heart. Well this just sucks," she pouted.
"Bill, release the human from her restraints. No reason she should not be able to rest and be comfortable before she becomes Eric's first meal as dragon."
"I am beginning to think Bethie, that you are just bat-shit crazy. Does Sophie-Anne know she is going to be without a sheriff?" his voice was pointed and dripped displeasure.
"I chatted with her briefly this new dark. Of course she does. Bill is going to take your place."
"What?" Bill gasped and froze in place. "No," he said shaking his head, his hands trembling as he untied Sookie. "No, not area Five and not me," he said sobbing. "Please, I have served you well. No, please…I am begging."
Elisabeth was staring at Bill, then shifted her gaze to Eric, then back at Bill. "What is up with that, Bill? I thought you would be pleased. It is a step up for you. Out of the residence and out into the world where you can make a name for yourself."
Eric was now laughing. "Oh, the name he wants for himself is King. Billy Boy thinks he can poison HRM's bloodbags with silver and then take over.
Poor Bill," Eric made a sad face and winked at him. "Area Five. You will be finally dead before the first week ends. The Lower Californias have been skulking around. And I saw New Mexico in New Orleans the other night. He was in a disguise so he had not checked in with HRM. Just a friendly heads up. You will be fighting a two front war."
"Well," Elisabeth regarded the New Orleans ass kisser. "That certainly changes things, Bill. Looks like you will be standing tall on your way out of this life. If you are going to meet the true death, this must be the will of the dragon gods and I am not one to interfere with the will of the gods. Now sunrise is knocking at the door.
Eric, give some thought to what you wish to do your last night."
There was something that sounded like and felt like thunder that rocked through the house.
"Storm tonight?" the Countess asked looking around.
"No," Eric shook his head and grinned. "Someone tried to open my cell phone. It blew up, along with anyone who was standing within twenty feet."
"Bad boy," she grinned at him. "But I like it! I am so going to miss you, Eric.
Now, bedtime has arrived. When we rise with the new dark, how about an evening of charades?" she smiled nodding her head. "We shall do nothing but movies. We all love the movies!" she said happily and clapped her hands.
Mr. Hayes appeared at the door. "Madame, Compton. It is time to retire," he said holding the door open wide and bowed as they passed by.
"Awww," the tall, thin, gentleman smiled as he watched them depart. "There goes Thing 1 and Thing 2.
Druid House," his attention was back on the two in the room. "I have been instructed that you are to have the run of the mansion. I would, however not venture outside. There are Weres. Hundreds of them. Especially since you are dressed…well, not conservatively.
Mr. Eric, sadly, I am going to inject you with this silver which will slow you down and cause you to be a bit pukish. On the bright side," he said withdrawing the syringe, "you are to be left unchained as well," he said undoing the silver cording. "With the silver in your blood stream, if you stay awake chances are good you will bleed out. Do you really want that? Such an unholy and cowardly way to greet the true death. You strike me as one who greets death with both eyes open and fighting to the very end to do damage.
There," he smiled as he walked over to the glass wall and pushed buttons. "This room will be light tight in a manner of moments. Rest well this day.
Miss Druid House, if you would come with me. I will escort you back to your rooms. I would suggest that you rest. With the new dark will come a never-ending game of charades. It is wearisome but not a bad way to spend your last night alive."
Sookie slept off and on and would mind flash Eric when she was awake. He seemed to be in a never, never land of dark dreams and views of the fjords that would quiet him when his body would react to the silver.
Getting up, Sookie pulled on her robe and roamed the house until she finally found Mr. Hayes in the kitchen.
"May I see him?" she asked. "Eric, may I see him?"
"You are very kind," he smiled at her and patted her on the hand. "You would have made a lovely mom."
"Yes well," Sookie said wiping at the tears that were falling, "I though I had more time."
"Please don't cry," he sighed. "I am a sucker for women who cry."
"I am doing my best not too," she replied. "This is not my style, to cry in front of people I do not know."
"That tuff shell business persona must be maintained at all costs," he said nodding in understanding. "I get that."
"Yes," she sighed. "It must. As odd as it sounds, Eric is the last person I have had any type of real contact with…you know made a connection. I know he is charming and beguiling and all that. But once you get past the vampire, he has some real life skills. Being a Viking was very good for him."
"I know what you mean," he nodded. "Miss Nora, she talked about her brother all the time. And not all of it was snark. She had a real deep and abiding respect for him when she was not raving and swearing about Miss Pamela."
"What are you gonna' do now that she is gone?" Sookie asked as he offered her his arm and escorted her out of the kitchen and towards the back of the house.
"I have no idea. The Countess, she has her own way of doing things and her own staff who knows her likes and dislikes. Miss Nora kept me around because she thought she had to have a servant as well."
"Well you are up during the day, that has to be useful," Sookie replied.
"It is, but I come with conditions. I am a home-dwelling spirit. I don't mean like a ghost. Maybe more like a genie," he gave that some thought and nodded in agreement with his words. "But I have to have a house to dwell in. So I can't run errands. I am stuck here until my person, who was Miss Nora, says it is time to move on or my contract runs out. Since she is dead, I will be here until someone pays me in gold coin to work for them and then I shall be off to whatever their destination happens to be."
"Wow," Sookie regarded him. "So, are you like the lucky horseshoe that hangs over the door?"
"Something like that," he smiled and blushed.
"And you don't think the Countess wants a lucky horseshoe?"
"She would never part with her gold. So when they move on I shall be here," he said as he stood up taller and squared his shoulders. "Believe me, I would rather be here by myself than be with her. She is a true abomination."
"All by yourself…?" her voice faltered.
"Yes," he patted her arm. "I still have a hundred years on my contract to Miss Nora. But do not worry for me. I shall weather this storm, just like I have others."
"Have you really?" Sookie asked, stopping and looking in his eyes. "Been left alone like this before?"
"No," he blinked back the tears as he opened the door into the hallway that was now light tight as well. Closing that door, he opened the door to the pool room and as they walked, the lights came on.
"I will leave you to sit with him," he smiled at her and bowed his head.
Sookie pulled up a chair and taking Eric's hand, she felt him squeeze hers. "This place is probably wired," he said inside her head.
"How are you doin'", she softly stroked his hand.
"Good question. I can feel something more moving around inside of me. But it does not feel like when I have been wrapped in silver. This is not desperate or deadly. At least I don't think so."
"Do you think Hayes watered down the silver?" she asked. "Or maybe did not use any at all?"
"Is that possible?" Eric responded.
"Maybe," raising his hand she brought it to her lips and kissed it. "And I have been thinkin' about what you said. My magic. I can tell there are no type of ley lines around this house. None. This is like an empty tomb. Everything is dead and decaying.
However, I have been constructing my own ley line inside my head, using the runes."
"No fooling," his laughter inside her head filled her with joy.
"No foolin'," she responded and kissed his hand again. "If I can construct a crossroads, why we just might be able to beat the devil at his own game. Figuratively speakin' of course."
"Oh no," Eric's voice full of humor. "Bethie is, if not the devil, a devil. Make no mistake. She is evil.
So what else did you learn today?"
"Mr. Hayes, he is for sale. I am not for real sure exactly what he is, but he sells himself to a person for gold and he is bound to whatever house they are livin' in for a period of time. That must be negotiated. Now that Nora is dead, he is still bound to this house because his contract with her is up. For him to be able to leave earlier than that, he can sell his butler services to someone for gold. But he has said that he won't be leavin' here with the Countess. She won't part with her gold and I am of the opinion he thinks she is an evil slut."
"Well, he would be correct, she is. And that is interesting. So he what? Remains here? By himself?"
"Yes," Sookie replied. "I have been thinkin'. I could use a helper around the house. If…if Lafayette and I," she sobbed but for only a second, "if we are gonna' be givin' out low-interest loans to small businesses, then I am gonna' need someone to take care of the house."
"Well. When the eclipse rolls around tomorrow, afterwards, we shall approach Mr. Hayes about employment."
"That's great," Sookie replied in her head. "I hate the idea of leaving anyone behind. And speaking of which, any idea where Pam is?" she asked.
"Yes, there is a tunnel running from the kitchen to the tool shed, over by the barn. She is in the tunnel. Silvered, but nothing she stresses she cannot handle. And she says she never ratted me out to Bethie. I knew she had not but all must be believable. "
"But she and the Countess, they are lovers?"
Eric chuckled. "Lover denotes some type of relationship." Then in a very serious voice he continued. "They are sex partners. They have a physical, in the moment, no kiss, just finish and get the fuck out rapport." Eric grinned at her and opened his eyes and then promptly closed them. "The Countess has been dosed with silver. Pamela is no fool and extremely devious."
"You run with a tough crowd," she patted his hand. "I like it."
There was a knock at the door and Mr. Hayes let himself in, the flashlight giving Sookie a beacon to follow. "Lunch is ready. If you would please follow me."
Lunch was medium rare prime rib with a twice-baked potato and a strawberry spinach salad.
And a melody of squashes. Sookie did not think that she liked squash. These squash had been deep-fried with a tempura batter and placed on top of a heavy cream, cream cheese and ricotta cheese mixture that had been baked. Back before cholesterol, Gran used to make a wilted salad. Over the salad, Gran would pour a hot mixture that was, vinegar, a little sugar, bacon grease and crumbled up bacon. Something very similar to what had been doused liberally on her slice. For a vegetable cheese cake, she thought it was not so very bad and managed to eat all of it.
"Would you like an aperitif?" Mr. Hayes asked as he pulled out her chair and offering her his arm, escorted her to the fireplace.
Sookie settled in and looked at him. "Offering a girl her final meal?"
"We have a lemon cream cake for dessert," he said with a bow of his head. "I would suggest the Limón cello to go with it. And coffee. I will brew a fresh pot."
"You did not answer my question," Sookie regarded him. "And yes to the dessert and nice things that go with it."
"Madame," he smiled at her. "Last meal? I have no idea. Will Mr. Northman turn to dragon? I have no idea. If he does turn to dragon, will he eat you? I have no idea."
At that time a Were stepped in and wolf whistled. "So this is why we were told to stay out of the house," he grinned as his eyes went to Were orange and he approached Sookie.
There was the poof of a silencer and the Were died instantly. Mr. Hayes slipped the gun back into the holster inside his jacket.
"I am so sorry," he said with a sigh and a bow of his head to Sookie. "One in the back of the head and it leaves no blood spatter. Just let me remove him and I will get you dessert."
"Thank you Mr. Hayes," she said as he grabbed the Were by the feet and pulled him from the room.
"Dam-m-m-m-m-m-n," blew out of Sookie's mouth before she had a chance to react. Looking around, sure enough, there was nothing to indicate that the Were had been shot and killed in this room. Or in front of her.
Taking a deep breath she tried to relax. Counting to ten and taking a calming breath, when she opened her eyes she heard the tea trolley coming her way. Mr. Hayes pushed in through the door with something that looked like more than lemon cream cake! And not just the Limón cello. There were several decanters that looked like they held whiskeys. "Okay, I can roll with that," she said to herself when the cart stopped in front of her and Mr. Hayes began dishing up her dessert.
"Madame, I would suggest you rest after you have finished. It will do you a world of good and you will need to be at your finest tonight. For all her pandering, the Countess does not like humans unless she is bathing in their blood. She has been using only soap and water since she arrived here. And she believes no one has more money than she does," he said with a wise nod of his head, pouring her a glass of what looked like purple fairy dust. "So you are of no value to her."
"Good to know," she sighed. "And that's lovely," she smiled when he handed her the glass. "What a lovely shade of….purple…?"
"Yes, thank you," he said looking very pleased. "A little something I decanted, myself. It is a vodka based with purple grapes settled in the bottom. And that really is silver floating in it, giving it that sparkle. You should be safe enough around the Countess. She will smell the silver if she decides to open one of your veins and then drop you."
"Thanks," Sookie was wide-eyed as he handed her a full wine glass.
"When she tosses you aside, just let her huff and puff and say nothing while she vents about humans and their trickster ways. She will move on and remember that she wants to play charades. She won't invite you to play at that point so just sit quietly, read a book, and don't fall asleep until she retires and takes Compton with her. I don't trust him."
"Thank you for being so good to me," her voice was sincere. "I appreciate that. I just want you to know."
"Just drink up, there's a lovely lady," he said as he blushed. "And you just might all survive this."
Sookie woke up when there was a knock on her door.
"Vampires are rising," Mr. Hayes said sticking his head in. "It is almost ten. Come down to the kitchen and get something to eat. Around midnight, the games shall begin."
When Sookie entered the library, the vamps were already present. Saying good evening, she started to walk past when the Countess' hand snaked out and grabbed her by the throat. Baring her fangs and pulling Sookie in close, she smiled at her and said, "You don't mind, do you?" Taking a whiff along her neck she threw her to the floor.
"Bitch!" she screeched, "you reek of silver!"
"Yes," was all Sookie said as she stood and made her way to the chair by the fire.
"Bring in Northman," she said with disgust in her voice. "We will let him feed from her. A little more silver will do him a world of good."
"Okay Sookie," she fixed the rune crossroads in her mind, "neutralize the silver in your blood stream. Pull it all to my toenails and pass out of me and let it collect in my shoes."
When Eric shuffled in, he looked haggard and worn. "I'm fine," he flashed Sookie. "Really. Just a bit of acting."
"I am draining the silver out of my body," she replied. "So I am not gonna be chatty now. I am at the rune crossroads."
"Got it," he replied.
"Eric," the Countess stood and approached him. "We have a meal for you. I think it best we whet your appetite with Druid House. That way, when you morph to dragon, you will already have had a taste and will want more. "
"I can smell her silvered blood from here," he smirked as he stopped and stood in front of the Countess.
"Well yes," she grinned. "We cannot very well have you rescuing your child and leaving me here with no dragon to command, now can we. And how is King Eric? And your man-ness wetness. You need to tell King Eric to spit that stuff out so that I can have my dragon."
With a growl, Eric pushed Elisabeth out-of-the-way. "Miss House," he said extending his hand. "If you would allow me," he said turning the chair toward the fire with the back of it to the group.
"Oh come on," the Countess stomped her foot. "We want the show."
"Fuck you," Eric replied flipping her the finger. Picking Sookie up he sat her down on his lap.
"If I might?" they all heard him ask with a low, sexy drawl.
"Yes," Sookie was heard to mumble, "of course."
Repeatedly licking her wrist in a slow, easy fashion, he prolonged the bite until she gave him the go-ahead the silver was now gone.
"Excellent," he sighed as he bit. "Now, do we want to leave here tonight or tomorrow during the eclipse?"
"Won't they have you chained in silver?" she asked. "And me tied up?"
"Yes, that is possible," he was chuckling. "But the Countess loves the show. I am now silvered nicely through out. Just think on it as basting a slow roasting pig. She will have me stretched out on the table and you in the room. For those mere moments, she wants me to chase you around the room and maybe outside and provide some entrainment. Just like in the movies.
If I do not morph to dragon, I am so poisoned that I will not be able to escape the sun and she will have her spectacle with me burning and her having bragging rights about how she brought the true death to The Viking. She is that predictable. I am willing to bet the odds."
"Well, alright then," Sookie sighed. "I stand with you."
"Most excellent," Eric replied as he took one last mouthful of Sookie goodness and then healed the wounds.
They both sat in front of the fire as Elisabeth tried to shame folks into playing charades. You could hear her cussing and complaining. A constant stream of chatter as she prodded those vampires into playing her favorite game.
"Eric," she finally stood up and walked over to them. "Stop playing with the human…" she stopped when she stepped in front of the chair. Sookie was still in his lap, but she was asleep. Eric was looking like death. There were dark circles under his eyes and his eyes were no longer the lustrous blue. His hands trembled a bit, his lips were dark, almost black.
"I need you to be alive come the eclipse," she said kneeling down in front of him.
"You should have thought of that before you poisoned me," he hissed back.
"Give me the human," she said reaching for her. "I can get you…"
"No," he spit at her. "She is warm and I have reached a new depth of cold! You leave her the fuck alone," he said as his head fell back against the chair. "I am retiring for the rest of this dark and taking her with me."
Standing, he wobbled a bit and then shifting her in his arms, with one foot placed slowly but surely in front of the other, they left the room.
"Well fuck," she said to no one as she kicked out at an ottoman. "Mr. Hayes," she yelled.
"Yes Countess," he appeared at the door.
"Do nothing special. Just lock them in. Northman cannot take any more silver. I do need him to be alive. Feed the human tomorrow and dress her in something more revealing for the eclipse. I want her to be as alluring as possible."
Bowing his head he stepped out of the room and closed the doors.
Bill was pissed off! He wanted the human for his own. He did not mind nasty leftovers and this one came with literally a boat load of money! Compton was starting to growl, rumble deep in his chest. He thought that was impressive and everyone would pay attention to him and stand back and let him take what he wanted. After all, he was somebody!
Ducking just in time, the wooden stake missed his heart and hit his upper arm.
"Get the fuck out!" Elisabeth hissed and vamp speed, Bill was gone.
"Now," she said turning to the rest of the group, "I believe charades is on board and we decided on movies."
All heads turned when they heard the voices over the speakers.
"You doin' okay?" the female asked.
"Cold," and they could hear the shivering in his voice. "Mortally poisoned…," and the word faded away.
"Mr. Hayes," the Countess stuck her head out the door this time when she bellowed. "Take some blankets into the pool room." Turning back around she sighed and turned off the crackle that was coming over the speakers. "No entertainment value there," she rolled her eyes. "Fuck…!" she kicked the ottoman again and made the sign for movies. "First letter…" she began.
Bill was roaming the streets of Shreveport. "All this is mine," he moaned as he looked around. "Area Five. Just how did I fuck up and end up here? I would cry if it would do me any good. That fucking Countess and her fucked up way of doing business. That fucking Sophie-Anne and her greed and my great misfortune.
Momma always said look on the bright side of things. So hope springs eternal. This job change has not yet been announced over the net. As long as I am not proclaimed Sheriff of Area Five I am still William T. Compton, Procurer for the Queen. I am not letting go of that title, no matter what she tells me," he said with fierce determination. "I have found my mission for my undead life and being the at-war, protector of the Northern Frontier, finally dead sheriff of Area Five is not on my mission statement!"
Eric was stretched out on the couch with Sookie tucked in beside him. They were covered in blankets and Sookie had finally warmed up. Eric had assured her that his cold body temp was normal but he could do little to provide warmth for her. A couple of blankets were tucked around her so that she had no skin contact with Eric.
They spent the rest of the dark inside each other's head. Sookie was showing him how to conjugate ruin magic and Eric was trying to build the crossroads in his head. His women's magic was something Sookie was familiar with. She had just not seen so much of it in one place.
"Morning is coming," she head Eric whisper as he pulled her in closer. "You need to sleep. Maybe myself as well. We won't sleep through the main event," he chuckled. "Believe me, there shall be much fanfare when the hour approaches. It shall be noisy but we shall be well rested."
Mr. Hayes woke Sookie at lunch time. "Come and eat," he whispered. "And bathe. There are sacrificial robes for you to wear," he rolled his eyes. "Nothing I can do about that for the time being.
How is Mr. Northman?" he asked.
"Still holding his own," she replied.
"I am so sorry," he said as he offered her his arm. "I thought to protect your from the Countess but perhaps I have doomed him."
"You are very kind," was all Sookie said as he led her to the kitchen.
There were trumpet blasts that sounded through the speakers with the countdown announcements. The latest one was "The eclipse starts in five minutes! Be prepared to say good-by to the world as you know it!
Rise, o' Dragon of the spilled and licked blood! Rise and serve me! Your Queen, Elisabeth!"
Sookie gagged. "Really?" she snorted as Eric chuckled in her ear.
"Vamps will rise early and are tuned into this room. Oh, here come the lights. We are on camera. Smile," Eric grinned as the roof pulled back.
"Beautiful eclipse," Eric said. "I know you cannot see it with you human eyes. But I will take you to see the next one, wherever in the world it happens to be."
"Thanks," she replied. "And…and…" she said looking up into the darkness. "Is that two dragons headed this way?"
"Well, I do believe it is," Eric chuckled. "And they both have purple eyes. So one of them must be O.I. The other, well just maybe that is Lafayette…!"
The vampires were gathered outside on a balcony. They were just a step away from a room full of total darkness and safety just in case something went wrong!
Elisabeth was screaming and jumping up and down and clapping her hands in joy! "Dragons! They are both dragons! Yes, I have an army of dragons at my command!"
"Countess," the Vampire Mayor of Brisbane was watching the screen that had been set up outside showing the pool room. "Northman and the human are still…you know," he said pointing to the screen. "Northman and human. Who the fuck are they?" he asked pointing to the sky.
"What?" she said as she glanced at the monitor and then back into the sky. "Look," she smiled. "The eclipse. It is the diamond ring. How beautiful…
And dragons…" terror struck her, for the first time, she was speechless.
"Mo' fo'n right," O.I. called out into the darkness of the eclipse. "Flame on, my big mans!" he laughed in joy.
The night sky, along with the balcony, was lit up with more than just the light of the now reappearing sun. There were the flames of two very mightly pissed off dragons. And they were gunning for all the bad guys!
"Looks to be to the good of about seventy-five vamps gone," Lafayette said, as he turned his head to observe the grounds. "And about three hundred Weres scatterin' to the celestial night of day winds. Can't be havin' that!"
The hunt was on and it was glorious!
"Members me?" lafayette asked as he chased down one Were. "I do believes you were the one drivin' the truck that struck me down. Any last words?"
"Were shit," he screeched as it ran down his pant legs.
"Not very elegant but great truths to that," O.I. said as he pulled up and sniffed. Together their flames made a great whirling whirlpool of flame and within seconds, there was seared Were, than charred Were, then with a flap of their wings, there was only the dust of Were.
Eric and Sookie stood and watched from the comfort of pool side as the dragons cleaned up the surrounding area. When they landed, Sookie was up and running, her arms outstretched as Lafayette morphed into human and grabbed her and swung her around.
"You knows you ain't dressed in much," Lafayette smiled at her.
"I know," she said through her tears. "But I was to be the meal time sacrifice to the dragon," she said pointing to Eric. "And I had to entice him to want to eat me."
"Really," Lafayette was laughing. "Don't thinks Northman needs much enticin'. Now go find some clothes and lets haul ass out of here. I could use some food of the earthly, out of the kitchens, sort."
"Well," she was thoughtful. "Let me check with Mr. Hayes. Whoever does the cooking here is just the best. Man, I had something Mr. Hayes called squash, yesterday. Not even close," she said patting her tummy. "We could sit out by the pool and maybe have an afternoon snack if the kitchen staff is willin'."
"Please excuse me," Eric smiled. "I am going to go unsilver Pamela and be right back."
The kitchen staff was more than willing to prepare a snack. The kitchen staff was Mr. Hayes.
Sookie invited him to sit down. "Let us Parlay," she said as she dipped her twice fried, lightly herbed French fries into mayo. "Now, explain to the group how you came to be here. I don't have any gold, but I think maybe Mr. Northman could hook me up with some if you would like to come and work for me."
The interview went very well. He could cook, clean, and did laundry to include ironing. He even ironed sheets!
"I won't kill for you," he ended up saying. "I will kill to protect you, but I am not a hit man. I am a butler with a special skill set. And I can keep secrets," he said eyeing Eric who was sitting with his face pointed at the sun.
"Mo' fo'n," O.I. sighed as he patted his tummy. "Best BLT I have had, ever! And I dids not even know what that was! But that Sammy done stole my heart away. Could have dones with more bacon and less lettuce pray greens, but, Miss Sooks, this could work. I can sniff out gold. How much do we needs?"
"I will call Samuel," Eric said without moving his mouth. He was throwing his voice. It sounded like it was coming from Sookie's glass. "Tell us in grams or pounds how much is required….and where you want it. We can make this happen."
The afternoon passed pleasantly into a lovely evening. When Pam appeared, she excused herself.
"There are bagged bloods in the kitchen," Mr. Hayes said. "If I might interest you."
"Those have been silvered," she replied as she flashed her fangs in a grin. "I'll be fine. I am not going far." With a bow to her maker she was gone.
"You really want to set fire to this place?" Sookie asked Eric.
"Yes," he nodded. "Nora has defiled it. When I went to release Pam I checked the other tunnels. She turned them over to the Weres who just shit wherever they would. Let me cave in a couple of places and Lafayette, if you and O.I. would do me the honors. Turn it all to ash."
Dear Readers,
Compton's demise is the next chapter.
Until then!
All our love and prayers go out to those folks in the hurricane's path.
Be blessed and be the blessing.


text:
JEDDAH: A Saudi festival aimed at boosting children's educational and scientific skills in readiness for the new school year, has been hailed a success.
Organizers of the "Back to School" event held at the Red Sea Mall, a leading shopping and entertainment destination in Jeddah, said this year's edition had offered a record amount of activities and seen increased retailer participation.
The fun and entertainment activities, staged in the mall's fountain area and designed to appeal to children's imaginations and dreams, included four sections, namely scientific experiments, physical activities, manual skills and discoveries.
Shops supported the festival, which ran from Aug. 15 to 31, by offering prizes, gifts, and rewards. Every participating child was given a free meal, while their mothers received a complimentary massage and facial skincare session from a specialized outlet.
Red Sea Mall General Manager Al-Rayan Gaddouri said: "We were pleased to host the "Back to School" event. We believe in empowering children and promoting their skills for competition, discovery, and initiative-taking.
"The activities were designed to build children's educational and scientific capacities and develop their physical and mental skills in a fun and entertaining way, helping them look forward to a new school year."
6m - More than 6 million public school students around the Kingdom went back to school on Sunday for the start of the academic year's first term.
147m - The Education Ministry printed and distributed 147 million textbooks before the start of the term.
Omar Al-Maghazwi, Red Sea Mall marketing officer, thanked the retailers that took part in the festival and said: "Our common goal is to keep our shoppers and visitors entertained and develop children's mental and physical abilities through modern scientific techniques and educational methods."
The festival tested children through various games and challenges. The science section quizzed youngsters on chemistry and physics, while physical activities included fun and mental challenges featuring math and geometry.
Training workshops in the manual skills section invited children to use their imagination to make soap and candles and use salt, flour, water, wood, and other materials to create shapes and colors.
The discovery section introduced children to the world of plants, insects, and human anatomy, and provided health and medical information on dental care and the discovery of space through the use of astronomical tools.


text:
New Role
Job Details
Job Role : Accounts Assistant / Administrator
Job Type : Permanent
Location : Cranleigh, Surrey
Salary : £18,000-£20,000
Reference : P 11146
Job Specification
A new opportunity has opened for an Accounts Assistant with this well established, talented team at this successful, professional international manufacturing company. This is a busy and responsible role within a supportive, friendly team working for open and appreciative busy senior team. Lots of opportunity to learn and develop and make this role your own.
Key skills;
- Excellent IT skills including advanced SAGE software and Microsoft Suite, specifically Excel.
- Experienced in Accounts Assistant duties.
- Competent in maintaining a careful, cohesive oversight of assigned areas of responsibility
- Confident in communicating, demonstrating a personable demeanour and an awareness of social and business etiquette. Strong inter-personal skills; an ardent team player.
- Exceptional organisational and administrative capabilities; adept in prioritising and the management of multiple tasks simultaneously
Job description;
- Verify purchase invoices/credit notes against purchase orders
- Reconcile receipts against sales invoices
- Process company credit card statements
- Collect and verify timesheets
- Handle incoming cash and conduct banking as and when required
- Management of the petty cash book and periodic reconciliations
- Deal with customer and supplier account queries
- Prepare payment runs
- Monitor supplier accounts and reconcile against supplier statements
- Provide support to the Financial Controller, external payroll and auditors
- Adhoc administrative duties
Person specification;
- Diligent
- Thorough
- Trustworthy
- Responsible
- Self-motivated
- Enthusiastic to learn
If you have the skills and abilities to meet this role and you are looking for a solid opportunity. PLEASE APPLY NOW


text:
Coral Bay Road, P.O.BOX 60416, 8102
Just want to relax and chill in the sun, then welcome to the Queens Bay Hotel. This outstanding hotel is set in its own well, kept gardens that lead down to a "cute" natural lagoon. The Queens Bay is the choice if you want a soothing, calming tranquil holiday with all the facilities of a four star hotel at 3 star rates. The Queens Bay is situated in a wonderful location, set back from the main road with beautiful views of the sea and mountains and dramatic sunsets in the evenings as seen from the pool terraces, which add to the serenity of this hotel. For those of you wanting to combine the restfulness of the hotel with some stirring nightlife on Bar Street then the Queens Bay is just a 10-minute bus ride in to the heart of the town. Which offers something for every one of all ages. For those of you who wish to chill in the hotel bar after your evening meal there is a varied selection of cocktails and alcoholic beverages to choose from and then simply sit back an enjoy the hotels evening entertainment program. The hotel boasts a full evening and daytime entertainment program. Whilst the Queens Bay attracts all ages it particularly attracts couples without children and is also extremely popular with repeat clients. The hotel is a welcoming hotel with a pleasant informal, sociable ambiance. The Hotel staff has the right mix of professionalism and friendliness whilst maintaining the highest standards of service. The hotel has a large outdoor swimming pool, heated indoor pool, tennis courts, bowls, crazy golf, gym sauna, short mat indoor bowls (International full size mat) games room, snooker room, restaurant, 4 bars, shop, children's paddling pool and playground, day and night entertainment. Rooms have individually controlled climate (air-conditioning & central heating) international direct dial telephones, satellite TV, hair dryer, private bathroom, toilet, full size bath with shower, and balcony. Bedrooms are furnished in a modern style in cheerful pa
Cancellation is possible until any time of day 1 day prior to the check-in date without penalty.
A cancellation after that time or a no-show, will incur a penalty of 1 night's stay.


text:
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Luke Stephenson
These classical portraits of birds are from the "Incomplete Dictionary of Show Birds" by British artist Luke Stephenson. To see more of his work go to his website.
Posted by Mara Krumins at 5:20 PM
Labels: Luke Stephenson, photography
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Font Size
Font Size
Investment firm says it intends to expand geographical reach of KSI Trading Corp
Bahrain-based Investcorp has announced the acquisition of KSI Trading Corp (KSI), a supplier of aftermarket auto body parts in the US.
Founded in 1984, KSI services over 10,000 collision repair shop customers across 25 locations in 14 US states and employs more than 600 employees.
The terms of the transaction were not disclosed, Investcorp said in a statement.
"We are excited to partner with KSI, as they have proven their ability to execute through various market cycles," said Mohammed Al-Shroogi, Investcorp's co-CEO.
"We have been extremely impressed with the quality and dedication of the KSI employees who have built this company. We look forward to working with the KSI team and we are confident in the company's ability to continue to deliver results, increase market share and accelerate growth over the long term."
Christopher Patti, KSI's newly appointed CEO, added: "With Investcorp as a partner, KSI is well-positioned to continue to deliver both strong growth and exceptional customer service."
Investcorp said it has a strong history of investments in the automotive and related markets and intends to grow KSI geographically, through the opening of greenfield locations, pursuing acquisitions and establishing stronger relationships with insurance companies and multi-shop operators.


text:
Soooradio is a brand new ministry for FEBC Hong Kong serving the local Cantonese-speaking people in Hong Kong. Together with professional broadcasters and local churches, we aim at producing programs for the youth and for the local community.
We organize intensive training sessions for the participants on the basics of program production. Upon finishing the training, they can plan for their own programs on the topics they are interested. Our instructors will work closely with them and guide them throughout the process.
Ways to listen
- Mobile App: Download "Soooradio App" at Google Play or App Store.
- Soooradio Website: v2.soooradio.net
We have also actively participated in the RTHK-Community Involved Broadcasting Service (CIBS) in Hong Kong. May our programs be a blessing to the Hong Kong community.


text:
The story "to build a fire" is an interesting story written by Jack London. during the story "to build a fire, the character lacks any semblance of imagination. Constantly ignoring or being oblivious to sign given to him throughout the story. Even the dogs' natural instinct is more effective than this man's brain. Throughout the story, the man shows no sign of imagination, despite that being so important in everyday life.
Creativity is an attractive quality in people, so much so that it's been used as a tool to immortalize people and things. Imagination is the foundation of creativity. Without it, there is no chance for you to succeed in life on your own. This man has none, showing no possible semblance of it. Consistently seeing signs and ignoring it. For example; when he sees the sled that could be used to pull him across the snow. And a dog capable of pulling it he does nothing with it. Despite seeing where those decisions take him.
Throughout the story, the man is given signs from nature that this is a bad idea. Like when he went outside and realized that he could freeze, he still goes out. Or when he notices that there is running water under the ice, a clear sign that the water can break at any time he still goes across the lake. A decision that leads to him falling in the water and almost died right then and there. Or when he tried making a fire under a snow-covered tree and didn't think snow could have fallen on the fire, despite noticing how snow covered the tree was. But at least the dog had instincts that could have saved the man if he would've listened.
Consistently the dog has shown that it's instinct more effective than that mans brain. Showing an intuition that trumped any display of the man. Having the idea of avoiding the water. Going under the snow to keep warm. Liking the frozen water off of his paws, after it and the man fell in the water. All of these are examples of the dogs' incredible instinct. But the greatest example and potentially the most gruesome, was when the man tried to kill the dog to warm his hands. The man planned to kill the dog and use the warm inured of its body to warm his hands. Unable to succeed the man wouldn't have prevailed because the moisture from the dogs' body would have still frozen the hands if he brought them into the cold.
All-in-all the man isn't the smartest human being. Some would say it's not a bad thing that he died. Showing a more rationalist point of view would be that man couldn't spread his unimaginative genes over the world. Not to say that the loss of life is a good thing, but the preservation of imagination is important. Hopefully, no one is put in such a dangerous situation in the first place.


text:
Loss Prevention: Protection of Sensitive Information
A lot of countries are experiencing the pinch of the financial crisis. Corporations are experiencing a lot of losses and they want to have an advantage on the competition. Corporations will try to use ethical, and in most instances unethical means to get data they need to gain advantage. Companies are so serious and dedicated to the cause to the point that they are hiring ex-military and government trained personnel in the art of spying. Once they acquired the proprietary data they will be able to use it to their own advantage or sell it to the highest bidder.
A corporation will be able to protect itself from corporate espionage by hiring a security provider that will advise and develop security plans for the company. Hiring a security agency will definitely help in the protection of sensitive date because they have the know-how and trained personnel for the job. There are things that a company must do so that they will not be an easy prey and free from losses.
Identify the sensitive data
There are companies that are not fully aware which data is sensitive and which is not. Identifying which information is sensitive, its risk and impact to the company's security are really important in your security plans.
Weak in handling sensitive information
The company must have a process in handling sensitive information. An example of this is maintaining a paperless environment or shredding the documents after use to reduce of its risk to be easily accessed.
Physical Materials that are used for the sensitive information are not stored in secure places
Physical materials such as keys, security badges and blank forms can be used to gain access to restricted areas. Once the person has access to restricted facilities they can easily get the information they need.
Personnel are not adequately educated of the risk or trained to handle sensitive information
Employees that are not fully aware of the risk and tend to be passive on the security measures of the company. Proper training in handling sensitive information should be done to prevent the risk of the breach of security.
Contracts from third party contractors does not specify the security requirements for sensitive information
Contractors may have access to restricted areas and the risk of information be stolen is high. Contracts should specify the risk involved and a penalty clause should be in the contract in case of breach.
The Need for Security Audits
Absence of security audits will not determine whether the security controls for the sensitive information are effective or not.
We need to remember that any information that is confidential and of high value is considered sensitive. Unauthorized disclosure, alteration or destruction of sensitive will cause losses to the company.
Business Loss Prevention: The importance of Exit Interviews
Why it is a business loss when an employee leaves a company?
Invested trainings and all the company's sensitive information entrusted to that person may be lost to a competitor. The added time and effort of training for a reliever is considered a lost for company, the man-hours given for the training a newbie may be considered for other revenue generating efforts for your company. We have to remember in business-time lost is revenue lost.
Why conduct an Exit Interview?
We may feel that exit interviews are pointless rituals but we can prevent business losses through conducting exit interviews and The departing employee will be able to list the grievances that offer the Security Manager and Operations Manager an opportunity to know the problems, which was unknown. This is also an effective way of gathering information to lessen the attrition rate of a company.
Seven steps in Conducting an Exit Interview
- Be prepared, reading the employee's profile and employee's immediate supervisor.
- The interview must be done privately face to face and on the last day work, for the employee's protection.
- Questions must be straight to the point, so you can get better answers.
- The question should focus on the company's vulnerabilities, an example of questions, which focuses on possible theft, and losses that the company may experience during operation.
- Exit interviews must be done regardless of the employee's rank, to obtain all viewpoints that may cause the attrition.
- The questions must be structured and standardized to all employees but must adapt to the line of work their doing.
- The exit interview questions must be evaluated yearly to adapt the ongoing changes of the company.
When a key employee leaves, try to determine why that employee wants to leave then ask is there anything that the company can do to persuade in leaving. If the employee is determined to leave then remind the employee of the restrictions on the employment contract. Get them to acknowledge this in writing and clarify it if there is any ambiguity.
Duties of Managers to prevent Business Losses
Develop a process for Exit Interviews, so that you will know if there is a problem within the company and rectify it as soon as possible. Learn from that data as it can be useful for employee retention. As a manager, you must be more preventive than reactive when it comes to the security and company losses.
Securing the Safety of Your Business: Hire the Right People II
Last week I posted the importance of hiring the right people for the job. Today, you will have some tips on how to screen an applicant.
How to Screen an applicant?
In screening an applicant, you must read through the applicant's resume and you must conduct interviews. The resume entails all the skills and knowledge of the applicant while the interview verifies it.
Possible Threats during Interview and Screening
1. Gaps in the employment history or the use of "self-employed status"
· It is possible that the applicant is concealing a derogatory record from the past employer. Ask about the "self-employed status" and why there are gaps in the employment history.
2. Inability to remember the names of co-employees or former supervisors
· The Employment history indicated on the resume maybe fake. Your applicant might be lying about the job experiences.
3. Gaps in residence
· The applicant maybe covering up the place of residence that he or she may have a bad record.
4. Lack of job stability
· The applicant may have unsatisfactory working habits. In the interview you may throw questions like why the applicant left the company for just a short span of time or why the applicant always leaves his or her place work.
5. Signs of instability in personal relations
· Your applicant may have anger management issues that may be a threat to the applicant's future co-workers.
After verifying all what is written on the resume, there is also a need to do Profiling and Personal Investigation. This ensures the character of the applicant, and this is part of the screening process to ensure the company security and protection against any future threats.
What is profiling?
In Profiling, the responses are being analyzed thru a questionnaire to check the applicant's reaction to a future critical situation and this is usually done on the second part of the interview.
What is Personal Security Investigation?
This is the process of checking the character, reputation, morals and suitability of the applicant to the position. You can do this by doing a background Investigation on the applicant.
What is Background Investigation?
We may have to check the reputation of the applicant by calling the previous employer, the neighbors and the National Bureau of Investigation. We may the use the social media sites like Facebook and Twitter so we can know the true character of the applicant.
As a Manager:What are you going to do now?
You can implement a system of hiring the right people; to save time and money you may hire a Security and Investigation Agency to assists you on the Profiling and Background Investigation of your applicants, since they are the best people for job. You can hire security consultants as they are also experts when it comes to background investigation and profiling.
Once hired make sure that you will take care of your employees and provide them with what they need to get the job done. You must remember that setting up a system of hiring not only protects your business operation but also protects the future of your business.
Securing the Safety of Your Business: Hire the Right People
Hiring the right people on the job is very important when it comes to the security and stability of your business. Companies are spending lot of time and money hiring the best people but they are only gaining a small percentage of returns from their employees. You may find someone already that you think that is fit for the task but later on finding out that you lost more than you gained.
Why Hiring the Best People is Making your Business Safe?
It is a fact that great financial losses are attributed mainly to lack of skill, knowledge and negligence of employees towards their work. There is a big risk also that you hired an employee that may cause harm than gain. Losses are also incurred when there is a direct participation of employees in theft and sabotage of your operation. You must weed out all the potential risk before they are being employed in your company.
Nobody wants to hire someone who is unreliable and unfit for the job. You can prevent this by screening the applicant. There are unique ways to screen an applicant. Next week I'll be posting tips on how to screen an applicant and possible threats that you may find during the job interview. So have a fun and safe day again!
Safety and Security: Inside and Outside the workplace
Around 5-15 people are feared to be dead and around 160 people are injured in the Fertilizer Plant Explosion in Waco, Texas. No confirmation yet on the cause of the explosion but Texas authorities advised probably that the explosion is caused by an accidental fire.
Accidents do happen unexpectedly and should be everybody's concern. I found this video although funny it is but surely an effective way for someone to remember what he or she needs to do at work and at home. In this clip we are reminded to do the following or else suffering the consequences.
First of all I don't own the video and it was created by napofilm.net and posted in YouTube by Safety8384 Canal. I really love it video for it entails how we as an employee, co-worker and employer must do to prevent any accidents that may happen in the while at work or outside your work area. Security is very important but safety should be everybody's concern. All of our personnel are not just trained in Security but also in Safety.
Use the proper clothing and equipment before starting to work
Proper Personal Protection Equipment should be always used to prevent injury
Proper Eating Habits at Work
Munching on those sweet and soda would add more inches to the waist. Good Eating Habits reduces the risk of disease.
What to do when an equipment is broken?
Employees must report it immediately; accidents happen a lot when the equipment you use is busted.
Supervisors, Managers and Employers; have it fixed if there is a need have it replaced. A greater loss may happen if that is disregarded.
Safety Hazards At Work
Report it! So that proper signs and precautionary measures can be done to prevent any accidents
Driving home
Drive defensively and please do mind the signs.
Eat Healthy and mind the food you eat at home
We all know dieting is one of the most difficult things to do but we need to do it. A healthy diet is one that helps maintain or improve general health. It is thought to be important for lowering health risks, such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and cancer.
Good housekeeping habits are an important part of being safe at the workplace and at home
Why is good housekeeping important?
· To reduce amounts of flammable and combustible materials.
· To reduce ignition hazards.
· To ensure safe emergency evacuation of occupants.
To allow for quick emergency response
Use every tool as how it was designed
Improper usage of any tool may lead to injury,especially if you are using a particular tool for a different purpose.
Avoid connecting wires to sockets that are exposed
Doing this may cause a power blackout or worse death.
Here are some safety tips if your mates are planning a barbeque and some sporty fun…
Find a better way to light your charcoal
Sometimes people use kerosene and lighter fluid.Lighter fluid has a tendency to explode it's safer to find other means to light your coals.
Safety in Sports
Do some warm-ups and stretching before a game. Wear protective gear to prevent injuries.
Wear a Helmet while Riding a Bike
A Helmet will keep your head safe from bumps, bruises and concussions.
Safety Awareness would not be enough to keep you safe, practice the procedures and make it a habit. Keep Safe Everyone
Terrorist Attack: What to do after a Bomb Explodes?
I am deeply saddened on what happened in the Boston Marathon.I saw it in TV and read in the news that around 176 people were injured and three confirmed fatalities. This is a cowardly act which its purposes are to eradicate whoever does not believe in their beliefs and promote widespread fear. Fear halts the daily activities of that country, disrupts commerce and may cause economic dislocation. Terrorism not only attacks people but also the financial stability of a state or country.
Terrorist usually use bombs because they are effective means of massively inflicting death, injury and fear in an area. They are engineered to spread the most amount of shrapnel between two feet to five feet on the ground mainly because is to maximize the chances of hitting standing people.
What to do if there was an explosion?
If the bomb exploded near you, check if you're injured if not get help then evacuate immediately
If you heard an explosion immediately drop and go flat on the ground. Check if you're injured,attend to yourself first before getting help for others.
In a terrorist attack the objective is to maximize the element surprise and inflict more injury, there is a possible of multiple explosions in the next few minutes so get out of that place immediately after getting help.
Don't Run and stay away from the crowd
Running away may injure you more; you may possibly slip or bump other people. Large crowds are common targets for terrorist so stay away from them.
Stay away from glass doors and windows
Glass doors and windows from shops and other buildings are perfect targets for terrorist. When a bomb explodes thousands of flying broken glass can be used to inflict more injury.
Go to a secure place and stay away from its windows
Go back to your hotel or to the place you are staying. Don't forget stay away from glass windows.
Watch and Listen to the News
Knowing whatever advice on the news will help for your safety and security. The news will tell what roads are blocked and places not to go.
Call your friends and family
Tell them what happened and tell them you're OK. Check if the others are safe also.
Make a note of all what you saw before and after it happened.
Write everything that you can remember from the blast and give it to the police. This may help in the investigation
What you have just encountered will be too much for you. Keep something that will comfort you and relieve the stress. Pray, play your favorite music or anything that will keep you calm. If you are a foreigner, call your embassy and let them know if you're OK or need some assistance and where you are.
Just always remember Danger never takes a vacation and Safety never takes a holiday. Everyone have a safe day!
A safe and secure way of going home late at night
When the BPO and the call center industry came to a boom in the Philippines a lot of Filipina women go home from a mid-shift or at a late night shift. As a result; a lot robbers, thieves and rapist are on the prowl, choosing their next female victim. We must be extra cautious when we walk the streets at night, be aware of your surroundings and the people you will meet. Below are some best practices that you may do to be safe and secure.
Before going to work, plan how you're going to get home
You can take a cab or you can just take a safe and familiar route thru jeep or bus. In the Philippines; company cabs have radios, which their main base would make a roll call every now and then to check on their units if it was hijacked or car napped. Other Filipino cab companies have GPS and emergency alarm systems that signals their main Headquarters if they are in trouble. Company cabs will also give you receipts with their customer service numbers also. If you were not able to get a company cab, just check plate number on the body and on plate if they will match. Then take note of it and text or message a friend or family at home the plate number of the taxi that you will ride, you can do this also on any cab just to be safe.
Be with a male companion or companions
Try to have a lot of guy friends at work that can help you out when going home. Go home in packs, there is strength in numbers. You can ask your husband, fiancee or brother to help you go home also. I believe they will think twice because they rarely attack a woman with a male companion.
Always secure your handbag
I definitely know that a woman's bag is her life. All of her valuables are there cell phone, favorite make up and money. Thieves will target you on busy streets, buses, trains and while taking the stairs. They can use your information from your ID and go to your house and might do a home invasion. Make it well secured underneath your arms. They will be very fast, so be aware of your surroundings.
Don't attract attention to yourself which may put you at risk
When going out of the house whether it is for work or out clubbing, avoid wearing flashy jewelry or wear clothes that are too revealing. Yeah I know you want to be sexy and beautiful but you can still relay the same message across by wearing less jewelry and less revealing attires that are very appealing.
Learn and Train to do defend yourself
Learn self defense and make yourself strong .If your physically fit you can able to put off minor attacks and be sexy at the same time.
Just always remember Danger never takes a vacation. Always be Safe!
Having Fun and Traveling Safely with the Family
It's Summer Fun in the Philippines again and the best way to do this summer is to travel to exciting places. Whether you're going to stay to the beach, or go to the exotic parks. Surely you want to get most of that experience and have a safe and secure trip. An easy way to do that is just follow these simple steps.
Preperation before the Trip
- Do a research on your Destination. In this way we will know if there are hazards to expect in the area and how much you'll spending for the trip. Check also the emergency numbers in the area.
- Leave a note or tell a trusted family member about the trip. This way people will try to find you just in case something happens to you during the trip.
- If you're going to travel by Car always remember BLOWBAG check the ff: Brakes, Lights, Oil, Water, Battery, Air, and Gas
If you are going to Travel by Road
- Always wear your seat-belt. If you're traveling with a child instruct them how to use the seat-belt
- Drive defensively; there is no need to rush as long you're going to arrive safe and sound.
- Don't leave your child alone in the vehicle; accidents happen a lot in situations like this.
While at the Airport and on the Plane
- Check also for any airline or airport regulation requirement for toddlers and kids.
- Explain carefully the security and safety procedures to your kids, instruct them to cooperate
- Tell your children NO BOMB JOKES or false threats about security issues.
What to do While In The Hotel
- Potential Hazards needs to be checked: sharp corners of the furniture, open wires and electrical outlets.
- Find the ff: Fire Exits and Fire Extinguishers in your room.
- Orient the kids what to do in case of emergency inside the hotel.
- Hazardous items, keep it off limits to kids
- Supervise your children inside the Hotel.
While you and the kids start to have fun
- Keep your children with in your reach; supervise them during bio-breaks,crossing the street, on the swimming pools and especially on large crowds.
- Set ground rules for teenagers: curfews and safety issues.
- Instruct your kids to go to an agreed place and stay there when they get lost. They can call you or message on the cellular phone.
- Provide them with notes with your number in their pockets so they can contact you.
- Play areas should be checked with potential hazards: sharp edges openings which they may get stuck or cut.
- Orient the kids not to talk or take anything from strangers
- If there is a need for it, provide your kids with proper safety equipment while playing
You and your things
- Always make sure your things are within your sights and reach.
- Your valuables should be separated to your other things and wear them close to your body in different places. This will be difficult for thieves and pickpockets to find them.
- Try to create copies of all your important documents and store them separately from the originals. Hotels usually has a safe, you can also place your important documents there for safekeeping.
- Try to avoid large crowds if possible. Large Crowds may be used as a target for terrorist. Pickpockets use large crowds to find their victims and use its confusion when they strike at they prey.
Just keep in mind that you can have all the fun you want just as long you keep it safe.
Our Services
- Armed and Unarmed Security Guard
- VIP Protection
- Security Survey & Audit
- Background Investigation
- Surveillance
- Installation of CCTV Cameras and Digital Video Security Systems
Our Company Profile
Our firm was organized on November 19, 2005 under the name AQUILLANS SECURITY & INVESTIGATION SERVICES, INC.
As we pursue business stability, growth and profitability, we adhere to and maintain professional ethics towards our customer and business engagement based on fairness, justice, trust and confidence
The company is guided by its corporate policy of providing security service with the highest level of standard. Protecting its client's interest is the foundation of the business as reflected in the corporate motto. It is the company's commitment to protect and live up to the image of professionalism and integrity.
- To be the leading service provider in the field of industrial security;
- We will act and transform this vision in reality on account of our commitment of quality and excellence in all aspects of operations;
- To our customers / clients, by satisfying security and safety requirement and at the chance of exceeding them;
- To our guards, by providing them a competitive and stable job; improve standard of living through competent employment benefits and considering their personal and professional needs;
- To our nation, by upholding peace and stability in our respective detachments by promoting an atmosphere for growth and progress.
- To withstand and boost the achievement of our clients, by providing visibly excellence security and investigation services with integrity and dynamism.
- We will live to be the best in all aspect of our company services by observing and forming an institution of conviction, solidarity, responsibility, superior expectation and open communication with our guards, investigators, clients and allied companies.
- We satisfy our client for our immediate action to their problems endorse to us.
- Providing quality service and we shall train and develop our field personnel to be the best.
- Upholding, the values of integrity, unity, professionalism, loyalty and career growth.


text:
"When Russians asked about the American sanctions, my reply was, 'Yes, we do appreciate that there could be sanctions on us, but we follow an independent policy. You can rest assured. While we may be associating with America in getting some technology, we follow an independent policy,'" Rawat said on Sunday, as quoted by the ANI news agency.
READ MORE: India's S-400 Purchase: Russia is 'Very Important Defense-Related' Ally — Prof
The general also pointed out that India sought the purchases of the Russian-made Kamov helicopters.
"We are also looking forward to getting other weapon systems and technologies. We are looking forward to getting space-based systems and technologies to enhance our space capabilities," Rawat added.
On Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Sputnik that Russia and India had signed a historic agreement on the supplies of S-400s to New Delhi. The United States voiced its concern over the Indian plans to purchase the S-400 systems, noting that sanctions over the deal could not be ruled out.


text:
Team gets ready for final tourney
March 1, 2017
The Green River High School Speech and Debate Team is preparing for its final regular-season tournament.
This past weekend the team was scheduled to attend the Greybull Tournament, but due to weather conditions, the team stayed home.
"We had the kids come in on Saturday and practice and we have real momentum going. I don't feel like missing Greybull hurt us," head coach Carina White said.
Even though the team didn't make it to the Greybull Tournament, they are pushing ahead and looking forward to the Worland Tournament, which will take place this weekend.
It's one of the bigger to...
For access to this article please sign in or subscribe.


text:
Just like rewarding your pup for doing something good.. It is now time for you to be Rewarded!
We are now giving our customers the ability to earn Paw Points. Our Paw Points can be applied towards any of our services, such as Daycare, Sleepovers or Training.
So how can you start receiving Paw Points?
It's easy, start by referring your friends, family and colleagues. Anytime someone signs up for one of our services, have them mention your name and we will apply Paw Points to your CCC account.
In addition to referrals, we will also give out Paw Points throughout the year on social media for special contests and giveaways. So if you do not follow us on social media, it may be a good time to start!
Think you may have received Paw Points already?
Click Here to login to view your Paw Points Balance


text:
The wharf garden planting project goes from strength to strength and is attracting much positive comment from visitors to the village. We need more 'wet' volunteers to assist with the watering during the summer. (Not very busy so far this year!) Contact your Clerk on 01654 767816, or Cllr Bob Tyrrell on 01654 767350 (please leave a message on voicemail if needs and you will be called back) if you would like to join our enthusiastic volunteers and help maintain the plantings and by the sound of it, have some fun at the same time.
<< back to news items


text:
Applying the same technology used by Mars exploration rovers or NASA to send home panoramic pictures measured in gigapixels, GigaPan Systems has created GigaPan Epic for the ordinary user. The standard point-and-shoot digital camera, when mounted on this robotic mount, can take high-resolution epic pictures. The GigaPan Epic has already been used to photograph President Barack Obama's historic inauguration and the fascinating view of the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge.
The GigaPan Epic automates the picture-taking process when a camera is mounted on it and the boundaries of the landscape are specified. Then the images are downloaded to a computer where the GigaPan Stitcher app will stitch the series of photos together to create a seamless panorama. The GigaPan Viewer allows users to focus on individual faces for detail. These photos can be shared online with friends and family via GigaPan. For $379, the GigaPan Epic can empower ordinary users to take larger than life epic photos with just an ordinary camera.