PocketMonsters.net is a fansite dedicated to all things Pokémon (ポケモン) and Pocket Monsters (ポケットモンスター). We are the premier site for news and information about all aspects of the franchise from around the world. We cover the Anime, indexing the music, the Trading Card Game, the Games, the variety shows, have a large imageboard, forum and much more. Follow us on Twitter and Subscribe to our RSS Feed for the latest updates!
For a listing of all the latest site updates, visit the content index page or the site update log.
Aiming to become a Pokémon Master, he continues his travels alongside his partner Pikachu.
He has a strong sense of justice and an honest soul.
A cheerful and spirited girl that loves Water Pokémon more than anything else.
The "older brother" of the group.
by the ego of a human that wanted to create the strongest Pokémon ever.
Mewtwo, the Pokémon that's a legend to everyone, is evolving further and returning once again.
This movie saw me waking my internal "Mewtwo soul" back up to perform the role.
This year's "Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution", ressurrected after 21 years, is the first ever Pokémon movie to be animated entirely in full 3DCG.
both those of you that saw the first movie and those of you that didn't!
Come, come to the theater!
and which whereabouts Pokémon researchers all over the world are seeking for.
Since I was also hosting Oha Suta back when "Pocket Monsters the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back" premiered, I experienced how much of a social phenomenon the movie became both as an actor and as a marketer.
I feel like this is going to be an all new Pokémon movie even though we're actually back at the starting point... I'm very much looking forward to it.
I think this movie will remain in the hearts of both those that watched it way back then and the children watching it for the first time, and I really hope this will be the case.
I'm a bit worried about whether or not I'm still able to do the Mew voice, but I'll try my best with those high tones!!
Manages the wharf, and is very familiar with the sea due to growing up by a port.
I feel extremely happy to once again be able to take part in "Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution" after 21 long years.
The original movie was a movie that nurtured kindness and sympathy, and that moved lots of children with its adventure featuring their beloved Pokémon and friends.
I really want both those that were children back then, and for the children living in the present, to make sure they catch this legendary Pokémon movie, which has now undergone a further evolution, in the theater!!
Ryan Reynolds has posted a casting audition room trailer on his YouTube channel. The trailer showcases multiple Pokémon that will make appearances in the movie which will be released on May 10th 2019 in North America. Also confirmed in the trailer was that a Detective Pikachu promo card will be distributed to those that purchase a movie ticket.
Let the entire world know of this.
About the ultimate starting point.
The mythical Pokémon Mew is said to only show itself to adventurers who possess both "a pure heart and a strong desire to meet it". It is said to be the "origin" of all Pokémon, and as Pokémon researchers all over the world seek its whereabouts, a scientist finally discovers a Mew fossil and starts tempting God, involving himself in a forbidden act based around said fossil.
"Where is this? Who am I...?"
A legendary Pokémon born unto this world by the ego of a human that wanted to create a strong Pokémon. Its name is even Mewtwo. And as Mewtwo, serving as the ultimate weapon, repeatedly carried out experiments without even understanding why it existed, it harbored a hatred towards the human that had birthed it.
"I hereby strike back at the mankind that birthed me!"
At long last, the complete, immortal masterpiece STRIKES BACK all over the world in full 3DCG the summer of 2019!!
The official Pokémon website has announced that a new English dub season will start in March 2019 in North America and it is called Pokémon the Series: Sun and Moon Ultra Legends. It will air first in Canada on Teletoon starting on March 2nd, 2019.
Ash and Pikachu's adventures in the Alola region continue when Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon—Ultra Legends debuts.
Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon—Ultra Legends, the 22nd season of the animated series, is set to debut soon. This new season continues the adventures of Ash and Pikachu in the Alola region, alongside Professor Kukui and all their friends from the Pokémon School. Of course, you can expect our heroes to encounter all sorts of colorful new characters and many wonderful Pokémon during this season, and you can bet that Team Rocket will be there to cause trouble!
Check out the trailer for the new season above, and look for Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon—Ultra Legends to premiere on Disney XD on March 23, 2019. Canadian fans can catch it on Teletoon on March 2, 2019.
Nintendo announced that a Pokémon Direct would take place on February 27th, 2019 at 9am EST / 6am PST as part of Pokémon Day. During that Pokémon Direct, Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield were announced. High resolution images from the press release have been added to an Imageboard thread.
London, United Kingdom—February 27, 2019—During a Pokémon Direct presentation today, Tsunekazu Ishihara, president and CEO of The Pokémon Company, announced Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield, the newest additions to the main series of Pokémon role-playing video games. Developed by GAME FREAK inc., Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield will be launching late 2019 exclusively on the Nintendo Switch™ system.
The Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield games take place in the Galar region. Galar is an expansive region with diverse environments— an idyllic countryside, contemporary cities, thick forest, and craggy, snow-covered mountains. The people and the Pokémon who live there work together closely to develop the industries in the region. Fans will have the opportunity to visit various Gyms in the Galar region in their quest to become Champion. They will not be alone, since the newly discovered Pokémon they choose to be their first partner will be by their side.
The adventure begins in Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield when players choose one of three new Pokémon—Grookey, Scorbunny, or Sobble. Grookey, a Grass-type Chimp Pokémon, is mischievous and full of boundless curiosity. Bursting with energy, Scorbunny, a Fire-type Rabbit Pokémon, is always running about. The stealthy Sobble, a Water-type Water Lizard Pokémon, shoots out attacks as it hides itself in water.
The 2nd official trailer for Pokémon Detective Pikachu was published on February 26th, 2019 by Warner Bros. Pictures on their official YouTube channel.
The first-ever live-action Pokémon movie, "POKÉMON Detective Pikachu" stars Ryan Reynolds as the titular character in the first-ever live-action movie based on the iconic face of the global Pokémon brand—one of the world's most popular, multi-generation entertainment properties and most successful media franchises of all time.
"POKÉMON Detective Pikachu" also stars Justice Smith ("Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom") as Tim; Kathryn Newton ("Lady Bird," TV's "Big Little Lies") as Lucy, a junior reporter following her first big story; and Oscar nominee Ken Watanabe ("Godzilla," "The Last Samurai") as Lt. Yoshida.
Directed by Rob Letterman ("Goosebumps," "Monsters Vs. Aliens"), the "POKÉMON Detective Pikachu" creative filmmaking team includes two-time Oscar nominated director of photography John Mathieson ("The Phantom of the Opera," "Gladiator"), production designer Nigel Phelps ("Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Lies") and Oscar-winning editor Mark Sanger ("Gravity"). Visual effects are by Moving Picture Company ("Wonder Woman") and Framestore ("Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2").
Launched in 1996 to overwhelming response, the Pokémon brand is a global sensation that now encompasses a robust video gaming fandom with over 300 million units sold worldwide; the Pokémon Trading Card Game available in 11 languages with more than 23.6 billion cards shipped; an animated television series in its 21st season that is available in more than 160 countries; and over 20 animated films; as well as books, manga comics, music, toys, merchandise, and apps, including the wildly popular Pokémon GO, that has been downloaded over 850 million times and is enjoyed across the globe by fans of all ages.
"POKÉMON Detective Pikachu" is set for release on Friday, May 10, 2019.
The film will be distributed outside of Japan and China by Warner Bros. Pictures, in Japan by Toho Company, Ltd. and by Legendary East in China.
Ryan Reynolds also posted a video entitled Becoming Pikachu that features him and his wife Blake Lively talking about his role of becoming Pikachu. It is a spoof video though based on the show Inside the Actors Studio to promote the Pokémon Detective Pikachu movie.


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Madura Microfinance
Written By ADITYA
Experienced Entrepreneur with a demonstrated history of working in the internet industry.
Incorporated in 2006, Madura Micro Finance Ltd (Madura) commenced its microfinance business in late 2006 by extending loans to self-help groups promoted by Micro Credit Foundation of India.
The company operates in the rural areas of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry; Madura had nearly 2 lakh borrowers and a loan portfolio of Rs.175 crore as on September 30, 2013.
Performance on key parameters
Loan portfolio grew to Rs.151 crore as on March 31, 2013, from Rs.106 crore as on March 31, 2012, a year-on-year growth of around 42 percent, after a brief period of consolidation. The company's ability to maintain growth rate and market share over the medium term will be critical
30+ dpd has stabilized at less than 1 percent after increasing following the Andhra Pradesh crisis
Has relationships with more than 15 lenders as on March 31, 2013; also raises funds through securitization on a regular basis
Adequately capitalized for the current and planned scale of operations, with a net worth of Rs.61 crore and gearing of 1.9 times as on March 31, 2013
Profitability is above the industry average, with a return on managed assets of 3.5 percent during 2012-13. Profitability is supported by low operating expense
MADURA MICROFINANCE DATA
Capitalization, Profitability, Portfolio size and growth of Madura Microfinance over the last three years.
Other Minor features of Companies Act 2013
Banks restructure loans for MFI's, reduce interest rate to 12% – ND4

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Geoff Richardson (born 7 December 1956) is an Australian former cricketer. He played 15 first-class cricket matches for Victoria between 1982 and 1985.

See also
 List of Victoria first-class cricketers

References

External links

1956 births
Living people
Australian cricketers
Victoria cricketers
Cricketers from Melbourne

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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The final run of the V & T railroad
Although this wasn't the final run of the V & T Railroad in 1950, this freight train chugs through Washoe Valley.
With farewell ceremonies confined to exercises conducted by school children at Steamboat, the Virginia & Truckee railroad will make its final run Wednesday morning.
Historic engine No. 27, out of retirement since her twin No. 26 was destroyed by fire earlier in the month, will pull the train on its early morning haul out of Reno, down to Minden, then back here in the late afternoon.
STEAMBOAT STOP
On the afternoon trip the train will stop at Steamboat where D. Edna Carver has arranged for school children to recite poetry and sing a farewell song or two. The children are from the Brown-Washoe school, descendants of families who have heard the mournful "toot" of the V&T whistles for long remembered years.
That will happen about 5:30 p.m. Afterwards, Engineer Bill Recker and Fireman Grover Russell will head the engine for the barn, and 81 years of service to the public will be ended for the historic shortline. The melancholy sound of the whistle on old 27 will be heard for a few days longer, however, as rolling equipment is hauled back and forth for storage in Carson.
Mob scenes are expected at the Southern Pacific depot Wednesday morning when the train starts to pull out. Hundreds of California people have shown an interest in taking the final ride. Estimates of the number who might seek to board the train range as high as 500.
Only 60 seats were available on a first come-first served basis.
For several days now the sale of tickets for the last run has been heavy and Gordon Sampson, vice president and general manager, last week urged that local people make their last rides early and avoid the crush. It was also announced that tickets were being sold on a "good for date of sale only" basis. Many Western Nevadans heeded the advice. The others will have to compete with visiting Californians for the sixty seats.
ENGINE REPAIRED
Engine 27 was resurrected to serve during the last few days of operation by special order of the Interstate Commerce commission. Retired under an ICC edict in 1948 the engine had been stored in the Carson shops. When engine 26 burned, Mr. Samson applied for, and received permission to put 27 to work again.
Ed. C. Peterson, retired master mechanic, donned his overalls and jumper, washed out boilers, added new parts and put on a smoke-stack and the engine was on the line once more.
To accommodate the 60 passengers who will be able to make the last ride, benches were placed in the baggage compartment.


Erica and Jon Marc had such a picturesque and classic Philadelphia October wedding day. Each location they chose was so quintessential historic Philly- from their getting ready location at the Logan Hotel, their first look location along the historic and quaint Quince Street, to their garden portraits outside the College of Physicians- all these spots highlight the historical beauty that the city has to offer. Erica's details- like her timeless beautiful blush bouquet and simple greenery made for the perfect juxtaposition against bold elements like her adventurous gold sparkle heels, her gorgeous striking engagement ring, the fine floral detailing on her BHLDN gown that fit the day and Erica's look so well, and art deco inspired graphics. We also loved that Erica chose a patterned dress for her bridesmaids- something a little bit out of the box that really made her wedding day unique! We also loved that these two mixed their Italian and Jewish traditions- having both a rabbi and a priest at under the chuppah at their ceremony.
Our lead associate photographer, Keristin, had such a blast capturing their day alongside an amazing team of vendors and such a sweet and fun couple! Congrats Erica and Jon Marc! It was such a pleasure capturing the start of this new chapter of your lives!


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Mondal feels atmosphere at Bengaluru FC perfect for his growth
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], July 21 (ANI): West Bengal-born defender Hira Mondal caught everyone's attention with his assured performances for SC East Bengal in the Indian Super League (ISL) last season.
The 25-year-old was among the top Indian defenders at SC East Bengal last season and was the shining light in an otherwise disappointing season for the red and gold brigade.
He had the highest number of interceptions for a SC East Bengal player (29) and played 16 times for the Kolkata outfit in his debut season.
Mondal's performances earned him a move to Bengaluru FC this summer and he will now be part of the Blues' rejuvenated squad ahead of the upcoming ISL season.
"Bengaluru FC are a big club and the most successful club in India over the last ten years. A lot of players from this club play for the Indian national team. So, I thought that if I want to progress and achieve my goals, the atmosphere at Bengaluru FC is perfect for that," said Hira Mondal as per the ISL website.
"It was a difficult decision for me as SC East Bengal are a big club too. I was a local player as well so it was a tough decision but I decided to move out of the city to make progress in my career," he added.
The defender further said he feels very pleased and fortunate to have got a chance to share the dressing room with Sunil Chhetri.
"It is a dream of every Indian player to train and play with Sunil Chhetri. I have also dreamt of playing with him. I feel very pleased and fortunate to have got a chance to share the dressing room with him," said Mondal.
"He has played so many matches, scored so many goals and has such experience in the game that I have a lot to learn from him. I'm looking forward to start training and meeting him," Mondal added. (ANI)
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text:
Cox targets gangs, promises spending cuts
Premier Paula Cox set out her Government's priorities in this morning's Throne Speech
Byline info is not available
Friday, November 5, 2010 9:33 AM
Premier Paula Cox, escorted by Opposition Leader Kim Swan, makes her way from the House of Assembly to the gazebo where the Governor delivered the Throne Speech. *Photo by Kageaki Smith
Flanked by officials, and in time-honoured fashion, Governor Sir John Vereker is pictured leaving the Cabinet Building, on his way to deliver the Throne Speech. *Photo by Kageaki Smith
FRIDAY, NOV. 5: A new Gang Task Force to fight escalating gun crime has been established as part of Premier Paula Cox's platform for Bermuda.
Ms Cox in her first Throne Speech — just over a week after taking over as Premier from Dr. Ewart Brown — set out the priorities of her new Government.
The speech outlined a series of policy initiatives and legislative reforms, including the Task Force, which will fall under the remit of Colonel David Burch's new National Security Ministry.
Ms Cox's speech, read by Governor Sir Richard Gozney at the official opening of parliament this morning, also unveiled potential plans for a second Police Support Unit — the street squad that executes warrants and conducts stop-and-search blockades.
The Gang Task Force will be made up of 'relevant stakeholders' — likely to include representatives from police, customs and prisons, among others.
It will work with the U.S. Consul in a "coordinated effort" at "apprehending those responsible for gun crime and discouraging those at risk from joining that destructive lifestyle".
A High Risk Adolescent Intervention Team will also be formed in a bid to help youngsters at risk of being recruited by gangs to take a different path.
Sir Richard, dressed in his official garb — a white military suit with hat and feathers, outlined Ms Cox's policy plan in front of all members of Parliament, assembled dignitaries and crowds of onlookers on the Cabinet lawn this morning.
The speech contained broad brushstrokes, with Ms Cox and her ministers likely to provide more detail in a series of press conferences starting this afternoon.
A commitment to improve "teacher quality" through a plan to introduce "Master Principals" as models of effective leadership was also announced.
Ms Cox promised more independence for schools and a greater "structure for accountability" within the education system.
Jumpstarting the economy was a key theme of the speech.
Ms Cox acknowledged that Government needed to "live within its means" and committed to "restrain growth in spending and effect savings of at least $150million in the first year."
The speech highlighted the new Procurement, Contracts and Project Management Office as a way of achieving the cutbacks.
The office will be responsible for tendering major capital projects to ensure value for money and is expected to provide: "enhanced oversight and greater compliance in the area of public service delivery".
Additional funding for the Auditor General to have its own "independent counsel" was also promised — a sign, perhaps, of greater cooperation with the financial watchdog, that has highlighted major concerns over the Government's handling of some capital projects.
New Economic Empowerment Zones will be established in St George's and Sandys, and an Equal Pay Act will be brought to Parliament.
"The role of Government is to help its citizens in times of need and to devise a framework that supports the honest work of its people," said Sir Richard, reading from Ms Cox's speech.
An overhaul of the Bermuda Immigration and Protection Act of 1956 was also promised with the new department of Economy, Trade and Industry expected to take a lead role in ensuring Bermudians are trained to take key jobs in the workplace.
A commitment to extend tax protection legislation for International Business to 2035 was also included in a bid to reassure Bermuda's key industry.
"We must do everything we can to protect our lead in this area," read Sir Richard.
Reform of the health insurance system through changes to regulatory requirements is also in the pipeline.
"By 2012 more affordable options will be available to the public."
Other commitments included a new war memorial on Cabinet grounds, moves to protect Bermuda's coral reefs, a review of the civil service and a new "water supply and servicing master plan".
Ms Cox's speech concluded: "As a new season unfolds in Bermuda's political landscape there remains a need for common effort in pursuit of a common purpose. We must strive for harmony in our discourse and not disagree for the sake of disagreement. The community is tired of that and wants a country that is prepared to have all hands on deck pulling in the same direction.
"That which divides us cannot be allowed to trump that which unites us."
Sir Richard added a few words of his own wishing the new administration success in their "fundamental goals".
He added: "I have in mind their emphasis on public confidence in Government, on the widest look at social questions and on the need for sustainable support to the essential services."
Read the Throne Speech in full
THRONE SPEECH: LIVE!
2010 Throne Speech
The Cox era begins
Who's who in Cox's new look Cabinet
Cox's urgent 'to do' list
Dignitaries dazzle in Throne Speech fashion spectacle
Minister hints at protection for gays
Think Cox is a pushover? Not a chance
UBP reply to the Throne Speech


How can the body movement of a violinist inform a performative interpretation?
Can the qualities of mimetic gesture, dance, and poetry be assimilated into baroque violin bowing through an embodied interpretation of a musical score?
An embodied understanding of musical performance also gave rise to the analytical perspective of 'Soundist' and 'Gesturist' performance strategies, two poles which I employ in the process of interpretation-finding. The results of the video analysis are presented in 'video essays', which discuss these and other questions through the embodied knowledge of musicians in performance. The projects are divided into three video groups, each with a specific case study, a structure which reflects my attempt to distinguish and categorize the different kinaesthetic sources of violinists' expressive movements through the fields of mimetic action, dance and poetic imagery.
The thesis takes advantage of the specific possibilities of the website format, integrating the video essays not just as complementary examples to the written text, but as a main means for argumentation, analysis, and discussion. The issues discussed in the video essays are further unpacked in texts with music examples, analyses of scores, comparative illustrations of body movements, and audio examples. Analytical texts, constructed in several layers, follow each video essay, progressing from practical observations to theoretical implications of each study.
The thesis eventually proposes that a full understanding of musical performance of scored music can be understood as 'embodied interpretation', through which the intricate relations between embodied experience and musical structure can be activated.


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Direction Map Travel Time LatLong Flight D Flight T HowFar Route TripCost
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30.6CO2Go
5 H 10 M Go
How far is Reims from horsham
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Total Driving Distance Travelled is 464 Km
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27.719 kcal
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Day 1 : horsham » Reims
464 Mi Km (5 hrs 10 mins) 57 mins
How far is Reims from Horsham?
FAQ about How Far is Reims from horsham
Reims to horsham are 464 Km by road. You can also find the Distance from Reims to horsham using other travel options like bus, subway, tram, train and rail
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The shortest road distance between Reims to horsham is 464 Km. You can also find the flight distance or distance to fly from Reims to horsham. Check map and driving Directions from Reims to horsham helping you find the destination easier.
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The road driving distance between Reims to horsham is 464 Km. Depending on the vehicle you choose to travel, you can calculate the amount of CO2 emissions from your vehicle and assess the environment impact. Check our Fuel Price Calculator to estimate the trip cost.
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The return distance between Reims to horsham is 464 Km. You can also try a different route while coming back by adding multiple destinations. You can use our travel planner to plan your Travel from Reims to horsham.
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Gillian Sisley
Your news source for viral content about complex relationships, society, and culture.
I Classically Nabbed my High School Crush Who Was "Way Out of My League"
Gillian Sisley 2021-02-11
This love story is straight out of a blockbuster rom-com.
Photo by moren hsu on Unsplash
Let me set the scene for you — picture your every day, North American high school.
The new school year has begun, and students flood back in. A young, somewhat chunky brunette with a bob and glasses walks into the school in skinny jeans, a graphic T and a pair of high-top Converse. This is her unofficial school uniform — she's certainly not popular by any means, and really only keeps to herself and a few close friends. Actually, she's still in classes with a lot of the people who bullied her in junior high. She can't wait to get out of this place and never have to see any of their b*itchy faces ever again!
Photo by Camila Damásio on Unsplash
No matter how hard she tried in junior high, she simply could never be anything other than herself — so she never fit in. Because she was intrinsically quirky and creative, and those generally weren't traits to have to be popular.
And just to clarify, we're not talking "cute quirky" either, like "Zooey Deschanel" quirky. We're talking weird, outcast, a little out-there quirky — she spent most of her time in school animatedly painting in art class or scribbling short stories in her notebooks while not paying attention to lectures.
The "moment" the crush appears.
I remember that it was pretty early into the school year when I saw him — I was in the 11th grade, and I was walking down the halls to class. He was walking with a group of friends, and I had to do a double-take because I couldn't believe this was the same guy I had seen in the halls before.
And trust me, I wasn't the only one looking.
You know those scenes in movies when a kind of plain-joe comes back from summer vacation and just has this totally different "quality" to him? Suddenly, all the girls who were looking past this guy are turning heads to see him walk by? This was him, the male main lead in our story,
He'd always had a sweet face with a cute quality — I remember thinking this about him when I saw him around in general the previous year. But during the summer, he must have dropped something like 50+ pounds (he was a pretty big guy)— and suddenly that "cute" face was replaced with a chiselled jawline and an undeniably handsome disposition.
He looked less like a boy, and more like a man.
Damn, he was stunning. I, on the other hand, was not. So while other girls chatted him up, with his newly developed manliness and his new wardrobe which was seemingly now free of over-sized t-shirts and baggy jeans — I admired from afar. I would never get a guy like that.
Not a girl like me.
He was that stereotypically "nice guy" with painfully dashing looks. And it wasn't fair.
Think back on your time in school — there are a very few, select people who you can remember who were just incredibly nice people. Even though they hung out with the popular crew, they were still just kind and humble.
He was a floater — could seamlessly fit into any group at any time and was welcomed with open arms. He was an easy character to be around, with a gentle disposition and a warm smile. He never had one bad thing to say about anyone. He was a quintessentially nice guy.
He was also a senior, so after a year of watching from afar and glancing at him sheepishly in the halls as I passed his locker, he graduated from our school.
Another summer came and went, and I would return to school in a few new sets of skinny jeans, graphic Ts and Converse for the new school year.
I was going to miss seeing his face in the halls.
Enter the "damn, that sucks" moment for our heroine (aka. me).
I returned to school to animated chatter in our classrooms. A few girls in our classes had started dating new guys, but I honestly didn't pay much attention to any of it.
A few gaggles of girls, who I had traumatic memories of being bullied by, were all up in sorts, looking at pictures of the senior prom that took place right before the summer.
One of the girls, in particular, was showing off pictures of her dress and the date she'd gone with — he was a year older, and they had begun dating a few weeks before school ended…
Yup. You guessed it.
There he was, in a picture with her, with his blown-back hair and his hipster Ray-Ban glasses and a stunningly handsome black tux.
Man, that stung. Stung so f*cking much. More than I ever thought it could.
Because this girl he was dating — she tormented me in junior high. I borderline loathed her and she just wasn't a good person. And he was so damn sweet… how could he choose her, of all people!?
I hated it… and I specifically remember thinking, "Damn… if that b*tch can get a guy like that, what the hell is wrong with me?"
I looked over at her, in her jubilant happiness because she'd nabbed the most incredible guy in the world, and thought to myself,
"You just wait and see… all of you. I'll get a good one, and I'll shock you all with how amazing he is! You'll be jealous!"
Fast forward to the "meet-cute" years later.
Four years pass.
I no longer care whether the girls who bullied me in school will be jealous of the person whom I date — I deleted every single one of them off of all my social media accounts literally the day after graduation and it was amazing.
I went on to study at university for a bachelor's degree. I studied abroad in China and South Korea for a few months, travelled to Japan, and made a real adventure of my post-secondary years.
By this point, I had updated my fashion sense somewhat. I swapped my little brown bob for long blond hair, my graphic Ts for cardigans and my Converse for leather ankle boots — you know, classic university-style from stores like H&M.
Photo by Caleb George on Unsplash
Until recently, I'd been working at a hardware store part-time. The store closed down, and most of the employees left, while others transferred to different stores. It was the summer after graduating from university, and just before starting my Advanced Diploma program in Public Relations.
I was hanging out with one of my girl-friends who I'd worked with at the hardware store, and was lamenting about how so many of my school friends had moved back home or away (my best friend moved to Montreal to study her Masters in Opera), and so essentially I was feeling like going into this new school year was going to be extremely lonely.
"Well hey, how about this", she begins, driving us to our favourite Chinese restaurant in her Volkswagen GTI. "Some friends of mine live in this house together outside of town — they're friends from work, at the new hardware store I transferred to when ours closed down. They're having a party this weekend at their place — we call it the Frat House — you should come."
I wasn't really in the mood to make new friends, but hey, why not? I certainly wasn't the "party-type", but this sounded like it would be an interesting time.
She said she would pick me up and drive me there.
Fast-forward to the day of the party. My friend texts me saying she has two of the guys in tow, and will arrive shortly. I'm wearing my bikini (the Frat House had a pool) under a white sleeveless button-up and a pair of turquoise lacy shorts. I don't know if I was dressed to impress, but I was dressed for something.
She pulls up to my parent's driveway, and I slip into the backseat behind the front passenger. I introduce myself to the guy on my left, and as we're pulling out of the driveway, my friend says as she indicates to the guy in the passenger seat, "You guys might already know each other — he went to school with us, and his ex was one of your classmates."
It felt like time literally slowed to a halt as I watched him slowly turn his head to look back at me and introduce himself.
I honestly almost shit myself right then and there.
Not only had he become far more incomprehensibly handsome than in high school, but DAMN you could grate cheese on that jawline it was so sharp! And is that a half-sleeve of tattoos on his left arm? Lord have mercy.
I couldn't believe that, of all people to be sitting in that front seat, it was him — my high school crush.
And he was even further out of my league than ever before.
Cut to the scene where the heroine makes an utter fool of herself (obviously).
So I'm at this party and I'm definitely not cool enough to be there, but I'm thinking I'll make the most of it. More than anything… I want to talk to my past crush, even if it's only some small talk.
Hell, who am I kidding? He's 100% my current crush and utter heartthrob who I'll be daydreaming about for the rest of my life. DAMMIT.
I was kind of sticking out like a sore thumb. All I could do to calm my nerves was drink, so I did… I drank a lot. I drank until I had the courage to walk right up to my crush, trying to act super chill and laid back to start a low-key conversation.
Only, I wasn't any of those things, because for some horribly awful reason I thought being "chill" meant screaming in his literal face, "I WANT TO GO IN THE POOL!"
He stared at me, a little taken aback, and said, completely deadpan, "Then go in the pool."
Cue scurrying off, hiding behind a corner, and legitimately putting my face in my hands out of embarrassment and saying out loud to myself, "Oh my God, what the f*ck was that? What is wrong with me?"
You could say I won him over with my charm and adorable quirkiness.
Despite the fact that I verbally assaulted one of the main members of the friend group, they kept me around (even adding me to their infamous group chat).
I figured out really quick that this group of friends were seriously just incredibly down-to-Earth, good-hearted people. Most of them worked as truckers or laborers, and there were a few drinking problems here and there, but honestly, everyone had a heart of gold, and they didn't put up with any dramatics or unnecessary bullshit.
These were my kind of people.
I remember being at a bonfire, (I think it was my 3rd time hanging out with everyone?), and the guy who had been sitting in the back seat with me in my friend's car (also known as the best friend of my crush), turned to my girl-friend and said about me, "I like her — she's really funny".
My girl-friend nodded, replying, "Yup — she's one of us now."
Photo by Tegan Mierle on Unsplash
I pretended not to overhear the conversation from across the fire, but the smile of pure delight that must have been on my face was undeniable.
Throughout the next several months, I came to every hangout and became a regular member of the crew. I would make an effort to look extra good because I knew my crush would be there.
We chatted from time to time about school (we were the only two in the group who had gone to university), and actually had a lot in common as far as values, goal-oriented drive and a passion for learning. We also found out that not only were we attending schools that were just a few blocks away from each other, but we had been riding the exact same bus route for 4 years, and never noticed.
A little voice in my head told me it was fate.
After enough hangouts, we had the one that locked us in for good.
We got snowed in at a friend's apartment, and I don't know how else to tell you this, but something invisible and powerful changed in the atmosphere between us, and in the blink of an eye, this impossibly strong bond was formed that weekend.
Neither of us knows what really happened that night at the apartment — but we'll both be saying for the rest of our lives that in a literal split second we somehow went from being acquaintances to feeling like we'd been seriously dating for years.
The connection that formed was instant, powerful, and completely indescribable.
Only, wait, that's not true. It's not indescribable.
It was the exact moment, at the exact same time, that we both realized we were truly meant to be together — that we were in fact soulmates. And there was literally no other way to explain it.
For every moment I sheepishly glanced him at his locker in high school, and watched as other girls chatted him up, and smiled to myself when I would see him beaming and laughing with his friends… little did I know then, but every single moment I was staring at him, I was looking at my soulmate.
It just wasn't the right time for us to be together yet, not back then. We still had a few more things to learn and mistakes to make before we were ready to be enlightened about our role in one another's lives.
And now, 3 years later, we own a house together, we recused a high-maintenance Shih-Tzu, I'm wearing a big ol' diamond ring on my left hand, and our wedding day is in 5 months.
If this isn't a cheesy, yet heart-warming, real-life rom-com, then I don't know what is.
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Paola man asks court for "trial by combat" inspired by Game of Thrones
Betsy Webster,
Betsy Webster
A Paola man's bizarre response to a custody battle is making headlines all over the world. He has asked a judge for "Trial By Combat." It's a phrase that was popularized in the hit HBO fantasy drama "Game of Thrones."
FAIRWAY, KS (KCTV) -- A Paola man's bizarre response to a custody battle is making headlines all over the world. He has asked a judge for "trial by combat." It's a phrase that was popularized in the hit HBO fantasy drama "Game of Thrones."
"I've seen the television show and read the books," said David Ostrom, who has been representing himself.
He submitted the court filings in Shelby County, Iowa, where his ex-wife and children live, in response to a protracted child custody and money battle.
In one of the filings, dated January 3, Ostrom wrote, "Petitioner demands the Court sanction trial by combat to resolve these disputes."
He went on to write, "The Petitioner requests 12 weeks lead time before Trial By Combat date so he may have 1 Katana and 1 Wakizashi sources or forged for use." He then clarified that his ex-wife "may choose a Champion (Her counsel Matthew Husdon) to stand in her stead."
The exchange garnered headlines in news publications across the U.S. and even overseas with a report published in The Jerusalem Post.
"I'm not interested in physically causing harm to anyone," Ostrom clarified, when he sat down with KCTV5 News.
He says he's not violent or crazy, but frustrated by what he considers a system that in some counties, specifically in his case, is stacked against men when it comes to issues of custody and financial support.
"They've tried to ignore me and not address equal custody, and I think this puts a spotlight on them," Ostrom said.
The approach was eventually outlawed in the fictional TV show "Game of Thrones," but no such explicit prohibition exists in the U.S., which was part of Ostrom's argument. He says he got the idea from a New York attorney who unsuccessfully used the same language in an unrelated filing several years ago.
Ostrom's ex-wife's lawyer, Matthew Hudson, responded in a January 10 filing that, "just because the U.S. and Iowa Constitutions do not specifically prohibit battling another person with a deadly Katana Sword, it does prohibit a court sitting in Equity from ordering same." Hudson then asked the judge to suspend visitation and order a psychiatric evaluation of Ostrom.
Ostrom says he knows the whole thing is ridiculous and absurd. He says that's the point.
"I've kind of run out of options and no one pays attention to what I think is a hardship on myself and my children," Ostrom said.
He's got attention now. It's more widespread than he wanted, but he says he will take it if it opens up the conversation about co-parenting in regards to his case and others.
Kansas man asks Iowa judge's permission for sword battle with ex-wife, lawyer
The judge filed an order on Monday that read in part, "Until the proper procedural steps to initiate a court proceeding are followed, this Court will take no further action concerning any motion, objection or Petition filed by either party at this time."
KCTV5 News left a message Tuesday afternoon at the Harlan, Iowa office of the attorney for Ostrom's ex but hasn't heard back.
David Ostrom
Matthew Husdon
Follow Betsy Webster


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Austin Jay Jay Okocha reveals he'd have loved to play alonside Neymar Jr and Kylian Mbappe
PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 20: Jay-Jay Okocha kickoff the game during the French Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain and AS Monaco at Parc des Princes on march 20, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Xavier Laine/Getty Images)
Date: May 3, 2021Author: Afolayan Toyosi 0 Comments
Former Super Eagles and Paris Saint-Germain legend, Austin Jay JayOkocha is full of praise for his former employers PSG saying the Parisans are gettings right administratively and it has seen them edge closer to winning the UEFA Champions League.
Okocha played for the Paris based outfit for four years starting from 1998 and 2002, he became a fan favorite as he always bring on dazzling performances in a PSG shirt.
The 1996 Olympic gold medalist however didn't get to play under the adminstration that had a lot of money to spend but still won an intercontinental trophy (UEFA Intertoto Cup) alongside Nicolas Anelka and Mauricio Pochettino in 2001.
Since the take over by Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani ruler of Qatar in 2011, PSG have witnessed massive growth and have joined the list of Elite clubs in the world, bringing in some of the best footballers of the world and have bossed Ligue1 for a decade.
Mauricio Pochettino has matched Tuchel's record by guiding the Les Rouge et Bleu (The Red and Blues) to the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League, but face an uphill task as they look forward to defeating Manchester City so as to make it to back to back finals.
Okocha loves the great work that is been done by the board and wishes he was still part of this current set up.
"I think PSG are working very well. They are almost where they want to be as they are getting closer to their goal of winning the Champions League," the retired playmaker told Canal+ as per ItaSportPress.
"They have laid a good foundation because all the great players want to play for PSG. I think they have to maintain these results and stay at the top.
"I, too, would have liked to play in this team. The current team is certainly stronger than it was when I was playing."
PSG signed Okocha after the 1998 FIFA World Cup for a fee that made him the most expensive African at the time.
FootballJay Jay OkochaLigue 1Paris Saint GermainPochettinoSuper Eagles
Published by Afolayan Toyosi
Afolayan Toyosi is a young seasoned sports writer who possess some incredible writing skills. He's also a Sports Presenter both on Television and Radio. Twitter: @toyosi4layan View all posts by Afolayan Toyosi
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To Catch a Chronoz (Argil Prodigy Recruitment Redux)
by The Nekromonga January 26th 2015, 10:24 pm
A package found its way to Argil. Enclosed was a file containing pertinent information on a villainous criminal reported to be in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The villain was self styled Tyrant of Time, Chronoz, who came from San Francisco. He had been wanted for burglary of several clockmakers and stores selling old analog clocks. Prodigy was short on members to take care of it, and apprehending Chronoz would be a show of intent for the new recruit.
Argil wouldn't be alone though. The package also contained information on a friendly hero in the area, Sagittarii, apparently a blonde girl who was a good shot with a bow... and selfies. She had a profile on the incredibly lame HeroNet, and seemed quite fond of taking pictures of herself posing with a bow and with people than actually doing any crime fighting. She usually hung out on the roof of a Louis Vitton building, where she would meet Argil as she "kept an eye out for crime. And sales." Together they would be responsible for taking down Chronoz.
Re: To Catch a Chronoz (Argil Prodigy Recruitment Redux)
by Powder Miner January 26th 2015, 11:09 pm
Paul Alban Dibra, otherwise known as Argil, was currently asleep on a bus nearing the city of Cheyenne. The teenager was dressed in civilian clothing... actually the heavy brown pants and top that made up the backing of his superhero outfit. Resting on his lap was a heavy backpack just full of ceramic, and he'd been forced to explain more than once that the fairly suspicious backpack was just clay; thankfully, it'd calmed down and he was able to sleep his way through about the last half of the five-hour bus ride. Infused with clay, Argil was a very minor superhero already; aside from normal, low-key crimes his only real claim to fame was involvement in helping deal with a mine fire. Yet, he'd managed to apply for the young superhero group "Prodigy", and if there were ever a perfect opportunity to perhaps be a little more important on the superhero stage, this was it.
That's why he found himself arriving at the capital of Wyoming, five hours away from his home city and his actual job; he was assigned to deal with some "Chronoz" criminal out burgling things. If he could pull this off, Paul figured he might be able to really make something of himself in Prodigy. As the bus arrived, Paul slowly and blearily woke up, and he grunted as he slung the heavy backpack over his shoulders, and walked out into Cheyenne. A quick hiding spot and change later, the teenager was decked out in his ceramic plates (yet, no helmet!) and walking on his way over to the Louis Vitton building he was supposed to meet this "Sagittarrii" girl at. And so, ignoring stares, the dour hero approached the building before walking up a set of external stairs... wincing at the creaking whenever his heavy, armored form stepped on the metal grate of the steps.
He made it up to the roof, trying (and failing) not to thump against the roof and startle the poor people inside. He saw the girl he was supposed to meet... a blonde archer girl, as was described to him. He piped up: "Hey, I'm Argil. I'm assuming you're Sagittarrii? ...oh, and can we maybe not be on the roof? I'm not light, or mobile."
Argil stats: https://www.superhero-rpg.com/t8143-argil
Seam stats: https://www.superhero-rpg.com/t8150-seam
Flagfall stats: https://www.superhero-rpg.com/t8167-flagfall
Powder Miner
Location : West Virginia
Despite her picture online, the hero girl wore a sensible, dark blue and gray combat suit with only her chest symbol being pink and yellow. She wore a helmet with pink glass goggles, making her look like a military power ranger or something. She also had a high tech composite bow... in pink. And she spoke like how someone from the valley would. She raised her hand and did a girly wave at Argil.
"Like, hello there! Yeah I am totes Sagittarii, but you can call me Sage, cuz, you know, like, Sagittarii is a totes long name to say. Oh yeah sure, we can get down, Like, we shouldn't be too conspicuous, you know?"
Sage had a line and she used it to power zipline down back to the ground. It was night time now and the presence of costumed heroes caused people to either take pictures or get clear. Sage ignores them. "So like, I tracked this lame-o Chronoz guy here to Cheyenne, all the way from the Bay Area. Ugh... He's such a nut job, stealing from like, watchmakers and clock makers. I don't get it." She headed to her bike and picked up a radio-like device, a police scanner from the police reports being made from it. So far there was no mention of crazed costumed villains robbing watch stores.
"So like, what's your powers, Argil?" She asked with a cheery smile.
Argil paused briefly when Sagittarii started talking. From her description, he has expected something like this, but... he hadn't expected this much valley girl. It was a little overwhelming, really, and so it took Argil a moment once Sagittarii (Sage!) finished talking to blink and begin moving down from the roof. It took another several moments to get down the stairs, and he made rather a ruckus doing so... Argil certainly hadn't been lying about not being the world's lightest of people. However, once he HAD finally made it down from the roof, he walked over to Sage. Neutrally looking at a few of the gawkers nearby, Argil turned to Sage, looking at her police scanner and listening to her question.
"Well. There's a lot of clay involved, for one. My bones are made of very very very hard ceramic, and in general I'm... almost, kinda made out of clay? I've got extra ceramic plates and clay-like flesh, when things are dangerous. It means I'm really tough, basically. It'd take a lot to hurt me. Plus, I can control clay, harden it, soften it, move it, that kind of thing." Argil finished talking, but then snapped as he remembered to mention one more thing. "Oh, and I can heal myself. Give me a few hours of rest, and broken bones will stop being a problem."
"So, that's me, what about you? You're an archer, obviously, but what do you have? ...oh, and exactly how dangerous is this Chronoz guy? Does he have superpowers? Fancy equipment, any of that?"
by The Nekromonga January 27th 2015, 12:15 am
"Yeah! Check these out, like, I totes had some inventor friends put together these like, trick arrows. Some of them explode, some of them like, make everything all gooey and sticky, and some are like, make a totally bright light. They are the bomb diggity." Sage let out a distinct, nasal giggle when she spoke about her gear, turning around to show him the quiver of assorted, color coded arrows.
"Well, Like, Chronoz calls himself 'The Tyrant of Time'. Likes to tell everybody he's got qoute, "mad temporal skeelz" unquote, but I haven't seen him do more than smash jewelry shops. Haven't fought him yet, so like, gotta be careful anyway." Sage's tone was a bit more serious when talking about the criminal on hand. Even though he sounded more like a nutjob than an actual villain, one couldn't be too careful.
The police scanner piped up about Chronoz, and Sage turned up the volume. "...All units be advised, robbery in progress at the Liberty Mall. Suspects are armed and dangerous, witnesses call out costumed criminal 'Chronoz' is on the scene."
"Like, that's our cue." Sage hopped onto her incredibly pink bike with a side car. Some bike though, as it was an ultra-rare modified Kawasaki Ninja. She hands Argil a helmet. "Well, hop in. And like, don't worry,I've had, like, bigger people ride in the side car." She then fired up the bike. Once Argil was comfortably seated with his helmet on, they'd be off.
by Powder Miner January 27th 2015, 12:34 am
Argil listened with the same serious expression he'd had on the whole time, apparently patient enough not even to be annoyed by Sage's mannerisms. He looked briefly at her arrows, before making a "Hmm," sound. "Alright, I can see that being useful." He then smiled a little. "As for being careful... well, of course. Don't know what he might be packing, though the fact that you haven't actually seen him use any powers is pretty good! ...Plus, I'm good at not being hurt, at the least."
His attention shifted to the helmet she was offering him... the hot pink helmet she was offering him. His little confident smile transformed into one of confusion. ...and then he looked at the hot pink sidecar bike (albeit a good bike). ...well, then. He cleared his throat and spoke up. "Well. The helmet is probably useless, considering I think my skull is actually stronger than it. But. . ." Argil sighed quietly to himself and sat in the sidecar of the ridiculously pink vehicle... anyone watching closely as the two rode would notice a very distinctly disapproving expression on Argil's face as his usual drab clay brown was just utterly drowned out by all the pink.
However, something occurred to Argil along the way. "Oh! That thing mentioned suspects, armed. Who does Chronoz usually work with? Are these just normal gunmen, should I maybe be a bit more worried about them. Do you know?" As Argil spoke, he somewhat casually molded an extra ceramic plate from the outside of his arm to his hand, where he hardened it and attached it something like a buckler. "I mean... I'm ready to take him down either way, but it's useful to know. Make sure I don't get blindsided by something surprisingly awful."
by The Nekromonga January 27th 2015, 1:04 am
"Yeah, like, they're just dudes with guns. Pretty boring, but still dangerous." They arrived at the mall and Sage had no more to say, bringing to bear her high tech bow. They made it in time just as Chronoz and his goons were in the parking lot and about to make a getaway. His mooks wore jackets, fatigue pants and ski masks, while he wore an all white get up, something that looked like a baseball uniform and a plain white bed sheet as a cape.
"Hurry! Our time is running out!" He said with an unsual enthusiasm. Sage had gotten very close, undetected, walking crouched, then climbing up the tree with the grace of a hunting cat.
Sage announced her presence by and shooting one of the assault rifles, the particularly sharp arrow cutting into the weapon's mechanisms, rendering it useless. The others look at the arrow dumbfounded, then towards Sage who already had an arrow nocked.
"What's this? Sagittarii? And another hero? No matter. You're running far too late! It's only a matter of time before I complete my time machine! Minions! Attack!" He ordered his goons to open fire, but they all only looked at each other and laughed.
"Yeah, we already got the jewels. Sorry Chronoz but we're bailing now." The bad guys were quick to abandon their fall guy, some nutjob in a cloth cape. They ran away towards the other end of the parking lot. Sage would have none of that and sent a foam-crete arrow their way, encase the group in instantly hardening foam-crete. "Like, you should have used your guns when you had the chance."
"Traitors! No matter... You may be an expert archer, Sage, but behold the hands of time!" Chronoz opened the door of his van to reveal several large clocks... whose hands launched themselves at Sage and Argil like arrows. Sage displayed serious skills leaping out of the tree and avoiding each one, even catching one in hand. Argil though would be peppered by the mundane projectiles.
by Powder Miner January 27th 2015, 1:28 am
Whilst Sage had been stealthily and skillfully approaching the gunmen, Argil had simply been jogging up; he was behind Sage mainly because he wanted her to get off the first shot or two. ...and get off the first two shots she did! She had managed not only to ruin a gun with a very well-placed arrow, but to encase the gunmen in some sort of super hard foam. No matter how valley girl she may act, it was plenty apparent she knew what she was doing, and she was good at it.
Argil spotted Chronoz himself as he got closer, and... well, he was less than impressed. It looked like he was wearing a bedsheet and a baseball uniform, no lie. It looked even sillier when compared to the jackets and fatigues of the (immobilized) gunmen. "...really?" Argil almost couldn't believe the man was actually a supervillain, considering how... well... dumb he looked. Apparently, he was working on a time machine, too. ...well, then.
Of course, it did turn out that Chronoz had something up his sleeve... or rather, something in his van. After a short monologue about the "hands of time!", Chronoz suddenly threw open the door of his van, revealing his supervillain-y weapon: CLOCKS! Specifically, clocks that shot clock-hand-arrows at you. Sage had it well in hand,with an agile dodge that not only led to not a single arrow striking her, but an arrow actually caught out of the air. Without any comparable agility and still jogging towards Chronoz, Argil seemed doomed to be peppered with arrows.
And peppered with arrows he was. Almost every single one of the arrows hit him dead on, with a couple missing and one grazing. But it simply didn't matter: the majority of them bounced off of his ceramic plate armor harmlessly, and even those that didn't stuck in the fabric and maybe got their point into Argil before either falling off on their own or being lightly pulled off by Argil himself. One arrow made it to hit him directly in the forehead; but it just bounced off his skull as well.
Argil just kept jogging, perhaps even reaching a higher speed than before he'd been pelted. The buckler on his hand morphed around it into a sort of a fist... though softened, so he didn't just kill the robber on contact. His plan was real simple: Keep jogging at Chronoz despite his attacks, and then punch him.
by The Nekromonga January 27th 2015, 7:28 pm
As the clay giant approached, he would see that Chronoz's cape was tied together with a clock, and he had a large assortment of pocket watches hanging at his side. The Tyrant of Time produced a clock shield- a round shield that had the numbers and the hands on the outside. He didn't just block, but deflected Argil's attack with it, and with yet another sombering line.
"Hahaha! No mere metahuman can harm Chronoz, when he is protected by chrono energies!" He seemed pretty ridiculous but he did demonstrate some decent fighting skill. At that point three arrows dug into his shield, but it didn't faze him. Sage went all valley girl at how he blocked the arrows. Once Argil was in melee range, he dug into his pockets... and tossed fine grade pocket sand into Argil's eyes.
"The sands of time will be your downfall, interloper!" He said, then spun past Argil to go after Sage. He blocks two more arrows that tried to skewer him, one of them beeping, forcing Chronoz to discard his shield as it exploded.
"Like, what the heck?! This guy's nuts!" Sage said, as she ducked, weaved and generally avoided a baseball bat covered in watches. "I'm not out of this fight yet, Archer Girl! taste my Chrono Cudgel!"
by Powder Miner January 27th 2015, 8:34 pm
Argil discovered that he had (possibly) underestimated Chronoz after the minor villain pulled a... clock shield out of nowhere and bounced his punch directly off of its surface. He watched Chronoz then prove himself to be able to block Sage's shots as well (admittedly impressive), while simultaneously putting his hand into his pocket... and drawing out sand! Argil was taken by some measure of surprise as Chronoz threw a handful of fine sand directly into the teen's eyes, drawing out a curse.
Argil had already been wiping at his eyes with one hand and drawing off another plate from his armor when Sage fired off an explosive arrow directly into Chronoz's pesky shield, destroying it. This gave Argil quite a bit of opportunity, and Argil drew another pair of plates from his armor and morphed them into a few balls of relatively soft clay. From there, he squinted through the sand as Chronoz went after Sage with, get this, a baseball bat plastered with watches everywhere.
"Ugh, yes, nuts, I noticed!" Argil groaned as he proceeded to move at Chronoz, not likely to hit him from any sort of long distance thanks to that sand. When close to the clock-obsessed robber, Argil put his plan into motion: firing off the clay, Argil had it spread in the air to hit Chronoz, probably wrap around him, and then harden... an easy capture! This, of course, assumed that Chronoz didn't have any more strange tricks up his sleeve.
Chronoz's desperate fight against a pair of heroes was bringing out his true colors. Even as he was engaged with the girl in hand to hand, he was aware enough of Argil's attack. He pulled off an advanced maneuver just as the clay contacted him, spinning out and instead it simply caught his cloak. Then he caught Sage with a vicious thrust of his cudgel into her solar plexus. "HUuuurrkk~" She made an awful, awful sound as spittle escaped from her mouth. Sage didn't see that coming, and goes down as the air is knocked from her. Her eyes roll up into her head and she falls to the ground, limp.
"Persistent man of clay. But you won't be a pest when you're encased by my..." He launched his pocket watches at Argil. They were actually really going to wrap around him. "Chrono Bolos!" He said with triumph, and the material on those Chrono Bolos was actually pretty tough.
Argil was forced to take Chronoz rather more seriously when the time-obsessed fighter continued to prove himself surprisingly skilled in combat. Argil had to wonder about the robber. He also had to deal with him. Alone, considering Sage had just been knocked right out. Argil couldn't help but wince a little as he saw and heard Sage get hit directly... he didn't intend to let Chronoz have it that easy with him.
So he had to deal with the bolas currently in the air. His plan was simple: take the clay he had been using as a buckler and a fist off of his hand and instead throw it out to intercept the bolas midair. Indeed, the bolas didn't find their mark and instead wrapped around the hard, thin disc of clay Argil proceeded to start taking swipes at Chronoz with.
Finally, as he attacked Chronoz with the disc, he began to walk forward, hoping to force Chronoz to try and use his cudgel-- hopefully the image of Argil being unfazed would cause the clock man to lose effectiveness.
"What's the matter, man of clay? Silenced by the power of time itself?!" He really wouldn't give up with the quips, and was bracing himself to use the craven Chrono Cudgel to engage in combat with the clay man. He used the bat to parry and smash the clay discs, and this distraction was all that was necessary for Chronoz's downfall.
If he was aware of his opponent, he could defend himself. But, Sage had played possum and snuck up on Chronoz, the man confident he had put out the archer's lights. She then struck Chronoz in the side of the head with a large rock, sending him to the floor for real.
"Like, plot twist, jerk! Sage here can command the elemental powers of earth, by virtue of this rock in my hand!" She said with gratuitous gusto, deliver a righteous smack down on the man. The blow sent him reeling and unable to recover, his balance lost when his eardrum was ruptured from the violent attack.
"Betcha ya didn't know I was a druid too! I can command plants!" Sage said, picking up a good, thick branch.
"...Wait a sec... I remember you... didn't I put you in the-" WHACK. Chronoz was about to say something, but it was interrupted by a branch hitting him in the face, bloodying him and sending him out for the count.
"Jerk. Like, that really, really hurt. Good thing I was wearing combat armor." She said, discarding her secret powers over earth and plants and tying him up with zip cord cuffs.
"Good job teammate! Now we can wait for the cops to arrive and take him away! Up high!" She raised her hand to receive a high five, acting like she didn't just brutally maim a human being. Then again he had it coming, but the brain damage might make Chronoz even more unstable. She also took out her phone to take a selfie, then a groupie with Argil and Chronoz, and a picture of the beaten Chronoz.
Argil had had his hands surprisingly full with the crazy clock man. Chronoz was capable of intercepting most all of Argil's attacks... but didn't really have the capability to much harm Argil; this was a recipe for quite a long battle. Argil figured he could up the ante, but it'd tax his concentration to his limits and he wasn't sure if Chronoz didn't still have the reflexes to deal with more discs... while still spouting his quips, no less.
Thankfully, Argil didn't end up having to redouble his efforts, thanks to the surprise rock-to-the-face from a very much conscious and very much angry Sage. And then the branch to the face for good measure. Argil looked rather surprised as Sage angrily savaged the guy. The surprise didn't last long, though, and as Sage tied up the robber, Argil returned all of the clay he'd expended to plate form and reattached it to his armor's backing, exiting his combat stance and then taking a moment to remove the rest of the sand from his eyes.
As he wiped the offending particles away, Argil noticed that Sage was already in the middle of celebrating, phone out and hand up almost in an instant. Argil was much more serious-minded than that, however, and basically left her hanging while he focused on getting those last bits of sand out of his eyes.
The clay-armored hero then continued to leaver her hanging and even not pose for her photos as he crouched over to check on their very literally beaten opponent. "Combat armor... you're all right, then? ...unlike him, at least, hmm. Well, I'll hold off on gloating; instead, I think I'll be doing some cleanup." Argil looked over Chronoz; exactly how hard had she hit him?
He then looked up and around: how much collateral damage, if any, had there been during the fight? Argil intended to fill it in with some clay, to at least serve as a temporary repair. Argil didn't want to leave the people of the area with a bunch of stuff to have to clean up... after all, metahumans like him had shaky public opinion because of collateral damage and destruction, right?
"Like, yeah! I would be so, like, not risking my neck if I wasn't wearing body armor going up against armed thugs. I'm just glad he didn't like, go after my face." It was fitting that Sage spoke with a metahuman with power of clay and ceramics, as she opened her body armor to reveal a smashed up ceramic armor plating that was crushed by Chronoz's powerful thrust.
Conversely, for hitting a teen girl in the gut, Chronoz paid for it with a ruptured eardrum and a concussion. He had a thick skull and a strong neck, so nothing broken there.
Aside from the explosive arrow Sage used, there wasn't much damage done that the thugs hadn't already. The broken windows and smashed glass doors would have to be covered by the mall. She picked up Chronoz's clock shield, seeing that it was still mostly intact from the explosion. "Huh. Like, This shield is made of seriously tough stuff... Think I'll call dibs on it as a trophy!" Sage said after putting her phone away. She picked up the Chrono Cudgel, aka, a baseball bat covered in watches, and offered it to Argil as a trophy.
"Think these watches are stolen?" She asked, looking at all the Rolexes and other branded, golden watches, just as the police arrived in a timely fashion.
"Police! hands the in air! Drop your weapons! We've got ourselves an armed, costumed vigilante here, and possible metahuman. They've apprehended suspect named Chronoz and his associates." Came the usual lines as beat cops took out hand guns and took aim at Sage and Argil. They were accompanied by a truck containing Metahuman response teams, heavily armed and armored specialists attached to the police department. How heavily armed? Two guys with rocket launchers apiece took aim at Argil and Sage. And they had officers with heavy shields in front of them.
"Um... I'm making a citizen's arrest!" Sage protested, raising her arms without protest. Her body armor protected her from some crazed costume criminal, but not from armor piercing missile launchers.
"Is that so? Well then, you and your friend won't object to coming with us to the precinct to make a statement?" A lady cop asked and approached Sage. Another, larger man approached Argil with metahuman grade cyber manacles.
"No... no, ma'am." Sage said, submitting to arrest. She looked at Argil, making a sad expression. "Don't... don't worry. We didn't do anything wrong. We made a citizens' arrest, after all."
"Be that as it may, you're in possession of some serious fire power. You look pretty young to be in the cape business, miss?" The lady officer said, leading Sage and the barely conscious Chronoz to a waiting police armored vehicle.
"It's Sagittarii, ma'am. I'm 17, ma'am. Like, I know I have a right to anonymity... and a lawyer."Sage said with a cooperative tone. The cop whistled. "A minor, but you know your rights. Well, ain't that good for you. I suppose your friend here's a minor too?" She looked at Argil, who would be led to a separate truck, escorted by heavily armored cops with metahuman grade weapons.
» It's The Perfect Crime (Prodigy Recruitment)
» Do you wanna rob a bank? (Prodigy Recruitment)
» Rain drops [Bella Prodigy recruitment]
» Argil
» Can't catch a break.... -invite only; PM if you wish to join.-


text:
High-throughput screening of psychotropic compounds: impacts on swimming behaviours in Artemia franciscana
Shanelle Amber Kohler, Matt Parker, Alex Ford
Animal behaviour is becoming increasingly popular as an endpoint in ecotoxicology due to their increased sensitivity and speed compared to traditional endpoints. However, the widespread use of animal behaviours in environmental risk assessment is currently hindered by a lack of optimisation and standardisation of behavioural assays for model species. In this study, assays to assess swimming speed were developed for a model crustacean species, the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana. Preliminary works were performed to determine optimal arena size for this species, and weather lux used in the experiments had an impact on the animals phototactic response. Swimming speed was significantly lower in the smallest arena, whilst no difference was observed between the two larger arenas, suggesting that the small arena was limiting swimming ability. No significant difference was observed in attraction to light between high and low light intensities. Arena size had a significant impact on phototaxis behaviours. Large arenas resulted in animals spending more time in the light side of the arena compared to medium and small, irrespective of light intensity. The swimming speed assay was then used to expose specimens to a range of psychotropic compounds with varying modes of action. Results indicate that swimming speed provides a valid measure of the impacts of behaviour modulating compounds on A. franciscana. The psychotropic compounds tested varied in their impacts on animal behaviour. Fluoxetine resulted in increased swimming speed as has been found in other crustacean species, whilst oxazepam, venlafaxine and amitriptyline had no significant impacts on the behaviours measured. The results from this study suggest a simple, fast, high throughput assay for A. franciscana and gains insight on the impacts of a range of psychotropic compounds on the swimming behaviours of a model crustacean species used in ecotoxicology studies.
https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics9030064
psychotropics
behavioural ecotoxicology
10.3390/toxics9030064
High-Throughput ScreeningFinal published version, 2.89 MBLicence: CC BY
Dive into the research topics of 'High-throughput screening of psychotropic compounds: impacts on swimming behaviours in <i>Artemia franciscana</i>'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Artemia Medicine & Life Sciences 100%
Dolphins Medicine & Life Sciences 98%
Psychotropic Agent Chemistry 91%
Swimming Medicine & Life Sciences 71%
High Throughput Screening Chemistry 71%
Screening Engineering & Materials Science 61%
Ecology Chemistry 59%
Animals Engineering & Materials Science 53%
REDPOL - Reduction of Pollution by endocrine disrupting compounds at source: Innovative products for the commercial lab market.
Ford, A., Marley, S., Parker, M. & Robson, S.
Amphipoda 100%
Artemia 84%
Dolphins 82%
Sperm Count 69%
endocrine-disrupting chemicals 68%
Kohler, S. A., Parker, M., & Ford, A. (2021). High-throughput screening of psychotropic compounds: impacts on swimming behaviours in Artemia franciscana. Toxics, 9(3), [64]. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics9030064
Kohler, Shanelle Amber ; Parker, Matt ; Ford, Alex. / High-throughput screening of psychotropic compounds: impacts on swimming behaviours in Artemia franciscana. In: Toxics. 2021 ; Vol. 9, No. 3.
@article{2375fc3bdbca4ec0a010dd7332fed332,
title = "High-throughput screening of psychotropic compounds: impacts on swimming behaviours in Artemia franciscana",
abstract = "Animal behaviour is becoming increasingly popular as an endpoint in ecotoxicology due to their increased sensitivity and speed compared to traditional endpoints. However, the widespread use of animal behaviours in environmental risk assessment is currently hindered by a lack of optimisation and standardisation of behavioural assays for model species. In this study, assays to assess swimming speed were developed for a model crustacean species, the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana. Preliminary works were performed to determine optimal arena size for this species, and weather lux used in the experiments had an impact on the animals phototactic response. Swimming speed was significantly lower in the smallest arena, whilst no difference was observed between the two larger arenas, suggesting that the small arena was limiting swimming ability. No significant difference was observed in attraction to light between high and low light intensities. Arena size had a significant impact on phototaxis behaviours. Large arenas resulted in animals spending more time in the light side of the arena compared to medium and small, irrespective of light intensity. The swimming speed assay was then used to expose specimens to a range of psychotropic compounds with varying modes of action. Results indicate that swimming speed provides a valid measure of the impacts of behaviour modulating compounds on A. franciscana. The psychotropic compounds tested varied in their impacts on animal behaviour. Fluoxetine resulted in increased swimming speed as has been found in other crustacean species, whilst oxazepam, venlafaxine and amitriptyline had no significant impacts on the behaviours measured. The results from this study suggest a simple, fast, high throughput assay for A. franciscana and gains insight on the impacts of a range of psychotropic compounds on the swimming behaviours of a model crustacean species used in ecotoxicology studies. ",
keywords = "ecotoxicology, behaviour, artemia, psychotropics, behavioural ecotoxicology",
author = "Kohler, {Shanelle Amber} and Matt Parker and Alex Ford",
doi = "10.3390/toxics9030064",
journal = "Toxics",
publisher = "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute",
Kohler, SA, Parker, M & Ford, A 2021, 'High-throughput screening of psychotropic compounds: impacts on swimming behaviours in Artemia franciscana', Toxics, vol. 9, no. 3, 64. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics9030064
High-throughput screening of psychotropic compounds: impacts on swimming behaviours in Artemia franciscana. / Kohler, Shanelle Amber; Parker, Matt; Ford, Alex.
In: Toxics, Vol. 9, No. 3, 64, 17.03.2021.
T1 - High-throughput screening of psychotropic compounds: impacts on swimming behaviours in Artemia franciscana
AU - Kohler, Shanelle Amber
AU - Parker, Matt
AU - Ford, Alex
N2 - Animal behaviour is becoming increasingly popular as an endpoint in ecotoxicology due to their increased sensitivity and speed compared to traditional endpoints. However, the widespread use of animal behaviours in environmental risk assessment is currently hindered by a lack of optimisation and standardisation of behavioural assays for model species. In this study, assays to assess swimming speed were developed for a model crustacean species, the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana. Preliminary works were performed to determine optimal arena size for this species, and weather lux used in the experiments had an impact on the animals phototactic response. Swimming speed was significantly lower in the smallest arena, whilst no difference was observed between the two larger arenas, suggesting that the small arena was limiting swimming ability. No significant difference was observed in attraction to light between high and low light intensities. Arena size had a significant impact on phototaxis behaviours. Large arenas resulted in animals spending more time in the light side of the arena compared to medium and small, irrespective of light intensity. The swimming speed assay was then used to expose specimens to a range of psychotropic compounds with varying modes of action. Results indicate that swimming speed provides a valid measure of the impacts of behaviour modulating compounds on A. franciscana. The psychotropic compounds tested varied in their impacts on animal behaviour. Fluoxetine resulted in increased swimming speed as has been found in other crustacean species, whilst oxazepam, venlafaxine and amitriptyline had no significant impacts on the behaviours measured. The results from this study suggest a simple, fast, high throughput assay for A. franciscana and gains insight on the impacts of a range of psychotropic compounds on the swimming behaviours of a model crustacean species used in ecotoxicology studies.
AB - Animal behaviour is becoming increasingly popular as an endpoint in ecotoxicology due to their increased sensitivity and speed compared to traditional endpoints. However, the widespread use of animal behaviours in environmental risk assessment is currently hindered by a lack of optimisation and standardisation of behavioural assays for model species. In this study, assays to assess swimming speed were developed for a model crustacean species, the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana. Preliminary works were performed to determine optimal arena size for this species, and weather lux used in the experiments had an impact on the animals phototactic response. Swimming speed was significantly lower in the smallest arena, whilst no difference was observed between the two larger arenas, suggesting that the small arena was limiting swimming ability. No significant difference was observed in attraction to light between high and low light intensities. Arena size had a significant impact on phototaxis behaviours. Large arenas resulted in animals spending more time in the light side of the arena compared to medium and small, irrespective of light intensity. The swimming speed assay was then used to expose specimens to a range of psychotropic compounds with varying modes of action. Results indicate that swimming speed provides a valid measure of the impacts of behaviour modulating compounds on A. franciscana. The psychotropic compounds tested varied in their impacts on animal behaviour. Fluoxetine resulted in increased swimming speed as has been found in other crustacean species, whilst oxazepam, venlafaxine and amitriptyline had no significant impacts on the behaviours measured. The results from this study suggest a simple, fast, high throughput assay for A. franciscana and gains insight on the impacts of a range of psychotropic compounds on the swimming behaviours of a model crustacean species used in ecotoxicology studies.
KW - ecotoxicology
KW - behaviour
KW - artemia
KW - psychotropics
KW - behavioural ecotoxicology
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/9/3/64
U2 - 10.3390/toxics9030064
DO - 10.3390/toxics9030064
JO - Toxics
JF - Toxics
Kohler SA, Parker M, Ford A. High-throughput screening of psychotropic compounds: impacts on swimming behaviours in Artemia franciscana. Toxics. 2021 Mar 17;9(3). 64. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics9030064


Pharmacy tech students have a few options when it comes to degrees. Pharmacy technician degrees are available at the associate's level, and many schools offer certificates and diplomas for students who already hold a degree. (See: Popular Pharmacy Technician Schools). The level of education you choose to pursue can influence your career direction and your chances of finding employment, so it pays to be as informed as possible when deciding on a degree.
Pharmacy technician certificates can usually be completed in less than a year. They provide the basic, fundamental skills necessary to perform the job functions of a pharmacy technician in a retail or clinical environment, and help prepare graduates to take any certification exams for pharmacy technicians. No prior education is usually required to enter a certificate program, outside of a high school diploma.
Pharmacy technician diploma programs last around a year, and are designed to add supplementary, skill-based education to the background knowledge provided by a previous degree. Many students with associate degrees in medical assisting or a related field pursue pharmacy technician diplomas to move into the pharmaceutical industry, though a medical background is not necessarily required. Diploma programs also prepare graduates to take certification exams.
Pharmacy technician associate's degrees generally take around 24 months to complete, and provide a more thorough education and a stronger skill set than certificate and diploma programs. Pharmacy technician students in an associate's degree program receive a relatively broad scope of training in the medical field as well as focused training in pharmacy practice, and typically utilize outside externships to provide on-the-job experience.
Click to see what pharmacy technician programs are available in your area.
As a side note, please be aware that there is a significant difference between employment as a "pharmacy technician" and a "pharmacist." A career as a pharmacist involves considerably more schooling and a much more rigorous certification process that is only given out at a small number of pharmacy colleges.


text:
Root to Riches: Share Your Story to Energize Your Crew
This blog was written by Darrell Harmon, HR Business Partner and member of our People Strategy team at Helpside.
Once upon a time, there was an idea. The Idea was Rory's brainchild, who thought it was pretty good. He shared the idea with some friends, who also thought it was good. One thing led to another and, before you could say "entrepreneur," the idea was a product and Rory was in business! The idea was so good, in fact, that in no time Rory's business was booming to the point that he had to start hiring help—lots of help.
As Rory hired more and more employees, the feel of the company changed. What started out as a small, cohesive group all dedicated to the idea, eventually turned into just a job for the newest recruits. They didn't seem to get how important the idea was, nor how their individual jobs supported the mission. This bothered Rory. People didn't seem energized by the idea as he had been. They didn't really know how to apply their skills and passion in ways that delivered the full value of the idea. Rory was stumped.
Then, Casey told Rory about the power of stories to inspire and motivate employees. Rory thought that was another great idea and immediately wrote a fairytale about the idea. No, Rory. Not that kind of story.
Instead, Casey helped Rory think back to the beginning when the idea was new. What was it that made Rory and his friends so excited about it? What problems did the idea solve? What opportunities did it open up for everyone? This was the story to tell.
In addition to the story about the founding of the company, Casey encouraged Rory to watch for wins the company had that related to the idea. These, too, would make for great stories to tell his employees:
Are there competitors trying to copy the Idea? (Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, you know.)
How has the Idea made a difference at key moments in the company's lifespan?
Once Rory answered those questions, he began telling those stories to new employees when they joined the company and in company meetings with existing employees. He posted visuals that represented the idea, like happy customers using the idea to make their lives better and he identified the values that best represent the idea, like innovation, simplicity, and scalability.
Now, this story may seem a little silly, but the concept it illustrates is serious. People respond to real-life stories in ways that data alone (e.g., employee handbooks, work instructions, and quarterly financials) don't move them. Your founding story is perhaps the best way to breathe new life into your workforce. So, build your story repertoire. Share stories of how your employees' actions align with company values, how your company turns customers into fans, and why people should be proud to work there.
Here at Helpside, our founders wanted to start a business that was personal. Nearly 30 years later, we haven't lost that personal touch. Our mantra is "Business is Personnel" and we mean it. And we tell it to each other in various ways all the time. We share it in monthly team meetings, emails, and one on one meetings. Find ways to keep your stories going and reap the benefits.
If you need help figuring out your story or the best way to share it, don't hesitate to reach out to us. Our People Strategy team has storytelling experts who would love to help you craft your story.
You've heard "rags to riches" stories of people who had nothing yet built successful companies and lives. Sharing your company's history will bring it to life and create your own "roots to riches" success.
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