#stack on top of each other and become a functioning member of society

[cobalt-art]

I just think that if they ever became friends this would be their dynamic.

[whatsupitsthatkai]

Art in Motion. Part two

Read part one here!

Here is part two! I hope you all enjoy it (I am loving all of the feedback on this already thank you so much!)

James paused outside the old door, his hand raised, poised to knock. The hall was musty, dim, and had more than its fair share of cobwebs. He really should remind the maid to clean up here.

Hearing a crash from the other side of the door, he forewent knocking and opened the door. “Sirius? Are you alright? You’ve been-” He stopped as he walked into the room, taking in the scene before him with perhaps an alarming lack of surprise. “Good lord, man, when was the last time you slept?”

The ground was littered with paper, charcoal, pens, paints and various other odds and ends one might find in an artist’s studio. Sirius sat in the middle of it all, the chaotic eye of the storm nestled amongst his destruction. Lifting an ink smudged hand and waving it dismissively, Sirius shuffled through some papers to his left.

James shook his head and looked around the room, wrinkling his nose at the state of things. Sirius had never been the best at keeping his spaces tidy- probably the reason James’ parents had so graciously given him the attic to use as his personal studio when he had moved in years ago- but since converting the space into his bedroom as well, and banishing the maid from the premises, the wide open space had quickly devolved into a cluttered mess.

“Sleep is for those with nothing better to do.” Sirius commented, ducking down to scribble at the piece of paper he had finally settled on.

“When was the last time you had something to eat?”

“Food does not sustain me, I must work.”

With a roll of his eyes, James ventured further into the room, avoiding discarded items of clothing, art supplies and dirty dishes. “Come now, cease this madness. You need sleep, a good meal,” he stopped short of reaching him and blinked, his face scrunching up, “and a bath.”

Sirius looked up finally, his hair a wild mess about his shoulders, stormy eyes framed by dark circles. A few days worth of beard cast a shadow against his jaw. “Baths are for peasants.”

James snorted. “Peasants don’t bathe you twat, but you most certainly should.”

Letting out an irritated sigh, Sirius gathered the papers around him and stood up, nearly falling over as one of his legs had gone almost completely numb. James reached out his hands in case he tipped his way, but he managed to regain his balance and hobble off to his desk.

“What’s gotten you so worked up?” James questioned, attempting to peak at some of the paper’s Sirius had.

He slapped the pages onto the desk, turning around with a narrowed gaze. “Nothing.”

Knowing he would gain nothing pushing the matter, James let out a sigh and rubbed his forehead. “Right, well, whenever you decide to become a functioning member of society again, I’ll be down in the dining room having supper.” As he turned to leave, he heard Sirius rap his knuckles distractedly against the desk top.

“It won’t leave me be.”

James paused, turning back. “What won’t?”

Sirius moved a few things on his desk around aimlessly. “The song. The one Mr. Lupin played.”

Raising his eyebrows, James waited for him to continue, and when receiving no response, prompted, “At Miss Evans’ ball? That was almost a fortnight ago now.”

Sirius paused, frowning slightly. “Really? I have lost track of time…” Shaking his head slightly he ran a hand through his hair, grimaced, and wiped his palm against his dressing gown. “I find myself incapable of thinking of anything else.”

“Is it the song that’s bewitched you, or the musician?”

Sirius prodded the corner of his small stack of papers. “They seem one in the same to my mind.”

James smiled, rolling his eyes slightly at his friend. “Well, as much as I enjoy my dearest friend locking himself away in the attic, pining away and creating a nightmare for my housekeeper, I think it’s high time we invited Peter and Mr. Lupin round to Elkwood.”

Sirius looked up suddenly, his eyes wild. “What? Whatever for?”

“Well you clearly want to see him again, and I for one am eager to get to know him better, he seems a lovely chap.” James fiddled with his cuffs. “Besides, it’s high time we had a formal dinner again, these rooms have been much too quiet.”

Sirius rubbed at his shoulder absentmindedly. “We haven’t had a party here since…”

They both fell silent. Taking a moment to reflect on the past.

Shaking his head, James said quickly. “At any rate, it’ll be good to have a bit of merriment around here again.”

Sirius crossed his arms. “Am I not merriment enough for you, James?”

With a completely neutral expression, James shook his head grimly. “You are a quagmire of self pity and dramatics. And I say that with the utmost amount of affection.”

Sirius picked up a discarded waistcoat and tossed it at James’ head. “Blasphemer! Begone from my presence!”

James laughed as he ducked the waistcoat and darted toward the door as Sirius searched for something else to throw at him. “Don’t be late for supper! And if you don’t show up properly dressed and cleaned up a bit I’ll have you eat outside with the horses!”

Sirius wailed as if he’d been sentenced to an unimaginable fate. “Betrayed! By my own brother! Oh the cruelty of life!” He listened to James’ laughter fade down the stairs, a smile ghosting across his lips.

He found himself humming softly, as he flipped through the pages on his desk one last time, fingers tracing his work thoughtfully. Swirls of color here, thick lines of black ink there, jagged edges and soft strokes, to anyone else it would seem just like the jumbled scribbles of a child. But he could see the spaces in between, they were just pieces to a much larger puzzle forming in his mind’s eye.

Tapping his index finger against the topmost paper, he let out a sigh and turned away from his desk, letting out a disgruntled grumble as he began to search for some clean clothes to change into.

~    ~    ~

Remus watched from his spot on the lounge, idly holding a book in his hands, as Peter scurried to and fro, collecting this and that and placing them in his bag, rambling on to himself as he did.

A smile pulled at the corner of his lips as he observed his friend’s excited behavior. They’d received an invitation for a dinner party at the Elkwood estate next Sunday, and Peter had been talking about it for days.

“How long has it been since you’ve been to Elkwood?” He asked, closing his book and setting it aside.

“Oh! It’s been...years, yes, years now. We used to spend summers there you know, back when we were all schoolboys. Sirius’ home situation was less than ideal, and well, with everything going on with my family, they were more than happy to send me off to the country for the summers. One less mouth to feed, you see?”

Remus nodded. “I see. Mr. Black had a troubled childhood?”

Peter nodded. “Very much so, the Black family are one of the most powerful families in England, they’ve held power and wealth for generations. Sirius hated their ideals and how they tried to force him to be. He left when he was only sixteen, went to live with the Potters at Elkwood.”

“Is that so? Are his family still living?”

“Aye. Well, his mother and younger brother at least, his father passed a few years back.” Peter shook his head. “He’s been through a lot.” Brightening suddenly, he smiled. “But he always pulls through! I was always amazed with how resilient he is, growing up he was always so strong and fearless.”

Remus smiled at the light in Peter’s eyes. “Sounds like you were close.”

“We were inseparable, the three of us, we even had nicknames for each other.”

“Is that were you had the idea to call me Moony?”

Peter grinned sheepishly. “Perhaps. I missed them terribly when I was away, but I’m glad I had the opportunity to meet you.”

“As am I. Was never one for friends growing up, there was always...too much.” Remus rubbed the back of his neck, his thoughts beginning to wander.

“I’m sure you’ll get on well with the lads! Why you’ve met James already and seemed to like him well enough.”

Remus pushed aside his thoughts and smiled. “I did. He’s very likable, I look forward to talking with him more.”

Peter practically beamed. “Yes! The most charismatic chap I’ve ever met, that’s James alright. Sirius is...well Sirius is his own brand of charming.”

Thinking back to his encounter with the young man, Remus nodded. “That I would have to agree with you on. I actually met Mr. Black at the solstice ball as well.”

“Did you? You didn’t mention it at all, not a word, you cheeky fellow. What did he say?”

Remus picked his book back up, shaking his head slightly. “He asked me to dance.”

Peter chuckled and snapped the clasps shut on his bag. “Ah well, Sirius has always been a touch eccentric, not that I would want him to change, not at all, I find him a breath of fresh air in this world. People are too caught up in how other people will perceive them that they fail to be true to themselves. Sirius has always been unapologetically himself, no matter what others thought.” He smiled a little, fingertips rubbing gently against the leather of his bag. “He helped me learn to be brave and confident in myself, I’ll be forever grateful to him for that.”

Remus flipped through his book until he came to the page where he had left off. “I must be grateful to him as well then, otherwise we may never have become friends. I never would’ve found the courage to approach a stranger and offer friendship, but I am glad that you did.”

Peter turned a little pink around the ears, sliding his bag first one way on the table and then another. “Yes, well, you seemed like you needed a friend and I-” He looked up and smiled a little sadly. “Well I know how that feels. James always used to say that it only takes one act of courage, just a few minutes of confidence, and you can overcome whatever you’re scared of.”

Remus nodded. “That’s a very clever way of thinking. I’ll have to practice that more in the future.”

“Speaking of practice, will you be playing at Elkwood?”

“Was there mention of it in the invitation?”

“I don’t believe so, but you never seem to be without your violin at your side. I suppose I was just curious.”

Looking down at his book, Remus shrugged a little. “I will bring it along, depending on how the night goes we shall see if I play or not.”

Peter perked up. “Excellent! I’m sure everyone would love to hear you play again, I know I never get tired of listening to your music.”

Remus smiled. “You should, with how much I work on new pieces, late into the night as well.”

“Oh no, never! I’m still not used to living alone.” His eyes darted to the fireplace. “It gets too quiet sometimes, so I find comfort in your playing.”

“Good, otherwise I’m afraid you wouldn’t stand much more of me.”

“Nonsense! I said you were welcome to stay as long as you like, and I meant it.” Pausing, Peter placed a hand decisively on his bag. “But, I will leave you now to your reading, I have some work to do anyway.”

Remus smiled. “Alright, see you at supper?”

“Yes, yes quite, enjoy your book.”

As much as he wanted to, Remus found his mind wandering off the pages of the book before him, deciding instead to sift through the information he had been given on those that would be his hosts the following weekend.

There had been something behind Mr. Black’s eyes, something that he recognized. He was carrying pain around with him, some kind of burden. Remus now knew it most likely came from his troubled childhood. That at least was one thing they had in common.

Finding no distraction in his book, he set it aside and reached for the violin case by his feet, clicking open the clasps and carefully removing the instrument. He hummed gently to himself as he tightened the bow hairs and applied fresh rosin to them.

Plucking out a few notes on the strings, he rested the violin on his shoulder and placed bow to string, closing his eyes for a moment. Taking a deep breath in. Out. In.

And then play.

[carp0nastick]

The Secret Clanstone Pt.5

He was not ready!  As soon as the zero G infantry reported that they had secured the gravity generators on the ship, their pod had launched.  The ride was swift, noisy, and ended with much too much impact for Fuzi’s comfort.  As he was recovering from the jolt, Hector was already hitting the explosive seals on the door.  A few screams and quick shots from Hector and Dragomir signaled that the pirates on the other side of the door had been unshielded from the spray of shrapnel the door discharged.  Seeing Michelle slide out the door, Fuzi gulped some air as he racked the slide on his weapon and scurried after him.  Mr. Dross and Shizuka fell in easily behind him as Hector and Dragomir’s weapons sounded off at their position across the hall.  

It was safe to say that Fuzi had never seen so much blood in his life.  The pirates had been a mix of Human and Chorak scum, with a sprinkling of Dubachi mixed in.  Now they were smears on the rusting walls of the ship as the two human soldiers in front advanced with brutal efficiency.  As the fourth trooper in line, Fuzi was expected to help clear rooms, but in the hallway his job was to check the downed pirates.  Checking, in this violent context, meant putting a few rounds into any that were still moving.  Later on, Fuzi would marvel at how he felt absolutely nothing as he had put three rounds into the back of a crawling Chorak.  He would lose sleep over it that night, but for now, his training proved it’s worth as he dispatched a human thug trying to reach his pistol.  Not breaking stride so as to keep up with the group, he calmly checked his magazine and gave a suspiciously twitching Dubachi another two rounds before reloading.  A shower of sparks made the two humans in front duck for cover.

“They’ve got a PP1G!”  Hector shouted from his sparse cover across the hall.  Dragomir was already chucking a grenade down the space as the stream of bullets kept the younger man pinned and isolated.

“No good.”  Dragomir commented on his attempt.  He was using a small camera in his wrist to peek around the corner without exposing himself.  “They’re in defilade.”  Michelle somehow looked frustrated through his armor as he began to pull up a map, presumably to find another route to the package.

“Vent.”  Shizuka said behind Fuzi.  Looking back to where the marksman covered the rear, Fuzi saw the grate of one of the ships air vents.  He wouldn’t be able to take his primary weapon, but his sidearm and knife would fit just fine.  Without further discussion, Fuzi passed Mr. Dross his weapon as he climbed up the man’s arm.  With the unitool in his wrist pouch he had the cover off in moments and squirmed into the duct.

“Knew I liked him.”  He heard Mr. Dross say as he walked on all fours through the airway.  

The others must have intentionally tried to draw fire and keep the gunner distracted, because the loud sounds and flashes of the aged, but still effective PP1G squad suppression gun left no question as to which vent to come out of.

Fuzi paused at the grate, taking a quick look at his opponents.  He didn’t carry grenades, as his limbs were unsuitable for throwing them.  He would have to rely on his speed and agility to take out the gunner and his two compatriots.  Fuzi’s heart hammered in his chest as his instincts told him to get away.  Killing already dying pirates had been one thing, charging into a close quarters fight with two larger predators was quite another.

It was a funny thing, teaching a herbivore species to act aggressively for combat.  Galaxy wide, herbivores trended towards getting away from danger instead of creating it.  This had been a problem for the Systems League as the Mutilax wars had escalated.  While adding Humans to supplement Chorak and Ca’rizn forces had provided a boost to Systems League combat strength, the growing cost of blood was beginning to undermine the Systems League’s basic tenet of species equality under the law.  As the necessity for a draft drew near, government psychologists scrambled to find a training regimen that could turn the more sedate members of the league’s populace into contributing fighters.  Common herding and pack instincts allowed the first interspecies units to function.  Getting the violence challenged members of society to follow orders, and even kill was easy when they were grouped with those that killed on instinct.  Eventually a more functional method was found to make aggressors of the whole Systems League population.  Furka, Dubachi, and Lesuri didn’t have adrenaline or predatory instincts to rely on, but all species had one evolutionary commonality that could be exploited.  Mating competition.  The result was a rather peculiar combat mantra for Fuzi to mentally chant as he prepared to make his first ever attack.

“Belly fur, belly fur, belly fur…”  Fuzi recited in his mind, until he made his move.  Now he was yelling it at the top of his lungs as he jumped down on the back of Human pirate bent over the large suppression weapon.  “BELLY FUR!” was the last word the scum heard as Fuzi plunged his combat knife into the back of the buccaneer’s neck.  The Chorak loader recoiled in surprise, and Fuzi reacted with precision.  Lifting his pistol, the Furka ranger put two into the chest of the pirate, and a third bullet through the fanged maw of the dying Chorak.  Another pirate came around the corner with a weapon drawn, but before Fuzi could even react a bullet cored the skull of the corsair.  Fuzi turned to cover the hall with his pistol as Hector vaulted over the barricade.  

“Nice kill, Fuzz!”  The human said without breaking stride.  Dragomir and Michelle gave nods of approval as they passed.  The momentary burst of aggression Fuzi had felt was wearing off by the time the humans were shooting again.

“Well done.”  Mr. Dross said, passing Fuzi back his weapon.  Fuzi took the weapon automatically, his eyes fixed on the blood pulsing from the dead human onto the corridor floor.  Before he could actually form a thought about what he had just done, Shizuka tapped him on the shoulder.  Training once again took hold, and Fuzi checked his weapon to ensure it was still live before taking his place in line.

His heartbeat was already calm as he stacked up with the others on the door Michelle directed them to.

“Our guy is in this room, I’m sharing his beacon with you now.”  Mr. Dross said as the whole team saw a new point of reference appear on their augmented reality combat displays.  “Do. Not. Shoot. Him.”

Mr. Dross didn’t wait for anyone to become confused by his insistence on the obvious, but instead motioned to breach.  The charges Hector and Dragomir had placed neatly holed the bulkhead door, and the fireteam charged into the room.  The were only a few pirates in the room.  Those that were armed and ready were quickly dispatched, Fuzi once again killing along with his pack of humans by simple imitation.  Scanning for another target after putting a burst into a Dubachi, Fuzi’s training made him zero in on a very familiar silhouette.  A shape he had been practicing to put bullets into for years filled his sights, and only Mr. Dross’ warning made Fuzi’s finger hesitate on the trigger.  In the center of the room, tied to a chair, was a Mutilaxian.

Gritting his teeth, Fuzi confirmed that the beacon was coming from the bound Mutilaxian’s pocket before moving automatically to his next target.  He kicked the pistol away from a Chorak trying to rize from the floor, cowing the reptile at gunpoint.

“Clear!” Hector called loudly across the room.

“Clear!”  Came Shizuka’s response from the rear.

Dragomir and Michelle were busily cuffing the cowed pirates that had survived the assault as Mr. Dross moved to the Mutilaxian and cautiously issued a challenge.

“Crawdads…”  Mr. Dross said.

“Poutine.”  The Mutilaxian answered.  Dross immediately moved to cut the bonds on the creature.

“Objective secured.  All forces RTB.  Captain, we have been compromised, I’m afraid it’s plan B after all…”  Mr. Dross listened to the response patiently, but his voice came out clear and cold as he responded to the captain of the warship.  “I’m aware you don’t like it, Captain, but it’s not your call…  5 minutes, confirmed.”  Finished with his communication, Mr. Dross looked to Michelle.  “Agombi, plan B if you please.”

“You’ll be sorry!”  One of the pirate’s began.  Fuzi was shocked that Mr. Dross had used Agombi’s name so openly.  The pirate gangs were notorious for their revenge hits, and the prisons leaked buccaneers like water in a wicker basket.  For his part, Michelle didn’t seem bothered as he drew his sidearm.  “We’ll get you ba…”

The pirate’s sentence was abruptly cut off as Michelle shot him in the face.  Without even pausing, the human methodically shot each of the pirate captives fatally.  Fuzi’s tail bristled at the callous and very criminal act.  Hector and Shizuka flinched, while Dragomir watched without a single twitch to betray how he felt.  Finished with his execution, Michelle holstered his pistol and turned to the Mutilax.

“You had better be worth it.”  The spook said icily.

“Sorry for the inconvenience.”  The Mutilaxian said as it rubbed its wrists.  Fuzi wasn’t an expert on Mutilaxian expression and inflection, but he felt like the creature was smiling at all of this.

[missfangirlforlife-blog]

The 7 Top notch Things in Slovakia

Each snowflake is made of half a dozen aspects of crystals; each of them symbolizes a key, whilst the 7th mystery would be the snowflake by itself. The amount 7 can be a token of great fortune. It may remind men and women of the 8 miracles around the globe.

slovak castles

Slovakia, a travel country, has its own six strategies. During the entire complete season, she exhibits her excellent allure to folks from all over the world: lengthy background, organic virgin lands, relaxed tour facility, copious national and entertainment information and the most important magic formula - hospitable native men and women.

(1) Bratislava

Buildings listed here allows folks an easy and unadorned effect at the initially vision. Nevertheless, if you visit round the complete town, you will end up astounded by the ways filled with homes with conventional type. Those simple and easy undecorated squares possess a basic and beautiful style. This city is definitely a beautiful location. The civilization on this page traces back in the original time. 2000 yrs ago, there existed primitive municipalities designed by Celts. Then Romans constructed their army camps on this page, while Slaves began to settle here in the 6 century Advertising. In 1291 Advert, town was considered to be a convenience area, the most crucial function transpired in this article. Thereafter, the center of this area offered as the coronation location for sovereigns of Kingdom of Hungary. Over 300 hinders of houses here witnessed a lot of cultural occasions. Altogether there have been 11 Kings and 8 Queens crowned right here. Near the sq in city center, you will find a coronation highway which documented the glory of the area. It truly is paved with 178 crown-furnished copper plates on the ground.

(2) St. Martin's Cathedral

Saint. Martin's Cathedral was crowned to be a holy chapel in 1452 AD. The best part of its chancel is as high as 18.5 yards. The time tower is 85 yards higher. The amazing point is always that you will find a precious metal-plated dinner table of two rectangular meters around the clock tower. Within this kitchen table, you will find a gilt duplicate with the crown of Hungary Queen, which weighs about 300 kilometers. In the very first Society Combat, the 5 bells were dissolved to construct cannons. Really the only made it through bell weighs 2 plenty. In the word, you will find a great deal of awesome stuff on this page.

Bratislava Fortress can be a also ponder during these durations. In past times, it had been a somewhat compact fortress properties of a Slav duke. Then it was a management place of the budget of your empire and finally became a property of your imperial minister. Till 1811, there transpired a tragic fireplace which designed Bratislava castle become a stack of spoils.

Reconstruction and decoration are manufactured 150 yrs afterward disaster. The present fortress has the party hall of Councils of Slovak Republic. The fortress is observed as three tower places. This design fashion dates back on the time period amongst 1635 and 1649. The castle stands 85 meters beyond Danube Stream. You could overview the whole town from every observatory.

The Palacio Arzobispal is usually a treasure amid individuals classical architectures in Bratislava. Once the war of Slavkov, France that has been underneath the reign of Napoleon sighed Pressburg Calmness Treaty with Austria from the Match hallway of Palacio Arzobispal. Now, you can find a reception hall of Bratislava mayor, in which you are able to see six bits of 17th century tapestry. About the doorway, you can find a cardinal head wear which is 1.8 m in diameter, but weighs about 150 kilograms.

(3) Community Ethnic History

Slovakia owns numerous societal historical past which will probably make other Main Countries in europe adore. This benefitS from the serious individual civilization right here. I wish to present Maria Theresa who is a good girl viewed as mum of Austria. She was crowned during the St. Martin's Cathedral in Bratislava. Through the a long time among 1563 to 1830, there are a complete of 11 Hungarian kings and 9 Princess crowned in St. Martin's Cathedral and Franciscan chapels including Maria Theresa. Today, it has become a historic internet site which attracts several visitors.

Banska Stiavnica

Apart from the specialised information of mining, Stiavnica operates plentiful normal water assets together with other solutions. This has been referred to as "metallic location" because there were a variety of gold mines. You can easily discover that this metropolis is pretty well-off if you notice people 215 state cultural cites. Right here the two main late Gothic cathedrals each and every 500 m. It took over as the thirdly major town of the Empire of Hungary in 18th century. A distinctive standard water program was constructed from 16th century to 18th century. This product contains 60 person-produced h2o body systems which will make the horizontal drain pipes and normal water channels develop into a reliability. Below the ground in this town there are many degrees of normal water channels together with the deepest position as profound as 900 yards. There are plenty of sorts of architectures and places of likes and dislikes on the ground exactly where tourists can do exploration independently.

(4) Caverns

Caverns in Slovakia are exceptional on earth as there are couple of regions worldwide will surely have so many Karst caves, which catch the attention of almost 650,000 vacationers each year from around the world. More than a number of years, dozens of caves are already inscribed around the Planet Traditions Listing by UNESCO, involving which you can find a sophisticated Slovenia cave designed by more than 400 caverns. Furthermore, there exists the planet maximum crystalline rock resolved approximately vitamin spring season. It truly is as high as 32.6 meters and also has been placed in the Guinness Reserve of Community Files.

Domica cave, which situates in close proximity to Ple ivec - a smaller city of Slovakia, is one of the greatest discovered caves in Slovakia. It winds 5 kilometers underneath the terrain and stretches in to the boundary of Hungary, being an important part of Hungary Aggtelek Federal Car park. 35000 in the past, there are people today resided in Domica cave. It turned out established towards the public due to the fact 1932. It took structure because the deterioration from the underground rive and Domicky. When drinking water from the below the ground river is wealthy enough, you are able to go on a boat to experience the beautiful vistas of such caverns.

(5) Castles

As saved of all time, there was about 300 castles in Slovakia, but this time you can find only 168 castles kept right here, amid which 109 castles are members of ancient sites within the protection authorities. These castles are not only witnesses of your extended background, and also used for numerous valuable societal activities, like social festival, rivalry, karate demonstration, fairs, musical events and intimate wedding events.

Trencin Fortress

Trencin castle is amongst the largest castle groups in Slovakia and it is based in the greatest place of Trencin area plus the whole Vah Stream district. It really is created judging by the primitive castle of Great Moravia. The external form of Trencin castle comes from the neighborhood nobility in 13th century. In 1790 Advertisement, Trencin town experienced a big fire which spread out into the entire castle and destroyed the castle. While the bottom floor was renovated, the reconstruction in the full fortress possessed not began till the fifties of previous century.

Reddish Gemstone Castle

Reddish Rock fortress is regarded as the properly-conserved castle architecture of Renaissance design and style in Slovakia. Its enormous basement as well as the structural design and style are exclusive in the entire The eu. This fortress is easily the most regularly-visited castle in Slovakia. Additionally, it is known as among the most beautiful castles in Slovakia.

(6) Early spring

Slovakia was once well-known for its mineral normal water and hot spring. Yearly, more and more international travelers go to Slovakia for day spa services in the interest of health and elegance.

One Of The Most Historical Spring Kurhaus

By far the most early spring season Kurhaus of Slovakia is located in Bardejov. The safeguarded prepared files show ahead of time around of 1217, folks Bardejov utilized springtime to carry out remedy.

The Most Famous Slovakia Spring Metropolis

Piestany, a spa vacation resort based over the bank of Vah Stream, is among the most renowned springtime city in Slovakia. It is a area covered with big shrubs, little backyards, directly and wide sandy road, and orderly superb architectures. The heat with the spring season is in between 67 qualifications and 69 degrees. There are about 1500 milligrams of mineral substance, that have great health consequences.

Tatra Mountain range Nationwide Playground

Though Tatra mountain peak is simply not distinguished on earth, this can be a special views in Europe simply because it features so much pure beauty in a very comparatively compact area. Tatra Hills Nationwide Park is jointly constructed by Slovakia and Poland. Most portion of the park is in the boundary of Slovakia, as the other aspect is within Poland. Encompassed by many trees and shrubs, these lovely lakes are the most effective places for enthusiasts to come to go swimming in a very peaceful nighttime. The scenery across the lakes are unable to be called to be peerless, but are loved by those tourists who enjoy organic views.

(7) Wood Properties

Just like all the countries in Europe, travellers can easily see a lot of chapels in Slovakia. As the most upper region with the Roman Business and the central portion of Hungary for centuries, these historical castles in Slovakia convey unfamiliar reports. Those national relics which make it through from the invasion of Napoleon makes really are amazing. However the most outstanding items here are wood chapels and wooden communities. The wood made small town is situated in Cicmany, just where most of the households are created from forest. In the surfaces of these kinds of households, there coated white photos which seem like primitive totems. These architectures appear to be a sort of specific grow which develop in the undercover and live harmoniously along with the mother nature.

In comparison with neighbors like Hungary, Poland and Czech who want to get back previous times glory, Slovakia presents me an impression of the spot without faith based load. He is care free and enjoyable as if a frequent individuals with no energy. But he nevertheless prospects a contented life. This type of less marvelous every day life is respected by those ambitious individuals. He is sort of a charmingly naive mole who seems to be often bullied by other pets. But he by no means can feel anxious. He is just to solve these complaints by his information and business leads a contented living together with his own personal shovel.

[crystalwitch-in-the-tardis]

The History of Reiki

Since I’ve seen a lot of misinformation and also talked to a lot more level 1 and 2 Reiki practitioners about their education and attunements recently; I’ve noticed that there isn’t enough out there about Reiki that is actually talking about the history and what Reiki is and how it came into being. So I’m going to just dump a ton of information on you about what Reiki is and basically give you a mini lecture on the histroy that I would my students. 

settle in kiddies

Reiki in the West vs Reiki in the East is vastly different even though they are similar and the energy comes from the same source. Reiki in the West is a bit insane. There are so many “variations” of reiki and to be completely honest I find it offensive to just warp a tradition of energy work that is closed until you get attuned into whatever you want. I am a bit of a traditionalist in this sense and was trained in the Usui Shiki Ryoho system, my lineage is through the system Takata brought from the East to the West (though she bastardized reiki a bit as well, we will get into that more later). So while I think all Reiki is valid, I have a hard time getting behind practitioners of “variation” Reiki who know nothing about the history of Reiki or energy work. You don’t have to know energy work to do Reiki but if you don’t all you are doing is becoming a channel and your healing sessions will not go as far; you need an energy worker basis and general knowledge of how to manipulate and read energy to get the best results in your Reiki sessions. 

The History of Reiki:

The Japanese word Reiki (pronounced, “Ray-Kee”) is often translated as “universal life-force energy”, but a more accurate translation is “Spiritual energy”. Rei is translated as “sacred”, “soul” or “spirit”, the “wisdom and knowledge of all the Universe” or “atmosphere of the Divine.” It means the Higher Intelligence that guides the creation and functioning of the universe, the wisdom that comes from God, the Source, or the Universe. It is highly intuitive, “all-knowing” and as such understands the need for, and the cause of all, problems and difficulties, and how to heal them. Ki  is the life-fource energy which flows through every living thing–plants, animals, humans–and which is present in some form in everything around us, even in rocks and inanimate objects. So Reiki is essentially intuitive/knowledgeable soul or source energy. 

In Japan, the word Reiki can be used to describe any form of healing using spiritual energy, but in the West when we talk about it we are usually referring to the form of healing practice developed by Japanese Buddhist priest, Dr. Mikao Usui (1865-1926).  Dr. Usui spent the last years of his life healing people in Japan before passing his knowledge and teaching on to his students, including Dr. Chujiro Hayashi (1879-1940). After Usui’s death, Hayashi was said to have opened a Reiki clinic called, the Hayashi Reiki Kenkyu Kai (Hayashi Spiritual Energy Society).  There is another Organization that exists, that is dedicated to preserving the original teachings of Dr. Mikao Usui called, the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai.(*this information came to light in the late 1990s, as it was previously thought all the Reiki Masters had died in  Japan during WWII)

In 1935 a young woman of Hawaiian/Japanese decent came to the Reiki Clinic from Hawaii, she was supposed to have a major surgery but opted to try Reiki first when relatives urged her to try it. She was Hawayo Takata (1900-1980), she was so impressed with the healing that took place in her that she fully recovered and did not need surgery at all.  She begged to be able to learn Reiki and Hayashi eventually agreed to teach her. She worked in the clinic and lived with his family while undergoing the first 2 levels of training. She returned to Hawaii in 1937 and opened the first Reiki Clinic in the West. Hayashi and his family visited her and before leaving to return to Japan passed her final attunement so she would be able to teach and pass this healing art on to others (in 1938). By the time of her death, after traveling extensively through the US and Canada, and starting to attune level 3/Master level students in the 1970s, she had trained 22 Masters. These 22 Masters are who spread Reiki through out the Western World. After Takata’s death a group of her Master students met in Hawaii in 1982 to discuss how Reiki should progress. Takata’s granddaughter Phyllis Lei Furumoto  was agreed on by most to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps and become the next “Grand Master”. Soon after this Dr. Barbara Weber Ray (one of Takata’s Master students) broke away to found her own system of Reiki called, The Radiance Technique, which she later renamed “Real Reiki”. But during the coming together of the Masters, they also compiled their knowledge and devised a more standardized system of teaching; because up till this point all teaching had been Oral for the most part. Students were sometimes allowed to take notes but they were not supposed to write out the symbols and most of what was taught varied. This meeting created the, Western tradition of Usui Reiki, and standardized the way the 4 symbols were taught (though there is still some variations depending on your Master and how they were taught). In 1983 the Reiki Alliance was formed in British Colombia. This organization recognized Phyllis Lei Furumoto as the “Grand Master,” and whose purpose is to support each member as teachers of the Usui System of Reiki. Before 1988, Physllis Furumoto as “Grand Master” was the only Master allowed to train other Masters (before her only, her grandmother, Takata was allowed to train Masters), but at a gathering that year in Fredricksburg she announced that any suitably experienced Master could teach other Masters; leading to an explosion of Reiki Practitioners continuing into today. 

How Reiki Was Discovered; Takata’s Version:

This is the story I was taught (though even then I was like, Yea right! This can’t be right) and the story that Takata told to make Reiki more welcoming to the West and Christians. This is the story that is told in most Western Reiki classes, even to this day:

Dr. Mikao Usui was a learned scholar and Christian Priest who taught at a Seminary (oh but wait…wasn’t Christianity banned in Japan at this time? Yes it was, which is why I call this “history” a story). One day he was asked by a student how Jesus healed with his hands. It is said that this inspired him the rest of his life to find out how Jesus and Buddha had been able to heal with touch.  He was said to have traveled widely and learned other languages in order to research both Christian Scriptures and Buddhist teachings, including Japanese and Sanskrit Sutras. He finally ended up at a Zen Buddhist Monastery where the Abbot there advised him to mediate and fast at the top of a special mountain to find the answer he sought. 

He went to the top of a mountain and meditated and fasted, everyday he would stack a rock to mark the time he had been there, at the end of 21 days he had no answers and was frustrated. As he made his way down the mountain he was struck, in the 3rd eye area, with bubbles of light which had the sacred symbols in them, and he reached enlightenment in that moment. When it was over, despite his weakness after fasting for so long, he rushed down the mountain in his excitement. In doing so he  tripped and injured his foot. When he bent down to hold his toe he found that the bleeding had stopped and the pain went away and he was healed. (this is the first “miracle” of Reiki) He made his way down the mountain and made it to an inn where he asked to be served a lot of food. Reluctantly the inn owner gave him the food, which he ate all of and did not get sick. (the second “miracle”) He then healed the tooth pain of the daughter of the innkeeper by placing his hands on her head. (this is the third and final miracle that proved Reiki’s healing powers) {There are variations on this story/the 3 miracles of Reiki depending on your teacher but the general story is the same} The story goes on that he spent time healing those for free on the streets, but after getting frustrated at seeing the same people over and over who were not trying to help themselves but only seeking a quick fix; he opened a clinic and started to charge for his services to place a worth on the healing he did. 

How Reiki was Discovered; information out of the East:

Some of Usui’s original students (who were well over 100 years old at the time) did survive WWII and have been interviewed but most were unwilling to talk to outsiders/Westerners as the prevailing culture in Japan is to keep sacred information away from outside/Western eyes. We do now know that Usui was born into a Samurai family in Taniai-mura (now Miyama-cho) in Japan on August 15, 1865 and that he began to study Buddhism at the age of 4, when he was sent to the local monastery school run by Tendai Buddhist monks. He studied martial arts from the age of 12–including Aiki Jutsu and Yagyu Ryu, an ancient healing technique that is a combination of mindful targeted breathing, simple flowing movements and restful poses (it is similar to the Chinese martial art and balancing system, Qigong). He also learned meditation and healing there.

He held many jobs in his adult life including; a position as a government officer, a business man, journalist, and for a time he was secretary to the Mayor of Tokyo, and he also did charitable work in prisons. Although he is referred to as a Buddhist priest, in effect he was a lay Tendai priest called a Zaike, so he did lead a normal life with a wife and children. He is said to have studied other forms of Buddhism, including Shingon, Mahayana (Mikkyo) and Zen, as well as Shinto. 

As part of his lifelong study of Buddhism, he would have been working towards Spiritual Enlightenment, and in his memorial confirms that he had an experience of mystical enlightenment on Mount Kurmara near Kyoto. The date is uncertain, as some sources suggest 1922, although 1914 is quoted in some Japanese books seems to be quite possible, as he appears to have begun teaching some aspects of his healing system in 1915 and to have become a widely known as a healing perhaps as early as 1917. (so Reiki has been around roughly 100 years) 

What we do know is that after advice from one of his Buddhist teachers, he decided to undergo shyu gyo, a strict spiritual discipline involving meditation and fasting for 21 days, until he either died or became enlightened. On the last morning of his his fast he experienced, “a great Reiki over his head” (a direct quote from Usui’s memorial), which enabled him to become enlightened, and to acquire the ability to access healing energy (Reiki) and to pass this ability on to others. Usui then spent a few years before his death on March 9, 1926, practicing and teaching his healing system–Usui Reiki Ryoho or Usui Spiritual Energy Healing Method. 

His memorial states, “If Reiki can be spread throughout the world it will touch the human heart and the morals of society. It will be helpful for many people, not only dealing disease, but the Earth as a whole.”

Levels of Reiki:

In the West– there are traditionally 3 levels, though I have talked to others (specifically trained in the UK) that underwent 12 levels of Reiki training, sometimes condensed into 6. 

Level 1: you will learn the history of Reiki, what it is, how to use it, and be attuned to use it. {attunement essentially means having your energy channel connected to the Source of Reiki energy so you can channel it with ease}

Level 2: you should review everything again and you will  learn 3 of the 4 Reiki symbols. You will also receive your second attunement.

Level 3 aka Master level: you will receive your final attunement and the master symbol, and you will learn how to teach and pass attunements yourself. 

Recently there has been an upsurgence of workshops that teach all three levels in one weekend course. This is too much energy too quickly in my opinion and you really don’t learn everything. You should be allowing at least 21 days between level 1 and level 2 attunements; 3 days for the energy to clear out and integrate each of the 7 major energy centers. From level 2 to level 3 you should allow at least 6 months for the energy to clear out and integrate with your systems. And after your Master or level 3 attunement this will be a constant process for the rest of your life. 

In the East–in the Usui tradition reiki is taught based off the 3 Pillars of Reiki, Gassho, Reiji-Ho, and Chiryo. And does include 3 main levels of learning; these are Shoden, Okuden, and Shinpiden. But there is a lot more hands on learning and you are expected to apprentice and come to small reiki meetings where students would receive Reiju (empowerments, basically mini attunements).

Shoden: The purpose of this level is to learn to sense Ki, cultivate Ki, and use this knowledge to ground and heal the self. When proficient in all the aspects of this level they would be invited to progress to Okuden.

Okuden: is divided into 2 parts. Okuden-Zenki and Okuden-Koki, the student only progresses to the second level when the teacher felt they were ready. This level is about strengthening students’ ability to channel. Okuden-Zenki focuses on a combination of meditation and cleansing techniques. Okuden-Koki focuses on a method of releasing toxins and teaches ways of Reiki through breathing and sending it with the eyes. 

Shinpiden: the purpose of this level is to focus on furthering personal spiritual development and learning how to pass on the system of reiki to others. Though very few students are committed to this or make it to this point as the above can take years/a life time and only the most committed  and experienced students are asked if they want to progress this far.

There is mention of a further commitment that can be made after this level called, Shihan, which means teacher, and they would be expected to make a life long commitment to the the Reiki Journey. 

Since the late 1990s we’ve slowly been getting more information out of the East on the Reiki tradition there and I hope one day to visit a clinic and study there. The Reiki traditions in the east are more focused and require one to place a greater commitment to Reiki in their life than the Western tradition does. It also requires apprenticeship and longer periods of time between degrees (levels). The main difference besides teaching methods is the focus on spiritual growth and meditations as well as it being an apprentice based learning system, where you might have that some in the West it is not the norm any more. 

{sources, x, x}

So this is the basic history of Reiki which is roughly 100 years old! I hope you enjoyed this information dump. Feel free to comment or contact me for more information or if you have questions (ps: this is not all the info but this is a good basis for those who are interested in Reiki and it’s history)

I will be making another post on, what you can do with Reiki/how to use it.

[twelvesignsrp]

congratulations sav, aries is now kieran campbell with the faceclaim dudley o’shaughnessy !

APPLICATION

Character Sign: Aries

Character name: Kieran Campbell Birthday: 04/02/1997 Sexuality: Homosexual Gender: Cisgender Male Moon Sign: Capricorn Faceclaim: Dudley O’Shaugnessy Power: Fire Manipulation – He can only manipulate fire, not create it, so he carries a lighter with him in order to spark a flame when needed. He’s still not the best at controlling this ability yet, so it takes an intense amount of concentration on his part to keep the fire from going haywire. This, as you might imagine, takes a considerable toll on him. Usually after only a few minutes of continuous use his knees get wobbly and his head starts to spin.

Secondary ability (from the sudden power up): Enhanced charisma. Fire signs have incredibly large personalities and, just like the element they represent, can be very charming and magnetic, drawing people into their area of influence. This added ability allows Kieran to subtly persuade others to see his opinion/take his side. It’s not an exact science, and some people seem to be more susceptible than others. Of course, he can’t persuade someone to jump out of a window or hand him a million dollars. His natural born charisma is only slightly heightened, giving him a mild edge when it comes to things like: suggesting that the librarian allow him to check out more books/research materials than is usually allowed, convincing the chef at his favorite restaurant that an item that’s no longer on the menu should be reintroduced, etc.

What do they study?: Kieran is a law student

Biography:

T H E N

Kieran Campbell grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland. His father was a respected incumbent member of the Scottish Parliament, his mother a devoted homemaker and caregiver. From a young age, his parents impressed upon him three essential traits that, they believed, were the key to success: Ambition, Excellence, Dominance.

[First, ambition. Do nothing without enthusiasm, charisma, and innovation. Do not drag your feet. Motivate yourself. Be an example. A leader. Do not wait to be asked. Anticipate. Outrun, outgun, and outperform those around you. Do not settle for average, because in this world, average is a death sentence. Averagewon’t get you noticed. Average won’t pay your bills. Average won’t get you anywhere.

Next, excellence. Do not attempt something unless you’re aiming to be the best – anything less is wasting your time. Do not accept participation trophies or consolation prizes: they’re symbols of your defeat, your inability to be number one. “Trying” is only an excuse created by those who cannot do.  Who cannot achieve. “Trying” means nothing. Winning means everything.

Last, dominance. Do not pity those below you. Do not give charity or handouts. The only thing separating them from you is that you made it and they did not. You’re on top because you deserve to be, so show no mercy. Take what you want. Take what is owed. Lead. Delegate. Do not apologize. Do not offer excuses or justifications for your greatness.]

Kieran was a model son. Top of his class every year, head of every committee or club he could join, and an exceptional athlete. His parents took him out to society dinners and exclusive functions and paraded him around, singing his praises to anyone who would listen. He lived for it. The attention. The recognition. It became an addiction, a fix that he craved. To be applauded and told “Yes. Yes, this is life and you are doing it right. You’re going to go places young man, I already know it. You’re such a smart boy. Such a winner.”

By the time he was halfway through secondary school, there wasn’t a soul in his school that didn’t know his name. The faculty, the staff, the students: they all watched him walk by with the same look – equal parts awe and fear. He was a rising football star, the best player in his league. He carried his club team with ease, winning every match. He practiced on the pitch for hours each day after class, honing his skills. Perfecting his form. He was guaranteed a scholarship at this point to any school of his choosing. He was going to be able to take his pick: a feat not even his father had boasted.

Things were perfect.

He was perfect.

But a house of cards can only be stacked so high before its own weight becomes too much to bear.

His last year of school before applying to university, he met a boy. A boy who didn’t care who his father was. A boy who wasn’t impressed by his grades or his skills or his good looks. A boy who saw through the arrogance. The confidence. A boy who drank whiskey out of water bottles and doodled on his bare, white skin with permanent marker. A boy who called him late at night to ask questions he couldn’t answer and spin pipe dreams he could never have (dreams he couldn’t hope to want, no matter how badly he ached for them). A boy with dark hair and green eyes who kissed him one day on the train and shattered every little piece of him.

His grades started to slip. He started lying to his parents, sneaking out at night for midnight rendezvous. People began to notice, especially after he started skipping football practice. To stave off suspicion, he started dating a petite little blonde who smiled when he opened doors for her and put a napkin in her lap when she ate. Her face would crumple every time he told her he was too busy to hang out after school, but he never felt bad.

Three months after he met the boy, the two of them drove Kieran’s father’s luxury sedan over a median and straight into a light pole.

Kieran doesn’t remember much, after that, except pain and, even more agonizing: regret.

There’s two surgeries to repair his left leg. Metal plates and screws and physical therapy. He finishes out the rest of the year from home, his parents… disinclined to let him anywhere near that school again. The house is like a prison, silent and sharp with disappointment. His father won’t speak to him. His mother cries every time he hobbles by her on his crutches.

Climbing his way back to the top is exhausting, but he throws himself at it with renewed drive. He studies for hours. Does extra credit. His phone rings and rings and rings, some days, and he locks it away in his sock drawer because he can’t look at the caller ID without feeling like he’s back in that car again, hot blood running down his cheek and pain searing white hot through his lower body. Eventually, he takes out his SIM card and throws it away in the trash bin out back.

He graduates. But he’s not number one. And it stings, even though he’s expecting it. Without a chance for a sports scholarship and with his lackluster finish to the year, only a handful of universities contact him back, and none of them are up to his family’s standards.

His father pays for a spot at Durham.

N O W

Kieran knows what’s at stake, now. He’s already screwed up once: there won’t be any second chances. After the scandal (“Unlicensed Teen Son of Prominent Scottish Parliament Leader and Friend Collide with Light Pole After Drunk Driving Escapade, No Causalities”) his chances of following in his father’s footsteps were all but destroyed, but a career in law is just as respectable, and he really doesn’t mind the subject all that much. Durham is his only hope to salvage his reputation and his strained relationship with his father, and he’s not going to let anything distract him.

(Not even magic, he tells himself as the flame from the candle on his desk flickers and grows with a wave of his hand.)

Five interesting facts about your character:

Kieran is stressed, repressed, and overdressed like, always. He appreciates good fashion.

He loves pickles.

He still watches football matches, even if it’s a painful reminder of the future he could have had.

He doesn’t talk to anyone from Edinburgh anymore besides his parents, preferring to bury his past and move on rather than dwell on his mistakes.

While he’s still as determined and stubborn as ever, his drive is largely born out of desperation, now. He’s secretly terrified of making another mistake.

Character Quote: “Cause I fuck with myself more than anybody else.” – BANKS (“Fuck With Myself”)

If your character had a patronus what would it be? and why?: Komodo Dragon. These dragons have been around for centuries. Just like Kieran, they know the value of staying power. They’re patient and meticulous hunters and doggedly pursue their prey, sometimes for hundreds of miles, until their stubbornness is rewarded. Komodo dragons are often associated with fire, as many believe they can secretly breathe flames.

WRITING SAMPLE

He’s got one hand wrapped around the neck of a bottle of whiskey and the other is gripping your thigh, squeezing so hard he’s sure to leave bruises. You take your eyes off the road to look at him. He’s slouched down in the passenger seat, an unlit cigarette hanging between his lips. His eyes catch the light of neon shop signs as you pass and you can’t help but wonder how something so beautiful, so mysterious, looked at you and saw anything but a fraud. An empty, hollow vessel that’d been stuffed full to the brim with the thoughts and expectations of others.

“C’mon. Lemme drive.”

You pull over onto the shoulder and the two of you swap spots, shimming one at a time over the middle console so you don’t have to get out in the cold and circle around to the other side of the car. You take the bottle and he starts the engine. He slams his foot down on the accelerator, merging back onto the highway as you take a swig of whiskey, grimacing at the burn. He looks over at you and smiles, amused, and you smile back, helpless.

He turns his attention to the speedometer, eyes alight with chaos and exhilaration as it steadily climbs higher, and you lean over to turn on the radio.

“Oh, shit!”

You don’t even have time to blink. Your outstretched hand, frozen halfway between your body and the dash, is the last thing you remember. (The image lives beneath your eyelids, now, and every time you close your eyes you see it.)

You wake up, briefly, after the dust has settled, but all you recognize is pain, white hot agony tracing its way down your spin. Something hot and sticky drips from your nose. Your lips.

You hear him, screaming himself hoarse beside you, but you don’t know what he wants, so you close your eyes.

(You find out, later, that it was a dog. A dog, crossing the road.)

ANYTHING ELSE?

My favorite color is green! Thank ya’ll again for the generous reserve!!! (Also, just so there’s no confusion, the football I refer to here is the European football – so, soccer!)

[uroch-lore-blog]

Hog society

An Uroch’s crude carving in chalk of a hog displaying spines

The prickly hogs can be encountered everywhere the Uroch visit on the surface. Thanks to their formation of complex cooperative societies they have become the most widespread and successful mammal on the planet, dispersing themselves across nearly all terrestrial ecosystems and thriving everywhere while the fragmented descendants of humankind barely cling to survival hidden away in their subterranean refugia.

The hogs have exceptionally good eyesight, hearing, and sense of smell, able to detect threats even in the darkness, along with strong claws that can excavate tunnels and chambers in the soil and reshape their environment with ease. They are omnivores who can consume and digest almost anything, with a tough bony beak able to crack bone and nuts alike. This gives them an immense variety of foraging options from eating berries, digging up tubers, scavenging carcasses, eating insects and even hunting on occasion.

While they evolved as nocturnal burrowing creatures, they are now bold enough to forage extensively during the day and range widely above ground, taking turns keeping watch and warning each other of any approaching dangers. They keep several sentinels on watch at their towns at any time as well as accompanying their foraging parties, and have a huge repertoire of hooting and screeching vocalizations with unique meanings making up their speech. 

Litters are small, rarely exceeding 3, and the young are born helpless in underground communal nursery chambers. They mature slowly, taking a decade to reach adulthood, giving them plenty of time to learn all the threats and opportunities their varied environment presents. All members of the group will take turns babysitting and feeding the young. 

Hogs form strong bonds even with individuals who are neither related nor sexual partners, and while smaller groups may be comprised of extended families, in the majority of towns mostly unrelated individuals live and cooperate together. They strengthen social bonds by grooming each other’s soft underbellies, which an individual would find difficult to do without aid. 

They typically live in groups of 30 or so with very many more in the largest of their towns which can cover vast areas. Their towns are composed of a complex series of tunnels and chambers with their own dedicated functions including larders for storing any surplus food they can carry back which allows them to get by in leaner times. Each hog will have memorized the entire layout of their town.

A smaller sized hog town

Though usually peaceable they can be fearsome indeed when roused. Their spines are usually kept held flat and harmless against the body, but when they feel threatened the hogs will raise and rattle them creating a fearsome display. Any aggressors who ignore it are likely to meet the sharp end of the spines. Hogs will also attack with their beaks, which being strong enough to crush bone can do serious injury to aggressors. Their claws are equally formidable but are not their primary means of defense. A common threat is giant snakes and centipedes invading their towns. The hogs will form battlelines to drive off the intruders and will usually try to kill these creatures so they will pose no threat in the future. Sometimes one will act as bait to draw the threat away. When severe danger threatens the town some hogs will plug the entrances with their own bodies, turning their backs to intruders and extending their spines to present a formidable barrier, but potentially sacrificing themselves to save the town.

Watch Hogs and Uroch

On rare occasions individual hogs are driven out of their towns after disputes, and many have found refuge in the entrances to the Uroch tunnels. These eminently sociable beings soon formed a symbiotic relationship with the Uroch living below. Though they are burrowers the hogs do not venture deep underground, and have never colonized these regions on their own, but in banding together with the Uroch they have found safety down here. They can subsist happily on leftovers that even the Uroch cannot consume meaning they have plenty of scraps to eat in the Uroch camps, keeping the place clean while these giants protect them from even the most dangerous of predators. 

Under the watchful eyes and ears of these hogs at their camps, with senses far sharper than even the Uroch’s, it is almost impossible for enemies, whether hungry predators or rival Uroch, to take the camp by surprise. The hogs will always post vigilant sentinels that warn of approaching danger with their screeching alarm calls. The hogs also assist the Uroch in tracking by scent, leading them to large prey, allowing the stronger beings to make the kill which provides more than enough sustenance for all. They will always accompany the Uroch foragers on their trips to the surface.

The Uroch acknowledge the hogs as full members of society and usually will form very strong and lasting bonds with them as individuals. The hogs usually sleep curled up besides or on top of the Uroch for warmth and enjoy their underbellies being rubbed by Uroch just as they would groom each other. The Uroch have learned to understand and respond to much of the hogs’ hooting speech while the hogs have in turn learned Uroch gestures such as pointing and smiling and can understand their tone of voice. They can live up to 50 years so their lifespan is only somewhat shorter than an Uroch’s. Elderly, injured and sick hogs are cared for and nourished just as Uroch are. The injury or murder of a hog is treated as no less grave an offence as that of another Uroch and they are afforded the same funerary rites, though their skulls are stacked in piles in the shrine instead of being placed in wall cavities.

[kathleenseiber]

2D and 3D combo could keep Moore’s Law going

Ultra-compact, yet high-performing electronic chips could overcome the challenges that face conventional integrated circuits and maintain Moore’s Law indefinitely, researchers say.

To create the chips, researchers would take advantage of relatively new and promising two-dimensional (2D) materials and combining them with monolithic 3D (M3D) integration practices.

Moore’s Law says that the number of transistors on a microchip will double roughly every two years. And, thanks to advances in miniaturization and performance, this axiom has held true since 1965, when Intel cofounder Gordon Moore first made that statement based on emerging trends in chip manufacturing at Intel.

However, integrated circuits (IC) are hitting hard physical limits that are rendering Moore’s Law obsolete—elements on a dense integrated circuit can get only so small and so tightly packed together before they begin to interfere with each other and otherwise lose their functionality.

“Apart from fundamental physical limits to the scaling of transistor feature sizes below a few nanometers, there are significant challenges in terms of reducing power dissipation, as well as justifying the incurred cost of IC fabrication,” says Kaustav Banerjee, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara. As a result, the very devices that we rely on for their steadily improving performance and versatility—computers, smartphones, internet-enabled gadgets—would also hit a limit, he says.

While Banerjee first disclosed the idea to combine 2D materials and 3D integration practices in a article back in 2014, more detailed research evaluating this technology from his Nanoelectronics Research Lab now appears in the IEEE Journal of the Electron Devices Society.

“Two-dimensional materials can be stable in their monolayer form with atomic scale thickness—0.5 nanometer or 5 Angstroms for graphene (a conductor) and hexagonal-boron-nitride (an insulator), and ~6.5 Angstroms for 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (semiconductors) such as molybdenum-disulphide (MoS2) or tungsten-disulphide/diselenide (WS2/WSe2),” Banerjee says.

“In addition, due to their layered nature, they offer pristine surfaces relatively free of defects and are excellent conductors of heat in the in-plane direction. All these properties, along with the possibility to directly synthesize these materials on top of prefabricated devices, offer unprecedented advantages over conventional 3D ICs that are already in the market or M3D integration with conventional electronic materials.”

Extending Moore’s Law

According to the Banerjee Group’s study, there’s a limit to how thin conventional semiconductor materials can get before their desirable electronic properties begin to fade.

“Thickness scaling of common semiconductor materials, such as Si, becomes challenging below a few nanometers due to rapid degradation of their mobility caused by the increase in electron scatterings from surface roughness,” Banerjee says. “In fact, below ~1 nm, conventional materials like Si or Ge may not be thermodynamically stable.”

On the other hand, atomically thin and stable 2D materials, such as graphene, hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), and transitional metal dichalcogenides (MoS2, WS2, WSe2, etc) are highly space-efficient, thickness-wise. Moreover, due to their layered nature and pristine interfaces, the 2D semiconductors exhibit reasonably high mobilities and immunity against surface defects, according to the paper.

In addition, 2D materials tend to be a lot more flexible than their conventional counterparts, which make them ideal for state-of-the-art electronics applications, such as flexible displays. Stacked 2D materials, in contrast to their stacked 3D counterparts, meanwhile, can also minimize the inter-tier signal delays, thermal resistance, and reduce potential overheating.

By selecting certain 2D materials and stacking them, according to the researchers, not only does the monolithic 3D conserve precious space on the chip, but also allows for configuration based on the combined electronic properties of the materials.

“For example, owing to the atomically-thin vertical dimensions of 2D materials, and carefully-designed inter-tier electrostatics with graphene shielding layer that also benefits from enhanced heat dissipation, aggressive scaling of tier thickness down to sub-μm can be achieved,” Banerjee says. “Such scaling allows over 10-folds higher integration density with respect to conventional 3D integration, and over 150% greater integration density with respect to conventional M3D integration, with plenty of room for further improvements.

“Thus, 2D materials can help realize the ultimate density scaling of integrated electronics—both laterally and vertically—which can usher an unprecedented era of innovation and economic growth for the worldwide semiconductor industry,” he adds.

The ‘chip cities’ of the future

As with many innovations with potential to become mainstream technologies, there are challenges to consider to pave the way toward their mass manufacturing. For monolithic 3D devices, the challenges are to be able to fabricate these components at relatively low temperatures (lower than 500 degrees Celsius) to avoid degradations and damages to prefabricated devices located in the lower tiers, electromagnetic interference, and heat dissipation.

Last year, Banerjee’s group demonstrated a CMOS compatible graphene synthesis method that essentially addressed the low-temperature and transfer-free synthesis challenge for graphene. Similar efforts are underway in his laboratory to synthesize other 2D materials directly on wafers at low temperatures.

“Additionally, careful design is needed to electrically shield the generated electromagnetic waves from affecting the operations of devices on adjacent or nearby tiers,” says lead author Junkai Jiang, recent recipient of a doctoral degree in electrical and computer engineering from Banerjee’s laboratory. The researchers note that by using a thin graphene shielding layer between tiers (preferably doped to enhance electromagnetic screening effect), interference can be prevented even as the vertical layers are scaled down.

In terms of heat dissipation, the thinness of the material itself is conducive to allowing the heat from densely packed stacked components to dissipate efficiently. Coauthor Kamyar Parto, a member of Banerjee’s lab, remarked that “the 2D materials have much higher in-plane thermal conductivity compared to thinned-down conventional materials like silicon, which helps fast lateral heat transport, thereby reducing the risks of any hot-spot formation.”

“Ultimately, we envision heterogeneously integrated devices and technologies enabled by 2D materials to realize the world’s tallest and densest ‘chip-cities’ with unprecedented performance, storage capacity, and energy-efficiency,” he adds.

Source: UC Santa Barbara

The post 2D and 3D combo could keep Moore’s Law going appeared first on Futurity.

2D and 3D combo could keep Moore’s Law going published first on https://triviaqaweb.weebly.com/

[shirlleycoyle]

Satellites Are Quietly, Constantly Watching Us

Ziya Tong is the author of ‘The Reality Bubble,’ a groundbreaking and wonder-filled look at the hidden things that shape our lives in unexpected and sometimes dangerous ways. This is excerpted from that book.

It was obvious that the dot on the map had stopped moving, but it was some time before people realized that the dot on the map had died. That dot was Michael Hall, a cyclist in a 5,500- kilometer endurance race being watched online by a community of “dot watchers,” fans who kept track of the cyclists along their thirteen-day route from Fremantle to Sydney, Australia.

Each dot had an athlete’s nametag, and it wasn’t unusual for them to pause here and there, when the athletes stopped to rest, take meal breaks, or go to the bathroom. The GPS live trackers were on board the bikes to ensure that cyclists didn’t cheat, while also providing the fans with live coverage of the riders they were following.

Over the course of the race, people began to warm up to the little dots moving about the screen. As Belinda Hoare, one of the online trackers, said, “You’d go from checking maybe once or twice a day, to checking a couple of times a day, to checking hourly, and then you’d have the map open constantly … you really did feel like you got to know these people.”

On March 18, 2017, Hall’s dot was in second place, when at 6:22 a.m. it suddenly stopped moving near the intersection of the Monaro Highway and Williamsdale Road. It was the final day of the race, and puzzled fans began to wonder why Hall had paused at this critical point. What they did not yet know was that he had been struck by a car and killed. By GPS, they had witnessed his death.

In a few short decades, GPS has become so ubiquitous and indispensable it has entered almost every sphere of our lives. The moment you step outside with your smartphone in hand, you too are a moving dot. And though you cannot see it, the world has been overlaid with a time-and-space grid. All of us are synchronized to it and can be traced by our coordinates. We are largely unaware of the role satellites play in our lives, but stock markets, telecommunications, jogging routes, drone strikes, local weather forecasts, ATM machines, traffic lights, and food deliveries all rely on this public infrastructure that orbits silently high above us.

The signals are controlled by the U.S. Air Force and used by about a billion people daily. At night, you might occasionally see one of these GPS satellites twinkling in the sky like an artificial star as it reflects the sun. Each satellite weighs around two metric tons, and with their solar panels stretched out, the largest have wingspans of about 35 meters, or the length of two tractor-trailers. Orbiting at an altitude of 20,200 kilometers above Earth, each satellite belongs to a constellation of 24-31 GPS satellites at any given time, that zip around the planet at speeds of more than 11,000 kilometers an hour.

In their book GPS Declassified, Eric Frazier and Richard Easton imagine what Captain Cook, who navigated with real stars, might think of this modern technology.

Cook: What use are invisible stars?

Commander: We don’t need to see them. The satellites transmit electromagnetic frequencies … radio signals that our equipment uses to determine our position. Radio signals are very rapid vibrations that our instruments detect with their antennas, which for them are like our ears, but these are not sounds anyone can hear.

Cook: You steer your ship with sounds you cannot hear from stars you cannot see?

That is exactly what we do. Humans can hear sound at a range of 20 hertz to 20 kilohertz, but GPS radio signals are much higher than that. Operating at bands of 1,227.6 megahertz and 1,575.42 megahertz, these radio waves, when they reach the ground, aren’t audible to any animal on Earth. Radio signals are incredibly faint. As Carl Sagan once said, “The total energy picked up by all the radio telescopes on the entire planet in all of history is less than the energy of a single snowflake hitting the ground.” That statement was made when he recorded the television show Cosmos in 1980. According to astronomer Frank Drake, who made the original calculation, with the additional radio waves beaming down to Earth since then, the amount might now be equal to “two snowflakes … maybe three.”

Using receivers, however, we are able to pick up the faint waves of these signals as they wash over us. And it’s not just the US complement of satellites we can choose from either. Russia has its GLONASS satellites, the EU has Galileo, and China has its BeiDou system of navigation satellites. Pulling in signals from one or more of these systems, along with a base station at a known position for reference, today’s civilian GPS receivers can now pinpoint your location within 1.5 meters (it had been within an area about the size of a football field in the 1990s).

Of course, GPS satellites, which operate at medium Earth orbit (MEO) and circle the planet twice a day, are not the only eyes in the sky. At low Earth orbit (LEO), or an altitude of two 2,000 kilometers and below, you’ll find the majority of Earth observation satellites. Circling Earth every 90 minutes, these satellites are close to the planet’s surface and are frequently used for meteorology, map-making, and environmental monitoring. Zooming up much higher, to an altitude of 35,786 kilometers is where you’ll find the satellites operating at geosynchronous orbit (GSO) and geostationary Earth orbit (GEO). These satellites are synchronized with the rotational period of the planet and are primarily used for telecommunications, where the signals can be constantly and reliably accessed from the same spot on Earth. As artist and geographer Trevor Paglen points out, geostationary satellites are “thousands of times further away” and “remain locked as man-made moons in perpetual orbit long after their operational lifetimes.” Because they are too far away to bring back down and burn up in the atmosphere, instead, when these satellites reach the end of their lives, operators on Earth use on-board propellant to bump them up three hundred kilometers into what’s known as a graveyard orbit. Paglen notes that here they will stay circling Earth, outlasting the pyramids as remnants of our civilization. Archaeologists of the future will not just dig the earth; they will likely uncover much about the twenty-first-century human record by examining our well-preserved machines looming high up in our space cemeteries.

Beyond LEO, MEO, and GEO, however, there are still other orbits that for security reasons have no published schedules. These are the secret paths of the spy satellites. The CIA has been launching “Keyhole” (KH) class reconnaissance satellites since the 1960s. They have powerful lenses that can zoom in on the tiniest details on Earth and yet remain invisible to the general public. As was the case with GPS, the capabilities of civilian craft are several years behind what the military can do. In April 2018, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. announced that the United Kingdom’s Carbonite-2 satellite was able to record full-color HD video from 505 kilometers away. By stacking the frames in much the same way macro photographers do, experts can use the data to resolve an image from space down to sixty centimeters. And this is a civilian craft. With some US government restrictions relaxed, commercial imaging satellites like the ones Google uses will now be able to show images at 25 centimeters of resolution. That’s the ability to see your face—from space.

The latest spy satellites are even more powerful. Keyhole electro-optical imaging satellites of the KH-12 class are said to have a primary mirror on board that is 2.4 meters in diameter. That’s the same size as the mirror used on the Hubble Space Telescope, which is used to image objects 10-15 billion kilometers away. We can only imagine the resolution this class of reconnaissance satellites has when its lenses are turned not on outer space but on Earth. Not much is revealed about the Keyhole satellites, but we do know that launches are managed by the National Reconnaissance Office with a heavily funded budget of an estimated $10 billion a year. The satellites usually follow polar elliptical orbits, allowing them to scan all of Earth from pole to pole, passing over the equator at a different longitude each time as the planet beneath spins from day to night.

Even declassified documents about spy satellites are heavily redacted, so what we know about their locations comes largely from hobbyists who track their trajectories from Earth. These amateur astronomers have their eyes trained on the top secret machines. They are, in essence, the only eyes that watch the watchers. Communicating through a mailing list called SeeSat-L, this small group of observers from around the world uses stop-watches, telescopes, and cameras to monitor the orbital planes of approximately four hundred military satellites. As one member of the group, Marco Langbroek, described in Popular Science, “Just like the Earth has a coordinate grid, with latitude and longitude, the sky has a coordinate grid, and every star has a coordinate within that grid. And by using stars as a reference point you can determine the coordinates of a satellite in the sky.”

For most of us, these satellites are out of sight and out of mind, but the reality is there are thousands of highly advanced commercial, scientific, and military eyes that hover and swoop in the skies above us performing duties that are critical to the functioning of modern society. As geostrategist Nayef Al-Rodhan writes:

Any accidental interruption or deliberate severance of space- based services would cause immense financial losses and other disruptions. Indeed, a single day without access to space would have disastrous consequences worldwide. Approximately $1.5 trillion worth of financial market transactions per day would be stifled, throwing global markets into disarray. According to statistics provided by the International Air Transport Association, over 100,000 commercial flights crisscross the planet daily. Evidently such flights would be interrupted by communication disruptions, and deliveries of emergency health services would be severely hampered. Additionally, coordinating effective responses to crises would become nearly impossible. Due to the fundamentally transnational nature of almost all outer space activities, any conflict in outer space—even a limited one—would have disastrous consequences for the large amount of civilians globally who depend on the provision of outer space services. Contemporary strategists warn that command and control structures of modern militaries are also becoming critically dependent on space-based assets for communication, coordination, reconnaissance, surveillance, high-precision targeting and other critical military activities. This increasing indispensability of space for modern military activities makes satellites ideal targets in future conflicts.

The targeting of satellites makes everyone on Earth—especially the most developed and technologically advanced nations—exceptionally vulnerable. One incident in particular has shown the potential for serious disruption in space. On January 11, 2007, China launched a ballistic missile from Xichang Space Center. Its target was innocuous, the Fengyun-1C, an old Chinese weather satellite traveling at around 27,000 kilometers an hour. The missile carried a kinetic kill vehicle, which it released toward the weather satellite, coming in from the opposite direction at a relative velocity of 32,400 kilometers an hour. The head-on impact destroyed the satellite instantly, shattering it into a cloud of debris that sent over 35,000 shards into orbit, where they still circle like a ring of daggers around the planet. The threat of the space debris to other orbiting satellites is certainly dangerous, but the mission made something else crystal clear. While ostensibly China was decommissioning an aging satellite, it also proved to the world it had the capacity to destroy a satellite in orbit and blind another nation’s eyes.

Satellites Are Quietly, Constantly Watching Us syndicated from https://triviaqaweb.wordpress.com/feed/

[davidcdelreal]

Foresters Life Insurance Company Review

We offer life insurance products from over 40 companies in the US.  We like to provide company reviews for consumers on many of the companies that we work with.  In this blog we will be discussing Foresters Financial.  The company has been around for many years and has an excellent reputation for taking care of its clients.  We will give a brief background of the company and discuss two of its popular life insurance products; Your Term Life Insurance and Plan Right Whole Life product that is designed to help with final expenses.  Here is our Foresters Life Insurance Company Review.

About Foresters Financial

Foresters Financial is a fraternal benefit society (member based) that has been around for 140 years.  The company has $34 billion in assets under management and has carried an A rating from A.M. Best for the last 16 years.   The company offers a wide range of financial solutions such as life insurance, annuities, mutual funds, retirement accounts and other advisory services.  The company prides itself on giving back to the community and its members.

Foresters Your Term Life Insurance

Foresters Your Term Life Insurance offers competitive rates and a non-med underwriting option for smaller face values.  Here are some key features of the Your Term Life Insurance product:

Term durations of 10,15,20,25 or 30 years.

Coverage starting as low as $50,000 and up to $400,000 for non-medical underwriting.

Coverage ranging from $100,000 to $10,000,000 for fully underwritten coverage.

Rates are competitively priced compared to other companies in the industry.

Term coverage can be converted to permanent coverage without any additional underwriting.

Several valuable riders that are automatically included in base coverage.

Living benefits that are included in the base coverage.

As a Foresters member, you will also receive other benefits beyond those related to life insurance.

Foresters Non-Medical Your Term Coverage

If you prefer to avoid a medical exam, Foresters offers a non-medical term option up to $400,000 of coverage for applicants ages 18-55 and $150,000 for applicants 56-80.  A decision on your application is usually made with 10 minutes.  You will either be accepted or declined. Please note that the best rates available for the non-medical option are based off ‘Standard’ health ratings because of the limited underwriting.  The non-medical option is a bit more expensive than fully underwritten coverage.  The non-medical option might be worth it for those who do not want to take the medical exam.

Features that Set Foresters Apart from the Competition

What sets Foresters apart from the competition are the many benefits that come with base coverage.  Here are some features that are included with base term coverage:

Charity Benefit Provision:  When a death benefit claim is paid to the beneficiaries, Foresters will pay an additional 1% of the face value to an accredited nonprofit organization as designated by the policy owner.

Family Health Benefit Rider: This rider provides benefits for qualified health situations for the insured and their immediate family who need medical assistance within the Continental US, Alaska and Hawaii due to a catastrophic event.  Qualified events include ambulance transportation, hospital emergency room exam and hospital stay ($100 per day up to 5 days).

Common Carrier Accidental Death Rider:  This rider provides a death benefit up to 2x the face amount to a maximum of $300,000 if the insured dies within 180 days of an accidental bodily injury that occurred while riding on a common carrier as a fare-paying passenger.

Accelerated Death Benefit Rider: This rider is the most valuable in that it allows the insured to accelerate a portion of the death benefit if the insured is diagnosed with a qualifying:

Critical illness such as invasive cancer, heart attack, stroke, advanced Alzheimer ’s disease (before insured’s 75th birthday), ALS and more.

Chronic Illness which result in the insured being unable at least two of the activities of daily living for a period of at least 90 days.

Terminal Illness which means the insured has a non-correctable illness or physical condition which is reasonably expected to result in death within 12 months of diagnosis.

All of these riders are included in base term coverage without any additional cost.  We have only briefly described each rider.  For more detailed information, please send us an email and we will be happy to send you a brochure that describes these riders in greater detail.

How Much Does Foresters Your Term Life Insurance Cost?

As we mentioned earlier, Foresters Your Term coverage is very affordable when compared to other top companies in the industry.  Here are some sample monthly rates for Forresters Your Term fully underwritten coverage for 20 years of coverage:

Male Rates

Age$500,000$1,000,000$1,500,000 jQuery(document).ready(function() { jQuery('#table_985070981').DataTable( {"destroy": true,"bPaginate": false,"bLengthChange": false,"bFilter": false,"bSort": false,"bInfo": false,"bStateSave": true,"bAutoWidth": false,"sPaginationType": "full_numbers",} ); }); 35 Years Old$22.32$35.01$49.4440 Years Old$30.28$56.01$80.9445 Years Old$53.38$98.88$145.25

   Female Rates  

Age$500,000$1,000,000$1,500,000 jQuery(document).ready(function() { jQuery('#table_993133465').DataTable( {"destroy": true,"bPaginate": false,"bLengthChange": false,"bFilter": false,"bSort": false,"bInfo": false,"bStateSave": true,"bAutoWidth": false,"sPaginationType": "full_numbers","oLanguage": { "sLengthMenu": "Display _MENU_ records per page", "sZeroRecords": "Nothing found - sorry", "sInfo": "Showing _START_ to _END_ of _TOTAL_ records", "sInfoEmpty": "Showing 0 to 0 of 0 records", "sSearch": "Search: ", "sInfoFiltered": "(filtered from _MAX_ total records)" }} ); }); 35 Years Old$19.25$31.51$44.1940 Years Old$27.13$47.26$67.8245 Years Old$39.38$71.75$104.57

  If you want to see how rates from Foresters Financial stack up to the competition, get a quote here and look for Foresters on our list.

Foresters Plan Right Final Expense

Another product from Foresters that deserves mentioning is its Plan Right Whole Life.  This product is designed to help with final expenses.  It is a level premium product that lasts to age 121.There is no medical exam required.  Your application will be reviewed along with your MIB file, a prescription database check, build review and a Personal Health Interview conducted by Foresters.  You must be able to answer ‘No’ to all the medical questions in ‘Part A’ of the application to qualify for any of the plans.

Pan Right Level – The healthiest applicants will qualify. Beneficiaries will be eligible to receive 100% of the face amount death benefit without a waiting period.

Plan Right Graded – You may qualify with some moderate health issues.  Beneficiaries will receive a graded benefit in years 1 and 2 (unless death is accidental).  They will receive the full death benefit in year 3.

Plan Right Modified – For applicants with multiple health issues.   Beneficiaries will have access to the full benefit in the 3rd year. If death occurs in year 1 or 2, beneficiaries will receive return of premiums plus interest.

We can walk you through the application to help you determine if you qualify for Plan Right Level, Plan Right Graded or Plan Right Modified.

Additional Benefits to Being a Foresters Member     

Because Foresters is a fraternal organization, once you become a policyholder you will also become a member.  Once a member, you will have access to additional benefits including:

Grants and Scholarships: Members can apply for educational grants and scholarships.

Community Grants: Members can apply for financial grants to organize volunteer activities within the community.

Orphan Benefit: Foresters may pay $900 per month per child to the legal guardian for children under the age of 18 who have lost both parents.

Orphan Scholarships: Foresters will provide a renewable scholarship for higher learning for up to 4 years for children who have lost both parents.

Where Does Foresters Financial Fall Short?

There really isn’t much to say about Foresters life insurance that is negative.  The one thing that we can really point to is its underwriting guidelines for high risk applicants.  For instance, Foresters will not offer ‘Standard’ or better rates for applicants who are controlling cholesterol with medication.  Many life insurance companies out there will offer their best rates for applicants using cholesterol medication.  Foresters also requires that you refrain from tobacco products for 5 years before you can qualify for its best non-tobacco rate while other insurance companies require a shorter period such as 3 years.  If you have certain moderate to serious medical issues, it might make sense to look at another life insurance company before considering Foresters.

Is Foresters the Right Company for You?

Based on our review of Foresters Life Insurance Company, we feel that Foresters is a quality company that is financially strong and has an excellent reputation for taking care of its policyholders.  Whether you are interested in a term or whole life policy, you should feel confident purchasing coverage from Foresters.  If you would like to learn more about Foresters and its products, feel free to call us at 888-687-9444 or email us at info@archstoneinsurance.com.

  The post Foresters Life Insurance Company Review appeared first on Archstone Insurance.

from All About Insurance http://www.archstoneinsurance.com/foresters-life-insurance-company-review/

[universeinform-blog]

How Teen Vogue won the Internet by mixing Trump with makeup tips

New Post has been published on https://universeinform.com/2017/03/18/how-teen-vogue-won-the-internet-by-mixing-trump-with-makeup-tips/

How Teen Vogue won the Internet by mixing Trump with makeup tips

For readers adjusting to odd encounters with online political news, each actual and faux, one hooked up ebook has managed to do more than its percentage of the sudden in this election 12 months. “By hook or by crook Teenager Trend managed to carry out actual journalism AND promote overpriced satin rompers,” reads a regular Twitter message from an excitable reader

At the Same Rattling TIME.” I sense attacked however additionally proven!!!,” responded Phillip Picardi, Teen Style’s virtual editorial director. Yes, the children-friendly extension of a century-antique style and society mag commenced via Condé Montrose Nast himself has Someway come to be a stalwart of trenchant political writing, taking up subjects that defy the shallow stereotypes of a teenage mag. Current articles have chronicled pupil protests, disability activists, and Vp-pick Mike Pence’s stance on conversion therapy, no longer to say introducing the concept of gaslighting into President decide on Donald Trump’s transition. Almost years in the past, when Picardi joined the magazine’s virtual staff, Teenager Fashion on-line became turning out a consistent circulation of smooth style spreads and splendor coverage that pondered the magazine print version. So that you can mirror the full range of pursuits of its middle 18- to 24-12 months-old girl readership, the internet site shifted far away from this exceptional focus on way of life and celeb and started running with young journalists who came from difficult news backgrounds. (Disclosure: This reporter wrote several information testimonies for Teen Vogue’s website earlier than becoming a member of Bloomberg. We had been correcting the perception that Youngster Trend wouldn’t cover this difficulty,” Picardi, 25, said in a smartphone interview. “You could care approximately what you put on, buying, what form of lipstick and basis you’re carrying … And additionally, You may need to recognize what’s happening in the headlines. Those things can coexist peacefully.”

Outsourcing for Internet Entrepreneurs

While your commercial enterprise begins to take off, you’ll, in reality, have loads of obligations to perform. For one component, you could now not have the competence to do them all. For any other, you could not have the time to dedicate to them. Below the instances, the first-class thing to preserve performance and ensure profitability is to contract out sure obligations.

We are going to see a number of the obligations a web marketer could allow someone else carry out.

In case you are searching out anyone to handle responsibilities along with hiring, statistics entry, emblem layout, photo design, website design, translation, software program improvement, HTML, Hypertext Preprocessor, Internet marketing, Articles, Search engine optimization, CSS, Photoshop, software program structure, excel, Android, and so on., then visit a freelance website and put up your project.

Inside minutes fascinated applicants will propose their competitive bids. Then the use of the freelance site’s recognition device you could pick out an appropriate freelancer to your task.

You best pay whilst you are one hundred% glad about the work was done.

.Are you alternatively seeking out programmers, designers, writers, and different on-line professionals?

Then there is additionally an area to get greater of these works completed with freelancers.

First, you post your task and the website will fit you with the right freelancers. Then you definitely browse their profiles, critiques, and recommendations and interview top candidates. Now you lease a fave and start your challenge.

Concerning fee, invoicing and payments are achieved at the site. You pay only for paintings you authorize.

Maybe your want is for a Virtual Assistant. no longer any Digital Assistant, but a rock megastar one.

Then you need to turn to Philippino sites in which you can rent a Filipino Virtual Assistant in five mins and seven clicks.

To accomplish that, you post a role or browse team members by means of position title, hourly rate, rule start date, role description, and upload capabilities. Then you receive an electronic mail each time that a team member applies to your function.

But need to you now not have a specific function to recruit for, you definitely browse Virtualvalley’s database of crew participants to find the one that is a suitable in shape to your enterprise. you could choose thru their review, profile photo, abilities, hourly fee and a video in which they introduce themselves.

When glad for your Rockstar crew Member, you may rent through the platform.

Are you into designing and looking for a place to outsource paintings?

layout sites enable you to find and work with proficient freelance designers on-line.

You begin with the aid of constructing a design quick, this is, what you need to be designed and its or their information.

The websites will then circulate it or them among its thousands and thousands of designers who will post designs which you could assist them to shape in your wishes thru ratings, feedback, and personal messages.

After the winner of your design submits the work and receives paid, you get full design copyright to download and emerge as one of the almost half one million glad customers.

The whole lot your internet project wishes, which include pinnacle elegance designs of beautiful trademarks, vectors, 3-d portraits, illustrations, banners, and avatars; and custom WordPress, Personal home page, HTML, CSS, Javascript websites, some sites network of curated freelance talent will assist you to get them.

All you have to do is seek what is already available and make a down payment to start the job. Or permit the web page to know your need and their freelancers will put up a suggestion in an effort to choose from. The 1/3 possibility is to search profiles and speak to freelancers yourself.

As soon as happy, you launch your escrow funds to pay the invoice.

Do you need to lease the top freelance expertise software developers and architects accessible?

They’re on a site described as a special community of the top freelance software program builders and architects inside the global.

To be part of their glad customers, you talk to them the type of freelance tech skills you are seeking out and they will discover you the best suit to work with.

The pinnacle websites have designers and builders for any layout surroundings or net, mobile, or computer technology stack. They provide 0 hazards as there may be a tribulation length and you pay most effective if glad.

Youngster Drug Rehab – How Parents Can assist

No figure wants to have a Teenager that is hooked on drugs or alcohol or ought to vicinity them in a Teen drug rehab center. Putting your Youngster in this kind of middle is probably going to be one of the toughest belongings you as a parent will ever do. Sure, you are glad They are getting the help that they want now but what is going to the destiny hold. When they go away drug rehab there are techniques that you could use to assist yourself, your Teenager, and your own family paintings through the demanding situations of the drug rehab method.

To your Teen’s life, substance abuse could have an extended-time period, divesting effect n their lives. This is why it’s so critical to do Everything that you can to help them conquer their dependency.

Learn what you can about addiction

Addition, or substance abuse, is a large class. It may include prescription medicinal drugs, alcohol, and illicit street pills. Every one of these will have its own effect To your Teenager’s intellectual and bodily fitness. you may assist by way of teaching yourself approximately their particular dependency, for you to assist you in apprehending extra about this addition’s recuperation method. This may assist you to be organized in phrases of what to expect with reference to their healing process within the weeks, months, and years in advance.

Do no longer let your youngster be in rate

Teens can be manipulative and headstrong and try to persuade you that they should leave Youngster drug rehab early. They will inform you that they have got discovered their lesson however If you do no longer comply and get them out early, They’ll vow not to talk to you again. you may expect all varieties of strategies which could encompass threats, crying, begging, and bloodless silences. Pay attention to your Teen and tell that you love them and that you positioned them in a Youngster drug rehab center to keep their life.

Be energetic in therapy

Usually, at some point of their stay, they’ll have the circle of relatives therapy so make it a pinnacle precedence to participate actively in these classes. Make it a top priority and attend all sessions. In these remedy sessions, you will learn how to paintings your Teenager and not against your Teen so you can help them have the first-rate hazard for a hit healing.

Whilst discharged, have a plan

Substance abuse is a persistent condition and remedy in a Teen drug rehab is just the primary a part of the recuperation technique. work with the drug rehab center to create a plan entry lower back into the actual world. Before discharge makes certain that they understand the house regulations virtually, which can include stricter curfews, expectations in regards to behavior and faculty, scheduled chores and the results if now not accompanied.

Difficult Approaches to Include the Style Fashion Like a Female With Splendor and Brains

Fashion and Fashion obey no limit of time or age. It’s far like an art in which the artist receives to put in all their creativity and inventive thoughts. Who does not need to appearance properly? Properly, every person does. those pointers will help any lady appearance glamorous and trendy effortlessly. Do not worry, this Style Fashion might not dig too big a hollow to your pocket. appearance suitable without having to spend a lot.

 Pass innovative with the Deconstruction Jeans

Earlier, an insignificant shred in our Jeans supposed an extreme problem. We had to suppose Approaches of a way to dispose of it. but, now that identical shed at our knees on the Denim is the maximum favorable Style. Beginning from celebrities to young adults to women of their person life, everyone seems to be in love with the ripped Denim and the distressed Pieces of Denim.

The ripped Denim have carved its own area of interest in the technology of fashionistas. those units you within the proper temper for a few terrific mileage at the weekdays in addition to at the weekends. An outsized sweatshirt offers you an extremely good cool look that you may by no means Go wrong with. It bears the capability of creating you look informal and latest at the identical time. In truth, oversized whatever from shirts to sweaters, Everything works To your distressed Jeans.

Among many most requested questions of girls, include ‘What shall I put on to my office nowadays?’ Well, the distressed Denim could make unbelievable office-wear. One just wishes to group it up with the appropriate attire. All right, you furthermore may need to keep in mind the profession you’re in. It’s far higher to wear the distressed Denim In case you are in a casual profession. In that case, you may put on a blazer with this Denim.

A dependent blazer with the attractive colors like brilliant yellow will paintings wonders on the office. Use the correct add-ons like a couple of rings or a choker. It additionally depends on at the top you’re wearing. Ripped Denim needs best simple or no accessories at all to highlight its Splendor.

Some of the people aren’t actually fond of the polychromatic color combination of garments on the office. So, we have got the monochromatic aggregate for all and sundry who loves stable colorings. All black or the all-white appearance is in order that elegant! you can add a bit bit of oomph with an exchange in the texture or fiber that you could be carrying. The style is all about self-belief. So, make sure you’ve got it with you all the time.

Make the satisfactory use of your Little Black Dress

The Little Black Get dressed is an ought to- have in any women’s dresser. you can never Move wrong with this Get dressed. It suits each occasion with utmost precision. you may pick the specific cut in step with your frame form. put on your tights or colorful stockings to add visible impact For your Little Black Dress. It’s far, probably, the first-rate manner to welcome the chilly wintry weather nights.

Jackets can prove to be the high-quality compliment with the Little Black Dress. Whether or not It’s miles the leather jacket or the denim one, The whole thing works with the Get dressed. It’s far that much more flexible. An additional data for those with a pear-formed frame: Use a trendy belt around your waist whilst you wear the Dress. This outlook makes your complete frame look proportionally balanced. you can additionally wear the Dress with a deep neckline. This will make your appearance slimmer and gorgeous.

Finish the look with the right set of accessories. a pair of earrings or the choker will whole your look for the date with perfection. Even a couple of footwear additionally appears stupendous with the Little Black Dress. It makes your appearance sporty and perfect for a date night.

Explore vintage and modernization with the Skaters Get dressed collectively.

Layering a statement necklace over your skater’s Dress is an instance of the lustrous vintage look. again, a jacket over your Get dressed additionally takes you again to the vintage days. Even scarves can make you appearance appropriate. Essentially, skaters Get dressed is a whole apparel with the aid of itself. So, The entirety else is simply set to praise it.

You already know what being elegant is? structured blouse, jacket and edgy heels with your skater skirt are classy. No different appearance can beat this posh apparel with the skater Get dressed. Move for a date or visit your work with self-belief with this look.

[davidcdelreal]

Foresters Life Insurance Company Review

We offer life insurance products from over 40 companies in the US.  We like to provide company reviews for consumers on many of the companies that we work with.  In this blog we will be discussing Foresters Financial.  The company has been around for many years and has an excellent reputation for taking care of its clients.  We will give a brief background of the company and discuss two of its popular life insurance products; Your Term Life Insurance and Plan Right Whole Life product that is designed to help with final expenses.  Here is our Foresters Life Insurance Company Review.

About Foresters Financial

Foresters Financial is a fraternal benefit society (member based) that has been around for 140 years.  The company has $34 billion in assets under management and has carried an A rating from A.M. Best for the last 16 years.   The company offers a wide range of financial solutions such as life insurance, annuities, mutual funds, retirement accounts and other advisory services.  The company prides itself on giving back to the community and its members.

Foresters Your Term Life Insurance

Foresters Your Term Life Insurance offers competitive rates and a non-med underwriting option for smaller face values.  Here are some key features of the Your Term Life Insurance product:

Term durations of 10,15,20,25 or 30 years.

Coverage starting as low as $50,000 and up to $400,000 for non-medical underwriting.

Coverage ranging from $100,000 to $10,000,000 for fully underwritten coverage.

Rates are competitively priced compared to other companies in the industry.

Term coverage can be converted to permanent coverage without any additional underwriting.

Several valuable riders that are automatically included in base coverage.

Living benefits that are included in the base coverage.

As a Foresters member, you will also receive other benefits beyond those related to life insurance.

Foresters Non-Medical Your Term Coverage

If you prefer to avoid a medical exam, Foresters offers a non-medical term option up to $400,000 of coverage for applicants ages 18-55 and $150,000 for applicants 56-80.  A decision on your application is usually made with 10 minutes.  You will either be accepted or declined. Please note that the best rates available for the non-medical option are based off ‘Standard’ health ratings because of the limited underwriting.  The non-medical option is a bit more expensive than fully underwritten coverage.  The non-medical option might be worth it for those who do not want to take the medical exam.

Features that Set Foresters Apart from the Competition

What sets Foresters apart from the competition are the many benefits that come with base coverage.  Here are some features that are included with base term coverage:

Charity Benefit Provision:  When a death benefit claim is paid to the beneficiaries, Foresters will pay an additional 1% of the face value to an accredited nonprofit organization as designated by the policy owner.

Family Health Benefit Rider: This rider provides benefits for qualified health situations for the insured and their immediate family who need medical assistance within the Continental US, Alaska and Hawaii due to a catastrophic event.  Qualified events include ambulance transportation, hospital emergency room exam and hospital stay ($100 per day up to 5 days).

Common Carrier Accidental Death Rider:  This rider provides a death benefit up to 2x the face amount to a maximum of $300,000 if the insured dies within 180 days of an accidental bodily injury that occurred while riding on a common carrier as a fare-paying passenger.

Accelerated Death Benefit Rider: This rider is the most valuable in that it allows the insured to accelerate a portion of the death benefit if the insured is diagnosed with a qualifying:

Critical illness such as invasive cancer, heart attack, stroke, advanced Alzheimer ’s disease (before insured’s 75th birthday), ALS and more.

Chronic Illness which result in the insured being unable at least two of the activities of daily living for a period of at least 90 days.

Terminal Illness which means the insured has a non-correctable illness or physical condition which is reasonably expected to result in death within 12 months of diagnosis.

All of these riders are included in base term coverage without any additional cost.  We have only briefly described each rider.  For more detailed information, please send us an email and we will be happy to send you a brochure that describes these riders in greater detail.

How Much Does Foresters Your Term Life Insurance Cost?

As we mentioned earlier, Foresters Your Term coverage is very affordable when compared to other top companies in the industry.  Here are some sample monthly rates for Forresters Your Term fully underwritten coverage for 20 years of coverage:

Male Rates

Age$500,000$1,000,000$1,500,000 jQuery(document).ready(function() { jQuery('#table_986292734').DataTable( {"destroy": true,"bPaginate": false,"bLengthChange": false,"bFilter": false,"bSort": false,"bInfo": false,"bStateSave": true,"bAutoWidth": false,"sPaginationType": "full_numbers",} ); }); 35 Years Old$22.32$35.01$49.4440 Years Old$30.28$56.01$80.9445 Years Old$53.38$98.88$145.25

   Female Rates  

Age$500,000$1,000,000$1,500,000 jQuery(document).ready(function() { jQuery('#table_996260243').DataTable( {"destroy": true,"bPaginate": false,"bLengthChange": false,"bFilter": false,"bSort": false,"bInfo": false,"bStateSave": true,"bAutoWidth": false,"sPaginationType": "full_numbers","oLanguage": { "sLengthMenu": "Display _MENU_ records per page", "sZeroRecords": "Nothing found - sorry", "sInfo": "Showing _START_ to _END_ of _TOTAL_ records", "sInfoEmpty": "Showing 0 to 0 of 0 records", "sSearch": "Search: ", "sInfoFiltered": "(filtered from _MAX_ total records)" }} ); }); 35 Years Old$19.25$31.51$44.1940 Years Old$27.13$47.26$67.8245 Years Old$39.38$71.75$104.57

  If you want to see how rates from Foresters Financial stack up to the competition, get a quote here and look for Foresters on our list.

Foresters Plan Right Final Expense

Another product from Foresters that deserves mentioning is its Plan Right Whole Life.  This product is designed to help with final expenses.  It is a level premium product that lasts to age 121.There is no medical exam required.  Your application will be reviewed along with your MIB file, a prescription database check, build review and a Personal Health Interview conducted by Foresters.  You must be able to answer ‘No’ to all the medical questions in ‘Part A’ of the application to qualify for any of the plans.

Pan Right Level – The healthiest applicants will qualify. Beneficiaries will be eligible to receive 100% of the face amount death benefit without a waiting period.

Plan Right Graded – You may qualify with some moderate health issues.  Beneficiaries will receive a graded benefit in years 1 and 2 (unless death is accidental).  They will receive the full death benefit in year 3.

Plan Right Modified – For applicants with multiple health issues.   Beneficiaries will have access to the full benefit in the 3rd year. If death occurs in year 1 or 2, beneficiaries will receive return of premiums plus interest.

We can walk you through the application to help you determine if you qualify for Plan Right Level, Plan Right Graded or Plan Right Modified.

Additional Benefits to Being a Foresters Member     

Because Foresters is a fraternal organization, once you become a policyholder you will also become a member.  Once a member, you will have access to additional benefits including:

Grants and Scholarships: Members can apply for educational grants and scholarships.

Community Grants: Members can apply for financial grants to organize volunteer activities within the community.

Orphan Benefit: Foresters may pay $900 per month per child to the legal guardian for children under the age of 18 who have lost both parents.

Orphan Scholarships: Foresters will provide a renewable scholarship for higher learning for up to 4 years for children who have lost both parents.

Where Does Foresters Financial Fall Short?

There really isn’t much to say about Foresters life insurance that is negative.  The one thing that we can really point to is its underwriting guidelines for high risk applicants.  For instance, Foresters will not offer ‘Standard’ or better rates for applicants who are controlling cholesterol with medication.  Many life insurance companies out there will offer their best rates for applicants using cholesterol medication.  Foresters also requires that you refrain from tobacco products for 5 years before you can qualify for its best non-tobacco rate while other insurance companies require a shorter period such as 3 years.  If you have certain moderate to serious medical issues, it might make sense to look at another life insurance company before considering Foresters.

Is Foresters the Right Company for You?

Based on our review of Foresters Life Insurance Company, we feel that Foresters is a quality company that is financially strong and has an excellent reputation for taking care of its policyholders.  Whether you are interested in a term or whole life policy, you should feel confident purchasing coverage from Foresters.  If you would like to learn more about Foresters and its products, feel free to call us at 888-687-9444 or email us at info@archstoneinsurance.com.

  The post Foresters Life Insurance Company Review appeared first on Archstone Insurance.

from All About Insurance http://www.archstoneinsurance.com/foresters-life-insurance-company-review/