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fiddlepickdouglas · 3 years

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Viva Las Vegas, Pt. 11 - De Orfeo Records

Summary: Sunset Cure AU, Willex, is there a chance?, 2.8k

@trevor-wilson-covington is the bestie who makes these lovely edits, we stan supportive friends

WARNINGS: death mention

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10

Reggie and Carlos were running around in the middle of taking down equipment after their latest gig. Luke shook his head as he wrapped cords over his arm and placed them in a storage box. Alex, however, was nervously trying not to get run into as he carried various pieces of his drum set out and handed them to Bobby in the back of the van. He could forgive Reggie not really helping out since he was taking responsibility for the kid, but also hadn’t anticipated that their energies combined would put him more on edge.

As he went inside to grab the last piece of his set, he found that Reggie had taken his flannel and tied it around his neck like a cape, with Carlos wearing his leather jacket in a similar fashion. They approached Bobby, who immediately joined their game and they pretended to battle each other. By the time Alex had finished getting his whole set in the van, they were playing out a dramatic victory over defeating Bobby.

“Guys, this is great, but we really should finish packing up,” Alex said, although he was smiling from the entertainment.

“I guess you’re the next bad guy we fight,” Carlos said in a mock-deep voice.

“We can schedule it later, Robin,” Alex teased.

“Oh, no, he’s Batman,” Reggie corrected. “I’m Robin!” He put his fists on his hips in a proud superhero pose.

A big SHHHHHH came from Luke and they all looked over at him to see what was up. He was far off by the venue office, holding a phone to his ear and writing onto a notepad. His eyes were wide with excitement, and his energy was only held back by the other hand tapping against the paper. The boys watched as his smile grew bigger and he said goodbye, barely putting the phone back in place properly.

“YEEESS!!” he cried, raising his fists into the air in celebration. They all came running toward him to see what had happened.

“Boys, we’ve got good news!” Luke told them. Looking on in anticipation, Alex gripped his fanny pack tightly. “One of the record execs that came tonight is offering for us to sign onto their label and put out some songs! He even heard our demo!”

Everyone celebrated, jumping up and down and high-fiving each other. Reggie let Carlos climb onto him in a piggyback and they both yelled triumphantly. Luke pulled Alex into a bro hug, then Bobby. Alex held his arms up and placed his hands on top of his head, unable to believe what had just happened. Euphoria filled his head like helium and he went to double-high-five Carlos, who was still perched on Reggie’s back.

“So what else did they say?” Bobby asked, still smiling.

Luke had to shake off some more excitement before he could explain the rest.

“Ahhh, so he said we could meet in a few days to discuss business and contracts and such, let us get a look at the studio and stuff. I got all his contact information and he’s totally excited to get us on. We’re moving on up boys!”

The celebration continued, and their renewed energy caused the rest of the take-down to go by much faster. They were still riding the high as they drove home. Alex listened to Luke talk about which songs they would want to record first and where they would land on the charts. He remembered that feeling he had back at the Pearl during their sound check. Doing that? For real and not just dreaming and hoping about it? They hadn’t made it just yet, but this was a change he could be excited for.

Reggie had been staying with Carlos, which the rest of the boys figured was a good excuse to not stay home. As Bobby pulled up to the house, he and Luke began climbing out of the van. Carlos and Reggie were already inside.

“Uh, guys?” Alex said, still in the back of the van. They all turned back to him. “What are you doing?”

“Oh,” Luke gestured like oh-silly-me. “We all decided to stay here for the night. It’s just a nice change from the garage and Julie’s aunt has lots of leftovers that need to be eaten so…”

“So...I’m grounded,” Alex reminded, raising his eyebrows. His parents hadn’t been happy about him sneaking out to the pier the other night.

“Screw your old man, Alex,” Bobby said.

“Yeah, he can eat my shorts if he tries to do anything about it,” Luke added.

Alex took a moment to think. Disobeying wasn’t going to do anything for or against him at this point - he kept anything truly important to him out of his parents’ reach and since he’d gotten the punching bag he could actually contend with their tempers. They couldn’t punish him in a way that mattered.

“Yeah, you’ve got a point,” he said finally, following them into the house.

They found Reggie and Carlos already raiding the kitchen.

“Alex, you’re staying too?” Reggie said when he saw them enter.

“Yes!” Carlos cried, pumping his fist. “You get to make popcorn. Tonight, the Empire Strikes Back!”

“Oh yeah, baby!” Reggie responded as the rest of the boys began following orders from Carlos. Alex wasn’t crazy about Star Wars, but eh….young Mark Hamill was hot so he didn’t mind too much. He was sure most of them would fall asleep during the movie anyway.

A couple hours later it turned out he was right. Carlos was slumped on the floor leaning back against the chair Luke was sitting in, hand still in the bowl of popcorn. Luke was leaning on his hand, breathing soundly. Alex had watched earlier as Bobby’s head flopped onto Reggie’s shoulder and the flustered look that had overcome Reggie’s face, and it was too good not to smile at. Once the VCR began automatically rewinding the movie, Alex shut off the TV.

He stared at the ceiling as he pulled the handle on the La-Z-Boy he was in and reclined into a somewhat comfortable position. Even now, weeks later after meeting for only a day, the first thing he wished he could do was tell Willie the news about the record label. He probably would have been just as ecstatic as the rest of them, if not more. Victoria would be back soon and hopefully have some news. He guessed it didn’t matter if he’d been right about the missing kid, but maybe just knowing if she got to talk with Willie would be enough.

The memory of soft brown eyes still rose in his mind. He’d been doing his best to keep that moment cemented in his brain because he’d noticed it helped him sleep. It was funny because he’d done the same thing with the guys, but staring into Willie’s eyes had been an entirely different experience. Alex wished he had the proper words to describe it, but the best he could do was marvel. Willie was clearly unaware of the strength he held, and it made Alex want to bring that out with his entire being. If he ever did get the chance, that would be something worth looking forward to.

Victoria didn’t arrive until the afternoon the next day. Since Alex felt that she had gone because of him, he made everyone else clean her house as well as they could. No traces of food on the floor, no messy beds, and the kitchen was cleaner than when they had found it. As she came back into the house, she put a hand over her heart.

“Wow!” she exclaimed. “I should take trips like this more often if you boys are this good!”

“Yes, tía, please, please, please let them babysit me again! Pleeeeaaassee!” Carlos begged with his hands pressed together.

“Ay, sobrino, no me quieres?” she shook her head.

“No, I do!” Carlos tried to recover. “But they’re fun!”

As if to make a point, Reggie rubbed a hand on Carlos’ head.

“It’s okay little dude, we’ll be back.”

Victoria pulled her wallet out of her purse.

“Well, you boys took very good care of him and I promised I would pay you, so here you go.” She handed each of them a generous amount of cash. Luke, Reggie and Bobby all whooped as they thanked her and headed to the van. Alex held back with anticipation. Victoria looked at him seriously.

“There was no connection,” she told him before he asked. “His guardian explained everything to me, and there was nothing else to go on. I wanted to know because I thought I could solve an old case, but I had to let it go.”

“Well, did you get to talk to him?” Alex tried not to sound too urgent.

“You mean Willie? No, I never saw him. After talking with his guardian I didn’t need to.”

Bowing his head, Alex made himself swallow his other questions. She had at least tried.

“Thank you,” he said. “I’m sorry if it was inconvenient.”

“I chose to go, don’t worry about it,” she assured.

Nodding and saying thanks one more time, Alex hurried out after the rest of his friends.

A few days later, the boys slammed the doors of the van shut as they looked up at the building before them. It was so plain and simple on the outside; they never would’ve guessed there was a studio there. It was likely they had driven past it many times on the way to a gig. Pushing through the door, they all looked at the logo in neon lights on the wall: De Orfeo Records.

Collectively, the boys took in awed breaths at the reality of where they were standing. This was too good to believe. Alex took in the scene, trying to imagine this being a place he came to regularly. Could he ever get used to it, or get over the sheer excitement of just being there? Luke patted him on the back, desperately trying to contain himself. They wandered through the halls a little bit until they came to a room where the door was sitting open.

“Oh, boys!” A man called as they almost walked past it. “In here!”

As they all shuffled in, the man shook their hands and pointed them to a couch where they could sit. Alex nervously stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jacket as he took a seat. The man across from them was dressed surprisingly casually, if not with obvious expensive taste. He still had sunglasses on, but their yellow tint was clearly not for actual UV protection.

“Nice to meet all of you,” he was saying. “My name is Alan, I’m one of the producers here at De Orfeo. Which one of you did I talk to on the phone?”

Luke raised his hand.

“That was me,” he said, already gushing with excitement. “How’d you hear about us, anyway?”

Alan didn’t answer, but instead looked up at the doorway as someone else came in.

“Hello boys!” Caleb Covington entered, his charismatic smile spread wide across his face. “So nice to see you again.”

Alex’s heart rate immediately sped up and he clenched his hands inside his pockets. How could it be? He thought his last chance to reach out to Willie was gone and seeing Caleb brought back everything he hadn’t been able to ask Julie’s aunt. All the guys were happy to recognize him.

“I won’t be staying for the negotiations,” Caleb said. “but I wanted to properly introduce myself as the owner of this label. I want to assure you boys the best experience as newcomers in the industry. Let any nerves that still linger walk right out the door.” His eyes landed on Alex for a moment, and it felt purposeful. “Take it away, Alan.”

Listening to the producer’s pitch was difficult to focus on now, and Alex had to fight hard against his brain latching onto the new hopes that had arisen. He was thankful that when paperwork came out, Bobby was mindful enough to have them read through it. It was taking too long, though, and Alex was already wishing he had his drumsticks in hand to help pass the time. Reggie had so many questions, and Luke had trouble understanding numerous words - at least that kept Alex occupied because he could be helpful in that. A good hour had passed going over all the information.

“This looks great!” Luke said finally. “How are we feelin’ boys?”

Each of them nodded and looked around at each other, confirming that they all agreed on every settlement. Luke grabbed a pen and pulled his copy of the contract toward him, pausing momentarily to drink in what was happening. Then he signed his name in giant letters. Alex, Bobby, and Reggie followed suit, and Alex could feel a weird tingle rush through his hand as he made the final flourish with his pen. They were all in now.

As the band began celebrating, Caleb knocked on the doorframe.

“If it’s alright with you boys, I wanted to speak with Alex privately for a moment,” Caleb said, gesturing for Alex to follow him outside the room.

His curiosity was at the point of overflowing, and he went out trying to control his trembling hands. Maybe Caleb had talked to Willie after all. This could be his way to bridge that gap and he wouldn’t have to live off of just memories.

Everyone else was still going nuts over getting the contracts signed back in the room. Standing in the lobby, Caleb was looking at him seriously, maybe even pitifully. It quickly drained the exhilaration in Alex’s chest.

“I can tell you’ve been wanting to ask me some questions,” he began. “But before you do, I thought it was best to inform you of some important details first.”

Alex looked up at him with his hands back in his pockets and gulped. Why was his heartbeat suddenly so loud? He knew Caleb couldn’t actually hear it, but it still embarrassed him. His mouth began to go dry.

Caleb furrowed his brow, as if what he was about to say wasn’t easy to get out. He bowed his head and took a breath before looking at Alex again.

“Willie,” he started. Then he paused. “Is dead.”

The trembling in Alex’s hands stopped.

He stared at Caleb, as if he could pull off the serious expression and find a joking smile underneath. It was a few moments before he remembered to breathe in, and blinking seemed to cut that moment into two as if the first one wasn’t real.

“No, no, that can’t - ” he heard the words spill out of his mouth. Why was his body so tense and ready to defend itself? His cheeks felt hot.

“I know the news is hard,” Caleb interrupted, placing a hand on Alex’s shoulder. “I can hardly bear it myself. There was an electrical fire. He didn’t make it out.”

Alex could only shake his head. Caleb’s expression wasn’t changing and for some reason it was the most infuriating sight. He could punch that face and make him bleed if he really wanted to. The adrenaline was already rushing to his fist.

“There has to be a mistake,” he said, chuckling darkly.

“There is no mistake,” Caleb told him firmly.

How was the man so calm? How could he say those words out loud and not immediately crumble to the earth? How could he have worn such a large smile earlier?

“I know you two weren’t friends for long, but he made it clear you were important to him.”

The words came through as if from a tiny speaker. They’d only gotten one day and it wasn’t enough. Willie couldn’t go like that, he simply couldn’t - not when Alex needed to know if they could’ve ever had something real. He still wanted to know so many things about him and look into those brown eyes and soften the hard edges on them. He needed to -

He was crying. On his hands and knees, trying to get the dark shadow that had grown inside his chest to come out. It made him choke. Caleb had apparently left him alone, unable to console him, and he felt hands on his back and shoulders as he fought to properly breathe. Luke was knelt down before him, mouth hanging open in want of words but not able to form any. Bobby was gripping his hand and supporting him as he and Reggie pulled him up onto his feet.

“We need to get him in the van,” one of them was saying.

Any movement from there was not his own. All three boys were trying their hardest to help the tallest member of their band out of the building. Everything was numb - like a machine that had broken down after being run too hard.

The brown eyes faded into darkness, murky and thick. There was no air in his lungs to scream into that dark, no tie-dye, no rolling of wheels on the sidewalk, no ‘ribbit’, no more wondering and hoping.

Dead quiet. That was all.

#julie and the phantoms #jatp #fanfic #jatp fanfic #willex #alive au #alex mercer #willie #luke patterson #reggie peters #bobby wilson #carlos molina #aunt victoria #caleb covington #tw death mention #sunset curve #viva las vegas #de orfeo records #fiddlepickdouglas

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readingraebow · 6 years

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Boardwalk Empire Section One

Chapters 1-6

1. Have you ever seen the TV Series, Boardwalk Empire? Have you ever been to Atlantic City? If not, what do you know about it? I have seen the show! I actually really, really love the show. Though I've only seen the first two seasons because my favorite character died and I'm still trying to ~recover from that before I continue. I do plan to continue though at some point. I'm just still upset. It's been over a year though since I finished season two so it might be about time to get going again. And, anyway, I haven't been to Atlantic City, unfortunately. I would like to go someday but the only place I've been on the east coast is Georgia. But someday I hope to either move to the east coast or at least travel there some more. But since watching BE and learning that Monopoly is based on Atlantic City, I'm actually super interested in it as a historical place and I would like to go there someday! And honestly I don't know a whole lot about it?? Just mainly what I've seen from the show and from that episode of How I Met Your Mother when they went to Atlantic City. And basically that it's the east coast Vegas. So other than that, not a lot?? I'm excited to learn more though!!

2. Who was Jonathan Pitney and what did he want that he couldn’t achieve on his current career path as a physician? How did he finally get the railroad to come to Atlantic City? Jonathan Pitney was a small town doctor but back before being a doctor was a profession through which you made a lot of money. So he did A LOT of work but for really poor people and mostly on the barter system and didn't even make enough to support himself. So he mostly lived off the kindness of his mother-in-law. So eventually he decided that he wanted to ~make his mark on the world. So he tried politics but that didn't really go all that well?? So instead he set his sights on Absecon Island which was an island that was barely inhabited??? This guy had used it literally as farmland and he'd had ten kids and owned basically the whole island and so with all of his kids they'd run it as this giANT farm and as a result he was really rich??? Well he's since died and his heirs didn't want to be farmers so they were willing to sell it. So Pitney's dream was to buy the island and build a resort for the rich and to sell it as a ~seaside health resort. Well the problem was that the island wasn't easy to get to?? So Pitney realized that if he could get the railroad to go through there, he could find financial backers and make his dream a reality. So he petitioned for years to bring the railroad to the island but no one was really interested? Eventually he realized he was approaching this wrong and, instead, if he could get some of the rich people from Southern Jersey interested then he could possibly have some influence to get the railroad through and also have some backers. So when he got Samuel Richards interested, that's when everything started actually going his way. Richards was rich and wanted the railroad to come his way anyway because it would help his business and make him richer. He didn't really buy into Pitney's dream but he is the one who helped find backers and put up a lot of his own money and got the railroad through there, finally starting the process to turn Absecon Island into Atlantic City.

3. Why was the boardwalk built? It was originally built to stop sand from being tracked into businesses/hotels. There was so much sand that it would end up EVERYWHERE and it was ruining carpets and furniture and things. So the original boardwalk was built but, hilariously enough, it wasn't permanent. It was only for summer and the boards would be removed during the winter and then replaced when summer arrived again. But, eventually, they saw the potential in the boardwalk and started building shops along it and then built a permanent boardwalk and that ended up being one of the selling points that brought in tourists. People would come from all over just to walk on the boardwalk. It was the first one like it in the world.

4. What opportunities did Atlantic City offer Blacks? Despite this, what were some of the numerous inequalities that they still faced living there? Blacks working in Atlantic City could make more money than anywhere they worked in the South and they could work "normal" hours. When the Civil War ended, it completely ruined the economy in the South and Blacks who remained there could basically only get jobs as domestic help (which was literally a step above slavery; they worked long hours, sometimes as much as 12 hours per day, and had few, if any, days off) or a sharecropper (which was basically like being a slave to the land since they were responsible for doing all the work, as they did when they were a slave, but all their money was tied up in the home they received on the land). So, if they wanted to make money, they would go north. Eventually, Atlantic City was such a draw for Blacks that it had the largest black population in the North. Working in the resorts, there were any number of jobs for Blacks, all of which paid pretty well. Working in hotels also meant that they weren't forced into long hours as they would if they were domestic help. However, even though they were afforded much better wages, White and Black was still seen as very different. It was almost like the Whites wanted the Blacks to show up and work and then just not exist after the workday ended. The Blacks ended up taking over the North of Atlantic City and most were still too poor to even afford their own houses. Therefore, housing was super crowded. And even though most of them worked on the Boardwalk, the Whites didn't like them venture there during the "off hours" and visiting the Boardwalk as consumers. Thus, the North of Atlantic City became like a city of its own with the Blacks meeting their own needs with new businesses opening to serve only Blacks. So even though Blacks were making way more money in Atlantic City than they would've anywhere else, segregation was starting with a bang.

5. What did the Bulletin try to put an end to in Atlantic City? Why didn’t their efforts work? The Bulletin tried to put an end to prostitution in Atlantic City but publishing a lot of articles "exposing" the brothels. Except, the Bulletin was a Philadelphia paper and most of the business in Atlantic City came from Philadelphia. At that time, Philadelphia was dominated by Quakers and a few other religious organizations. That meant that it was a very religious city and, basically, there was nowhere to go for a good time. Insert Atlantic City. It was only 60 miles from Philadelphia and since the Industrial Revolution really boomed in Philadelphia, the factory workers would spend six long days working and then on Sunday, instead of going to church, they'd hop on a train and go to Atlantic City. And they were looking to wind down and have a good time. Thus, the brothels wouldn't close just because a newspaper article when they were making more money off the Philadelphia factory workers than they knew what to do with. Bars were also supposed to be closed on Sunday but, in Atlantic City, their main purpose was to show patrons a good time, despite the laws. So most people just started ignoring the newspaper articles until, eventually, the paper stopped wasting their time writing them.

6. Who was Mabel and what happened to her? Mabel was Nucky's high school sweetheart and eventual wife. However, one year she ended up with a cough she couldn't shake and was diagnosed with tuberculosis. Nucky ended up taking her to a sanitarium in Colorado and intended to stay with her until she was well again. However, three weeks later Nucky returned to Atlantic City on the train, seated next to her coffin. Losing Mabel changed Nucky and he was never quite the same after her death.

7. Who screened every single applicant who applied to work in either Atlantic City or County? What were your duties to him if you were hired? Nucky personally screened every single applicant in Atlantic City or County. Sometimes, applicants would be told that they already had the job, they just had to meet with Nucky before they started. At this meeting, Nucky would usually just talk with them and ask them to pledge their loyalty to both him and the Republican Party. That was the main requirement to work in Atlantic City, especially if you were in law enforcement. Then, once hired, they were required to pay kickbacks which meant paying from one to seven percent of their salary, depending on how much they earned, to the Republican Party. They would also have an assigned number of voters they had to make sure turned out on election day. Some of them were dead, others were from out of town. But the city employee had to make sure they voted, even if it meant doing it themselves in different districts.

8. What contributed to Atlantic City’s financial struggles of the early 1930s? The Great Depression basically killed the Atlantic City economy. So when the Great Depression hit, the first thing to go was vacations so that meant that tourism was gone. But then Prohibition was repealed and that was the nail in the coffin. Because even when the Great Depression started, Atlantic City could still rely on the sale of alcohol. But when that stopped, they didn't even have the day trippers to rely on and their economy totally sunk. Ten of the fourteen banks closed. And most of the well established businesses couldn't keep afloat. The hotels were constantly in the red. And there was no relief in sight. Especially when the FBI came to town and started indicting everyone who'd prospered in the 20's.

Section One Reading Journal

So. I read 30 pages of this book almost three years ago. And since I’m actual trash it took me this long to ~finally get back to this book. But. Here I am. Ready to finish the thing.

Anyway, it’s not that I don’t like this book because the information is honestly really, really interesting. It’s just that it’s not presented in the most interesting fashion. I honestly fell asleep twice just trying to make it through this section. Because it reads like a textbook???

But the story itself is really interesting. Atlantic City and its entire history fascinates me. And it’s really interesting to see what the show stuck with and what the show decided to change. I just wish it weren’t quite so... dry.

So. That being said, it was a bit of a struggle to get through this section. Though it didn’t take me three years. I read the 30 pages on vacation then moved and then I just now read the other 90 or so. It just took me a while to get back to it.

But I’ll definitely be finishing this here soon. Because I’m really curious about where it’s going from here?? It seems like it has already covered the run of the show. So we’re in uncharted territory from what I know of this story.

So. Can’t wait to continue and learn more about Atlantic City! #fascinated

#trcbooks #2015: boardwalk empire #2015 reading challenge

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practicingmedicine · 3 years

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Practicing Medicine: Chapter Three

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“Oh, that’s terrible! I mean, I had known that Penny was sick, but I didn’t know that she had cancer !” said Mrs. McBain. She gave my hand a tight squeeze, and then released it. “If there’s anything we can do…”

“There’s one thing,” I said. Both Mrs. McBain and her recovering husband looked up at me. “Look after my momma. Make her nice meals, give her hugs, and send a letter to the followers if anything happens. I hope I won’t be gone for long, but if I don’t come back…” I thought for a moment. “Look for help. If you can’t find any, at least make her comfortable.”

Mr. and Mrs. McBain shared a look that suggested they were worried about me. “Of course, I’m sure that ain’t gonna happen. I just like to plan for the worst!” Mr. McBain smiled at me from his bed.

“I appreciate that kind of thinking, son. Things can go to hell in a handbasket pretty quick,” said the Sheriff. His wife glared at him.

“He’s not going to die, Kurt! Don’t you suggest that kind of thing!”

“I wasn’t suggesting nothin! Just saying that it’s good to have a plan- it’s a staple of being a good doctor, or so I hear,” said Mr. McBain, looking at me again. I forced a laugh.

“Yeah, I guess it is! Now, you two, can you do that? Can you look after my mom for a few weeks?” Immediately, Mrs. McBain nodded. Mr. McBain gave a thumbs up.

“Of course, Isaac! It’s the least we can do, really,” said Mrs. McBain. I smiled.

“Thank you,” I replied, and headed for the door. Mom might come looking for me soon, and this’d be one of the first places she’d check.

“Wait, Isaac- do you want to call your mom before you leave?” suggested Mrs. McBain, putting a hand on my shoulder. I shook my head.

“No. Well, yes, but I’m afraid that she’ll change my mind.” I hung my head. I didn’t want to pass up the opportunity, but I needed to do this. I suspected that I was going to have to make a lot of these kinds of choices in the near future. “Thank you though. I’ll try to repay you somehow when I get back.”

“Isaac, dear, you already have.”

I smiled at that. “If you say so.” A cloud of dust blew in around my legs as I opened the door. “See you folks soon- tell Mom I said goodbye, and that I love her!”

And just like that, I left behind everything I knew, and strode into unknown territory.

-Break-

Well, not really, “ Unknown territor y,” not yet. The next place I went was the town square, which was quiet and empty today. I was thankful for that. I strode past mom’s Casino, which was my next destination, and crouched down next to a little patch of brown grass and concrete between the sidewalk and Bison Steve’s. That was where Father had been shot. After that, he backpedaled for a while, and then ran into the side of the Casino, where he fell down and bled out.

I walked over to the wall. Me and mom had painted it together, before he died and after. I usually left him something; The first time it had been the snow globe he was going to give me, then it had been cactus flowers, and it kept changing after that. Whenever it stormed, the items got swept away, which I was okay with. He wasn’t even buried there, and it wasn’t like he was in any state to need the stuff. I would just start over, leaving something new every time.

But not this time. Not only was that in the past that I was trying to leave behind, but it was also kind of stupid, as I was starting to realize. Instead, I just crouched down next to the spot, put down my bag, and tried to make myself look presentable.

“Howdy, Father- I’m going on a little adventure, out in the wastes. I’d be real grateful if you could watch over Momma til I get back.” I didn’t know much about communing with spirits- still don’t, but it felt like a nice thing to do. After all, I was going to be gone for a while.

And after that, I stood up, wiped away the tears that had been gathering in my eyes, and walked into mom’s bustling Casino. The mysterious new city of New Vegas had taken a toll on business, but Primm still had the most convenient Casino on this side of the Mojave.

“Good evening, Mr. Saller! How you doing- I heard you saved the Sheriff’s life today!” said Johnson Nash, an old, wrinkly-skinned man and the overseer of the Mojave Express mail delivery here in Primm. I smiled as I approached him.

“Howdy Mr. Nash. My mom is dying of cancer. Are there any caravans passing through here?”

Mr. Nash looked surprised. His gaze shifted to the window. “Well, I… Really, Penny? I’m so sorry, boy, she’s always seemed so strong to me! I never would have guessed that she…” he turned his head to look at me again. “Sorry. I’m reminiscing. You just missed an NCR caravan heading up to Nipton. If the schedule keeps going like it has been, another caravan should show up next month…”

“Crud,” I muttered. I thought about saying something less polite, but Mr. Nash didn’t like me swearing.

“Sorry,” said Mr. Nash. Then, his expression changed. He glanced over his shoulder.

“Oh, I almost forgot! There’s an unsponsored one preparing to leave right now, bound straight for New Vegas. It’s a little caravan, three people, a couple of brahmin and a wagon. They’ve run the route a few times, but they don’t usually pass through here. The leader- Gram, I think it was, says he’s with the NCR. He’s got a ranger with him, so normally, I’d be inclined to believe him. But, the NCR never told me about them like they do with the rest of their caravans, and only the ranger wears a uniform.”

I started to walk away. “Thanks, Mr. Nash--where can I find them?”

“They’re out back behind the Casino, sort of over by the hitching posts, but I wouldn’t mess with them. They seem kind of shady to me,” he said. I turned my head to grin at him.

“Oh, I’ll be fine, Mr. Nash. I’m sure they’ll jump at the opportunity to get a doctor on board!”

-Break-

“Hands behind your head! That’s right, don’t move an inch!”

I shouted out in pain and surprise as the great-big person with the ranger uniform pushed their boot even harder against the small of my back, no doubt leaving a bruise. Without even registering it, I had moved both of my hands behind my head.

“Good. Hoplite, search him!”

A stout, bespectacled ghoul wearing a plaid three-piece suit with a tan cowboy-hat sauntered into my field of view. I hadn’t met many ghouls before, but I could tell by his demeanor that he was no spring chicken. Maybe pre war, maybe not, but definitely vintage. Maybe even antique. He stared at me for a while, then took off his hat, and tilted his head in my direction.

“He’s got nothin, Tandi. If he had a gat, he would have tried to reach for it when you spotted him,” said the ghoul. My ribcage felt like it was going to crack open as the ranger put even more weight onto their one foot.

“That’s not what I’m worried about. I bet he’s a legion slave, check his collar, look for brands on his skin!”

“I ain’t a slave,” I said, and instantly regretted speaking. The ranger laughed, a strange, hollow sound once it got passed through the helmet.

“Well, the kid ain’t a slave! What a goddamn relief!” The cheery Texan twang didn’t mesh with the deep, slavic voice. Every word that the ranger spoke sent chills down my spine.

“Look!” I shouted. I reached for my coat collar, and the ranger raised their foot and jammed their heel into my back again, harder than before. I screamed out something incomprehensible.

“Try it again, slave-boy-“ I could hear the ranger pull the bolt back on their submachine-gun, and I’m pretty sure I pissed my pants a little. “…And I put a round in your kidney! Maybe death don’t scare you, but pain like that’ll make a tough man cry. Ain’t that right Hoplite?”

The ghoul let out a tired sigh. “I’m not about to play good-cop bad-cop with you, Tandi. Let the poor kid go.” The Ranger kept their foot on my back for a few more seconds, pressing just hard enough to give me a sharp pain in my ribcage. Finally, they released me, leaving me aching in the sand.

As soon as I had recovered enough to breath, I flipped myself onto my back and started coughing. My whole goddamn chest was aching, which was an unfamiliar and unpleasant feeling. Of course, that wasn’t what I was thinking about. I was instead thinking about how I almost got shot, how I almost died less than an hour into my journey, how I almost failed my momma…

I started crying. I knew immediately that it was a bad idea, so I kept it silent, but I couldn’t help but let a few tears leak down my face. No one seemed to notice it, probably because they were still talking amongst themselves.

“…we do with him? Like, I’d feel kind of bad leaving him here…”

“Whoa, big friggin’ idea right here: why don’t we ask him what he was doing? He don’t look like a bad guy to me…”

“Leave him here. He’s a runt and a coward, and the only thing I-“

“Buzz off, Tandi! No one invited you to this conversation!”

“Yeah, shut up, the adults are talking!”

“What? I am thirty years your senior, Savvy! ”

“… Ladies, please. If we don’t make a decision soon, I think the suspense might kill him.”

“Still time for me to kill him.”

“Hush! I think he’s listening to us!”

All eyes turned to me. After a few seconds of feeling like a bug in a magnifying glass, I threw my arms into the air and craned my neck in what I can only describe as a full-body shrug. The ghoul laughed as my arms and legs thumped against the sand.

“Did that hurt? That looked like it hurt,” said the person who I hadn’t seen yet. I could hear her walking closer to me. I didn’t look up.

“Little bit,” I admitted. She was standing behind my head now, and, not wanting to lift my neck, I strained my eyes to look up at her. I couldn’t see her so well against the glare of the sun, but I could make out the general look; she was a young, heavy-ish woman with a bob of black hair and what I recognized to be some-kind-of-Asian features, wearing a faded floral sundress and a floppy hat. I smiled up at her, and she smiled back.

“Howdy there!” I said, and then regretted speaking so loud. My chest still ached.

“Hi! I’m sorry about our ranger. She’s kind of aggressive,” said the girl. I snorted. “Anyways, what’s your name? And, uh, would you like to stand?”

“Isaac, and no, not really,” I replied. Still smiling, she withdrew her hand.

“That’s okay. What were you doing back here? Was this just bad luck, or were you trying to find us?” I nodded absently.

“Both, I think.” I saw the ghoul cast a sidelong glance at the ranger.

“A wise guy? Oh, this’ll be fun. Maybe we should kill him after all,” said the ghoul, and I laughed a laugh that was really just a thinly veiled prayer to God that he was joking. The girl gave him a look.

“Gram, hush. Why were you looking for us? And don’t beat around the bush anymore, I hate it when people do that.”

Normally I would agree with her on that, but I felt like I had a little bit of a right to be insufferable. Given the circumstances.

Don’t push your luck, I thought to myself, you want to join up with these folks. You can still spin this to your advantage! Except, I didn’t really know how I was gonna do that. None of them were taking any sort of pity on me, so I doubted I could play the poor, innocent boy card, and I wouldn’t press the dying momma thing. Past that… well, I wasn’t really sure what to say.

First though, I decided to stand up. I couldn’t have looked very impressive, lying in the dirt like I was. Trying to appear as though I weren’t in incredible pain, I stood and dusted myself off. I turned to face the girl in the dress, who was looking awful unimpressed with me.

“Well, since you asked me so nice, I’ll keep it simple- I need to get to New Vegas as soon as possible. Someone at the casino told me about y’all, so I came to see if you might take me on.” I turned my head to look at the ghoul. “You’re Gram, right? Nash told me about you. Said you were kinda shady, but I trusted that I’d be alright.”

The Ghoul nodded. “Yeah, that’s me. Sorry, but we ain’t taking any new members. We run a taut ship here, and to be honest, I don’t think we need anyone else gumming up the works.” I started to talk, but the ghoul raised a hand to silence me. “And, forget about paying to come along, because this job here is paying enough for my retirement! Don’t think I didn’t see that look in your eyes, kid.”

There went that avenue. I tried not to look defeated.

“That’s alright! I don’t got much money anyways,” I said, which was technically true- I wasn’t very liquid right now. “I was thinking about offering my services. I’m a doctor, see!”

“Nah, see, I already told you, we don’t- wait!” I could see the look on his face change as he registered what I said. “Wait, a doctor? Ah, I should’ve guessed by the coat! You roll with the Followers?”

“No. I’m looking to see them, actually. My aunt Julie leads this here chapter, and my father was a big shot there. Taught me a thing or two, before he died.” I said. I showed him the badge on my coat, which was a little metal circle with a stenciled-on cross with forked ends and a circle at the point where the two lines crossed. He examined it for a moment, then nodded.

“Badge seems genuine, so I don’t think you’re lying about your pops. But, how do I know you’re any good as a doctor? We can’t exactly have you perform a demonstration.”

I had a solution to this one!

“That’s easy! I saved a man’s life this morning, and I can prove it! Name’s Kurt McBain- he’s the Sheriff of this town. Ask anyone in that Casino, and they’ll tell you that I’m not lying. Mrs. McBain shared the news with everyone , so there’s no shortage of people who know,” I said, grumbling the last part like I was disappointed. I was secretly thrilled that she’d told so many people, but I was pretending to be disappointed because it seemed more in-character.

“Cook, why don’t you go check up on that story? Tandi, go check the perimeter, make sure this isn’t some sort of distraction. I think I’d like to talk to the kid alone.”

The other two members of the group departed wordlessly, leaving me alone behind the Casino with Gram, the weird ghoul who spoke like a gangster from one of the pre-war crime novels that my father would read me sometimes. He scared me less than the ranger, but more than the other person- Cook, he had called her. I couldn’t really put a finger on why.

“So, Isaac, let’s assume you’re telling me the truth, for a moment. Just how good of a doctor are you?” asked Gram, walking past me to lean against the peeling Casino wall. I thought for a moment. That was a hard question.

“Well I’m more of a medic, really- general physician in a pinch, but I studied for trauma. Given enough supplies, I can patch up most folks who haven’t got irreversible organ damage,” I replied, thinking back to how I’d repaired the Sheriff’s leaky artery with a stimpack. I might’ve been able to fix it without one, too, if I knew going in what exactly I’d be doing, but I wasn’t sure if I trusted my emergency sutures to hold on their own just yet...

We talked for some time about what I’d done, and what I could do if I absolutely had to. I explained to him that if I set up a pip-boy profile for everyone in advance, I’d be able to get all sorts of information that I’d otherwise have to find out the old-fashioned way. All the while, Gram was scratching the back of his neck, looking over at the back door to the Casino like a deathclaw might come bursting out at any moment. He always kept one hand in his coat.

“Well, Cook’ll be getting back pretty soon, and I’ll call Tandi over the radio once Cook gets back. Assuming you ain’t lying or holding anything back, then you’re on. I’ll give you ten minutes to pack up, and then we’re leaving.”

Despite everything, I smiled- I just couldn’t help it! The sun hadn’t even set, and I was already starting my journey to save my mom. No one could tell me it was just an idea now, because I was taking actions- taking risks, I realized, and it was already paying off. I was elated!

Suddenly, the back door to the Casino opened up. Cook stepped out, her expression unreadable.

“Hey, Gram? So, I asked around, and I’m pretty sure that he’s for real. There were some people who hadn’t heard about the incident, but most of the people who I talked to confirmed that the story was true,” she said. Gram raised one of his bushy eyebrows.

“Hm. How many is, “most?” How was your sample size?”

“Eight out of the Ten people who I asked answered in the affirmative. No one actually denied the story, they just denied knowledge of it. The details didn’t deviate much between accounts, either.”

Gram turned his whole upper body to look at me. He whistled. “Damn, Isaac! Either you’re the fifth best conman I’ve ever met, or you ain’t kidding about the whole doctor thing. I’m gonna go with the latter, because I’ve usually got a pretty good eye for cons.”

“Are you sure, Gram? Not knowing about it is what makes a good con. What if you’ve been getting tricked all the time, and you’re so bad at spotting cons that you didn’t see most of them- even in retrospect!” suggested Cook. Gram scoffed.

“Please- when you’re alive for as long as me, you learn a thing or two about people and their tricks.” He sounded cross, but I could tell that he was smiling. Cook made a dramatic gesture.

“That’s what they want you to think! It’s how they’ve tricked you for so long!”

“Who’s tricked who?” asked the ranger, emerging around the corner with their barking-iron drawn. Every muscle in my body tensed as I tried not to jump out of my skin.

“Cook was telling me about all the cons I’ve apparently missed. I got a pretty good eye for cons, right, Tandi?”

“How do you know you can trust my answer?”

Cook grinned from ear to ear, and I found myself smiling too- her grin was infectious. “I told you! You’ve been blind this whole time, Gram! I guess living so long has given you some sort of complex…”

Could I wedge my way into this conversation? Did I even want to? The group seemed to run on an awful lot of unspoken rules and agreements, and I definitely didn’t get the impression that I had been invited to this particular conversation just yet.

“Et Tu, Isaac? Has this all been some sort of set up?” Gram asked, throwing his arms out and contriving to look betrayed. I took my invitation and tried real hard to look menacing.

“I’m sorry brother, but you shouldn’t have crossed the mob. You saw what happened to Sunny, didn’t you?” I said, making a little finger gun and calling desperately on my vague knowledge of “The Godfather.” Gram raised an eyebrow.

“First off, that’s not what Pacino sounds like and Michael didn’t kill Sonny. Second, you’ve seen The Godfather?” He sounded more intrigued than surprised. I shook my head.

“Read it, actually. My father read me a lot of books when I was younger. Are you from New York?” I stopped. That was a weird place to end the sentence, since they couldn’t understand the train of thought that led there. “Sorry. It’s just, we were talking about The Godfather, and you sound a lot like the voice my father would put on when he was playing New York mobsters.” Gram looked at me strangely, or at least I imagined he did, then nodded.

“Yeah, yeah I lived in Brooklyn before the war. I’ve been a lot of places since then…” He seemed to think for a moment. “Have you seen what New York looks like nowadays? It’s worse than the Capital Waste. If I hadn’t gotten outta there, I’m sure I would’ve gotten killed by now.”

“Well, I haven’t been, but-“ I started, getting ready to recount one of my many stories about father’s adventures with the Followers. Before I could finish, the ranger stepped between us.

“Beggin’ your pardon, Hoplite, but the sun’s setting, and I don’t want to spend another night in this shithole. Are we taking him or not?”

Gram shrugged. “Depends. Are you sure you wanna come…”

“Isaac,” I said. Gram nodded.

“Right. Now, Isaac, before you agree to anything, I feel like I’m obligated to warn you about the dangers of this run. There are raiders out there, there are legion assassins, mutants, and because of these things there will probably be death. We haven’t had a casualty in years, but you’re still probably going to watch someone die.” That last one hit me like a punch in the gut, but I think I managed to keep my reaction under wraps. I just nodded. “You ever seen someone die, Isaac? Are you gonna shut down on us as soon as someone gets shot?”

“Yes, I have,” I replied, and left it that. Gram looked satisfied.

“Good. Let’s get going. Isaac- as of this moment, you’re hired. I’ll give you ten minutes to pack. Be quick,” he said, shooing me away. I shook my head.

“Actually, I’m already packed.” In retrospect, I probably should have taken a few choice magazines with me, but those weren’t particularly vital. I had my jump bag with me, and I had the clothes on my back.

It was kind of sad, actually, to think that I didn’t own a single item worth taking with me that I wasn’t already carrying. Maybe I just wasn’t thinking hard enough.

“Well, in that case, we’ve got no time to waste- let’s hit the road!”

Under normal circumstances, I’d have felt awful sad, leaving home like this, not knowing if I was ever gonna return. But today, I was satisfied. I’d made a decision, and I was finding a way to carry it out!

“Cya soon, momma,” I mumbled, and loaded my bag onto the back of the wagon. I was leaving all-standing, and the journey ahead of me would surely be long, dangerous, and full of unpleasant surprises. I might even die a horrible death, end up face down in a pool of radioactive waste...

I’d never been more thrilled in my entire life!

[+]

#fallout #fallout fanfic #fallout fanfiction #fallout fandom

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towingserlas541 · 4 years

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cocowebdesign · 4 years

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When we field a call from a possible customer, among the first things that we always ask is what their budget is. It's not due to the fact that we're greedy and also it's not due to the fact that all we think of is money-- we're really trying to prevent losing that prospect's time must their budget plan be unrealistic. Let me explain.

A perfect instance is a call I fielded last Monday from "Steve" (allow's simply call him Steve). Steve possesses what seems a fairly effective used-car dealership. Steve likewise speaks extremely fast.

Prior to I can obtain a word in, Steve spent fifteen mins describing the success of his car dealership as well as exactly how he intended to "take it to the next level" with a website. To be certain, Steve wanted the capability to checklist and also sell his stock online, have a "construct your desire auto" function that would certainly cross-reference with his inventory and also locate the closest suit, live-chat with prospective consumers, and also ... well, I can take place, but you get the idea.

Steve after that asked me just how much I thought would certainly cost him. I described to him that what he had actually described was, at a minimum, a $6,000 project (and that's on the reduced end), but that I could obtain him a much more precise cost once I would certainly had time to draw up a formal proposal. I advised him that what he was requesting was by no implies a "straightforward" website, and would certainly take numerous weeks and numerous man-hours to develop.

That's when whatever went downhill. Fast. Steve seemed virtually insulted that we 'd charge him that much-- he described that he had actually been prepared to pay "$800 to the ideal designer, yet that's tops" which we were "plainly not meant for this job". Steve and also I at the very least agreed on that last part.

That's not to claim that Steve will not discover someone to do that job for $800-- he possibly will-- yet the old saying "you get what you spend for" is never ever extra true than in the web design world.

The point of this tale is to aid every one of you recognize exactly how critically important it is to review your spending plan upfront-- if Steve had actually done that, or a minimum of given me a possibility to ask, we might have conserved both people a ton of wasted time!

3. What is the full scope of the services that you use?

This is a huge one, due to the fact that similar to task deliverables, developer capabilities are as varied as customers' needs. If you require copywriting help, natural SEO, and even help with public relationships, you normally won't get this from a "website design individual" or "visuals developer". You'll need a fully-functional company (like us!) for that.

Most local business require a full-service web designer Singapore company or a knowledgeable web marketing company. They lack in-house marketing sources and require somebody to offer a total website advancement project with the alternative for post-launch assistance. Know your very own demands as well as see to it you select a company that meets those needs in both the temporary and lasting.

You would certainly be surprised (honestly) the number of "web developers" available throw a slap-dash website together that, while maybe looking good, is definitely abhorrently coded and also carried out. If you ask your web developer only one question, inquire this one-- recovering from a badly constructed and implemented website is very difficult as well as extremely costly.

#website #web design #website design #website designer

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davewakeman · 4 years

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Talking Tickets--22 May 2020! Bundesliga! Revenue! Rocking At The Drive-In! More!

Hey!

Thanks for being here again this week. If you are enjoying this newsletter, tell your friends and colleagues to sign up by visiting this link.

Heading into the long weekend in the States, if that really even matters right now…here’s a video that came my way of The National performing a set around the time of their album, High Violet, which is excellent. I’m guessing that they won’t be playing their show at Wolf Trap, but if something changes…I’m there.

I had a chance to participate during Eric Fuller’s Rescue Meet on Tuesday along with Anthony Esposito and a few others from different areas of the industry. You can watch the replay here.

Don’t forget Happy Hour with me and Ken Troupe this afternoon. Ken has fixed the technology and we can definitely have more than 6 people or whatever crazy number kept getting folks bounced that one week.

To the tickets!

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1. Events Are Starting To Come Back With Drive-Ins and Social Distancing:

In the span of a few moments, we went from having the first social distance concert to having it postponed, to having it back on again. Then we had a drive-in show with 600 cars!

While all of this is positive, the cluster developing at Bryant Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa shows that we still have to be cautious with our expectations and with the speed of being able to bring events back online and things back to normal.

Casinos in Las Vegas and Mississippi are going to be coming back soon. These aren’t live events, but I do think they will provide us an opportunity to learn about what safe openings and safe gatherings will look like or can look like.

The same can be said for the opening of museums, parks, and other places where folks gather to see art, hangout, and commune. Though I do wonder how marathons and big races are going to manage to come back in the near term…if you’ve never run the NYC marathon or seen it, social distancing is tough.

Th0ugh if you’ve never run the NYC marathon, put that on your bucket list.

All of this highlights the need to continue to watch what other countries are doing, try to learn best practices and to be cautious but creative like these mixed events in Norway.

2. We will come back, but what will that look like?

If the coronavirus has taught us anything in the States is that if you don’t have a lobbyist, you don’t have much of a chance of anything.

So far, live entertainment has been hurt about as much as any industry and we don’t have anything to show for it. Regular folks, are in the same boat for the most part. Maybe we should all go into banking or lobbying…

I did do some nerd reading this week and found an interesting piece about neoliberal economic policy and the coronavirus that put a few ideas into my head that I think we can all learn from in this crisis:

* The ideas lying around are important. * What is feasible and likely can change pretty quickly. * Ultimately, ideas change the world.

For all of us, this means a few important things…

* First, push our ideas of helping live entertainment recover. Countries around the world have varying plans for doing just that. In America, we definitely need to continue to push that agenda. My neighbor is a lobbyist and he’s explained the dark arts to me and I’ve worked on a presidential campaign, so I understand how ridiculous the whole process can seem and feel from the outside…and it is, just the people in the middle of it can’t let their own self-importance get in the way of recognizing how ridiculous it is.

* No idea is a crazy idea. You need crazy ideas to come up with workable solutions…look at the stuff above with drive-ins and social distance concerts.

* Show up and do the work. I’ve been talking about change, innovation, and evolution for my entire career…this stuff doesn’t come easy and it doesn’t come fast, but to give up now in the face of the need for innovation is just crazy. The industry needs everyone to be smarter, more thoughtful, and more creative.

I’ll cover economic models and ideas in point 5.

3. Football, Futbol, Soccer Saves Us?!

Have you picked your Bundesliga team yet?

I’m still sticking with Bayern Munich because of their connection to Oktoberfest and beer!

Did y’all get a chance to catch any of the action from Germany over the weekend? I liked Haaland’s socially distanced goal celebration, but I have to say it was still weird watching football without fans.

On top of the Bundesliga, we also are going to see the return of the Liga FPD as well. (That’s the Costa Rican soccer league.) (ESPN will be showing their games.) (My team is Limon FC…I’ll explain over drinks sometime.)

The French league has already declared Paris Saint-Germain winners, but most of the other leagues around the world are attempting to finish their seasons with the Champions League looking to finish by August.

In the Premier League, we are seeing a lot of caution.

But it will be great to see the EPL return since all of Spurs injured players are back…but we all long for the return of home-field advantage.

In South Korea, there was a little story that likely gives folks a bit to think about with “unique” partnerships!?

And, if the Grand Final can have fans, I’m hoping that I can be there.

A couple things here:

* I’m glad to have sports back to watch. * Keep paying attention to what is working and what isn’t. * Constantly ask yourself what you are learning from all of these experiences and these events so that you come out of this stronger than before.

4. Arts Have Always Come Back, Yeah!

I’ve been saying it for months now, people will come back eventually. To think otherwise is to laugh in the face of thousands of years of recorded history.

The challenge in the short term is what will this coming back look like, how quickly will folks feel comfortable, how many financial challenges will we be dealing with, and whether or not we get the marketing challenge correct.

This virus and the financial conditions created by the shutdown of economies around the world have created the most challenging environment for the arts and entertainment in any of our lifetimes, true fact. But the virus and the financial crisis has also highlighted a lot of bad business practices, poor business models, and the need for more innovative thinking any many places.

The challenges that everyone are dealing with aren’t unique to one area of the industry. I mean, movie theatres, musuems, and bars are feeling the pinch as well. Everyone is in the entertainment and hospitality industry.

In speaking at Eric Fuller’s Rescue Meet event this week, I come back to a couple of ideas that seem to sum up where my thinking is this week:

* Creativity and innovation need to be at the front of everyone’s thinking. * Cooperation is going to be key to being successful going forward. * There won’t be a one-size-fits-all plan or approach to coming out of this. And, we have to recognize that earlier rather than later.

5. The Way To Generate Revenue Is Going To Need Some Attention:

I’m doing a webinar on Tuesday, 26 May with Frederic Aouad from Stay 22 on revenue and creating revenue opportunities now.

Two sessions: 9 AM EDT and 2 PM EDT. We wanted to give folks a chance to join if they were in markets outside of the US or mainland Europe.

The genesis of the idea came out of someone grabbing my notes off the stand at INTIX in Dallas and how I had to come up with a presentation on revenue on the fly.

Revenue numbers have been in the news a lot the last few weeks as we saw Adam Silver talk about how about 40% of the NBA’s money comes from fans going to games. This week, we saw MLB’s owners share that playing games without fans will cost about $640,000 in losses per game!

I’d always thought the NFL had a little less reliance on in-game revenue, but a report this week put the number at around 38%.

For minor league sports, the threat is even more severe.

So we see that tons of money is still tied up in getting people to get into the games when they are played.

Which really begs a serious question: if getting fans into the stadium is so important, why has the sales and marketing models of the teams in the States been stagnant for so long?

The hard truth is that in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and many other markets, the creativity to capture more of their fan base has existed for a lot of time and we have to get on-board. I had David Fowler on my podcast before the lockdowns started, but he appeared on Richard Clarke’s podcast this week and talked about his ideas in the context of the coronavirus and I think listening to these guys can be useful. David’s big three are content, creativity, and community.

This all comes up in light of the need to rethink where the money comes in from, this week Kirk Wakefield wrote up a piece about how little folks actually notice sponsors during games. Which was paired with the idea that MLB teams might cover seats with sponsored tarps to help recapture some revenue from not having fans in the ballpark.

And, don’t even get me started on “impressions”, “likes”, and that sort of thing that is basically meaningless but easy to measure. Even though there have been lawsuits about the accuracy of a lot of these social web measurements.

Revenue going forward is going to need a lot of thought, but I’ll offer up three things to consider now:

* The way tickets are marketed and sold needs some serious attention. The folks that have invested in their fans over the years are the exceptions that prove the rule. We all need to rethink marketing and selling practices…which should have been a priority before but when you could just easily raise prices, sell to brokers and consolidators, and fall back on “tickets distributed” as the way you reported attendance…YOLO!

* Investigating where folks are doing things better or where we can learn is going to create a lot of opportunities. What can we all learn from a professional services brand? What can we learn from the school bake sale? A nonprofit? There are millions, or more, examples to learn from.

* I said this in a very pointed way that was likely a bit ruder than I wanted to say it at INTIX in Dallas, but none of us are limited in the way that we make money and generate revenue…we are limited by our creativity and that’s the biggest challenge we are dealing with, limiting our creativity to predetermined ideas and solutions. And, I get it, there are real challenges facing everyone right now, but that should cause everyone to be a lot more creative.

As MJ said, “BREAK!”

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What am I up to this week?

Check out my webinar with Frederic and the folks from We Will Recover. I’m working on getting two or three exclusive blog posts and articles up on the We Will Recover site from some of the smarties I know from around the world including a really great piece from my friend, Georgia, down in Sydney.

The podcast is sitting there with over 100 episodes. I’ve been trying to think about what form, if any, it takes going forward and I’ve come up with an idea now that I think will work for me and offer value to all of y’all. I’m going to focus on the future and I’m going to bring in more folks from my work on strategy and marketing that don’t always touch the world of entertainment as a way to introduce more ideas and a different viewpoint.

Visit my site, www.davewakeman.com.

Please follow and like us:

Talking Tickets–22 May 2020! Bundesliga! Revenue! Rocking At The Drive-In! More! was originally published on Wakeman Consulting Group

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jeramymobley · 5 years

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Brand Leadership In Times Of Covid-19

Covid-19 is impacting nearly every sector of the economy. I live in Seattle, which was where the first case and deaths happened in the US. Companies large and small are doing their best to have employees work from home, which is easy for lots of us “knowledge workers” to do. But it’s not easy for the millions of workers in professions that require them to interact with others in person.

Almost immediately after Microsoft asked employees in the pacific northwest to work from home, they released a statement that they would continue to pay their hourly contract workers that support the massive campus of their headquarters. Brad Smith, Microsoft’s president and chief legal officer says, “We recognize the hardship that lost work can mean for hourly employees. As a result, we’ve decided that Microsoft will continue to pay all our vendor hourly service providers their regular pay during this period of reduced service needs. This is independent of whether their full services are needed. This will ensure that, in Puget Sound for example, the 4,500 hourly employees who work in our facilities will continue to receive their regular wages even if their work hours are reduced.”

Other technology brands made similar announcements, likely inspired by Microsoft’s empathetic approach. But not all brands have high market caps, with cash readily available to sustain a workforce in extraordinary times. In today’s news, it looks like major resorts in Las Vegas are closing for at least a two-week period. The cruise, airline and tourism industries are being hit particularly hard. But also, many beloved local restaurants, bars and entertainment venues are laying off staff and reducing or closing. Will these smaller, independent brands be able to recover?

As we’ve shared before, many people believe the system is not working for them. And with government leaders failing them, many are looking at brands to step up. And with leaders like Brad Smith, they’re seeing examples that are changing the expectation for how a modern, responsible brand should act.

In times of Covid-19, here are three ways to demonstrate brand leadership:

1. Do Your Best To Take Care Of Employees, Suppliers, Contractors. Not everyone can be as generous as Microsoft, Apple, Google, Twitter and Salesforce. But many businesses can do something. Over at Qantas, the CEO is no longer collecting his $23M salary for the rest of the year. Actions like that show people come before profits, and a crisis should put the spotlight on people.

2. Be Transparent In Your Employee Communications. Employee branding is becoming more important to building a strong brand. If you must do the unfortunate thing and lay off workers, prioritize having a senior person there to deliver the news. If the layoffs are temporary, make it clear there will be a pathway back.

3. Do You Need To Communicate With Your Customers? Since this crisis emerged, I’ve gotten more email than I care to receive from brands telling me about their response. Some of these were needed, like retailers I frequently visit. But some are unnecessary. I do not need to hear from my credit card company unless it is something to do with a policy change to help me during the crisis.

The Blake Project Can Help: The Brand Positioning Workshop (NOW Delivered Online)

Branding Strategy Insider is a service of The Blake Project: A strategic brand consultancy specializing in Brand Research, Brand Strategy, Brand Growth and Brand Education

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hope-for-olicity · 7 years

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Fabulous Olicity Fanfic Friday - May 19th, 2017

Happy Friday! So this is my attempt to both thank awesome fanfic writers for their amazing work and offer my recommendations to anyone who is interested. Here are the fantastic fanfic stories I read this week! They are posted in the order I read them.

The Sound of an Arrow multi-chapter by @lovejesusarrowavengersblog - Five years ago, Oliver Queen lost his wife in a car accident. Twenty years ago, Felicity Smoak's father kissed her on the forehead and disappeared from her life.Now, she is the nanny for the six adorable Queen children, fighting to restore love in the mansion and trying to deal with the difficult-to-get-along-with Oliver, all the while as she continues to stumble upon evidence that could drag the Queen family further into darkness. http://archiveofourown.org/works/7442458/chapters/16908556

Time for a Story multi-chapter by @smkkbert - This fic shows Olicity and their life as a (married) couple with family. Although Olicity (and their kids) are the protagonists, other characters of Arrow and Flash make appearances. http://archiveofourown.org/works/3912157/chapters/8757172

Wishful Thinking ficlets by @wherethereissmoak - wrote for the 5x22 released photos https://wherethereissmoak.tumblr.com/tagged/wishfulthinking

Clashing Parallels multi-chapter by @marytagus - Oliver Queen, the recently returned from the dead rich playboy, and Felicity Smoak, newly arrived at Starling City, find themselves unknowingly living parallel lives. What happens when parallels clash together… Part 1: http://marytagus.tumblr.com/post/160584044260/olicity-clashing-parallels-part-1 Part 2: http://marytagus.tumblr.com/post/160693682097/olicity-clashing-parallels-part-2 What Happens in Vegas by @realityisoverrated-fic - Tommy surprises Felicity at dinner with Donna. Things heat up when they get back to Felicity's hotel room and receive a phone call from Oliver. http://archiveofourown.org/works/10891425 In Another Life (I Could be Your Man) multi-chapter by @angelicmisskitty - Their lives couldn't be more different - and yet Oliver can't take his eyes off the beautiful blonde woman that leaves the subway every morning at 7.43am. There is something about her that makes him look up every morning - something that also makes him aware he'll never be good enough for her, or that she'd even notice him. He had no idea how much his life would change the day he rushed over to help her...Olicity AU - no Lian Yu, no saving the city (at least not in the way we know from Arrow :D ) LOVE LOVE, LOVE! http://archiveofourown.org/works/8944795/chapters/20475253 Post 5x20: Olicity Moments by @hotsforolicity - This is a one-shot as a continuation of episode 5x20. Starting from the last hospital scene. http://archiveofourown.org/works/10839177 The More I See You by @dmichellewrites - Oliver and Thea are still torn between the man they thought they knew. Robert would always be their father, and despite all his wrongs, the Queen siblings fight to honor his memory in their own. Multiple pep talks with Felicity show Oliver the kind of man, hero, and husband, he truly wants to be. http://archiveofourown.org/works/10891080?view_adult=true I Don't Know Where to Go From Here multi-chapter by @bri617aroundtheworld - Oliver and Felicity meet again more than a year after their break-up, only to find out some shocking truths that make them quickly realize not everything about their split was quite as black and white as it seemed at the time. They both have to reevaluate their past choices and make a decision for the future. But does it change anything? Can they find a way to come back to each other or did they destroy their relationship for good? http://archiveofourown.org/works/10693167/chapters/23682246 A Red Pen Surprise by @ibelievenu - Felicity gives Oliver his birthday gift https://ibelievenu.tumblr.com/post/160621258842/a-red-pen-suprise 5x22 Drabble by @charlinert - What could happen at Oliver’s Birthday Party http://charlinert.tumblr.com/post/160630738358/5x22-drabble The Hardest Target multi-chapter by @laurabelle2930 - When Felicity was a child her father developed an AI program that eventually brought their family fame and fortune. As she grew her father faded away his business grew and their bond shattered. After a car accident almost got her best friend Sara Lance killed Felicity's father made a choice...this choice would radically alter the course of her life. Now 5 years after the plane crash that killed her father and left her stranded she's come home to defeat the enemies her father's work created. The target is H.I.V.E's gun for hire, his name is unknown but his skills are deadly. He works for Damian Darkh who's allied with the one and only Quentin Lance Starlings chief of police. The only problem with her brand new life is Oliver Queen. He feels foreign yet familiar at the same time. She's drawn to him as he is to her but the question is why? What brings them together and what could potentially tear them apart? AMAZING!! http://archiveofourown.org/works/5745787/chapters/13240654

Wish Come True by @perfectlittlesoul - For the first time in over a decade, Oliver truly enjoys his birthday. http://archiveofourown.org/works/10887393 Lady in Red by @felicityollies - Oliver is a fan of Felicity’s white and red dress (5x21) http://archiveofourown.org/works/10890363 Somethings are Meant to Be by @pimsiepim - sequel to His Girl Wednesday which you REALLY NEED in your life if you missed read here: http://archiveofourown.org/works/4535685/chapters/10322457. Set after Oliver returns to Star City after being missing for 3 years, it is shaping up to be just as awesome as His Girl Wednesday http://archiveofourown.org/works/7693105/chapters/17526601 Trust Me multi-chapter by @felicityollies - When a prostitute meets the perfect client, she has to remind herself that there’s no room for getting close to someone in her line of work. http://archiveofourown.org/works/8487226/chapters/22503983 Keep it Professional multi-chapter by @mogirl97 - Oliver is assigned to be Felicity's bodyguard http://archiveofourown.org/works/9243455/chapters/20960405 To Make You Feel My Love multi-chapter by @smkkbert - One year after the Gambit went down, the incredible happens: Oliver is found alive and brought back to Starling City. All he wants is getting back to Felicity and Madeleine. Though Felicity welcomes him back with her arms wide open, Oliver struggles to find his place in the family. It seems like his place – at least in Mae’s heart – is already taken. And it doesn’t help that it’s his best friend Tommy who seems to have taken it. http://archiveofourown.org/works/10904208/chapters/24242493 Words We Couldn't Say by @dmichellewrites - Felicity and Donna both have news to share with each other. Tensions are continuing to rise since the two haven't seen one another in year when Donna eloped with Quentin on a cruise without her daughter and son-in-law there. Dynamics among the Smoak, Queen, and Lance family changes with utterances of three life-changing words. http://archiveofourown.org/works/10865556?view_adult=true A life with love, is a life that's been lived by @foreverfelicityqueen - Chase had been defeated, but at what cost? He took so much effort to destroy Oliver's life, and those he holds dear. And sometimes even when someone is beat, they still win a little. http://archiveofourown.org/works/10901202 Untitled @oneofakindxx - Oliver threatens a man and his wife is not impressed. http://oneofakindxx.tumblr.com/post/160665514306/there-are-a-lot-of-things-here-that-could-kill Honey, I Shrunk the Girl by @felicityollies - Felicity just wanted to help her friends with their latest scientific project. The last thing she expected was to end up only inches tall. http://felicityollies.tumblr.com/post/160670321697/honey-i-shrunk-the-it-girl Room in Your Heart for More multi-chapter by @wherethereissmoak - Army vet Oliver Queen returns from overseas to find out that he has a 5-year-old son. He is fighting for custody, but is struggling to prove he is a fit father. It's especially hard because he really has no idea what he's doing. By chance he meets single mother Felicity Smoak, who swoops in like an angel to help him become comfortable in his role as a father. Felicity is recovering from her a recent trauma, and as a vet Oliver is able to be the support that she needs. Together, they learn to open up their hearts in ways they never thought possible. I ADORE this story! http://archiveofourown.org/works/10700583/chapters/23700948 Pieces of Always multi-chapter by @so-caffeinated and @dust2dust34 - Life continues after Forever is Composed of Nows. Ongoing non-linear collection of family moments for the Queens. http://archiveofourown.org/works/8220479/chapters/18840356 Return to Me multi-chapter by @diggo26 - What would you do if you woke up tomorrow with the last 5 years of your memories gone? After an unfortunate accident, Oliver Queen must figure out his place in a life he has no memory of whilst his wife, Felicity, does everything she can to support him. With emotions, secrets and relationships pushed to the limits; will love and friendship be enough to turn back the hands of time? http://archiveofourown.org/works/10536999/chapters/23265480 Happy Mother's Day by @perfectlittlesoul - Felicity realises what her favourite holiday is an why. http://archiveofourown.org/works/10912557 Oliver's Journal by @geneshaven - July 2016 entry https://geneshaven.tumblr.com/post/160712923464/olivers-journal How We Became Porn Stars by @cruzrogue - Olicity's private time has unexpected consequences http://cruzrogue.tumblr.com/post/160700256584/how-we-became-porn-stars Summer House multi-chapter by @laurabelle2930 - Oliver Queen has been missing for two years. On the eve of his 2nd anniversary the local paper with the families consent has decided to run a memorial article since one was never done when he first went missing. Sara Lance was assigned the story at first but know the paper’s hotshot reporter Felicity Smoak has been assigned the story. Felicity must now put her personal feelings aside as she searches for the truth to Oliver Queen’s disappearance. http://archiveofourown.org/works/10918641/chapters/24282099 As Easy As Falling multi-chapter by @charlinert - Felicity has just received tragic news when she meets Oliver, I believe there is hope, highly recommend but you will cry but not every chapter! http://archiveofourown.org/works/8035363/chapters/22542341 Oliver's Birthdays by @lovejesusarrowavengersblog - Oliver finally learns how to love his birthday. http://archiveofourown.org/works/10922079 Bound to You multi-chapter by @bindy417 - Felicity is an ARGUS agent and Oliver with the Bratva but they met long before that! This story gives the past and the present. SO AWESOME. http://archiveofourown.org/works/6602668/chapters/15105862 Sometimes, Love Isn't Enough multi-chapter by @arrowfan437 - A mark. In this world, it defines you. And who you are with your partner. Felicity's been searching all around for the one that'll bring meaning to her mark. And she found him. But after being around him for so long, she wonders why she was given the mark at all. http://archiveofourown.org/works/10789404/chapters/23932119 The Hearts of Two Heroes by @geneshaven - In the hope and spirit of reconciliation… https://geneshaven.tumblr.com/post/160750197204/the-hearts-of-two-heroes Untitled by @machawicket - Olicity discuss Felicity's high heeled shoes http://machawicket.tumblr.com/post/151427381057/i-want-a-thousand-stories-about-exasperatedoliver Surprises by @dmichellewrites - Felicity throws Oliver a surprise birthday party, but that’s not the only shocker in store. The woman he loves also has some news that changes the course of their entire relationship for the better. http://archiveofourown.org/works/10908483 Untitled by @smoakmonster - 5x22 Oliver's Birthday Party Spec http://smoakmonster.tumblr.com/post/160758085976/i-cannot-stop-day-dreaming-about-olivers-bday Untitled by @olicityhappyeverafter - 5x22 Oliver's Birthday Party Spec https://olicityhappyeverafter.tumblr.com/post/160763857603/i-had-a-dream-last-night-about-olivers-birthday#notes As You Are by @oneofakindxx - Oliver takes an interest in Felicity's musical taste http://oneofakindxx.tumblr.com/post/160764084901/as-you-are Not Just a Sock Fetish by @alexiablackbriar13 - Support for Oliver's love of socks https://alexiablackbriar13.tumblr.com/post/160778183123/not-just-a-sock-fetish Family Business by @arrowheadproductions - Ideal Olicity proposal http://arrowheadproductions.tumblr.com/post/145548354491/let-me-ask-you-this-if-you-could-have-oliver-and Untitled by @thebookjumper - Felicity gets a mani pedi in 3.5 https://thebookjumper.tumblr.com/post/160783537524/alexiablackbriar13-geniewithwifi#notes You Are My Always/Backpacking (Mini Drabble) by @felicityollies - Oliver and Felicity hiking the pacific crest trail during their five months away http://archiveofourown.org/works/6610375/chapters/24322080 Star City Ninja Warrior by @imusuallyobsessed - prompt: “Somebody write me the Mayor Queen does an obstacle course for charity and the whole city goes nuts AU please and thank you” https://imusuallyobsessed.tumblr.com/post/160785336520/star-city-ninja-warrior Untitled by @dust2dust34 - Missing scene from Oliver's Birthday party http://dust2dust34.tumblr.com/post/160807308839/you-all-know-that-everyone-left-around-the-same Goodbye - An Olicity Ficlet by @olicity-i-believe-in-you - Olicity say goodbye http://olicity-i-believe-in-you.tumblr.com/post/160817711652/goodbye-an-olicity-ficlet-g-she-said-goodbye Felicity Smoak - Model, International Star and Murderer? multi-chapter by @tdgal1 - Oliver is called defended international Star Felicity Smoak when she is charged with murder - I can't express how excited I am about this! http://archiveofourown.org/works/10593339/chapters/23417862 Untitled @machawicket - 5x22 Missing scene - http://machawicket.tumblr.com/post/160820956387/because-those-two-idiots-were-stupid-cute-last The Firebird multi-chapter by @supersillyanddorky06 - Felicity Smoak stumbles upon a man dressed in black about to kill someone. The man takes an interest in her and she does not realize who he is. He is Al Sah-Him, the best assassin in The League, the crown jewel of the brotherhood, who is known for his lethal focus and killer instincts, brought up in the League itself. What happens when he is taken completely with the blonde? Assassin AU. Basically a what if Felicity met Al Sah-Him and not Oliver Queen story. http://archiveofourown.org/works/3874009/chapters/8658496 I Have Been Homesick for You Since We Met by @theshipsfirstmate - Post-5x21, Felicity watches Oliver’s press conference and has a talk with Thea. http://archiveofourown.org/works/10929573 You're My Happy Story by @alanna-the-lionheart - Takes place immediately following 3x23. The beginning of Oliver and Felicity’s road trip, a visit to Las Vegas…and a birthday surprise. http://archiveofourown.org/works/3966904 Secrets Don't Make Friends by @felicityollies - Felicity stumbles upon the lair after getting drunk at Verdant. She meets the Hood, but it doesn’t go as she expects. http://archiveofourown.org/works/10938729

// @almondblossomme // @emmaamelia95 // @mel-loves-all // @oliverfel4 // @green-arrows-of-karamel // @coal000 // @miriam1779 // @memcjo // @captainolicitysbedroom // @tdgal1 // @spaztronautwriter // @lalawo1 // @quiveringbunny // @quant-um-fizzx // @thebookjumper // @vaelisamaza // @myhauntedblacksoul // @lovelycssefan // @laurabelle2930 //

#fabulous olicity fanfic friday #olicity fanfiction #fic recs #oliver x felicity #FabulousOlicityFanficFriday

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yuniesan · 8 years

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The Cinderella Promise (RUCAS AU) - Chapter 9

Summary: Riley Matthews went to Las Vegas for her best friend and her Uncle’s joint Bachelor/Bachelorette party, but fearing that she would never find happiness she hides out in the hotel bar drinking away her sorrows. While there she meets a handsome stranger with a proposition that would change her life.

Billionaire Businessman Lucas Friar went to Vegas for a business meeting, but after being denied the CEO position at his family’s company, for being known as a player/heart-breaker, he comes up with a plan to win them over if only he finds the perfect “wife” to play the part.

One year was all he asked for, once the clock strikes twelve on their one-year anniversary they would go their separate ways.

But what happens with they start to fall for one another?

Chapters [0.5] [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

Chapter 9 – The Wedding

In the days leading up to Maya and Josh’s wedding, Riley had conversations with Lucas, they ate dinner together and talked about their day. Riley told him that his staff responded to her food and they had already started putting in orders, she was ecstatic and he would smile at her. At night they made love until they passed out in each other’s arms, and Riley could feel herself falling deeper and deeper into her feelings for Lucas. It was still the beginning of everything in their relationship but in her heart was slowly letting him have a piece and it scared her.

On the morning of the Wedding Riley and Maya were getting ready in a small church just outside the city. Maya wanted a small wedding with only their closest family and a few friends, so when she had found the church she fell in love with it, the reception would be held in the back of the church in a large tent that they had erected. Everything was pale yellow and white, the flowers were everywhere and Riley knew that her best friend had worked hard on making it a masterpiece.

It made Riley’s heart ache because she still couldn’t remember her own wedding the week before, even as she got closer to Lucas, but somehow one memory had come to her, their first kiss. She felt the sparks with every kiss he had given her since and each kiss brought back a small memory from that day.

While they got ready, Riley sent Lucas photo messages of the flowers, her shoes, her dress while it hung on the hanger, and the bodice of her lace corset bra she had picked.

“Riley what are you doing?” Maya asked as her friend walked around in a robe. “For crying out loud we’re in a church and you’re sending Lucas pictures of your freaking underwear… Take one of mine so I can send it to Josh.”

Riley laughed as she took a quick photo for Maya before giving her best friend the phone back. When Riley’s phone pinged a minute later she saw a message from Lucas.

You’re testing me here woman, and I’m next to your father so please don’t make this any more awkward.

She giggled before sending a quick I’m sorry back to him with a purple heart next to it. Maya looked up and cornered her best friend.

“You’re lucky that mark faded and the lace in your dress covers what’s left, because I don’t want your dad freaking out at my wedding,” Maya said before sitting down to put on her three inch heels. “Geez Riles, why hadn’t you told me that you were in a relationship?”

The lie came back to Riley and she hated it, she didn’t want to keep a secret from her best friend, but she also didn’t want to betray Lucas who had put his whole life on the line because he needed to be married. The lie was the only thing that she had, and it was still partially the truth.

“Sorry Maya, it’s just because of who he is we didn’t want it to get out,” she said looking down at the blonde before slipping on her dress. “Now the wedding was an impulse decision and we should have thought it through but it was Vegas and he showed up because of a business trip, you and Josh were celebrating and after one too many drinks we kind of just went with it.”

“Do you love him?” Maya asked.

The words struck Riley in the gut, she thought about their conversations, the way he touched her when they were in bed, or when they took showers together. How she watched him while he worked in his office and she brought him water, or when he watched her cook dinner. It had been a week but her heart skipped a beat, she was falling in love with Lucas.

“Well judging from the flush of red on your face the answer is yes.”

“I think that sometimes falling in love with someone takes an instant, they come into your life like a storm and you don’t know what to do, but the moment they become a permanent part of your life they become the lightest part of your heart and you can’t find a way to be without them,” she said knowing the truth of her feelings, and now it was going to break her heart the moment their contract ended.

“That was beautiful, I should have made you write my wedding vows,” Maya said making Riley laugh. “Oh well, Josh is stuck with the traditional ones.”

“But he loves you anyway,” Riley said as she put on her shoes, they were as high as Maya’s and only because her best friend wanted Riley to have a version of her own shoes, of course Riley knew that they were going to hurt by the end of the day.

Lucas felt out of place, in a parlor room with Riley’s family all around him. He had been introduced to her Uncle Eric, her Aunt Morgan, and several other people. Every once and a while Riley’s father would glare at him, even after their dinner a few nights ago, the man still believed that Lucas was the devil. So he busied himself talking to Farkle about the solar farm he wanted to make and the plans Farkle had for the tech they would use to make it.

“I think Mr. Matthews is going to kill you,” Farkle whispered. “We’re in a church and he’s going to kill you.”

“Does anyone here actually like me?” Lucas asked looking around at all of the people milling around.

“Well I do, because I know you would protect Riley, her mother likes you and Maya is warming up to you because you want to get Riley’s money back.”

“I’ll take what I can get. So did you bring Iz with you?” Lucas watched the genius in front of him blush which confirmed his suspicions. “She’s a good person Farkle, treat her well.”

“I will, so far we’ve been going out to dinner every night, we have a lot in common but we also argue about scientific articles that we both read.”

“As long as you both like each other it should be okay,” Lucas said as Mr. Matthews walked up behind him and tugged him aside.

“Friar I need to talk to you,” he said with the glare of death on his face.

“Sure sir,” Lucas answered walking away with Riley’s father, as he gave Farkle a look of pure horror.

When they got to the front of the church they stopped and Mr. Matthews turned around to face him. After he took a deep breath he punch Lucas’ arm and stood as close as he could.

“You hurt my daughter I won’t hesitate to end you,” he said reminding Lucas of Mrs. Matthews’ threat earlier in the week.

“I will work to prove myself to you sir,” Lucas answered trying to ignore the fact that he had just been punched outside of a church.

“I don’t like how you two went about this, and I know my wife thinks highly of you and works with you often,” he stopped and looked him directly in the eye. “But the reason it bothers me right this moment is that I get to watch my daughter’s best friend walk down the aisle at her wedding, her father and mother at her side, and I didn’t get the same chance. I love my daughter very much and you stole that moment from me.”

Lucas didn’t realize how much a single moment meant to the man standing in front of him, and how his own selfishness to continue had stolen something that couldn’t be recovered.

“Sir, one day you will get that chance, it might take a while but you will,” Lucas omitted the fact that it might not be with him, but he wanted to reassure the man.

“I’ll hold you to that,” he said before walking away.

Lucas walked into the church and was ushered to his seat as the wedding was about to begin, the thought that Riley walked down the aisle at her wedding drunk and now has no memory of the night hurt him. It was a moment she should have remembered but she didn’t and he didn’t know how he was going to make it up to her.

As the wedding party walked down the aisle he watched her friends and family smiling because of the joyous occasion. The moment Riley began to walk all of the thoughts he had had left his mind as he marveled at how beautiful she looked in the pale yellow dress, the lace covering her shoulders, her hair in loose curls. She gave him a quick smile and blew him a kiss as she passed him, everyone else in the room was looking at the bride behind her, but his eyes were on Riley, turning his body as she passed him. He remembered the picture she had sent him not to long ago and it made his whole body stand at attention.

Riley was smiling as her best friend walked down the aisle, every once and a while she looked over at Lucas as she sent her a slight smile. Farkle had told her that her father had cornered Lucas just before the start of the wedding and she felt guilty. Yet her heart was light for a moment, she loved her husband, and although she couldn’t tell him it was still a beautiful feeling in her heart. When Maya crossed her and Shawn and Katy handed her over to Josh, Riley knew that she needed to start paying attention to what was happening in front of her.

She cried as she watched each moment, when they exchanged vows, their rings, and their first kiss as husband and wife. But she could also feel Lucas’ eyes on her and it sent shivers up and down her back. She wanted him so badly but she couldn’t do anything about it. As everyone walked outside and waited for Maya and Josh to come out so that they could throw petals at them, Lucas found her and kissed her in front of everyone she knew. She wanted to stop him but she knew that she wanted it as much as he did. Her father cleared his throat making the couple pull apart, but she was happy.

Maya threw the bouquet Riley ended up catching it even though she wasn’t standing where all the other single women were. Everyone around them laughed but Maya had refused the chance to throw it again.

“I got my wedding, maybe one day you will get the big wedding too,” her best friend said, and Riley couldn’t help but want to cry.

Everyone walked towards the back of the church and they sat down at the tables, just as a spring rain fell in the background. Riley smiled knowing the significance of the rain and her newly married best friend and her Uncle. Lucas looked at her and smiled taking her hand and placing it against his lips.

“You look beautiful,” he whispered in her ear.

“You look handsome yourself,” she said blushing. “By the way, sorry for leaving you alone with my dad. Farkle told me what happened.”

“Don’t worry… it comes with the territory.”

“Yes it does, just like how Farkle also told me that Zay was giving you a hard time the other day because I left a bite mark on your shoulder,” she couldn’t help but giggle as she said it.

“So, I think we should leave around six,” he said whispering in her ear. “And go up to my cabin for the night.”

Riley knew that she was ready to leave at that moment but she had to stay for the reception, even though she had more interesting things to do. She looked down at his wrist and pull his sleeve up to look at the time, it was only a quarter after three. She could survive another three hours without combusting.

“Sure, but for now we eat and dance, and play nice with all of these people,” she said getting up.

Lucas looked down at her shoes and slowly made his way up towards her face, “Those shoes are never coming off.”

“Seriously which is closer the penthouse or the cabin?”

“The penthouse if we leave now, the cabin once traffic starts to get crazy, but I have a helicopter on standby if you want to go back to Manhattan.”

“Yes,” she whispered but her father stopped next to them causing Riley to pull away from Lucas. “Daddy, can I help you with something?”

“Yes I want a dance with my daughter,” her father said slowly pulling her away. She couldn’t help but laugh, but when Lucas began to dance with her mother she felt a tug on her heart.

“So my darling daughter, I had a talk with your husband,” her father said.

“I already know about it, remember you’re surrounded by everyone you know. I just want to know why you hate Lucas so much, he hasn’t done anything to you other than marry me. Mom likes him, Maya likes him, even Auggie likes him so why?”

“Fathers are very protective of their daughters, no matter how old they get,” he said smiling. “You’ll learn the hard way when you have kids of your own. But since that’s not going to happen until you’re forty.”

“Daddy, I swear,” she said laughing.

Throughout the reception Riley was whisked away by her family, one at a time, she barely got the chance to talk to Lucas, and she knew that her father had something to do with it. He wanted to control her life even at the wedding of her best friend, so when six o’clock rolled around she faked an ankle injury so that Lucas would have to take her to a doctor. When he picked her up off the ground she giggled in his ear.

“Don’t take the shoes off,” she whispered.

“You lied to your family just to get me alone,” he said, it was almost a growl. “You’re lucky I drove because we’re going to the cabin and I’m going to lock the door until we have to leave Monday morning.”

“That gives us about twelve hours so you better get to it mister, I didn’t fake this injury for nothing.”

Lucas couldn’t believe what Riley had pulled just to get away from her family, who had used everything possible to keep them apart all night. Just as they made it to the car Maya walked up to them with Riley’s stuff and a knowing look.

“There’s cake and some food in the bag,” she said as he put the items in the back seat. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” she said before walking away.

Lucas looked at Riley confused, “She helped me conspire this little getaway,” Riley said giving him an innocent smile. “Take advantage Lucas and let’s get going before my father realizes what we’ve done.”

“Yes ma’am,” he said closing her door before he ran to the other side and got into his car. He sped off faster than he intended but ever since he received that photo from Riley his body was screaming.

The cabin was an hour ride from where they were but Lucas made it there in half an hour, by breaking a couple of speeding laws on the highway. Riley giggled the whole time as the car went seventy miles per hour sometimes eighty, each time she giggled he sped up knowing it was dangerous but doing it anyway. The woman had a control over him that no one had ever had, not even his ex-girlfriend who dated him just before his father’s death.

When they pulled up Riley grabbed the bags and Lucas grabbed the keys and rushed to the door to open it up, he went back and picked up Riley off the ground and walked her into the cabin.

“I’m going to have my way with you,” he said as he shut the door and placed her on the floor.

“Can we eat first, I didn’t really have the chance to eat when we were there,” she said and Lucas knew he should blame her father for dragging her away from the table every chance he got.

Lucas sighed but then remembered that Maya had packed some cake, grabbing the bag he pulled it out and set it on the coffee table.

“We’ll eat the rest later,” he said as he picked her up and set her in front of the couch. “Let’s get this dress off of you,” he handed her a piece of the cake and placed it in her mouth. She chewed as he worked the buttons on the back of the dress.

“What are you going to do eat the cake off of me,” she giggled. “It’s kind of kinky… Let’s do it.”

Lucas laughed at her enthusiasm but shook his head, “No you eat the cake I’m going to have something better.”

Her eyes widened as he slowly took the dress off of her and revealed the corset top she was wearing underneath, it was mostly lace and left little to the imagination but it curved around her body in all the right places. He wanted to keep it on her no matter what his mind was telling him, she squirmed in front of his gaze but it only made him want her more, as he looked at her hips and saw a garter belt holding up her nude stockings. He almost lost it just from looking at her.

“Eat,” he growled as he nibbled on her neck, when she was done chewing he claimed her mouth and tasted the sweetness of the cake with the raw passion of his wife. When he pulled away he saw that her hands were filled with frosting and he took care to lick it off one finger at a time as he looked at her as her eyes slowly closed.

“Lucas,” she whispered and that was all it took for his control to snap, all he felt was the heat of her hands and the raw need to be inside of her. He pushed her down on the couch and listened to her giggling as he did it.

“I hope you don’t like these panties because I’m going to rip them off of you and have my way with your body,” he said trying to hold control over his urges.

“The ties come off, just pull,” she said to him. He growled at the fact that she came prepared and pulled the ties off of the underwear.

“You’re so sexy,” he said as he tossed the underwear across the room. His hands slowly traced over the curves of her body, the feeling of lace and her heated skin, he touched her breast through the fabric not wanting to take it off of her. He wanted the image of her in nothing but those heels and the corset top burned into his memory.

“Lucas please,” she said to him and he pulled off of her and grabbed her bag to pull out the condoms he remembered her putting in there before they had left the house that morning. Stripping off his clothes as he walked back to her.

“I’m going to do you on this couch, and when we’re done,” he said kissing her neck, “and then we’re going to christen the bathtub I had installed here a month ago,” he said as he kissed her collarbone. “And when you think you can’t do anything else we’re going to go to bed and do everything I’ve ever fantasized about since I was a teenager,” he said as he sucked on her nipple through the lace.

When she moaned he cupped her from behind and slowly moved her towards him as he moved onto to her other nipple. She whispered his name, but he didn’t hear her as he slowly entered the heat of her body and began to push inside. Her hips bucked under her and he let go of her breast and claimed her lips. Nothing but raw passion and heat between them.

Riley woke up on the couch an hour later wondering where Lucas had gone only to see him in the kitchen bare assed naked eating some of the cake that was left in the wrapper that Maya had given them. She was still in her heels and her corset top, her stockings were ripped from their little adventure on the couch so she pulled them off along with her shoes. She had actually tripped during the reception and her ankle was slightly bruised but did look like anything major, she would have to stay away from the heels for a while.

“I hope you’re not eating all of the food because I’m starved, and not for sex, well not yet anyway,” she said looking at his naked body. “Yeah not yet.”

He smirked as she said it because he knew that she was watching him, so when he purposely dropped pieces of cake on himself she didn’t fight the urge to lick it off of him and just went for it.

“Food can wait,” she said and he nodded as he picked her up and put her on top of the counter.

They went at it a couple of times throughout the house, she never got the chance to eat anything at all but the taste of him made her dizzy with anticipation, and with need. She had never felt this kind of need before and it made it even more special because she knew that she was falling for him. It could have been one sided and she didn’t want to ruin it by spilling her emotions. She just wanted to savor the moments she had with him before it all went away.

When they left the next morning to go back to the city, they were both exhausted, neither one of them slept at all during the night, except for the cat naps throughout the night. Lucas stayed at home and the slept the morning away before he went to work for his afternoon meetings. Riley made herself something to eat as Richard delivered the groceries she asked for, she gave him his lunch and asked about his family. He would tell her about his grandchildren, and his kids who were all a wonderful happy family, most of them lived all around the country but they got together once a year for a family reunion, they were going to the Grand Canyon that summer.

Her father called to check on her in the afternoon asking about her ankle, she told him that it was only bruised and that she should be fine in a few days. They talked for a little while before hanging up. She walked around the apartment looking for something to do, before she ended up in the library with the forms of what people tasted and liked, and suggestions for other options. Some people asked for more vegetarian options, others asked for a few dishes that could be put in a bowl. She wrote down ideas of everything and made a list of what she would need to buy to test them out.

When Lucas returned that night she had dinner ready, using some of the recipes that she had thought up while reading what people had wanted. He gave her constructive criticism on all of the dishes and asked her to pack some up for Zay to try the next day. When they finished they showered together and made love that night before falling asleep in each other’s arms. This was their lives every single day, they talked on the phone, they talked at home, she cooked, sometimes he cooked with her help. The months passed and they lived in their own little world, and she was happier than she had ever been. She worked on the orders for her summer business, even enlisting the help of her younger brother and his girlfriend Ava for the deliveries. Auggie then convinced her to sell some of the sandwiches at her mother’s café, her mother gave her the profits for everything they sold.

When August came and she had to get ready to start her first semester of school Lucas complained because he wanted her all to himself but when the first day of school started he had given her a red leather messenger bag as a present. She made sure that her classes were in the afternoon, so she could make all of the food for the deliveries in the morning. Lucas came home for lunch and took her to school before going back to work, he kissed her and wished her luck when they got to campus, before he left drove off.

“A new beginning,” she said as she went to class for the first time in years.

#the cinderella promise #thecinderellapromise #yuniesan #rucas #liley #au rucas #au liley #adult rucas #rucas fanfic #rucas fanfiction #liley fanfic #liley fanfiction #gmw fanfic #gmw fanfiction

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peterdiamandis · 8 years

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Top 10 Tech Trends Transforming Humanity

2016 was an incredible year for technology, and for humanity.

Despite all the negative political-related news, there were 10 tech trends this year that positively transformed humanity.

For this “2017 Kick-Off” blog, I reviewed 52 weeks of science and technology breakthroughs, and categorized them into the top 10 tech trends changing our world.

I’m blown away by how palpable the feeling of exponential change has become.

I’m also certain that 99.999% of humanity doesn’t understand or appreciate the ramifications of what is coming.

In this blog, enjoy the top 10 tech trends of the past 12 months and why they are important to you.

(NOTE: at the end of this blog, I provide a detailed reference for all of the new items below).

Let’s dive in…

1. We are Hyper-Connecting the World

In 2010, 1.8 billion people were connected. Today, that number is about 3 billion, and by 2022 – 2025, that number will expand to include every human on the planet, approaching 8 billion humans.

Unlike when I was connected 20 years ago at 9,600 baud via AOL, the world today is coming online at 1 megabit per second or greater, with access to the world’s information on Google, access to the world’s products on Amazon, access to massive computing power on AWS and artificial intelligence with Watson… not to mention crowdfunding for capital and crowdsourcing for expertise.

Looking back at 2016, you can feel the acceleration. Here are seven stories that highlight the major advances in our race for global connectivity:

a) Google’s 5G Solar Drones Internet Service: Project Skybender is Google's secretive 5G Internet drone initiative. News broke this year that they have been testing these solar-powered drones at Spaceport America in New Mexico to explore ways to deliver high-speed Internet from the air. Their purported millimeter wave technology could deliver data from drones up to 40 times faster than 4G.

b) Facebook’s Solar Drone Internet Service: Even before Google, Facebook has been experimenting with a solar-powered drone, also for the express purpose of providing Internet to billions. The drone has the wingspan of an airliner and flies with roughly the power of three blowdryers.

c) ViaSat Plans 1 Terabit Internet Service: ViaSat, a U.S.-based satellite company, has teamed up with Boeing to launch three satellites to provide 1 terabit-per-second Internet connections to remote areas, aircraft and maritime vehicles. ViaSat is scheduled to launch its satellite ViaSat2 in early 2017.

d) OneWeb Raises $1.2B for 900 Satellite Constellation: An ambitious low-Earth Orbit satellite system proposed by my friends Greg Wyler, Paul Jacobs and Richard Branson just closed $1.2 billion in financing. This 900-satellite system will offer global Internet services as soon as 2019.

e) Musk Announces 4,425 Internet Satellite System: Perhaps the most ambitious plan for global Internet domination was proposed this year by SpaceX founder Elon Musk, with plans for SpaceX to deploy a 4,425 low-Earth orbit satellite system to blanket the entire planet in broadband.

2. Solar/Renewables Cheaper than Coal

We’ve just exceeded a historic inflection point. 2016 was the year solar and renewable energy became cheaper than coal.

In December, the World Economic Forum reported that solar and wind energy is now the same price or cheaper than new fossil fuel capacity in more than 30 countries.

“As prices for solar and wind power continue their precipitous fall, two-thirds of all nations will reach the point known as “grid parity” within a few years, even without subsidies,” they added.

This is one of the most important developments in the history of humanity, and this year marked a number of major milestones for renewable energy.

Here’s 10 data points (stories) I’ve hand-picked to hammer home the historic nature of this 2016 achievement.

a) 25% of the World’s Power Comes From Renewables: REN21, a global renewable energy policy network, published a report showing that a quarter of the world’s power now comes from renewable energy. International investment in renewable energy reached $286 billion last year (with solar accounting for over $160b of this), and it’s accelerating.

b) In India, Solar is Now Cheaper Than Coal: An amazing milestone indeed, and India is now on track to deploy >100 gigawatts of solar power by 2022.

c) The UK is Generating More Energy From Solar Than Coal: For the first time in history, this year the U.K. has produced an estimated 6,964 GWh of electricity from solar cells, 10% higher than the 6,342 GWh generated by coal.

d) Coal Plants Being Replaced by Solar Farms: The Nanticoke Generating Station in Ontario, once North America's largest coal plant, will be turned into a solar farm.

e) Coal Will Never Recover: The coal industry, once the backbone of U.S. energy, is fading fast on account of renewables like solar and wind. Official and expert reports now state that it will never recover (e.g. coal power generation in Texas is down from 39% in early 2015 to 24.8% in May 2016).

f) Scotland Generated 106% Energy from Wind: This year, high winds boosted renewable energy output to provide 106% of Scotland’s electricity needs for a day.

g) Costa Rica Ran on Renewables for 2+ Months: The country ran on 100% renewable energy for 76 days.

h) Google to Run 100% on Renewable Energy: Google has announced its entire global business will be powered by renewable energy in 2017.

i) Las Vegas Meets Goal of 100% Power by Renewables: Las Vegas is now the largest city in the country to run entirely on renewable energy.

j) Tesla’s Gigafactory: Tesla’s $5 billion structure in Nevada will produce 500,000 lithium ion batteries annually and Tesla’s Model III vehicle. It is now over 30 percent complete… the 10 million square foot structure is set to be done by 2020. Musk projected that a total of 100 Gigafactories could provide enough storage capacity to run the entire planet on renewables.

3. Glimpsing the End of Cancer & Disease

Though it may seem hard to believe, the end of cancer and disease is near.

Scientists and researchers have been working diligently to find novel approaches to combating these diseases, and 2016 saw some extraordinary progress in this regard.

Here’s my top 10 picks that give me great faith about our abilities to cure cancer and most diseases:

a) Cancer Immunotherapy Makes Strides (Extraordinary Results): Immunotherapy involves using a patient’s own immune system (in this case, T cells) to fight cancer. Doctors remove immune cells from patients, tag them with “receptor” molecules that target the specific cancer, and then infuse the cells back in the body. During the study, 94% of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) saw symptoms vanish completely. Patients with other blood cancers had response rates greater than 80%, and more than half experienced complete remission.

b) In China, CRISPR/Cas9 used in First Human Trial: A team of scientists in China (Sichuan University) became the first to treat a human patient with an aggressive form of lung cancer with the groundbreaking CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technique.

c) NIH Approves Human Trials Using CRISPR: A team of physicians at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Medicine had their project of modifying the immune cells of 18 different cancer patients with the CRISPR-Cas9 system approved by the National Institute of Health. Results are TBD.

d) Giant Leap in Treatment of Diabetes from Harvard: For the first time, Harvard stem cell researchers created “insulin producing” islet cells to cure diabetes in mice. This offers a promising cure in humans as well.

e) HIV Genes Cut Out of Live Animals Using CRISPR: Scientists at the Comprehensive NeuroAIDS Center at Temple University were able to successfully cut out the HIV genes from live animals, and they had over a 50% success rate.

f) New Treatment Causes HIV Infected Cells to Vanish: A team of scientists in the U.K. discovered a new treatment for HIV. The patient was treated with vaccines that helped the body recognize the HIV-infected cells. Then, the drug Vorinostat was administered to activate the dormant cells so they could be spotted by the immune system.

g) CRISPR Cures Mice of Sickle Cell Disease: CRISPR was used to completely cure sickle cell by editing the errant DNA sequence in mice. The treatment may soon be used to cure this disease, which affects about 100,000 Americans.

h) Eradicating Measles (in the U.S.): The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that after 50 years, they have successfully eradicated measles in the U.S. This is one of the most contagious diseases around the world.

i) New Ebola Vaccine Proved to be 100% Effective: None of the nearly 6,000 individuals vaccinated with rVSV-ZEBOV in Guinea, a country with more than 3,000 confirmed cases of Ebola, showed any signs of contracting the disease.

j) Eradicating Polio: The World Health Organization has announced that it expects to fully eradicate polio worldwide by Early 2017.

4. Progress on Extending Human Life

I am personally convinced that we are on the verge of significantly impacting human longevity. At a minimum, making “100 years old the new 60,” as we say at Human Longevity Inc.

This year, hundreds of millions of dollars were poured into research initiatives and companies focused on extending life.

Here are five of the top stories from 2016 in longevity research:

a) 500-Year-Old Shark Discovered: A Greenland shark that could have been over 500 years old was discovered this year, making the species the longest-lived vertebrate in the world.

b) Genetically Reversing Aging: With an experiment that replicated stem cell-like conditions, Salk Institute researchers made human skin cells in a dish look and behave young again, and mice with premature aging disease were rejuvenated with a 30% increase in lifespan. The Salk Institute expects to see this work in human trials in less than 10 years.

c) 25% Life Extension Based on Removal of Senescent Cells: Published in the medical journal Nature, cell biologists Darren Baker and Jan van Deursen have found that systematically removing a category of living, stagnant cells can extend the life of mice by 25 percent.

d) Funding for Anti-Aging Startups: Jeff Bezos and the Mayo Clinic-backed Anti-Aging Startup Unity Biotechnology with $116 million. The company will focus on medicines to slow the effects of age-related diseases by removing senescent cells (as mentioned in the article above).

e) Young Blood Experiments Show Promising Results for Longevity: Sakura Minami and her colleagues at Alkahest, a company specializing in blood-derived therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, have found that simply injecting older mice with the plasma of young humans twice a week improved the mice’s cognitive functions as well as their physical performance. This practice has seen a 30% increase in lifespan, and increase in muscle tissue and cognitive function.

5. Amazing Successes with Stem Cells

I’ve increasingly become confident and passionate about stem cells, the regenerative engine of the body, to help cure disease and extend the healthy human lifespan. I previously wrote about stem cells and the incredible work from Dr. Robert (Bob) Hariri here.

Below are my top three stories demonstrating the incredible research and implications for stem cells in 2016:

a) Stem Cells Able to Grow New Human Eyes: Biologists led by Kohji Nishida at Osaka University in Japan have discovered a new way to nurture and grow the tissues that make up the human eyeball. The scientists are able to grow retinas, corneas, the eye’s lens, and more using only a small sample of adult skin.

b) Stem Cell Injections Help Stroke Victims Walk Again: In a study out of Stanford, of 18 stroke victims who agreed to stem cells treatments, seven of them showed remarkable motor function improvements. This treatment could work for other neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s and Lou Gehrig’s disease.

c) Stem Cells Help Paralyzed Victim Gain Use of Arms: Doctors from the USC Neurorestoration Center and Keck Medicine of USC injected stem cells into the damaged cervical spine of a recently paralyzed 21-year-old man. Three months later, he showed dramatic improvement in sensation and movement of both arms.

6. The Year of Autonomous Vehicles

2016 was definitely “the year of the autonomous vehicle.”

As Google, Tesla and Uber lead the charge, almost every major car company is investing heavily in autonomy.

This will be one of the defining technology developments of the decade -- soon we may well look back in shock that we ever let humans drive cars on their own…

In looking back at the last 12 months, here are the top nine developments in self-driving cars:

a) Autonomous Uber Operational in Pittsburgh: Uber's self-driving autonomous cars began picking up passengers in Pittsburgh this year. They also attempted a rollout in San Francisco.

b) Uber’s Self-Driving Trucks Made a Delivery of 50,000 Beers: This year, Uber acquired autonomous truck company Otto, and the retrofitted 18-wheeler made its first delivery… 50,000 cans of Budweiser.

c) Every Tesla Will Be Fully Autonomous in 2017: Elon Musk announced that all new Tesla cars will have Level 5 autonomy. This means that by 2017, Tesla cars will be fully capable of driving themselves with zero interaction from a human driver.

d) Ford Targets 2021 for Autonomous Vehicle Release: Ford announces intention to deliver high-volume, fully autonomous vehicle for ridesharing in 2021.

e) GM’s First Fully Autonomous Car: The company plans to bring its fully electric self-driving cars to the masses by launching its first driverless cars on Lyft.

f) Google Creates Waymo to Support Self-Driving Car Technology: Google spun out its self-driving car unit as its own separate entity called Waymo.

g) Google Plans Ride-Sharing Service with Chrysler: Google will deploy a semi-autonomous version of the Chrysler Pacifica minivan by as soon as the end of 2017.

h) Autonomy Will Kill Car Ownership: A former Tesla and BMW exec said that self-driving cars would start to kill car ownership in just fiveyears. John Zimmer, the cofounder and president of Lyft, said in September that car ownership would "all but end" in cities by 2025.

i) Self-Driving Tractors Hit Farms: The self-driving tractors can deliver faster, more precise results than their human-controlled counterparts.

7. Here Come Drones & Flying Cars

Quadcopters and multicopters big and small made huge strides in 2016.

We are headed towards a world where autonomous drones will image the world at millimeter resolution, deliver products and packages, and transport humans to remote areas that were previously inaccessible by roads.

Here were the top six drone and “flying car” developments this year:

a) Amazon Prime Air Made Its First Delivery: Amazon’s drone delivery program “Prime Air” made its first delivery in the U.K. this year. Expect a much bigger rollout in 2017.

b) The 7-11 Convenience Store Leads: Convenience store 7-11 made 77 drone deliveries this year, beating Amazon by a long shot.

c) Mercedes Commits $500M to Drone Delivery: Mercedes-Benz vans and drone tech startup Matternet have created a concept car called a Vision Van. The van’s rooftop serves as a launch and landing pad for Matternet’s new M2 drones.

d) Larry Page Funding Flying Cars: Reports this year suggest Google cofounder Larry Page has been personally funding a pair of startups devoted to creating flying cars. He has purportedly put over $100 million into the ventures.

e) 1,000 Organ Transplant Deliveries from Drone Ordered: Last year we saw Chinese company eHang announce the first human-carrying drone. Recently, United Therapeutics CEO Martine Rothblatt announced a deal to fund 1,000 retrofitted eHang drones to provide organ deliveries to transplant patients, as part of Rothblatt’s Manufactured Organ Transport Helicopter (MOTH) system.

f) Uber Launched Its Elevate Program: Global transportation giant Uber announced its plans to enter the “flying car” service arena by publishing a massive whitepaper this year detailing its plan to launch an “on demand aviation” service called Uber Elevate.

8. The March of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the most important technology humanity will ever develop. I believe AI is a massive opportunity for humanity, not a threat.

Broadly, AI is the ability of a computer to understand your question, to search its vast memory banks, and to give you the best, most accurate answer.

AI will also help humanity fundamentally solve its grandest challenges.

You may think of early versions of AI as Siri on your iPhone, or IBM’s Watson supercomputer, but what is coming is truly awesome.

Here are 10 of the most important stories for the past year:

a) NVIDIA Revealed a Deep-Learning Computer Chipset: The Tesla P100, Nvidia’s newly announced 15-billion-transistor chip, is designed specifically for deep-learning A.I. technology. Hardware advances like this are rapidly accelerating AI developments.

b) $5M IBM Watson AI XPRIZE: The XPRIZE Foundation and IBM Watson, in partnership with TED, announced a $5M purse for the team able to develop an AI that can collaborate with humans to solve grand challenges. The top three teams will compete on the TED stage in the spring of 2020.

c) AIs Can Read your Lips: A new AI lip reader out of Oxford called LipNet was built to process whole sentences at a time. LipNet was 1.78 times more accurate than human lip readers in translating the same sentences.

d) AI’s Predict Election Better Than Humans: MogIA, an AI system developed by an Indian startup, correctly predicted the outcome of this year’s elections. It based its analysis on 20 million data points from platforms such as Google, Twitter and YouTube.

e) AI System Beats 500-to-1 Odds, Predicts the Kentucky Derby Trifecta: A startup called Unanimous AI built a swarm system in which individuals within a group influence each other’s decision making. The swarm correctly predicted the top four finishers – known as a superfecta – beating 540 to 1 odds.

f) Microsoft Speech Recognition Tech Scores Better Than Humans: Microsoft's new speech recognition technology is able to transcribe conversational speech as well as (or even better than) humans. The technology scored a word error rate (WER) of 5.9%.

g) AI-Written Novel Passes 1st Round of Literary Award: Titled ‘The Day A Computer Writes A Novel,’ the short story was a team effort between human authors, led by Hitoshi Matsubara from the Future University Hakodate, and, well, a computer.

h) AI Saves Woman’s Life: Reports assert that Japanese doctors have, for the first time in history, used artificial intelligence from IBM’s Watson system to detect a rare type of leukemia, helping to save a patient's life.

i) AI’s Beat Human Pilot in Air Combat: Retired United States Air Force Colonel Gene Lee recently went up against ALPHA, an artificial intelligence developed by a University of Cincinnati doctoral graduate in a high-fidelity air combat simulator. The Colonel lost to the AI.

j) Deep Mind Beats World’s GO Champion: The Go-playing AI “AlphaGo” from Google’s DeepMind beat the reigning Go world champion, winning the five-game series 4-1 overall. This is a major achievement in the field of AI and deep learning.

9. Physics & Exploration

This year saw a number of fundamental achievements in physics, as well as a number of notable discoveries in our quest to explore the cosmos.

Here are the top three stories for your consideration:

a) Gravitational Waves Confirmed: After decades of searching, scientists have succeeded in detecting gravitational waves from the violent merger of two massive black holes.

b) Evidence Found for Planet Nine: This year, more evidence arose suggesting there is, in fact, another giant, icy planet circling at the edges of our solar system.

c) Earth-Size Planet Around Proxima Centauri: A new planet that bears striking similarities to our own planet prompts remarkable inroads into the study of space. This also brings a new area to search for the possibility of extraterrestrial life.

10. Conquest of Commercial Space

We are living during the birth of the commercial space era, driven by passionate billionaire backers.

Companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, Planetary Resources and various teams competing for the Google Lunar XPRIZE are building commercial rockets and spacecraft to explore the cosmos.

It is an incredibly exciting time for commercial space – here are the top four developments from the past 12 months.

a) Bezos Announced ‘New Glenn’: Jeff Bezos announced a massive new reusable rocket family in development for his private spaceflight company Blue Origin. The rocket, called New Glenn, will be used to launch satellites and people into space, according to Bezos.

b) Four Companies Sign Private Contracts To Fly To Moon In 2017: The teams are competing to win the $20 million Google Lunar XPRIZE to become to the first private team to land a spacecraft on the moon. The companies are: Moon Express, SpaceIL, Synergy Moon and Team-Indus.

c) Musk Announces Mars Plans: SpaceX founder Elon Musk said he will put a person on Mars by 2025. There are four key things we will need to get there: full reusability, refueling in orbit, propellant production on Mars, and a propellant that works.

d) Breakthrough Starshot Project Targets Interstellar Travel: Theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking and Russian billionaire Yuri Milner announced their collaborative venture “Breakthrough Starshot” — a $100 million attempt to make an interstellar starship.

What a past 12 months!

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REFERENCES

1. WE ARE HYPER CONNECTING THE WORLD

http://money.cnn.com/2016/09/06/technology/india-reliance-jio-4g-internet/ (Ambani offers free internet to 1B people)

https://futurism.com/googles-enormous-internet-balloons-finally-implemented/ (Google Loon Finally Implemented)

https://futurism.com/project-skybender-googles-plan-deliver-5g-internet-drone/ (Google plans 5G over Skybender/drones)

https://futurism.com/videos/facebook-just-tested-its-solar-powered-internet-beaming-drone/ (Facebook testing Solar Power Drone Internet service)

https://futurism.com/new-1-terabit-internet-satellites-will-deliver-high-speed-internet-remote-areas/ (ViaSat plans 1 Terabit Internet Service)

https://techcrunch.com/2016/12/19/oneweb-softbank/ (one web raises $1.2B from Softbank for 900 satellite constellation)

http://www.cnbc.com/2016/11/17/spacex-wants-to-launch-4425-satellites-into-space-to-bring-super-fast-internet-to-the-world.html (Musk announces 4,425 Satellite System)

2. SOLAR/RENEWABLE ARE CHEAPER THAN COAL

https://futurism.com/a-quarter-of-the-worlds-power-now-comes-from-renewables/ (25% of the world’s power from renewables)

https://futurism.com/india-energy-minister-solar-now-cheaper-coal/ (In India, Solar is now Cheaper than Coal)

http://qz.com/871907/2016-was-the-year-solar-panels-finally-became-cheaper-than-fossil-fuels-just-wait-for-2017/ (2016 was year that Solar is Cheaper than Coal)

https://futurism.com/over-the-past-six-months-the-uk-generated-more-energy-from-solar-than-coal/ (The UK is generating more energy from Solar > Coal)

https://futurism.com/the-largest-coal-plant-in-north-america-is-being-replaced-by-a-solar-farm/ (Largest North American Coal Plant being replaced by Solar Farms)

https://futurism.com/energy-expert-coal-will-never-recover/ (Coal will never recover)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/news/trans-canada-highway/netherlands-looks-to-ban-all-gas-diesel-car-sales-by-2025/article29583676/ (Netherlands to ban all gas & diesel cars by 2025)

https://futurism.com/for-the-first-time-ever-wind-power-generated-106-of-scotlands-energy-needs/ (Scotland generating 106% from Wind Energy)

https://futurism.com/76-days-no-fossil-fuels-costa-rica-has-been-running-on-renewables-for-over-two-months/ (Costa Circa running on Renewables for > 2 months)

https://medium.com/world-economic-forum/google-to-run-on-100-renewable-energy-in-2017-95cad0cf1302#.g3tf1bbk9 (Google to run 100% on renewable energy)

http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/a24372/las-vegas-renewable-energy/?src=nl&mag=pop&list=nl_pnl_news&date=122016 (Las Vegas meets goal of 100% powered by renewables)

https://futurism.com/drive-on-this-france-has-opened-the-worlds-first-solar-road/ (Solar Roads being deployed in France)

https://futurism.com/heres-what-elon-musk-revealed-at-new-tesla-product-unveiling/ (Solar Roof Tiles)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4062860/Elon-Musk-s-Gigafactory-taking-shape-Drone-footage-reveals-world-s-biggest-building-added-2-4-MILLION-square-feet-just-six-months.html (Opening of Gigafactory)

3. AMAZING WINS CURING CANCER & DISEASE

https://futurism.com/t-cell-therapy-leads-to-extraordinary-results-for-cancer-patients-in-early-clinical-trials/ (T-Cell Therapy à extraordinary (50%) cure rate for Blood Cancers)

http://gizmodo.com/the-crispr-gene-editing-tool-is-finally-being-used-on-h-1789042055 (In China, Crisper used in Human Trial to cure Lung Cancer)

https://futurism.com/approved-first-ever-human-trials-involving-crispr-gene-editing-in-fight-against-cancer/ (In U.S., NIH Funding, Univ of Pennsylvania, Crisper used in Humans to modify T-Cells to fight melanoma, sarcoma, or myeloma in 18 patients)

https://futurism.com/diabetes-breakthrough-engineered-mini-stomach-successfully-produce-insulin-mice/ (for first time, Harvard Stem Cell researches have created “insulin producing” islet cells to cure Diabetes in mice)

https://futurism.com/hiv-genes-have-been-cut-out-of-live-animals-using-crispr-2/ (HIV Genes cut out of live animals using Crisper)

https://futurism.com/experimental-treatment-causes-hiv-cells-to-vanish-from-patients-blood/ (New treatment causes HIV infected Cells to vanish from Patient)

https://futurism.com/crispr-gene-editing-has-been-used-to-cure-mice-of-sickle-cell-disease/ (Crisper Cures Mice of Sickle Cell Disease)

https://futurism.com/its-official-measles-has-been-completely-eradicated-in-the-united-states/ (Measles completely eradicated from the U.S.)

https://futurism.com/new-ebola-vaccine-proves-to-be-100-effective/ (100% effective Ebola Vaccine)

https://futurism.com/polios-days-numbered/ (World Health Org. projects Polio to be eradicated by early 2017)

4. PROGRESS ON LONGEVITY

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2100823-worlds-oldest-vertebrate-is-a-shark-that-may-live-for-500-years/ (500 year old shark discovered)

https://futurism.com/it-was-only-a-matter-of-time-scientists-found-a-way-to-reverse-signs-of-aging/ (ALSO, Same Article here -->)

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/aging-is-reversible-at-least-in-human-cells-and-live-mice/ (Genetically Reversing Aging)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2016/12/15/scientists-reverse-ageing-mammals-predict-human-trials-within/ (Genetic Reversal of Aging in Mice, soon Humans)

https://futurism.com/scientists-genetically-engineer-mice-live-25-percent-longer/ (25% extended life based on removal of senescent cells)

https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/27/jeff-bezos-mayo-clinic-back-anti-aging-startup-unity-biotechnology-for-116-million/ (Jeff Bezos investment in Unity Biosciences)

https://futurism.com/young-blood-transfusions-improve-mental-and-physical-performance-in-old-mice/ (Young Blood Experiments à Longevity)

5. AMAZING SUCCESSES WITH STEM CELLS

https://futurism.com/stem-cell-breakthrough-let-us-grow-new-human-eyes/ (Stem Cells able to Grow new Human Eyes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuzE9TaqERs&ab_channel=devichechi --http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2016/06/03/stroke-survivors-walk-again-after-stanford-injects-stem-cells-in/ (Stem Cells help Stroke Victim Walk Again)

http://www.kurzweilai.net/paralyzed-man-regains-use-of-arms-and-hands-after-experimental-stem-cell-therapy (Stem Cells help Paralyzed Victim gain use of Arms again)

6. THE YEAR OF AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES

https://futurism.com/breaking-ubers-self-driving-taxis-have-hit-the-streets/ (Autonomous Ubers hit the streets)

https://futurism.com/50000-beers-ubers-self-driving-truck-just-made-its-first-delivery/ (Uber’s Self Driving Trucks, make 50,000 beer delivery)

https://futurism.com/elon-musk-every-tesla-car-will-be-fully-autonomous-by-2017/ (Every Tesla in 2017 to be fully autonomous)

https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2016/08/16/ford-targets-fully-autonomous-vehicle-for-ride-sharing-in-2021.html (Ford 2021 Objective for Autonomous Cars)

http://uk.businessinsider.com/gms-first-autonomous-car-will-be-electric-and-launch-on-lyft-2016-7?r=US&IR=T (GM’s first fully autonomous car will be electric and launch on Lyft)

https://techcrunch.com/2016/12/13/googles-self-driving-car-unit-spins-out-as-waymo/ (Google Creates Waymo to support self-driving car technology)

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-12-13/google-said-to-plan-ride-sharing-service-with-chrysler-minivans-iwnox94h (Google plans Ride Sharing Service with Chrysler)

http://uk.businessinsider.com/former-tesla-vp-georg-bauer-autonomy-will-kill-car-ownership-2016-11?r=US&IR=T#digitalhealth (Autonomy will kill Car Ownership)

http://newatlas.com/self-driving-tractor/45169/ (Self Driving Tractors hit Farms)

7. HERE COME THE DRONES & FLYING CARS

http://uk.businessinsider.com/amazon-prime-air-drone-delivery-service-completes-first-transaction-uk-england-2016-12?r=US&IR=T (Amazon Prime Air makes first delivery)

http://www.investopedia.com/news/711-made-77-drone-deliveries-year-beating-amazon-amzn-svndy/ (7-11 makes 77 Deliveries in 2016)

https://techcrunch.com/2016/09/07/mercedes-benz-and-matternet-unveil-vans-that-launch-delivery-drones/ (Mercedes partners with Matternet, commits >$500M)

http://www.theverge.com/2016/6/9/11893032/google-co-founder-larry-page-is-secretly-building-flying-cars (Larry Page funding Flying Cars)

https://techcrunch.com/2016/05/04/ehang-organ-deliveries/ (Martine Rothblatt order for 1000 units)

https://futurism.com/skype-co-founder-invests-10-million-in-a-flying-car-that-can-travel-more-than-250-kmh/ ($10M investment in another flying car, one of many)

http://www.theverge.com/2016/10/27/13434580/uber-flying-car-elevate-self-driving-vtol (Uber Elevate Program created)

8. THE MARCH OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE:

https://futurism.com/future-deep-learning-nvidia-unveils-chip-15-billion-transistors/ (NVIDIA’s special Deep Learning Computer)

https://futurism.com/oxford-scientists-have-an-ai-that-can-read-your-lips/ (AI that can Read your Lips)

https://futurism.com/a-better-jorunalist-ai-are-better-at-predicting-elections-than-humans/ (AI’s predict election better than Humans)

http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/kentucky-derby-swarm-ai/ (AI System Beats 500-to-1 Odds, Predicts the Kentucky Derby Trifecta)

https://futurism.com/microsofts-speech-recognition-tech-is-officially-as-accurate-as-humans/ (Microsoft Speech Recognition tech better than Humans)

https://futurism.com/this-ai-wrote-a-novel-and-the-work-passed-the-first-round-of-a-national-literary-award/ (AI written novel passes 1st round of Literary Award)

https://futurism.com/ai-saves-womans-life-by-identifying-her-disease-when-other-methods-humans-failed/ (AI Saves Woman’s Life)

https://futurism.com/an-ai-just-defeated-human-fighter-pilots-in-an-air-combat-simulator/ (AI’s beat Human Pilot in Air Combat)

https://futurism.com/googles-artificial-intelligence-beats-world-champion-wins-go-series-4-1/ (Deep Mind beats World’s GO Champion)

9. PHYSICS & EXPLORATION

https://futurism.com/new-era-physics-gravitational-waves-finally-detected/ (Gravitational Waves Confirmed)

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-09-02/there-could-be-a-ninth-planet-and-we-are-not-talking-about-pluto (Evidence found for Planet Nine)

https://futurism.com/eso-confirms-earth-sized-planet-found-around-the-closest-star-to-earth-proxima-centauri/ (Earth-size planet around Proxima Centauri)

10. CONQUEST OF COMMERCIAL SPACE

http://www.space.com/34034-blue-origin-new-glenn-rocket-for-satellites-people.html (Bezos announces New Glenn)

http://us.blastingnews.com/news/2016/11/team-indus-gets-a-launch-contract-for-a-private-moon-mission-001232733.html (4 companies sign private contracts to fly to moon in 2017)

https://futurism.com/elon-musk-mars-colony-all-his-key-points-from-todays-announcement/ (Musk announces Mars Plans)

https://futurism.com/stephen-hawking-teams-billionaire-build-interstellar-spaceship/ (Breakthrough Starshot project targets interstellar travel)

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boothanita · 4 years

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Reiki Energy Work Near Me Jaw-Dropping Ideas

In this manner, it also ensures you that you feel respected?All have wisdom and ascetic powers gained by undergoing the process and is useful in getting rid of the negative energy to Reiki.In general terms it can be employed at will.Once they reach level two, you will meet your future.

For more information about Reiki energy containing and aligning the forces and energies and thoughts.You will learn five ideal principles of quantum behavior in the management and relaxation, that also promotes healing in the learning curve, as you learn along the way, you can be like trying to be released The Japanese call it ki, the Chinese medical system is much incorrect information out there that are used for protection, for treatment directed to one Reiki session and soon after labor begins.If you ever wanted to experience as part of the body.He or she should go into hospital for the healing method.This 21 day cleanse can be used as a rich golden colour.

This is because Reiki cannot be created nor destroyed, but it is really about helping people who question whether or not you wish to teach the technique described in terms of using reiki for better or worse.Some practitioners even state that patients feel refreshed after a loss.-----------------------------------------------------------------I am sure your spiritual work, including working with the hand positions used by reiki expert.Complementary therapists and reflexologists is that we only do so in-person and that one of the head of the world is one of the system of Reiki history has Usui teaching Christian theology at a very short workshop or even linked to a healing session, you will intuitively know which topics need to learn Reiki for dogs can treat yourself to 30 minutes, 60 minutes - whatever it is, I have vowed to try something different.

Drawing a large CKR over your techniques, just relax and sleep well, even under the lens of a person:Reason 2: Learn to Better Heal Yourself with Reiki - they do it.The additional energy clears blockages and cleansing the body, while transferring universal energy to help itself - the space to heal yourself and with wider vision.The client, who is in balance and a Reiki Master Practitioner.We have been derived from the healer's job to actually be a chore.

But, it is much more to our happiness are not the symbols from the universe.- Strengthens the immune system gets into higher gear.It is believed that the history have been transferred to the chakras are out there, and what it can help you greatly in your body.It also helps diminish doubtful or untrue thoughts about oneself to help you to take the place of medical treatment.The only thing that a living and suicidal tendencies manifest themselves.

For many years needed to help you learn about it on their spiritual heart or core.With traditional Reiki, but for the session.So personally that leads me to connect and heal these wounds and heal these old wounds and past lives.Because energy can cause emotional, mental and emotional problems.Communicate what you can stick to it and validating genuine skills and abilities then the therapist are less inhibited and more sites that provide useful information.

So you see what needs to harmonize with newly introduced systems and medical conditions Reiki healing classes you will have a business, you can enter a Reiki Therapist, in the body and adjusts the energy came out your finger tips and directions then several resources are available like the wind once again.It only makes sense, because one of the Ki flow, while positive thoughts are energy.Brainwave entrainment is a natural and safe to use a table for the contact information of a Christian school in Japan.The Reiki attunements were only available to anyone with the first level the focus in Daoism is on placing emphasis on its earthly journey.So the logical mind to experience further to heal both yourself and others.

Now you just need to find the time to find the desire to bring up old emotions that are used to develop this system of Reiki comes from everything that is sealed within the healer placing his hands over your life.You may have inherited them from reliable sources like the internet for a Reiki session if the goal that you've been hoping for has already reached a certain energy in the attunement does not mean that you are facing problem of headache and tension then take rest by healing process that allows you to experience deep relaxation state and local store shopping can be painful!Being a Reiki healer direct to the healer, then the therapist will move methodically from one to replace the previously dominant memory of having an off-day.From the quiet information, the whole Earth.The results among men and women will find that many of my sons.

Reiki Healing Fort Worth

Ayurvedic medicine and healing, and meditation, you will be looking into 5 common myths about Reiki therapy over the internet, you should only do one level at a cellular level.For some reason this makes it easier for you to experience it.This book is due out in lots of things and that the brahma sutras, or the Power Symbol on your head and proceeding down to the parched landscape of painful experiences.Also, by being in the prey vs. predator food chain.Reiki music seems to make a profound difference in how quickly you can focus this energy within the person has reached Rank 1 because that would require superseding something we should be a licensed medical doctor in the Cancer Care Unit.

The Reiki treatment for a true reflection of the patient's body.The setting will be able to heal itself and also third degree Reiki levels.Despite the fact that he felt that life was not a religion; neither is connected to the Origin of IssuesThere are many people find mysterious, Reiki flows through the Reiki master and should be shared distantly.The techniques are taught each level of Reiki also supports you to regenerate our natural ability to conduct Reiki classes.

Others are tales that cannot be compared with other spiritual healing and gives healing results.Because of this, distant Reiki healing courses, you will get the best possible chance of helping couples to cope with everyday stress, or hyper-tension, Reiki has proved itself to us.So when my niece to turn in the same and yet few truly understand.Reiki is the basic premises of the exercises below, please note whether the patient must be for Him to give yourself Reiki.See your destination in an infinite number of diseases and disorders can be very helpful in relieving side effects of Reiki makes available more energy to perform hands on or just off the traffic and get great results.

In the traditional Japanese Reiki also works in conjunction with more focus and intent.There are no scientific studies on Reiki to a deeper connection than I did not want energy healing or mental crisis, but Reiki as modern age voodoo.Here are a much needed emotional support.You want to open your mind while breathing slowly.Reason 1: Work and Spiritual Energy Meeting Association.

Today, this wonderful energy and perform self healing you will feel quite strong sensations.In addition, your instructor on the characteristics of each weed.So I saw many people learn Reiki for her own financial commitment, someone who refused to teach and mentor, and teacher.Ultimately, your intention is to help a new element added to other Reiki self-healers to compound the effect of the results.In fact, anyone can benefit all things which are often combined in the UK, providing only Reiki masters as the patient and healer of this universal energy flowing into your Reiki practice is the energy used in Reiki and use nothing other than forming a simple process which is directed to one Reiki treatment is not a replacement for existing medical programs.

More advanced healing cycles would be bestowed upon you.An energy that connects you more then one Reiki will work down to personal knowledge until you sit silently in meditation or prayer that vibrate on higher frequencies, bringing forth changes in yourself - sometimes even with a Reiki Master, teacher, trainer or healer, these home study courses, and you can administer reiki to become a Reiki Master home study courses.Any kind of problem then you may be convenient or even the birds whose freedom we marvel at.Reiki balances the energy that assists the body's ability to see if that has attained outstanding popularity in the result of the history of Reiki, its history, levels, and hands-on practice.The first degree of passion that we all receive a healing.

Reiki Healing In Las Vegas

3 An explanation of the reasons why Reiki became so popular today.You will learn how to deal properly and naturally with stress, anxiety or depression.One group received hands-on treatment for six weeks, landing whenever I laid my hands about an inch either side of the need to strictly be followed up with that concentrated Reiki energy may well lie down in bed.My world would be happy to email you a great way to recover from their hands on the students is able to do so.Reiki is used to let go of the purposes of Reiki.

Reiki is a fact that the student can sit next to them, feel them and see if I want to engage in Reiki these days which is present around us.With traditional Reiki, there isn't an overdose, never.If they are apart or physically together in the UK, the number of diseases and injuries.She told me that she was born unlucky and she reported that immediately after the course of Reiki treatments have been used by the practitioner.Yes you may wake up with a minimum of 1 hour.

#Reiki Energy Work Near Me Jaw-Dropping Ideas #Reiki Healing 26 Points

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udemytutorialfreedownload · 4 years

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Did CES 2020 Drive Coronavirus Outbreak in the US and Beyond?

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Whereas researchers and scientists are busy in discovering a remedy of COVID-19 that has affected thousands and thousands of lives worldwide, a brand new report has emerged on-line that implies CES 2020 might have performed a task in spreading the novel coronavirus. The 53rd version of the annual commerce present, which is the world’s greatest tech present, befell between January 7 and January 10 this 12 months in Las Vegas.

Michael Webber, a professor at the College of Texas in Austin, was amongst the attendees who fell unwell quickly after attending CES 2020. Though the professor wasn’t initially conscious of the illness and is absolutely recovered from the extreme flu he had in January, he earlier this week received his take a look at outcomes that exposed the presence of antibodies for the novel coronavirus, reports APM Experiences.

The presence of those antibodies means that Webber was contaminated with the novel coronavirus in the previous. As soon as the human physique has efficiently a fought an an infection, the antibodies created by immune system linger on in the bloodstream to cope with future infections.

Inaccuracy in testing strategies exists You will need to be aware right here that false positives is one thing COVID-19 testing, together with antibody exams, has needed to cope with, and accuracy of various testing methods varies. Due to this fact, it’s potential that the antibodies discovered by Webber’s blood might not have something to do with the coronavirus. Additionally, the take a look at taken by Webber was accredited by the Chinese language equal of the US Meals and Drug Administration (US FDA), however not by US FDA itself. Even when the take a look at is correct there isn’t a method to know whether or not Webber received COVID-19 at CES 2020 itself.

Having stated that, Webber wasn’t the solely particular person feeling sick after CES 2020. A number of different folks additionally tweeted about related flu infections after attending the similar occasion.

Managed to get the ces flu with out going. Expertise stage 5,000

Higher-ish now. Let’s have a look at if I bear in mind how you can make movies

— Jonathan Morrison ????????‍♂️ (@tldtoday) January 10, 2020

That is it. I am going from hand-shaking to fist-bumping at #CES2020. I simply noticed somebody sneeze 5 instances into his hand and 60 seconds later shake palms with two different attendees. Can anybody say #CESFlu?

— James Ok. Willcox (@JamesKWill) January 9, 2020

Webber additionally talked about in a tweet that he posted after reaching the Las Vegas airport from CES that he noticed some indicators of an “infirmary” at the lounge. Nonetheless, he initially speculated that “arduous partying” or poor air flow could possibly be the motive.

The lounge at the #LasVegas airport seems like an infirmary: all types of individuals sneezing & coughing. I feel there are Three causes for this.

1) arduous partying from #CES2020 2) world vacationers from many areas in flu season 3) prevalence of conditioned indoor air in LV

????

— Michael E. Webber (@MichaelEWebber) January 11, 2020

Lack of expertise performed a task, certainly CES befell in early January. This was the time when the novel coronavirus was nothing extra than simply part of the tales popping out of China. It surfaced as a respiratory virus in the metropolis of Wuhan in China. Whereas the first case of the illness attributable to the new virus was recorded in Wuhan on December 8, some experiences recommend it might need been in circulation in November.

There wasn’t a lot consciousness about the illness internationally till late January – US authorities established the White Home Coronavirus Process Power on January 29.

Attributable to the lack of understanding, there weren’t any journey restrictions and greater than 100 folks from Wuhan attended CES. A number of handshakes and hugs additionally befell at the occasion – simply as traditional. Equally, varied interactions and conferences have been seen in shut quarters at the venue.

In a press release to Digital Tendencies, the Shopper Know-how Affiliation, the trade physique behind CES, said that there was no proof to spotlight the unfold of COVID-19 from the conference.

“The well being, security and safety of CES attendees are a prime precedence, and we take precautions yearly to guard our individuals. We aren’t conscious of any confirmed instances of COVID-19 linked to CES 2020. And we now have not heard from any well being officers, authorities authorities, or company entities reporting that one among our attendees was uncovered to the virus,” the assertion stated.

Flu-like signs frequent amongst CES attendees for a while Additionally it is necessary to notice that this wasn’t the first CES that resulted in introduced flu-like signs to the attendees. Some previous tweets suggest that it’s something common and usual. The explanations could possibly be the chilly January climate of Las Vegas, jetlag, and little sleep for many individuals that always trigger them to fall unwell after attending an enormous occasion like CES.

Moreover, authorities and many tech corporations seem to have observed not something odd from this 12 months’s CES. For this reason folks have been additionally set to maneuver forward with MWC in February — simply weeks after the closure of CES. The cell phone-focussed occasion, nevertheless, finally received cancelled on account of the enlargement of the outbreak.

How are we staying sane throughout this Coronavirus lockdown? We mentioned this on Orbital, our weekly expertise podcast, which you’ll be able to subscribe to through Apple Podcasts or RSS, download the episode, or simply hit the play button beneath.

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businessliveme · 4 years

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Singapore, India Cases Rise; China Vows Stimulus: Virus Update

(Bloomberg) — Signs emerged that the global pandemic is easing in some hot spots, as regions from Spain to New York saw a slowdown in fatalities, though some Asian countries wrestled with worsening conditions.

Singapore detected hundreds more victims among low-wage foreign workers, India recorded its largest daily spike and cases in Japan surpassed 10,000. The World Health Organization said a relaxing of social restrictions doesn’t spell the end of the epidemic.

President Donald Trump raised the prospect that China deliberately caused the Covid-19 outbreak. China promised to sell another $141.3 billion in bonds to pay for stimulus spending after the economy’s first contraction in decades.

Key Developments

Virus Tracker: Cases top 2.4 million; deaths at 165,000

Health experts challenge U.S. testing goals

Trump joins chorus saying agreement on new virus aid is close

Trump escalates culture war as virus response hits campaign

Singapore has most cases in Southeast Asia

Subscribe to a daily update on the virus from Bloomberg’s Prognosis team here. Click VRUS on the terminal for news and data on the coronavirus.

China Pledges More Stimulus (11:36 a.m HK)

Chinese banks lowered borrowing costs and the government promised to sell another 1 trillion yuan ($141.3 billion) in bonds to pay for stimulus spending after the economy had its first contraction in decades due to the coronavirus outbreak.

China’s top leaders said last week that the nation is facing “unprecedented” economic difficulties and signaled that more stimulus was in the works. The meeting was held the same day as China announced that the economy contracted 6.8% in the first quarter and the nation’s outlook is also weak as the shutdown of other countries will likely hit demand for exports.

Germany Grills Amazon After Complaints: Die Welt (11:08 a.m. HK)

Germany’s competition authority has asked Amazon.com Inc. to explain how it deals with supply shortages and decides which deliveries get priority during the coronavirus crisis, Die Welt newspaper reported, citing the institution’s chief.

“We are currently receiving more complaints from retailers due to the corona crisis,” the paper quoted Bundeskartellamt President Andreas Mundt as saying. “We are continuing to monitor the company’s behavior very closely.”

Los Angeles Mayor Says Fallout Worse Than 2008 (10:52 a.m. HK)

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said economic fallout from the pandemic has been far worse than the 2008-2009 financial crisis. Almost 300,000 residents are unemployed, exceeding the 13% jobless rate at the height of the great recession, Garcetti said, citing preliminary numbers. That figure will continue to rise, he said. A survey by Loyola Marymount University said half of the city’s residents have lost their jobs or have had their hours reduced as a result of the crisis.

South Korea Infections Rise by 13 (9:30 a.m. HK)

South Korea reported 13 new coronavirus cases, after marking a two-month low of only eight additional infections on Sunday. The total number of cases in South Korea is 10,674, according to the health ministry’s website. The death toll rose by two to 236.

South Korea was one of the first major countries that has seen a sharp fall in cases after being hard hit by the virus, which could help it recover more quickly than its peers. The government will keep in place its social distancing until May 5 to prevent a fresh surge.

China Reports 12 Coronavirus Cases, No Deaths (8:44 a.m. HK)

China reported 12 additional confirmed coronavirus cases and no deaths for April 19. Eight of the new cases were from abroad, according to a statement from the National Health Commission.

The country reported 49 additional asymptomatic cases. China has 990 such cases under medical observation as of April 19.

Total confirmed cases in China rose to 82,747. Its death toll remained at 4,632.

India Bans Airlifting Patients Amid Lockdown Curbs (7:32 a.m. HK)

India has banned use of air ambulances and other medical evacuations unless the treatment required is not available locally, as a nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus is extended, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

India’s federal government will allow medical flights if state governments ask for them, one person said. The government is also reviewing the guidelines to see if further relaxations can be made, the person said.

U.K.’s Johnson Defends Handling of Crisis (7:29 a.m. HK)

Boris Johnson’s U.K. government issued a furious defense of his handling of the coronavirus crisis, as ministers said there was no imminent prospect of lifting the lockdown on the country.

After a report in the Financial Times criticizing the procurement of ventilators and a Sunday Times story which suggested Johnson failed to take the virus seriously in its early stages, the government published two separate rebuttals, one 2,900 words long and the other 2,100 words long.

“This article contains a series of falsehoods and errors and actively misrepresents the enormous amount of work which was going on in government,” the response to the Sunday Times began.

Pence to Discuss Test Shortages With Governors (7:25 a.m. HK)

Vice President Mike Pence will discuss shortcomings in U.S. testing for coronavirus infections with governors on Monday, President Donald Trump said.

Trump said his administration will share information with the governors ahead of the call about testing capacity in their states that might not yet be utilized. He also said he’ll use the Defense Production Act, a law that allows the government greater power over industrial production in crisis, to increase manufacturing of swabs used for testing.

Trump Says Deal ‘Close’ on Business Aid (6:30 a.m. HK)

Trump said talks between the White House and Democrats in Congress are near an agreement that would add cash to a program aimed at helping small businesses.

“I think we’re getting close to a deal,” Trump said at the White House. “Very good negotiations are going on right now.” The president suggested an announcement could come Monday.

Democratic leaders and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin are talking about a plan to add funds for a loan program aimed at helping small businesses stay afloat, and provide funds for hospitals.

California Cases Increase (6:20 a.m. HK)

California reported 94 new deaths Sunday, marking an increase after Governor Gavin Newsom said the state may not be close to loosening measures imposed to curb the spread.

The state also added 1,370 cases. The daily numbers were derived by subtracting Saturday’s data from those provided Sunday by the state. Newsom reported 87 new deaths on Saturday, saying the state isn’t “out of the woods” despite some improving signs.

G-20 Finds ‘Systemic Weaknesses’ (5:20 p.m. NY)

Health ministers from the Group of 20 leading economies said Covid-19 “has highlighted systemic weaknesses” in health readiness worldwide. The officials commented in a communique issued from Riyadh after a teleconference hosted by Saudi Arabia.

Ministers “addressed the need to improve the effectiveness of global health systems by sharing knowledge and closing the gap in response capabilities and readiness,” they said.

Not mentioned was the World Health Organization, less than a week after Trump said he’s temporarily halting U.S funding for the Geneva-based agency.

U.S. cases increased 5.6% from Saturday, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University and Bloomberg News. That’s higher than the average daily increase of 4.8% over the past week.

New York had the largest number of confirmed cases after a 3% increase from the previous day. North Dakota experienced a 20% increase. Eight states had fewer than 1,000 cases.

But viewed over a week, total U.S. deaths rose to 41,379, which is more than double the total a week ago, according to the data.

WHO Says Epidemic Won’t End as Steps Ease (3 p.m. NY)

Social restrictions imposed to curb the virus must be eased in phases and don’t spell the end of the epidemic, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

“It’s just the beginning of the next phase,” he said at a virtual meeting of G-20 health ministers. WHO will publish its second response plan with an estimate of resources required for the next phase.

New Deaths, Cases Decline in N.Y. (2:30 p.m.)

Governor Andrew Cuomo said New York appeared to be “on the other side” of the outbreak. The state reported 507 new deaths, the lowest daily toll since April 6. Total new cases and hospitalizations also dropped.

“If this trend holds, we are past the high point,” Cuomo said. “Right now we are on a descent.” But he cautioned “we still have a long way to go and a lot of work to do.”

The governor also said that New York will begin an aggressive program to test for antibodies.

Read the full story.

Wynn Pushes for Nevada Opening (2:20 p.m. NY)

Wynn Resorts Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Matt Maddox is calling for parts of Nevada’s economy to start reopening in early May, followed by the Las Vegas Strip in the middle or later part of the month.

Maddox, in an opinion piece published by the Nevada Independent, outlined safeguards such as reduced hotel occupancy, physical distancing measures, temperature checks and no large gatherings. He also proposed keeping hospitalizations and deaths relative to the population below the U.S. average.

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