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Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or the song La Llorona by Angela Aguilar.
Khalid's grandfather, whose name was Altair, was a tall man with kind hazel eyes, his hair white, an indicator of his old age. He was sitting in the living room when they all arrived in a tiny cottage at the edge of Era.
"Oh! Great Fairy! You've come back," said Altair, getting from his seat, using his walking stick to walk towards Lucy. he grabbed her hand for a shake. "You look just like her."
"Great Fairy," repeated Lucy, shaking back with a questioning look on her face. Did he mistake her for a Fairy Tail mage?
"If I remember correctly, Ella means beautiful fairy in ancient Fiorian," explained Khalid as he headed to the kitchen to brew some tea. It was going to be a long evening.
"Ella," Laxus blurted out when he recognized the name. It was the name of one of Lucy's ancestors. "Ella's journal was part of the pile. I couldn't read it because runes were placed on it." He turned to Lucy. "It said only a child of the stars may read this. I guess it was referring to you." Ella probably didn't want it to fall into the wrong hands, so she placed extra safety measures in case it got out of the Celestial Spirit World. "She died… of Magic Deficiency Disease," he muttered quietly. Guess this is how she got sick.
Lucy gasped when Laxus mentioned Magic Deficiency Disease. Her mother died of the same ailment.
Altair shook his head sadly as he recalled Ella. "She was a bright one. Ahead of her time." He headed over to a bookshelf and grabbed a picture frame, showing it to Lucy. It was a picture of a blonde woman smiling and a young boy with black hair, a younger version of Altair. "I was just a boy when I met her. At that time, the Djinns had control over the royal family and conquered half of Fiore." It was horrible. The Emperor was killed and the crown prince went missing. The Emperor's brother took over running everything like a dictatorship. It seemed someone wanted the throne and found a way to get it. "A team from Fiore and Desierto was assembled to tackle the Djinn problem. Ella was the representative from Fiore and my father crafted the vases and its keeper."
"I thought Desierto and Fiore didn't have good relations at the time." inquired Freed. The borders to both countries have been closed for decades.
"It's not that we didn't have good relations. We just didn't interact much with the rest of the world," informed Altair, grabbing the cup Khalid handed to him. "The borders were only closed after Abishai was sealed away."
"To prevent the vase from getting out of Desierto," exclaimed Bickslow with realization. "But I thought the vase was under your family's protection," he pondered. "How did it get out?" He was pretty sure Khalid didn't willingly give it away to someone and would rather give his life. How did it end up in the museum in Era? The records said someone donated it but it wasn't the Aziz's.
"That's what we are trying to figure out," called out Khalid as he took his place by his grandfather's side. "I was ... away from my post for only a few minutes. Nature called," he continued, sounding almost embarrassed. "When I came back, the door was unlocked, and the vase was missing." It was his most shameful moment in his entire career.
"We have a set of rooms in the castle where forbidden objects are kept secret to prevent theft," explained Altair when he saw the confused looks on the mage's faces. "It is a 24 hour patrol and surveillance." He took another sip of his tea. "Even if someone got past the guards, there's a silent alarm that gets tripped if someone enters the room." He paused and then continued. "Someone disarmed that alarm. And they knew exactly how to do it."
"Could it have been a Djinn," asked Evergreen. That would make sense, considering they were trying to liberate their leader and could easily disguise themselves as someone else.
Altair shook his head no. "I can see why you would think that, but after what happened last time…" He took a pause as he recalled the past. "... great measures were taken to ensure Djinns are unable to enter the palace again. There's a barrier created with runes written in lamb's blood. They're physically unable to get past." They learned the hard way that regular runes can only do some much in keeping them at bay, especially the higher-level ones.
"Then they must have outside help. Someone is supporting them, aiding them in their crusade. Remember, in the tunnels! Loke and I heard them talking with someone," Bickslow chimed in. He remembered that the mysterious person said this was the last task he was going to do for them, but the Djinns threatened him, saying they were not finished with him.
"I hate to say it, but Khalid is right. Maybe someone in Fiore is trying to bring Abishai back, but why?" Lucy couldn't help but wonder what kind of trouble the person was in to help the Djinns or what they promised to give them.
"Sometimes we may never know a person's motive when it comes to committing an act that will bring harm to the helpless," commented Altair calmly. "But sealing him again will be problematic because we don't have the same resources or people to perform the ceremony."
"Ceremony?" Freed was curious about this. A djinn sealing ceremony was something he never heard of. Sealing ceremonies in general. They were very complicated and required a lot of prep work.
"Your spirits can explain more in detail about the ceremony. To be honest, I never really understood it myself. All I recall is that everything had to be perfect. One screw-up and the spell could have gone haywire." Abishai's ceremony was successful and everyone did their part, minimizing casualties. Zeruiah, on the other hand, was a different story.
"Which spirits?" Lucy wasn't sure which of her relatives had spirits other than her mother.
Altair thought for a second as he tried to recall the names of the Zodiac. "Umm the mermaid one and the one with the veil." He couldn't remember their names, but he remembered how they looked.
"Aquarius and Libra?" She didn't own Libra. She heard that a Celestial Spirit Mage in Sabertooth owned Libra, Pisces and the 13th Key. But she did have Aquarius. She was surprised Aquarius didn't mention another relative of hers was her owner. "May I get a glass of water?" She needed a water source to summon Aquarius.
"Sure." Khalid placed a glass of water on the table.
"You may want to step back." Lucy raised a key in the air and placed it in the water. "Open, Gate of the Water-Bearer, Aquarius."
A familiar blue mermaid popped up from the cloud of smoke. Her arms were crossed over her chest and her lips in a sneer. "What do you want, brat?" She noticed they had company and was shocked to see someone familiar. "Huh. I thought you were dead," she said bluntly, staring at Altair with an unreadable expression.
"Aquarius," scolded Lucy with red cheeks.
"What?! It was a compliment." Aquarius didn't see what the problem was. She looked down and saw what she was summoned from. "You summoned me from a tiny shot glass?!" When was Lucy going to summon her in a more appropriate place for a mermaid.
"Well, I'm sorry I couldn't bring the ocean over to you!" No matter where Lucy summoned Aquarius, she would always find a reason to bitch about it.
"Can the two of you stop bickering for a second?!" Laxus was exasperated at the scene in front of him. He couldn't believe a spirit was speaking that way to their master. He is still bitter from their first encounter, where she nearly drowned him and Lucy. He cut straight to the chase. "What do you know about your former master, Ella Heartfillia?"
Laxus saw Aquarius flinch at the name Ella, her posture more rigid. "What do you want to know about her?"
"We want to learn more about the spell she performed to trap Abishai away in the vase."
"I can only tell you the basic mechanics behind it. You want more in-depth details, you have to talk to Libra and Old Man Crux. They were the ones who made sure everything was perfect. Balanced, as Libra would say," explained Aquarius with a scowl. Hearing Ella's name brought back bitter memories. It was always the good ones who passed away early. Layla's death was the final straw for her and she tried to push Lucy away to avoid forming an attachment with someone who will eventually die, leaving her alone once more.
Everyone nodded with a grim expression. Looks like they had to take a trip to Sabertooth.
Seeing that everyone was listening, Aquarius continued. "Ella was… different." She tried to think of a word to describe her, and that was the best she could come up with. "You actually remind me of her." Aquarius briefly glanced at Lucy. Always pushing the boundaries. "She wasn't your typical Celestial Spirit Mage. Most spirits mages had the ability to summon spirits from another dimension. Her talents lie elsewhere."
Lucy was confused when she heard this. Celestial Spirit Magic was basically summoning beings from another dimension into the Human World through the magic of the master. She took it a bit farther by channeling the magic of her spirits. Was there more to it? She knew there were a lot of unknowns with regard to her magic, but how much unknown was there? "Which were?"
"Sealing," answered Aquarius with pride in her voice. "Ella figured out how to seal beings into inanimate objects. Djinns at the end of the day are dark spirits." It was a farfetched theory at the time, but not impossible.
"Isn't that forbidden," asked Bickslow. He heard of stories of mages sealing spirits away in the past a long time ago and only towards angry and dangerous ones. Those objects are considered cursed to prevent people from releasing them. Sealing magic is tricky. The more powerful the spirit, the more magic and binding required. If anything goes wrong, the mage in question could potentially lose their life.
Aquarius nodded her head. "It is now. People decided to get bold and experiment," she spat out. "There are rules to follow and conditions you must satisfy. There's a lot of risk with improvisation and curiosity." A long time ago, someone tried to create their own celestial spirits. Luckily, that threat was quickly put to rest before damage was done.
"How does my family come in? Ella had help, didn't she?" Freed was surprised to hear his family was involved in something this high-scale and dangerous.
"In order to seal a spirit, you have to seal them at their most vulnerable. That way, they won't escape during the binding process. The ancestors of the current victims were responsible for stripping away parts of his essence into jewels. The seven deadly sins, as you call them," explained Aquarius. "Runes inscribed in their blood were a last minute failsafe in case someone was bold enough to release him." It was a simple but effective protection spell.
"Which can easily be nullified. If you write the runes backwards in blood of those who wrote it, the protection spell will get negated," commented Freed. Now everything made sense. In order to make sure the spell doesn't happen again, they're getting rid of the victims in a way that makes their death look natural. No blood, no spell. This is bad. With the increase in deaths, there was no telling how long until everyone was dead, his sister and Lucy's father included.
"Then you must find the jewels," warned Altair. "Our enemies already have two components. If they possess all the jewels, we'll be too late. Abishai will be too strong to stop."
Everyone was strangely silent on the way back to the Heartfilia mansion. They were feeling the pressure of the importance of this mission. If the Djinns managed to take over a kingdom the first time, what would happen this time when their leader was released?
Bickslow, not liking the silence, decided to make small talk. "It would be nice to see our friends again at Sabertooth, tomorrow." Then he remembered something Luigina said. "Oh yeah, Lucy! What do you think about celebrating your birthday in Crocus, Fairy Tail style?" It would be a nice break and certainly lift everyone's spirits. "It is tomorrow, right?"
"Yes it is," nodded Lucy with a tiny smile. It touched her that Bickslow remembered and wanted to celebrate. "I don't know. I've never celebrated my birthday outside of my home before."
"All the more reason you should! We're going to be in Crocus, anyway. After we visit Sabertooth, we can head to a bar afterward." Bickslow tried to convince Lucy.
"Well, if it's okay with everyone." Lucy looked to the others for approval, who gave their verbal confirmation.
The Next Day
Shit, thought Laxus, when they left Sabertooth and headed towards the bar. I don't have a present! He pulled Bickslow to the side and whispered. "Did you guys get something for Lucy?"
"Of course Bossman! We all did. Don't tell me you didn't?" Bickslow shook his head in disappointment and clicked his tongue. "There's still time. You can quickly get something from the shops. We'll save a spot for you." It was evening, so most bars tended to get crowded.
Laxus nodded and gave Bickslow a thankful pat, heading to the closest antique shop. When they visited Yukino and her spirit, Libra, she told the story of Ella's death and how she got sick.
The ritual of Abishai was successful, however, there was still a problem. His wife and lover, Zeriuah, was still at large, who was just as dangerous to have run free. Knowing her, she would do anything to bring her beloved back and they were pressed for time. Libra warned Ella of the consequences of performing an imperfect ceremony. The conditions still had to be met. Unfortunately, Ella paid that fee with her life with an impromptu ceremony as she got sicker and sicker.
Zeruiah must be the boss. The one in charge, thought Laxus as he browsed the shop for something Lucy might like. It was the least he could do for all she did for him and his team. But who's working with her? Who freed her from her prison? Zeruiah was trapped into an urn with no protection and binding spells. Anyone who stumbled upon the urn could have freed her.
Laxus shook his head when someone's face popped into his head. He's probably feeling biased since he can't stand that person. Finally, something in the shop caught his eye. He went and bought it from the cashier gift-wrapped, hoping Lucy would like it.
At the bar
Lucy and the Thunder Legion entered the bar. She asked where Laxus was because he suddenly disappeared and Bickslow responded, saying Laxus needed to run an errand. Bickslow spotted an empty table and quickly saved it, beckoning them over.
"I took the luxury of ordering all of us beers," he called out, thanking the waitress who brought their drinks. He handed one over to each person. "For our new friend Lucy!"
Lucy hesitantly looked at the beer stein in her hand. Filled to the brim with beer and foam. She never had a beer before. Wine, yes, but not beer. She wasn't sure how to drink it. She looked at the Thunder Legion, gulping and slurping away. She took a tiny sip.
So cute, thought the Thunder Legion as they watched Lucy take tiny sips of the beer.
Bickslow shook his head and chuckled. "That's not how you drink beer, Lucy. You have to chug it all down at once. Allow me to demonstrate." Bickslow ordered two more beers and showed Lucy how to chug it. "Aaaah. Your turn."
Lucy brought the stein to her lips and took big gulps until it was empty. She slammed the glass on the table. "Aaaaah."
Bickslow smirked. "Cheers!"
Laxus entered the tavern to look for Lucy and the rest of the group. He heard a lot of noise from one corner of the room and headed towards there. There, he saw a crowd of guys cheering on two people sitting at the table. Two people he recognized. Evergreen and Freed passed out drunk at another table.
"Chug, chug, chug, chug," chanted the guys, encouraging Lucy and Bickslow to finish their beers faster than the other. Lucy finished first and slammed her beer mug on the table, throwing her hands in the air in victory.
"Yessssssss," yelled Lucy drunkenly as she climbed the top of the table with unsteady legs. She made a dramatic show of her hands, clenching her fists and raising them in the air. "I'm the queen of the world," she slurred, looking around the room, stopping when she saw Laxus. "Sparky," she squealed in excitement and motioned to Laxus to come towards her. She looked at her new friends. "Hey guys, meet my friend Sparky Thunderhead."
"Hi, Sparky Thunderhead," they said, waving at him. They were clearly smashed.
Laxus went over to the table and glared at Lucy, who was swaying back and forth, about to fall off the table. "Blondie," whispered Laxus harshly. "Get down from there."
"Nope," she refused, and looked down at him with a goofy smile. "Look, I'm taller than you," she exclaimed, and let out a bunch of giggles. "I'm taller than you," she sang, twirling around.
Laxus looked for the source of Lucy's state and glared at Bickslow. "What were you thinking giving her this much alcohol?!" Someone could easily take advantage of Lucy, especially with all these men surrounding her. She was acting way too friendly towards people she just met.
"Relax, Bossman. I was just showing her how to properly celebrate. Poor girl didn't know how to drink beer the right way. It's her birthday. Let her have some fun," reassured Bickslow. He gave him a knowing smile. "It's not attractive for a man to be jealous."
"Huh?! I ain't jealous!" Laxus quickly denied with a scowl. Okay, maybe he was a bit jealous because Lucy's giving attention to men who weren't him, but he would not admit that Bickslow of all people. He scowled further when he saw Lucy beam radiant smiles at the guys, causing their eyes to turn into hearts. Is she not aware of how attractive she is, he thought bitterly. Laxus let out a snarl when a man drunkenly asked Lucy to dance for them. She looked like she was going to and he knew he had to stop this before Lucy embarrassed herself even further.
"Okay guys, show's over," said Laxus as he grabbed Lucy off the table and slumped her over his shoulder, ignoring her sounds of protest as he maneuvered them out of the tavern. He also ignored the sounds of protests coming from Bickslow and his new friends.
"Hey, she still has to help me finish my taxes!"
Laxus walked them until he reached a fountain. He sat Lucy down on the edge, who immediately stood up and giggled, twirling around. "Let's dance," she sang, pulling Laxus towards her.
"No thanks, blondie. I'm good." Laxus would have never thought Lucy was the happy drunk.
"Come on Sparky! Just one dance. It's my birthday," begged Lucy with a pout. Then her expression changed into a mischievous grin. "Oh! You're worried about stepping on my feet because you can't dance. Don't worry. I will teach you."
Laxus tried to protest, but Lucy wasn't having it. Apparently drunk, Lucy had some monstrous strength. Lucy walked over to a woman sitting on a bench strumming a guitar, whispering something to her. A few seconds later, a soft tune started to play. Lucy transformed into her Leo star dress.
Lucy gave Laxus a bright smile as she danced over to him, swaying her wrists in the air and twirling, singing along to the song in a soft voice.
Salías de un templo un día, Llorona
Cuando al pasar yo te vi
Salías de un templo un día, Llorona
Cuando al pasar yo te vi
Laxus was surprised. Lucy had a pretty good voice. He didn't recognize the language she was singing, though. The anger and bitterness he felt before quickly faded away because of her singing.
As she sang the next verse, Lucy lifted Laxus's arms in the air and placed them around her waist. "Even you should be able to attempt this," giggled Lucy, placing her arms around his neck. "Now we are going to move slowly side to side," directed Lucy, as they swayed back and forth. "See," she told Laxus when he did the correct movements, following her lead. "It's not hard, even for you."
"Shut up," mumbled Laxus with red cheeks. So he was bad at dancing, so what? He decided to go along with Lucy's request just to get it over with. Bonus, he got to feel her soft body against his. It's like she fits perfectly against him.
Laxus flinched when Lucy suddenly placed her head on his chest, closing her eyes. "Your chest feels so nice and warm," she admitted, wrapping her arms around his broad back. "And muscular," she added. "Ugh! Why are you so freaking hot," she whined, burying her head further into his chest.
And she happens to be an honest drunk, thought Laxus with a smug grin when Lucy called him freaking hot. A mischievous thought popping into his head. He decided to mess around with Lucy.
"Hey blondie. What picture was the mermaid talking about? She said she recognized me from a picture you had." Laxus was pretty sure Lucy would answer anything he'd ask her right now.
Lucy looked up at Laxus with bleary eyes. Her eyes went wide in realization when she figured out what Laxus was talking about. "Oooooh, that picture!" She waved her hand without a care in the world. "In my teen years, I used to collect every issue of Sorcerer's Weekly, especially the issues with Fairy Tail. It was my dream to join one day." Lucy says with a faraway look in her eyes.
"Why didn't you? You would have made a great member." Laxus genuinely meant the compliment. It would have been nice to have a Celestial Spirit Mage as a member. Although he wasn't sure how the old Laxus would have acted around her. Probably like a misogynistic ass, he thought with a grimace, and shook his head. That was in the past. He was a changed man.
"I don't know," confessed Lucy. "I guess reality sunk in. Becoming a Fairy Tail mage would mean running away from home. I didn't have the courage to do that at first." Lucy wasn't ready to leave behind the house she grew up in. The house her parents worked hard to build and the memories associated with it. She continued, "And when I did, I saw how different the world was compared to the one I was used to." Lucy saw the good and the bad, but the bad affected her the most. She was lucky to have what she had, but she wanted to help others. "I wanted to help people with the resources I had at my disposal."
"And did you," inquired Laxus.
"I did," said Lucy softly. "By giving them a chance when no one else would." Lucy convinced her father to invest in potential businesses, and she even went as far to personally meet them to make the deal. They were people who had wonderful ideas but needed someone to support them and transport their goods. However, because of their social status, most were denied opportunities to further themselves. That's where she came in. She reviewed their business plans and saw great potential in them, taking a chance. Those businesses turned out to be successful and continued to make profits to this day.
Laxus gave a tiny smile at that. He saw Lucy at work and she made a great businesswoman, but he had a feeling her passion lies elsewhere. "Have you always wanted to be a businesswoman?"
Lucy shook her head no. "I actually want to become a writer and explore the world," she confessed with red cheeks. "There's so much to see."
Laxus stared at Lucy. "Then do it," he stated. "If there's nothing stopping you, you should do it. Follow your dream. I only ask to be the first person to read your stories," he smirked.
Lucy smiled back at him. She never told anyone she wanted to be a writer. She wasn't sure what compelled her to tell him, but she was happy to hear Laxus supported her dream. "That's a promise," she stated, raising her hand for a twirl.
Laxus twirled her and suddenly realized something, voicing his question out loud. "Wait, if you collected issues of Sorcerer's Weekly that means you already knew who we all were when we met." Lucy probably knew of his reputation in the papers as a womanizing ass. They already established the whole Fantasia thing and Lucy said it didn't bother her because he proved he wasn't the same. However, for some reason, he hoped she wasn't aware of his 'romantic endeavors.'
"Yeppppp," slurred Lucy, stumbling a little. "You, Mister, were a BIG, BAD, JERK!" She poked his chest with her finger after each word to emphasize her point.
Laxus's heart sank at the insult and steadied Lucy when she almost fell backwards. "And now," he asked in a hopeful tone.
Lucy wrapped her arms around Laxus and cuddled into his chest like before. "You're still a jerk," she murmured.
Laxus felt his heart sink deeper. But her next words made him smile.
"But you're a good jerk." Lucy dragged Laxus over to the fountain and sat the both of them down. She grabbed his shirt collar and pulled him close to her face, their noses almost touching. "Enough talking," she demanded, her vision getting blurrier by the minute. "I am going to kiss you," she declared, staring into Laxus's eyes.
Laxus's eyes went wide at Lucy's declaration. He wasn't blind. Lucy is a very attractive woman. Probably one of the most attractive women he's ever met. Truth be told, he wanted to kiss her, too. Kissing her would finally put his mind at ease because she was constantly on his mind, even more after the little talk they had. He assumed because she was the prettiest girl in his vicinity and because he hadn't been in a relationship in a while is why she's always on his mind. This little thing he had towards her will eventually fade. But he had morals, and he wasn't about to take advantage of a drunk person, no matter how attractive or how much they begged him. "Lucy, you're drunk," he whispered, gently pushing her hands away. "Maybe when you're sober."
"I might be drunk, Laxus, but I'm not that drunk," Lucy stated, gazing intently into Laxus's eyes. It was sweet that he thought of her and wasn't trying to take advantage of the situation. "I wouldn't have the courage to do this sober," she confessed, scooting closer. "Close your eyes," she whispered.
Laxus slowly closed his eyes and waited for Lucy's soft lips to press against his. A few seconds passed and nothing happened. He opened his eyes when he felt a small thump on his chest and looked down to see Lucy sleeping, her head on his chest.
Laxus felt his cheeks blaze when he realized what was about to happen, covering his mouth. What the hell?! Why am I acting all embarrassed and shit?! It's just a kiss, he thought, trying to calm the erratic beating of his heart. He glanced back down at Lucy, who was still sleeping with a goofy smile on her face. He adjusted himself so he could carry her in his arms as looked for the nearest inn.
The Next Morning
Lucy opened her eyes when she felt the sunlight on her face. She winced when she got up too fast, her heading pounding. Waiting for her vision to adjust, she noticed that this wasn't her room or any room in the mansion. She heard the door open and Laxus entered the room.
"Morning, blondie," smirked Laxus, sitting on the side of the bed. He thought it was better to act like nothing happened and that their almost kiss didn't affect him. Because it didn't. "You fell asleep after getting drunk by Bickslow."
Lucy couldn't remember anything, but she was told she did weird things when she was intoxicated. She let out a groan. "Please tell me I didn't make a fool of myself." She whined when she saw Laxus's smirk grow wider. "Tell me."
Laxus decided to stop messing with Lucy. "Don't worry. You didn't. You almost danced for a bunch of drunk men, but I intervened before anything happened." He told her truthfully.
Lucy let out a sigh of relief and laid her head back on the pillow. "Where are we," she asked.
"We're at the Honey Bone Inn." It was the place they stayed at during the Grand Magic Games. "The others are still sleeping." Laxus pulled something from his coat pocket and placed it on the bedside table. "Happy Belated Birthday Lucy," he whispered, finding the wallpaper to be very interesting as he avoided Lucy's gaze.
Lucy turned on her side and reached for the box. She slowly unwrapped the paper and opened the box. She gasped and sat up in excitement. "It's a sextant," she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling like a little girl. "It's beautiful." It was gold in color. She looked into the telescope and adjusted the index mirror.
Laxus felt his cheeks grow warm when Lucy admitted she liked his gift. "I know they're used at sea."
"No. You can use them on land as well," stated Lucy, after she finished adjusting the scope to her liking. She sat up and moved closer to Laxus, showing him how it works. "Of course it requires calculations, knowledge on celestial bodies and high altitude," she explained passionately, not realizing Laxus was staring at her fondly. "Oh, thank you!" She hugged Laxus abruptly, who had to steady them before they fell off the bed. "I will cherish this forever," she declared, breaking the hug to continue admiring the sextant.
"Your welcome," replied Laxus, standing up from the bed to let Lucy fawn over the sextant. He gave himself a mental pat on the back. He did well.
Lucy stopped admiring her new present to glance up at Laxus. "Let me return the favor," stated, getting up from the bed.
"You don't have to. This was a gift."
"I know that. This is for entering that male pageant." Lucy tied her hair and entered the bathroom to wash her face. "Remember when I promised you a barbecue meal," she called out before splashing her face with water.
"Yeah," replied Laxus, his mouth watering at the word, barbecue. In his defense, he didn't eat anything last night or this morning.
"Well, I managed to talk to the head chef," chattered Lucy excitedly. "In exchange for advertising his restaurant on our railways, he's agreed to personally serve us in one of our new trains, today!" The man was so nice.
"Really!" Laxus's eyes sparkled like a child. Finally, he will taste the meat he so desperately desired, but then he remembered something. "But it's going to be on a train." He felt his stomach turn at the word train.
"Oh, don't worry," Lucy reassured Laxus. "It's one of our newer models. Not yet disclosed to the public, so it will be off and immobile." Lucy didn't forget that Laxus had motion sickness and took that into account as well. They will have privacy and the opportunity to dine with one of the finest chefs in Fiore.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Get dressed!" Laxus left the room and barged into beds of the Thunder Legion. "Get your butts up! There's a barbecue waiting with my name on it."
In the trainyard
Laxus let out a content sigh as he finished his final steak, rubbing his belly in satisfaction. That was the best meal he had in ages. The chef really lived up to his name, and he was so nice. He sadly had to leave because he had to go back to the restaurant.
Lucy gawked at Laxus as she watched him eat. She could never get used to the amount Laxus ate. "Where does all that food go," she whispered to Evergreen, who was sitting next to her.
"I have no clue," admitted Evergreen, wiping her mouth with a napkin. "It's not fair. If we eat like that, it'd take us weeks just to shed that weight off."
"I know, right," nodded Lucy. Stupid dragon slayer stamina.
"I must say, Miss Lucy, this train car is very comfortable. When will it be shown to the public," asked Freed. The inside looked like a house. With bunk beds and a couch.
"Next month," explained Lucy. "This train is for long distance traveling." Lucy hoped it would make things more comfortable for families traveling. "It's still a work in progress."
"I think it looks great," praised Bickslow, who went to lie down on the couch. "Oh, this is so soft."
"One thing many travelers complained about is how uncomfortable they feel sitting on a train for long hours. This should help with the discomfort." Lucy took her customer's needs seriously.
Laxus suddenly felt his stomach churn, and a wave of nausea fell over him. "Blondie," he grunted. "I thought you said this train wasn't supposed to move." He looked at the window and saw them moving, the buildings passing them.
Lucy furrowed her brows in confusion when she saw Laxus's face turn green and felt themselves moving. "Yes. It shouldn't." She stood up from her seat to go head towards the control car when the train suddenly picked up speed. She held onto the wall to steady herself.
"Guys, we have a problem here," yelled Bickslow as he held onto the couch.
"You think," screamed Evergreen back, holding onto something as well.
"Something's not right," stated Lucy. "I have to get to the front car." Including this and the front car, there were 5 cars in total. Someone must have turned it on. "Someone should go fly ahead or check a map to make sure we don't crash into something." Lucy was hoping that the construction for a new station was finished and they would go straight through.
Freed pulled out a map, and Evergreen used her fairy wings to fly quickly ahead. Bickslow brought a sickly looking Laxus onto the bed.
Evergreen came back with a grim expression. "There's an unfinished train station up ahead. We have to stop this train before we crash."
Lucy quickly barked orders. "Bicks, take Laxus to the last car and uncouple it. Freed and Evergreen do the same with the next two." She hoped the control panel wasn't messed with. "I'll head to the control car and manually stop the train."
Everyone quickly went to complete their tasks, leaving Lucy alone on the train. She finally reached the control car and cursed. The brakes were ripped off and the control panel was smashed. Someone intentionally sabotaged this.
Lucy opened the front door and let out a prayer for the Celestial Spirit King. "Don't look down. Don't look down," she chanted. Looks like she was going to have to physically stop the train.
Lucy transformed into her Taurus Stardress and took a deep breath before jumping onto the tracks, extending her left leg forward, putting pressure on the ground. She used her arms to push back against the train car to forcefully stop it. Lucy ignored the burn and sting in her limbs. Her priority was stopping the train. She put more pressure when she saw she was getting close to the construction workers at the unfinished station.
"Ahhhhh." She let out a strained yell, using her final strength to stop the train. She and the train stopped a breath away from the work sign.
Lucy panted heavily, trying to catch her breath. That was close. Way too close. All the strength and adrenaline left her body as she collapsed to the ground. She let out a pained cry, holding back tears when she felt the burn on her feet. Her boots completely destroyed as she reverted back to her regular clothes, her magic fading. Her feet were bloody and covered in splinters and gravel. She started to slowly pick them out, hissing in pain.
"Lucy," she heard a couple of voices call her name. She felt herself getting lifted by muscular arms and something warm engulfing her. She looked up to see Laxus carrying her with a grim expression.
Laxus walked briskly with Lucy in his arms. He was furious. What she did was stupid and dangerous. Right now she was injured, so he was going to give her an earful later. However, he was more disappointed in himself without being able to help. Without warning to his team, he used his magic to teleport Lucy to the one person he knew could help.
Laxus landed in front of a familiar hut. He adjusted Lucy in his arms, who looked like she was going to collapse any second. He banged on the door. "Old hag! Open the door!"
Finally, Porlyuscia opened the door. She was about to yell at Laxus when she saw the injured blonde woman in his arms. She quickly ushered them in. "Place her on the bed," she ordered, grabbing her tools and herbs.
"Laxus," Lucy called out weakly, grabbing Laxus's arm. She felt very faint, but she had to tell him what she saw.
Laxus placed Lucy on the bed. "Don't worry, she's a friend. She's going to help her." The old hag was the only person he trusted to deal with injuries.
"No listen." Lucy shook her head. "I think I saw Bradford there. I think he messed with the controls." It would make sense if it were true. He knew where unused trains were.
"What," growled Laxus, his mood souring even more at the name of Lucy's ex-fiance. "Are you sure?" Maybe the blood loss was causing her to hallucinate.
"I'm not sure," she admitted, wincing at the pain. She took something out of her pocket. It was a small star pendant. "Head to the railway security office. Go and check the surveillance tapes. Tell them I sent you and show them this. Do it before the Rune Knights arrive." Lucy gasped out those final words and felt her eyes roll to the back of her head as she lost consciousness.


text:
Eating seasonally is an enjoyable and rewarding way to add more fresh, nutrient-rich foods to your diet. If you're looking to make positive changes to your health, this is a great place to start!
The concept of seasonal eating has become increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reason. Eating seasonally means consuming food that is in-season (during its peak season when it is harvested at its best) and locally sourced. Here are five of the key benefits to eating seasonally:
Usually Fresher and Tastier
Seasonal produce is often tastier than produce from further away. It is harvested closer to when it's consumed, so its flavor and nutrient levels remain higher, resulting in a better taste.
In-season produce is picked at peak ripeness, when its nutrient density is at its highest. This means the vitamins, minerals, and other vital nutrients found in the produce are at their most concentrated levels, providing an abundance of health benefits for the consumer.
When produce is in-season, it’s readily available and abundant, which reduces the cost for growers and passes the savings onto consumers. Additionally, it reduces the risk of spoilage since it doesn't have to travel long distances before reaching the store.
Supports Local Farmers
When you buy produce that is grown locally, you are helping to ensure a livelihood for the farmers in your area. You’re also supporting the local economy, and contributing to the sustainability of local agriculture.
Reduces Environmental Impact
Produce shipped in from out-of-state or other countries requires a lot of energy to transport, negatively impacting the environment. Eating food grown closer to home can help reduce your carbon footprint and preserve natural resources.
The Bottom Line
Eating seasonally is a great way to make positive changes to your health, support local farmers, and reduce your environmental impact. Additionally, eating seasonally provides you with more variety — you’ll be able to enjoy a variety of flavors and textures that change with each season, and you'll be taking advantage of the freshest ingredients available!
(Variety is key in maintaining happy gut microbes!)

domain: agronomy


text:
ReRun, a well-known Thoroughbred adoption organization, is holding a "Moneigh" auction of "Sires and Sons" paintings on eBay that will feature some of Kentucky's best stallions and their sons.
Bidding on acclaimed artist Susan Sommer-Luarca's portrait "Barbaro" is up to $12,600 with bidding continuing on Ebay until June 1 at 10:00 a.m. (EST).
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domain: artistic


text:
Poet of the Trellis: On the need to revive William Gear's reputation
William Gear belongs to that select group of artists whose work has been the subject of debate in the House of Commons. In 1951 the Arts Council purchased a number of works from different artists, including Lucian Freud and Ivon Hitchens, for the Festival of Britain Exhibition, paying £500 each. It was Gear's painting "Autumn Landscape" that caused the furore, after appearing as a small black-and-white reproduction in the pages of the Daily Telegraph. Hugh Gaitskell, then Chancellor, was called upon to justify the public expense. The publicity did much to help launch Gear's career and made him, briefly, a household name. Had he been equipped with the media-manipulative talents of a David Hockney or a John Bratby, Andrew Lambirth's new study of the painter suggests, he might have carved a more secure niche for himself among the pantheon of post-war British artists. Instead, he settled into a career of teaching and curating while continuing to develop a highly distinctive body of abstract work, his name fading from the wider public conciousness. In 2015, a show at the Towner Gallery in Eastbourne (where he was curator from 1958-64), and now the volume under review, are doing much to restore his reputation.
While the Festival of Britain controversy may be typical of a certain type of British response to public spending on the arts - and one that seems to recur at regular intervals - it serves to highlight just how far Gear had developed his interest in abstraction by that time. Although its title suggests a pictorial, natural origin, "Autumn Landscape" is far more removed from the realm of the representational than works by Hitchens or Graham Sutherland at the time, though Gear himself called it an "equivalence of an autumn landscape, rather than a depiction of one". It is a painting that displays its European influences, Paul Klee and Fernand Léger (with whom Gear studied in Paris in the years 1947-50) most prominently. Their presence is felt in the use of black lines and contrasting colours (missing, of course, from the Daily Telegraph picture, not that it would have made much difference, one supposes), though it has yet to acquire the more rigid, grid-like structure that became the distinctive characteristic of Gear's mature style. "Autumn Landscape" is a painting of collapsing energy, of organic forms giving up their strength in the twilight of a setting sun. It is part analytical, part romantic, a combination that Gear was able to build on using the European influences he had assimilated in tandem with his own background as the son of a Scottish miner, raised on the coast of Fife.
Colliery pitheads and the vast network of criss-crossing girders that is the Forth Bridge were looming presences in Gear's childhood. It is their geometries of intersecting triangles that give his paintings their first distinctive motif, as though he cannot help but see the world through their intervening latticework. An extraordinary self-portrait of 1948 applies the same visual method to his own head, in which he depicts himself in black ink on paper, as a masive, dark superstructure of welded-together beams of black. It is a rare example of the pictorial in Gear's work, although there are other self-portraits done at the same time which are more objective, but which are executed with a similarly ferrous density and weight.
The importance of these densely black frameworks, the fact that they are a continous thread in Gear's work from his earliest years as a professional artist through to his last works, suggests a concious intent, though in interviews he claims his awareness of the importance of his surroundings as a child came much later in life. The Forth Bridge, which he would cross several times a year as a child, and the colliery pitheads of his home environment were instead simply the raw materials for a visual language that was available to him through chance and which he unconciously used in his work. As he said in an interview, "'if my parents had moved to Huddersfield or Southampton, I don't think I would have been the same person'".
The sense of place is of more central importance in Gear's work than for most painters working in pure abstraction, and it is not just the remembered childhood spaces with their dominating steel structures. As Lambirth suggests, there is a certain dappled quality to the patterning of colour against dark in Gear's later paintings that stongly recalls sunlight filtering through beech leaves. When Gear returned from Paris he lived for some years in Buckinghamshire, a county famous for such light. In writing about his own art (something he was very uncomfortable in doing) he states how he is convinced that a painter cannot entirely divorce himself from nature, and that one "cannot reserve one pair of eyes for looking at nature and another for looking at a painting". What he describes is a process that is the reverse of the representational painter's method, which looks at nature, then attempts to render it on canvas. For Gear the painting happens first. "It is only after it has reached maturity that I see its counterpart in nature".
The encounter with European influences began when he won a travelling scholarship after leaving Edinburgh College of Art, and continued through the war and into the post-war years when he became involved with the CoBrA group in Paris, an alliance of European avant-garde artists. The association was useful for Gear, but ultimately he decided he was "too pragmatic" for the group. "My work wasn't properly speaking CoBrA". Nevertheless, the association had a lasting influence on his evolving style. Lambirth identifies a certain tension in Gear's work between the expressionistic gestures of Abstraction Lyrique, and the hard-edged purity of, for instance, Mondrian's crossword-puzzle grid works. His acheivement over his long career was a blending of the hard edge with soft, diffuse colour, a consolidation of those early role models, Klee and Léger. However, a dissatisfaction with Continental theorizing - he wasn't persuaded that Existentialism, for example, had much relevance to painting - may have persuaded him that a permanent domicile abroad might not be the best thing. For different reasons, he felt unenthusiastic about the St Ives artists' colony, which he flirted with on returning to Britain. "I was from Paris, and it was pretty small beer to me. It was a small-time provincial thing."
It is perhaps this sense of being not quite European enough to be a CoBrA artist, and not quite British enough to be sequestered away in St Ives, that accounts for the gradual weakening of his reputation. The pattern repeated itself in New York where he was taken on by the legendary dealer and promoter of the Abstract Expressionists, Betty Parsons. He was to share a show with Jackson Pollock, though he is quoted as being rather unmoved by the American painter - and dismisses him in typically pragmatic style, "I had done some dribbling in Germany and given it up - you get bored . . . I thought it was very amusing to try, but you're not going to spend the rest of your life dribbling, I mean". Lambirth devotes some time to highlighting the similarities between Pollock "the great netter" and Gear "the poet of the trellis". Both were engaged in developing a visual language that expressed a belief in the unity that underlies the phenomena among which we live. In the end, the New York show was not a success for Gear and Parsons didn't exhibit him again. He never gained a foothold on the New York art scene.
Neither did he seek to associate himself with the London art world, and took up a post instead at the Birmingham College of Art. Apart from thie self-willed avoidance of fashionable cliques, the purity of Gear's abstraction, Lambirth suggests, puts him outside the fold of British painting. If British abstraction has tended to favour the dreamily imprecise or the mistily obscure, the intellectual rigour and boldness of Gear's later paintings, with their vivid assertions of structure and colour, might seem to come from somewhere else altogether. Yet it is the balance between these qualities that makes Gear's paintings so memorable and distinctive. His use of repetition and his contrast of colour and form come across as extremely bold assertions of a language that is uniquely his own. With only occasional variations, Gear produced a consistent, coherent vocabulary of expression. The paintings from the 1970s onwards, in particular, have the feeling of a unified series - bubbling eruptions of colour cut through with blades or lightning bolts of black. Andrew Lambirth's exhaustive, lavishly illustrated book, which is admirable for the depth of its reserach, accounting for nearly every significant painting the artist made, and identifying the hose of influences that went into the making of them (and Gear was an absorbent assimilator of influences, from the Byzantine period onwards), should do much to restore this important artist's place among British abstract painters.


Facing criticism over the move to introduce dynamic surge pricing for Rajdhani, Duronto and Shatabdi trains, the Railways on Thursday said that the Flexi Fare system for premier train tickets will only be on an experimental basis and it will be reviewed after some time.
The move to put in place the flexi fare system for premier trains has invited criticism from opposition parties.
As per the new system, passengers travelling by Rajdhani, Duronto and Shatadbi trains will have to shell out between 10 and 50 per cent from September 9, aimed at raking in Rs 500 crore more during the current financial year.
“We have introduced the dynamic fare system on an experimental basis. We will review it after some time and see what necessary measures can be taken further,” Chairman Railway Board (CRB) A K Mital told PTI.
He said the decision will impact fares of 81 trains.
Defending the move, Railway Board Member (Traffic) Mohd Jamshed said train travel is still the cheaper mode of transport in the country compared to air or road.
“At present, we are facing the loss of Rs 33,000 crore in the passenger segment as we charge 36 paisa for one km of travel,” Jamshed said.
The passenger revenue target for the current fiscal is Rs 51,000 crore as against Rs 45,000 crore in the last fiscal, an increase of Rs 6000 crore for 2016-17.
“We are spending Rs 1,800 crore in passenger amenities by improving platform area, installing lifts, water vending machines and many more such facilities,” the Member (Traffic) said.
All India Railway Federation General Secretary Shiv Gopal Mishra said, “The hike is not on Garib Rath or Jan Shatabdi trains which are used by the common man. Rajdhani or Shatabdi trains are generally patronised by those who can afford premier service.”
There will be no change in the existing fare First AC and Executive Class travel in premier trains as these have been exempted from the flexi fare system.
The financial position of the railways is “not very good” and there is a need for some measures to improve the situation, Mishra added.
The new system takes a leaf out of surge pricing, a system applied by taxi aggregators that charges fares depending upon the demand and availability of taxis on a particular route. Surge pricing was banned in Delhi for taxi services.
According to the new system, Railways will offer any vacant berths for current booking.
“Tickets under current booking shall be sold at the last price sold for that class and other supplementary charges like reservation fee, superfast charges, catering charges, service tax etc., as applicable shall be levied in full,” Railways had said, introducing the new system.
The move invited political criticism as Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying it is his model to “loot from the common man and give relief to his industrialist friends”.
“The speed of the train may increase or not, but Modiji has put the fares on the fast track. Modiji’s model is to loot from the common people and provide relief to some of his industrialist friends,” Rahul tweeted.
At the AICC briefing, party's chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala sought immediate rollback of the surge pricing in rail fares that has come as a "rude shock" to people of the country already reeling under the scourge of high prices ahead of the festive season.
"Railway surge pricing is Modi government's ugly gift to India during festival season. Congress demands rollback," he said.
Dubbing the move as "draconian" that would hit the common man hard, he said that the Delhi High Court has already quashed the entire surge pricing concept as arbitrary and excessively burdening the consumer in case of Uber and Ola cabs.
He also alleged that the Modi government has borrowed this "illegal profiteering idea" with a view to "steal" money from pockets of people of India.


text:
Ukraine is one of the most anticipated nations as it goes through a number of reforms to become a stable democratic government under the newly elected Pak government. Looking back at the nations history, there were many events that occurred that allowed the nation to become resilient and for citizens to take a stance. There were three main issues in 2014 that has greatly affected today's Ukraine. First is the presidential campaign that led to violence by protesters while others believed it led to political stability. Second is the economic instability that have led to our current debt. Third is the relationship between Russia and foreign nations. By examining these three issues, we will view what have molded Ukraine to the nation it is today.
"High quantity-low quality"
Ukraine in 2030 is embracing a stable democratic government for the first time in 15 years with the newly elected president, Joy Pak. She is a graduate from the prestigious Richard Ivey School of Business and became the Foreign Affairs Minister of Canada at a young age of 21. She used all her past experiences and knowledge to win the hearts of Ukrainians and is expected to create a brighter path for Ukraine. However, Ukraine still holds many flaws that must be viewed very carefully. Ukraine is coming out of a dark time in politics and it is vital that it does not repeat the past. A simple statement can describe the presidential election that occurred in 2014, “High quantity- low quality.” There were twenty one candidates where no one proved that they had the capability to be leaders, but many voted for frontrunner, Petro Poroshenko. He was a billionaire, who made his fortune by selling chocolate, but people believed he was the only one strong enough to deal with Russia. During this election, many citizens were too afraid to vote and pro-Russian separatists forced elections to be effectively abandoned since they were able to shut 10% of electorate out of the democratic process. Surprisingly, the elderly were the ones who showed up to vote rather than the young because they were unwilling to vote for a political system that lurked similar levels of corruption. As well, there were protests that lasted for more than six months because they wanted to see a new generation of politicians emerge, a generation that doesn’t view politics as a business, but as a responsibility. Poroshenko was to overcome challenges such as stabilizing Ukraine’s economy, ensuring energy supplies, and stop the violence by pro-Russian separatists (Martyn). In April 2014, Petro Poroshenko met with the U.S. president, Barack Obama, to reinforce the legitimacy of Ukraine’s new government which Russia failed to recognize (Walker). Majority of the citizens were unhappy that Poroshenko came to power because he failed to prove as a leader, but this was a resolution for Victor Yanukovych, the President of Ukraine before Poroshenko. Citizens were furious that he didn’t sign to join the European Union but rather chose to have closer ties with Russia which caused outrage over the nation, but he fled to exile in Russia (Martyn). If we were to solve this problem, rather than having an inexperienced member run for government, it would’ve been more suitable if the United Nations held control of Ukraine until a more suitable candidate come out or relationship with Russia improved. Despite the instability in 2014, Ukraine has overcome many obstacles to become the stable democratic nation it is now.
Joy Pak is creating new reforms in Ukraine which is helping them slowly develop into a stable democratic government. One issue that Pak will have to face is the broken economy. Ukraine faces a large debt and is experiencing economic tensions with Russia and other organizations. Currently, Ukraine is under a situation where it is billions of dollars in debt and where citizens are having difficulty with the high costs of living. Since 2014, Ukraine has undergone economic issues with Russia. It was revealed that Ukraine owes Gazprom, Russia’s natural gas giant, over $22 billion. Russia revealed a warning where Gazprom will cut off gas supplies to Ukraine if this debt is not paid. This was also a warning to other European countries since they largely depended on Russian gas supplies that must be transported through Ukraine. Now, this number has grown to be in the hundreds and Ukraine is having great difficulty paying this endlessly growing debt (Erlanger). This has caused the average gas prices to increase by more than 50% (Sonne). Fortunately, the International Monetary Fund gave Ukraine an $18 billion aid package and a 45% reduction in the price of natural gas. Sadly, this money was not spent to invest in Ukraine but to pay off the debt to Gazprom. Ukraine received a further $15 billion in funding from the World Bank. Borrowing money came at a great price. Ukraine had to raise taxes, cut subsidies to natural gas, and make cuts to state pension which greatly affected the lives of citizens. Arseniy Yatsenyuk, the Prime Minister of Ukraine after Viktor Yanukovych was removed even said, “I am prepared to be the worst Prime Minister in Ukrainian history (Rapoza).” Due to the political instability in 2014, it was clear that Ukraine had a crippling economy. However a resolution for this issue is to expand Ukraine’s trade market and to increase their economy. Russia accounts for 25% of Ukraine’s exports with a large portion being industrial products (Sonne), this can give an opportunity for Ukraine to make a trade deal and to reduce their debt. Due to the political stability in Ukraine, we will be able to see Ukraine’s economy improve and the trade market to expand.
Under the Pak government, this has given Ukraine an opportunity to be separated from Russia. There is no violence or issues between these two nations despite the large debt. As well, Ukraine has made significant improvements in its foreign relations. 2014 was a tough year for Ukraine as they underwent a presidential election, economic issues, but most importantly it was when the relationship between Ukraine and Russia started to deteriorate. The Ukraine government tried breaking the rebellions by pro-Russia militias where hundreds of rebels were killed in this anti-terrorist operation (Reuters). Luckily, the newly elected Petro Poroshenko said it is looking for a “peaceful resolution” with Russia and Putin even agreed that there are “peaceful political means” to resolve the conflict (Krasnolutska). During this year, Ukraine was able to receive support from many nations. On May 2014, U.S. President Barack Obama hosted a Group of Seven World Leader Summit that excluded Russian President Vladimir Putin. The world leaders said they will impose harsher sanctions if Putin does not recognize Poroshenko as the new leader in Ukraine, and stop arms from crossing the border and cease support for pro-Russian separatist group that’s in eastern Ukraine (Walker). Ukraine received much support from the U.S and Britain as they placed sanctions on Russia. These sanctions were placed on Russian officials as they were the ones who were responsible for supporting violent pro-Russia protests in Ukraine. Visa and Master Card blocked customer transactions with the Rossiya Bank Group. As well the U.S. pledged a $48 million to strengthen the border guard service to enhance national unity (Rapoza). It was a great year as Ukraine received the support of foreign nations and solves issues with Russia.
Through these three issues, we were able to examine them and seek resolution. The events that occurred in 2014, have still left an impact on our current events. Under the newly elected Poroshenko government, he was able strengthen Ukraine as a nation and citizens were able to vote on a man they believed would be the best representation of their nation. The debt that began in 2014, have grown into the hundred billions which have left an impact on the citizens, but this has given an opportunity to expand their trade market and receive aid from the IMF and the World Bank. As well, Ukraine was able to receive the support of the international community which have strengthened their relationships. It will be exciting to see how Ukraine will transform under the Pak government and view whether or not they will become political stability or repeat the past of year 2014.

domain: news


text:
New study finds portable, hand-held laser device safe and effective for consumer use.
Wausau, WI (PRWEB) September 20, 2007 -- Consumers using a first-of-its-kind laser hair removal device designed for at-home use experienced both excellent short-term, single-treatment hair removal and excellent sustained hair removal with periodic treatments, according to a new study recently published in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine (July 2007 issue), the peer-reviewed professional journal of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS).
In his article entitled â€œSimulated Consumer Use of a Battery-Powered, Hand-Held, Portable Diode Laser (810 nm) for Hair Removal: A Safety, Efficacy and Ease-of-Use Study,â€ laser expert Ronald G. Wheeland, MD, professor and chief of dermatologic surgery, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Mo., reports that overall this novel diode laser technology is highly effective, has an excellent benefit-to-risk ratio, and could soon offer consumers a viable new treatment option for at-home removal of unwanted or excess hair.
â€œOur study results are very exciting because they demonstrated that a heterogeneous group of people could teach themselves how to use the laser hair removal device safely and effectively simply by reviewing the productâ€™s packaging label and background materials,â€ said Dr. Wheeland. â€œThus, we can anticipate that this low-cost, eye-safe, portable device could make laser hair removal much more widely available and appropriate for over-the-counter consumer use.â€
In a simulated home-use environment, subjects were divided into two treatment groups â€“ a Treatment Group of 77 appropriate users; and a Non-Treatment Group of 44 inappropriate users who did not meet the criteria for using the portable diode laser device â€“ i.e., mainly individuals with naturally light or grey hair or dark skin tones. All treatments and observations were performed at the dermatology clinic, with consumers in the Treatment Group performing three self-administered treatments at three week intervals with no instructions other than the package labeling. These subjects chose two body sites they wanted to treat from a list that included the underarm area, leg, arm, abdomen, chest, upper lip, bikini, or the nape of the neck (men only).
Other than assistance from the clinical staff in identifying the treatment area during sessions, all study subjects performed each treatment entirely themselves. This included choosing the level of energy from the three available high, medium and low settings. The device labeling instructed subjects that higher settings were likely to achieve better results and that they should choose the highest setting possible without excessive discomfort.
Effectiveness of the self-treatment device was primarily measured by a reduction of hair count from the first visit to each subsequent visit. The mean hair count reduction for all treatments in the Treatment Group was considered statistically significant at all visits except at the sixth visit (due to the natural hair growth cycle). Specifically, subjects experienced 61% mean hair count reduction three weeks after the first treatment; 70% three weeks after the second treatment, and 60% one month after the third treatment. Mean hair reduction at 12 months following the third treatment was an impressive 33%.
â€œWhile the portable diode laser was clearly effective in reducing the amount of hair in the treated areas, the device also proved to be safe when used by appropriate users,â€ noted Dr. Wheeland. â€œThe only observed side effect was mild-to-moderate redness, which typically resolved in less than 30 minutes, and slight pain during treatment. Overall, subjects reported being very satisfied with their results.â€
By comparison, consumers in the Non-Treatment Group were given a single, staff-administered laser pulse at the maximum energy setting of the device on a non-cosmetic, hair-bearing site to determine the worst-case incidence of side effects at the maximum fluence. In the Non-Treatment Group, a few subjects experienced mild blisters after treatment; those with darker skin types carried an increased risk of injury. Still, in all of these subjects, the blister resolved without any medical intervention needed.
â€œBased on our study results relative to efficacy, safety, pain levels, and usability of the device and its labeling, this new laser device could offer consumers a nice at-home complement to office-based laser hair removal procedures, especially for localized areas of excess hair such as the lip, chin or sideburns,â€ added Dr. Wheeland.
The American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS) is the worldâ€™s preeminent resource for laser research, safety, education, and clinical knowledge. Founded in 1980, ASLMS promotes excellence in patient care by advancing clinical application of lasers and related technologies. For more information and physician referrals, please log on to the Societyâ€™s website: www.aslms.org.
Nadine Tosk, 847.920.9858
Karen Sideris, 219.922.7537
# # #

domain: medical


text:
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domain: design


text:
If you are a Bulgarian citizen and you want to apply for a Canadian visa, you will need to follow a few simple steps. The first step is to download the application form from the website of the Canadian embassy in Bulgaria. You will need to complete the form and then print it out. The second step is to gather the required documents. The documents you will need vary depending on the type of visa you are applying for. The third step is to go to the Canadian embassy in Bulgaria and submit your application. CANADA VISA FOR BULGARIAN CITIZENS
1. Applying for a Canadian Visa as a Bulgarian Citizen
If you are a Bulgarian citizen, you need a visa to visit Canada. The type of visa you need depends on the purpose of your visit.
There are 3 ways to apply for a Canadian visa:
- Apply online
- Apply at a Canadian visa office
- Apply at a Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate
You must have a valid passport to apply for a Canadian visa. If you do not have a passport, you must get one before you can apply for a visa. CANADA VISA FOR MEXICAN CITIZENS
To apply online, you must have:
– A credit card to pay the processing fee
– Access to a printer to print your confirmation page
– An email address to receive updates about your application
To apply at a visa office, you must book an appointment. You can do this online.
To apply at a Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate, you must contact them to find out how to apply.
The processing time for a Canadian visa varies depending on the type of visa you are applying for and the country you are applying from. CANADA VISA FOR SOUTH KOREAN CITIZENS
It is important to apply for your visa as early as possible.
2. Eligibility Requirements for a Canadian Visa
There are a few eligibility requirements that Bulgarian citizens must meet in order to apply for a Canadian visa. These requirements are in place to ensure that those who are applying for a visa are legitimately interested in coming to Canada and that they will be able to contribute to the Canadian economy. The requirements are as follows:
- Applicants must have a valid passport. This passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the applicant’s planned date of departure from Canada.
- Applicants must have a valid Bulgarian visa. CANADA VISA FOR ISRAELI CITIZENS
- Applicants must have a letter of invitation from a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, or from a person or organization authorized by IRCC to issue such letters.
- Applicants must have enough money to support themselves and their family members during their stay in Canada. They must also be able to show that they have made arrangements for their return transportation.
- Applicants must be in good health and must not have any criminal convictions. They may be required to complete a medical examination as part of the visa application process.
- Applicants must be willing to obey the laws of Canada and must have no intention of staying in Canada permanently. CANADA VISA FOR CROATIAN CITIZENS
Bulgarian citizens who meet all of the above requirements are eligible to apply for a Canadian visa. The application process is relatively straightforward and can be completed online. Those who are issued a visa will be able to enter Canada and stay for up to six months.
3. Applying for a Canadian Visa Online
There are a few different ways that Bulgarian citizens can apply for a Canadian visa. One option is to apply online through the Government of Canada’s website.
To apply online, you will need to create an account and fill out an online application form. You will also need to pay the application fee, which is currently $85 CAD. Once you have submitted your application, you will need to book an appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC).
At the VAC, you will need to provide your biometric information, which includes your fingerprints and a photo. You may also be asked to attend an interview, although this is not always required.
If your application is approved, you will receive a visa in your passport, which will allow you to enter Canada.
Applying for a Canadian visa online is a relatively simple process, and it is generally the fastest way to get a visa. However, it is important to make sure that you meet all of the requirements before you apply.
If you have any questions about the application process, or if you need help with anything, you can contact the Visa Application Centre directly.
4. Required Documentation for a Canadian Visa
There are four required documents for a Canadian visa for Bulgarian citizens. They are a valid passport, a completed visa application, a photograph, and the visa processing fee.
A valid passport is required for all international travel. The passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the planned date of return from Canada. It is important to note that a passport is not the same as a travel document. A travel document is required for certain types of travel, such as to enter or exit a country, or to board an international flight.
A completed visa application must be submitted in order to obtain a Canadian visa. The application must be completed online or on paper, and must be signed by the applicant. In addition to the completed application, applicants must also submit a photograph that meets the requirements specified by the visa office.
The visa processing fee must be paid in order to have the visa application processed. The fee is non-refundable and is paid by credit card, money order, or certified check.
Once the required documents have been submitted, the visa office will review the application and supporting documents. If the visa office requires additional information, the applicant will be contacted. If the visa is approved, the applicant will be issued a visa, which will be valid for six months from the date of issuance.
5. Fees for a Canadian Visa
If you’re a Bulgarian citizen and you want to apply for a Canadian visa, there are a few things you need to know. Here are five fees you need to pay when applying for a Canadian visa:
- The application fee. This is the fee you pay to submit your visa application.
- The biometrics fee. This is the fee you pay to have your fingerprints and photo taken.
- The processing fee. This is the fee the Canadian government charges to process your visa application.
- The right of permanent residence fee. This is the fee you pay if you’re approved for permanent residence in Canada.
- The medical exam fee. This is the fee you pay to have a medical exam.
- Processing Time for a Canadian Visa
It can take up to six weeks to process a Canadian visa application. It is important to note that this processing time does not include the time it takes to mail the application to the visa office or the time it takes to receive a decision from the visa office.
The processing time for a Canadian visa can be affected by a number of factors, including:
-The number of applications received by the visa office
-The number of applications that need to be referred to another office for processing
-The time of year ( processing times are usually longer during the busy summer months)
-The completeness of the application ( Incomplete applications will take longer to process)
-The number of family members applying for a visa ( each family member will need to have their own complete application)
There are a few things that applicants can do to help ensure a smooth and speedy processing time for their Canadian visa:
-Submit a complete and accurate application
-Ensure that all required documentation is included
-Pay the correct visa fee
-Respond quickly to any requests for additional information from the visa office
Processing times for Canadian visas can vary, so it is important to check with the visa office handling your application for the most up-to-date information.

domain: law


29 February 2016, Oxford City Council is asking for sites to be suggested for future allocation in its new Local Plan which will run until 2036.
Once adopted, the new Local Plan will replace the saved policies of the Oxford Local Plan 2001-2016, the Oxford Core Strategy 2026, and the Sites and Housing Plan. It will allocate sites for development for a wide range of uses.
The City Council is inviting details of any sites within the City which are suitable for future new development and likely to become available by 2036.
Allocations for any type of land use will be considered and there is no minimum (or maximum) size of site at this stage. All sites and broad locations capable of delivering five or more dwellings, or economic development on sites of 0.25ha (or 500m2 of floor space) and above will be considered.
The call for sites runs until 21st March 2016 and is a real opportunity to suggest sites for development within the City to be considered through this Local Plan process.
Adoption of the new Local Plan is hoped to take place towards the end of 2019.
Please contact a member of the Oxford Planning Team for further advice and assistance.


text:
(based on 36 reviews)
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Reviewed by 36 customers
Displaying reviews 1-10
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from Winter Spring, FL
About Me Casual Cook
Comments about Microwave Egg Muffin Cooker:
My husband uses Egg Beaters a lot and the rings in a fry pan did not work as the liquid would come out the sides. This container works fantastic. The eggs some out perfect every time.In fact we just ordered a second one.
Bottom LineYes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Easy to use
By Blue Bird
from Cleveland, Oh
Cooking eggs and heating soups
Handy little kitchen gadget
from Norton, Ohio
About Me Avid Cook
I've bought several of these for family members and a few extra to give as a little gift. This microwave egg muffin cooker is wonderful for making your own breakfast sandwich instead of paying a ridiculous price at you know where. At least I know what ingredients are going into my own; and I can use egg whites to keep the cholesterol count down. If you're thinking about buying this egg cooker, don't hesitate. You won't be disappointed.Helper Hint: If you use egg whites, smear a thin film of soft butter or margarine in the bottom of the cooker. It will clean up like a dream.
Best thing ever envented
from Keizer Oregon
from Kennesaw, GA
My girls and I wanted a break from cereal, so I decided to try this cooker. It works great! We use only about 50% power for 2 minutes and I flip the scrambled egg after 1 minute. Myself and one daughter like it on English muffins. My husband and younger daughter prefer it on toast. I wish there was a similar microwave egg cooker sandwich shaped. The only one I've found doesn't get good reviews. This cooker is great for English muffins!
great - 2nd one I"ve ordered
from Silvis, Illinois
Great for eggs that you put between english muffin halves
Works very well
from Baldwin, GA
A very handy helper for scrambling one egg and being able to add pre-cooked bacon, ham and/or shredded cheese without having to use a skillet.
Recommended to friends
from North Port Florida
Perfect for making egg sandwiches on english muffins and my husband loves it on a bagel with sausage patties, I love it with just cheese. Make them every weekend, so quick and easy clean up. Get one you won't regret it.
from washington mi.
makes a quick breakfast, which is so easy to do!
Microwave egg cooker
I bought this after reading the reviews, I didn't think I would use it much but after getting it my husband and I use it almost daily. It is easy to make an egg sandwich before heading out the door to work and I wish I had this years ago. I do spray the interior with nonstick spray before adding the eggs, it just helps with cleanup. I am going to purchase 2 more to put in our RV for the summer.

domain: food


text:
Hungarian parties and candidates accepting campaign contributions from abroad could soon face up to three years in prison
November 21. 2023. – 10:19 PM
The parliamentary group of Hungary's bigger governing party tabled a legislative package called the Sovereignty Protection Bill on Tuesday evening. They intend to set up a Sovereignty Protection Authority and punish anyone accepting campaign contributions from abroad with a prison sentence.
The main points of the package were already presented by group leader Máté Kocsis at a private conference of Századvég Alapítvány last Monday. Fidesz is proposing to amend four laws:
- In the Fundamental Law, they would expand the part on the protection of constitutional identity and the one on the protection of Christian culture with a section on the recognition of sovereignty;
- In the Election Law, the scope of the regulations applicable to political parties would be broadened to include NGOs and election candidates, so that all those running in an election would have to comply with the same laws.
- The Criminal Code would include the criminal offense of accepting foreign funding as a member, representative or officer of a candidate organisation standing for election. Following the adoption of the amendment, such an act would be punishable by imprisonment of up to 3 years.
- A separate institution would be set up to protect sovereignty and investigate processes suggesting foreign interference.
According to MTI, speaking at the private conference, Fidesz' group leader also said that "those on the side of national sovereignty" do not have a beef with the political left, but with the leftist media. Although the foreign financing of the media is also a concern, Kocsis said that "serious funding that can be used for elections is coming through NGOs", and therefore the proposed sovereignty protection package does not address the regulation of this issue in the media.
A few days ago, Viktor Orbán told members of the Council of the Hungarian Diaspora that the next 10-15 years will be about defending sovereignty both in Hungary and in many other parts of the world.
"A big debate is expected on the Povereignty protection Act which is to be submitted to Parliament soon, but we must establish clear prohibitions in order to prevent foreign money from influencing Hungarian elections"
– Orbán said, according to MTI.
“We want to make things hard for them”
"Sovereignty protection" became the government's new goal at the end of September, following the Fidesz-KDNP coalition's off-site parliamentary group meeting. At the time, Fidesz' group leader Máté Kocsis said that he believed that Hungary's sovereignty was under attack in the areas of culture, economy and politics. He then announced that the work of "foreign-funded journalists, pseudo-NGOs and dollar-funded politicians" would be curtailed by new rules as early as this autumn.
The Fidesz group leader said that Hungary’s economic sovereignty was being attacked by the EU when it tries to tell the country what economic decisions it should take. According to Kocsis, the abolition of cultural sovereignty is reflected in the EU's policy on migration and in the attempts to "impose their gender ideology" on us. The new legislation is aimed at protecting political sovereignty from "the dollar-funded left" and "the dollar-funded media".
The Hungarian governing parties’ position is that the European Commission is "providing more money to left-wing organizations, NGOs, left-wing media outlets, dollar-funded NGOs, dollar-funded media and dollar-funded politicians than the Soros empire". Kocsis said that their goal is to "make things more difficult for those who are selling the country out in exchange for dollars", or as he put it: "we want to make things harder for left-wing journalists, pseudo-NGOs and dollar-funded politicians".
The government's new mantra, the phrase "dollar-funded left" was introduced last autumn, and has been repeated a million times since then. At first, it referred to politicians who had received donations from abroad, such as Péter Márki-Zay, who boasted in an interview that his movement had received hundreds of millions of dollars in contributions from the United States.
Since then, the government's vocabulary has expanded, and the term "dollar-funded left" was joined by the expressions "dollar-funded NGOs", "dollar-funded media" and "dollar-funded politicians". Up until now, the government has only threatened these politicians and organizations and labeled them as ones 'plotting against their homeland'.
Since the legislation was announced, Fidesz politicians and government officials have repeatedly pointed out that the government is protecting the "patriotic media". Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó spoke about the "liberal mainstream" wanting to dominate the media. "According to the liberal mainstream, media freedom only exists if 99 percent of the media is liberal". He added: "Patriotic and conservative governments like ours have to stand up to this". Prime Minister Orbán argued that as long as liberal hegemony continues to dominate public thinking, Hungary will not be sovereign.
Orbán also spoke about his party’s realization in the wake of their defeat in the 2002 elections, namely that they realized that if the "liberal dominance" remained, the conservative side would only win elections by accident, with some good luck.
But what the prime minister failed to mention was that 'good luck' and 'accidental luck' had been so much in their favor in the last four parliamentary elections that, apart from one or two short periods, they have been enjoying a constitutional two-thirds majority in parliament throughout. In spite of this, according to Orbán, "liberal hegemony", i.e. the dominance of liberals is still prevalent in Hungarian public discourse.
For more quick, accurate and impartial news from and about Hungary, subscribe to the Telex English newsletter!


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Woohoo! Here's to my completing a set of Christmas shoujo girls! I hope you like them. They are all instant downloads available in my Etsy shop, 300dpi in 7 inches height. 'Christmas Glitter Shoujo' is 8 inches. The linearts make wonderful colouring pages as well as they are highly detailed and clean. Each girl has a slightly different feel (era-wise), 'Ornament Shoujo' looks the most modern out of them all.
|"Christmas Glitter Shoujo"|
|Christmas Shoujo Set of 3 at $10|

domain: hobby


WOAHHH... This video is GRAPHIC and terrifying!
The Nashville District Attorney's office just released surveillance video of a fatal police officer involved shooting last month!
Apparently after the video was released, Nashville Mayor, David Briley, announced that the Metro Nashville Police Department will undergo a comprehensive review of the department's policing strategies!
Forwarning, this video is GRAPHIC..
Go to the 5:20 mark in the video to see the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Daniel Hambrick in North Nashville by a Nashville police officer.
An investigation is underway on the entire situation!


text:
Find any address in Bustillo de Chaves thanks to the Michelin Bustillo de Chaves city map. ViaMichelin : map of Bustillo de Chaves, driving directions for Bustillo de Chaves, touristic information and Michelin Guide restaurants in Bustillo de Chaves. ViaMichelin allows you to freely consult the Michelin maps, the result of an experience of more than a century of cartography.
Partridge stuffed with cabbage, young pigeon from Tierra de Campos, and escabeche of quail are just some of the recipes that showcase the traditional regional cuisine on offer here. The gastronomic full-day events dedicated to game, which the restaurant organises, have resulted in a certain nationwide renown for El Labrador-Lera.


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DUBLIN, Ohio (COLUMBUS BUSINESS FIRST) — Cameron Mitchell’s next new local restaurant will open in March.
The Pearl Dublin, located in the ever-expanding Bridge Park development, is in the stretch run toward its debut.
Hiring begins Monday for the restaurant, which expects to employ 70 to 80 servers, guest service associates, bartenders and kitchen staff.
The restaurant is at 88 N. High St., and the management team at the restaurant includes Executive Chef Kaitlin Sharbo, who comes from The Avenue in Grandview Heights, and General Manager Jill Armstrong, who most recently was at Harvey & Ed’s.
This is the first expansion for The Pearl brand. Cameron Mitchell Restaurants opened the first in the Short North in 2013.
For more, go to Columbus Business First.


MONTPELIER ó Officials say three Vermont families whose homes were destroyed by flooding from Tropical Storm Irene have had their properties bought by a Federal Emergency Management Agency hazard mitigation program.
Gov. Peter Shumlin says two of the properties are in Bethel and one is in Bolton.
The program buys properties in flood-prone areas, giving homeowners the pre-flood value of the homes. The homes are then torn down so they wonít be prone to damage from future floods.
Shumlin says the buyouts enable homeowners to get a fresh start.
FEMA has allocated $13 million for the program. Officials say 92 homes have received final approval for the buyout, most from Irene flooding, but also from flooding earlier in 2011.MORE IN Vermont NewsCHARLOTTE ó Thousands of water birds that normally spread out across Lake Champlain are seeking... Full StoryCHARLOTTE ó Thousands of water birds that normally spread out across Lake Champlain are seeking... Full StoryA cider company got a coffee company to agree to stop using the name "Woodchuck." Full Story
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Controversial singer Akothee passed out while delivering an electric performance during Luo Night.
The event which took place on Saturday, November 30, came to a standstill when the mother of five suddenly dropped into the arms of her backup dancers.
READ ALSO: Kanye West features wife Kim Kardashian, their kids in his new gospel video
READ ALSO: Akothee aanguka na kuzirai kwenye jukwaa wakati wa Luo Festival
In a video shared on Instagram, the mother of five was seen looking vibrant and lively as usual while singing her heart out and interacting with her fans.
Draped in white, Akothee grabbed her mic and danced like no one was watching.
READ ALSO: Huddah Monroe accused of editing photos to make waist appear tiny, curvier
Without warning, she went silent and it was lights out!
With her arms in the air, the president of single mothers fell backwards and her dancers quickly sprung into action.
The crowd remained in shock and some of the musician's fans screamed in worry.
Her crew quickly whisked her away from the stage and tried to get the Oyoyo singer to safety.
Not too long ago, Akothee was hospitalised after suffering a burnout following her world tour.
The mother of five had been to the US, Dubai and France within a short period and her body could not push itself beyond its limits.
Akothee admitted she also suffered from a slight flu but her health had improved greatly by the time she was released from hospital.
Just hours after leaving the hospital's premises Akothee had already started working and preparing for her Luo Night performance.
Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through firstname.lastname@example.org or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly.
The gifted Kenyan children with no playing field | Tuko TV
Source: Tuko Kenya


text:
Arrests among casino clients in Minsk?
15:45, — crime
Clients from Moscow, who “demanded prostitutes”, were arrested in a casino in Minsk.
“When gambling was banned in Moscow, we had many people who wanted a similar ban here,” Lukashenka said at a press conference for Russian journalists. “But I said no. Let's see if casinos will bring harm. It turned out that casinos didn't become criminal centres. I know that many people fly from Moscow to Minsk and leave a lot of money here. We don't worry about it.”
Lukashenka mentioned that some things needed control.
“Some people were arrested lately in a casino. They were from Moscow. They got drunk and demanded prostitutes. But we have strict rules. We are world leaders in combating human trafficking. We don't hold every girl by arms, but we don't allow organising a criminal group to deliver them abroad. So, these Moscow residents came to look for prostitutes and found themselves in a prison cell. We control gambling, but we don't prohibit it,” he said.
Charter97.org already reported that two employees of Shangri La casino were arrested in Minsk in late August on suspicion of organising escort services for VIP clients.
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domain: sociology


The word “prom” in religious circles is quite foreign. Secular newspapers frequently feature pictures of young couples in their prom regalia as they celebrate and dance the night away. Those of us who attended secular high schools faced the disappointment of not being able to attend their high school proms, which usually took place on Friday evenings. Never admitting that they might in any way be imitating a non-Jewish practice, there are Jewish high schools that do plan programming for their students to while away the night after graduation in a more acceptable fashion.
Dancing is not an activity in which most of us get to partake. Other than the circular hora-style dancing that takes place at weddings, most of us never experience anything else. In observing some of the dancing, one notices people who are as heavy on their feet as elephants, and others who look as though they could easily try out for the Bolshoi Ballet.
In our marriage, we realized one day early on that we both enjoyed dancing with each other as a couple. We valued the moments we were alone and could either sing our favorite songs and dance to them, or listen to music on the radio and dance as well. It definitely was an activity that brought us closer together in the privacy of our home. One of our favorite songs for dancing is the Anniversary Waltz, and we would often sway back and forth together to the rhythm of the music. This, at times, helped us overcome difficult patches when we needed to remind each other of how lucky we were.
Sitting at a Shabbat dinner table on Friday evening in Montreal, several couples at the table laughed and reminisced how acceptable it used to be to take Arthur Murray dance lessons. It was considered a relaxing form of entertainment. Obviously, that is no longer the case in the world we live in today.
We are excited to announce that we attended our first prom last Thursday. It was an event that we will never forget. We wish that everyone who reads this column would have had the opportunity to attend it with us. As it was the final day of the year at the CARE (Centre D’Activités Récréatives et Éducatives) program that our daughter Naama attends, a prom was arranged for the final activity before the program reconvenes in September. Keeping in mind that everyone in this group of about 20 is extraordinarily physically handicapped, all in wheelchairs but with high levels of comprehension, the staff worked for weeks to make this event particularly special. All the staff members dressed as though they were going to a real prom. Each participant in the program had a “date” who was a staff member, and each female member of the group wore a paper corsage. They prearranged what they would wear so that they could coordinate with their date. The program began with each “couple” taking pictures in front of a large sign that said CARE Center Prom 2017. After all the pictures were taken, the lights were dimmed and the music began. Staff members whirled wheelchairs around the room. Mordechai and Nina began to dance as well. This was our big opportunity to attend our first prom. We felt honored to have waited for this occasion to dance in public. Feelings of gratitude and appreciation are not strong enough to express our emotions at this sight.
We would doubt that any staff member at the CARE Center is over 30. Many of them have worked there for years. Many of them have several rings adorning various parts of their faces. Tattoos are easily spotted on some as well. When I asked Naama’s date, Maisie, what the significance of her tattoo was, she told me she did it years ago and no longer likes it and will soon replace it with something else that will just be drawn over it. We talked about how many of these people we would never have considered befriending prior to meeting them at CARE. How wrong we are. They love and respect our daughter as though she is one of their best friends.
There is a participant in the program (Angela) who is so handicapped that it is difficult to look at her. Her face always faces upward with her mouth open. Her hands flail in the air and she is not able to speak. She understands everything and participates in discussions by moving her eyes in every direction, and the staff is able to decode by numbers what she is spelling out with her eyes. We watched as one of the staff went over to tell her how much she loved her shade of lipstick. Angela’s gentle smile provoked tears in our eyes as you could see how excited she was to be recognized as something beautiful. It was difficult for us to leave our first prom.
To know that there are people in this world who are so caring, loving and kind to individuals who in many cases can only reciprocate by smiling or laughing is beyond believable. As Nina said to the group prior to the prom beginning, “The Hebrew word ‘tzadik’ applies to each and every one who works with this special group.” It is vital to keep in mind that judging a person by his or her appearance can be a huge mistake. We hope that reading this will be used as a reminder the next time any of us are tempted to do so.
By Rabbi Mordechai and Nina Glick


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Author Event: Rene Denfeld
The Child Finder is the bestselling, haunting, richly atmospheric, and deeply suspenseful novel about an investigator who must use her unique insights to find a missing little girl.
Rene is the author of the acclaimed novels The Child Finder and The Enchanted, as well as essays in publications such as the New York Times. Rene’s literary thriller, The Child Finder, explores themes of survival, resiliency and redemption It has received much acclaim, including a starred Library Journal review, major press, and an Indie Next pick. Landing as the #1 fiction bestseller at Powell’s within its first week, the Child Finder became a top #10 bestseller in Canada and a bestseller in the United States.
The child of a difficult history herself, Rene is an accomplished speaker who loves connecting with others. Rene lives in Portland, Oregon, where she is the happy mom of three kids adopted from foster care.

domain: library