text:
The jockeying for position in the Championship continued over the Easter period, with the teams going through the exact same schedule as their Super League compatriots.
Easter traditionally allows teams to propel or slump down the table, and this year was absolutely no different.
Here are the teams the had the best and worst of the Easter schedule.
Three wins from three games is good enough for any team, but for Fax, the period was particularly stunning.
Richard Marshall’s side were in desperate need of a good Easter period after losing four of their opening six league matches, and they delivered in emphatic fashion.
A Good Friday victory over Oldham was a good start, but it got so much better as they defeated their fierce rivals Bradford for the third consecutive time.
But arguably their biggest victory came on Sunday against top four rivals Featherstone as they secured a late, dramatic 20-19 victory over Rovers to move joint fourth with the Bulls and Fev to put them back in the frame for a top-four spot.
A huge six day period for Swinton saw them not only win their first game since promotion to the Championship by defeating Oldham, but they then backed that up with another victory over Workington to move them off the bottom of the Championship.
John Duffy’s side had impressed in defeat throughout the season, but there was no doubting victories soon had to follow.
So to defeat two of the teams currently battling with them at the bottom of the league is a huge boost going forward.
It’s been a torrid period for Bradford, who have quickly lost ground to the pacesetters of the Championship.
Despite an impressive victory over London, subsequent defeats to Halifax and a shock loss to Sheffield have put increasing pressure on the Bulls and head coach James Lowes, who has cast doubt over his future with the Bulls having won just one of their last six matches.
It couldn’t have been much worse for the Cumbrians.
A defeat to rivals Whitehaven was followed by a spirited defeat to Leigh, a game in which they only had one fit sub from the start of the match.
Their defeat to Swinton followed, moving them to the bottom of the Championship after nine rounds. A very, very bad period for Town.


text:
The Rooster that Wouldn’t Crow
A story about individuality and a rooster’s right to fall in love with whomever he chooses.
Unforeseen Adventures and Hidden Treasures
Lizzy hates her stepdad, but does he really have a time machine in his attic?
Matt the Swamp Rat
Poem about a rat who tries to make friends whilst on an adventure
The Four Clever Sheep
Magic, Big Rogue, Slick and Pixie make Farmer Mick think he has bought invisible sheep until his dog Tiger finds them hiding in the wheat field.
Can the queen save her new child by guessing the name of the dwarf who spun straw into gold?
Tom Tom the Piper’s Son
A lesson in the dangers of pork theft.
Jacko and the Paramedic Galahs
Jacko the cockatoo was in the lookout tree when he was hurt. Dib and Dab the Paramedics helped him to the galah hospital. When he got better they all became firm friends.
The Fairy Finders Chapters 5 and 6
The next installment about an adventurous gang of children who discover they are sharing their beloved wood with some pesky, meddlesome fairies.
Peter Saves the Village
Peter bravely saves the village from a herd of elephants.
Shadow the Dog
Alison is lonely now that her dog Pete has run away, but when she looks at her shadow, she notices something strange. Soon, she feels better. However, her mother is worried about how strangely she’s been acting.

domain: literature


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Former Miss World Manushi Chhillar took to Instagram today to share her at-home shoot with her fans.
Updated : May 29, 2020, 4:51 pm
Manushi Chhillar, who won the title of Miss World in 2017, has collaborated with UNICEF to spread awareness about menstrual hygiene.
Updated : May 29, 2020, 2:57 pm
Manushi Chhillar turns 23 today. Former Miss World opens up about her birthday plans and speaks about her journey.
Updated : May 14, 2020, 3:32 pm
Sonu Sood spoke to India Today Television about his initiative to help migrant workers and life in lockdown.
Updated : May 12, 2020, 3:16 pm
Sonu Sood arranged buses for hundreds of migrant labours stuck in Mumbai during the coronavirus lockdown. The actor has also donated over 1500 PPE kits.
Updated : May 11, 2020, 6:32 pm
Sushmita Sen delighted her Instagram fans and followers with a glimpse of her intense workout session. Her boyfriend Rohman Shawl loved the video.
Updated : April 16, 2020, 9:28 am
Manushi Chhillar along with Miss World Mexico and Puerto Rico have come together to raise awareness on the novel coronavirus.
Updated : April 15, 2020, 5:17 pm
Manushi Chhillar recently shared a throwback image on Instagram in which she is donning a 70s retro look with a hint of glam.
Updated : April 14, 2020, 1:14 pm
Former Miss World Manushi Chhillar has joined hands with UNICEF in order to raise awareness about the novel corornavirus.
Updated : April 10, 2020, 7:26 pm
Bhasha Mukherjee had competed in Miss World 2019 as Miss England last year.
Updated : April 10, 2020, 11:35 am
Miss England and Indian-origin doctor Bhasha Mukherjee has returned back to the UK to work as doctor with the NHS during the novel coronavirus outbreak.
Updated : April 7, 2020, 5:08 pm
While in self-quarantine, Ankita Konwar spent Thursday cooking a healthy meal for her husband Milind Soman.
Updated : March 27, 2020, 8:42 am
Manushi Chhillar shared stunning pics from a shoot on Instagram. She is looking forward to sun-kissed days and so are we.
Updated : March 26, 2020, 12:57 pm
Manushi Chhillar's parents are doctors and working from home is not an option for them during the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Updated : March 25, 2020, 4:40 pm
Karni Sena asked the producers of Akshay Kumar-starrer Prithviraj not to tamper with such facts.
Updated : March 17, 2020, 9:19 am


text:
Episode 2, Part 4: Renardian Ethics
June 2000-The Underworld
"...how am I supposed to do that?" Theodore prompted Aeon.
"Recall the story of Orpheus?" Aeon replied with a small smile. "Hades has a high admiration and appreciation of the arts, especially music..."
Theodore was once again face to face with the intimidating Hades. Though, this time was much different; the god was watching him skeptically, a hunger and yearning reflected in his facial expression while Eris sat next to him, her reaction angry and impatient. Eris was the only observer of Theo's three-person audience that wanted nothing to do with Theodore's new deal with Hades.
A smile tugged at the edges of Theodore's mouth when he noticed Rio holding her mother's hand, looking at him with the same reverent patience that Hades was.
Nervously, Theodore turned his gaze towards the white violin in his hands. The surface was sleek and glossy, golden floral designs on the front and along the sides; this violin belonged to the Queen of the Underworld, Persephone. She'd picked up playing the violin from a desire to create music both for her own entertainment and her husband's; she'd been inspired by the tragedy of poor Orpheus.
Taking a deep breath, Theodore closed his eyes and tried to center himself. He'd learned how to play the violin when he had been with Sandy so many years ago. Oh, how her face would light up as he made the violin sing happy songs, a sighing promise of sweet nothings conveyed through chords and gentle coaxing of the strings...
Playing the violin had never really been one of Theodore's major strengths, but he had to try, right?
He raised the bow and let out a breath, swearing he'd be able to hear a pin drop in the room's new-found silence. Sandy's smiling face fixed in his mind, he leaned into the movement of the bow, making the tip kiss the strings with the featherlight touch of an angel's wings.
Slowly and gracefully, he remembered the positions and arrangement of Sandy's favorite piece, Moonlight Sonata. As he swept through the lilting, almost melancholy melody, Theodore tumbled in himself, inevitably remembering just how tender his musical interludes with Sandy had been:
She'd be sitting across from him, fingers clasped as tears collected at the edges of her eyes. Every time he played this very song, she'd burst into tears while wearing a ghost of a smile. Theodore never understood why, of all the songs he knew how to play, she chose this the most often, even after she told him her reason why.
"It reminds me of a recurring dream I had," Sandy had admitted. "A dream that was enough to scare me away from falling in love...I'd dream about seeing the world through the eyes of a young man. I felt his bitterness, his hatred, his yearning and desperation. He'd scream,'Te amo!' at a raven-haired girl as she turned and walked away. Never looking back...No matter how many times I experienced this particular dream, I always awoke in a cold sweat and crying my eyes out. I felt like my heart had been ripped out of my chest and stomped on. It felt like my soul was intertwined with his...I can't explain it without sounding crazy... "
Sandy sighed, lips trembling as a new wave of tears began. Tentatively, she reached up and ran her fingers through her thick, sandy blond hair. "I...The depression was so strong and so real that I didn't want to live. For a few short moments, I knew what it was like to live for love, just how horrible it'd be to give a piece of yourself, only to have it stripped away from you..."
Then she smiled at Theodore, a very warm and affectionate smile. "I never want to forget that dream," she went on. "It ruled my life for so long until you came along, Theodore. You taught me that love isn't something to fear, but to embrace instead. That it's worth the gamble, the risk. I won't let it consume me, but empower me."
"Is that why you were so...mean to me?" Theodore asked. "Calling me a human walking stick...?"
"Yes," Sandy admitted, looking at him through her eyelashes. Then she clasped her hands. "I'm sorry...I know I can't erase the pain, but I wish I'd given you a chance sooner," she said breathily. "Your soul is a bright beacon in a dark, dark world."
"It really doesn't matter now anyway, though, does it?" Gently, Theodore reached over and placed his hand on her knee. "We're together now and that's what counts..."
"It does matter," she whispered, her eyes closed. "Sometimes, I imagine that you don't look like what you really do. That you're...a redhaired male model instead of a human walking stick." Sandy shook her head. "I like seeing you for who you really are."
"I am a redhaired male model..." Theodore protested, trembling slightly.
"No." Sandy smiled and chuckled softly. "You're my walking stick; an intelligent and caring man with a heart of gold. You don't have to be a looker, Theodore. You'll have the world at your feet because of your virtue..."
"Why are you crying?" Hades asked softly.
Carefully, Theodore pulled the bow away and lowered the violin, the space between his chin and chest feeling as empty and hollowed out as his rib cage. That song dredged up intense guilt every time; his heart had sprouted wings and flown away in search of his one true love...
When he opened his eyes, he was met by Hades' sad, sympathetic expression.
"...You'll have the world at your feet because of your virtue..."
"Was my performance satisfactory?" Theodore asked around the lump now lodged in his throat. "Is it enough to trade for my father's immortality?"
"Yes," Hades replied without hesitation.
Breath caught in his throat, Theodore watched as Hades reached into the sleeve of his suit jacket and withdrew that familiar ball of pulsating blue light. On closer inspection, Theodore could see the shifting sands within, the ticking numbers.
"You'll willingly give Theodore his father's immortality?!" Eris trumpeted, standing up and looking absolutely furious. "You could get music for a far more reasonable trade from Apollo! Think about your human son, Hades. What if he wants to become immortal?"
"You like the complex, dramatic solutions, don't you?" Hades sighed. "I was going to keep Cupid's immortality as a back-up if I couldn't appeal to Zeus, but there are always other ways."
"Music softens you up like wax under flame..." Eris groaned, narrowing her eyes.
Carefully, Theodore took Cupid's immortality and held it gently in his cupped hands. He remembered Aeon's instructions, to steal the apple when Hades was distracted, but something felt incredibly off to Theo.
"Will I be able to reinstall my father's immortality?" Theodore asked in a hushed voice, feeling like he was throwing the proverbial wrench into Aeon's plans.
"Of course!" Hades assured, reaching out and placing a fatherly hand on Theodore's shoulder. "I can only imagine how pleased and proud he'll be with you."
"Sap!" Eris coughed.
"You'll make a wonderful addition to Aphrodite's court..." Hades added, smiling.
Now, as he witnessed an entirely different dimension to Hades' personality, Theodore couldn't help being caught between fear and indecision. From what little he knew, both Hades and Aeon were imposing, untrustworthy figures. Common sense vouched that Theodore should take Aeon's side since Aeon was an older, far more powerful god. No matter who got bowled over by the other's sinister schemes in Olympian politics, Theodore only, truly held allegiance to himself, right?
Before he could stop himself, Theodore blurted: "Are you trying to overthrow Zeus?"
"What in the world gave you that idea?!" Hades scoffed in disbelief, frowning.
"The silver apple," Theodore sniffed. "What's the silver apple for?"
"Mind your manners, boy," Hades grunted. "I'm feeling merciful right now, but I can very well change my mind."
"What's the silver apple intended to do?" Theodore pressed, looking directly into Hades' eyes.
"Quit trying my patience, boy!" Hades hissed.
Heart hammering against his chest, Theodore wrapped his fingers tightly around Cupid's immortality. It was his stress ball; his true, sought-after prize in the midst of all of this utter madness. Blowing out a breath, Theo decided to take a risky gamble: "What do you know about Aeon...?"
The very mention of the name made Hades suck in a breath. From the way the Underworld King was reacting, an extreme epiphany occurred to Theodore.
"Aeon wants to steal the Underworld from Unkie Hades!" Rio piped up, making her mother's face turn white. "He thinks Unkie is a power-hungry douchebag!"
"As if Aeon's one to judge?!" Hades growled angrily, gnashing his teeth. "He's overstepping his boundaries again...Every so often, he feels envious towards Ananke and feels the need to interfere with politics. The man can't seem to understand the true facets and responsibility attached to his role!"
"The silver apple is a buffer against Aeon, isn't it?" Theodore gasped, eyes wide.
"Yes," Hades spat, glaring at Theodore with eyes like burning coals. "Aeon used to keep his distance, but he's started having remorse about the current state of the universe, especially Mt. Olympus. If not for Ananke, he'd destroy us all and recreate everything from scratch. He's pretty much doing so as we speak. Chipping away at us all, slowly but surely, like a human sculptor at a plaster mold..."
"Wouldn't it make more sense for Ananke-?"
"Ananke always understood the inherent consequences and nature of how her inhabitants would behave," Hades grunted. "She knows that she's the bigger picture. Something that Aeon seems to forget, considering he started viewing us gods and humans alike as his personal entertainment. He realizes his power and knows he can change things if he wants to..."
Letting out a breath, Theodore plopped down onto one of the couches, feeling the weight of concepts and variables he couldn't sway or control bearing down on him. He sank back into the couch cushions, longing to get away from Hades and his new set of daunting politics, just let the Underworld King do what needed to be done to ensure the future stability of the Underworld and Mt. Olympus. That was his and Zeus' responsibility.
Though part of Theodore was concerned, he could accept that he couldn't do anything. He could save his father now. That was all that mattered...Theo looked down into his hands at the pulsating ball again.
"Aeon sent you after the apple, didn't he?" Hades rounded on Theodore again.
"Yes," Theodore said simply, shoulders hunched. "He convinced me that you were going to use it to stage a coup against Zeus..."
At that, Hades barked a short, sharp laugh. Then the god shook his head, his face a collage of amusement, condescension, and disbelief.
"You poor, gullible kid!" he roared. "I have my own kingdom to attend to! I stay as far away from Olympus as I can; I hate it there! As if I'd want to waste time and energy trying to conquer that piteous cotton ball of delusional bureaucrats!"
"Hey!" Eris griped. "Those 'delusional bureaucrats' are my biggest source of fun and entertainment! They're worth that at least..."
"You're just upset because I'm lumping you in with them," Hades quipped back, smirking.
For some reason, Theodore felt like bursting into tears and rolling into the fetal position. Helplessly, he pulled Cupid's immortality closer towards him, gripping it like a security blanket.
"Get out of here!" Hades demanded, waving a dismissing hand.
As Theodore was about to protest, Hades held up a hand and clucked his tongue.
"Oh, Tartarus, you're a lucky one," Hades warned as he folded his hands behind his back and glared at Theodore in an elitist, condescending way. "Since you're an unsuspecting pawn in Aeon's plans, I'll be merciful and let you go. But, I'd highly suggest that you stay as far away from Olympian politics as possible, Theodore. Pray that we never cross paths again, even when Thanatos brings you here for the last time..."
June 2002-Delmont Summer Camp in Toronto, Ontario
"Olympian politics can be quite the headache..." Cupid chuckled softly, his cheeks a pair of bright red cherries. "I...I'll stop pressuring you to become a god, okay, Theo?"
"Thank you," Theodore said softly, smiling in utter relief. "I'm staying on Earth from now on. Permanently..."
"I'm coming to visit on the holidays," Cupid insisted. "Your grandma may want to tag along every so often, too...And she might bring Ares with her."
"Fine..." Theodore groaned.
"Another thing, Theodore..." Cupid raised a delicate finger, smiling. "Do you still intend to become a counselor?"
"No!" Theodore tapped his chin thoughtfully. "I've been thinking about that quite a bit since I left the Underworld...I'm going to become a doctor, Dad! That way, I can save people and keep them from Hades' grasp just a little bit longer than otherwise." The last bit elicited a very churlish, somewhat devious smile from the young man.
Sandy had once mentioned that she was a Canadian immigrant, and that one day she wanted to return to her hometown of Toronto.
Toronto. For the last two years, Theodore had felt compelled to come here, driven by yearning and insatiable curiosity. Every night, he wondered who his daughter was, what she looked like, how she was doing, what her hopes for the future were. She'd be at least ten years old now...
Sighing, Theodore steeled himself. This summer, he was taking a break from his rigorous medical school classes and had found a part-time job as a summer camp counselor. For the millionth time, he watched the herd of ten-to-fourteen-year-olds scramble into the cafeteria, yelling, cheering, and talking amongst themselves. The other counselors smiled, announcing to the kiddies what the other day activities would be; Theodore was the only one that was stoic and silent.
There was no little girl named Gwen in this group. But, if she were here, would she have her mother's hair, her dark eyes, or his red hair? Silently, and selfishly, Theodore wore a reserved smile hoping that she'd inherited his red hair and Cupid's glamour. That way, she'd never be the butt of cruel jokes and taunting that he'd suffered through; she'd be a beautiful butterfly instead of an awkward, unseemly walking stick...
Just as the thought crossed Theodore's mind, he noticed something off about the cafeteria of happy, chattering pre-teens. His stomach was twisting in knots, horrible memories rolling like film through his mind's eye. Pupils shrinking, he noticed a group of skinny, fashionable girls circling another girl, jeering and teasing. None of the other counselors noticed; they were all busy trying to get some dumb kid to stop sticking peas up her nose on some ridiculous dare.
Something snapped in Theodore as he stomped over. He seemed to be hyper-aware, hearing every taunt they launched at her: fat-ass, Porky, loser...
"Hey, it's the human walking stick!" Sandy jeered at Theodore as he crouched down the hall, hiding behind his books...In the locker room, Theodore avoided taking showers, since the last few times, another boy made a show out of pointing at his "pecker" and making snide comments about the size...In middle school, a dark haired boy in glasses beat up Theodore every day and stole his lunch money until he finally summoned the courage to tell a teacher...It's the human preying mantis!...It's the stick figure with a tiny dick!...Keep up! Do you have any hand-eye coordination, you freak?!...Only a weirdo would know something that obscure...
So many bullies' faces taped to his eyelids, Theodore was living in the past for a brief few seconds. He clenched his fists, anger swimming and bubbling. "Shut up," he said in a low, brutal growl.
All four girls looked up at him with fear and shock. The three that had been picking on the other girl backed away, seeming to shrink in the presence of Theodore's age and authority. Taking a deep breath, Theodore made himself return to the present and calm down. "I'll make sure your parents know exactly what you were doing just now," he threatened, eyes steely. "For now, go sit somewhere else. Your punishment is that you don't get to swim today and you have to help clean up the pool until your parents come to pick you up."
All three girls glared, muttering insincere apologies followed by long strings of cuss words as they turned and walked away. Now Theodore was getting fixed by an indignant glare from the girl that had been getting teased. She had short dark hair and black eyes, wore a pink T-shirt, and clutched at a cheap wallet covered with sequins; she was a bit chubby, too.
"They'll never let me in their group now!" she cried as tears collected at the edges of her eyes. "Thanks to you, you big meanie!"
"They were bullying you!" Theodore protested. "Those girls were calling you such mean, rotten names..."
"Words don't hurt!" the girl said stubbornly, chewing on her bottom lip. "My mom told me that that's how the popular kids behave! I just have to put up with it. If I put up with it long enough, they'd accept me...maybe..." Her eyes trailed towards the floor and from the way she furrowed her brows, Theodore knew she didn't believe in her mom's advice.
"That's a load of crap," Theodore replied bluntly. "Words do hurt. They chip away at your emotional well-being and self-esteem."
"You ruined my chances of getting accepted!" the girl cried.
"What's so great about those girls?" Theodore grilled. "Why are you so determined to be part of their inner circle that you'd willingly degrade yourself?"
"They're cool. Everybody likes them. If I were one of them, everyone would like me."
Blowing out a breath, Theodore started tapping his knee as he remembered that fateful night back in 1991, when he'd gotten tired of his drudgery at the bottom of the social ladder. His solution had been fairytale magic: Cupid gave him looks and charisma, the two tools that had, pretty much, given Theodore everything he wanted and needed. He could tell the young girl the sentimental "believe in yourself" and "rise above the crowd" spiel, but he didn't really understand or believe in the merits of such tripe himself.
Of course she needed to stand up for herself, but after that, she needed something else to help her continue to do so. Self-confidence came with feeling like you had some sort of personal strength or advantage; for Theodore, that was his glamour, his spellcasting mask.
What could he tell this young girl? What was the equivalent of his father's gifts that he could give to her...?
"What makes them cool?" Theodore asked with a half-smile.
"They're fashionable," she replied, confused.
"How do you know that's the case?" Theodore countered, looking into the young girl's eyes.
"They say so..."
"Think about it: Those girls labeled themselves cool and fashionable," he reasoned. "It's a label, a label that can be peeled off just as easily as it was applied."
Smiling, Theodore watched as the girl mulled things over, the gears whirring in her brain. After a full minute, her eyes widened with an epiphany. "Mom doesn't get called names by her friends!" Her brows furrowed. "She tells them what to do. How things work..."
"There's one girl that calls all the shots, isn't there?" Theodore followed.
"Yeah, Hope," the girl conceded. "Rachel and Lily dress and act like she does. If she likes something, they do, too. Just like Mom and her friends..." Following this logic, she smirked. "If I took Hope's place, I'd be in charge. I'd be like Mom. It wouldn't be me getting rejected, because I'd be the one calling the shots!"
"How will you take over their group?" Theodore asked, raising an eyebrow.
This is where the girl deflated, retreating back to her original, helpless state. Gritting his teeth, Theodore remembered when he'd been in her place.
"Figure out their weaknesses," Theodore whispered, regressing to his fifteen-year-old self. "What makes them tick. If Lily hates bugs, cover her with bugs. If Hope has a crush on another boy, flirt with that boy. Exploit their weaknesses and lever yourself. They'll fear you."
"...Hope has a diary," the girl said, her eyes shining with realization. "I know where she hides both it and the key..."
"Find that diary," Theodore encouraged. "Read it. Watch what Hope does then..."
"I never even thought about doing that!" she reveled.
"Hope will be kissing your feet," Theodore agreed, eyes shining as he smiled sinisterly.
Glee erupted in the pit of his stomach. Right now, he was living vicariously through this young girl, delighting in the notion that she'd triumph over her harassers, a feat that he'd never been able to pull off. He'd charmed his opposition; he knew how people could bend like bamboo, how they could molded with sweet, gentle words or brutal blackmail.
Part of Theodore knew how perverse and wrong this approach was. Though, really, these girls deserved a taste of their own medicine, right? Some people deserved to have evil inflicted upon them. Besides, Theodore himself wasn't an entirely rotten apple; he imagined that once this young girl took command, she'd be a better leader than Hope, right?
"You're a genius, Mister!" the little girl gushed.
"If you ever need any other advice, I'm here," he acknowledged, hearing a slight waver in his voice now. "You can call me Theodore."
"My name's Heather," she said, her eyes glowing with an all-too-familiar malice.
February 2007-Kate Litwick's Apartment in New York City
"...Man, where did you learn to do that?!" the brunette crowed, her blue eyes shining.
"So...you're a satisfied customer?" Theodore smiled in a cat-like way, rolling his shoulders.
Sighing contentedly, the young woman took a few steps back then tumbled into bed, reaching for Theodore's arms and wrapping them around her lithe, slender body. The two cuddled up under the tangle of sheets and blankets, the woman a warm and refreshing candle light.
Pulling her closer, Theodore kissed her cheek. His heart was beating slow and steady. When was the last time he'd felt such timid, sparking attraction?
When she kissed him back, realization hit Theodore like a crashing wave: He was falling in love. For the second time in his life, he was getting to experience that sweetness, those wonderful moments akin to a dark red rose unfurling its' petals. Gently, the new meaning in Theodore's life reached up overhead at the light switch and tugged it, drowning the room in darkness.
"Kate Renard," Theodore whispered.
"Theodore Litwick," she replied, giggling.
Sleep came very easily anymore. Because of Kate, Theodore felt like an entirely new man. When he looked into her eyes, he felt like his past was a million miles away. With her, there were no ghost desires to return to Sandy, no keening or guilt for past transgressions, only a bright and wonderful future with marriage and-
"Welcome back, Theodore!" Aeon crooned in a sing-song voice.
All of a sudden, Theodore found himself in Aeon's stark and blinding white twilight zone. Gasping, he realized he was naked; feebly, he tried to cover his privates while the time god just stared at him, utterly bemused, as he folded his arms. Next to Aeon stood Kate, looking guilty as her hair fell in her face and she looked down at her feet.
"What...What's going on?" Theodore asked, his voice cracking.
"This is the daughter I told you about so long ago!" Aeon cackled, placing an arm around her shoulders.
Unnerved, Theodore noticed Kate clenching her fists, the way she corkscrewed her lip.
"You were just thinking about marriage, weren't you, Theo, my boy?" Aeon said grandly, smiling wide. "Well, you have my blessing!" Then he gestured at his daughter. "Aeon, Jr.?"
Silently, Kate lowered her head that much more, her face hidden behind a curtain of hair now. The skin on her right and left shoulders started shifting and bubbling like the surface of boiling water; she started to writhe, moaning.
Horrorstruck, Theodore could only watch as his naked lover transformed: A bull's head sprouted from her right shoulder and a lion's from her left. A tail snapped idly behind her, waving casually through the air.
"Kate...?" Theodore called, reaching out to her with shaking fingers. "Katy...?"
She made a small, incomprehensible sound as she stepped forward. Then she took another step, and another, slowly making her way towards Theodore. The closer she was, the more Theodore noticed that her human side had, more or less, completely shut down; her head drooped and flopped around lazily like a dead daisy's. Any life still present in Kate was expressed in the bull snorting and the lion roaring impatiently.
For the past few minutes, Theodore had been frozen in utter shock, staring with wide eyes and gaping fish lips. His hand was shaking violently as instinct kicked in. Every part of him was begging to turn and run, especially now that Kate was close enough that she was reaching out towards him; the bull's and lion's eyes gleamed in hungry anticipation.
Screaming, Theodore turned and started to run. Even though he had nowhere to go in a blank white void, he ran anyway, going faster and faster as his red hair started to flutter around his face. Briefly, he shot a look over his shoulder; Kate was so close, her strides becoming faster as her human legs transformed into the chunkier, more musclebound equivalent of a bull's.
Helplessly, Theodore tried to pour on more speed, but he knew it was helpless when he felt vibrations beneath his feet.
Next thing he knew, Theodore fell, hitting the ground with a rough 'oof.' He was pinned by a pair of lion paws, the claws sinking into his skin. Gasping, Theodore could feel the air leaking out of his lungs in a steady stream as two pairs of ferocious, bloodthirsty eyes looked down at him. Desperately, he wanted to scream, but that was pretty much impossible when he felt like he could barely breathe...
Kate lifted her human head, the hair falling away from her face. Panting, she looked at him with regretful eyes, her lips trembling.
"What...What...?" Theodore gaped.
"He wants a new world-egg," she explained in a hushed voice. "He wants us to mate and create a new world-egg..."
There were tears in her eyes, sliding down her face.
"If that happens, it means the end of the current universe as we know it," Kate went on in a rush, her voice almost drowned out by the noises her other two animal heads were making.
Theodore swallowed, wishing he could reach up and wipe the tears away from her eyes. Sorrow swelled and rose in his chest, spilling over him as he swallowed heavily. It was such a strange sensation to be caught up in a net of overwhelming fear and irrational adoration all at the same time.
"I love you..." he admitted, despite how inappropriate it was for him to say that right now.
"You have to slay me, Theodore!" Kate squawked, her eyes a pair of watery marbles now. "Kill me!"
"No!" Theodore screamed.
"You have to!" she screamed back.
"I won't do it!" Theodore shrieked. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me...I'm not messing up again! Without you, I-"
"I was your newest replacement for Sandy!" Kate howled back, the bull and lion heads snarling and angry; the lion's teeth were two rows of sharp razors.
"No..." Theodore whispered, shaking his head. "No..."
"Do you really know anything about me?" Kate's claws dug into his wrists as she leaned in closer. Their faces were barely inches apart, her blue eyes the points of daggers as her gaze dug into his soul, dragging razor blades through him.
"I know everything," he gasped.
"You know nothing," she whispered. "What's my favorite color? My favorite song...?"
"Yellow. And I hate classical music," Kate snarled back.
With that last response, her eyes snapped shut and her human head fell forward and limp again. Now Theodore was eye to eye with the lion, his frightened and tear-stained face reflected in the depths of those golden eyes. With a struggling breath, Theodore discarded his humanity for the current instant. Adrenaline flushed through his veins as he, somehow, yanked his arms out from Kate's pin.
Then he reached up past the lion's head, towards Kate's human one. He wrapped both hands around her neck and started squeezing; the lion turned and chomped into his arm, the teeth sinking into his flesh and sending sharp prickles of pain all throughout his body. Gasping, Theodore ignored it and squeezed harder.
Next, the bull head bit into Theodore's other arm, the bite jarring, but nowhere near as painful as the lion's. A few seconds passed; Kate's eyes flew open, the pupils small pinpricks. Fresh tears leaked from her eyes and ran down her face as the light started fading. As Theodore persisted in his grisly task, the lion and bull heads, along with the tail, disappeared.
Releasing Kate, Theodore screamed as her body fell forward and, quickly, he wrapped his arms around her, cradling her in his embrace. Hot tears spilled from his eyes and down his face. The bright white started to fade, the last vision Theodore seeing being Aeon's disgruntled and disapproving face.
For the next few hours, Theodore held Kate close to him under the covers, clinging to her like a life raft. When the sun was shining in through the window, Thanatos appeared, his expression sympathetic. Kate's soul stepped up and out of her body, standing next to the god of death and smiling sadly at Theodore.
"I'm finally free from Aeon..." she sighed happily, smiling. "You saved Mt. Olympus, Theodore."
Thanatos grunted in agreement, nodding silently.
...At what cost? Theodore thought bitterly as a tear slid down his face, cold and wet.
December 2007-Hephaestus' Forge
"My repairs ought to have fixed most of the major damage done to your body, Theodore," Hephaestus grunted, wiping his forehead with the back of his gauntlet.
Theodore took a deep, rattling breath; he could feel the newly installed machinery, the click and whir of every last gear. Of course Theodore was eternally grateful to the blacksmith god for rescuing him from the very brink of death, but all he could think about was the unfortunate fate that had befallen the young, blond teenage Total Drama intern.
Closing his eyes, Theodore could remember the scene with far too vivid clarity:
Dark-robed and grim-looking Thanatos looked down at Theodore, his skeletal hand extended. The god of death was getting irritable and impatient; he easily ignored the bloodied and torn open corpse of the intern while it was all that Theodore could look at. The winged and wraith-like Keres surrounded the young boy, squabbling amongst themselves as to who would get to take the first bite of his body.
Next to Thanatos stood the intern's soul, fearful and nervous as he tried to come to terms with the fact that he was now dead.
"Come on, Theodore!" Thanatos grumbled. "I have a schedule to keep."
Barely able to breathe, Theodore looked down at his own mangled body now. A huge pool of blood was spilling and growing beneath him; he could feel his heart pumping more and more slowly with each passing moment. Theodore was barely holding on to his physical body, a hangnail away from death.
"Chris!" Theodore gurgled. "Chris is responsible for this..."
"Yeah, McClain's responsible for most of my jobs this month," Thanatos sighed. "Want me to put your name on the petition going around? Bunch of souls in the Underworld are trying to get Nemesis to put a curse on him or something..."
That response made Theodore's eyes widen and his blood boil. Rage overtook him, such an intense, blinding rage unlike anything he'd ever experienced before. Chris was the key that unlocked the curse that Nemesis had placed on him seven years ago.
Theodore let out a long and keening primal scream; he choked on his own blood shortly afterward, tumbling into unconsciousness. The entire time he'd been floating around in his own mind, all Theodore could think about was the young intern, how his life had been cut short by the callous and careless actions of his employer Chris McClain. How Theodore himself had almost been brought to his own death by those very same actions...
Theodore moaned as he opened his eyes again. Rage flooded through his remaining veins, escalating as he stared at his chest and his arm, met by the gleam of metal and circuitry. Angry tears squiggled out of the grown man's eyes and chased down his cheeks as he flexed his fingers, mournfully remembering the flesh and the knuckles, Sandy's tiny fingers interlocking through the gaps between his.
"I'm hideous..." Theodore groaned.
"Yup..." Hephaestus pulled at the end of his glove, then turned away and wandered into the depths of his forge. Weary, Theodore watched the muscular god as he started prepping a long sheet of metal, the way his muscles rippled and strained with the effort-
"Theodore!" Cupid appeared at Theodore's elbow, his concerned face blocking Hephaestus and Theodore's view of the rest of the forge.
Theodore grunted, grimacing as he started gnashing his teeth.
"I'm so glad you're alright, Theodore," Cupid sighed, leaning in and gently hugging his son.
"I'm not alright," Theodore grunted.
"You're alive!" Cupid protested. " You recently saved Mt. Olympus from Aeon. You're a year away from becoming a doctor. You had a high-ranking job as an executive producer. You have the mortal world at your feet-"
"I'm not alright!" Theodore howled, pushing his father away. Breathing hard and heavily, Theodore could feel the strain between his new mechanical parts and his organic body. "I'll never be okay again!"
Cupid looked back at him worriedly. "Is there anything-"
"I was so close to turning my life around!" Theodore yelped. "I was going to get married and stay loyal to a woman for once in my pitiful life...I was going to save up money to give to my children for college and pay my own bills..."
"You can still-"
"All I want is to be a better human being..." Theodore panted, breaking out in a sweat. "But, every time I've tried to atone for my sins, I've failed. There's only one way I can redeem myself...only one way I can..."
"...what's that?" Cupid asked nervously, eyes wide and fearful.
"I have to kill Chris McClain, of course!" Theodore crowed, breaking out in a manic smile. "From now on, every waking moment, everything I do will be towards the cause of eliminating that scourge from the Earth! I'm going to cripple him. I'll crush him! I'll destroy him...!"
By now, Theodore had lapsed into a manic episode, digressing off on a long, brutal tirade as he gestured and screamed. Only Cupid was deeply scarred and worried, watching closely as a dark black mark appeared on Theodore's cheek: As if burned there by a branding iron there was now a silhouette of Nemesis' winged form, a pulsating green light surrounding it...


Classic Golfs and Beetles to appear at Techno Classica Essen in Germany
The Volkswagen Golf has been with us forty years, even when it was called the Rabbit in the U.S. market. Volkswagen will be celebrating the Golf’;s historical past with a special appearance at Techno Classica Essen, a single of German’;s largest classic car events. “forty many years of Golf” will feature autos from each generation of this classic, which has offered a lot more than thirty million copies all in excess of the planet considering that its debut in 1974.
The 1st generation Golf went into manufacturing at Volkswagen’;s Mittelland Canal plant in May possibly of 1974, featuring a front-wheel drive layout, a water-cooled engine, and a very sophisticated suspension for a car of its dimension with a MacPherson setup in the front and semi-independent twist-beam suspension in the back. Made by Giorgetto Giugiaro at ItalDesign, the Mark I Golf was far more aerodynamic than it looked, and its exterior remained visually fresh nicely into the 1980s. By then, automotive design had only begun to catch up to, and emulate, the form of the Golf. The Golf truly sparked what was then and is now called the “Golf class” in numerous parts of the globe, and the vehicle now has more competitors than we can count.
The 6th-generation Golf is positive to remain a staple of Volkswagen’;s lineup, and even however the automaker has because expanded its range of tiny vehicles, Golf platforms previous and new continue to underpin numerous Volkswagen Automotive Group cars in close to 200 world markets.
For Techno Traditional Essen Volkswagen guarantees that celebrated racer Hans-Joachim Stuck will be on hand to signal autographs, and the business will also display many “Power Beetles” along with the “Salzburg” Beetle, the Beetle RSi, and the Volkswagen E-Bugster.
The Volkswagen Classic stand at Techno Classica Essen will be open from March 26 through March 30. Click right here for far more details about the occasion.
Get far more vehicle news, critiques and opinion each day: Sign up to have the Autoweek Everyday Drive delivered proper to your inbox.


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Q: In the kitchen of the house we just bought, the previous owner spilled carpenter’s/wood glue on the inside of our cabinet doors as well as on the laminate floors. Is there any solvent I can safely use to dissolve the glue to make it easier to scrape it off?
Any other advice on wood glue removal from laminated surfaces would be appreciated.
A: Not sure. Some wood glue will soften with water, but my suspicion is that what he used may not, but it’s worth a try to wet it really well (tape a wet cloth to it if you have to). Otherwise, I would contact the company that makes the adhesive. Some adhesives such as cyano-acrylate and polyurethane have their own adhesive removers. You might also try emailing Lee Valley Tools but you will probably need to know the exact adhesive that was used; adhesive name and manufacturer.

domain: chemistry


HeartsrevolutionView in iTunes
To preview a song, mouse over the title and click Play. Open iTunes to buy and download music.
Equally cute and confrontational, New York's brash synth pop outfit Heartsrevolution features Leyla "Lo" Safai, Ben Pollock, and drummer Terry Campbell, who joins the duo for live shows. Taking their name from "Her Jazz," a song by the riot grrrl band Huggy Bear, the group's origins date back to 2005, when Safai asked Pollock to write music for the Heartschallenger ice cream truck (which helped fund the band's releases and was later named Best Band Vehicle by Rolling Stone). Heartsrevolution's self-released debut single "C.Y.O.A." arrived in 2007; later that year, they shared a split single with Crystal Castles. They released a slew of short-form releases in the late 2000s, including 2008's Switchblade EP and Ultraviolence single, and 2009's Hearts Japan EP. That year, the band's song "Dance Till Dawn" was played on the CW show Gossip Girl. Heartsrevolution began work on their first full-length and also embarked on some ambitious art projects, which included covering Heartschallenger in Swarovski crystals (a task that took the band two and a half years) and Street He(art), an installation of over 2,000 hanging stuffed animals that appeared in New York, Los Angeles, and Tokyo. The group resurfaced in 2011 with the Are We Having Fun Yet? mixtape, a set of songs featuring tracks by Marilyn Manson, Pink Floyd, and the Shangri-Las. In 2013, Heartsrevolution celebrated their move to Skrillex's OWSLA label with the July release of the Ride or Die EP, their first new music in almost four years; it was followed that December by the Revolution Rising mixtape, on which Just Blaze was an executive producer. The duo's full-length debut, also titled Ride or Die, arrived in April 2014. ~ Heather Phares


January 28th, 2013 by John Kim
Rajon Rondo’s best individual season to date was cut short yesterday when news of a torn ACL (an injury that takes up to a year to fully recover from) placed a dark cloud over the Boston franchise. The immediate future of Boston’s Playoff hopes has gotten considerably bleaker as the Eastern Conference All-Star guard is now forced to watch his struggling team from the sidelines, but Rondo’s work ethic should have him back on the court at 100% sooner than expected. Rondo, who is certainly out of that signature-sneaker range and more in the PE category, made more headlines than any other NBA player thanks to his surprising rotation of footwear, which we feel deserves a thorough viewing in light of the recent events.
For sneaker fans, Rondo was an immediate surprise when he opened the season with the Polarized Pink Foamposite Ones, and since then, he’s established himself as the frontrunner for NBA Feet champion this season thanks to a healthy rotation of Foamposites, Hyperposite PEs, and plenty more – a certain out-of-nowhere story in a league dominated by bonafide sneaker fanatics like DeMar DeRozan, Monta Ellis, Nate Robinson, Nick Young, and more. We hope Rondo has a speedy recovery, so until he makes it back to the hardwood, check out this season recap of Rondo’s best hits and let us know if he should be considered for our end-of-the-season NBA Feet awards despite being active for half a season.


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domain: design


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Plans to tackle water in a harbour turning orange have been agreed, 16 months after the problem emerged.
Discoloured water started entering Whitehaven Harbour at the end of 2022 - an issue thought to be linked to historic mining.
Copeland MP Trudy Harrison chaired a meeting of agencies, authorities and regulators in West Cumbria.
A collaborative approach was agreed on Friday, including filtration and "long-term" efforts to address the cause.
Investigations to find the source of the problem started in 2023, with tests carried out at a railway tunnel.
Network Rail engineers took samples four months ago to find out if water from old mine workings was entering the Bransty Tunnel between Corkickle and Whitehaven then flowing to the harbour culvert.
Earlier samples were taken by the Environment Agency from Queens Dock in December 2022 and February 2023, and said initial results from the samples showed "increased metals in the water".
'Complex to solve'
Friday's meeting brought together government bodies and local authorities including Whitehaven Town Council, Northern Rail, the Environment Agency, Highways England, Network Rail and the Coal Authority.
Afterwards, Ms Harrison, Conservative, said she feared any action would not be fast enough to ensure a solution by the end of the year, but welcomed the collaborative approach agreed.
Deanne Shallcross, chief executive of Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners, believed the issue was impacting visitor numbers and local businesses.
She said solutions agreed by the multi-agency task force would not solve the "wider problem" of the area's topography.
"The historical mine-working, the railway tunnel and other problems mean this is a complex problem to solve," she added
She said she shared "community frustrations" that no solution had been found to date, adding: "We are not the creator of the contaminated water, just its recipient."
Sailor Hank De Groot is among harbour users who have raised concerns.
"The main problem for me is that it makes things very dirty - when the water comes on board or on hands or clothes, it makes a real mess of things," he said.
"It would be an inconvenience to move away from the harbour but if it doesn't get resolved in the near future, I would consider it."
Defra's minister for water, Robbie Moore, is expected to visit Whitehaven later this month.

domain: news


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A video clip shared on social media network, shows whipping of the three adults by the Taliban group.
The three adults were being whipped in connection to eating during the Ramadan month in a remote area of Obah district in Herat province.
The shared clip shows Taliban members whipping three adults with wooden stick in front of a public gathering.
This comes as last week a woman was flogged by the Taliban in the same region for adultery.
It is worth mentioning that the Taliban in some areas have control over trials, and are judging people in various summary courts for various criminal activities.
Previously a woman was stoned to death for being involved in adultery.
Afghanistan’s general law does not allow summary courts and it is against the law to judge people without prosecution in summary courts.


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TMC MP blames ‘payers’ not ‘payees’ for cash-for school-job scam case
Kolkata, Sep 10 (IANS) Trinamool Congress leader and three- time Lok Sabha member Saugata Roy on Sunday held ‘payers’ more responsible than ‘payees’ in the multi-crore cash-for-school- job scam case in West Bengal.
Roy, himself a retired professor of physics, said that the people gets allured to teaching jobs because of the factor of “high salaries” against “lesser work” and this syndrome prompts several youths to somehow get teaching jobs at any cost and going to any extent.
“It is unfortunate but true that these days very few view teaching as a ‘mission’ rather than a ‘profession’. Often people take up teaching as a profession, being unable to get jobs elsewhere. That is why there have been so many complaints of irregularities in teacher’s recruitment. The root cause is the same which is ‘high salaries’ against ‘lesser work’. However, corruption is not acceptable at any cost. Let the law take its own course,” he said.
He said that the Indian communists earlier had always conducted movements in demand for higher salaries for teachers.
“Their logic was that in absence of the higher salaries for the teachers, the academic quality cannot improve. Now the salaries in teaching jobs are lucrative. But has it really resulted in improvement in academic quality?” he questioned.
Recently a judge of the special court of Prevention of the Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Kolkata, where matters related to the cash-for-school- job case are being heard, also observed that those paying cash for getting the school jobs unethically are equally guilty with those receiving the same to facilitate the process.
The judge also observed that corruption can be handled only if both the “demand” and “supply” side of the irregularities are addressed by the law enforcement agencies.

domain: law


SINGAPORE - ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) and Frasers Property (Thailand) Public Company (FPT) is investing seven billion baht (S$302 million) to build a data centre development in Bangkok.
The move builds on their joint venture partnership announced in April last year with Thai developer FPT, which was then known as Ticon. STT GDC is owned by ST Telemedia.
Located in Ramkhamhaeng in the centre of Bangkok, the new data centre will be the largest in Thailand with a gross floor area of 60,000 sqm.
The development will have two data centre buildings, with the first building designed with close to 30,000 sqm of gross floor area.
Construction of phase one of the project is expected to conclude in 2021, data centre service provider STT GDC said on Tuesday. FPT president Sopon Racharaksa said the first data centre will be in Ramkhamhaeng, located in the centre of Bangkok, in a bid to develop seamless connectivity and ease of access to business communities.
"We expect a strong demand from banking and financial institutions, e-commerce players, global cloud operators, MNC's and local corporates," he said.
Mr Racharaksa added that the collaboration will broaden FPT's ability to offer comprehensive services from industrial buildings to data centre services to our customers. It will also allow FPT to bring its local expertise to ensure the successful development of the data centre.
Reports show that prospects for Thailand's digital economy is positive with IT-related spending estimated at US$72 billion over 2019 to 2022, said the companies.
STT GDC group chief executive officer Bruno Lopez said: "We are already seeing positive interest from global cloud service providers and enterprises who are looking to leverage the growth in the digital economy."


GE is dedicated to bringing to market innovative solutions that provide energy and water security, create jobs, and reduce environmental impact, thereby creating sustainable infrastructure for the societies of tomorrow. We work directly with our customers on some of the world’s most complex challenges, ranging from advanced water-reuse capabilities in water-scarce regions to making a country’s energy infrastructure “smarter.” We do this because it’s the right thing to do, because we see opportunities for increased energy efficiency, and because there is a clear business opportunity in creating effective, environmentally friendly products. We invest in a range of solutions, giving us the flexibility to support the leading platforms of the future.
Through GE’s ecomagination program, initiated in 2005, we are defining the future of sustainable products in a range of fields and have been able to bring to market differentiated products that use fewer resources. Ecomagination products undergo a qualification program that thoroughly examines product inputs, design, material availability and, now, even the potential to re-manufacture a product’s parts. Ecomagination is embedded in our business metrics. It has facilitated innovation across our wide portfolio of businesses by asking a simple question: How can we provide the infrastructure that the world needs using the least amount of resources?
Robust, cost-effective water systems will continue to be one of the biggest needs of this century. Population growth, urbanization and climate change will exacerbate water scarcity and put further pressure on already-stressed natural and built systems. Improved water management through increased efficiency and conservation, multiple uses of water, and improvements in water storage will be critical to providing water for a number of industrial sectors and populations, especially those who are most vulnerable to water scarcity.
GE has focused on providing solutions that benefit our customers and society at large. Our Power & Water portfolio of ecomagination products includes purification technologies that reclaim up to 99% of wastewater for recycling, accelerate water-use reductions, and treat wastewater to provide customers with safe drinking water.
At the same time, we work to ensure that water consumption is minimized while our products are being used by our customers. From industries that need to recycle their wastewater to municipalities that need to meet demands of growing populations, we focus on helping our customers address their major water and wastewater challenges.
In addition to our internal water-management, our efforts to improve our customers’ water management include:
ZeeWeed Membrane Bioreactor Technology combines proven ultra-filtration technology with biological treatment for wastewater treatment and reuse, resulting in consistent, high-quality effluent suitable for any discharge or reuse application. Additionally, by incorporating advanced membrane-aeration technology, GE helps customers significantly reduce energy consumption.
The world’s largest Mobile Water Fleet helps customers meet water demands during emergencies through 24-hour dispatching of water-treatment equipment and services necessary to safeguard equipment and stay online.
Energy & Climate
As with water, we need to significantly improve the world’s energy infrastructure to address the needs of a growing and increasingly energy-hungry global population, and GE products are contributing to the solution. Global energy needs are expected to grow 40% in the next two decades. We must address these needs in a way that controls the release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and other pollutants. At the same time, we must recognize that climate change is already occurring, and that resilient infrastructure that will continue to serve effectively in a warming, increasingly unpredictable world is needed.
We work on improving energy infrastructure in two particular ways. First, we are increasing the efficiency of and reducing the GHG emissions from energy generation by reducing the downside of fossil fuels and by bringing down the costs of renewable-energy generation. Secondly, we are increasing the energy efficiency of critical infrastructure—from buildings to transportation.
Efficient energy production from natural gas provides significant sustainability advantages over many other energy sources, while also taking advantage of a secure and stable energy source whose price has decreased dramatically in recent years. GE continues to innovate in the development of natural gas turbines, recently developing a trailer-mounted aeroderivative turbine whose high efficiency and energy output are ideal for emergency power needs. We have also developed flexible-fuel turbines that can run on either natural gas or synthetic gas produced from renewable feedstocks, and, as part of our energy-technology breadth, we continue to explore carbon-capture technologies that would reduce the GHG emissions from fossil fuels.
GE also works extensively on developing renewable-energy infrastructure, from a growing fleet of wind turbines to new efforts in solar panels. Our 1.6 MW wind turbine is already cost-competitive with nonrenewable energy sources in regions with high gas prices, and we continue to develop a 10 MW wind turbine for offshore use. We are also developing our thin-film solar applications, including a recently launched cadmium telluride line of cells.
In addition to working on increasingly efficient and innovative energy products that result in lower GHG emissions, we also support the rollout of smart-grid infrastructure that supports grid stability and efficiency, and the integration of renewables in the energy mix through energy storage and software that manages energy demand.
While GE products support the efficient, low-carbon production of energy, we also help energy users manage and reduce their energy consumption. Over the past two years, for example, more than 40 GE SG Series high-efficiency Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) systems have been installed with eBoost technology, which increases efficiency from 92%–94% to 98%–99%.
Adaptation and Resilience
Climate change will have a profound impact on our energy and water infrastructures in the coming years. The availability of water, predictability of temperatures and potential for violent weather events may all change significantly, which would affect both the demand and supply of energy and water in unpredictable ways. We will continue to develop and adapt a resilient product portfolio to meet the needs of this changing world, and work with customers to ensure that the solutions we provide will meet society’s needs both today and in the future.
For the past three years, GE has ranked #1 on Maplecroft’s Climate Innovation Index, which measures companies’ climate and energy efforts and identifies those with the greatest number of innovation programs with long-term potential. We will continue to innovate and develop new products that address the world’s need for efficient, low-carbon energy.
Transportation networks for the movement of people and goods, whether local, regional or global, will need dramatic improvements in the coming years. The OECD notes, for example, that global freight volumes could be two to four times larger by 2050, while air passenger traffic may double in the next 15 years alone. Developed economies need to upgrade aging infrastructure, while emerging economies need to expand their transportation networks to support economic growth. In all cases, solutions need to be effective at getting goods and people from origins to destinations on time and at reasonable cost. They also must be increasingly efficient in order to reduce transport’s role as a leading—and growing—producer of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and other pollutants. Finally, improvements must be done safely.
GE has a vital role to play in improving transportation equipment—ranging from vehicles to locomotives to aircraft engines—as well as the transport networks that cars, trains and aircraft rely on.
While electric vehicles (EVs) offer tremendous benefits to consumers and to cities, they also pose some significant challenges. EVs could reduce U.S. oil importation by 52%, and electricity costs per mile are expected to be approximately one-quarter to one-third those of gasoline. However, grid reliability, consumer impact, public charging stations and alternative fuel options all need to be addressed to ensure safe, efficient EV integration. GE is actively working on these challenges with governments and industry partners to implement EV infrastructure.
In San Diego, for example, GE is working closely with a range of partners to help identify the elements needed for one of the largest EV infrastructures in the U.S., including working to understand vehicle-charging patterns and implementing tools to manage the loads that this activity would place on the electric system. GE is also working on improvements to motors used in EVs and hybrids, including a prototype tested in July 2012 that is 3%–5% more efficient than motors on the market today and can operate at significantly higher temperatures, requiring less cooling and ultimately reducing vehicle weight.
Rail is one of the most efficient means of moving large amounts of freight overland, and, as noted elsewhere, GE works on increasing this efficiency and reducing rail’s environmental impacts in several different ways, including locomotive efficiency, and train operations and network management. GE has unveiled the prototype for its next Evolution® Series Locomotive, which will decrease key emissions by more than 70% and save railroad customers more than $1.5 billion in infrastructure and operational costs. Additionally, GE is supporting the safety of the rail network itself through solutions like RailEdge Safety & Security, as well as through improved network scheduling and planning. These improvements ultimately result in more rapid and reliable goods shipments, which in turn enhance the attractiveness of rail as both an environmentally and economically sound means of moving goods.
The aviation industry as a whole is committed to increasing its efficiency, transitioning to carbon-neutral growth and reducing CO2 emissions by 50% from a 2005 baseline in the long term. As with rail, GE approaches this challenge from several directions, including engine technology, renewable fuels and improvements in operations. We have been a technology leader in supporting industry goals, from providing some of the most efficient and least-polluting aircraft engines to supporting the development and integration of biofuels that are fully interchangeable with fossil fuels. At the Rio+20 conference in 2012, for example, a GE-powered Azul Brazilian Airlines Embraer jet took off for a test flight using biofuel blends from plants like Jatropha; a desert shrub; wood chips; and algae. We also provide technology that improves the efficiency of operations and the overall air transport network, such as our Required Navigation Performance (RNP) technology, being implemented by AirAsia, LAN airlines, Qantas and others. RNP enables extremely efficient and precise flight paths, which reduce aircraft noise and fuel use while supporting safety initiatives.
GE understands that access to financial resources is important at all levels of business and society. At the business level, we provide financial resources that organizations use to create and implement efforts that support sustainability endeavors. GE works with governments, business and small entrepreneurial organizations to provide capital. GE also recognizes the importance of finance at the social level, particularly in the emerging markets, where experience with financial capital may not be as robust. Our local community outreach efforts facilitate this knowledge growth, which is critical to individual and overall economic success in these regions.
GE Invests in the Future of Energy
With one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and populations, India needs new, cleaner sources of power to continue fueling its economic expansion. Roughly one-third of its 1.2 billion citizens lacks access to electricity. Of the 200 gigawatts produced by the country’s energy projects in operation, most are generated by fossil fuels. In response, the Government of India has set a target to meet 20% of the country’s energy needs with renewable sources by 2020.
Rising to the challenge, the GE unit GE Energy Financial Services provided capital to build wind farms using the latest GE technology, supplying power to some Indian villages for the first time. For example, GE assembled and installed a new wind farm in Karnataka for the Bhoruka Power Corporation ahead of schedule in August 2012. The project, which has a capacity of 25.5MW of sustainable, clean energy and supports the local government’s renewable energy program, demonstrates GEs commitment to serving India’s growing energy demand through wind energy.
Opportunities for investment in the future of energy exist around the world. In October 2012, GE Energy Financial Services joined with Verve Energy and First Solar, Inc. to open the 10MW Greenough River Solar Farm near Geraldton, Western Australia. The project partners are exploring an expansion of this installation—already the largest in the country—to 40MW, demonstrating how renewable technologies can contribute to meeting energy needs.
Innovative and Accessible Healthcare
At GE, we believe health is the most valuable thing on earth. All the money in the world can’t buy it. Those who have it don’t always appreciate it. Those who have lost it will do anything to get it back.
Yet everywhere around the world, three things are common to the healthcare challenge: the need for quality care that is accessible and affordable.
GE offers the most value, for both our customers and our communities, when we use our global scale and our drive to take on seemingly intractable challenges such as meeting the global need for healthcare quality, access and affordability. In launching healthymagination in 2009, we committed to do the following by 2015:
- Invest $6 billion to continuously develop and move forward innovations that deliver high-quality, more affordable healthcare to more people around the world.
- Reach an additional 100 million people every year with services and technologies essential for health.
- Partner with GE employees and their families around the world to help them live and work in the healthiest way possible.
Today, just over four years later, we are seeing the outcome of that focus on and commitment to innovation. We are building more sustainable delivery models and offering better products at more price points in more regions around the world. At the end of 2012, GE had invested over $3 billion of our planned $6 billion, and developed 65 innovations that were healthymagination-validated.
We believe that innovation—in products and partnerships—will continue to define healthymagination’s future.
We launched a $1 billion campaign to combine the unique strength of GE’s portfolio of integrated cancer technologies with collaboration between GE and its partners to accelerate innovation, with the goal of delivering better care to 10 million patients by 2020.
We believe that with this combination of technology and collaboration, we can play an important role in transforming cancer from the deadly disease it is today to a chronic condition that can be managed, slowed and even stopped.
Innovative models for delivery are just as crucial as advancing technology when it comes to bringing better health to more people at lower cost. In Cincinnati, Ohio, we convened employers, hospitals, doctors, insurers and others with the goal of building a healthier community. By driving common information and common standards of care, we’ve helped transform more than 100 physician practices into models of coordinated primary care. The results, while early, are already showing fewer ER visits, fewer admissions and fewer avoidable conditions. We are committed to lasting success and to bringing the power of unprecedented partnerships to other GE communities, starting with Louisville, Ky., and Erie, Pa.
Lastly, when it comes to health, GE wants to lead by example. HealthAhead is our effort to create a culture of health and wellness for GE employees, as part of our commitment to partner with GE employees and their families. Under the HealthAhead banner, we have certified more than 400 of our global work sites as “healthy,” and have made tools and resources available to two-thirds of our employees to improve their health.
Healthymagination uses GE’s scale to transform healthcare by incubating disruptive and scalable solutions. Healthymagination is committed to helping real people and achieving real results. We have touched over 500 million lives, to date exceeding our commitment, and we are only just getting started. We can transform how we treat disease. We can empower communities to be healthier. We can build a healthcare system that helps people live better lives. Working together, we can help cure the world. Technology, people and partnerships—this is how change happens. This is how GE Works.
Learn more about our healthymagination products.


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Georgia gubernatorial candidates draw contrasts but little fire in first debate
Democrat Stacey Abrams and Republican Brian Kemp tangled over voting rights, Medicaid expansion and personal finances.
16 minutes ago - The Washington Post - 3 articles
Gov debate exposes Cuomo's cynical election bet
The third term is never the charm for an Albany politician - ask former Gov. George Pataki, who capped off two successful terms in office with a directionless muddle after the...
18 minutes ago - New York Post
SHOT/ CHASER: Republican Spin Exposed by Their Own Spending Decisions - Map Continues to Expand
“We made it clear from day one that we would aggressively build the largest battlefield in a decade and recruit strong candidates who can win tough races, regardless of the...
24 minutes ago - DCCC
Rachel Maddow Busts Republicans For Fake Supporting Obamacare
Rachel Maddow called out Republicans who are pretending to support Obamacare in the midterm election by name and exposed their ACA killing agenda.
44 minutes ago - Politicus USA
Republican Indiana attorney general not charged after groping allegations
By Gabriella Borter - Indiana's attorney general will not face criminal charges after a special prosecutor investigated claims by four women that he groped them at a party, an...
56 minutes ago - Politicus USA
At PBS39 congressional forum, Susan Wild and Marty Nothstein accuse each other of not telling the truth
Republican Marty Nothstein went on the offensive during Tuesday evening's congressional forum, blasting Democrat Susan Wild as “trying to scare people” with her television...
1 hour ago - The Morning Call
Anti-gay marriage clerk in Kentucky faces voters in forum
FRANKFORT, Ky. - Jailed in 2015 for refusing to issue marriage licenses after gay weddings became legal, a Kentucky clerk running for re-election told voters on Tuesday she did...
1 hour ago - National Post - 2 articles
The Latest: Noem takes on Sutton's moderate image at debate
The Latest on the first debate in South Dakota's race for governor : 8:35 p.m. Republican Kristi Noem repeatedly sought to banish Democratic challenger Billie Sutton's moderate...
1 hour ago - Miami Herald - 2 articles
Candidates debate to represent Troy in Rensselaer County Legislature
TROY - They're running for a seat on the Rensselaer County Legislature, but for the two candidates at a debate Tuesday night their focus was split between city issues and the...
1 hour ago - Times Union
Republicans Try To Fill In The Blanks On Fake Trump Tax Bill
The president seems to want a do-over of his last tax bill.
1 hour ago - The Huffington Post
The headlines of News BreaK
Megyn Kelly apologizes after defending blackface costumes on Halloween
Megyn Kelly reportedly apologized to her colleagues after she appeared to defend blackface Halloween costumes on "Megyn Kelly Today" on Tuesday.
6 children dead, 12 sick in viral outbreak at New Jersey rehab center
A nursing and rehab center that helps medically fragile children has had six deaths due to a viral outbreak.
Sox fans ready for another run at World Series championship
Boston Red Sox fans said they were ready to take on the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday as the World Series was set to begin.
Sandra Day O'Connor announces likely Alzheimer's diagnosis
WASHINGTON - Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman on the Supreme Court, says she has the beginning stages of dementia and “probably Alzheimer's disease.” O'Connor made the...
13-year-old accused of stabbing teacher with butcher knife at Georgia middle...
Officials said the student called the teacher over and stabbed him in the chest with an 8-inch butcher knife.
Cops: Man charged in death of girlfriend's 5-year-old girl said she was...
Warning: Details in this article are disturbing and may be upsetting for some readers.
The $500 million Museum of the Bible founded by Hobby Lobby's controversial...
The Museum of the Bible admitted this week that it showcased fake Dead Sea Scrolls in its massive collection. The $500 million private Museum of the Bible opened last November...
Nobody hurt in plane crash on LA-area freeway
An official says the single-engine plane that crashed on a Southern California freeway is a North American AT-6 that belonged to a squadron of vintage aircraft.
US to revoke visas of Saudis implicated in Jamal Khashoggi killing
Mike Pompeo said Tuesday that the US was revoking the visas of some Saudi officials who are allegedly involved in the brutal killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal...
'Wonderful woman': Rosie O'Donnell engaged to 33-year-old Army veteran
Their wedding date is "a long time in the future," Rosie O'Donnell said.


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I was happy to read Louis Langrée’s letter on Thanksgiving Day. I am thankful that Mr. Langrée has come to the Cincinnati Symphony. I was privileged to attend the Nov. 10 concert and then again on Nov. 29.
The CSO, under his direction, is really fantastic. Friday’s concert was so entertaining, the entire audience gave several standing ovations.
I hope that Mr. Langrée is happy to be in Cincinnati for a very long time to come.
Carol Yoder, Colerain Township

domain: artistic


signage site surveying and sign permitting services
The importance of due diligence is critical to a successful sign project.
It all starts with an expert understanding of every nuance including local building codes and the requirements needed for many types of signs. Atlas’s in-house survey and permitting team has the expertise to make your branding design and sign installation go seamlessly. To do so, Atlas puts boots on the ground and drones in the air to make sure we understand every vantage point available.
“And if the city says “no”, that’s when the gloves come off.” – Jim Adinolfe


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Teaching and tutoring English as a second language is a great way to make money online, not to mention open some doors for you to travel the world if you'd like. While full ESL (English as a Second Language) accreditation is recommended, as long as you’re a native speaker and have the ability to teach, there are people in countries such as Hong Kong or the UAE who are willing to pay upwards of $25/hr for you to tutor them English via Skype. Check out Indeed, Learn4Good and Remote.co for remote english tutoring jobs or sign up on a specialized site like VerbalPlanet or Chegg Tutors.
Companies like Uber and Lyft offer a great opportunity to make some quick cash. You'll need a clean driving record, a fairly new car and the authorization to work wherever it is that you live. If you have all of those things, you can work when it's feasible for you, whether that's in the middle of the day during rush hour, or in the wee hours of the night on a weekend. The choice is yours.
But what if ABC evaluates its prospective investments based on the return on investment percentage instead? In this case, the Idaho investment center is currently generating a return on investment of 18%, so making a new investment that will generate a 16% return will reduce the facility's overall return on investment to 17.8% ($196,000 total profit / $1.1 million total investment) - which might be grounds for rejecting the proposed investment.
Regardless of which investment strategy you decide to pursue to earn residual income, an essential part of the investment process is careful due diligence of each opportunity as it arises and working hard to remove any pre-existing biases. Take your time to figure out which approach makes the most sense for you, and carefully calculate your residual income goals. Remember that diversification using different asset classes is one of the most effective ways to build stable and viable streams of residual income, and a profitable portfolio.
You can create your blog using a free platform from WordPress.org, but you’ll need to pay a small amount – as little as $4 per month – to have your blog hosted. Try GoDaddy.com, which can provide a domain name for your site, email addresses, database storage and other Web hosting services. To make money, you can use the free Google AdSense service to display advertisements on your site. The amount you’re paid varies by ad and usually depends on how many people see it. There's also what's called affiliate marketing, in which you earn a commission (usually less than 10%) whenever someone clicks on an ad on your site and purchases a product. The Amazon Associates affiliate program allows you to advertise the retailer’s products on your site, or try affiliate networks such as CJ Affiliate or ShareASale that work with thousands of companies. Depending on how much time you put into your blog and how many people visit it, you could be making a few hundred dollars each month within a year.
Under no circumstances should any information from this blog be used as replacement for professional financial advice. DollarSprout.com is owned by VTX Capital, LLC and neither are licensed by or affiliated with any third-party marks on this website and third parties do not endorse, authorize, or sponsor our content except where clearly disclosed. DollarSprout.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Now that I have spent over a year working for myself I can’t imagine doing anything else. For as trapped and held down as I felt before, I feel the opposite extreme of the joy of freedom. Just to be clear, self-employment has it’s own challenges and difficulties, but I honestly think they pale in comparison to what I went through while spinning my wheels in the Rat Race.
Start a bed and breakfast. If you live in a popular resort area or own a historic property, a B&B might be the perfect side hustle. Not only can you work at home with this career, but you’ll also score some tax write-offs in the process — although most innkeepers caution that the profession requires a lot of hard work and is more of an attractive lifestyle than a money-making pursuit.
I think what you’re asking is how you can make extra money to pay your real estate taxes. If that’s the case, it depends on your current financial situation, the amount of your estate taxes, your skills, and more. If you visit the “Make Money” section of our website, we have a few articles with different ideas that may be helpful for your situation: https://www.dollarsprout.com/category/make-money/
Fiverr: Israeli-based Fivver was started in 2010 by Shal Wininger and Micha Kaufam. It's a great resource for selling just about any service online. You can offer gigs as low as $5 but also get paid much more for upgrades and add-ons. There are plenty of providers earning 6 figures on Fiverr so it's definitely a worthwhile cause for generating a healthy income. Just ensure that you provide some serious value.
I’m a huge fan of blogging because I love writing and connecting with people all over the world. To give you an idea of what is possible with blogging, DollarSprout.com is part of a group of blogs that routinely brings in over $20,000 a month. While it takes time to build your blog up to that income level, you can get the initial set up done in under 30 minutes (no experience needed).

domain: finance


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Heritage Foundation Chief Economist Steve Moore discusses the latest on the D.C. budget battle.
Fox News Contributor Katie Pavlich, The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board’s Mary Kissel and FBN’s Tracy Byrnes weigh in on how President Obama’s policies have changed America.
Oklahoma State University Professor Jayson Lusk on whether eating meat is ruining our environment.
Heritage Foundation Chief Economist Steve Moore, Harris Financial Group Managing Partner Jamie Cox and National Review Editor-in-Chief Rich Lowry on the rise of subprime loans, the economy, retirement account standards and ObamaCare.
CreditSesame.com’s John Ulzheimer, Heritage Foundation Economist Romina Boccia and personal finance expert Vera Gibbons on concerns Americans are beginning to take on too much debt.
FBN’s Charles Payne on the latest on the oil market.
FOX Business Contributor Anthony Scaramucci on the reasons the markets are seeing record highs.
Former Sen. Scott Brown, (R-MA), weighs in on Homeland Security funding and the economic impact of ObamaCare.
Heritage Foundation Chief Economist Steve Moore on ObamaCare costs, government over-spending and tax rates.
Live at the World Money Show, FBN’s Charles Payne answers a question from the audience about the national debt .
Yale University Senior Fellow Stephen Roach on the economic impact of central banks.
Merk Investments CIO Axel Merk discusses his outlook for Greece and how their financial turmoil could impact the U.S.
Former Senator Scott Brown, (R-Mass.), discusses President Obama’s budget plan and his outlook for the 2016 elections.
Former Sen. Scott Brown, (R-Mass.), and FBN’s Neil Cavuto on what is needed to tackle America’s mounting debt.
State Senator Eric Schmitt, (R-Missouri), on the reasons why the EPA wants to crack down on barbecuing and monitor hotel showering.
KPMG Global Chairman John Veihmeyer and Strategas Head of Policy Research Dan Clifton discuss the implications of rates going higher.
GOP Strategist Brad Blakeman on the government’s financial waste and government over-spending on programs.
Former CBO Director Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Average Joe Options Chief Strategist Todd Horwitz and Wells Fargo Equity Strategist Gina Martin Adams discuss where to put your money.
MacroMavens President Stephanie Pomboy argues raising interest rates will be a huge mistake for the Fed.
Former CBO Director Douglas Holtz-Eakin discusses how the debt limit, President Obama’s budget plan and Hillary Clinton’s e-mail scandal.


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Looking for ways to improve your colorwork? Here are a few tips to help you out!
Think lace patterns must be made out of tiny yarn? Think again
Whether you’re working a fine shawl with laceweight yarn or a rustic wrap in chunky farm yarn, here are lace designer and knitting teacher Katrina King’s 3 key ways to make knitting lace more enjoyable.

domain: hobby


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Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
The REI Fellowship Program in the Division of Reproductive Medicine at the Women’s Services is a structured three-year fellowship training program designed to capitalize on the particular strengths and resources of Sidra Medicine.
The program integrates the following ACGME Competencies into the curriculum: Professionalism, Patient Care and Procedural Skills, Medical Knowledge, Practice-based Learning and Improvement, Interpersonal and Communication Skills, and Systems-based Practice.
Goals and Objectives
The mission of the Division of Reproductive Medicine at Sidra Medicine is to enhance the quality of care for infertile couples in Qatar and the region. To do so, it aims to provide REI fellows with a rich learning experience in the clinical and surgical management of fertility and endocrine disorders, nurturing the sense of advocacy and leadership. The program also aims at promoting basic and clinical research in reproductive medicine with the aim of advancing science and maintaining high academic standards.
Clinical Training and Key Rotations
The three-year program is structured to ensure the educational program includes:
- 12 months of clinical reproductive endocrinology and infertility.
- 6 months of reproductive surgery, adult & pediatric endocrinology, genetics, male infertility, andrology & Embryology, Adolescent medicine.
- 18 months of protected time for research.
|Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility
|Assisted Reproductive Technologies
|Reproductive Surgery – Minimally Invasive Surgery
|Adult Medical Endocrinology
|Pediatric Medical Endocrinology
|Clinical & Basic Research
- Completion of an ACGME-I accredited or equivalent residency training program in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
- Board certification in core specialty (Obstetrics & Gynecology).
- Hold a valid Medical License or be eligible for licensure in Qatar (click here for more details).

domain: health


Magdalene Stewart TCRG ADCRG (nee. McCann) was born in Belfast N. Ireland and started her dancing career at age 10 under the direction of her teacher Vourneen O’Connor. During this time she won many awards and was the first dancer from her school to win at the All Ireland.
The Stewart School of Irish Dance was established in the early 1970’s after Magdalene and her husband Edmund immigrated to Canada from Northern Ireland with their 4 young children. A few short years later Magdalene was hosting her first feis and setting down roots for the regions umbrella dance association Van Eire. With a history of competitive success, one of the most recognized competitions in Western Canada, and four classes in the Greater Vancouver area– Cloverdale, Vancouver, Richmond and Maple Ridge, the school is one of the most established and respected schools of Irish Dance in the Pacific Northwest.
Magdalene approaches each of her students with enthusiasm and belief – both of which are easily seen in all of her students. Numerous dancers have won both medals and titles at World, North American, and Regional Championships. The school is a supportive community of dancers and parents, all of whom share Magdalene’s passion for Irish dance and culture. Whether you want to dance for fun, or compete to be recognized as one of the best in the World – this is the school to dance with.


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As per various reports, sexual violence is considered one of the major global health problems affecting all sections of society. In the USA, 1.9% of women report rape or attempted rape before the age of 12 years. The threat is not just restricted to females and children but also males of different ages and races suffer from sexual violence. About 4% to 76% of males aged 18 years or younger experience sexual assault depending on the definition.
Every individual reacts differently after having experienced some kind of sexual violence to cope with the traumatic memories. Consequently, developing different types of addictions is something irresistible among the survivors. Out of all the measures adopted by the victims, one of the frequent ones to rely upon is the excessive use of alcohol and drugs to combat the post-traumatic effects. The survivors of sexual assaults often switch to drugs in order to escape from the excruciating memories.
Nevertheless, one must note that the relationship between sexual assaults and substance abuse is reversible, that is, in various cases, substance abuse leads to sexual violence while in other instances, sexual violence results in substance abuse among victims. Many sexual assaults take place after the perpetrator uses substances to facilitate the crime which leads to an inability to give consent. Most often, this is seen and misunderstood as the cause of the crime. On the other hand, rape victims are 3.4 times more likely to use marijuana, 5.3 times more likely than non-survivors to use prescription drugs for non-medical purposes, 6.4 times more likely to use cocaine, and ten times more likely to use hard drugs other than cocaine. This signifies the vulnerability of the victims of sexual assaults to convert into victims of substance abuse.
Why Do People Become Addicted?
No one can pick one definite answer to why people become addicted. Drug addiction is a chronic disease. Some people are more vulnerable to developing a drug addiction than others. It depends on several factors. The more exposed a person is to these factors, there are more chances of him/her becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol. Some of these factors include:
Biology plays a major role in the vulnerability of a person to substances. A person who is born with mental disorders is more prone to developing addictions. Gender and ethnicity are some other factors resulting in addiction among individuals.
Various factors affect our daily lives. They together influence our vulnerability to drug abuse. Peer pressure, sexual abuse, family relations, socioeconomic status, and quality of life lead an individual to develop addictions.
Both genetic and environmental factors influence the development factor. Thus, various individuals develop addictions while growing. People who have been exposed to drug use in the early stages of life are more susceptible to drug addiction.
Apart from the above-listed major factors leading to drug and alcohol addiction among individuals, the experiences of a person are also one of the most primordial reasons that can result in addictions. For example, a child who has been sexually assaulted in his/her childhood. The experiences that do not heal and have created lasting impacts on the brain of any person often result in addictions.
Common Symptoms of Substance Abuse
Like every other mental illness, substance addiction also happens and develops over a while. Some of the symptoms of the disease are:
Consuming alcohol or drugs regularly
Craving for the substance
Failed attempts to quit the substance
Physical and/or psychological dependence
High blood pressure, trembling, hallucinations
The escapism from the pain of sexual violence leading to increased substance use not only impacts the individual but also has its costs to society. People suffering from alcohol or drug addiction, over time, develop other health-related problems including, cardiovascular problems, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, gastrointestinal diseases, respiratory problems, neurological effects, and other related diseases. On the other hand, excessive drug use also generates health conditions among people around the patient including prenatal drug exposure on infants and children, effects of passive smoking among the recipients, and increased transfer of communicable diseases. Despite people wanting to discontinue the use of substances, the withdrawal symptoms can make the person so ill that they continue with the consumption of drugs and alcohol.
Not only does substance abuse create hazardous impacts on the physical health of a person, but it also negatively affects the existing society we live in. According to various researches, most of the major crimes like sexual violence, thefts, homicides, and others are executed under the influence of substances. Moreover, increased use of drugs also results in increased road accidents due to drink and drive cases. As per research by PCAR, children with drug addictions require special education for learning. On the other hand, about 31% of America's homeless population comprises drug addicts.
A crime like sexual violence when exposes the victims/survivors to substances, directly or indirectly leads to an increased number of crimes in society. Hence, the relationship between sexual abuse and drug abuse is correlated. One crime leads to another crime which thus leads to more future crimes.

domain: medical