text:
Nobody likes people who like to show off and put others down. Also, they might start believing that they know everything about everything. In doing so they are turning their back on their very best trait which is keeping an open mind and learning new things and other perspectives that might not match their own.
3. If You Saw First A Lion
The lion is usually noticed by those who match it in their spirit of fiery freedom. These are the people who function only on their lunches and impulses. They don’t waste time on thinking things through, but rather let their instincts take over. After all, wasn’t it our instincts that made survival possible when we were just Hunter-gatherers? Because they live beyond rules and limits, they tend to have a life full of new adventures. But they are often forgetful of others.
They sometimes hurt other people quite badly, even though they had no intention of doing so. They are not evil, but they do forget that their fun might be at the expense of someone else’s property, or feelings. They do aim high and have ambition, but to achieve them, they learn to focus their energies and channel them in a productive way. But when they do get their teeth in something, they never leave it halfway.
They would never back down from a challenge even if it comes at the cost of a personal loss. They are very reckless but they don’t mind setbacks as long as they get to do things at their preferred terms. They need to learn to take others along with them and learn from them. This will help them in achieving whatever they want at a considerably lower cost.
4. If You Saw First A Fish
The fish is not the most apparent thing in the picture and so are the people who noticed it. They are good at blending into the background of life but they do leave a remarkable impact. One of the reasons why they mix up so well is that they do form a good bond with everyone they meet. They are good towards everyone and inclusive of everyone. They love life and everything that it represents and wish others would do so as well.
However, not everyone is like that, and people who believe in such selfless love are indeed rare. And yet these people never give up because they genuinely believe what goes around, comes around. They draw their energy from nature and live their life to the fullest, appreciating every single moment they get to experience this magic.
Did you find your hidden inner self?
The Minds Journal Articles Volume -1 is Copyright Protected vide Regd.# L-103222/2021


Triuvananthapuram: The BJP in Uttar Pradesh has started a crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses and enforcing a ban on cow and slaughter and illegal slaughter abattoir, while in Gujrat the ruling saffron party have imposed life term for cow slaughter but its candidate from Kerala on Sunday promises air-conditioned abattoirs and halal meat if elected.
N Shree Prakash, the Bhartaya Janata Party (BJP) candidate in the Malappuram by-poll on Monday made it clear with its eye opening truth, that he was against cow slaughter and he stood by the party's national policy on the matter, even as the state leadership said a clarification would be sought from him.
In Manipuram district production of beef products are consumed in large qualities by the 65% of Muslim population, Christians and a sizable number of Hindus, which constitute about 40%.
"The ban in UP is against selling the meat of deceased and sick animals. Will Muslims eat meat which is non-halal? I assure you that I would ensure supply of halal meat in Malappuram if you elect me in the by-election. I will make the effort to establish good slaughterhouses, no doubt about that. You should not hesitate to vote for me on the ground that BJP is supporting beef ban," he said.
A senior Kerala BJP leader in response to Sreeprakash's statement on Sunday said that party's state unit holds nothing against consumption of beef in the southern state since is no ban on it.
"As long as Kerala does not have a beef ban and people eat what they want, the BJP state is not against its consumption. The issue comes into play when there is a ban. Currently, there is no ban and hence nothing against the law,:" Bharatiya Janata Party's state General Secretary M.T. Ramesh said.
"Cow meat is banned in most parts of the country while buffalo meat is not. As far as Kerala is concerned, there is no ban and hence what Sriprakash said is not against the law in Kerala," Ramesh said.
Uttar Pradesh Chef Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered to close down illegal slaughterhouses, sevral ststes including as many as five of the BJP ruled states have followed in for the closure of illegal slaughterhouses across the country.
Earler last week, the Jharkhand government issued an order for closure of all illegal slaughterhouses in the state within 72 hours, while the Gujrat Assembly on Friday amended its Cow Protection Law introducing a life-term for those slaughtering the animal.
In Bihar, seven illegal slaughterhouses were sealed in the Rohtas district after the Patna High Court directed them to be sealed within a time period of six weeks.
In Karnataka too, the Gau Samrakshana Prakoshta and Karnataka Federation of Gaushaalas reportedly have demanded 1,700 unauthorized meat shops in the city be closed down.


The University of Connecticut Wind Ensemble delighted an audience at von der Mehden Recital Hall Thursday night with their performance of “21st Century Symphony,” a collection of music composed since the year 2000.
The band, conducted by UConn music professor Jeffrey Renshaw, began the evening with “Auguries of Innocence” by Georgia-based composer William Pitts.
The piece began with a single clarinet and slowly built up layers of woodwinds and horns over a background drone created by percussion players swirling their fingers around crystal glasses.
The music crescendoed into a triumphant blast of horns and tympanies before entering a fast-paced section of galloping trumpets, which gave the piece a sense of urgency.
Midway through the piece, flutists Joseph Sosa and Courtney Plantier traded technically impressive solos.
The piece takes its name from the eponymous poem by William Blake.
The structure of the music was inspired by the poem’s themes and style, according to the composer’s notes in the evening’s program.
“My musical interpretation uses the idea of [the poem’s] paradoxes to create numerous competing elements presented in various instrument groups,” Pitts wrote.
The second piece, “Recoil”, by Joseph Schwantner, was commissioned specifically for the UConn wind ensemble in 2004, according to the program.
It began with an intense piano and pitched percussion melody before exploding into a thunderous roar of tympanies and tom-toms.
At one point, several woodwind players set their instruments aside and sang a slow choral melody as the rest of the band played quietly in the background.
The ensemble finished out the night with “Symphony No. 1,” a three-movement piece by composer Jonathan Newman inspired by the works of beat poets and photographers.
The first movement, “Across the groaning continent,” is named for a line from Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road” and draws musically from the sense of agitation and restlessness that defined the beat generation, Newman wrote.
The second movement takes inspiration from Robert Frank’s photography series “The Americans,” and the final movement incorporated elements of bebop jazz drawn from Lester Young and Charlie Parker, Newman wrote.
Samantha Swistak, a third-semester human development and family studies major said “Symphony No. 1” was her favorite piece of the night.
“It was very beautiful,” she said. “I’d never heard something like that before.”
Swistak said she goes to wind ensemble concerts regularly.
“They’re always amazing,” she said. “I thought the show was awesome.”
Charlie Smart is a campus correspondent for The Daily Campus. He can be reached via email at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Hello everyone! I'm probably best known for writing Street Fighter stories, but I had to get away from that for a while.
I've always loved Naruto since I discovered it in Shonen Jump about a year ago. I've also loved the shy girl Hinata. Her intentions are so innocent and pure. And she is one of the few people that actually sees the good inside our favorite ramen eating shinobi!
It's also sad that Naruto/Hinata fanfiction is almost nonexistent. It seems like SasuNaru is the majority (although, I will never understand how Naruto and Sasuke could love one another...they hate each others guts!).
So being a Naruhina fan, I wanted to contribute. I also want to say thanks to everyone that has already opened the doors for Naruhina fanfiction. This goes out to the Naruhina fans...
Update as of 9/17/08: With me striving to make Chapter 7 of this story extraordinary, I took it upon myself to look at past chapters to check for consistency. And while there is some definitely some consistency that I will clear up due to events in later chapters (especially chapters 1 and 2), there are also other matters that I wanted to handle.
As a writer, when you look at past work, you should never feel ashamed of it. I understand that I'm not perfect. Nobody is. However, my writers pride wanted to give my audience the best that I can do. While I love what I wrote in this chapter many years ago (I still love this chapter more then 2-6), there were certain matters that I honestly felt a bit embarrassed about.
As I have mentioned before, this story was originally a one shot. In one shots, everything has to be resolved by the end or it isn't a one shot. And that was fine. Since that now isn't the case, I've got some cleaning up to do.
So what have I done? I've added a bit more "soul" in this chapter. Errors that I accidentally put in and never fixed (like calling chakra ki) have been fixed. And thanks to having better knowledge of Naruto now then I did then, characters won't be as inconsistent compared to their manga counterparts (with the exceptions that must be done for the sake of my story), and there will be a "slightly more" gentle approach to the Naruto and Hinata scene (oh there is still going to be a scene, it will just be a bit more innocent).
If this is your first time reading this, then enjoy the full ride, as you'll get the goodness from the beginning! If you've read this before, then think of this as a rewrite of the first chapter. This isn't just cut and paste and add a couple of new words. Nearly the entire chapter was rewritten! And I will also do the same thing with the next chapter to make sure that everything flows nicely. Enjoy…
Those were the words that spread throughout Konoha village as chuunin Nara Shikamaru, followed by his team of genin, returned to the village with an unconscious Uchiha Sasuke.
The mission had not been an easy one...Akimichi Chouji and Hyuga Neji nearly died for their efforts. They had nearly run out of chakra. They would be out for a couple of days. Inuzuka Kiba wasn't fairing off too well either. While he only needed a couple of bandages upon his body, his dog companion Akamaru was put into a coma. Team leader Nara Shikamaru only had a broken finger, but it would soon heal over time. After his successful surgery at the hands of Tsunade-sama, Rock Lee located his comrades and assisted in the quest while Uzumaki Naruto went after his rival and blood brother Uchiha Sasuke. The rematch between Naruto and Sasuke was even more deadly then the previous one as unlike the first bout, there was no Sakura or Kakashi to distract the two in their destined bout with one another. Even though Naruto knew that his main objective was to bring Sasuke back to the village, a part of him wanted to beat the living daylights out of Sasuke for thinking he was so superior to him. And Sasuke wanted to prove that he was ready to face his brother Itachi and kill him in order to avenge his family. And defeating his former comrade Naruto would be the proof that he needed.
In the end though, Naruto barely managed to knock Sasuke into unconsciousness before slumping his body over his back and finding the rest of his team so they could all go home.
Upon returning to the village, Shikamaru, accompanied by Naruto, made the report to Tsunade about all that had happened while everyone else was taken to the hospital for medical care. Tsunade then decided that everyone that participated in the mission would receive medals of honor in a ceremony that was to take place in a week's time. As for Sasuke, Tsunade would work on removing the curse seal that Orochimaru had placed on him as well as get Sasuke some help to deal with the inner problems that haunted his heart and mind.
Chapter 1: "Foxes need Love too!"
The night before the awards ceremony, we find Uchiha Sasuke asleep inside the hospital. About 3 days earlier, Tsunade had successfully managed to remove the curse seal that Orochimaru had placed on Sasuke, but it had taken a toll on his body. Sasuke was going to have to rest for about a week before he could move again. Haruno Sakura had vowed that she would take care of Sasuke and never left his side except to use the bathroom and to get food.
We now find our hero Naruto making his way towards the Konoha hospital trying to make it before visiting hours were over for the day. Despite how they treated one another, deep down, Naruto really did care for his comrade Sasuke and hoped that he would get better.
After being told where Sasuke's room was from the nurse, Naruto makes his way towards room 101 to check in on his teammate. Right as he is about to open the door however, Naruto hears voices on the other side.
"Sasuke-kun...if you can hear me...please wake up..."
"Sakura-chan?" thought Naruto as he opened the door slightly to get a peek at what was going on inside. Naruto's ears had not deceived him after all. It really was Sakura inside Sasuke's room.
Sasuke's eyelids blinked twice before slowly opening and being greeted to his pink haired and green-eyed teammate of Team Seven.
"Sasuke-kun..." Sakura whispered as her eyes started to get watery.
"Sakura..." Sasuke grunted as his eyes stared off into space. Considering his actions, Sasuke was surprised that anyone would want to visit him.
"Sasuke-kun..." Sakura whimpered, as tears finally streamed down her cheeks. "I thought that I lost you forever..."
"Sakura..." Sasuke sighs, as he finally sits up in the bed and turns his head over to the left to fully look at Sakura's face. He could see the anguish that he had caused Sakura. Her eyes were red from crying so much, and a couple of dark circles were visible under her eyes. Sasuke assumed it to be from lack of sleep. And Sakura's normally well brushed pink hair, arguably the reason for Sakura's namesake, was unkempt without her usual ninja headband to keep it all tidy.
What made all of these observations about his teammate worse though, was knowing why Sakura had been in so much distress these past couple of days…
It had all been because of him…
That's right. The pain lay solely on his shoulders. Because of his quest to be an "avenger", Sasuke had been willing to do whatever it took to accomplish his goal of defeating his brother Itachi. Sure, seeking Orochimaru for help may not have been the wisest thing that he could have done. In fact, it was downright stupid. And you know…evil…
From looking at Sakura's face, Sasuke felt emotions that he didn't think he would ever feel for her: Remorse, and longing.
He had tried to push Sakura away so that when the time came to leave, the pain would not hurt as much. He didn't want to see her hurt. And he didn't want to admit that he actually longed for Sakura as much as she had for him.
It had been one of the things that had pissed him off during the Sound Invasion. When Naruto had been able to protect Sakura from Gaara, and he couldn't! It wasn't right! He should have been the one to protect Sakura! But at least she was safe…
For the first time in his life, Sasuke actually felt sorry. Not for the fact that he failed in his mission, oh no. But for hurting Sakura so much. She didn't deserve all the crap that he put her through. She might have been annoying, and a little bit too fanatical at first, but it had all been for his sake. Naruto wasn't the idiot on the team, he was…
"Sakura…" Sasuke whispers as he brushes a couple of strands of hair out of her eyes, "I'm sorry…"
Meanwhile, Naruto was still outside peeking into the room, not quite liking what he was seeing. Naruto also noticed that his stomach seemed to feel tighter as he watched the scene between his 2 teammates.
"Sasuke-kun..." Sakura said as she caught Sasuke in an embrace, "I'm…I'm here for you…"
This had not been the first time that Naruto witnessed something like this. When Tsunade had first entered the Konoha village as the fifth Hokage, Sakura had displayed this same affection towards Sasuke.
Naruto however, was not prepared for what Sakura would do next...
"Sasuke-kun..." Sakura said as she lifted her head from Sasuke's neck and looked directly into his eyes. "I...I...I love you..."
Hearing this heartfelt confession come out of Sakura's lips was almost enough to send Naruto's emotions over the edge. She...she loved him? How could she? Sasuke treated her like trash! Naruto knew that Sakura liked Sasuke a lot, but loved him?
Naruto found it even more difficult to maintain his composure when he saw Sakura crush Sasuke's lips with her own…
Sasuke was caught back by Sakura's actions, but didn't hesitate, nor stop Sakura from what she was doing. He wrapped his right arm around Sakura's back and pulled her body closer to his, increasing the intensity of the kiss.
Naruto had seen enough. Seeing Sakura kiss their teammate...and his biggest rival was too much to bear, even for Naruto. Despite being the container of a demon fox that would kill without any qualms for 13 years, Naruto was still only human...
And being human meant that not even Naruto, who holds the reputation as the loudest and most hyperactive ninja in Konoha village, was immune to emotions that human's experienced daily. Emotions such as laughter, anger, or in this case, heartbreak...
Naruto felt it best that he leave, before things got out of hand. He quietly left Sasuke's room with the two inhabitants inside not even noticing that he had been around in the first place.
Tears welled up in Naruto's eyes as he left the hospital. Any final ambitions that he had of winning Sakura's heart were shattered after he saw her kiss Sasuke.
Love...it was the one thing that Naruto craved more then anything. Even more then being Hokage, Naruto wanted somebody that actually cared for him. Not somebody that did it to be nice, but deep down, really felt worried about him. The only person that even came close was Iruka-sensei, but Naruto wanted a deeper connection. Naruto wanted somebody that woke up and thought about his well being or smiled whenever he came near. Not out of obligation, but general concern…
"It isn't fair..." Naruto thought as he walked through the village. "No matter how much I try, in Sakura-chan's eyes, I will always be dead last. I will always be a loser. I will never be good enough for her...because I'm not Sasuke. No matter how much I train or how much stronger I become, Sakura-chan will never accept me."
Seeing Sasuke steal Sakura's kiss from him had been equivalent to someone driving a kunai straight through his heart. And of the past battles that Naruto had been in with such ninja like Neji or Haku had paled in comparison to the inner battle that Naruto was facing right now in his heart. There were only 3 people that truly understood Naruto's pain, but one of them was dead (3rd Hokage), one was currently away on a mission (Iruka), and the other one knew about Naruto's pain, but was too tied up being the new ruler of the village to talk to Naruto (Tsunade). So basically, Naruto was out of options when it came to someone to confide in. Kakashi was not even an option. Although Kakashi probably already knew about Naruto's feelings towards Sakura, Kakashi was not one that Naruto felt comfortable discussing his inner problems to. Kakashi's idea of solving problems was pulling out his copy of Icha Icha Paradise. The hentai...
Naruto almost snickered at the idea of asking Kakashi for help. Even if Naruto had thought of asking Kakashi for help, it would still be impossible since Kakashi was currently away on an A ranked mission which meant that he wouldn't be returning to the village for quite some time. So in the long run, Naruto was screwed.
Naruto had made his way to the ninja academy, even though that wasn't his intention in the first place. Naruto had been walking just for the sake of it, and to get away from the hospital...and Sasuke...and Sakura-chan…
"Damn you, Sasuke...why does everything always have to come so easily for you? Why do I always have to work twice as hard as you and still get half the respect? Why do all of the girls want to be with a jerk like you?
That recent memory still fresh in his head, Naruto saw the swing that he sat on when he had failed his ninja academy exam for the third time in a row. It was his swing, the swing that he sat on when he felt depressed. And right now, Naruto felt long overdue for a visit...
Naruto sat down in the swing as the last of his tears had dried up. Naruto had originally planned on going to the Ichiraku Ramen stand immediately after checking up on Sasuke, but the incident at the hospital had made him lose his appetite. Right now, Naruto could care less about anything. Nothing mattered. Not his training, the medal ceremony the following day, a nice bowl of miso ramen, or even his ultimate desire to become Hokage. Naruto didn't care, cause one of the things that he had cared about the most, had just been taken away from him.
Ever since team seven was formed, Sakura would continue to pursue Sasuke's affections, despite the fact that he treated her like garbage. In return, Sakura would constantly insult Naruto and treat him bad, even though Naruto cared about Sakura like she was a goddess. Over time, Naruto had hoped that Sakura would come to her senses and realize that Sasuke could care less about her and look towards someone that did care, but Sakura never gave up. Even when other guys like "Fuzzy Eyebrows" Rock Lee would desire her, Sakura never gave up on her goal, which was to be with Sasuke. And in the end, it looked like Sakura had finally succeeded in winning his heart.
"There was never a chance for me..." said Naruto to himself as he gave his swing a test drive. "My fate was sealed when I became the jailer for Kyubi 13 years ago. Nobody dares get close to me because they are afraid...afraid of the demon inside of me. Everyone in this village hates me, and wishes that I were dead. They try to ignore me, like I am only a figment of their imagination. Whenever I fight, people always expect me to fail. They always have low expectations of me, despite the fact that I beat strong opponents...despite the fact that I train twice as hard as everyone else..."
Naruto stopped swinging as his recently dried eyes became wet again.
"I might as well give up on things like love. I am only fooling myself if I think that someone will actually accept me for who I am, and not what I am. Just because I hold a demon fox inside of me...people think that I...sob... am a monster...that I... choke...don't have feelings or that I don't...sob...matter...I never asked to be the container of Kyubi, so why do they... sniff ...treat me like it was my choice? Why do they continue to hate me and..."
Naruto couldn't hold back his tears anymore as he started to cry again. The only thing that Naruto had succeeded in is making himself feel even more miserable. So much for being strong...Naruto had said that he would never cry again...but all of that pent up emotion...it had finally reached its peak. And the only way out was through the eyes...
Unknown to Naruto however was a blue haired, white-eyed girl that had been watching Naruto behind a tree and listening to everything. Also unknown to Naruto was that this girl's eyes were also in tears from what she had heard Naruto say. Naruto was her hero...the source of her strength...the joy of her life...Naruto was the person that she loved with all of her heart.
It had broken her heart to find out why her secret crush had been treated so cruelly all these years. It was a wrong that needed to be rectified.
"Naruto-kun..." the girl whispered as tears streamed down her cheek. "You are loved...you always have been...and I think it's time for me to show you that..."
The girl, known as Hyuga Hinata, came out from behind her tree and decided to bring forth her courage and give strength to the one that had always empowered her.
"Naruto-kun..." mumbled the girl as tears continued to run down her face.
"Huh?" Naruto said as he quickly wiped his tears away and looked up.
It was Hyuga Hinata. The same girl that he made an oath to on her blood…the same girl that he had dedicated his fight against Neji in the chuunin finals to, was standing in front of him.
Hinata immediately wrapped her arms around Naruto's neck as she cried on his chest.
"Hinata is crying...but why?"
Naruto had no idea for Hinata's current distress, but he knew that whatever it was that was bothering Hinata, couldn't be resolved while he was still in his special swing. So Naruto did the gentleman thing. He got up off the swing and escorted Hinata to one of the benches that sat outside the ninja academy so that they were a bit more comfortable.
Upon sitting Hinata and himself down on the bench, Naruto lifted her head slightly so that they were looking at each other face to face. From this close distance, Hinata's clear white eyes were like beautiful pearls that reflected everything. And Hinata's blue hair almost seemed to glow from the moonlight that shone in. Hinata was beautiful...why hadn't he noticed it before?
"Hinata? Why are you crying?"
"Naruto-kun..." Hinata says through sniffles, "I...I heard everything...no one should have to deal with such pain..."
"What are you talking about?" Naruto asks, truly confused.
"I know…" Hinata says with a look that seems to tear into Naruto's soul, "I know about you…and the Kyubi…"
"She knows?" Naruto's body stiffens, as panic started to kick in, "Then when she said that she heard everything, she meant…"
"I...I feel your pain..." Hinata begins again, "I know how it feels to be alone. I may not have spent most of my life with a demon fox inside of me, but people still ignore me like I am a monster. Even my own family has little faith in me ever since my little sister Hanabi beat me in a fight. Sometimes my teammates Kiba and Shino doubt my abilities. But whenever I see you Naruto-kun, I don't feel so alone anymore. I feel like...I can do anything. Whenever I see you, all of my pain goes away. I don't like it when the people in this village are mean to you or talk badly about you, Naruto-kun...It..it isn't right. You...you deserve to be loved, and you deserve to be acknowledged for more then just your strength. True power comes from the heart..."
"Hinata..." Naruto wonders, "Why do you have such confidence in me? What do you see in me that others don't? Why don't you hate me like everyone else?"
This was it...now there was no turning back...in order to answer his question, Hinata realized that she would have to tell Naruto the part that she had been trying to leave out...The part about her being in love with him. Ever since the academy days, Hinata knew that there was something special about Naruto ever since she first laid eyes on him. It saddened her to think that nobody but herself took the time to find out about him or get to know him for his achievements...instead of his failures...
Instead, everyone in the village was told to ignore Naruto like he was a disease...like he was an apple inside a bag of oranges...like he was the goose inside a group of ducks. And explanations were never made. Just like all of the other kids in the village, Hinata was just told by her parents to ignore Naruto and not to associate with him. This led Hinata into wondering why...
What had started out as curiosity, led to discovering that Naruto was not the evil beast that people often depicted him as. Naruto was only a boy that longed for affection, yet nobody would listen to his cries for help. Nobody would give him the attention that he so desperately needed.
Well all that was about to change...because of Naruto, Hinata had found the strength that she didn't know she had to stand up to her cousin Neji during the chuunin exam. Even though she lost, Hinata still felt a lot more confident about herself. When everybody wanted to look the other way, there was Naruto, cheering her on. Even after she was defeated, that same boy even vowed to defeat Neji for her. Naruto cared...when nobody else would...
Ever since that day, Hinata had started to gain more confidence in herself and her abilities. No longer would she be the "always shy" Hyuga girl that people doubted. Slowly, Hinata was going to change and become stronger, not only physically, but mentally and spiritually as well.
And as a test to see how far she had developed, Hinata was going to tell Naruto how much he meant to her. A smile came across the face of the heir to the Hyuga clan as she prepared to take the first step of the rest of her life...
"Why do I have such confidence in you?" Hinata begins, "It's Because I know deep down inside my heart that you are destined to do many great things. And strength comes from support. You have a great dream, Naruto. I know it will come true one day. I believe in you because you try and never give up. And because you are one of the few people that believes in me."
Naruto started to blush slightly from what Hinata said. "She...she believes in me?"
"What do I see in you?" Hinata continues, "I see a great spirit and a great soul with a good heart that only wants to help people. I see somebody that works hard at everything they do and doesn't take anything for granted. I see someone that desires love and attention. I see someone that has been robbed of a chance to have a family. I see somebody that is treated cruelly for all the wrong reasons...And I see somebody that always makes me smile every time I see him..."
"Hinata..." Naruto was really starting to blush now from Hinata's comments. Nobody had ever said anything so honest and heartfelt towards him...not even Iruka-sensei. Naruto was starting to look at Hinata a little bit differently now.
Hinata knew that it was time to tell Naruto her true feelings. Everything else she had said had only hinted at her true message. Hinata suddenly felt slightly nervous now, cause this was going to be the boldest thing that she had ever done in her entire life. Standing up to her cousin Neji was easier to do then this.
"No...I can do this...I'll be strong for you, Naruto-kun..."
"Why don't I hate you like everyone else?" Hinata started to whisper as she placed both of her hands on Naruto's cheeks. "First of all, I'm not like everyone else. Everyone else in the village is blind. They don't see the true Naruto when they look at you. They only see the hatred that they were taught to hold against you. They don't believe in amnesty, giving you a chance to grow and improve. It's ironic how our village is known as one of the strongest villages if not the strongest because of our unity, but sometimes the people in the village forget that. They say one thing and then do the exact opposite. They are hypocrites...
"Hinata..." Naruto says solemnly, "You know the truth now…you know why the village hates me…
"I don't care!" "Hinata protests, "You never had a say in the matter! What you did...I consider heroic...you continue to push on with Kyubi inside you...despite the fact that people hate you daily...the burden that you carry...is one that I wouldn't wish on anybody...that is true strength...even when you fall down...you get back up...that is what will one day make you Hokage..."
"Hinata...why is it that you seem to understand me better then anybody? Why is it that except for Iruka-sensei, you are the only one that treats me with true kindness? Why do you cry for me? Why do you care so much?"
"I could never hate you, Naruto-kun...You are not like any of the other guys in this village. You are...special to me...and..."
Hinata found herself staring at the floor now. Her confidence was wavering. And right when it was needed most.
"No!" Hinata thinks as she lifts her head back up, "I won't back down! I can't afford to! Not anymore! He needs me!"
"Naruto-kun..." Hinata began again. "I...I like you...I like you a lot...you are not like any of the other guys I know...I know a lot of people think that I like Kiba-kun but...he is just a friend...whenever I see you...I feel like the happiest person ever. You always make me smile...you always make me happy..."
And once again, Hinata had managed to restore Naruto's spirit. She had done it once before just before Naruto had to face Neji in the chuunin finals a while back, and now she had done it again. Hinata, was like his guardian angel…
"Thank you…" Naruto thanks as a small smile covers his face, "You always know what to say to cheer me up! Why?"
Hinata blushed before resting her head in Naruto's chest and wrapping her arms around him.
"Why?" Hinata says, an adorable grin forming on her lips, "It's because I love you…"
At those words, Naruto froze.
"She...she loves me? Me? The person that everyone likes to hate? The person that nobody had any faith in?"
It had to be a joke, Naruto had concluded. Nobody loved him. He was the village idiot. The fall guy. The demon.
While a couple of people might have genuinely started to respect him, that's where it ended. It would never go any farther then that. His incident in the hospital earlier had been proof of that. Sakura had started to respect him from the time they had started as teammates. She had started to see that he was strong, and could handle his own. While Sakura might have been unconscious to see his triumph against Gaara, she had been awake to see him save both her and Sasuke from that giant snake before Orochimaru got the drop on him.
And in the end, where did it get him? Nowhere. Even after all of his devotion, Sakura had still chosen Sasuke over him. Even after he had risked his life for her, it was all for Sasuke.
"Hinata…" Naruto says quietly as he lifts Hinata's head off his chest.
Naruto appreciated Hinata caring for his pain. Naruto even was thankful to Hinata for cheering him up. But he didn't need her making up some cruel jokes about being in love with him.
But as he gazed into Hinata's eyes another time that night, Naruto found himself lost in them. Whatever it was that he wanted to say had been completely forgotten.
Naruto noticed how half-lidded Hinata's eyes were, as well as how close her face was to his, but there was nothing that he could say or do about it. It was as if all time stopped.
"Na…ru…to…kun…" Hinata spoke softly and sweetly, before melting into his mouth.
It took a moment for Naruto to register that the heir to the Hyuga clan was kissing him, but when he did, Hinata had broken off the lip lock.
"Then…she's serious? She really does love me?"
"Naruto-kun..." Hinata said apologetically, "I'm...I'm so sorry...I shouldn't have done that...it...it was wrong of me to do and..."
Hinata's words were cut off as Naruto returned her sweet kiss. Now knowing that he wasn't going to reject her, Hinata's grip on his body tightened as she put in more of herself to match his intensity.
"All of this time...when I was trying to make Sakura-chan like me, Hinata always did..."
After kissing for several more seconds, Hinata broke off the kiss before she started planting her lips all over his neck.
"Hinata…" Naruto gasped from the new sensations that he was feeling.
Hinata continued to kiss all over Naruto's neck before finally biting down.
"Itai…" Naruto hissed as he felt Hinata's teeth inside him.
Naruto felt paralyzed as Hinata continued to place love bites all over him. The feeling surging through him was intoxicating.
Hinata had no idea what she was doing. She wasn't even fully aware of her actions. All she knew was that she was in love with Uzumaki Naruto, and she would show him through the best of her ability.
Naruto meanwhile, had wondered how he had been so fortunate to find Hinata. How could he have been so blind? How could he have missed her admiration of him?
Naruto remembered what had happened after he had defeated Kiba in the chuunin preliminaries. Hinata, Kiba's teammate, had offered him some ointment cream to tend to his wounds. When he had inquired why, Hinata became so shy that her sensei Yuuhi Kurenai just told him to take the stuff. It always puzzled him why Hinata was going out of her way to help him. Didn't Kiba need the cream more? He did, but the reason why he didn't receive it, was because Kiba wasn't him…
"I really am a baka…" Naruto sighs as Hinata continued to please him, "How could I not see how much Hinata wanted me?"
Simple, Naruto answered to himself. He had been too busy trying to gain Sakura's favor to notice anyone else.
"Well no more…" Naruto thinks as he looks back at Hinata, nearly lost in a sea of desire for him, "I won't take you for granted anymore. I won't make the same mistake that Sasuke-teme made with Sakura-chan for so long. You deserve better then that…"
Naruto, with newfound resolve, mimics Hinata's actions by biting into her neck.
"Naruto-kun!!" Hinata moans, as she throws her hands behind his head.
Naruto nibbled into Hinata's neck in such a way that Hinata was now purring. Maybe hanging around Erosennin had its benefits afterall…
She had been his light at the end of the tunnel…and the sun to shine on the maelstrom that was his life. He could never thank her enough for that…
Naruto, finally finished, breaks away. Hinata pants from the excitement that they had gone through and rests her head back onto his chest.
It had started off as a depressing evening, but Hinata had changed all of that. Finally understanding who she was made Naruto look at Hinata completely differently. He had found her. He had found his precious person…
And if he wanted to keep her, he needed to make sure that she got home before suspicion arose.
"Don't you have to go home? I don't think your family approves of me…"
"I don't care!" Hinata proclaims as she kisses Naruto's lips again, "I love you, Naruto-kun, and one day, I'll make them understand that...even if I have to renounce my Hyuga heritage!"
"Hinata! You can't do that! I'm not worth it! I mean-"
This time it was Hinata's turn to hush Naruto with a finger to his lips.
"Yes it is. Nobody pays more attention to me then you, Naruto-kun. Nobody is more honest and more caring then you. My family...there is some love...but it is mostly like a unit love...not really genuine love like I have for you. I will become the heir to the Hyuga empire when I come of age...and there is nothing that my family can do to change that. They can't decide who I fall in love with..."
The things that Hinata said had made Naruto want to cry again. Hinata was the first person that had shown so much concern for him. She loved him without fear...and without regret...
"I could stay out here with Hinata-chan all night...night? Wait a second! What time is it?"
Naruto looked at his watch and saw that it was a quarter to 10:00.
"Oh no! The awards ceremony! It's supposed to take place tomorrow afternoon! Hinata! We have to get home!"
"But I'd rather stay with you Naruto-kun..."
Naruto was almost tempted to forget about the awards ceremony right there and then, but he also remembered that Hinata's family would go crazy if they found out that Hinata had been out all night with the "forbidden" Uzumaki boy.
"I know Hinata-chan. I want to stay with you too...but your family might suspect something. Don't worry, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Sweet dreams, Hinata…"
They gave each other a warm hug before running off towards their perspective homes...
"Welcome everyone!" Said Tsunade to the crowd that afternoon.
"About a week and a half ago, Orochimaru had tried to capture one of our ninjas! Unfortunately, due to all of our chuunin and jounin being absent on missions, I was left with no choice but to give the only chunnin left in the village, Nara Shikamaru, the task of assembling a team of himself, plus 4 other genin that he felt worthy, to go on a rescue mission for their comrade. Gentlemen, when I call out your name, step forward..."
Chouji stepped forward looking good as new. Even after he had taken all those solder pills, he recovered nicely. Tsunade put the medal around his neck as the crowd applauded.
"Good job, Chouji!" Team 10's sensei Sarutobi Asuma congratulated as Chouji stepped down from the stage, "You have come a long way since Team 10 started!"
"I'm proud of you, Chouji!" Chouji's teammate Yamanaka Ino chimes in as she hugs him, "I'm also glad that you are ok! I was really worried about you!"
"Thanks you two!" Chouji says as he rubs the back of his head, "But don't forget that Shikamaru is still up there!"
The crowd went wild when Neji stepped forward. He was a fan favorite. Like Chouji, Neji had also been in a near death state, but fortunately he survived. It was just not his time to die yet.
"Neji…" Neji's sensei Maito Gai says as Neji comes down from the stage,
"Please don't break down and start giving out speeches about my flames of youth", Neji pleads as Gai pats him on the back. To Neji's great delight, Gai kept his mouth shut. But then Neji remembered that Lee was still up on stage…
Neji's other teammate Tenten, also picked up on this realization and sighed, knowing that the silence that she and Neji were blessed with at the current moment, was only the calm before the storm…
"Next, Inuzuka Kiba."
More clapping went off as Kiba stepped forward to receive his medal.
"Akamaru…" Kiba sighed as the medal was placed around this neck, "I couldn't have done this without you. You deserve this medal more then I do…"
Just then, there was yelping in the crowd.
As everyone turned to see what the commotion was about, they saw a small nin dog with bandages wrapped around its body running towards the stage before leaping into Kiba's arms.
"Akamaru!?" Kiba said shocked, "You're ok!"
Kiba then looked into the crowd and saw his older sister Hana smirking at him. Kiba understood fully what had happened. His sister Hana had healed Akamaru.
"Akamaru…" Kiba says as he takes his medal off and places it around Akamaru's neck, "This is for you!"
The crowd awes as Akamaru starts licking Kiba's cheek.
The crowd once again went wild as the young genius prodigy came forward.
"Congratulations on your first successful A ranked mission," Tsunade says into the microphone, "Sandaime made no mistake when he made you a chuunin. I see great things for you."
The audience kept yelling for Shikamaru to say a couple of words after his first successful mission he led.
"This is so troublesome...why do I have to do this anyway? Sigh… might as well get it over with...
Shikamaru grabbed the microphone from Tsunade.
"Thank you for the medal. And thank you everybody for believing in me. I promise that I will continue to do my best to make this village proud and to show off the true strength of the Leaf!"
Everyone clapped for Shikamaru as he stepped off the stage except for Yamanaka Ino, who was blushing. Ever since Shikamaru returned, Ino realized that she had feelings for him. She had never really wanted Sasuke. It was just to mess with her rival Sakura. Ino secretly loved Shikamaru, and told him...with a kiss upon his return to the village.
"Shika-kun!" Ino shouted as she jumped into her lover's arms, "I knew you could do it!"
"Shikamaru…Chouji…" Asuma says, "To celebrate the success of your mission, I'll take you all out for barbeque."
Chouji's mouth started to water as Asuma now took out his wallet to make sure that he didn't regret his decision.
The crowd went silent as Rock Lee stepped forward. "Not only did Rock Lee recover fully from his surgery, but he also went off in search of his comrades to assist in the mission. For that Rock Lee, you not only get the medal of bravery, but also the medal of courage and persistence."
The crowd was now screaming at the top of their lungs.
Neji and Tenten eyed each other, counting how long it would be before their sensei made an ass of himself.
As soon as Lee stepped off the stage, the countdown began…
"Lee!" Gai cried as he hugged Lee tightly
"Gai-sensei!" Lee returned with as much enthusiasm as Gai, also in tears "Did my flames of youth burn brightly enough?"
"Yes!" Gai says as he cries on his pupil, "But now you must make them burn brighter!"
"Yes, Gai-Sensei!" Lee returns, even louder then before, "I shall make my flames of youth burn brighter! And if I can't do that, then I'll run 100 laps around the village! And if I can't do that, then I'll do 1,000 push-ups! And if I can't do that, then I'll do 1,000 sit ups!"
The entire crowd sweatdrops as Lee and Gai have their little "moment". Meanwhile, Neji and Tenten are slowly walking away from the other half of their team to try and keep the embarrassment down to a minimum.
"Ahem", Tsunade coughs, bringing the attention back to her. "We still have one person left! Uzumaki Naruto!"
Immediately, the crowd went completely silent as Naruto stepped forward. Despite earning a bit of respect from the crowd, Naruto still knew that the people of the village really didn't give a damn about him.
"Naruto..." Tsunade started in a serious tone. "You assisted in the mission to bring back your teammate...and you were the one that located him and brought him back home safely...I also understand that you met up with Orochimaru but managed to escape from his clutches without putting yourself into any real danger. For that, you get this medal..."
The crowd was still silent as Naruto received his medal.
"Just as I thought…" Naruto sighed, "Nobody cares what I went through…"
That was what Naruto had thought at first, until he saw Hinata clapping.
Then it was his teammate Sakura…
Then it was his sensei Kakashi…
Then it was his adopted little brother Konohamaru, along with his friends Moegi and Udon…
"Naruto-nichan!" Konohamaru shouted at the top of his lungs, "You rock!"
Konohamaru had been the one to make Naruto smile.
Then it was the rest of the rookie nine and Gai's team clapping for Naruto. Including their Jounin teachers…
Next it was Teuchi and his daughter Ayame, the owners of Ichiraku Ramen…
Then it was Umino Iruka, the first person that had accepted him as a person.
Then it was Morino Ibiki clapping…
Then it was Mitarashi Anko clapping…
Then it was Ebisu clapping…
And finally, it was Toad Sage Jiraiya who clapped for Naruto…
And once the rest of the crowd saw the support that Naruto had, they started to clap as well…
Naruto looked to his sides and also saw that Shizune and Tsunade were clapping…
And it was then, that the tears that Naruto had been fighting to hold back, came forward.
Tsunade pulled Naruto into a hug as he cried into her chest. Naruto had not been the only person crying that day. Tsunade was also crying as she held the one that she considered her grandson. Rock Lee and Gai were also crying. As was Iruka. But perhaps the most important one that had been crying for Naruto, had been the one that had accepted him all along…
"Naruto-kun..." Hinata cried as she clapped for her beloved, "Now they are starting to see what I have always saw in you. I'm happy for you..."
Hinata wanted to run over and hold Naruto so bad, but she knew that she couldn't. At least, not in the presence of her family…
As the ceremony died down, everyone started to go their separate ways. Asuma took his team to have barbeque as he had promised them. Gai also took his team to a restaurant to celebrate. Sakura went back to the hospital to check back up on Sasuke. Kiba and Akamaru had left for home to enjoy the beef feast they had been promised. As for Naruto, Teuchi and Ayame had dragged him to Ichiraku for free ramen. Hinata, not wanting to be left out, grabbed on to his arm. This did not go unnoticed by Ayame.
"So Naruto has a girlfriend now? How sweet…"
It had been a wonderful day, Naruto thought. He got the recognition of Konoha (or at least he was starting to), he had Hinata by his side, and he had the "food of the gods" in front of him.
"Hey, Naruto," Ayame asks after serving another customer their order, "I just noticed that you have some kind of mark on your neck. What happened? Are you alright?"
Naruto dropped his chopsticks and borrowed Ayame's mirror to look at himself.
"How did that happen? I was with Hinata when...Hinata...that's how it happened..."
"uh..." Naruto began as he started to blush. "It was some late night training..."
"What kind of training could leave a mark like that?" Ayame thought at first until she saw that Hinata was blushing and also had a similar mark on her neck. Ayame then fought to keep from giggling as she had found out the truth.
Naruto: Yatta! Hinata-chan loves me! I've got a girlfriend now!
Naruto: Now that Hinata and I are together, we have to keep our love secret from the entire village. And what's this? Sasuke is healed and is back to being a ninja? I'm going to kill that teme for making me risk my life for him...
Sasuke: Don't get in my way, Naruto! I am an avenger! Nothing is more important to me then that!
Naruto: Just stay out of my way, Sasuke! I'm going to be Hokage one day!
Naruto: Next time, on Naruto: "Forbidden Love! The New A ranked mission!"
Hinata: Naruto-kun...will we be ok?
Naruto: Of course we will, Hinata! I'll protect you! I don't go back on my words. That's my ninja way!

domain: literature


"The MSI FM2-A85XMA-E35 motherboard features the A85 chipset and the FM2 socket to support AMD’s latest Richland APUs. The MSI FM2-A85XMA-E35 motherboard takes the form of a Micro ATX board and is targeted at mainstream users. MSI includes all solid capacitors in the board to increase the life of components and protection against damage with anti-ESD ICs on the board. OC Genie II and Click BIOS II are provided for instant overclocking and easy to navigate UEFI BIOS. Connectivity options include USB 3.0 ports, SATA 6G, Onboard LAN, HDMI 1.4, and Super Charger USB port. Support is provided for AMD Dual Graphics technology, linking select discrete GPUs and APU for better graphics performance."
Business software left the office and moved into the home long ago. If you've ever lost the password to Word, ZIP or PDF file in misguided attempt to protect data from prying eyes, this guide to Decrypting Document and File Passwords is a life saver. PCSTATS Tips


text:
Video shows migrant smugglers push adults, kids through border wall holes
PHOENIX — Two Customs and Border Protection videos released Tuesday show the dangers migrants face when crossing from Mexico into the U.S.
In a video from Dec. 18, migrant smugglers push adults and children through a hole beneath a border wall near Yuma as sirens wail and border agents tell them to turn back.
“Don’t do that! Look at the child!” the agent yells as the migrants climb past a large coil of razor wire.
In the second video from Dec. 22, smugglers try to help adults and children get through a hole in the border fence that passes through a water-filled channel.
According to text included with the video, Mexican agents were able to stop the smuggling attempt in this instance, while one woman who did manage to get across surrendered to U.S. agents.
The videos have come to light amid a surge of migrant families arriving at the border, overwhelming processing and holding centers.
A record number of families crossed into the U.S. in recent months, resulting in the expansion of what President Donald Trump calls “catch and release” – freeing people the system simply can’t deal with.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Tuesday that from Dec. 21 through Monday, the agency released 22,000 migrants into Arizona.
Based on ICE’s last estimate, 3,500 migrants were released in just 11 days.
The number of migrants has largely overwhelmed Valley churches and nonprofits that have been working to provide the migrants with resources and help them make travel plans to connect with sponsor families.
Arizona officials, including U.S. Sen. Martha McSally and Gov. Doug Ducey, have called on the federal government to communicate better with the state about the drop-offs.
Trump last week threatened to seal the border if Mexico did not immediately halt all illegal immigration into the U.S.
The president eased up on the threat Tuesday as officials across his administration explored half-measures that might satisfy his urge for action, like stopping only foot traffic at certain crossings.
KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Martha Maurer and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

domain: politics


THERMOFORMING PRACTICES ADAPTED TO YOUR REQUIREMENTS
DX Plastiques' mission is to be recognized among the best suppliers in the field of plastic transformation by offering a superior quality product and a service meeting the expectations of its business partners.
- Keep our promises.
- Keep our commitments.
- Communicate openly and honestly.
- Continuously improve our processes.
- Constantly analyze our business practices.
- Propose optimal solutions.
- Make each employee accountable.
- Focus on performance to keep costs down.
- Remain proactive to deliver the results expected by our customers.
- Create a stimulating work environment by encouraging collaboration and creativity.
- Advocate effective communication.
- Remain open-minded towards our clients, employees and suppliers.
- Respect the environment by recycling as much as possible.
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY THERMOFORMING ACTIVITIES
Taking care of the environment is important to DX Plastiques. Therefore, every effort is made to recycle as much raw material as possible: 90 % of plastic waste is returned to our supplier for regranulation.


The recently held Harare Agricultural show witnessed SAfAIDS showcasing some of its men’s programmes as a way of reaching more men with its interventions. Through one of the SAfAIDS programmes Men as partners/Women as partners (WasP/MasP) programme which addresses harmful cultural practices that perpetuate the abuse of women and girls, men were engaged on the role they should play in ending any form of violence against women and girls
Through the discussions, men came to the realisation that they have a critical role to play in addressing gender based violence in their homes with one men noting, “Thanks to this conversation, l believe man to man talk has a positive impact in changing our behaviours. We tend to understand the importance of being fathers and taking care of our families through such conversations as men. It wouldn’t have been the same if the message was coming from women”.
Men however noted that there are some men who still feel embarrassed to report their own cases of abuse to the police. These women are killers, in our country Zambia women are massively abusing men even at gunpoint’’, said one of the men from Zambia. ‘’Because of our status as men we cannot report abuse to the police. Society expects a real man to solve his own family affairs. Taking any issue especially of a man being abused shows the man as weak’’ noted one of the fathers.
SAfAIDS used the opportunity to have long and fruitful discussions with most men to understand issues of GBV and how to address such issues in their communities. The men were encouraged to have their own fatherhood clubs and share such issues at men gatherings so that they educate each other in understanding positive parenting.


What key facts stood out the most?
The Insolvency Service have published their final corporate insolvency statistics for the year so we can see real data on how the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent support measures have affected businesses in the UK.
There were 12,557 underlying company insolvencies recorded in 2020 which was a 27% year-on-year reduction but was also the lowest recorded level since 1989.
This was driven by the lowest number of Company Voluntary Liquidations (CVLs) – 9,418 – which was their lowest annual level since 2007.
Company Voluntary Arrangements (CVAs) – 259 – were down to their lowest levels since 1993 and with only 1,351 Compulsory liquidations recorded, this is the lowest number since 1973 – 48 years ago!
The overall number of company insolvencies in 2020 of 12,557 was primarily (over 75%) made up of creditors voluntary liquidations (CVLs) although these were 22% down on their total from 2019.
Compulsory liquidations were down by 55% year-on-year; Company voluntary arrangements (CVAs) were down 26% and administrations were down 16%.
The Insolvency Service have listed five potential causes for the reductions in company insolvencies – all related to the Covid-19 response efforts. These are:-
- Reduced HMRC enforcement activity since the first lockdown was applied from March 23rd 2020.
- Temporary restrictions brought in under the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 which halted the use of statutory demands and winding-up petitions which lead to company compulsory liquidations.
- New insolvency tools such as moratoriums and court ordered restructuring plans
- Enhanced government financial support for companies primarily through the Coronavirus Jobs Retention Scheme (CJRS); Bounce Back Loans and other measures including VAT and business rates holidays.
- Strong advice from financial service regulators that businesses in financial difficulty should be treated with forbearance and due consideration.
The Insolvency Service also notes that it specifically doesn’t record whether an insolvency is directly related to the pandemic so cannot positively state its direct effect on insolvency volumes but the effect on the figures is clearly not coincidental.
When it came to the individual sectors of the economy, all saw a decline in insolvency rates compared to 12 months ago.
The areas that saw the most insolvencies in the 12-month period were construction (2,042); accommodation and food services (1,701) and wholesale & retail trade including repair of vehicles (1,673).
The construction industry traditionally tends to have the highest quarterly insolvency levels but the well publicised woes of the hospitality, hotel and food service industries have propelled them into second place as what would traditionally have been their busiest period was effectively halted.
So what does this all mean?
Colin Haig, President of R3, the trade body for the insolvency and restructuring industry said: “The annual reduction in corporate insolvency levels – to the lowest total figure for more than a decade – has been driven by a decrease in all types of company insolvency.
“The most significant factors behind it are the support measures the Government has introduced for businesses since the onset of the pandemic and the suspension of creditors’ ability to take action against many corporate debtors.
“The government’s Covid-19 support measures and legislation are key drivers on these low insolvency numbers, but they have deferred rather than deterred the full effects of the pandemic being reflected in corporate insolvency levels.
“It’s a question of when, not if, levels of corporate insolvency increase this year, but the timing will depend on when – and how – the government support ends.
“The retail, hospitality and tourism sectors have been particularly badly hit, and we have seen a number of household names enter an insolvency process or announce restructurings in an attempt to mitigate the effects of the pandemic.
“At the moment, with government support still in place and creditors generally sympathetic to the challenges of the business climate, many companies may find they have a precious – albeit temporary – breathing space.
“Now is the time for their directors to think about how they move forward and take advice from a qualified source as soon as they see signs their firm is starting to struggle, or if they’re worried about this year.
“As the saying goes, it’s always worth hoping for the best but planning for the worst, and doing so now will mean you have more options later on.”
We couldn’t agree more.
We can arrange a virtual consultation – totally for free – whenever it’s convenient for you.
While the promise of a return to economic business as usual beckons, it will be many months and weeks before this arrives – if it does – so there’s no better time to act than now.
We’ll help you identify which areas of your business need immediate attention, which can be improved in time and come up with an effective and efficient plan to do both.
Then maybe 2021 will be a real improvement on 2020 for even more reasons.


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UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:UNH) is primarily a large health insurer (other divisions of the company sell software for health care providers and pharmacy benefit management services) with a market capitalization of over $50 billion. In July, UnitedHealth Group Inc. announced its results for the second quarter of the 2012 fiscal year. Compared to the same quarter a year ago, UnitedHealth increased its subscriber base by 1.7 million customers, which in turn led to an 8% increase in revenue. This revenue growth was led by the Medicare and Medicaid related segments of the company’s business. Margins were roughly similar with the result that net income increased 9% compared to Q2 2011. Due to these good results, UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:UNH) also raised its guidance for FY 2012 to earnings per share of $4.90 to $5.00. The stock currently trades at about $52. Finally, the quarterly report announced an increase in the company’s dividend- at current prices, the new dividend yield will be about 1.6%- and an increase in authorization to repurchase shares. Despite beating earnings estimates for the fourth quarter in a row, the announcement did little to stop the decline in UnitedHealth’s stock price, and the stock is now down about 12% since the end of June and about flat year to date against rising indexes.
UnitedHealth Group Inc. made our list of the ten most popular health care stocks among hedge funds for the first quarter of the year. Leading the group of hedge fund investors, according to 13F filings, was Boykin Curry’s Eagle Capital Management. Eagle Capital reported owning 8.5 million shares; the fund had owned 6.6 million shares a year earlier and had been slowly increasing its position (find more stock picks from Eagle Capital Management). The other two hedge funds reporting positions worth over $200 million were PAR Capital Management- whose 4.8 million shares represented a slight decrease from the beginning of the year- and Harvard Management-seeded Highfields Capital Management, which also decreased its stake in UnitedHealth Group Inc. but still owned 3.4 million shares at the end of March (see more stocks in the portfolios of PAR Capital Management and Highfields Capital Management).
The good earnings report helps give UnitedHealth a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of 11, and given its earnings growth and its moderate dividend yield it deserves consideration as a value stock pick. Its forward P/E multiple based on sell-side estimates drops to 9, and as mentioned the company has a history of beating whatever Wall Street’s estimates are at the time of the report. While there are many industry- and sector-related factors, including increased federal involvement in the insurance market, that may put much of the company’s business at risk, sell-siders know of the existence of these risks. It should also be noted that on a statistical basis UnitedHealth’s stock has considerable protection from market movements, with a beta of 0.4. Not only can the company be a value play, but investors do not have to worry much about macro weakness in the U.S. (and of course there is essentially no exposure to Europe or the rest of the world except through their effect on the U.S. economy).
Large-cap competitors in the insurance market include Aetna Inc. (NYSE:AET), Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM), and WellPoint Inc (NYSE:WLP). All three of these stocks pay dividend yields a bit higher than UnitedHealth’s, in the 1.7% to 2.1% range, and all three carry considerably lower multiples than the larger company. Humana Inc. (NYSE:HUM) and WellPoint Inc (NYSE:WLP) have trailing P/E ratios of 8, while Aetna Inc. (NYSE:AET)’s is 7. This is probably partly due to UnitedHealth’s larger size, but it should also be noted that all three peers saw a decrease in earnings in their last reported quarter compared to the same quarter in the previous year. Their forward multiples are slightly lower than their trailing multiples, implying that Wall Street analysts expect lower growth from these companies. UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:UNH) thus offers investors a slightly weaker value case than these comparable companies but may be a better bet to at least preserve, if not grow, its business. However, if sell-side evaluations that the regulatory risks facing the industry are limited, an investor could certainly look to buy any of these insurers.

domain: news


text:
Up to 93% of properties available for rent in August were too expensive for those on rent supplement, according to the Simon Community.
They examined the rental market areas and found just 64 properties were affordable for those receiving housing assistance.
In particular, single people were being priced out of the market.
National spokesperson for Simon, Niamh Randall, said: “We looked at 11 areas around Ireland and in the three days of the study there were 859 properties available, but only 64 of those, just 7%, were available to those within rent supplement limits.
“We looked at limits for a single person, for a couple, for a couple with one child, for a single person with one child and for a couple or single person with two children.
“So it’s very, very stark, just 7% available for people on those limits.”


text:
Should You Ever Retire?
A growing number of Americans are pushing back the age at which they plan to retire. Or deciding not to retire at all.
When Special Care Is Needed: The Special Needs Trust
A special needs trust helps care for a special needs child when you’re gone.
Putting a Price Tag On Your Health
Being healthy not only makes you feel good, it may also help you financially.
Is your estate in order? This short quiz may help you assess your overall strategy.
Understanding how capital gains are taxed may help you refine your investment strategies.
How long does a $20 bill last?
Are you a thrill seeker, or content to relax in the backyard? Use this flowchart to find out more about your risk tolerance.
You taught them how to read and how to ride a bike, but have you taught your children how to manage money?
The latest trends in travel reflect a rich menu of exciting new possibilities.
Estimate how much income may be needed at retirement to maintain your standard of living.
This calculator can help you estimate how much you should be saving for college.
Estimate the potential impact taxes and inflation can have on the purchasing power of an investment.
Use this calculator to better see the potential impact of compound interest on an asset.
Use this calculator to estimate your income tax liability along with average and marginal tax rates.
Estimate the maximum contribution amount for a Self-Employed 401(k), SIMPLE IRA, or SEP.
There are some key concepts to understand when investing for retirement
Investment tools and strategies that can enable you to pursue your retirement goals.
A number of questions and concerns need to be addressed to help you better prepare for retirement living.
How federal estate taxes work, plus estate management documents and tactics.
The chances of needing long-term care, its cost, and strategies for covering that cost.
A presentation about managing money: using it, saving it, and even getting credit.
Women must be ready to spend, on average, more years in retirement than men.
Millions faithfully file their 1040 forms each April. But some things about federal income taxes may surprise you.
It's easy to let investments accumulate like old receipts in a junk drawer.
Even low inflation rates can pose a threat to investment returns.
All about how missing the best market days (or the worst!) might affect your portfolio.
Do you know these three personal finance sayings?

domain: finance


By configuring the transparency threshold for a business issue and optionally adapting the transparency score for models, lead data scientists determine which model types are compliant for that issue.
- In the navigation pane of Prediction Studio, click .
section, set the transparency
threshold for each business issue.
The transparency threshold can be different for each business issue. For example, the Risk issue can have a higher threshold than the Sales issue. It means that models that are used for predicting risk need to be easy to explain.
- Optional: In the Model transparency scores section, change the transparency score for individual model types.
- Click Save.


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Editorial: Election accountability
A system that would make election commissioners in the state’s four largest counties more responsible to their local constituents makes some sense.
A report released last week about serious problems Sedgwick County experienced during the November elections may bolster the argument for having county commissioners, rather than the Kansas secretary of state, appoint top election officials in the state’s largest counties.
Secretary of State Kris Kobach announced Friday that his office had completed its investigation of why Nov. 6 election results were delayed for hours at the Sedgwick County election office in Wichita. Kobach determined that insufficient training on the vote-counting software caused workers in the office to report early returns from advance and absentee ballots as the full and final count. He also noted that, although similar problems had occurred during the Aug. 6 primary, “sufficient steps were not taken” to identify and correct the problems.
Kobach’s recommendation was that Sedgwick County increase the number of employees at the election office and provide intensive training for those employees in how to use the vote-counting software. Money for that additional staff and training will have to be provided through the Sedgwick County budget, which presents an interesting connection to legislation that Democratic leaders say they will propose in the upcoming session.
Currently, elected county clerks run elections in 101 of the state’s 105 counties. In the state’s four largest counties — Sedgwick, Johnson, Wyandotte and Shawnee — elections are run by election commissioners appointed by the secretary of state. The purpose of the law probably was to ensure that elections in the largest counties are run in a professional and efficient manner. The downside to the system, however, is that it makes election commissioners in those counties less responsible to the local voters and county commissioners who fund their operations and depend on them to run their elections. The legislation proposed by Senate Majority Leader Anthony Hensley would require county commissioners in those counties to hire their own election commissioners and address all problems arising from the general election.
Since he took office in 2010, Kobach has appointed two election commissioners: one in Sedgwick County and one in Shawnee County. It may be simply coincidence, but both of those counties had serious election problems this year. Shawnee County had a significant dispute after a number of Topeka voters received the wrong ballots during the August primary.
This year could have been an aberration, but the fact remains that election commissioners hired by elected county commissioners would be more accountable to the officials and voters most affected by the work they do. The secretary of state may be unhappy about election glitches, but no one is more unhappy than county commissioners and voters who are concerned and embarrassed by debacles like the one that occurred in Wichita this year.
Clarification:Thursday’s editorial noted that since taking office in 2010, Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach had appointed election commissioners in Sedgwick and Shawnee counties, and both counties experienced election problems this year. Shawnee County Election Commissioner Andrew Howell was appointed in September 2012, after the August primary in which a number of voters received incorrect ballots.


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why book heartache tonight?
From the guitar duel in “Hotel California” to the harmonies of “Peaceful Easy Feeling,” Heartache Tonight delivers a true Eagles concert experience with meticulous attention to detail. Close your eyes and you’ll swear you’re hearing the real thing.
A Heartache Tonight concert is one hit song after another from one of the greatest rock bands of all time, performed by tremendously talented musicians. There are no backing tracks in this show – all vocal harmonies and guitar parts are performed live.

domain: artistic


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Articles 1 - 1 of 1
Full-Text Articles in Law
"When The President Does It": Why Congress Should Take The Lead In Investigations Of Executive Wrongdoing, Andrew B. Pardue
William & Mary Law Review
Asked by British journalist David Frost whether the President of the United States has the ability to authorize illegal acts when he believes such action is justified, Richard Nixon infamously replied: “Well, when the President does it, that means it is not illegal.” A majority of Americans disagreed with the former President’s assessment. But the question remains: If the President is theoretically capable of breaking the law while in office, what is the best way to determine whether a crime has actually been committed? This question has forced lawmakers to attempt to reconcile various investigatory mechanisms—all differing in ...

domain: law


Springfield Armory 1898 Krag .30-40 U.S. US Bolt Action Rifle MFD 1902 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1280
Make: Springfield Armory
Model: 1898 Krag
Serial Number: 399885
Year of Manufacture: July, 1902 (see page 236 of The American Krag Rifle and Carbine by Joe Poyer)
Caliber: 30-40 Krag
Action Type: Bolt Action, Fed by Side Mounted Magazine
Markings: The left side of the receiver is marked “U.S. / MODEL 1898. SPRINGFIELD ARMORY. 399885”. The rear of the bolt handle is marked “S4” and “X”. The bottom of the bolt handle is marked “1”. The barrel band is marked “U”. The bottom of the grip is marked ”D” and with a “circled P” proof. The left side of the stock, above the trigger, is marked with a boxed inspector’s cartouche “JSA / 1902” (J.S. Adams, see page 60 of The American Krag Rifle and Carbine by Joe Poyer).
The sling is marked “ROCK ISLAND / ARSENAL / 1908” and “E.H.S.”.
Barrel Length: Approximately 30 Inches
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade set atop a raised base. The rear sight is a “U” notched blade attached to an escalator assembly. marked from “2-20”.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock has a straight grip, cutout for the bolt handle, finger grooves, barrel band, nosecap with bayonet lug, stacking loop, 2 sling loops, and a metal buttplate with hinged door for storage. The buttplate and nosecap show small scratches and light surface erosion. The wood shows scattered scrapes, scratches and compression marks. The LOP measures 13 1/2 inches from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. This stock rates in about Very Good Plus overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The muzzle and grooves are gray. The rifling is deep. There is erosion at the muzzle and in the grooves. The bore shows an M.E. of 1.8.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 87% its metal finish as refinished. The barrel and the magazine have areas of surface erosion bleeding through the new finish causing discoloration. The receiver and magazine show discoloration from oxidation. The metal shows scrapes, thin scratches and discoloration. The trigger guard shows thinning and light surface erosion. The screw heads show oxidation. The receiver markings are deep. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good overall condition as refinished.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: The rifle comes with a leather sling and a metal oiler. The rifle uses a “headless” cocking piece.
Our Assessment: This Springfield Armory Model 1898 Krag Rifle was made back in 1902. The rifle has been refinished but still has nice deep markings on the receiver and on the stock. The clear markings make the rifle more desirable to collectors. This Model 1898 Krag is 120 years old. It looks good and can still do lots of work out at the range. Good luck.


TRAFFIC was disrupted in Llanrwst last Thursday when part of a building collapsed onto a main road.
Conwy’s highway department were called in the early hours to deal with the rubble and closed part of Tal-y-Bont Road off to traffic. They placed cordons around the building in case further debris fell onto the roadway and it was closed to through traffic until mid afternoon next day.
“The upper side of a building which looks like either an outhouse or barn had collapsed throwing old stone bricks across Tal-y-Bont road,” explained eyewitness Philip Appleton.
“It’s quite a busy road so I would imagine it disrupted a number of road users whilst it was closed. The building is still in a state of repair with a skip now located in the road.”
It is not yet known why the wall collapsed.
zz050307Tal-y-Bont Road 2


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We know that writers walk and that walking can aid in creative insight. But what is the link between, say, walking in the woods and your innate creative energy?
The woods and writing have wedged a union in my imagination since I was a boy scribbling notes beneath trees and carving initials on bark. Thoreau later cinched for me the link between what we do on the page and what earth does on the ground. And when Jacques Derrida introduced me in Of Grammatology to his take on the Chinese word “Wen” – nature, culture, poetry, constellations, tracks, writing, marks – I thought I had found something comparable to “the Word.” It’s possible you could track writing’s origins to Chinese men’s perceptions of marks made on tortoise shells. So goes one theory. We call our homestead “Wen.”
Now comes author Tina Welling’s latest book Writing Wild: Forming a Creative Partnership with Nature published by New World Library (Thank you, NWL Publicity Director Monique Muhlenkamp for leading me to Welling and WW.). Like the best essayist, Welling wanders deep into the woods of her thinking through how the natural world holds the wellspring of our natural creative impulse. Writing Wild offers no simplistic tips and exercises. Instead, it offers a steady companion for anyone wanting to take a walk with that wild side that yearns truly to feel alive again on the page and on the ground.
I was curious what books mattered to Welling and am grateful to share with you those titles in this latest Books That Matter feature. A few surprises turn up, and she divulges details of the mammoth novel that irritated her – a great insight about some writers’ and editors’ apparent lack of attention for their readers.
Jeffrey: What one book most took off the top of your head (Dickinson on poetry) or was “the axe for the frozen sea within” you (Kafka) or otherwise just changed something profound within you? What did it do for you? Maybe a book that lit you up as a child or that turned you on as a young adult or last week that salved some pain or turned your thinking upside-down.
Tina: Memories, Dreams, Reflections by C. G. Jung is the book that set me on the path of my own individuation process – a term I hadn’t been familiar with before the investigation of Jung’s ideas that followed reading this book. Jung’s memoir opened up whole new layers of awareness for me. Suddenly I understood that everything mattered, that nothing should be dismissed, that life was on our side. And I felt validated in my perspectives of life that hadn’t been shared by others I knew or the educational and spiritual institutions that were foundations of my early life. From reading this book I began to build an inner sense of confidence in myself and my choices.
What one detail do you still recall from that book?
I often recall the story of Jung “doing whatever occurred” to him, when he parted ways with Freud and felt so lost. It occurred to Jung to build a village with pebbles and small stones beside the lake, as he’d done as a small boy. By the time the village was complete, he knew what to do with his life. I love this story. By its simple teaching, it throws us back onto ourselves and exercises our trust in our own wisdom. Plus the image of this great man playing with pebbles on the beach allows me to accept whatever silly thing occurs to me and go with it.
The book you imagined/imagine living inside of is what?
For sometime after reading it, I imagined living inside Isak Dinesin’s Out of Africa.
After I read it, I searched for every other book I could find that would tell me more about Isak Dinesin’s time in Africa, for example Letters from Africa. I loved her courage, her desire to make a difference, to be personally special, to express herself, to love and be loved. Even her shadow side intrigued me: her mammoth ego, her desire to control, her possessiveness over material things and people, including the entire tribe of KiKuyu living near her.
The kinds of books you are appreciating or seeking these days are what?
Memoirs. I enjoy learning about the inner lives of public people. I like being able to trace their thoughts and emotions to their resulting actions in the world. This may be because my newest book tells so much of my own personal story and I am facing the situation of having my inner life in the hands of readers. Whereas before I wrote novels and I was shielded somewhat by fiction, I’m now hanging out there for all to read.
What kinds of books irritate you most?
Recently, I was in bed reading an enormous, several hundred page novel by a writer I have always admired. But by page 450 I was murmuring angry remarks to myself over the lack of editing and the verbose wanderings off topic. I won’t name him, because I have liked his past novels very much and I like him personally. But I turned page and page, my lips moving with my complaints in this last work of his. Soon I found myself flipping pages with just a quick scan, eyes traveling down the middle of the page, because even the language had become dull and mediocre. I ranted out loud then. I accused his editor of being too afraid to edit such a successful author and famous name and, finally, I slammed the book shut with pages unread. So to sum up, I am irritated by books requesting that the reader offer their full attention, yet were not seemingly given that by the writers and editors.
You will read anything written by whom?
A poet turned novelist.
I am usually rewarded with a thoughtful book written in beautiful, succinct language. I learn about the craft of writing from such books
Survey: Roughly what % of books do you read digitally versus in paper? (What’s your preferred reader?)
Less than 5% of my reading is done digitally. I love to hold the books, write in the margins, underline passages, tab their pages and flip pages forward and backward, studying how the subject was pulled together. And often I like to just sit holding the physical book at a page while I wander off on a thought that was triggered. With a digital reader (I use the basic Kindle, when I do read from it) the page turns dark and the e-reader turns itself off.
The little-known book you most relish and champion is what?
Crossing Unmarked Snow by the poet William Stafford. It is an insightful book about creative energy and I return to it again and again to become reassured and inspired.
If you had the time, talent, grit, and support, the book you would write is what?
I would love to write a young-adult environmental mystery, preferably a series, one that addresses in an engaging way the issues that will face their generation, even more than my own currently. I would love to engender a deep connection to the planet and all the live things on it through these novels. This imaginary novel-series of mine would be peopled with beloved characters facing and easing the mining issues, wildlife imbalances, farming and animal industries, on and on. In fact, I mess around with this YA novel idea in an unintentional way, while sitting outside at the end of my “real” work time. So far, it’s been my fantasy project
What you hope most readers of Writing Wild come away with is what?.
I hope readers of WRITING WILD: Forming a Creative Relationship with Nature, come away with a deepened sense of awareness for the natural world, their own creative energy, and an understanding of how the two work together, enhancing and strengthening each other. We live in a reciprocal, creative world, full of patterns for our lives.
To find out more about Tina Welling’s books visit tinawelling.com.

domain: library


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Day 6 - Doms Vanlife Travel Diary.
We left the glorious vineyard setting of the 2 windmills for Lidl, stocked up on a few essentials before an 8 hour driving stint across the Pyrenees.
A long day but improved by some stunning scenery. Leo is settling in to his new life and really enjoying the views whilst driving, what an epic van cat!
Arrived in Spain (woohoo) with its lovely stone houses and welcoming signs for impending Paella.
Arrived at a not so idyllic but pleasant enough stay over near Pamplona, several Spanish vanner there and slept well, as did Bogie whose now soaking up some morning rays.

domain: geography


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The comic actor, World Health Organization appeared on shows starting from The Carol Burnett Show to SpongeBob SquarePants, died Tues morning, May 14.
The cause was complications from a protracted unhealthiness, consistent with his representative, Howard Bragman. He was 85.
Conway’s break role was on the Nineteen Sixties programme McHale’s Navy as a handless ensign in war II. On The Carol Burnett Show, he contend mister.
Tudball, a Romanian-accented boss constantly aggravated by his slow secretary. On the cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants, he voiced a annoyed superhero chum known as Barnacle Boy.
Conway additionally asterisked in several TV shows, however few lasted terribly long. As he told the Archive of yankee tv, he forever felt lighter being the guy standing behind the star, creating everybody laugh.
“I’ve ne’er been comfy because the star,” he said. “I do not feature myself as being the top man. i might a lot of rather interchange the background and create little, funny things go than be up at the top of the category.”
Born Thomas Daniel Conway in Ohio, he served within the Army and knocked around in Cleveland’s native TV scene before heading to ny to affix The Steve Allen Show within the early Nineteen Sixties.
As a result of the show already had a staff member named Tom Conway, he adopted the pseudonym Tim.
Conway told Weekend Edition host Scott Simon in 2010 that he started dreaming of a career in comedy once he was simply a baby. “I was extremely quite the category clown,” he said.
“When you are little, you either area unit funny otherwise you get beat up a great deal.”
He had learning disorder, and once he browse words that weren’t there, he found that different children would laugh. Conway recalled thinking,
“This may be a great way to create a living. i am going to simply go downtown and skim and have folks laugh.”
Conway’s role on McHale’s Navy crystal rectifier to a lot of guest appearances on selection shows.
Eventually, he landed an everyday role on CBS’ standard Carol Burnett Show, wherever he developed a name for killing improvisations that may create his co-stars crack up.
In the Seventies and ’80s, he appeared in films with Andy filmmaker Show alum Don Knotts, together with in Disney’s The dumpling Gang.
He and Carol Burnett Show colleague medico Korman worked along in films and in stage productions till Korman died in 2008.
Conway won six honour awards over his career, together with four for his work on The Carol Burnett Show. He additionally won in 2008 for a guest look on the programme thirty Rock.
In a career that spanned nearly six decades, he used his lightning-fast wit and implike improvisational skills to show unfortunate, handless roles into the foremost standard characters World Health Organization virtually ne’er got advertizing.

domain: entertainment


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The influx of live music performers in recent years is refreshing. There is something about music fresh off the instruments or a freestyle beat smith that adds some real energy to a performance. Giving the opportunity to improvise on stage can turn a regular show in a unique and memorable event. Artists like Disclosure, Flume, Beats Antique, Griz, Brasstracks, and more have perfected their own styles with live dance music. While DJs and producers like A-Trak, Trentino, Zebo and aarabMUZIK have long mastered scratching or live beat work.
Chicago is becoming a emerging hub for local independent artists and a growing number are getting creative with live instruments and bands. Coming arcross LWKY music I was pleased so see the experimental dance music artists joining others in breaking away from the CDJ norm. Using guitar, synths and midi controllers, with their style and production they can easily bend genres and experiment.
In the most recent releases you can hear many different influences. Combining electro funk and jazz beats reminiscent to Manic Focus and future bass that can match Cofresi and his live work on drum pads and midi controllers. Flux has some glitch hop and funk influence and the Down Low sounds like K-Theory reborn. Just releasing a music video as well for Happy To Be Human coming from their 2014 LP No Sleep, you get a visual idea of how they work in real time.
Yes this group has been mastering their craft a while. Up till now they have few albums, couple EPs, countless singles and remixes and best thing about it is its all free to you. Or you can go out and find one of their shows and see them in action. In Chicago they are opening for Manic Focus early March at the Riv. I can expect to hear a lot more from LWKY this year, excited to see what they got goin on next.