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Strengthen Your Team With the Right Team Event Activities

Creating a high-performing team starts from within—team members. Regardless of how effective your marketing strategy is, if there is no cohesion in the workplace, setting and achieving goals is impossible. Modern businesses understand this factor. That is why team building events are always considered and organized.

If you are one of the few business entrepreneurs who believe it’s expensive leisure, think again, as we unveil the benefits your business gets after a successful team building event. During an organized team-building, the right activities help strengthen teamwork, improve employee communication, and build trust, respect, and more.

Why Strengthening Your Team Is Vital To Business Growth

The core of effective teamwork and a successful business is its unified team members who strive to provide the most excellent results. For your business to grow, you have to nurture the people who work behind the scenes to ensure your business meets excellence in providing products and customer satisfaction.

The right team activities included in your team building allows better team collaboration and must improve relationships by building trust, respect, and achieving set goals. In this case, Teamevents Frankfurt is a top-notch Virtual Presenter Services and event organizing group that provides unique sets of activities suitable to improve teamwork and build a reliable team that helps upscale businesses and companies.

With the perfect set of activities for your employees, going out for a team event becomes a fun and enjoyable moment that allows them to feel valued and appreciated. Employees connected and have stronger bonds tend to work smoothly and seamlessly to deliver outstanding results. If you’re planning a huge event for your company employees, make sure to find a venue that has an event parking garage.

With modernization and digitization, crucial factors must be developed to make sure your teamwork is a success. These factors include:

  • Communication

Consistent and effective communication is an essential factor that measures teamwork and cohesion. With frequent updates, co-employees don’t need to assume that everyone in the team has the right information. As a good speaker or communicator, you should also be an excellent listener.

It showcases respect that leads to building trust, which prevents conflicts or miscommunication. With open and fair communication level means better collaboration on work and an improved workplace environment, especially with the exchange of ideas or when solving problems

  • Efficiency

A unified and cohesive team allows them to effectively develop methods that enable them to collaborate in completing projects or tasks on time. Working together allows every team member to appreciate individual capabilities that enhance group capabilities to organize workloads accordingly.

  • Support

While every project offers challenges, with connected team members providing the best support, everything works smoothly, knowing everyone acts based on their potential and skills. Working together to improve everyone’s skills is another essential benefit of string teamwork and relationship.

Strong bonds, trust, respect, and reliance on work productivity increase, and your business greatly benefits from this area.

  • Ideas

With stronger team relationships and bonds, team members are more comfortable providing helpful ideas and suggestions about projects and task completion. A trusting and respectful team does not just allow growth and creativity, but it also leads to better collaboration and productive meetings.

  • Task Allocation

Healthy teamwork respects and understands every team member’s strengths and weaknesses. Leaders can easily delegate tasks to ensure projects are well covered by the team, including the most appropriate member to do the job right while ensuring that everyone works to improve their skills.

Do Team Events Help Build Teamwork?

As a business owner, you would want your employees to feel motivated, valued, and appreciated. When employees are happy, they tend to be more productive, become more creative, and promptly complete tasks.

With the right team building activities for your team members, you’ll expect stronger bonds, collaboration, trust, respect, and harmony in the workplace.

  • It improves the communication level between department leaders and staff as the key factor to success. With the right set of team activities, members are encouraged to communicate how to solve problems and complete tasks efficiently effectively.
  • It motivates employees to do better, knowing that all their efforts are appreciated, and their presence is valued.
  • Team building activities help improve business and employee morale. It creates a positive and enthusiastic workforce, which sets the right mood to be productive.
  • It increases productivity through improved communication and team collaboration with a positive effect on employees’ productivity.
  • It helps you identify employees with leadership qualities within your workforce. This included individuals who are best in solving problems during team activities to ensure and encourage other members to do better to win.
  • Team events encourage and develop creativity. With the right set of team activities, which allows members to think outside the box, creativity is developed.
  • It increases team members’ confidence level by trusting their capabilities and colleague’s abilities. That way, members can easily express and suggest new ideas to better complete tasks at a given time.
  • The physical and mental health of employees is improved. Mental health is developed through analytical situations, while physical stamina is enhanced by promoting physical activities that are great for energy and health.
  • It enhances trust, respect, and responsibility among team members to work effectively and efficiently as a team.

One of the most influential and beneficial things to do to improve teamwork in your workplace is to organize team events and activities that help strengthen employees’ relationships. That way, a strong team working together to achieve specific goals means an increase in productivity. With increased productivity means better results to help leverage your business growth. Teamwork is vital to a successful business, and successful team events are the key to successful collaboration.

If you are one of the few business entrepreneurs who believe it’s expensive leisure, think again, as we unveil the benefits your business gets after a successful team building event. During an organized team-building, the right activities help strengthen teamwork, improve employee communication, and build trust, respect, and more.


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Grifols Bio Supplies

Grifols is a global healthcare company that since 1909 has enhanced the health and well-being of people around the world. Our four divisions – Bioscience, Diagnostic, Hospital and Bio Supplies – develop, produce and market innovative solutions and services in more than 100 countries.

The Bio Supplies Division supplies high-quality biological materials for biotechnology research, clinical trials, and for manufacturing pharmaceutical and diagnostic products.

Grifols, with more than 24,000 employees in 30 countries and regions, is committed to a sustainable business model that sets the standard for continuous innovation, quality, safety and ethical leadership in the industry.

For more information, please visit www.biosuppliesproducts.com

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Amenities & Features

Experience upscale living exemplified: stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, designer fixtures and cabinetry, hardwood-style vinyl flooring, and walk-in closets. Each luxurious interior is paralleled with high-end amenities, such as our expansive rooftop deck complete with a pool and club room, a fitness center, paw spa, conference rooms, vehicle charging stations, and a neighborhood green.
Essex Apartments Features

Apartment Features

  • A/C unit
  • Dishwasher
  • Double-pane windows
  • Floor-to-ceiling windows
  • Great views
  • Hardwood-style vinyl flooring
  • Heating unit
  • High ceilings
  • Keyless Entry

    Keyless entry

    Digitally grant access to your guests with keyless smart locks.

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    Keyless entry
  • Kitchen island
  • Large closets
  • Open layout
  • Patio/balcony
  • Quartz countertops
  • Smart Technology

    Smart home technology

    Enjoy the convenience of a smart device-enabled apartment home. You can easily control your apartment with a convenient mobile app.

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    Smart home technology
  • Solar shades
  • Stainless steel appliances
  • Ultrafast Internet

    Ultrafast Internet connectivity

    Our portfolio of Ultrafast internet providers offer speeds from 200 MBPS to up to 1 GB. Take advantage of lower introductory prices when you sign up for a new service.

    Learn More

    Ultrafast Internet connectivity
  • Walk-in closet
  • Washer and dryer

Some features available in select apartments. To learn more about our application process, pet policies, and more, please visit our Leasing Info page. Additional monthly fees apply for Internet.

  • Living room and kitchen with stainless steel appliances.
Essex Apartments Community Amenities

Community Amenities

  • 24/7 emergency maintenance
  • BBQ area
  • Bike storage
  • Controlled access
  • Dry cleaning services available
  • Eco-friendly community
  • Elevator
  • EV charging stations
  • Extra storage space available
  • Fitness center
  • LEED certified
  • Online resident portal
  • On-site retail
  • Parking
  • Pet friendly
  • Pet-washing station
  • Poolside cabanas
  • Resident lounge
  • Rooftop terrace
  • Smoke-free community
  • Swimming pool
  • WiFi in common areas
  • Outdoor spa and swimming pool area with sundeck and lounge seating at sunset.
Community Parking Amenity

Station Park Green Parking

Station Park Green offers uncovered, covered, and garage parking. One parking space is included with studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartment homes. Additional parking spaces, if available, are $135-$200 monthly per space. The community also includes EV charging stations. Parking availability and pricing are subject to change without notice. Have additional questions? Our leasing team can work with you directly to find the best parking option to fit your needs.
Essex On-Site Retail Locations

On-Site Retail Locations*

  • Beach Hut Deli
  • ILKB
  • Starbucks

*On-site retail locations are independent third-party businesses and services located within the community. Additional fees and services may apply. Essex and its subsidiaries do not endorse any on-site retail locations.

Man and woman shopping.

San Mateo

Welcome to San Mateo, CA where Peninsula living puts you right in the center of the Bay Area’s best schools, shopping, dining, and outdoor recreation.

See Neighborhood


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Leasing Info

Get a closer look at your move-in costs and documents needed to prepare for the leasing process.

Application Info

Necessary Documentation

You'll need a few documents to get the leasing process started.

Proof of Income DocumentYou may need bank statements, W-2 income statement, pay stubs, receipt of government income, receipt of retirement and/or investment income.
Acceptable Forms of IDA valid driver's license or government-issued ID may be required to confirm the identity of all applicants.
Renter's InsuranceProof of Renter's insurance will be required prior to move-in. Some exceptions may apply.

Upon application, Essex will run a rental screening which may include a credit report. Check with the Leasing Team for other forms of acceptable proof of income documents.

Deposits and Fees

Here's a detailed look at all your upfront costs, which may vary based on your apartment selection.

Application Fee

Administration Fee

Studio $600.00

1 bedroom $600.00

2 bedroom $600.00

3 bedroom $600.00

Upon application completion, Essex will collect a holding deposit. Security deposit amount may vary based on application screening results. An administrative fee may be required.

30-day satisfaction guarantee

Our leases are backed by our 30-day move-in satisfaction guarantee to give you more peace of mind when choosing a new home.

Renter Assurance Program

Stay up to date on the latest community happenings and pay your rent remotely.

Pet Policy

We love pets! We welcome up to two furry friends in each of our apartment homes. Contact our leasing office for full pet policy information.

Pet Policy for Cats
CatsPaw PrintsPet Amenities Available!
One-Time FeeN/A

Pets must be spayed/neutered.

Pet Policy for Dogs
DogsPaw PrintsPet Amenities Available!
One-Time FeeN/A

Pets must be spayed/neutered.

We love all dogs, but the following breeds/crossbreeds are not allowed: Guardian Breed Dogs including, but not limited to, Alaskan Malamutes, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, Pit Bulls, German Shepherds, Akita, Bullmastiff, Mastiff, Wolf Dog or any dog that Landlord believes is a crossbreed of or related breed to Guardian Breed Dogs are prohibited. Restrictions are subject to change without notice. Restrictions do not apply to dogs necessary to provide the disabled with equal access to housing.

Parking Policy

Parking Policy

Bridgeport Coast offers covered, uncovered, and garage parking. One parking space is included with a studio, one-bedroom, or two-bedroom apartment home. Additional parking spaces, if available, are $65 monthly per space. The community also includes guest parking. Parking availability and pricing are subject to change without notice. Have additional questions? Our leasing team can work with you directly to find the best parking option to fit your needs.


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Hungary History: From The Origins to The Thirty Years War Part II

This healing work was continued by his son Louis I the Great (1342-82) under whose reign Hungary became a great power again. Maneuvering skillfully between Bohemia, Habsburg, Bavaria, Venice and Poland, he was able to retain possession of Dalmatia, encircle the Polish crown (1370) and force Bosnia, Wallachia, Moldavia and the Republic of Ragusa to recognize themselves as vassals of the Magyar crown; it also initiated a maritime policy.

Inside, however, the situation remained unchanged: the Golden Bull was reconfirmed in 1351 and on the death of Louis I the country was again torn apart by the civil war: his daughter Maria was ousted by Charles II of Anjou-Durazzo (Charles III in Naples), assassinated a few weeks after his coronation (1386), had to resign power to her husband Sigismund of Luxembourg (1387), who in order to get help against the claims of Ladislao di Anjou-Durazzo, son of Charles II, was forced to grant privileges also to the small nobility so that the burden of taxes ended up weighing mainly on the Fourth Order, that of the servants. In this period of internal wars, the Dalmatia occupied by the Venetians (1402) was lost and the Turkish danger grew closer after the destruction of the Serbian forces in Kosovo (1389) and the rout suffered by Sigismondo in Nicopoli (1396). The situation worsened further when after the short reign of Albert of Habsburg (1437-39) the crown passed to Ladislao of Poland (1440-44) who was defeated and killed by the Turks in Varna: according to relationshipsplus, the defense of the country remained entrusted to the leader János Hunyadi who with the forces of southern Hungary resisted the Ottomans heroically defending Belgrade (1456).

On the death of the ghost-king Ladislao V Posthumus (1445-57), the son of J. Hunyadi, Mattia Corvino (1458-90) was elected who reorganized the country, but made a mistake by abandoning the fight against the Turks and turning his forces to West; he conquered Styria, Vienna (1478), Moravia and Silesia (1479), but on his death all was lost. The weak successors, Ladislao II Iagellone (1492-1515) and Louis II (1516-26), they had to renounce the sedentary army and, attributing all the powers to the noble and aristocratic class, weakened the state to the point that, after the fall of Belgrade (1521), the army could no longer contain the Ottoman advance and fell apart after the battle of Mohács (1526), a fatal break in Hungarian history. Hungary was divided into three parts: a strip west of Lake Balaton, from the Carpathians to the sea, with the capital Pozsony, in the hands of Ferdinand I of Habsburg; the whole central plain including Buda (1541) to the Turks; Transylvania, under the Turkish protectorate, in the hands of G. Szapolyai, elected king of Hungary by the nobility and crowned in Székesfehérvár.

This division, which lasted a century and a half, impoverished the country due to the destruction of crops caused by continuous wars and excessive taxes. Only Transylvania partially saved the Magyar institutions and culture and, embracing the Calvinist Reformation, was the first to proclaim freedom of conscience in Europe (1560). In the Austrian part, Emperor Rudolf II, starting from 1604, fought against Calvinism, causing a revolt which, led by S. Bocskai, led to a bloody struggle between Hungary, a follower of the Catholic creed, and Transylvania, of which Bocskai had become prince: struggle which, continued by his successors Gábor Bethlen (1613-29) and György I Rákóczy (1630-48), intertwined with the events of the Thirty Years War.

The best known evidence of the most ancient human presence in this area are those of the site of Vertesszöllös, not far from Budapest, excavated by L. Vertes, where important levels of the lower Paleolithic with industries on splinter and human fossil remains attributed initially were found to Homo erectus or to an archaic representative of Homo sapiens. The Middle Paleolithic is well represented, in particular in the open field of Èrd (Budapest), with industries on small quartzite pebbles aged between the end of the Riss-Würm interglacial and the first phase of the Würm, and associated with a predominant bear fauna. The levels found in other open-air deposits such as Tata (Komárom) or in caves (Subalyuk, in the Bükk Mountains) belong to the same period. The Upper Paleolithic is particularly widespread. Its initial phase is known as Szeletian (older dating to C14 around 41,000 years from today) from the Szeleta Cave (Hámor); levels of ‘ Aurignacian oldest are dated in the Cave of Istállós-Kö (Szilvásvárad) between about 44,000 and 39,000 years from now. Particularly frequent are the remains of settlements from different phases of the Gravettiano Eastern Hungarian with ages ranging from around 28,000 (Bodrogkeresztúr in northeastern Hungary), 20,000 (Balla Cave in the Bükk Mountains) and 12,000 years from now (Dunaföldvár on the Danube Meander, etc.). Equally interesting are the testimonies of Neolithic times (stations of Alföld, Bükk, Körös, HerpalyHalom, Lengyel, from which as many cultural complexes have taken their name). For the subsequent Bronze and Iron Ages, the discoveries made in Dunapentele, Egyek and Fuzesabony, often in necropolis composed of hundreds of sepulchers with abundant funeral equipment, should be remembered. Starting from the sec. VII a. C. elements of Scythian culture spread, coming from the Eurasian steppes of which Hungary can be considered the extreme offshoot.

Hungary History 2

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Empowering a world of conscious investors

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We use these goals to assess a company’s impact on the world.

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No Poverty

Erradicate poverty in all its forms everywhere

Zero Hunger

Sustainable agriculture, improving food systems & nutrition and ultimately putting a stop to hunger

Good Health & Wellbeing

Promote good health and well-being for all

Quality Education

Provide inclusive, equitable, and lifelong learning opportunities

Gender Equality

Empower all girls and women and acheive gender equality

Clean Water & Sanitation

Ensure the correct management of water systems, and access clean & safe water & sanitation

Affordable & Clean Energy

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Decent Work & Economic Growth

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Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure

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Reduced Inequalities

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Partnerships for the Goals

Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development


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Copper ETN Nears a Bear Market

Following some disappointing economic data out of China, a widely followed exchange traded note (ETN) dedicated to copper tumbled Wednesday. With yesterday’s decline, the iPath Bloomberg Copper Subindex Total Return ETN (NYSEArca: JJCB) is close to officially entering bear market territory.

JJCB provides exposure to copper futures by tracking the Bloomberg Copper Subindex Total Return Index. As is often the case with commodities, supply and demand factors are plaguing copper this year. While demand is not necessarily bad, abundant supply is seen plaguing the industrial metal.

“China consumes nearly half the world’s copper and data released today showed fixed investment in manufacturing, real estate and infrastructure for the first seven months came in well below expectations at 5.5% year on year,” reports Frik Els for

JJCB now resides nearly 23% below its 52-week high.

Copper Conundrum

Shares of copper miners are struggling as well. The Global X Copper Miners ETF (NYSEARCA: COPX), which tracks the Solactive Global Copper Miners Index, is off more than 6% over the past month. COPX resides almost 21% below its 200-day moving average. COPX is down more than 20% year-to-date.


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Tag archive

kurdish peshmerga

US approves potential $295.6m weapons sale to Peshmerga

BreakingNews @en di

The US State Department has approved a possible sale of military equipment to the Peshmerga to an estimated cost of $295.6 million. The sale would include equipment to fully outfit two Peshmerga light infantry brigades and two support artillery battalions, a statement from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency detailed on Wednesday. A wide range of equipment was requested for purchase, including machine guns, armoured vehicles, body armour, small arms, chemical weapon detection and protection equipment, medical equipment, MRAPs, and ambulances. The sale would assist in the defeat of ISIS, the statement said, adding it would not “alter the basic military balance in the region”. The sale has not been concluded as of yet.

Peshmerga not involved against Islamic State in western Mosul battles

BreakingNews @en di

Kurdistan’s army forces (Peshmerga) are not partaking in the Iraqi forces’ battle against Islamic State in western Mosul. JabbarYawar, secretary-general of the Peshmerga Ministry, told Bas News that the force maintains deployment at regions it had recaptured earlier from Islamic State militants. He added that no agreement had been made with the government in Baghdad regarding participation in western Mosul battles which, he said, are solely led by Iraqi forces contrariwise the operations in eastern Mosul which launched in October and ended with the retaking of the region late January.

Kurdish Peshmergas attacked Islamic State’s headquarters

Media Official of Peshmerga forces in Sinjar District announced that the Kurdish forces attacked strongholds and headquarters of the Islamic State in the area.“Kurdish Peshmerga forces attacked three headquarters of the Islamic State in Rambousi Village and Telskuf area.” have said Khalil Shafan. “Last night, Peshmerga forces located members of the Islamic State in the areas of al-Baaj and al-Balij, where the militants were trying to flee toward Syria,” he further added and that the Kurdish security forces are waiting for President of Kurdistan Region, Masoud Barzani’s orders to liberate the remaining areas of Sinjar from ISIS control.

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Biogas production and biogas potentials from residues of the European food and beverage industry

Download the document

Do you eat fresh and healthy food every day? Do you heat your household in cold months and use electrical energy on a daily basis?Do you waste some of your food? Maybe you waste around 16% of your consumption which equals 123 kg food wastes per capita annually. Do you use around 3600 kWh2 of electrical energy
in your household in one year? Would you like to use renewable energy in your household?

Then your consumption is similar to this of an average European citizen and you might like the idea, that your food wastes can be used to provide electrical energy. The project FABbiogas brings Europe a bit further to reach such goals. The FABbiogas project aspires to change the mindsets of all stakeholders in the wasteto-
energy chain by promoting residues from (FAB) food and beverage industry as a new and renewable source for biogas production.


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EBA Newsletter February 2012

Read EBA Newsletter in pdf format.

Articles include:

  • CAC Steering Committee
  • General Assembly of EBA
  • Staff changes at EBA
  • EBA Biogas Conference
  • EBA at 21st Annual Biogas Conference and Exhibition in Bremen (Germany)
  • EBA cooperates with European Compost Network (ECN)
  • Biogas Report 2011
  • Country profiles in biogas
  • France releases specifications for biomethane injection
  • Luxembourg has FIT for biomethane injection
  • Evonik invests in Austria
  • Estonia proposes cuts in FIT
  • Many changes in Germany due to EEG 2012
  • IEE projects
  • When looking for business opportunities

News from the EU

  • EU must double energy grid funding
  • French and Czech legislation still not in line with EU rules for RE
  • EU gas market – Bulgaria and Romania do not properly implemented gas regulation Directives
  • Future Transport Fuels
  • Common letter of EBA and German Biogas Association addressed to the Commissioner for Energy
  • Energy Taxation Directive


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  • Poster HEROES - cast will suit every wall
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Since 1999, Europosters has been one of the top sellers of posters, wall art prints and licensed merchandise gifts in the Czech Republic and throughout Europe too. We offer a huge selection of movie, game or sports posters of all sizes as well as wide range of original gifts for true fans of Star Wars, Harry Potter, comics or the whole Warner Bros family. We know that mugs, figurines, puzzles and clothes are the best gift for everyone, regardless of age or interest. But if you are a fan of interior design, then you are in the right place too! On a daily basis we print wall murals, illustrations, photographs and art reproductions and send them to more than 25 countries to keep our customers happy.

E-mail: info@europosters.eu

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EPA Recognizes Green Power at Evergreen

April 21, 2009

The Evergreen State College is Noted as a Top Green Power Purchaser Among Colleges and Universities

Olympia, Wash, April 20, 2009 — The Evergreen State College announced today that it was recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the 2008-2009 Individual Conference Champion for purchasing more green power than any other school in the Cascade Collegiate Conference.

Since April 2006, EPA’s Green Power Partnership has tracked and recognized the collegiate athletic conferences with the highest combined green power purchases in the nation. The Individual Conference Champion Award recognizes the school that has made the largest individual purchase of green power within a qualifying conference.

The Evergreen State College beat its conference rivals by purchasing more than 16 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power, representing 100 percent of the school’s annual electricity usage. The Evergreen State College is buying utility green power products from Puget Sound Energy and Tacoma Power, which helps to reduce the environmental impacts associated with the campus’s purchased electricity use.

EPA estimates that The Evergreen State College’s purchase of more than 16 million kilowatt-hours of green power is the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power more than 1,600 average American homes each year or has the equivalent impact of reducing the CO2 emissions of more than 2,100 passenger cars annually.

The Cascade Collegiate Conference’s collective green power purchase of more than 31 million kWh of green power is equivalent to the annual electricity use of more than 2,600 average American homes or the annual CO2 emissions of nearly 3,500 cars.

“Each year our college and university Green Power Partners raise the bar for clean, renewable energy use,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “By taking action on its campus, Evergreen State College is helping to move our nation into a clean energy future.”

Twenty-two collegiate conferences and 44 schools competed in the 2008-2009 challenge, collectively purchasing more than 1 billion kWh of green power. EPA will extend the College & University Green Power Challenge for a fourth year, to conclude in spring of 2010. EPA’s Green Power Challenge is open to all U.S. colleges, universities, and conferences. In order to qualify, a collegiate athletic conference must include at least one school that qualifies as a Green Power Partner, and the conference must collectively meet EPA’s minimum conference purchase requirement. For more information, visit: http://www.epa.gov/grnpower/initiatives/cu_challenge.htm.

Green power is generated from renewable resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, biomass and low-impact hydro. Green power is considered cleaner than conventional sources of electricity and has lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, a greenhouse gas linked to global climate change. Purchases of green power help accelerate the development of new renewable energy capacity nationwide.

From edible forest gardens to a salmon-safe certified organic farm to campus housing options in which students consciously choose a different way to relate to their natural world, Evergreen provides students with the opportunity to embark on new ways of thinking. Purchasing Green Power is an important part of Evergreen’s commitment to sustainability.

About The Evergreen State College

The Evergreen State College is a nationally recognized public liberal arts college known for its distinctive interdisciplinary curriculum, high level of student/faculty engagement and emphasis on putting learning into action.

About the U.S. EPA’s Green Power Partnership

EPA’s Green Power Partnership encourages organizations to purchase green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with conventional electricity use. The Green Power Partnership currently has more than 1,000 Partners voluntarily purchasing billions of kilowatt hours of green power annually. Partners include a wide variety of leading organizations such as Fortune 500 companies, small and medium sized businesses, local, state, and federal governments, trade associations, as well as colleges and universities. For additional information please visit http://www.epa.gov/greenpower.

For more information about EPA’s College and University Green Power Challenge, visit the Challenge Web site at http://www.epa.gov/grnpower/initiatives/cu_challenge.htm.


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Excel Justify Function

In this tutorial, we will learn about Excel Fill Justify Function to Manage the Text

If you have some words or parts of sentences and you want to convert it into a single line without applying any formula then follow the steps given below:

Note – Before applying this trick, make your Column width wider in order to fix the data in a single line

1. Choose the cells

2. Go to Home Tab

3. In the Home tab, go to Fill Tab

4. In the Fill Tab click on Justify

5. Lastly, you will see that your data is being converted into a single line


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Thursday, October 30, 2014

Lost and Found

Not long ago, my wife and I spent an evening at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville. In order to get to our room, we had to pass by the lost and found office for the entire facility. Given that the hotel has over 2,000 rooms, it was a fairly large operation and I stopped in because I doubted that there was anyone else in the hotel with a better story than the people that staffed this particular office.
Upon entry, I peered over the half-door and there was a dark-haired woman seated at a computer and wearing a headset. There were several rows of industrial shelving behind her and each held large plastic bins of what I assumed where misplaced items waiting to be claimed. She cordially inquired if I had lost an item and I informed her that I happened to be walking by and was curious what the strangest item they had ever had claimed. The phrasing was intentional because while I am sure they had many odd items placed in their care; there are many people who would rather replace said item than face the embarrassment of claiming ownership.

She smiled warily and assured me that “there is nothing you could imagine that we haven’t had.” I clarified to see if her statement still applies to items that had actually been claimed and she reiterated that regardless of the nature of the item, they had seen it all. By now, she had clearly begun to wonder what she had done to deserve the punishment of being on duty when I walked in and was eager to get back to work. Thanking her for her time, my wife and I made our way back to our room where she was going to freshen up her makeup.

While sitting in the room and waiting for her to get ready, I replayed the conversation in mind and the more I thought about it the more I felt like she had challenged my creativity. On the complimentary stationary, I quickly compiled a list of items and called back down to the lost and found office to see if her initial statement still held water. She cheerily answered the phone, but I did notice a change in tone when I explained that I was the guy who had been inquiring about strange items earlier. I told her that I had a list and simply wished to know if they had seen any of the following items:

Me- Inflatable giraffe?
Her – Pool or otherwise?
Me – Either
Her – No.
Me – Last will and testament?
Her – No.
Me – Container of combustible liquid?
Her – No.
Me – Artificial limb?
Her – No.
Me – French currency?
Her – No.
Me – An urn with human remains?
Her – No.

With each successive answer, I could almost hear her wondering why she couldn’t have called in sick today.I ended the conversation by thanking her again for her time and adding (somewhat haughtily) “So I suppose they are some items I could imagine that you have not had….” Undoubtedly already filling out the paperwork necessary to be transferred to another department, she conceded that perhaps she had underestimated my creativity and optimistically asked if “that was all I needed.”

As I hung up the phone, my wife emerged from the bathroom and asked me who I was talking to. When I explained and showed her the list in my hands, she simply shook her head and wondered aloud for what to have been the 500th time in our marriage “What is wrong with you!”

I always wonder if there are people that just walk into lost and founds and start fishing to see if they can luck out by asking vague questions like “You guys did not happen to find a large amount of cash and/or precious stones that may or may not have been left in a common area in the past few weeks did you?” I have been told that going to the lost and found at a large hotel is also the easiest way to acquire a spare phone charger without incurring any additional cost.

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Cheap Flights to Victoria

Top Cities to Visit in Victoria

How much is the cheapest flight to Victoria?

Prices were available within the past 7 days and starts at CA $316 for one-way flights and CA $761 for round trip, for the period specified. Prices and availability are subject to change. Additional terms apply.

Hawaiian Airlines
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Air Canada
Philippine Airlines
Cathay Pacific
Singapore Airlines
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Air Tahiti Nui
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Cathay Pacific
Hawaiian Airlines
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About Victoria

Expedia offers flights to Victoria to meet every traveller's needs. Whatever your flight need - Expedia has the flight for you. So choose from flights to Victoria or destinations around the world and discover how easy it is to make your flight reservations on Expedia.

Frequently asked questions

Can I cancel my flight booking to Victoria due to COVID-19?
Our convenient Customer Service Portal is where you can find useful information about canceling or changing your flight due to COVID-19. Before booking your tickets, it’s a good idea to look over the terms and conditions of your preferred carrier too.
What's the best way to find cheap flights to Victoria that have flexible change policies?
Search for affordable airfares to Victoria, then check the “No change fee” box under the “Flexible change policies” filter. It’s as easy as that. We understand that plans can change and flexibility matters, so book with confidence with Expedia.
What are some of the general tips for travelers to Victoria during the COVID-19 outbreak?
If it’s your first time traveling during the COVID-19 outbreak, you’ll notice a range of new regulations and rules in place. Take note of these tips and make your escape to Victoria go off without a hitch:

  • Understand the restrictions and rules in both your destination and origin. You may not be able to travel depending on local circumstances, so make sure you check government advisories before booking.
  • When you go through airport checkpoints, keep your face mask on. You will be asked to briefly lower it to verify your identity. Those who refuse to wear a face mask may face civil penalties and may also be denied boarding.
  • Instead of handing a TSA officer your boarding pass, place it straight on the reader yourself. When that’s done, hold it up for inspection.
  • You are now allowed to take one container of hand sanitizer up to 12 oz (350 ml) in your hand luggage. You’ll need to remove it for X-ray scanning.
  • To minimize handling during the screening process, place personal items such as your belt, phone and wallet into your carry-on rather than into the bins.
  • Separate any food you’re carrying for X-ray screening. Placing it in a clear plastic bag and into a bin reduces the need for a TSA employee to handle and inspect your belongings.

Which airlines fly to Victoria?
Lock in your airfare with Jetstar and then start putting together your Victoria travel agenda. This popular airline provides 8 flights every month to Tullamarine Airport (MEL), a major gateway.
How can I find cheap tickets to Victoria?
One of the easiest ways to get your hands on cheap tickets to Victoria is to be flexible with your dates. Search for your flights, then click “flexible dates” at the top of your results. You’ll see the cheapest prices for nearby days. The best price for a flight to Victoria in the last seven days was CA $761. Booking well in advance will usually help you score an even better deal.
How much is a flight to Victoria?
In the last seven days, return flights to Victoria sold from just CA $761 and reached a maximum cost of CA $1,803. For one-way trips departing from Honolulu (HNL), the lowest price during this same period was CA $316.
What are the most popular airports to fly into in Victoria?
Victoria’s primary airport is Tullamarine Airport (MEL). Get your next exciting adventure underway by reserving a seat on one of the 8 flights per month to this destination.
When is the cheapest time to fly to Victoria?
Take off to Victoria earlier in the week and you’ll usually be rewarded more economical fares. Tuesday is typically the cheapest day to jump on a plane, with Monday a close second. If you’re eager to avoid the most expensive flights, stay away from Saturdays.
How much is a plane ticket to Victoria?
Fares to Victoria ranged from CA $761 to CA $1,803 in the last seven days. Typically, the sooner you make a reservation, the bigger the bargain.
What are the best things to do in Victoria?

  • With so many wonderful things to do in Melbourne, it’s little wonder lots of travelers start their Victoria adventure in this vibrant city. Spend your first day or so going to see big attractions like Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex before discovering some of this location’s lesser-known hot spots.
  • When choosing what type of clothes to take on your vacation, take into account that Melbourne has an oceanic climate. To give you a better idea of what to expect while you’re there, check out the weather forecast before you take off.
  • You’ll want to make Geelong the next place you head to. It’s around 64 kilometres to the southwest of Melbourne and where you’ll find Old Geelong Gaol, one of this destination’s leading tourist sights.

What is the best time to go to Victoria?
Journey to Victoria during . People flock to well-known cities like Melbourne at this time of year. If you love warmer weather, it’s useful to know that the summer season in Victoria starts December 1. Average temperatures range from 55 ºF (14 ºC) to 75 ºF (25 ºC) in Melbourne then.
What months are the cheapest to book a flight to Victoria?
Snap up a ticket in February to unlock amazing flight deals to Victoria. December is known as the most expensive time to buy a fare.


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La Table de Domi

La Table De Domi offers you various dishes made from fresh and savoury products.

Located in the old city, La Table De Domi offers you all year round good dishes prepared with fresh seasonal products. Beautiful decoration, cosy atmosphere, fiendly and professional team.

  • Air conditioning
  • Terrace

  • Restaurant
  • Restaurant for children
  • Wi-fi

Reception of animals

  • Pets welcome

  • Number of covers : 80

Adult menu: 30 to 50 €.

Accepted payment methods

  • Bank checks
  • Credit card payment
  • Cash

Opening periods

From 01/01 to 31/12.
Closed Monday and Tuesday.

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Sex Gone Bad: Ugandan Soldier Shoots Lover Dead Over Cheating Accusations, Commits Suicide

Sex Gone Bad: Ugandan Soldier Shoots Lover Dead Over Cheating Accusations, Commits Suicide

By Ivan Mwine

A Ugandan soldier on Tuesday night committed suicide shortly after shooting his lover whom he suspected of cheating on him dead.

The soldier identified as private Dickens Nuwagaba, who was attached to the Special Forces Command (SFC) an elite force that guards President Yoweri Museveni and the First Family, reportedly shot himself dead after shooting his lover identified as Patience Kamarembo thrice in the chest.

The unfortunate incident was revealed by ASP Samson Kasasira,  the Rwizi Region police  spokesperson, who revealed that   prior to the shooting the  couple first got involved in a vicious quarrel after Byamukama accused Kamarembo of cheating on him with other men whenever he is away on duty.

Kasasira revealed that the shooting occurred Tuesday evening in Rugaga trading centre, Kikatsi sub-county, Kiruhura district.

“Nuwamanya shot Kamarembo thrice in the chest at a local pub in Rugaga trading centre, killing her instantly before turning the gun on himself,” Kasasira said.

He added that the police was alerted and they quickly responded by dispatching a team  of detectives to the scene of crime, who recovered an AK47 rifle that Nuwamanya had used to commit the double crime.

An eyewitness at the scene  identified as Moses Arisiima, said Kamarembo was operating a bar in Rugaga but trouble arose after Nuwamanya told her to close it such that they could go home for a sex marathon but she refused.

Arisiima added that when Kamarembo refused to close the bar, a quarrel ensued between her and Nuwamwanya that soon resulted into a fight and the consequent shooting.

Kamarembo’s friend Agnes Mugiranenza, said that Nuwamanya was fond of accusing her of cheating on him with other soldiers.

The bodies of the deceased were later conveyed to Kiruhura Health Center IV for postmortem as investigations into the gruesome incident continue.

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It has only been a week since Sony made its now-infamous PS4 announcement that was lacking the actual PS4 hardware. Whether or not you feel the console’s case is wholly important, Sony did announce integral software features. Sony has now released high-res shots of the PS4’s interface, and there’s quite a bit to glean from them.

The first noticeable aspect is that Sony seems to have been inspired by Windows 8’s formerly-known-as-Metro user interface. It’s not exactly the same, but the screenshots display a minimal background with large-but-thin text in the foreground. Though the backlash against Metro has usually been significant — it works more for a touch interface, but even then it’s not exactly beautiful — the treatment seems to be popping up everywhere nowadays. From Microsoft operating systems, to social networks like Pinterest, to various blogs that separate their news stories into unaligned squares, the theme of big tiles has been thrust to the forefront, and Sony seems to have jumped on the bandwagon.

PS4 Tiles

From the above screenshot, the UI represents something akin to complete and total anarchy. Even if you are used to (or, shockingly, prefer) the Pinterest-style UI, there doesn’t seem to be much context for what goes where. It mainly looks like a screen for social activities, except there’s an ad and announcement as well. Perhaps this kind of UI has been adopted because, as Sony very heavily pushed the social aspect of the PS4, it makes your console look like very active place to be — mainly because of how cluttered the announcements are.

Photos: 1 2 3 4


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Pete Casta

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I wrote this outtake for the Fandom For Sexual Assault Awareness Charity drive. In the end, they raised over $10,000 for a great cause. Thanks to everyone who donated for the outtake and thanks to F4SAA for allowing me to share it with you!

This is in Edward's pov and covers the same time frame as chapters 9-11 in The Art Teacher, or the "morning after" through Edward's arrival in Forks.

"Gimme two plain bagels and two coffees."

"Um…" I have no idea how Bella takes her coffee. I'm not sure if she even drinks coffee. Everybody drinks coffee, though, right? I also have no clue about the bagels, but I figure it's a safe bet since she's a New Yorker. "Can you just throw some sugar packets in the bag? And do you have any of those little creamers?"

The guy behind the counter nods as he wraps up the bagels. It's a little troubling to me that Bella is such a blank slate. She doesn't feel like one to me. After last night, it feels like we know everything important about each other that there is to know. The little details about how she takes her coffee and whether or not she likes bagels I can figure out later.

I should feel exhausted, since we barely slept last night, but I'm not. I should feel terrified, since I'm stealing this girl away from her life and I'm up against some pretty formidable people who won't want me to succeed. But I'm not. I feel good. I feel amazing. I feel like I can do anything. I feel like I want to crawl back in bed with her and not come up for air for a week. I know she has to go, but the idea of letting her out of my sight, even for a minute, is unpleasant. I wonder if I can convince her to let me come with her. She probably should go see her stupid fiancé on her own, but fuck it. I don't want her to.

I'm also afraid that if she leaves me for even a minute, all of this will just disappear. Those assholes in her life will get their claws back into her and change her mind about all of this. I don't know what to do to keep that from happening, though. All I can do is make sure she knows that what we are is real and that no matter what they throw at her, I'll be there to help her handle it.

I take my change and leave the bodega, picking up my pace on the way back to the warehouse. I can still smell Bella all over my clothes and now I want to get back to the real thing. I want to touch her again, kiss her, remind myself that it's real. We're real.

I pull out my keys when I get close, but then I notice that the steel door is slightly ajar. I know I didn't leave it that way. I wouldn't have left it open with Bella upstairs alone. Anxiety twists in my chest. If she freaks out and bolts, changes her mind about this, I don't know what I'm going to do. She has every reason to, I know that. There's nothing I can offer her to make up for what she's giving up. Just myself. I have to hope that's enough.

I take the stairs two at a time, my pulse speeding up the higher I climb. The steel door to the loft is open, too. Panic curls in my chest. She's running. She ran. I'm already trying to figure out a way to get to her, to get her alone and talk to her, as I slide the door open all the way. I'm not at all ready for what's waiting inside.

Tori is leaning on one of the support columns in the middle of the room, arms crossed over her chest, her face bored. She's got her mask of indifference on, but I can feel the anger rolling off of her.

"What the hell are you doing in here?" The words are out before I know it.

She just raises one eyebrow at me. "It's my building, Edward."

I exhale hard. "Yeah, whatever. Why are you here? Where's Bella?"

The second I ask it, the dread that was hovering in the corners of my mind overtakes me. I can't see her anywhere in here. The door downstairs was open. My stomach twists. I feel sick. Fuck. I'm so stupid. Bella's not here. Of course, she's not. Why would she still be here if Tori is here?

My mind is racing and it takes me a second to register that Tori's talking again. Her voice is light, but the venom in her words is unmistakable.

"Bella? She has a nickname. Cute. I'm guessing you mean Isabella Dwyer, since that's who I found crawling out of your bed when I stopped by. I must say Edward, you do aim high."

I'm grinding my teeth together so hard that I'm pretty sure I'm about to crack one. "What the fuck did you say to her?"

Tori pushes off the column to stand up straight. "Nothing, really. Just that I was surprised that you had such… esteemed company."

This is the universe mocking me. This is payback for every bad choice I've ever made, all coming home to roost in the form of the thin red-head in front of me. I always knew it was a mistake and here it is, turning out to be the worst mistake I've ever made. I'm so angry and panicked that I can barely see straight. I'm across the room in just a few strides and I've got hold of her upper arms tight enough to leave bruises. Like I care.

"Goddammit, just tell me what you said to her, Tori!"

She drops her veneer of sarcastic indifference in a flash and the tough-as-nails fighter thatvlives under her surface rears up. "I clued the little twit in to why she was really here and what you're really after."

I stare at her for a second, eyes wide, inhaling huge lungfuls of air. When I can speak again, my voice is practically a roar.

"What the fuck do you know about her and me? It has nothing to do with you. You and I are over. History. You have no idea what's between us and you had no right to come in here and fuck with her." I'm shaking her hard. Her eyes flash with anger.

"Do you really think you can pull this one off, Edward? Isabella Dwyer? You think her daddy's going to pat you on the fucking back and welcome you into the family? What we had going is one thing, but this is entirely another. You can't fuck around with a girl like that. Besides, isn't she engaged? What do you think you're going to do about that?"

"She's leaving him!"

Tori startles. Then she laughs. She fucking laughs in my face. "For you?" she gasps, when she can get herself back under control. "You think she's leaving her father's golden boy for you? Wow, I thought she was the deluded one, but it seems you're just as crazy."

"You don't know a fucking thing about this, Tori," I spit, thrusting her away from myself in disgust. She stumbles but doesn't fall.

I'm angry, so angry, but I'm also scared. Because she's right. This is crazy, I'm crazy, for thinking I can get her away from all this. My heart is pounding and I can't catch my breath. My hands are clenching and unclenching, just trying to do something with all this out of control panic.

Tori chuckles as she straightens up and adjusts her coat. "Don't I? I think I understand a girl like Isabella Dwyer better than you ever could, Edward. And if you think she's going to give it all up and run away with you then you're not as smart as I thought you were. And I understand you. I know what you are. You expect me to believe that you just happened to fall in love with an heiress?"

My hands fist. I squeeze my eyes shut and drop my head. Never once in my life have I wanted to hit a woman, but I want to fucking deck Tori. It's all I can do to keep myself from doing it. Instead, I lash out at the room, surging towards the rolling cart full of paint tubes and brushes. I flip it up, hurling it half way across the room as I scream out my frustration. If it scares Tori, she never lets it show. She's a tough cookie. Almost nothing shows unless she lets it.

"Get the fuck out of here," I gasp. "You've done enough damage."

She sighs dramatically. "You forget where you are, Edward. It's my place."

"Fine, then I'm going," I turn towards the door.

"Edward, stop." I pause just long enough to look back at her. Her face has gone soft, and I can see the vulnerability that drew me in in the first place. "Just… don't be stupid. This is a losing game you're playing. Her family will crush you like a bug. But me… us… this could be good. We were good, weren't we? You don't need her money. I can take care of you."

I feel nauseous. I want to just collapse, but I can't. I have to get out of here and find Bella. And I have to get myself away from this mess once and for all. I let it linger for far too long and look what's happened.

I want to scream at her. I want to let her have it, shout her down, tear her to pieces for assuming that I can still be bought that way. But my eyes shoot around the room, still littered with my paintings. All my best work is here for the studio visit. My soul is in this room. This room that's owned by Tori. Some tiny part of me knows I can't make this too ugly on my way out or I might never see these canvases again.

When I speak, my voice isn't loud and angry, it's tired, defeated. "Tori, I don't know what you thought you were doing here, but that was never what this was about for me. You can believe me or not, but I was with you because I actually liked you."

She opens her mouth to speak and takes a step towards me, but I hold up a hand to stop her. "Who I thought you were. I'm sorry that you thought you had to buy me. You were wrong then and you're wrong now. I'm not for sale."

I don't wait for her response, I just stumble down the stairs and out onto the street. There's a gypsy cab cruising by and I leap into the gutter and slam my hand down on his hood to stop him. It's not hard to guess that Bella went back home, so that's the address I give him. I remember everything about her from back then, including where she lived. I throw every bit of cash in my wallet at the guy and beg him to get me there fast.

When I get there, the doorman is ambling slowly up and down the short stretch of concrete in front of the glass doors. I remember this guy. He was the same one who whisked Bella away from me four years ago, the day of the blackout. There's no way he's going to be okay with me just hanging out in the open and waiting for her to go out or come in.

When he's facing the other way, I duck behind one of the potted box hedges flanking the door and crouch to hide myself. It doesn't take long, maybe ten minutes, for a yellow cab to pull up to the curb and for Bella to step out. I swallow hard and fight down the impulse to leap at her. She's got her face tipped down, eyes on the sidewalk. She doesn't respond to the doorman at all when he helps her out of the car. Her hair is damp and pulled back off her face. She's so pale and there are dark smudges under her eyes.

I can't even imagine what it was like for her to deal with Tori, and I'm terrified that she hates me. I just need to get to her and try to explain. If I can make her see how hard I was trying to fix things, maybe she'll understand.

When she passes in front of me, I make my move, stepping out into her path and saying her name. She stumbles away from me, desperate to avoid my hands. Jesus. When I think about last night, and then I see her cringing away from me like this… I want to break something.

"You need to leave," she says, her voice low and raspy. She makes to push past me and I can't let her. I can't just let her walk away.

I reach out and grab for her. "Just let me explain…"

"I don't want to hear it!" She shouts. I've never heard Bella sound so angry and it startles me. Then her doorman is there, with his hand on my arm, tugging me away from her.

"Is there a problem, Miss Dwyer?"

"No problem," I snap, "I just need to talk to Isabella."

I crouch down a little so I can catch her eyes with mine, so we can block out all these other people. This has only ever been about her and me, all we need to do is shake off everyone trying to get in between us.

"Bella, please…" I murmur, trying to reach her. "It wasn't what you're thinking."

Bella suddenly raises her head and her eyes lock on to mine, hard and angry. "Does she own that building?"

I freeze inside. She knows. She knows all about it. I feel stripped bare and made small. I can't even answer her. I drop my eyes to the ground. Anything is better than the disappointment and anger I see in her face.

"Then there's nothing else to discuss," she says, taking a step back.

I'm losing her. I fucked up and I know it, but I can't undo it now. I can only try my best to fix it. For that, I need her to stay put and listen to me.

"Damn it, will you just let me talk to you about this?" My fear makes me sound angry and that damned doorman is there again, trying to angle himself in-between us, planting his hands on my chest.

"Listen, friend, Miss Dwyer told you to go, so you need to go now."

"Bella, please," I plead over his head, "just talk to me!"

The doorman shoves me again and the fucker just needs to take his hands off me. I'm so sick of every goddamn person on the planet trying to get themselves in between me and her. I shove him back, trying to get him out of my way. Bella scrambles further away and I curse under my breath. Then her mother is there, standing in the doorway, examining the whole fucked up scene impassively.

"Isabella? Is there a problem out here?" Her voice is smooth and disinterested, but I know better than that.

"Everything's fine," Bella murmurs. I try and catch her eye again so I can plead, but she doesn't look anywhere near me.

Instead, it's her mother who talks. "It's Mr. Cullen, isn't it?"

The bitch knows exactly who I am and she knows I know it. I'm familiar with this maneuver. That's how they show you how inconsequential you are to them.

"He was just leaving," Bella snaps, still keeping her eyes averted. I'm starting to panic. If her mother gets her claws into her, I know I'll never get my chance with her. At least not now.

"Bella!" I shout, but she ignores me.

"Mr. Cullen," Renee Dwyer says, "I hope you haven't come to our private residence to harass my daughter. That would be extremely unwise of you."

"I came to talk to Bella," I snap. "This is none of your business."

"My daughter is my business."

I can't help but scoff. Business. Isn't that the truth? That's all she ever is to this horrible woman. Her daughter is just business.

"I think we're done here, Mr. Cullen. You'd better go inside, Isabella."

I open my mouth to protest, but Bella just turns away and walks inside just as the doorman grabs my arm to keep me from following.

Renee Dwyer pauses just long enough to say something to the doorman over her shoulder. "If Mr. Cullen comes here again, call the police and report him for trespassing,"

Fucking bitch.

Then she's gone. She's gone and Bella is gone with her.

"You heard Mrs. Dwyer. You'd better clear out before this gets ugly." He releases my arm with a little shove and I stagger back. I stand staring at the place where Bella was just a minute ago, trying to figure out what happened and what to do next. I need to get inside. I need to talk to her. But it's not going to happen today.

The doorman is still standing there, arms crossed over his chest, glowering at me.

"Don't make me tell you again, friend. Just go."

And I'm done. I've been defeated today. I know I need to keep working, keep fighting. But I don't know what else to do right now, so I do the only thing I can do—I retreat.

It takes me forever to get to Jasper's. A bus, two subways, and a really long walk. It's late afternoon before I do. The bar is open, but there's hardly anybody in there. A couple of neighborhood old-timers, hold-overs from before Red Hook's modest start at gentrification. The hipsters won't show up until much later tonight.

Jasper is at the bar, making small talk with his regulars while he dries and stacks glasses. He glances up as the door opens and lets a bright shaft of sunlight in from behind me. He only looks for a second, eyes narrowed, then he drops his eyes back to the bar.

"It's a little early to see you around these parts," he says evenly. But he knows something's up with me. Because he's Jasper and he just knows.

I slide onto a stool and prop my elbows on the bar, digging my fingers into my hair and fisting hard. My eyes feel swollen and gritty and I hurt all over.

"What's up?" he says after a minute.

"I don't even know where to start." My voice sounds strained and low. Without another word, Jasper pulls a beer off the tap and slides it in front of me. My favorite. He knows without having to ask. He crosses his arms and leans back on the counter behind him, just looking at me, waiting for me to unload. When I don't say anything, he sighs and prompts me.

"This about Bella?"

"Yeah," I finally manage. "I think I really fucked up. No, I know I did."

"So you guys are…"

"Just last night. She was at the studio tour. You know… for the fellowship. I asked her to stay after and…"

I wave a hand that doesn't begin to encompass last night and all that happened, but Jasper nods in understanding. "All good so far. So what happened?"

"Tori happened."

Jasper whistles through his teeth and shakes his head. He only met Tori once, but he made his dislike of her crystal clear. I should have listened.

"What'd she do?"

"She let herself into the loft and said a bunch of evil shit to Bella while I was out getting coffee."

"Damn," Jasper mutters.

"Yeah, you could say that. I went to her place to try and clear it up, try to explain, whatever. But she wouldn't talk to me and then her fucking mother was there threatening to have me arrested. So I took off. I don't know what to do. Jasper, what do I do?"

I finally look at him, because I am just lost here. He's still examining me with no emotion.

"Fuck," I mutter, moving to get up. "I shouldn't have left. I'm just going to stand out front until she comes out again. Fuck the cops."

"Sit down," Jasper says. "That's not going to help anybody. She's freaked. Understandable, since some other chick with keys walked into your place while she was there."

I groan and drag my hands through my hair. "I can't believe Tori would do something like that."

"I can," Jasper snorts. "I told you to watch out with her. She was way too possessive of someone she wasn't even seeing anymore."

"I know, I know. I was trying, okay? You know I was."

"I know you were. You just can't trust chicks like that. All that money warps the mind."

"Not this again." I hold up a hand to stop him before he launches into another diatribe against capitalism, America's ruling moneyed class, the oppression of the working class, Republicans, and any number of other evils.

Jasper huffs but says nothing.

"So you think I should give her space?"

"Not a ton of it. You need to get in there and fix this. But maybe not today. Besides, if you show up again now, you'll just get arrested. That's not going to help."

"Fuck," I mutter again, because it's the only thing to say that at all sums up what's happened. "I don't even know what to do next. Everything's a mess. I gotta get out of the loft. Like, yesterday."

"What about that place in the Bronx you were looking at?"

I shake my head. "I can't wait that long. You didn't see how things went down with Tori. All my paintings are there and she's got keys. It's her building. She could do anything."

Jasper nods in understanding. "You really think she'd mess with you like that?"

"I don't know anything anymore. A week ago, I'd have said no. I thought she was just lonely and trying a little too hard to hang on to something that wasn't working. But today? She was pissed. Hurt. And she can be mean as a snake when she wants to be."

"Look, you can crash here for a while on the couch upstairs. I'll call some guys, see if anybody's free. We can go over first thing in the morning and get your stuff. You can stow everything in the basement for now. At least till you figure shit out."

I finally look up at him and squeeze out a smile. "Thanks, Jasper."

"No problem. That asshole, Hayden's had his motherfucking truck parked in front of my bar for two months. It'll be nice to finally get some use out of it."

"I appreciate it," I mumble into my beer.

Jasper shrugs. "You're going to have your hands full fixing the rest of this mess. The least I can do is help you out with this part."

I nod and take a long pull on my beer, the first of many I plan on drinking tonight, trying to figure out how I'm ever going to get to Bella and what I can possibly say when I finally do.

I feel like a freaking stalker, staking out the front of Bella's building from across the street a day later. I stay tucked behind the corner of a contractor's truck so the doorman doesn't see me loitering.

In the end, it took us all day yesterday to clear my paintings out of the loft. Because of the studio tour, I'd brought a lot of canvases back from various places they'd been on display—local restaurants, bookshops, coffee shops. Every painting of note I'd ever done had been there. Thank God it all looked untouched since I'd walked out, but all the same, I wasn't in the mood to take chances.

Besides, when I finally get myself in front of Bella, I need to be able to say that I'm out, all the way, no more grey area.

Now, thirty-six hours later, I'm back, ready to fight my way in by any means necessary. Well, I'm really hoping it won't come to a fight, since being arrested isn't appealing, but whatever it takes.

I know enough at this point that I know I won't be able to get inside and upstairs to her place. In buildings like this, I'd need a key to access her floor anyway. My best hope is to catch her going in or out.

After seven hours on the sidewalk, starting early in the morning, there's still no sign of her. I'd seen her step-father leave early this morning, then later on, her cow of a mother went out and came back an hour later. But not a hint of Bella.

My only hope comes mid-afternoon when the doorman who's been on all morning, the same one that I got into a shoving match with two days ago, goes off duty, replaced by a younger guy I don't recognize. I'm praying that the older guy hasn't passed on my information or left a note or something.

Once the coast is clear, I duck around the van I've been hiding behind and cross the street. I walk straight up to him, hands in my pockets, feigning a confidence I don't feel. I smile a little when I start talking.

"Hey there. I'm here to see Isabella Dwyer. Can you buzz me up or something?"

He smiles politely and I breathe a small inward sigh of relief. He doesn't seem to know me at all.

"One moment, let me just call up."

He presses a few buttons and waits. I sweat bullets. The phone buzzes and buzzes. No answer. The reason why is clear to me a second later when Renee Dwyer strides through the glass doors. She pulls to an abrupt halt when she sees me talking to the doorman. I will myself to stare right back at her.

"Mr. Cullen," she says, long and slow. "I thought I was perfectly clear the other day when I told you to stay away from our home."

Jesus, I hate this woman.

"That's not for you to decide. I need to talk to Bella."

"I think you'll find it's all for me to decide," she sneers at me. Then her eyes cut to the doorman. "Call the police, Paul."

I gape at her for a second. She's fucking serious about this?

"Bella's an adult. You can't make these decisions for her."

"I can decide who enters my home and you're never getting in."

"It's Bella's home, too. Goddammit, she deserves to know I'm here!" I'm yelling now, which is just plain fucking stupid. So much for all my planning. This whole thing has immediately spiraled out of my control. The cops are on the way. Things are going to get ugly. But I don't even care anymore. I feel helpless and angry and this horrible woman has planted herself between me and Bella and she's going to catch it all from me.

"You have no business here, Mr. Cullen," she says, her voice low and seething. If possible, I think she hates me even more than I hate her. "You've had your fun with her but she's got a real life to get back to and there's no place in it for you. Do yourself a favor and just walk away. I can make this very bad for you."

"Fuck you!" I spit at her. "Don't you fucking threaten me like you own the world! You don't own her!"

"No, I don't own her, but I own her life, which amounts to the same thing, don't you think?"

"You think she cares about your money?"

"And you think she doesn't? You presume to know her very well."

"Better than you, I'm betting."

"If that were true, you'd know that she's not even here."

I startle, because that's not at all what I expected to hear. "Where is she?"

Renee Dwyer has been staring me dead in the eye for our whole heated exchange, but now, for just a second, her eyes dart away, her face is uncertain. She's been bluffing this whole time. Bella's not up there, carefully ensconced back in her luxury lifestyle, under her control. In that moment, I'm absolutely certain of it.

"Tell me where the fuck she is," I say, with as much menace as I can muster. The doorman is hovering right behind me, but he's younger and less certain of himself than the other guy was. He seems reluctant to actually put his hands on me. If this goes any further, though, I don't doubt that he will.

Renee's eyes swing back to me and all her fire returns. She's furious, livid. "I haven't seen or heard from the ungrateful little bitch since the day before yesterday. She's gone."

I feel punched in the gut. All the air leaves my lungs in a rush. Gone.

"Where?" I whisper.

"I have no idea. If I had to guess, she's run back to that hell hole in Washington. She can rot there for all I care."

I shake my head, unable to stand her talking that way about Bella, about her daughter. This woman is a monster. "Don't you dare talk about her that way."

"I'm going to remind you one more time that you're on my private property, so you don't get to dictate anything to me, Cullen. Now, you're going to stay the hell away from here once and for all, because obviously, there's no reason for you to come back, is there? You've done enough damage already. Are we clear?"

As if to punctuate her declaration, a cop car pulls up to the curb, sirens blaring, lights flashing. People in the South Bronx could wait for forty-five minutes with somebody bleeding to death, but Renee Dwyer is bothered and they're here in a heartbeat. I hate these fuckers and their power over everything in the world. I hate it all.

Two uniformed cops are out in a flash, and one grabs each of my arms, pulling me back away from Renee Dwyer like I was assaulting her or something. I don't even fight it, I just let them take me. But I'm not done with her, not by a long shot.

Renee is standing in the same spot, watching me get hauled away, her face dispassionate.

"I'm going," I shout at her, "but you listen to me. I'm going to find her, I swear it. And I'm going to spend the rest of my life showing her how amazing she is. I'm going to try to make up for the utter failure of you. You fucking disgust me."

Her eyes go wide and her face is white with fury, but I just turn away, letting the cops shove me face-first against the side of the squad car. I don't protest or fight as my hands are wrenched behind my back and the cuffs are slapped on. Nothing they're doing to me, nothing Renee Dwyer can do, is any worse than what I've already done to myself.

Thank God I'm arrested on a weeknight. The holding cell is nearly empty. Just me and some guy brought in for drunken disorderly, but he's passed out now, sleeping it off. I use my one phone call to call Jasper and then I just sit on the bench with my head in my hands, thinking.

I think a lot.

I think about everything I've done—every choice that I made since leaving school—that have led me to this one, really low moment. Because let's face it—cooling your heels in a jail cell is a giant wake-up call from the universe telling you that it's time to re-evaluate your life choices.

I think about the first, really giant bad choice—Mimi Weigert. I still feel sick to my stomach about that, even four years later. It feels like I'll never wash off the filth of that, the stain it left on me.

I think about the degrading, destructive path it put me on, a future littered with women just like Mimi. I'd already taken the first step with Diana. Thank God the thing with Bella happened then, as painful and ugly as it was. It slapped some sense into me, and scared me straight, at least for a while.

I think about all the compromises and sacrifices I've made along the way, all for the sake of my art. My art is me—there is no dividing line. And somehow that seemed to justify everything for me.

No, that's not entirely accurate. As I sit here with only a chipped grey concrete wall to stare at, I realize it wasn't some pure impulse to create that drove me. Not entirely. It was the need to have my creation recognized by others. Because what good is a painting if it's just you in a room with it alone? What does it even mean if it's not on a wall someplace, if people aren't looking at it and talking about it?

And that's where the problem lies. I remember when I first got to art school and I would barely stop painting long enough to put something up for the teachers to critique. I had so much to get out, so much I was desperate to put down on canvas. I didn't care who saw it or what they thought about it. It was all about me, what I thought and felt. What other people said about it was an afterthought. What happened to me since then? Since when did what people's opinions about my art become more important to me than the work itself?

In the end, I can even trace Tori to that same destructive drive for success. Yes, I'd stopped trading in myself. I worked honest hours for honest money. But I still felt defeated. I felt cheated. I felt like a failure. Why? I was painting. The work was decent. Why was I in such a dark place when I met Tori? Because I hadn't sold a painting in a year? Because I was still pouring booze to pay the bills? What was wrong with me that I couldn't just be satisfied with that life? Why was a little flattery from Tori enough to turn my head?

And what the fuck was I thinking when I moved into her building? Yes, the whole thing had blown up in my face, but ultimately that saved me from myself. Because what if Bella hadn't stumbled back into my life last month? What else would I have done to make my path a little smoother? Would I have let Tori do me a few more favors? Pay for a few more things? I don't know the answer to that and that makes me feel sick with myself.

No, it's clear I need a change. A major one. Bella comes first. I have to find her and fix this mess. But I also have to fix me. I need to get away from this life and this scene that seems to be turning me into someone I don't even know anymore.

Renee Dwyer chooses not to press charges. I suppose I should feel grateful for that, but the cops still manage to hold onto me until eight the next morning, even though Jasper was there by midnight. I doubt it was just paperwork that held it up. Renee seems able to fuck with me no matter where I am.

Jasper drives me back to the bar and I pass out on his couch for several hours, since I didn't sleep at all the night before. When I wake up in the afternoon, it's time to make a plan.

Calling Bella is obviously a bust. There's no way she'll answer me, or anyone else for that matter. If Renee's hunch is right and she's gone back to Washington, then there's only one course of action—I have to go there, too.

I fire up my laptop and try to figure out where to start. I cast my memory back over every interaction I've ever had with Bella, trying to remember some clue that might tell me where she is. In the end, the answer is simple: her father. There's no way I'd ever forget the story she told me, about losing him in the line of duty. Likewise, there's no way I can forget her name… her real name. Swan.

I type Swan Washington police into Google.

The first hit is a link to an article from a newspaper in a town called Forks.

"Beloved Police Chief Shot and Killed in the Line of Duty"

It's a long article. Forks is apparently a small town and the death of Officer Charles Swan was very big news. There are quotes from traumatized, grieving citizens and a biography of Officer Swan's simple, shortened life. There is, of course, a mention of his young daughter, Isabella, and the information that she'll be cared for by her mother, who lives "out of state". I'm betting when they wrote the article, they hadn't even found her yet. I'm furious at Renee all over again, but that won't get me anywhere, so I try to let it go.

Okay, then. Forks, Washington. A few more google searches and I've uncovered property records for a house in Forks owned by one Charles Swan. The title to the property changed hands ten years ago and is now held by an I. Dwyer. She still owns the house she grew up in. It's the best I've got to go on.

A quick look at google maps tells me that Forks is about as far west as you can go in America before you fall off the continent. And it's tiny, tucked away between a massive national forest and the ocean. How am I ever going to get there?

I've already guessed that I can't afford a plane ticket, or even a bus ticket, but I check anyway. No dice. So my next stop is Craig's List. I post an ad under ride shares, hoping for at least Seattle. If I can get that far, I can figure out the rest of the trip to Forks.

After that, all I can do is wait. I start picking up shifts at the bar for Jasper. I want to do it for free, to pay him back for everything he's done for me during this mess. But Jasper won't hear of it. He points out that I'll need cash for my upcoming cross-country trek, and I have to admit that he's right, so he puts me back on payroll. There's stupid legal shit I have to deal with because of my arrest, but nothing too dire and that situation gets resolved fairly painlessly. Outside of dealing with that, all I do is work and think.

A week after I post my ad, I get an offer to share a ride with this kid from Hunter college. He's dropped out and he's headed back home to Seattle. He seems sketchy, but I don't have a lot of options, so we strike a deal. I pay for gas, he hauls my ass across the country. It's the best I can do.

A week later, I thank Jasper for his endless help, pack the bare minimum in my old army surplus duffle bag, and hit the road with Tyler.

Tyler is stoned when he picks me up and he stays that way for our entire torturous cross-country saga. To make matters worse, once we hit the road and it's too late for me to back out, he announces that he wants to make a couple of stops to see friends along the way. He makes it out like it will save us hotel fare, which I reluctantly admit would be a good thing.

Friend Number One lives in Louisville, Kentucky, which is the entire state of Ohio away from our route. I bitch loudly, but I'm in Cleveland when Tyler springs this on me, and since I don't want to get stranded there, I pretty much have to go along.

It's apparent immediately that he's stopping to stock up on pot before he gets back home, and what's supposed to be an overnight stop, turns into a day and a half as Tyler hangs with his old high school friend. I cool my heels and stare at the map and try not to tear down the walls in frustration.

It's not like I don't already have a lot on my mind without all this delay to deal with, too. I have no idea what I'm going to say to Bella when I finally find her, if she's really there. This is madness and there's nothing less at stake than my entire future happiness with the woman I now realize I might be in love with.

Tyler doesn't get why I'm so "uptight". I want to rip his stupid, stoned face off.

Friend Number Two lives in Denver. It means we have to take Interstate 80 instead of Interstate 90 and it's a little out of the way, but at least we're still heading west. But like Louisville, it's not an overnight stop. We're there two fucking days before I manage to convince Tyler that I really do need to get to Seattle before the year ends.

After that, I push us hard. We're to Seattle in two very long days, but we're tired, hungry and dirty. I don't even give a shit. I make Tyler drop me off in the middle of downtown and I've never been so grateful to see the last of someone as I am of him.

Seattle is kind of a nightmare. It's a nice enough city, but I just want to get out of it and to Forks, which is no easy feat without a car. I check in at the bus station and I'm told it's possible, but arduous, starting with taking the Bainbridge Island ferry early the next morning. I catch a little sleep on a bench in the ferry terminal and a little more on the ride itself.

On the other side, I ask around to find the first bus of many I have to take to get to Forks. I ask a truck driver who's just climbing behind the wheel of an empty logging truck, since he looks like he would know what's what. Finally, I get my first really lucky break. He's going past Forks and he says he'll be grateful for the company for the long drive.

I thank my lucky stars and pray he's not a serial killer. He's not. His name is Steve and he's really happy to have someone to talk to. I'm too exhausted and wired to contribute much to the conversation, but he doesn't seem to care. He yammers away about his kids, who live with his ex-wife in Tacoma, and about how many times a month he makes this exact same drive. He asks me why I'm going to Forks, of all places, and when I tell him it's for a girl, he just smiles and nods like that explains everything.

We skirt the Juan de Fuca Strait on our right for miles and miles. The water is flat and gray-silver, bleeding seamlessly into blue mist of the distant shore of British Columbia and the overcast sky above. It's cool and calm and oddly reminds me of the Whistler Bella showed me that night at the Frick, the one that reminded me so much of her. Suddenly it feels right that she's here in this place. The air and the light seem to suit her. I don't have any solid proof that she came back here when she left New York, but now I feel it in my bones that she did. She's here, close to me.

As the hours slip by and Highway 101 curves around the edge of the Olympic National Forest, the scenery around us changes. The forest is the darkest wet green I've ever seen. It's overcast, but for the first time, I don't mind the lack of sun and light. This diffuse, cool light feels right for this dark, primeval forest around me. As dense as the trees are all around us, there's still some sense of space and peace. My head might be a mess and there's still a knot of anxiety in my chest that's been there for weeks, but I feel like I can breathe here. The air is clean and smells like pine. I bet she loves the cool silence of this place.

After an endless drive down a shadowy two-lane highway with unrelieved wet woods on either side of us, signs of civilization begin to reappear—the odd gas station or remote woodframe house. Finally, Steve pulls his rig to the shoulder of the road on a stretch that doesn't look a bit different to me than any other stretch of woods we've driven past so far.

"Here we are," he says brightly.

"Here we are, what?"

"Your stop," he says. The road on your map. It's right over there."

I look to where Steve is pointing and then I see it, a break in the trees that I would have mistaken for someone's driveway, if I noticed it at all. To the right, half-concealed by a dense pine tree, is a street sign. It says Carter Road, the address of the late Chief Charles Swan.

My pulse starts to pound and suddenly I'm sweating. I thank Steve for the ride and climb down out of the cab. He throws the rig into drive and rumbles away. Soon, it's just me on the side of the silent road in the fading light of the day.

I take a deep breath and start down Carter Road. There's one house right at the top of the road, not hers. Then it's just ragged grass and scattered trees for a hundred yards or more. Then, ahead on the left, I see a small white two-story wood-frame house. It's spare and simple, with a huge elm tree in the side yard, arcing over the roof. It's the only other house down here and as I get closer and see the number painted on the mailbox by the road, it's confirmed.

Bella's house.

If she's here. Jesus Christ, let her be here.

Once I reach the yard and walk up the narrow cracked concrete walkway, I stop and just think for a second. I've been so intent on getting here that it only now occurs to me that I probably look like shit. I've been in these clothes for three days without a shower or a shave. I've barely slept, and not just on this trip. I've barely slept since that last time I saw her in New York.

I wipe my palms on my thighs, but it doesn't help. I'm so freaking nervous and I have no idea what I'm going to say. I've had weeks to think it through. Days spent staring at the country roll by the window to craft the perfect words and now that I'm here, I'm at a complete loss.

I'm standing there trying to think of what I'll say after I knock on the door when it startles me and opens.

And there she is.

Wrapped up in a giant cream wool sweater and jeans, rag socks on her feet, her long hair pulled back in a loose ponytail at the nape of her neck. She looks just the same, just simpler, fresher. No makeup, no manicure, no diamonds in her ears or on her hand, no heels, no dress. Just Bella. Stripped down this way, she looks younger, almost like she did when I first met her four years ago.

She glances up just as she steps out on the porch and freezes in her tracks. Her eyes meet mine and I want to swallow, but I can't. She says nothing. She doesn't even look like she's breathing. I still don't know what to say, but I have to start somewhere.

She blinks and stares. She opens her mouth, closes it again, and then I finally hear her voice again.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

This is not going to be easy.