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Covina: One of LA's racially integrated areas at risk for re-segregating

The Medrano family moved into their Covina home about a year ago and they say they are not concerned about the demographic changes underway in their city.
The Medrano family moved into their Covina home about a year ago and they say they are not concerned about the demographic changes underway in their city.
Shannon Medrano

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Researchers Michael Bader and Siri Warkentien published a paper last year discussing how some racially integrated cities within Los Angeles are on a path to re-segregating. One location on their list: Covina in the San Gabriel Valley.

Cities that have at least a 10 percent population of both white and non-white people are considered integrated but the researchers say that is gradually disintegrating in many locations.

Covina has a population that is currently around 57 percent Latino, 25 percent white and 12 percent Asian with the rest of population either African American or Native American.

Residents Gus and Shannon Medrano moved from La Puente to Covina with their two children a year ago. Gus Medrano is Hispanic and his wife is white. They say they are glad to live in such a diverse area.

"It’s nice to see a mixture of everything and not have just little sections that are just one nationality … there's a little bit of everything here in Covina," Gus Medrano said.

But if trends hold, Covina by 2025 will eventually be overwhelmingly Latino with comparatively few white residents.

Bader, a sociologist at American University, said in the late 20th century, "there was a large wave of immigration in particular from Mexico and Central America and a lot of immigrants moved to Covina." As these families grew, so did the Latino population.

Minorities are now moving to Covina for its affordable housing and connections to ethnic communities. But Bader said white people aren't moving to Covina or other similarly diverse areas.

For whites, he said, there’s “a combination of aversions to moving to neighborhoods and a lack of knowledge of neighborhoods that aren’t predominately white."

While white people may not seek out integrated cities, they will stay in a location that’s already diverse, Bader said. Covina may prove to be one such place.

George Fuller, who lives next door to the Medrano family and has been a Covina resident since the 1960s, is white and doesn't plan to move.

"If I had to make the decision to move in tomorrow, I would say, 'Yes, I would.' It’s an attractive set of circumstances," he said of Covina.

Still, white people are leaving the city. They may give different reasons for packing up, but Albert Flores, who is Hispanic, doesn’t always buy their explanations.

He said he's heard reasons such as Covina's changed or "gone downhill."

"I don't see that," Flores said. "I gather because — maybe — when they were there, it was more predominantly white."

Terry Wysocki, another white resident who has lived in Covina for decades, said he knows people who have moved away partly because of the changes in its demographic makeup.

"You know, nobody likes demographic changes," he said. "I mean, you know no matter which way it goes from brown to white to brown, black to brown, whatever it might be. People don't like cultural changes happening in your town and that's what causes it [the moving] to some degree."

But Bader said there are negative consequences if cities re-segregate.

"Segregation decreases the opportunities for blacks and Latinos and increases for whites and that leads to inequality," he said. "The best schools and the best-resourced neighborhoods in this country are still predominately white."

When white people are unwilling to move into integrated areas, property values tend to drop, Bader said. And it’s typically the taxes based on property values that help pay for schools.

Bader said real estate agents can play a part in preventing segregation when they advise clients on where to buy a home.

"They can inform themselves of neighborhoods, which they might not know about themselves,” he said. “And show white residents those neighborhoods where they're still integrated and show the advantages of those neighborhoods."

If segregation does occur, cities need to make sure that resources remain and don't follow white people out of town.

"Cities have a large role in redistributing resources to neighborhoods where property taxes might be declining and making sure that those schools are well-funded so that black and Latino and Asian children have the opportunities growing up that I think many white families have come to expect," Bader said.

There are cities in Los Angeles that have managed to remain integrated over a long period of time. While Bader is still looking at the reasons why they have, he believes it may be in part that they are near major lines of transportation and highways. He said being near places that get to central city locations are important and may inspire a diverse group of people to continue living where transportation is convenient.

Gus and Shannon Medrano said the idea that white people may be leaving or avoiding Covina because of the growing minority population surprises them.

"It’s hard to wrap your head around that, that people could even think that. That’s sad, it’s sad," said Shannon Medrano.

She said she’s grateful that she can raise her children in a place that is welcoming to their mixed identities.

"It’s that culture — that it doesn't matter where you come from, you know they're going to take you in, they're going to embellish that and they're going to accept that and they're going to grow with it," she said.

Rather than feeling afraid of what may come, she and her husband said they embrace the diversity they see now, both in their neighborhood and in their home.


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Jose Luis Lopez Lorenzo

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The role of bosutinib as rescue treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients after failing three previous tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is currently(More)
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Milva Cecconi

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BACKGROUND Chronic kidney diseases (CKD) tend to progress to end-stage renal failure (ESRF). As it has been demonstrated that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) have a renoprotective(More)
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Learn More
Previous studies of sperm from mice heterozygous for a t haplotype (t) and heterospecific combinations of the t complex identified two tightly linked genetic factors responsible for t/t male(More)
OBJECTIVE We studied the effects of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) on the proliferation of porcine theca interna (TI) cells and further elucidated the roles of IL-6 and(More)


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Yun-Ping Weng

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Sensitive and selective detection of microRNAs (miRNAs) in cancer cells derived exosomes have attracted rapidly growing interest owing to their potential in diagnostic and prognostic applications.(More)
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Yuri Uhlendorf

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The rehabilitation of edentulous maxillae is a complex procedure due to the involvement of esthetic and functional requirements. A trial maxillary denture can be used to identify the need for(More)
PURPOSE A diagnostic wax try-in has been recommended to correctly design the future prosthesis for edentulous maxillae and to predict its effect on the supporting oral tissues. The objectives of this(More)
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Good English

Discussion in 'Street and Documentary' started by gryphon1911, Oct 7, 2015.

  1. gryphon1911

    gryphon1911 SC Top Veteran

    Feb 6, 2015
    Central Ohio, USA
    All female band(sisters) from Dayton Ohio. They tour all over the country. Nice punk/pop sound...more to the punk side.

    From the Independent's Day Festival a few weeks back. Still sifting through the image backlog.

    All images Nikon Df and 28-85/3.5-4.5
    Post processed in Lightroom and Nik Analog Efex Pro 2 (vintage/double exposure/toy camera presets - tweaked)

    I know these will not be for everyone, some will say "too processed" I'm sure, but I wanted to take a little artistic license with these.

    Lead Singer
    Bass Player 09-19-2015_Df_ind_day_fest_DSC_3884-Edit.
    • Like Like x 7
    • Winner Winner x 1
  2. Great stuff
    • Like Like x 1
  3. Ray Sachs

    Ray Sachs SC Legend

    Sep 21, 2010
    Not too far from Philly
    you should be able to figure it out...
    I personally love the processing in that first shot. I like the drummer too, as well as the photo of her... ;)
    • Agree Agree x 1
  4. ajramirez

    ajramirez SC Hall of Famer Subscribing Member

    Jul 9, 2010
    Caguas, Puerto Rico
    Nice set!
    • Appreciate Appreciate x 1


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Sermon Series
  • 1. Dead Sea Giving

    Contributed on Jun 17, 2013

    A series looking at giving of our time, talents and money

    Dead Sea Giving 2 Corinthians 8:7-9 April 7, 2013 The Dead Sea is called the Dead Sea for a reason: it's dead. This is because of its salt content. It is the saltiest body of water on the planet, nine times saltier than the ocean. It is so salty that no fish can live in it. It is so more

  • 2. Generous Or Greedy

    Contributed on Jun 17, 2013

    A series looking at what we do with our possessions.

    Generous or Greedy Luke 12:13-21 April 14, 2013 SHOW VIDEO ~ Do you remember watching NASA launches? They were so exciting as you would be listening to Houston talking and to the astronauts. It was reality television at its best. Finally you’d hear the countdown. Isn’t that more

  • 3. Generosity

    Contributed on Jun 17, 2013

    A third look at being generous.

    Generosity April 21, 2013 Last winter, as we led up to Christmas I spoke about grace for a number of weeks. I’m still not certain we have a great understanding of grace because in some respects grace is illogical and counter-intuitive. We really don’t know what to do with grace. more

  • 4. Generosity

    Contributed on Jun 18, 2013

    part 4 of 4 in a series about being great with our possessions

    Generosity 2 Corinthians 9 April 28, 2013 Stephen King is the author of 49 suspense and horror novels that have sold over 350 million copies. You may not know that about 10 years ago he almost lost his life. He was walking along a country road in Maine, and a van hit him and knocked him into more


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by Steve Jones

This content is part of a series.

Who Is God? Why Ask? (1 of 9)
Series: Who Is God?
Steve Jones
Proverbs 31:4-5

Introduction: Sometimes it's good to know WHY we're studying what we're studying. When we lived in Central Florida the head of the math department at the University of Central Florida was a member of our church. I was at his home once and saw a poster he had of all the vocations in which you might be called upon to use calculus. Remember calculus in school? How about algebra? Remember wondering what on Earth calculus could ever have to do with your life; what practical application it would ever have? This guy's poster answered that question and I have to say it was fairly enlightening. I can see how it might make a difference to students who were grinding it out in calculus to visualize how this might actually make a difference in their lives someday (Although I don't think I've ever been called upon to use calculus in the ministry. I'm not even allowed to count the offering!)

The question ''Why do you ask?'' is a fair question. Why are we asking this question, ''Who is God?'' Why are we going to spend the next few weeks studying the attributes of God? (SNORE zzzzzz) Why can't we have a good ''how-to'' sermon series like, ''How to make my marriage great in 7 easy steps,'' or ''How to get a promotion at work,'' or ''How to be healthy, wealthy and wise''?

In his book, ''Knowledge of the Holy'' A.W. Tozer wrote: ''What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.'' But why? Why on earth would that be the most important thing about us?

Tozer himself anticipates that question in his slim little book:

'''What bearing does this have on my life? What possible meaning can (theology) have for me and others in a world such as this and in times such as these?' To this I reply that, because we are the handiwork of God, it follows that all of our problems and their solutions are theological. Some knowledge of what kind of God it is that operate ...

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About SESACSESAC Writers PublishersSESAC LicensingRepertory SearchSESAC NewsContact SESAC
home » SESAC News » News

Published: 6/20/2016

SESAC's Matt Willis Signs with Diamond Eye Music

SESAC-affiliated artist/songwriter Matt Willis has signed with Diamond Eye Music for publishing representation. Willis moved to Nashville from Navarre, Ohio in 2008 to pursue a fulltime career in songwriting and has a song, ‘Backseat Driver,” on a recent release by William Michael Morgan on Warner Bros. Records.  Willis recently stopped by SESAC with Diamond Eye Music executives to celebrate the new partnership.

Photo: Peyton Hoge


text:
Market Street pedestrians must navigate stuck cars

Signals' timing to change at New Montgomery

July 31, 2013 Updated: July 31, 2013 4:47pm

In the busy crosswalk of Market and New Montgomery streets in San Francisco, pedestrians must engage in a dangerous dance of chance with traffic heading south from Montgomery Street.

The issue is that traffic signals don't give cars crossing Market from Montgomery enough time to clear the long, diagonal intersection before pedestrians are given the go-ahead to walk into their path.

Two to four cars consistently get stuck, blocking Market's eastbound traffic, with nowhere to go but forward - and through the hordes of pedestrians in the crosswalk.

San Francisco resident Terry Kraus, 60, said that too often, she sees pedestrians putting their trust solely in the walk sign and strolling into the street without a glance to the side to see if there are any oncoming cars.

At the same time, drivers, desperate to get away from the honks and rude gestures of blocked drivers, edge forward and try to get through the pedestrians as soon as possible.

"Every single time I've passed that intersection, I've seen that," she said. "I have to walk, and there are cars that could kill me."

The distance cars have to cross has always been an issue, but the real problem began in March 2012, with the preparations for construction on the Central Subway, said Paul Rose, a spokesman for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency.

Motorists on eastbound O'Farrell Street who needed to get to the freeway onramps in the South of Market neighborhood used to turn southbound onto Stockton Street, cross Market and enter the one-way, southbound Fourth Street.

That route, however, has been blocked for construction, forcing drivers on O'Farrell onto Market, where they turn right onto New Montgomery to get into South of Market.

"The new traffic stream on Market was creating congestion at Market and New Montgomery because the right-turning vehicles had to yield to a large number of pedestrians at New Montgomery and Market," Rose said. "To accommodate that new, heavier traffic, MTA introduced a new right-turn arrow phase from Market to New Montgomery. The pedestrians who wanted to cross New Montgomery faced a red hand so they would not enter the crosswalk during these turns."

What that did was cut into the time drivers had to get across Market from Montgomery, which made the issue of the intersection even more noticeable - and dangerous.

But Rose said that in the year since the agency installed the turn signal, it received enough complaints to constitute change.

"On July 23, we sent our signal shop a new timing plan that increases that clearance time," he said. "It should be installed in the field by mid-August."

What's not working

Issue: The lights at the intersection of New Montgomery and Market streets don't give cars crossing Market Street from Montgomery Street enough time to make it across before pedestrians are given the green light to cross. Pedestrians who have the signal constantly have to contend with cars stuck in the intersection trying to edge past them.

What's been done: Since receiving complaints, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency officials say they decided to add more wait time between the red light halting Montgomery Street traffic and the green light letting pedestrians cross. That should be put in place by mid-August.

Who's responsible: SFMTA senior engineer Brian Dusseault -, (415) 701-4676.

Chronicle Watch

If you know of something that needs to be improved, the Chronicle Watch team wants to hear from you. E-mail your issue to, or reach us on Twitter at@sfchronwatch and

Vivian Ho writes for Chronicle Watch, a weekly feature that investigates stubborn problems. E-mail:, Twitter: @VivianHo, @SFChronWatch

Vivian Ho

Vivian Ho

The Chronicle Recommends


text:
"Sandra Bernhard used words about me that every African American I know -- and definitely I personally -- find inappropriate. If my skin were two shades darker, she wouldn't have done it. I think she perceives me as white, which is a common perception. And, yeah, I am a freaking mutt and interracial freak, but she implied I was a white person trying to be black. And it is offensive to me, because I've been the victim of racism on both sides!"

That's the devastatingly seductive singer Mariah Carey -- who is of Irish, Latin and African American lineage -- dishing it out in the May issue of Mirabella. (Sandra B. was scorching about Mariah onstage in her recent Broadway show.) Mariah talks candidly to James Patrick Herman, and though she skirts, as usual, any real dish on her ex, Tommy Mottola, she admits, significantly: "The fact of the matter is that I've kept my mouth shut about a lot."

Mariah says she is distressed by her image as a scantily clad airhead, and one who is promiscuous to boot. "I guess I'm sort of a contradiction in terms, because I do feel it's OK to be sexy and free, but there's a difference between sexy and promiscuous. I wish I could learn to be more that way, and I'm trying to be more comfortable with things."

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Mariah, honey, there are plenty of people only too eager to help you become more "free." And wait till fans get a look at the many Sante D'Orazio photos that decorate the article, all paying obeisance to her overflowing bodice.

-- People are talking about . . . Gladys Knight, who takes the midnight train to Broadway. The soulful Knight goes to New York for a two-week stint starting May 11 in the long-running "Smokey Joe's Cafe." Gladys, who has been belting it out since age 7, will get to sing "I (Who Have Nothing)," "Stand by Me," "Kansas City" and other classics. Don't miss this! . . . "Women Talking Dirty" is the first film out of Elton John's Rocket Pictures company. Still filming in Edinburgh, Scotland, it stars Helena Bonham Carter and Gina McKee, directed by Coky Gied roye. The producer-money person behind this project is Jean Doumanian, who has worked with Woody Allen, among others. Elton credits Jean with saving the film, "pulling everything together after everything went to bits." . . . Minnie Driver and Randy Travis in a heads-together conversation at L.A.'s Sushi-ko restaurant.


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Fiction Logo
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The Burning Land
Victoria Strauss
excerpt courtesy of HarperCollins Eos
The Burning Land
Victoria Strauss
Victoria Strauss was born in Exeter, New Hampshire. Throughout her life, she has traveled extensively, living in several U.S. states, as well as Ireland, England and Germany. She graduated from Vassar College with a degree in Comparative Religion. Her novels include The Lady of Rhuddesmere, Worldstone, Guardian of the Hills, The Arm of the Stone and its sequel, The Garden of the Stone. The Burning Land is the first half of a duology. She lives in Amherst, Massachusetts, with her husband Rob.

Victoria Strauss Website
ISFDB Bibliography
SF Site Review: The Garden of the Stone
SF Site Review: The Arm of the Stone

Chapter 1

    The rush of water caught Gyalo full in the chest. It felt completely real; he gasped and leaped aside before he could stop himself, brushing at his face and clothes. Even as he did, he understood the trick, and straightened up again, angry at himself for being taken in.
    He thought he could see the one who had done it: a skinny postulant with the yellow headband of a trainee Shaper, leaning over the back of a passing parade cart and grinning in Gyalo's direction. Packed in around him, other trainees tossed blessings to the crowd: a shower of spangles, streamers of transparent gauze, a burst of rainbow brilliance. These were not true shapings, which changed and shifted matter and properly could be performed only in the context of Âratist ceremony, but illusions, substanceless manipulations of light and air: a symbolic reminder of the sacred power bestowed by the god on humankind before time began. They vanished even as the spectators laughed and snatched at them.
    The water had not been entirely illusory, though. Gyalo could feel dampness on his cheeks, and the fine golden silk of his Shaper stole was spotted with wet. Under other circumstances he might have seen the humor in it--the people nearby clearly did, though in deference to his Shaperhood they hid their smiles behind their hands--but he had spent time and care dressing himself, and so he was not amused.
    "Here, Brother." One of the bystanders, a young Arsacian woman, offered him her stole. "For your face."
    She spoke shyly, but laughter twitched the corners of her mouth. Well, Gyalo thought, it was funny. Ruefully, he smiled at her and took the stole.
    "Thanks for your charity, lady," he said, giving it back to her. "Hopefully I can manage to keep dry the rest of the way."
    She giggled. "Great is Ârata," she said, making the god's sign. "Great is his Way."
    "Go in light."
    Gyalo moved on. To his left the spectators were a mass of packed bodies and laughing faces; to his right the procession trundled along, an exuberant juggernaut of color, noise, and smell: ox-drawn parade carts festooned with ribbons dyed in the god's colors; groups of Forceless monks on foot, beating drums and blowing kanshas, great trumpets that curved over the shoulder and made a sound like a mythic beast dying in agony; drays bearing huge wood-and-gilt statues of Ârata in his four guises of World-Creator, Primal Warrior, Eon-Sleeper, and Risen Judge; litters with smaller images of some of Ârata's more powerful Aspects--Dâdarshi, Patron of luck, Skambys, Patron of war and weather, Hatâspa, Patron of fire and weaponry, Tane, Patron of crops and the moon--carried by hymn-singing devotee-priests. Between these groups walked postulants with rods of burning incense, and more monks shouting out rhythmically: "Wake, O Ârata, wake. Wake and deliver your children from exile."
    Like the blessings, the cacophony was symbolic: no one imagined that all this noise could actually rouse the god. It was meant for the human spectators, to remind them of the waiting that was their lot, that had been the lot of every living creature since Ârata first lay down to sleep. It echoed deafeningly back from the high blood granite walls that enclosed the avenue; Gyalo's ears rang from it, and his eyes burned from incense smoke. Another day he might have ducked through one of the archways that gave access to the tangled side streets, in search of a less crowded way to go. But though he had long known Baushpar's plan by heart, he had never actually set foot in the holy city until six months earlier, and the map in his head did not always guide him properly. He could not risk, today of all days, getting lost.
    Which reminded him, with unwelcome sharpness, that he was nervous.
    The avenue terminated upon a vast walled square paved in russet ironstone, at whose center rose the monumental bulk of the First Temple of Ârata. The Temple's original core had been erected more than eleven centuries before, but it had been expanded many times since then, in a score or more of different styles and motifs lent harmony by the yellow honey granite of which the whole was made. Images and carvings covered every inch of the huge façade, worn to varying degrees of featurelessness by time and weather, but here and there, where the construction was newer or there was protection from the elements, showing sharper and more perfect. Above it all a dozen domes reached toward the sky, like fat lotus buds about to open. Recently re-gilded, they reflected light even on this overcast day; when the sun shone, they were blinding.
    Gyalo had been raised on tales of the First Temple's magnificence, and it justified the stories in every respect, even marred by decades of neglect and the more substantial depredations of the Caryaxists, who had helped themselves to floor tiles and wall inlays and anything made of metal, and scraped all the gold leaf off the image of Ârata Eon-Sleeper that reclined at the Temple's circular core. Still, the Temple was too huge, and--even for the Caryaxists--too sacred to be razed or ruined, as other temples and shrines and monasteries all over Arsace had been. It rested on the ironstone paving, a golden island atop a russet sea, as colossal and serene as the dreaming god himself.
    Gyalo and the procession parted company--the procession moving left, preparing to round the Temple, Gyalo turning right, toward the square's western side. The spectators made way for him, dipping their heads respectfully and making the sign of Ârata as he passed. Elsewhere the square was thickly populated by food vendors and offerings-sellers, but there were none here. The western wall marked the boundary of the Evening City, a labyrinth of courts and offices and suites that, from the first days of the church, had been the seat of the Âratist leadership. For the past eighty years it had stood empty, for the Caryaxist rebellion had sent the Brethren into exile. But the Caryaxists were gone now, and the Sons and Daughters had taken back their home.
    The red gate at the wall's midpoint was unlocked--meant not to bar entry but to remind those who passed through it of the separateness of the men and women who lived on its other side. It gave onto a long courtyard paved in the same ironstone as the square. At the court's far end, a pavilion with a yellow-tiled roof marked the entrance to the Evening City.
    Four guards stood duty inside, clad in the white stoles of the Forceless and displaying on their arms and cheeks the sinuous tattoos of ordinates from the kingdom of Kanu-Tapa, where Skambys, Patron of war, was the most important of the Aspects, and martial arts were part of Âratist training. Behind them rose two great sets of vermilion-painted doors. Those on the left, which gave access to the offices where administrative work was done, were open. Those on the right were closed. Beyond them lay the living quarters of the Brethren, where no one went without permission.
    Gyalo approached the guards' leader. He came here daily, in his capacity as aide to the Son Utamnos; the guards all knew him, a fact they acknowledged now by ignoring him completely. This time, though, his purpose was different.
    "I have a summons." By custom, he spoke Arsacian, the common language of the church. "From the Bearer."
    The leader's bored, superior expression did not change. He took the message cylinder Gyalo offered and scanned the paper inside. Turning, he nodded to one of his subordinates, who disappeared through the right-hand doors. The leader handed the summons back to Gyalo and withdrew his attention again, as thoroughly as if Gyalo had ceased to exist.
    Under other circumstances Gyalo might have been annoyed at this display of Tapati arrogance, but today he was too distracted. His apprehension flowed through him like water. It was unexpected, this anxiety--not the feeling itself, for given the identity of his summoner some degree of nervousness was to be expected, but its acuteness. Had not Utamnos, warning him to expect the summons, told him that its purpose would honor him? Yet Utamnos either could not or would not reveal what the purpose was, giving him instead a list of documents to read in preparation: accounts of the Caryaxist occupation, descriptions of Thuxra City, the small body of writings on the Burning Land. Over the past four days the mystery had become more and more oppressive. Now, waiting in the pavilion with only the disdainful guards for company, Gyalo felt nearly ill with accumulated stress.
    The guard returned, another Forceless monk behind him. The monk scrutinized Gyalo's summons and tucked it into a pocket of his gown.
    "Come," he said.
    He led the way through the doors on the right, into rooms and corridors familiar to Gyalo from his visits to Utamnos's private suite, and then into regions Gyalo did not know. Everywhere was magnificence, both intact--astonishing floor-mosaics, intricately carved columns and door-frames, gorgeously stenciled ceilings, majestic galleries flanked by graveled courts--and marred--defaced murals, derelict gardens, ruined atriums, shattered carvings. The Caryaxists had been great graffitists, and the returning Âratist leadership had found much of the Evening City decorated with revolutionary slogans and lewd cartoons. Despite the priority given to the removal of these, a few still remained, ugly scrawlings in red paint like blood, yellow paint like bile: Ârata's colors, used to mock him.
    Gyalo's guide delivered him at last into a large chamber with a coffered ceiling and a floor of red tile. "Wait here," he directed, and departed.
    Gyalo paced the length of the room, halting before the windows. They faced onto a small garden--not overgrown, like many of those he had just passed, but exquisitely restored, with clipped shrubs and carefully raked gravel paths. The warm air smelled of roses. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, seeking calm. He was aware of the beating of his heart, the ebb and flow of his apprehension.
    There were footsteps behind him. He turned. A man in white and crimson clothes was passing through the doorway, followed by two Tapati guards and a teenage boy. The man towered above all three of his companions; he moved with the swift forceful stride of someone who assumed without considering it that he would be made way for. Gyalo had seen this man many times--had heard him speak many times, too, in rich tones that made all words beautiful--but always from a distance, always surrounded by scores, even hundreds, of others. He had never, at this point in his career, thought to stand solitary before the Blood Bearer, incarnate Son of Ârata's First Messenger and elected leader of the Âratist church.
    He came forward and sank to his knees on the cool tiles. He bowed his head, crossing his hands before his face, and said, in a voice that shook only a little:
    "Great is Ârata. Great is his Way."
    "Go in light," the Bearer replied. "Get up."
    Gyalo obeyed. The Bearer was about forty years of age, with broad handsome features and heavy-lidded eyes. An intricate image of the sun, Ârata's symbol, was tattooed in red upon his forehead. He had the tawny skin and heavy bone structure common in the kingdom of Haruko, where he had been born in this incarnation; the great weight of muscle he carried was apparent in his corded neck and wide shoulders and the round hard sinews of his right arm, left bare by the traditional draping of his white stole. Like all vowed Âratists he kept his chin and skull clean-shaven, and wore the monk's uniform of loose trousers and knee-length sleeveless gown--though his were made of lustrous red silk, rather than Gyalo's plain linen or the coarse cotton worn by the Forceless.
    On the Bearer's chest rested the badge of his office, a thick gold chain with a pendant cage of gold wire, inside which gleamed a honey-colored jewel as large as a man's clenched fist: the Blood of Ârata. The Blood was round in shape and naturally faceted; a core of living flame seemed to dance at its heart. All vowed Âratists wore a smaller simulacrum of this necklace, hidden beneath their clothing, but the most cleverly crafted of these could only suggest the splendor of the original. If Gyalo had not known what the jewel was, he would still have sensed its sacredness, in that shuddering brilliance that was unlike anything else in the world--so much more beautiful, and so much stranger, than was apparent from a distance.
    "Your master told you to expect this summons, yes?"
    With difficulty, Gyalo wrenched his attention away from the jewel. "Yes, Old One."
    "Your master holds you in high esteem." The Bearer's eyes moved across Gyalo's face, as if measuring him against that assessment. "He tells me that he relies on you beyond any of his other aides."
    Gyalo bowed his head. "His confidence honors me, Old One."
    "Come." The Bearer turned and strode toward the chair his guards had brought forward and placed at the center of the room. Gyalo followed, halting a little distance away and arranging himself in a posture of respect, his eyes cast down and his hands clasped before him. He was conscious of the guards at the Bearer's back, and of the boy, kneeling quietly on the floor at the Bearer's feet. The boy was also Haruko-born, paler of skin than the Bearer, but with the same strong bones and heavy-lidded almond eyes. His black hair hung loose, and he wore the plain white tunic and trousers of a postulant. But the sun tattoo on his forehead, and of course his presence, marked him for what he truly was: another incarnate Son, too young yet to take up the burdens of leadership, but old enough to observe his elders in the performance of their duties. Infant Sons and Daughters were given to the adult Brethren to raise as their own: this boy, Vimata, was both the Bearer's spirit-brother and his foster child.
    "Tell me about yourself," the Bearer said. "Where were you born?"
    "In Rimpang, Old One." Rimpang, capital of the kingdom of Chonggye, was home to the largest Âratist center in Galea after Baushpar; the Brethren had taken refuge there upon their flight from the Caryaxist rebellion. "My mother was a cook in one of the convents. She died when I was seven. The nuns gave me to the monks to raise."
    "Had you no other family?"
    "My father. But he was a soldier, and stationed elsewhere. There were only the monks to take me in."
    The Bearer shifted in his chair, crossing one leg over the other. His broad face was attentive, as if he were hearing these things for the first time. Gyalo had no doubt, however, that the Bearer already knew everything that was to be known about him. This recital was, in some way, a test.
    "Did your father ever return?"
    "Yes, Old One, about a year after my mother died. He wanted me to have a military career, not a religious one. He demanded that I be taken from the monastery and given to him. The monks told me I could choose, and that if I wanted to stay they would honor my wishes. I decided to stay. My father was angry--he tried to get the courts to intervene, he even petitioned the overlord of Rimpang province. But then he was called away. He never came back. I heard later that he died in the Jingya epidemics."
    "Why did you decide to stay? You didn't yet know you were a Shaper. And you were very young--too young, surely, to know what you desired for the rest of your life."
    "From the time I can remember, Old One, Ârata has called me. One of the earliest memories I have is of the Rimpang temple core--the image of Ârata Creator, the incense and the candles, the offerings and the silence. I loved the silence--I thought I could feel the god within it. I think I always wanted to vow the Way, though I never truly understood that until my father tried to make me a soldier."
    "You would have come to the Way in any case, being what you are."
    "Yes, Old One. But most Shapers never choose their service--they are chosen, by their ability. But I did choose, before ever I knew what I was. I feel blessed to have been granted that chance."
    The Bearer studied Gyalo; at his feet, Vimata gravely echoed his spirit-brother's attention. The Bearer's heavy-lidded gaze was extraordinarily direct, and also extraordinarily opaque. Gyalo could feel the force of the powerful personality behind it; he could see the ancient intelligence that lived in those eyes. But he could not begin to guess what the Bearer might be thinking.
    "Go on," the Bearer said. "You became a postulant, then."
    "Yes, Old One. I completed my training, and swore the Sixfold Vow. I was assigned to work in Rimpang library while I studied for my Shaper ordination. After I was ordained, I took the administrative examinations. The Son Utamnos selected me from the position lists. I served him for five years in Rimpang, and for the past six months here in Baushpar."
    "You give a very brief account of yourself. I understand your exam scores were extraordinary."
    "I was told so, Old One."
    "Come now, no false modesty." The Bearer smiled a little. "My Brother Utamnos informs me that you have an acute grasp of your own abilities."
    Gyalo felt himself flush. "I do know my strengths, Old One. I try to know my weaknesses also."
    "Ah." The Bearer picked up the jewel on his chest, his blunt fingers caressing the wire of its cage in an absent, habitual gesture. "It is quite a skill, to understand one's weaknesses. Most people have some notion of their talents, but few know their failings half so well. And often it is an ignorance deliberately cultivated."
    Gyalo could not take his eyes off the Bearer's fingers, probing gently at the golden lattice. What was it like to touch the Blood of Ârata? Did it radiate warmth like the blood it had been, or chill like the crystal it had become? Did the god's divinity resonate in it, as his immanence did in the silence of his temples? Or had its nearness grown so familiar that the Bearer no longer noticed such things? There was an offhand quality to his gesture that suggested this.
    The Bearer's brows were raised again. Gyalo struggled to rein in his thoughts.
    "I agree, Old One," he said. "I strive to avoid self-deception."
    "According to Utamnos, you are unusually diligent in that regard. He says you turn toward the truth even when it is painful for you to do so." The Bearer paused. "He also tells me that your manita dose is unusually high."
    This time Gyalo felt his face go scarlet. "Then he must have told you, Old One," he said carefully, "that my dose is stable, and has been for some time now."
    "Indeed. And that, prior to its stabilization, you never attempted to abuse your shaping, unlike some who require frequent dosage adjustment. That you yourself approached him, in fact, when you sensed your tether had become inadequate."
    "Yes, Old One. As any Shaper should."
    "And yet other Shapers have fallen into apostasy that way. Those with naturally strong abilities especially find it difficult to accept the limitation of the drug. Haven't you been tempted?"
    The room seemed to have grown very still. The Bearer's eyes gleamed, unblinking as a hawk's; the jewel, with which he no longer toyed, shone on his broad chest like a tiny sun. Beside him, his spirit-brother was an attentive shadow. Gyalo understood, with sure instinct, that this was not just another question; a turning point of some sort had been reached.
    "When I started my Shaper training, Old One," he began, carefully, "I did resent manita's grip upon my shaping. Because of that, and also out of curiosity, I did things I shouldn't have done, experimented with my ability in ways I knew were forbidden. I won't excuse myself by saying I was only a boy, or that I hadn't yet taken the Shaper vow, or that most trainee Shapers do the same. I knew the Doctrine of Baushpar, I knew the words of my teachers, and so I knew it was wrong. That should have been enough."
    He drew a breath. Images of that time stirred uncomfortably in memory. If he tried, he could still recapture the ghost of the desire that had driven him, the breathless mix of shame and guilt and excitement his secret explorations had produced. It was not easy to talk of this. His preceptor in Rimpang had known, and he had confessed to Utamnos early in their association. But to no one else.
    "As I grew older, and my understanding of the Way of Ârata deepened, it did become enough. But I cannot lie--I was still curious, and it wasn't always faith that kept me pure, but only will. Then I was put to work in Rimpang library. I have an interest in the past, in the history of the church. I came upon the first-hand accounts of the Shaper War. I'd never seen such documents--all I knew of the War was the texts that are given in the postulant classes. I read them all, every account I could find. And I came to understand--not just to accept through my training or to hold through my vows, but to truly understand--the need for limitation. Shaping freed to human will, to human desire, is a terrible anarchy. Those who follow it in that way don't care for what it is, but only for what it can do. They may begin by acknowledging its sacredness, but always they grow corrupt, and end by pursuing greed and gain. And down that road lies catastrophe.
    "So my answer to your question, Old One, is this: the cure for desire is knowledge. I see that road too clearly now ever to set my feet upon it. Since that time, I have not been tempted."
    The Bearer's eyes held his. For a moment there was silence. Then the Bearer smiled--fully this time, though his eyes remained hooded. Beside him Vimata smiled also, a graceful mirror.
    "Your master promised you would impress me," he said. "He was correct."
    Gyalo bowed his head. He felt as if he had stood in the path of a whirlwind, and been passed over.

Copyright © 2004 by Victoria Strauss

All rights reserved. No part of this may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the author. This excerpt has been provided by HarperCollins Eos and posted with their permission.

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Newcastle’s Mikel Merino names the Chelsea player he’s desperate to face at Stamford Bridge

Mikel Merino
Mikel Merino
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Mikel Merino is relishing going head-to-head with Cesc Fabregas at Stamford Bridge.

The Newcastle United midfielder hopes to face his Spanish countryman in tomorrow’s game against Chelsea.

For a player like me, who is young and playing my first matches as a professional, it’s incredible to play against someone like Cesc Fabregas.

Mikel Merino

Merino returned to Rafa Benitez’s starting XI in Tuesday night’s 2-2 draw against West Bromwich Albion after recovering from a back problem.

And the 21-year-old hopes to keep his place at Stamford Bridge.

Antonio Conte also has Alvaro Morata, Pedro and Cesar Azpilicueta in his squad.

“Chelsea have some great Spanish players,” said Merino, signed from Borussia Dortmund in the summer.

“They have great players all over the field, but it’s obviously the Spanish players that I know most about and have grown up watching.

“We know it’s going to be a hard match, but we’ll be going with plenty of confidence, knowing that we can beat anybody. We want to do a great match.”

Merino’s direct opponent could be former Barcelona and Arsenal midfielder Fabregas, who won the World Cup and European Championships, twice, with Spain.

Fabregas, 30, has also twice won the Premier League with Chelsea.

“I’m looking forward to playing against Fabregas – he’s been a great player for Spain and in the Premier League,” said Merino.

“For a player, like me, who’s young and playing my first matches as a professional, it’s incredible to play against someone like Cesc Fabregas.

“You feel like you are in a film or a video game.

“It’s amazing to be able to play against one of these players.

“But it makes me even more determined to improve myself so I can fight with them.”

Merino added: “I want to show that I’m at the same level they are, and deserve to be playing against them.

“Why not? Why not try to eventually get better than them?”

Meanwhile, Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association following his dismissal against Swansea City on Wednesday.

Conte was sent to the stands by referee Neil Swarbrick towards the end of the first half of Chelsea’s 1-0 victory after furiously protesting the award of a goal-kick.

He later apologised to Swarbrick, and fourth official Lee Mason, but has been charged.

Conte has until 6pm on Tuesday to respond, but, given his apology, he’s unlikely to contest the charge and will accept the punishment, which is anticipated to be a fine.

Chelsea defender David Luiz is expected to miss the Newcastle game with a knee injury. “Now it’s very difficult (for Luiz),” said Conte.

“He had liquid in his knee, and we have to assess his recovery on the time.

“I hope to not lose him for a lot of time, and I need to have all my players.”


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How Leesa is Disrupting the Mattress Industry by Shipping Beds in Boxes & Making Richard Branson Proud

How Leesa is Disrupting the Mattress Industry by Shipping Beds in Boxes & Making Richard Branson Proud

About that time I was stuck on a private island with Richard Branson…

Yea, it actually happened to David Wolfe.

“I’m so lucky, I mean Richard Branson is one of my entrepreneurial heroes,” Wolfe says. “When I found out I’d have this opportunity I knew I had to make it count and ask him sharp questions.”

Wolfe had recently co-founded Leesa, a luxury mattress ecommerce firm, and certainly didn’t waste a golden opportunity to get inside the mind of one of the greatest entrepreneurs of our generation. When Wolfe asked Branson for his secret to business success, Wolfe says Branson responded by telling him to focus on just two things; creating a high-quality product and customer experience.

“We want to own a piece of peoples’ lives,” Wolfe explains. “That part is where people begin thinking about going to bed through the time they don’t want to get up. We want to own that entire experience.”

It might be a noble goal and partly inspired by Richard Branson.

But the giants of the mattress industry were poised to kill Wolfe’s dream.

Betting Half the Farm

A year prior to launching Leesa and ultimately winning a contest that earned Wolfe a spot on Branson’s personal island retreat, Wolfe bumped into an old friend by chance. That friend, Jamie Diamonstein, was a mattress industry veteran whom Wolfe wanted to run an idea past.

“What if we cut out the middleman,” Wolfe wondered. “Could we ship luxury mattresses directly to consumers?”

“Funny you should ask,” Diamonstein responded with a grin.

The mattress industry, according to Wolfe was broken:

  • Overly complicated spring and foam combinations
  • Marketing gimmicks that made comparing prices on similar mattresses nearly impossible
  • Distribution and sales models that required customers interested in testing mattresses to awkwardly lay down while sales people gawk

The industry’s top manufacturers and retailers have consolidated, Wolfe contends, leaving consumers with fewer choices and less bargaining power. “We wanted to create a simple luxury product and sell it for one-third or one-half the price of equivalent mattresses,” Wolfe says.

The idea was to reimagine the sleep experience by selling a mattress without all of the bells and whistles the industry had added over the years to justify increasing prices. What Leesa came up with was a three layered mattress the company says feels as good as it looks:

  • One made entirely of foam
  • One that rolls up to fit in a box a bit bigger than a large suitcase
  • One customers can open, unroll, and watch expand
  • And one that promises a 100-night trial and free returns for anyone who doesn’t love it

Wolfe, a serial entrepreneur, quickly put a team in place, began building an ecommerce platform from scratch, and put the titans of the mattress world in his entrepreneurial crosshairs. “We didn’t bet the whole farm,” Wolfe teases. “But we did bet at least half the farm.”

But moments before the launch there’d be a dramatic reversal in course.

One that could sink Leesa and prevent Wolfe from ever impressing Richard Branson.

The $30 Million Decision

If you ever get to meet Frank Galarraga, Leesa’s Chief Technology Officer, you’ll immediately notice an inviting smile, affable demeanor, and a quiet confidence that comes with being darn good at programming an ecommerce site. But imagine what it must have been like for Galarraga in the Fall of 2014 under the following circumstances:

  • The branding work for Leesa was done
  • Galarraga was nearly finished building the company’s ecommerce platform

But Wolfe was having second thoughts.

“I called Frank,” Wolfe recalls. “I asked him where we were on the build because I was thinking about going in a different direction regarding platforms.”

Approximately 48-hours later, Wolfe and Galarraga scrapped their original plan and decided to launch on Shopify Plus, an enterprise-level ecommerce solution for high volume merchants.

Without Shopify, we would’ve run out of money before launching,” Wolfe says. “Instead of selling mattresses we would have been fixing bugs but Shopify fixed the bugs for us.

The Virginia Beach company shipped its first mattress in December 2014 and now does business across three sites serving the U.S., U.K., and Canada. “We turned on Canada in ten days and everything syncs nicely,” Galarraga says proudly. “With Shopify, we’re able to move so much faster and accelerate growth.”

Speaking of growth, the company did $800,000 in sales in its first full month and went on to generate nearly $30 million in 2015. Instead of working on a backlog of technical bugs as it once expected, the team at Leesa is now focused solely on what it does best; marketing and selling mattresses.

“Shopify takes away one piece of the jigsaw puzzle and allows us to focus entirely on executing,” Wolfe says. “I like to work with people I admire and I certainly admire Shopify.”

Kind words but Leesa has been keeping a secret.

A Mattress With a Purpose

Think about your key differentiator.

What clearly sets you apart from competitors in the eyes of customers?

Okay, now consider hiding that feature from the world. Make no mention of it on your website. Strip it from much of your marketing and don’t shout about it from the rooftops.

Crazy, right?

But that’s exactly what Leesa has been doing; hiding its key differentiator and often refusing to tell a story that ought to be told.

Understand it’s not just Leesa’s ability to move faster than competitors that allows it to compete with much larger entrenched brands (of which it’s most proud). Nor is it the Discount API Shopify offers that positions Leesa to programmatically and generously offer discounts to veterans and first responders.

There’s more to a Leesa mattress than foam.

We measure success not only by our bottom line but also our impact on the world,” Wolfe says. “When someone buys a mattress from us they’re helping someone else sleep better as well.

Over the last 18-months, Leesa has quietly donated more than 4,000 mattresses to homeless shelters, organizations that provide transitional housing, and non-profits working toward practical solutions to the underlying problems related to homelessness. The mattresses that are donated aren’t simply returns but specially made six-inch mattresses that are a better fit for tight quarters, rather than the ten-inch mattresses the company sells online. In some cases, it’s the first time some of the people Leesa has helped have slept on a real bed in years.

While Leesa may be a bit shy about telling its story, some of the homeless shelters the company helps aren’t. Here’s how one shelter documented the impact Leesa has had on homeless men in New York City:

It’s called Leesa’s Social Impact program, and the goal is to donate a mattress for every ten the company sells. Shelters from New York to L.A. now have Leesa mattresses for those they serve. Not only is the company providing the homeless with a better place to sleep, but a pathway to a better life.

“This isn’t a marketing idea,” Wolfe insists. “From day one we’ve wanted to make a difference not because we thought it would help our business financially but because this is the kind of business with a purpose we wanted to build and be proud of.”

A Business With a Soul

On the other end of the social spectrum, Wolfe and the team at Leesa also rub elbows with a Who’s Who list of celebrity investors from the entertainment, sports, and business worlds. The company raised $9 million in venture capital last year led by Titlecard Capital, a private equity firm with investors such as:

  • Jimmy Kimmel- late night host & comedian
  • Kate Hudson- actress, producer, & short film director
  • Adam Levine- frontman for the band Maroon 5
  • Jonah Hill- actor, producer, & comedian

Image via: Titlecard Capital

The money will position the company to achieve its lofty goals of expanding internationally, growing existing distribution channels, and introducing new products. “I believe we are widening the gap between ourselves and our competitors,” Wolfe says.

It won’t be easy though as Leesa will undoubtedly face stiff competition. What can’t be imitated or copied though, according to Wolfe, is the mark Leesa’s 38 employees are leaving on the world regarding the homeless people they’re helping sleep more soundly and dream of a better tomorrow.

“We’ve built a business with a soul,” Wolfe says. “And that’s what differentiates us from competitors.”

It’s a soul Richard Branson would no doubt be proud of as well.

Ready to Sleep Better?

Shopify Plus & Leesa have teamed up to get you a great deal on a great bed!

Click or touch HERE and enter the promo code SHOPIFY to get your discount NOW.

About The Author

Nick Winkler is a contributor to the Shopify Plus blog. He helps individuals & organizations generate new leads, make more money, and ignite growth with story. Get more from Nick here.


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Our team at Rehash has over a decade of experience designing successful retail and ecommerce experiences. We help driven brands reach their potential through thoughtful design, superior technology, with great training and support. We have designed and implemented 100,000 sq ft warehouse solutions, consulted on 25,000 sq ft retail store build-outs and created unique websites that service millions of customers each day. We've worked with great Shopify Plus brands such as The Pioneer Woman Mercantile, Pure Cycles, GearAid, Fayettechill and many more helping them start and grow their businesses. Whether it is the design and development of custom Shopify themes and applications or complete retail store buildouts, our team has a proven track record of helping our brands succeed.

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  • The service is valid for setup of one domain, one theme only. We won’t be able to install more than one theme on more than one domain. If you already have content on the site, please contact us first
  • Turnaround time is 5 business days (depending on you submitting all the information on time this can be brought down to 48hrs during business days)
  • This is not a customisation service, we cannot change theme files or customise the theme, we will just set it up for you
  • Purchasing one of the above packages does not let you any priority support. Standard support terms apply to the purchase after the setup
  • We can’t design your logo and other site elements. Design work is not included in any package
  • Upload of images is not included. You’ll need to upload images for all elements

13. Event Espresso Integration

We only support Event Espresso 4. Our integration with Event Espresso includes only the ticket selector. Speakers, Agenda and Sessions will be handled separately.

14. Refund Policy

We offer a 30 day money back guarantee. If you are not satisfied with our themes, you may submit a refund request through your member account to us within 30 days from your  purchase date. Once your request has been received, your refund will be processed within 5-10 business days.

15. Privacy and Data Protection Policy

Any information submitted by the buyer will be used solely for the purpose of completing the transaction, delivering the product, informing about new product releases, and addressing any customer service issues.

By using any part of the Website or providing personal information to us, you consent to us processing your personal information as set out in this Policy.

We use cookies which are files that store information on your hard drive or browser. Cookies can be used to determine whether you have visited the Website before and make it easier for you to maintain your preferences on the Website, and by seeing how you use the Website, we can tailor the Website around your preferences and measure usability of the Website. You can, should you choose to, disable cookies in your browser and delete all cookies currently stored on your computer. You can find out how to do this by modifying your browser’s preferences appropriately.

In general, you may navigate the Showthemes website without directly providing us with any personal information. Any domain name information that we collect is not used to personally identify you but is instead aggregated to measure the number of visits, average time spent on the Website and the web pages viewed. We use this information to measure Website use and to improve its contents. However, additional services may be only available if we have certain information about you.

We may collect the following personal information from you:

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We use your personal information for the following reasons:

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Should we request any personal information from you, we will furnish you with details on how the personal information you provide will be used.

We may contact you by e-mail, phone or post for the purposes set out in this section. By submitting such information to us, you are deemed to have agreed to us contacting you using these methods of communication. We will continue to contact you using the methods you choose until you advise us in writing that you no longer wish to be contacted using such methods. Please note that you are required to accept at least one of the above methods as your chosen method of receipt of communication from us.

We will not transfer, disclose, sell, distribute or lease your personal information to 3rd Parties other than on the following basis:

  • Where we have your consent to do so for the purpose of providing a service to you;
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  • Where the disclosure is in compliance with legal and/or contractual requirements that we are subject to, including, but not limited to, intergovernmental agreements.

We will not pass your personal information to 3rd Parties (other than on the basis set out in this Policy and in accordance with appropriate disclosure requirements we may be subject to) without your consent.

If you think that any personal information we hold about you is incorrect or incomplete, please write to or e-mail us as soon as possible. We will take the necessary steps to ensure that your personal information is corrected and/or updated.

16. Warranty

Showthemes gives no warranty or guarantee for our themes and extensions in any manner. Browser compatibility should be tested viewing the demonstration installations on the demo sites. Please ensure that your browser works with the theme. We support from IE9 onwards and the latest versions of Safari, Chrome and Firefox. We do not support IE6, 7 and 8.

We do NOT guarantee that our products will work with all 3rd party extensions. Our themes are developed for the latest WordPress version. Whether our products will work with future WordPress versions or how long past WordPress versions are going to be supported is not  guaranteed.

17. Disclaimers, Limitation of Liability and Indemnity

To the fullest extent permissible by law, we disclaim all warranties of any kind, whether express or implied in respect of the Showthemes products and Support Help Desk and you use the Showthemes service at your own risk.

You agree that neither we or our Associates shall be liable for any losses which you may sustain however arising and whatever the cause, in particular pursuant to your or any 3rd Party’s use of, access to and/or interference with the Showthemes service.

You also agree that our liability to you pursuant to these Use Terms shall furthermore be limited to the total amount of the fees you paid for your Showthemes service use.

You and any 3rd Parties using Showthemes products or Support Help Desk indemnify us and our Associates from any losses, which may arise as a result of your or the 3rd Party’s unlawful conduct, wilful misconduct and/or gross negligence.

18. Terms & Conditions

Showthemes reserves the right to change or modify current Terms Of Use at any time with no prior notice. Therefore, we encourage you to review changes to our privacy policy every time you visit this website. showthemes.com shall not be liable to you or any third party should showthemes.com exercise its right to modify, suspend, limit or discontinue any feature of the license.

Last update: January 09, 2018

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - DECEMBER 1: Ish Smith #4 of the New Orleans Pelicans goes to the basket against the Memphis Grizzlies on December 1, 2015 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
AP Photo
December 01, 2015

NEW ORLEANS (AP) Marc Gasol decided to be less analytical and more assertive on the offensive end. The Memphis Grizzlies liked the results.

Gasol scored a career-high 38 points to go with 13 rebounds and four blocks, and the Grizzlies beat the New Orleans Pelicans 113-104 on Tuesday night. Gasol's performance represented a significant departure from his previous five games, when he twice failed to score in double digits and never had more than 15 points.

''It's been a tough week to 10 days as far as me playing and I wanted to take a different approach to the game and it worked,'' Gasol said. ''I imposed a little bit my will. ... Instead of trying to get somebody else going or trying to read and see what was in front of me, I just went ahead and tried to be a little more aggressive.''

New Orleans lost despite the return of starting guard Tyreke Evans and top reserve Norris Cole. Evans was the Pelicans' best offensive player with 20 points and 10 assists, but that wasn't enough to overcome a Memphis squad that scored 52 points in the paint and missed only one of 26 free throws.

''It's tough when you have two of your key guys come back and all the lineups are messed up and everybody's trying to get back accustomed to one another,'' said Pelicans forward Anthony Davis, whose team has dropped three straight. ''But that's not an excuse. We've still got to come out and play defensively. Offensively, we'll be fine, but defensively we've got to come out and play a lot better than what we're doing the past couple games.''

Cole finished with 11 points but missed nine of 12 shots and was 2 of 7 from 3-point range.

Gasol was 11 of 22 from the field, scoring on everything from power moves inside to mid-range fades. He also set a new career mark by making all 16 of his foul shots.

''It was fun to watch. It was fun to be a part of. We were all rooting for him, man. Those are special nights,'' Grizzlies guard Mike Conley said. ''When he's aggressive like that, man, obviously you see what he's capable of doing, and hopefully that starts a trend.''

Zach Randolph added 14 points, while Courtney Lee and Matt Barnes scored 13 each.

Davis finished with 17 points, 14 rebounds and career high-tying nine blocked shots for the Pelicans. But he struggled with his shooting, going 4 of 15 from the field and 8 of 13 on free throws.

Early on, Memphis got baited into a high-scoring, up-tempo game by a Pelicans squad that was energized by the return of key players.

The Pelicans scored 38 points in the first quarter and led by as many as 14 on Cole's 3 to start the second. Memphis then slowed the pace, played better defense and began to chip away, hitting 14 of its first 18 shots in the quarter. The Grizzlies needed about 7 minutes to erase their deficit, taking a 54-53 lead on Vince Carter's tip-in.

After shooting 70 percent (14 of 20) in the first, the Pelicans went 8 of 22 in the second period.

''That was the key to winning the game,'' Gasol said. ''If not, we were on pace to give up (152 points) and I don't think we can keep up with that.''

''We cannot keep trading baskets because we're just not that good at it,'' he added.

The Grizzlies trailed most of the first half and did not lead by more than six until the fourth quarter, when they were the more composed team and kept their lead between eight and 11 points most of the period.

''We're a veteran team and we know when the game matters most,'' Conley said. ''We got stops when we needed to and we limited them to one-shot opportunities.''

Grizzlies: Mario Chalmers and Conley each scored 11. ... Memphis outrebounded New Orleans 49-37. ... Gasol's rebound total was a season high.

Pelicans: Ryan Anderson scored 16, while Jrue Holiday had 12. ... Coach Alvin Gentry started Alexis Ajinca at center over regular starter Omer Asik. Gentry said he wanted to see how spacing on the offensive end might change with Ajinca, who has better shooting range than Asik. Ajinca got in early foul trouble and played fewer than 13 minutes, but still scored 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting.

Grizzlies: Host San Antonio on Thursday night.

Pelicans: At Houston on Wednesday night.

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text:
Signals Up for the Snowball Express

Dec. 01, 1958
Dec. 01, 1958

Table of Contents
Dec. 1, 1958

Homemade Mountains
Pro Football
Pro Golf
Events & Discoveries
Wonderful World Of Sport
Ski Preview
On Field And Campus
Pro Basketball
Obiter Dicta
  • Or, some passing remarks from the halls of science by a wise and witty man who proves that the ivory tower has a view—including a view of sports. And so we introduce Dr. Vannevar Bush, spectator sports expert, chairman of the corporation of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, leader of scientists—and a host of his colleagues, whose interests, as shown here, range from boxing through sailing to driving hot cars

19th Hole: The Readers Take Over
Pat On The Back

Signals Up for the Snowball Express

This is the skier's season, when the snow trains start hooting their way into the snow country loaded with skis

Like bright flags signaling the ski train engineer to go! go! go!, the jumble of colorful skiers' baggage at Los Angeles Union Station (right) stands for the beginning of skiing and the skier's holiday mood this time of year. The Angelenos in question are leaving their own publicized heaven on Union Pacific's Snowball Limited for seven days of Sun Valley's fabulous high mountain skiing (left). Mass migrations to the bright, fresh world of skiing are getting to be a countrywide phenomenon. Regularly, winter trains set out from Boston, Chicago, New York and Detroit—luggage racks filled with parkas, gloves and goggles, aisles jammed with sweatered skiers, baggage cars piled with expensive hickory skis—headed for ski depots like North Conway, N.H., Montpelier, Vt., Lake Placid, N.Y. and Petoskey, Mich. Overhead—not to forget the airlines—another contingent was winging on longer trips: Easterners going to the west and the Rockies; Chicagoans to Vermont and the Green Mountains; Texans to Utah's Wasatch Range. Add to these the skiers that went by car (the greatest number of all) and you will have a sum of several million: all the skiers in the U.S. who arrived at one or another of the country's 250 major and minor ski areas last winter.

This is an article from the Dec. 1, 1958 issue Original Layout

Did they have a good time? Take a look at the next four pages of color pictures of Sun Valley, and you will see what may prompt an estimated 300,000 to join the ranks of the sport this year in favor of the same kind of thing. All aboard for winter!

Cooling off after a warm swim, Mrs. William Stout plunges forth into snowdrifts just outside one of the valley's pools. Up to his eyes already is Richard Van Houten III.

Relaxing blissfully in one of the valley's steaming pools, guests enjoy the best of two worlds, a summery swim after spending the day skiing wintery mountain.

Stepping happily through flakes that proclaim skiing will soon be superb, Sun Valley skiers and a lodge bellboy (center) make their way down ski resort's main walk.

Greeting guests that have joined them, Sam and Nanette Grossman pause in their lunch on the sundeck of Roundhouse, high above the slopes of Christmas Bowl.


WARC-Identified-Payload-Type: application/xhtml+xml

text:
Survivors of Incest Anonymous

We Define Incest Very Broadly

for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse

Starting Meetings

An SIA meeting is a unique tool to use during recovery. While SIA is not a replacement for therapy when needed, the camaraderie and fellowship which incest survivors feel when among others who have been through similar experiences as a child is not something easily described.

The time spent with others who understand (and who ‘get it’ in ways no one else can) is a relief, and can be inspiring. SIA stresses the fact that we are not alone, and nothing else makes that point as vividly as taking part in an SIA meeting. All of us are in different stages of  recovery, but all of us need validation that what happened was real, and that we are not to blame.

If you’re considering starting a meeting we’ve made these pages for you. We think you’ll find in reading what other survivors have to say say about starting and participating in new meetings that it’s not as daunting as we thought it was.

Many of our meetings have been started by survivors who had never been to an SIA meeting. All SIA groups are autonomous. There is no one “correct” way to run a meeting. Formats differ from one group to another-- there are some examples in the "Meeting Formats" tab.  The length of meetings differ from one group to another. If you’ve attended other 12 Step meetings that you like, you can model your SIA meeting after those. The caring support from other survivors is what makes our meetings what they are – a safe place to come together and share.

As always, take what you like, and leave the rest.

  sia- lantern.jpg

© 2007 Survivors of Incest Anonymous
All rights reserved.  Permission to reprint granted only in writing.

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Diabetic children denied schooling given hope after legal intervention

The country's leading education law specialist has won a trio of cases at Tribunal after children with Type 1 Diabetes were finally granted special needs status.

Now, the 3 Surrey-based families hope to send their children, all of whom are at Key Stage 1 level (5-7 years old) to mainstream schools in the knowledge that the local education authority must put in place provision to manage their condition.

Imogen Jolley, partner at solicitor MG Law who brought the cases to the Special Educational Needs Tribunal, says the situation highlights a nationwide issue around Type 1 Diabetes and its varying treatment by local education authorities across the country.

"This is a serious condition which needs constant management, particularly for a child who's only five or six years old. The children's diabetes was having an effect on their ability to access education with their parents either having to home educate, or pay for private tuition in order to manage their condition safely."

According to Diabetes UK, local authorities and primary care trusts can expect between 100 and 150 children with diabetes to live in their area, with the current prevalence of Type 1 diabetes in children to be around 1/700-1/1000. "The fact we were forced to take these cases to the SEN Tribunal indicates that this particular local authority does not have a strategy in place to manage it, but I would urge them to look for guidance from other parts of the country where children can be cared for in a mainstream school environment with great success."

Teresa Dodson, whose daughter Imogen was one of the three children granted a SEN statement by Surrey County Council, said: "We're so grateful to MG Law for their support and understanding in bringing our case to Tribunal. Although we still have some challenges to face and Imogen will probably not start school in time for September, there is light at the end of the tunnel after many years of frustration."

Case Study: Surrey LEA shamed over Diabetes Child refused SEN

Like all good parents, Teresa Dodson and her husband Mark who live in Warlingham, Surrey want their daughter Imogen, who is almost six, to do well in school and enjoy making friends with children her own age. Instead, because Imogen suffers from the auto immune disease Type 1 diabetes and has so far been denied the full time teaching assistant she requires to meet her special educational needs, the couple have been forced to home educate Imogen as they continue their long battle with the county's Local Education Authority (LEA).

However, things are looking up thanks to her namesake Imogen Jolley from national education specialists MG Law who recently took up their case. The Surrey LEA has finally conceded and agreed to provide the Special Educational Needs (SEN) Statement required to enable Imogen to get the one-to-one support she's entitled to. However, according to Teresa there is still uncertainty as to when this will be issued and the end is not yet in sight.

Teresa says that their world was turned upside down four and half years ago when at 16 months old Imogen was diagnosed with the life threatening condition.

"As far as we were concerned Imogen was a happy, healthy toddler. Then one morning, nothing I could do seemed to fully rouse her and I became very worried," recalls Teresa.

Teresa booked a same-day appointment with her GP but was told Imogen's inertia was caused by nothing more serious than a gastric bug.

"My intuition told me something was seriously wrong so I drove straight to East Surrey Hospital. Thank goodness I did or Imogen wouldn't be here today," says Teresa.

She was sent to the Child Assessment Unit, the hospital's Emergency Paediatric Unit, where doctors recognised the symptoms of a diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) coma and swung into action to save her life.

"It was every parent's worst nightmare, seeing her covered in tubes and drips, fighting for survival," says Teresa

Imogen's DKA was caused by her own body attacking her insulin producing cells and researchers such as JDRF UK, the type 1 diabetes charity, still do not know the cause of type 1 diabetes. There is nothing that can be done to prevent its onset, with the condition causing high blood glucose which, when the body cannot process it for energy it decides to break down other body tissue as an alternative energy source. Ketones are the build-up of poisonous chemicals in the blood which are a by-product of this process: If left unchecked they cause the body to become acidic and the end result is a coma and inevitably death if untreated.

"We were devastated by the news," says Teresa. "When Imogen was well enough to come home we muddled through as best we could in a state of shock. We had no option but to learn really quickly how to prick our tiny girl's fingers to do blood tests, how to give her life saving injections, and how to carbohydrate count to match the correct amount of insulin to maintain Imogen's levels and to prevent her going into a hypo or hyper state - both of which pose a danger to life.

Type 1 diabetes also means that during any illness or virus Imogen's body is unable to regulate itself due to the lack of insulin and this makes managing the illness a lot more complicated and dangerous due to the risk of the body producing ketones and causing dehydration.

"When she was two I joined a mum and toddler group but had to leave after just one day because Imogen caught the Rota virus and was in and out of hospital for the next three months. At times the strain has been unbearable as any illness can become life threatening,"
explains Teresa.

In August 2011 Teresa approached Surrey LEA for the SEN Statement. Initially the LEA refused to assess Imogen.

"Eventually I had a meeting with them but the person I talked to was very unhelpful. As part of the assessment process, the LEA's own educational psychologist finally made a home visit and accepted Imogen qualified for the SEN statement but they stalled the process," says Teresa. "I went back and forth to the LEA for three years but nothing materialised. I've been at my wits end."

Type 1 diabetes interferes with cognition, and the only way to ensure that Imogen is able to access the curriculum is by constant blood glucose monitoring and regular insulin injections.

MG Law Support

Imogen Jolley at MG Law had already been working with a number of other parents in a similar predicament to the Dodsons and took up their case in August 2013. "It is important to be able to recognise the signs of low blood sugars and high blood sugars as little Imogen is too young to realise this herself. A full time Teaching Assistant (TA) can give her this support so that she can enjoy school life and gain the educational and social skills she needs through mixing with the kids her own age. There is no good reason for children with Type 1 Diabetes to be isolated simply because they have not been given the SEN Statement to which they are legally entitled to."

The Dodsons are keen for Imogen to go to Greenvale Primary. She initially attended Warlingham Village Primary where Teresa's elder daughter went before. In the absence of a TA, Imogen, who will be six in September, had to be pulled out of Warlingham Village Primary school after just one day because despite reassurances from the Head, it became clear staff were not equipped to meet her needs due to the lack of support from Surrey LEA.

The situation is further complicated because whichever school accepts Imogen has to pay for the first £6000 towards the cost of a TA out of its school budget.

"When glucose levels are low or high it interferes with sensory issues, affects cognitive ability and causes behavioural issues which are all established criteria for SEN. It all boils down to money and Surrey is one of the country's richest LEAs," says Teresa.

It was only when Teresa threatened to take Surrey LEA to a SEN tribunal and MG Law became involved that things started to change. The LEA has now agreed to issue a proposed statement but, several weeks on, they have still not done this.

"Imogen will certainly miss out on starting school in September because of this," says Teresa.

To find out how we could help you please make a no-obligation enquiry or call freephone: 0808 129 3320.

News Archive

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don't read the menu options and go directly to the page content
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Court Hall Opening a Huge Success

Home / Blog / Court Hall Opening a Huge Success
The Friends of Milton Regis Court Hall are absolutely delighted after nearly 500 people attended the two open days over the weekend, as part of the national Heritage Open Days scheme.

The Hall was opened by the mayor of Swale, Councillor George Bobbin, who was accompanied by the lady mayoress, Mrs Brenda Bobbin. As well as members of The Friends of Milton Regis Court Hall, who have leased the hall from Swale Borough Council, representatives of the Historical Research Group of Sittingbourne had a display relating to the first world war.

The Court Hall has been closed since 2006 and its reopening generated enormous interest. On Saturday there were 238 visitors followed by a further 247 on Sunday, which far exceeded expectations. It was particularly nice to see so many children taking an interest in their local history.

The Friends of Milton Regis Court Hall worked for two weeks to prepare the building for the event. Display cabinets showing items of local interest had been laid out and many information boards were on display.

It is hoped to open the Court Hall on a regular basis from next Summer. Nevertheless, much work needs to be done to ensure that the 15th Century building is brought up to a reasonable standard. It is likely that between £20,000 and £30,000 will be needed. So far sufficient funds are available for only the most essential work. The intention is that renovation work will be phased as funds allow.

Milton Regis is a very historic area, with many attractive old buildings. However, it has suffered from many years of neglect and it gives every appearance of being in a depressed state. Judging by the interest generated during the two open days, the Court Hall could be the catalyst needed to revitalise the whole area. Perhaps a great oak of regeneration will develop from the little acorn planted by The Friends of Milton Regis Court Hall.

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text:
Back by popular demand....
What I feed our kids!
(I really wish you guys could read this the way I write it, because when I wrote 'What I feed our kids' I sang it in the voice of an announcer for a wrestling tournament.)

Anyway, no doubt our kids are pretty good eaters.

In fact the other day Hubby and Boy 2 had a conversation about the food in our house.
Boy 2 gave me 9 out of 10 stars for lunch.
I would have gotten higher, but sometimes I do 'sandwiches'.

This is one of Boy 1's favorite lunch box meals.
Here is the recipe for the shrimp - super easy and super fast.  You can make it the night before of if you are like me and wake up crazy early you can make it in the morning.  I do leave out the avocados because for some freaky reason the kids don't like the avocado in this meal, even though they can eat the heck out of guacamole.  I just don't get it.
Next up...super easy.  Grilled chicken cut into strips.  We had this for dinner & I made extra for lunches.
Add a little salad, fruit and rice krispy treats and you have happy kids!  :O)
The small containers hold BBQ for dipping and salad dressing.
When I'm out of everything else, I throw together 'lunchables'.
Lamb chops.
True story.
Lamb chops at the international market are very reasonable for some reason and the kids love them.
And I love them.
And Hubby loves the.
We are a lamb chop lovin' family.
In fact tonight for dinner we are having lamb curry.
This is something I made for dinner and made extras so we could have left overs for lunch.
The kids will eat this cold.
And they are happy about it.
Turkey breast with a little rib meat.
A little broccoli for a couple of them, salad for the other two.
Two of our kids can't stand broccoli.
Two of them will eat it by the bowl full.
Go figure.
Want to see more of our lunch boxes?
Click here.

Happy packing!
10/16/2013 02:13:28 pm

Where did you get the plastic containers?

10/16/2013 06:57:58 pm

Trish, this is awesome My son detests sandwiches so I, too, have gotten creative and send leftovers almost daily! Love your little containers and boxes... super cool!

Caitlin Orr
2/26/2014 05:15:39 pm

I bought some lamb chops from the International market in itaewon. I was wondering how you cooked yours pictured above. Thanks:)

2/18/2017 03:21:07 am

Shop For Lunch Boxes Online in India at LimeRoad. Available in Exciting Design & Colour, Different Sizes. Shop Branded Kitchen Storage now.

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