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Pinnacle ranked #1 on the National Multi-Housing Council Top 50 Largest U.S. Apartment Managers for two years in a row!
We invest in great people. That's why clients trust us with their real estate investments!
At Pinnacle, we consider our employees to be our most valuable asset. In fact, our number one key business objective is to attract and retain the best talent in the industry! At Pinnacle, we firmly believe our employees....more info
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About Pinnacle.
We invest in great people. That's why clients trust us with their real estate investments! At Pinnacle, we consider our employees our most valuable asset. In fact, our number one key business objective is to attract and retain the best talent in the industry! At Pinnacle, the key to our continued success and competitive advantage is our people.
We offer a total compensation and benefits package to help with your needs today and build for your future tomorrow. We recognize that each employee is an individual with individual needs, lifestyles, and interests. Our benefits package was created with the flexibility to support employees who are at different places in their lives and careers.
Pinnacle values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity in employment. We offer a safe, healthy work environment for employees through a commitment to maintaining a drug-free workplace. Pinnacle has ongoing employment opportunities at our headquarters in Seattle, our more than 40 branch office locations nationally and our many managed communities throughout the country.
Pinnacle is the national leader in third-party fee management of investment real estate encompassing multi-family, commercial space, affordable housing and military housing. Pinnacle is built on four basic principles:
Quality people
Strong customer service
Solid market knowledge
Superior systems and support capabilities
At Pinnacle, success is about more than having a healthy bottom line. Guided by our principles and values, we are committed to making Pinnacle an amazing and unique place to work for each member of our team.
About the job..
As an Investment Manager at Pinnacle, youll put your outstanding leadership and savvy business skills to work at one of the most respected apartment companies in a management opportunity that offers real leadership, innovation and support. Our Investment Managers are the cornerstone of our team. An Investment Manager is responsible for the tactical execution and communication of the companys strategic direction to our various communities. This manager will have a proven track record in managing a diverse portfolio of properties, be a motivator, a good communicator, and a hands-on manager. Investment Managers work closely with Business Managers in their regions to ensure implementation and execution of all corporate policies and procedures.
Essential Responsibilities:
Investment Managers are business leaders responsible for developing and managing individual site business plans including investment objectives, compliance goals, marketing positioning, people, asset quality, and financial goals and objectives.
At any given time, an Investment Manager should be able to describe the overall makeup: strengths, weaknesses and needs of each property in their given portfolio.
Investment Managers are also responsible for review and approval of all property purchasing with complete adherence to the expense budget.
Investment Managers are also business managers who mentor, coach, supervise and develop site staff.
They will work with Business Managers and Maintenance Supervisors to ensure timely preparation of rent ready apartments to fully meet the demand of the market.
They are ultimately responsible for property risk management, safety standards and employee and resident liability.
They will help determine, implement and follow up on any corrective action plans for deficiencies found at properties.
Investment Managers are also responsible for taking care of all escalated complaints from residents.
Personal Competencies:
A competitive spirit
High-energy
Demonstrated leadership and strategic thinking skills
Supervisory experience
Warm, friendly and service-oriented philosophy
High degree of flexibility and tolerance for change
Ability to train, develop, lead and mentor
Superior written and verbal communications skills
Extremely computer literate
Organized and detail-oriented
Customer-service driven
Able to multitask
Financials experience/experience working with a budget
Qualifications:
Minimum of a high school diploma, Bachelors degree preferred
5+ years of on-site property management experience
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Experience in supervisory role and managing staff
Experience in writing and maintaining budgets
Proficient in Yardi property management software or other similar property management software.
General office, bookkeeping and sales skills
Computer literate, including Microsoft Office Suite
Pinnacle has grown to become America's largest apartment manager through many different successes. Yet, in today's ultra-competitive market, each success must fuel the next and speed is essential in the ongoing race to lead the industry.
If you are ready to work hard and be empowered and encouraged to innovate, contribute ideas and discover solution to provide current and potential residents with unparalleled, world class customer service please click Apply Online.
It?s incredibly satisfying to complete DIY home improvement projects on your own. Not only is it less expensive than hiring someone to do the job, but you can take pride in the fact that you?ve done it all on your own. In spite of how rewarding it can be, you need to make sure that you are honestly ready as well as qualified to take on any DIY projects before you actually start working on something. The purpose of this article is to give you some good guidelines for finding success with the DIY home improvement projects that you take on.
If you want to get the most optimal outcome from a DIY home improvement endeavor, it can be advantageous to examine the illustrations of things you want to do. If you?ve never done something before, it?s better to consult some educational material or ask for advice rather than just stumble in the dark and hope for the best. There are many resources you can turn to for help nowadays, starting with your local home improvement or hardware store. Typically, you can find someone who is familiar with and willing to offer up some advice on the undertaking you are prepping for, especially if you are buying your supplies there. You can also come across educational videos and books that can help direct you. Since you can observe an individual performing the task step-by-step, a video can come in quite handy. I have actually observed this video just recently while taking my meal replacement shake, and I find the strategies simple to follow.
If you want to change the look of your home, and can afford it, then remodel your kitchen. Just because you can?t afford to remodel the whole kitchen, doesn?t mean that you can?t make a bunch of little changes. You can replace the cabinet doors, door knobs and hardware, if you are unable to change out all of the cabinets. If your countertops are looking faded, there are attractive but low-cost laminate countertops that could make a big difference. Your kitchen will look better with new energy-efficient appliances, instead of the old ones. One thing that can make your cabinets look new and have a dramatic effect, is to repaint your entire kitchen.
The main reason for doing DIY projects around the house is to save money on costs. When choosing materials or tools, you don?t want to skimp on quality.
Items that are used or recycled and have good quality can be used, but don?t let the results of the project be affected by cheap materials. A good example of this is choosing paint for either interior or exterior paint jobs. Paint is one area that spending more for quality paint can save you money in the long run, because the paint will last longer without having to be repainted. In most cases, inexpensive materials fall apart quicker, so items like cheap tile which will break in a year or two, should not be purchased. Doing your own projects may take some time, I normally eat the best meal replacement bars instead of taking lunch in order to accomplish my work for a short period of time. There are lots of reasons to take on DIY projects. You might want to take on some repairs that are overdue, spruce up a room by putting in addition or even just give your home a new and fresh look. When you have the proper tools, materials and directions to follow (and the ability to follow them) you should be quite successful in your DIY home improvement projects.
As I?m a Chinese myself as most of you would have already known, I?m always happy to see Chinese characters emerge into the world of anime. There are quite a number of Chinese characters, some make us Chinese proud, while some make us embarrassed. Here is my top 5 list of my favorite Chinese anime characters.
1. Hei ? Darker Than Black Our top number 1 spot, we have Hei from Darker Then Black (?Hei? means ?black? in Chinese). Hei is one of the stronger contractors in Darker Than Black. He wears his signature mask and coat almost always and just the presence of his mask alone, is enough to instill fears to anyone who dares to stand in his way, be it your everyday thug, police officers, or even other contractors. The electricity-using contractor is a mysterious enigma as well, and throughout his days, he acts and live the lives of ?two faces?, during the day, he is ?Li Shengshun?, a cheerful and polite student with a big appetite, during the night, he is the infamous BK-201 contractor, or ?Black Reaper?, a title coined by other contractors, probably due to his coat and his murderous presence. All this badassery of his, make him one of the best Chinese character around, and he certainly do us Chinese proud.
2. Ling Yao ? Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood Second in line we have Ling Yao, who only make his debut in Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood. I would say his appearance in the anime made a lot of difference compared to the original Full Metal Alchemist TV run back in 2003. Ling Yao is a Xingese (Full Metal Alchemist?s version of Chinese). He is a decisive character who strives to achieve kingship, almost on obsessive levels. He even allows his body to be taken over by Greed, since it would help him and his country?s declining welfare. He was however, able to retain his body and soul intact, due to the similarity between his and Greed?s necessities. This enables both him and Greed to synchronize, and at some point, either of them would resurface.
3. Lenalee Lee ? D.Gray Man A Chinese exorcist working under the European Branch, Lenalee suffers from a trauma in the past which makes her value friends and family much more then your average joe. In fact, she thinks of them as her ?world? and when someone dies, part of her ?world? gets destroyed, effectively crumbling her down slowly. The most admirable thing about her though is how she kept fighting, despite her fragility, to the point of defeating a Level 3 Akuma single-handedly and even fought a Level 4 Akuma briefly on equal ground.
4. Kagura ? Gintama One of the member of Yorozuya and although she misleadingly looks like a harmless little girl, she is an Amanto, and is part of the Yato clan. Because of that, she is obviously strong, and her strength matches to that of 10 men, easily making holes on the walls with her punches and pulling 4 to 5 adults who are about to fall off the ledge. She also has a big appetite, and is particularly fond of sukonbu. Anyhow, Kagura?s a fun girl, effectively contributing to Gintama?s overall enjoyment. Of cause, whatever character Rie Kugimiya has a part in voice acting is always awesome isn?t it?
5. Lingyin Huang ? Infinite Stratos Lingyin Huang aka Ichika?s Childhood Friend #2. She is the Chinese Representative of the IS Academy and pilots the personal IS unit, Shen Long. She?s a loli, have twin-tails and fang, and cooks well too.. what?s not to like? I will bring her home anytime if dat harem boy, Ichika doesn?t pick her in the end :D
iTweak looks to be a lightweight, web-based jailbreak app store set to compete with Cydia and, from what we understand, will allow you to install applications from the web app directly onto your jailbroken device.
[unable to retrieve full-text content]Why not have this same effect and priority in your own home by creating a Disney family game night. This is something that my ... Get Free Disney Vacation Planning Help?and a FREE Disney Gift Card*. Photobucket ...
Reuters - Colleen Wilson has all the makings of a foot soldier for whichever Republican becomes the nominee to oppose President Barack Obama in the November election.
[unable to retrieve full-text content]ContributorNetwork - A weight-loss pill from Vivus Inc. has become the first such drug recommended for approval by the FDA in more than 13 years. An advisory panel voted in favor of approving the pill, known as Qnexa, by a margin of 20-2 on Wednesday, according to MSNBC. The FDA has until April 17 to formally approve Qnexa for use in the United States.
Junglee, a new online shopping service enabling customers to find and discover products available in India. Junglee organizes product selection from Indian and global brands, and features buying options from online and offline retailers, including Amazon.com, in one convenient place.
At launch, customers can shop more than 1.2 crore products and view buying options from hundreds of online and offline retailers, including Reebok, Microsoft India Store, The Bombay Store, Fabindia, Bata India Limited, Dabur Uveda, UniverCell, Homeshop18, Gitanjali, Hidesign, and Amazon.com.
The selection on Junglee includes more than 90 lakh books, and 30 lakh products from more than 14,000 Indian and global brands. Junglee features more than 25 product categories, including mobile phones, cameras, toys & games, baby products, books, music, movies & TV, clothing, and jewellery. Customers can also discover Kindle ? the #1 bestselling e-reader in the world.
?We?re excited to add our product selection to Junglee.com and leverage the world class e-commerce technology to help customers in India easily discover our products online,? said Mr. Rajeev Gopalakrishnan, Group Managing Director, Bata India Ltd.
Junglee directly integrates with online and offline retailers to list their entire selection of products available in India and leverages Amazon?s search technology to make it convenient for customers to navigate the selection and find what they are looking for quickly. Junglee also uses the same recommendation engine technology as Amazon.com, providing customers with unique ways to discover products, such as displaying the ?Most Frequently Viewed Products? or ?Customers Who Viewed This Product Also Viewed.?
Junglee aggregates detailed product information including customer reviews, price, and shipping speed across multiple sources, including Amazon.com, so customers can research products and evaluate buying options to make an informed purchasing decision. Customers can also write their own reviews, read millions of real-time customer reviews from Amazon.com, ?Like? products or sellers, and share products through Facebook, Twitter and email.
?Junglee.com has high-quality product detail pages that complement our own website, customer reviews and targeted audience, thus enhancing our customer conversion rates.? said Narasimha Jayakumar, COO (Ecommerce) of HomeShop18.
Amazon also launches Amazon Seller Services in India, available now to retailers selling on Junglee.com. Indian retailers can now leverage Junglee?s online shopping experience to advertise their products to customers across the globe and drive traffic to their website or physical stores at zero cost.
The whole publish or perish paradigm is set up because publishing professors typically have a stronger ability to get grants, which then help fund the university (which typically takes a portion of the grant money into a more general fund). Grant givers almost always look at the publication record of the applicants, and those who are publishing more are MUCH more likely to get the grant. And yes, this is even in cases where supposedly the grants are given 'blind'. Well-known authors in any field develop a distinct style and those who are familiar with the field are likely to recognize that style. Thus grants are given to people who are already productive.
In the end, science research as funded via universities is a bit of a circular situation and it's all a bit self-congratulatory for the people at the top of their field. Which is of course why anyone wanting to do research in a field needs to attach themselves to one of the top researchers during under-grad/graduate years, so that they get the chance to be 2nd (or 3rd or 5th) author on a number of papers published by the BIGNAME. Then after they do that for a while, they get to be first author and BIGNAME moves to last author, but their names become strongly associated, and eventually the rising star gets to move into their own celebrity status, while the BIGNAME just keeps getting more recognition.
If I sound bitter, it may be because this is system is hardly designed to foster innovation, and is hardly conducive to outsiders being brought in. The real rule is conformity to the status quo. If you start out trying to make your own name, or trying to publish things that go against the grain, then you will get quietly ignored by the publishers. Personally, I'm no longer in research, and I'm just as well off gone from that particular insanity.
I have a good friend who has a PhD in astrophysics, but because all he really wants to do is teach, no one will ever know much about him. Will he ever make some great discovery about astrophysics? LIkely not, even though he's as intelligent as any person you'll likely meet. But because he has a passion for passing on the knowledge he has to new students of physics rather than spend years fiddling around with galactic simulations, he'll likely always have lower pay than most professors, and he'll likely never get mentioned as an important figure in astrophysics. And let's be honest, saying, "I inspired thousands of students to continue learning about physics" sounds trite and boring, but saying "I figured out why some stars go supernova and others don't" sounds much more 'important'. Honestly though, the professors that teach the rising students the basic grounding in a subject so that *the new students* of a subject can go on and make important discoveries are the ones that deserve a lot of credit. The professors that ignore students that aren't actively doing research *with them* are often (not always) doing little more than polishing an already sparkly name. Yes, they bring in money for the universities. Yes, the research they do is *often* important, and yes, we need people who are willing to do real research. Yet, at the end of the day, if we don't have people who are competent at actually *teaching*, then we are going to eventually get ourselves into trouble when all the students decide to go get an MBA so they can actually make a decent living.
If you have been scratching your head about your relocation and also the hassle your pet fish might face through the transit, then it?s time which you chill out. Its not that difficult to relocate a fish tank in the event you really take a moment to sit down and take into consideration it. Plan things out first and then you can simply get your pets from your old home to your new one.
First of all do not anxiety yourself out more than how you plan on relocating your tank; instead plan how and what would make it easy. At first you have to have a plan on how you can move the tank by yourself provided it?s little. If it?s bigger, however, it?s a great concept to get help. Adhere to the step by step procedure regardless of the size. First, empty the tank then drain it. Fill it with a few old towels and soft fabric to guard and shield the decor and also the glass. Find a box which is tiny larger than the fish tank place it in and pack it once again with some towels and old fabric or packing paper.
What about a larger tank for fish? Or possibly a saltwater aquarium? You may require some help!! You can find a entire large amount of companies who specialize in relocating things like these, known as the Moving Businesses. Call them up and each time you call make certain the first thing you ask is for a relocating quote. Now it?s your job to choose the correct one. You can find tons of relocating companies on the market, so it?s best for you to take your time and make the correct selection.
Also make certain you obtain added relocating insurance so that if something went wrong to your fish tank through the transit it might be replaced swiftly and your pet gets a new home also. Often carry your fish in a travel tank in addition to the water from the old tank. This not only reduces the anxiety on your fish but in addition helps in retaining the useful bacteria and also the water that it?s used to. Employ national movers that are well versed in relocating pet fish. This easy step will reassure which you can have entertaining along with your animal inside the new home without any hassles.
Tags: family, fish, Moving, pets, relocation
This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012 at 5:52 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
I?ve already shared in a previous post that I read so many career books that when I find one that?s funny and profane in equal parts, I can?t help but share the advice with you.? Michael Laskoff is the author of a ?survival guide for the recently unemployed? called Landing on the Right Side of Your A**. ?(Title redacted; this is a family friendly blog, after all.)? His often hilarious advice is based on his own checkered career.? He?s a graduate of Harvard Business School and has held several high profile jobs for companies like McKinsey & Company.? He also wrote an employment column for Business Week Online.
His chapter on networking meetings contains some great advice.? In typical Laskoff fashion, he tells you what makes you look dumb and tells you what he?s thinking while you look dumb.? Here are his four tips for better networking meetings.
?Arrive with an agenda. Laskoff says that he?s sat through several uncomfortable meetings where the requestor had obviously used all his energy in getting the meeting and had not had any energy left to plan what to say once he got there. Laskoff says he tries to help out when the requestor is at a loss for words, but suspect other busy people will simply toss the jobseeker out on his ear.? For the record, my experience has been that most people are too polite to toss anyone out.? But I, too, have experienced an uncomfortable silence after opening the meeting with, ?How can I help you today??
Do your basic research elsewhere.? This is excellent advice.? Laskoff says you should never waste time asking questions that you could answer yourself with a few minutes of internet research. You should never have to ask much about the person?s company or industry.? If you sound unprepared, you?ll hurt the rest of your presentation, no matter how good it is.? On the other hand if you ask smart questions based on your research, you?ll sound smart and worthy of more time.
Don?t ask disrespectful questions.? Laskoff says he?s heard some stunners, including ?How much do you make?? I have never had anyone be quite that bold, so I?ve never had to drag out his uncouth response (?It?s none of your d*** business.?)
Never ask for a job.? This is obvious to anyone who has read my blog over the years, but it?s possible that some people are still more hopeful than strategic. Laskoff says (and I agree) that you should never have to make a pitch for a job.? If you?re impressive enough, a smart person will be passing your information on to others in the industry whom he likes and respects.? If you are obnoxious in the meeting, he?ll be passing your information on to people he hates.?
Laskoff passes on other small etiquette gems as well. He suggests that you always reconfirm how much time your subject has for you that day. She may have initially promised you thirty minutes, but her schedule may have changed. Ask again how much time you will have together, and be prepared to edit your questions on the fly so you get the most important ones answered in the time you have.
He also recommends that you ask for more people you can speak to, based on the conversation you just had with your contact. Laskoff says that the most you can expect is one or two contacts, and you should consider that ?a d*** good haul.? If you get more, they are bound to be weaker, so take your two and move on briskly.
Finally, Laskoff says, your thank you should arrive a few days after the meeting.? He says that it should be timed to remind your contact who you are as much as it is to thank him or her.? ?Unless you?re stunning-looking or fascinating ? and you?re probably neither ? you can expect your contact to forget your existence in a few days or less,? he writes.? A well-timed thank you can bring you top of mind again.
His advice for following up is spot on, and as usual, he presents it in easy to understand and execute steps.? Laskoff is a funny guy, but he takes his career advice seriously. The combination makes for a great read.
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Tags: Job Search, Land on the Right Side, Michael Laskoff, networking, success
This entry was posted on February 20, 2012 at 7:17 am and is filed under Job Search, Networking, Professional Development. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Stress is a normal thing of life. We all have our own shares of stress regardless of our age, gender or occupation. There is not one universally recognized definition of stress, but I would like to use Merriam-Webster's definition: "Stress is thought as, "A confining force or influence as a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation." Indeed, stress affects our whole being, not only physically but also our minds and emotions.
Stress, when not managed rightly can cause a wide array of diseases and conditions--lifestyle and degenerative illnesses, mental health conditions and as well as emotional problems. So, to help you cope with stress more effectively, I have shared with you below 5 anti-stress tips which I myself have been using for the past years.
1. Firstly, you have to be able to admit within yourself that you are actually struggling with stress. So, the first step to effectively coping with stress is to acknowledge the presence of stress in our lives and what is actually causing it.
2. Next, you should assess your attitude. Your disposition and general attitude has a large impact on the kind of life that you will be living. Hence, you have to see to it that you maintain a positive attitude at all times. Take time to look into what fills your mind throughout the day. Are they negative or positive things?. If theyre negative, try to reframe those thoughts in a positive way.
3. Adopt an exercise regimen. We all know that exercise has countless benefits to offer for our physical well-being. Most of us know well that exercise can reduce a person's risk to developing certain degenerative diseases; however, only very few people know that it actually has the power to relieve stress. How? Well, for one, it can help relieve stress by taking off your focus from the issues that may be triggering worry and stress for you and it also serves as a channel for you to release negative emotions.
4. Have enough sleep. Sleep serves a fuel for both mental and physical functions. Lack of sleep will make you feel tired and more vulnerable to stressors. So give yourself enough time to sleep. In fact, when possible, sleep longer.
5. Let go of unecessary stressors. Several studies have shown that most of the stressors in a persons life are actually avoidable and often trivial. Often times, we let ourselves get stressed out over things that are out of our control. If you want to have less stress in your life keep in mind that failure is a part of life and that things will not always happen according to your plan.
So there you have my simple and practical tips for coping with stress. Use these tips on an everyday basis and you are sure to reduce the effects of stress in your life effectively.
About the Author: This self-improvement blog is intended to help people from all parts of the globe deal with their problems--people who have no access to a life coach or a cousellor. Specifically, in this blog you will read self improvement tips, low self esteem solutions, stress remedies, fitness advice and as well as dating advice. At contentedlife.org , we try to be as broad as we can in covering the most common issues that people are facing in this modern times that we are living in.
[unable to retrieve full-text content]Reuters - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Monday Russia needed a stronger military to protect it from foreign attempts to stoke conflicts around its borders.
My brother died recently. Not a gentle death coming at the end of a life well lived but a tough death at the end of a multi-year struggle with strokes and seizures brought on by chronic drinking. The week before he died he had a major seizure followed by heart failure at his home in a rural area of our state. He was pronounced brain dead after he was airlifted to a regional trauma center but was kept on a respirator until we were ready to release him. A dramatic and sad ending to a difficult life.
My brother suffered from the untreated disease of alcoholism, a legacy from my father. Almost every family has a member with either alcoholism or mental illness that, if untreated, wreaks havoc in the family. And since there is usually shame and judgment associated with both of these maladies, we are not very open about our experiences. In my brother?s case, he did not choose treatment or other recovery options so his disease went unchecked until it killed him.
While my brother was playing out his chaotic role in the family I was almost the complete opposite. It fell to me to be the achiever, the performer, being good and doing well. While I was not conscious of this at the time, I now know that part of my motivation for success was to camouflage the family chaos. I was not much healthier than my brother because I was caught in my achievement script, which took its toll on me as well. But my life of achievement was more rewarded by the culture. Most people would say I ?made good.? My brother would have called me the ?goody two-shoes? of the family. Does this sound familiar to anyone?
In my brother?s final hours, I went to the hospital to be with my sister-in-law and we were exceptionally present to my brother. We rubbed his face, arms and legs with lotion, told him we loved him (things he?d never let us do when he was conscious), told each other our favorite stories about him, recited the twenty-third Psalm, and told him he could leave and we?d be fine. We did our best to soothe him and send him on his way to the other side where he would be lovingly received and would be without pain or disease.
I was able to be present to my brother at his death because seven years earlier we had a powerful reconciliation. For much of my adult life my brother?s disease caused a major rift in our relationship. Sad stories and harsh treatment were my primary memories, and for several years we had no contact because it was too stressful. But about ten years ago I felt drawn, in prayer, to make a scrapbook for him depicting the first twenty-five years of his life, before his downward spiral. It was good for my soul to do this and it softened his heart towards me as well.
Just a few years later, when he suffered his first stroke and was semi-conscious in the hospital, I visited him and whispered in his ear all the things I wanted to say by way of forgiveness and compassion for him. Miraculously he came to and for one hour he opened the door of his heart to me. We talked about our childhood, his resolve to get help and stop drinking, and about our relationship as brother and sister. It was one of the most amazing hours of my life. What a gift he gave me, that hour of reconciliation. Then his inner door closed and we never spoke of these things again. We were in contact but did not grow closer.
Thankfully, during his last hours, I was able to be present to him compassionately because of that hour we spent together seven years ago. I had a sense of peace at the time of his actual death. We had both done what we could and it was good. I can honestly say I loved my brother and will miss him and the long family history that we shared. And because I knew that he suffered from an untreated disease I could better understand his pain, even though I still had to process my lingering anger and deep sorrow about the loss of him as a brother and how his life affected mine in negative ways.
This all leaves me with deeper questions though. I understand that he chose not to get treatment for some reason and that this decision caused him and others a lot of pain. I can also see in my life the consequences of choosing not to face my pain, so I cannot judge him too harshly. But another question arises for me. How do we find meaning in a life that seems, on the surface, to be wasted? I think of the homeless, chronic addicts, alcoholics, people with untreated mental illness, and those who are incarcerated. Ironically, I?ve worked with ?marginalized? people for a long time and I?ve learned some of my best life lessons from them. I?ve learned about generosity, survival, and simplicity. They?ve taught me what is more important than security or even sanity and that is love and community. They have taught me compassion for my own brokenness. So I know you do not have to be well or sane or dry to make a difference.
But these ?teachers? of mine were someone else?s brother, daughter or son, not my own brother. I didn?t see the make-a-difference things in my own brother.
In my grieving process, though, I began to open myself to a wider vision of my brother?s life and I asked God to help me see the meaning of his life. I listed my positive memories of him. I asked his best friend from childhood to tell me some good stories of his early years. At his funeral, I saw his colleagues in the military and the police force honor his thirty-four years of public service in which he continually put his life on the line. And from comments people made to the on-line obituary I saw a side of my brother I had not experienced?a humorous and generous people person.
Now I think of each life as incredibly complex, wounded and in various stages of healing, some healing accomplished here but total healing only completed on the other side. I also affirm that God gives each life worth, even if we don?t see it, and that there are beams of light that shine from each life, no matter how these lives may appear on the surface. And I know that love and community come in unexpected and unusual ways.
I may never know the full effect my brother?s life had on others. I do know our reconciliation had a profound effect on me. But I did find another beam of light in his life, a beam that helped me to be grateful that he lived. Despite not being able to save himself, my brother saved the lives of three other people; my father, who had collapsed in the water at our lake cabin, a man who had a heart attack at a party, and a man my brother dragged out of the Mississippi River after he had jumped from a bridge in a suicide attempt.
I consider that a beam of light.
Janet O. Hagberg, 2011. All rights reserved. This essay is appearing in the online journal Conversations in Spring, 2012.
Reflections on this essay
Which of your siblings or parents are you most estranged from or at odds with?
How does this effect you?
Who have you known who is like them in some way that you respect?
What one thing is redeeming about your sibling or parent?
What is one beam of light that you see shining out from your life?
How are you healing with your relationship or how do you cope with the estrangement?
>>>we're back now with some health news affecting more
americans
than ever before. there's been a surge in the last few years of
baby boomers
having
knee replacement surgery
, as their refusal to slow down takes a heavy toll on their aging bodies. our report tonight from our chief medical editor, dr.
nancy snyderman
.
>> reporter: decades of running, biking and competitive sports took their toll on sara kate loman's body.
>>the pain was grueling, grinding, constant. i could not get my knee in a position of comfort.
>> reporter: now at age 54, she's one of about four and a half million
americans
walking around with an artificial knee.
>>people at work said to me, you know, gosh, you know, we enjoy working with you but we've never seen you smile so much. they didn't know me out of pain.
>> reporter: loman is part of a growing trend, people opting for
knee replacement surgery
earlier in life.
>>there were times that this procedure was only done for people who were older than 65 years of age.
>> reporter: not anymore. the number of
baby boomers
getting total knee replacements tripled in a ten-year period. and even though there can be complications, nearly one in 20
americans
over 50 is walking around with a new knee. what's behind the increased demand? well, experts point to a few factors. america's obesity epidemic, aging athletes not taking care of their aching joints, genetics, and the fact that we're living longer, more active lives.
>>previous generations, they were taught to live in pain and make some compromises. a lot of their attitude was about self-sacrifice. and today, people are less willing to do self-sacrifice. they're really very much in tune with their
quality of life
, want to maintain their
quality of life
.
>> reporter: and that can be hard to do with advanced knee problems.
>>i was basically sucking advil and really at the end it wasn't helping too much either.
>> reporter: less than one year out of surgery, 61-year-old ernie miller is back to working, traveling and
spending time
with his teenage son.
>>i have a new lease on that part of my life, that i can continue to grow this bond with him. maybe i can't beat him anymore at basketball, but at least i can play.
>> reporter: though he feels great, he admits the surgery made some things a little harder.
>>i can tell my wife i can't go shopping because my knee hurts. i still try to use that, but she doesn't buy it anymore.
Posted by Riba42 Posted on Feb - 18 - 20120 Comment
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LIVE VIDEO ? Friends and family gather at the funeral of singer Whitney Houston in Newark, N.J.
By TODAY.com news services
NEWARK, N.J. -- Many of the biggest names in entertainment?gathered Saturday to say goodbye to singer Whitney Houston in?the church in Newark, N.J., where the late singer, who died on Feb. 11, started her singing career in the choir.
Pastor Joe A.?Carter of the New Hope Baptist Church opened Saturday's service by telling the congregation that "we gonna have church today."
Actor-director-writer Tyler Perry was among the speakers at the service, and he reflected what he called the one constant in Houston's life -- her grace. He told the congregation that no matter the trouble that she encountered in her life, Houston's faith remained constant.
The?family prepared a "going home" service where singer Dionne Warwick, Houston's cousin, music mogul Clive Davis, who shepherded Houston's career for decades, actor Kevin Costner and sister-in-law Patricia Houston were to speak. Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, R. Kelly and gospel stars CeCe and Bebe Winans were to sing. Houston's voice, a recording of her biggest hit, "I Will Always Love You," was to close the funeral.
Close family friend Aretha Franklin, whom Houston lovingly called "Aunt Ree," had been expected to sing at the service, but told the Associated Press that she was having foot and leg problems following a concert she gave Friday night at New York's Radio City Music Hall and would not be able to attend.
Singers Chaka Khan, Brandy, Mariah Carey, Roberta Flack, Jordin Sparks and Jennifer Hudson were among those filling pews. Brandy comforted her brother, Ray-J, a singer who spent time with Houston during her final days. The Rev. Jesse Jackson and actor Lela Rochon were also gathering as the choir began to sing gospel and the congregation clapped. Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King are also in attendance.
Houston's ex-husband, singer Bobby Brown, also is among the mourners. Rumors swirled in the past week that Brown would not be in attendance.
A program featuring a picture of Houston looking skyward read "Celebrating the life of Whitney Elizabeth Houston, a child of God." Pictures of Houston as a baby, with her mother, gospel singer Cissy Houston and daughter, Bobbi Kristina filled the program. Her mother wrote a letter thanking her for being a "wonderful daughter," signing the letter, "mommie."
The service marks one week after the 48-year-old Houston, one of music's all-time biggest stars, was found dead in a Beverly Hills hotel in California. A cause of death has yet to be determined. An estimated 1,500 friends and family members are expected to attend the invitation-only service. Houston will be buried next to her father, John Houston, in Westfield, N.J.
Houston's death marked the final chapter for the superstar whose fall from grace while shocking was years in the making. Houston had her first No. 1 hit by the time she was 22, followed by a flurry of No. 1 songs and multi-platinum records.
Over her career, she sold more than 50 million records in the United States alone. Her voice, an ideal blend of power, grace and beauty, made classics out of songs like "Saving All My Love For You," "I Will Always Love You," "The Greatest Love of All" and "I'm Every Woman." Her six Grammys were only a fraction of her many awards.
Share your thoughts and memories of Houston on Facebook.
CA23 Breaks Ground on Phase II of Contemporary Single-floor Homes in Chicago?s West Loop
When very few builders are contemplating new developments, Belgravia Group has broken ground on Phase II of CA23 in Chicago?s West Loop - 24 new 1900 square foot, 3-bedroom contemporary condos.
(PRWeb February 17, 2012)
Read the full story at
more info?
Home improvement products that are wrong for the job - Fox News
Home improvement products that are wrong for the job Fox News Here are some of the most commonly used and oft-recommended items for home repair and maintenance tasks that are in fact the wrong (or at least not the best) tools for the job. 1. Duct Tape Like most other plastic tapes made for temporary projects, ?
Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:23:06 GMT more info?
Chandler?s Roofing, Inc. Completes Fifth Roofing Project for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles Continuing their mission of being a roofing industry leader, while giving back to the local community it serves, Chandler?s Roofing has helped provide new roofs for six families in the Greater LA area through its Habitat for Humanity GLA partnership. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:00:00 GMT more info?
DIY, Home Improvement and Garden Centres in Poland - Market Report - new market research report - Transworld News Sales in DIY, home improvement and garden centres undergo certain fluctuations, which basically stem from the changing economic environment. Over the review period sales were fuelled by the construction boom, which made many Poles decide to buy apartments ? 2012-02-03T08:22:42Z more info?
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Landmark Solaris? IR - Premium Designer ?
Roofing company settles lawsuit on alleged scam
Over 40% of Home Improvement Contractors Accessing E-mail Via iPhone According to BuildZoom - Consumer Electronics Net
Residential HVAC Techs Needed - Sears Home Services (Dallas and surrounding areas)
Happy Roofing
San Diego Contractors | Home Improvement Contractors in San Diego, CA
Roofing-repair deadlines approach, homeowners warned of work quality - WBIR
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[unable to retrieve full-text content]Time.com - Of all the candidates jockeying to be the conservative alternative to Mitt Romney, Santorum has perhaps the best set of credentials for a Republican primary
Where you live affects who you date?and who will absolutely refuse to date you. In honor of Valentine?s Day, the real estate website Trulia commissioned Harris Interactive to conduct a survey looking at the intersection of attitudes about housing and romance. Are homeowners regarded as ?marriage material? more so than noncommital renters? Are people more interested in potential mates if they live alone? Just how bad is your love life impacted if you live with your parents? When it comes to dating and housing, what?s hot and what?s not?
Owners vs. Renters While owning a home has always been a part of the traditional American Dream, it?s apparently not a deal breaker (or maker) when it comes to dating. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of unmarried U.S. adults said that homeowners had no significant ?home advantage? in terms of attracting dates. Only 28% of those surveyed said they?d prefer someone who owned a home. So you can?t really use the fact that you?re a renter as an excuse for why you can?t find a date. Well, perhaps guys can use that more as an excuse than the ladies: While just 19% of men say that they have a preference for dating homeowners, 36% of women prefer dates who own property.
(MORE: Who Qualifies for the $26 Billion Foreclosure Settlement?)
Homeownership = Marriage Material? Buying a home demonstrates some level of commitment. But for the most part, owning a home is not viewed as a sign that you?re ready, or even interested, in marriage. In the survey, 43% of unmarried U.S. adults said that homeownership is not an indication of a person?s desire to get married or be in a serious, long-term committed relationship. However, young people are more likely to view homeowners as capable of committing to a partner. A higher percentage of millenials equate homeownership to stability and commitment. Baby Boomers, by contrast, are generally past the stage of first-time homeownership, so it matters less to them in terms of viewing the commitment potential of a new partner.
Lose the Roommate The majority of those surveyed (62%) say they?d rather date someone who lives alone. Location matters too: When comparing the preferences of men and women, Trulia found that more men would rather date someone who lives alone in a big city. On the flip side, more women would go for a date with someone who lives solo in a house in the ?burbs.
Move Out Already! Nearly 25 million adults live at home with their parents because they?re unemployed or underemployed, they?re trying to pay off student loans or save money to buy a place, or for any number of other reasons. While calling mom and dad your ?roommates? may be a smart financial move, it?s the kiss of death for a healthy dating life. Trulia?s survey found that only 5% of unmarried adults would be open to dating someone who lived with their parents.
(MORE: More Young Adults Are Poor, Live With Their Parents)
Shacking Up to Save Nearly three-quarters (74%) of unmarried renters said they?d be willing to consider living with their significant other in order to save money. Somewhat surprisingly, more men than women said they?d be very willing to make the commitment of cohabitation.
Everyone Loves Master Bathrooms Trulia posed the question: ?If you were in the market for your first home today, what home amenities would make you fall in love with a home?? The results show that, for the most part, men and women largely want the same things. The top amenity for both sexes is a master bathroom, followed by a walk-in closet. More women (72%) are infatuated with a walk-in closet than men (55%), but there are apparently plenty of metrosexual males in need of closet space, as well as a gourmet kitchen?No. 3 on the list of most-desired home amenities for both sexes. Perhaps men and women aren?t as different as we?ve been led to believe.
Michael Corbett is the?real estate and lifestyle expert at Trulia, an?online real estate resource. He is also the host of NBC?s ?EXTRA?s Mansions and Millionaires;? appears regularly on ABC?s ?The View? and Fox News; and is author of three real estate books: Find It, Fix It, FLIP IT!; Ready, Set, SOLD! and Before You BUY!
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[unable to retrieve full-text content]New technology continues to boggle the mind, providing amazing opportunities for writers, to such an extent that I can barely believe we were so bound to traditional publishing for so long. I recently purchased a MacBook Air ? I could brag on it for days ? and from the Apple Store ... I was speaking to a publisher friend just this week, a traditional house that does great work. When I mentioned iBooks Author ? and the soon-coming capabilities ? he actually said (more ...
A mitosis mystery solved: How chromosomes align perfectly in a dividing cellPublic release date: 12-Feb-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Nicole Giese Rura rura@wi.mit.edu 617-258-6851 Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (February 12, 2012) To solve a mystery, sometimes a great detective need only study the clues in front of him. Like Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot and Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, Tomomi Kiyomitsu used his keen powers of observation to solve a puzzle that had mystified researchers for years: in a cell undergoing mitotic cell division, what internal signals cause its chromosomes to align on a center axis?
"People have been looking at these proteins and players in mitosis for decades, and no one ever saw what Tomomi observed," says Whitehead Institute Member Iain Cheeseman. "And it's very clear that these things are happening. These are very strong regulatory paradigms that are setting down these cell division axes. And careful cell biology allowed him to see that this was occurring. People have been looking at this for a long time, but never with the careful eyes he brought to it."
Kiyomitsu, a postdoctoral researcher in Cheeseman's lab, published his work in this week's issue of the journal Nature Cell Biology.
The process of mitotic cell division has been studied intensely for more than 50 years. Using fluorescence microscopy, today's scientists can see the tug-of-war cells undergo as they move through mitosis. Thread-like proteins, called microtubules, extend from one of two spindle poles on either side of the cell and attempt to latch onto the duplicated chromosomes. This entire "spindle" structure acts to physically distribute the chromosomes, but it is not free floating in the cell. In addition to microtubules from both spindle poles that attach to all of the chromosomes, astral microtubules that are connected to the cell cortexa protein layer lining the cell membraneact to pull the spindle poles back and forth within the cell until the spindle and chromosomes align down the center axis of the cell. Then the microtubules tear the duplicated chromosomes in half, so that ultimately one copy of each chromosome ends up in each of the new daughter cells.
The process of mitosis is extremely precise; when it comes to manipulating DNA, cells verge on being obsessive and with good reason. Gaining or losing a chromosome during cell division can lead to cell death, developmental disorders, or cancer.
As Kiyomitsu watched mitosis unfold in symmetrically dividing human cells, he noticed that when the spindle oscillates toward the cell's center, a partial halo of the protein dynein lines the cell cortex on the side farther away from the spindle. As the spindle swings to the left, dynein appears on the right, but when the spindle swing to the right, dynein vanishes and reappears on the left side.
For Kiyomitsu, the key to the alignment mystery was dynein, which is known as a motor protein that "walks" molecular cargoes along microtubules. Kiyomitsu determined that in this case, dynein is anchored to the cell cortex by a complex that includes the protein LGN, short for leucine-glycine-asparagine-enriched protein. Instead of moving along an astral microtubule, the stationary dynein acts as a winch to pull on the spindle pole, and the microtubules and chromosomes attached to it, toward the cell cortex.
Kiyomitsu found that when a spindle pole comes within close proximity to the cell cortex, a signal from a protein called Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) emanates from the spindle pole, knocking dynein off of LGN and the cell cortex, stopping the spindle pole's forward motion, and freeing dynein to move to the opposite side of the cell. These oscillations continue with decreasing amplitude until the spindle settles along the cell's center axis.
As he was deciphering dynein's role in spindle alignment, Kiyomitsu noticed that a layer of LGN extends all around the cell cortex, except in the areas that are closest to the chromosomes. As the chromosomes swing back and forth, the area cleared of LGN changes in response. Because dynein needs to anchor to LGN, this cleared area ensures that dynein can only attach and pull to the right and left of the aligning chromosomes, rather than from above and below.
After testing a couple of signaling molecules associated with chromosomes, Kiyomitsu determined that a signal from the chromosomes, involving the ras-related nuclear protein (Ran), blocks LGN, and therefore dynein, from attaching to the cell cortex closest to the chromosomes. Ran bound to guanosine-5'-triphosphate (Ran-GTP), which controls nuclear import in the interphase stage of mitosis, had previously been suggested to control spindle assembly during mitosis in germ cells, but roles for the Ran gradient in mitotic non-germ cells were unclear. Kiyomitsu's work suggests a key role for Ran in directing spindle orientation.
Kiyomitsu says the axis that the spindle poles travel along is crucial to cells.
"The spindle orientation is critical for maintaining the balance between stem cells and mature cells during development," he notes. "And if this orientation becomes dysregulated or misregulated, it is reported that this may contribute to causing cancer even if chromosomes are properly segregated."
###
This work was supported by the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, the Searle Scholars Program, and the Human Frontiers Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute of General Medical Sciences, and the American Cancer Society.
Written by Nicole Giese Rura
Iain Cheeseman's primary affiliation is with Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, where his laboratory is located and all his research is conducted. He is also an assistant professor of biology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Full Citation:
"Chromosome and spindle pole-derived signals generate an intrinsic code for spindle position and orientation"
Nature Cell Biology, published online February 12, 2012
Tomomi Kiyomitsu (1) and Iain M. Cheeseman (1)
1. Whitehead Institute, Nine Cambridge Center Cambridge, MA 02142
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
A mitosis mystery solved: How chromosomes align perfectly in a dividing cellPublic release date: 12-Feb-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Nicole Giese Rura rura@wi.mit.edu 617-258-6851 Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (February 12, 2012) To solve a mystery, sometimes a great detective need only study the clues in front of him. Like Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot and Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, Tomomi Kiyomitsu used his keen powers of observation to solve a puzzle that had mystified researchers for years: in a cell undergoing mitotic cell division, what internal signals cause its chromosomes to align on a center axis?
"People have been looking at these proteins and players in mitosis for decades, and no one ever saw what Tomomi observed," says Whitehead Institute Member Iain Cheeseman. "And it's very clear that these things are happening. These are very strong regulatory paradigms that are setting down these cell division axes. And careful cell biology allowed him to see that this was occurring. People have been looking at this for a long time, but never with the careful eyes he brought to it."
Kiyomitsu, a postdoctoral researcher in Cheeseman's lab, published his work in this week's issue of the journal Nature Cell Biology.
The process of mitotic cell division has been studied intensely for more than 50 years. Using fluorescence microscopy, today's scientists can see the tug-of-war cells undergo as they move through mitosis. Thread-like proteins, called microtubules, extend from one of two spindle poles on either side of the cell and attempt to latch onto the duplicated chromosomes. This entire "spindle" structure acts to physically distribute the chromosomes, but it is not free floating in the cell. In addition to microtubules from both spindle poles that attach to all of the chromosomes, astral microtubules that are connected to the cell cortexa protein layer lining the cell membraneact to pull the spindle poles back and forth within the cell until the spindle and chromosomes align down the center axis of the cell. Then the microtubules tear the duplicated chromosomes in half, so that ultimately one copy of each chromosome ends up in each of the new daughter cells.
The process of mitosis is extremely precise; when it comes to manipulating DNA, cells verge on being obsessive and with good reason. Gaining or losing a chromosome during cell division can lead to cell death, developmental disorders, or cancer.
As Kiyomitsu watched mitosis unfold in symmetrically dividing human cells, he noticed that when the spindle oscillates toward the cell's center, a partial halo of the protein dynein lines the cell cortex on the side farther away from the spindle. As the spindle swings to the left, dynein appears on the right, but when the spindle swing to the right, dynein vanishes and reappears on the left side.
For Kiyomitsu, the key to the alignment mystery was dynein, which is known as a motor protein that "walks" molecular cargoes along microtubules. Kiyomitsu determined that in this case, dynein is anchored to the cell cortex by a complex that includes the protein LGN, short for leucine-glycine-asparagine-enriched protein. Instead of moving along an astral microtubule, the stationary dynein acts as a winch to pull on the spindle pole, and the microtubules and chromosomes attached to it, toward the cell cortex.
Kiyomitsu found that when a spindle pole comes within close proximity to the cell cortex, a signal from a protein called Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) emanates from the spindle pole, knocking dynein off of LGN and the cell cortex, stopping the spindle pole's forward motion, and freeing dynein to move to the opposite side of the cell. These oscillations continue with decreasing amplitude until the spindle settles along the cell's center axis.
As he was deciphering dynein's role in spindle alignment, Kiyomitsu noticed that a layer of LGN extends all around the cell cortex, except in the areas that are closest to the chromosomes. As the chromosomes swing back and forth, the area cleared of LGN changes in response. Because dynein needs to anchor to LGN, this cleared area ensures that dynein can only attach and pull to the right and left of the aligning chromosomes, rather than from above and below.
After testing a couple of signaling molecules associated with chromosomes, Kiyomitsu determined that a signal from the chromosomes, involving the ras-related nuclear protein (Ran), blocks LGN, and therefore dynein, from attaching to the cell cortex closest to the chromosomes. Ran bound to guanosine-5'-triphosphate (Ran-GTP), which controls nuclear import in the interphase stage of mitosis, had previously been suggested to control spindle assembly during mitosis in germ cells, but roles for the Ran gradient in mitotic non-germ cells were unclear. Kiyomitsu's work suggests a key role for Ran in directing spindle orientation.
Kiyomitsu says the axis that the spindle poles travel along is crucial to cells.
"The spindle orientation is critical for maintaining the balance between stem cells and mature cells during development," he notes. "And if this orientation becomes dysregulated or misregulated, it is reported that this may contribute to causing cancer even if chromosomes are properly segregated."
###
This work was supported by the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, the Searle Scholars Program, and the Human Frontiers Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute of General Medical Sciences, and the American Cancer Society.
Written by Nicole Giese Rura
Iain Cheeseman's primary affiliation is with Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, where his laboratory is located and all his research is conducted. He is also an assistant professor of biology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Full Citation:
"Chromosome and spindle pole-derived signals generate an intrinsic code for spindle position and orientation"
Nature Cell Biology, published online February 12, 2012
Tomomi Kiyomitsu (1) and Iain M. Cheeseman (1)
1. Whitehead Institute, Nine Cambridge Center Cambridge, MA 02142
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Our top number 1 spot, we have Hei from Darker Then Black (?Hei? means ?black? in Chinese). Hei is one of the stronger contractors in Darker Than Black. He wears his signature mask and coat almost always and just the presence of his mask alone, is enough to instill fears to anyone who dares to stand in his way, be it your everyday thug, police officers, or even other contractors. The electricity-using contractor is a mysterious enigma as well, and throughout his days, he acts and live the lives of ?two faces?, during the day, he is ?Li Shengshun?, a cheerful and polite student with a big appetite, during the night, he is the infamous BK-201 contractor, or ?Black Reaper?, a title coined by other contractors, probably due to his coat and his murderous presence. All this badassery of his, make him one of the best Chinese character around, and he certainly do us Chinese proud.
Second in line we have Ling Yao, who only make his debut in Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood. I would say his appearance in the anime made a lot of difference compared to the original Full Metal Alchemist TV run back in 2003. Ling Yao is a Xingese (Full Metal Alchemist?s version of Chinese). He is a decisive character who strives to achieve kingship, almost on obsessive levels. He even allows his body to be taken over by Greed, since it would help him and his country?s declining welfare. He was however, able to retain his body and soul intact, due to the similarity between his and Greed?s necessities. This enables both him and Greed to synchronize, and at some point, either of them would resurface.
A Chinese exorcist working under the European Branch, Lenalee suffers from a trauma in the past which makes her value friends and family much more then your average joe. In fact, she thinks of them as her ?world? and when someone dies, part of her ?world? gets destroyed, effectively crumbling her down slowly. The most admirable thing about her though is how she kept fighting, despite her fragility, to the point of defeating a Level 3 Akuma single-handedly and even fought a Level 4 Akuma briefly on equal ground.
One of the member of Yorozuya and although she misleadingly looks like a harmless little girl, she is an Amanto, and is part of the Yato clan. Because of that, she is obviously strong, and her strength matches to that of 10 men, easily making holes on the walls with her punches and pulling 4 to 5 adults who are about to fall off the ledge. She also has a big appetite, and is particularly fond of sukonbu. Anyhow, Kagura?s a fun girl, effectively contributing to Gintama?s overall enjoyment. Of cause, whatever character Rie Kugimiya has a part in voice acting is always awesome isn?t it?
Lingyin Huang aka Ichika?s Childhood Friend #2. She is the Chinese Representative of the IS Academy and pilots the personal IS unit, Shen Long. She?s a loli, have twin-tails and fang, and cooks well too.. what?s not to like? I will bring her home anytime if dat harem boy, Ichika doesn?t pick her in the end :D
Homeownership = Marriage Material?
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Public release date: 12-Feb-2012
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