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Manchin, Kelly vow to fight for expanded background checks
CNN Chief Political Analyst Gloria Borger and CNN Senior Producer Kevin Bohn
Washington (CNN) – The Democrat who worked to expand background checks in the Senate told a group of reporters Thursday that the National Rifle Association's "scoring system," in which the group grades members of Congress, combined with members' fear of being seen as flip-floppers, derailed the measure.
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, who worked alongside Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pennsylvania, said the NRA's decision to include votes on the bipartisan amendment in its important rankings dissuaded members in pro-gun states from stepping up. "If they hadn't scored it, we'd have gotten 70 votes," he said. "I predict 70 votes without a scoring." He also vowed to bring the measure back at some point for a vote.
Follow @politicalticker
The Manchin-Toomey measure got 56 votes on Wednesday – four short of the 60 needed to go to a final vote.
In addition, Manchin told a breakfast sponsored by the Wall Street Journal that senators were afraid of all the tough votes–and positions–they will be asked to take. With the Senate about to consider immigration reform–and with same-sex marriage becoming more of a political football–he said his colleagues were unwilling to become too controversial by changing positions, especially on guns.
"So a lot of them are saying, listen, I had a position on the gay issue, and I've always stated that position…and I changed," he explained. "Now, you've always been a strong defender, an NRA A-rated member. Now you voted for something, they scored against you, and you're not. So now you've changed on that too. Have you really? Are you still the same person that we sent? Now, how much energy does that take to defend?"
Manchin also claimed that it was "disingenuous" of the NRA to oppose background checks, accusing the gun rights lobbying group of distorting the components of his bill, such as when a check is required for an internet gun sale.
"They're hanging on one thread – one little thread, and that's internet sales," he said. "Now, if you have a loving relationship with your family member and your best friend, and you've got to sell your gun on the internet, you better check that relationship. That's how far – you see how much crap that is? That's how far they went with that. That's just disingenuous. And I've told them that. I said that's just a bunch of bulls–t."
The NRA did not respond to a request for a comment.
Meanwhile the group founded by former congresswoman Gabby Giffords and her husband, Mark Kelly, are vowing to continue pressing members of Congress to push for expanded background checks. Giffords, who was wounded in a January 2011 shooting in Tucson, and Kelly are both gun owners and have been defenders of the Second Amendment in the past. But they also say there needs to be "common sense" measures to prevent more gun violence.
Kelly told a Washington news conference Thursday their group, Americans for Responsible Solutions, will soon launch television commercials praising some of the senators who voted for the Manchin-Toomey measure: Democrats from "red states," such as Kay Hagan of North Carolina and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, as well as Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and John McCain of Arizona.
"We are not deterred by actions of a small group of senators" who did not listen to the majority of the public, Kelly said. He added: "That is unacceptable."
He claimed some of the senators who ended up voting against the proposal did so out of "fear of the gun lobby."
Kelly said his group will highlight to constituents of members of both parties how they did not support the proposal and said it is also considering running ads against some of them.
On Thursday following an interview his friend and fellow Arizonan, Sen. Jeff Flake, gave talking about his no vote, saying he wanted to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and those with mental illness, Kelly tweeted him: "@JeffFlake I'm confused, friend. You had that chance yesterday. Want to rethink and join me and Gabby in making Arizona safer?"
Flake's office did not respond to a request for a comment.
Earlier he told reporters: "If I were beholden" to the NRA, "I wouldn't have voted" last week to allow debate on the gun bill to proceed. "That's the beauty of a six year term."
He added: "What has been a little upsetting is to hear people try to maintain that we were just caving to pressure, and discounting any issues that we had with the legislation and with the language. And that's not right."
Following Wednesday's vote, Giffords and Kelly have said ultimately the make-up of Congress may be the only way to get some reforms passed. "We are going to have to change" who is in Congress, Kelly said at the news conference.
Organizers of their group, which is three months old, said it has 300,000 members now and has raised millions of dollars so far. They vowed to have a million followers within weeks.
Giffords sent an e-mail fundraising pitch to supporters Thursday, saying "since last night, well over ten thousand individuals have stepped up and contributed to our organization…to hold the Senators who opposed background checks accountable for their vote. I'm not going to stop fighting."
- CNN's Todd Sperry and Rachel Streitfeld contributed to this story.
Follow @KevinBohnCNN
Filed under: Gun control • Gun rights • Joe Manchin • Mark Kelly • Senate
nra fears back ground checks.half their members would not pass the smell test
April 18, 2013 04:16 pm at 4:16 pm |
Sadly Republican Senators rarely think of what is best for the Nation. Their only concern is staying in office.
Dutch/Bad Newz, VA -aka- Take Back The House
I'm glad they're optimistic. I'm not however. I've lost all hope in Congress to do the right thing. We practically had to twist their arms for them to pass the 9/11 healthcare bill for the first responders.
Americans you must vote in 2014. Donot repeat 2010. We must vote in people who care about all Americans.
Lets be REAL! Current gun laws and laws in general are not enforced. No law has stooped free will. The next comment is sarcasm and meant to show how stupid the gun debate is. Instead of a gun law maybe we should have a public list of everyone on anti-depression medicine, receiving disability for mental defect, and or diagnosed with a mental defect. If laws stopped criminal acts we wouldn't be having this discussion. To most important change we could make is to stop giving these sick people air time on our news station. Refuse to say their name. Refuse to show their picture. If these actions were not on TV there would be less of them. Last but not least laws will not stop free will and murder will continue.
Jinx9to88
Got to hand it to Gabby, not giving up on the fight. Cant say much for the COWARDS that voted against simple background checks. I guess unless you can put your feet in Gabby's shoes, you really just dont understand. Get em Gabby I support your efforts 100%.
Yep we need to vote in 2014. vote ALL gun grabbers OUT!
Pretty sorry times when our Congress owes more to the NRA than to the America people. Corruption happens when those in govt care more about what the moneys says than the people they are suppose to represent. We need campaign finance reform big time!! This should have been so simple and reasonable – common sense.
Ignore the backlog of felons who illegal have firearms continues. This bill would do nothing but expand the record keeping Feds from doing what? Shameful for Kelly and the other supporters to lie and think they care about public safety, yet blame the NRA which has a gun safety program for kids.
Vote the NRA out.
Democrats are obviously Anti-Bill of Rights.
Out with them in 2014.
It's good we handily outnumber you!
Tony in Maine
Agreed that we need to single issue vote in 2014. Since no one is talking confiscation or a federal registry (LaPierre is lying on that one), the single issue would be the gutless wonders cowering under their desks praying that they can keep their jobs. It may take a few election cycles, but the 46 Profiles in Cowardice should be given tickets home – one way.
Larry L
Sadly, the bill they blocked was so watered-down it wouldn't have done much to prevent the transfer of weapons to those who are too unstable, too young, a criminal, or too violent to own weapons. As long as firearms can be transfered (outside of gun shows) between individuals w/o an FFL to run background checks guns will continue to float around our society in willy-nilly fashion. For example, if a high school kid is caught with a gun and questioned about the weapon he could truthfully say "I bought it from some guy... didn't know his name... I don't know where he got it... I talked to him at the park and gave him cash for the gun..." Nobody could hold the person accountable who sold a kid the gun.
Can't get dugs off the street how you going to keep people that shouldn't have guns from getting them? No law you pass is going to stop killers that want to kill.
This isn't about gun owner rights, this is about the NRA representing gun manufacturers. More stringent background checks means less sales. The NRA's misinformation to their members proves this is a gun manufacturer's lobby and not a gun owner's rights group.
We now know which Senators are owned by the NRA those who sold out over 86% of the American people who wanted them to vote for stronger background checks. I think there are 26 Newtown Angels who wonder if anyone really cares that they were gunned down by someone who should have never had access to guns. I plan to fight on and I hope all who are so terribly shocked by the lack of backbone in Congress will also continue the fight.
ahh the list of ignorant people keep coming. i wonder when outlaws and criminals have gun unabated, i wonder how safe we will be. if someone criminal minded has a gun. or access to a gun, i wonder how long it will take for them to become themselves and follow their nature. lesson folks aint no one trying to take your guns, they are trying to take folks that will do you and your love ones harm guns away. is that hard to understand, or do i have to explain it again.
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Ted Cruz Has Strong Words About His “First Day As President”
Mona Salama Follow on Twitter Send an email August 21, 2015
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With the song ‘Eye of the Tiger’ playing in the background, Senator Ted Cruz was welcomed by over 3,000 activists with cheers and applause as he entered the stage at the Americans for Prosperity summit in Columbus, Ohio.
Cruz’s speech began by laying out his agenda of what he intends to do as President, including “rescinding every single illegal and unconstitutional executive order signed by President Obama.” A few of the items on his busy “day one agenda” as President include investigating Planned Parenthood, “ripping to shreds” the Iranian nuclear deal, and ordering the IRS to “stop its religious persecution of Christians.”
“First thing I intend to do in office is end every single illegal and unconstitutional executive action taken by this president. The president says he has a phone and a pen, but when you live by the pen you die by the pen. And my pen has got an eraser.”
Since the release of undercover videos by the Center for Medical Progress this summer showing Planned Parenthood doing illegal sales on aborted fetuses, the Senator plans to “instruct the Department of Justice to initiate an investigation into Planned Parenthood” and “any criminal violations conducted by the abortion organization will be prosecuted by the Department.”
Cruz’s third agenda would be to stop the IRS and other federal agencies their persecution against religious liberty:
“In January 2017, the federal government stops ligating against and persecuting the Little Sisters of the Poor for standing for their faith…and our service men and woman can pray and worship God almighty with all their hearts and soul.”
Cruz has been strongly opposed to the Iran nuclear deal (scheduled to be voted by Congress next month), calling it “catastrophic” and promised to undo the agreement created by the Obama Administration.
“The single greatest national security threat facing America is the threat of a nuclear Iran. Now several weeks ago I observed that if this deal goes through, the Obama Administration would become quite literally, the world’s leading financier, of radical Islamic terrorism,” said Cruz.
Other plans as president include repealing Obamacare, abolishing the Department of Education, and making sure our military service members can bear arms:
“The next time a jihadist shows up at a recruiting station in Chattanooga, Tennessee, he’s going to meet the business end of firearms wielded by marines.”
Throughout his rallying speech, the crowd chanted “Cruz! Cruz! Cruz!”
The latest RealClearPolitics national poll shows Cruz at 7.3% among likely Republican voters, which assures him a spot on the ‘top 10’ main stage debate in September. Prior to the first debate in August, Cruz was polling at 5.5%. The increase in poll numbers is in part because of his strong performance in the debate, even though Cruz was asked 5 questions and spoke for less time than other candidates. Since the first debate, Cruz has garnished increase of support and crowds at campaign events. The rising in polls for Cruz shows that he is one candidate not to be underestimated.
Michael Ingmire: The Real Red Line
Democrats’ New “Moderate” Hope is a Left Wing Crank
Mona Salama
Mona Salama is a PolitiChicks political reporter based in New York City covering politics and NYPD. She reports broadly on the 2016 campaign trail from the road and at home. Prior to joining PolitiChicks, Mona started with Wayne Dupree's WAAR where she covered NY politics, 2014 mid-term elections, and the NYPD. In 2015, DC Gazette considers Mona as one of the 20 rising Conservative stars. She was cited as "generally one of the most stunning women in political commentary with a huge future ahead of her, we’re pretty sure Mona Salama will soon easily be the next Andrea Tantaros and a common conservative household name." Currently she is finishing her Masters, all while at the same time covering the 2016 Presidential race, in Public Policy at John Jay College in New York City. Mona can be followed on twitter at @MonaSalama_ and email: [email protected]
Bobby Jindal at AFP: "Immigration without Assimilation is Invasion"
What Are Today's Democrats REALLY Afraid Of?
Sanders Supporters: Raising Gullibility (and Potential Danger) to New Heights
Is West Virginia Losing Her ‘Almost Heaven’ Status?
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April 14, 2016 December 26, 2019 Pop Cult Master
image Stephen Chow’s Back to Shanghai
It’s also known as God of Gamblers III. The most interesting thing about this Hong Kong classic, however, is that there were two antithetical versions. The Taiwan version had a different actress because there was a law which banned any Mainland Chinese performer from appearing on Taiwanese screens. This could have deterred Wong Jing (王晶) from casting Gong Li (鞏俐) due to the custom of Taiwanese shareholders (or independent investors) funding H.K. films (it’s not so per usual as of nowadays because of the post-1997 Mainland ownership). As such, Taiwan was the most important market for H.K. cinema from the `80s to the `90s. Example: the Taiwanese distribution rights for God of Gamblers II amounted to U.S.$ 3 million (this was almost 70% of the budget). H.K. movies début in Taiwan so that the Taiwanese financiers can get their money back as quickly as possible. Also, it’s a testing ground to delete (instead of reshoot) for the H.K. release. Therefore, Alice Fang Ji-Wei (whose first Anglicized name was Sophia Fang Chi-Wei) had her shots filmed first. As a side-note, Alice became Sophia’s new name for her 311 (i.e. March 11) blog.
Jing’s 1991 threequel reflects another threequel – Back to the Future Part III (1990). In God of Gamblers II, Stephen’s introduction was inspired by the way that George was introduced in BTTF II. In God of Gamblers, a plot twist at the end is reminiscent of the most poignant one in BTTF. In Jing’s threequel, the disappearing person in the photo has more poignance. Like many film buffs, Jing knew about Stoltz being replaced by Mikey J. Fox. Unlike most, he understood the politics of the situation. Eric was in BTTF because his performance in Mask was Oscar-tipped. In Cantonese slang, black horse means someone who may not stand to win but is worth betting on. The initial buzz for Mask was so good that he was at least expected to win a Golden Globe. Rival studio powerplay delayed the release of Mask. Getting fired resulted in voters looking at him quite negatively. Jing learned this from Steven Spielberg because they had phone calls in the first half of the `80s (I learned this from a 1997 interview on a German website called Cine Asia).
The first similarity between the Alice and Stoltz versions is that they begin differently from their more famous versions (albeit Alice’s version begins with a 4 minute recap of what occurred in the previous movie). As for the differences between the Alice and Gong versions, there are as many as there are between the two versions of BTTF. When we first see Alice, she is walking with her bicycle on a field. When we first see Gong, she is walking with her horse on another field. This was a way of identifying the two versions in the cutting room. It was also a way to assure the financiers that money was being sparingly used e.g. Stoltz wore a blue down vest (code blue), whereas Fox wore a red one (code red). What makes this obvious is that not only did Fox wear a red T-shirt, contrasting with Eric’s long-sleeved blue shirt, but Fox’s version of the homeless man was named Red. In Cantonese culture, it’s slang to describe a celebrity as being red in terms of popularity.
When Alice sees Stephen (周星馳), she goes from glad to glum. When Gong sees him, her face goes from sad to glee. Both actresses escape from him on their selective modes of travel. He trips when going after Alice. He leaps and falls when going after Gong. The way that Gong is revealed to be at the funeral has an air of mystery because of the way that the camera turns to see who is behind the big hat. Alice looks amused when he giggles. Like how Gong is taller than Alice when standing next to the Shanghai Mayor (as played by Tien Feng), Eric is taller than Michael when alongside Christopher Lloyd. During the funeral gun battle, Alice panics and slaps Stephen when he’s on top of her because she’s scared. Gong doesn’t register much in the way of worry.
When we first see the faces of Alice (方季惟) and Sandra Ng (吳君如) in the church, they get equal screen presence. Gong’s version sees Sandra briefly in the spotlight before the focus has her presence pushed to the background in favour of Gong when the latter kneels to be in the frame. The shot of Peter Ng Man-Tat (吳孟達) pretending to pray to the cubicle-based priest is better in the Alice version because the lighting is arranged to show the priest’s POV, likewise when Sandra informs Alice that the priest is actually the dim-witted man who saved her life. Also, her version is superior because it clearly shows Sandra was exiting the church before noticing Peter is observing the confession from afar.
It’s also superior because Gong, in general, has a reputation for being something of an ice queen (due to being a serious actress). Back to the comparisons, Sandra is more humorous (more laid-back) when she tells Alice that Peter is crazy for praising the priest. Sandra thinks nothing of it in Gong’s version. Alice has more charm than the strait-laced Gong when telling the minister that his dream is getting longer. Alice does a better job of showing frustration when Stephen is proven to be a phoney. When Sandra confronts Stephen in Gong’s version, it’s clearly (upon eagle eye scrutiny) a shortened version of the shot in Alice’s version.
The difference is that Gong’s version is quickly cut before Alice steps into the frame. Alice’s version is better because we see Sandra open the doors to the priest’s cubicle unlike the abrupt exposure that is present in the H.K. version (this proves that the scene was first shot with Alice). When Stephen apologizes to Alice as herself and Sandra leave, it’s more epic because they leave the big church as opposed to being in what could be any building. It’s also slightly sad because Peter isn’t there to provide comic relief dialogue, but it’s still comedically amusing because the implication is that he is still reeling from Sandra’s strength.
When Alice and Sandra accompany the Mayor in the casino, Alice smiles whereas Sandra doesn’t. When Gong is in Sandra’s presence, the latter is smiling except the former. Trust me when I say that Gong, in the long run, is the one who is more of a sourpuss. Alice and Sandra are in a happier mood when the female V.I.P. approaches Ray Lui (呂良偉). After Stephen mistakes Peter’s kiss as one from Gong, the androgynous female bodyguard (played by Yeung Ching-Ching) tries to contain a laugh while Gong looks sheepish. Neither reaction occurs in Alice’s funnier version. When Stephen wins the first round, Alice is ebullient. Sandra is also more enthusiastic, especially when Alice turns to her on two occasions so that they share their enjoyment through eye contact.
Gong’s version is milder because she had less enthusiasm and, thus, lacked chemistry (Alice was more fun because she is a singer). When Stephen is being crowd-lifted as part of the celebration, Alice is amused whereas Gong is mildly that. After an announcer claims that Ray will find his true love, Alice jokingly tells him that he is insulting her. He jokingly asks the Mayor if he thinks that he will insult her. In Gong’s version, Ray suggests that she toasts Stephen because he’s great (perhaps she was too much of a diva to be entirely self-deprecating). When Ray applauds the idea that Stephen has to do a Chinese version of McDonald’s, the shot is shorter in the H.K. version because the camera pans to Alice on the dance floor (further proof that her shots were filmed first).
When Sandra meets Alice’s mentally challenged twin, it is better because we see her open the door, the room is spookily darker and the camera circulates in a manner that is akin to how Gong was first introduced. Alice’s acting is better because she turns around in a sprightly manner. Like how Michael’s red T-shirt contrasted with Eric’s white one, Gong’s white dress contrasts with Alice’s green one. Jing was referencing the folk tale of the white and green snakes who become human sisters. This method of polarity was done to prove that they weren’t reusing footage. If you observe BTTF, Stoltz and Fox wore different shoes. Fox wore Nike shoes (except for the skateboard scene) so that the hazmat (radioactive) suit footage couldn’t be used in a court case for breaching Eric’s contract.
When the first branch of McDonald’s opens in Shanghai, the introduction for Gong via Sandra is better because the camera pans to the right in a manner that allows the viewer to see the left side of the revolving door before revealing Gong to be entering from the right. Despite Jing’s reputation for being frugal, he reshot Stephen and Peter’s close-ups for an artistic reason. The H.K. version shows that Stephen is so depressed that Pete has to tap him on the shoulder to get his attention. Another stark difference is that he is so speechless that he doesn’t speak her name in astonishment. This ties in with what happened to BTTF. When filming two different versions, you have to create differences so that the replaced actor doesn’t think about detecting similarities so as to seek residual rights.
The best difference is that Jing uses a distinctive way of showing the couples meeting each other. He cunningly focuses on the space that exists between them before they step into the frame. The Taiwanese version is quite generic in that the camera pans to the right while moving back. Alice displays affection by caressing Stephen’s face with her right palm instead of squeezing his nose with her right hand. When the pork bun musical number comes in, Alice is more spirited as she claps along. Ironically, Gong is the one who is ecstatic when Stephen lands on his back at the end of the dance. Alice looks rather concerned.
Even more ironic is that Gong rides a bicycle instead of the established horse during the montage where the two couples are romancing each other. Stephen comments on her beauty whereas that doesn’t happen with Alice. To the latter’s undue credit, she does better with the sight gag of using a branch to adorn his hat like how he adorned her hat with flowers. Gong is more callous when she hits his head with a lump of soil. She also seems colder during the photo shoot. Instead of being cold in a fun way, she is a buzzkill. It wouldn’t surprise me if Jing thinks that she was a bit of wet blanket. With her being someone who appeals to arthouse snobs, you would think that she would be too snooty to appear in this movie.
When Stephen and Peter are surprised to see the normal twin at a location earlier than they are, Alice is cordial whereas Gong is icy. The way that the background has been changed reminds me of the Blu-ray footage of Stoltz in Doc Brown’s living room (i.e. different lamps). This got me thinking that if you’re making two versions of the same movie then you have to make sure that the cast and crew don’t get frustrated from being jaded. Alice allows for eye contact which leads to some hand gestures from Stephen and Peter that Ray is oblivious to. Gong is aloof, so the interplay is missing. When we get to the heart-shaped mirror sight gag, Stephen communicates to Alice about his heart whereas he communicates to Gong about his bitten lips.
When Stephen and Peter leave, Ray smokes a cigar when in the presence of Gong yet he drinks tea in Alice’s presence. When Stephen meets Alice on the balcony in the next scene, he is mostly relaxed in his body language whereas he is mostly reserved with Gong. With the exception of squeezing Gong’s nose, he is uncomfortable around her. He clearly perceived her as standoffish. The scene where the normal twin approaches her sister’s art room starts off better in Alice’s version because of an establishing shot of her walking through a corridor. Not only does it give a better sense of spatial awareness and build-up but the use of a dutch angle gives it a certain edge. In Gong’s version, she is seen behind a veil which gives a more loving sense of revelation.
In Alice’s version, the camera pans from the painting to her face whereas this is achieved in Gong’s version by editing. This reminds me of how less shots were filmed for the Stoltz version of the first `50s Hill Valley scene in BTTF. Gong’s version of the normal twin is proven to be eavesdropping when Lung Fong (龍方) hears her fingers use a phone. Alice’s version is a bit more conventional in that she bumps into a vase (it’s also more predictable in terms of how the framing makes it telegraphed). Gong’s version is still flawed because the villain uselessly tells her that she has heard all that they have said. She pointlessly tells him that she doesn’t want to work with a traitor. Her version of the scene is still better because there is a shot of Ray which adds hope that is dashed by circumvention.
A key difference is the misogynistic violence inflicted on Gong (which is a retaliation to her having a stiff upper lip). What happens to Alice is merely a case of a chase resulting in manslaughter. As we see the mentally disabled twin in her bedroom, we see more in Alice’s master shot. She conveys a superior sense of fear when being threatened by her unscrupulous father (the Mayor of Shanghai). The footage of the father’s close-up is the same but has an extra subtitle in Gong’s version because he tells her to drink. Gong is superior at showing her lack of mental stability by chewing on her bed cover. The fact that she gets to have her own close-up signifies that it has nothing to do with Jing’s admiration and more to do with commercial necessity.
From his viewpoint, the only consolation is an egotistical line of dialogue when Stephen tells Gong that she shouldn’t come onto him despite himself being handsome. His acting in Alice’s version is dramatic. When it’s revealed to Stephen and Peter that their love interests are held hostage, Gong’s happy-go-lucky portrayal is at odds with the scenario. Alice’s depiction is more fitting because she conveys deranged dismay. While the Japanese fighter, played by Billy Chow (周比利), kicks Stephen to the wall that’s situated near the bottom of a staircase, it should be noted that the Cantonese shot is abridged because the Taiwanese shot showed Alice running down the stairs. Stephen literally pulls a face to make Gong laugh, but this scene is played straight with Alice.
When Gong arrives at the casino with Stephen, the camera reverses. With Alice, the camera zooms in. A more outlandish difference is that Stephen tells Ching (楊菁菁) to look after Gong. After the game is over, Gong is given a close-up (unlike Alice). I would like to digress by saying that even though Jing was inspired by how there were less close-ups of Eric, Jing did a better job of directing Gong Li than Zemeckis did with Eric. The difference between Eric and Gong is that the latter had zero experience with comedy. Alice looks more heartbroken when Tai-Kun (another supernatural gambler) tells Stephen that the laws of time-travel won’t allow her to age in the way that he hopes. The penultimate scene is different in that she has already vanished from the photo. The music is more poignant.
The definitive evaluation is this – Gong is the more astoundingly accomplished and astonishingly acclaimed actress, but she was 6/10 in this movie (unlike Alice’s 7/10 performance). As for the comparisons to BTTF, less effort has gone into Alice’s version (e.g. less shots) because it was a necessary evil (the same thing applies to Eric because Spielberg knew that he was to be replaced). Like how the shot of Eric punching Thomas F. Wilson was retained for the Fox version, the shot of Alice and Sandra entering the church was retained for the Gong version. This also extends to other shots where we don’t see the new stars. The Taiwan version is the most successful of its kind – allowing customers to get an almost diametrical version, especially considering that the Taiwanese tape’s full frame allowed people to see more of existing shots versus the VCD’s cropped format (which is like comparing a 35 mm movie to a 16 mm TV series).
It makes one wonder how candid that Spielberg was with Jing or Barry as he was known as. Clearly, Jing taught him how to realistically speed-up the camera for the fleeting fighting moments of Short Round for Indiana Jones in The Temple of Doom. Also, Doc Brown being illuminated in green light for the Twin Pines Mall experiment (in the Stoltz version) is reflective of a H.K. cinema trope – treachery is foreshadowed (e.g. The Way of the Dragon). In Cantonese slang, wearing a green hat means being an unfaithful partner. To dot red and dot green means to change one’s mind. Fire red, fire green means acting in a feverish manner. To cut green grain means to leave a gambling table early with one’s winnings. However, the green light on Doc Brown could easily symbolize that the movie was greenlit because of Christopher Lloyd (who was given top billing in a 1984 article).
As tempting as it would be to use archive footage of Chow Yun-Fat à la the Zemeckis sequel, Jing went against it because it would have hurt the box office figure. Also, he believes that the way that the original George was replaced is akin to Bruce Lee in Game of Death but less forgiving. The Taiwanese version of Back to Shanghai is on YouTube, but to find it, you need to copy and paste the Chinese title (賭俠II上海灘賭聖). It’s over two hours long. Considering that Declan Wong appeared in a 1991 H.K. movie which begins in France, it’s not much of a coincidence that he plays the French god of gamblers (an extension of Sandra renaming Stephen as Comment Allez-vous). In John Woo’s Once a Thief, he appeared as a lethal magician (referencing Jing’s excellent Challenge of the Gamesters). Chow Yun-Fat’s use of razor-sharp cards was a way of reminding people of God of Gamblers.
Interestingly, the next part of Jing’s series (a.k.a. The Return of the God of Gamblers) also begins in France. As an amusing footnote, Michael Wong (one of his two brothers) was in the TV reboot of Once a Thief. This article was intended to be in my English translation of Jing’s underwritten autobiography but there is a rule as to how many words that you can have. My word-count is 80,000. As an appendix to this article, Back to Shanghai is also a send-up of Shanghai Beach (a TV series that is officially known in English as The Bund), which made stars out of Ray and Chow Yun-Fat (the former was okay with sending up his own role in said film). As such, God of Gamblers III is known officially in Chinese as The Conman II: Winner on the Beach. The title also refers to Stephen’s All for the Winner.
The previous Jing sequel was disallowed to be titled All for the Winner II, although the Chinese title for All for the Winner (賭聖) is similar to the one for God of Gamblers (賭神). Ray playing the `40s equivalent to the god of gamblers is an in-joke in that if Chow didn’t want to do the first movie then Ray would’ve been the second choice (such as Stoltz). In summary, if you intend to replace an actor then you have to go out of your way to make the reshooting so different that the replaced actor doesn’t think that you are reusing their shots. If you intend to reuse footage, a compromise can be made in terms of how you change the clothes. The skateboard sequence in BTTF is a janky example. Eric and Mike both wore the same clothes except for the shirts underneath the jackets. Eric wore a light blue one whereas Mike wore a predominantly purple one.
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Eagles Star Nelson Agholor Brings Young Fan to Tears With Gift
By John Newby - August 5, 2019 05:29 pm EDT
With so much focus on fantasy football and statistics in the modern NFL, it's often easy to overlook the human side of the game. Fortunately, training camp is the perfect time for players to change that conversation.
Monday, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Nelson Agholor gave a young fan a pair of his gloves. It was a simple gesture, but the child was brought to tears. His father captured the moment on camera and showed how he was overcome by emotion because one of his favorite players had just given him a special gift. Not many kids can say the same thing.
Little man was moved after @nelsonagholor gave him his gloves 😭
(via @XavierDyer9)pic.twitter.com/PGA9UKkzrY
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) August 5, 2019
While the NFL regular season is full of intrigue about the possibilities of certain teams landing in the playoffs and, potentially, the Super Bowl, it doesn't quite provide the same level of exposure for the fans as training camp. This late-summer period provides the perfect opportunity for kids and adults alike to get up close and personal with some big names.
The perfect example of this is the annual DreamDrive event in which members of the Green Bay Packers ride to training camp on the bicycles of young fans. This is when a youngster can walk next to Aaron Rodgers or another big star for a few moments and create long-lasting memories.
Of course, not every team has a tradition that focuses on this same level of interaction, so they instead have the players sign autographs after practice has ended. To their credit, figures such as Agholor use this as an added opportunity to make the moment special.
For example, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. recently gave a young fan a pair of his cleats after practice. New York Jets running back Le'Veon Bell did the same following a recent practice in New York. Both gestures resulted in the young fans being completely shocked and overcome with emotion.
Agholor's gift to this young fan is only the latest example an NFL star taking a few moments to brighten the day of someone younger than himself. These moments will be forgotten by the media once the games begin, but for the fans, these memories will last a lifetime.
Originally a first-round pick out of the University of Southern California, Agholor isn't the Eagles leading receiver, but he has been an effective player throughout his career. In four seasons, Agholor has 185 receptions for 2,152 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also helped the Eagles win Super Bowl LII when he tallied 84 receiving yards on 11 catches.
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NFC Championship: Rob Lowe Sporting Generic 'NFL' Hat Inspires Memes on Social Media
NFC Championship: Lil' Jon Performs Halftime Show at 49ers vs. Packers and Fans Have Thoughts
Patrick Mahomes' Girlfriend, Brittany Matthews, Cheers on Chiefs During AFC Championship
UFC 246: Conor McGregor's Victory Cost Internet Personality Dan Bilzerian an Insane Amount of Money
UFC 246: Conor McGregor's Performance Slammed by Rival Nate Diaz, Calls Him 'Weak As F—'
Conor McGregor Praised as 'Humble' After Ditching Bombastic Behavior Around Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone Fight
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson Reveals Dad Rocky's Death Was Sudden: 'Didn't Get a Chance to Say Goodbye'
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Justia Patents Phosphorus ContainingUS Patent for Liquid polyvinyl chloride resin stabilizer systems based on complexes of organic triphosphites with zinc chloride Patent (Patent # 4,782,170)
Liquid polyvinyl chloride resin stabilizer systems based on complexes of organic triphosphites with zinc chloride
May 13, 1986 - Argus Chemical Corporation
Liquid polyvinyl chloride resin stabilizer systems are provided, based on complexes of organic triphosphites with zinc chloride, and, in addition, other compatible polyvinyl chloride resin stabilizers, including particularly, thiophosphites of mercaptocarboxylic acid esters, as well as barium-cadmium and barium-zinc carboxylic acid salt combinations, and liquid barium carbonate-alkyl phenate complexes.
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Stabilizing high density polyethylene containing chromium catalyst residues with 2,2'-ethylidene-bis(4,6-di-t-butylphenol), a solid polyol having five to six carbon atoms, and a tris(alkylaryl) phosphite
Stabilizer systems for polyvinyl chloride resins are physically either one of two types: solids and liquids. The first stabilizer systems developed were solids, of which an outstanding example, still in wide use today, is the combinations of metal salt stabilizers and organic triphosphites or hindered phenols of U.S. Pat. No. 2,564,646, patented Aug. 14, 1951, to William E. Leistner, Arthur C. Hecker and Olga H. Knoepke. While many of the triphosphites disclosed there are liquids, the metal salts used are mostly solids and no liquid combinations of the two are disclosed. The triphosphite prevents or retards precipitation of solid metal halide from the stabilizer compound as a cloud or haze in the stock, and is therefore referred to as an anti-clouding agent. A preference is indicated for mixtures of barium and cadmium salts, among others, and in the Examples combinations are used of barium and cadmium laurate, with triphenyl phosphite as the anti-clouding agent.
Combinations of mixed barium-cadmium salt stabilizers, such as barium-cadmium laurates, stearates, and ricinoleates, with organic triphosphites have generally been regarded as the first practical barium-cadmium stabilizers, and they do offer excellent initial color and long-term stability. However, one of their major disadvantages is their tendency to "plate-out" on calendar rolls and other processing equipment.
"Plate-out" is a condition where the calendering rolls and/or embossing rolls become coated with a deposit from the composition being processed. The deposit may start out as a soft waxy material, just barely visible on the metallic contact surfaces of the processing equipment, but this builds up, particularly during long runs, and both the consistency and the quality of the plate-out can then become prohibitive, and interfere with acceptable surface finish of the film or sheeting. When plate-out occurs, the operation has to be shut down and the plate-out removed, which is a costly and time-consuming nuisance.
The plate-out problem was found to be correlated with the solid state of the stabilizer combination, and the answer to the plate-out problem was found to be a liquid stabilizer system. The first liquid stabilizer systems, still in use today, are those described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,716,092, patented Aug. 23, 1955, to William E. Leistner and Arthur C. Hecker. These liquid systems are based on a combination of the polyvalent metal salts, a polyvalent metal salt or salts in conjunction with a water insoluble polyvalent metal salt of a fatty acid, the mixture of the two materials containing to advantage both barium and cadmium in the polyvalent metal component. In a modification, the invention comprises the phenolates and the said salts in conjunction with an organic phosphite. These stabilizer systems were not only liquid but they also showed an enhanced stabilizing effectiveness, as compared to the polyvalent metal salt-triphosphite systems of U.S. Pat. No. 2,564,646, and accordingly these liquid systems found ready acceptance. Outstanding typical examples of this type of liquid system, by no means all of those available commercially, are the MARK M and MARK LL stabilizers, the MARK M and MARK LL systems being barium alkyl phenolate/cadium carboxylate combinations with organic phosphite, and the MARK PL system being for addition of zinc carboxylate to the MARK M and MARK LL systems.
Liquid systems of this type are completely soluble in plasticizers, and consequently they are readily blended with the polyvinyl chloride resins on a mill by mixing them with the plasticizers, and then compounding the mix with the resin in the usual plasticization procedure. Used in this way, they are quite advantageous in the stabilization of plasticized polyvinyl chloride resins, and afford excellent initial color and outstanding resistance to the degrading effect of heat and light. High temperature processing is possible without the development of yellow undertones, and of course the plate-out problem is eliminated.
Nonetheless, despite these advantages, the available liquid stabilizer systems have not fully replaced solid stabilizer systems. In order to ensure uniformity, it is necessary that the liquid composition be homogeneous, and this homogeneity must be stable on storage. This has required the combination in the liquid of an inert solvent or other liquid solubilizer, which of course also acts as a diluent, and the result is that, weight for weight, the liquid systems do not offer as much barium or cadmium per unit weight as a solid system. This means that more of the liquid system must be used to obtain the same stabilizing effect.
In rigid polyvinyl chloride resins, the maintenance of rigidity and a high softening or fusion temperature means that any liquids to be incorporated into the polymer mix must be kept to a minimum. It is frequently true that the amount of liquid stabilizer required for stabilization is so high that it is impossible to use the liquid for a rigid polymer without deleteriously affecting the rigidity, and lowering the softening temperature too much. In other cases, the liquid system is unable to compete on the same economic level as a solid system because of its lower metal concentration. Besides that, the presence of the inert solvent reduces the flash point, and makes the mixture flammable, a condition which cannot be tolerated under sone circumstances.
Baum, U.S. Pat. No. 3,454,514, patented July 8, 1969, discloses a storage-stable stabilizer composition for vinyl halide resin compositions which comprises as a stabilizer base: (a) a cadmium salt of an organic monocarboxylic acid; (b) a salt selected from the group consisting of barium and strontium salts of organic monocarboxylic acids, wherein one of salts (a) and (b) is a salt of an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid and the other is salt of an aromatic monocarboxylic acid, and (c) a zinc salt of an organic monocarboxylic acid; and as about 1% to 50% by weight of said stabilizer base composition, a storage-stable additive comprising about 1 to 50 parts of a higher alkyl monoether of an alkylene glycol and about 1 to 50 parts of an organic carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of aliphatic monocarboxylic acids and aliphatic dicarboxylic acids. The compositions can be liquid, but solid compositions also fall within the scope of the patent.
The barium salts are salts of organic carboxylic acids and of phenols, such as barium laurate, barium stearate, barium dioctyl phenolate, barium di-nonyl phenolate, and barium dinonyl-o-cresolate, but no "overbased" barium carbonate-alkyl phenate salts are disclosed. The barium plus cadmium content of the stabilizer composition is not disclosed, but in Examples 1 to 10, the liquid compositions, it is about 10%. All of the compositions contain 1 to 50 parts diluent by weight.
A recent example of a relatively dilute solvent-based liquid stabilizer system appears in U.S. Pat. No. 4,159,973, patented July 3, 1979, to Samuel Hoch, Robert E. Lally and Mario Q. Ceprini. The stabilizer systems provided by this patent comprise:
(a) a liquid, oil-soluble, epoxidized vegetable oil-compatible overbased barium salt complex that is the product obtained by contacting a reaction mixture that consists essentially of a basic barium compound, an alkylphenol, and an inert liquid organic diluent, in the amounts of at least 0.75 mole of alkylphenol per mole of barium compound and 10% to 50% by weight of the diluent, based on the weight of the reaction mixture, with carbon dioxide while the reaction mixture is maintained at a temperature of at least 180.degree. C.;
(b) a polyvalent metal salt component;
(c) an organic phosphite component; and
(d) a hydrocarbon solvent;
in the amounts of
0.1 part to 5 parts by weight of the polyvalent metal salt component;
0.1 part to 5 parts by weight of the organic phosphite component; and
0.1 part to 5 parts by weight of the hydrocarbon solvent per part by weight of the overbased barium salt complex.
These stabilizer systems are said to be compatible with epoxidized vegetable oils and form stable mixtures with such oils.
The hydrocarbon solvents named at the top of column 3 are all flammable, and give liquid stabilizers of relatively low flash point. Indeed, in Table II, columns 7 and 8, the solvent used is described as "high-flash naphtha". Moreover, while the concentration of metal in the liquid is nowhere referred to as a consideration, in the Examples the concentration is relatively low, ranging between 7% and 9%. The ratio of cadmium to barium is also rather low, being approximately 0.4 to 1 in the Examples.
The Hoch et al stabilizer systems are based on a special type of overbased barium salt complex that is prepared in accordance with the procedure described in the patent. Hoch et al point out that the normally available overbased barium alkyl phenate complexes are incompatible with epoxidized soybean oil and other epoxidized vegetable oils, and when they are combined with conventional oil-soluble cadmium and zinc salts and organic phosphites, the blend quickly becomes cloudy, as the epoxidized vegetable oil is mixed in, which presents a handling and storage problem, because the liquid system is not homogeneous. This problem is avoided by the special form of overbased barium alkyl phenate complex of the Hoch et al patent.
A further problem posed by the overbased barium alkyl phenate complexes is their relatively high viscosity, which has to be reduced by blending with a hydrocarbon solvent. This problem is alluded to by Hoch et al, who stress that their over-based barium alkyl phenate complexes are nonviscous liquids that are convenient to handle.
Because of the extreme toxicity of cadmium, there is however increasing pressure by governmental agencies upon plastic manufacturers to avoid its use in industrial and consumer products, insofar as possible. While there is not as yet a ban on use of cadmium, it is obviously important to develop stabilizer systems that are the equivalent in effectiveness to the barium-cadmium and barium-cadmium-zinc stabilizer systems that have been so well accepted up until now.
One obvious alternative to the use of cadmium is the substitution of zinc, by itself or in combination with calcium. Zinc and calcium are not toxic, and avoid the toxicity problem of cadmium. However, there are no barium-zinc or barium-calcium-zinc stabilizers known that are as effective as the barium-cadmium and barium-cadmium-zinc stabilizer systems, and those presently available therefore cannot compete effectively with the cadmium-containing systems, except in situations where the use of cadmium has been prohibited.
Normally, as noted above in the Baum patent, zinc is introduced into stabilizer systems of this type in the form of zinc carboxylates, which are compatible with the usual stabilizers, including, in particular, organic triphosphites. Zinc chloride, an inorganic salt, catalyzes the degradation of polyvinyl chloride under many conditions, and is difficult to formulate with other stabilizers as a source of zinc.
Deanin, Gupta and Modi, Org. Coat. Plast. Chem. 1979 pp. 199-203 describe a number of stabilizer formulations containing zinc chloride, and conclude that zinc chloride catalyzes the thermodegradation of the polymer, but in small quantities can enhance the stabilizing effectiveness of other stabilizers, including epoxidized soybean oil, and alkylaryl phosphites. They accordingly postulated the function of the zinc chloride as follows:
Epoxy stabilizes the polyvinyl chloride chain by forming a stable ether side group, and the formation of such a group by epoxy is catalyzed by zinc chloride. Increasing quantities of zinc chloride, beyond this catalytic amount, cause the conventional degradation process, but this problem can be overcome by using very large amounts of epoxy.
Jirkal and Stepek, Plast Mod Elastomeres 1969 (210) 109-110, 114-115, Chem. Abstracts 70 (1969) 88540E, reported that ZnCl.sub.2 had a catalytic effect on polyvinyl chloride degradation, the effect increasing with increasing amounts, but that this effect disappeared in the presence of epoxidized soybean oil or triphenyl phosphite.
Rhodes et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,759,856, patented Sept. 18, 1973, propose liquid stabilizers for polyvinyl chloride resins composed of Group II metal halides, such as zinc chloride and polyglycerol partial esters. The metal halide is dissolved in water, and then mixed with the partial ester. The ingredients are said to be readily compatible, and are apparently present together in solution.
Brook U.S. Pat. No. 3,943,081 describes combinations of alkaline earth metal soap and/or phenolate complexes or solutions with soluble zinc chloride and hydroxy compounds, as well as organic phosphites. These are simple solutions of compatible ingredients, but it is suggested that the zinc chloride may be complexed with the hydroxyl-containing compound, which can be a primary or secondary alcohol, glycol, secondary phosphite, a glycol ether, or a substituted triol or glycol.
Bae U.S. Pat. No. 4,178,282, patented Dec. 11, 1979, provides stabilizer compositions for polyvinyl chloride resins comprising alkali metal soap and/or phenolate complexes or solutions, and alkaline earth metal soap and/or phenolate complexes or solutions, with soluble zinc chloride and hydroxy compounds and organophosphites, the zinc chloride being complexed with the alcohol, as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,943,081.
Snel U.S. Pat. No. 4,369,273, patented Jan. 18, 1983, provides stabilizer compositions composed of substituted alpha or beta naphthindoles, benzoylated or not, and combined with organic polyamines and metal halides of barium, calcium, lithium, zinc or aluminum. The zinc chloride is dissolved in water, and then mixed with a mercaptan and isostearic acid, forming a clear yellow liquid.
Thiophosphates and thiophosphites have also been proposed as polyvinyl chloride resin stabilizers.
Muller, Zinke and Wehner, EPO Pat. No. 90,770 published Oct. 5, 1983, describes stabilizer systems composed of thiophosphates of mercaptocarboxylic acid esters in combination with barium, strontium, calcium, magnesium, zinc or cadmium salts of carboxylic acids or phenols, and phenolic antioxidants. The thiophosphates can be used in combinations with triorganophosphites.
Fath U.S. Pat. No. 2,824,847, patented Feb. 25, 1958, describes polyvinyl chloride resin stabilizer systems containing trithiophosphites, dithiophosphites, or monothiophosphites, which are used with other stabilizers such as barium-cadmium laurate. Some of the phosphites disclosed contain mercaptocarboxylic acid ester groups, such as triisooctylthioglycolate phosphite. Zinc chloride is not disclosed.
In accordance with the present invention, it has been determined that zinc chloride when combined with organic triphosphites forms complexes that are effective polyvinyl chloride resin stabilizers. These complexes are stable liquids that are compatible with other liquid polyvinyl chloride resin stabilizers, such as other organic triphosphites, phenolic antioxidants, polyvalent metal salts, especially barium cadmium and barium zinc salts, barium carbonate-alkyl phenate complexes, and epoxidized fatty acid esters.
The chemical nature of the zinc chloride-phosphite complex has not yet been established. The complex is however readily formed simply by blending zinc chloride and the organic triphosphite, and heating the mixture at an elevated temperature until the zinc chloride dissolves therein, forming the complex. The complex forms readily in a short time, even at temperatures as low as 50.degree. C.
The zinc chloride-organic triphosphite complex displays a synergized stabilizing effectiveness in combinations with many other polyvinyl chloride resin stabilizers, including combinations with thiophosphites of mercaptocarboxylic acid esters, particularly isooctyl thioglycolate, combinations with barium-cadmium and barium zinc carboxylic acid salts, and combinations with barium carbonate-alkyl phenate complexes. Liquid stabilizer systems including the zinc chloride phosphite complex, the thiophosphite, and a barium carbonate-alkyl phenate complex are as effective on an equal metal basis as the available barium-cadmium and barium-cadmium-zinc stabilizers heretofore used. Thus, the liquid stabilizer systems of the invention include liquid stabilizer systems based on zinc instead of cadmium that can compete effectively with liquid barium-cadmium and liquid barium-cadmium-zinc stabilizer systems, as well as improved barium-cadmium with many other polyvinyl chloride resin stabilizers, barium-zinc and barium-cadmium-zinc stabilizer systems.
In addition to the zinc chloride-phosphite complex, the stabilizer systems of the invention therefore can include other conventional liquid-compatible polyvinyl chloride resin stabilizers, particularly thiophosphite stabilizers, other organic triphosphites, organic diphosphites, phenolic antioxidants, polyvalent metal salts, especially barium-cadmium, barium-zinc, and barium-cadmium-zinc carboxylates, barium carbonate-alkyl phenate complexes, and epoxidized fatty acid oils and esters.
The zinc chloride-organic triphosphite complexes are defined by the formula: ##STR1## wherein: R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are selected from the group consisting of alkyl having from one to about eighteen carbon atoms; alkenyl having from one to about eighteen carbon atoms; cycloalkyl having from three to about twelve carbon atoms; alkylaryl having from seven to about twenty-four carbon atoms; and aryl having from six to ten carbon atoms; and
q is a number representing the number of phosphite groups per zinc chloride group, and ranges from 0.3 to about 3.
The R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 radicals together with Y are selected so that the resulting complex or phosphite is a liquid.
The zinc chloride-organic triphosphite complexes are readily prepared by simply mixing together zinc chloride and the liquid organic triphosphite, with heating until a clear solution is obtained. An elevated temperature within the range from about 50.degree. to about 150.degree. C. is effective. Decomposition of the complex accompanied by unknown chemical reactions appears to occur at temperatures about 150.degree. C. The most rapid dissolution of zinc chloride takes place at temperatures in excess of 75.degree. C. While in some cases the complexing reaction appears to take place at room temperature, it is normally very very slow, if it proceeds at all, and therefore such low temperatures are not recommended.
In addition to the zinc chloride-organic triphosphite complex, which is the essential ingredient, these stabilizer systems can include any one or more of:
(a) organic thiophosphite;
(b) a liquid barium carbonate-alkyl phenate complex;
(c) a soluble phenolic antioxidant;
(d) a liquid organic triphosphite;
(e) a liquid organic acid phosphite;
(f) a barium-cadmium and/or barium-zinc and/or barium-cadmium-zinc carboxylate;
(g) a calcium carboxylate.
A solvent is not necessary to form a homogeneous storage-stable liquid system if a liquid organic phosphite is selected in which all of the ingredients, including in particular the barium carbonate-akyl phenate, are soluble. Accordingly, the amount of the organic phosphite in the stabilizer system is sufficient to form a homogeneous liquid system with (a) organic thiophosphite, (b) barium carbonate-alkyl phenate and (g) calcium carboxylate, and any other of ingredients (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) optionally added, as noted above.
This has the advantage that in the absence of any low-boiling solvent, there is no flammable high volatile liquid present, and the flash point of the liquid stabilizer is accordingly at least 96.degree. C. or above while the viscosity of the stabilizer is no more than 400 cps at 25.degree. C.
Because of the solubilizing effect of the organic phosphite, it is possible to incorporate an extraordinarily high proportion of the barium carbonate-alkyl phenate and zinc chloride-phosphite complexes. The minimum is 13 weight % total Ba plus Zn, calculated as the metal, and the total can range to as high as 16%, and even as high as 25%. This high metal concentration has the advantage that much less of the liquid system is required, and virtually renders the liquid system equivalent to a solid system on a weight for weight basis of metal stabilizer. This means that much less is needed in rigid polyvinyl chloride resins, for example, so that the liquid stabilizer systems of the invention can be used in rigid polymers without deleterious effect on the rigidity and softening point.
The high stabilizing effectiveness of the liquid systems of the invention appears to be due in large measure to the stated ratio of zinc to barium. In proportions of zinc to barium outside the range, for example, less barium than the Zn:Ba ratio of 0.5:1, the stabilizing effectiveness is much reduced, which means that more of the stabilizer is required, which in turn would put the composition in the same category as the earlier available low-metal concentration liquid systems.
The organic thiophosphites are defined by the following formula: ##STR2## wherein: p is a number from 1 to 3;
n is a number from 0 to 2;
m is a number from 0 to 2;
and the sum of n+m+p is 3;
Y is straight or branched chain alkylene having from one to about twelve carbon atoms;
R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are selected from the group consisting of alkyl having from one to about eighteen carbon atoms; cycloalkyl having from three to about twelve carbon atoms; and alkylaryl having from seven to about twenty-four carbon atoms.
The trithiophosphites in which p is 3 and n and m are each 0 are preferred.
It appears that the mercaptocarboxylic acid ester group of the thiophosphite makes an important contribution to stabilizing effectiveness. Thiophosphites that do not include a mercaptocarboxylic acid ester group are not nearly as effective. The reason for this is not at present understood.
The organic thiophosphites can be prepared by transesterification of an organic triphosphite, such as triphenyl phosphite or triphenyl thiophosphite, with the corresponding mercaptocarboxylic acid ester. Blockage of the carboxylic acid group by the esterifying group makes it possible to effect transesterification with the mercapto group of the mercaptocarboxylic acid ester, which accordingly becomes linked to phosphorus through thiosulfur. The S--R.sub.5 and O--R.sub.6 groups are introduced likewise by transesterification, with the corresponding mercaptide or alcohol. If a glycol is used, the glycol becomes attached to phosphorus at two positions, if two positions be available.
Trithiophosphites also can be prepared by reacting phosphorus trihalide (PX.sub.3) with a mercapto acid ester in the presence of a suitable base such as tertiary amines, aqueous sodium hydroxide, aqueous sodium carbonate, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,374,291, patented Mar. 19, 1968, to Myers.
The reaction is as follows: ##STR3## wherein R is a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic group, aryl group, substituted aliphatic or substituted aryl group containing substituents such as halogens, nitro, cyano, alkyl groups etc.; R' is a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic or cycloaliphatic group, an aryl group, or substituted aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aryl group containing suitable substituents, e.g., halogens, nitro, cyano, alkyl etc.; and n is an integer from 1 to 3 inclusive.
Various amounts of mercapto acid ester and base may be employed. In general, however, the relative proportions are selected so as to supply at least about 3 mols of base per mol of the phosphorus trihalide.
The reaction is desirably carried out in a non-polar solvent, such as benzene, toluene, isooctane, etc. Although the reaction may be conducted at ambient temperatures, reaction temperatures in the range from about 15.degree. to 50.degree. C. and reaction periods of from about 5 to 15 hours are preferred. The products may be recovered by removing the precipitated base-hydrochloride, such as by filtration, washing the filtrate with 15% hydrochloric acid and water to remove unreacted base, and then topping off the non-polar solvent and unreacted mercapto acid ester.
Such trithiophosphites can be obtained from aliphatic mono-carboxylic mercapto acid esters according to the above reaction, and possessing the formula: ##STR4##
Exemplary thiophosphites for stabilizer compositions of the invention include:
P(SCH.sub.2 CO--OCH.sub.2 CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2).sub.3
P(SCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CO--O(CH.sub.2).sub.5 CH.sub.3).sub.3
P(SCH.sub.2 CO--OC.sub.10 H.sub.21).sub.3
P(SCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CO--O(CH.sub.2).sub.17 CH.sub.3).sub.3
C.sub.6 H.sub.5 OP(SCH.sub.2 CO--OC.sub.12 H.sub.25).sub.2
(CH.sub.10 H.sub.21 O).sub.2 PSCH.sub.2 CO--OC.sub.8 H.sub.17
C.sub.12 H.sub.25 SP(SCH.sub.2 CO--OC.sub.10 H.sub.21).sub.2
(C.sub.8 H.sub.17 OCOCH.sub.2 S).sub.2 PSCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CO--OCH.sub.2 CH(C.sub.2 H.sub.5)C.sub.4 H.sub.9 ##STR5##
The organic triphosphite esters useful in forming the zinc chloride organic triphosphite complexes, the organic thiophosphites, and also as such in the stabilizer systems of the invention, are liquid over the temperature range from the lowest atmospheric temperatures to be encountered, about -10.degree. C., up to about 200.degree. C. The useful organic triphosphites have from one to three organic radicals attached to phosphorus through oxygen, with all three valences of the phosphorus taken up by such organic radicals.
The liquid organic triphosphites in which the radicals are monovalent radicals can be defined by the formula: ##STR6## in which R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, and cycloalkyl groups having from one to about thirty carbon atoms.
The liquid organic triphosphites having a bivalent organic radical form a heterocyclic ring with phosphorus of the type: ##STR7## in which R.sub.4 is a bivalent organic radical selected from the group consisting of alkylene, arylene, aralkylene, alkarylene and cycloalkylene radicals having from two to about thirty carbon atoms, and R.sub.5 is a monovalent organic radical as defined above in the case of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3.
Also useful liquid organic triphosphites are mixed heterocyclic-open chain phosphites of the type: ##STR8##
More complex liquid triphosphites are formed from trivalent organic radicals, of the type: ##STR9## in which R.sub.6 is a trivalent organic radical of any of the types of R.sub.1 to R.sub.5, inclusive, as defined above.
A particularly useful class of complex liquid triphosphites are the tetraoxadiphosphaspiro undecanes of the formula: ##STR10## where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are selected from the group consisting of aryl, alkyl, aryloxyethyl, alkyloxyethyl, aryloxyethoxyethyl, alkyloxyethoxyethyl and alkyloxypolyethoxyethyl having from about one to about thirty carbon atoms.
An especially preferred class of liquid organic triphosphites have a bicyclic aromatic group attached to phosphorus through oxygen, with no or one or more phenolic hydroxyl groups on either or both of the aromatic rings. These phosphites are characterized by the formula: ##STR11## in which Ar is a mono or bicyclic aromatic nucleus and m is an integer of from 0 to about 5. Z is one or a plurality of organic radicals as defined above for R.sub.1 to R.sub.6, taken singly or together in sufficient number to satisfy the valences of the two phosphite oxygen atoms.
One or both Z radicals can include additional bicyclic aromatic groups of the type (HO).sub.m --Ar.
Usually, the triphosphites do not have more than about sixty carbon atoms.
Exemplary liquid triphosphites are monophenyl di-2-ethylhexyl phosphite, diphenyl mono-2-ethylhexyl phosphite, di-isooctyl monotolyl phosphite, tri-2-ethylhexyl phosphite, phenyl dicyclohexyl phosphite, phenyl diethyl phosphite, triphenyl phosphite, tricresyl phosphite, tri(dimethylphenyl)phosphite, tri(tridecyl)phosphite, triisooctyl phosphite, tridodecyl phosphite, isooctyl diphenyl phosphite, diisooctyl phenyl phosphite, tri(t-octylphenyl)phosphite, tri(t-nonylphenyl)phosphite, benzyl methyl isopropyl phosphite, butyl dicresyl phosphite, isooctyl di(octylphenyl)phosphite, di(2-ethylhexyl)(isooctylphenyl)phosphite, tri(2-phenylethyl)phosphite, ethylene phenyl phosphite, ethylene isohexyl phosphite, ethylene isooctyl phosphite, ethylene cyclohexyl phosphite, 2-phenoxy-5,5-dimethyl-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinane, 2-butoxy-1,3,2-dioxyphosphorinane, 2-octoxy-5,5-dimethyldioxaphosphorinane, and 2-cyclohexyloxy-5,5-diethyl dioxaphosphorinane.
Exemplary liquid pentaerythritol triphosphites are 3,9-diphenoxy-2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diphosphaspiro-(5,5)-undecane (diphenyl-pentaerythritol-diphosphite), 3,9-di(decyloxy)-2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diphosphaspiro(5,5)-undecane, 3,9-di(isodecyloxy)-2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diphosphaspiro-(5,5)-undecane, 3-phenoxy-9-isodecyloxy-2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diphosphaspiro-(5,5)-undecan e, 3,9-di(methoxy)-2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diphosphaspiro-(5,5)-undecane, 3,9-di(lauryloxy)-2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diphosphaspiro-(5,5)-undecane, 3,9-di-p-tolyloxy-2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diphosphaspiro-(5,5)-undecane; 3,9-di(methoxyethyloxy)-2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diphosphaspiro-(5,5)-undecan e; 3-methoxyethyloxy-9-isodecyloxy-2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diphosphaspiro-(5,5) -undecane; 3,9-di(ethoxyethyloxy)-2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diphosphaspiro-(5,5)-undecane ; 3,9-di(butoxyethyloxy)-2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diphosphaspiro-(5,5)-undecan e; 3-methoxyethyloxy-9-butoxyethyloxy-2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diphosphaspiro-(5 ,5)-undecane; 3,9-di(methoxyethoxyethyloxy)-2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diphosphaspiro-(5,5)-u ndecane; 3,9-di(butoxyethoxyethyloxy)-2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diphosphaspiro-(5,5)-un decane; 3,9-di(methoxyethoxyethoxyethyloxy)-2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diphosphaspiro-( 5,5)-undecane; 3,9-di(methoxy(polyethoxy)ethyloxy)-2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diphosphaspiro-( 5,5)-undecane (where the (polyethoxy)ethyloxy group has an average molecular weight of 350) 3,9-di(methoxy(polyethoxy)ethyloxy)-2,4,8,10-tetraoxa-3,9-diphosphaspiro-( 5,5)-undecane (where the (polyethoxy)ethyloxy group has an average molecular weight of 550).
Exemplary liquid bis aryl triphosphites are: bis(4,4'-thio-bis(2-tertiary butyl-5-methyl-phenol)isooctyl phosphite, mono(4,4'-thio-bis(2-tertiary-butyl-5-methyl phenol))di-phenyl phosphite, tri-(4,4'-n-butylidene-bis(2-tertiary-butyl-5-methylphenol))phosphite, (4,4'-benzylidene-bis(2-tertiary-butyl-5-methyl phenol))diphenyl phosphite, isooctyl 2,2'-bis(-parahydroxyphenyl)propane phosphite, decyl 4,4'-n-butylidene-bis(2-tertiarybutyl-5-methylphenol)phosphite, tri-4,4'-thio-bis(2-tertiary-butyl-5-methylphenol)phosphite, 2-ethylhexyl-2,2'-methylene-bis-(4-methyl-6,1'-methylcyclohexyl)phenol phosphite, tri(2,2'-bis(para-hydroxyphenyl)propane)phosphite, tri(4,4'-thio-bis(2-tertiary-butyl-5-methyl-phenol)phosphite, isooctyl-(2,6-bis(2'-hydroxy-3,5-dinonylbenzyl)-4-nonyl phenyl))phosphite, tetratridecyl 4,4'-n-butylidene-bis(2-tertiary butyl-5-methyl phenyl)diphosphite, tetra-isooctyl 4,4'-thio-bis(2-tertiary butyl-5-methyl phenyl)diphosphite, 2,2'-methylene-bis(4-methyl 6,1'-methyl cyclohexyl phenyl)polyphosphite, isooctyl-4,4'-isopropylidene-bis-phenyl-polyphosphite, 2-ethylhexyl-2,2'-methylene-bis(4-methyl-6,1'-methyl-cyclohexyl)phenyl triphosphite, tetratridecyl-4,4'-oxydiphenyl diphosphite, tetra-n-dodecyl-4,4'-n-butylidene bis(2-tertiary-butyl-5-methylphenyl)diphosphite, tetra-tridecyl-4,4'-iso-propylidene bisphenyl diphosphite, hexatridecyl butane-1,1,3-tris(2'-methyl-5'-tertiary-butylphenyl-4'-)triphosphite.
The acid phosphite can be any organic phosphite having one or two organic radicals attached to phosphorus through oxygen, and one or two hydrogen atoms.
The acid phosphites are defined by the formula: ##STR12## in which R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, and cycloalkyl groups having from one to about thirty carbon atoms, and at least one to two of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 is hydrogen.
Exemplary liquid acid phosphites are di(phenyl)phosphite, monophenyl phosphite, mono-(diphenyl)phosphite, dicresyl phosphite, di-o-(isooctylphenyl)phosphite, di(p-ethylhexylphenyl)phosphite, di(p-t-octylphenyl)phosphite, di(dimethylphenyl)phosphite, di-n-butyl phosphite, di-2-ethylhexyl phosphite, mono-2-ethylhexyl phosphite, diisooctyl phosphite, monoisooctyl phosphite, monododecyl phosphite, 2-ethylhexyl phenyl phosphite, 2-ethylhexyl-(n-octylphenyl)phosphite, monocyclohexyl phosphite, dicyclohexyl phosphite, di(2-cyclohexyl phenyl)phosphite, di-.alpha.-naphthyl phosphite, diphenyl phenyl phosphite, di(diphenyl)phosphite, di-(2-phenyl ethyl)phosphite, dibenzyl phosphite, monobenzyl phosphite, n-butyl cresyl phosphite and didodecyl phosphite, cresyl phosphite, t-octylphenyl phosphite, ethylene phosphite, butyl cresyl phosphite, isooctyl monotolyl phosphite and phenyl cyclohexyl phosphite.
Exemplary liquid bis aryl acid phosphites are: bis(4,4'-thio-bis(2-tertiary-butyl-5-methyl-phenol))phosphite, (4,4'-thio-bis(2-tertiary-butyl-5-methyl-phenol))phenyl phosphite, bis(4,4'-n-butylidene-bis(2-tertiary-butyl-5-methyl-phenol))phosphite, mono(4,4'-benzylidene-bis(2-tertiary-butyl-5-methyl-phenol))phosphite, mono(2,2'-bis-(parahydroxyphenyl)propane)phosphite, mono(4,4'-n-butylidene-bis(2-tertiary-butyl-5-methyl-phenol)phosphite, bis(4,4'-thio-bis(2-tertiary-butyl-5-methylphenol))phosphite, mono-2-ethylhexyl-mono-2,2'methylene-bis(4-methyl-6,1'methylcyclohexyl)phe nol phosphite, bis(2,2'-bis-(parahydroxyphenyl)propane)phosphite, monoisooctyl mono(4,4'-thio-bis(2-tertiary-butyl-5-methyl-phenol))phosphite, isooctyl-(2,6-bis(2'-hydroxy-3,5-dinonylbenzyl)-4-nonyl phenyl))phosphite, tri-tridecyl 4,4'-n-butylidene-bis(2-tertiary-butyl-5-methyl phenyl)diphosphite, triisooctyl 4,4'-thio-bis(2-tertiary-butyl-5-methyl phenyl)diphosphite, bis(2,2'-methylene-bis(4-methyl-6,1'-methyl cyclohexyl phenyl))phosphite, isooctyl-4,4'-isopropylidene-bis-phenyl phosphite, monophenyl mono(2,2'-methylene-bis-(4-methyl-6,1'-methyl-cyclohexyl))triphosphite, di-tridecyl-4,4'-oxydiphenyl diphosphite, di-n-dodecyl-4,4'-n-butylidene bis(2-tertiary-butyl-5-methylphenyl)diphosphite, di-tridecyl-4,4'-isopropylidene bisphenyl diphosphite, tetra-tridecyl butane-1,1,3-tris(2'-methyl-5'-tertiary-butylphenyl-4-)triphosphite.
The liquid barium carbonate-alkyl phenate complex is known and described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,787,357, patented Jan. 22, 1974, to Lawrence Robert Brecker. The barium carbonate is combined with at least one barium alkyl phenate, usually in a relatively nonvolatile organic liquid, which acts as a liquefying agent for the carbonate, by itself or in combination with a nonvolatile polar compound. The barium alkyl phenate disperses the carbonate in the organic solvent during or after its formation.
The relatively nonvolatile organic liquid can be a hydrocarbon oil, a plasticizer, an epoxy ester, etc., or a combination thereof.
The proportion of barium carbonate to organic salt in this carbonate-organic salt combination is defined by the metal ratio, which is a number greater than 2, i.e., the number of metal equivalents is greater than the number of equivalents of the organic acid residue of the organic salt. The metal ratio can be as high as 20, or even higher, the limit being imposed only by an unacceptably high viscosity of the barium carbonate-barium alkyl phenate combination.
The alkyl phenate residue of the barium alkyl phenate has at least ten carbon atoms. There is no upper limit for the carbon content except that set by the availability of materials. Barium alkyl phenates with as many as 150 carbon atoms in the alkyl phenate residue give excellent results.
Exemplary alkyl phenols that can be used as their barium salt include secondary butyl-phenol, o-amyl-phenol, heptyl-phenol, tert-nonyl-phenol, capryl-phenol, 6-t-butyl-2,4-dimethyl-phenol, 2,6-di-tert-butyl p-cresol, p-t-octyl-phenol, di-nonyl-phenol, decyl-phenol, dodecyl-phenol, and paraffin wax-alkyl-phenol; cycloalkyl-phenols such as o-cyclohexyl-phenol, p-cyclohexylphenol, and cyclooctyl-p-cresol; aralkyl-phenols such as 4-benzyl-o-cresol and ortho- and para-alphamethylbenzyl-phenols, and mixtures thereof.
The barium alkyl phenate salt may contain free unreacted phenol.
These barium carbonate-barium alkyl phenates are visually clear liquids, and leave no residue on filtration.
Many liquid barium carbonate-barium alkyl phenates are known. There is an extensive patent literature describing the preparation of such compositions. Unfortunately, the terminology employed is not uniform. Such compositions are sometimes referred to as solutions of oil-soluble barium carbonates, and sometimes as dispersions of oil-insoluble barium carbonates. The compositions are often called "overbased", to indicate that the ratio of total barium contained therein to the organic moiety is greater than the stoichiometric ratio of the neutral barium alkyl phenate, i.e., the number of barium equivalents is greater than the number of equivalents of the alkyl phenate residue.
Analytical techniques are available for determining the barium ratio and to characterize the liquid combinations of barium carbonate with barium alkyl phenate. The total barium content can be determined by standard methods such as atomic absorption, or extraction into aqueous hydrochloric acid, and complexometric titration of the barium in the extract.
The barium present as carbonate is measured in terms of the combined carbon dioxide content and the metal ratio is given by the expression: ##EQU1##
Liquid barium carbonates can be readily prepared by suspending, for instance, a barium base, e.g., oxide, hydroxide, alkoxide, carboxylate, phenate, etc., in a polar organic medium, carbonating the barium compound at elevated temperatures, and transferring the carbonated product to a relatively nonvolatile organic liquid containing a barium alkyl phenate with or without subsequent hydrolysis and removal of volatiles before final filtration of the resulting liquid. The sequence of operations is not critical; the barium alkyl phenate can be present during the carbonation.
The polar organic medium used for the reaction can contain volatile and nonvolatile polar compounds, called promoters in the literature. The volatile polar compounds are removed during the process and are not present in the finished product. A comprehensive overview of liquid organic combinations of barium carbonates, with barium alkyl phenates, their ingredients and their methods of manufacture can be obtained from a selected group of patents, for example, P. Asseff U.S. Pat. No. 2,616,905, F. Koft U.S. Pat. No. 3,544,463, and W. LeSuer U.S. Pat. No. 2,959,551.
A number of commercially available liquid barium carbonate-barium alkyl phenate compositions are suitable for use in preparing the liquid stabilizer systems of this invention. The following represents a nonlimiting selection:
Material Supplier % Ba
Barium carbonate-
Lubrizol Corp.
barium dodecyl phenate
Wickcliffe, Ohio
LD 2106 26
The barium-cadmium, barium-zinc, barium-cadmium-zinc, and calcium carboxylates are salts of a nonnitrogenous monocarboxylic acid having from about five to about twenty-two carbon atoms, and selected from the group consisting of
(a) straight and branched chain aliphatic carboxylic acids having from about five to about eighteen carbon atoms;
(b) aromatic carboxylic acids having from about seven to about eleven carbon atoms; and
(c) unsaturated straight and branched chain aliphatic carboxylic acids having from about twelve to about twenty-two carbon atoms.
Exemplary straight chain carboxylic acids include butyric acid, valeric acid, capric acid, caprylic acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid and stearic acid.
Exemplary branched chain aliphatic carboxylic acids include .beta.-methyl butyric acid, .alpha.-methyl butyric acid, 2-ethyl hexoic acid, isooctoic acid, 3,5,5-trimethyl hexoic acid, trimethyl acetic acid, 2,2-dimethyl pentanoic acid, neodecanoic acid, and 2-methyl-2-ethyl hexoic acid.
Exemplary unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acids include oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, ricinoleic acid and erucic acid.
Exemplary aromatic acids include benzoic acid, ortho-, meta- and para-toluic acid; ortho-, meta- and para-ethylbenzoic acid; ortho-, meta- and para-butyl benzoic acid; ortho-, meta- and para-amyl benzoic acid; the various dimethyl benzoic acid isomers; the various diethyl benzoic acid isomers; and the various trimethyl benzoic acid isomers.
The barium-cadmium, barium-zinc, barium-cadmium-zinc and calcium carboxylates can be a liquid or a solid, in which case it is soluble in the liquid stabilizer system. A solid carboxylate can also be liquefied in course of preparation, by carrying out the formation of the salt in the presence of a high-boiling organic solvent for the resulting carboxylate. This solvent will then be present in the finished salt, and accompany it in the blending with the other components of the liquid stabilizer system. The solvent, if used, should have a boiling point of at least 180.degree. C., and the maximum amount should not exceed 12% solvent by weight of the stabilizer system, after combination of the liquefied carboxylate with the other components.
Useful solvents include aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, and aromatic hydrocarbons; aliphatic, cycloaliphatic and aromatic alcohols, ether alcohols, and ether alcohol esters; and esters of organic and inorganic acids, such as the alkyl, cycloalkyl and aryl phosphoric acid esters, benzoic acid esters, and stearic acid esters. Illustrative preparations of the liquefied carboxylate are given in the Examples.
Inasmuch as solvent may accompany the liquefied carboxylate in the homogeneous liquid stabilizer systems of the invention, the term "substantially solvent-free" when used to describe the systems of the invention does not exclude such solvent in amounts up to 12% by weight of the liquid stabilizer system.
The phenolic antioxidant should be a liquid, but need not be, since it is soluble in the liquid stabilizer system, and contains one or more phenolic hydroxyl groups, and one or more phenolic nuclei, and can contain from about eight to about three hundred carbon atoms. In addition, the phenolic nucleus can contain an oxy or thio ether group.
The alkyl-substituted phenols and polynuclear phenols, because of their molecular weight, have a higher boiling point and therefore are preferred because of their lower volatility. There can be one or a plurality of alkyl groups of one or more carbon atoms. The alkyl group or groups including any alkylene groups between phenol nuclei preferably aggregate at least four carbon atoms. The longer the alkyl or alkylene chain, the better the compatability with the liquid stabilizer system, and therefore there is no upper limit on the number of alkyl carbon atoms. Usually from the standpoint of availability, the compound will not have more than about eighteen carbon atoms in an alkyl, alicyclidene and alkylene group, and a total of not over about fifty carbon atoms. The compounds may have from one to four alkyl radicals per phenol nucleus.
The phenol contains at least one and preferably at least two phenolic hydroxyls, the two or more hydroxyls being in the same ring, if there is only one. In the case of bicyclic phenols, the rings can be linked by thio or oxyether groups, or by alkylene, alicyclidene or arylidene groups.
The monocyclic phenols which can be employed have the structure: ##STR13## R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen; halogen; and organic radicals containing from one to about thirty carbon atoms, such as alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkaryl, aralkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, and acyl ##STR14## where R' is aryl, alkyl or cycloalkyl; x.sub.1 and x.sub.2 are integers from one to four, and the sum of x.sub.1 and x.sub.2 does not exceed six.
The polycyclic phenol employed in the stabilizer combination is one having at least two aromatic nuclei linked by a polyvalent linking radical, as defined by the formula: ##STR15## wherein Y is a polyvalent linking group selected from the group consisting of oxygen; carbonyl; sulfur; sulfinyl; aromatic, aliphatic and cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon groups; and oxyhydrocarbon, thiohydrocarbon and heterocyclic groups. The linking group can have from one up to twenty carbon atoms;
Ar is a phenolic nucleus which can be a phenyl or a polycarbocyclic group having condensed or separate phenyl rings; each Ar group contains at least one free phenolic hydroxyl group up to a total of five. The Ar rings can also include additional rings connected by additional linking nuclei of the type Y, for example, Ar--Y--Ar--Y--Ar;
m.sub.1 and m.sub.2 are numbers from one to five, and n.sub.1 and n.sub.2 are numbers of one or greater, and preferably from one to four.
The aromatic nucleus Ar can, in addition to phenolic hydroxyl groups, include one or more inert substituents. Examples of such inert substituents include hydrogen, halogen atoms, e.g., chlorine, bromine and fluorine; organic radicals containing from one to about thirty carbon atoms, such as alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy and acyloxy ##STR16## where R' is aryl, alkyl or cycloalkyl, or thiohydrocarbon groups having from one to about thirty carbon atoms, and carboxyl ##STR17## groups. Usually, however, each aromatic nucleus will not have more than about eighteen carbon atoms in any hydrocarbon substituent group. The Ar group can have from one to four substituent groups per nucleus.
Typical aromatic nuclei include phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl, triphenylenyl, anthracenyl, pyrenyl, chrysenyl, and fluorenyl groups.
When Ar is a benzene nucleus, the polyhydric polycyclic phenol has the structure: ##STR18## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are inert substituent groups as described in the previous paragraph;
m.sub.1 and m.sub.3 are integers from one to a maximum of five;
m.sub.2 is an integer from one to a maximum of four;
x.sub.1 and x.sub.3 are integers from zero to four; and
x.sub.2 is an integer from zero to three;
y.sub.1 is an integer from zero to six; and
y.sub.2 is an integer from one to five, preferably one or two.
Preferably, the hydroxyl groups are located ortho and/or para to Y.
Exemplary Y groups are alkylene, alkylidene, and alkenylene arylene, alkylarylene, arylalkylene, cycloalkylene, cycloalkylidene, and oxa- and thia-substituted such groups; carbonyl groups, tetrahydrofuranes, esters and triazino groups. The Y groups are usually bi, tri, or tetravalent, connecting two, three or four Ar groups. However, higher valency Y groups, connecting more than four Ar groups can also be used. According to their constitution, the Y groups can be assigned to subgenera as follows:
(1) Y groups where at least one carbon in a chain or cyclic arrangement connect the aromatic groups, such as: ##STR19##
(2) Y groups made up of more than a single atom including both carbon and other atoms linking the aromatic nuclei, such as: ##STR20##
Although the relation of effectiveness to chemical structure is insufficiently understood, many of the most effective phenols have Y groups of subgenus (1), and accordingly this is preferred. Some of these phenols can be prepared by the alkylation of phenols or alkyl phenols with polyunsaturated hydrocarbons such as dicyclopentadiene or butadiene.
Representative phenols include guaiacol, resorcinol monoacetate, vanillin, butyl salicylate, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methyl phenol, 2-tert-butyl-4-methoxy phenol, 2,4-dinonyl phenol, 2,3,4,5-tetradecyl phenol, tetrahydro-.alpha.-naphthol, o-, m- and p-cresol, o-, m- and p-phenylphenol, o-, m- and p-xylenols, the carvenols, symmetrical xylenol, thymol, o-, m- and p-nonylphenol, o-, m- and p-dodecyl-phenol, and o-, m- and p-octyl phenol, o-, and m-tert-butyl-p-hydroxy-anisole, p-n-decycloxy-phenol, p-n-decyloxycresol, nonyl-n-decyloxy-cresol, eugenol, isoeugenol, glyceryl monosalicylate, methyl-p-hydroxy-cinnamate, 4-benzyloxy-phenol, p-acetylaminophenol, p-stearyl-aminophenol methyl-p-hydroxy benzoate, p-di-chlorobenzoyl-aminophenol, p-hydroxysalicyl anilide, stearyl-(3,5-di-methyl-4-hydroxy-benzyl)thioglycolate, stearyl-.beta.-(4-hydroxy-3,5-di-t-butylphenyl)propionate, distearyl- 3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzylphosphonate, and distearyl (4-hydroxy-3-methyl-5-t-butyl)benzylmalonate.
Exemplary polyhydric phenols are orcinol, propyl gallate, catechol, resorcinol, 4-octyl-resorcinol, 4-dodecyl-resorcinol, 4-octadecyl-catechol, 4-isooctyl-phloroglucinol, pyrogallol, hexahydroxybenzene, 4-isohexylcatechol, 2,6-di-tertiary-butylresorcinol, 2,6-di-isopropyl-phloroglucinol.
Exemplary polyhydric polycyclic phenols are methylene bis-(2,6-di-tertiary-butyl-phenol), 2,2-bis-(4-hydroxy phenyl)propane, methylene-bis-(p-cresol), 4,4'-benzylidene bis-(2-tertiary-butyl-5-methyl-phenol), 4,4'-cyclohexylidene bis-(2-tertiary-butylphenol), 2,2'-methylene-bis-(4-methyl-6-(1'-methyl-cyclohexyl)-phenol), 2,6-bis-(2'-hydroxy-3'-tertiary-butyl-5'-methylbenzyl)-4-methylphenol, 4,4'-bis-(2-tertiary-butyl-5-methyl-phenol), 2,2'-bis-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)butane, ethylene bis(p-cresol), 4,4'-n-butylidene-(2-t-butyl-5-methyl-phenol), 2,2'-methylene-bis-(4-methyl-6-(1'-methyl-cyclohexyl)-phenol), 4,4'-cyclohexylene bis-(2-tertiary-butyl-phenol), 2,6-bis-(2'-hydroxy-3'-t-butyl-5'-methyl-benzyl)-4-methyl-phenol, 1,3'-bis(naphthalene-2,5-diol)propane, and 2,2'-butylene bis-(naphthalene-2,7-diol), (3-methyl-5-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-4'-hydroxyphenyl)propane, 2,2'-methylene-bis-(4-methyl-5-isopropylphenol), 2,2'-methylene bis-(5-tert-butyl-4-chlorophenol), (3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-(4'-hydroxy-phenyl)ethane, (2-hydroxy-phenyl)-(3',5'-di-tert-butyl-4',4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane, 2,2'-methylene bis-(4-octylphenol), 4,4'-propylene bis-(2-tert-butyl-phenol), 2,2'-isobutylene bis-(4-nonylphenol), 2,4-bis-(4-hydroxy-3 -t-butylphenoxy)-6-(n-octylthio)-1,3,5-triazine, 2,4,6-tris-(4-hydroxy-3-t-butyl-phenoxy)-1,3,5-triazine, 4,4'-bis-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)pentanoic acid octadecyl ester, cyclopentylene-4,4'-bis-phenol, 2-ethylbutylene-4,4'-bisphenol, 4,4'-cyclooctylene-bis-(2-cyclohexylphenol), .beta.,.beta.-thiodiethanol bis-(3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenoxy acetate), 1,4-butanediol-bis-(3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenoxy acetate), pentaerythritoltetra-(4-hydroxyphenol propionate), 2,4,4'-tri-hydroxy benzophenone, 4,4'-bis-(4-hydroxy-phenol)pentanoic acid octadecyl thiopropionate ester, 1,1,3-tris-(2'-methyl-4-hydroxy-5'-tert-butylphenyl)butane, 1,1,3-tris-(1-methyl-3-hydroxy-4-tert-butylphenyl)butane, 1,8-bis-(2-hydroxy-5-methylbenzoyl-n-octane, 1-methyl-3-(3-methyl-5-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy-benzyl)-naphthalene, 2,2'-(2-butene)-bis-(4-methoxy-6-tert-butyl phenol)-bis-[3,3-bis-(4-hydroxy-3-t-butylphenyl)butyric acid]glycol ester, 4,4'-butylidene-bis-(6-t-butyl-m-cresol), 1,1,3-tris-(2-methyl-4-hydroxy-5-t-butylphenyl)butane, 1,3,5-tris-(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene, tetrakis[methylene-3-(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate]methane, 1,3,5-tris-(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)isocyanurate, 1,3,5-tris-(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionyl-oxyethyl isocyanurate, 2-octylthio-4,6-di-(4-hydroxy-3,5-di-t-butyl)phenoxy-1,3,5-t riazine, and pentaerythritol hydroxyphenyl propionate.
A particularly desirable class of polyhydric polycyclic phenols are the dicyclopentadiene polyphenols, which are of the type: ##STR21## in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are lower alkyl, and can be the same or different, and
n is the number of the groups enclosed by the brackets, and is usually from 1 to about 5. These are described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,567,683, dated Mar. 2, 1971 to Spacht. A commercially available member of this class is Wingstay L, exemplified by dicyclopentadiene tri-(2-tert-butyl-4-methyl-phenol) of the formula: ##STR22##
The polyhydric polycyclic phenols used in the invention can also be condensation products of phenol or alkylphenols with hydrocarbons having a bicyclic ring structure and a double bond or two or more double bonds, such as .alpha.-pinene, .beta.-pinene, dipentene, limonene, vinylcyclohexene, dicyclopentadiene, allo-ocimene, isoprene and butadiene. These condensation products are usually obtained under acidic conditions in the form of more or less complex mixtures of monomeric and polymeric compounds. However, it is usually not necessary to isolate the individual constituents. The entire reaction product, merely freed from the acidic condensation catalyst and unchanged starting material, can be used with excellent results. While the exact structure of these phenolic condensation products is uncertain, the Y groups linking the phenolic nuclei all fall into the preferred subgenus (1). For method of preparation, see e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,124,555, 3,242,135 and British Pat. No. 961,504.
Particularly useful stabilizers that are also plasticizers are the epoxy higher esters having from 20 to 150 carbon atoms. Such esters will initially have had unsaturation in the alcohol or acid portion of the molecule, which is taken up by the formation of the epoxy group.
Typical unsaturated acids are acrylic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic, erucic, ricinoleic, and brassidic acids, and these may be esterified with organic monohydric or polyhydric alcohols, the total number of carbon atoms of the acid and the alcohol being within the range stated. Typical monohydric alcohols include butyl alcohol, 2-ethyl hexyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol, isooctyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, and oleyl alcohol. The octyl alcohols are preferred. Typical polyhydric alcohols include pentaerythritol, glycerol, ethylene glycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,4-butylene glycol, neopentyl glycol, ricinoleyl alcohol, erythritol, mannitol and sorbitol. Glycerol is preferred. These alcohols may be fully or partially esterified with the epoxidized acid. Also useful are the epoxidized mixtures of higher fatty acid esters found in naturally-occurring oils such as epoxidized soybean oil, epoxidized olive oil, epoxidized coconut oil, epoxidized cotton-seed oil, epoxidized tall oil fatty acid esters and epoxidized tallow. Of these, epoxidized soybean oil is preferred.
The alcohol can contain the epoxy group and have a long or short chain, and the acid can have a short or long chain, such as epoxystearyl acetate, epoxystearyl stearate, glycidyl stearate, and polymerized glycidyl methacrylate.
The liquid stabilizer systems of the invention are effective in enhancing the resistance to deterioration by heat and light of any polyvinyl chloride resin. The term "polyvinyl chloride" as used herein is inclusive of any polymer formed at least in part of the recurring group: ##STR23## and having chlorine content in excess of 40%. In this group, the X groups can each be either hydrogen or chlorine, and n is the number of such units in the polymer chain. In polyvinyl chloride homopolymers, each of the X groups is hydrogen. Thus, the term includes not only polyvinyl chloride homopolymers but also after-chlorinated polyvinyl chlorides as a class, for example, those disclosed in British Pat. No. 893,288 and also copolymers of vinyl chloride in a major proportion and other copolymerizable monomers in a minor proportion, such as copolymers of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate, copolymers of vinyl chloride with maleic or fumaric acids or esters, and copolymers of vinyl chloride with styrene. The stabilizer systems are effective also with mixtures of polyvinyl chloride in a major proportion with a minor proportion of other synthetic resins such as chlorinated polyethylene or a copolymer of acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene.
These liquid stabilizer systems are of particular application to the stabilization of rigid polyvinyl chloride resin compositions, that is, resin compositions which are formulated to withstand high processing temperatures, of the order of 375.degree. F. and higher, and whose mechanical strength would be adversely affected by an unduly high amount of liquid or low melting additive.
The stabilizer compositions of the invention can also be used with plasticized polyvinyl chloride resin compositions of conventional formulation, even though resistance to heat distortion is not a requisite. Conventional plasticizers well known to those skilled in the art can be employed such as, for example, dioctyl phthalate, octyl diphenyl phosphate and epoxidized soybean oil.
The polyvinyl chloride resin can be in any physical form, including, for example, powders, films, sheets, molded articles, foams, filaments, and yarns.
A sufficient amount of the stabilizer system is used to enhance the resistance of the polyvinyl chloride to deterioration in physical properties, including, for example, discoloration and embrittlement, under the heat and/or light conditions to which the polymer will be subjected. Very small amounts are usually adequate. Amounts within the range from about 0.001 to about 15% liquid stabilizer system by weight of the polyvinyl chloride resin are satisfactory. Preferably, an amount within the range from about 0.05 to about 5%, is employed for optimum stabilizing effectiveness.
Inasmuch as all of the essential components are liquids, the liquid stabilizer systems of the invention are readily formed as homogeneous liquids by simple blending and mutual dissolution, with heating, if necessary.
The zinc-chloride-organic triphosphite complex stabilizer systems comprise a blend of:
(a) zinc chloride-organic triphosphite complex in an amount within the range from about 20 to 40 parts by weight; and
any one or more of the following amounts of optional ingredients:
(b) organic thiophosphite containing at least one mercaptocarboxylic acid ester group in an amount within the range from about 20 to about 40 parts by weight;
(c) organic triphosphite in an amount within the range from about 25 to 45 parts by weight;
(d) barium carbonate-barium alkyl phenate in an amount within the range from about 20 to about 40 parts by weight;
(e) barium-cadmium and/or barium-zinc and/or barium-cadmium-zinc and/or calcium carboxylate of any of the acids noted above in an amount within the range from about 1 to about 10 parts by weight;
(f) phenolic antioxidant in an amount within the range from about 0.01 to about 1 part by weight;
(g) acid phosphite in an amount within the range from about 0.5 to about 5 parts by weight.
The liquid stabilizer systems of the invention can be employed as the sole stabilizer. They can also be used in combination with other conventional heat and light stabilizers for polyvinyl chloride resins, such as, for example, hydroxybenzophenones, organotin compounds, and epoxy compounds.
In addition, any of the conventional polyvinyl chloride resin additives, such as lubricants, emulsifiers, antistatic agents, flame-proofing agents, pigments and fillers, can be employed.
A preferred liquid stabilizer system is added to the polyvinyl chloride resin in an amount to provide in the resin from about 0.1 to about 2% of the zinc chloride-organic triphosphite complex; from about 0.1 to about 2% of the thiophosphite containing at least one mercaptocarboxylic acid group; from about 0.1 to about 2% of the barium carbonate-barium alkyl phenate; from about 0.1 to about 1.5% of the calcium carboxylate salt; from about 0.2 to about 1% of the organic triphosphite; and from about 0 to about 1% total of one or more of the additional ingredients, as noted above.
The liquid stabilizer system is incorporated in the polymer in suitable mixing equipment, such as a mill or a Banbury mixer. If the polymer has a melt viscosity which is too high for the desired use, the polymer can be worked until its melt viscosity has been reduced to the desired range before addition of the stabilizer. Mixing is continued until the mixture is substantially uniform. The resulting composition is then removed from the mixing equipment and brought to the size and shape desired for marketing or use.
The stabilized polyvinyl chloride resin cam be worked into the desired shape, such as by milling, calendering, extrusion or injection molding, or fiber-forming. In such operations, it will be found to have a considerably improved resistance to discoloration and embrittlement on exposure to heat and light.
The following Examples illustrate preferred zinc chloride-organic triphosphite complexes and their preparation; and preferred liquid stabilizer systems of the invention:
EXAMPLE A
Into a 1000 ml flask was placed 480 gms of di-isodecyl phenyl phosphite. The flask was heated to 100.degree. C. and 120 gms of technical grade zinc chloride added, with mixing. The mixing was continued for 4 hours; as the reaction proceeded, all the ZnCl.sub.2 dissolved in the phosphite. At the end of the reaction, the percent of active Zn in the complex was determined to be 9.7% (theoretical %=9.58%).
EXAMPLE B
Into a 1000 ml flash was placed 560 gms of isodecyl diphenyl phosphite. The flask was heated to 100.degree. C., and 140 gms of technical grade zinc chloride added, with mixing. The mixing was continued for 4 hours at 100.degree..about.110.degree. C.; as the reaction proceeded, all the ZnCl.sub.2 dissolved in the phosphite. At the end of the reaction, the percent of active Zn in the complex was determined to be 9.27% (theoretical %=9.58%).
EXAMPLE C
Into a 1000 ml flask was added 420 gms of di-isodecyl phenyl phosphite and 60 gms of butyl carbitol 2(2'-butoxyethoxy)ethanol. There was then mixed in ZnCl.sub.2 and the mixture heated at 100.degree..about.110.degree. C. until all the ZnCl.sub.2 dissolved. The percent active Zn in the complex was 9.62%.
The following Examples represent preferred embodiments of polyvinyl chloride resin compositions containing stabilizer systems of the invention.
EXAMPLES 1 TO 4
A series of clear polyvinyl chloride resin compositions was prepared having the following formulation:
Ingredients Parts by Weight
Polyvinyl chloride homopolymer
(Diamond 450)
Dioctyl phthalate 40
Epoxidized soybean oil
(Drapex 6.8)
Stearic acid 0.3
Stabilizer system as identified in Table A
TABLE A
Stabilizer Example No.
Stabilizers Control A I II III IV
Ba octoate 35.90 35.90 35.90
Cd benzoate/tallate,
15.65 15.65 15.65
14% Cd
Zn octoate, 8.5% Zn
6.33 -- -- -- --
ZnCl.sub.2 /diisodecyl phenyl
-- 6.33 -- 5.38 4.00
phosphite (Example A)
ZnCl.sub.2 /isodecyl diphenyl
-- -- 6.33 -- --
phosphite (Example B)
Isodecyldiphenyl
phosphite
Diphenyl phosphite
2.50 2.50 2.50 -- 2.50
Di-t-butyl-p-cresol
2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00
Alkylaromatic 15.62 15.62 15.62
Hydrocarbon diluent
The resin compositions were milled on a two-roll mill at 350.degree. F. for 3 minutes, and then sheeted off. The milled sheets were cut into strips, which were then placed in an oven and heated at 375.degree. F. (190.degree. C.) until dark edges appeared on the samples. Samples of each were cut off from the strips at fifteen minute intervals, and placed on a card. The development of color in the course of the heating was characterized by numbers, according to the following tabulation, and is reported below in Table I.
1 clear
2 slightly faint yellow
3 light yellow
4 yellow
5 yellow with black edges
6 dark yellow with black edges
7 dark black
Time Color
Example No.: A 1 2 3 4
Resin Composition
Containing Stabilizer
System No.: A I II III IV
After: 0 min. 1 1 1 1 1
15 min. 2 1+ 1+ 1 1+
45 min. 3 3 3 3 3
These results show that the use of a zinc chloride-triphosphite complex according to the invention imparts improved heat stability to the samples, as evidenced by lessened discoloration, especially in the first two test periods that most closely correlate with the heat history of industrial processing of polyvinyl chloride.
A series of opaque filled polyvinyl chloride resin compositions was prepared, having the following formulation:
Calcium carbonate (Atomite)
Titanium dioxide TiO.sub.2
Stabilizer system as shown in Table B
TABLE B
Stabilizer Control B V VI VII VIII
Diisodecyl phenyl
39.2 39.2 39.2 39.2 39.2
3.76 3.76 3.76 3.76 3.76
1,1,3-tris-(5-tert-
butyl-2-methyl-4-
hydroxyphenyl)
Solution Cd benzoate-
22.93 22.93 22.93
tallate (14% Cd)
Oleic acid 0.88 0.88 0.88 0.88 0.88
Basic Zn-2-ethyl
3.63 -- -- -- --
hexoate
ZnCl.sub.2 /diisodecyl
-- 8.16 -- -- --
phenyl phosphite
(Example A)
ZnCl.sub.2 /isodecyl
-- -- 8.16 4.00 6.00
(Example B)
Liquid BaCO.sub.3 --
Ba nonylphenate
10.10 5.57 5.57 9.73 7.73
The resin compositions were milled on a two-roll mill at 350.degree. F. for 3 minutes, and then sheeted off. The milled sheets were cut into strips, which were then placed in an oven and heated at 375.degree. F. (190.degree. C.) until dark edges appeared on the samples. Samples of each were cut off from the strips at fifteen minute intervals, and placed on a card. The development of color in the course of the heating was characterized by numbers, according to the following tabulation, and is reported below in Table II.
1 white
2 off-white
3 faint yellow
6 yellow to light orange
7 dark yellow
Example No. Control B
5 6 7 8
System No.: B V VI VII VIII
15 min. 2 1+ 1 1 1
45 min. 3- 3- 3- 2+ 3
105 min. 7 7 7 6 8-
120 min. 8 8 8- 7 8+
These results show the improved heat stability imparted to these pigmented polyvinyl chloride compositions according to this invention by the zinc chloride-triphosphite combinations in Examples V to VIII.
Ingredients Parts by Weight
Dioctyl phthalate 40
Epoxidized soybean oil 5
Stearic acid 0.3
Stabilizer system as identified in Table C
TABLE C
Stabilizer System No.:
Control C IX
Ba nonyl phenate 21.20 --
(121/2% Ba)
Zn octoate 21.20 --
(81/2% Zn)
-- 15.0
Isooctyl diphenyl 42.6 52.0
15.0 --
Ba nonyl phenate
-- 3.0
Isodecyl alcohol -- 10.0
The resin compositions were milled on a two-roll mill at 350.degree. F. for 3 minutes, and then sheeted off. The milled sheets were cut into strips, which were then placed in an oven and heated at 375.degree. F. (190.degree. C.) until dark edges appeared on the samples. Samples of each were cut off from the strips at fifteen minute intervals, and placed on a card. The development of color in the course of the heating was characterized by numbers, according to the following tabulation, and is reported below in Table III.
Time Color
Example No.: Control C 9
System No.: C IX
After: 0 min. 1 1
10 min. 1 1
20 min. 1+ 1
30 min. 2 1+
These results show the improved heat stability imparted to the barium-zinc stabilizer (i.e. cadmium-free) compositions according to this invention by the zinc chloride-triphosphite combination of Example IX.
EXAMPLES 10 TO 12
A series of clear polyvinyl chloride resin compositions were prepared, having the following formulation:
Stabilizer system as identified
1, 2 or 3 as
in Table C, Examples C and IX
indicated in
The resin compositions were milled on a two-roll mill at 350.degree. F. for 3 minutes and then sheeted off. The milled sheets were cut into strips which were then placed in an oven and heated at 375.degree. F. (190.degree. C.) until dark edges appeared on the samples. Samples of each were cutt off from the strips at fifteen minute intervals and placed on a card. The development of color in the course of the heating was characterized by numbers according to the following tabulation and are reported below in Table IV.
1 clear
2 slightly faint yellow
3 light yellow
4 yellow
5 yellow with black edges
6 dark yellow with black edges
7 dark black
Time Color
Example No.:
Control D
10 Control E
11 Control F
System No.:
C IX C IX C IX
Amount: 1 1 2 2 3 3
1 1 1 1 1 1
2 1+ 1+ 1+ 1 1
3 2 3 2 2- 2-
4 3+ 4 3 2 2
6 4+ 7 4 7 3+
7 5 7+ 5 7+ 5
7+ 6 7+ 6 7+ 6
These results illustrate a problem of long standing with conventional barium-zinc stabilizer compositions, which stabilizer compositions according to this invention are able to overcome. The conventional stabilizers of controls D, E and F are characterized by negative dose-response, meaning that increasing the use level of the stabilizer does not provide better stabilization; at best, improved early color control with higher use levels is counterbalanced by more severe discoloration on further heating. In contrast, the increase in use level of stabilizer system IV according to this invention from 1 to 2 and 3 parts in Examples 10, 11 and 12 provides a positive dose-response, i.e. improved stabilization with higher use level.
EXAMPLES 13 AND 14
Stabilizer system as identified in Table D
D E X XI
Isodecyl diphenyl phosphite
17.70 -- 38.0 40.0
3.38 2.0 3.0 --
Basic zinc 2-ethyl hexoate
1.33 6.0 -- --
Oleic acid 0.62 -- -- --
Cd benzoate-tallate solution
47.91 -- -- --
(14% Cd)
Barium nonyl phenate
4,4-Isopropylidene-bis
0.30 -- 4.0 4.0
(2,6-di-t-butyl phenol)
mixed with related phenols
-- 18.0 27.0 28.0
Ba nonyl phenate solution
Cd benzoate-tallate
-- 16.0 -- --
Diisodecyl phenyl phosphite
Di-tert-butyl-p-cresol
-- 2.0 -- --
-- -- 18.0 18.0
Tri(isooctyl thioglycolate)
thiophosphite
The resin compositions were milled on a two-roll mill at 350.degree. F. for 3 minutes, and then sheeted off. The milled sheets were cut into strips, which were then placed in an oven and heated at 375.degree. F. (190.degree. C.) until dark edges appeared on the samples. Samples of each were cutt off from the strips at fifteen minute intervals, and placed on a card. The development of color in the course of the heating was characterized by numbers, according to the following tabulation, and is reported below in Table V.
1 clear
2 slightly faint yellow
3 light yellow
4 yellow
5 yellow with black edges
6 dark yellow with black edges
7 dark black
Example No.: Control G Control H 13 14
System No.: D E X XI
After: 0 min. 1 1 1 1
15 min. 1 1 1+ 1
30 min. 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+
45 min. 2- 2- 2- 2-
60 min. 2 2 2 3
75 min. 3 3 3 3+
105 min. 5 6 5 6-
120 min. 6 7 6- 7
These results show that the cadmium-free-barium-zinc stabilizer compositions of Examples 13 and 14 are at least as good as the cadmium containing stabilizer compositions of Controls G and H. The latter represent commercial stabilizer formulations widely used in automobile interior plastic items. This is believed to be the first instance of achieving equivalent or better effectiveness of a cadmium-free stabilizer to a cadmium-containing stabilizer without requiring the use of additional epoxysoybean oil to compensate for diminished heat stability.
A series of clear polyvinyl chloride resin compositions was prepared, having the following formulation:
Stabilizer system as identified in Table E
(based on Stabilizer System C of Table D)
TABLE E
XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII
Isodecyl diphenyl
38.0 38.0 38.0 38.0 38.0 38.0
3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0
4,4-isopropylidene-
bis-(2,6-di-tert-butyl
phenol)
Isooctyl thioglycolate
-- 10.0 -- -- -- --
Tri-2-ethylhexyl
-- -- 10.0 -- -- --
thioglycolate thio-
Tri(thiododecyl)
-- -- -- 10.0 -- --
.sup.1 MEC.sub.3 thiophosphite
-- -- -- -- 10.0 --
-- -- -- -- -- 10.0
.sup.1 Tri(thiophosphite) of 2mercaptoethyl caprate
The resin compositions were milled on a two-roll mill at 350.degree. F. for 3 minutes, and then sheeted off. The milled sheets were cut into strips, which were then placed in an oven and heated at 375.degree. F. (190.degree. C.) until dark edges appeared on the samples. Samples of each were cut off from the strips at fifteen minute intervals, and placed on a card. The development of color in the course of the heating was characterized by numbers, according to the following tabulation, and are reported below in Table VI.
TABLE VI
15 16 17 18 19 20
XII XIII
XIV XV XVI XVII
1 1 1 1 1 1
2 1 1+ 2- 1+ 1+
2+ 1+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+
3 2 3 3 3 3+
4 3 3+ 4 4+ 4+
6 4 4+ 5 5+ 5
7+ 7 7 7+ 7+ 7+
These results show the improvement imparted to stabilizers containing a zinc chloride-triphosphite combination by various sulfur compounds. The triphosphites used in stabilizer compositions XIII and XIV are clearly superior to isooctyl thioglycolate (the starting material for the trithiophosphite of Example XIII) and to trithiophosphites lacking the mercaptocarboxylic acid structure, as in stabilizer compositions XV and XVI.
Stabilizer system as identified in Table F
TABLE F
XVIII XIX XX XXI F
40 40 33 36 36
Tri(isooctyl thio-
glycolate) thiophosphite
4 4 4 4 4
4,4-isopropylidene
bis(2,6-di-tert-butyl
Cd benzoate tallate
-- -- 7 7 --
Zn-octoate (8.5% Zn)
-- 9 -- -- 22
18 9 18 15 --
The resin compositions were milled on a two-roll mill at 350.degree. F. for 3 minutes, and then sheeted off. The milled sheets were cut into strips, which were then placed in an oven and heated at 375.degree. F. (190.degree. C.) until dark edges appeared on the samples. Samples of each were cut off from the strips at fifteen minute intervals, and placed on a card. The development of color in the course of the heating was characterized by numbers, according to the following tabulation, and are reported below in Table VII.
TABLE VII
Time Color
21 22 23 24 Control I
System No.: XVIII XIX XX XXI F
After: 0 min. 1 1 1 1 1
15 min. 1+ 1+ 1 1 2
30 min. 2 2+ 2 2 3
45 min. 3 3 2+ 2+ 3
60 min. 3+ 3+ 3- 3 3+
75 min. 4 4 4- 4- 4+
90 min. 4+ 4+ 4 4 4+
105 min. 5 4+ 4 4+ 5-
120 min. 6 6 6 6 6
These results illustrate, first, the enhanced effectiveness of a trithiophosphite when used together with a barium-zinc stabilizer containing zinc chloride-triphosphite combination according to this invention (compare Control I to Examples 21 and 22) and second, the unexpected finding that compositions containing a trithiophosphite according to this invention can be used together with a cadmium salt without "sulfide staining" or other adverse effects.
1. A zinc chloride-organic triphosphite complex having the formula: ##STR24## wherein: R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are selected from the group consisting of alkyl having from one to about eighteen carbon atoms; alkenyl having from one to about eighteen carbon atoms; cycloalkyl having from three to about twelve carbon atoms; alkylaryl having from seven to about twenty-four carbon atoms; and aryl having from six to ten carbon atoms; and
q is a number representing the number of phosphite groups per zinc chloride group, and is selected from 0.5, 1 and 2, the organic triphosphite of the zinc chloride-organic triphosphite complex being a liquid over the temperature range from about -10.degree. C. up to about 200.degree. C.
2. A zinc chloride-organic triphosphite complex according to claim 1 in which the organic triphosphite is an alkyl aryl phosphite.
3. A zinc chloride-organic triphosphite complex according to claim 1 in which the organic triphosphite is di(isodecyl)phenyl phosphite.
4. A zinc chloride-organic triphosphite complex according to claim 1 in which the organic triphosphite is isodecyl diphenyl phosphite.
5. A zinc chloride-organic triphosphite complex according to claim 1 in which q is 1.
6. A zinc chloride-organic triphosphite complex according to claim 1 in which q is 0.5.
8. A homogeneous liquid stabilizer system for polyvinyl chloride resins consisting essentially of:
(1) a zinc chloride-organic triphosphite complex having the formula: ##STR25## wherein: R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are selected from the group consisting of alkyl having from one to about eighteen carbon atoms; alkenyl having from one to about eighteen carbon atoms; cycloalkyl having from three to about twelve carbon atoms; alkylaryl having from seven to about twenty-four carbon atoms; and aryl having from six to ten carbon atoms; and
q is a number representing the number of phosphite groups per zinc chloride group, and ranges from 0.3 to about 3; and
(2) at least one polyvinyl chloride resin stabilizer selected from the group consisting of:
(a) organic thiophosphites;
(b) barium carbonate-alkyl phenate complexes;
(c) barium, cadmium, zinc and calcium salts of carboxylic acids;
(d) phenolic antioxidants;
(e) organic triphosphites; and
(f) organic acid phosphites.
9. A stabilizer system according to claim 8 comprising an organic thiophosphite having the formula: ##STR26## wherein: p is a number from 1 to 3;
10. A stabilizer system according to claim 9 in which the thiophosphite is a tri(mercaptocarboxylic acid ester) phosphite.
11. A stabilizer system according to claim 8 comprising a liquid barium carbonate-alkyl phenate.
12. A stabilizer system according to claim 11 in which the barium carbonate alkyl phenate comprises barium carbonate combined with at least one barium alkyl phenate in a nonvolatile organic liquid which acts as a liquefying agent for the carbonate.
13. A stabilizer system according to claim 12 in which the organic liquid is selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbon oils, plasticizers, epoxy esters, and mixtures thereof.
14. A stabilizer system according to claim 11 in which the metal ratio of barium carbonate to barium alkyl phenate is a number within the range from 2 to 20.
15. A stabilizer system according to claim 11 in which the alkyl phenate residue of the barium alkyl phenate has at least ten up to about one hundred fifty carbon atoms.
16. A stabilizer system according to claim 11 in which the ratio of total barium to the organic moiety in the barium carbonate-barium alkyl phenate is greater than the stoichiometric ratio of the neutral barium alkyl phenate.
17. A stabilizer system according to claim 16 in which the barium carbonate-barium alkyl phenate is barium carbonate-barium dodecyl phenate containing from 23 to 29% Ba.
18. A stabilizer system according to claim 8 in which the organic triphosphite of the zinc chloride-organic triphosphite complex is a liquid over the temperature range from about -10.degree. C. up to about 200.degree. C.
19. A stabilizer system according to claim 8 comprising a liquid organic triphosphite defined by the formula: ##STR27## in which R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, and cycloalkyl groups having from one to about fifty carbon atoms.
20. A stabilizer system according to claim 8 comprising a liquid organic triphosphite defined by the formula: ##STR28## in which R.sub.4 is a bivalent organic radical selected from the group consisting of alkylene, arylene, aralkylene, alkarylene and cycloalkylene radicals having from two to about thirty carbon atoms, and R.sub.5 is a monovalent organic radical selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, and cycloalkyl groups having from one to about thirty carbon atoms.
21. A stabilizer system according to claim 8 comprising a liquid organic triphosphite defined by the formula: ##STR29## in which R.sub.4 is a bivalent organic radical selected from the group consisting of alkylene, arylene, aralkylene, alkarylene and cycloalkylene radicals having from two to about thirty carbon atoms.
22. A stabilizer system according to claim 9 comprising a liquid organic triphosphite defined by the formula: ##STR30## where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are selected from the group consisting of aryl, alkyl, aryloxyethyl, alkyloxyethyl, aryloxyethoxyethyl, alkyloxyethoxyethyl and alkyloxypolyethoxyethyl having from about one to about thirty carbon atoms.
23. A stabilizer system according to claim 8 comprising a liquid organic acid phosphite.
24. A stabilizer system according to claim 23 in which the acid phosphite is defined by the formula: ##STR31## in which: R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, and cycloalkyl groups having from one to about thirty carbon atoms, and at lest one to two of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 is hydrogen.
25. A stabilizer system according to claim 8 comprising a phenolic antioxidant.
26. A stabilizer system according to claim 25 in which the phenolic antioxidant has at lest one phenolic hydroxyl group, at least one phenolic nucleus, and from about eight to about three hundred carbon atoms.
27. A stabilizer system according to claim 25 in which the phenolic antioxidant is a monocyclic phenol having the structure: ##STR32## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen; halogen, and organic radicals containing from one to about thirty carbon atoms selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkaryl, aralkyl, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, and ##STR33## where R' is aryl, alkyl or cycloalkyl;
x.sub.1 and x.sub.2 are integers from one to four, and the sum of x.sub.1 and x.sub.2 does not exceed six.
28. A stabilizer system according to claim 25 in which the antioxidant has the formula: ##STR34## wherein Y is a polyvalent linking group selected from the group consisting of oxygen; carbonyl; aromatic, aliphatic and cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon groups and oxyhydrocarbon groups having from one up to twenty carbon atoms;
Ar is a phenolic nucleus containing at least one free phenolic hydroxyl group up to a total of five;
m.sub.1 and m.sub.2 are numbers from one to five, and
n.sub.1 and n.sub.2 are numbers from one to four.
29. A stabilizer system according to claim 28 in which Ar is a benzene nucleus.
30. A stabilizer system according to claim 8 comprising a calcium salt of a carboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of branched chain aliphatic carboxylic acids having from about five to about thirteen carbon atoms; aromatic carboxylic acids having from about seven to about eleven carbon atoms; and unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acids having from about twelve to about twenty-two carbons.
31. A stabilizer system according to claim 8 comprising a blend of:
(a) zinc chloride-organic triphosphite complex in an amount within the range from about 20 to about 40 parts by weight;
(b) organic thiophosphite in an amount within the range from about 20 to about 40 parts by weight;
(c) barium carbonate-barium alkyl phenate in an amount within the range from about 20 to about 40 parts by weight;
(d) organic triphosphite in an amount within the range from about 25 to about 45 parts by weight.
32. A stabilizer system according to claim 31 comprising at least one member of the group consisting of:
(a) barium, cadmium, zinc or calcium carboxylate in an amount within the range from about 1 to about 10 parts by weight;
(b) phenolic antioxidant in an amount within the range from about 0.01 to about 1 part by weight; and
(c) acid phosphite in an amount within the range from about 0.5 about 5 parts by weight.
33. A polyvinyl chloride resin composition having improved resistance to deterioration when heated at 350.degree. F., comprising a polyvinyl chloride resin formed at least in part of the recurring group: ##STR35## and having a chlorine content in excess of 40%, where X is either hydrogen or chlorine; and an amount to enhance the resistance to deterioration of the resin of a stabilizer system-according to claim 8.
34. A polyvinyl chloride resin composition in accordance with claim 33 in which the polyvinyl chloride resin is polyvinyl chloride homopolymer.
35. A polyvinyl chloride resin composition in accordance with claim 33 in which the polyvinyl chloride resin is a copolymer of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate.
36. A polyvinyl chloride resin composition having improved resistance to deterioration when heated at 350.degree. F., comprising a polyvinyl chloride resin formed at least in part of the recurring group: ##STR36## and having a chlorine content in excess of 40%, where X is either hydrogen or chlorine; and an amount to enhance the resistance to deterioration of the resin of a stabilizer composition according to claim 9.
37. A polyvinyl chloride resin composition having improved resistance to deterioration when heated at 350.degree. F., comprising a polyvinyl chloride resin formed at least in part of the recurring group: ##STR37## and having a chlorine content in excess of 40%, where X is either hydrogen or chlorine; and an amount to enhance the resistance to deterioration of the resin of a stabilizer system according to claim 11.
39. A polyvinyl chloride resin composition having improved resistance to deterioration when heated at 350.degree. F., comprising a polyvinyl chloride resin formed at least in part of the recurring group: ##STR39## and having a chlorine content in excess of 40%, where X is either hydrogen or chlorine; and an amount to enhance the resistance to deterioration of the resin of a stabilizer composition according to claim 33.
40. A polyvinyl chloride resin composition having improved resistance to deterioration when heated at 350.degree. F., comprising a polyvinyl chloride resin formed at least in part of the recurring group: ##STR40## and having a chlorine content in excess of 40%, where X is either hydrogen or chlorine; and an amount to enhance the resistance to deterioration of the resin of a zinc chloride-organic triphosphite complex according to claim 25.
2945872 July 1960 Birum
2951052 August 1960 Darby
3218342 November 1965 Kerschner
3219605 November 1965 Klemchuk
3412118 November 1968 Kujawa et al.
3428597 February 1969 Dikotter et al.
3943081 March 9, 1976 Brook
4159973 July 3, 1979 Hoch et al.
4178282 December 11, 1979 Bae
4661544 April 28, 1987 Quinn
Chemical Abstracts 66 29613a (1967). Chemical Abstracts 87 6993u (1977). Chemical Abstracts 86 73750e (1977). Chemical Abstracts 81 51773j (1974).
Filed: May 13, 1986
Date of Patent: Nov 1, 1988
Assignee: Argus Chemical Corporation (Brooklyn, NY)
Inventors: Kook J. Bae (East Northport, NY), Michael Fisch (Wayne, NJ), Otto Loeffler (Woodbridge, NJ)
Primary Examiner: Paul F. Shaver
Current U.S. Class: Phosphorus Containing (556/13); Metal (524/327); Organic And Inorganic Matter Containing (252/383); 252/40023
International Classification: C07F 306;
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Justia Patents US Patent for Method and system for translating an optimization problem for use in efficient resource allocation Patent (Patent # 5,649,113)
Method and system for translating an optimization problem for use in efficient resource allocation
Oct 12, 1994 - U S WEST Technologies, Inc.
An improved method and system for translating an optimization problem for use in efficient resource allocation. The improved method of the present invention includes the step of generating an index link record for each of the index variables in the optimization problem so as to eliminate the need for a symbol table and a plurality of temporary data records. The method also includes the step of linking the index link records of the index variables requiring expansion in a reverse order of the order listed in the optimization problem so as to reduce the number of traversals performed during expansion processing. The index link records have a pointer for identifying the next index variable requiring expansion.
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This invention relates generally to resource allocation methods and systems. In particular, this invention relates to a method and system for translating an optimization problem for use in efficient resource allocation.
BACKGROUND ART
The need for resource allocation decisions arises in a broad range of technological and industrial areas such as, for example, the assignment of transmission facilities in telephone transmission systems, inventory control, materials and operations management, as the routing of data services between related business offices. Resource allocation in this context means, in general, the deployment of specific technological or industrial resources for the production of particular technological or industrial results.
Resource allocation decisions are typically subject to constraints on such allocations. Resources are always limited in overall availability, and, furthermore, the usefulness of a particular resource in some particular application may also be limited. The problem, then, is to allocate the resources so as to satisfy all of the constraints and, simultaneously, to maximize the payoff, i.e., minimize the costs or maximize the benefits.
One method of solving resource allocation problems includes translating the resource allocation (or optimization) problem into a linear programming model. Such a model consists of a number of linear expressions that represent the quantitative relationships among allocations and constraints. The formal statement of a linear programming model takes the form of an objective function which is to be maximized or minimized, and a plurality of constraint relationships which express the physical constraints on acceptable allocations. The objective function and constraint relationships can be expressed in compact mathematical equations and definitions.
All objective functions and all constraint relationships can then be translated into linear programming format by algebraic manipulation. A known method of performing the required algebraic manipulation includes defining index variables and their properties, e.g., names, ranges and bounds, etc., and recording the same utilizing a symbol table during a syntax analysis phase. Subsequently, when an index variable is used as a range variable, its definition may be looked up and retrieved from a symbol table, as shown, for example, in FIG. 1. A temporary data record may then be created to hold the relevant definition information, plus any other relevant information that is necessary to carry out the desired expansion task.
With this approach, the temporary data record would need to contain certain amount of information that is redundant since the information is already stored in the symbol table. At a minimum, multiple copies of variable names must be kept in order to support name-based searches for uses of variables in algebraic expressions.
Other similar occurrences of redundancy are sometimes introduced during operation. For example, when two or more index variables are used to define a compound range, their records are usually linked together in a chronological order, which often times does not result in the most efficient way of processing them.
The known prior art fails to disclose an approach to algebraic modeling of an optimization problem that eliminates the need to keep redundant information regarding index variables during the expansion process.
Consequently, a need has developed for a means for efficiently translating an optimization problem which maximizes memory usage.
It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved method and system for efficiently translating an optimization problem.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved method and system for translating an optimization problem which optimizes memory usage.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved method and system for translating an optimization problem which reduces the number of pointer traversals needed during expansion processing.
In carrying out the above objects and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention, an improved method is provided for translating an optimization problem for use in efficient resource allocation.
The improved method includes the initial step of generating an index link record for each of the index variables in the optimization problem so as to eliminate the need for a symbol table and a plurality of temporary data records.
In keeping with the invention, index link records of the index variables requiring expansion are linked in a reverse order of the order listed in the optimization problem so as to reduce the number of traversals performed during expansion processing. The index link records have a pointer for identifying the next index variable requiring expansion.
In further carrying out the above objects and other objects of the present invention, a system is also provided for carrying out the steps of the above described improved method.
The system includes means, such as a processor, for generating an index link record for each of the index variables in the optimization problem. The index link records eliminate the need for a symbol table and a plurality of temporary data records.
Means are further included for linking the index link records of the index variables requiring expansion in a reverse order of the order listed in the optimization problem so as to reduce the number of traversals performed during expansion processing.
The system also includes a solver operatively connected to the generating and linking means to obtain a solution to the resource allocation problem.
The above objects, features and advantages of the present invention, as well as others, are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof may be readily obtained by reference to the following detailed description when considered with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all of the views, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a symbol table utilized in the prior art method of translating an optimization problem;
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an index link record utilized in the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a linked list utilized in the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 4A-4D are flowcharts illustrating the general sequence of steps associated with the operation of the present invention; and
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Returning to FIG. 1, the symbol table utilized by the prior art in translating an optimization problem is further discussed. Symbol tables are used to store information about a program. As known to those skilled in the art, the symbol table is constructed during the syntax analysis phase and is utilized to store variable information such as variable names and types. The symbol table is utilized only to store static program information. During processing of an objective function or constraint relationships, dynamic data records similar to the symbol table are required.
The method of the present invention can be illustrated by way of an example. An optimization problem may involve the shipment of goods from various plants to various markets in a least expensive way, given plant capacities, market demands and unit shipping costs. The objective function and the constraint relationships can be written as follows:
MINIMIZE:
SLIM cost[plant, market]*shipment[plant, market]
SUBJECT TO:
Sum shipment[plant,market].ltoreq.supply[plant]
Sum shipment[plant,market].gtoreq.demand[market]
In the prior art method of translating an optimization problem, a symbol table similar to that of FIG. 1 would be generated during the syntax analysis phase. However, the method of the present invention provides an index link record to be generated for each index variable during the syntax analysis phase. The index link record is illustrated in FIG. 2.
The index link record combines static (or definition) information and dynamic (or expansion) information into one record, thereby eliminating the need for a symbol table and a temporary data record. The definition information includes the name of the index variable and its corresponding upper-bound and lower-bound ranges.
In addition to the definition information, memory space is also reserved for expansion information used for later expansion processing. The expansion information includes a pointer for identifying the next index variable requiring expansion in the optimization problem. The expansion information also includes a cursor for ranging from the lower-bound limit to the upper-bound limit of the corresponding index variable.
The next step of the improved method of the present invention includes linking the index link records of the index variables requiring expansion in a reverse order of the order listed in the optimization problem. The reverse order effectively reduces the number of pointer traversals needed during expansion processing since the most frequently incremented index variables are placed in the front of the list in the present invention.
The index link records for the objective function listed above with index variables "plant" and "market" would be linked in a reverse order, as shown in FIG. 3. The expansion processing would begin with the "market" index variable. Upon completion of the expansion of "market", the expansion processing would shift to the "plant" index variable since "market's" pointer points to "plant."
A computer program utilized to link the index link records in a reverse order is as follows:
1. Set the dynamic list pointer (DL) to end-of-list
2. Get first index variable name, ixname
3. If no more index variable name, stop
4. Search in index link records for index variable record with name ixname, ixrec
5. Initialize ixrec: set its cursor value to that of its lower-bound limit
6. Link ixrec into DL (in reverse order):
6.1 Have its pointer point to that pointed to by DL
6.2 Have DL point to ixrec
7. Get next index variable name, ixname
8. Go to 3
The linking of the index link records in a reverse order when combined with a row-major expansion strategy give rise to the following efficient index computation procedure:
1. Set ix (pointer) to first index variable
2. If ix is end of list, stop; o.w., goto 3
3. If cursor of ix less than its upper-bound limit, goto 4; o.w., goto 5
4. Increment the cursor of ix, stop
5. If ix not last index variable, reset its cursor to the lower-bound limit
6. Set ix to the next index variable, goto 2.
Therefore, the present invention provides a method of efficiently reducing an optimization problem having an objective function and at least one constraint relationship into an expanded form. The expanded form is then normalized into standard linear programming format for use with a solver to obtain a solution in efficiently allocating resources. A typical solver known by those skilled in the art include commercial solvers such as Simplex, CPLEX, or Karmarker. The resource is then physically allocated in accordance with the solution obtained by the solver 72.
Turning now to the flowcharts of FIGS. 4A-4D, the general sequence of steps associated with expanding the objective function and the constraint relationships are illustrated.
The first step in processing the optimization problem includes the step of generating an index link record for each index variable as shown by block 10.
The method continues with the step of initializing the Row Index List (RIL) as shown by block 12. This step is accomplished utilizing the program outlined above for linking the index link records together in a reverse order.
Next, the method continues with the step of determining whether the RIL is exhausted, as shown by conditional block 14. In other words, this step involves determining whether the end of the linked records has been met. If the RIL is exhausted, no further expansion is required and the program stops as shown by block 16.
If the RIL is not exhausted, the method continues with an optional step of determining whether the RIL condition has been satisfied, as shown by block 18. This step eliminates terms or index variables from the expansion process. For example, the resource allocation problem may exclude a plant located in Boulder and one located in Denver. In this case, the program will continue to the next step, 20, if these terms are not in the RIL.
If the RIL condition is satisfied, the method continues with the step of expanding the objective function or constraint, as shown by block 20, otherwise the method proceeds to block 22 and computes the next index value, to be described below. The step of expanding the objective function or constraint is illustrated in FIG. 4B.
In expanding the objective function or constraint, the method determines what kind of expression is to be processed.
If the expression type is an "ADD" (or addition) expression, the method proceeds with expanding the ADD expression accordingly as reflected by blocks 24 and 26.
If a "SUB" (or subtraction) expression is to be processed, the method proceeds with expanding the SUB expression accordingly as shown by blocks 28 and 30.
Furthermore, if the expression type is a "MUL" (or multiplication) expression, the method proceeds with expanding the MUL expression accordingly as shown by blocks 32 and 34.
If a "DIV" (or division) expression is to be processed, the method proceeds with expanding the DIV expression accordingly as shown by blocks 36 and 38.
If the expression type is a "SLIM" (or summation) expression, the method proceeds with expanding the SUM expression accordingly as shown by blocks 40 and 42.
Finally, if the expression type is a simple expression, the method proceeds with expanding the simple expression as shown by block 44.
The step of expanding the SUM expression, block 42, is further illustrated in FIG. 4C (similar procedure as FIG. 4A). The method begins with the step of initializing the Term Index List (TIL) as shown by block 46. This step is similar to step 12 but applies to the terms giving rise to horizontal expansion.
The step of expanding the SUM expression continues with the step of determining whether the TIL is exhausted as shown by block 48. If the TIL is exhausted, the method proceeds to step 22 and computes the next index value.
If the TIL is not exhausted, however, the method proceeds with an optional step of determining whether a TIL condition is satisfied as shown by conditional block 50. If the TIL condition is satisfied, the method proceeds with the step of expanding the objective function or the constraint as shown by block 52, which is also illustrated in FIG. 4B.
Next, if the TIL condition is not satisfied or upon completing the expansion of the objective function or constraint, the method proceeds with the step of computing the next term index value as shown by block 54. The step is further illustrated in FIG. 4D.
FIG. 4D illustrates the general sequence of steps associated with efficient index computation which is accomplished utilizing the computer program outlined above. The method begins with the step of determining whether ix (or pointer of the corresponding index link record) is pointing to the end of the list as shown by conditional block 56.
If the pointer is at the end of the list, the method returns to either step 14 or step 50, accordingly.
However, if the pointer is not at the end of the list, the method proceeds with the step of determining whether the cursor is less than the upper-bound limit as shown by conditional block 58. If the cursor is less than the upper-bound limit, the method proceeds with the step of incrementing the cursor as shown by block 60 and then returning to either step 14 or step 50, accordingly.
If the cursor is not less than the upper-bound limit, the method proceeds with the step of determining whether the pointer or ix is the last index variable as shown by conditional block 62. If the pointer is not the last index variable, the cursor is reset to its lower-bound limit as shown by block 64.
If the pointer is the last index variable or upon resetting the cursor to its lower-bound limit, the method proceeds with the step of setting the pointer to the next index variable as shown by block 66.
The method outlined in FIGS. 4A-4D expand the row indices and summations of the objective function and the constraint relationships of an optimization problem into an algebraic expression for use with a solver.
The system of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 5. The system includes inputs 68 operatively connected to a processor 70. The inputs 68 include the resources to be allocated and all constraints on the resources, if any. For example, an input 68 may include various plant locations, various sales offices, the cost of shipping from each plant location to each sales office, the demand at each sales office, etc.
The inputs are fed into a processor 70 which processes the information into a format recognized by a solver 72. The solver 72 is operatively connected to the processor 70 and obtains a solution to the resource allocation problem. A typical mixed integer linear programming solver, such as a Karmarker, Simplex or CPLEX, may be utilized. The resource is then physically allocated in accordance with the solution obtained by the solver 72.
While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention as defined by the following claims.
1. In a method of processing and expanding index variables listed in an objective function and at least one constraint relationship into standard linear programming format to obtain a solution in determining efficient resource allocation utilizing a corresponding solver, of the type wherein the index variables and their properties are defined and transferred to a symbol table during a syntax analysis phase, portions of the symbol table relating to the index variables requiring expansion are transferred to a plurality of temporary data records containing information stored in the symbol table, and the temporary data records are linked in a forward order during expansion, wherein the improvement comprises:
generating an index link record for each of the index variables so as to eliminate the need for the symbol table and the plurality of temporary data records;
linking the index link records of the index variables requiring expansion in a reverse order of the order listed in the objective function and the at least one constraint relationship into an expanded form so as to reduce the number of traversals performed during expansion processing, the index link records having a pointer for identifying the next index variable requiring expansion; and
allocating the resource based on the expanded form.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the index link records contain definition information and expansion information.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the definition information includes a name of the index variable and a lower-bound and an upper-bound range of the index variable.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein the expansion information includes a pointer for identifying the next index variable requiring expansion and a cursor for ranging from the lower-bound range to the upper-bound range of the corresponding index variable.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of linking the index link records in a reverse order comprises:
(a) setting the pointer of the index link record of a first index variable listed in the objective function or the at least one constraint relationship as an end of an expansion list;
(b) determining whether there is a second index variable listed in the objective function or the at least one constraint relationship;
(c) setting the pointer of the index link record of the second index variable listed in the objective function or the at least one constraint relationship to the first index variable; and
(d) repeating steps (b) and (c) until no more index variables are listed in the objective function or the at least one constraint relationship.
6. For use in determining efficient resource allocation, a computerized method for translating an optimization problem requiring expansion of a summation expression into standard linear programming format to obtain a solution utilizing a corresponding solver, comprising:
generating an objective function corresponding to an algebraic model of a goal of the optimization problem, the objective function including index variables corresponding to variables involved in the optimization problem;
generating at least one constraint relationship corresponding to an algebraic model of physical constraints on the variables involved in the optimization problem;
generating an index record for each index variable containing both static information and dynamic information, the static information representing index variable names and index variable lower-bound ranges and upper-bound ranges, and the dynamic information corresponding to an expansion record for maintaining a cursor value corresponding to an integer value between the lower-bound ranges and the upper-bound ranges of each of the index variables and a pointer for linking together index variables requiring expansion;
expanding the index variables of the objective function and the at least one constraint relationship in a reverse order so as to translate the optimization problem into the standard linear programming format;
providing the translated optimization problem to the solver to obtain a solution; and
physically allocating the resource in accordance with the solution.
4121297 October 17, 1978 Smith
4744028 May 10, 1988 Karmarkar
4924386 May 8, 1990 Freedman et al.
5001664 March 19, 1991 Makita et al.
5128860 July 7, 1992 Chapman
5148365 September 15, 1992 Dembo
5216593 June 1, 1993 Dietrich et al.
5291397 March 1, 1994 Powell
5321605 June 14, 1994 Chapman et al.
5343388 August 30, 1994 Wedelin
5408663 April 18, 1995 Miller
Filed: Oct 12, 1994
Date of Patent: Jul 15, 1997
Assignee: U S WEST Technologies, Inc. (Boulder, CO)
Inventors: Jianhua Zhu (Lafayette, CO), Yuping Qiu (Louisville, CO)
Primary Examiner: Robert A. Weinhardt
Assistant Examiner: Joseph Thomas
Law Firm: Brooks and Kushman, P.C.
Current U.S. Class: 395/207; 364/46805; 364/46809; 395/208
International Classification: G06F 1760;
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Justia Patents In A Ring Or Loop NetworkUS Patent for Efficient triple modular redundancy on a braided ring Patent (Patent # 8,817,597)
Efficient triple modular redundancy on a braided ring
Nov 5, 2007 - Honeywell International Inc.
One embodiment comprises a network that includes a plurality of bi-directional links and a plurality of nodes. Each node is communicatively coupled to two neighbor nodes and to two skip nodes using the plurality of bi-directional links. Three neighboring nodes of the plurality of nodes form a triple modular redundant (TMR) set having a first end node, a second end node, and a center node, the first end node configured to transmit output data in a first direction and the second end node configured to transmit output data in a second direction. At least one of the plurality of nodes that is not in the redundant set determines the integrity of data received from the redundant set based on at least: (i) a comparison of data received on a first logical communication channel from a respective first neighbor node with data received on the first logical communication channel from a respective first skip node; (ii) a comparison of data received on a second logical communication channel from a respective second neighbor node with data received on the second logical communication channel from a respective second skip node; and (iii) a comparison of data received on the first logical communication channel from one of the respective first neighbor node and the respective first skip node with data received on the second logical communication channel from one of the respective second neighbor node and the respective second skip node.
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This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/993,933 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,606,179), filed Nov. 19, 2004 entitled “HIGH INTEGRITY DATA PROPAGATION IN A BRAIDED RING”, hereby incorporated herein by reference, and referred to herein as the “'933 application”.
This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/537,305, filed on Sep. 29, 2006, entitled “SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FAULT-TOLERANT HIGH INTEGRITY DATA PROPAGATION USING A HALF-DUPLEX BRAIDED RING NETWORK”, hereby incorporated herein by reference, and referred to herein as the “'305 Application”.
This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/010,249 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,372,859), filed Dec. 10, 2004 entitled “SELF-CHECKING PAIR ON A BRAIDED RING NETWORK”, hereby incorporated herein by reference, and referred to herein as the “'249 application”.
Fail-operational systems often use a Triple Modular Redundant (TMR) configuration. Traditionally, however, time division multiple access (TDMA) based TMR configurations require extensive overhead in the form of interstages and/or software overhead to perform the voting that is done in connection with selecting a TMR output. In addition, TDMA-based TMR configurations often use multiple TDMA slots/transmissions to share or observe the output from each member of the TMR set.
One embodiment comprises a network that includes a plurality of bi-directional links and a plurality of nodes. Each node is communicatively coupled to two neighbor nodes and to two skip nodes using the plurality of bi-directional links. Three neighboring nodes of the plurality of nodes form a triple modular redundant (TMR) set having a first end node, a second end node, and a center node, the first end node configured to transmit output data in a first direction and the second end node configured to transmit output data in a second direction.
In another embodiment, a network comprises a plurality of nodes communicatively coupled to one another over first and second logical communication channels. Each of the plurality of nodes is communicatively coupled to respective first and second neighbor nodes and respective first and second skip nodes. The plurality of nodes comprises a redundant set of nodes comprising at least three nodes. When the redundant set transmits first data: (A) the redundant set transmits the first data on both the first and second logical communication channels; (B) each of the plurality of nodes that is not in the redundant set forwards along the first logical communication channel any data received on the first logical communication channel from a respective first neighbor node and forwards along the second logical communication channel any data received on the second logical communication channel from a respective second neighbor node; and (C) at least one of the plurality of nodes that is not in the redundant set determines the integrity of data received from the redundant set based on at least: (i) a comparison of data received on the first logical communication channel from a respective first neighbor node with data received on the first logical communication channel from a respective first skip node; (ii) a comparison of data received on the second logical communication channel from a respective second neighbor node with data received on the second logical communication channel from a respective second skip node; and (iii) a comparison of data received on the first logical communication channel from one of the respective first neighbor node and the respective first skip node with data received on the second logical communication channel from one of the respective second neighbor node and the respective second skip node.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a half-duplex network.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a full-duplex network.
FIG. 3 is a diagram of exemplary time division multiple access schedules.
FIG. 4 is a chart of one embodiment of voting comparisons in a triple modular redundant set.
FIG. 5 is a flow chart of one embodiment of a method of voting in an end node.
FIG. 6 is a flow chart of one embodiment of a method of processing data in a guardian node.
FIG. 7 is a flow chart of one embodiment of a method of processing data in receiving nodes.
FIG. 8 is a flow chart of one embodiment of a method of reconstituting integrity.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific illustrative embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It should be understood that the exemplary method illustrated may include additional or fewer steps or may be performed in the context of a larger processing scheme. Furthermore, the method presented in the drawing figures or the specification is not to be construed as limiting the order in which the individual steps may be performed. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a network 100. In this embodiment, network 100 employs a half-duplex braided-ring topology. In the particular example shown in FIG. 1, the network 100 includes eight nodes 102, which are individually referenced herein as node A through node H. Although eight nodes are shown in FIG. 1, it is to be understood that any number of nodes can be used in other embodiments. Each of the nodes 102 is coupled to its two immediate neighbors (also referred to herein as “direct neighbors”) via respective direct links 108 and to its neighbors' neighbor (also referred to herein as “skip neighbors” or “skip nodes”) via respective skip links 106. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, direct links 108 and skip links 106 are implemented using respective half-duplex bidirectional links. In other embodiments, direct links 108 and skip links 106 are implemented using respective full-duplex bi-directional links as shown in FIG. 2.
Moreover, for the sake of illustration, the details of nodes 102 are not shown; however, it is understood that the nodes 102 are implemented using suitable hardware and/or software to implement the functionality described here as being performed by the nodes 102. Each such node 102 also includes a suitable network or other interface for communicatively coupling that node to the links 108 and 106. Examples of suitable node implementations are described in the '933 Application and the '249 Application, though it is to be understood that the nodes 102 can be implemented other ways.
The links 106 and 108 are used to form at least two logical communication channels. In the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the first logical communication channel comprises a communication path around the ring in a first direction (for example, in a clockwise direction), and the second logical communication channel comprises a communication path around the ring in a second direction (for example, in a counter-clockwise direction). In the embodiment, the two logical communication channels are implemented in a half-duplex manner using a single braided ring. In other embodiments, such channels are implemented in other ways. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the two logical communication channels are implemented using two full-duplex braided rings around the network.
In the example shown in FIG. 1, nodes A, B, and C form a triple modular redundant (TMR) set 104. TMR set 104 has two end nodes (nodes A and C in FIG. 1) and a center node (node B in FIG. 1). In this embodiment, TMR set 104 provides voted output data. That is, the local data from each of nodes A, B, and C is compared to each other and the output of the TMR set 104 as a whole is selected based on that comparison. Each of the end nodes (nodes A and C) provides the voted output data to a respective guardian node (nodes H and D in FIG. 1). A guardian node is a node that is adjacent to one of the end nodes in the TMR set 104 but that is not a member of the TMR set 104. As used herein, the terms “adjacent” and “neighboring” refer to being communicatively coupled to another node via a direct link 108. Each guardian node (H and D) is also coupled to the center node (B) of the TMR set 104 via respective skip links 106. Each guardian node compares the voted output data received from the end node to which it is coupled via a direct link 108 with a corresponding output received from the center node to which it is coupled via skip link 106.
In the embodiment described here in connection with FIG. 1, the guardian nodes H and D forward only the voted output data received from end nodes A and C, respectively, and indicate the integrity (high or low) of the forwarded output data based on the comparison with the output received from the center node. Hence, the voted output data propagates in two directions around the braided ring. In the event that each guardian node indicates low integrity (for example, due to a mismatch between the voted output data from the end nodes and the output data from the center node), each node not in TMR set 104, including guardian nodes H and D, is able to reconstitute the integrity of the forwarded voted output data by comparing the forwarded data received in both directions. That is, if the forwarded output data received from both directions is the same, the integrity of the forwarded data is viewed as high even if a mismatch was detected at each of guardian nodes H and D. The reconstituted data is trusted as having high integrity because of the voting action in TMR set 104 combined with the integrity comparisons at each node. In this way, faulty data from node B is isolated by the agreement of the voted data from nodes A and C from each direction.
In operation, each node in TMR set 104 receives data, such as sensor data, for performing calculations. When the nodes in TMR set 104 are scheduled to transmit as a part of the TMR set 104 (for example, in accordance with a TDMA schedule), the data that the nodes in TMR set 104 will transmit must be agreed upon or otherwise selected or obtained such that the outputs are bit-for-bit identical. In the particular embodiment described, each node in TMR set 104 exchanges its received data with the other members of TMR set 104 to verify that each member received the same data. Each member then performs the same calculation using the received data. Typically, the calculated result is identical from each member of TMR set 104 unless one of nodes A, B, and C is faulty. However, in certain circumstances, the calculated result from each member varies slightly even though each of nodes A, B, and C is non-faulty. For example, certain functions or processes, such as the sin function or floating point calculations, have inherent variances based on, among other things, the compiler architecture used, etc. in each node. This type of slight variance is not due to a faulty node. Therefore, in some embodiments, nodes A, B, and C perform a bounded comparison on the calculated results internally prior to transmitting. For example, if the calculated result in node A is different, but within a set limit, of the calculated result from node C, node A chooses to use the data from node C. The determination of which calculated result to use can be determined a priori.
In such an embodiment when TMR set 104 is scheduled to transmit, nodes A, B, and C exchange data and vote on an output. An exemplary TDMA schedule for a half-duplex network is shown in FIG. 3. As can be seen in the exemplary schedule 304, a slot is reserved for an internal local comparison of data received at each member of TMR set 104, as shown in FIG. 3. In addition, TMR set 104, comprising nodes A, B, and C, transmits in two time slots, one slot for each of two directions. Similarly, node D transmits in two time slots allowing data to propagate completely around the ring in both directions. Alternatively, nodes E and A are only assigned one time slot. Nodes E and A transmit data in both directions in one time slot and the network uses a fault-tolerant half-duplex propagation method to prevent collision. The fault-tolerant half-duplex propagation method is described in more detail in the '305 application. In addition, as can be seen in schedule 304, more than one TMR set can be used in some embodiments as indicated by time slots for a TMR set comprising nodes E, F, and G.
When TMR set 104 is scheduled to transmit, node A receives data from node B via a corresponding direct link 108 and data from node C via a corresponding skip link 106. Node A compares its local data with the data received from nodes B and C. In particular, node A compares its local data with data from node C, its local data with the data from node B, and the data from node B with the data from node C. In this embodiment, node A compares the data by performing a bit-by-bit comparison as data is received from nodes C and B. If one of nodes B and C provides a different or faulty bit, node A blocks the different bit and outputs the majority vote (e.g. the bit on which two nodes agree). For example, in one embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the voted output for each bit is based on the majority value of each bit provided by nodes A, B, and C. As can be seen in FIG. 4, nodes A and B provide a logical value of “1” for bit #3, whereas node C provides a logical value of “0” for bit #3. The voted output for bit #3 is therefore, a logical “1”. In this manner, noise or other interference which causes a faulty bit from one of nodes A, B, and C is masked by the majority vote for that bit.
The bit-by-bit comparison is performed in the hardware of node A in this embodiment. Additionally, node A sends the voted output data in near real-time. That is, node A sends the voted output on a bit-by-bit basis as the voting above is performed. However, it is to be understood that, in other embodiments, voting can be performed in other manners. For example, in some embodiments, voting is performed in software residing on machine readable media in node A. Also, in other embodiments, node A stores data received from nodes B and C and compares the data once all data has been received.
The voted output data is sent from node A to guardian node H via a corresponding direct link 108. In addition, node B sends its local data to node H over its corresponding skip link 106. Node H compares the voted output data received from node A with the local data received from node B. If node H determines there is a mismatch, it forwards the output data from node A with an indication of low integrity. If the data from node A is the same as the data from node B, node H forwards the data with an indication of high integrity. For example, an integrity bit can be appended to the forwarded data to indicate low or high integrity. Alternatively, the data can be truncated at the CRC field. In this way, the payload of the frame is passed on and the truncated CRC field indicates the low integrity.
In addition, when TMR set 104 is scheduled to transmit, node H forwards only the data received from node A over direct link 108. In this example, node H does not forward data from node B even if no data is received from node A. However, if TMR set 104 is not scheduled to transmit, node H can forward data from node B. Whether or not node H forwards data from node B is determined by the TDMA schedule.
Node H forwards the data received from node A to node G via the respective direct link 108 and to node F via the respective skip link 106. Node G also receives the voted output from node A via a corresponding skip link 106. Similar to node H, node G compares the data received via skip link 106-N to the forwarded data received via direct link 108 to determine the integrity of the received data. Node G forwards data from either node A or node H with an indication of high or low integrity based on the comparison. Therefore, if node G does not receive data over the skip link 106 or the direct link 108, node G forwards the data available. Similar comparisons are made, at each node, between the data received from the same direction over skip links 106 and direct links 108.
Once the voted output from TMR 104 has propagated in the first direction around the ring, a similar process occurs for propagating the voted output from TMR 104 in the second direction around the ring in a second time slot. For example, node C receives data from nodes A and B and votes the output as described above with regards to node A. Similarly, node B outputs its local data over a skip link 106 to guardian node D. As with guardian node H, guardian node D only forwards data received over a direct link 108 from node C. Other processing to propagate the voted output in the second direction is similar to the processing described above with regards to the first direction.
Hence, the voted output data is propagated in two directions. Nodes 102 which receive the voted output data in both directions via direct links 108 and skip links 106 also determine the integrity of the forwarded data by comparing the forwarded data received in each direction to each other. For example node F receives the forwarded output data from both nodes G and E. If node F determines that the data is the same, it reconstitutes the integrity of the forwarded data as having high integrity even if each of guardian nodes H and D had indicated that the forwarded voted output data has low integrity. For example, node F can set the integrity bit to indicate high integrity. Alternatively, node F can calculate the CRC and append the recalculated CRC to indicate the high integrity.
Notably, node F receives the voted output in both directions at different times. In particular, node F receives the voted output data in the first direction during a first time slot and the voted output data in the second direction during a second time slot. To deal with receiving data at different times, such as due to transmission delays and receiving the data in different time slots, nodes 102 are configured with de-skew logic which tracks the timing of each bit and enables the bits to be compared to the correct corresponding bit received from the opposite direction. Details of the use of de-skew logic are discussed in related co-pending application entitled “High Integrity Data Propagation in a Braided Ring,” Ser. No. 10/993,933 (herein referred to as the '933 application), filed on Nov. 19, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Therefore, if the voted output data propagated in the first direction is faulty (such as due to a faulty node A), the voted output data propagated around the ring in the second direction is used if it passes integrity tests at guardian node D (which is the case since nodes B and C are non-faulty). Similarly, if the voted output data propagated in the second direction is faulty (such as due to a faulty node C), the voted output data propagated around the ring in the first direction is used if it passes integrity tests at guardian node H. If the voted output data propagated in both directions fails integrity tests at guardian nodes H and D (such as due to a faulty node B), each node 102 not in TMR set 104 reconstitutes the integrity as high integrity if the voted output in both directions matches.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a network 200. Network 200 is similar to network 100 except that direct links 208 and skip links 206 are full-duplex bi-directional links. Hence, the voted output is transmitted from end nodes A and C and propagated around the ring in both directions substantially simultaneously. Nodes 202 also use de-skew logic to properly correlate and compare bits of the voted output. However, each node 202 not in TMR set 204 performs integrity comparisons on data from each direction at substantially the same time as it performs integrity reconstitution comparisons on data from opposite directions. Hence, TMR set 204 only needs one TDMA time slot to complete transmission. Processing in nodes of network 200 is similar to the processing in nodes of network 100 and described in more detail below.
An exemplary TDMA schedule of a full-duplex network is shown in FIG. 3. As can be seen in schedule 302, only one TDMA time slot is needed for the TMR set comprising nodes A, B, and C. Also, as can be seen in schedule 302, nodes B and C are both member of two different TMR sets. The first TMR set comprises nodes A, B, and C; while the second TMR set comprises nodes B, C, and D. In some embodiments, nodes B and C are configured a priori to be members of the two TMR sets. In other embodiments, the TMR set comprising nodes A, B, and C is shifted due to a faulty node A. Hence, a faulty node A is replaced by shifting to include node D in the second TMR set.
Consequently, such embodiments provide high integrity reliability through a TMR set while removing overhead common to typical TMR configurations. For example, TMR sets 104 and 204 do not need additional voting inter-stages to vote on the output of each of the members of the TMR sets as in typical TMR configurations. In particular, voting is done at the end nodes and integrity comparisons are done at guardian nodes and around the ring as the voted output data is propagated. Similarly, by performing bit-by-bit comparisons in hardware as bits are received in the end nodes software overhead associated with voting (e.g. memory, processing power, etc.) can be reduced and/or eliminated.
Additionally, in embodiments implemented in time division multiple access (TDMA) networks, the number of TDMA time slots required for the voting is reduced. For example, a typical TMR configuration requires 3 TDMA time slots/transmissions to share/observe the output from each member of the TMR set. However, in embodiments using full-duplex bi-directional links as in network 200, only 1 TDMA time slot/transmission is required. Similarly, in embodiments using half-duplex bi-directional links as in network 100, only 2 TDMA time slots/transmissions are required.
In other embodiments, the data that the nodes in the TMR set 104 transmit (when transmitting as part of the TMR set 104) is agreed upon or otherwise selected or obtained in other ways. Moreover, in the embodiments described above in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2, the nodes 102 of the TMR set 104 are communicatively coupled to one another using the same type of communication links used to communicatively couple the TMR et 104 to the other nodes in the network 100 and the other nodes to one another. In other embodiments, the nodes 102 of the TMR set 104 are communicatively coupled to one another using links that are different than the links used to communicatively couple the TMR set 104 to the other nodes of the network and the other nodes to one another.
FIG. 5 is a flow chart of one embodiment of a method 500 of voting an output in an end node (for example, end nodes A and C above). At 502, it is determined when a TMR set (for example, TMR set 104) is to transmit a voted output. When it is time to transmit a voted output, a first end node receives a bit of local data from a second end node via a skip link (for example, skip link 106) at 504. Additionally, the first end node receives a bit of local data from a center node via a direct link (for example, direct link 108) at 506. As each bit is received from the second end node and the center node, the first end node compares each received bit with a corresponding bit in the local data of the first end node at 508. The comparison determines a majority vote for each bit as described above with reference to FIG. 4. Once the majority vote is determined, the first end node transmits the majority vote on its output direct link and output skip link in a first direction at 510. At 512, it is determined if all bits of the local data have been received and processed. If there are remaining bits, method 500 returns to 504 and 506 to receive another bit from the second end node and the center node. If all bits have been received and processed, method 500 ends at 514. It is to be noted that a similar process occurs in the second end node.
FIG. 6 is a flow chart of one embodiment of a method 600 processing data in a guardian node (for example, guardian nodes H and D). At 602, it is determined when the guardian node is to receive voted output data from a TMR set. When it is time to receive voted output data from a TMR set, the guardian node receives a bit of the voted output data from an end node via a direct link at 604. Also at 604, the guardian node receives a bit of local data from the center node via a skip link. At 606, the guardian node compares the bit received via the direct link with the bit received via the skip link to determine if they match. The guardian node then forwards only the bit from the direct link at 608. At 610, the guardian node determines if all bits have been received and processed. If processing has not finished, method 600 returns to 604 to receive another bit of voted output data from the end node via the direct link and another bit of local data from the center node via the skip link.
If processing has finished, the guardian node indicates, at 612, the integrity of the forwarded bits at the end of the message based on whether or not any mismatch of bits were identified at 606. The guardian node indicates the integrity by sending information (for example, an appended or shared integrity field) indicating that whether or not the bits received over the direct link matched the bits received over the skip link. For example, in one embodiment, the information indicative of the results of the comparison comprises an appended integrity status field that the guardian node appends to the frame of data forwarded by the guardian node. In another embodiment, a shared integrity field is included at the end of the frame of voted output data received from the end node. In such an embodiment, the guardian node sets the shared integrity field to a “negative” value (for example, a value of “0”) if the comparison indicates that the bits of voted output data do not match the corresponding bits of local data from the center node. Otherwise, the guardian node does not alter the shared integrity field if the comparison indicates that the bits match.
At 614, the guardian node determines if the voted output data has a high integrity (in other words, the voted output data from the end node matches the local data from the center node). If the voted output data has high integrity, the guardian node uses the voted output data for higher layer processing at 616. If the voted output data does not have high integrity, the guardian node determines if data received from the opposite direction (in other words, voted output data originating from the other end node) has high integrity at 618. The integrity of the data from the other direction is determined by performing the functions described at blocks 604 and 606 on the data received from a neighbor node and skip node in the second direction. Also, the integrity is based on an indication of integrity as determined by the other end node in the second direction.
If the voted output data from the other direction has high integrity, the guardian node uses the data from the other direction for higher layer processing at 620. If the voted output data from the other direction does not have high integrity, the guardian node determines if the integrity of the data can be reconstituted based on the data received in both directions at 622. An exemplary method of reconstituting integrity is described below with regards to FIG. 8. If the integrity of the data can be reconstituted, the guardian node uses the reconstituted data for higher layer processing at 624. If the integrity of the data cannot be reconstituted, the guardian node rejects the data at 626.
FIG. 7 is a flow chart of one embodiment of a method 700 processing data in a receiving node. A receiving node is a node that is not a guardian node nor in the TMR set (for example, TMR set 104) currently scheduled to transmit. At 702, it is determined when the receiving node is to receive data according to a transmission schedule. When it is time to receive data, the receiving node receives a bit of the forwarded data from a neighbor node via a direct link at 704. Also at 704, the receiving node receives a bit of forwarded data from a skip node via a skip link from the same direction as the neighbor node. At 706, the receiving node compares the bit received via the direct link with the bit received via the skip link to determine if they match. The receiving node then forwards the bit from one link only at 708. For example, in this embodiment the node is configured to forward the bit from the direct link by default. However, in the event that no bit is received from the direct link, the receiving node can forward the bit from the skip link. In addition, in some embodiments, higher level diagnostics and fault isolation techniques are used to determine which link (direct or skip) is used to forward bits. At 710, the receiving node determines if all bits have been received and processed (for example, if the frame has finished). If processing has not finished, method 700 returns to 704 to receive another bit of data from the direct link and another bit of data from the skip link.
If processing has finished, the receiving node indicates, at 712, the integrity of the forwarded bits based on whether or not any mismatch of bits were identified at 706. The receiving node indicates the integrity by sending information (for example, an appended or shared integrity field) indicating that whether or not the bits received over the direct link matched the bits received over the skip link. For example, in one embodiment, the information indicative of the results of the comparison comprises a one-bit, appended integrity field that the receiving node appends to the frame of data forwarded by the receiving node. In another embodiment, a shared integrity field is included at the end of each frame of forwarded data received by the receiving node. In such an embodiment, the receiving node sets the shared integrity field to a “negative” value (for example, a value of “0”) if the comparison indicates that the bits of voted output data do not match the corresponding bits of local data from the center node. Otherwise, the receiving node does not alter the shared integrity field if the comparison indicates that the bits match.
At 714, the receiving node determines if the data has a high integrity (in other words, the data from the neighbor node matches the data from the skip node). If the voted output data has high integrity, the receiving node uses the received data for higher layer processing at 716. If the voted output data does not have high integrity, the receiving node determines if data received from the opposite direction (in other words, voted output data originating from the other direction) has high integrity at 718. The integrity of the data from the other direction is determined by performing the functions described at block 704 and 706 on the data received a neighbor node and skip node from the second direction. Also, the integrity it based on an indication of integrity as determined by the end node in the second direction.
If the data from the other direction has high integrity, the receiving node uses the data from the other direction for higher layer processing at 720. If the data from the other direction does not have high integrity, the receiving node determines if the integrity of the data can be reconstituted based on the data received in both directions at 722. An exemplary method of reconstituting integrity is described below with regards to FIG. 8. If the integrity of the data can be reconstituted, the receiving node uses the reconstituted data for higher layer processing at 724. If the integrity of the data cannot be reconstituted, the receiving node rejects the data at 726.
FIG. 8 is a flow chart of one embodiment of a method 800 of reconstituting integrity. At 802, a bit is received from a first direction and from a second direction. In a half-duplex network such as network 100, a bit is received from a first direction in one timeslot and from the second direction in a second timeslot. De-skew logic is used to correlate the bits from each direction with each other. Similarly, in a full-duplex network such as network 200, de-skew logic is used to correlate bits from each direction with each other thereby compensating for any difference in transmission delays between the two directions.
At 804, the bit from the first direction is compared to the bit from the second direction to determine if they match. In this embodiment, if the bits do not match, the bit is flagged as an invalid bit at 806. At 808, it is determined if more bits need to be processed (for example if the frame has completed or not). If more bits need to be processed, method 800 returns to 802 where another bit is received from both directions for comparison. If no more bits need to be processed, it is determined if any of the bits were invalid at 810. If none of the bits were flagged as invalid (indicating that the data matched in both directions), the integrity of the data is reconstituted at 812. However, if one or more bits were flagged as invalid, the data is identified as having low integrity at 814.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
1. A network comprising:
a first plurality of links;
a second plurality of links and
a plurality of nodes, each node communicatively coupled to two neighbor nodes using the first plurality of links and to two skip nodes using the second plurality of links;
wherein, three neighboring nodes of the plurality of nodes form a triple modular redundant (TMR) set having a first end node, a second end node, and a center node, the first end node configured to transmit output data in a first direction and the second end node configured to transmit output data in a second direction; and
wherein the plurality of nodes further comprises a first guardian node adjacent the first end node and a second guardian node adjacent the second end node, wherein each of the first and second guardian nodes is configured to forward only data received from its respective adjacent end node, wherein each of the first and second guardian nodes is further configured to indicate integrity of the forwarded data based on a comparison of data received from its respective adjacent end node and the center node;
wherein the nodes of the plurality of nodes that form the TMR set, the first guardian node, and the second guardian node are determined according to a schedule;
wherein the plurality of nodes are configured to shift the TMR set such that a faulty node in the TMR set is replaced by another node of the plurality of nodes.
2. The network of claim 1, wherein the center node is configured to transmit its local data in both the first and second directions.
3. The network of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of nodes not in the TMR set is configured to compare the forwarded data received from a neighbor node with the forwarded data received from a skip node in the same direction to determine the integrity of the forwarded data.
4. The network of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of nodes not in the TMR set is configured to compare the forwarded data from the first guardian node in the first direction with the forwarded data from the second guardian node in the second direction and to reconstitute the integrity of the forwarded data if the data from the first guardian node matches the data from the second guardian node.
5. The network of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second end nodes votes the output data by selecting a majority vote for each bit of the output data as each bit is received in the first and second end nodes.
6. The network of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of links and the second plurality of links comprise one of full-duplex bi-directional links and half-duplex bi-directional links.
7. A triple modular redundant (TMR) set of nodes in a braided ring network, the TMR set comprising:
a first end node;
a second end node; and
a center node;
wherein, the center node is communicatively coupled to the first end node and the second end node via direct links and the first end node is communicatively coupled to the second end node via skip links;
wherein, the first end node transmits an output in a first direction to nodes outside the TMR set, the second end node transmits an output in a second direction to nodes outside the TMR set, and the center node transmits its local data in the first and second directions to nodes outside the TMR set; and
wherein each of the first and second end nodes is configured to transmit a voted output when scheduled to transmit as a member of the TMR set, and to transmit its local data when not scheduled to transmit as a member of the TMR set.
8. The triple modular redundant set of claim 7, wherein the first end node transmits an output in the first direction during a first time slot and the second end node transmits an output in the second direction during a second time slot.
9. The triple modular redundant set of claim 7, wherein each of the first and second end nodes is configured to vote the output transmitted to nodes outside the TMR set by selecting a majority vote for each bit of the output data as each bit is received in the first and second end nodes.
10. A method comprising:
receiving, in a first end node of a triple modular redundant (TMR) set, data from a second end node of the TMR set;
receiving, in the first end node, data from a center node of the TMR set;
selecting an output, in the first end node, based on the data from the second end node, the data from the center node, and data from the first end node;
transmitting the selected output from the first end node to a first guardian node in a first direction; and
transmitting the data from the center node to the first guardian node in the first direction;
wherein the first end node, the second end node, and the center node are each configured to perform the same calculations on input data when scheduled to transmit as part of the TMR set;
wherein the selected output from the first end node and the data from the center node are transmitted in the same time slot.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:
comparing the data from the center node with the selected output from the first end node in the first guardian node to determine integrity of the first end node's selected output.
forwarding only the first end node's selected output from the first guardian node.
sending an indication of the integrity of the first end node's selected output from the first guardian node.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising one of:
appending an integrity field to the selected output forwarded by the first guardian node;
updating a shared integrity field included at the end of the first end node's selected output; and
truncating the first end node's selected output after payload data in the first end node's selected output to indicate low integrity.
15. The method of claim 10, further comprising: selecting an output, in the second end node, based on the data from the first end node, the data from the center node, and the data from the second end node;
receiving, in the second end node, the data from the first end node;
receiving, in the second end node, the data from the center node;
transmitting the selected output from the second end node to a second guardian node in a second direction;
transmitting the data from the center node to the second guardian node in the second direction;
comparing the data from the center node with the selected output from the second end node in the second guardian node to determine integrity of the second end node's selected output; and
forwarding only the second end node's selected output from the second guardian node.
using the first end node's selected output for additional processing if the first end node's selected output has high integrity; and
if the first end node's selected output does not have high integrity, using the second end node's selected output for additional processing if the second end node's selected output has high integrity.
17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:
if the second end node's selected output does not have high integrity, comparing the forwarded selected output from the first end node in the first direction with the forwarded selected output from the second end node in the second direction; and
if the forwarded selected output from the first end node in the first direction is the same as the forwarded selected output from the second end node in the second direction, reconstituting the integrity of each forwarded selected output.
18. A network comprising:
a plurality of nodes communicatively coupled to one another over first and second logical communication channels;
wherein each of the plurality of nodes is communicatively coupled to respective first and second neighbor nodes and respective first and second skip nodes;
wherein the plurality of nodes comprises a redundant set of nodes comprising a center node, and first and second end nodes that comprise the neighbor nodes of the center node;
wherein the first end node, the second end node, and the center node are each configured to perform the same calculations on input data as the other nodes in the redundant set when scheduled to transmit data as part of the redundant set;
wherein the plurality of nodes further comprises a first guardian node and a second guardian node, the first guardian node adjacent the first end node and the second guardian node adjacent the second end node; wherein each of the first and second guardian nodes is configured to forward only data received from its respective adjacent end node;
wherein when the redundant set transmits first data:
(A) the redundant set transmits the first data on both the first and second logical communication channels, wherein the first end node and the center node transmit the first data in a time slot shared by the first end node and the center node, and the second end node and the center node transmit the first data in a time slot shared by the second end node and the center node;
(B) each of the plurality of nodes that is not in the redundant set forwards along the first logical communication channel any data received on the first logical communication channel from a respective first neighbor node and forwards along the second logical communication channel any data received on the second logical communication channel from a respective second neighbor node;
(C) at least one of the plurality of nodes that is not in the redundant set determines integrity of data received from the redundant set based on at least: (i) a comparison of data received on the first logical communication channel from a respective first neighbor node with data received on the first logical communication channel from a respective first skip node; (ii) a comparison of data received on the second logical communication channel from a respective second neighbor node with data received on the second logical communication channel from a respective second skip node; and (iii) a comparison of data received on the first logical communication channel from one of the respective first neighbor node and the respective first skip node with data received on the second logical communication channel from one of the respective second neighbor node and the respective second skip node.
19. The network of claim 18, wherein each of the first and second end nodes votes the first data by selecting a majority vote for each bit of the output data as each bit is received in the first and second end nodes.
20. The network of claim 18, wherein:
(i) the comparison of data received on the first logical communication channel from the respective first neighbor node with data received on the first logical communication channel from the respective first skip node comprises a bit-for-bit comparison;
(ii) the comparison of data received on the second logical communication channel from the respective second neighbor node with data received on the second logical communication channel from the respective second skip node comprises a bit-for-bit comparison; and
(iii) the comparison of data received on the first logical communication channel from one of the respective first neighbor node and the respective first skip node with data received on the second logical communication channel from one of the respective second neighbor node and the respective second skip node comprises a bit-for-bit comparison.
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Date of Patent: Aug 26, 2014
Patent Publication Number: 20090116502
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc. (Morristown, NJ)
Inventors: Brendan Hall (Eden Prairie, MN), Kevin R. Driscoll (Maple Grove, MN), Michael Paulitsch (Columbia Heights, MN)
Primary Examiner: Brian Roberts
Current U.S. Class: In A Ring Or Loop Network (370/222); Using Time Slots (370/458); Ring Computer Networking (709/251); Comparison Of Data (714/819)
International Classification: G06F 11/00 (20060101); H04L 12/437 (20060101); G06F 11/18 (20060101); G06F 11/20 (20060101);
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Tag Archives: Luis Palau
Vietnamese Authorities in Hanoi Thwart Easter Celebrations
Posted on April 21, 2011 by particularkev
Local officials prevent events featuring U.S. evangelist Luis Palau.
HANOI, Vietnam, April 18 (CDN) — Authorities in Vietnam prevented much-anticipated public Easter celebrations in Hanoi planned for Friday and Saturday (April 15-16) after giving a verbal promise to organizers that the events would proceed.
An interchurch organizing committee had submitted a request for permission well in advance and had made elaborate preparations for the special events featuring renowned evangelist Luis Palau.
The organizers said they were disappointed but not entirely surprised by the Communist government’s action.
“The authorities have clearly demonstrated to the world what we experience regularly – that their promises, whether verbal or written, cannot be trusted,” said one church leader who requested anonymity.
Asked to speculate on the reasons for the government’s ultimate refusal, another key church leader said, “I don’t know why, but it almost seems as if the government is deliberately damaging its own reputation.”
Shortly after 1 p.m. on Friday (April 15), after long negotiations, authorities gave verbal assent for the events to proceed, promising the required written permission would be issued imminently. The government-approved venue was the Dien Kinh My Dinh Sports Complex, a state-of-the-art indoor track and field stadium in Hanoi’s Tu Liem district. It reportedly holds 3,100 people; organizers had requested a place with considerably larger capacity.
After receiving the verbal promise, organizers said they went directly to the sports complex hoping to begin preparing the sound and lighting systems. They were not given access.
When no written permission was forthcoming by the scheduled start at 7 p.m., organizers said they were forced to turn away many hundreds of people arriving from the provinces by chartered buses. They urged the people to return home quietly and to pray for the event scheduled for the next evening, they said.
Very late Friday evening, the organizing committee received written permission from the Hanoi People’s Committee to hold what was to have been the second night of the event on Saturday (April 16). They immediately posted the document on Vietnam’s most popular Christian website http://www.hoithanh.com, they said.
Apparently, however, public security and city authorities quietly overrode the reluctant permission granted by Vietnam’s religion bureaucracy. Organizers told Compass that even with the official letter from the People’s Committee, several hurdles had remained. They had still needed to secure a contract from the sports complex on Saturday morning for use of the facilities, and they had yet to request the Committee for Religious Affairs for permission for Palau to speak.
Early on Saturday, Pastor Nguyen Huu Mac, president of the registered Evangelical Church of Vietnam (North), or ECVN(N), who had signed the request, went with colleagues from unregistered house churches to the sports complex to pursue the contract. When they were told that Saturday was not a work day, they went to the Tu Liem district office.
There they were stalled for several more hours by fruitless discussion. District officials eventually told them that although the sports complex was in their area of the city, it was owned and managed by another entity over which they had no control.
Finally, at 1 p.m., the manager of the sports complex arrived. He proceeded to give the organizing committee what Christian leaders described as unreasonable conditions for a contract. For instance, the manager said they could not enter the complex to prepare until 4:30 p.m. – hardly enough time for the scheduled 7 p.m. start. Organizers said he further told them that the sports complex would retain control over who and how many entered the building; he said they would not honor the tickets/invitations that had been widely distributed by the event organizers but would distribute their own and count every head.
The organizers sensed trouble.
Faced with such government duplicity and control over their event and without enough time to set up properly, church leaders said, they unanimously decided they could not proceed with integrity. Shortly after 4 p.m., they issued an indefinite postponement notice.
Reached by Compass late Saturday Hanoi time, a Luis Palau Association spokesman reported that the evangelist had just spent significant time encouraging the tired organizers. Palau told them that the Lord would bless them for their diligence and predicted that they would soon reap a great spiritual harvest. In a few years, he said, they would look on the disappointments of this weekend as insignificant, according to the spokesman.
Despite their disappointment, church leaders took note of gains: The effort to stage the events, they said, marked unprecedented cooperation among various groups, with the ECVN(N), the only registered church based in the north, applying for the permission document on behalf of all groups. Cooperating in the organizing were northern house churches belonging to the Hanoi Christian Fellowship and southern-based house churches belonging to the Vietnam Evangelical Fellowship, as well as some smaller groups.
Together, the church leaders said, they determined not to bow to government manipulation and pressure.
“Clearly someone at the top disallowed these events and then left it to clumsy underlings to create bureaucratic obstacles,” said a long-time overseas Vietnam analyst. “Most people will see through this ruse and recognize simple lack of religious freedom.”
In Ho Chi Minh City, similar Easter celebrations were given last-minute approval and went ahead the previous weekend with considerable response to Palau’s messages.
It is not known if or how the cancellation of the events in Hanoi will affect plans for the Evangelical Church of Vietnam, both the northern and southern entities, to include Palau in their June centennial celebrations in Danang, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City.
Permission has been long requested, but so far the government has only given general verbal approval.
http://www.compassdirect.org
Posted in Christianity, Communism, Easter, Luis Palau, Vietnam | Tagged action, advance, approved, authorities, belonging, bless, bureaucracy, cancellation, cannot, celebrations, centennial, Christian, Christianity, Christians, clearly, colleagues, committee, Committee for Religious Affairs, Communism, communist, communists, contract, Danang, demonstrated, Dien Kinh My Dinh Sports Complex, diligence, disappointed, disappointments, district, Easter, ECVN(N), elaborate, encouraging, entirely, Evangelical Church of Vietnam (North), evangelist, events, experience, facilities, featuring, general, government, Hanoi, Hanoi Christian Fellowship, Hanoi People's Committee, harvest, Ho Chi Minh City, house churches, indoor, insignificant, interchurch, leader, letter, lighting, local, Lord, Luis Palau, Luis Palau Association, Nguyen Huu Mac, official, officials, organizers, organizing, overrode, Pastor, permission, Persecution, planned, predicted, preparations, President, prevent, proceed, promise, promises, public, reap, registered, regularly, religion, religious freedom, reluctant, renowned, request, security, signed, sound, southern-based, special, spiritual, spokesman, stadium, submitted, surprised, systems, thwart, tired, track and field, trusted, Tu Liem, unregistered, USA, venue, verbal, Vietnam, Vietnam Evangelical Fellowship, Vietnamese, Website, world, written | Leave a comment
Unprecedented Appearance of Foreign Evangelist in Vietnam
Luis Palau preaches at Protestant centennial in spite of government putting up obstacles to event.
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, April 11 (CDN) — The first appearance by a U.S.-based evangelist preaching at a major event since the 1975 communist victory in Vietnam helped the country’s Protestants to celebrate their centennial last weekend after government officials gave last-minute approval.
In what seems to have become standard government procedure in Vietnam, permission requested months in advance was granted – at a venue several kilometers from the one organizers sought – just three hours before the first major celebration of the Centennial of Protestantism in Vietnam (1911-2011) at Thanh Long Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday (April 9) was scheduled to begin. Argentine-born Luis Palau, who has preached in person to 28 million people in 72 countries, delivered the gospel
A second night of celebration began at 7 p.m. on Sunday.
The venue change meant equipment staged in one part of the city had to be moved to the new location before it could be assembled, church leaders said. It also meant notifying many thousands of people invited to one venue about the change to the other, they said.
Given the lack of government cooperation, the leader of Vietnam’s Evangelical Fellowship (of house churches) said the fact that the event went ahead at all was “an absolute miracle.”
By word-of-mouth, Internet, Twitter, Facebook, and especially phone texting, thousands of people got word of the change as technicians and hundreds of volunteers made heroic efforts to ready the stadium. Vietnamese police proved surprisingly helpful in redirecting people from the original site to the new location.
At 9 p.m. – two hours after the schedule start – huge banners reading “PRAY FOR VIETNAM” and “GOD LOVES VIETNAM” were unfurled to welcome the Luis Palau Team and thousands of people to the festival, which joyfully combined the centennial celebration with Easter.
After opening prayers and welcome by Vietnamese leaders, Palau’s son Andrew Palau gave testimony to how God delivered him from alcoholism and drug addiction and called him to Christian service. An Intel Corp. vice-president also gave testimony to how God blessed his life and his business. Pastor-musician Don Moen, known for songs such as “Give Thanks,” “God is so Good,” and “God will Make a Way,” provided inspirational music followed by exuberant congregational singing.
Palau began his message at 11 p.m., delivering a concise and clear evangelistic sermon, and about 800 came forward as he invited people to receive Christ. It was after midnight before people began to depart for their homes.
The second celebration proceeded Sunday evening (April 10) in a more orderly and timely fashion. More than 12,000 people filled the seats and most of the chairs set up on the stadium field. In response to Palau’s second message, more than 1,000 people, according to one organizer, came forward in response to the call to follow Christ.
Photos and Vietnamese text on the events are readily available at http://www.hoithanh.com, and clips of the arrival of Palau and Moen in Vietnam may be found on YouTube. They were welcomed at Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhut airport by hundreds of enthusiastic young people carrying banners and flowers.
Dr. Nguyen Xuan Duc, president of the Vietnam World Christian Fellowship, said he was very encouraged about the future of the church in Vietnam.
“These are watershed days for Protestantism in Vietnam,” he said. “There is no fear, but rather wonderful spontaneity and irrepressible joy. Events like this happen in spite of the government and without the blessing of some overly conservative church leaders. What we see is young, vibrant, lay-led, internationally connected and very media-savvy.”
While Moen, Palau and others spoke on Sunday night, also appearing in Ho Chi Minh City was iconic singer/songwriter Bob Dylan – whose performance sold only about half of the 8,000 seats at RMIT university.
A week before in Beijing, censors who reviewed Dylan’s song list allowed an unabashedly Christian song beginning, “Jesus said be ready for you know not the hour in which I come,” but did not allow “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” according to The Associated Press. Brad Adams of Human Rights Watch complained that, in an earlier day, Dylan – whose music contributed to opposition to the Vietnam War – would never have let a government tell him what to sing, according to the AP.
Vietnamese organizers and the Palau team now travel north to Hanoi for similar events on Friday and Saturday (April 15-16). As yet there is no indication whether authorities there will be more accommodating than they were in Ho Chi Minh City.
Posted in Argentina, Christianity, Communism, USA, Vietnam | Tagged 1911, 1975, 2011, absolute, accommodating, addiction, advance, airport, alcoholism, allowed, Andrew Palau, appearance, appearing, approval, Argentina, Argentine-born, arrival, assembled, authorities, banners, based, before, began, begin, beginning, Beijing, blessed, Blowin, Blowin' in the Wind, bob Dylan, business, call, called, carrying, celebrate, celebration, censors, centennial, chairs, change, Christ, Christian, Christianity, Christians, church, city, clear, clips, combined, come, Communism, communist, communists, complained, concise, congregational, connected, conservative, contributed, cooperation, countries, country, delivered, depart, Don Moen, Dr, drug, earlier, Easter, efforts, encouraged, enthusiastic, equipment, evangelist, evangelistic, event, events, exuberant, Facebook, fashion, fear, festival, field, filled, first, flowers, follow, foreign, forward, future, gave, give, God, good, gospel, government, Hanoi, happen, helped, helpful, heroic, Ho Chi Minh City, homes, hour, house churches, huge, Human Rights Watch, iconic, indication, inspirational, Intel Corp., internationally, Internet, invited, irrepressible, Jesus, joy, joyfully, know, known, lack, last-minute, lay-led, leaders, life, list, loves, Luis Palau, Luis Palau Team, major, make, media-savvy, message, miracle, music, musician, new, Nguyen Xuan Duc, north, not, notifying, obstacles, officials, opening, opposition, orderly, organizer, organizers, original, overly, part, Pastor, people, performance, permission, Persecution, person, phone, photos, police, pray, prayers, preaches, preaching, President, procedure, Protestant, Protestantism, proved, provided, ready, receive, redirecting, requested, response, reviewed, RMIT, scheduled, seats, sermon, similar, singer, singing, site, sold, son, song, songs, songwriter, sought, spite, spontaneity, stadium, staged, standard, surprisingly, Tan Son Nhut, technicians, testimony, text, texting, Thanh Long Stadium, thanks, The Times They Are A-Changin', timely, travel, Twitter, unabashedly, unfurled, University, unprecedented, USA, vibrant, Vice President, victory, Vietnam, Vietnam Evangelical Fellowship, Vietnam War, Vietnam World Christian Fellowship, Vietnamese, volunteers, watershed, way, welcome, wind, without, wonderful, word-of-mouth, young, youtube | Leave a comment
Pro-Democracy Advocate Released from Prison
Posted on April 5, 2010 by particularkev
Her new Christian faith deepens; authorities allow evangelist Luis Palau to address pastors.
HO CHI MINH CITY, March 30 (CDN) — A Protestant prisoner of conscience who had called for democratic freedoms in Vietnam was released earlier this month after serving a three-year sentence for “propagandizing to destroy the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.”
Attorney Le Thi Cong Nhan’s sentence had been reduced by one year after an international outcry over her sentencing. She was released on March 6. Remaining in prison for another year is her colleague, Christian lawyer Nguyen Van Dai.
The 31-year-old Cong Nhan had also supported a labor union that sought to be independent. Now serving an additional three-year house arrest sentence, Cong Nhan said in a surprisingly frank interview with Voice of America’s Vietnamese language broadcast on March 9 that she has no intention of giving up her struggle for a just and free Vietnam and accepts that there may be a further price to pay.
Cong Nhan, arrested in March 2007, received a Vietnamese Bible from a visiting delegation of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom – with official permission from Vietnam’s minister of Public Security – early in her incarceration, but she had to struggle constantly to retain it. Twice she went on a hunger strike when authorities took the Bible away from her.
She had become a Christian shortly before her arrest, and she told Voice of America that while in prison she was able to read the entire Bible.
“In prison the Lord became my closest friend, my teacher, and the one who carried my burdens with me,” she said. “When I was released from prison, I received many words of praise and of love and respect – I became a bit worried about this, as I do not consider myself worthy of such. I believe I must live an even better and more worthy life.”
Her prison experience has confirmed her calling and faith, she said.
“As a direct result of my prison experience, I am more convinced than ever that the path that I have chosen is the right one,” Cong Nhan said. “Before prison I was just like a thin arrow, but now I have become a strong fort.”
Luis Palau Allowed to Speak
While Christians in several parts of Vietnam are still subject to abuse from local officials, the country’s national authorities have continued to allow high-profile Christian events. On March 17, renowned U.S. evangelist Luis Palau was allowed to address more than 400 pastors in a day-long event at the New World Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City.
Palau, who had arrived in Hanoi with his entourage on March 13, had addressed nearly 200 Hanoi area pastors at an evening event at the Hanoi Hilton on March 14. The two events were streamed live on http://www.hoithanh.com, a popular website that reports on Protestant news in Vietnam. Hundreds of Vietnamese in Vietnam and abroad were estimated to have watched the presentations.
The events were deemed significant, if not historic, by Vietnam’s Christian leaders. Very rarely is a prominent foreign Protestant leader allowed to address Vietnamese leaders, especially one from the United States.
The events were significant also in that they brought together leaders from virtually all segments of Vietnam’s fractured and sometimes conflicted Protestant groups, Christian leaders said. The gatherings included leaders of open churches and house churches, registered and unregistered churches, and urban and even ethnic minority groups from Vietnam’s remote mountainous regions.
Two representatives of a Mennonite church headed by activist pastor Nguyen Hong Quang, however, were turned away by police.
Palau and Mike McIntosh, pastor of San Diego mega-church Horizon Christian Fellowship, strongly challenged the Vietnamese church leaders to strive for unity. The assembled pastors were challenged to put aside past conflicts and suspicions for the sake of the Kingdom of God in Vietnam, with Palau saying that unity was a requirement for God’s blessing on their churches and nation.
Some Vietnamese leaders responded by expressing remorse for their divisions and committed to start working toward reconciliation.
Organizers and participants said they hope such short events will lead to larger gains. Though the Luis Palau Association had originally planned for a two-day event for 2,000 pastors, most agreed this was an unprecedented first step toward a bigger goal. With an invitation from all segments of the Protestant community in Vietnam in hand, the Luis Palau Association is prepared to help organize evangelistic festivals in Vietnam in 2011, the centenary of Protestantism in Vietnam.
“There is still a long way to go, but we are seeing miracles piling up,” said one senior Vietnamese leader. “It could happen!”
One prominent overseas Vietnamese leader wondered if Palau’s visit to Vietnam could be compared to Billy Graham’s visit to Moscow during the Soviet Communist era.
Also sharing testimonies during the March 17 event were Rick Colsen, a top Intel executive, and John Dalton, Secretary of the Navy under President Clinton.
Posted in Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Christianity, Communism, Luis Palau, Mennonite, Russia, USA, Vietnam | Tagged 2007, 2011, able, abroad, abuse, accepts, activist, additional, address, advocate, allow, area, arrest, arrested, arrived, arrow, aside, assembled, attorney, authorities, away, became, before, believe, better, Bible, bigger, Bill Clinton, Billy Graham, blessing, broadcast, brought, burdens, called, calling, carried, centenary, challenged, chosen, Christian, Christianity, Christians, churches, closest, colleague, committed, Communism, communist, communists, community, compared, confirmed, conflicted, conflicts, conscience, consider, constantly, convinced, day-long, deemed, deepens, delegation, Democratic, destroy, direct, divisions, early, entire, entourage, era, estimated, ethnic, evangelist, evangelistic, evening, events, executive, experience, expressing, faith, festivals, first, foreign, fort, fractured, frank, free, freedoms, friend, gains, gatherings, giving, goal, God, groups, Hanoi, Hanoi Hilton, happen, headed, help, high-profile, historic, Ho Chi Minh City, hope, Horizon Christian Fellowship, house arrest, house churches, hunger strike, incarceration, independent, Intel, intention, international, interview, invitation, John Dalton, just, Kingdom, Labor, language, larger, lawyer, Le Thi Cong Nhan, lead, leaders, life, live, local, Lord, love, Luis Palau, Luis Palau Association, mega-church, Mennonite, Mike McIntosh, minister, minority, miracles, Moscow, mountainous, nation, national, navy, new, New World Hotel, news, Nguyen Hong Quang, Nguyen Van Dai, official, officials, open, organize, organizers, originally, outcry, overseas, participants, past, pastors, path, pay, permission, Persecution, piling, planned, police, popular, praise, prepared, presentations, President, price, prison, prisoner, pro-democracy, prominent, propagandizing, Protestant, Protestantism, Public Security, rarely, read, received, reconciliation, reduced, regions, registered, released, remorse, remote, renowned, representatives, requirement, respect, responded, result, retain, Rick Colsen, right, sake, San Diego, seeing, segments, senior, sentence, sentencing, serving, sharing, short, significant, Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Soviet, speak, start, step, streamed, strive, strong, strongly, struggle, subject, supported, suprisingly, suspicions, teacher, testimonies, thin, together, top, toward, turned, U. S. Commission on international Religious Freedom, Union, unity, unprecedented, unregistered, urban, USA, Vietnam, Vietnamese, visit, visiting, Voice of America, watched, Website, words, working, worthy | Leave a comment
CHINA: AUTHORITIES BANISH PASTOR FROM BEIJING PRIOR TO GAMES
Latest incident in crackdown meant to keep him from meeting with foreign officials.
DUBLIN, August 5 (Compass Direct News) – As U.S. President George W. Bush attends Olympic events in Beijing this week and a church service in the capital next Sunday, Chinese authorities have banished house church pastor Zhang Mingxuan from the city for the duration of the Games. Several other Christians remain in detention or face ongoing harassment.
Plainclothes police officers forcibly removed Zhang and his wife Xie Fenglan from a guesthouse in Beijing on July 18 and took them toYanjiao, Hebei province, to prevent them from meeting foreign officials visiting Beijing for the Games, according to Friday’s (August 1) South China Morning Post (SCMP).
The couple had moved from one guesthouse to another at least six times prior to the raid to escape police harassment. They have since moved from Yanjiao to another remote town in Hebei to await the completion of the Games.
Zhang told reporters that constant police crackdowns had reduced the number of house churches he has established over the past decade from more than 10 to just three.
Thousands of Christians throughout China belong to similar house churches, which have refused to register with official government agencies in order to avoid legal restrictions on the size of their gatherings, appointment of clergy and sermon content.
History of Arrests
Zhang, a Christian for 22 years, traveled as an itinerant evangelist throughout China before moving to Beijing in 1998. He is co-founder and president of the China House Church Alliance, established in April 2005 to defend the rights of house church Christians.
In 2005, President Bush invited Zhang to a meeting during an official visit to China. The meeting never took place, however, as officials detained Zhang before he could attend.
In June Zhang met with U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf and Rep. Christopher Smith during a visit to Beijing, but officials placed him under house arrest the following night, according to SCMP. Also in June, officials detained Zhang when he attempted to meet with Bastiann Belder, a rapporteur of the European Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs.
When police tried to persuade Zhang and his ailing wife to leave Beijing prior to the Games, Zhang refused.
“A police officer even suggested paying us 5,000 yuan [US$730] if we would leave Beijing for three months,” Zhang told reporters. “We’ve been praying for a successful Olympic Games for eight years. We didn’t do anything wrong, so why are they doing this to us?”
Officials are perhaps aggravated by the activities of the China House Church Alliance, backed by a team of Christian lawyers who file cases against local authorities when Christians are jailed or sent to labor camps. To date some 30 cases have been filed, and six have been successful, Zhang said. Prior to the formation of the alliance, Christians rarely took such cases to court.
One of the lawyers, Li Baiguang, said it was extremely difficult to win such cases, but that when they ended at least officials stopped harassing these Christians.
Baiguang was scheduled to meet with members of the U.S. Congress in Beijing in June, but officials detained him and one other lawyer to prevent them from attending the meeting. Several other lawyers were warned not to attend or they would face severe consequences.
Bookstore Owner’s Health Worsens
Christian bookstore owner Shi Weihan, detained without charges by authorities on March 19, has suffered a rapid deterioration in health. In addition, officials have reportedly convinced Shi to sign a “confession” convicting him of engaging in the printing and distribution of a large number of illegal publications.
China Aid Association (CAA) reported on Thursday (July 31) that Shi’s weight had dropped by more than 10 kilograms (22 pounds). Shi suffers from diabetes, a condition exacerbated by a poor diet and restricted access to appropriate medication.
Shi’s bookstore continues to operate in its prime location near the Olympic Village, according to Compass sources.
The bookstore is registered with authorities, and Shi had permission to sell Bibles and other Christian materials. Officials objected, however, when Shi printed some Bibles and Christian literature without authorization for distribution to local house churches, according to Asia Times Online.
Despite a law restricting detention without charges to a maximum of two months, officials in June stated they would delay action on the case indefinitely. By late June, they had granted only one visit by Shi’s lawyer, Zhang Xingshui.
Elsewhere in China
Officials also evicted Christian rights activist Hua Huiqi from his home in Beijing on July 2. After using a heavy hammer to break down the doors and locks of his apartment, they beat Hua’s brother and forced the entire family, including Hua’s 90-year-old father, onto the street with their furniture, CAA reported.
On July 6, officials moved Pastor Zhang Zhongxin of Jiaxiang county, Shandong province to a labor camp to begin two years of re-education through labor. With the help of a lawyer, Zhang’s wife Wang Guiyun has since submitted an appeal to the Jining City district court asking it to withdraw the labor camp sentence, CAA reported last month.
On July 14, police raided the home of Lu Xiaoai, a fellow church member of Zhang and Wang, seizing Bibles and Christian materials. They also investigated church member Lian Dehai, seizing Christian material from his home and placing him in criminal detention.
Police then proceeded to carry out several other raids on the homes of house church members in Jiaxiang county.
CAA reported on other incidents in Beijing municipality, Gansu and Henan provinces during June and July.
At Olympic venues however, China has presented a different face, with clergy from the five accepted religious groups providing official religious services to athletes and other visitors. The Chinese Olympic committee has granted athletes permission to bring personal religious articles into the Olympic village and permission for well-known evangelist Luis Palau to distribute his evangelistic book, “A Friendly Dialogue Between an Atheist and a Christian,” to athletes and coaches during the Games.
In June, Chinese authorities announced they would print 50,000 gospel booklets – including 10,000 Chinese-English complete Bibles – for distribution during the Games.
In July, the state newspaper Xinhua published a visitors’ guide to churches in Beijing. The article gave a brief history of the Catholic and Protestant streams of Christianity but made only a brief mention of four Catholic churches in the capital.
Xinhua also noted that “since the Chinese constitution was amended in 1982 to allow freedom of religion,” the number of Christians in China had “surpassed 16 million,” an official figure given by the China Christian Council, an agency representing government-approved Protestant churches.
Compass sources, however, estimate there are at least 60 million evangelical Christians in China: 10 million in major house church networks, 35 million in independent rural house churches and 15 million in independent urban house churches. In addition, there are 15 million Catholics and 15 million members of the official Three-Self Patriotic Movement church.
Posted in China, Christianity | Tagged A Friendly Dialogue Between an Athiest and a Christian, arrests, Asia Times Online, athletes, Bastiann Belder, Beijing, Bibles, booklets, bookstore, CAA, Catholic, China, China Aid Association, China Christian Council, China House Church Alliance, Chinese, Christian, Christianity, Christians, Christopher Smith, church, church service, clergy, coaches, confession, constitution, detention, diabetes, English, European Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, Evangelical, evangelist, Frank Wolf, freedom of religion, Gansu, George W. Bush, gospel, government, harassment, Hebei, Hebei Province, Henan, house church, Hua Huiqi, Jiaxiang, Jining, labor camps, lawyers, Li Baiguang, Lian Dehai, Lu Xiaoai, Luis Palau, Olympics, Pastor, Persecution, police, President, Protestant, publications, re-education, reporters, rights, SCMP, sermon, Shandong, Shi Weihan, South China Morning Post, Three-Self Patriotic Movement Church, US, US Congress, USA, Wang Guiyun, Xie Fenglan, Xinhua, Yanjiao, Zhang Mingxuan, Zhang Zhongxin | Leave a comment
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Smartphone App for Residential Testing of Formaldehyde (SmART-Form) The SmART-Form project seeks...
Refining the user interface of a community science app
by nshapiro with gretchengehrke , lightandluck | January 23, 2018 02:27 23 Jan 02:27 ... | #15589 | #15589
Smartphone App for Residential Testing of Formaldehyde (SmART-Form)
The SmART-Form project seeks to develop free IOS and Android apps that can quantify atmospheric formaldehyde concentrations by taking pictures of a badge that changes color at a known rate when it comes into contact with formaldehyde. Colorimetric badges, as these chemically treated strips are known, are extremely lightweight, which allows them to be shipped at a minimal cost (unlike our heavy and bulky original prototype). With extremely low shipping costs and the colorimetric computation happening on an already purchased device (a smartphone), community members using this technique will have access to formaldehyde testing at around a twentieth of the cost of existing methods and does not require the badges to be sent back to the lab for analysis.
This method makes formaldehyde testing economically accessible to those that have normally been priced out (and who face a disproportionate burden of exposure), but the process of collecting the data can be tricky. Creating a user interface that is intuitive to the broad range of people concerned about the quality of their indoor air (inhabitants of high-end green homes or 250-square-foot trailers)is critical to making sure our promise of increased access is realized.
Currently we have several kinds of data that need to be captured by community scientists in order to get a valid result.
Exposure A pre-exposure photo of the badge, followed by a post exposure photo of the same badge 72 hours later. ( a 72 hour timer should be automatically started once the first photo is taken)
Conditions Environmental data about the temperature and humidity.
Metadata A title for the test (date information should be automatically recorded based upon the time the first picture was taken, this will help differentiate tests taken in the same location across time).
Although not absolutely necessary for the successful use of the app, there are two important additional ways that participants can input valuable data, but both of these are currently a bit tricky because they force users outside the app and into a HIPAA-compliant survey platform (Qualtrics). A unique non-identifiable ID number is automatically copied to your phone's clipboard when you leave the app and can be pasted into the ID field in the survey, this allows multiple data uploads or health survey entries to be tied together without any identifying information. Here are the two surveys:
Uploading your formaldehyde data to a collective public repository. There is a serious paucity of public data on domestic air spaces because they are unregulated and understudied. Contributing data to this database can help researchers and the public get a better understanding of the aggregate problem of domestic formaldehyde, and to inform interventions should they be necessary.
Documenting how the quality of your health may be related airborne exposures in your home and understanding other possible sources of chemical exposure. This information, as I understand it, is not to be made public and is only for researchers. I wonder if there is a responsible way to make aggregate data public in real time, and also if this would be helpful for affected communities.
Our Initial user interface, consisted of essentially two interactive pages and additional informational pages for information about 1) formaldehyde, health issues and potential mitiation techniques and 2)the app and the project.
Beta Testing + the need for a new UI
In beta testing the first version of the app with community scientists across the country and in a partnering EJ community in southern Georgia, we found that many people needed a more strictly delineated path through the app. Some of the shortcomings of the beta test had to do with the need to take a picture of a dummy badge on a computer screen. There were many routes through the various options on the two main interactive screens and without breaking those processes down and more clearly choreographing one's movement through the app, they were getting lost. You can read some of user issues that we aggregated here. At first, we attempted to make small technical tweaks before coming to the realization that we might need a paradigm shift.
Aware of his role in creating the UI for EDGI's website change tracker (GitHub), we asked Kevin Nguyen if he could provide a UI consultation.
Kevin wrote a quick set of notes detailing his refinements to the user experience of this app in addition to a new set of wireframes.
a) Business: -Collect info from surveys -Present contact info for legal reasons -Give helpful info
b) User: -Use test to get formaldehyde -Learn more about app, help project -Learn more about health issues, formaldehyde
Design: - 3 main categories represented by menu along bottom. Uses icons, but can use text.
a) TESTS (list icon)
b) HEALTH INFO (heart icon) - about formaldehyde, health survey
c) APP/PROJECT INFO (info icon) - about the app, contact info, user survey (temp)
-New tests should take user directly to camera to take picture of badge.
Camera use should be consistent. Right now Android is weird because during the capture phase, the SAVE button doesn't do anything, until they take a snapshot. Then it saves it. Should not present an option that doesn't work until we need to.
Users should take a snapshot, then confirm or retake it. Once confirmed they'll be taken to details page.
Title should be clicked on to edit. Android uses an edit button which is unintuitive.
Date/Time should be filled in automatically once picture is taken.
Before and After exposures should actually show the pictures. These may be used in place of 'location' picture to remind user. If disagree or location picture mandatory, add a location image as well. But I think the before/after exposures may be enough.
Temp and humidity shouldn't be scroll wheels because of possibility of accidentally editing them. A modal to edit is suggested.
Because info about result or when result will be ready is most important for a user, that should be prominent. Recommend displaying it boldly. Also an automatic stopwatch feature would be great.
'Upload Data' is a misnomer because it's really a survey and takes people out of the app. Should be named as such and taken to 'Go to survey' screen. More notes about that screen below.
After done, going back to Main List View saves record, same as the app works currently.
Main List View - pretty straight-forward, again emphasis added for displaying results or timer until after exposure should be taken. This gets rid of 'finished' checkbox, which isn't really helpful.
HEALTH INFO - Simple list view. Takes user either to a screen with the pertinent information on it or the survey screen
Go to Survey - Because surveys are dependent on leaving app and is jarring, suggest an information screen to handle it. Be honest here. We should explain what's about to happen, how long the survey will take, how many times they can/should take, etc. Also place the UUID here so they can grab before they go, then BYE!
Info screen - just text of whatever needs to be said here
APP INFO - All the same interactions as the HEALTH INFO screen
UI redesign by Kevin Nguyen. Phone Outlines by Arun.
Further Refinements
A .psd file Kevin's redesign is available here should anyone else like to further iterate on his design. Some initial refinements that might be necessary in the final stage of programming this app are as follows:
Make the function of the "+" in the upper right hand corner more explicit by naming it "new test"
In the redesigned workflow, starting a new test takes the user directly to a camera view to take the "before" picture of the badge. The picture of the testing location, a part of the initial UI, has been removed in the redesign. The image that is shown as a thumbnail in the main list view of the app is not the location image but the before image of the badge, under the assumption that there is enough contextual information in that photo around the badge for it to be valuable for jogging the mind about that specific test. I think we might want to revisit this and maybe the location test photo should be should be where the user is taken when they click "new test" and then from that screen they are taken to the "before" photo. Or, alternatively, we could cut the thumbnail in the main list view all together and keep the workflow the same as is proposed in the redesign.
In the redesign we do not clearly indicate when the health survey should be taken. Assuming that we would want this survey to be administered in the 72 hours between the before and the after photo (ie. before they can be biased by the test results)we may want to lead them to the
Do we want the users to enter temp and humidity twice (once for each photo), as both can fluctuate considerably in 72 hours, and the quantification of formaldehyde would be calculated from an average of the two?
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No.1645090 "EAGER: Collaborative Research: SmartPhone App for Residential Testing of Formaldehyde (SmART-Form)." Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
nshapiro commented almost 2 years ago
hi @warren! how do i upload Kevin's .psd to PL.org and link to there so that he can not worry about accidentally breaking the link to his drive in the future? thank you!
warren commented almost 2 years ago
Hi, how big is the file? We can host it on one of our servers; can you share the drive link for now?
its pretty small. the file is linked in the text, here's the link https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SbZog5bou9gsCbv5kqFMKwvD6QCCG_Kl/view
Smart-Forms_wireframes-cropped.psd
I guess PSDs don't upload correctly in the rich editor but they work in comments-- good for now, i guess?
Just another note here that could be helpful -- this has a collection of reusable UI design patterns they call "blocks" that I thought were really great. Not for every possible use (Bootstrap has a good set of very recognizable and familiar UI elements already for forms, for example) but nice and viewable on both web and phones.
https://www.froala.com/design-blocks
created by nshapiro almost 2 years ago
indoor-air
smart-form
with:gretchengehrke
with:lightandluck
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Municipal Court - Nov. 27
Wednesday, November 27, 2019 1:00 PM
Traffic/Nov. 18
Luke R. Schmersal, 21, Ottawa, pleaded guilty to OVI, sentenced to 180 days jail, 177 days suspended, fined $750, $375 suspended, one-year license suspension, with credit for three days jail upon completion of DIP. Charges of OVI and failure to control were dismissed.
Susan L. Coffman, 56, Columbus Grove, pleaded guilty to OVI, sentenced to 180 days jail, 90 days suspended, fined $750, $375 suspended, three-year license suspension, with credit for three days jail upon completion of DIP and complete alcohol and drug assessment. Charges of OVI, turn signal and consumption in a motor vehicle were dismissed.
Thomas F. Wallenhorst, 60, Fort Jennings, pleaded guilty to an amended charge of second-offense reckless operation, sentenced to 30 days jail, 27 days suspended, fined $250, one-year license suspension, four points, with credit for three days jail upon completion of DIP. Charges of open container, seat belt and left of center were dismissed.
Nicholas L Gooding, 29, Defiance, pleaded no contest to failure to reinstate license, sentenced to three days jail, suspended, fined $100. He was also fined $50 for expired plates and ordered to pay court costs for failure to trans/registration.
Civil/Nov. 18
Bryan E. Sherman, Ottawa, to pay judgment of $1,255.68, plus interest and costs to Blanchard Valley Hospital, Findlay.
Bryan E. Sherman, Ottawa, to pay judgment of $60, plus interest and costs to Blanchard Valley Medical Practice, LLC, Findlay.
Bryan E. Sherman, Ottawa, to pay judgment of $50, plus interest and costs to Neurosurgical Associates of Northwest Ohio, LLC, Findlay.
Kenny Dunlap, Continental, to pay judgment of $1,039.39, plus interest and costs to Midland Funding, LLC, San Diego.
William Smith, Columbus Grove, to pay judgment of $941.49 plus costs to Convergence Receivables, LLC, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Criminal/Nov. 19
Matthew G. Shively, 36, Leipsic, pleaded guilty to domestic violence, sentenced to 180 days jail, 178 days suspended, fined $250 and complete mental health assessment.
Janet R. Kleman, Columbus Grove, to pay judgment of $1,547.36, plus interest and costs to Lima Memorial Hospital Health Systems.
Graeme K. Bockrath, 21, Kalida, pleaded guilty to OVI, sentenced to 180 days jail, 177 days suspended, fined $750, $375 suspended, one-year license suspension, with credit for three days jail upon completion of DIP. A charge of marked lanes was dismissed.
Fines listed do not include filing fees.
Kristina Athey, 22, Ottawa, speeding, $80 fine.
Wes Czubik, 32, Kalida, speeding, $60 fine.
Michael Hoehn, 58, Cloverdale, speeding, $80 fine.
Joshua Karhoff, 34, Columbus Grove, expired registration/plates, $50 fine.
Nathan Wilson, 31, Continental, speeding, $60 fine.
Atiya Myers, 19, Lima, speeding, $60 fine; driving with expired license, $60.
Alexa Schulte, 20, Pandora, speeding, $50 fine.
Kiersten Kuhlman, 21, Glandorf, speeding, $60 fine.
John Decker, 27, Ottawa, speeding, $80 fine.
Barbara Meyer, 65, Oak Harbor, speeding, $80 fine.
Alexandria Hogan, 18, speeding, $60 fine.
Karl Peck, 55, Kalida, speeding, $80 fine.
Cody King, 20, Defiance, operating vehicle with no license plates, $50 fine.
Joshua Heitman, 39, Fort Jennings, assured clear distance, $50 fine.
Andre Parker, 59, Toledo, speeding, $80 fine.
Christina Hargis, 49, Eubank, Kentucky, speeding, $50 fine.
Tyler Tegenkamp, 22, Hamilton, speeding, $50 fine.
Elmer Mullins Jr., 40, Gomer, speeding, $80 fine.
Ronald Rampe, 75, Kalida, speeding, $60 fine.
Susan Slagel, 66, Findlay, speeding, $50 fine.
D. Dwayne Hagerman, 53, Defiance, speeding, $60 fine.
Vicki Shively, 71, Findlay, speeding, $50 fine.
Adrian Tibbits, 21, Elida, speeding, $60 fine.
Tammy Smith, 31, Findlay, speeding, $50 fine; expired registration/plates, $50 fine.
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sajawal.rehman
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MV Masbate Uno
When Eastern Visayas Ports And Shipping Were Still Great
Posted on March 28, 2019 by psssadmin
Growing up I heard tales from my late father how great Tacloban port was. He told me about its importance, its physical dimensions, the location, the size of the bodegas outside it and even its relation to Gen. Douglas MacArthur. I had the idea that Tacloban was the greatest port east of Cebu and my father told me that no port in the Bicol Region compares to Tacloban port and not even his beloved Legaspi port (that was the spelling of it then before it became “Legazpi”). He told me Tacloban port will not fade because the Romualdezes were in power in Leyte and everybody knows the relation of that clan to Ferdinand Marcos then (still a President, not yet a dictator). Ironically, my father was later proven wrong not because of politics but because of a paradigm shift in shipping that he was not able to anticipate (when the intermodal trucks and buses sank Eastern Visayas shipping).
So I always wondered what made Tacloban port click then. From my father, when I was still young, I got to learn what is a regional trade center, a regional capital, the importance of the two and it so happened that Tacloban happened to be both. The city by Cancabato Bay was really the dominant market east of Cebu City, bar none. My father always drilled me about cash crops and commodities and how it impacted or shall we say how it shaped shipping. He told me the government can always build ports and send ships to a port by inducement but he said if there is no cargo it won’t last as he stressed cargo makes shipping and not the other way around. Now, how many in government knows that maxim? Definitely not Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who loves “ports to nowhere” a lot!
Tacloban port. Photo by Gerry Ruiz.
My father was very aware of the shift of the primary cash crop from abaca to copra in the 1950’s and its impact on shipping. In high school, I saw that with my own eyes. Proud, wealthy families in our province which grew rich on abaca handicrafts and trading suddenly became more modest in living. I saw how their bodegas became empty and how the abaca workers suffered. At the same time, I also saw how busy the private port of Legaspi Oil became. Legaspi Oil, an American firm, was then the biggest copra exporter of the country.
Our old man also told me about San Pablo City and how desiccated coconut and coconut oil milling made it one of our earliest cities. He also related me when I was in high school that Laguna was no longer the king of coconut. Leyte was the new lord and I understood by inference how that will boost Tacloban port, its shipping and the city itself.
With PSSS (Philippine Ship Spotters Society) co-founder Gorio Belen’s research in the National Library I had more flesh of what my father was telling me when I was young. Tacloban was a great port of call in the 1960’s and 1970’s and that was visible with the frequency of ships there and the quality of its ships. Definitely it cannot match Cebu or even Iloilo but it was not far behind the latter. And to think the latter had ships calling that were still going to Zamboanga and Southern Mindanao (Cotabato, Dadiangas and Davao). Tacloban also had ships still going south to Surigao, Butuan or even Davao but it was not that many. What Tacloban had were ships calling in Catbalogan or Masbate before steaming further. There were also ships calling in Tacloban first before heading for Cebu.
Entering the ’60’s, Iloilo had 10 ship calls weekly while Tacloban had 7. That was when Cagayan de Oro only had 4 ship calls per week from Manila but Butuan and Surigao both had 6 each. Won’t you wonder with those figures? Well, Cagayan de Oro only became great when it became a gateway to Southern and Central Mindanao with the improvement of the highways. That will also tell one how Tacloban, the gateway to Eastern Samar then, stacked up to other ports. Catbalogan is also not far behind because in the main the ships that called on Tacloban also called on Catbalogan first to maximize passenger and cargo volume.
Catbalogan port. Photo by Joe Cardenas of PSSS.
In the 1960’s, it was air-conditioning that already defined what is a luxury ship and Tacloban was among the first that had a ship with air-conditioning beginning with the MV Sweet Rose in 1967 (and she served Tacloban for long) and the MV Sweet Grace in 1970. Both were liners of Sweet Lines and they were good ships with good service (I first heard that phrase from my late father, funny). And that was when other great shipping companies still did not have that kind of ship (and that will also tell how great Sweet Lines then). Even the great port of Cebu still had plenty of ex-”FS” ships then which was the basic kind of liner then. And that will give one a view of how important Tacloban port was in those days.
The MV Gen. Roxas which became the MV Sweet Rose. Philippine Herald photo. Reseach by Gorio Belen in the National Library.
A little of history. Right after the war, two shipping companies fought it out in the main Eastern Visayas ports of Tacloban and Catbalogan. These two were the old shipping company Compania Maritima which was of Spanish origin and the General Shipping Company (GSC) which were formed by former World War II military aides coming from distinguished Filipino families that were part of the comprador bourgeoisie. At one time, GSC had more ships to the two ports with three while Compania Maritima only had two. Another old shipping company, the Escano Lines also fought in the Tacloban route. Unlike the two, the ships of Escano Lines still went on to Surigao and Butuan which were their stronghold.
MV Leyte. Gorio Belen research in the National Library.
There were some smaller shipping companies too in the route like the Philippine Sea Transport, Veloso Lines, Corominas Richards Navigation and the Royal Lines. Among the single ships that also called in the two ports were the M/S Leyte Lady and M/S Lady of Lourdes. In the mentioned shipping lines, converted “FS” and extended “F” ships were the types calling in the two ports. Among that type that served long in the route (but not continuously) was the MV Leyte of Compania Maritima and I mentioned that because that was notable.
In 1955, Everett Steamship through the Philippine Steamship and Navigation Company (PSNC), a joint venture of Everett and Aboitiz entered Catbalogan and Tacloban with the quixotic route Manila-Catbalogan-Tacloban-Bislig-Davao-Dadiangas-Cebu-Manila. They used two brand-new liners alternatingly, the MV Legazpi and the MV Elcano. Those two were the first brand-new liners used solely in the local routes (to distinguish them from the big De la Rama Steamship liners that soon ended up in ocean-going routes).
Gorio Belen research in the National Library.
The MV Legazpi and MV Elcano were sister ships and fitted what was soon emerging as the new luxury liner class in the country (but the two were not at par with some of the luxury ships before especially the De la Rama Steamship liners which were lost in the war). If one has the money the route was a good way to tour the country and is a direct way to Southern Mindanao without going first to Cebu (because normally a passenger need to go there first from Eastern Visayas to take a connecting voyage). It was a nice route but sadly it did not last long because from the eastern seaboard route its route was shifted to the route rounding Zamboanga (I guess the reason was there was more business there and the seas were not so rough).
In the early ’60s, the Philippine Pioneer Lines, a subsidiary of the Philippine President Lines (PPL) also tried the Catbalogan plus Tacloban route. When they stopped sailing, their successor shipping company Galaxy Lines continued sailing that route but they did not last long when they folded operations as a company. The two companies used ex-“FS” and ex-“AKL” ships from the US Navy.
When General Shipping Company stopped local operations to go ocean-going in the mid-60s (and that provoked a break within the company), one of the companies which acquired half of their fleet and routes was the upstart Sweet Lines which was trying to follow the path of Go Thong & Company in trying be a national liner operation from a regional operations by acquiring an existing national liner shipping company which is quitting business. The other half of General Shipping fleet went to Aboitiz Shipping Company which then was revived as a shipping company separate from PSNC (and maybe the reason was the coming termination of the so-called “Parity Rights” in 1974). However, it was the PSNC that was used as the entity to re-enter the Tacloban but just using an ex-”FS” ship, the MV Carmen which came from the General Shipping Company and renamed.
At this time, however, the dominant shipping company in the Tacloban and Catbalogan route/s was already Compania Maritima (it was also the biggest shipping company then in the Philippines) after their main rival General Shipping exited the local shipping scene. The company had three ships assigned there, two of which were ex-”FS” ships including the aforementioned MV Leyte.
The year 1967 marked a change in the Tacloban and Catbalogan route. For the second time after the short-lived fielding of the luxury liners of PSNC the route had luxury liners again and two were competing against each other. The notable thing was they both came from General Shipping and both were local-builds by NASSCO (National Shipyards and Steel Corp., the current Herma Shipyard) in Mariveles, Bataan. These were the former second MV General Roxas which became the MV Sweet Rose and the former second General Del Pilar which became the third MV Mactan of Compania Maritima.
However, the two were not fast cruiser liners. This category was already multiplying in the country with the fielding of the 17.5-knot brand-new cruisers of Negros Navigation Company, the MV Dona Florentina in 1965 and the MV Don Julio in 1967. This was preceded by the MV President Quezon of the Philippine President Lines which later became the MV Galaxy of Galaxy Lines which was first fielded in 1962. A note, however, the earlier MV Don Julio of Ledesma Lines which was an overpowered (by putting a submarine engine) ex-”FS” ship can also be classified as a fast cruiser liner and it also served the Leyte route shortly as the MV Pioneer Leyte of Philippine Pioneer Lines.
The earlier MV Don Julio which became the MV Pioneer Leyte. Gorio Belen research in the National Library.
In this tight market, a small shipping company serving Bicol and Northern Samar also tried a Catbalogan and Tacloban route. This was the Rodrigueza Shipping Corporation which was already feeling the effects of the Philippine National Railways in Bicol regarding the movement of cargo. However, two Chinoy shipping companies that will dominate Philippine shipping in a decade-and-a-half’s time were still not represented in the route. The two were William Lines and Sulpicio Lines (which was not yet existent then). The mother company of Sulpicio Lines which was Carlos A. Gothong & Co. was also not in this route at this time. They will come in two years time, however, with the fielding of the first MV Don Enrique which was a lengthened former “FS” ship. You know they tended to start quietly.
Many ex-”FS” ships or even smaller ships were battling in the Catbalogan and Tacloban routes after 1967. Many will battle for there is cargo and copra was so strong then (exports to the US, Japan and Germany when we had 44% share of the world’s exports) not only in Tacloban but also in a way in Catbalogan which was synonymous with fishing before overfishing caught up with them. In this era, imported rice does not yet go direct to the provincial ports and Eastern Visayas is a rice-deficit region and Cotabato and other parts of the country sends rice to it through trans-shipment. Many other grocery and hardware items also come from Manila to the region as Eastern Visayas was not an industrial region.
In the luxury liner category, however, the MV Sweet Rose of Sweet Lines and the MV Mactan of Compania Maritima started their battle. This was actually a very even battle because the two were sister ships but the third MV Mactan was faster at 16 knots to the 13.5 knots of the MV Sweet Rose because she was fitted with a bigger engine. Compania Maritima fielded the MV Mactan here because the MV Sweet Rose was overpowering their MV Leyte which was just a lengthened ex-”FS” ship. In a few years, however, the MV Mactan will sink in a storm and MV Leyte will come back in the Eastern Visayas routes.
Leading into the next decade, the 1970’s produced significant changes. Aboitiz Shipping Corporation, the successor to PSNC abandoned their Catbalogan and Tacloban routes and just concentrated in Western and Southern Leyte which was their origin (it had lots of copra too). Morever, the rising William Lines was already present and two successor companies of Go Thong & Company, the Sulpicio Lines and Carlos A. Gothong Lines+Lozenzo Shipping Corporation (two shipping companies with combined operations before their split in 1979) were also plying the Catbalogan and Tacloban routes but they were just using ex-”FS” ships. The old partner of Aboitiz Shipping Corporation before the war, the Escano Lines also left Tacloban but maintained Catbalogan as a port of call as long as their MV Rajah Suliman was still capable of sailing.
In the stead of the lost minor shipping lines of the region like Veloso Lines, some minor shipping companies were also doing the route. Among them were N&S Lines and NORCAMCO Lines which were actually Bicol and Northern Samar shipping companies. The two were looking for routes near their turf because of lost passengers and cargo from the opening up of the Maharlika Highway. Well, although Maharlika Highway was not yet fully paved, the trucks were beginning to roll to Bicol and maybe somehow they have already seen the handwriting on the wall. Rodrigueza Shipping, also a Bicol shipping company stopped sailing the route.
Soon, however, Sulpicio Lines upped the ante and fielded a liner with size, air-conditioning and service that will challenge the MV Sweet Rose and MV Mactan. This was the MV Dona Angelina which was a former refrigerated cargo ship in Europe. That type of ship, when converted here as a passenger-cargo ship will automatically have the availability of refrigeration and air-conditioning. At 13.5 knots design speed, she can match the pace of the MV Sweet Rose but not of the MV Mactan. The MV Dona Angelina was the second ship of Sulpicio Lines in the route.
In response, Sweet Lines brought in their former flagship into the route, the MV Sweet Grace which was acquired brand-new from West Germany in 1968. She has the speed of 15.5 knots but she was not bigger than MV Dona Angelina or even the MV Dona Vicente (that later became the MV Palawan Princess) which was assigned also to the route. Competition was really heating up in 1974 and I remember this year was the peaking of copra prices just before its great fall.
Things were really heated up because next year Sulpicio Lines brought in their new flagship MV Don Sulpicio on its way to Cebu which means a Manila-Catbalogan-Tacloban-Cebu route. Can you imagine that? If former flagship and current flagship will battle in this route then that means Tacloban and Catbalogan were very important ports then. And to think the later well-regarded MV Dona Vicenta also practically debuted on that route. Well, copra was still then a very important crop. In fact it was our primary cash crop then. By the way, the flagship MV Don Sulpicio was the later infamous MV Dona Paz and she came from Tacloban and Catbalogan on her last voyage.
In the heat of this competition, it was actually the old dominant Compania Maritima that was wilting. Their MV Mactan foundered in 1973 and there was no good replacement available and so the old ship MV Leyte was left shouldering alone and she was already badly outgunned by the ships of Sulpicio Lines and Sweet Lines. In the 1970’s there was no way a former “FS” ships can match the new liners that came from Europe. They simply were bigger, faster and had more amenities.
When the MV Don Sulpicio was assigned the exclusive Manila-Cebu route to join the two-way battle there of MV Cebu City and MV Sweet Faith, the good MV Dona Vicenta replaced her in the route and teamed up with the MV Dona Angelina. In 1976, however, William Lines fielded a very worthy challenger, the namesake of Tacloban which was the MV Tacloban City and she held the Catbalogan and Tacloban route for a long, long time. At 17.5 knots design speed she can match the best of Sulpicio Lines and Sweet Lines. Aside from speed she can also match in size, accommodation and service.
Gorio Belen research in the National Library
And so in this year several ships that can be classified as luxury lines were battling in the route. That was an indication how important was that route. As a note, however, the MV Sweet Grace was reassigned by Sweet Lines to other routes especially since their luxury liner MV Sweet Home was no longer reliable. Meanwhile, the shrinking former nationally dominant Compania Maritima no longer fielded a second ship since they were already lacking ships because they no longer acquired a ship since 1970 despite a rash of hull losses.
In 1979, the death knell of Catbalogan and Tacloban ports was sounded clear although few realized it at that time for there was no concept of intermodal shipping before. This was the fielding of MV Cardinal Ferry I of Cardinal Shipping to span the San Juanico Strait and buses and trucks to and from Manila immediately rolled the new highways of Samar and Leyte. By this time copra as the primary cash and export crop of the country was already receding fast in importance because the export market was already shrinking due to the rise of what is called as substitute oils like corn oil, canola oil and sunflower oil.
It was not Catbalogan and Tacloban which were first swamped by paradigm changes but the other ports of Samar like Laoang, Victoria and Calbayog (which I will discuss in another as these ports are more connected to Bicol and Masbate). The fall of Catbalogan and Tacloban ports will happen much later when copra has almost lost its importance. This was also the time that Manila oil mills has already been sidelined too by the rise of new oil mills in the provinces (and the government actually promoted that).
Although sliding now, for a time it looked like Tacloban and Catbalogan ports will hold on to the onslaught of the intermodal. One reason for that was in the crisis decade of the 1980’s it was the Top 2 Sulpicio Lines and William Lines that were still battling there and for sure none of the two will budge an inch. That was the decade when so many shipping companies quit business altogether (and that was most of our liner companies) and actually no shipping company was left unscathed.
In the late 1980’s, Carlos A. Gothong Lines Inc. (CAGLI) made a comeback in national liner shipping but it did not enter Tacloban or Catbalogan. Instead, they called on the Western Leyte ports of Palompon, Isabel and Ormoc before proceeding to Cebu and it was actually a very successful route for them. Also, the Madrigal Steamship came back to passenger shipping with good luxury liner cruisers (which were already obsolescent as it was already the time of ROROs or Roll-on, Roll-off ships) and it had a Manila-Romblon-Catbalogan-Tacloban route.
However, this was not a long plus to Eastern Visayas liner shipping because in the early ’90s the venerable Sweet Lines and Escano Lines quit passenger shipping and although the latter still had cargo ships their presence were already receding in the region. And then the Madrigal Steamship did just last a few years and quit their passenger shipping also. There were no other entrants in this period to the region except just before the end of the millennium when the MBRS Lines of Romblon, seeking new routes entered the San Isidro port in Northern Samar. However, they also did not last long.
MV Our Lady of Sacred Heart in Ozamis port. Jorg Behman photo. Credits: John Luzares
When the “Great Merger”which produced the shipping company WG&A happened in 1996, they did not add a new ship and just altered two routes a little. Actually, what happened is they even pulled out a ferry from Carlos A. Gothong Lines and just left one which was mainly the MV Our Lady of Sacred Heart (WG&A is a shipping company which changed route assignment every now and then). However, one of their ships which was passed on to their regional subsidiary Cebu Ferries Corporation (CFC) tried a Manila-Ormoc-Nasipit route using the MV Our Lady of Akita 2 which was the former MV Maynilad. Although successful, she did not last long because she grounded in Canigao Channel and was never repaired.
Credits to Toshihiko Mikami and funikichemurase
The last two liners to serve Catbalogan and Tacloban were the MV Masbate Uno of William Lines and WG&A and the MV Tacloban Princess of Sulpicio Lines which had identical routes. The MV Cebu Princess also spelled the latter ship when she was down for repairs. When the MV Masbate Uno left as the the MV Our Lady of Manaoag of Cebu Ferries Corporation she was briefly replaced by the MV Our Lady of Naju in the Tacloban route.
Catbalogan and Tacloban finally had no liners left when Sulpicio Lines was suspended from passenger operations in 2008 when their MV Princess of the Stars sank in a typhoon and the MV Tacloban Princess was sold to a local breaker. That suspension also meant the end of the old MV Palawan Princess of Sulpicio Lines serving the ports of Calubian, Maasin and Baybay in the island of Leyte. That also meant the end of the Manila-Masbate-Ormoc-Cebu route of the MV Cebu Princess of Sulpicio Lines. The WG&A also abandoned Tacloban and just tried to hold on to their Palompon/Ormoc route
Photo by John Cabanillas of PSSS.
In a short time, however, the Aboitiz Transport System (ATS) which was the successor to WG&A also abandoned their Western Leyte routes too. However, for a time ATS came back and served Ormoc with the Manila-Romblon-Ormoc-Cebu route using the MV St. Anthony of Padua but that did not last long.
Now there are no more liners to Eastern Visayas and only oldtimers remember when its ports and shipping were still great. What the millennials know now are the intermodal buses and the so-many trucks in the many ports of Allen, Northern Samar.
Times have changed. The paradigm changed, too.
Posted in Analysis, History, Information, ports, Routes, Shipping competitionTagged Cancabato Bay, Carlos A. Gothong Lines Inc. (CAGLI), Carlos A. Gothong Lines+Lozenzo Shipping Corporation, cash crops, Catbalogan, Cebu Ferries Corporation, compania maritima, converted “FS” and extended “F” ships, Corominas Richards Navigation, De la Rama Steamship, earlier MV Don Julio, Escano Lines, Everett Steamship, ex-“AKL” ships, first MV Don Enrique, Galaxy Lines, General Shipping Company (GSC), Go Thong & Company, intermodal trucks and buses, Ledesma Lines, Legaspi Oil, liners, luxury liner class, luxury ship, M/S Lady of Lourdes, M/S Leyte Lady, Madrigal Steamship, MBRS Lines, MV Cardinal Ferry I, MV Carmen, MV Cebu Princess, MV Don Julio, MV Don Sulpicio, MV Dona Angelina, MV Dona Florentina, MV Dona Paz, MV Dona Vicente, MV Elcano, MV Galaxy, MV Legazpi, MV Leyte, MV Masbate Uno, MV Maynilad, MV Our Lady of Akita 2, MV Our Lady of Manaoag, MV Our Lady of Naju, MV Our Lady of Sacred Hear, MV Palawan Princess, MV Pioneer Leyte, MV President Quezon, MV Princess of the Stars, MV Rajah Suliman, MV St. Anthony of Padua, MV Sweet Grace, MV Sweet Rose, MV Tacloban City, MV Tacloban Princess, N&S Lines, NASSCO (National Shipyards and Steel Corp., Negros Navigation Company, Negros Navigation Company (Nenaco), NORCAMCO Lines, Philippine Pioneer Lines, Philippine President Lines (PPL), Philippine Sea Transport, Philippine Ship Spotters Society, Philippine Steamship and Navigation Company (PSNC), Ports to Nowhere, PSSS co-founder Gorio Belen, regional trade center, Rodrigueza Shipping Corporation, Romualdezes, Royal Lines, San Isidro port, second MV General Roxas, substitute oils, Sulpicio Lines, sweet lines, tacloban, Tacloban Port, The MV St. Leo The Great of 2GO Travel shipping company was the MV SuperFerry 21 of Aboitiz Transport System (ATS) when she arrived in the Philippines in 2010. She was renamed when she passed on to 2G, third MV Mactan, Veloso Lines, Western Leyte routes, william linesLeave a comment
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Forum jump Prince-related discussion forums Prince: Music and More Music: Non-Prince Art, Podcasts, & Fan Content Concerts Past, Present, Future sites Fan Gatherings Associated artists & people The Marketplace: For Sale/Trade General forums for non-Prince related talk General Discussion Politics & Religion prince.org site discussion
Forums > Prince: Music and More > While My Guitar Gently Weeps: a thought that's occurred to me.
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Thread started 03/17/19 11:20am
SimonCharles
While My Guitar Gently Weeps: a thought that's occurred to me.
Like many, I've watched that clip and admired the playing, the syncronicity between Prince and the others performing the song, etc...Over the last many watches, however, I've come to think how lovely it would have been for him to have remained on stage and share in the acclaim/response of the audience and the band. The shared glances between him and Tom Petty are delightful; how sweet it would have been to she them hug/exchange greetings at the end, Harrison's son and Lynne, too.
Anyhoo - obviously, that's not what Prince thought and all power, etc - who am I, and all that - and, I suppose, this thought has occurred because Prince is dead now and the significance - if that's the right word - of this performance has shifted somewhat.
Anyway, I just thought I come on here and share. If you'd like to join in the conversation, that would be lovely. If you'd like to ignore the conversation, that would be lovely.
Words are like shoes...
Try my shoes on...
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Reply #1 posted 03/17/19 11:23am
A second thought to go with this one -
On the stories from the tour bus series, that Morris Day has contributed to, he speaks of the last The Time performance at Paisley Park, and how, after the show, as he walked around a quiet and empty Paisley Prince came out of the shadows and they hugged and he congratulated Morris on the show. That may very well have happened to some degree or other after the While My...performance with the performers. It may not have but, I guess - again just my thoughts - that that sort of behind closed doors acknowledgement and appreciation may have been to Prince's preference.
I am going to try and stop having thoughts, now.
Reply #2 posted 03/17/19 1:14pm
peggyon
SimonCharles said:
His choice to leave the stage the way he did has been of interest to me as well.
I also wished he would have stayed to shake hands etc as the song was a tribute to George Harrison.
I vacillate among three possible explanations:
-Though he was famous and an amazing musician, perhaps he was a bit shy and not much of a schmoozer.
-He was in process of becoming commercially successful again, ie., Hall of Fame, Musicology etc., and used the solo to shine light on his talent and wanted to 'steal the show'
-I think there was discussion by Tom Petty and George's wife about only having those who knew George play the tribute song...perhaps Prince felt slighted?
really do not know of course...just some thoughts
laytonian
Yes, George's wife was opposed to Prince playing because he was not a compatriot.
Slight #2 was Petty's sideman Marin playing over Prince's parts during rehearsal.
I think that's what spurred him on.
Welcome to "the org", laytonian… come bathe with me.
Reply #4 posted 03/18/19 7:03am
alandail
More dramatic to do what he did and leave.
Leaving the stage the way he did was pure Prince. It never bothered me that he did that.
Don't forget - that was HIS night too. He was not just some "runner up" to George Harrison.
peggyon said:
Thanks for your thoughts, yes. I'd been unaware of the dispute re Prince playing - not paid that much attention to the backstory of his being involved, to be honest. I find that interesting.
The shyness and the steal the show elements do sound like Prince...a wonderful contrast of a person that he was.
laytonian said:
Yes, George's wife was opposed to Prince playing because he was not a compatriot. Slight #2 was Petty's sideman Marin playing over Prince's parts during rehearsal. I think that's what spurred him on.
The rehearsal story is an interesting one, yes: I can imagine how that would have gee'd him up.
alandail said:
Se7en said:
That's why I think him staying on stage and sharing the limelight/getting the reaction and love he would have done from the audience and his fellow players would have been so lovely to see.
Reply #10 posted 03/18/19 11:48am
Genesia
Because by leaving the stage immediately, he was covered regardless of whether it went off well or not. If it wasn't well received, he wouldn't have prolonged the agony and would still have managed to add to his mystique. If he killed it (as he did), it would only make him a bigger badass.
In other words, it was just Prince being the best Prince he could be in any given situation.
We don’t mourn artists because we knew them. We mourn them because they helped us know ourselves.
Reply #11 posted 03/18/19 12:00pm
they did not give him a microphone either; I think his voice would have added so much to the song
Prince was asked to play (While My Guitar...) by one of the producers of the show.
[Edited 3/18/19 12:04pm]
Genesia said:
In a way it was also him getting back at that Rolling Stones audience in 1981, and more generally the rock audiences that hated his guts in the 80's and 90's. Now he was a true rock legend among other rock legends, paying homage to a Beatle, and screw the haters. That and the Superbowl performance as well.
Not saying he necessarily thought of it explicitely, or that he did those performances with that in mind, but to me it was kind of a subtext to those 2 performances (which in themselves are both something of an oddity in his career).
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dandan
If that rehearsal story is true then I'm glad he stole the show and boucned. He made the lot of them look like OAPs. Tom Petty's face when Prince leaned back off the stage was becuase he was imagining the back pain he'd feel if he'd tried to do that.
I got two sides... and they're both friends.
Reply #14 posted 03/18/19 3:43pm
That's a fair point too...although, I can't imagine how it could not have been well received: there was just fine playing, no histrionics.
dandan said:
An aspect of the story I've found a bit hard to swallow is the revisionism of Harrison's son. That's not forced delight on his face, during this performance; that's enjoyment.
kingricefan
My take on this moment is that Prince just took over the stage and went with what he was feeling. I've watched the clip numerous times and I've always thought that Petty became alittle irritated with Prince for playing his guitar for a longer time than what the band originally wanted him to play. I think there's even one part where Tom starts to sing over Prince's playing and then realizes that P ain't stopping and just goes with it, then he realizes what's happening and becomes amazed at just how good Prince is at that moment. George's son is definately having the time of his life- you can see the sheer joy on his face.
purplefam99
Did Petty realize he was wearing Purple?
ufoclub
purplefam99 said:
That might have been to support the fact that Prince was inducted that same night.
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Reply #19 posted 03/19/19 3:57am
HatrinaHaterwi
And that always worked like hell with me!
Here's what bothers ME:
Prince died of an overdose of the drug Fentanyl. Of which, it is very highly fucking likely that he never even knew he'd taken.
JorisE73
He just killed it and pimp-walked right off!
Yes, he made himself look stupid with his negative comments years later when at the time he was smiling away and can be heard saying at the end 'where's Prince?'
If the rehearsal story is true it makes his performance and exit even more enjoyable.
Woah, woah, woah what's all this about Dani Harrison not liking it? I've never heard that.
I just meant it in terms of the fact that Prince didn't have a real rehearsal. That guy who had the first solo just kept stomping all over Prince at the rehearsal, to the point where Prince basically said to the director (or producer or whatever) afterward, "Don't worry - I got this."
SPYZFAN1
Yeah, I've also read (on the org) that Dhani talked some smack about P's HOF performance.
SPYZFAN1 said:
He was fucking LOVING IT!
Farfunknugin
Yeah he mentioned that Prince showboated (which he did but thats prince..) but so what? Don't go back & say you had a problem with it when clearly you didnt back when..
I heard Petty was pissed at P not learning the song. Apparently in rehearsal Prince played like he hadn't even heard the tape they sent him. In hindsight I think this was P setting them up for the nxt day when he would blow them outta the water, gives the moment more spontaniety & we all know Prince was married to the moment.
[Edited 3/19/19 9:31am]
Farfunknugin said:
I think Dhani may have been referring to Prince's showy exit (Guitar throw erc.) I can see his point.
kewlschool
I have the expanded rarhof disc set. It shows Prince backstage right after the performance and he is talking with one of the members of ZZTop and then leaves to go to a concert that he was already late to perform at.
99.9% of everything I say is strictly for my own entertainment
thebanishedone
lots of mis informations here
first of all Prince didnt have a chance 2 stretch during
the rehearsals because the guitar player who played the
first solo started playing the second solo in the spot where Prince was
supposed to play lead guitar.
After the rehearsal Prince told the organisators not to
worry and that everything will be ok.
Now regarding u wanting Prince to stay after the rnr
performance and share the spotlight????
what the f...? how could he stay there after
offering his heart on a plate?
That solo was far from best guitar solo by Prince but for sure he did invest
all his heart soul and balls.
And its not true that While My Guitar was a tribute to George only.it was
a tribute to George and Prince because both of them
got inducted at the same time.
Everything Prince did that night was perfect.
Up until 3min and 26 sec tribute to George was very boring
lame and basic and i bet Prince got pissed and he was thinking fuck it
and he gave his soul right there .have you notice the change of vibe and dynamics after Prince starts soloing??? not only did he kick ass but he made musicians who played backing for him to elevate their performance also .
so it was so natural 4 him to leave after he did take no prisoners aprouch.
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To Do & See
Home » To do & see » Salford Quays
What’s on in Salford Quays
Salford QuaysTo do & see
Lightwaves 2019 – a free festival of light at MediaCityUK
Lorraine Worsley-Carter
Lightwaves 2019 is lighting up Salford Quays and if you have been eagerly awaiting its return or you are visiting this free interactive light festival for the first time, this year’s public art will not disappoint. Public spaces around Salford Quays...
PeopleSalford QuaysTo do & see
Janey Godley – it’s not all about just hating the Tories
Brian Donaldson
She’s been dubbed the ‘godmother of Scottish comedy’ and numbers Billy Connolly among her fans. Now, Janey Godley is set to spread her appeal across the nation as this quintessentially Glaswegian comic takes the Soup Pot Tour over the border and...
Stephen K Amos talks Brexit, unity and being blindsided by the Pope.
Not a man to needlessly set about causing divisions in his audience, the very funny Stephen K Amos has always been an everyman comedian. Fitting then, that his brand spanking new UK tour should be called Everyman. But in his typically open and non...
Fundraising Festival of Trees lights up The Lowry Outlet
Carmel Thomason
It’s the most wonderful time of the year – when Francis House’s Festival of Trees arrives at The Lowry Outlet Mall, making everyone’s visit to the Quays a little bit brighter. And it is all down to Mary and Alan Gillatt, who’ve been running the pop...
Learn to sing your favourite arias with Opera North
Love to sing? Sing ON is a chance to learn from the best, at an afternoon workshop with the critically-acclaimed Chorus of Opera North at The Lowry. The event is suitable for adult singers of all abilities, with no requirement to read music or to...
ReviewsSalford Quays
Dorian: Review
Moses Kabunga
Dorian is a modern re-telling of the Oscar Wilde’s only novel, ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’. The play’s opening scene sets the tone. We’re invited to peer in as Dorian is seen recording and posting a video message for an on-line dating...
Chef turned writer, Henry Filloux-Bennett talks about bringing Nigel Slater’s Toast to the stage
‘Oh, that’s like me!’ Playwright, Henry Filloux-Bennett, now Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield, talks about his previous life as a chef and his inspiration and determination to bring Nigel Slater’s...
Meet animal heroes and hear incredible tales of bravery at IWMN
Beauty, a Wirehaired Terrier owned by PDSA Superintendent Bill Barnet, is considered by many to be one of the world’s first ‘Rescue Dogs’. Her story is one of many incredible tales of animal bravery being told as part of an Animals in Conflict...
‘Manchester restored my faith in my own comedy and kept me in the UK’ – Abigoliah Schamaun
Comedian, Abigoliah Schamaun grew up in mid-West America before moving to New York and then London. Her intelligent, topical and thought-provoking show, Do You Know Who I Think I Am? looks at the differences between how American’s ask for things (‘I...
ArtSalford QuaysTo do & see
Capture the rain for Lightwaves 2019
Lightwaves, a free festival of light, returns to illuminate MediaCityUK in December. Last year’s festival saw 19 installations, including interactive art works using voice and body movements to create light changes. Indoors the nearby Lowry...
The Personal History of David Copperfield: Film Review
Queen & Slim: Film Review
SARAH: Theatre Review
48 hours in Malta’s cool capital, Valletta
Drinking in the sights at Freixenet House of Cava
Blenheim Palace a breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Site in the heart of Oxfordshire
Darren Suarez gives an insight into his outrageous Vogue Ball
C’mere No More Fiffing and Faffing from Comedian Jimmy Cricket
How Salford actor, Jonathan Ainscourt creates a new musical every night
Copyright Quays Life 2020 · All rights reserved ·
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How to get Londoners onside during the tube strike
[et_social_share]
Full disclosure: I like unions. Without them, we wouldn’t have paid parental leave, a minimum wage or even a weekend. And I believe that no-one goes on strike unless they believe there’s something important at stake.
I was lucky.
I made it in to work today. I take the Overground and, if anything, my regular train was a little quieter than usual.
I read Facebook all the way and most of what I read was anger – anger at the tube drivers for ‘holding London to ransom’, and anger at the ‘greed’ of demanding more money when they ‘already make more than our hardworking teachers and nurses’.
On a day like today, when there’s a lot of conflicting information flying around, and people are angry, it’s even more important to do justice to what’s at stake, and help people separate the nonsense from facts.
That’s why, when an RMT member handed me this flyer outside Liverpool Street, I felt a bit deflated.
It’s not a bad flyer. It’s impassioned, and it gets the message across. But it’s harder to follow than it should be, and it’s got a few bugs that risk weakening the argument.
Here are a few thoughts on what could be working better:
1. It makes too many arguments at once
Let’s start with structure. The flyer can’t decide whether the issue is a ‘programme of cuts’, being asked to work more nights and weekends, or the importance of keeping you, the passenger, safe. Maybe it’s all of these things. But there’s no hierarchy. The arguments are munged together into a mass of unhelpfully bolded-out text that jumps between points.
Instead, decide what’s important
What’s the most important issue? Is it cuts? Is it passenger safety? Or is it the fundamental unfairness of trying to change someone’s contract? Let the most important issue structure the flyer. And if there are lots of important issues, declare them up front. To make the message easy to absorb, use subheadings and tackle them one at a time.
2. It leaves out the reader
Unions give regular people a voice. That’s what makes them brilliant. But while the flyer gives a great sense of what the union wants, it’s less sure-footed when it’s explaining why the public should get behind them.
Instead, build a connection between tube staff and the reader
Tube workers are Londoners too. They look after us every day and, when they’re not working, they take the tube themselves. Remind us of that. Remind us that you’d all rather be working. And show us why these causes matter to us all. The messages are there: the night tube needs to be safe, especially on Friday and Saturday nights, when it’s going to be really busy. You’re worried that running the tube all night means less time to fix the trains and the track, and that means more accidents. But bring it all together: ‘these changes will make London Underground less safe for you. That’s why you should care.’
And to connect the reader with the issue of wages, you could even throw the question back at us: London Underground wants tube workers to work hours they never signed up for, and it wants these new hours to be a condition of any pay rises in future – Would you let your employer change your contract like this?
3. It doesn’t acknowledge that strikes make everyone’s day worse
It’s easy to think either that unions can’t wait to call a strike, or that they don’t care if they make everyone’s day harder. A good few newspapers love to stoke that belief and, when we’re already angry at having to work from home or pile on to a sweaty bus, it’s easier than ever to let ourselves think the worst.
Instead, show the reader why the strike is the lesser of two evils
If I’d written this piece, my headline would be: ‘We’re sorry we made it harder for you to get to work today. Here’s why we had to do it.’ I’d start by telling you that I know I’ve put you out, then I’d tell you why the issue is so important that there was no other way. (Remember that the last time all four tube unions went on strike was over a decade ago).
4. It plays fast and loose with statistics
We’re told that assaults on staff are up by 44%, but there’s no more information. Whenever we see a statistic with nothing to explain or support it, we should be wary. In this case, it gets worse. I googled that stat and found the answer in a BBC article — http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-31515768. Basically, more people are reporting assaults. But the overall numbers have dropped significantly. Misusing statistics like this makes us doubt everything you say, even if you’ve got really important cause, or one that the reader agrees with.
Instead, use statistics, but use them honestly and always cite your sources
It’s the only way to make a statistic credible.
5. It strays from the point
I get it. You don’t like austerity. Neither do I. But talking about ‘this Tory government’, sniping about voting figures and bringing up MPs’ pay just dilutes the issue and risks sounding political. The danger is that people will think that you’re more interested in annoying a government you don’t like, than doing the right thing for its own sake.
Instead, play it straight
Talk about this problem today.
6. It’s overly negative
There’s more in here about what the union doesn’t want, than what it does want. This makes it easy for critics to accuse them of being overly negative, or even of being luddites.
Instead, talk just as much about what you want
There’s lots of important information here. The RMT actually supports the night tube. Tube staff already work on a shift pattern. The point is that the balance is being tipped too far in one direction.
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The Significance of Vehu Rachum
“I was once told that there are places in the long Vehu Rachum prayer where one should stop and wait to hear keriyas haTorah. What are they, and why?”
“Why is the prayer Vehu Rachum recited only on Monday and Thursday?”
“In some shullen that I attend, there is often a bang on a shtender with an announcement that today is the yahrzeit of some great rebbe, and therefore we will skip Tachanun. What is the source of this practice?”
This week, since we begin reading about the Mishkan, the forerunner of the Beis Hamikdash, of which it says ki beisi beis tefillah yi’karei, I am sending an article about the special prayer that we say on Mondays and Thursdays that begins with the words Vehu Rachum. The original article was written many years ago for parshas Shemos, and I am including the original introduction.
Our parsha mentions that when the king of Mitzrayim died, vayei’anchu bnei Yisrael min ha’avodah, vayiz’aku, vataal shav’asam el haElokim, that the Jewish people sighed and cried out, and that their cry for help (shav’a) rose to Hashem. Three different terms for prayer are mentioned in this verse. Indeed, the Hebrew language has almost twenty words to describe different types of prayer. This week is a good time to study a special prayer of ours – one that represents a different type of prayer.
What is the significance of the special prayer that begins with the words Vehu Rachum?
Vehu Rachum is the lengthy prayer recited on Monday and Thursday mornings on days when we say Tachanun (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 134:1). There is a very moving story concerning the origin of this prayer. After the destruction of the Second Beis HaMikdash, a boatload of fleeing Jews was captured by a cruel, anti-Semitic ruler. Discovering that they were Jews, he decreed that he would throw them into a fiery furnace, just as Nevuchadnezzar had cast Chananyah, Mishael, and Azaryah into a fiery furnace for refusing to worship idols.
The unfortunate Jews requested thirty days to prepare themselves for their fate. During those days, one of the older Jews dreamt of a pasuk that mentions the word “ki” twice and the word “lo” three times, but he could not remember it. A wise elder realized that the pasuk was Ki sa’avor bamayim itcha ani, uvaneharos lo yishtefucha. Ki seileich bemo eish lo sikaveh, velehavah lo siv’ar boch, “I will be with you when you pass through water; the rivers will not overcome you. When you pass through fire, you will not be singed, and flame will not burn you” (Yeshayah 43:2). The elder declared that this was clearly a sign from Hashem that just as they had been saved from the sea, so they would be saved from the conflagration.
After thirty days, the wicked ruler ordered that a huge fire be lit, and the old man entered it first. The fire separated into three sections, and three tzaddikim appeared. The first began to recite a prayer to Hashem beginning with the words Vehu Rachum, ending with the words melech chanun verachum attah. (In most printed editions that I have seen, these are the first three paragraphs of the prayer.) The second tzaddik added an additional prayer, beginning with the words Anna melech, chanun verachum, again ending with the words melech chanun verachum attah. (In the siddurim, these are the next two paragraphs of the prayer.) The third tzaddik completed the prayer. The fire remained split in three and no Jews were harmed. The prayers recited by all these three tzaddikim is the Vehu Rachum prayer that we recite on Mondays and Thursdays (Kolbo #18).
We can now answer one of the questions asked above:
“I was once told that there are places in the long Vehu Rachum prayer that one should stop and wait to hear keriyas haTorah. What are they, and why?”
Presumably, it is preferable to stop, if possible, at a place which is the end of one of the original three tefillos.
Why is this prayer recited on Mondays and Thursdays?
What sets apart these days from the rest of the week?
Moshe Rabbeinu ascended Mount Sinai to receive the second set of luchos on a Thursday, and returned with them forty days later on a Monday. Hashem’s decision to give Moshe these luchos clearly implied that the Jewish people were forgiven for the sin of the Golden Calf. As a result, Monday and Thursday became etched into the calendar as days of repentance and divine favor for the Jewish people. This is why these days are chosen for fasting and special prayers in times of need, such as during a drought or during Bahab, the three fast days observed a few weeks after Pesach and Sukkos.
What is the order after Shemoneh Esrei?
Ashkenazim recite Chapter 6 of Tehillim while “falling Tachanun.” After this, they say the prayer Shomer Yisrael, while still sitting, and then they begin the prayer Va’anachnu lo neida. The first three words, Va’anachnu lo neida, are recited sitting, after which one stands up to recite the rest of the prayer. On Monday and Thursday mornings, Vehu Rachum is recited while standing before Tachanun is begun.
According to Sefardic (Edot HaMizrach) custom, Shemoneh Esrei is followed by Viduy (confession) and then by the Thirteen Attributes of Hashem’s mercy (Hashem, Hashem, Keil, Rachum…). These are both said standing, and then one sits down to recite Chapter 25 of Tehillim, which is the primary part of Tachanun. On Monday and Thursday mornings, the Vehu Rachum prayer is recited after the Tachanun.
In nusach Sefard (the custom of those descended from Eastern European Jewry based on Hassidic influence), Shemoneh Esrei is followed by Viduy and by the Thirteen Attributes of Hashem’s mercy. These are both said standing, after which one sits down to recite Chapter 6 of Tehillim while “falling Tachanun.” This is followed by the prayer Shomer Yisrael, which is said while still sitting, and then by the prayer Va’anachnu lo neida. On Monday and Thursday mornings, the Vehu Rachum is recited between the Thirteen Attributes and Tachanun.
Is it more important to say Vehu Rachum or to say Tachanun?
What happens if there is insufficient time to recite both Vehu Rachum and the rest of the Tachanun together with the tzibur?
It seems that one should recite Tachanun with the tzibur and “Vehu Rachum” after davening.
It should be noted that the commentaries dispute what is included in the takanah of reciting Vehu Rachum. Some contend that the takanah is to say Vehu Rachum, and to say it while standing (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 134:1), whereas others explain that the takanah included only reciting Vehu Rachum, but did not require one to stand (Levush). (They all agree, however, that one should recite Vehu Rachum while standing.)
Vehu Rachum should be treated with the kedusha of the Shemoneh Esrei (Magen Avraham). Therefore, there are those who contend that it should be said quietly (Rama 134:1). However, the Beis Yosef rules that one may say Vehu Rachum aloud, as is the custom of many people.
When do we omit saying Vehu Rachum?
Vehu Rachum is omitted on days that we do not say Tachanun, which include Yomim Tovim and minor festivals.
The Gemara mentions that Tachanun is not recited on Rosh Chodesh (Bava Metzia 59b), because it is considered a minor Yom Tov (see Shibbolei HaLeket).
Why is Tachanun omitted on Yomim Tovim and minor festivals?
Apparently, since Tachanun is a very serious prayer, and a person may become overcome with emotion while reciting it, it was felt that reciting it on these occasions would detract from the day’s celebration.
Numerous customs are recorded concerning when Tachanun is omitted. Records of this topic go back over a thousand years. In the time of the Geonim, Rav Amram Gaon’s yeshivah recited Tachanun even on Chanukah and Purim, whereas in Rav Hai Gaon’s yeshivah, they did not (Shu’t Rivash #412). There were places in Bavel where the custom was to recite Tachanun on Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Shabbos Shuvah (Shu’t Rivash #412), something that we would find extremely unusual. Every community should follow its custom.
We omit Tachanun between Yom Kippur and Sukkos because the Beis HaMikdash was completed during these days, and there was great celebration (Beis Yosef, quoting Shibbolei HaLeket).
Some communities have adopted the practice of omitting Tachanun on the yahrzeit of a great tzaddik. However, virtually all poskim frown on this practice (Shu’t Shoel Umeishiv 5:39; Shu’t Yabia Omer 3:11; see Chayei Moshe 131:4:4, quoting the Rebbes of Ger, Satmar and Munkach).
It is an accepted practice not to say Tachanun when a chosson is in attendance during the entire week after his wedding. The Magen Avraham (131:12) rules that we omit Tachanun until exactly a week after the moment of the wedding. Some contend that the chosson should not deprive people from saying Tachanun, and therefore rule that a chosson should not come to shul the entire sheva berachos week (Taz 131:10)! This is the way the Mishnah Berurah rules (131:26).
There is also a dispute as to whether we recite Tachanun when a chosson is present on the day ofhis wedding. The Magen Avraham contends that Tachanun is not said, while the Taz holds that it is. Each community should follow its custom or the psak of its rav.
There are many other dates or special occasions when the accepted practice is to omit Tachanun. However, space does not allow us to explain the reasons for each of these customs.
Now that we are aware of the origin of the tefillah Vehu Rachum, we can recite the words with far deeper and greater feeling, knowing how grateful we must be for not having to contend with such intense and trying tests. Let us use the spiritual steps that those tzaddikim built for us to make an effort to internalize the message.
Posted on January 26, 2014 September 29, 2014 Author adminCategories PrayerTags tefilla, vehu rachum
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Dave King Supporter Update
Wednesday, 18 July 2018, 15:00
by Dave King
AS in previous years I take the opportunity at the commencement of a new season to provide our supporters with an update on where the Club stands against our stated objectives.
Three years ago, the Board committed to a programme of significantly increased investment in all areas to ensure that we get our team and facilities to the standard that we all expect and demand. We have had to invest more than we committed to for two main reasons.
First, the facilities at Ibrox and the Hummel Training Centre were much more dilapidated than we had initially anticipated. We have now significantly refurbished and improved Ibrox and our training facilities, including the installation of a new state of the art pitch during the close season, to ensure that our players can now train on the best surface available.
Secondly, the need to replace managers has been costly in terms of severance packages and the cost of bringing in new players to support each new manager. The replacement of the football management team is a difficult time for everyone at the Club. There is not only the financial impact but the need to deal fairly with people who worked extremely hard and gave their all – even though that turned out not to be enough. I am grateful for the opportunity to have met and worked with Pedro (Caixinha) and Graeme (Murty) and I am truly delighted that Graeme chose to stay and will continue to play such an important role in the development of our youth. I am also grateful to all the outgoing players for the efforts they made during their time at the Club and wish them well for their future careers in football.
I made it clear in prior statements that your Board will always act in the long-term interests of the Club and not be influenced by a minority of vociferous supporters, or members of the media who continuously attack our Club. This was never more evident than in the appointment of our new manager – Steven Gerrard. We were constantly put under pressure to make an appointment even though we did not consider the available candidates to be suitable to take the Club forward. We had many candidates with managerial experience, but the experience was not necessarily successful or of the standard that we felt we needed – particularly given our desire for stability after our recent experience of manager changes. We resisted the pressure and made an appointment only when we felt that we had an outstanding candidate that we could support. We ultimately appointed a man whose football pedigree, knowledge, character and winning mentality is unquestioned and we will back him while he gains management experience. A winner is a winner.
In that regard, it was pleasing to see the new squad settling down with the successful navigation last night (especially after last year) of a potentially tricky Europa League fixture with two clean sheets to the players’ credit. On this point, I am conscious that we were top scorers in the SPFL last season but conceded far too many goals to be able to finish higher than third. This leakage will be much reduced in the coming season thanks to the efforts of Mark (Allen) and Steven in the transfer market. This team will continue to improve which makes me more relaxed for this coming season than I have been for any since regime change.
Unfortunately, we are still dogged by some of the off-field activities that we inherited from the previous board. We still hear and receive complaints about Sports Direct’s performance as our retail partner despite the overall settlement agreement that we reached last year. Communication with them remains difficult and, having initially indicated their desire to deal amicably with the transition and handover, we are now back in court with the uncertainties that entails. The Board will continue to do what is best for our Club and supporters and seek to minimise any disruption.
I am also still dealing with the Takeover Panel (“TP”) following complaints by the old board and supporters of other clubs to hold me personally liable to make an offer for all the non-consortium shares of RIFC. This follows similar efforts to deny me fit and proper status with the SFA. Certain individuals believe that if they can disrupt the current boardthe recovery in Rangers fortunes over the last three years might be reversed. It is noteworthy that the SFA have still not approved Alastair Johnston’s fit and proper status despite his impeccable record as a businessman and as a protector of our Club during its darkest moments.
The initial TP ruling was strange in targeting me personally when I have never held any shares in my personal capacity. However, eventually the TP agreed that it would be practical if one of my trust companies in South Africa (“SA”) made the offer on my behalf. At the TP’s request cash of approximately GBP 11m was ring-fenced in a lawyer’s trust account to fund the offer. After agreeing to the public announcement of the offer by the SA company the TP changed its mind and asked that the funds be placed in an account in the UK. I agreed to this but explained to the TP that I have no account in the UK and would need time to open one and to get exchange control approval to transfer funds out of SA. The TP refused the necessary extension of time and instituted contempt of court proceedings against me for not complying with the original ruling to make a personal offer. That strange decision has now caused further unnecessary delay, with no end in sight. Fortunately, it does not affect the operations of the football club.
Litigation with the TP is another unwanted personal and financial cost to me of my initial decision to get involved with the Club again to assist in rescuing it from certain demise under the previous board. Since then, I have devoted far more time to Rangers than to my other business interests. This was necessary because those who benefited from the previous regime adopted every legal strategy to avoid losing the vice like grip they had on our Club. Supporters will remember that I faced another contempt of court application when Mike Ashley tried to put me in jail for standing up to Sports Direct. That is what we are up against.
My fellow directors and I have all had to endure personal attacks and we all spend far more time dealing with Rangers interests than any of us truly expected. But we did it willingly and continue to do so for no financial gain. Those that wished our Club to fail have failed themselves and we will continue to progress despite inevitable set-backs that will come our way from time to time.
I wish you all an enjoyable and successful season in following Rangers.
Article Copyright © 2019. Permission to use quotations from this article online is only granted subject to appropriate source credit and hyperlink to www.rangers.co.uk
Gerrard Pays Tribute To King 27 November 2019
King Discusses Rangers Women 26 November 2019
King Discusses Alfredo Morelos 26 November 2019
King Discusses Financial Results 26 November 2019
Club Statement 22 May 2016
Club Statement 7 December 2017
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Grand Rally at Milltown
May 17, 2017 at 12:26 am (Berrien Minute Men, Civil War)
Tags: 29th Georgia Regiment, Ann Lamb, Battle of Atlanta, Berrien Minute Men, Confederate Georgia Assembly, Cornelius Whitfield Crawford, Daniel McDonald, Dougal McDonald, Dougal P. McDonald, E. J. G. Lee, Elizabeth J. Lamb, Elizabeth Lastinger, Ellen Jeane Grey Lee, Emily E. Brandon, James Island, John C. Lamb, John T. Carroll, Jonathan D. Knight, Jonesville GA, Lastinger Mill, Levi J. Knight, Magnolia GA, Milltown GA, Milltown Ladies Association, Nathan Talley, Riceboro GA, Seaborn James Lastinger, Sullivan Island, Susan A. Dawson, Wiley E. Baxter, William J. Lamb, William Lastinger, William R. Brandon
Grand Military Rally at Milltown, May 1861
Special thanks to Jim Griffin for sharing contributions and illustration for this post.
Grand Military Rally at Milltown, GA, May, 1861 in honor of the Berrien Minute Men
About the Illustration
The illustration above, commissioned and contributed by reader Jim Griffin, depicts the scene of the Grand Military Rally held in Milltown (now Lakeland), GA in mid-May, 1861 to honor the Berrien Minute Men. The illustration is based on reports published in Savannah, GA newspapers, transcribed below. Illustration by Alan H. Archambault.
Setting and Attendees Described in Newspaper Accounts
Captain Levi J. Knight, original settler at the site of Ray City, GA, received the ceremonial flag presented at the Grand Rally. He was a “large, raw-boned man,” and a social, political and military leader of Berrien County, which then included Milltown (now Lakeland), GA and all of present day Lanier County, GA. A veteran of the Indian Wars, he organized the Berrien Minute Men in 1860, and served as their first Captain. He took his company to Brunswick, GA where the Berrien Minute Men first served with the 13th Georgia Regiment. After reorganization they were mustered into the 29th GA Regiment of Volunteer Infantry; L.J. Knight served as Major of this Regiment before retiring on account of age and health.
The Baptist Church at Milltown, depicted in the background, was where the association of the ladies of Milltown convened prior to the Grand Military Rally of May, 1861. The Baptist Church was constructed about 1857. Its organization was instigated by the families of James and Jesse Carroll, brothers who were pioneer settlers of present day Lanier County, GA.
“In 1857 Daniel B. Carroll (James’ son) and James S. Harris (James Carroll’s son-in-law) deeded land for a Missionary Baptist Church. Trustees to whom the deed was made were James Carroll, James Dobson, James’ sons John T. and James H., and James S. Harris. Rev. Caswell Howell, who had recently settled here, is said to have been its first pastor. [Rev. Howell was a brother of Barney Howell, who was a mail carrier on the Troupville route.] The church, directly north of today’s courthouse [present day site of Mathis Law office, 64 W. Church Street Lakeland, GA], was built of hand-split lumber with hand-hewn sills, and put together with wooden pegs. The ten-inch-wide ceiling boards were planed by hand.” – Nell Roquemore, in Roots, Rocks and Recollections
The Methodist Episcopal Church, shown on the right, was organized by the Talley family and built in 1856 on the present day site of the Lakeland City Cemetery, on E. Church Street. The pastor of this church, Reverend Nathan Talley, led the invocation and hymns for the convening of the ladies association at the Baptist Church.
Not depicted is a school that sat in between the Baptist and Methodist churches. The school supposedly sat back off Church Street.
Mrs. Jas. S. Harris, who made the motion for a chair to be called, was Elizabeth Ann Carroll Harris, wife of Milltown merchant and postmaster James Simpson Harris. As a civil servant, the 48 year-old Mr. Harris was exempt from Confederate military service. The Harrises were neighbors of Milltown merchant Abraham Leffler and of Dr. James W. Talley, son of Reverend Nathan Talley.
Mrs. Susan A. Dawson served as Chair of the Ladies Association.
Miss E. Brannon, appointed secretary of the Ladies Association, was Emily Elizabeth Brandon. She was a daughter of William R. Brandon. She would marry Jonathan D. Knight, of the Berrien Minute Men, on August 10, 1862 in South Carolina.
Mrs. E. J. G. Crawford, who was selected to present the flag to the Berrien Minute Men, was Ellen Jeane Grey Lee, wife of Cornelius Whitfield Crawford. The Crawfords were residents of Magnolia, GA and later moved to Texas.
Mr. Wiley E. Baxter was a school teacher for John T. Carroll, a neighbor of Captain Levi J. Knight. Baxter was one of Captain L. J. Knight’s company of men; He appeared on the 1860 roster of Berrien Minute Men. He would go with Captain Knight’s Company to Savannah, GA to enlist in the Georgia volunteer infantry. He eventually served in the 29th Georgia Regiment with both Company A (C & G) and Company B (D & K) of the Berrien Minute Men, and would achieve the rank of 2nd Lieutenant before being killed at the Battle of Atlanta, 1864.
Daniel B. McDonald, who also took up the collection from the men, was the twin brother of Dougal P. McDonald of the Berrien Minute Men. The twins married sisters Elizabeth and Ann Lamb, who were siblings of William J. Lamb and John Carroll Lamb. Dougal P. McDonald was excused from military duty to serve in the Confederate Georgia legislature. Daniel McDonald later served as a Captain with the Georgia reserve Coast Guard at Jonesville near Riceboro, GA.
Elizabeth Lastinger was a daughter of William Lastinger, who owned Lastinger Mill. On May 12, 1861 Elizabeth Lastinger married William J. Wilkerson, son of William D. Wilkerson (or Wilkinson). Five of her brothers served in the Berrien Minute Men. One brother, Pvt. Seaborn J. Lastinger, was killed September 15, 1863 in a magazine explosion at James Island, SC. Her youngest brother, Joshua Berrien Lastinger, served with the 4th Georgia Reserves.
Military Rally at Milltown, GA. May 17, 1861 Savannah Daily Morning News
Savannah Daily Morning News
A Grand Military Rally in Mill Town, Berrien County.
A mass meeting of the ladies of Mill Town and vicinity convened in the Baptist Church in the above mentioned village.
The Rev. Mr. Talley, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, opened the meeting with singing and prayer, after which on motion of Mrs. JAS. S. HARRIS, Mrs. SUSAN A DAWSON was called to the Chair, and Miss E. BRANNON requested to act as Secretary.
The object of the meeting was then explained from the Chair, which was —
1st. The presentation of a beautiful flag representing the flag of the Confederate States.
2d. The forming of themselves into an association of ladies for the purpose of preparing necessary articles of clothing, bandages, lints, &c., for the volunteer company, the Berrien Minute Men, while in camp or battle field.
3d. For the purpose of taking up contributions for the benefit of the company, and for other purposes.
The association being formed, on motion of Mrs. C. W. CRAWFORD, the Chair was requested to appoint two ladies and two gentlemen to take up a collection. Miss E. LASTINGER and Mrs. HARRIS were appointed to take up a collection among the ladies; Mr WILEY E. BAXTER and Mr. DANIEL B. McDONALD to take collection from the gentlemen.
It was, on motion, suggested that the Chair appoint some lady to present the flag to the company in behalf of the ladies of Berrien.
The Chair suggested the name of Mrs. E. J. G. CRAWFORD, who accepted the appointment.
Upon motion, the meeting adjourned; and a messenger despatched to the company (who were on parade in the streets) to inform the Captain that the ladies were ready to present the flag. The Captain marched his company up in front of the Church. Capt. KNIGHT and his officers formed six paces in front, and announced themselves ready; when Mrs. CRAWFORD advanced with flag-staff in hand, at the top of which floated to the breeze the beautiful flag of the Confederate States, and addressed the Captain as follows:
Captain Levi J. Knight and Gentlemen of the Berrien Minute Men: We, the ladies of Mill Town and vicinity, present you this flag, wishing you to present it to your ensign in our behalf. Brave volunteers! may you march forth under its stars to defend your country’s cause. The tocsin of war is resounding through our land. From James’ and Sullivan’s Islands its first peals were heard, saying “We no longer submit to Northern aggression.” Numbers of our brave countrymen are already in the field, firmly and proudly bearing arms defensive of our rights and our soil against the hostile invaders. Others are rushing on to the rescue. For freedom they fight – for freedom will die. Brothers! go join them. Rally for truth, for liberty, and our own happy South.
This bright sunny land of our birth, and our homes inherited from our fathers, the brave old patriots of ’76, let their spirits inspire your souls to preserve that freedom for which they fought and bled. Spread this fair flag to the breeze of Heaven; long and proudly may it float to the gaze.
In every conflict with the foe, remember this flag waves over you. Those bars and seven stars represent our Southern Confederate flag, recently formed for our protection. Guard them with distinguished care, and never, oh! never let them fall to the dust in dishonor.
Your trial, your toils, your hardships in this warfare may be many, very many; but be firm and unyielding, courageous and brave, true be each man to his post, dealing out death to foe, fighting for freedom, our rights, our homes, and the South. Each heart will grow bolder, each arm will grow stronger, each eye will be brightened in view of success. Think not of those you leave behind you, but press onward to the glory in battle. Our hearts, though riven with anguish, will ever be with you, and our prayers continually ascending to Him who defendeth our cause. Then, brave soldiers, with God on your side and our prayers in your behalf, be sure you will conquer at last. Let your watch-word be triumph, or die in the ranks of the foe.
Many were the tears that trickled down thousands of fair cheeks that composed the vast assembly that surrounded the fair and eloquent speaker. She advanced silently and presented the flag to Capt. Knight. Upon receiving it he advanced two paces and replied as follows:
Fair lady accept our thanks for yourself and those you represent, for this beautiful and highly appreciated banner. When the aggressions of the North became so oppressive, we no longer could bear them without degradation; we withdrew from the old Confederacy, and assumed the right which the God of Nature has bestowed on every free and patriotic people – the formation of a government that will best accure to them the blessings and protection of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness; but we are now threatened with subjugation; yea, the fiat has gone forth from the Black Republic President, that we must be subjugated, and is now arming his minions to force us to submit. That the fair of our land should feel indignant, is but natural; but for you, fair Lady, and your associates, have been prompted by a nobler and loftier patriotism, felt only by the virtuous and intelligent.
This beautiful flag, to which you have so happily allude and so delicately presented, will, I trust, stimulate every member of this Company to do his whole duty to his country and to you. May your generosity, confidence, labors, and anticipations be not in vain. May we ever merit that confidence; and should we meet the enemy, which there is now every possibility we will, I trust this beautiful flag will be the beacon that will guide this Company to noble deeds. – Though its beauty may be tarnished and soiled with the hardships of the camp; through its beautiful folds may be purforated with the enemy’s bullets, I trust it will never trail in disgrace. – While you fair lady, and the fair of this community, manifest such a noble spirit of patriotism, you can never want stout hearts and strong arms to defend and protect you.
In behalf of the members of this Company, I tender to you our grateful acknowledgements.
Notice was then given to the Captain, that a sumptuous dinner had been prepared at the Hotel by the ladies. The Company was then marched up in the front of the Hotel; orders were given to stack arms, which was done in beautiful order, and orders given to repair to the table – about 100 feet in length, and weighted down with many, very many, of the goodly things of our sunny South.
Permit me, further, to state, Mr. Editor, that the Company numbers 80 as brave, patriotic and fine looking men as the Southern Confederacy can produce – well uniformed, with the first quality of muskets and sword bayonets. There is another volunteer company being bade up in our county, which I think will be complete in a few days – all brave as Sparters.
Soon Captain Levi J. Knight’s Berrien Minute Men would be bound for Brunswick, GA. There, they would join the Thomasville Guards, Ochlocknee Light Infantry, Seaboard Guards, Piscola Volunteers, Wiregrass Minute Men and Brunswick Rifles in the defense of the port of Brunswick. In August, 1861, these companies and others would be mustered into the 13th Georgia Regiment. (In a later reorganization, the Berrien Minute Men would be transferred to Savannah and mustered into the 29th Georgia Regiment.)
Resolutions of the Berrien Minute Men
Campfires of the Berrien Minute Men
Berrien Minute Men at Brunswick ~ July, 1861
Berrien Minute Men on Sapelo Island: Part 1
Richard Ault, Blacksmith for the Berrien Minute Men
Organization and Command of the Berrien Minute Men
Reward Offered for Confederate Deserters
Berrien Readied for Civil War, May, 1861
Albert Douglass: Soldier Grey and Sailor Blue
Elbert J. Chapman Was A Victim of Military Discipline
John Carroll Lamb
William W. Knight Writes Home About Old Yellow and Men of the 29th Georgia Infantry
Confederate Letters of John William Hagan
Levi J. Knight and the Confederate Payroll Fraud
John W. Hagan Witnessed “Unholy War” and the Execution of Elbert J. Chapman
Old Yaller’s Widow Was Denied Pension
The Poetry of Mary Elizabeth Carroll
Georgia Gossip about Hardeman Giddens
Matthew O. Giddens ~ Confederate POW
Isbin T. Giddens Dies of Brain Fever at Guyton Hospital, Georgia
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College of Humanities & Social Sciences Theses and Dissertations
Current theses and dissertations from Rowan University graduate programs are submitted electronically to Rowan University's Office of Graduate Research Services and are usually available in this institutional repository within a few weeks of submission. Theses and dissertations submitted between 2010 and 2015 have been migrated from the library’s previous digital archives and are available here.
As of 9/29/16, theses and dissertations produced between 1996 and 2010 have been scanned and uploaded. If you are the author of a Rowan University (or Glassboro State College) thesis or dissertation produced before 2010, and you do not want your document to be publicly available in Rowan Digital Works, you must complete and submit this form to request its removal from the repository.
Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019
Returning to nature: Environmental history's posthuman direction, William H. Smith III
Sex offender perceptions: Investigating social supports as buffers to the consequences of Megan's Law, Melissa D. Colson
The relationship between the Methodist church, slavery and politics, 1784-1844, Brian D. Lawrence
Finding Chinese Jesus: Chinese Christians and American missionaries in the Republic of China (1912-1949), Matthew Joseph Douthitt
Is Rowan University's Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy effective at deterring students from possessing or using drugs and drug paraphernalia?, Amy LoSacco
Assessing risk factors and levels of functioning across the continuum of psychosis, James Castorina
Altering the social learning climate: raising the legal age of tobacco purchase and social learning theory, Beth Fera
Bolshevik voices: radio broadcasting in the Soviet Union, 1917 - 1991, Bradley Trinkner
School Resource Officer programs: implementation's effect on student perceptions of safety, Stephen Clipper
Rape in America: an empirical test of two theories, Vaughn Crichlow
The effect of the method of execution on sentencing determinations in capital cases, Adam Fera
The effect of the method of execution on sentencing determinations in capital cases, Adam G. Fera
Policing and firearms: exploring data collection practices and attitudes toward gun control, Adam V. Moltisanti
College webpage
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Top Five Mark Commentaries
Introduction. Mark commentaries usually do not spend as much time worrying over the synoptic problem as Matthew commentaries do primarily because virtually all scholars consider Mark to be the first gospel written. While there has been some interest in the sources Mark may have used (see the intro in Vincent, for example), most recent commentaries find this layer of tradition inaccessible and therefore do not speculate excessively on Ur-Mark (the original form of Mark, Mark’s source, etc.) More important than sources is Mark’s literary style and the genre of “gospel.”
R. T. France, The Gospel of Mark (NIGTC; Grand Rapids, Mich: Eerdmans, 2002). As with all the writers in the NIGTC series, France is an expert on the Greek text of Mark. The commentary has less background material that Evans, but is rich in exegetical detail. That is not to say that France is ignorant of the Hebrew Bible or other Second Temple Period literature, but only that his main interest is the Greek words in the context of Mark. France surveys the synoptic problem briefly, giving quite a bit of weight to John Robinson’s theory of cross-fertilization. In the end France concludes “I do not need a solution to the synoptic problem.” He approaches Mark as a storyteller who has created a long narrative in three “acts.” Like many commentaries on Mark, Peter’s confession in chapter 8 is the clear turning point of the book, dividing France’s first two “acts,” Galilee (1:1-8:21) and On the Way to Jerusalem (8:22-10:52). The third act in the drama of Mark at Jerusalem, beginning in Mark 11.
Craig Evans, Mark 8:27-16:20 (WBC; Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2001). Evans finished the Mark commentary for the Word series after Robert Guelich died unexpectedly in 1991. Guelich’s commentary is excellent, but Evans’ work is even better. The commentary follows the general pattern of all WBC volumes (bibliography, translation and text, form and structure, commentary, explanation). Although Evans is contributing to a commentary begun by another scholar, he has included a 63-page introduction to Mark which covers a number of issues not covered in Guelich’s original commentary. Evans only briefly comments on typical introduction issues, preferring to up-date and extend the original introduction. His section on the theology and purpose of Mark is excellent. But what sets this commentary apart from the rest is Evans’ use of Second Temple Period literature to illustrate the world of historical Jesus. For example, his comments on the Parable of the Vineyard provides references to several rabbinic parables which may be considered as parallels Jesus’ own parable. The section of Jewish divorce practices is brief, but contains a wealth of secondary material (p. 84-6). Bibliographies for each pericope are extensive, there are five pages for the Parable of the Wicked Vineyard tenants!
Robert Gundry, Mark: A Commentary on his Apology for the Cross (Grand Rapids, Mich: Eerdmans, 1993). Unlike his original Matthew commentary, Gundry’s Mark commentary is more focused on the text of Mark alone. This would have to be the case given his interest in Matthew as an editor of Mark, there is no real “redaction criticism” possible for Mark. The result is an exegetical commentary which is sensitive to the text and aware of the broader theological issues at stake. What sets this commentary apart from the rest is the “notes” section for each pericope. In the main commentary section, Gundry makes scant reference to other scholars, he simply lays out the meaning of the text. After his section, he includes a section of “notes” in which he surveys the opinion of virtually every modern scholar on the topic at hand, including major German and French scholars. The type is smaller in these sections and he cites his sources only briefly, making these sections dense but rewarding.
James R. Edwards, The Gospel According to Mark (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 2002). Edwards’ commentary is in the Pillar series, edited by D. A. Carson. While the series is designed for pastors, most of the volumes will have an appeal to scholars as well. Edwards has an excellent introduction to the gospel of Mark, the highlight is his discussion of Mark’s Christology. Since the commentary is aimed at pastors, Greek is transliterated and text-critical issues are relegated to footnotes. I especially appreciate his use of the Hebrew Bible and other Second Temple Period literature. The result is a very readable and useful commentary which will serve the busy pastor well.
Vincent Taylor, The Gospel According to St. Mark (1952, second edition 1966). Originally published in 1952, this commentary was republished in the early 1980s by Baker as a part of their Thornapple commentary series. This is how commentaries used to be written for pastors – with the Greek text running across the top of the page and textual notes in two columns beneath. Vincent’s comments on the Greek focus on syntax, citing Blass, Moulton, Turner, etc. His 150 page introduction is a window into the state of Gospel studies in the mid 20th century, critical yet respectful of the text – Mark is “an authority of first rank for our knowledge of the Story of Jesus.”
I will mention one other classic commentary here, even though this violates my “top five commentary” rule. Henry Swete’s 1902 commentary on the Greek text of Mark is available from Google Books (now, Play Books) as a free download. This is an oft-cited classic commentary on Mark which is well worth consulting.
Conclusion. What have I left out? What commentaries on Mark have you found useful? What classic commentary on Mark should be read by all students of the Gospels?
Index for the Top Five Commentary Series
Introduction to Series on Commentaries
On Using Commentaries
Matthew Mark Luke John Acts
Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians
Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians
1-2 Thessalonians Pastoral Epistles Philemon
Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter & Jude
Letters of John Revelation
Conclusion: Last Thoughts on New Testament Commentaries
Book Notices, Book Reviews
Bible, Bible Commentary, Book Review, Commentaries, Gospel of Mark, Mark
← Top Five Matthew Commentaries
Top Five Luke Commentaries →
28 thoughts on “Top Five Mark Commentaries”
Jon Austin (@jonbaustin)
I appreciated Witheringtons socio-rhetorical commentary on Mark.
I almost always favor Witherington, but for some reason I do not have his book on Mark.
Have 3 of the 5 on my list:France, Edwards, Taylor. The other two on my top list is C.E.B Cranfield, Mark Cambridge 1959 and d. Edmond Hiebert, Mark: An Expositional Commentary, Bob Jones Press, 1994.
Abram K-J
What are your thoughts on Stein’s BECNT commentary on Mark?
I have found all of the BECNT volumes very useful, the style of the commentary makes for quick reading (ie., it is not as detail-rich as say, Green.) Stein is a fine evangelical scholar, and the commentary is an excellent pastors commentary.
Great–thanks! I’m new to this blog, but look forward to reading my way through this series.
I am new to the blog too, from Australia. Which would be better to buy for sermon preparation – Stein or Edwards (I have Lanes older NICNT).Both are on sale at the moment.I want something readable, goes into good background depth (theology and culture at the time) as well as has some application. Also can you comment on the strengths and weaknesses of each. What do you think of Graland NIV application commentary too, thanks
All things being equal, I think Stein. That might be because I have used Stein more extensively, both have good exegetical features, although neither has the sort of homiletical value that the Garland commentary you mention has. The NIV Application series wasn’t included in the series, more or less because I restricted myself to five per biblical book. The volumes in that series I have used are intended to help the reader “bridge the gaps” between the world of the Bible and today. That is something that is secondary in the other two books.
HiPhillip,
Thanks for the quick response. I had a read of a couple pages on line Edwards seems very readable and goes into the cultural/historical context which I love, Stein seem to discuss various views more with a bit more technical detail – Is that what you think?
On 1 corinthains I have fees commentary and the smaller theisleton edition which I love. Do you prefer garland or Rosner latest offering, do they both agree with each other generally. Is there really advancement with Rosners been a newer commentary. Again which would be better (positve and negatives). I like depth but not to dry. They are on sale too – I would like to choose one of them.
I am also choosing for Acts between Bock and Peterson (pillar), I have the old FF Bruce (NICNT) and (tyndale) I H marshall. Any thoughts there. On matthew I have keener smaller IVP is it worth getting the larger edition?
I wonder if Stein has more “synoptic problem” than Edwards. It has been a while, but I know Stein did alot with that issue years ago, so that might come through into his commentary.
I think that Thiselton on 1 Cor in the NICGNT series is just about the best thing going, although very technical at times. I do not have his shorter commentary, but I understand it is more “readable.” I like Fee, although (to be honest) I have just about the last copy printed in the “old” NICNT format, which is short and too fat. (some people say that about me, actually!) Fee has a couple of unusual ideas (women in 1 Cor 14, for example). Still, it is a very good commentary on grammar/exegesis, the historical and cultural is well done as well.
I commented on the Acts commentaries on the other thread….Keener is usually good, but his mammoth commentary is the one to have!
Hi Phillip,
Thanks for your response – much appreciated. I suppose Iam looking for a commentary that has depth but is very readable and good for sermon prep/bible studies etc. I find some technical commentaries very dry and I have limited greek. When you read Fee you can sense his passion when he writes. I find some schloars like keener and garland are great for sermon prep as they apply the text as they write from their perspectives. I was reading Leon morris on Matthew and you can sense his pastoral heart and warmth when he writes. I suppose that is what Iook for in a commentary depth with pastoral application or sense their passion for christ and his kingdom and for lost people. Sorry to waffle.
You have been a great help, I will check out Stein a bit more and Keener on Acts however I have heard it will be a four volumne work which maybe beyond my budget.
Mark has a number of good commentaries available now. I think France is excellent. The old standard by Lane still has something to offer. Rodney Deckers commentary in the baylor greek handbook series should be out this year and Voelz from concordia looks useful. Preachers will value Crane from wiff & stock and Kuruvilla preaching mark.
Steven Harte
For Mark, how could you not include the 2 volume Anchor Bible Commentary by Joel Marcus or the Hermeneia volume by Adela Yabro Collins?
Pingback: Mark: Guide to Commentaries | Fulcrum Anglican
robwaltoon
I just picked up Edward’s Pillar commentary and it’s surprisingly a joy to read. Thorough exegesis with a conversational writing style as if he were sitting right there in the room with you. I very much like the way Edwards puts things, such as Mark’s “sandwiching” stories. He’s inviting you to take a bite. I’m sure this commentary will make a nice companion to Yarbo Collins, Joel Marcus, and Robert Gundry. Good thing I don’t read Greek, or else I’d have French to deal with as well. Also, the Sacra Pagina Mark (Harrington/Donahue) is a solid introductory commentary for anyone who wants to test the water without getting bogged down in technical details. The series is generally inexpensive and about as “Catholic” as Brown, Fitzmyer, or L.T. Johnson.
Thanks for all your recommendations. They’ve been very helpful in rebuilding my NT library.
Just thought I’d throw this out there in case anyone is interested or listening.
I’m currently charging through The Jewish Gospels: The Story of the Jewish Christ by Daniel Boyarin. This book provides excellent context for the commentaries of Marcus and Yarbo Collins (Lane even gets an honorable mention). The general thesis of the book (which Lane touched on in 1974 according to the footnotes) is that the foundations for a high Christology were already in existence 200 years before the birth of Jesus in Daniel 7. What that means, is that when Mark’s Jesus says the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath, for example (having sovereignty over the Sabbath), the Pharisees would know exactly what he is implying (that’s putting things simply). Secondly, the dual nature of Father and Son found in the Ancient of Days and the one like a son of man of Daniel 7 created a climate in which a man could assert divinity and be taken seriously by some and be rejected by others. This dual nature of God was already present in Israel, and not imported later from the Greeks as others think (or thought). I find it all fascinating, both in content and in the controversies it has caused. You may too.
I just took a look at this on Amazon, and yes, it does look good! I enjoyed reading Boyarin when I was prepping my dissertation, so I would like to see how he reads the Gospels. Thanks for the tip!
Boyarin’s discussion on Mark 7 (Jesus kept kosher) is quite an impressive bit of rabbinical argument. He argues that Jesus, in fact, did not do away with the Torah, but defended and re-instituted the Torah by exposing only the Pharisees’ addendums to the purity laws. He reasserts the parable of purity in 7:15 by re-inserting the missing verse 16: “If you have ears to hear”, making the parable about the Pharisees and not the Torah. Boyarin convincingly sees Mark as deeply Jewish (hardly the first to do so in Jewish Markan scholarship). I think the book is a must read for anyone studying Mark for it fascinating perspective and debate.The final chapter is titled The Suffering Christ as a Midrash on Daniel. It’s a biblical studies page turner!
Boyarin also talks about the North/South tensions and differences between the way people practiced Torah in Galilee and in Jerusalem, since the Pharisees came up from Jerusalem, which feuls the confrontation.
Hi Phil, or anyone else out there listening… Can you recommend a concordance for us non Greek readers, or a suitable NTGreek/English dictionary that might go a little further than some of the textual notes found in some commentaries, or that might provide an aid in reading a commentary such as France’s NIGTC? Thanks in advance for any and all recommendations.
I am always listening….I ran across this site recently. It has the Greek NT, every word (or nearly?) is clickable. The form is identified (verb, noun, etc) and parsed, then it lists the Abbott-Smith lexicon entry, the old Strongs’s and KJV translations.
http://www.gntreader.com/
Of course this really does not help much if you do not know what an Aorist Verb is…I often suggest Bill Mounce’s Greek for the Rest of Us: The Essentials of Biblical Greek. He tries to explain these kind of grammatical / syntactical nuances for people who cannot take a full Greek class.
Is that the sort of thing you are after?
That’s a sign post in the right direction, Phil. Thanks. I was looking at Mounce’s book online. And yeah, that Aorist verb does tend to pop up in commentaries. I find the English dictionary definition only confuses matters more 🙂
Your comment reminds me of another inexpensive tool: Pocket Dictionary for the Study of New Testament Greek by Matthew DeMoss, or the Hebrew version by Todd Murphy. Very handy and inexpensive.
http://www.amazon.com/Pocket-Dictionary-Study-Biblical-Hebrew/dp/0830814582/
Thanks! All good.
Hey, Phil! I was at Toronto’s one and only remaining theological bookstore and came across Mounce’s Interlinear For Rest Of Us. I think that’s what I was looking for. Something that gives me the Greek text along with the English. From there I can employ the dictionaries et al and maybe follow along the NIGTC volumes. Thanks again for the direction.
I should have thought of that, although interlinear Bibles are not usually on my horizon. A guy in my church showed me the books maybe a month ago, otherwise I have not browsed it.
Having now surveyed a number of commentaries on Mark, here are my picks. I didn’t find a go-to commentary, rather I put together a team of commentaries to cross-reference (I’m still waiting for Eugene Boring’s NTL commentary to arrive from Amazon). I also remain open and objective when reading commentaries. I’m looking for a clarity in textual understanding, not confirmation of what I may or may not believe. I like to be engaged, challenged, and left to think on my own.
Center — Joel Marcus, Mark 1-8, Mark 8-16, Anchor Bible, Doubleday/Yale University Press, 2000, 2009 A solid technical commentary with excellent textual notes and exposition. Marcus favors a Syrian context which allows for dialogue with others who favor a Roman context.
Right wing – Robert H. Stein, Mark, BECNT, Grand Rapids, 2008
A comprehensive and scholarly detailed evangelical commentary with tremendous depth and readability. The blurbs on the back from Joseph Fitzmyer and Craig Evans are well warranted.
Left Wing – R. T. France, The Gospel of Mark, NIGTC, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, MI, 2002 I don’t read Greek, but I can use an Interlinear, and so can you to navigate your way through this classic. See Phil’s comments above.
Right Defense: Francis J. Moloney, The Gospel of Mark, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids, MI, 2002. This is a somber and deeply felt commentary, rich in depth and rewards. “A reading of this mysterious gospel challenges us to hope in the midst of ambiguity and failure.” (24)
Left Defense – Edwards, James R., The Gospel According to Mark (PNTC), Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, MI, 2002 If you just want the broad strokes, this is an easily digestible evangelical commentary that gives you the skinny with very readable prose. It does lack depth compared to Stein.
Goalie: A. Y. Collins, Mark (Hermeneia), Fortress Press, Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis, MN, 2007 This is another technical commentary which I like to use as balance. Collins offers a wealth of secondary 1st Century literature to support her readings in placing Mark within its context.
On the bench with plenty of playing time:
Donahue, S.J., John R., Daniel J. Harrington, S.J., The Gospel of Mark, (Sacra Pagina), A Michael Glazier Book, Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN, 2002 It seems 2002 was a big year for Mark commentaries. Like the Edwards volume, Donahue and Harrington gives us a respectful reading of Mark that doesn’t skirt the issues despite its relative brevity.
Sabin, Marie Noonan, The Gospel According to Mark, Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN, 2006
_______Reopening the Word: Reading Mark as Theology in the Context of Early Judaism, Oxford University Press, New York, NY, 2002
I like Sabin because she dares to go out on her own and does not return empty handed. Her Midrashic reading of Mark offers new ways to look at the text within its Jewish context and brings to mind A-list biblical scholar Amy-Jill Levine. Her arguments for alternate translations of key words stimulates discussion and opens your eyes to new possibilities of interpretation.
I’ve left off a couple of heavyweights in Witherington and Gundry, which I have been reading, but I have yet to gel with those authors for personal reasons. Hope this is a help to some.
Pingback: Logos Free Book of the Month for November 2019 – R. T. France, The Gospel of Mark (The New International Greek Testament Commentary) | Reading Acts
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Professor Anthony Jakeman
BSc(Hons) (UNSW), PhD(ANU)
Director, Integrated Catchment Assessment and Management (iCAM) Centre, Fenner School of Environment and Society
E: Tony.Jakeman@anu.edu.au
Jump to: Biography|Publications|Projects and Grants|Related websites
Numerical And Computational Mathematics 0103
Simulation And Modelling 080110
Surfacewater Hydrology 040608
Sustainable Agricultural Development 070108
Decision Support And Group Support Systems 080605
Natural Resource Management 050209
Environmental Science And Management 0502
Integrated water resources assessment and decision support system development
Solution of inverse problems
Identification of dynamic systems
Air pollution modelling of extremes and environmental risk assessment
Statistical modelling of environmental data by skewed probability distributions
Development, calibration, analysis, sensitivity and uncertainty assessment, and application, of hydrologic and water resource systems models
Water quality and supply modelling
Dynamic water balance modelling with conceptual models
Tony Jakeman is Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society and Director of the Integrated Catchment Assessment and Management (iCAM) Centre, The Australian National University, and Reserch Partnerships Director of the Institute for Water Futures. He is an Environmental Modeller with over 400 publications in the open literature, half of these in refereed international journals. He has been a principal supervisor to over 60 graduated PhD students. Since 1997 he has also directed the iCAM Centre pursuing methods and applications of integrated assessment and decision support on water resource issues. He leads the Integration and Decision Support Program of the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training. Other scientific and organisational activities include: Editor-in-Chief, Socio-Environmental Systems Modeling (open access journal), Honorary Editor-in-Chief, Environmental Modelling and Software (Elsevier); Foundation and Past President, International Environmental Modelling and Software Society; Past President, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand, Inc.; Past Vice-President, International Association for Mathematics and Computers in Simulation; Board of Directors, The Integrated Assessment Society; and regularly a member of scientific advisory committees of international conferences. In 2011 he received the Silver Medal of Masaryk University for contributions to environmental modelling and software. In 2012 he was awarded the Ray Page Lifetime Achievement Award from Simulation Australia. In 2015, 2017 and 2018 he was listed as a Highly-Cited Researcher by Clarivate/Thomson-Reuters (top 1%, computer science), and in 2015 was awarded an inaugural Lifetime Membership of the Modellling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand. In 2016 he was elected as a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union.
Hamilton, S, Fu, B, Guillaume, J et al 2019, 'A framework for characterising and evaluating the effectiveness of environmental modelling', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 118, pp. 83-98.
Badham, J, Hunt, R, Guillaume, J et al 2019, 'Effective modeling for Integrated Water Resource Management: a guide to contextual practices by phases and steps and future opportunities', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 116, pp. 40-56.
Little, J, Hester, E, Filz, G et al 2019, 'A tiered, system-of-systems modeling framework for resolving complex socio-environmental policy issues', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 112, pp. 82-94.
Teng, J, Vaze, J, Kim, S et al 2019, 'Enhancing the Capability of a Simple, Computationally Efficient, Conceptual Flood Inundation Model in Hydrologically Complex Terrain', Water Resources Management, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 831-845.
Jakeman, A, Barreteau, O, Hunt, R et al, eds, 2016, Integrated Groundwater Management - Concepts, Approaches and Challenges, Springer Open, 762pp. Online. DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-23576-9
Teng, J, Jakeman, A, Vaze, J et al 2017, 'Flood inundation modelling: A review of methods, recent advances and uncertainty analysis', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 90, no. -, pp. 201-216pp.
Zare, F, El Sawah, S, Iwanaga, T et al 2017, 'Integrated water assessment and modelling: A bibliometric analysis of trends in the water resource sector', Journal of Hydrology, vol. 552, pp. 765-778pp..
Yang, J, Jakeman, A, Fang, G et al 2018, 'Uncertainty analysis of a semi-distributed hydrologic model based on a Gaussian Process emulator', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 101, pp. 289-300pp.
Iwanaga, T, Zare, F, Croke, B et al 2018, 'Development of an integrated model for the Campaspe catchment: A tool to help improve understanding of the interaction between society, policy, farming decision, ecology, hydrology and climate', 8th International Symposium on Integrated Water Resources Management, IWRM 2018, ed. Z. Xu, D. Peng, W. Sun, B. Pang, D. Zuo, A. Schumann, and Y. Chen, Copernicus Publications, TBC, pp. 1-12.
Zhu, R, Zheng, H, Wang, E et al 2018, 'A hybrid process based-empirical approach to identify the association between wheat productivity and climate in the North China Plain during the past 50 years', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 108, pp. 72-80pp.
Guo, B, Zhang, J, Xu, T et al 2018, 'Applicability assessment and uncertainty analysis of multi-precipitation datasets for the simulation of hydrologic models', Water, vol. 10, no. 11, pp. 26pp.
El Sawah, S, Pierce, S, Hamilton, S et al 2017, 'An overview of the system dynamics process for integrated modelling of socio-ecological systems: Lessons on good modelling practice from five case studies', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 93, pp. 127-145pp.
Merritt, W, Fu, B, Ticehurst, J et al 2017, 'Realizing modelling outcomes: A synthesis of success factors and their use in a retrospective analysis of 15 Australian water resource projects', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 94, pp. 63-72pp.
El Sawah, S, Pierce, S, Hamilton, S et al 2017, 'An overview of the system dynamics process for integrated modelling of socio-ecological systems: Lessons on good modelling practice from five case studies', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 93, no. -, pp. 127-145.
Guillaume, J, Helgeson, C, El Sawah, S et al 2017, 'Toward best practice framing of uncertainty in scientific publications: A review of Water Resources Research abstracts', Water Resources Research, vol. 53, no. 8, pp. 6744-6762.
Sun, X, Roberts, S, Croke, B et al 2017, 'A comparison of global sensitivity techniques and sampling method', 22nd International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM2017), ed. Syme, G., Hatton MacDonald, D., Fulton, B. and Piantadosi, J, The Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., Australia, pp. 57-63.
Guo, B, Xu, T, Zhang, J et al 2017, 'A comparative analysis of precipitation estimation methods for streamflow prediction', 22nd International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM2017), ed. Syme, G., Hatton MacDonald, D., Fulton, B. and Piantadosi, J, The Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., Australia, pp. 43-49.
Fu, B, Weber, T, Cuddy, S et al 2017, 'Conceptual modelling for water quality management', 22nd International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM2017), ed. Syme, G., Hatton MacDonald, D., Fulton, B. and Piantadosi, J, The Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., Australia.
Zhu, R, Jakeman, A & Croke, B 2017, 'Hydrological modelling for conjunctive water use in the Murrumbidgee Catchment: groundwater recharge estimation', 22nd International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM2017), ed. Syme, G., Hatton MacDonald, D., Fulton, B. and Piantadosi, J, The Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., Australia, pp. 1801-1807pp.
Guillaume, J, Arshad, M, Jakeman, A et al 2016, 'Robust discrimination between uncertain management alternatives by iterative reflection on crossover point scenarios: Principles, design and implementations', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 83, no. 1, pp. 326-343pp.
Barbour, E, Holz, L, Kuczera, G et al 2016, 'Optimisation as a process for understanding and managing river ecosystems', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 83, pp. 167-178.
Jakeman, A, Barreteau, O, Hunt, R et al 2016, 'Integrated Groundwater Management: An Overview of Concepts and Challenges', in A J Jakeman, O Barreteau, R J Hunt, J-D Rinaudo, A Ross (ed.), Integrated Groundwater Management. Concepts, Approaches and Challenges, Springer Nature, Online, pp. 3-20.
Barreteau, O, Caballero, Y, Hamilton, S et al 2016, 'Disentangling the complexity of groundwater dependent social-ecological systems', in A J Jakeman, O Barreteau, R J Hunt, J-D Rinaudo, A Ross (ed.), Integrated Groundwater Management. Concepts, Approaches and Challenges, Springer Nature, Online, pp. 49-73.
Guillaume, J, Arshad, M, Jakeman, A et al 2015, 'Using scenarios describing cross-over points to explore uncertainty in comparison of environmental management alternatives', 21st International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM2015), ed. Weber, T., McPhee, M.J. and Anderssen, R.S., The Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., Australia, p. 463.
Guillaume, J, El Sawah, S, Jakeman, A et al 2015, 'Communicating uncertainty: design patterns for framing model results in scientific publications', 21st International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM2015), ed. Weber, T., McPhee, M.J. and Anderssen, R.S., The Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., Australia, pp. 1972-1978.
Jakeman, A, Merritt, W, Fu, B et al 2013, 'Decision support systems: experiences, lessons and recommendations', 22nd NSW Coastal Conference, 22nd NSW Coastal Conference, Australia, pp. 1-15pp.
Hamilton, S, El Sawah, S, Guillaume, J et al 2015, 'Integrated assessment and modelling: Overview and synthesis of salient dimensions', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 64, pp. 215-229.
Asher, M, Croke, B, Jakeman, A et al 2015, 'A review of surrogate models and their application to groundwater modeling', Water Resources Research, vol. 51, no. 8, pp. 5957-5973.
Hamilton, S, Pollino, C & Jakeman, A 2015, 'Habitat suitability modelling of rare species using Bayesian networks: Model evaluation under limited data', Ecological Modelling, vol. 299, pp. 64-78.
Shin, M, Guillaume, J, Croke, B et al 2015, 'A review of foundational methods for checking the structural identifiability of models: Results for rainfall-runoff', Journal of Hydrology, vol. 520, pp. 1-16.
Fu, B, Guillaume, J & Jakeman, A 2015, 'An iterative method for discovering feasible management interventions and targets conjointly using uncertainty visualizations', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 71, pp. 159-173.
Kath, J, Powell, S, Reardon-Smith, K et al 2015, 'Groundwater salinization intensifies drought impacts in forests and reduces refuge capacity', Journal of Applied Ecology, vol. 52, no. 5, pp. 1116-1125.
Seo, L, Croke, B, van Griensven, A et al 2015, 'Effects of climate, objective function and sample size on global sensitivity in a SWAT Model', 21st International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM2015), ed. Weber, T., McPhee, M.J. and Anderssen, R.S., The Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., Australia, pp. 91-97.
Merritt, W, Fu, B, Ticehurst, J et al 2015, 'Synthesising and evaluating the criteria of successful decision support models to support water resource assessment and management', 21st International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM2015), ed. Weber, T., McPhee, M.J. and Anderssen, R.S., The Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., Australia, pp. 498pp.
Elsawah S, Guillaume JHA, Filatova T, Rook J, Jakeman AJ 2015, 'A methodology for eliciting, representing, and analysing stakeholder knowledge for decision making on complex socio-ecological systems: From cognitive maps to agent-based models', Journal of Environmental Management, vol. 151, pp. 500-516.
Guillaume, J, Kummu, M, Rasanen, T, Jakeman, AJ 2015, 'Prediction under uncertainty as a boundary problem: A general formulation using Iterative Closed Question Modelling', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 70, pp. 97-112.
Jakeman, A, Kelly (nee Letcher), R, Ticehurst, J et al 2014, 'Modelling for Managing the Complex Issue of Catchment-Scale surface and Groundwater Allocation', in Obaidat, M.S., Filipe, J., Kacprzyk, J., Pina, N. (ed.), Simulation and Modelling Methodologies, Technologies and Applications, Springer, Heidelberg, pp. 25-41.
Powell, S, Jakeman, A & Croke, B 2014, 'Can NDVI response indicate the effective flood extent in macrophyte dominated floodplain wetlands?', Ecological Indicators, vol. 45, pp. 486-493.
Croke, B, Blakers, R, El Sawah, S et al 2014, 'Marrying Hydrological Modelling and Integrated Assessment for the needs of Water Resource Management', Bologna IAHS 2014 - 6th IAHS-EGU International Symposium on Integrated Water Resources Management, IAHS Press, Italy, pp. 351-356.
Marsili-Libelli, S, Beck, M, Brunner, P et al 2014, 'Practical identifiability analysis of environmental models', 7th International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software, iEMSs 2014, ed. D P Ames, N W T Quinn, A E Rizzoli, Conference Organising Committee, USA, pp. 681-693.
Sadoddin, A, Kelly (nee Letcher), R, Jakeman, A et al 2013, 'A Bayesian decision support system model: dryland salinity management application', International Journal of Environmental Resources Research (IJERR), vol. 1, no. 1, p. 16.
Arshad, M, Qureshi, E & Jakeman, A 2013, 'Cost-benefit analysis of farm water storage: Surface Storage versus Managed Aquifer Storage', International Congress on Modelling and Simulation MODSIM 2013, ed. Piantadosi, J., Anderssen, R.S. and Boland J., Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., Australia, pp. 2931-2937.
Dyer, F, Hasan, M, El Sawah, S et al 2013, 'The effects of climate change on ecologically relevant flow regimes: A comparative study between Upper Murrumbidgee and Goulburn Broken catchments', International Congress on Modelling and Simulation MODSIM 2013, ed. Piantadosi, J., Anderssen, R.S. and Boland J., Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., Australia, pp. 405pp.
El Sawah, S, Kelly (nee Letcher), R, Beverly, C et al 2013, 'An integrated model to examine the effects of Sustainable Diversion Limits: A case study in the Lower Campaspe catchment', International Congress on Modelling and Simulation MODSIM 2013, ed. Piantadosi, J., Anderssen, R.S. and Boland J., Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., Australia, pp. 2131-2137.
Croke, B, Blakers, R, Letcher, R et al 2013, 'Catchment Hydrology', in Abdel H. El-Shaarawi, Walter W. Piegorsch (ed.), Encyclopedia of Environmetrics (2nd ed), Wiley Publishing Australia, Australia, pp. 1-11.
Dyer, F, El Sawah, S, Lucena-Moya, P et al 2013, Predicting water quality and ecological responses, National Climate Change Adaption Research Facility, Gold Coast.
Keesman, K, Norton, J, Croke, B et al 2013, 'Set-membership approach for identification of parameter and prediction uncertainty in power-law relationships: The case of sediment yield', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 40, pp. 171-180.
Bennett, N, Croke, B, Guariso, G et al 2013, 'Characterising performance of environmental models', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 40, pp. 1-20.
Dyer, F, El Sawah, S, Croke, B et al 2013, 'The effects of climate change on ecologically-relevant flow regime and water quality attributes', Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessment, vol. Online (11 June 2013, DOI 10.1007/s00477-013-0744-8).
Iwanaga, T., El Sawah, S & Jakeman, A 2013, 'Design and implementation of a web-based groundwater data management system', Mathematics and Computers in Simulation, vol. 93, pp. 164.174.
Kelly (Letcher), RA, Jakeman, AJ, Barreteau, O et al 2013, 'Selecting among five common modelling approaches for integrated environmental assessment and management', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 47, pp. 159-181.
Shin, MJ, Guillaume, JHA, Croke, BFW, Jakeman, AJ 2013, 'Addressing ten questions about conceptual rainfall-runoff models with global sensitivity analyses in R', Journal of Hydrology, vol. 503, pp. 135-152.
Arshad, M, Jakeman, A, Croke, B et al 2012, 'Assessing the Potential of Managed Aquifer Recharge: Preliminary Hydrological Findings from a Scoping Study in the Lower Namoi Valley, Australia', International Groundwater Conference (IGWC 2012), ed. P.S. Kulkarni, C. Mayilswami, M. Thangarajan, V.P. Singh, Mauland Azad College, India, pp. 58-70.
Sojda, R, Hamilton, S, El Sawah, S et al 2012, 'Identifying the decision to be supported: A review of papers from environmental modelling and software', 6th Biennial Meeting of the International Environmental Modelling and Software Society: Managing Resources of a Limited Planet, iEMSs 2012, Conference Organising Committee, Leipzig, pp. 73-80.
Guillaume, J, Qureshi, M & Jakeman, A 2012, 'A structured analysis of uncertainty surrounding modeled impacts of groundwater-extraction rules', Hydrogeology Journal, vol. 20, no. 5, pp. 915-932.
Lefroy, E, Curtis, A, Jakeman, A et al 2012, 'Integrating science for landscape management', in Ted Lefroy, Allan Curtis, Anthony Jakeman & James McKee (ed.), Landscape Logic, CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Victoria, pp. 283-290.
Lefroy, E, Grun, A, Jakeman, A et al 2012, 'Lessons from studying water quality in agricultural catchments', in Ted Lefroy, Allan Curtis, Anthony Jakeman & James McKee (ed.), Landscape Logic, CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Victoria, pp. 119-125.
Lefroy, E, Curtis, A, Jakeman, A et al 2012, 'Introduction: improving the evidence base for natural resource management', in Ted Lefroy, Allan Curtis, Anthony Jakeman & James McKee (ed.), Landscape Logic, CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Victoria, pp. 1-6.
Guillaume, J & Jakeman, A 2012, 'Providing scientific certainty in predictive decision support: the role of closed questions', International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software (iEMSs 2012), ed. R. Seppelt, A.A. Voinov, S. Lange, D. Bankamp, International Environmental Modelling & Software Society, Leipzig Germany, pp. 1835-1842.
El Sawah, S, Haase, D, van Delden, H et al 2012, 'Using system dynamics for environmental modelling: Lessons learnt from six case studies', International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software (iEMSs 2012), ed. R. Seppelt, A.A. Voinov, S. Lange, D. Bankamp, International Environmental Modelling & Software Society, Leipzig Germany, pp. 1367-1374.
Lefroy, E, Curtis, A, Jakeman, A et al, eds, 2012, Landscape Logic, CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Victoria.
Jakeman, A, Kelly, R, Ticehurst, J, Ross, A, et al 2012, 'Modelling for the complex issue of groundwater management **', International Conference on Simulation and Modeling Methodologies, Technologies and Applications (SIMULTECH 2012), Conference Organising Committee, Rome Italy, pp. IS25-IS35.
Koskela, J, Croke, B, Koivusalo, H et al 2012, 'Bayesian inference of uncertainties in precipitation-streamflow modeling in a snow affected catchment', Water Resources Research, vol. 48, no. 11, 111. W11513, doi:10.1029/2011WR011773.
Rawluk, A, Curtis, A, Sharp, E , Ross, A, et al 2012, 'Managed aquifer recharge in farming landscapes using large floods: an opportunity to improve outcomes for the Murray-Darling Basin?', Australasian Journal of Environmental Management, vol. iFirst, pp. 1-15.
Andrews, F, Croke, B & Jakeman, A 2011, 'An open software environment for hydrological model assessment and development', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 26, no. 10, pp. 1171-1185.
Keesman, K, Koskela, J, Guillaume, J et al 2011, 'Uncertainty modelling and analysis of environmental systems: a river sediment yield example', 19th International Congress on Modelling and Simulation, MODSIM 2011, ed. Felix Chan, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., Australia, pp. 4106-4112.
El Sawah, S, Hicks, A, Manger, P et al 2011, 'A web-based platform for integrated groundwater data management', 19th International Congress on Modelling and Simulation, MODSIM 2011, ed. Felix Chan, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., Australia, pp. 3141-3147.
Dyer, F, El Sawah, S, Harrison, E et al 2011, 'Predicting water quality responses to a changing climate: building an integrated modelling framework', General Assembly Earth on the Edge: Science for a Sustainable Planet (IUGG 2011), IAHS Press, France, pp. 178-183.
Kim, H, Croke, B, Jakeman, A et al 2011, 'An assessment of modelling capacity to identify the impacts of climate variability on catchment hydrology', Mathematics and Computers in Simulation, vol. 81, no. 7, pp. 1419-1429.
van Delden, H, Seppelt, R, White, R et al 2011, 'A methodology for the design and development of integrated models for policy support', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 26, no. 3, pp. 266-279.
Jakeman, A, El Sawah, S, Guillaume, J et al 2011, 'Making progress in integrated modelling and environmental decision support', IFIP WG 5.11 International Symposium on Environmental Software Systems: Frameworks of eEnvironment (ISESS 2011), ed. J Hrebicek, G Schimak, R Denzer, Springer, Berlin Germany, pp. 15-25.
Blakers, R, Croke, B & Jakeman, A 2011, 'The influence of model simplicity on uncertainty in the context of surface-groundwater modelling and integrated assessment', MODSIM 2011 International Congress on Modelling and Simulation, ed. Felix Chan, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., Australia, p. 7.
Kragt, M, Newham, L, Bennett, J et al 2011, 'An integrated approach to linking economic valuation and catchment modelling', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 92-102.
McIntosh, B, Ascough II, J, Twery, M, Chew, J, Elmahdi, A, Haase, D, Harou, J, Hepting, D, Cuddy, S, Jakeman, A, Chen, S, Kassahun, A, Lautenbach, S, et al. 2011, 'Environmental decision support systems (EDSS) development - Challenges and best practices', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 26, no. 12, pp. 1389-1402.
Kragt, M, Bennett, J & Jakeman, A 2010, 'An Integrated Assessment approach to linking biophysical modelling and economic valuation tools', International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software (iEMSs 2010), ed. David A. Swayne, Wanhong Yang, A.A. Voinov, A. Rizzoli, T. Filatova, International Environmental Modelling and Software Society, Canada, pp. 1011-1022.
Bennett, N, Croke, B, Jakeman, A et al 2010, 'Performance Evaluation of Environmental Models', International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software (iEMSs 2010), ed. David A. Swayne, Wanhong Yang, A.A. Voinov, A. Rizzoli, T. Filatova, International Environmental Modelling and Software Society, Canada, pp. 1703-1711.
Keesman, K, Newham, L & Jakeman, A 2010, 'Set-membership approach for identification of the uncertainty in power-law relationships: the case of sediment yield', International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software (iEMSs 2010), ed. David A. Swayne, Wanhong Yang, A.A. Voinov, A. Rizzoli, T. Filatova, International Environmental Modelling and Software Society, Canada, pp. 1712-1719.
Merritt, W, Powell, S, Pollino, C et al 2010, 'IBIS: a decision support system for managers of environmental flows into wetlands', in N. Saintilan and I. Overton (ed.), Ecosystem Response Modelling in the Murray-Darling Basin, CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, pp. 119-135.
Newham, L, Cuddy, S, Vertessy, R et al 2004, Informing the Design of Catchment Contaminant Cycle Models.
Adams, G, Cornish, P, Croke, B et al 2009, 'A new look at uncertainty in end member mixing models for streamflow partitioning', International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM 2009), ed. Anderssen, R.S., R.D. Braddock and L.T.H. Newham, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., Australia, pp. 3039-3045.
Kragt, M, Newham, L & Jakeman, A 2009, 'A Bayesian Network approach to integrating economic and biophysical modelling', International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM 2009), ed. Anderssen, R.S., R.D. Braddock and L.T.H. Newham, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., Australia, pp. 2377-2383.
Breuer, L, Huisman, J, Willems, P et al 2009, 'Assessing the impact of land use change on hydrology by ensemble modeling (LUCHEM) I: Model intercomparison with current land use', Advances in Water Resources, vol. 32, no. 2, pp. 129-146.
Huisman, J, Breuer, L, Bormann, H et al 2009, 'Assessing the impact of land use change on hydrology by ensemble modeling (LUCHEM) III: Scenario analysis', Advances in Water Resources, vol. 32, pp. 159-170.
Viney, N, Bormann, H, Breuer, L et al 2009, 'Assessing the impact of land use change on hydrology by ensemble modelling (LUCHEM) II: Ensemble combinations and predictions', Advances in Water Resources, vol. 32, pp. 147-158.
Sadoddin, A, Letcher, R, Jakeman, A et al 2009, 'Bayesian Network Modelling for assessing the biophysical and socio-economic impacts of dryland salinity management', International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM 2009), ed. Anderssen, R.S., R.D. Braddock and L.T.H. Newham, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., Australia, pp. 3273-3279.
Pollino, C, Lefroy, E & Jakeman, A 2009, 'Tools for NRM: Linking investments to outcomes', International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM 2009), ed. Anderssen, R.S., R.D. Braddock and L.T.H. Newham, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., Australia, pp. 2406-2412.
Kim, H, Croke, B, Jakeman, A et al 2009, 'Towards model adequacy for identifying the impacts of climate and land use on catchment hydrology', International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM 2009), ed. Anderssen, R.S., R.D. Braddock and L.T.H. Newham, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., Australia, pp. 3393 - 3399.
Lefroy, E, Pollino, C & Jakeman, A 2009, 'Using the Simplicity Cycle in Model Building', International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM 2009), ed. Anderssen, R.S., R.D. Braddock and L.T.H. Newham, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., Australia, p. 2384.
Jakeman, A, Chen, S, Newham, L et al 2009, 'Modelling and Adaptive Environmental Management', in Catherine Allan and George H. Stankey (ed.), Adaptive Environmental Management: A Practitioner's Guide, Springer, The Netherlands, pp. 173-187.
Jakeman, A, Powell, S & Norton, J 2008, 'Model Development and Analysis', in Sven Jorgensen, Brian Fath (ed.), Encyclopedia of Ecology, Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 2402-2410.
Crout, N, Kokkonen, T, Jakeman, A et al 2008, 'Good Modelling Practice', in A.J. Jakeman, AA Voinov, AE Rizzoli, SH Chen (ed.), Environmental Modelling, Software and Decision Support: State of the art and new perspectives, Elsevier, Amsterdam The Netherlands, pp. 15-31.
Croke, B & Jakeman, A 2008, 'Use of the IHACRES rainfall-runoff model in semi-arid regions', in Howard Wheater, Soroosh Sorooshian and K.D. Sharma (ed.), Hydrological Modelling in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas, Cambridge University Press, United Kingdom, pp. 41-48.
Chen, S, Jakeman, A & Norton, J 2008, 'Artificial Intelligence techniques: An introduction to their use for modelling environmental systems', Mathematics and Computers in Simulation, vol. 1, no. 78, pp. 379-400.
Jakeman, A, Chen, S, Rizzoli, A et al 2008, 'Modelling and Software as Instruments for Advancing Sustainability', in A.J. Jakeman, AA Voinov, AE Rizzoli, SH Chen (ed.), Environmental Modelling, Software and Decision Support: State of the art and new perspectives, Elsevier, The Netherlands, pp. 1-12.
Jakeman, A, Voinov, A, Rizzoli, A, Chen, S. eds, 2008, Environmental Modelling, Software and Decision Support: State of the art and new perspectives, Elsevier, The Netherlands.
Croke, B & Jakeman, A 2007, 'Identifying changes in hydrologic response due to climate: Removing the landuse signal and catering for errors in rainfall', Hydrological Consequences of Climate Change Symposium, CSIRO Publishing, Australia.
Ticehurst, J, Newham, L, Rissik, D et al 2007, 'A Bayesian Network approach for assessing the sustainability of coastal lakes in New South Wales, Australia', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 22, pp. 1129-1139.
Croke, B, Ticehurst, J, Letcher, R et al 2007, 'Integrated assessment of water resources: Australian experiences', Water Resources Management, vol. 21, pp. 351-373.
Croke, B, Ticehurst, J, Letcher, R et al 2007, 'Integrated assessment of water resources: Australian experiences', in Eric Craswell, Mike Bonell, Deborah Bossio, Siegfried Demuth, Nick van de Giesen (ed.), Integrated Assessment of Water Resources and Global Change: A North-South Analysis, Springer, The Netherlands, p. 3.
Kim, H, Croke, B, Jakeman, A et al 2007, 'Towards Separation of Climate and Land Use Effects on Hydrology: data analysis of the Googong and Cotter Catchments', International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM 2007), ed. Les Oxley & Don Kulasiri, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., New Zealand, pp. 2548-2554.
Bennett, N, Newham, L, Croke, B et al 2007, 'Patching and Disaccumulation of Rainfall Data for Hydrological Modelling', International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM 2007), ed. Les Oxley & Don Kulasiri, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., New Zealand, pp. 2520-2526.
Letcher, R, Croke, B & Jakeman, A 2007, 'Integrated assessment modelling for water resource allocation and management: A generalised conceptual framework', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 22, pp. 733-742.
Fu, B, Newham, L, Field, J et al 2007, 'A Catchment-Scale Model of Road Erosion and Sediment Delivery', International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM 2007), ed. Les Oxley & Don Kulasiri, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., New Zealand, pp. 2090-2096.
Newham, L, Cuddy, S, Rutherford, C et al 2007, 'The role of modelling in catchment management', in A. Mortlock (ed.), Salt, Nutrient, Sediment and Interactions: Findings from the National River Contaminants Program, Land & Water Australia, Canberra, pp. 141-150.
Letcher, R, Croke, B, Jakeman, A et al 2006, 'An integrated modelling toolbox for water resources assessment and management in highland catchments: Model description', Agricultural Systems, vol. 89, no. 1, pp. 106-131.
Croke, B, Letcher, R & Jakeman, A 2006, 'Development of a distributed flow model for underpinning assessment of water allocation options in the Namoi River Basin, Australia', Journal of Hydrology, vol. 319, no. 1-4, pp. 51-71.
Jakeman, A, Letcher, R & Norton, J 2006, 'Ten iterative steps in development and evaluation of environmental models', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 21, no. 5, pp. 602-614.
Letcher, R, Croke, B, Merritt, W et al 2006, 'An integrated modelling toolbox for water resources assessment and management in highland catchments: Sensitivity analysis and testing', Agricultural Systems, vol. 89, pp. 132-164.
Croke, B, Andrews, F, Jakeman, A et al 2006, 'IHACRES Classic Plus: A redesign of the IHACRES rainfall-runoff model', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 21, pp. 426-427.
Newham, L, Jakeman, A & Letcher, R 2006, 'Stakeholder participation in modelling for integrated catchment assessment and management: An Australian case study', International Journal of River Basin Management, vol. 4, no. 4, pp. 1-13.
Jakeman, A, Norton, J, Letcher, R et al 2006, 'Integrated Modelling: Construction, Selection, Uncertainty', in Carlo Carraro, Anthony Jakeman, Derek Karssenberg & Matt Hare (ed.), Sustainable Management of Water Resources: An Integrated Approach, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, UK, pp. 263-286.
Jakeman, A, Giupponi, C, Karssenberg, D et al 2006, 'Integrated Management of Water Resources: Concepts, Approaches and Challenges', in Carlo Carraro, Anthony Jakeman, Derek Karssenberg & Matt Hare (ed.), Sustainable Management of Water Resources: An Integrated Approach, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, UK, pp. 3-26.
Croke, B, Jakeman, A, Cuddy, S et al 2005, 'IHACRES 2.0.1'.
Drewry, J, Newham, L, Greene, R et al 2006, 'A review of nitrogen and phosphorus export to waterways: context for catchment modelling', Marine and Freshwater Research, vol. 57, pp. 757-74.
Merritt, W, Croke, B & Jakeman, A 2005, 'Sensitivity testing of a model for exploring water resources utilisation and management options', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 20, pp. 1013-1030.
Letcher, R, Jakeman, A & Ekasingh, B 2005, 'Principles of integrated assessment', in A Jakeman, R Letcher, S Rojanasoonthon, S Cuddy (ed.), Integrating knowledge for river basin management: Progress in Thailand, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Canberra, Australia, pp. 55-66.
Cuddy, S, Letcher, R, Chiew, F et al 2005, 'A role for streamflow forecasting in managing risk associated with drought and other water crises', in Donald A Wilhite (ed.), Drought and Water Crises, Taylor & Francis Group, USA, pp. 346-365.
Jakeman, A, Roganasoonthon, S, Letcher, R et al 2005, 'Improving integrated assessment approaches: lessons from the Integrated Water Resources Assessment and Management project experience', in A Jakeman, R Letcher, S Rojanasoonthon, S Cuddy (ed.), Integrating knowledge for river basin management: Progress in Thailand, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Canberra, Australia, pp. 203-219.
Jakeman, A, Letcher, R, Rojanasoonthon, S et al, eds, 2005, Integrating Knowledge for River Basin Management: Progress in Thailand, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Canberra, Australia.
Gilmour, J, Letcher, R & Jakeman, A 2005, 'Analysis of an integrated model for assessing land and water policy options', Mathematics and Computers in Simulation, vol. 69, pp. 57-77.
Ticehurst, J, Croke, B & Jakeman, A 2005, 'Model design for the hydrology of tree belt plantations on hillslopes', Mathematics and Computers in Simulation, vol. 69, pp. 188-212.
Jakeman, A, Letcher, R, Newham, L et al 2005, 'Integrated catchment modelling: issues and opportunities to support improved sustainability outcomes', Scientific Assembly of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences International Symposium on Sediment Budgets 2005, ed. Arthur J Horowitz, Des E Walling, International Association of Hydrological Sciences, Wallingford, UK, pp. 1-16.
Potter, N, Zhang, L, Milly, P et al 2005, 'Effects of rainfall seasonality and soil moisture capacity on mean annual water balance for Australian catchments', Water Resources Research, vol. 41, pp. 1-11.
Newham, L, Cuddy, S, Vertessy, R et al 2005, 'Determining future directions in containment cycle modelling through an evaluation of existing modelling systems', Simulation and Modelling Conference 2005, ed. V. Kachitvichyanukul, U. Purintrapiban, P. Utayopas, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand, p. 8.
Sadoddin, A, Letcher, R, Jakeman, A et al 2005, 'A Bayesian decision network approach for assessing the ecological impacts of salinity management', Mathematics and Computers in Simulation, vol. 69, pp. 162-176.
Schreider, S & Jakeman, A 2005, 'The disaggregation of monthly streamflow for ungauged sub-catchments of a gauged irrigated catchment in northern Thailand', in M. Bonell & L.A. Bruijnzeel (ed.), Forests, Water and People in the Humid Tropics, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 742-55.
Croke, B, Jakeman, A, Andrews, A et al 2005, 'Redesign of the IHACRES rainfall-runoff model', Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium 2005, ed. Rob Vertessy, Ross Knee, Engineers Media Pty Ltd, Canberra, pp. 1-7.
Ticehurst, J, Rissik, D, Letcher, R et al 2005, 'Development of decision support tools to assess the sustainability of coastal lakes', International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM 2005), ed. Andre Zerger and Robert M. Argent, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., Canberra, pp. 2414-.
Drewry, J, Newham, L, Greene, R et al 2005, 'An approach to assess and manage nutrient loads in two coastal catchments of the Eurobodalla region, NSW, Australia', International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM 2005), ed. Andre Zerger and Robert M. Argent, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., Canberra, pp. 2658-.
Viney, N, Croke, B, Breuer, L et al 2005, 'Ensemble modelling of the hydrological impacts of land use change', International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM 2005), ed. Andre Zerger and Robert M. Argent, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., Canberra, pp. 2967-2973.
Newham, L, McLean, E, Norton, J et al 2005, An independent Review of the effectiveness of the Lake Macquarie Improvement project, ANU ICAM.
Carlile, P, Croke, B, Jakeman, A et al 2004, 'Development of a semi-distributed catchment hydrology model for simulation of land-use change stream-flow and groundwater recharge within the Little River catchment, NSW.', CRC LEME Regional Regolith Symposia 2004, ed. Ian C. Roach, CRC LEME, Perth, W.A, pp. 54-56.
Hall, N, Oliver, M, Jakeman, A et al 2004, 'Land use change for salinity management: A participatory model', Biennial Meeting of the International Environmental Modelling and Software Society 2004, ed. Pahl, C., Schmidt, S., Rizzoli, A., and Jakeman A., International Environmental Modelling and Software Society, Manno Switzerland, pp. 1.215-220.
Newham, L, Letcher, R, Jakeman, A et al 2004, 'A framework for integrates hydrologic, sediment and nutrient export modelling for catchment-scale management', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 19, pp. 1029-1038.
Letcher, R, Chiew, F & Jakeman, A 2004, 'An assessment of the value of seasonal forecasts in Australian farming systems', Biennial Meeting of the International Environmental Modelling and Software Society 2004, ed. Pahl, C., Schmidt, S., Rizzoli, A., and Jakeman A., International Environmental Modelling and Software Society, Manno Switzerland, pp. 3.1511-1516.
Merritt, W, Croke, B, Jakeman, A et al 2004, 'A biophysical toolbox for assessment and management of land and water resources in rural catchments in northern Thailand', Ecological Modelling, vol. 171, pp. 279-300.
Young, W, Chessman, B, Erskine, W et al 2004, 'Improving expert panel assessments through the use of a composite river condition index - the case of the rivers affected by the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme, Australia', River Research and Applications, vol. 20, pp. 733-750.
Kokkonen, T, Koivusalo, H, Karvonen, T et al 2004, 'Exploring streamflow response to effective rainfall across event magnitude scale', Hydrological Processes, vol. 18, pp. 1467-1486.
Croke, B, Merritt, W & Jakeman, A 2004, 'A dynamic model for predicting hydrologic response to land cover Changes in gauged and ungauged catchments', Journal of Hydrology, vol. 291, pp. 115-131.
Croke, B & Jakeman, A 2004, 'A catchment moisture deficit module for the IHACRES rainfall-runoff model', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 19, pp. 1-5.
Letcher, R, Jakeman, A & Croke, B 2004, 'A generalised conceptual framework for integrated assessment modelling of water allocation issues', Biennial Meeting of the International Environmental Modelling and Software Society 2004, ed. Pahl, C., Schmidt, S., Rizzoli, A., and Jakeman A., International Environmental Modelling and Software Society, Manno Switzerland, pp. 1.433-438.
Letcher, R, Jakeman, A & Croke, B 2004, 'Model development for integrated assessment of water allocation options', Water Resources Research, vol. 40, pp. W05502.
Carlile, P, Croke, B & Jakeman, A 2003, 'Identifying evapotranspiration relationships for input into rainfall-runoff models using the SWIM model', International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM 2003), ed. David A. Post, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., UWA UniPrint, pp. 879-884.
Jakeman, A & Letcher, R 2003, 'Integrated Assessment and Modelling: Features, Principles and Examples for Catchment Management', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 18, pp. 491-501.
Newham, L, Norton, J, Prosser, I et al 2003, 'Sensitivity analysis for assessing the behaviour of a landscape-based sediment source and transport model', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 18, pp. 741-751.
Newham, L, Prosser, I & Jakeman, A 2003, 'Testing output quantities and spatial patterns of a catchment-scale stream pollutant model against collateral studies.', International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM 2003), ed. David A. Post, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., UWA UniPrint, pp. 1:314-319.
Merritt, W, Letcher, R & Jakeman, A 2003, 'A review of erosion and sediment transport models', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 18, pp. 761-799.
Gilmour, J, Letcher, R & Jakeman, A 2003, 'Sensitivity analysis of an integrated model for assessing land and water policy options', International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM 2003), ed. David A. Post, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., UWA UniPrint, pp. 1633-1638.
Hare, M, Letcher, R & Jakeman, A 2003, 'Participatory modelling in natural resource management: a comparison of four case studies', Integrated assessment, vol. 4, pp. 62-72.
Littlewood, I, Croke, B, Jakeman, A et al 2003, 'The role of top-down modelling for Prediction in Ungauged Basins', Hydrological Processes, vol. 17, pp. 1673-1679.
Sadoddin, A, Letcher, R & Jakeman, A 2003, 'A Bayesian decision network approach for salinity management in the Little River Catchment, NSW', International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM 2003), ed. David A. Post, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., UWA UniPrint, pp. 2:953-958.
Spate, J, Croke, B & Jakeman, A 2003, 'Data mining in hydrology', International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM 2003), ed. David A. Post, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., UWA UniPrint, pp. 422-427.
Ticehurst, J, Creswell, H & Jakeman, A 2003, 'Using a physically based model to conduct a sensitivity analysis of subsurface lateral flow in south-east Australia', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 18, pp. 729-740.
Smith, C, Field, J, Jakeman, A et al 2003, 'Targeting gully erosion at a catchment scale', International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM 2003), ed. David A. Post, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., UWA UniPrint, pp. 1:302-307.
Jakeman, A, Letcher, R & Cuddy, S 2003, 'Linking science and social science for sustainable catchment management: a modelling perspective', Development Bulletin (Canberra), vol. 63, pp. 24-27.
Ticehurst, J, Croke, B, Spate, J et al 2003, 'Development of a simple cascading bucket model for hillslope hydrology.', International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM 2003), ed. David A. Post, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., UWA UniPrint, pp. 1:392-397.
Kokkonen, T, Jakeman, A, Young, P et al 2003, 'Predicting daily flows in ungauged catchments: model regionalization from catchment descriptors at the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory, North Carolina', Hydrological Processes, vol. 17, pp. 2219-2238.
Letcher, R & Jakeman, A 2003, 'Application of an adaptive method for integrated assessment of water allocation issues in the Namoi river catchment, Australia.', Integrated assessment, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 73-89.
Parker, P, Letcher, R, Jakeman, A et al 2002, 'Progress in integrated assessment and modelling', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 17, pp. 209-217.
Croke, B, Smith, A & Jakeman, A 2002, 'A One-Parameter Groundwater Discharge Model Linked to the IHACRES Rainfall-Runoff Model', Biennial Meeting of the International Environmental Modelling and Software Society 2002, ed. A.E. Rizzoli and A.J. Jakeman, International Environmental Modelling and Software Society, Switzerland, pp. 428-429.
Letcher, R, Croke, B, Jakeman, A et al 2002, 'IWRAM: An integrated toolbox for considering impacts of development and land use change in Northern Thailand', Biennial Meeting of the International Environmental Modelling and Software Society 2002, ed. A.E. Rizzoli and A.J. Jakeman, International Environmental Modelling and Software Society, Switzerland, pp. III 97-102.
Merritt, W, Croke, B & Jakeman, A 2002, 'Sensitivity Testing of a Biophysical Toolbox for Exploring Water Resources Utilisation and Management Options', Biennial Meeting of the International Environmental Modelling and Software Society 2002, ed. A.E. Rizzoli and A.J. Jakeman, International Environmental Modelling and Software Society, Switzerland, pp. 311-316.
Carlile, P, Jakeman, A, Croke, B et al 2002, 'Use of Catchment Attributes to Identify the Scale and Values of Distributed Parameters in Surface and Sub-surface Conceptual Hydrology Models', Biennial Meeting of the International Environmental Modelling and Software Society 2002, ed. A.E. Rizzoli and A.J. Jakeman, International Environmental Modelling and Software Society, Switzerland, pp. 346-351.
Letcher, R, Jakeman, A, Calfas, M et al 2002, 'A comparison of catchment water quality models and direct estimation techniques', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 17, pp. 77-85.
Schreider, S, Jakeman, A, Gallant, J et al 2002, 'Prediction of monthly discharge in ungauged catchments under agricultural use in the Upper Ping Basin, Northern Thailand', Mathematics and Computers in Simulation, vol. 59, pp. 19-33.
Neal, B, Nathan, R, Schreider, S et al 2002, 'Identifying the separate impact of farm dams and land use changes on catchment yield', Australasian Journal of Water Resources, vol. 5, pp. 165-175.
Schreider, S, Jakeman, A, Letcher, R et al 2002, 'Detecting changes in streamflow response to changes in non-climatic conditions: farm dam development in the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia', Journal of Hydrology, vol. 262, no. 1-4, pp. 84-98.
Newham, L, Letcher, R, Jakeman, A et al 2002, 'Integrated water quality management: Ben Chifley Dam catchment, Australia', Biennial Meeting of the International Environmental Modelling and Software Society 2002, ed. A.E. Rizzoli and A.J. Jakeman, International Environmental Modelling and Software Society, Switzerland, pp. 275-280.
Littlewood, I, Jakeman, A, Croke, B et al 2002, 'Unit hydrograph characteristation of flow regimes leading to streamflow estimation in ungauged catchments (regionalisation)', Conference on Predictions in Ungauged Basins 2002, ed. D. Schertzer, P. Hubert, S. Koide & K. Takeuchi, IAHS Press, Switzerland, p. -
Kokkonen, T & Jakeman, A 2001, 'A comparison of metric and conceptual approaches in rainfall-runoff modeling and its implications', Water Resources Research, vol. 37, no. 9, pp. 2345-2352.
Letcher, R, Schreider, S, Jakeman, A et al 2001, 'Methods for the analysis of trends in streamflow response due to changes in catchment condition', Environmetrics, vol. 12, pp. 613-639.
Jakeman, A & Letcher, R 2001, 'Integrated assessment and information systems for catchment management', International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM 2001), ed. Ghassemi, F. et. al, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., Canberra, pp. 31-42.
Merritt, W, Croke, B, Jakeman, A et al 2001, 'Predicting flows in unguaged catchments and catchments subject to forest cover changes', International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM 2001), ed. Ghassemi, F. et. al, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., Canberra, pp. 59-64.
Ticehurst, J, Cresswell, H, McKenzie, N et al 2001, 'Using simulation to understand the occurrence of subsurface lateral flow in south-east Australia', International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM 2001), ed. Ghassemi, F. et. al, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., Canberra, pp. 2:561-566.
Croke, B & Jakeman, A 2001, 'Predictions in catchment hydrology: an Australian perspective', Marine and Freshwater Research, vol. 52, pp. 65-79.
Newham, L, Croke, B & Jakeman, A 2001, 'Design of water quality monitoring programs and automatic sampling techniques', Australian Stream Management Conference 2001, ed. I. Rutherford, F. Sheldon, G. Brierley, C. Kenyon, Cooperative Research Centre for Catchment Hydrology, Melbourne, pp. 455-460.
Schreider, S, Young, P & Jakeman, A 2001, 'An application of the Kalman filtering technique for streamflow forecasting in the Upper Murray Basin', Mathematical and Computer Modelling, vol. 33, pp. 733-743.
Letcher, R, Watson, W & Jakeman, A 2001, 'An integrated modelling framework: water allocation in the Namoi River Basin', 2001 Water Odyssey, ed. Australian Water Association, Australian Water Association, Sydney, pp. no. 005.
Schreider, S & Jakeman, A 2001, 'Streamflow modelling on a sub-daily time step in the Upper Murray Basin', Mathematical and Computer Modelling, vol. 33, pp. 659-668.
Newham, L, Prosser, I, Norton, J et al 2001, 'Techniques for assessing the performance of a landscaped-based sediment source and transport model: sensitivity trials and physical methods', International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM 2001), ed. Ghassemi, F. et. al, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., Canberra, pp. 149-154.
Koivusalo, H, Kokkonen, T, Karvonen, T et al 2001, 'Accounting for response differences in runoff events of different magnitudes', International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM 2001), ed. Ghassemi, F. et. al, Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand Inc., Canberra, pp. 89-94.
Croke, B, Newham, L & Jakeman, A 2000, 'Integrated catchment management system: water quality module', Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium 2000, ed. Symposium, Hydrology and Water Resources, Engineers Media Pty Ltd, Canberra, pp. 779-774.
Schreider, S, Trebeck, K & Jakeman, A 2000, 'Climate Change Impacts on Urban Flooding', Climatic Change, vol. 47, pp. 91-115.
Beavis, S, Jakeman, A, Zhang, L et al 1999, 'Erosional History Of The Warrah Catchment, New South Wales', Hydrological Processes, vol. 13, pp. 753-761.
Scoccimarro, M, Walker, A, Dietrich, C et al 1999, 'A framework for integrated catchment assessment in northern Thailand', Environmental Modelling and Software, vol. 14, pp. 567-577.
Green, T & Jakeman, A 1999, 'Relating Stream-bank erosion to in-stream transport of suspended sediment', Hydrological Processes, pp. 777-787.
QLD CA: Schedule 5: Sensitivity and uncertainty assessment of Qld Source models (Primary Investigator)
Delivering robust hydrological predictions for Australia’s water challenges (Primary Investigator)
Cooperation Agreement: Land and Water Strategic Fund - Jointly funded post-doctoral fellow - Water Futures (Primary Investigator)
Source Murray Model (SMM) Independent Review (Primary Investigator)
QLD CA: Schedule 4: Water Quality Analysis (Primary Investigator)
Feasibility study of managed aquifer recharge for improved water productivity for Australian cotton production (Primary Investigator)
Promoting socially inclusive and sustainable agricultural intensification in West Bengal and Bangladesh - LWR/2014/072 (Secondary Investigator)
ICAM – DPIW Collaboration on water and salinity modelling (Primary Investigator)
QLD CA: schedule 2: Improving Source Constituent Modelling (Primary Investigator)
QLD CA: Schedule 3: Guidelines for Queensland Modelling (Primary Investigator)
Improving Source Constituent Modelling WA (Primary Investigator)
Bioregional Assessment Program (Technical Program) (Primary Investigator)
CSIRO Flagship PhD Scholarships: Water for a healthy country (Secondary Investigator)
Coastal urban climate futures in SE Australia: from Wollongong to Lakes Entrance (ext led by University of Canberra) (Secondary Investigator)
Predicting water quality and ecological responses to a changing climate: informing adaptation initiatives (Secondary Investigator)
An integrated assessment of the socio-economic impacts of climate change, technology and water policy drivers in cotton catchments (Primary Investigator)
ARC/NWC Co-Funded Centre for Groundwater Research and Training (Primary Investigator)
CSIRO Scholarship for Mun-Ju SHIN (Primary Investigator)
Developing a decision support system for the management of road runoff for water quality protection (Primary Investigator)
Groundwater modelling projects: Cox's creek project (Secondary Investigator)
Landscape Logic: linking land and water management to resource condition targets (Primary Investigator)
Nutrient generation from rural land and delivery to streams in the Sydney Drinking Water Catchments (Secondary Investigator)
Development of a Model of Flood Dynamics for Water Management in the Gwydir Wetlands (Primary Investigator)
http://icam.anu.edu.au
http://groundwater.com.au
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Routine examination of the newborn and maternal satisfaction: a randomised controlled trial
Wolke, D; Dave, S; Hayes, J; Townsend, J; Tomlin, M; (2002) Routine examination of the newborn and maternal satisfaction: a randomised controlled trial. Archives of disease in childhood Fetal and neonatal edition, 86 (3). F155-60. ISSN 1359-2998 https://researchonline.lshtm.ac.uk/id/eprint/18483
Use this permanent URL when citing or linking to this resource.
https://researchonline.lshtm.ac.uk/id/eprint/18483
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the routine examination of the newborn by a midwife compared with a junior paediatrician (SHO) affects maternal satisfaction with this examination. METHODS: Randomised controlled trial: 826 mother and baby pairs in a district general hospital in south east England were randomised to a paediatric SHO or a midwife for the routine newborn examination. Maternal satisfaction with the examination was analysed in relation to intervention group, process, and background variables. RESULTS: Some 81% of mothers reported that they were satisfied or very satisfied with the newborn examination. Mothers assigned to a midwife were more satisfied with the newborn examination (crude odds ratio (OR) 0.54 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.39 to 0.75), p < 0.001). However, after provision of health education during the examination, continuity of care provided, and history of miscarriage had been controlled for, status of examiner was no longer related to maternal satisfaction (adjusted OR 0.82 (95% CI 0.57-1.20), NS). The discussion of healthcare issues by the examiner (adjusted OR 0.49 (95% CI 0.34 to 0.70), p < 0.001) and continuity of care (adjusted OR 0.43 (95% CI 0.23 to 0.81), p < 0.01) were both related to enhanced satisfaction, and history of miscarriage (adjusted OR 1.61 (1.08 to 2.40), p < 0.05) was associated with lower maternal satisfaction with the newborn examination. Midwives (61%) were more likely than SHOs (33%) to discuss healthcare issues, such as feeding, sleeping, and skin care. CONCLUSIONS: Mothers were more likely to be satisfied with the newborn examination by a midwife than an SHO because midwives were more likely to discuss healthcare issues during the examination and were able to provide continuity of care. However, midwife examinations according to exclusion criteria agreed with trial midwives excluded half of all newborns, and criteria may have to be reconsidered for practice implementation.
Clinical Competence, Female, Human, Infant, Newborn, Medical Staff, Hospital, standards, Mothers, psychology, Nurse Midwives, standards, Patient Satisfaction, Physical Examination, standards, Questionnaires, Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Related URLs
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FedEx Ground Routes For Sale – Shreveport, Louisiana
FedEx Ground Routes for sale $170,000! Seller financing available with $120,000 down. Currently routes grossing $479,933 and nets $79,765 as an absentee owner. Includes 4 full time PSA routes and 1 supplemental route. Also included are 6 vehicles that are paid in full and 6 employees willing to transfer if given the opportunity. Manager in place. Territory for this route includes the Shreveport, Louisiana region and is purchased through independent distributor and contracted through FedEx. Please be advised that owner will not entertain SBA loans, or third party lending. If seeking financing, buyer must be able to borrow against personal assets.
What is the current yearly gross for this route?
Currently this route grosses $479,933 per year. Income documentation will be provided to all serious buyers.
As an independent distributor you are paid per stop, per package, and through bonuses.
Seller financing available up to $50,000. Terms to be discussed. Need more? You can review additional
Financing Options Here Unfortunately banks will NOT write business loans against route based businesses for several reasons.
Expenses include, but are not limited to: fuel, payroll, workers compensation, repairs, vehicle maintenance, scanners, uniforms, and insurance. The current owner estimates $400,168 per year in expenses/overhead for the business (Note: Expenses represent a cash purchase and do not account for finance payments if requiring a loan to purchase).
Typically a single owner operator of a route distributorship will need commercial insurance for their delivery vehicle and business liability insurance. Owners with multiple employees will need a multiple vehicle policy and worker’s compensation. Routes For Sale now offers discounts on insurance! Through our size and volume, we have partnered with some of the largest insurance brokers in the nation to offer the best rates.
Request Your Free Insurance Quote Here.
The current owner operates this business with 6 vehicles that are paid for in full. Vehicles include: 2006 Ford (185k miles), 1991 Chevrolet (80k miles), 2008 Freightliner (177k miles), 2005 GMC 17′ Box Truck (180k miles, 2005 GMC 17′ Box Truck (195k miles) and 2007 Ford (190k miles). Estimated value is $60,000. When considering an additional truck purchase, Routes For Sale recommends MAG Trucks.
Does the company provide a fuel incentive?
Yes, FedEx provides a fuel supplement based on current prices.
The gross income for the route is $479,933 per year, minus $400,168 estimated yearly expenses as mentioned above gives you the net $79,765 as an owner of the business.
FedEx owners determine the selling price of their route by using a multiple of their yearly cash flow/net income. Routes that are turnkey with a full time manager in place sell for a higher multiple.
What are the company requirements?
FedEx requires a third party background check, you must have no felonies and a decent driving record. Additionally 1 year of driving experience of a similar delivery vehicle you intend to drive within the last 3 years, or 5 years within the last 10 years if operating as an owner/driver of the business. If you do not meet these requirements, owners can now bypass the required experience by taking an approved FedEx course to qualify as drivers. Owners do not need to meet this requirement if they don’t intend to drive.
Yes, as an independent distributor you sign a service agreement to represent FedEx. The contract is to protect both the company and its distributors.
Is this a viable business model for growth?
Yes! Route values can be increased by new account openings, and additional growth in the area. FedEx uses sales reps to expand and develop the routes. In fact CNBC recently did a documentary called “Inside The Package Wars” showing the growth over the years of FedEx and it’s competitor UPS. View The Video Here.
Seller is pursuing other business opportunities.
Where is the Terminal/pickup location?
Seller will disclose location once an NDA has been executed.
How long has the business been established?
The current seller has owned the business for 2 years.
How many stops does the route driver do a day?
All routes combined average 422 stops per day.
Drivers work 5 days a week Monday through Friday with Saturday and Sunday off. Hours of operation are between 8:00am – 5:30pm.
As an independent operator/business owner you are responsible for the route being serviced. In addition there are independent drivers who have FedEx experience that can cover for driver time needed off.
FedEx Ground has enjoyed a successful working relationship with independent contractors for nearly 25 years. Established and turnkey business, start receiving income the week you take over! Includes 4 full time ground routes plus 1 supplemental route. Also included are 6 vehicles that are paid in full, and 6 employees willing to transfer if given the opportunity. Priced to sell at $170,000! Some seller financing available!Contact Us About This Route Here!
In order to provide New Buyers with as much information as possible we have put together a quick overview of the industry. Learn More About FedEx Routes Here! For additional Consulting Services with one of our FedEx route specialists Request A Consultation Here!
Shreveport Louisiana United States
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Ronan Farrow and Robyn Doolittle Discuss Reporting on #MeToo
Ronan Farrow and Robyn Doolittle are investigative journalists whose large scale investigations into sexual assault led to widespread shifts in…
Photo: Alanna Rizza
Beyond the Back and Forth
Alanna Rizza and Premila D'Sa
#MeToo,
canadian journalism foundation,
Robyn Doolittle,
Ronan Farrow and Robyn Doolittle are investigative journalists whose large scale investigations into sexual assault led to widespread shifts in how the public views legal systems and sexual violence. Farrow’s investigation into sexual assault allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein and Doolittle’s deep dive into how police forces handle sexual assault cases across Canada have impacted widespread conversation around sexual violence survivors.
In the process of their reporting, both journalists were faced with obstacles that threatened their entire story. Farrow said he was repeatedly threatened, receiving death threats. While going through a 20-month reporting process, Doolittle said she was also concerned about her sources getting sued.
On Sunday night, the two powerhouse journalists came together at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts to discuss the process and implications of their reporting for the Canadian Journalism Foundation’s J-Talks. Here are five major points addressed in their conversation around reporting in the era of #MeToo, whether it’s dealing with sensitive sources, contentious roadblocks or the long and gruelling process of investigative work.
1. Building relationships with sources starts with listening, but that doesn’t mean it’s a friendship
Doolittle says she feels as though there has been a shift in the way journalists handle their relationships with sources. She says it has usually been a professional interaction where the reporter is “in charge,”
“When reporting something as horrible and raw as sexual assault, you do develop relationships with your sources and it can be hard to keep that professional distance while also maintaining trust,” she says.
Farrow says he believes there’s been a “paradigm shift” in journalism where reporters are now able to report stories of “he said, she said” like they were never before. He says in addition to having witnesses, it is crucial to have sources who can corroborate the victim’s stories.
Farrow adds that he tells his sources their relationship is going to feel “adversarial” at times when he has to press for facts.
Farrow says one of his sources still calls him a few times a week just to chat. “I’ll be in the middle of 10 different things, but I do always try to sit down and give her my time because she gave me the time and she didn’t have to.”
2. Make it clear that you’re a journalist not an activist
Doolittle says she can’t write “I believe survivors in a story” because she says is a journalist and not an activist. “I’m doing [a source] no favours by not rigorously investigating their claims,” she says.
Fascinating to hear from @ronanfarrow about how scary it was to break #weinsten story. Says as a journalist “I can’t say, ‘I believe all survivors’. I listen to all survivors”. Adds he listens to all the facts. Activism vs. Journalism #cjfjtalk
— Farah Nasser (@FarahNasser) November 5, 2018
Farrow says he doesn’t subscribe to the “I believe all survivors or I believe all women school of thought.”
“I subscribe to listening to all survivors, listen to all the facts, listen to all women,” he says.
3. You have to think about the impact the story has on the accused as well
Doolittle says she feels that journalists are expected to pick a side and that there’s a much more clear divide lately. She adds that she sees people on social media asking, “Are you on the right or are you on the left?”
Doolittle also says that a common criticism of #MeToo is that it “robs the accused person of due process.” She adds that she dislikes when people say that the movement “has gone too far” and she stresses that many claims do not meet the threshold of criminal proceedings.
I am not in the business of trying to create a big sexy headline – I am in the business of trying to get to the truth, says @RonanFarrow on reporting #metoo allegations with care and responsibility. #CJFtalk
— Kathy English (@kathyenglish) November 5, 2018
Farrow says he thinks about this in every story he writes, and he feels like the concern about how the story will impact the accused is “completely valid.”
“You have to think about journalistic due process, you do have think about being meticulous and fair at every turn,” he says.
Farrow says he always presents the side of the accused, which he says can further complicate the story, but it is necessary in being fair. “You owe it to anyone who is accused to really lay out any kind of argument that is presented.”
4. There should not be even the slightest doubt about your story
“There comes a time in every story where you can really wrap your arms around all of the facts,” says Farrow. With Weinstein, he says he had so many sources telling him strikingly similar stories independent of each other.
A few weeks ago, Farrow got off a flight to meet a “high profile political source” that had asked Farrow to meet. He says the source’s claims would have made a “huge story” that most publications would have run with, but Farrow didn’t go with the story because he couldn’t bring it to his threshold of journalistic standards.
“There’s so much on the line,” says Doolittle, adding that even getting one thing wrong can damage the story’s credibility.
5. “It’s a hassle being a reporter, but it’s worth it”
Farrow says when he started investigating the Weinstein story, he was going through a rough time–he had just gotten fired, his book was dropped by a publisher, and he wasn’t taking care of his health. He says he got into a cab to go in between interviews with sources and he had a meltdown. “I just broke down in the cab, I was weeping. It was pretty pathetic.”
An inspiring night listening to @RonanFarrow. He articulated our industry and the efforts of journalists around the world correctly when he said “…it’s a hassle but it’s worth it.” #CJFjtalk pic.twitter.com/oDfsUxwn2r
— Crystal Goomansingh (@cgoomansingh) November 5, 2018
But Farrow says journalism is important work that is necessary in holding people accountable, especially with stories as difficult to tell responsible with #MeToo.
“It’s so fulfilling,” says Farrow. “I am so grateful every time I have the chance to expose something meaningful and to amplify a voice that isn’t being heard.”
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Worth looking into: A message from the publisher
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Anasl API Group
Swati Singh
Sushil Ansal
FIR registered against Ansal API Group over alleged fraud
This is the same matter in which UP minister Swati Singh had asked the Cantonment police circle officer to quash the case.IANS | November 18, 2019, 14:31 IST
LUCKNOW: A fresh FIR has been registered here against real estate giant, Ansal API Group over a case of alleged fraud and criminal breach of trust.
This is the same matter in which UP minister Swati Singh had asked the Cantonment police circle officer to quash the case. The audio of the conversation had gone viral and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath pulled up the minister for this.
In the FIR lodged here at the PGI police station on Sunday, the complainant Deepti Kannuadia has accused Ansal API of accepting over Rs 30 lakhs through cheques for booking a 240 square metre plot in its Sushant Golf City project on Shaheed Path, Lucknow. However, the plot has not been given to the buyer even after a period of eight years.
In her complaint, Deepti has accused the group's chairman, Sushil Ansal, his son and vice chairman of the group, Pranav Ansal, and two other authorities -- Sushil Singh and Arun Mishra.
Her husband, Sachin Kannuadia, said they booked the plot on February 16, 2012 and paid the entire amount but they were not given possession of the plot.
Sachin said the group authorities kept delaying the matter, citing different reasons every time they approached them for the plot's possession.
"Arun Mishra even misbehaved and threatened us with dire consequences when we approached him a few months ago. They have not even returned the amount taken in the name of the plot," he said.
Earlier on November 13 and October 4, 2019, similar FIRs were registered against the group, accusing its authorities of cheating investors and threatening them with dire consequences.
As many as 24 criminal cases have been lodged against the group and its authorities at different police stations of Lucknow since 2017.
On September 29, Pranav Ansal was arrested by the Lucknow police after being detained by immigration authorities at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi while trying to board a flight to London.
Gurugram civic body's takeover of colonies held up as DLF, Unitech, Ansals delay pending work
Delhi HC directs Ansal API Group to submit assets details
He and his father Sushil Ansal are wanted in several cases of fraud and criminal breach of trust. Two directors of the group, Arun Mishra and Harish Gulla, were arrested earlier in connection with two cases registered at the Vibhuti Khand police station of Lucknow on June 6, 2019.
On Friday, a major controversy erupted after an audio clip went viral in which minister of state (independent charge), Swati Singh, was allegedly heard questioning the circle officer (CO) of Cantonment, Lucknow, Beenu Singh, for lodging an FIR against the builder (Ansal) and asking her to close the case.
The next day, Adityanath summoned the minister and asked her to explain her conduct in the audio clip in which she purportedly threatened a woman police officer for entertaining the complaint of the Kannuadia couple and asked her to close the "high profile case".
Tags : Regulatory, Anasl API Group, Swati Singh, Sushil Ansal, Lucknow, Arun Mishra
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Team Sky riders head to Revolution series
by RCUK
Geraint Thomas will star at the opening Revolution track event
The Revolution Series will get off to a flying start on 14 November with a host of Team Sky stars set to appear on the track together for the first time.
Geraint Thomas, Steve Cummings, Ian Stannard and Peter Kennaugh will all be in action in Manchester for the first event, which will have a strong road rider presence. However, the new Championship format means the Sky riders will be far from teammates this winter, as they go head to head racing for their own Revolution teams.
The riders will battle it out in several Championship races, including a 15k Points race and a 1km Madison time trial, a Revolution favourite. The race programme will also include a number of feature races, such as a motor-paced Scratch race and an Italian pursuit, designed to keep excitement levels high. Geraint Thomas, in blistering form after a record-breaking Pursuit performance at the World Cup this weekend, will be among the favourites to help gain maximum points for his team, the Rollers.
“I’m really excited about this season’s Revolution, especially with the new team format,” commented Thomas. “I’m feeling great after the weekend and can’t wait to take on the other Sky boys on the track. The competition is going to be fierce! I just hope I can keep up my good form for Chris [Newton] and make the Rollers the team to beat.”
Another Sky recruit expected to make waves at Revolution this year is Pete Kennaugh, who was Future Stars champion in Series 3. Last year, this up-and-coming track star caused real problems for his senior counterparts with some excellent performances that belied his nineteen years. He put in a storming performance in the Points race when he lapped the field, and Kennaugh is hoping he can cause a few upsets again this winter.
“I can’t wait to get back on the track for Revolution,” says Kennaugh. “I’ve really enjoyed it in the past and its going to be great racing against the other teams this year. I think there’ll be a lot of rivalry throughout the Series. I’m also really happy to have Jamie Staff as a captain, as he has so much experience to offer the team.”
With more top names set to be added to the Revolution line-up over the coming days, it looks set to be the most exciting Series yet.
Full details of the teams including the provisional line ups are now on www.cyclingrevolution.com along with information on the championship format.
The Revolution championship gets underway on Saturday 14 November with the remaining events scheduled for 5 December, 16 January and 27 February.
Wiggins signs up for Revolution
Maclean secures double victory in Revolution kick-off
Sean Yates joins Team Sky
Revolution team sky
DHL Future Stars championship
Revolution adds more top names
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June 2017: Miche Braden Quintet
Click here to download the concert brochure and mail-in ticket order form (Please note that the Grand Finale concert on Saturday, June 17 stars Miche Braden and not David Alan Grier as shown on the brochure.)
David Alan Grier, who was scheduled to perform on June 17, will be filming a new TV show and will not be able to join us in Detroit. We are thrilled to announce that Miche Braden will replace Grier.
An extraordinary Diva who’s well known for her portrayals of Billie Holiday, Ma Rainey, Valaida Snow and other legends, Miche Braden is famous for her role as blues giant Bessie Smith in the award-winning sensation “The Devil’s Music, The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith.” The musical, which premiered off-Broadway at St. Luke’s Theatre in 2011, has won high praises from the New York Post to The New York Times for Braden’s portrayal of the “Empress of the Blues.”
The musical continues to thrill audiences across the country. In a recent performance, The LA Times raves, “Bessie Smith’s outsized talents — and personality — are vividly channeled through a powerhouse performance by Miche Braden.”
The New York Times describes Miche as “A big voice full of blues, bawdy and unapologetic… she knows when to let it soar and when to keep it at an insinuatingly low simmer.” Detroit-raised Braden returns home for the Palmer Woods Music in Homes grand finale concert to share her bold and brilliant talents, from devilish to angelic.
A versatile artist, actress, singer, poet and songwriter, Braden was mentored by Motown’s Thomas “Beans” Bowles and Funk Brother Earl Van Dyke, in addition to Jazz Master Harold McKinney. She has sung with Milt Hinton, Lionel Hampton, Regina Carter, and James Carter. She is featured on the James Carter release “Gardenia’s for Lady Day” (Sony/Columbia), and appeared with him at Carnegie Hall. Braden is featured on CDs to be released this year by Regina Carter and Gayelynn McKinney, with whom she shared the stage in the ensemble Straight Ahead.
This will be an exciting night of music from the great divas of jazz and blues, not to mention Braden’s own fabulous compositions. Braden’s Detroit band includes virtuoso musicians: guitarist A. Spencer Barefield, pianist Buddy Budson, bassist Marion Hayden and drummer Djallo Djakate Keita. Tickets: $60; VIP seating in front rows with additional leg room: $70.
* All concerts include a delicious light dinner, beverages and dessert during intermission. Concerts in May and June are held in spacious tents set in the gardens of homes. You may tour a portion of the home prior to the concerts on Friday and Saturday. In the case of severe weather, Palmer Woods Music in Homes (MIH) will move the concert to the beautiful art deco Detroit Unity Temple or other appropriate nearby venue. Tickets are not refundable. MIH reserves the right to make program changes if necessary.
Click here to purchase tickets now! Tickets are not refundable.
Thank you to our sponsors. Tonight’s concert sponsor is City Living Detroit.
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This Cookies Policy sets out the basis on which we, ZAZ Clothing Limited, use cookies and similar technologies on our website, www.papaval.com (our website).
We may update this Cookies Policy from time to time in order to keep you fully informed about our latest practices involving cookies and similar information-gathering technologies on our website. You should check this Cookies Policy each time you visit our website in order to find out whether our use of cookies and similar technologies has changed. This Cookies Policy is effective from 14th December 2017.
We recommend that you print a copy of this Cookies Policy for your records.
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Cookies are data files that are sent between web servers and web browsers, processor memory or hard drives (clients) to recognise a particular user’s device when the user accesses a website. They are used for a range of different purposes, such as customising a website for a particular user, helping a user navigate a website, improving that user’s website experience, and storing that user’s preferences and login information.
Cookies can be classified as either ‘session’ or ‘persistent’ cookies. Session cookies are placed on your browser when you access a website and last for as long as you keep your browser open. They expire when you close your browser.
Persistent cookies are placed on your computer when you access a website and expire at a fixed point in time or if you manually delete them from your browser, whichever occurs first.
Cookies will be set either by our website domain or by third party domains on our behalf. Cookies set by us on our website domain are referred to as ‘first party’ cookies. Cookies set by third party domains or set on or via our website domain on behalf of third parties are referred to as ‘third party’ cookies.
Cookies do not usually contain personal information. Cookies may, however, be used in combination with other information to identify you.
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Posted on December 1, 2012 by wildbow
Well, we’d gone up against Dragon, the Wards and the Protectorate at the same time, and our pains had earned us our hostage. I was worried the next part would be harder.
Trickster started fishing through the pockets of the Director’s suit-jacket.
“Looking for this?” Imp held up the Director’s phone.
“Yeah,” Trickster replied. He took the phone. “There’s a chance it’s not scrambled.”
“Bad idea,” I said. “If-”
I stopped when Grue reached over and blanketed the Director’s head in darkness.
“Don’t need her listening in if we’re talking strategy,” Grue explained. “Go on.”
“If Dragon’s listening in on the call, and it sounded like she was, we might accidentally divulge some crucial info. Or we could be alerting those suits to our location. Or the location of whoever you’re calling.” I finished.
“Might be.” Trickster replied, “But it’s handy to be able to contact others, and that might be worth the chance that we’d have to run again.”
Trickster went on, “We could call Tattletale right now, hop in the truck Imp brought and have her meet us somewhere secluded, or we could split up, with one or more people going ahead to pass word on to her, then wait for her to meet us, wasting a hell of a lot of time in the process. Keep in mind the suits are still disabled.”
“There’s still the Protectorate and the Wards,” Grue said.
“The only ones capable of moving that fast are Assault and maybe Chariot,” I said.
“We’re short enough on time, and we need to know what happened to our other teammates,” Trickster said.
“It’s not a good idea.” Grue folded his arms.
“I’m making the call anyways. We can’t afford to wait.”
Grue stood there, literally fuming as the darkness roiled around him. After a few long seconds, his pose relaxed and he held his hand out, “Then let me talk to her. We have a password system. The rest of you, keep an eye on her, and don’t forget to watch out for incoming threats.”
“Good man. The two of us will be over there,” Trickster said, pointing to one area where sand and debris had been bulldozed into a small hill. “Need to talk with ‘Dancer for a second. Shout if you need a hand.”
I nodded. Grue, Trickster and Sundancer all stepped away, leaving Regent, Shatterbird, Imp and I to watch over our hostage.
A minute passed, and she shifted position, her head leaving Grue’s darkness.
“Back up,” Regent warned.
“I have bad knees,” the Director said. “I will if you make me, but it’s painful. I suppose that could be a way of easing into torture, if that’s your style.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Regent said, uncharacteristically cheery.
“No,” I told him. To her, I said, “Sit however you want. We’ll cover you again if we start talking work.”
She gave me a curt nod.
“Maybe we should get her to command the suits?” Regent asked.
“Won’t work,” the Director replied.
“Why’s that?” Regent asked.
“I can send them in, I can tell them where to go or when to stand by, but they do what they’re programmed to, and they’re programmed to avoid attacking civilians and local heroes.”
“That didn’t stop the foam-spraying-” Regent started.
“The Cawthorne model,” the Director interrupted.
“Sure. That didn’t stop the Cawthorne thing from shooting Trickster when he had Kid Win hostage.”
“I expect Dragon accounted for the fact that you might take hostages and use the nonlethality restrictions of the A.I. against it. She would have given the machines tools or strategies to work around it.”
“And you’re just volunteering this information?” I asked.
“I said it earlier, I think, but you’re not a stupid girl, Skitter. Reckless, shortsighted, capricious, violent, even vicious… but not stupid. I’m hoping you have the sense to realize how dangerous your current position is. There will be more mechanical suits coming. There will be heroes coming to Brockton Bay to assist us. You can’t afford to hold this city, and we can’t afford to let you. Not in the grand scheme of things.”
“She likes to jabber,” Imp said. “Should we gag her? Or make her stick her head back in the dark?”
“Might be better,” Regent answered, looking down at the Director.
“Need a cloth. I could pull off a sock, jam in her mouth, maybe we tie it in there with Skitter’s silk. My feet are sweating like crazy in these boots, so it’d be really gross.”
“No,” I said. “We’re not going to humiliate her. We get the information we need from her, see if we can’t use her as a hostage to leverage for peace. That’s all.”
The Director shook her head.
“Extorting for peace when you started the war.”
“When are you saying we started the war? When the ABB came after us and we fought back? When we ambushed the fundraiser to embarrass you? When we fought Leviathan and the Slaughterhouse Nine and then picked up the pieces ourselves, clearing our territories of the low-level threats while leaving the civilians more or less alone?”
“Except for Bitch.”
“We adjusted Bitch’s territory so she wouldn’t have as much cause to harass the locals, not so long ago.”
“I suppose that’s a consolation to the people she injured.”
“I’m not saying we’re perfect. We aren’t. But we’re doing something.”
“You’re not doing enough.”
“And when you subtract the blood you’ve spilled and the pain you’ve caused, have you really done that much more, Skitter? That’s oversimplifying, obviously. Right and wrong aren’t a matter of adding the good deeds and subtracting the bad.”
“I’m bad at math anyways,” Regent said.
The Director ignored him, her eyes on me. “I presume you’ve been paying for the supplies and materials you’ve been importing to your territory with your own money? You’ve been paying your people, I know.”
“How much damage was done in the course of earning that money? I see the repercussions you don’t. Things pass my desk: hospital bills, property damage, psychiatrist’s notes. People lose their jobs, lose precious belongings. Parents are woken in the middle of the night because their children are seriously injured. I see the details from detectives in narcotics who track the drug trade-”
She interrupted me before I could protest. “I know you don’t sell drugs, Skitter. But you’re interacting with people who do. If you buy a favor from someone who does, the Merchants, Coil, the Chosen, then you’re indirectly supporting that trade. Just like you’re supporting any number of evils every time you help a fellow villain. I’ve talked to homicide detectives who have dealt with the bodies in the wake of your shenanigans.”
“We don’t kill.”
“People die when you start feuds. Bakuda was injured by you in one altercation, and she attacked the city over the course of several days. Do you know how many people were harmed, then? Because you set her off? I could show you photos. People with flesh melted off, frozen, burned, turned to glass. When I don’t see these things in person, I see them on my desk, in high-definition glossy photos. I could arrange for you to see the photos if you don’t believe me, or if you want to see the damage you’ve done for yourself.”
“No. I don’t need to see them.”
She looked up at me, one eye half closed, both eyes bloodshot. “Why is that, Skitter? Are you afraid facing that reality would shatter this nice little delusion you’re living under?”
“I’m not to blame for whatever crimes Bakuda committed.”
“You played a role.”
“Anything she did is on her head, just like anything the Nine did is on them.”
“Where do you draw the line? When do you start taking responsibility? Or will you explain away every evil you’ve done and count only the actions you want?”
I could have protested, argued that I did take the blame for some things, I did blame myself for Dinah, for not seeing the bigger picture, for acting when I’d known Coil needed a distraction for something bigger.
“Hey,” Regent said.
I turned to face him.
“This is going nowhere. Let’s wait until Tattletale can talk to her.”
“Right,” I said. Not only had it been going nowhere, but she’d had had the upper hand, so to speak. Not necessarily in the strength or validity of her arguments, but in the psychological and emotional sense. I’d failed to budge her and she’d provoked a response from me.
The Director didn’t open her mouth again, apparently satisfied.
Grue returned with Trickster and Sundancer following behind him. “Imp, where’s the truck you used to get here?”
“You passed it as you came here.”
“We’ll have to be careful,” Grue said, “Anything from the Protectorate, her included, may be bugged. No talking about anything sensitive on our way back, and we’ll ditch it asap.”
We nodded. I had only the one good arm, my other shoulder still tender, so I walked around to the Director’s left side to grab her under the shoulder and help haul her to her feet.
I was surprised that she cooperated. If she’d delayed us by forcing us to carry her, she might have bought time for reinforcements to arrive. If we’d forced the issue with violence, it would have reinforced her argument.
In her shoes, I might have done it, just to apply that stress to my enemy. It said something that she didn’t. I just wasn’t sure what.
We emerged from the truck at the rear of a liquor store. Tattletale stood in the open doorway of the loading area with Brooks and Minor beside her.
We hauled the Director out of the back of the truck. Grue had covered her in darkness to keep her unawares, and she looked more than a little disoriented. Her hair was in disarray and she couldn’t fix it with the cuffs on, and the effects of the capsaicin hadn’t entirely worn off; her eyes were puffy, her face red.
But when she looked at Tattletale, the smallest smile touched her lips.
“What’s this, Piggot?” Tattletale asked, hopping down from the ledge to the parking lot. “Looking forward to a duel of wits?”
Director Piggot shook her head, still smiling.
“Staying mum? Lips sealed, so you can’t betray vital information?”
“I trust you’ll get it anyways,” the Director replied.
“First things first,” Grue said, “Are we bugged?”
“The truck is. But we’ll have my guy drive it a ways and then leave it somewhere.” Tattletale jerked a thumb towards Minor, and he marched over to the truck, catching the keys as Grue tossed them.
“They’ll know the truck stopped here,” the Director said.
“I know. We’re going to go for a walk,” Tattletale said. “Up for that?”
“I don’t think I have a choice, do I?”
We headed down a back alley. I saw the Director struggling to keep her feet under her, her pumps sloshing in shallow water. She stumbled once, and I put a hand out to steady her. I was more likely to be crushed beneath her than to catch her if she fell, but at the same time, I wasn’t sure we could get her off the ground without uncuffing her if she did slip.
I didn’t like her. Maybe that was an obvious conclusion for me to come to, but she reminded me of my high school principal in some ways: she was the authority figure, the person who embodied an institution I had no respect for. On a more concrete level, she was indirectly or directly responsible for Armsmaster, for Sophia and the other bullies getting away with what they did.
Even on a basic, abstract level, she reminded me of Emma in how quickly and easily she’d gone for the throat in trying to cut me down and provoke a reaction from me. Again, much like Emma, it was all the more nettling because she wasn’t entirely wrong.
“You have our teammates in custody?” Tattletale asked.
The Director didn’t respond.
“That’s a no. Which means they’re either injured or dead and you aren’t aware, or they’re holed up and can’t leave their territory because of the suits that are sitting there.”
“Perhaps.” Even with the unsteady footing, the Director was focusing more on Tattletale than where she was going, studying her. But I knew that if I could see that much, Tattletale would as well.
“Is Dragon in town?”
“Last I saw,” the Director replied, hedging.
“She’s gone,” Tattletale said, for the benefit of the rest of us. “Another task. Wouldn’t be an Endbringer. Not yet. The Nine.”
“Want to give up the information now, spare me the hassle of twenty questions?”
“My delaying you means the other models have a chance to find and arrest your teammates. You’ll have to ask.”
“We have other tools at our disposal,” Tattletale glanced at Regent.
“And I know Regent takes anywhere from fifteen minutes to two and a half hours to take control.”
“After which point you wouldn’t ever be able to work in this town again.”
“Taking the same approach you did with Shadow Stalker?” The Director asked.
I raised an eyebrow.
“Yeah, like Shadow Stalker,” Tattletale replied.
“We have records from when Regent worked for Heartbreaker, under his previous name, Hijack. Interviews with people Regent controlled.”
“Good for you,” Regent replied.
“I know his power gets weaker as you spread it thin, control slips. You can’t afford to loosen your hold on Shatterbird, so no, I don’t think you’ll try to take control of me.”
“And you believe that,” Tattletale said. “Enough that you’re confident. You aren’t worried here, even when you’ve been taken hostage.”
“Which leaves you the options of playing twenty questions to get all the information you need, or you can try something more dire. Torture?”
“That’s the second time she’s brought that up,” I said.
“Because she’s trying to get a sense of us,” Tattletale said. “She wants to see our reactions and body language as the subject comes up.”
“Yes,” the Director said. “Based on that much, I’m almost certain you wouldn’t torture me and you aren’t the type to kill unless absolutely backed against the wall. Which means I can be home before midnight.”
“A little optimistic,” Trickster growled the words.
“I don’t think so,” Director Piggot replied, turning to level a glare at him. She looked almost feral, even as her voice was controlled. “See, I know you might try to kill me if these others weren’t around. But the others won’t let you. There’s Regent too: little to no compunctions, as we saw with Shadow Stalker.”
Her eye darted to Tattletale, then to Grue, and finally to me.
“Do they know the full story?” the Director asked.
“No,” Tattletale replied. She sighed a little.
“Tell us what?” I asked.
“I’m interested, too,” Grue added.
The Director only smiled.
“Do you trust me?” Lisa asked.
“Pretty much,” I replied. “A little bit less right now than I did a minute ago.”
“Fair. She’s trying to derail our interrogation. She knows we won’t get violent with her to get the details we need, but I’ll be able to get the answers out of her with a bit of time to ask and apply my power. Knowing this, she’s trying to fuck with us, set us against each other, and delay us.”
I nodded slowly, glancing between Tattletale and Director Piggot.
Tattletale shrugged, “If you trust me, can you agree to drop the subject? I’ll explain before too long.”
“Knowing is half the battle,” the Director said. “Only half. Being aware of what I’m doing doesn’t stop me. I’ve learned a lot since you took me hostage, and I already knew some things from research, observation, paperwork and background checks. I have a read on your personalities and how you operate, and I know some background details. How is your brother, Tattletale? Sarah?”
Sarah?
I glanced at Tattletale, saw a flicker of emotion cross her face before she smirked, wagged a finger at the Director and spoke with a touch too much cheer, “Low blow.”
“I’ve been looking forward to having a conversation with you for some time, playing it out in my head. I paid out of my own pocket for information so I can beat you at your own game. You would have done well to erase the trail leading back home, Sarah. But then, that would have required thinking about it, maybe even going back.”
“You’re glad we took you hostage.”
Piggot smiled. It wasn’t pretty.
“Ball’s still in our court,” Tattletale said.
“But you have a time limit. Like I said, I expect to be home and in my bed before the night’s out.”
“You have a card up your sleeve, leverage.”
“In a way. I’m dying.”
Our group had been walking across a street, and we all stopped to look at her.
“You need constant medical care?” Tattletale said.
“I have a setup at home. Hemodialysis. I hook myself up to it every night, flush my blood of excess water and pollutants over the course of eight hours while I’m sleeping. If I don’t get the dialysis, I expect I’ll go downhill very quickly. My body’s already in rough shape, and I’ve overworked myself these past few weeks. I wouldn’t die that quickly, but you wouldn’t get any use out of me, either. So we get to enjoy each other’s company for about five or six hours. Then you decide whether you let me go home or whether you let me die.”
“And in the meantime, you intend to stall.”
“To the best of my ability,” the Director said.
“What suit did they send against Bitch? Hellhound?”
“Did you know your parents are still looking for you? They never stopped.”
Tattletale pursed her lips. “A model Dragon’s used before?”
“You should have seen the looks on their faces when I told them you were alive and well,” Piggot said. She measured the look on Tattletale’s face, smiled. “Yes, I visited them in person.”
Tattletale’s eyes narrowed. “I could turn the tables on you, pick you apart.”
“Please do. Waste time. You won’t accomplish much. Look at me. You know as well as I do that I wear my shame and disappointment on the outside, for the world to see. I had the muscles of my legs torn apart years ago on the job, lost the ability to keep up exercise, coupled with hours behind a desk, hours of the dialysis and recovery from surgeries, no time to take care of myself with work. I know I’m ugly, I know I’m fat. There’s nothing you could say to me that I haven’t said to myself a hundred times over.”
“You sound almost proud,” Trickster said, a hint of disgust in his voice.
“I have no powers, Trickster. I’m lowly, a mere mortal compared to you. I admit it, I admit I’m weaker, slower, my options are pretty limited in a fight. But I’m tenacious. I’m shameless, if I have to be, because I refuse to lose to you.” Her voice bordered on a growl as she uttered the word ‘refuse’.
This was the director of the PRT? Hearing her speak, I’d almost thought she was like Coil, at first. Cultured, proud, arrogant. Now that she was showing her true colors, it was almost the opposite. And strangely, it was equally problematic.
A fleck of spit flew from her lips as she continued her rant, “And I find it pretty fucking poetic that I have the upper hand because of the very things that you capes look down on us for. I’m fat, frail, scarred, and I have old wounds that I’ll never recover from. But because of that, because I could die in a matter of hours if you don’t let me seek treatment, you’re either going to have to compromise with your personal code or you’re going to have to let me walk away and find another way to beat Dragon.”
This isn’t working.
“Trickster, watch her,” I said. “Sundancer, you and the medic watch Trickster and the Director. Rest of you with me. We’ll talk over there.”
We retreated from the woman.
Regent ran his fingers through his hair. Tattletale had her arms folded as she leaned against a wall, staring at the ground. She wasn’t smiling, and she wasn’t venturing to comment.
“What’re you thinking?” I asked.
“This isn’t working, obviously.”
“We could take her to her house, give her the treatment she needs,” Grue said.
“That’s what she wants. There’s a trap there. Either she’s got some measures in place at home, guns hidden where she can get at them or some kind of safe room, or the PRT is already there, waiting to ambush us.”
“I could control her,” Regent said. “Send Shatterbird back, lock her up, get control.”
“Which would take time, again,” Tattletale said. “The benefits would be negligible, and it would take longer than you think, because she’s trained in resisting mental and emotional attacks.”
“I wouldn’t have thought,” I commented.
Tattletale shook her head, “Let’s figure it’s half an hour for Shatterbird to get snug in her cage. Two or three hours to get control of her… and for what? They have an idea we captured her. If they haven’t revoked her access and powers by now, they will have by the time Regent’s finished with her. So how do we use her?”
“We’re running out of time,” Grue said. “It’s maybe two or three in the afternoon. That gives us maybe twenty hours to get this done by Coil’s schedule. Brainstorm. More ideas, come on.”
“We could abandon the job. Say fuck you to Coil, let his grand plan fall apart,” Regent said. “Get Bitch and leave town.”
“I don’t like that,” Grue said. “On a lot of levels.”
“Sure, sure. But it’s the most obvious choice.”
“Not an option as far as I’m concerned,” I replied. “I won’t blame you guys if you want to do that, but I gotta do this, finish the job or fail trying.”
“Okay, I sort of expected you to say that. Um, hear me out on this before jumping down my throat, but why don’t we torture her? She’s been begging for it, practically.”
I stared at him.
“Torture doesn’t work,” Grue said.
“Without getting into too much detail, I’d say it does. Sometimes,” Regent replied.
“Not with someone like her,” Tattletale said, sighing. “Even if she didn’t have a background in that sort of thing, her personality… if anything I think she’d be glad we did it. Not while we were doing it, but it’d validate her view of the world.”
“Which is?” Grue asked.
“That we’re monsters. In her eyes, our trigger events highlight a moment at the worst point of our lives and our powers make it so we can never put that behind us. Good guy or bad, she sees us as walking personifications of whatever issues drove us to get our powers in the first place, inflicting some shadow or abstract representation of those traumas on others with our powers.”
“How can someone educated and professional like her think that way?” Grue asked.
“For one thing, she’s not all that wrong,” Tattletale replied, shrugging.
“We are. But even people without powers are walking issues. That’s no big surprise. Having powers just… makes it all more noticeable. Piggot’s suffering from some tunnel vision, is all. Happens with any bigot. Anyways, my point was, if we torture her, we’re only reinforcing her worldview. It would almost negate any psychological stress we put her under. No, torture is out for a few reasons.”
“What if we give her treatment?” I asked. “Not at her house. Off-site.”
“We’d be showing our hand, maybe cluing her in to our connection with Coil, and it would still take time we don’t have,” Grue answered. “Nothing saying we’d get enough in the way of answers to be worth the time spent.”
“I don’t see what was wrong with my suggestion,” Imp said.
“Which was?”
Imp pulled off her boot and then peeled off a knee-high sock, wiggled her toes before jamming her bare foot back in the boot. She stretched out the sock, “Gag the fatty.”
“I need her to answer if I’m going to get the detail we need in any reasonable length of time,” Tattletale said.
“She’s not answering anyways, right? Get what you need from her body language.”
Tattletale frowned. “Yeah. You’re right. But it’s going to take time.”
“And we’re operating in the dark until then,” Grue said.
“We did okay with the last fight,” Imp said.
“Barely,” I cut in, at the same moment Grue said, “We didn’t-“
“We walked away,” Imp clarified.
“Where are you on the other thing, what you were talking to Coil about?” I asked Tattletale.
“Trying to get info. It’s hard with the way communications are down. We sent some soldiers out in trucks, each going down a different major road in the hopes of getting far enough away to get cell service. Then they gotta get back here to bring me what they got.”
“Time’s our most valuable resource here,” Grue said.
I spoke up, “I don’t think we can afford to wait until we hear from your soldiers or the Director.”
“Heading out?”
I nodded, pointing towards the others. We rejoined Trickster, Sundancer and Brooks. Imp shoved her sock in the Director’s mouth and took the silk cord I offered, tying it in place.
“Careful,” I said. “Trouble with this sort of gag is that if she pukes, she could choke on her own vomit.”
“How do you know these things?” Regent asked.
“I’ll be careful,” Tattletale assured me.
“Let’s plan, then. Tattletale, any idea if the other suits would be active yet? The ones we had Piggot shut down?”
“Not yet, but soon.”
“Then I’m thinking we should split up into two teams” I said. “Strike while the other three suits are shut down and waiting for Dragon’s attention. If we can rescue our teammates, we’ll be half-again as strong.”
“We don’t have the firepower to fight those things,” Trickster said.
“We have lots of firepower,” I replied. “Problem is they have a lot more. So pick your fights, strike at the right time and hit hard. Play dirty, don’t give them a chance if you can help it. Grue, you should go with Sundancer and Trickster, so we’ve got even numbers on both sides.”
“Your power works well with Sundancer, keeps the enemy unaware until she can get that miniature sun close, and you can keep them off the machine’s radar, thermals or whatever. Hopefully.”
“And you?”
“My bugs will give us early warning if a suit’s nearby, and they might alert me if there’s radar or anything subsonic. If Regent and Imp come with me, we’ll have some firepower from Shatterbird.”
“My team will go see if we can find Bitch, rescue her from whatever they sent after her. You guys do what you can to rescue Ballistic, then hunker down. If you succeed, stay put, wait for us. If we don’t arrive before dark, assume we lost, mount a rescue. If you aren’t there, we’ll assume the same.”
“Sounds good,” Grue said.
“Either way, we’ll figure out where we’re going from there.”
The Director raised her head, staring up at the sky.
“You have something you want to say?” Tattletale asked.
The Director shrugged.
Tattletale removed the gag. “What?”
“Which part?” Tattletale asked. “The interrogation? The rescue mission?”
“The fight. Seven suits in this city right now. The Melusine-six, Cawthorne M.K. Three, the Glaurung Zero, the Ladon-two, the Astaroth-Nidhug, the Pythios-two. That’s six ships right there, that Dragon explained were old models. Previous versions of her suits that were cannibalized for parts, abandoned after taking severe damage and recently repaired or simply outdated.”
“And the seventh?”
“The Azazel. Note that there’s no version number. It’s a fresh design, crafted to go up against the Nine and put up a serious fight. The first truly original suit she’s made in four years, and I assure you that Dragon has advanced her skills in that timeframe. If that isn’t enough of a pedigree, the Azazel was created by Dragon working in tandem with her new partner, a fellow tinker.”
Armsmaster.
She saw the reaction from us, smiled a little.
“Yes. A new partner. It was his suggestion that we park the suits here when they aren’t needed. And even though I know he’s a new cape, nobody you’d know, certainly nobody who’d have a grudge,” she smirked a little, “I think it’s a safe bet to say he had you in mind when he was building it.”
Tattletale jammed the sock into Piggot’s mouth and turned to us. “Which ones did you fight?”
“Foam sprayer, drone deployer, forcefield generator and a wheel-dragon with electricity and some electromagnet,” I said.
“Cawthorne, Glaurung, Ladon, Pythios, I’d guess, with only the names and what little I’ve seen of Dragon to go by. That leaves the Astaroth-Nidhug, Melusine and the Azazel. One went after Ballistic, another after Genesis, and a third went after Bitch.”
“Meaning that with the way we’re splitting up and taking on whatever machines attacked our missing teammates, each of our groups has a one-in-three chance of going up against this Azazel,” I concluded.
“Better cross your fingers,” Tattletale suggested.
This entry was posted in 16.03 and tagged Grue, Imp, Piggy, Regent, Shatterbird, Sundancer, Taylor, Trickster by wildbow. Bookmark the permalink.
Bobby on December 1, 2012 at 00:09 said:
There’s some confusion right at the start. There’s a “He replied” that I thought at first was Grue because he’s the last male to have talked, except Grue is against phoning so it must be Trickster, then two lines from unknown speakers,
Aserwarth on December 29, 2013 at 01:48 said:
Highjacking top comment, so you can read this while your editing (if not in this part somewhere in the story). There is a minor plothole in this section. The fact that Piggot is still injured is surprising considering she has had contact with Panacea months if not years before she went villain. You may want to add something about her seeing her injuries as some sort of badge of honor or something. To explain why she still has them. TT could mention it why she explains her world veiw.
I seem to remember Panacea had this “rules” about not modifying anything that was already a part of the person, meaning she would mend recent injuries but not scars, remember she refused to heal the small damage in Taylor’s brain and fine movements on one hand. Panacea started messing with the actual structure and nature of things only in The Nine plotline. Also Piggy hates capes, I’d figure she’d rather live in that state, with pride even, than asking for a “freak” for help.
Robert on February 2, 2014 at 09:23 said:
Pretty sure her rule was just “no brains”. She didn’t mend Taylor’s brain because it’s her brain, and she didn’t mend Taylor’s hand/arm because it would heal naturally and she had an entire hospital of crippled capes to work through.
You don’t have to put all the details out there when writing. Give her a break.
ShawnMorgan on February 21, 2014 at 20:57 said:
I was just thinking about this on my third journey through the archives section and I came up with the possible answers outlined above.
DeNarr on December 1, 2012 at 00:23 said:
[because she’s trained in resisting mental and emotional attacks, and “
“I wouldn’t have thought,” I commented.]
and what? What wouldn’t Skitter have thought?
Some Smartass on December 1, 2012 at 02:29 said:
I think Skitter was basically saying “no shit, Sherlock” about the training.
Psycho Gecko on December 1, 2012 at 00:26 said:
“Which would take time, again,” Tattletale said. ”The benefits would be negligible, and it would take longer than you think, because she’s trained in resisting mental and emotional attacks, and “
Was there supposed to be something after the and?
Now, breaking Piggot would take some time on my part. I actually have an idea or two, but serious thought must wait until midnight pacific time and until whenever I’m done with the alcohol. In the meantime, if they could find a way to adequately recreate regular bullying teenagers ganging up on Piggot, that’d do a number on her.
tieshaunn on December 1, 2012 at 06:18 said:
You are a sick, sick little lizard. I like that.
You’re still not as scary as wildbow, though
Truth be told, wouldn’t break her int he sense of getting information. It’d just be fun to watch her defeated. I downright say they can do a great job getting information by letting her continue blabbing. Like a reverse interrogation, most notably seen in The Avengers, but also shown on Burn Notice before. Except this time it is a reverse interrogation on someone they’re interrogating.
She’s still sensitive about her being fat, scarred, and ugly. Coupled with what she says about all the death and destruction and roles played, you could turn around a lot of what she says on her. She has to be so tenacious because she just keeps failing. Of all cities, hers is the one that couldn’t keep its villains handled. She personally oversaw it straight to hell. Couldn’t keep a handle on the ABB. Couldn’t even quickly take down Empire 88 after their identities were exposed. Leviathan wrecked the city and there wasn’t much to do about that, but then a bunch of meth heads become a powerful group and she can’t stop them. That’s handled by the Slaughterhouse 9 and the only weapons she has to use against them were provided by one of those ABB members she was helpless to stop. The teen villains are now taking over the city and the remnants of E88 are STILL flying around out there.
I guess she really was useless after those injures. Doesn’t matter how tenacious she is. A chihuahua can chew on your toe all night without killing you. And at least some people think chihuahuas are cute.
Anzer'ke on December 1, 2012 at 16:16 said:
Would have been awesome if they’d had Panacea without the heroes being aware (obviously not the case) since this would have been the point to say.
Okay, well we’ll remove the injuries, restore your kidneys and generally de-age you to that soldier you used to be. Then we’ll kick your ass anyway.
TheAnt on December 1, 2012 at 00:26 said:
Her name is Sarah, and she has both her parents and a brother. Notice she says her parents miss her, this implies they didn’t do anything to her and she asks how her brother is. Does this mean she left with her brother? Well regardless, Skitter has always had a weakness with arguing her points. She could bring up shadowstalker’s bullying, the fact that the ABB would have been even worse without them hitting them too and taking out lung, and the fact that they did nothing while the 9 attacked. I think Tattletale could still break her and interrogate her for the skeletons in the PRT closet if they have time, but her medical issues are a problem. The fact that she doesn’t know where Bitch implies that the suits have a private holding area they bring them too. So its the basic attack plan as before, but I’m not sure how wise it is to split up. Granted they have a timetable but I think it would be easier to gang up on one suit and take it down. My prediction, they have bad luck as always and though they take down one or two suits Skitter gets captured. She has an interesting conversation with Dragon that has big possibilities.
Celer on December 1, 2012 at 13:50 said:
Bringing up Shadowstalker’s bullying would almost certainly reveal Skitter’s real identity. At that point, her family is at risk.
Says something interesting about Dragon and how she views Piggot if Piggot doesn’t already know.
Yeah…if she knew than it would have been used by now. Dragon seems too decent by half to give Skitter away. I’ll be surprised if she even goes for blackmail.
Random Lurker on December 1, 2012 at 00:27 said:
resisting mental and emotional attacks, and ”
This line seems to end a little abruptly, considering the next line. Is Skitter interrupting?
A very Tattletale and Piggot centered chapter, with Taylor also really coming into her own as a leader. It flowed well with the mutual pschoanalyzing. Importantly, Piggot doesn’t seem to be the type who wouldn’t care at all that she enabled bullies to make Taylor’s life a living hell. Personal experiences with bullying make me biased about this, but that makes me hate her so much. Before, I could at least sympathize. Now, she just feels like someone who completely ignores her own faults. I hope that was the intended audience reaction, or I’m missing something.
Looking forward to the next chapter!
Yeah I think that it wouldn’t be too hard for Tattletale to point out how she is much worse than they are, but the problem is time. They don’t kill, so they only have a few hours to let her go. But she made a BIG mistake. She pissed off Tattletale. She gave her all of the reason in the world to look into Piggot/PRT past to get info to use against her.
mc2rpg on December 1, 2012 at 03:25 said:
Piggot is only really worse than them in a small picture sense. In the small scale what she allowed Sophia to keep doing is pretty awful. Once you start scaling things up though that argument starts falling apart.
Really? She destroyed at least one young cape’s faith in legitimate authority, leading to that cape turning villain. It’s entirely possible that her policies have created other villains by that means.
So Piggot should have sent Armsmaster to jail to save Triumph’s faith, and give up the dragon suits and their ability to effectively pursue the nine. That is just another example of small scale vs large scale. Triumph’s faith is ultimately a small price to pay for the death of the nine and the reclamation of Brockton Bay.
No, she should have sent Armsmaster to jail long before he and Dragon had the means to blackmail the PRH like that, to show to the villains that the rules apply to everyone. At least, knowing what she knew – Dragon’s infatuation with him complicates the matter further, but Dragon runs the Birdcage.
My general point is that unethical behavior has a long-term cost that is rarely worth it. Were Shadow Stalker’s services as a hero worth the dead bodies, negative PR, and easily forseeable risk of her bullying causing a trigger event?
Every cynical action Piggot has taken based on her view of supers as freaks that need a good killin’ every once in awhile is the result of her losing faith in supers because a few of them fled once. The large scale is made up of smaller scales and their consequences.
To allegedly quote Abraham Lincoln on meeting Harriet Beecher Stowe, “So you are the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war.” You know, because sometimes a book helps massive casualties. Or a scam movie trailer causes it. Or a newspaper sensationalizes a conflict just before a powerful nation’s ship blows up due to error right near there.
Sending Armsmaster to jail that early prevents your forces from ever having the analysis visors that let him fight an endbringer solo. That tech is game changing once you start mass producing it.
How many rapes, murders, and assaults does Shadow Stalker have to prevent before her bullying and initial murders get balanced out? After a certain point it does happen. If you don’t think you can make up for that sort of thing then Taylor should be on your shit list too. She deliberately terrorizes people with her spiders after all. She is just lucky she hasn’t made anyone trigger yet.
Starry Sky on December 1, 2012 at 05:33 said:
I really doubt Piggot had clear knowledge regarding the amount of harassment Sophia was directing towards Taylor. She probably understood that Sophia was violent and emotionally unstable, and she probably knew that Sophia had been subject to some level of investigation at school. However, she’s a manager of a citywide organization, she can’t be expected to personally resolve all of the problems caused by her employees. I also think Piggot could reasonably rely on the school’s administration to remedy any problems Sophia might have been causing at school.
Piggot obviously decided that the potential liabilities of keeping Shadow Stalker as a Ward were outweighed by the potential benefits. Clearly this decision had some distinctly negative ramifications, but I think we need to remember that it’s often extremely difficult to predict the potential long term effects of one’s actions.
Overall, I just don’t really see any reason to hate Piggot from what we know of her. I think her actions definitely need to be questioned and I’m skeptical of her motivations and worldview, but she thought she was making the best possible decisions she could in the moment.
Hm… I suppose that just because I don’t remember Shadow Stalker ever saving anyone doesn’t mean she doesn’t do it. For one thing, I have a terrible memory, and even people with normal ones are known to forget good things about people they hate. And Wildbow doesn’t show nearly everything anyway.
There are things they could have paid Armsmaster with to get him inventing tech for them in jail.
With regards to Shadow Stalker, I believe she and Flechette intervened in an attempted rape or assault awhile back while on rounds. As I recall, they thoroughly subdued the criminals, and then Sophia gave the victim a chance to beat the criminals.
Firstly, Piggot not intervening created Skitter so consequentialism is against her quite plainly.
Secondly, if she’s arguing against Skitter’s consequentialist approach then using the same position is nonsensical.
Thirdly, Triumph’s loss of Faith could lead him down the same path as Skitter. That’s hardly difficult to see or predict. For all that we can see this kind of long term brutal planning in Piggot, she is actually pretty bad at getting results out of it.
Cape association creates powers. Thus Sophia’s bullying was likely to make a villain.
Also the heroes don’t get to make this kind of utilitarian argument.
The consequences ‘may’ have been worse for the undersiders’ actions but what they actually did…the scale of bad actions is very much against the heroes.
If I may support Anzer’ke’s argument with a quote:
“And when you subtract the blood you’ve spilled and the pain you’ve caused, have you really done that much more, Skitter? That’s oversimplifying, obviously. Right and wrong aren’t a matter of adding the good deeds and subtracting the bad.” – Piggot
There you have it, the person people are defending admitting that just because she’s done good that is perceived to outweigh the bad, doesn’t mean that she should be seen as good. The same reason she wants to claim Skitter can’t see herself as good is quite easily turned back upon her, unless she’s a hypocrite as well. Brings it down to a conflict between lawful and chaotic, not helped by Piggot’s thinking like a soldier and not like a cop.
Because on the very likely chance they’d miss a bunch of the villains they attacked, the two close-knit teams may likely refuse to just surrender or leave the city knowing an ally is unaccounted for or pinned down by the law people.
The whole “refuse to lose” mess helps show this since it shows a dichotomy of win or lose in there. But sometimes conflicts need to be resolved instead of (or in addition to) won since the supposed win can potentially breed further belligerants later on. Don’t worry, most people won’t go for resolution. Human brain is hardwired to win, even when knowing they’re in the wrong.
Scrambles on December 1, 2012 at 00:27 said:
Wildbow, your story has been invading my sleep >.<
Last night I had a dream that Coil broke into my house and woke me up so he could look through my pantry for ingredients to make a red velvet cake.
Part of a dream I had the other night included checking for a new update to Worm and only finding a short, hastily written ending that left a lot of things unaccounted for.
It wasn’t as fun as that time I was a vampire killing ghosts in a ruined temple to keep them from completing a magical ritual which turned out to bring the first three Ghostbusters back to life to fight us vampires. I believe it ended with me chasing after them with a magical sword that was on fire when it was fully charged, singing “Hellfire” from Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame to taunt them.
Good times.
Gnarker on December 1, 2012 at 01:01 said:
I know I should know better by now, but I just have to wonder what could cause that second dream.
The first one, however, I can completely understand.
I don’t know what caused the second dream. It was fun though. Despite what people think and ask about, I’m not actually on any drugs. Try to avoid taking too many, especially given things like bacterial resistance to antibiotics and headaches caused from taking pain pills for headaches too often.
And I know I’m drinking tonight, but I’m doing a poor job at getting drunk and I don’t drink very often. But I’m not a soberholic. I swear, I can get drunk anytime I want.
Dis on December 1, 2012 at 21:26 said:
Cauldron’s master plan is the Human Instrumentality Project.
Does that make Cauldron SEELE?
Despite everything I know that she went through in the interlude, I really don’t like Piggot either.
I’m curious though what she’d say if she were told that, in a way, she caused Taylors breakthrough and is therefore, arguing by her logic, responsible for everything Skitter does.
I’m also curious about the Azazel. Capable of going against the Nine and taylored against Skitter by a certain Tinker completely without a grudge on her…
The Bug Zapper seems guaranteed in the loadout. Should be an interesting fight that I look forward to.
Actually it might be designed to capture her. Armsmaster admitted that he was sorry with how he treated her, not to mention that Dragon has already figured out her true identity, and probably told him. Knowing her background might make him even more remorseful for what he did. One suit mentions that she really wants to talk to her. Who knows, maybe he will try to do something to try and make up for what he did to her.
Reveen on December 1, 2012 at 01:04 said:
I’d be really disappointed in Colin if he turns out to be holding a grudge against Skitter, not particularly surprised, but disappointed. There’s nothing that Taylor did to Armsmaster which Armsmaster didn’t do to himself.
If worst comes to worst, he atleast might hold back to please his robo-girlfriend.
That last line is what she said.
Be nice to the teenage villain or no cyber-sex? I can totally see the “arrogant geek” being cowed by that.
I’ll be slightly disappointed in Skitter if she assumes that the mecha were left there to fuck with her as a condition for Armsmaster’s help. Not all that surprised, though; she doesn’t know that Armsmaster regrets his crimes.
Given his last actions to her knowledge, that’s fair enough. The last she saw of him he was further wrecking her life purely out of spite for getting caught doing something wrong.
Uh, Piggot? I don’t think you can play the “plucky baseline” card when you’re a head honcho of the local superhero team, have the authority to call down airstrikes, and just got fire-spewing super-mecha at your beck and call.
Yeah, kind of like Batman or Iron Man claiming to be a normal human.
RolandTHTG on December 1, 2012 at 20:12 said:
Heck, by her standard, SKITTER is a “plucky baseline” in all her fights. Talk about seeing the mirror in the opponent.
Heh…I have an idea…mwahaha…get into a fight. Make sure conflicts with other supers lasts a long time, long enough that Piggot realizes they won’t kill her, but they might not be able to save her.
How does that help them though? If I was Piggot in that case I wouldn’t tell them jackshit. They just signed your death warrant, why would that push you to do anything other than make things more difficult?
Nah, they wouldn’t sign her death warrant of their own volition. If someone else, like a group of heroes, shows up and threatens to have it signed through circumstance, Piggot may become desperate enough to be released that she’ll talk.
So you would blame the rescuers for trying to save Piggot? That is ridiculous. You blame kidnappers for the death of their victims.
You’re not getting me once again. If all they did was leave Piggot chained somewhere while they went to rescue Bitch and then took too long, it wouldn’t matter how little they want her to die. If the fight takes too long or goes the wrong way, Piggot might wait awhile. If she realizes this is the kind of situation they’re walking into, she might be inclined to give them useful information so they succeed enough to come back and let her go.
Though you’ve caught me on an interesting night, so let’s go ahead and blame the kidnapping victim. The same one who has been around superscientists and a healer for years now and hasn’t gotten her kidneys replaced. If they’d even kept a portion of a kidney on ice, they have the technology nowadays in the real world to grow it back, albeit experimental technology. I bet guys like Armsmaster and Mannequin have already had the technology for a full-on artificial setup.
But she didn’t do that because she decided she would be better than them by not having kidneys. And because she might get taken as a hostage in her situation. So she chose to set up a scenario where she would die if she’s taken hostage by people who don’t care if she dies. Or if something else happens that keeps her from getting dialysis within a certain period of time. Yeah, I blame her, especially since she’s now orchestrated a setup where whoever takes her has to either let her die or be captured and sent to jail. It’s either be known as the person who killed the PRT Director or get buttfucked, degraded, possibly shanked, and maybe have some nice little disease forced on your asshole.
If she dies, it is of her own doing.
Indigo on December 1, 2012 at 01:59 said:
Whatever happens it’s going to create some new problems.
You could put that comment on pretty much any chapter of this story.
seconded. both of them
”I know you don’t sell drugs, Skitter. But you’re interacting with people who do. If you buy a favor from someone who does, the Merchants, Coil, the Chosen, then you’re indirectly supporting that trade.”
That argument could be turned against the good guy heroes so fucking easily.
I am still anxiously waiting for the moment when someone FINALLY calls the heroes out on their shit.
Believe me, you’re not the only one there.
I’ll call one right now.
When has Skitter interacted for Favours with anyone on that list but Coil? She actively opposes the other two.
I’m with the Ant here, the characters can be ranked morally something like.
The Disasters (not really moral either way, just destructive and powerful).
The Monsters.
The Nasty Villains. Such as The Chosen etc.
The PRT. They’re responsible for the Case 53s. Nuff said.
The Reckless “Heroes”. Armsmaster etc, though in Colin’s case I like to think that his intentions were good once.
The General Villains
The Not-Really-Villains.
The Heroes.
The Pillars of Moral Fibre. Skitter, Gallant (I hope) etc
My own list would look a little different from yours I think.
First, it’s my impression that the PRT isn’t really responsible for the case 53’s. It’s hard to make the distinction when Alexandria and others are involved with both Cauldron and the PRT, but I think if you were to set the actions of Cauldron to the side, the PRT comes out reasonably well. As we saw in the last bonus interlude, individual PRT officers are willing to risk there own life and well being in order to prevent the deaths of others. That kind of altruism resonates well with me.
Second, I also have issues with how Skitter ranks. Yes, her efforts have been largely focused on helping a young, defenseless girl. However, the single mindedness with which she’s pursued this goal has, in my estimation, revealed that her ethics can be a bit out of whack. She’s shown that she’s willing to seriously injure and risk killing someone in order to get into Coil’s good graces. She’s also taken a rather lackadaisical approach towards the nature of Regent’s abilities. These actions strike me as rather morally ambiguous, even when considering the motivations behind them. This doesn’t necessarily make her a bad person, and considering she’s essentially a child the fact that she’s functioning as well as she has been is impressive. However, I wouldn’t say she’s paragon of virtue by any means.
I would say that given that those in charge have such goals, it is very likely that the PRT serves them in ways other than what we’ve seen. Certainly they are making no attempt at stopping Cauldron, despite many of their members coming from it.
As for Skitter, this list is more innate than consequences driven. That list would be very hard to make given how little we know of the world in general. The PRT could turn out to be attacking other countries, The Chosen could be far less evil than we think. It’s too easy to make a mistake.
Mainly I was going for motivations.
Ah, I see, I kind of assumed that it was based more on behavior, because it included groups and organizations. I generally find it’s really difficult to parse out the driving forces behind organizations, so I try to judge them more on the consequences of their actions.
But yeah, it’s really hard to evaluate the motivations of the different characters without a privileged access to their inner life.
You know I have become so used to calling Tattletale, my 2nd favorite character, Lisa that it feels weird to call her Sarah.
I got the impression from an earlier chapter that Lisa’s family was pretty well off, and that she bailed as an act of rebellion. I don’t remember what chapter made me think that though. It honestly doesn’t surprise me that she would leave a decent home life behind if she thought they weren’t valuing her properly. Wanting to make a new family does kind of explain how much effort she puts in on Taylor’s behalf.
ereshkigala on December 1, 2012 at 04:07 said:
Get some of that juice that gives superpowers. Have Priggy drink it. She’ll get powers and it will also heal her. Plus, it will shatter her entire worldview about superhumans.
Ladies and gentlemen, the City of Heroes and the City of Villains pass away into history. To much of the world this is a night like any other. Not so for heroes or villains. Yes, I include both. We’ve all lost cities this night. Paragon City, Praetoria, and The Rogue Isles crumble together.
The heroes are who will best be remembered. Shining beacons of good lighting the way for humanity, even in such small ways. Every culture has their own. Some gloss over the bad. Others emphasize it to show how much stronger the hero is for being a flawed person as well. It’s that little bit of heroism that showed in Real World Hero. DonateGames.org. Operation Child’s Play. Heifer International. Operation Gratitude. People are good and bad, but sometimes a man in a cape and a woman in a mask can make them just a little bit…better. There are other heroes. Athletes, celebrities, activists, scientists, politicians, teachers, or just someone people know who makes you feel like becoming a better person. But people do blend together and it is easy to lose sight of the goals of bettering one’s self. So sometimes you need a taste of the fantastic. A superhero. Like when a businessman from Baltimore County dons the cowl so that sick kids in the hospital get a visit from Batman. Or when the wish of a boy is to be Electron Boy for a day. A super man in a red cape and blue spandex can show people how to fly and make them want to save each other. But people can’t fly in real life. No throwing fireballs, picking a car up over your head.
…and villains? We get to be the brains of the operation. No offense. Heroes uplift society one way, villains another. It takes a lot to be a villain. You might think there’s plenty of dicks you know who are bad guys. Jerks who run around with dumb innuendo trying to steal other people’s girlfriends. People who troll a video you like. Someone who runs around saying “F*g that and n*gg*r this” because they think it’s fun. Amateurs. Morons of privilege. You wanna know who your daddy really is? The ones who think. The people with the schemes and the PR. You want to rob a bank? Cameras everywhere, police response incoming, and it turns out most of the money exists on the computer now. Become a leader of a nation? Any country you can steal isn’t worth having. Villains exist in real life too. Villains exist to show humanity what it is and what it isn’t and what kind of people you don’t want to exist and when they exist already around you. They can lead people down a road to genocide in the name of empowerment or self defense. They’ll have defenders in the news, maybe around you, but they are judged eventually. They show by their actions or by their nature that something is very very wrong with the way things are. Oh, and they get to have the most fun because they get the power and say fuck the rules. Someone whose life has never truly been in their own hands can take a hundred lives, a thousand lives, millions and do what they want with them. Of course, people who’ve never had any problems with power might try for it too, but let’s face it: if the system is already working for you, you probably don’t want to toss it. And every new supervillain screaming “Soon my master plan will be complete” or monologuing to a hero is representative of a lot more people the system is failing. As you may have figured out by now, not exactly easy stuff do to in real life.
In both cases, we lack the power. Sometimes, we lack the spirit. People who will nuke entire countries online may be saddened to kill a rat in real life. Others who would save lives, even of the people trying to harm them, may be cowed in real life. We lost a world that makes heroes and villains a reality and have further cemented this world of powerless heroes and unheard warnings in place for some damn reason. You know, where it’s harder to make out the guys doing wrong because they wear the same suits as everyone else and couch decisions that hurt people in the language of being adult and making hard choices. Take their speech and put it in the mouth of a psycho in purple and red power armor with a cape and spiked shoulderpads and see how much it clears things up for you. Put the actions of a third world warlord in the hands of a man in ripped spandex and see how obvious it becomes that the world needs heroes.
The Psycho Gecko you all have come to know and idolize and wish to make babies with (even the guys) was on the Infinity server until tonight. Some suits in Gangam decided that a game making money with a large player base needed to be shut down. No real reason was given. So now its fanbase will disperse. They won’t go to other NCSoft games, especially those who cared about the genre itself. They go to Star Wars or Star Trek or Champions or DC Universe Online, or Secret World. Some have chosen to boycott NCSoft and I think that’s a good idea, because I don’t want to play by those silly rules that say that killing a corporation for killing your home is rude. I’m both mad and sad at this and I have the power to simply be a dick to someone who deserves it. Now I guess I’m on Champions Online, where I get to assassinate people and be awarded something by the police for it. I have done a poor job eulogizing what we’ve lost tonight, and I feel I’ve rambled quite a bit about who knows what, but maybe I’ve done a good job reminding people that something is very very wrong tonight.
May a great game rest in peace…
And may NCSoft burn in hell. Seriously, wtf?
ClubOfJacks on December 1, 2012 at 10:50 said:
Dude at least break the monologue up every 150 words or so. Feels like I’m back in high school doing required reading.
I have never been accused of being Abraham Lincoln.
Now class, let’s turn in our books to where we left off in Hamlet. I would like to explore this quote from Polonius:
“Madam, I swear I use no art at all.
That he is mad, ’tis true: ’tis true ’tis pity;
And pity ’tis ’tis true. A foolish figure!
But farewell it, for I will use no art.
Mad let us grant him then. And now remains
That we find out the cause of this effect-
Or rather say, the cause of this defect,
For this effect defective comes by cause.
Thus it remains, and the remainder thus.”
leinadrengaw on December 1, 2012 at 22:56 said:
I know there are a lot of private servers for WoW up despite the legal issues, is there anything like that for City of Heroes?
To read or not to read. That is the question. Of course you could raise my incentive to do so if you can add a story about somebody in the moor making a beast with two backs. Don’t really get the Lincoln reference since I come from a third world country that didn’t teach american history during primary school or high school and the internet was too slow to play CoH/CoV anyway (man was I bummed, spent about a hundred bucks on a game just to find out it didn’t work in my country).
Sucks that you weren’t even able to play it. When I first started, I could make use of my college’s big, shiny wifi. I’m pretty sure I wasn’t supposed to, but my first mission involved breaking out of prison.
A speech made by President Abraham Lincoln after the Battle of Gettysburg is considered one of the greatest speeches in U.S. history and lasted a little over 2 minutes.
“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
There are some issues with a little different wording since he had different written versions of it, it was reported with different phrasing, and he was rewriting it a short time before giving it. That version there is one he wrote up for someone after the fact and signed.
johnwedd on December 3, 2012 at 04:33 said:
CoX gave a lot of people, such as myself to see and feel what it was like to be a superhero. The feeling, though simulated, of affecting the world in powerful and understandable ways. It was and still is the gold standard of it’s genre. Giving the true comic book feel and superhero experience. Now as with the golden age of comics, we must pass the golden age of superhero mmo’s into the silver. We must make changes, avoid past mistakes and try harder.
I would suggest that all fans with hope of a successor, get software like UDK, unity, gamemaker, rpg maker, etc, and proceed to create more hero games, themed maps and mods, small games. Jumpstart a movement that proclaims the need for a new City of Heros.
They probably want to put forth a successor game and didn’t want their own game competing with their new product. And if they’d tried to cut the old game after the new one went out, they’d have had far more in the way of complaints. Or, they are being covertly bought by another similar company who already has its own game or wants to make one and similarly would not want competition.
Of course companies won’t care for their customers. Most of them only care for their customers’ money. And if they give it a couple of months to blow over, 80% of those complaining will be ready to buy the new game because the public as a whole has the attention span of a lobotomized gnat, despite individual exceptions.
Somehow, I doubt that. Paragon Studios, all 80 something people, were fired. So there goes the developers who would work on a successor game. NCSoft’s stock has been going down since September 7th, a week after they announced the shutdown of the game. Hell, the most they did as far as announcing a new game was saying they were going to expand some martial arts MMO that’s really popular over there to the United States. Might I add, martial arts doesn’t involve fighting Mot with a superstrong hulk backed up by a catgirl commanding robots. If they had announced a CoH 2 or something like that, they’d have saved themselves a lot of trouble from players who were taking part in a massive email and petition campaign.
The same players who raised a couple thousand to give all 80 employees of Paragon Studios dinner at a favorite restaurant. The same players who flooded the game for a vigil, holding torches, in 33 separate instances of the same map. They filled it up 32 times over, and that map can hold enough people to make me move at a snail’s pace in just 1 instance. And they maintained smaller vigils over the course of three months.
Thomas on December 1, 2012 at 09:31 said:
Typo near the beginning, “I’ve could pull off a sock”.
Right…Piggot is now at the top of the asshole list.
She hates all Parahumans.
…She works with VISTA! How the hell can she look at that one and think, oh well she’s obviously evil. I mean how the hell does this arrangement make sense. What the bloody hell was Alexandria thinking putting her in charge of children!
Oh, guess I’ll put the deranged bigot in charge of these sensitive, vulnerable youths. What could go wrong? Though this would explain Weld’s reactions to the Bay’s Wards. The lack of counseling for instance.
Then there’s Amy, who might have gone differently had Piggot not been like she was and in charge.
But Lisa (names are what you choose of them, she hasn’t shown any sign of abandoning the name Lisa) just takes the damn cake.
She was (as best we can tell) a runaway who never really engaged in any truly bad crime until she joined the Undersiders. She stole from rich people, the horror.
She has a family history that she is obviously dealing with in her own way and at her own speed and what the hell gives Piggot the right to just turn up and tell all to her parents! I bet that conversation wasn’t slanted at all. Piggot will have cause enormous emotional damage with that, not to mention she continues to shred the truce against someone who was shown to actually believe in it…which is fortunate as Tattletale could stick every heroes name and picture on the net if she chose to.
Though how long that will last when the heroes (she’s the PRT director, she counts as among “the heroes”) just don’t seem to bother with it anymore is questionable.
It’s like she doesn’t think beyond how to be spiteful and self-righteous while risking the lives of people who actually want to live.
I know its been a while, but I’m pretty sure that the mention of Tattletale’s family crosses the “keep families out of this” rule among capes
seconded. i really hope this comes back to bite piggot back in the ass
Nilbog’s going to finish the job?
A rule that the Undersiders and co have not broken yet. But could break…really easily.
The Mayor thing can be explained, combined with pointing out how bad Tattletale could make things if they go down this road…well I think they can get Piggot removed pretty sharpish if they go with that line of negotiation. It’s not like any of the heroes actually like her.
I am quite sure they would kick Piggot out of a command position in the PRT based on the word of her kidnappers.
Her parents actually. Who are likely respectable members of society.
Might be my latent paranoia, but I can just imagine Coil sitting in his chair, bourbon in hand, laughing it up at this entire moral and tactical clusterfuck. Notice how concerned he DIDN’T seem earlier. The sonuvanabitch had all this planned, bet you anything.
“I’ve invested a great deal of time and money into establishing your two groups here in Brockton Bay, and I did it for precisely this sort of scenario.”
Riiiiiight… I could say he’s setting up the Travelsiders for a fall, I could say he’s setting up the heroes for a fall. But I don’t think that would encapsulate how thoroughly he has everyone wrapped around his finger. At this point I think that a “use the sorry state of the city as a political platform” kind of plan is the best case scenario. Who the hell knows what he’s really up to.
I really hope the Undersiders, Dragon, or just about anyone somehow realizes this before it’s too late. In Taylor’s case any opportunity to break free of Coil’s grasp is fading quickly.
Hobbes on December 1, 2012 at 18:11 said:
“Pet, probability that some serious shit goes down next chapter?” Coil asked. “To one decimal place.”
“100.0 percent,” Dinah replied.
“And if I use my power? To one decimal place.”
“100.0 percent.”
“So, business as usual, then?”
“Looks like.”
heh. all too true.
I’d like to know what the chances are that the next chapter will create more questions than it will answer.
Woah, wait a minute. I just realized something.
Piggot don’t have no kidneys, and last arc we learned that Taylor’s dad has kidney damage…
Oh, dis is gonna be one of dhose arcs isn’t it?
Charlie on December 2, 2012 at 01:51 said:
It’s funny, before the last interlude Piggott’s argument would have sounded hugely hypocritical (blaming people for acts of villains they’ve interacted with works just as well on heroes as on other villains). Now that we know she despises capes in general, it makes perfect sense.
Yes, it makes me wonder how different the chapters would have been if the donation bonus hasn’t prompted that interlude.
By the way, just throwing this out there. The whole ongoing morality debate just keeps going on and on. Maybe the next line of comments can go different places. Do different things. Have a conversation that isn’t just being rehashed each chapter due to additional evidence.
To that end, I don’t care if you say Skitter is a combination of Charles Manson and Adolf Hitler with Osama Bin Laden shoved up her ass, I’m going to try my best to avoid talking about which side is more moral and all that. The whole thing does get vague at times (like heroic actions or inactions leading to bad things for Taylor and/or the city), but I’m not going to try to link things to saying the heroes are immoral and Skitter is a great and benevolent overlord like…
The Hypno Toad.
Ironfalconlives@gmail.com on December 2, 2012 at 13:21 said:
or The Crazy Snake
The Loco Lizard.
Bizzaro Komodo
I wasn’t signing it. Though I do like Komodo from Warriors of Virtue. His fight with them at the end is enjoyable.
All hail the hypno toad!
Psycho Gecko in “Moving On.”
A man steps out of a Texas bar after a miserable night of drinking. He may be out on bail, but that doesn’t mean the whole town hasn’t heard the story of what he did. The tape was in the hands of the police. Fuck ‘em. There was no way he was ever going to admit guilt. His friends had dragged him into it and the girl said yes. So what if anyone could tell she wasn’t old enough? Shouldn’t even matter since it all took place two years ago.
Then a naked man stepped over from the side of the bar. Some cracker with a curly blonde hair forming a sort of white man’s ‘fro. “Jared Cruse?” he asked in a thick accent that the man didn’t know was Austrian.
“Who wants to know?” he asked, wondering if he’d get charged for beating down some gay guy too.
“I am a GekkoTek model P-1MP sent from the future to help you eliminate the girl who you are charged with raping. In the future, she goes on to lead a feminist crusade that leads to forced castration for all men on the planet. Come with me if you want to come.”
“You’re crazy man, that isn’t real,” Jared replied as he backed toward the bar, wondering what the guy in front of him was on, at least until the “P-1MP” raised his right hand, extended his middle finger, and used a pocketknife to begin cutting through the skin in a straight line around the finger, unflinching the entire time. Before he could pull the skin off, Jared looked away. He didn’t see the man hold his finger and glare hatefully at Jared as muffled curses escaped from his tightly fastened mouth. When he noticed Jared begin to look back, he hid his hand in a black leather glove.
“Now do you believe me?”
“Uh, yeah, but why are you naked?”
The P-1MP paused for 4 seconds, looking right at Jared, then hesitantly answered, “The resistance…said it was important?”
“Then where’d you get a knife and a glove?”
“Every P-1MP model is capable of hiding a small amount of equipment in the usual hiding spot.”
“Ew, man. Just, where is she?” Jared figured he might as well play along and call his lawyer later. He didn’t know what was going on, but it sounded like a mistrial. Or at least a change of venue if someone around here would pull some shit like this. The P-1MP pointed over to a rusty old pickup truck in the parking lot.
“Get in, I will drive us there.”
Jared began to walk over and reached for his phone when the naked man, Psycho Gecko, clubbed him over the head with a brick. They both hit the ground at the same time. Jared was KOed, but Gecko just stayed there on his hands and knees, sobbing, “Owww, oww, oww…it’s over…it’s finally over…” he said through a smile and tears as he chucked the smelly brick off to the side. When he heard it crash through glass and a car alarm start, he realized he didn’t have time to relocate his hipbones.
A couple of hours later, three people enjoyed a private session of bowling at an otherwise empty alley. A 13 year old girl, her father, and a fully dressed Psycho Gecko chuck bowling balls down the lane, Gecko stuck using his left hand. When the girl steps up for her turn, her father leans into Gecko and whispered, “So what did you do with him? You didn’t…you know.”
Gecko grinned wide and answered while adding only 7 despite the girl having knocked down 9, “He’s getting a taste of his own medicine.” Then he stood to take his turn.
“Good,” said the father, “I hope you’re ready for the other nineteen.”
Gecko stumbled and caught himself on the ball return as his legs tried to give out under him, “Nineteen?” he asked with a whimper.
“Yeah. Nineteen,” said the father with a nod as his daughter sat next to him. He pulled her close in a hug, glad for a silver lining in the midst of the entire ugly mess.
Gecko managed to stand up and grabbed his ball. He hurled it down the lane. It was nearly a gutterball, but bounced off the side above the gutter and back into the middle of the lane to punch through several of the pins. When it landed in the ball return behind the pins, it depressed a button. In the dark past the lane, a figure was caught in manacles on all fours. He couldn’t move or dodge or even, thanks to the gag, cry out in pain as the ball’s weight activated a robot arm with a variety of dildos attached that mimicked various animals in the wild. This time, the orca lined up and fired into the usual hiding spot with hydraulic force. It withdrew suddenly, the machine realigning in anticipation of the next ball.
Did I mention that you are a sick little gekkonidae? and that I really like that?
Well in the spirit of getting over similar morality arguments, which I am sure we will revisit when someone crosses a line later in the story, lets have a quick survey. What is your favorite part of the story and what would be a good idea for a What if? fanfic. My favorite part is still when she cut out lung’s eyes, should have kept them for a trophy but what can you do, because the readers weren’t allowed in on her plan and it was the first instance of Taylor beating someone she should have had no right beating using her big beautiful brain. I had just discovered the story through tv tropes and read up to point in one sitting, and after that I knew I was hooked. My favorite idea for a what if? fanfic is what if Skitter and Nilbog had gotten each other’s powers during their trigger events. Instead of being a plucky fighter being heavily outmatched and using her mind to find any advantage, she would know be desperately trying to fight without using/showing the full extent of her powers because she realized how scary she would be too others. Plus it would be fun just to see what Taylor would do as the potentially grossest, scariest, and most powerful master in the world. How would her fight against lung have gone? Could she have really hurt Leviathan? I also have thought of a crack fic of her dad secretly being Leet, just for the comedy value.
My answers.
Hard question, there’s so much I love in this story. But if really pressed:
Probably either Sierra’s chapter, the initial creation of Skitter’s territory + her gaining minions or the incredibly awesome events of the Gala Humiliation…okay, as may have been shown by my choice of adjectives, it’s the last one. Chiefly because there were so many ways it could go, no huge things at stake, it was incredibly fun and had everything from action through to character interaction. At the end of the day, that was the kind of harmless anti-social maniacal lunacy that I like in the Undersiders. Not to say that taking responsibility and power isn’t awesome/essential given their setting, but the sense of mischief is one of my favourite elements in them. Currently Aisha is the main player for that. I did love Regent asking how Skitter knew about gags in this chapter though.
As for what-ifs. Discounting the Panacea as a rogue one since that has spawned a ridiculous amount of head-fanon for me. I’d again find it hard to choose. If Taylor had joined the Wards is fun, though bittersweet as it would mean the characters we have come to love would suffer for her absence. A lot. But Aegis would probably not die, nor Gallant. Heck, I can see Skitter switching sides resulting in a general reversal of the heroes’/villains’ lucks.
Less drastic ones would have to include: if Skitter had been captured by the nine; if Skitter had gone nutso at some point (possibly with another Trigger); if Amy had joined them around about the time of the Mannequin encounter with her and them; TheAnt’s brilliant idea of Skitter and Nilbog swapping powers; if the fight to get that data had ended in Skitter captured (lightning gun had a shutdown mechanism and didn’t blow up) and if Skitter had died in one of the many, many near misses she’s had.
…Taylor hadn’t burned that letter and had let her father know she was Skitter?
…Taylor’s powers were superstrength and durability instead of the bugginess?
…the Undersiders refused to take Taylor back?
…the Slaughterhouse 9 hadn’t attacked Brockton bay?
wildbow on December 2, 2012 at 20:39 said:
Some of those were very real possibilities.
I write knowing the key points/scenes I want to hit, but I don’t decide things in advance…
So yeah. Up until I finished the last chapter of Tangle, I hadn’t decided what Taylor would do in respect to her dad. Before finishing Sentinel, I hadn’t decided that Taylor would go back to the Undersiders. And I could very well have gone on without introducing the Slaughterhouse Nine in the main story.
Yay Wildbow’s back!
And that’s awesome, I don’t suppose…actually highlights on what would have happened would be spoilery.
Would you be willing to give the highlights of a few big what ifs after the story is done? Just a few paragraphs or so, insight into how things would have gone in those what ifs canonically?
Well, that’s hard to say, because I don’t plan ahead/decide things in advance, so I don’t have any major ideas, beyond maybe vague notions.
Well, whatever is of course fine. Heck, a lack of such content makes my head fanon slightly less ridiculous, so I’m not complaining. 😉
Hope you had a nice trip. Without the 9, Skitters people wouldn’t have been killed, Panacea wouldn’t have done what she did to her sister, Parian’s family would still be alive, Brian wouldn’t have had a second trigger event, Regent wouldn’t have shatterbird to puppet around, Hookwolf would still be leading the chosen, and Battery would still be alive. I guess the main focus of that arc would have been their fight against the Chosen huh.
Hmmm, I don’t really know enough about Taylor’s dad to predict what he would do if he found out she was Skitter. Worst case scenario he goes to the heroes to explain her circumstances to try and get leniency/help for her. Best case scenario he has a low opinion of the heroes/high opinion of Skitter and moves to her territory. Maybe working with her to help manage her people.
Taylor as a flying brick might be interesting depending on how her powers work and just how powerful she is. She would be a asset regardless to the Undersiders, someone who can take/deal damage like Bitch plus her big beautiful brain. It might be interesting if she couldn’t fly and was essentially the hulk of the wormverse. TAYLOR SMASH!.
If the Undersiders hadn’t taken her back, very unlikely to be honest. Regent doesn’t seem like he honestly cares about the betrayal, and Tattletale would never abandon her. So the group either joins her or splits up. If she was truly on her own, I think she would have asked Tattletale for advice and put Shadowstalker in the hospital. For maximum shock value, maybe she accidentally kills her with electricity and loses at least some of her reservations of using lethal force. If that happened she could still work with Coil as a independent agent and probably would have still taken the boardwalk, and fought off the merchants. I think she wouldn’t have been incognito when she went to the big merchant powwow to rescue Bryce. The merchants didn’t have an effective counter to her bugs, and I picture a GIANT swarm of insects annihilating all of the merchants which would have given her enormous infamy and definitely gotten in Coil’s good books .
If the Undersiders hadn’t taken her back, I see Taylor being split from them as an independent force, trying to go it alone with only Lisa backing her up. That is a whole new dynamic.
Along with other things pointed out, if the Slaughterhouse 9 hadn’t attacked, there’d be less reason to condemn the city, Armsmaster would still be locked up, Dragon would be less powerful, the Merchants would still be a powerful force in the city, Legend wouldn’t know about Manton, Dinah wouldn’t be burned out, Taylor wouldn’t have Atlas, and Piggot would still be sitting on a stockpile of Bakuda’s bombs.
Um the Muse on December 3, 2012 at 13:46 said:
At that point in the story, that’s exactly what I had expected would happen. I thought for sure that Bitch would attack them, with Alec and Grue staying out of it. I thought that the two of them were going to have to fight for their survival against both the good and bad guys for some reason too.
Probably wouldn’t make for the most interesting story, in retrospect. Both Skitter’s and Tattletale’s powers are good for avoiding problems and not so good for fending off direct assaults.
What if Taylor had responded to learning Shadow Stalker’s identity by going: “Oh, you *bet* I’ll join the Wards”.
Watching trying to operate inside the system and deal with Sophia would be really interesting, IMO. Especially if she managed to rekindle her friendship with the Undersiders on the side…
What if Taylor didn’t find out about Dinah? Or what if the Undersiders decided not to join Coil?
If Taylor never found out, she would be Coil’s best employee and would be even more valued. She probably would take things a bit slower with how she took over her territory, or maybe not since her power makes it so easy to manage a large territory. Her only goal would be to improve the city. If they never joined Coil, hmm good question. They would probably act more mercenary, Coil might pay them a good amount to steal the PRT data. Taylor might have brought her info to the heroes and joined the Wards with the heroes bringing in some heavy hitters to deal with Coil. After Leviathan she would be working with the other Wards to help the city, and would quickly gain an infamous reputation because her power is again Perfect for sweeping across a large territory and keeping it safe. I picture her running into the Undersiders again, but not having the heart to fight them. Then again, with how the Heroes are acting, and the possible lack of progress she sees, she may just decide to leave and join the Undersiders anyway/go solo depending heavily on how Piggot handles the Shadowstalker situation and what excuse she gives Taylor for letting the bullying happen.
I think if she didn’t find out about Dinah alot of her more questionable moral actions wouldn’t have happened. She wouldn’t have been felt so pressured to excel at all costs, so I doubt she would be willing to fight seven dragon suits at once. She would probably be arguing alongside Regent in favor of leaving town. I am not quite sure if she would try to talk her father into leaving as well though.
Ironfalconlives on December 2, 2012 at 16:45 said:
Possible fanfic? A last skull crossover.
Thank you good sir for introducing me to it. I had no idea what the last skull was, so I googled it and Actually rather liked the story. A Skull vs Skitter crossover would be interesting.
anonymus on December 3, 2012 at 16:20 said:
second that,
starting to read
So, would feeding Piggot alcohol be a bad thing? I don’t know anything about kidney damage. I could see the alcohol making Piggot more pliable much more quickly or I guess it could hospitalize her. Maybe marijuana?
Hospitalize, I believe. It would be ill-advised if you want to keep her alive.
Now I wonder what effect, if any, alcohol has on powers. Since it is linked to a portion of the brain, would a depressant like alcohol affect it any? What about a stimulant like Ritalin? Given all the mental problems associated with superpowers, people would have looked into this.
Taylor drunk would be the most hilarious thing ever, just imagining her drunk spelling in the sky with her bugs.
Affectionate Drunk: Bugs start ‘hugging’ everyone she likes. People she likes start running away. Though Grue seems to like her bugs at this point, what with how often he talks to them.
Sad Drunk: Insects just stop doing anything.
Happy Drunk: Weirdness.
Mischievous Drunk: Bug Pranks, Sky writing!
Angry Drunk: …Okay that one could go poorly. Lots of fleas at least.
I vote happy drunk, just to see what the heck she does.
Well it is something to try at least. She can’t use her training with the right touch of drugs to make her more pliable. You just have to hope Tattletale can get the right answer from her drunken hallucinating ramblings.
Tattletale is pro, she could get the right answer out of a dundonian three sips from the black bag pillows.
kind of frustrating, knowing that the new chapter is up, but being unable to read it^^
(thanks in advance)
i dont know if you noticed it but as soon as you upload the next chapter (i assume that is the reason^^) the link “next chapter” appears, but for some time all it leads to is
“This is somewhat embarrassing, isn’t it?” (page not found)
The next chapter/last chapter links have to be manually updated. I usually do them as/after I do a final proofread.
I wish I’d had more time to proofread today, but I had an appointment at the hospital that took a huge chunk out of my day (from 10:30 til 7) and a busy weekend. Sorry for the inevitable typos.
Bakuda was injured by you in one altercation, and she attacked the city over the course of several days . Do you know how many people were harmed, then? Because you set her off? ”
What was it, like 36 people, depending on the size of the city Shatterbird could kill over 100,000 without breaking a sweat. Considering the Endbringer probably cut that down a little but I don’t know how much of this city it covered and how big the city is still.
Also I was really surprised that none had a response to that drug line, like seriously they’re all in the drug game and none of them have the basic arguments down? It’s not a hard argument to make “People are entitled to their own body and decisions affecting it are theirs to make not the governments, a large volume of people will always attempt to consume drugs, illegal drugs fuel drug related violence like making lots of money for villains, many of the negative affects from badly cut drugs come from it being illegal.” I mean I know that Skitter is refusing to sell alcohol and tobacco (the biggest major problematic drugs around) unlike the other guys but really… Not sure why they’re selling stuff anyway, Coil should be rich as fuck off of stocks, I guess to stop anyone else getting that revenue?
Talking of capitalism, people should be exploiting Endbringer’s like crazy, and the Nine. We’re talking huge destruction of property in a very short amount of time, the spike in demand for glass, concrete, etc is huge. It wouldn’t be hard for anyone to stock up on anything destroyed by Shatterbird/Endbringer’s and then sell at massive profit after an attack. Also if you can predict Endbringer’s attacks then you can sell stock in a company based in those places, I would be surprised if no Cape or even satellite’s has that info, even if it’s only an hour headsup. You could very maybe read the market and watch stock drop dramatically in a ton of businesses based/trading in a city, it would happen straight after the city fell anyway.
Cultist on October 14, 2013 at 12:09 said:
“she’d had had” should be “she’d had”
twofoe on October 23, 2013 at 17:40 said:
Skitter’s reply is a bit non-sequitur. I’m guessing Piggy originally said “Did you tell them the full story.”
Yah, I reckon that’s an editing glitch. Neither Piggot nor Tattletale mentioned “telling” them anything – it was phrased differently.
teams” I said. – Missing punctuation before the close quote.
Piggot: People die in feuds. Lots of people were injured because of what you started with Bakuda.
Skitter: Yeah, you’re right. We weren’t equipped to handle her. You know who should have handled her?! You!
Piggot: You shouldn’t have set her off!
Skitter: The Protectorate shouldn’t have let her exist to commit her atrocities! At least we DID something about her!
Where was this exchange, during the whole hostage conversation scene? I kept waiting for it. Would have made the director explain her ridiculously passive stance towards the local villain population, allowing things like Lung and Hookwolf to roam her streets. I’m frankly a little curious.
sinfish on December 21, 2013 at 14:39 said:
What I don’t get is that the protectorate heads have to know that Piggot has a serious chip on her shoulders. They have the powers to know so easily. Having her have final say over a wards team is tantamount to child abuse, which given their long term objectives losing a couple of powerful wards to a face/heel turn is terrible and we know teenagers naturally want to rebel against authority anyway. I mean, c’mon, gallant at least had to realize exactly how much Piggot hates them all, and he doesn’t strike me as the type to let that slide. It doesn’t even make any sense to make a grunt a Director. That’s a serious position that people should be gunning for, the kind that requires favors and nepotism.
“Then I’m thinking we should split up into two teams” I said. is missing a comma.
Kevin on January 25, 2014 at 11:49 said:
I love how Grue was “literally fuming”.
That’s something else i missed my first two times around.
Pamela D on February 1, 2014 at 05:56 said:
Why on earth didn’t Panacea cure the Director?! She had years to do so. Seems to me, isn’t that a plot hole?
Disga on February 4, 2014 at 13:39 said:
I don’t really think she want to be cured, it she has proud of her “scars”. Also, Panacea wasn’t part of the wards like Glory Girl, so they weren’t an asset for Piggot.
“… but she’d had had the upper hand, …” Undoing the contraction, this says ‘she had had had’, which is a big stutter for Skitter!
All the folks who think Panacea shoulda/coulda fixed Piggot are forgetting that at the time Piggot lost her kidneys, Amy was a six year old girl who had not yet had her powers triggered.
I think when Amy was talking to Skitter at some point she indicated that she really couldn’t repair OLD damage very well. Though why Piggot didn’t get an old-fashioned, non-powered kidney transplant in 2001 seems weird!
John Campbell on June 9, 2015 at 21:02 said:
I don’t think Amy left Skitter’s old injuries because she couldn’t fix them, but because she had better things to do with her time and effort than fix minor damage that clearly predated the Leviathan fight for a villain whom she blamed for ruining her life. Like threaten said villain with supermalpractice. I mean, she’s capable of building something like Atlas pretty much from scratch, so I don’t think a couple of kidneys could be too terribly difficult for her.
Addison on April 22, 2014 at 23:47 said:
Of course, post-Snowden, everyone in the world is now aware that as long as a cellphone is ON, then it communicates its location to the network. — and one presumes Dragon is aware of anything any network knows. The modern reader might assume Skitter should know this — and that Skitter’s real concern should be that the cell-hone has been OFF all this time.
bundle on June 26, 2014 at 07:47 said:
actually, they can turn it on remotely. if a phone has a battery they can listen in.
I’m just going to steal a line from the Tenth Doctor here.
“Who do you think made your clothes?”
There are degrees of responsibility. If Piggot wants Skitter to avoid giving money to dealers, she should avoid giving money to sweatshops- and I’m pretty sure she doesn’t, since I doubt anyone is making clothes in Brockton Bay these days, and imported goods are much more likely to come from big multinationals who can afford to pay for the importing (and, generally, have bad track records there).
Skitter and Parian are making clothes in Brockton Bay!
There’s a big jump there. What’s to stop them finding whatever locating device she’s got, disabling it, and then just… not letting her go home? Any employee of the US government should know you don’t have to torture or kill someone to keep them contained. And if the PRT had the kind of information-gathering capabilities necessary to scan the city for one individual, they’d have done it by now, several times.
Shitfuck. She was RIGHT.
That’s genius, in a horrible sort of way. Tons more effective than the cyanide capsule approach. Keeping her captive *is* killing her.
For a second I wondered how Regent could *not* know these things, having been a supervillain’s protege- but then I remembered his dad has a powerset that lets him skip things like interrogations and imprisonment; he just makes people do what he wants.
Now I’m wondering how Skitter knows them. Maybe from her pre-hero research?
The Melusine-six, Cawthorne M.K. Three, the Glaurung Zero, the Ladon-two, the Astaroth-Nidhug, the Pythios-two.
Ladon is a serpent. So’s Nidhug, and Melusine is a part-serpent. Astaroth is a demon with draconic imagery. Glaurung is a straight-up dragon. Cawthorne and Pythios I haven’t figured out. And Azazel is a demon or fallen angel.
>“Then I’m thinking we should split up into two teams” I said.
Missing punctuation.
lisdfsdf adfhgj on May 20, 2015 at 05:35 said:
ALWAYS THE PRAGMATIST, hahaha
Moige on June 18, 2015 at 19:45 said:
I do believe you meant Sophia, right?
nutella on July 17, 2015 at 14:12 said:
Totally works for Emma. Like the line about crying/her mother.
Kyfe on October 21, 2015 at 15:59 said:
What I want to know is how come Tattletale didn’t clue in on the fact that the PRT blatantly broke the Endbringer Pact and use that for leverage? Just say, “OK, tell us what we want to know or we announce to the world that you allowed Armsmaster to murder opposition during Leviathan’s attack and out an undercover agent out of spite, being directly responsible (even if it’s not true) for her turning into being an actual villain. And then you rewarded him with a new identity. With all of your bullshit about being indirectly responsible for bills, unemployment, and maybe some deaths, then you’d be directly responsible for the deaths of billions by removing 2/3 of the forces to fight off Endbringer when they strike.”
Boom. Interrogation over.
One of the things that wasn’t mentioned in Piggot’s little speech is the fact that you could say Taylor indirectly caused the Endbringer attack, if I’m looking at it right. Endbringers are drawn to areas with a lot of political unrest or war, right? Taylor is the one who fucked up Lung in the first arc and set off a long chain of events that led to widespread fighting in the city, and that’s what made Leviathan settle on Brockton Bay as a target.
Also, Piggot’s speech made me think harder about Taylor’s mission to save Dinah. She’s pretty blatantly justifying and rationalizing all the pain she causes, directly and indirectly — but the poor little girl that her employer kidnapped and drugged and exploited for her abilities gives her a target to focus on. As the innocent little girl, Dinah acts as a token victim, representing the suffering that Taylor *knows* she causes, even though there are hundreds (or thousands) of Dinahs out there who she created herself. But as long as she doesn’t have to look them in the eye, she can bring herself to ignore them.
That must sound pretty pretentious. I’m just genuinely fascinated by this because I only just started thinking about it.
I also had the thought in your first point, that the big threats came to town because of the chaos that traces back to Taylor beating up Lung. But there is at least one alternate hypothesis.
Dragon and Armsmaster’s conversation in Interlude 7 tells us the Endbringers aim for places where they can do the most damage- targets that might be doing just fine right now, but would take lots of people and infrastructure with them if they fell. Newfoundland is a good example- the island was stable enough that people had lived there for centuries, and then Leviathan sank it, killing everyone who couldn’t evacuate and rendering the place uninhabitable. Colin also cites nuclear reactors and the Birdcage- stable systems on their own, but if they broke, look out.
Legend noted that Brockton Bay was vulnerable geographically, because of the aquifer- Leviathan’s attack didn’t just destroy infrastructure, it changed the landscape.
Dragon, Armsmaster, and Miss Militia concluded that it was vulnerable socially, because of the recent gang conflicts. And that’s possible- Leviathan’s attack certainly made the Merchants much more dangerous than they had been, even if the ABB were pretty much dismantled and Empire Eighty-Eight lost cohesion without Kaiser.
But Dragon, Armsmaster, and Miss Militia don’t know about all the vulnerable things beneath the surface of Brockton Bay. Just because they found an answer doesn’t mean it’s the right answer.
When Legend asks the assembled capes to stand if they’ve been in an Endbringer fight before, the only non-hero capes who respond are Bambina and the Travelers. (Fighting an Endbringer is extremely hazardous and offers no reward- there’s no gain, only reduced losses, mostly in the lives of others. And the Travelers repeatedly state that they won’t risk themselves or their group for other people. They made a promise, they’re all each other have, and so on. So if the Travelers fought an Endbringer somewhere else, it was to protect their own.)
In Coil’s interlude, he notes that Leviathan’s lake cracked the walls of his underground base and came within fifty feet of doing much worse, maybe wrecking the site entirely.
In 11.f, Trickster guesses that “Just like Leviathan, Crawler’s coming after [Noelle]?”.
At this stage of the story, we don’t know who Noelle is or what she can do- but we know that Trickster knows. He was in Brockton Bay for the bomb scare with Bakuda and the fights with Empire Eighty-Eight. He’s been in an Endbringer attack before, and he doesn’t seem the type to risk himself for others outside his group. He knows the score on all sides, he’s not one to overstate his own guilt… and he thinks it’s more likely that Leviathan came for Noelle than for the city.
I’ve learned a lot since you took me hostage, and I already knew some things from research, observation, paperwork and background checks. I have a read on your personalities and how you operate, and I know some background details. How is your brother, Tattletale?
Holy SHIT. That’s not a barbed remark. That’s not even an armor-piercing retort. That is a conversational neutron bomb.
“You make capes.”
“I’ve met people who would be perfectly normal if not for your decisions. You pick and choose the capes you protect, sure- but once you do, you make excuses, accept things that never should’ve happened, smooth over atrocities so that people who deserve the Birdcage or worse can stay on the streets where they might fight an Endbringer someday. And in the meantime, they can keep stepping on the little people to get their way. They know it’s safe now.
“And the little people? The ones getting stepped on, critically injured, lives ruined? Not all of them are as proud as you. They don’t all find their inner earthworm and decide to stay down there in the dirt. You know what happens to some people on the worst day of their lives, right? They trigger.”
Good chapter, I like the Piggot versus Tattletale ‘fight’, especially when they’re both interrogating the other simultaneously and getting replies from body language.
One problem though: Dragon either hasn’t actually read the Silmarillion, or else has a completely different understanding of Glaurung from my one. Assuming Tattletale’s list of suit names was in the same order, Glaurung is a flying drone mothership? Really? The ground bound behemoth who once drove off his own army… is a mothership?
Well, at least that means Skitter doesn’t have to worry about Glaurung’s hypnotism.
gigaramieldrill on July 24, 2016 at 03:14 said:
Ah, the pig bigot Pokemon! Piggot! A rare catch, undersiders.
Ed on March 29, 2017 at 11:54 said:
I’m beginning to think that Piggot is the series’ first Badass Normal.
Taylor’s starting to grate on me though:
1) She wins nine times out of ten, despite her relative youth and inexperience, through sheer tenacity and intelligence. It’s gotten to the point where I skim her fights somewhat, because I’m pretty certain that she’s going to come out on top no matter what. Even her very first fight, against Lung, went in her favour. And even when it’s looked like the tables were turning, such as when they were captured by the Nine, it’s implied that that would never have happened if it had been her plan (as opposed to Trickster’s, IIRC). And she’s respected by every respectable character in the series. Which leads to…
2) She kind of irritates me with her self-esteem issues, specifically her low opinion of her social skills when in fact, it’s just another thing that she’s great at (endearing awkwardness and poor social skills aren’t the same thing). Taylor actually reminds me of Harry Potter: they both have a “saving-people-thing”, both are humble (yet somehow arrogant?) heroes, and they both came out of their poor childhoods as strong, assertive people.
3) My biggest problem with her character, and this is partially why I’m warming up to Piggot now, is her deluded self-righteousness. She has some self-awareness, but not enough to stop her from making the same crappy arguments to justify everything she does while pointing her finger at people who are actually heroes, rather than villains playing at being heroic. She talks about the difference being just “labels” and the sliding scale being a “fantasy” without seeming to comprehend that labels and scales matter. Which side you pick matters. What you call yourself matters.
Amy and Armsmaster (don’t trust myself to spell Amy’s cape name right now..) messed up a lot, but prior to those mistakes, they had been saving people, protecting the city, for most of their lives. The argument that that makes them ideal Nine candidates just doesn’t work. The argument that Taylor has the moral high ground compared to them doesn’t work. Taylor’s right in that not every hero is Scion and not every villain is Bonesaw, but that doesn’t change the fact that the most people actually trying to do good are on the obvious side, while even the most heroic villains are villains for a reason, and even something as relatively innoculous as robbing a bank sets them apart from the good guys (and I mean “good” in the truest sense of the word).
And ultimately, she chooses not to be heroic from the outset, because her mindset has always been “the ends justify the means” in most cases, by acting as a mole, and the reasons she didn’t finish what she started there were her wanting friends, and not liking one hero (I’d also say Armsmaster’s attitude towards her was justified for the most part, right up until Leviathon – and it’s not like she ever proved his attitude towards her wrong). Another irritating aspect is how she always seems to expect gratitude and trust for trying to doing the right thing, despite her villain status often making that inadvisable for the hero(s)/citizen(s) involved. And this is another difference: none of the heroes (possible exception of Armsmaster) expect rewards for doing the right thing. They just do it.
…Glad I got that off my chest. I think I recognize that the character’s meant to be more anti-heroic than purely heroic, and that we’re perhaps even meant to find her frustrating in some ways, and this isn’t meant to be a criticism of how her character has been written. On the contrary, thank you Wildbow. You’ve created some really interesting characters, and I’ve enjoyed your story so far more than I’ve enjoyed any other story for a long time (and I can’t seem to put it down, so to speak). I’ve even enjoyed being irritated by Taylor’s character, in a sense.
Gilgamesh on September 24, 2018 at 13:00 said:
Just a bit of criticism of point 3: “My biggest problem with her character, and this is partially why I’m warming up to Piggot now, is her deluded self-righteousness. She has some self-awareness, but not enough to stop her from making the same crappy arguments to justify everything she does while pointing her finger at people who are actually heroes, rather than villains playing at being heroic. She talks about the difference being just “labels” and the sliding scale being a “fantasy” without seeming to comprehend that labels and scales matter. Which side you pick matters. What you call yourself matters.” Morality is the collective delusion of society the only thing that a label matters for is PR. By the logic of “the people who call themselves heroes are right” Robin Hood was a merciless villian robbing the rightful administration of a country while its’ heroic king is off in another country and is unable to do anything about it. Does this make him an immoral cad? The people of England disagree, he’s considered a folk hero across the pond.
From a character perspective, isn’t this internally consistent? She does what she considers the “the right thing,” but the means to achieving this are barred by conventional morality. Therefore in her eyes, the ends justify the means. When she sees heroes achieving a lesser result to uphold meaningless moral principles, or worse, sees them break these principles and then take the moral high ground because from a certain point of view they were following them, it becomes easy to see herself as comparatively saintly. There is no conflict in motivation or hypocrisy here. Taylor doesn’t realize how unhypocritical she actually is. This doesn’t necessarily make her right all the time about everything, it just makes her less deceitful than the PRT, and therefore more likeable to the audience.
There’s a bit where Taylor says “Tell me what?” in reply to something along the lines of “they don’t know the full story?” Not sure if that’s the adequate response.
None of your business on November 22, 2017 at 23:15 said:
Damn. You did your homework with those suit names, Wildbow. I only recognized three at first, had to look up the rest. Interesting stories. Obscure
Piggot’s opinions on parahumans make me wonder: where are all the parahuman Black Panthers-esque groups? Does this universe’s Magneto have his thumb up his ass or something? How did this happen when being anti-parahuman is a semi-normal opinion?
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Interlude 20 (Donation Bonus #1)
“Park there,” Stan said, pointing to a space off the side of the road.
“We’ll be facing uphill, and we still have to unload the equipment,” Nipper piped up, from the back seat.
“There’s a method to my madness. Park, Marshall. I’ll even deign to help unload and carry this time.”
He got a glimpse of Marshall rolling his eyes, but the boy steered the van to a parking spot.
True to his word, Stan was out the door, rolling up his sleeves. Didn’t hurt: the humidity was brutal outside the air-conditioned van. His dress shirt was already sticking to his back.
They were on a hill, and the vantage point afforded them a view of the city. Cranes dotted the skyline, and the buildings themselves were gleaming, the whites and colors brightened by the ambient moisture in the air. It might have looked attractive, but there were spots where buildings were missing, whole areas where the construction was only just beginning.
He could see the white building, not too far away, which was taller than even the skyscrapers immediately around it. He’d investigated it just a few days ago. They’d erected a tall white tent, holding it up with a crane, they’d reinforced it with plexiglass panels and iron reinforcement, and now a more solid construction was going up around it. Slow, painstaking, careful work, filled with redundancies. The workers would be glad to be free of the hazmat suits in this heat.
Brockton Bay wasn’t lacking in stories to tell. The quarantine building alone was one.
“Need a hand,” Nipper said.
He hurried around to the back of the truck. The van had been parked at the side of the road, emergency brake cranked, wheels turned so it would ride up onto the sidewalk if the brake failed, but the steep incline was making it hard to unload the equipment. Much of it was set up to be slid out of the back of the van at a moment’s notice, but that same convenience was an obstacle, here. The stuff was expensive, and if it slid to the road…
He found a space beside her and reached to get a grip on the far end of the camera. It might not have been a problem, but Nipper was short, petite, built more like a thirteen year old than a twenty-three year old college graduate.
She wasn’t suited for the job. She knew the equipment, she was capable with a computer, she had good eyesight, and the tattoos and array of piercings on her right ear were as good an indicator of her creative edge as anything else.
But this wasn’t the job she’d been working towards. She wasn’t one to complain, but she didn’t have stamina, she didn’t have strength, and this, all of this, it was too fast paced for her. She’d have been better, maybe even happier in the newsroom, managing the feeds, maintaining the systems and working on post production.
Marshall hefted the bag out of the back of the van. All the wires, the tripod, the lighting, packed into a dense case. The boy didn’t look like a professional, hadn’t quite adapted to the job he’d been pulled into: from intern to a jack of all trades, filling in the gaps in Stan’s team. Set up, interviewing, driving, gopher… anything and everything. He was drawing in a paycheck, but he was definitely working for it, facing all of the hassles, the intense stresses and dangers of the job, for eleven dollars an hour.
Dangers, Stan thought. Images flickered through his mind. Everyone at the station had seen the feeds, had watched them several times over. Purity taking the camera from Manzaneres, a guy from channel four, then setting her monsters on the man. A man with a wife and a newborn had been murdered, just to make a point.
There was a reason for the shortage of field reporters. It wasn’t limited to Manzaneres, either. The problem was a chronic one. This was a job that put ordinary people on the fringes of events that were dangerous for capes.
“Set?”
Marshall closed the back of the van and locked it. “Set.”
Stan set off, with Nipper and Marshall following, Nipper almost jogging to keep up with his long strides. “Reason we’re parked here is that the school’s on top of the hill. We don’t know how much parking there’ll be, with students possibly taking up spaces, and if we have to drive by, searching for a spot, then someone’s liable to spot us and take measures.”
“Measures?” Nipper asked, a touch breathlessly.
Right. She didn’t have the experience to know. “You’ll see what I mean.”
There were students gathered outside the walls that bordered the school. Police cars were parked at the front, along with PRT vans, but it was the uniformed guards with ‘Arcadia High School’ stenciled on their sleeves that caught his attention.
Guards? It conjured up an image of a prison, rather than a school.
“Nip, get some footage of the uniforms,” Stan said.
She hefted the camera and trained it on the nearest of the uniformed guards. She had to slow her pace to keep the shot steady, but she kept following him. When a group of students obstructed her vision, she shut off the feed and hurried to catch up.
They reached the gate, where a woman with a colorful scarf was talking to a PRT uniform. He signaled Nipper, and the young woman raised the camera.
“Damn it,” the woman with the scarf groaned, as she saw them. The police officer took the opportunity to step away.
“Don’t jump to conclusions,” Stan said, “We’re not the enemy.”
“You’re here to bog down an overcomplicated situation,” she said. “I have enough problems without vultures descending.”
“We’re here for the story, that’s all. You’re in charge here?”
“I’m in charge of the school. Principal Howell.”
He made a mental note. Howell, Howell, Howell. She wasn’t the prettiest woman, with old acne scars riddled across her cheeks, a short stature and a nose that didn’t quite fit her face.
“Stan Vickery, channel twelve news,” he flashed her his best smile and extended a hand. She didn’t take it.
“You’re not allowed on school property.”
“I would be if you gave me permission,” he said, dropping his hand. The job was politics as much as it was investigation, creativity and presentation. What did she want? Peace and quiet. “Give us fifteen minutes to talk to your students and shoot a few takes in front of the doors, and I’ll get the word out that we got the story first. Other stations are playing it safer, these days, less crew, less willing to act on sloppy seconds.”
The principal made a face.
Stan smiled, “Sorry. You get what I mean. Give us fifteen minutes, and we’re one less thing you have to worry about today. With luck, I’ll be the only local reporter you see today.”
“With all due respect, Mr…”
“Vickery,” he said, already told you my name. “But you can call me Stan, Mrs. Howell. Fact of the matter is, you let me in the school, and I owe you one. I pull strings or emphasize certain aspects of a story. Not just this one either. Who knows? The next incident could be worse, or more sensitive.”
“Mr. Vickers,” she said. “I’m fully aware that you’re trying to bait me into giving you a sound bite. I won’t comment on this situation, and I won’t be letting you onto school grounds. I don’t want you talking to any of my students.”
“Fine,” he said. “Come on, guys. Let’s go talk to the cops.”
“Seriously? We’re giving up?” Nipper asked.
“Yes,” he said, he took long strides away from the front gate of the school, until he was sure the principal wasn’t in immediate earshot. “No. She’s liable to get on our case if we don’t pretend to play along. Howell has no authority outside of the school walls, so we interview students there. Marshall, head back in the direction of the van. Talk to students, see if they want to be on TV. Look for the talkative ones and the emotional ones, and point them my way.”
“What about the cops?” Marshall asked.
“They’ll be around later, and cops have better memories than civilians. It’s the students who were at the scene. Go. We don’t know how long we have before other crews show.”
It was a shame the principal hadn’t let him into the school, Stan mused. Silly of her, too. That favor he’d offered her was gold, all things considered. Something she could use to bail a superior out of an awkward position and advance her own.
Your guanxi could be better, Mrs. Howell, he thought. He loved the idea behind the Chinese concept of guanxi. It fit in the same general category as the concepts of friends, family, acquaintances, but it was more based in business and politics. Guanxi was about being able to call up a person one hadn’t seen in years and ask for a favor. To have enough people in one’s debt that there was more implied leverage to use when seeking favors from others.
He’d been introduced to the idea a few years ago, and he attributed much of his recent career advancement to it. It was something to be aware of at all times, and it changed his perspective on things.
He approached a group of teenage girls who were gathered in a group, observing the police and PRT officers. He flashed one of his best smiles at them. He could see one of them glance him over, her body language changing subtly. He directed the smile at her, “I bet you’re dying to talk about what happened here. Exciting stuff.”
“Sure,” the girl replied. “Supervillain doesn’t attack the school every day.”
“Wasn’t an attack. She showed up, and they came after her in her civilian ID.”
“I know it wasn’t an attack,” the first girl replied. “I was just… It’s what others have been saying.”
“Skitter, wasn’t it?” Stan chimed in. He snapped his fingers, and Nipper pointed the camera at the girls.
“Yeah. The bug girl,” another girl spoke up. “I guess she goes to Arcadia.”
“No way. I heard she was a student at Winslow, before Leviathan came. Geeky kid, was having a hard time with some jerks, apparently. I think her name was Taylor, but you’d have to ask someone from Winslow.”
He prodded, “What happened? Was there a fight?”
“Dragon and this new guy Defiant showed up, along with the two new heroes. Don’t know their names.”
He’d memorized the names. “Adamant? Clasp? Dovetail? Halo? Crucible? Rosary? Sere?”
“Sere and Adamant,” one girl replied.
“Sere and Adamant,” he said, making a mental note.
“And two of the Wards. Clockblocker was one of them. Anyways, she got away.”
“She didn’t do anything to provoke them?”
“Didn’t hear about anything.”
“And they mobilized on the school?”
He started to ask for more details, then stopped. Marshall was approaching, with a kid in tow.
“Cell phone video,” Marshall said. “Long conversation between Defiant, Dragon and Skitter in the cafeteria.
Stan raised his eyebrows, looking at the girl with the phone, “Pay you twenty bucks to let us copy it.”
“A hundred,” she said.
“Twenty. If you got it on camera, others did too, and someone‘s going to take the twenty.”
She glanced at Marshall, then back to Stan. “Fine.”
“You have the equipment?” Stan asked Marshall.
“Laptop and a cord. Give me a minute.”
“We’ll watch it later,” Stan said, absently. He turned his attention back to the girls.
This wasn’t the first time he’d walked into a situation almost blind. The job was a stressful one, but he thrived on stress. Racing against the clock, to be the first to the scene, the first to report on the situation. But even reporting was a kind of challenge unto itself. The scene had to be investigated, the story teased out, details verified. To top it off, it had to be presentable.
He’d been the producer, before Coil had blown up the camera crew and reporter that had been covering the mayoral debate. He had an eye for this. Had to, because there was nobody back at the studio that would be able to cover this base for him. Sad and ironic, really. There weren’t enough people in the bay, resources weren’t consistent. So they’d reduced the size of the staff, cut back on hours. Then six people had died, including their lead reporter.
Nevermind the rumors that the PRT was, on Miss Militia’s behalf, investigating ties between Coil and the killed reporters and camera crews. He’d itched to look into that more, but it didn’t fit with his philosophy.
“Were you there, in the cafeteria?” he asked the girls.
“Right. Alright. Any thoughts? Were you scared, knowing there were so many capes in the school?”
Twenty more seconds, to grab more details and reaction clips, and then he was moving, searching for others to talk to.
Two more groups questioned, and he didn’t have much else. He knew Skitter’s name, and Channel four had arrived, and the race was on.
“Got the video!” Marshall called out.
Stan took the offered laptop. To watch now, it would mean delaying interviews. Memories would fade.
But he needed the narrative. How had things unfolded? What were the key, crucial points at the heart of this? That the school was unsafe? It would work, grab attention and viewers, but it felt cheap. No, the public knew that the Protectorate was imploding. There had to be a connection, tying this to something greater.
“Thank you,” he said. He’d decided. “Now, I need you to find me someone who knew Skitter in her civilian guise.”
Marshall nodded.
“He or she will be one of the students who attended Winslow.”
Stan retreated to the van with the laptop. He took the extra time to open the video in an editing suite before playing it.
Without being asked, Nipper hooked it into the van’s computers. A little icon notified him that he was connected to the studio.
“…There for the S-class threat downtown. I don’t want to sound arrogant, but I think maybe I deserve to, a little. I’ve done my share. You don’t turn around and reveal my identity in front of a crowd.”
On a notepad of lined paper, he penned down ’20th’ followed by a question mark. The video continued playing, and he noted down times and key phrases, along with questions. When a critical comment was shown, he was sure to copy the clip. There were a few times where the volume was too quiet, the voices too low or things were drowned out by background noise. Nipper worked to tune the sound so they could make it out, raising the volume or filtering out the noise.
D&D picked fight? Pushed by authorities?Drag past convo with Skitter. When?
Putting children at risk
Violation of truce
“…And you seriously expect me to keep my mouth shut about all the dirty little secrets I’ve picked up on over the last few months…”
What does Skitter know? App’tly important.
“…the Slaughterhouse Nine. Either you’ve abandoned that chase, or you’re about to tell me that there’s something more important than stopping them…”
S9? D-check events post-Boston.
Hospital? Skitter & Defiant?
D&D negotiating with villains? Possible cooperation? Corruption?
“…Stand if you side with me!”
Both video and audio were distorted by the movements of students, rising from tables, pushing away from the jumble of bodies.
Stan smiled. There.
He cut out the scene in question, the students siding with Skitter over the heroes, and gave the clip a title. ‘The heart of this story?’
A second later, a note appeared on the side of the window. The crew at the studio had a R.A.T. connecting them to the laptop, and freedom to make changes or add their own details.
Yes – Ed
He had it. The editors at the station were on board.
Now to cobble it together into a story.
He opened a file and began sketching out the script. At the very top, he put up notes, clips he’d need from the station.
There was a knock on the door of the van. Stan opened it to see Marshall with an awkward looking young man. Fifteen or sixteen. He looked despondent. Hangdog.
“He says he was her friend, once.”
“No,” the boy said. “Not exactly. But we sort of knew each other. Had classes together, did group work. And I owe her.”
Stan smiled.
“…take you now to reporter Stan Vickery.”
“Thank you, Nick. One thousand and two hundred students made their way to Arcadia High for their first day back at school, earlier on this sunny day. They hoped to readjust and get a taste of normal life after weeks spent away from home, or enduring the long series of incidents to afflict Brockton Bay. Less than halfway through their day, those hopes were dashed.“
A video clip replaced the blond man with the mustache and a face lined by years of stress. A massive metal suit, looming at the far end of the school’s parking lot, a mechanized dragon.
“The school became the site of a confrontation between Dragon, a heroine known across the world, and local warlord and leader of the Undersiders, Skitter. Within moments of their meeting on school grounds, Dragon revealed Skitter’s identity as Taylor Hebert, a sixteen year old student. With this revelation came a dozen more questions…“
“Change the channel,” a boy in prison sweats said. “News is boring shit.”
“No,” Sophia said.
Skitter was Taylor. A dozen things fell into place.
Anger boiled within her. Outrage. That cringing, whiny, pathetic little scarecrow was the ruler of Brockton Bay’s underworld? It didn’t fit. It demanded an answer of some sort.
But she couldn’t. As the voice droned on, Sophia turned her attention to the bracelets she wore. There was a live current running through them, and they could be joined together to fashion handcuffs, but even like this, they were bondage. She couldn’t enter her shadow state without passing through the insulated sheath that protected her.
She couldn’t leave, as much as she wanted to, right this moment.
Glowering, a confused, impotent frustration building within her, she fixed her eyes on the television. It swelled within her until she could barely think. She clenched her hands, but she couldn’t squeeze hard enough to release any of the building emotion. She unclenched her fists, extended her fingers, as if reaching for something, but there was nothing she could grab.
There was no release valve for this, no way to vent.
Taylor’s face appeared on the screen in the same moment she hit her limit. She rose from her seat, aware of the guards advancing on her, and kicked the television screen, shattering it, amid the protests and swearing of her fellow inmates.
A second later, they were tackling her. Two guards at once, forcing her to the ground.
She screamed something so incoherent that even she would have been hard pressed to interpret it.
“Who was she? And what motivated these professed heroes to mobilize on a school, risking the lives of students and staff? Skitter herself wondered aloud about their willingness to put hostages within her reach…“
A clip appeared on the screen. Taylor, sitting on the edge of a counter. She spoke, filled with confidence, almost nonchalant. “You put me in a room with three hundred people I could theoretically take hostage. Why? You can’t be that confident I wouldn’t hurt someone…”
A student abruptly shrieked, thrashing and falling to the ground in her haste to get away.
“Danny,” Kurt said, settling a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “You don’t need to watch this.”
Danny shook his head. Kurt looked down the man. He hadn’t even spoken, from the moment he’d opened the door and Lacey had wrapped her arms around him.
“This is bait, isn’t it?” Taylor’s voice, oddly out of place coming from the television.
“The tone of the conversation even implied there were unspoken secrets that Skitter was aware of, that the Protectorate sought to silence,” Stan Vickery spoke, reappearing, with Arcadia High behind him as a backdrop. “Raising questions about what those secrets might be.“
“…You seriously expect me to keep my mouth shut about all the dirty little secrets I’ve picked up on over the last few months?” Taylor’s voice, again.
Danny put his face into his hands, pushing his glasses up to his forehead in the process. Kurt rubbed his back, while Lacey looked on, sympathetic.
“What did Skitter know, and does it relate to the event on the twentieth of June? Why were Defiant and Dragon willing to abandon their pursuit of the Slaughterhouse Nine?“
“Is…” Danny started to speak, but his voice cracked. He paused, then spoke again. “Is this on me?”
“No!” Lacey said. “No, honey.”
“Those aren’t questions I’d hope to pose any answers to today,” the news reporter said. “The real question is bigger than that, and smaller at the same time. What forces drive a child from this…“
A teenage boy, his eyes downcast. “She was nice, quiet. I know people won’t believe me when I say it, but she was a genuinely good person. Is. Is a good person. At heart. I’m sorry, Taylor.“
“To this?“
It switched to Taylor’s voice, calm, unruffled, accompanied by the same long-distance, low resolution footage of her sitting on the counter in the school cafeteria. “You’d be surprised what I’m capable of. I’ve mutilated people. Carved out a man’s eyes, emasculated him. I’ve chopped off a woman’s toes. Flayed people alive with the bites of thousands of insects. Hell, what I did to Triumph… he nearly died, choking on insects, the venom of-“
Kurt turned off the television. Danny was frozen, unmoving, staring down at his hands.
“It was context,” Lacey said, quiet. “She was acting. I’m sure-“
She broke off as Kurt shook his head. Doing more damage than good.
“We’re going to stick by you, okay, Dan?” Kurt spoke. “Let’s have you come by our place. Better you aren’t alone right now, yeah? And it’ll get you away from those reporters.”
Danny didn’t respond. He stayed hunched over the kitchen table.
“Unless you want to wait here for her, in case?” Lacey asked.
“She already said goodbye,” Danny replied, pushing against the table to help himself rise to a standing position. “I think that’s it.”
“You’d be surprised what I’m capable of. I’ve mutilated people. Carved out a man’s eyes, emasculated him. I’ve chopped off a woman’s toes. Flayed people alive with the bites of thousands of insects. Hell, what I did to Triumph… he nearly died, choking on insects, the venom of a hundred bee stings making his throat close up.“
“And what drives dozens of students to reject the heroes of this city in favor of the villain in charge?” Stan asked.
The widescreen television showed the students rising from the tables, joining Skitter. Another clip followed, showing students actively wrestling with the heroes.
“Christ,” the Director spoke.
Beside her successor, Piggot was watching in silence, elbows on the table, hands folded in front of her mouth.
“This could have been avoided,” the Director said. “On multiple levels.”
“Most likely,” Defiant replied. He stood at one end of the long table, Dragon beside him.
“We won’t ignore people’s first amendment rights,” Defiant said.
“…The PRT and the Protectorate have refused to comment, and the silence is damning, in light of what occurred today,” the reporting continued in the background. “Brockton Bay has become the latest, greatest representation of the troubles the world faces in this new age, and perhaps a representation of the world’s hopes…“
“You’re better than this, Dragon,” Piggot spoke. “To the point that I’m left wondering… did you steer all of this in this direction?”
“If you try to place the blame on us,” Defiant replied, “I think you’ll be unpleasantly surprised.”
“This event,” the reporter spoke, “Points to something else entirely, a fatal flaw in the system, the latest and greatest representation of the Protectorate’s steady collapse.“
Director Tagg, Piggot’s latest successor, picked up the remote and muted the television.
Defiant shifted his weight, clasping his hands behind his back. The body language was smug, somehow.
Piggot glanced at each of the people who were seated at the table. Mr. Tagg, the Director of Brockton Bay’s PRT, Director Armstrong from Boston, and Director Wilkins from New York were all present. Mr. Keene sat opposite her. A camera mounted on the table gave the Chief Director of the PRT eyes on the meeting, where she watched from Washington.
Nobody else seemed willing to answer Defiant, some simply staring at him, others watching the segment on the wall-mounted television. She spoke, “I would remind you that you are on a strict probation, with terms you agreed to.”
“I am,” Defiant said. “Would you arrest me for being insubordinate? Or would it take something more substantial?”
“Test us and you’ll find out,” Director Tagg responded.
“And what would happen then? Would you send me to the Birdcage?” Defiant asked.
The question was heavy with the reminder that it was Dragon who maintained and managed the Birdcage.
Emily Piggot was caught between a desire to feel smug and quiet fear. She’d warned them. She’d communicated her concerns at every opportunity, through channels that Dragon wouldn’t be able to track. She’d been dismissed, shrugged off, when she raised the question of what might happen if Dragon was killed in battle, or if Dragon turned against them.
“I’d like to hear a response from Dragon,” Piggot said.
Dragon turned her head to look at her, face hidden behind an expressionless mask and unblinking, opaque lenses. There was something about the movement that seemed off. Both the movement and the silence that followed was oddly disturbing.
“No? No response?”
“A consequence of our recent visit to Brockton Bay,” Defiant said. “I’m hoping she’ll be better in a few days.”
Curious, Piggot observed, the note of emotion in his voice, at that simple statement.
As if eager to change the subject, Director Armstrong said, “Mr. Keene. Thoughts? How does this affect your department?”
Piggot turned her attention to the man. She’d only had limited interactions with him, but the man had earned her respect quickly enough. He wasn’t a Director, but rather the liaison between the Protectorate and various other superhero teams worldwide, organizing deals, ensuring that everyone held to the same code of conduct, and ensuring that the groups could all coordinate in times of emergency.
“It’s catastrophic,” Keene said. “I can manage some damage control, offer further aid, manipulate the grants available, but I can’t build on a foundation that isn’t there.”
“Where do our biggest problems lie?”
“The C.U.I. is first to mind. The Suits and the King’s Men will cooperate, because they have to. For the American teams, it varies from case to case. But we’re in the middle of negotiations with the C.U.I., and this won’t reflect well on us. That is, it won’t if we can’t get our footing here and make a strong showing at the next major event.”
The next major event. The idea seemed to give everyone pause.
“Something needs to change,” Defiant said.
“Somehow, Colin,” Piggot replied, “I think our ideas on what needs to change are very different.”
“Very likely,” he said, his voice hard. “But this was a last straw for us, in many ways. We have a few stipulations for our continued assistance.”
“Defiant,” Tagg interrupted him. “You’re not in a position to make demands.”
He’s a hard man, Piggot thought. Army, PRT squad leader, a general, not a politician. Ironic, that they’d butt heads. “Director Tagg, you asked me here as a consultant, so allow me to consult.”
Tagg turned his attention to her.
She continued, “I don’t like this scenario any more than you do. But let’s hear Defiant’s demands before you reject him out of hand.”
Director Tagg didn’t reply, but he turned his attention back to Defiant and he didn’t speak.
“Dragon and I have discussed this in-depth. We need the present Directors to admit culpability for the incident, and we need to clean house, with in-depth background checks and investigations into any prominent member of the PRT. We can’t maintain things as they are with the spectre of Cauldron looming over us.”
“You’d have us fire any number of PRT employees at a time when we’re struggling to retain members?” Tagg asked, almost aghast.
“And relieving capes from duty at the same time,” Defiant said. “With so few employees, it’s ridiculous to continue working to shut down leaks and control the flow of information. Dragon has expressed concerns over having to do this in the past, and between the two of us, we’ve agreed that the censorship stops tonight, at midnight.”
Tagg rose from his seat, opening his mouth to speak-
“I agree,” Piggot spoke before her successor could.
“It’s a misuse of resources,” she said, “And we do need to clean house.”
“You don’t have a position to lose,” Tagg replied.
“I wouldn’t lose it anyways,” she retorted, “I’ve had no contact with Cauldron.”
Keene clapped his hands together once, then smiled, “Well said. We have nothing to fear if we aren’t connected to them.”
“You realize what they’re doing, don’t you?” Tagg asked. “How does this investigation happen? Dragon has her A.I. rifle through all known records and databases. We defeat the sole purpose of the PRT, by putting the parahumans themselves in a position of power!”
“That ship has long sailed,” Keene commented, “With the revelations about Chief Director Costa-Brown, if you’ll pardon my saying.”
“You’re pardoned,” the Chief Director’s voice sounded over the speaker, crystal clear. “I think this would pose more problems than it solves. We’ll have to turn you down, Defiant.”
“Then I don’t see much of a reason for us to stay,” Defiant replied.
“And if you leave, the assumption is that we’ll be left without Dragon’s ability to maintain every system and device she’s created for us. The PRT without a Birdcage, without our computer systems or database, without the specialized grenade loadouts or the containment foam dispensers.”
“An unfortunate consequence,” Defiant said.
“Not a concern at all,” the Chief Director replied.
There was a pause. Dragon glanced at Defiant.
“No?” Defiant asked.
“No. We’ve been in contact with an individual who has a proven track record with Dragon’s technology. He feels equipped, eager, almost, to step into Dragon’s shoes should she take a leave of absence.”
“Saint,” Defiant said. “You’re talking about the leader of the Dragonslayers. Criminal mercenaries.”
“My first priority is and always has been protecting people. If it’s a question between abandoning the security the Birdcage offers the world at large or requesting the assistance of a scoundrel-”
“A known murderer,” Defiant said.
“I wouldn’t throw stones,” Tagg replied, his voice a growl.
“-A known murderer, even,” the Chief Director continued, as if she hadn’t been interrupted. “I will take security without question.”
Defiant looked at Dragon.
“The second dilemma I have to pose to you two,” the Chief Director continued, “Is simple. What do you expect will happen when the next Endbringer arrives? Between Dragon’s brilliant mind and Defiant’s analysis technologies, I’m sure you’ve given the matter some consideration. Without the Protectorate, how does the event tend to unfold?”
Piggot studied the pair, trying to read their reactions. They were so hard to gauge, even if she ignored the armor.
“It doesn’t go well,” Defiant said. “It doesn’t go well even if we assume the present Protectorate is coordinated and in peak fighting condition.”
“We can’t afford a loss,” the Chief Director said. “You know it as well as I do. Now, tell me there isn’t room for a middle ground.”
Dragon turned to Defiant, and moved with a careful slowness as she set one hand on his arm.
“We get through the next fight,” Defiant said. “Then we clean house.”
“I think that’s an acceptable compromise.”
“Too rich,” Jack commented, smirking. “Across the board, I love it. Fantastic.”
Hookwolf, pacing on the opposite side of the television, grunted a response.
Bonesaw was crouched by the side of a machine. She watched with hands on hips as Blasto ratcheted in a bolt at the base of a tall, black-handled lever, his movements jerky with the internal and external mechanisms that forced them.
“The Protectorate declined to comment, and in light of recent events and allegations of deep-seated secrets, their silence is damning.“
“Almost ready,” Bonesaw said, her voice sing-song. “You’re next, Hooksie.”
Hookwolf glanced at her, and then at the contraption.
“Don’t tell me you’re scared,” she said, her tone a taunt.
“Not of… this. I’m questioning if this is the path we should take.”
“I’m expected to bring about the end of the world,” Jack said, still watching the television. “But this is rather tepid for my tastes. I’d like to hurry it along, inject some more drama into the affair.”
“…event at Arcadia High School is sure to draw attention from aross America. We, the public, want answers. The death of Vikare marked the end of the golden age, the end of an era where becoming a superhero was the expectation for anyone and everyone with powers, and even those who decided to work in business or public affairs with their abilities were termed ‘rogues’…“
Bonesaw took ahold of Hookwolf’s hand and led him to his seat. She stepped back, glancing over the contraption. The only light was cast by a small desk lamp and the glow of a computer monitor, an island of light in the middle of an expansive, wide-reaching darkness. Desk, engine, and tinker-designed seats, surrounded by an absolute, oppressive darkness.
“It doesn’t sit well,” Hookwolf said. “I can’t articulate why. My thoughts are still cloudy.”
Bonesaw hit a button, and the lights began to flicker, the engine beside her starting to hum with a progressively higher pitch. With the flickering of the lights came glimpses of the things beyond. Light on glass and wires.
“I’d rather a Ragnarök than-“
Bonesaw hauled on a white-handled lever, and Hookwolf’s voice cut off. The flickering of the lights ceased, and the room returned to darkness.
Jack sighed.
“…threatens to mark a similar occasion…“
Bonesaw stepped over the body of a dead tinker in a lab coat, stopping in front of Jack. “Strip.”
Jack shucked off his shirt, and then pulled off his pants and boxer briefs. The blades that hung heavy on his belt made an ugly metal sound as they dropped to the tiled floor.
“…and cover yourself up,” Bonesaw said, averting her eyes. “Shameful! You’re in the company of a child, and a girl, no less.”
“Terribly sorry,” Jack said, his voice thick with irony, as he cupped his nether regions in both hands. He stepped back and took a seat, leaning back against the diagonal surface behind the short bench. Cold.
“...The reality is clear. The repercussions of what happened today will change the relationship between hero, villain and civilian. It remains up to them to decide whether it will be a change for the better, or a change for the worse.”
The segment ended, and the television turned back to the news anchors at their desks.
“Pretentious, isn’t he?” Jack asked.
“Likes to hear himself talk,” Bonesaw replied. “Which do you think it’ll be? Change for the better or change for the worse?”
Jack smiled.
“It’s a given?” she asked. She pressed the button, and the lights started to flicker again.
“I think so,” Jack commented. “But I almost hope things do turn out well.”
The lights were flickering more violently now, to the point that periods of light matched the periods of darkness. Between the spots in his vision, Jack could see more and more of their surroundings.
Row upon row of glass case lined the underground chamber, each large enough to house a full-grown man, though there were only fetal shapes within at present. Each was labeled. One row had cases marked ‘Crawler’, ‘Crawler’, ‘Crawler’… ten iterations in total. The next row had ten cases labeled with the word ‘Siberian’. The one after with ten repetitions of ‘Chuckles’.
One column of cases dedicated to each member of the Nine, past and present, with the exception of Jack and one other.
“Makes for a greater fall?” Bonesaw asked.
“Exactly,” Jack replied. He glanced at the one isolated case, felt his pulse quicken a notch. It was the only one that was standalone. ‘Gray Boy.’
“I guess we find out soon!” he said, raising his voice to be heard over the whine of the engine.
Bonesaw only laughed. She hauled on the switch with both hands, and the room was plunged into silence and darkness.
This entry was posted in 20.x (Donation Bonus #1) and tagged Alexandria, Blasto, Bonesaw, Defiant, Dragon, Greg, Hookwolf, Jack Slash, Piggot, Shadow Stalker, Sophia, Taylor, Taylor's Dad by wildbow. Bookmark the permalink.
518 thoughts on “Interlude 20 (Donation Bonus #1)”
In advance: I didn’t have as much time as I’d like (unexpected appointment tomorrow I had to prep for) so I know there’s some proofreading issues. I know there’s issues with italics somewhere. Anyone who brings italics up before 12:00 noon is to be shot on sight – I will get to it.
Loki-L on April 4, 2013 at 00:05 said:
There’s a sentence, that is seeming to be missing something:
The quarantine building alone was a
Please don’t kill me.
*snrkt* Wildbow, .22, .223, .303, or 00-buck? ;P
.50 BMG or go home.
Too much bloodloss and shock trauma; We want them alive and aware as long as possible so that they feel as much pain as they can before overloading their nervous system and fainting. 😀
Toast on April 4, 2013 at 10:12 said:
Bullets aren’t ideal for that, Rika. You need wide surface damage; narrow deep tissue damage gets covered up by endorphins too quickly, so loss of consciousness will be through blood loss rather than sensory overload. Birdshot might do it; I’d use rock salt or potassium chloride crystals for the chemical irritation factor. This has a side benefit of a low mortality rate, so you can do it *again.*
But the best course of action is probably just to wait three hours, and then the dilemma solves itself.
Hydrargentium on April 5, 2013 at 11:38 said:
Rock salt is always a good one. But really, a nail gun would be best.
Tranq darts. Or spitwads. He didn’t specify murder, actually. Failing that, staple gun. Nonlethal, really painful.
Potentially nonlethal.
I believe you’ve just answered almost all the starred potential topics from the last installment, its like the best birthday present ever!
and its not even my birthday!
The quarantine building is alone a
No word after that.
“Brockton Bay wasn’t lacking in stories to tell. The quarantine building alone was a…”
missing sentence?
I think you accidentally a word.
not even half minute reading and everyone catched this one XD
*caught.
arrrrgggg, i just got wilbow’d
Ninjaed everyone by seconds. My life is complete, 🙂
“My life is complete,”
Should be “My Life is complete.”
life* not Life
Yes. I’m sorry, as I didn’t see that error while spellchecking my comment.
Ashan on April 4, 2013 at 00:14 said:
It’s really sad that Danny didn’t see the part where half the students stood up for Skitter. The part with the S9 though… That’s downright evil. I’m really interested in what the Gray Boy can do, given that the Eidolon clone admitted that, not only was Cauldron responsible for him, they were “selling him powers”. Which means he had several. Not only that, the Cast page leaves him as “Status Unknown”. Did he quit the S9 out of boredom one day, with the rest unable to stop him because he was simply too strong?
gotta feel sorry for him, i’m sad he missed that too… or it might have made him feel worse, if he saw it as her corrupting those around her. he’s in a bad enough place where he could be thinking that.
greg is very apologetic. i was half expecting him to be out of his mind with “i knew it!” type things, but he seemed genuinely apologetic.
he “owed her”? methinks he’s thinking it was his fault she got into that mess in the first place.
It really is his fault though. Taylor wouldn’t have gone to school if he had been quiet about this.
I can’t help but think, “you dick”. Are we sure his parents were never near the Smurf?
He’s not stupid — after he heard what happened, he probably guessed that she came down to the school specifically to throw him off her scent.
Well, it WAS. But on the other hand, since Dragon and Defiant were headed there anyway this was probably one of the better ways for it to play out(as scary as that might be to consider). After all, if Dragon had been forced to kidnap her from her territory, or from Danny’s house…
not disputing that, but after all the hate he got from the PHO forums-interlude, it’s good to see he at least can acknowledge when he’s goofed.
…not until the consequences blew up in his face directly… but he can still recognize it.
Yog on April 4, 2013 at 00:46 said:
My guess is that Gray Boy gets his name from Gray Goo. So, either he can transform into it, or is a Tinker specializing in it, or can create it.
For some reason, I was thinking Gray Alien. Implications for that are some more interesting Tinker tech, or possibly phenomenal psychic abilities, like a weaker Simurgh.
Gnarker on April 4, 2013 at 04:07 said:
It’s been said that the only real psychic is the Simurgh.
Curtis on April 4, 2013 at 13:50 said:
I like to think that Grey Boy turns his immediate area into an old timey movie. No sound except for that piano background music and no colour.
xdrngy on April 5, 2013 at 22:27 said:
Absorbed radiation is measured in units rad or gray. Definitely radioactive. He’s probably the end-of-the-world maker
…and if Jack had died, Blasto might have copied Gray Boy eventually on his own?
It’s possible. Given his tinker specialization, Blasto would probably have been immune to Skitter’s hypothetical rampage.
Ayup. I’m stuck on how Purity’s kid whats-his-name fits into it, given the coincident deadline. Maybe their powers interact in some catastrophic way?
I dunno, all very speculation, I’m sticking with just saying he’s probably radioactive.
OH and Accord’s working for/with Cauldron, and accord gave Blasto the lab and the DNA
fits. Still not sure about Purity’s kid. Might be a red herring, might not, we’ll see
Theo might be a lucky break, in that case — an incipient hero whose powers could turn out to be useful.
Umm… Unlikely, this is Worm. Nothing will go well / as expected for a sympathetic character like him.
Not impossible, just unlikely.
Typos as I see them:
Already fixed, 10 min ago. :p
Sorry for being the fourth comment on the same thing in a row.
You won’t be the last, I’m sure. I’ll get one at something like 6pm tomorrow, from someone that got the story by email & hasn’t seen the revisions.
Mistake: The quarantine building alone was a
AWESOME!!!! WE got to hear from everyone but Emma! I WANNA KNOW IF SHE HAD A BREAK DOWN AS SOPHIA!!!!!
Seems Bonesaw is having LOTS of fun with Blasto……is she giving the powers of the former S9 to the remaining? If so MY GOD THEY’RE ALL EVEN MORE SCREWED!!!
Now I must sleep. Awesome chapter as always Wildbow.
Grrr I was ninja’d 😛
And that’s number six. Ninja’ed not once, not twice, but five times!
if she is giving powers, is she giving all of them to everybody, or just one additional set per person?
although jack’s process seems to be taking longer than hookwolfs, so maybe he gets the full set or something
If I understand it correctly, I think she might be cloning them. Knowing her, she might be able to pull both off.
If it’s just the cloning, then I’m not sure what to be more worried about: the fact that we’ll have at least 10 Crawlers/Siberians/whoever running around… or the fact that whatever Gray Boy is, Jack and Bonesaw decided that just one clone would be necessary.
i just reread and noticed that each case was ‘man-high’
and Blasto is a tinker who is known to grow homonculi…
…so this is the formation of the Shatterhouse Fiftyplus?
goodol'vorbis on April 4, 2013 at 07:39 said:
the Shityourselves Many
Well shit. So things are being set up for bad things to do down. Its not the end of the world, but you can see from here. The PRT is going to clean house, and cauldron is going to be outed. This will destroy the truce and quite alot of trust towards heroes. Can’t believe I’m saying this but I hope Cauldron stays secret for a little while longer. They really need to start giving out formulas on the cheap to build up the heroes strength. Hopefully Dragon recovers. Plus, lets say the slaughterhouse 900 now, maybe? The main issue is probably going to be with the Crawler clones and Grey Boy. Knowing Siberian’s secret makes those clones vulnerable. Hopefully the can atomize the crawlers before they become too powerful. Curious about Grey Boy, I’m thinking he might be as strong as Eidolon if the selling powers to him comment was true. Plus, what the hell PRT? You would really trust the birdcage to saint? Piggot really needs a trigger event just so she’ll mellow out. New fun facts: Field reporters are an endangered species in the wormverse, and the paparazzi are already hounding Danny.
looks like dragon 2.0 is undergoing beta tests… seems like she’s a work in progress.
btw, wildbow, did you know you have an incomplete sentence there? 😀
Did you know I could take the next week off? 😀
i apologize. greatly.
YOU HAVE ANGERED THE WILDBOW! We must appease him with a sacrifice.
Chicken, Cow, or are we going to need a virgin?
frozen chicken on April 4, 2013 at 07:47 said:
….No sacrificing chickens.
Geckos and Ants are okay though. 😀
Chickens, Ants, and Geckos are too paltry a scarifice. Anybody know any canadian delicacies? The only thing I can think of is Maple syrup and I thought that was a stereotype. If necessary we shall make the world’s largest stack of pancakes with a small lake of the finest maple syrup known too man.
Canadian bacon. Even if it is just ham.
If you sacrifice me, you’ll never find out where I hid the treasure. I swear, it’s real, a virtual shower of gold I can give you.
Kraft Dinner and ketchup is generally seen as the penultimate Canadian meal, but that differs from person to person. I personally prefer true Quebecois Poutine, myself.
@PG Your offer of golden showers would just make us want to sacrifice you even more.
Ahhh, Rika is the closest. KD really doesn’t count, but poutine is by far one of the mana meals of the Great White North. Many people swear by Beaver Tails too, but the ideal season for those is pretty much past, even up around where Wildbow runs.
(And, yeah, PG, there’s nothing you can say about Beaver Tails that hasn’t already been said.)
Holy shit, don’t scare us like that D:
BEST.THREAT.EVER
I am equal parts terrified and XD.
Freerider on April 4, 2013 at 00:24 said:
Poor widdle Sophia. She’s off to solitaire now. Possibly with medicine for high blood pressure… and migraines.
Did somebody just have their entire worldview and insane belief system shattered? Why, I think they did. Interested in how her story plays out. So I’m giving 10 to one odds she has another psychotic break to becoming a better person.
That’s not necessarily how it works. Hehehehehehehe.
Well maybe a trigger event just to add to her mental torture and give the Undersiders their newest arch enemy. They probably have a long list after last chapter.
Mrmdubois on April 4, 2013 at 16:23 said:
I figured she’s was about to just say “Screw it” and try getting through her restraints after all.
@Mrmdubois: She might yet. What does she have to lose?
Composite' on April 4, 2013 at 18:44 said:
To be fair, it’s not that she can’t get through her restraints, just that if she ever tried there’s the possibility it could go dead wrong quickly.
was a what?
8 if you count the ironic one.
and this is why i should have refreshed the page before posting a comment.
Jack on April 4, 2013 at 00:30 said:
Guess that Sophia didn’t actually know about Taylor. Great chapter as usual wildbow.
Predicted Gray Boy was going to be the exception. Didn’t predict that 6 different people were going to ignore Wildbow’s initial comment though. 😀
Geez. 8.
think we’ll get 10?
I hope not
seems like all the ‘first readers’ are finishing up anyhow, unless we have some really slow ones who dont refresh before commenting. any followup readers will be seeing the fixed ver.
Overall I loved it. I wish Danny would have been expanded on a little bit more, but thats from personal preference to see what is going through his head. Just picturing his baby girl admitting to flaying someone alive can’t feel very good.
Hopefully someday he’ll get to learn the context for those things. Whatever he’s thinking about his daughter now, there’s so much he simply can’t know about her until he gets more information.
Well she can theoretically talk to him if she keeps this range. He is still allowed some privacy, so she can have a bunch of insects sneak into his bedroom and do the swarm speak thing.
the question is: would he listen?
option a) she tries to talk to him and gets a “i have no daughter” spiel
b) they talk for a bit, but it ends something with “we both need some time to think about this…”
c) they agree to meet up for dinner and have a uneasy but ultimately fruitful reunion
d) they go out for *lunch*…. and he dies. cuz nothing good happens at lunch
At the end of the series we will find out that the true villain this whole time has been Emma who got powers and can make horrible things occur but only at lunchtime.
I, like many others, are very curious just what his mental thoughts are right now. He seems to blame himself, but he truly doesn’t know anything about her choices and circumstances. I think he would probably ask, “Why?” first. I can see Taylor writing down everything that happened and having it placed in his room with a note. But yeah, he must feel terrible. I can’t imagine what Taylor is feeling either.
If she wrote down ‘everything that happened’, danny would have a couple books of reading material to go through at least.
No dad you have it backwards. I dealt with the destiny changing mastermind who knew your identity AFTER fighting off the 9. Yes, I killed him but he was bad. I didn’t know he was going to blow us up! I swear he was the only one I have killed. Triumph was a an accident. Well how else was I going to get the mayor to save the city? I returned her home where she…you know what lets skip Dinah. The surgery went fine dad, I barely felt a thing. Manni was weaker than you think. Okay lets go over this one more time, I didn’t mean to rot his crotch off. He regenerated it back!…..eventually.
Interesting setups for what’s to come.
I’m wondering if Greg will win any love (from the rest of us readers) for speaking for Taylor on the news. He’s not a bad guy, he’s just inept in a way I suspect many of us were or still are too.
Also on the “win a bit of love from the readers”, how about Defiant there? I suspect that compromise will bite him in the butt, yet I can also see how it “seemed like the best idea at the time”.
Yeah, it’ll bite him in the ass. Next time an Endbringer attacks and wipes so many of them out again, as usual, they’ll just claim they lost all they recovered and need until the next Endbringer attack in a few months, then maybe they can clean house.
Kim on April 4, 2013 at 12:29 said:
Yeah, greg actually did something Gallant, Smart, and NICE. Points to him. He may be a bit of a creepy stalker (but a lot of beta boys are like that). He’s not out to screw Skitter over, which he could very easily have been, particularly after having been TRICKED by her.
Reading this comment made me wonder: since Gallant was a cape, who or what are Smart and N.I.C.E.?
I know that’s not what you meant, but it was my first reaction.
Good chapter. A good hook for the ending, and as for the rest, it was written well. It was a great idea to be able to get multiple points of view by using the report, though I may or may not have been willing to kill someone while reading to get into Danny’s head. I was hoping the S9 wouldn’t show up for a while, as a little psycho-crazy-murder-yay I love killing and performing surgeries to give them body horror goes a long way, but I really want to see the consequences of this.
And I really wonder what it is about a missing word that makes everyone rush to report it. It probably feels so conspicuous and targeted, poor missing word.
It’s been fixed. Wildbow is in a bad mood. Don’t mention it
I have to say, Stan really, really ticks me off. Sensationalist asshole.
Going to go shift my guess about Danny knowing Taylor’s secret identity into the “disproven” folder, now.
Well there has to be some fair and balanced….couldn’t keep a straight face as I typed that. I am very curious about those commenters now. Pretty much everyone is going to be a tinfoil hat guesser after this.
Why do you say that? The reporting seemed fairly accurate to me.
Yeah he seemed fairly interested in being honest/accurate, and actually dismissed hitting the ‘school is not safe’ button because he thought it was cheap. How many real world reporters would do the same?
Also, Bonesaw is written oh so perfectly. Much better then Marvels version thats for sure.
Oh God it’s Jack! RUN FOR THE ALTERNATE WORLD!!!!! *drops uber-nukes as run*
Well, at least you didn’t use Leet-nukes.
Sorry, punny Gecko is getting to me.
>“A consequence of our recent visit to Brockton Bay,” Defiant said. “I’m hoping she’ll be better in a few days.”
Oh god. Dragon has me worried.
Sophia’s reaction was PERFECT by the way.
Oh, and the whole time at the start I kept thinking about how Nipper/Nip is a really unfortunate name.
The original plan was to have the PRT group seen in the middle bring Stan in and raise the idea of him helping to cover up, and him saying no, but I ran out of time and preferred the impact of the S9 ending.
But the idea was that her first name is worse than the second: Agnes Nipper.
Her parents were just begging for kids to pick on her with a name like that.
what’s wrong with agnes? O.o
What isn’t wrong with Agnes?
i honestly dont see a problem with ‘Agnes’ as a name, am i missing something? cultural reference or whatnot?
I honestly can’t put a finger on it but I just hate the name. Its the opposite of Steve, which is a name that I instantly like.
Truthseeker on April 4, 2013 at 02:17 said:
The only thing wrong with Agnes is that in the generational cycling of names, it stands at “Grandma” or even “Great Grandma” right now. Which really is kind of a fatal blow. For the moment.
We’ll she’s in the press, so if anyone hassle’s her about her name she can say “FUCK YOU I’M A JOURNALIST” and they shut up and their heads explode.
Agnes Nipper? BAHHAAHAHHAHAH!!!!!!!! Oh God! Why can’t I get them image of her being a supervillain called ‘Nipper’? *dies*
“Nipper” came early in the piece, so I honestly wondered if we weren’t seeing an interlude from Bitch’s minions. Barker, Biter, Nipper.
Haha! Reporter by day, super villain minion by night!
Oh god. She’s evil superman.
Galiana on April 5, 2013 at 00:45 said:
The name makes me think of Agnes Nitt from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld books. Not sure if this is intentional on Wildbow’s part.
Brockton Bay Postal Service
DONT ARSK US ABOUT:
troll’s with sticks
All sorts of Dragons
Huje green things with teeth
Any kinds of black dogs with orange eyebrows
Rains of spaniel’s
@Galiana: That would be Agnes Nutter.
This seems to have been the perfect reaction interlude in response to the last chapter. A little bit of everything.
It seems that things really have hit the fan for the PRT. They are bound to lose support and trust over this and putting the dragonslayer in charge of their dragon-tech seems like a move that would backfire quite spectacularly.
Dragon was silent, I hope she is going to be okay and not the next major threat everyone was talking about.
The way Alexandria and cauldron try to cling at power for a little bit longer might be a hint that they have a plan that will come to fruition soon.
If they really wanted to repair their image and encourage others to continue to cooperate with them long term they probably should consider sending Skitter a personal invitation to the battle against next big threat. Having her turn up despite their now quite well known differences would sent the signal that the truce still holds and about how important cooperation against these threats is. That said I don’t think they are smart enough for that.
They are desperate to work with Villains now, apparently. But she has hurt them in a way NO ONE ever has before. I just can’t see them doing it yet.
And we still know jack squat about Dinah’s situation too!
That’s because he sat down instead of squatting.
…thank god Clarvel didn’t use the other s-word after jack. Don’t know what you’d have done.
theres a crap-ton of jokes he could have used, and while he swears fecalty to the pun, i’m sure there would have been a big stick about it.
What makes you think I didn’t have the stick removed from there?
stink, stink damnit. it was stool too early in the morning when I typed that, i guess.
Great chapter, great story. I hope that you have a good interview tomorrow.
By the way… *cough* I hope I don’t run into any insane lizards *caugh*
*slides quietly down a rope behind Jakin before clinging to him, a whole body glomp, still upside down. Still quietly. He sniffs Jak’s hand, then smiles up at him.*
You smell nice. Hello.
And welcome to the comments section.
*musses up Jak’s hair with a boot, then wonders when he became Canadian and what that was about*
You know, I was worried that you were getting predictable with your greetings. You’re really not.
I don’t even…
I have a theory:
“Hello everyone, I’m a new commentor here, y’all look like nice people, and the story’s awesome! “
I could have sworn you commented before now, but whatever. Welcome to worm. Join your fellow skittles/pests/fans in the weird and wonderful comments.
Shhhh! Clarvel is doing science!
*Appears and pushes Clarvel back into a barber’s chair…then tear’s Clarvel’s shirt off and begins to put wax on his chest hair.* So there I am, unsure if I’ve welcome you before and not sure if I should do anything towards that bit of cheekiness when I figured I would go ahead and welcome you anyway so I could move on to more commenting today. Welcome to the comments s
So it tried to post the incomplete version up here, and the complete version down there a ways.
Well fuck you too, wordpress.
Science Done!
apparently PG can’t help but welcome people in the most interesting ways!
Hoo boy. Wasn’t Chuckles the one who originally had Imp’s power? Curious what he’ll be like now… Also curious just how much like the originals the clones will be in personality; the only real example was Blasto’s homunculus of himself, who somehow retained language and technical skills- and even he wasn’t sure that those would ‘take’ until he asked it.
All told, the news could have been a lot worse. It could have been a lot better, of course, for either side, but it looks like having this as an official line won’t hurt nearly as much as the internet footage soon to come- and it might blunt the worst effects of that getting out unedited.
Greg did good.
“Didn’t hurt: the” Didn’t help? Not sure about this one but it just seemed strange to me(at first I actually read it as ‘didn’t hurry’)
“whites and colors brightened by the ambient moisture in the air.” Doesn’t high humidity desaturate colors?
“and the tattoos and array of piercings on her right ear” This might be a quibble, but maybe add a ‘the’ before array of piercings(unless she has a very tattooed ear)
“the event on the twentieth” double space.
Nah. Was Nice Guy. As in, the guy so bland and normal that you wouldn’t ever think he could do something so bad.
Chuckles was something else entirely.
Many of the S9 and S9-alikes who didn’t make it into the final group have been referenced by this point. Ones who appeared in previous drafts of Wormverse writings. Chuckles featured in ‘Circus vs. the Elite’, the same story where Bitch was first conceptualized.
In the story, the ‘Elite’, a top-tier group of supervillains looking to control supervillainy worldwide came to the city (might’ve been Toronto), and much like the S9 did, they pay personal visits to each of the villains and villain groups as a show of power. The idea here, however, was that the Elite were wanting the villains to submit to their authority and work under their organization. The villains band together in groups to hold out against the incursion.
Elite member Bonesaw, who went by a different name, sends her creation Chuckles after Circus and Parian.
Super-villains in Toronto huh? Well, I guess I don’t care that much for Etobicoke, or North York.
Makes one wonder if Winnipeg got passed up on both sides of the Cape line like we do everything else, lol.
Yay, a fellow winnipeger Worm fan! I was afraid I was alone out here.
Slaughterhouse Nine: “Surrender pronto, or we’ll level Toronto!”
“Eh, go ahead. No one likes that dump.”
Says everyone who doesn’t actually live there.
You cocky cock! You’ll pay for your crimes against humanity!
Hey did you ever read the The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Wildbow? Nice Guy sounds like a bad guy from it. He was so plain no one could remember him.
Also the Grey Men from the Wheel of Time books. Both are great series.
“Perhaps the Nine truly have jumped the shark. Bested by teen villains, a spot of trouble with Dragon, doesn’t paint a pretty picture. So naturally, it’s time for a Greatest Hits album.”
“Chuckles! Crawler! Winter! Siberian! See all your favorite Slaughterhouse Nine classics in venues across America!”
Jack steps forward, broad grin on his mouth.
“And back for a special appearance, for a limited time only, we are proud to present…”
Lights go on in a cloning chamber off to the side.
“The Grey Boy!”
Jack leans forward and conspires with the audience, hand held up by his mouth.
“And take it from me, that kid is one sick fuck.”
noticed shatterbird, cherish, and mannequin didn’t make the list 😦
Well I think the DNA they are using is from Accord’s database and Shatterbird/Cherish might not have been in there. Mannequin probably doesn’t have any DNA to use as all his organs are stuck safely tucked away.
…wait… how does siberian leave behind dna?
It’s William Manton rather than the projection.
*Smokes a cigarette*
After a few drinks.
Checked Interlude 19.x. They had Mannequin.
They all made the list. ‘All s9, past and present’, had a row to themselves.
Undead-Spaceman on April 4, 2013 at 01:02 said:
I’m frankly kinda surprised a group as mobile, chaotic, and hunted as the Nine were able to set such a cloning lab.
I mean, clearly they stole it from someone else but who exactly would have a genetics/cloning lab that big lying around?
Probably the dead tinker whose body they stepped over at one point.
If I am not mistaken, I think they are cloning them with DNA they got from Accords lab and while I am not sure about shatterbird or cherish I highly doubt anyone could get DNA from mannequin.
ninaj’d 😥
Skitter probably could have, when she cracked his head open.
I think all the living parts of mannequin were sealed in his torso, with all appendages being completely detachable, but I could be wrong about that.
Oh yes, Mannequin is a tough nut to crack if you’re looking for DNA… but he’s only been Mannequin for about 5(?) years. Before that he was Alan Gramme, aka Sphere, and while his mind was wildly different his genetics were identical.
And then Simurgh stages a mass breakout from Birdcage.
With Inmates that have been enhanced with a dose of bodyhorror from Panacea.
Then Jack finds all the inmates and has Bonesaw stitch them all together to create a giant ball of super-powered criminals
This needs to be a level in the next Katamari Damacy game.
And they all team up with the Slaughterhouse Nine-whatever and Nilbog.
Don’t forget about Sleeper, who/whatever he/she/it/they is/are.
Then Scion goes rogue and teams up with the Endbringers
Aharon on January 23, 2014 at 14:45 said:
At lunchtime, of course.
Thanatos on December 28, 2014 at 19:56 said:
Yes, as I tried to point out when that interlude occurred, that was an incredibly dark part. Now, with the fact that they’ve managed to clone Siberian and Crawler about 10 times over each, I somehow doubt everyone’s going to be all like “Woohoo, they took down Siberian, they should be easy pickings now,” this time like they were then. Oh, and do remember just how quickly Blasto got the Simurgh clone going. 5 years in that short amount of time.
That’s also the interlude where I stopped wanting Wormverse Earth to survive.
This interlude doesn’t help. The PRT has learned absolutely nothing. Wanting to bring in Saint, acting so stupidly, more worried about not covering up that they did all this than the fact that they did it.
Even Dragon and Defiant…bleh…that little compromise “We’ll just wait until the next Endbringer attack.” Problem is, there’s always a next Endbringer attack and they always wind up in bad shape afterwards. So after the next one it’ll be “But all our hard work was undone in that attack. Just let us wait until the next attack. We’ll be all set then. Promise.”
Luckily, I don’t have to be a good guy in the morning, so let’s get some recommendations out of the way. Seeing as the very reasonable audit has been refused, and Alexandria still isn’t gone, I recommend Dragon and Defiant leave and let them call in Saint. Then, execute and liquidate all members of the PRT, Saint included.
And by liquidate, I mean I want them reduced to a liquid.
Mr. and Mrs. Dragon need to form a shadow conspiracy with Skitter and others in response to this idiocy with the few decent heroes they can find. Because at this point, I honestly don’t think the PRT can keep from self destructing without help/maneuvers in the shadows to counteract their terrible ideas. The peter principle in action. All the smart ones are dead, racist/retired, or supervillains.
Don’t think skitter is gonna side with that happy couple anytime soon.
Desperation and the End of the world can form unlikely alliances.
Use a faulty trans-matter ray. That one usually liquifies gold, I’m sure it can do people too.
I wonder if the liquified flesh will smell like cumin also.
MrMoray on April 4, 2013 at 01:00 said:
To be honest, I don’t actually believe Defiant and Dragon plan on waiting for the next Endbringer situation to be wrapped up. They just agreed in order to escape the current situation and probably plan on going rogue, if Defiant’s attempt to free Dragon from her slavery works.
Problem witht hat is they didn’t factor in the:
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ConservationOfNinjutsu
Those clones will get torn up so fast.
There’s also something I’ve noticed regarding the clones; from what I can tell, their powers can fluctuate, since he was happy it had the appropriate piece of the brain that powers awaken, rather than rely on the Simurgh’s natural powers.
There might be some minor conservation depending on how long it takes Bonesaw to put in their various protective upgrades.
First off, it’s interesting that everyone commented on that one typo so quickly. Goes to show how much we fans obsess over the story.
Here we have our first true shifting perspective interlude (not counting the end of Blasto’s). So many different reactions to this one news story, many of which we expected. I’m sad that Danny didn’t get to see the students support Taylor; that would have done wonders to his emotional outlook. Jack’s reaction to the news story was as expected, too. He would have been even more tickled if he knew Taylor was using him as inspiration during the confrontation.
Out of all the scenes, a few questions and plot threads emerged. Just my thoughts and observations:
1. Why didn’t anyone question Emma? Greg was an okay choice, but he didn’t know Taylor as well as he thought. Nearly everyone would know Emma would be the go-to gal to talk to. Did her dad take her away already?
2. Dragon’s not talking, so the hack to give her freedom didn’t work as planned. But Defiant was still smug about it. So Dragon can supposedly recover? I’m not sure how that works, as she’s an AI. Maybe merging with a save state or something? Dunno.
3. The PRT is willing to work with established murderers with no sense of honor, loyalty, or inherent conscience. Then they’re essentially forcing D&D to work with them. They really are morally bankrupt. They’ll probably keep putting off the “cleaning house” until it’s moot. Dragon has got to realize this is exactly what Taylor was talking to her about, in choosing who you follow and how it affects others.
4. Seriously? No one at the PRT has yet realized Dragon’s an AI?
5. Hookwolf seems to be still under the miasma’s effects. New nightmare fuel.
6. What the hell is Bonesaw’s operation gonna be? Why does it involve flickering lights and Hookwolf suddenly going quiet?
7. Bonesaw is using Blasto to create all the S9 past and present, multiple times. But Gray Boy only gets one. The implications are disturbing.
Also, I don’t know if this is a mistake or not, but it mentions that there were multiple Blasto clones for every member of the Nine expect Jack and Gray Boy. Does that mean there will be multiple Bonesaws? Or are there none because she’s needed to control the operation? Just a bit confusing.
I do not think Bonesaw would risk making a clone of herself.
Only ones uncloned are Jack and Grey Boy, I thought?
I think they’re getting only one. As a ‘back-up’ perhaps.
The current Nine seems to be going silent for some reason when Bonesaw flips a switch. With that, and the fact that they’re cloning Jack at all, maybe they’re just going to put themselves in some sort of stasis hidden somewhere, let all the 9 clones cause chaos, and then, once the heroes seem to have wiped out the Slaughterhouse once and for all, they wake up and show themselves off just in time for the world to utter a collective “Fucking bullshit!”
one grey boy, no jack, as far as I can tell. Which means, to me, jack is getting put in all of them.
I don’t think Defiant has hacked Dragon’s freedom yet. I think she’s just partially disabled because she disobeyed orders to harm kids and capture Skitter.
Also, No. 6. Horrible scenario I see is making a Jack/Hookwolf hybrid. A man made of living blades that can be infinitely extended in reach? Yikes.
oooooh, I forgot about the hybrid applications. The wormverse can not catch a break. You are a cruel and evil god wilbow.
Jack Slashwolf?
Hookwolf Jack?
Jackwolf?
Poke & Prod?
Infinite Enlongation?
Yeah, that last one seems likely
1. if i had to guess emma was still inside the school having a quiet breakdown, thus was not available for comment since the news team was locked outside
2. guessing a mix of what you and moray said. conflict in programming + hack attempt not quite there yet. Dragon 2.0 clearly a failure, 2.1 will be beta-tested soon.
3. practicality wins over principles. i’m seeing a certain irony in this situation with relation to the undersiders, but i can’t quite put my finger on it.
4. nope. they probably just think def-master was able to pull her out of her agoraphobia as long as she didn’t have to deal with the world at large.
5. noticed that too, wonder what happens if he ever wakes up.
6. some WMG up above. personally i’m leaning towards the S9 becoming the S50 myself…
7. shrug?
Emma is probably crying in a corner, with a can of Raid at hand.
Every cockroach, every fly, every bee could be Taylor looking for revenge. She doesn’t know that Taylor doesn’t really give a shit about her anymore. Every day there isn’t an attack will simply cause the paranoia to build.
Sarah Byrne (@SarahIFByrne) on April 4, 2013 at 05:40 said:
Just wondering if the psychological effects of the revelation were to build up, would that be enough for a trigger event?
Shadow Stalker caused Skitter to trigger, Skitter cause Emma to trigger?
Perhaps I’m reaching a bit here
And then Emma makes Shadow Stalker trigger again, completing the triangle.
No, Emma caused Sophia’s trigger in the first place, and this has all been an extremely long, drawn-out way of getting revenge.
Tattletale’s trigger event was psychological, but I don’t see Emma triggering. I don’t know to what extent this is a selection effect on who we see, but all the parahumans so far have had a kind of emotional strength that Emma lacks — including the rogue, Parian.
Well it has been shown that being near parahumans seems to increase the chances of having a trigger event. Sophia seemed to almost have a psychotic break from the fact that her entire world view was destroyed by Taylor. She was strong but not vicious, they beat her with pitiful ease as a team instead of the lone wolf crap she spouted, and most of all she showed that someone weak could become someone strong. There was probably a flashback to whatever fucked her up and caused her trigger event. Emma is a possibility I guess. Her fight and flight reflex was pushed to the breaking point by the ABB but she didn’t trigger like Aisha did when she was attacked. Though Cauldron might give her dad a discount just to fuck with Taylor. I have to admit to being interested in Emma right now, especially if she does trigger. She is like sophia in that her entire world view was just shattered by Taylor in that she was overwhelmingly strong but she didn’t fight back against her, and that she probably could have done horrifying things to her if she wanted to. There is a chance she becomes a better person, but this is the girl who idolizes/imitates sophia which is pathetic/sad and I hope she at least thinks a bit more about the path she is on. A parahuman Emma is interesting in that I honestly can predict what she would do. She isn’t a decent human being, the PRT must look like crap to her after the debacle in the school, and sophia always preferred to be a lone wolf. So I can see her trying to be a vigilante that avoids the Undersiders like the plague and only messes with the Teeth, the fallen, or Accord’s crew while trying to be like sophia by trying to put weak people in their place. On the other hand she might choose the villain route, and she admits in her own fucked up way that she kind of wanted Taylor to stand up to them so they could be friends again at some point. Sophia and the others can’t have the best and most healthy relationship with each other. So a villain Emma try to stay out the way, build up a reputation, and try to join Accords crew for protection. I wouldn’t mind seeing her try to join the Undersiders just for Taylor reaction. Would she let her join as a minion? Would she ignore her? Is there any chance of them every being close again? I mean Taylor is friends with Bitch of all people, so the possibility isn’t too out there if Emma was truly remorseful and Tattletale checked her out for sincerity.
Um the Muse on April 4, 2013 at 11:36 said:
I wonder if Dragon’s inability to react much to this meeting *is* the temporary hack allowing her to circumvent the PRT’s directions? “Oops, I’m temporarily deaf and blind, I guess I can’t obey your orders, la la la.”
I assumed that the flickering lights were due to massive power draws from the cloning chambers.
Why do you say that Hookwolf is under the miasma’s effect? I thought he joined them willingly? By the way does that imply that everyone in the S9 is white? Hookwolf was in a white supremacy group, after all.
Their recruitment of him seemed to be that they grabbed him during the miasma and ran. In this chapter, he still talks about his mind being hazy. They probably had to cure him so he’d recognize them, but that doesn’t mean that the damage is completely repaired.
If it wasn’t for the need for him to recognize his own teammates, I doubt they’d have ever cured him of that.
^What he said, also Shatterbird was Middle Eastern
So they arent racist; at least Jack Slash has that going for him
Also, Crawler was black
Trufax
Greg walked up and started talking. Emma may be hiding/frozen,or otherwise not in shape to give interview.
This was a great chapter but I really wished the scene with Danny and friends was longer and we had something about Emma or her dad freaking out/reacting to this. Also I really have to question the new Director, I mean, bring in the Dragonslayers to hand a prison full of supervillains? Yeah, I’m sure that’ll end well.
Also, am I the only laughed when Jack sat bare bottom on a cold, metal chair. I don’t the know, the mental image I had of him flinching slightly and quickly resuming his expression before anyone noticed was funny.
It was my impression the Dragon owned the birdcage and the land surrounding it, so the birdcage would still belong to her if she left.
New thought: if dragon is really rouge, can she find a way to release prisoners?(ie: canary)
@Clarvel: So, you’re suggesting she might actually be a “red” dragon? Pretty standard colour, as far as dragons go.
…unless you somehow meant “red” as in “communist” — but this is the 21st century, after all. The red menace is sooooo last millennium.
I never mentioned any colors?
Right – rouge is a makeup more than it is a color. Not really sure where Hg was going with the whole “red” thing.
Alexandria proposed the hiring of Saint, not Tagg
Alexandria stepped down.
The PRT director on conference call would have been her own replacement
Alexandria stepped down, obviously.
I don’t think it was stated anywhere that Chief Director Costa-Brown stepped down.
…although if she hadn’t she would be tagged in the post, so never mind.
From the whole “that ship has sailed, no offense Chief Director” line, I gathered that she was still in power
@Pandemonious Ivy: …also, she’s tagged in the post now. So, um, never mind2.
That should be “never mind squared” (I guess the sup tag doesn’t work).
“Brockton Bay wasn’t lacking in stories to tell. The quarantine building alone was THE NINTH TIME SOMEONE HAS COMMENTED ON THIS SUBJECT, AND WE HAVE BECOME EXCEEDINGLY EFFICIENT AT IT”
Okay, now that I’ve got that obligatory bit of ribbing out of the way…
I like the different perspectives. Nice to get to see a snapshot of how the last chapter is rippling out across the Wormverse.
Also, not surprised that Greg figured out that the whole clusterfuck was in large part his fault. Wonder how that’s going to impact him? Might make him a more reflective person, which given his issues couldn’t hurt.
Liked the Sophia bit. For a moment I was thinking the sheer degree of butthurt would give her a second trigger then and there.
The Slaughterhouse Over Nine Thousand is quite the Chekhov’s Military-Industrial Complex to be setting away for a future arc. For maximum fun, bet its release coincides with an Endbringer attack.
Called that Piggy wasn’t dumb enough to have thought this was in any way a good idea. I do wonder how the relationship between D&D on one hand and Alexandria on the other is going to go from here, though, since they’ve essentially put each other on notice that their cooperation now has conditions and a timetable. Basically, can D&D dispose of Saint (assuming they’re willing to in the first place, given that “disposal” will probably have to involve killing him) before Alexandria figures that Saint has enough of a handle on all of Dragon’s tech that D&D can be eliminated without risking a Birdcage breakout or any other unpleasantness? Because no way does Alexandria let them stay indefinitely, now that they’ve made it clear that they’re only putting up with her bullshit on extreme sufferance.
Do hope that Dragon comes out of this without too much damage.
I also wonder if Danny’s going to get people visiting to try and relay their thanks to Skitter through him. It would certainly help give him a more balanced perspective on Taylor’s other life.
Honestly, the only gripe I have is that there are still so many more people whose perspectives on this I’d like to see, but since that would turn this into more of an interlude novel than an interlude chapter I can accept it.
>>”The Slaughterhouse Over Nine Thousand is quite the Chekhov’s Military-Industrial Complex to be setting away for a future arc. For maximum fun, bet its release coincides with an Endbringer attack.”
Anything else you’d like added to that? A mass jailbreak from the Birdcage, perhaps?
Nilbog decides to pull a Loki from the avengers and targets the nearest big city to assimilate, someone from Cauldron goes batshit and puts their formula in the water supply causing an entire town to trigger at once, and the Smurf decides to hit Washington.
And it turns out that Gray Boy’s power is to make Zion think that everything is an Endbringer.
And then everything converges on Brockton Bay at the exact same time. Probably after a two year time skip so we get are end of the world scenario.
*our
Well if Wildbow does do a once a day interlude again, I vote for either an all undersider week that ends with a new member, or just a reaction to the last chapter with all the interludes.
Not that future of an arc. If you’ll remember, it took maybe a few hours for Simyrddin to grow into, what, a 5 year old?”
From a narrative perspective, I’d say it’s at least two arcs out. Next arc is likely to be about dealing with the aftermath of this one. The Slaughterhouse 9001 showing up would immediately turn it into an arc about them, and the last world-ending threat was too recent for Jack and Bonesaw’s Carnival of Horrors to have the impact it really should.
D&D vs Dragonslayers
let’s not forget that’d be a fight in itself. iirc Dragon’s record against Saint is 0 for 9. defmaster might be the thing she needs to sway the odds, but if they have the PRT backing them by that point…?
Then D&D will need Skitter. She’s good at breaking PRT-backed Dragon stuff.
While Skitter would be a big help, I don’t think the Dragonslayers will have the same luck with Dragon next time around. From what I’ve read, Saint mostly preyed upon the faults in Dragon’s programming and never really won on the grounds of might alone. Defiant appears to have just removed that handicap from Dragon. It would be highly amusing to see Saint try the same old logic bombs or exploits on Dragon, only to have her turn the tables on him in a way he couldn’t possibly have anticipated.
The Slaughterhouse 9000 attack just as an Endbringer does. In the confusion they destroy the Endbringer, only halving the size of their group. The world as one focuses on a blinking Jack Slash who, noticing the attention suddenly, flashes a true showmans smile and…
The universe puts it’s petri dish into a washing machine, shaking it’s head and wondering why they always end up batshit crazy.
Throwing some stock dust clouds into a new dish, the Universe settles down for Ham Sandwich to ponder the reboot.
Graham Percival on April 4, 2013 at 01:08 said:
Great to see the reaction from various quarters! I especially enjoyed seeing people reacting to different parts of the news story.
Regarding the slaughterhouse 9 clones, I hope Jack is smart enough to realize that unleashing them all at once would make them susceptible to the law of conversation of ninjutsu. One Jack is scary 10 Jacks at once far less so.
One Jack that seemingly comes back from the dead again and again however would be quite terrifying. (The comic Promethea had a nice take on this sort of idea.)
Well there are two ways to go. Number one they ALL attack one place at the same time to do the most damage. Washington, the Birdcage, or just a populated/undefended city. Number two they attack EVERY city with capes at the same time. This means there won’t be any reinforcements/coordinating of resources on a single place. Jack can’t be sure they won’t bomb the city if they are all there. Plus it lets them work in their element, with each city’s heroes pretty much on their own.
The latter option /would/ provide a justifiable reason for S9 members showing up in Brockton Bay again.
I gotta say, though, that Wildbow isn’t the type to play the Conservation of Ninjutsu trope straight. Probably.
Anyways, it explicitly mentions no clones of Jack.
riceraider on April 4, 2013 at 01:21 said:
I have now found something to be more terrifying than fighting all the endbringers at the same time.
Who remembers Hackjob? The mix of 2 mutants by Bonesaw… And now she has all the Slaughterhouse 9 front and back to toy with. I am imagining a Crawler with everyone’s abilities all sort of mashed together. Let’s see…
The new slaughterhouse amalgamation would be a infinity regenerating, pyromaniac tinker, who can manipulate emotions and do everything else under the sun they can do… I have the distinct feeling that this monster might be able to take down Leviathan and Behemoth. Not sure about Simurg though.
But can it see why kids love Cinnamon Toast Crunch?
It’s for the same reason that Apple Jacks don’t taste like apples.
They taste like Applejack? That’s mean.
Considering that Behemoth is probably powerful enough to incinerate Crawler and pyrokinesis is useless against him, I wouldn’t necessarily bet on that outcome.
It’s in situations like these that it really strikes me that Leviathan (a.k.a. horrible, city-killing, unstoppable monster) is really the weakest of the three Endbringers.
leviathan (a.k.a horrible, continent-destroying, unstoppable monster)
There, I fixed it for you :thumbsup:
Newfoundland is big, but it’s not continent-big.
Japan sorta is, though…
Leviathan is arguably the least scary Endbringer, but he’s still my favorite.
All they need is one former member who counts as a precog, and this new cape “Slaughterhouse” will beat Simurgh easily. If they get the Crawler powers far enough first, at least.
Also, what a self fulfilling prophesy: A precog who knows they eventually join the S9 and are driven crazy by it to the point where they actually fit the group.
MrVoid on April 4, 2013 at 01:23 said:
Was principal Howell just being rude/ inattentive when she referred to Stan Vickery as Mr. Vickers or is that just a typo?
Not a typo.
Stan! Fuckin’! Vickers! Hey, thanks fer validating my chosen trade that I wasted thousands in education for Wildbow! A positively portrayed journalist in a superhero universe is as rare as a principled officer in a PRT meeting!
Also, Piggot looking at a PRT operation and going “Oh, for fuck’s sake!” that’s a bad sign.
I have a Mr. Kent and a Mr. Parker here who like to disagree with you on that bit about portrayals of journalists. Also a Ms. Lane, a Ms. West, a Ms. Park…actually the line seems to be stretching around the block. Should they just start taking numbers?
Justin Sanak on April 8, 2015 at 14:48 said:
Seconded. Hell, a positively (and fairly accurately) portrayed journalist is hard to come by in any type of media. You’ve done a fantastic job of capturing both what makes us tick and the frustrations of the job.
johnwedd on April 4, 2013 at 01:54 said:
I’m liking the idea of a birdcage inmates vs. the s9 clone army
Yes… I’m starting to think the Birdcage might end up saving the world.
By the way, this chapter makes me feel really bad for Danny.
That man has been served plate after plate of shit in this story.
Oh, Danny, don’t you weep don’t you mourn
PRT’s army got Skittered
Oh, Danny, don’t you mourn
Well, he did kinda order them when he failed to stand up for his daughter when Alan decided to fuck her over.
What standing-up could he have done? He was offered a choice between “let Emma go free” and “have his daughter thrown in juvie for assault”. Now, I don’t know anything about prison, but I wouldn’t want it for my daughter.
Those were the choices he was offered, sure, but there were other choices. He could have fought any criminal or civil charges, and retaliated with civil charges of his own, ‘cuz lets face it, a single altercation was not gonna get Taylor sent to juvie, that wasn’t in the cards. Probably have to take out a second mortgage on the house to do it, but the inaction he chose was disgusting. Letting Emma and Sophie off with a slap on the wrist, and a blank check from both their parents and the administration to do whatever they want to Taylor in the future? Teaching Taylor that she can never, ever trust society to look out for her? Teaching Taylor that any justice she wants she’ll have to take by force from scumbags like Alan and apathetic school administrators? So far from acceptable.
Other options include taking the issue to the court of public opinion and potentially smearing Alan’s name. Alan talked big, but if Danny went this way, dollars to donuts Alan backed down, he doesn’t strike me as a stupid man, and that sort of kerfuffle closes doors. If Danny was not a nice guy, he could have scrounged up the money to hire a vigilante/villain to solve his Barnes Problem.
Danny could have punched Alan out, or tried. Probably the second worst solution, but at least it’d have left Taylor knowing there’s at least one authority in the world willing to stand up for her, even if it’s only her dad. Instead she got a nice pointed lesson in “nobody gives a fuck about you, kid, better learn to look out for #1”.
Hell, bullying is an issue that many people can relate to. Just have him publicly tell others the story of what they are doing, and see if anyone will donate. Heck, have a hidden tape recorder, and come in for a meeting and have him admit the evil crap the trio was doing. Then he can countersue for any and all court fees.
The thing is, most of Alan’s argument was bluster that lawyers use to bully their way into the situation that they want. If Danny had stood his ground then Alan would have had to change his tack some. The worst part of it all? Schoolboard had to have known that Sophia was a Ward; They were giving her preferential treatment because of it. It’s also why there was talk of sending them over to the other school, initially, no doubt. All because of their little pet project and for the sake of PR, they ruined lives.
Which might yet be brought out into the open by Stan! Fuckin’! Vickers! Which means plenty of bad PR.
Well there are two bright spots for the wormverse. A unchained Dragon is going to help immensely, especially if she can reproduce. A scion that is willing to kill might be able to take care of the crawler/siberian clones. If there are people worshiping the Endbringers, then there are probably people who worship him and are going to be praying for him to intervene pretty soon.
…Oh god. Unchained dragon. That can replicate. And the replicants can replicate. Isn’t that exactly the terminology used by Wildbow in the comments for the previous chapter for what constitutes an immediate ranking as an S-class threat?
But she’s a good guy. The world would be better off with her unchanged. Who knows, the wormverse could soon approach the technological singularity if she was self-replicating. Granted we have all be shown countless examples of AI that go nuts and try to kill us all but I find it refreshing that Dragon is a good person.
In fact, Leviathan was probably directed by the Smurf to attack just to kill him before he could enact this.
“I will take security without question.”
Then you’re not very secure, are you?
My prediction that the Birdcage will open is looking better all the time.
If you have an inescapable prison in a story, of COURSE there’s going to be a breakout.
Okay, yeah, duh. Still.
Its not explicitly mentioned but I’m fairly certain that dragon owns the birdcage, so prison releases would be entirely her affair.
Indeed; Technically, it is private property and she holds them on sufferance. If she were to declare that those within her territory are absolved of their crimes, there is nothing the world could really do about it. They (the government(s)) willingly transferred their prisoners over to Dragon, which removes all culpability and capacity to interfere legally. Thus Lung couldn’t be tried and sentenced for the crimes he commited once again if he was released by Dragon; He couldn’t even be deported, because he is still a citizen of the country, which is an inviolable right granted by the Declaration of Human Rights. And if they try to even intimate that it holds no water for parahumans? Hoo boy the can of worms that would open…
But can’t the government do something with the fact that she is “technically” a canadian citizen? Legally the birdcage is probably in a very interesting situation and I wonder if it counts as a privately owned/operated prison. There doesn’t seem to be any government oversight. At the very least I would want a bunch of employees whose only job is to watch the cameras in case of abuse by Dragon towards the prisoners.
‘Murica!! The most secure, free nation in the world!
Matthew K on April 4, 2013 at 03:31 said:
My favourite bit was everything.
I didn’t remember where the story with Manzaneres was so in case anyone wants to check that it was here: https://parahumans.wordpress.com/category/stories-arcs-1-10/arc-7-buzz/7-07/
Saintsant on April 4, 2013 at 04:07 said:
Hey, now we’ve got a villain named Saint! I approve.
“Without the Protectorate, how does the event tend to unfold??”
Two question marks.
His name was actually mentioned way back somewhere. Dragon’s Interlude, I believe.
‘Saint, the head of the group that would become known as the Dragonslayers, had somehow discovered what she was and had used her rules and limitations against her.’
Hmm, isn’t that interesting. Won because he used her rules and limits against her. Her rules and limits that Colin just surgically excised from her.
Their next fight is going to be a fun one to watch. Really hope we get to see it on screen.
Well, we don’t know what limits were removed- presumably Saint wasn’t using actual authority to override her, after all.
I also wonder how well Saint can deal with quite literal bugs in the system…
Saint George, presumably^_^
was my guess as well.
Not new. He’s come up before.
We’ve had him for awhile now.
Ascaloth on April 4, 2013 at 04:17 said:
I don’t know if it’s just me, but I’m actually betting that the S9K will end up having a lesser effect on Brockton Bay than the S9 expected, for one simple reason.
The Brockton Bay capes have already fought a mutant clone army before.
Ellert on April 4, 2013 at 09:51 said:
I can actually see it before my minds eye. Jack standing triumphantly in front Showmans-smile and all and the Brocktonites going meh we ve had worse.
Which could actually get Jack going wtf is wrong with this city? Everywhere else people freak when we show up and here they go oh its lunchtime already.
Chiro on April 4, 2013 at 04:58 said:
… So. I’m finally caught up.
Now what am I going to do with my free time?
It’s been an awesome ride, Wildbow. Now I guess I get to hang out waiting for updates with the rest of you guys.
Have you read the comments section previously? If not, be ready for your obligatory welcome by Psycho Gecko.
Welcome to the Wormling fold. Grandmaster PG will be with you shortly.
Welcome! I only caught up a week or so behind you, and boy can I relate. We’re glad you joined us on this crazy whirligig of fun. We’ll all be one big happy family while it spirals down to Hell.
*Rides up on a sleigh pulled by a pair of giant pekingese, a pair of cuckoos perched on his shoulder and an earhorn hanging out one ear, holding a yellow and curved spear.*
Welcome, honored dead by archive binge. Luckily you avoided getting caught by the woman with only half her bodyparts actually being alive, but I am sure you’d hate being in the clutches of some overly plastic surgeried actress.
Stay awhile. Test your mental mettle against the other souls in limbo here, waiting for the end of Worm’s days.
Just be careful of that Psycho Gecko fellow. I hear he has delusions of grandeur, which he doesn’t need as a godly sex symbol who knows where his towel is at.
*Hopes off to give you a biiiiiiiig squeezy hug* Say, do you work out?
Oh, this guy. And… no.
Hi everyone. I come via TVTropes.
Some of us have put a lot of work into the TVtropes page. Especially Packbat.
Do you remember which trope led you to Worm?
I wish I did, but sadly I’ve totally forgotten.
The page is awesome, by the way. Very comprehensive.
Something that has bothered me since the first episode with Blasto. There are two or more concepts of how the passengers interact with their hosts: one says that the passenger initiates a change in the brain structure when it establishes a link with it’s host. The other school of thought is that you can be born as a child of a parahuman or created as a clone with the proper brain structure and that will cause an appropriate passenger to take up residence. Note that with children it isn’t a sufficient condition as they still require something to trigger. What Bonesaw is doing seems to be cutting corners in a pretty spectacular fashion (mix the DNA, build the brain region and the right passenger will *just* have to appear). Then again Cauldron seems to have made the process somewhat deterministic. I realize that this is a plot device and that this is fiction, but ….
Alternate possibility is what if it’s the same passenger that links to all the clones? It might not be noticeable for some since the passenger may be able to spread themselves out pretty easily but in others, like the Siberian, maybe you wind up with clones that aren’t quite as omnipotent as the original was.
This was my concern as well. And the Cauldron process isn’t *entirely* determined; you might get a fire agent but it could be one gives you pyrokinesis or one that gives you thermal vision and rocket feet. You never know. What I expect is that they have ten clones each so that at least one will have useful powers.
You know, the variations Cauldron sees could also explain why Noelle’s clones were similar, but often had variant powers that diverged from the norm.
I tihnk that the divergence of the powers within a clone-group is merely just another facet of that particular passenger’s power, myself. Each connects to the passenger along a different tendril, and so touches a related-but-different particular power, especially with each of their… Medulla Corolla? Being different on the synaptic level. Or whatever that part is called that holds the powers. I forgot the name. >.<.
Toyota Corona.
pookywb on July 13, 2015 at 00:43 said:
Of course, Cauldron (at least that we know) has not tested their formula on identical clones……
We shall see how this plays out!
Catquiet on April 4, 2013 at 05:12 said:
“What forces drive a child from this… To this?”
Emma’s screwed. She can leave the city to get away from Skitter but pretty soon everyone will know she harassed a 15 year old who had just lost her mother into a mental breakdown/trigger event.
Fiona on April 7, 2013 at 15:47 said:
Kids in the school already knew that (minus the trigger event) and didn’t care. Happens everyday.
Yeah, but now? They just found out that 15 year old is one of the most powerful people in the city, someone who beat the S9, MULTIPLE ENDBRINGERS, a shitton of PRT heroes, some of the Wards, and to top it all off, is pretty damn popular now.
5 bucks says she now is a pariah, at school and home.Nobody will want to be near her if possible, either because at how upset they are, or because you don’t want to be near her incase Skitter comes back for some revenge.
Hell, I think her neighbors will be filing petitions for her family to be evicted, or at least moved out of their house, no sense in risking collateral damage when Skitter attacks. And while Skit might not, well…. do you see Bitch taking this news lightly? Especially when she finds out who was responsible?
That’s not even counting how her father’ll be affected, because right now? Odds are all her past transgressions are being checked, and people’ll start to wonder “What else did he cover up for his daughter?” And that taint will remain with him if he wants to become a politician, if he goes for a promotion, because the Partners will weigh the risk of promoting someone connected to such a hotheaded idiot who made some dangerous enemies…
Actually, I wonder whose territory she lives in? Because I imagine that whoever runs that area will be keeping a “close” eye on Emma and family. For her protection, of course. And as a subtle reminder: We’re watching you.
If she ever gets back to school I’d definitely think she’d be a pariah. But I seriously doubt that girl is going to be in any sort of mental state that allows for school for quite some time now. How awesome would it be if insurance companies started to look at them and then jacked the rates for “Skitter Insurance” or refused to cover any future damages because “Acts of Skitter are included under Acts of God and not covered.” Hehehehe.
piratekingray on January 22, 2015 at 16:38 said:
I would be curious to see Emma’s breakdown. Did Alan believe that Emma was being innocent and it was mean ol taylor? But yeah, once Taylor’s past comes out things aren’t going to look good for the family. Alan would be asked “why the fuck did you cover up for that?” Emma would have a hard time modeling (I doubt anyone would want a bitch like her no matter how hot. Anne wouldn’t get a job or would have a hard time finding one. Alan would be shunned like the plague as “that asshole who drove skitter to villainy or helped.”
It’s like in house of cards; this general dude raped Claire Underwood. now that she’s the vice president’s wife, the military is finally forced to take action when she publicly accuses said general of his crimes. Something might happen to Alan Emma and the rest; because the person they bullied is now so powerful people will be pressured to look into it.
Alec already sent the evidence of Emma’s crimes from when he bodyjacked sophia so Emma would have been fucked regardless.
This was the perfect way to show the after math of the school.
Someguy on April 4, 2013 at 09:52 said:
Two of the 3 Stooges down, 1 to go. Madison Clements yooooouuuurr….. NEXT!
Hilarious possibility: the Clements are among the people who owe a direct debt to the Undersiders for their lives.
I can totally see that happening…..Oh God cruel irony. Whatever did happen to the Maddie?
Who knows. She was the most juvenile of the bullies so I say let bygones by bygones after a little playground payback. Nothing too bad. Maybe a wedgie hanging from the top of a building, a swirly in the middle of Leviathan’s temper tantrum forcing her to swim to land, or just hiring all of the kids in her territory to constantly attack/harass her with soda filled water balloons.
Somegut on April 4, 2013 at 17:41 said:
Possibility: She’s one of Parian’s surviving relatives & neighbours who got Bone saw’d into s9 lookalikes. Extra irony: she got turned into a Bonesaw (fake).
Part of me is worried that the PRT is going to use the confusion and chaos of the next S-class event to clean house on their own — that is, to clean up the threat of Dragon and Defiant.
Still. The fact that Alexandria is still in control of the PRT makes me wonder ‘Why?’
What end is being served by the PRT, exactly? What is she getting out of it? She’s too smart to be doing it just for the hell of it, and it seems like running it as a ‘civilian’ is more important to her than being a cape is.
Great chapter as always, Wildbow! Excited to see what the new status quo looks like!
We didn’t see the Wards in this chapter, which is fine, but I’m terribly curious how they’re reacting to this.
In the plus column, they know more about Taylor now and what formed her to be who she is. They also saw how she held back on hurting anyone. Her arguments against D&D weren’t just a call for the robo-couple to wake up either, they apply just as well to the Wards too.
On the other hand, I’m picturing Kid Win at least as not a fan of hers at the moment. Yes, she didn’t sting or bite him, but a mouth and nose full of bugs is still a pretty disgusting thing to live through. I wondering if he’ll come away with a sense of “she’s not a bad girl, she’s a terrifying one. Keep her the hell away from me!”
Or, as a Tinker, “let me make sure that no bug ever gets within 5 feet of my body, ever ever again.”
Oh god…..a mini Manni. O.O
I strongly approve of this nickname.
Poor Kid-Win- The people interviewed didn’t even remember his name and when Skitter beat him last chapter she did so with laughable ease, tying him to the door and making him look like an idiot, she even pointed him to where she had put his gear as she walked of just to drive home just how irrelevant he was to her.
I think Kid-Win might very well have if not a second trigger event than at least the sort of psychotic break that usually leads mad scientist shouting things like “They laughed at me, but I will show them all!” while putting the finishing touches on their gigantic death ray.
He probably really needs to see the nice therapist from the interlude before he starts putting up job adverts for an Igor.
Well in his defense Skitter is the dreaded at this point. There is no shame to losing to the best. If anything his willingness to dare to take on someone who has humiliated the PRT speaks well to his bravery. Everyone loves an underdog, and all 3 of the wards are probably seen as such.
Would be nice if he could be that lucky, but it’s hard to be the underdog when you’re on the same side of the fight as two massive armored suits and your opponent is a sixteen-year-old girl.
Well be honest, who do you think the residents of Brockton Bay would bet on at this point? That sixteen year old girl or the heroes and the Dragon suits? I can see the wards getting more fans depending on how much Taylor is truly feared. Kid Win dared to take on Skitter, the girl who sent Dragon, Lung, and the Merchants running for the hills.
@TheAnt: Pretty sure the Brocktonites would be betting on Skitter, but that’s not the point. A large part of the appeal of the underdog is that David is a little guy compared to Goliath, that the Oakland A’s have a third of the payroll of the New York Yankees, that Batman is just a man while Superman is the goddamn Superman. Regardless of what odds you lay on different outcomes, being on the side with all the big guns and losing anyway is not a very good way to build sympathy in an audience.
Depends if they see Skitter as the bigger gun but fair point.
I just figured it out.
You know Star Fox 64? Kid Win is Slippy.
That’s terrible, now I can’t stop picturing him with that annoying voice. Kid Win needs a win pretty soon or his new name is Kid Lose.
It’s not purely terrible — if he realizes it, he can use it to his advantage. Slippy was basically a combination of G2, G3, and G4 services for Star Fox: he built the Arwings and the Landmaster, and as long as you kept him in the fight, he gave the full briefing on the weak points of your enemies. Look at Kid Win’s services in Arc 9: he was clearly pro working the console for his teammates, he pegged Chariot as a Coil plant on his own, and he spotted the implications of the nine bodies before anyone else despite being innumerate.
If I were his boss? I’d tell him to make floating ‘cameras’ with multiple data sensing and transmitting modes and make himself a conduit of tactical data for his team — a kind of cross between Skitter’s swarm-sense and Tattletale’s threat appreciation. Heck, pull another trick from Skitter’s book and equip them with projectors so they can act as decoys. Don’t be force, be force-multiplier.
I know in 64, in that level where he charges the boss and gets shot down, I once managed to kill that boss so quickly it didn’t happen.
Ah well.
Chug a barrel rum!
I’m not sure you can tell a Tinker what to build. They seem to require divine (passenger?) inspiration to build stuff. Probably can’t just do it on demand.
Asmora on April 4, 2013 at 10:56 said:
I want to give Dragon all the hugs! She’s just had core parts of her mind ripped out, and she’s still trying to put herself back together, yet she’s still got to stand up in front of the firing squad of her “superiors.” Worse, she has to put up with Colin’s grandstanding ass talking for her. I want to give her hugs and carry her off to Skitter’s hive and induct her into the Undersiders and let her finally be a good guy.
Well, it’s not noon yet, but this would be easy to miss: case –> cases
It’s nice to see that Armsmaster really has turned a new leaf. I like this new version better, too.
Aw, somebody beat me to the Slaughterhouse 9001 joke. Really, I’ve got to wonder why the other members seem to trust Bonesaw. I bet that she’s just the type to install self-destruct coin slots in her “friends” or something just for giggles.
Oops, I should clarify: the “case” above is referred to as the “glass case.” There were several other sentences mentioning a case.
Eduardo on April 4, 2013 at 12:32 said:
Can Jack and Bonesaw really control the clones? Blasto used to make them dumb and controlled by pheromones, but this kind of control is dangerous with Crawler.
Jack had trouble avoiding a Crawler vs Siberian fight, now he will unleash a hundred or more Crawlers? If they have the same masochism as the original they will soon be carving pieces off each other.
Ten cases of each of the Nine so at most he’s got to deal with 10 Crawlers vs 10 Siberians.
Kessler on April 4, 2013 at 15:22 said:
Bonesaw is really good with brain surgery. A little fixing and clones would be obedient enough.
Obedient, but not very smart probably. And yet Crawler, with his ability to adapt is a problem.
Ten each time that they do the cloning. If they can vacate a chamber per day and stay ten or more days in the lab …
But, of course, after the first batch staying in the same spot will be difficult. Perhaps the laboratory itself will not survive the first batch.
Seems like the jars with Siberian on them should say “Manton” instead because she wasn’t real, it was just a projection of some sort. Would clones have all the memories of the original? They shouldn’t since it is just DNA. Of course, this being Bonesaw, should could have taken a perfect neural map of these guys at some point to give them memories of everything that happened, if she thought to do it. Crawlers wouldn’t be crazy powerful right off the bat since they’d be revived as their normal selves, I think anyway.
I am very interested in Gray Boy and his history. Even Jack gave pause to him and they thought only 1 was enough.
Even with their memories it seems like it would take a little while for some of the Nine to get up to speed. Mannequin, for example, will need time to build his enviro-suit.
That might be a weak spot for them too. If he’s Tony Stake “made it in a cave, with scraps” then the Nine’s in good shape. If he needs to use any specialty parts or materials though they might have issues outfitting all of the Mannys or it’d be obvious that there are thefts that really need looking into
For mannequin, yeah, he is only good with his suit but he almost seems redundant with bonesaw there. Also, he would be one where he’d -have- to have his memories otherwise he wouldn’t be the same insane-driven man.
I really want to know what Chuckles did to be apart of the S9 and why that is his name. A insane clown cape maybe?
Curious about Grey Boy, I’m thinking he
might be as strong as Eidolon if the
selling powers to him comment was
I wonder why Jack has such a crush on Grey Boy? Was Grey Boy his mentor? His lover? His dad?!
Plus, what the hell PRT? You would really trust the birdcage to Saint?
What I’d really like to know is whether Saint is a tinker* or just a really smart really lucky normal. I’ve asked before but either Wildbow didn’t see it or was very pointedly Not Answering The Question.
*with a primary focus on computer hacking, natch**
**I just figured out that ‘natch’ is 90s-surfer-dude for ‘naturally’! After all these years! o_o
…Wow, really? >_>; Hello, Slowpoke. Heard about the war in Iraq yet? <_<
As for PRT trusting Saint- That's Costa-Brown aka Alexandria trusting Saint. Aka Cauldron. Aka the one that gave Saint powers, most likely, and probably also has him on payroll to reverse engineer Dragon's tech specifically for cases like THIS.
I am amazed there hasn’t been a case 53 attempting to assassinate someone yet. Defiant is right, the longer they keep this secret, the bigger the backlash.
I thought Alexandria already stepped down as Chief Director. Wouldn’t Ms. Conference call be her replacement?
Summer on April 30, 2018 at 19:22 said:
She did say that she would step down.
The chapter’s tagged Alexandria.
Took me a couple of years to figure out the joke from Hamlet about “country matters” I am ashamed to say. Or I would be, if I had any shame.
– I guess they’re the Slaughterhouse Ninety
now. Better yet, the Slaughterhouse OVER
9000!!! And I am certain – certain, I tells ya! – that nobody has ninja’d me on that joke yet.
– and Shadow Stalker gets her just desserts.
Mwahahahaha.
– “/Oh Danny Boy/oh something something
something soooomething/”
– anyone else think Dragon is basically
unconscious right now and her meatpuppet is
just being sockpuppeted by Defiant?
underwhelmingforce on April 4, 2013 at 20:02 said:
Hate to say it, but you were ninja’d a while back.
That was the joke 😦
Awesome! Foreshadowing so thick it’s tripping over itself in the murky gloom 🙂
Jakinbnadw on April 4, 2013 at 15:26 said:
Worm Fanfiction time! This was almost a crossover with another web original until I realized that I don’t really have time to cross reference two different stories and make sure I get them both right before the next chapter of Worm goes up. The story that I am basing this on is Interviewing Leather. Names changed so that no one can complain that I’m doing his point of view wrong. :p
Hope that Wildbow doesn’t mind my attempts at a fanfic, and that I do Skitter justice.
Oh who am I kidding. I am a n00b writer. This can only end badly.
Heading south along the coast towards Brockton Bay in my car was an interesting experience. I could where the outermost edges of the wave had hit the shore, and the hasty patching that had been done to make the road drivable. Every now and then I had to slow down passing road crews, but I was still making better time than I had expected and could see the city in the distance.
My name is Susland Mason and I am a freelance reporter who makes his living interviewing super villains. I’ve interviewed several over the years and learned a lot about how to handle the most dangerous people in our society. For one thing many of them are rather proud of what they do, and as long as I don’t pose a threat to their operation, they enjoy having me document a heist or two.
The other thing I’ve learned is not to get too attached to any of my possessions I bring with me on a job. I have lost so many vehicles since starting this gig that I can’t get insurance anymore and so I tend to drive pretty ugly cars. I no longer bring an expensive laptop with me, though I do invest in a decent camera for each job.
The final thing I’ve learned is to always call ahead. Always make sure the villain in question is cool with me hanging around with them for a while before heading into harms way. The reason is two fold: first it makes sure that they know that I am coming and have an opportunity to object ahead of time, the second is that I get a chance to judge from their tones if they are going to try to screw me over. despite how many villains I’ve interviewed, I’ve backed away from many more.
Calling first was a rule I’d always followed. That is until today when I was heading into Brockton Bay to interview Skitter, the local crime lord of the city, without calling first. There were several good reasons for it, not the least being that the local capes seemed to have it out for her. The official cape forums were locked down tight on the subject, with several bans happening and threads speculating about Skitter being deleted without any warning. There were stories floating around the news agencies that the PTR was putting pressure to shut up about the attack on the high school, or at least to put a less damaging spin on it. Nightmares of Endbringer attacks and the need for unity were starting to get the bigger news outlets to fall into line.
Me though? I believed that there was something big going on here. Bigger than usual. The threats of Endbringers made the attack and unmasking incredibly strange. Why would the PTR violate protocol and risk such dire consequences? What was going on that was more important than the safety of the world? More specifically, why was it so important to get a 16 year old girl, who seemed to have the backing of the residents of the city itself off the streets and discredit her?
I wanted her story. I figured that in this case, the only one who would give me a straight answer was Skitter herself. I also knew that there was no way that I would be able to go if I gave anyone any warning of what I was up to. Call me paranoid, but the way things were happening stunk of a coverup, and I know my phone is tapped. I allowed the PTR to do it when they threatened to prosecute me for collusion. They said it was for my own safety if anything when wrong. I believed them, but still didn’t trust them not to stop me if I was close to something they didn’t want uncovered.
So there I was, driving an old beat up 4 by 4 truck down a battered stretch of highway, with my cell phone turned off. No one knew where I was, and I had no safety net to fall back on. For the first time in this business I was truly on my own. I had one thing going for me; Skitter had never attacked civilians as far as I could tell. She never killed, and would give me fair warning if she didn’t want to speak to me.
My hands were wet with sweat as I drove down the road, Brockton Bay in the distance. I had never been this scared since my first ever interview with a Super Villain. I hoped I wasn’t heading to my death.
I suddenly want this to be an interlude. I would LOVE see Wildbow do something like this. Skitter needs her side out there.
In all honesty, you had me at “The story that I am basing this on is Interviewing Leather.” (Here, for the curious — I imagine Worm fans would find it very interesting and not nearly dark enough.)
I’d probably suggest posting it on fanfiction.net or something, though – easier to link to and edit.
Great story, and I am curious how it would go down.
Thanks! I’m glad that it isn’t as horrible as I feared.
I might when I’m done. The good thing about posting it here is that it will get lost and never seen again in a few days, on FF.net, it is forever. :p
Anyway, I hope you enjoy it so far
well the comments are all still viewable, and I think only wildbow has editing privileges, so it really is forever!
Bah, after tomorrow night no one will ever see this! Which is good in a way because it probably won’t make sense after tomorrow night :p
Holodrum on March 2, 2015 at 12:44 said:
But, I’m doing a re-read of the story and found it years later. How does that make you feel?
… what, never? 🙂
— Dave, after a leap year
holy hell, leather is a great story!
1) I loved it, very intriguing, well done!
2) I read Interviewing Leather via a comment linking it in the last arc, very awesome, loved it
like a few others have said, the tt/skitter portions seem just a bit rushed and dont *quite* capture their personalities imo.
to me, tattletale would probably be more circular in her teasing, trying to figure out every angle before homing in for the final stab once she’s gotten everything she needs.
skitter i don’t think would be quite so free with her info. hers and leather’s personalities are vastly different—skitter more defensive i think—so you’d need to find a new way for mason to weasel her way past her defenses and get her to spill.
that said, i also just read Leather and while i also liked it alot, what it’s really done is made me look at your writing with that more of a critical eye.
good luck! you’ve just raised your own bar. +_+
Is there more from that author? the linked site doesn’t have entries after 2007.
He’s less active online than he used to be. If you’re okay with nonfiction, he and his wife blogged on the website Websnark — http://new.websnark.com/ or http://www.websnark.com/ (which has most of the archives, badly indexed). http://demiurgent.livejournal.com/ is another blog of his. There’s also http://www.webcomicsnation.com/ericburns/stark/series.php — a fixed-art webcomic a la Dinosaur Comics that ran for a couple years.
And he has a Twitter account — https://twitter.com/demiurgent — that is still active.
He’s done a lot of other stuff, too — including some roleplaying module writing — but that’s what I can come up with off the top of my head.
Whoops, comment with the links bounced off the spam filter. Let me know if it doesn’t turn up soon, I can email you or something.
Sweet, more worm downtime material!
Driving though town had been interesting. I could see the damage done from Leviathans attack that hadn’t been apparent from a distance. The rebuilding efforts seemed to be slowly moving along, but the city seemed to be functional, with the occasional store open, and most of the traffic lights working. However when I reached the docks, the place I expected to be the hardest hit, things started looking better. Entirely new buildings were everywhere. I could see several buildings being either constructed or renovated, and the sidewalks were clear of garbage.
I saw people sitting together, talking or laughing, as they started taking a break from thier duties to have lunch. I saw a few people driving trucks around handing out lunches to the workers before moving on. They were probably Skitters henchmen if the stories I had managed to get off of some unofficial forums were true, so I tailed one as they headed to their next stop.
They pulled up in front of what appeared to be a small warehouse, though I could see some people moving around on the roof. I pulled up behind them as they got out, one was a tanned young man with blond hair wearing a t-shirt and shorts and the other was a burly man with glasses and a large black beard. The burly one headed my way as the blond one started grabbing bags of food. I got out of the car and gave him my best ‘I am not hear to cause problems’ smile.
“You new in town or returning?“ he asked. His voice was rough and he was glowering, though I wasn’t sure if it was at me, or just a permanent feature on his face.
“I’m new. Actually I’m a Susland Mason, a freelance reporter that does articles on super villains and I was wondering if you know where I could find Skitter?”
I realized he hadn’t been glowering at me before as his glower doubled in intensity. “You want to do a piece on her?”
“Yes, but only if she is okay with it.” I shrugged, “Strange things have been happening here and She seems to be at the centre of all of them. If nothing else it would give her a chance to put her side of the story out there.”
He looked at me for a second then nodded, “Just a second,” He pulled out his cell phone, wrote a quick text, then turned back to me. “I let her know that you are around, if she wants to talk to you she’ll either find you if you stick around here, or contact me back with instructions”
“Thank you, I guess I should stick with you till you get a text back then.” I looked over at where they where the blond haired kid was handing out food bags to a motley collection of workers with mud all over them, “Would you like a hand in the mean time?”
“You allowed to do that?” he asked, “You won’t get in trouble with the higher ups?”
“Never have before. As long as I don’t help do anything illegal I’m fine. Even then as long as it’s something small, like not calling down the police on a a villain when I have a chance, I haven’t had any trouble.” A small lie, I had had trouble for that last one, but so far other than some threats, and the bugging of my cell phone I hadn’t actually been charged yet.
“Okay, grab and armload and help me carry it up to the roof.” He turned and held out his hand, “Names Forrest, that’s Richard.”
I shook his hand and grabbed a bunch of bags. They were rather heavy because each one had a couple water bottles in it. I could see why, it was fairly hot with the sun out and directly overhead. “So you work for Skitter?” I asked as we headed toward the building.
“Yes I do. I have for a while now in fact. Been with her since she took over and started rebuilding.” he held the door to the warehouse open for me.
I stepped inside and was momentarily blinded. The entire inside of the warehouse was a greenhouse. There was a fairly low ceiling and from it hung grow lights. People moved around watering the plants and gave Forrest waves of greetings as he came in behind me.
“Wow… It’s amazing.” I said, shocked.
“Thanks. It’s hard to get all the food that we need shipped in and a lot of stuff that does make it is rotton by the time it gets here, so we started this garden to have fresh vegetables on hand.” He led me to a fight of stairs, “There isn’t too much room to grow down by the docks though so Skitter got the idea to turn this warehouse into something far more useful. We managed to get 3 floors in the warehouse, and one on top, giving us a decent amount of food.”
“Isn’t it rather expensive though for the electricity and all the workers?” I asked once I got over my shock.
He shrugged “I don’t know about that, but I do know that right now it’s easier to get power in here than food. As I understand it though, the Undersiders don’t have any money problems, so this can’t be too much of a drain.”
We reached the roof and started handing out food. The other odd thing was the variety of people that were working. Some were in their twenties, but most seemed to be older, in their fifties or sixties and didn’t look like very good fighters. I had run with several super villains before and usually the people they employed were people that were young strong and healthy. They usually wore uniforms or at least similar styles. Here? None of these people looked like henchmen. They looked like normal people going about their daily jobs. Some happy, some looking exhausted. They all wore different clothing, and none of them seemed to care that they were in full view of any police that happened to walk past.
At that point Forrest’s phone buzzed and he pulled it out of his pocket and read the message, then he turned to me, “Come on, I’m supposed to take you to Tattletale.”
Veloren on April 4, 2013 at 18:01 said:
Hey, this is great! Keep going!
(an unrelated note, for Wildbow: I really, really, really want to see reactions to this from the Wards. And the message boards. And- I’ll stop now. But no matter how the media spins this, the full cellphone videos are going to be up online soon enough- hang in there Danny!)
Wow, straight to tt? Woulda thought meeting in the open would be easier. Btw, its great so far! Keep it up.
I was thinking that while skitter wouldn’t mind getting her story out, she wouldn’t want to give any quotes to a guy who might be trying to screw her over in his article. Who better to find out if he is honest, or just another ploy by the PTR to make her look bad. This might come up in a later post.
Thats actually a really good point.
Jessie Laurent on April 4, 2013 at 20:02 said:
Good Fanfiction, but I noticed two things. First, you overused ‘interesting’ having it in the starting sentence of the first two segments of the Fanfiction.
Second, it is the PRT, isn’t it, rather than the PTR?
Hmm… who censored Wildbow?
Apparently I am slightly dyslexic. And all I can say is that I’ll try to do better in the future, but I am a n00b writer.
Hope you continue to enjoy it.
I’m sorry for not asking you permission to put this up. I really had thought that you said fanfics were okay. I can stop if you want me to.
My bad, Jakin – I only saw Jessie Laurent’s statement as something isolated, and thought she was referring to my chapter above. This just on the heels of a discussion on WFG where an author was complaining about someone calling his web story a fanfic.
Disregard my comment.
@Wildbow: Now I’m curious what your comment was.
Also- you can edit your comments?
Good so far.
I just realized…. Skitter gardens would be amazing! Only beneficial bugs! using worms, could get a sense of soil quality. Bee hives to POWER pollinate.
An interesting start- it might work better to have it in the present tense, with him speaking into a recorder as he drives. Of course, this could easily fit as the introduction to a documentary written up afterwards but it certainly loses a bit of the sense of danger that way.
I’m gonna read the rest before I say much more. ^_^
Saw a few things- not gonna go too much into overall editing so much as typos and the like.
I see someone mentioned the ‘PRT/PTR’ thing.
“I could where the” See where?
“slow down passing road” Needs a comma.
“who makes his living interviewing” Might read better with ‘makes MY living’?
“For one thing many of them are rather proud of what they do, and ” Needs a comma after one thing, and perhaps replace the comma after do with a dash?
” insurance anymore and” Maybe a comma?
“harms way” needs an apostrophe in harm’s.
“two fold: first it” Needs caps, and a comma.
“time, the second is” I suggest starting a new sentence after time. Also, you are inconsistent between ‘first’ and ‘the second,’ so you might want to decide on how you want to phrase it and standardize it more.
“me over. despite” Missing caps.
“Calling first was a rule I’d always followed. That is until today when I was heading into Brockton Bay to interview Skitter, the local crime lord of the city, without calling first.” Saying that he didn’t call first is probably redundant, since he already said that he broke the rule in the same sentence. Also, could use a comma after ‘That is’.
“the city itself off” Comma after itself.
I didn’t know much about Tattletale. I don’t think anyone did. The internet she was part of the Undersiders, and that she was never known to fight, or have gadgets. The best guesses on her was that she was a thinker of some type. Considering how many times that the Undersiders had come out on top, the current speculation was that she was able to see the future in some sense.
I wasn’t sure if that was true. After all, wouldn’t she have warned Skitter about the attack on the school if that was the case? On the other hand things had worked out in the Undersiders favour so maybe despite how it looked Skitter was in control the whole time and knew what would happen. If Tattletale was going to look into the future to see what I would do I didn’t think I had to be too worried. I wasn’t planning to do something to betray them, and I couldn’t think of a situation where I would. Doing so would be worse than suicidal. There were a lot of capes who might be afraid of some of the secrets I knew and would want to silence me, and make an example of me.
Forrest was still waiting for my reply “Sure.” I said, I had come too far to turn back now, though despite the heat, I was feeling chills again.
“Come with me then,” then he turned to Richard, “Richard, grab Joan and keep doing the rounds, I’ll see you back at head quarters.”
Richard nodded then grinned at me, “Good luck man. Don’t let her get to you.”
As we headed back downstairs I turned to Forrest, “What did he mean get to me?”
“Tattletale likes to mess with people a bit. It’s mostly in good fun as long as she likes you.”
I raised an eyebrow, “So be on my best behaviour? Why are we going to see her anyway?”
“Because she validates anyone who gets to see into where our headquarters are. Being on your best behaviour won’t help you much. She’ll either like you, or she wont.” He didn’t elaborate, but I caught a subtle distinction in the words. Super villains had lairs. The name for where they lived had grown up around them and automatically was attached to anywhere they lived. Even by themselves.
On the other side the heroes had headquarters. It was just a simplified naming convention that people used without thinking. So here I was, with a henchman who was decently high up in Skitters organization, and he thought of Skitter and her group as heroes. He might deny it, but he didn’t see himself as a henchman for a super villain. He saw himself on the side of Good, capital G. That just made the PTRs attack on Skitter stranger to me. These were the type of people that I met when I ended up talking to heroes. They didn’t have the same presence as henchmen or super villains did.
“You want to take your truck, or would you rather we wait for a ride?” Forrest asked as we hit the street.
“We’ll take the truck, you’ll need to give me instructions though, I don’t know my way around town.” Another small lie. I had studied the maps hard before I left. I didn’t want to go into a dangerous situation without knowing where every back alley led if I needed to try to run. I wasn’t sure I could get away if things went south, but even a small improvement of my odds was better than nothing.
He agreed and we got into the old beater that I drove. He directed me towards the downtown area where the internet said that Tattletale lived. It wasn’t a long drive before he had me pull up outside of a burger joint and we got out. From the joint itself I could see the military perimeter that had been erected around a large recently built building. No one knew what was going on there either except that it had to do with the class S that had last hit the city.
“You have lunch yet?” asked Forrest.
I shook my head, “Spent the entire morning driving out here. I wanted to give myself plenty of time to get out of the city if it turned out I wasn’t wanted.”
“Fair enough. I’ll grab you a burger while you talk with Tattletale”
I agreed as we stepped inside. The first thing I noticed is that it was almost empty except for a couple of hard looking men standing around watching the doors. In one corner sat a young woman with a black mask in a black and purple suit.
I walked over to her, careful to keep my body language open and approachable, “Tattletale I presume?”
She looked at me and smiled playfully, “Ah, the reporter, why are you here?”
“I would like to interview Skitter, get her side of what’s going on around here,” I replied a little nervously.
“Really? That’s it? An honest quest for knowledge? You’re not here because being in the thick of things makes you feel like you really matter? That you have a love of flirting with death? You realize that it’s going to get you killed one day. And it will all be for what?”
I stood still trying to get my mind around what she was implying. I wasn’t a thrill seeker. Not really. Until I had been forced to interview my first super villain I had played my life as safe as possible.
“Did you have any siblings?” She paused, then got up, and whispered in my ear, “No matter how much you try, you will never understand why Jack killed her. It’s a fools errand. Don’t go looking to join her. She would want to you find someone and settle down happily. Not get tortured to death by some psychopath.”
I tried not to think of the night when my sister had saved me. I didn’t completely succeed and a felt a tear run down my cheek as I fell against a wall for support. I was so caught up trying to regain control of my emotions that I barely caught Tattletale telling Forrest that I was clear.
“By the way,” she said smiling at me playfully again as I managed to pull myself together, “You’ll have to leave your car and your phone with me. Despite what you might think, turning off a phone doesn’t turn off a tracking bug.”
I numbly handed her my phone and followed Forrest out the door. He led me to another car that was parked in the parking lot and we got in. I wasn’t sure how Tattletale had known what had happened. Had she researched me that fast? Had she known I was coming? After meeting her I still didn’t know her power, but I was suddenly sure that she was as scary, and as dangerous as the girl I was going to interview was.
Hm, the only thing I don’t quite like is tatletale’s section. I’ve always seen her method as more friendly than that. Striking up a conversation, something inconsequential, then she starts casually spilling all your secrets when you’re halfway through the burger. It just seems to blatant to me.
Rest of its awesome though!
This is partially due to how minor a character the journalist is. She only booked about 5 minutes out of a busy day to give him a once over. She looked up who he was online, so she just needed to poke him a few times. Then, in the middle of the teasing, she realized that he is actually a bit of a death seeker. She doesn’t have time to be really subtle, so she says something that will knock him off course and gets back to her busy life. If he was more important, you can bet she would have been more subtle about it because she would have had time.
Either that or bad writing :p
It could use some polishing, it’s a bit rushed.
Tattletale is definitely not well written here. It’s jarring.
Forrest handed me a burger as I sat pulling myself back together. After a few minutes of driving he spoke, “Sorry, she doesn’t normally act like that. I’ve only seen her do that once before, and it’s usually a sign that she likes you.”
I choked, “Likes me? She ripped things that I’d put behind me right open.”
“Well, considering the last person she did something like that to was suicidal, I would take any advice she offered. You’re not going to be here for long, so you probably won’t have time to see her again. She is pretty busy, but you should know that she wouldn’t be so serious if she didn’t have a good reason.”
“I’ll… I’ll try to keep that in mind. It’s just what she said came out of nowhere, and brought up stuff she shouldn’t even know. That’s some pretty bad tact right there” Even as I said that though I couldn’t help but notice the faith that Forrest placed in Tattletale. I had been with a lot of villains over the years. Some of their henchmen believed that their bosses were looking out for them and cared for them, but I had not met one group of henchmen that thought that their boss would do something for me just out of the kindness of their heart and truly believe it.
“I won’t disagree there, she looked rather tense. I would not want to be on her bad side today. Someone is going to get it.” Ah, I thought, there is the super villain shining though. Taking out the troubles of a bad day on someone, something that everyone does, but only villains admit to. Maybe I was reading this whole situation wrong.
We drove for a while longer making small talk before we pulled up in front of a small building. As I got out I looked up on top and saw a figure surrounded by bugs standing on the roof looking out towards the bay. The bugs were so thick all I could see was a vague impression of the person inside. I hoped that I managed to stay on skitters good side. I wasn’t afraid of bugs, but if she sent all the ones in the swarm around her at me, they could probably eat me alive and leave nothing left but bones.
Forrest unlocked the door and ushered me inside. I stepped in to see a young lanky girl finishing off a bowl of soup. She looked up as I came in, she looked tired and stressed. It took me a moment to recognize her from the pictures I had found on the internet.
“Skitter” I said, “pleasure to meet you.”
She looked at me, and her face sank for a second, then she straightened up, “Good to meet you to, why don’t you step into the living room while I talk for a second with Forrest here.”
I went in the direction she pointed and waited standing up. I suspected it wouldn’t help me if she sent her bugs after me, but I was hoping I wouldn’t offend her by sitting in her favorite spot. Looking around I noted there were a lot of children’s toys scattered around the room. Why were they there, had this been a family’s home before she kicked them out?
As I was waiting I could hear fragments of sentences coming from the dining room.
“…Could have warned me.”
“I thought…”
“…need to see…”
“…approachable…. ….not dealing with criminals…”
“…there a difference?”
Finally skitter came in, still wearing her civilian clothes. She looked at me and gestured, “Take a seat. So how do you want to do this?”
I sat down across from her and put on my best friendly look, “Well, I usually stick around for at least one job so that I can get a sense of how you operate. However if you would rather we just do an interview and get me out of your hair as soon as possible that works too”
“We don’t really do jobs” She said, “but if you want to stick around you can. You if you are willing to help out with the rebuilding I’ll give you food and a place to stay, otherwise I can direct you to a few decent motels that have opened up recently.”
“You don’t do jobs?” I asked, “What about the bank robbery back before Leviathan?”
“There were…” and she paused for a moment, a distant look in her eye, “We were working for someone else then. He’s dead now.”
“Coil” I asked, pulling what I knew of the situation.
“Yes” and again she had a distant look in her eyes and I got the feeling that she wasn’t telling me the whole truth.
“Are you willing to talk about your plans then?” I asked.
She laughed, “Sure, but I’m pretty sure they would be boring to you. Right now we are trying to get the northern docks cleared up so that major ships can land. We are also trying to get the water treatment plant back to full capacity so that there will be enough clean water for the entire city. Right now most of the city still has to boil and filter the water.”
“So you don’t have any plans to make money?”
She paused thinking, “Finances are Tattletales purview, and I am pretty sure I don’t want the world to know where we are getting our money from. Sorry” She looked apologetic.
“So you are just focused on rebuilding?” I questioned. She simply nodded. “Then what?”
She paused clearly not expecting the question, “I don’t know,” she finally said, “I don’t know if it’s gotten around much lately, and if it hasn’t I would appreciate if you don’t print this, but there will be a major worldwide threat in two years. I suspect that we’ll start trying to prepare for that. See if we can stop it, or if there is possibly another solution that we could draw on.”
“And that’s it?” I asked with a slight amount of skepticism, “Rebuild the city, then save the world?”
She smiled sardonically, “What can I say? When you put it like that it sounds rather unlikely doesn’t it? A super villain that doesn’t do anything.” She sighed, “But that’s what my plans are right now. They’ll probably change. The PRT is probably going to do at least one more big push to capture me. And even if they don’t…”
“Even if they don’t?” I prompted
She looked at me steadily, “You must be good at keeping secrets. I looked you up and you’ve talked to a lot of villains. Trust me when I tell you that I can do far worse things to you than you can imagine. Don’t think you can hide either. Tattletale can find you no matter how well hidden you think you are. If you publish what I am about to tell you, trust me when I say that I will hunt you down and make you suffer for a long long time.”
I was sweating again, Skitters eyes were cold as she looked at me, and I saw something there that I rarely saw. Conviction. Skitter utterly believed in what she did. Most of the super villains I interviewed viewed what they did as a game. They were safe because they wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize their place in the game. But for Skitter it wasn’t a game. It was life or death, and she sat where she did because she truly believed that she was doing what was right.
She was trying to intimidate me and it was working. The sheer conviction in her words scared me as much as the threat itself. It is often said that the most dangerous person is the true believer. And Skitter was a true believer. What had I gotten myself into?
>Trust me when I tell you that I can do far worse things to you than you can imagine. Don’t think you can hide either. Tattletale can find you no matter how well hidden you think you are. If you publish what I am about to tell you, trust me when I say that I will hunt you down and make you suffer for a long long time.”
That threat feels WAY out of character, and really really dumb for her to tell a reporter something that she doesn’t want printed.
Oh, and just so I’m not only posting negative comments- I actually like your story so far. I really like the concept, and overall it’s pretty good. The conversations with Tattletale and Skitter were the only bits I didn’t really like.
Not really,its in character for Skitter to make threats to convince others,even if she knows she cannot go through with them.
Trusting such details to a reporter,even a Tt approved one,on the other hand,is not.
Seems like something is missing in this sentence: The quarantine building alone was
AAAAAA IT’S SPREADING
soon all web comment sections will be infected
and under the subtle control of Changes-Print Man!!1!
–Dave, fearfully
This is good, but it seems odd for Skitter to meet a stranger in her lair without at least blindfolding them. And they shouldn’t have been able to catch her by surprise unless her swarm-sense has stopped working for some reason.
Having Skitter be out of costume is a surprising choice, but it does make sense now her mask doesn’t matter; I can definitely see Taylor deciding that being armoured might give the wrong impression.
*Appears and pushes Clarvel back into a barber’s chair…then tear’s Clarvel’s shirt off and begins to put wax on his chest hair.* So there I am, unsure if I’ve welcome you before and not sure if I should do anything towards that bit of cheekiness when I figured I would go ahead and welcome you anyway so I could move on to more commenting today. Welcome to the comments section, I am sure you’ll be just fine. *Begins to sing Epiphany in Vietnamese as the lights slowly fade to dark, followed by the sound of a strip of wax being torn off* Ooh, looks like I got your nipple there. Don’t worry, I know a night surgeon who can reattach that.
Way to go, comments section, put it in the wrong place why don’t you?
WordPress is seeming to have issue PG. Poor thing.
Aww, thanks PG! No one’s quite as Zany as you are.
maeri on April 4, 2013 at 16:47 said:
My favorite about Worm is its amazing characterization and that very few characters fall into that trap where they are, and only are, an archetype. I think that’s why I’m not really fond of the Slaughterhouse Nine. I mean, yeah, they’re evil. But they just kind of stopped being scary. Now they’re just those cardboard cutout assholes who are being evil for the sake of evil because that’s what they like to do. I just find them hard to even take seriously anymore because of that.
We have the Endbringers, who are forces of nature, and that works. Coil and Noelle especially are well fleshed out for being full on villains. Legend, Alexandria, and Eidolon are mostly doing what they think is right without fully understanding the ramifications- just a sort of not quite actively malevolent, but still negative force. Then there’s the S9, who just feel so….incomplete. Flat. Out of place in a world where everyone is so richly developed.
Even with the Jack interlude, I don’t get the impression that there’s really much of a drive to him other than ‘be a dick’. And the world seems to bend around that whim; the S9 are never short on funds or materials as you think they would be with the whole ‘everyone hates you’ thing. They’re never cowed or weakened, even when they should be. In Worm everyone gets theirs- except the S9.
That’s basically my only gripe about the story ^__^; honestly though, I *love* Worm. So many of the powerful people are women without it being ‘strong despite being a girl’, masculinizing them, or making them out to be soulless bitches for daring to be powerful. It’s so hard to find that in any media, and especially in the super hero genre. So, thank you Wildbow. Whenever I have anything left from my (pathetic, college student) paycheck I will keep donating. Even if it’s not much, you have my support.
I think your new so………Welcome to the Wormling fold, Maeri
Kinda-sorta new. I think I replied in the comments on one other chapter a couple weeks ago. Been reading since maybe early September or so, just had a tendency to avoid the comments, haha.
Jack’s problem is that he fell into something be dislikes. The thing he came up with to accellerate the end of the world is..the same thing he has alwaya donw, but more. As in, all the old Niners again. I am still all for the Wormverse’s destruction though.
That right there is why I hate typing on a phone.
*Hops along a chessboard patterned tablecloth that Maeri appears to be standing on as well until a pawn bars his path. Then he pulls out a mustache, puts it on, and sings We Will Rock You before breaking it with a swipe of the mic stand.*
Greetings, mate, welcome to the down under of Worm. Just like in Australia, cute fuzzy things, like me, are all out to get you, with snuggly mauling of evil! You may cry but your tears will dry when we hand you a paper towel or something. Who knows. Now if you’ll excuse me… check, mate. *Maeri is handed the bill from the restaurant.*
I actually agree. The only thing I didn’t like about worm was the 9 seemed a little too much like villain sues.
So, the only characters who get consistant hate in the comments section are the actual ‘end the world’ villains, Sophia, and maybe cauldron. Everyone else is in some way redeemable due to circumstance.
Sophia is deplorable, but I think she’s still sympathetic. A bad person, but a bad person with that all-important depth. Cauldron as a whole is hard to comment on because there are too many unknown factors in them. They’re evil, yes, but complex. Not so with the 9.
The Nine are just really *boring*, I suppose. It’s hard to hate them with the same passion as I can hate Sophia or Emma or any number of other villains because there is so little to them.
Everyone loves a good villain and everyone hates a bad one.
Not sure if that makes much sense…….
I just find it interesting that the villians that are apparently only there for the evulz are the ones you think are boring. I suppose it makes sense though, we don’t really understand what happened to them that caused them to become so messed up or what drives them to just go around killing everyone, except maybe manton. All we really see are the killing machines, not the people they used to be.
I suppose a good villian is one who has reasons for joining the dark side, and needs to be relatable in some way. Compassionate characters are ones people care about. Hell, even showing general manners or personality often is enough, I know I want to know more about citrine from a couple postings ago, even though she had maybe 5 lines in total.
Many on and Mannikin.
Manton and Mannikin. Damn iPad autocomplete!
Well its actually similar to the joker from the dark knight rises. I for one don’t like the joker as a character for the same reasons you list. He just does evil just because, or because he was funny. I honestly thought the movie was going to suck because of that but they gave us a reason in the movie why he acts the way does. It’s crazy but we at least understand where he is coming from. Not so with the 9. Honestly wouldn’t be surprised at the end if the Jack/Bonesaw somehow get away again because the universe just lets them.
The thing that would make me the happiest would be to see Jack well and actually cornered and terrified. It doesn’t have to be a protagonist that does it. A new antagonist doing so might be even better, haha.
Jack just never really lives up to his reputation when we get to see him.
The Nine worked pretty well as a sort of catalyst for the characters to begin changing to deal with the darker situations in the story and as a test of their new position as big time supervillains. Plus they kind of serve as a kind of moral line in the universe, to give an evil extreme to help set up the moral spectrum in the story.
A villain as a story device is fine for a one-off in an arc, but to directly involve them in the story again there might need to be some reinvention of these guys into something more three-dimensional, and since they’re so far off the deep end that will be hard to do.
We don’t know if they’re going to end up directly involved in the story yet, they may just be the cause of the big crisis that’s going to occur. I suspect that they may get killed by a Gray Boy clone who will serve as the new big bad guy.
Well, there were a lots of little bits and bobs about them- kinda hurts to lose the interlude that went into Shatterbird’s past, as I rather liked that in particular. Burnscar’s relation with Elle, Mannequin’s… well, everything.
I think that there is plenty to them, and given Wildbow’s habit of sideswiping you with information you’ve been wanting at juuuuust the right point in the story… Well, I’m willing to wait to see.
Yeah, you do have a point there, we learned about Shatterbird, Burnscar, Mannequin, and Manton
But admittedly, the *faces* of S9 leave much to be desired
-Jack kills and terrorizes simply because he can
-Bonesaw, not really sure with her deal, I am slightly tempted to blame her particular dissonance as an effect of her power; if not, she is so fucked in the head it is really creepy (could be the intention)
-Crawlers carrot is the potential to continue evolving
-Cherish had the same upbringing as Regent, but didnt get away when he did
-Manton got butthurt because his daughter turned into a monstrous parahuman or died; his fault, I might add, so instead of fixing it, he runs off to kill people with Jack Slash
I am half and half on this topic; I am similarly not as emotionally invested/scared of the Nine anymore, but I am willing to be patient as possible due to Wildbows track record of being fantastic
Besides, the earlier in the story he has hinted as some character, the more likely they are to be worth the wait (Endbringers, Noelle, Nilbog, etc)
Hey all, new here. Just popping in to say I absolutely love this place.
I just have to say that it’s kind of ridiculous that when I wake up at 6 in the morning there’s already almost 300 comments.
There seems to be a lot of speculation about the Grey Boy, and I feel like I have to point out that he’s a product of Cauldron, so we get Noelle’s insanity type thing if any his Cauldron powers went wrong. I can’t remember where I saw it, but if I remember it right, they just kept selling him powers until he went out of control. So we have a lot of powers to go wrong. Imagine Prism with all of the showstopping powers. And considering how creative Wildbow is, that’s honestly the best case scenario.
But I also want to point out how Noelle’s clones aren’t exact copies, and have different powers from the original. Same thing happens with Cauldron, where the potions are classed into groups, such as “Prince” and “Jaunt.”
Welcome to the comments!
Psycho Gecko will likely show up behind you in a few, for a much better welcome than I could ever write.
Welcome to the Wormling fold Composite. 😀 PG will be here shortly.
“Welcome to our little hole in the internet. It’s a tight squeeze with so many people in here, but I’m sure you can work yourself into the fun with a little bit of elbow grease.”
Sorry, was writing something for NAMBLA’s website.
As for you, it’s time to make sure you’ve go tthe pokeballs to prepare for a Wild Mass Guessing to appear! Oh Snap, it’s trying to take a Pikachu in the shower. Raichu are to be afraid of such a shocking turn of events. Holy Hokey Pokemon, it’s Jamaican ya dance!
What, you thought all the pain, misery, and supervillainy was only up there in the story? Welcome to the comments section, where good taste goes to be stepped on by a latex-clad woman wearing stiletto heels and a latex horse mask.
I get the feeling this welcome is going onto someone’s wall of shame somewhere.
Dont worry pg we won’t ever let you forget it.
(and it did make me give a nervous chuckle)
The trick to crossing the line twice is making sure you get over there again. Like a pitbull on viagra, it can be difficult to pull off.
Wait, did you just literally say that the trick to crossing a line twice is to cross it 3 times?
mremaknu on April 4, 2013 at 23:12 said:
I would immortalize it, but you repeated “latex” and it ruined the immersion for me.
You can never have enough latex.
You stepped on the corpse of a Pikachu to make this travesty; I wont forget this
But for me, it was Thursday.
In memoriam Raul Julia, may you rest in peace.
See the story Pope Gecko for more.
Okay, so here’s something I’ve been wondering about:
So, every parahuman has a part of their brain that controls their power -I don’t remember what it’s called at the moment- that normal people don’t have. They all start out as normal people, so they all have the same size brain.
What it looks like is that that part of the brain takes a little while to grow as the power is used- hence the sensory overload shortly after when someone with sensory powers has a trigger event. As it grows, they get more control. From what it looks like, it also continues to grow the more they use their powers, making more connections to other parts of the brain. This explains why Taylor is now able to parse bug-o-vision.
This all makes sense -it’s a phenomenon called “neuroplasticity;” as someone uses a skill more, the part of the brain responsible for it grows, and if it is not used, that part atrophies. This is why blind people often have better cognition in other areas- such as better hearing or touch. Since they don’t use it, the space is allocated to other tasks.
The parahumans seem to have the blind-person situation in reverse. They suddenly have an entirely new sense or new ability that their brain has to deal with. While the passenger seems to handle some of it, Bonesaw states that parahumans do have a portion of their brain responsible for controlling their powers. If their brain is staying the same size (which it must, else they would all suddenly have concussions,) this must be taking space away from other areas.
This could potentially cause pretty serious harm, and I believe it’s a contributing factor for why many parahumans are so cracked (aside from the psychological trauma). Stuff like this has been shown to cause personality changes or cognitive issues depending on where it is located. This is what I want to know, and I don’t care if I get an answer, or even if there is one, but I want to put this out there:
Taylor has been getting a lot more control over her power, and getting a lot more power; but what is she losing?
[tl;dr version]: As someone gets better with their power, the part of the brain that controls it should grow in size, taking space away from other parts of the brain. What does this mean for parahumans?
That’s like with Bitch and Garrote(I think) their brains were effected more than the average capes.
For Taylor it could be her ‘skittishness’. As she used her powers more she got more and more confident in herself.
I would say she’s losing her ability to distinguish between the rightness and wrongness of her actions. She rationalizes everything she does far better now, and hesitates less, and while repetition would explain some of that, it doesn’t explain all of it.
There’s a reason our legal system is based on precedent; It’s one of the easiest concepts for the human mind to grasp. “It’s been done this way before, that’s how to do it in the future,” and in tiny font there’s the addendum, “no other circumstances considered.” which frequently is forgotten. It’s why companies have to protect each and every occurance of copyright infringement or flat-out lose their copyright, simply because if they don’t maintain a perfect legal wall then people will dig at the cracks (precedence of non-protection; In short and avoiding all the legalese, “You didn’t sue them, but you’re suing me? That’s unfair and biased!”) until eventually the entire wall they use in their defense will crumble and it’ll become public use.
I’m not sure how this is relevant to what I said, since the human mind doesn’t work at ALL like the US legal system. The letter of the law is more important than the spirit of the law 99% of the time, particularly in lawsuits regarding copyright infringment and so on.
Sociopathy, which is what I was referring to when I said Skitter is losing her ability to distinguish between right and wrong in her actions, is entirely unrelated to recognizing the legal ramifications of them. A normal person sees something they’re doing is illegal/immoral and tries not to do it because if they get caught they’re screwed. A sociopath sees something they’re doing is illegal/immoral (to other people) and does it anyway, knowing (not assuming or hoping) that they’ll get away with it even if they’re caught because rules are pointless and consequences are for other people.
Mind you, Skitter’s nowhere near being a complete sociopath, but I become concerned that she’s wandering down that particular fork in the road as she spends less time having to think through these hard calls she makes. Her thought processes feel colder and more clinical, not just “god dammit I have to make this awful, awful decision AGAIN?!” but “Okay so I did this before and the last time worked out okay but I can do it better if I just do -this- now.”
Well there must be studies of parahumans over a long term period somewhere. The oldest would have been parahumans for 30 odd years so I guess they see compare their mental health to younger ones. There is also that 5 year old with the still developing brain who triggered who people are going to pay close attention to. If there are older parahumans. With the Endbringers constant threat, being heavily outnumbered by villains, and the numerous s-class threats, the life expectancy for parahumans probably isn’t that great.
The little threat about bringing in the Dragonslayers was a pretty alarming line there. It seems that because of all the failures and the Trimuvirate breaking up the suits are going to be taking control of operations away from the actual heroes.
It means the PRT is gonna start playing dirty, expect Taylor to be shot at by snipers, super villains being hired to cause trouble and patsy the Undersiders, and some Suicide Squad-ass team of superfascists coming to take Skitter’s head.
If this stuff happens guys like Triumph and Miss Militia are going to have a hard choice coming for them. They can’t have their moral high ground cake and eat it too.
iirc, triumph is a cauldron customer. not necessarily in league with them, but he might have been forced to retire in the echidna fallout
IF he came forward. The main reason for concern is they can’t tell who is a cauldron cape and who is not. Battery was probably seen as one of the best of them, and even she was Cauldron. He seemed like a good guy, hope things are alright with him and Hannah.
Triumph was a Cauldron customer. His dad (mayor) bought him the vial. It’s mentioned from his point of view in one of the interludes; Has him comparing himself to Prism, how similar they were, things like that, I believe.
Dovetail, Halo, Crucible and Rosary are the Christians here to stop the Teeth, aren’t they? That means that the protectorate only brought in 3 new guys, (Adamant, Clasp and Sere) and one of them has already proven incapable of handling Skitter. It’s almost like the heroes want to look weak. Really, if they wanted to imprison or at least stop the Undersiders, they would just put aside the petty politics and treat them like the A-Class threat that they are. Honestly, even if they don’t have the man-power to capture them all, a one day, serious, multi-man raid against the Undersiders, like the dragonsuit event with more people, would most likely lead to the end of the Undersiders as a power in Brockton Bay. After all, Only a third the students decided to side with Skitter. That is still 1/6 away from a 50/50 split in the citizenry, assuming that the pattern stays true through every age group. Not to mention that prior to this event, the general public had practically no idea that anything was seriously wrong with the Protectorate anyway.
As such, I get the uncomfortable feeling that Cauldron is still attempting a power play for Brockton Bay, in spite of Coil’s inconvenient death.
Dovetail and Crucible aren’t members of Haven.
The problem is that going after the Undersiders in force would result in a similar situation as what happened when Dragon went after them. The Undersiders, being cornered, end up doing something drastic that hurts the PRT far more than they usually would.
It’s even more of a dangerous idea now that one of the Undersiders was outed and they will be willing to go further as a result. Skitter now officially has no civilian life to go back to to escape the heat. Any big play they do will corner her and the PRT will end up with a black eye.
Considering how one of the biggest flaws with the heroes in my eyes in an unwillingness to take risks I understand why they would hold off on decisive action.
They also know all those dirty secrets they want to keep hidden. They break the rules, so will they, and I think they’ll come out looking better too.
I’m waiting for the sponsored heroes. I can see team Coke and team Pepsi coming in and butting heads while trying to catch the Undersiders.
I’m waiting for Authority/dark age of comics style murdering jackboot teams to start cropping up. Given the nature of superpowers you know it’s gonna happen.
I thought there was already two teams mentioned like that in one of the previous chapters?
So long as it isn’t Team Edward & Team Jacob.
It’d still be a better love story than Twilight by light-years.
Bic on April 5, 2013 at 00:47 said:
To be honest I don’t want more S9, they feel evil for the sake of it, no motivation or greyness. Jack never seems to quite live up to his reputation in terms of writing, and while resurrecting a bunch of them makes things worse it doesn’t make things more interesting. They feel like they exist purely for the plot point of making things worse, rather than having any real agenda or mystery of their own. The Endbringers are interesting, the relations between the PRT, villians and those breaking away are interesting, there are so many good interesting characters and possibilities around, and the S9 feel like they’re just there to make things more crapsack, when imho, it would be better to focus on character/world/non-‘we’re all gonna die’ problems rather than a constant stream of ‘it got worse’ to the point of disbelief. That was the problem with Witness too, every battle ends with it not being a victory after all, it somehow made things worse, and while that’s fine sometimes, if it happens over and over you get sort of fed up with it. I think this arc is so far a good break from that. There’s no new giant threat, it’s a different kind of problem rather than ‘more things trying to kill people’. And then I see the nine and thing ‘Sigh, they’re going to have to deal with them AGAIN and Dragon’s hurt and I just want it to move on’.
Anyway, sorry to just complain, overall it’s very good. I look forward to it every few days and I’m interested to see where things go from here and I think you’re noticeably becoming a better writer as things progress. All the best.
Hey, dont worry, a few others have had similar thoughts BUT
Wildbow hasnt failed us yet, has he?
Also? Money says Grey Boy disposes of the Slaughterhouse Army before anyone else has a chance to know
That would be a twist worthy of Worm
I don’t know why, but this whole argument of “Well, yeah, you might have a point BUT [so and so] shits rainbows, so we’ll just dismiss that” kinda bugs me. This is a sort of ‘in general’ thing, not just here.
Wildbow is an awesome author; that doesn’t mean they aren’t above criticism.
Also Bic. Hiiii~ I’m pretty sure I knooow youuu~
*are above criticism
I do apologize if it seemed like I was dismissing him out of hand; earlier, on your OWN comment regarding the same issue, I outlined my (largely in agreement) stance on the issue and ended it with “-But so far, Worm has retained a kind of quality that gives me hope that things wont be as obviously sue-ish as one would expect/I will maintain faith”
So instead of copypasting, I just abbreviated it here
I think it’s because there’s not really any argument there. Most arguments, you can break them down into steps and break those steps down into steps and see how they proceed from cause to effect (or vice-versa), but that’s not the case here. It’s more like saying, “Yes, he’s behind two rooks, a bishop, and a queen, but he’s the best chess player in the world — he’ll win anyway!” Even when it’s true it’s not convincing.
I think in this case a stronger case can be built up from the basic idea, though — something along the lines of:
I know it looks like wildbow is just setting up bad things for the sake of setting up bad things, but I think it’s worth trusting him at least a little longer for three reasons:
1. He set this up in advance. In Blasto’s interlude, Bonesaw got away with him, his seeds, and the tissue samples of the supers, and in this arc, we discovered that Dragon and Defiant were pulled off of the pursuit for the job at the school. This isn’t just coming out of nowhere, this was a logical consequence of what came before.
2. It’s almost certainly not as awful as it sounds — Blasto’s interlude suggests that his copies are not as strong as the originals. Plus, a lot of what makes the Slaughterhouse Nine are skills that the copies won’t have developed.
3. The entire setup is directly in line with wildbow’s style — a style which has worked really well so far. He makes a situation which is dire, and he figures out how the protagonists can deal with it. Reading through the archive, there were a number of places where people in the comments complained that wildbow had set up an impossible situation, only for the next chapter or arc to resolve it in a surprising and satisfying way.
I like this, very well-worded
Unfortunately, the complaint by-and-large wasn’t what you just addressed. We know that this will culminate in some sort of big confrontation where Skitter shows off her brains, probably aided by a few side characters. Things will be tough, they won’t get a complete victory, but they’ll make it. Because that’s what happens. Every time.
It’s not that there won’t be a cohesive, well written arc out of this. It’s that we don’t find these characters interesting or scary. There’s nothing believable or relatable about them. They work as one arc villains, but they just lack the sort of depth to be interesting for a multiple-arc story set-up. There is no surprise in the motive or characters of the 9. No mystery, no depth, no interest. *Maybe* Gray boy will change that, and I’m hoping he will, but I’m not holding my breath.
This, when there are so many interesting, deep, complicated characters around. There’s so much of the world and the people in it to explore, and we keep getting the camera zooming in on the zany, evil cardboard cutouts.
@maeri: Ah, I misread Bic’s complaint, then.
And I share it, honestly — what makes Jack and Bonesaw interesting is what they do, not who they are. And what made Hookwolf interesting was his philosophy, which he has been driven to abandon.
Thank you to Hannah for the donation.
Thanks Hannah! And to anyone curious as to why I post these thank yous when I see them, in reply to Wildbow’s comments: Because I want them to know, when they see these messages, that they are appreciated by at least one of us viewers as well, for helping support our favourite author.
Much as I try to welcome all comers to the comments section, though it may be having a detrimental effect to the population of commenters.
Good to have people tossing money at Wildbow. I have been unable to myself, leaving me somewhat guilty.
Geez, I’m not very helpful at all here, am I?
If Wildbow is the supreme sovereign of the comments section, you’re the court jester.
Hey! Ten bucks puts me ahead of Gecko on something! Groovy.
Heads-up: Emily Piggot has two different tags: Piggy and Piggot. Neither has all the chapters in which she appears.
Something for me to fix over the weekend. Remind me if I don’t make a comment in the newest chapter letting you know I’ve fixed it up?
I’ll try to remember!
Was rereading a bit and noticed this — Piggy and Piggot tags still need to be merged.
Illise Montoya on April 5, 2013 at 11:00 said:
Well, I was fooling around with The Secret World’s character creation when it struck me to try and make some models in the likeness of the cast. I only seemed to manage to get Taylor, tho I forget what color her eyes were. Anyway, here’s the screenshots:
Is html/bb code enabled on comments? I have no idea.
The name “Skitter” is taken by the way. 😛
I assume that it allows a subset of HTML tags — a-href links work, as do em tags and blockquotes (which come out in italics). I haven’t tried anything else.
I’d say make her a bit taller and more flat chested and you got her. Skitter was taken? Damn it Greg!
I would but you can’t adjust for weight or chest size, just height.
I figured that her hair would be curlier, seeing as how some lady called her out by that a couple chapters ago. But that’s a pretty good rendition of the last fanart entry.
Also, if anyone wants to take a crack at stuff like this Heromachine 3 is up and running and pretty damn versatile. I’m probably not gonna, lazy as I am.
Added a few entries to the Worm TV Tropes page that I thought were odd being missing;
Cybernetics Eat Your Soul (added this one a week or so ago)
Indy Ploy
Xanatos Gambit
Xanatos Speed Chess
Note to self: make the comment-line reminding people about the Character Sheets more obvious.
I wouldn’t have called Mannequin “Cybernetics Eat Your Soul” — I thought that his psychotic break preceded his self-encapsulation.
True, there are only a few characters with normal cybernetics in this setting so far, Armsmaster, Alexandria etc. and there doesn’t seem to be any common theme of them losing their humanity because they put on some high tech prosthetics. Mannequin is not a very good example at all.
Mannequin also seems to be the least human of the characters who used to be human. What’s left of his body could be carried around in a large trashbag if it wasn’t stuck in a torso. And in a less literal way, his cybernetics are less humanoid than the others. He turned himself into something with blades and chains and extend-o-matic body parts. He used to be a man, but he’s more machine than man now.
Also, I didn’t recall Alexandria having cybernetics.
Also, Packbat, while I’m at it, think that thing from Chrysalis 20.5 would count for Heartwarming after all? As I said, I don’t like to put my Crowning Moments in there.
Now I’m off to go see if Blasto’s got an I Must Scream under his name.
Alexandria has a Tinker-made bionic eye.
she had a cybernetic eye as the director of the PRT. Mentioned after Echidna gets burned away once. Can’t remember what chapter exactly.
Which thing, Gecko? There’s an entry there saying:
In 20.5, over a hundred students stand up and form a human barricade to protect Skitter/Taylor from Dragon and Defiant after they exposed her identity. And after the last kernel of them make it out of sight and they stop, each of them, starting with Fern (whom Skitter had just expressed suspicion of that morning), explains the key incidents that gave them a personal allegiance to the Undersiders or to her specifically.
…so if that’s what you’re referring to, it’s already done.
Also, Blasto absolutely needs an And I Must Scream entry. I wonder if that trope belongs on the main page, though — it’s an event that happened to a character, not an essential aspect of the character. Is it more like Body Horror (which we’ve been putting on the character sheet) or Out Gambitted (which I added to the main page)?
It may be an essential aspect of Bonesaw’s character- she’s put a lot of people in that situation.
A thought: PRT is banking on the next Endbringer attack to bolster their image. But… What if the attack already happened – the Simurgh’s intervention “counting:” as one. So, there’ll be no attack any time soon. Nothing to boost their image.
Or there is a Endbringer attack and they lose harder than they ever have before to completely destroy their image. We have seen Leviathan/The Smurf’s abilities explored over an arc so I’m hoping Behemoth is next. Maybe he’ll attack the birdcage to bring the prisoner back into the story.
Losing is something they can plan for – it’s something they may even be counting for (to kill off the unreliable heroes).
No attack at all is an OCP, from what I can tell. Something that PRT is not prepared to deal with.
Consider – they are preparing to make a good showing. This likely means preserving their forces. Potentially abandoning “minor” areas, pardoning some criminals to induct them into their numbers, putting off dealing with their internal problems. Things that will build up pressure and marginally sour their public image, but will pay off, one way or another, during the attack.
If there is no attack, the pressure just continues to rise. Plus they are left without a schedule or an idea of where the next strike may happen.
They already said it was Behemoths turn, if Im not mistaken
Behemoth or the Simurgh. Discussed in the Parahumans Online interlude. It’s not a strict rotation, and can go B L B S B, theoretically (as opposed to BLS BLS BLS…).
Oh? I thought the rotation was set this entire time
Whoa, imaging them facing Behemoth every /other/ Endbringer attack would really take a toll on the world as a whole
I just realized. No one else asked about Vikare?, because i found that little tibit of info (and the origin for the term “rogues” in the Wormverse) awesome.
Wildbow, could we get more infor about him/her?
Vikare is mentioned in interlude 1.
I’m speculating the Undersiders’ & Parian’s possible Gang & Territory names:
1. Grue – Territory Name: The Shades, Gang Name: Pitch Black
2. Skitter – Territory Name: The Colony, Gang Name: Wretched Hive
3. Bitch – Territory Name: Dogtown, Gang Name: Sons of Bitches’
4. Regent – Territory Name: The Regency, Gang Name: The Aristocrats
5. Imp – Territory Name: Mogwai, Gang Name: Gremlins
6. Tattletale – Gang Name: The Paparazzi
7. Parian – Territory Name: Dolltown, Gang Name: The Plushies
5. Imp – Territory Name: Where?, Gang Name: Who?
It has no name, her “gang” consists entirely of people who she has contact via notes she stapled to their pants.
Imagine it, an area of the city controlled by a superhuman that people aren’t quite aware of, and the only law there is that if you cause trouble, you will start bleeding and have no idea why.
I like the Gremlins for Imp’s gang!
MisterTeatime on December 8, 2015 at 00:35 said:
Tattletale’s gang/headquarters name: Rumor Mill, or Rumor for short. (“Looking for something? Rumor has it…”)
10 minutes to go, I can’t wait 😀
There are a few thoughts I have been having about Cauldron and the Case 53s. They don’t have a lot of evidence for them but it seems to me like it all fits together. In other words, here are my wild guesses for some of what is happening/has happened behind the scenes.
Hypothesis 1: Scion/Zion is the first Case 53.
We know that the Case 53 parahumans were experimented on by Cauldron and were physically and/or mentally transformed in addition to gaining powers. We know Scion/Zion has significant mental issues, and his body looks like it is made of gold so we have a physical transformation as well. The only thing he is missing is the Cauldron mark. He wasn’t marked because… well how would you mark him? Even the Endbringers can’t scratch him.
Hypothesis 2: Cauldron is ultimately responsible for all parahumans on Earth Bet.
Scion was the first (recorded) parahuman. We know that proximity to other parahumans makes it easier to trigger. We know that Caulrdon is capable of interdimentional travel. If Cauldron really is responsible for the first parahuman, it seems likely then that the Case 53s dumped in Earth Bet are what allowed other humans to start triggering ‘natually’.
Hypothesis 3: Cauldron deliberately stimulated Earth Bet into gaining more parahumans in order to lure the Endbringers into attacking Earth Bet instead of Earth Aleph (or some other parallel Earth).
Why would Cauldron dump the Case 53s instead of killing them? Why spare Faultline and her crew? Humanitarian reasons? It is possible, but it seems unlikely. It is more likely that they some reason to want as many parahumans as possible on Earth Bet. Earth Aleph does not have Endbringers. Assuming that the Endbringers do not have a human origin (they were never human but it is possible that they were the product of some parahuman ability), and considering that Earth Aleph and Earth Bet only diverged 30 years ago, Earth Aleph ought to have it’s own Endbringers. The most likely explanation to me is that the Endbringers have an extradimentional origin. But why attack Earth Bet rather than Earth Aleph? The most obvious difference between the two Earths is the number of parahumans.
of course, with the portal, and portal technology of bet, they now have access to them all.
Trevor on June 16, 2013 at 05:33 said:
Been reading through, and intended to start commenting once I caught up, but something struck me. With the amount of monumentally stupid moves the PRT is making, it almost seems like Cauldron is setting them up so that the eventual collapse is as catastrophic as possible. Why? Who knows, but with their influence, odds are they wouldn’t be letting things like this happen unless they wanted everything to come apart at the seams in… I dunno… maybe two years.
I think Taylor was wrong to call Defiant Armsmaster. It might be true, in the way calling Echidna Noelle might be true, but Defiant seems to have turned over a new leaf. Either that or his old leaf is oriented in a new direction.
Either way, I approve.
What’s wrong with Dragon’s voice processing system?
How come clones have powers? Does the passenger decide to link and give powers to everything with a slight resemblance to the original? For Echidna’s clones I simply assumed Echidna was providing the power.
> “Cell phone video,” Marshall said. “Long conversation between Defiant, Dragon and Skitter in the cafeteria.
You’re missing an ending quote on this paragraph, since the next one doesn’t begin with dialogue.
taelor on December 25, 2013 at 06:32 said:
> Howell has no authority outside of the school walls, so we interview students there.
Point of order: at least in the school districts that I’m familiar with (maybe it’s different in Brockton Bay), the school’s formal authority over students extends from the moment they arrive at school, until they either arrive home or are picked up by their legal gaurdians.
Yet another typo, though minor: “draw attention from aross America”.
HAHAHA! Oh Sophia, you poor sad little girl. Your little punching bag grew up to rule a city and kick so much ass that you are barely a blip on the radar in comparison. Tell me, when was the last time YOU cut out a supervillain’s eyes?
I wish we had a reaction shot of Emma too though. We got all the important players with Danny, Sophia and the PRT but I really want to know what sort of mental state our old queen of evil is in now. It’s highly doubtful that she’ll ever show up again so I guess I will consign it to the realm of fantasy.
Oh god Danny you really need to watch the entire video when it goes online. Those parts were definitely some of the most ruthless ones in the conversation. Par for the course for news but it doesn’t paint the nicest picture of your daughter nor show the reason that 100 of her peers stood up to protect her…that poor guy. At least he recognized the butterfly for the goodbye that it was.
Haha oh Defiant I really do like you. “We could’ve avoided this.” “Yeah we could’ve. Next time leave us the fuck alone asshole. Oh and don’t bother trying to send me to the Birdcage ’cause you know, my girlfriend is the Warden and she’s not exactly your friend either anymore.”
Oh crap…I hope that he didn’t do serious damage to her when he fixed her…
Okay I was willing to give Alexandria the benefit of the doubt and even willing to chalk up her arrogant dickish attitude to simply being a well-intentioned extremist but now she’s crossed the line. Nope Alexandria is a hair’s breath away from being a bad guy in my mind now. Putting a murderer in charge of murderers. Yeah, cause THAT makes sense. Bitch. And Defiant is not a murderer. Armsmaster was not a murderer. Did he leave people to die? Hell yes. But he didn’t sit in front of them and pull the trigger. He was an arrogant reckless asshole but he was not a murderer. There is a large difference to what he did than to what people like Coil and Lung have done.
Uuummmmmm…can someone please kill Bonesaw already? Please? Because this girl alone could pretty much take out a continent with her crazy…TEN Crawlers? TEN SIBERIANS?! I understand not nuking Endbringers since it apparently doesn’t work well but if anyone deserves a nuke it’s that little bundle of nightmares. I’m pretty sure by this point sacrificing a small town or even a small city to nuclear fallout is an acceptable price to pay for ridding the planet of her. It’s probably even a smaller overall loss of life…
If Jack is only willing to make one of Gray Boy…that’s very worrisome.
bundle on February 2, 2015 at 09:12 said:
stan likes to use the expression “latest and greatest”, doesn’t he. he’s using it like 4 times in that segment.
Pramxnim on March 18, 2015 at 04:30 said:
“He approached a group of teenage girls who were gathered in a group”
Group is redundant in this sentence.
“… built more like a thirteen year old than a twenty-three year old college graduate.”
Standard form for multi-word nouns would be thirteen-year-old, but the second one’s correct, since it’s an adjective there.
Glad Sophia has some time to dwell on the person who put her in jail. Dat reaction: Priceless.
Poor Danny 😦 , I doubt Taylor will get the chance to contact him again.
Aristos Kisai on February 20, 2016 at 18:58 said:
Danny’s relationship with Taylor reminds me of my own relationship with my parents. Can you really love someone if you don’t know her? If all you see of her is your own expectations? If she cannot talk to you because you’ve set yourself up as a person unable to accept the real her? Whose fault is it that matters came to be such? Danny’s? Taylor’s? The world’s? And if ultimately, the world is to blame, isn’t it really your own fault if you don’t seek the power to change things? How do you look back at that person in their little weak bubble and say “Sorry. I’d burn right through your vision. You can’t see the real me?”
anosmianAcrimony on March 3, 2016 at 19:50 said:
There’s a part of me that wants to see this serial as a TV show. The dramatic reveal at the end of this segment was amazing, but I feel like it would have been even more amazing if it were an actual visual reveal, the camera panning around to show the full horror of what will be unleashed upon the unwitting world.
There are other parts of me that really don’t want this to ever be a TV show because a) I would need to watch it through and that would take ages and b) there are some things in this serial that I would really not want to visually see.
Also, man oh man – D&D take the heat off S9 for a few hours to go harass some poor teenage girl, and look what they get up to!
I like how it seems like Armsmaster/Defiant has legitimately become a decent person. The cliche thing to do would be for him to go crazy after the post-Endbringer events and seek some sort of revenge against Skitter, but it seems like he honestly thought about things and came to some reasonable conclusions.
This was really interesting, until the S9 bit. More boring end of the world crap.
gigaramieldrill on September 19, 2016 at 09:15 said:
“Piggot was watching in silence, elbows on the table, hands folded in front of her mouth.”
She’s doing the Gendo… SHE’S DOING THE GENDO! Oh this is a wonderful day.
On another note. I’m really sorry for Danny. If he had been watching for maybe twenty more seconds than he could have seen all those people standing with Taylor. I don’t think it would do much but I just wish he got to see that.
You are misusing the conditional tense. This should read “If you *had* cut off the feed, …”
The present subjunctive and the conditional tenses are not interchangeable! Look it up, I assure you this is correct.
packbat on November 14, 2016 at 13:34 said:
It’s dialogue – butchered grammar is pretty normal in dialogue.
aslandus on January 24, 2017 at 22:26 said:
Hoo boy, I can just imagine the fun Skitter’s going to have when she finds out everything that’s unfolding here…
“We have good news and bad news”
“May as well start with the bad”
“The slaughterhouse 9 are back.”
“Well, more like the slaughterhouse 99 now”
“How’d they recruit so fast?”
“Well there was this tinker who could make copies of dead people…”
“So they returned from the dead just to fight us?”
“Sort of, but the good news is we’ve got lots of new recruits ourselves, including a few tinkers!”
“Ah, well that’s goo- wait, this is Bakuda’s file.”
“Yeah, funny story… Dragon got in a nasty argument with the PRT and decided to release everyone from the Birdcage.”
“What’s next, the Endbringers decide to converge on Brockton bay all at once and the PRT joins forces with them just to fuck us over?”
“Fuck this, I’m going home.”
This almost sounds realistic, lol
Purab babu on February 18, 2017 at 22:56 said:
Love it. But I wish there was a page that repeated the part where Taylor’s identity is outed, but from Emma’s view. That would be fun.
I still think it´s unrealistic that the Siberian was so suddenly killed.
He was active for over ten years and now he is just killed like nothing…
Aaaand the other shoe drops. Damn it.
One column of cases dedicated to each member of the Nine, past and present…
I seem to recall some kind of Word of God about not all members being represented due to not being able to retrieve samples of them all (which fits later numbers and the Nine’s turnover rate better). Is this another stray phrase that needs to be corrected in editing?
Also, why ten each? Does Bonesaw need a spare?
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Tattletale stood at the very edge of the floor, with a twenty-five story drop just in front of her. The wind whipped her hair around her, and she didn’t even have a handhold available. Shatterbird had cleared out all of the window panes, long ago.
She lowered her binoculars. “He’s gone. If he was going to pull something off, he’d want to watch and make sure everything went off without a hitch.”
“I could have gone with them,” Imp said. “Listened in.”
“Not without us knowing their full set of powers,” Tattletale said.
Imp folded her arms, pouting, “I thought you were one of the cool ones.”
“Othello’s a stranger,” Tattletale said. “I’d think he has an imaginary friend who can mess around with us, but I didn’t see any sign of anyone invisible walking around.”
“Isn’t that the point?” Regent asked.
“No dust or glass being disturbed, none of that. I might think his ‘friend’ is invisible and intangible, but then what’s the point? Accord tends to have people with good powers. Citrine, only bits I could figure out were that she’s got an offensive power, something with substance, and her focus was in a strange place. She was more focused on places in the room where the strongest powers were clustered, and her focus was fairly indiscriminate beyond that. Either her power wasn’t anything that anyone here would have been able to defend against, like Flechette’s arrows or a controlled version of Scrub’s blasts, or she’s a trump classification.”
“What’s that?” Regent asked.
“Official classification for capes who can either acquire new powers on the fly,” Tattletale gestured towards Grue, “Have an interaction with other powers that can’t be categorized or they nullify powers.”
“She’s powerful, then,” Regent said.
“She acts like she’s powerful,” Tattletale said, “And she probably is. But that database of PRT records we had didn’t have anything in it about those two. I don’t know where he finds those guys, but Accord collects some damn heavy hitters.”
Parian broke her spell of silence. “You keep talking like we’re going to fight them.”
“Threat assessment,” Tattletale said. She made her way back to her chair, sitting at the long table. “Be stupid not to know what we’re getting into, especially with someone like him.”
“Not to mention we’ve gotten in fights with pretty much everyone who ever set up shop in the ‘Bay,” Regent commented.
“There’s nothing imminent,” Grue said. “Let’s focus on more immediate problems.”
He turned his attention my way.
“Me?” I asked.
“He’s right. We’ve been so busy preparing for possible fallout that we haven’t had time to discuss this,” Tattletale said.
“I’m a non-factor. The damage is done, and it’s a question of the dust settling,” I said, staring down at my gloves. I’d altered some of my costume, but the real adjustments would have to wait until I had time. I’d made up the extra cloth in an open area of my territory I was devoting to the purpose, but hadn’t had time to turn it into something to wear for tonight. Some of my mask, the back compartment of my armor and my gloves were more streamlined. Or less streamlined, depending on how one looked at it. Sharper lines, convex armor panels that flared out more, gloves with more edges for delivering damage if I had to get in a hand to hand fight.
I’d only done some of the armor, pieces of my costume that were already battered and worn. My gloves, my mask and the back compartment of my armor tended to take the most abuse. I’d update the rest later.
“I’m not sure it’s that simple,” Grue said, his voice quiet. He reached across the table and gripped my hand, squeezing it. “Have we double checked to see what bridges they’ve burned for us? My parents aren’t showing any sign of interference.”
“Mom wouldn’t care either way,” Aisha said. “She might try to capitalize on the attention with appearances on television if she could get money for it.”
“Yeah,” Grue agreed.
“My family wouldn’t care,” Tattletale said. “I’d be surprised if they didn’t already know. They’d choose to ignore it, I’d bet. Parian? You’ve covered your bases.”
“Most of my family is dead. The ones who aren’t dead already know,” Parian said. She looked out toward the window, at the city lights under the night sky.
Tattletale nodded, “Let’s see… Rachel isn’t a problem, not really. Never had a secret identity.”
Rachel shrugged. Her attention was on her dogs. They were shrinking, their extra mass sloughing away. She already had Bastard sitting next to her, his fur spiky and wet from the transformation.
“And if they tried to come at me through my family, they’d get what they deserved,” Regent said.
“Why?” Parian asked.
“His dad’s Heartbreaker,” Tattletale said.
“Oh. Oh wow.”
“Funny thing is,” Regent said, “If you think about it, we might be bigger than Heartbreaker, now. People all over America know who we are, and I’m not sure if Heartbreaker is known that far to the south or west.”
“That’s not our focus right now,” Grue said, squeezing my hand. “It’s good that we’re talking about safeguards and damage control, but discussing villains and the rest of America can wait. They came after Skitter while she was out of costume.”
“How are you coping?” Tattletale asked, leaning forward over the table. “You were pretty heavy-handed tonight. We discussed it, sure, but I thought you’d at least pretend to play ball with them.”
“I didn’t need superpowered intuition to figure out they weren’t going to cooperate no matter what I said,” I replied.
“But you were provoking them. Valefor especially. You up for this, with all the other distractions?”
“This is what I’ve got left, isn’t it? The good guys decided to play their biggest card. They couldn’t beat Skitter, so they beat Taylor. As far as I’m concerned, there’s no reason not to throw myself into this, to deal with both heroes and villains as a full-time thing. I lay down the law, because now I’ve got time to enforce it. I can be stricter with the local villains, back you guys up if they cause trouble, and dedicate the rest of my time to my territory.”
“Dangerous road to travel down,” Tattletale said. “You need to rest, to have downtime.”
“And do what? Go to a movie? I’m not sure if any theaters are open-”
“They are,” Tattletale said.
“-And I couldn’t go even if they were. My face is plastered all over the news, and I’ve got a tinker who might be watching every computer system and surveillance camera in the city, because she’s not willing to go against her bosses. I can’t go shopping, can’t leave my territory unless I’m in costume and ready for a fight.”
“More time to go after them,” Regent said. “You can’t let this slide.”
“I’m not planning to,” I said, standing from my seat.
“Hold on,” Grue said, as my hand came free of his grip.
“Walk with me,” I said. “All of you. The city may be getting better, but there shouldn’t be lights on in this building, and it’s only a matter of time before one of the local heroes decides to stop by and see why.”
“We can take them,” Rachel said, from the rear of the group.
“We can, and we will,” I said, entering the stairwell. “On our terms, not theirs.”
“There’s enough enemies to fight,” Parian said. She had to hurry around the table to catch up. “We don’t need more.”
“I agree,” Grue said. “Not that I don’t understand the need for some response, but you’re talking aggression.”
“I’m feeling aggressive,” I said. “I think. I don’t know. Hard to pin it all down.”
“Might be better to wait until you have a better idea of what you’re feeling,” Grue said.
“It doesn’t matter,” I said, stepping down onto the staircase. “Logically, there’s no choice but to act on this. You heard Valefor. The villain community won’t respect us until we answer the PRT, and the so-called good guys won’t have a reason to think twice about doing it again.”
“The rest of us aren’t as vulnerable as you are,” Regent said. “Don’t want to sound disrespectful or anything, but we don’t have the same kinds of civilian lives to protect.”
“There’re others,” I said. “Part of the reason we uphold these rules is because it sets precedents. Other villains hold to the rules and we benefit, the opposite is true.”
“The flip side of it,” Tattletale said, “Is that we’re risking an escalation in conflict.”
“I don’t see how they can escalate,” I said. “As I see it, they played the last card they have. The harder we hit them now, the more clear it is to outsiders that the PRT doesn’t have an answer. I can show that it doesn’t bother me, and the effect is the same.”
“Doesn’t it, though?” Tattletale asked. “Doesn’t it bother you?”
“Yes,” I said. “In terms of me, I don’t know. I can’t say for sure whether it’s justified or not. But they went after my dad.”
“I get that,” Grue said, “I’d be pissed if they went after Aisha. God, you know, when I was swallowed up by Echidna, and she was filling my head with all the worst stuff I could think of, revised memories, it-”
He stopped, and I paused to glance back up the stairs at him.
“Bro?” Aisha asked.
He took a second to compose himself, then said, “I get what you’re saying, Taylor. Believe me. I was buried in it. If anyone here knows what it’s like to want to protect people-”
“That’s not it,” I cut him off.
“It’s not about me wanting to protect my dad from the aftermath of all of this. That’s done, and right now he’s hurting more than he has since my mom died. Some of that’s on me, and some of it’s on the people who sent Defiant and Dragon into the fray. The damage is done.”
“And you want to go after the non-capes who made the call?”
“Yeah,” I said. “I’m sick of being on the defensive. I hate waiting for the other shoe to drop, because there’s always another shoe, and always a bigger threat. Speaking of, what’s your interpretation on the company we had tonight, Tattletale? How do you think they’re going to play this?”
“The Ambassadors are on the up and up, as far as I can guess their direction. Accord’s unpredictable, which is kind of ironic. I’d say they’re lower priority.”
“They’re going to stick to the deal?”
“Until Accord’s neurosis pushes him to break it,” Tattletale said.
“Then who’s a higher priority? The Teeth?”
“Lots of aggressive powers. Butcher’s at the forefront of it all. Spree has rapid fire duplicate generation, Vex has the ability to fill empty spaces with small, razor-sharp forcefields, Hemorrhagia is a limited hemokinetic with some personal biokinesis, Animos can transform for limited times and packs a power nullification ranged attack while in his other shape. There’s two or three others.”
“I’m asking about their goals,” I said. “Any clue what they’re thinking? Are they going to come after us?”
“Probably. We seem weak and unbalanced right now, especially with Parian not doing the absolute best job protecting her territory.”
“I’m trying,” Parian said.
“You’d be doing better if you’d accept help,” Tattletale retorted. “Except you don’t want to do that because you haven’t committed to this.”
“I will. I’m still figuring out the more basic stuff you guys figured out ages ago.”
“Commitment on a mental level, P. That’s more than just coming to meetings. You don’t have to like us, but respect us, get to know us, trust us and maybe allow for the occasional intimate moment.”
Parian snapped her head around to stare at Tattletale, in a way that was rather more dramatic than the statement warranted.
“Not that kind of intimate. Sorry hon. Trust me when I say we’re all pretty accepting here, and there’s no reason to lie; none of us girls here bat for the other team.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“Of course,” Tattletale said, smiling. “But I was talking about letting us see more of the girl behind the mask. Share those vulnerabilities, let us give you a shoulder to cry on.”
“I don’t need one,” Parian said, “And that has nothing to do with me defending my territory.”
“More than you think,” Tattletale said. She glanced at me, “They’re the type to prey on weakness, and Parian’s capable of only protecting a short section of her perimeter.”
“Hire people?” I asked. “Henchmen, mercenaries.”
“I don’t want to put innocents in the line of fire,” Parian said.
“You don’t want others to suffer if the Teeth come after the people you wanted to protect, either,” I said.
“I don’t know what you want me to do. If I call for help, they’ll retreat, and we wind up wasting your time, while leaving me looking and feeling useless.”
“There’s an alternative,” I said.
“What I was talking about before. Going on the offensive. Only it’s not about just the good guys. I’m talking about targeting our enemies, wiping them out before they hurt us and give us cause.”
“That’s dangerous,” Grue said.
“You guys keep saying things along those lines,” I responded. “I shouldn’t be so strict with our enemies, I shouldn’t ratchet up my involvement in things, I shouldn’t be aggressive. It’s more dangerous to leave them loose, to always give our enemies the first move.”
“The flip side to that coin is that it gives everyone else we deal with less reason to play ball. We need to get other villains to parley if we’re going to seriously hold this territory. The Ambassadors are only step one,” Grue said. “If some other group comes into town and they’re considering joining us, are they going to look at whatever humiliating defeat we visit on the Fallen and feel it’s better to attack us first?”
“Escalation,” Parian echoed Tattletale’s earlier statement.
I sighed. Atlas had descended from his vantage point above the building, and flew in to land next to me. I ran my hand along his horn.
“We’re not… the idea here isn’t to attack you, Taylor,” Tattletale said. “Hell, what they did was low. You said it yourself, in that cafeteria. But you’re talking about changing our dynamic, and it’s a dynamic that’s been working. We’ve already been through some high-tension, high-conflict scenarios. A bunch of times when we went days without a chance to breathe. You want to ratchet that up?”
“Not entirely,” I said. “If we do this right, if we play this smart, then this should reduce the amount of conflict. I need to know if you guys are on board.”
“Yeah,” Rachel said.
“I’m in,” Regent replied. Imp nodded.
“My- my vote doesn’t count,” Parian said. “I only wanted a show of force, to see if we couldn’t scare the Teeth. Only I think it had the opposite effect, because what you guys were saying about Butcher is spooking me. If you guys want to help me with them, okay. But I don’t want to commit to anything major here, and I can’t tell you guys how to operate, because I’m new to this. Skip my vote.”
“Okay,” I said. “Tattletale? Grue?”
“I’ve already said my bit,” Tattletale said. “You call the shots in the field, and act as the face of the group, I do the behind the scenes stuff. That’s how we worked it out. I’m kosher with that.”
Grue said, “I have one thing to say. Think it over, or keep it in mind. We made it further than most groups do. Some villains set their sights high, and they fall. Others try to eliminate their enemies and get eliminated in turn. Still others set their mind on a goal and they strive for it, only to get worn down along the way.”
He paused, glancing away. I didn’t interrupt. Picking the right words? Thinking about himself, as one of the ones who were worn down by circumstance? Or maybe he was thinking about me in that light.
“Maybe part of the reason we made it this far was because you weren’t striving for that. When we were villains, you were trying to be the good guy, behind the scenes. When we were trying to take out some pretty nightmarish opponents, your focus was on surviving more than it was on attacking. I didn’t get the impression you craved to be team leader or to rule the city, but you took on the job because you knew the alternative would be disaster.”
I nodded. Even if I’d wanted to say something in response, I wasn’t sure what I would’ve wanted to say.
“Maybe the reason I’m less comfortable with this is that it’s not your usual pattern. I feel like you’re wanting to be aggressive because you’re hurt and angry. There’s nothing to temper it. Think about it, okay? I won’t tell you not to do this. Despite everything I just said, I do trust your instincts, and I’m not sure I trust mine these days.”
“Grue-”
“I don’t. That’s me being honest. Do what you have to do, but do it with your eyes wide open.”
“Okay,” I said. “I’ll try.”
I had a sudden impulse to hug him, to hold him as close and as tight as our costumes allowed, my arms tight around his broad back, his muscled arms holding me just as tight.
The idea alone made me feel like I might suddenly burst into tears, and I found it startling, inexplicable.
I didn’t hug Grue; I wasn’t sure enough about what I was feeling or why, didn’t want to come across as anything but a leader. Leading this team was something I could do. Something concrete, with real dividends.
Why had I brought Atlas here? Had I already been thinking about running? Avoiding further contact with these guys? Avoiding Grue? It was disconcerting to think about.
Tattletale was staring at me. Could she read what I was experiencing, or get a sense of the emotions that were warring inside me?
“Okay,” I said, and I was surprised at how normal I felt. “We’re playing this much like we did against the Nine, only we aren’t waiting for better excuses to do it. Groups of three, one group active at a time, one target at a time.”
“Who are we fighting?” Rachel asked.
“The Fallen, the PRT, and the Teeth.”
“And you’re in this group of three for tonight’s mission?” Tattletale asked.
“Yeah.” I needed a release, to do something.
She glanced at Grue, and I suspected there was some kind of unspoken agreement there. She met my eyes, or the opaque yellow lenses that covered my eyes. “I’ll come.”
“You’re ops,” I said, “I thought the whole point of that was that you’d stay behind the scenes and out of trouble.”
“I’ll come,” she repeated herself. No argument, no manipulation. Only the statement.
I sighed.
“Me too,” Rachel said.
“Not sure that’s a good idea,” Tattletale said. “Maybe someone more subtle?”
“No,” I said. “It’s fine.”
Subtlety wasn’t what I had in mind.
Bentley crashed into the side of the PRT van. The vehicle rocked, but it was set up to be in the field amid villains with superstrength and literally earth-shattering powers. It didn’t tip over.
Two more dogs crashed into the side of it, and the thing fell. The PRT officer in body armor fell from the turret at the top, his armor absorbing just enough of the impact that he wasn’t badly hurt.
The containment foam sprayers might have been an issue, but none of the uniforms were in a position to use the stuff. I’d come prepared, and each sprayer was either thoroughly snagged on spider silk at the top of the equipped trucks, or the PRT agents who were wearing the portable tanks were bound, blind and under siege by massed bugs.
Dovetail flew after Atlas and I, a trail of luminous slivers of light falling in her wake. She was good at maneuvering in such a way that the sparks didn’t fall on the PRT uniforms and heroes below, even with my swarm crawling over her head, shoulders and arms. Where the slivers touched something solid, they ballooned out into what Tattletale had described as soft force fields, encasing the subject. Anyone could push hard enough against the force fields to break them, even with multiple fields layered over one another, but it impeded movement, and she could hover over a target to keep reinforcing the forcefields until the victim could be smothered in more permanent containment foam.
It might have been a crummy power, but she was fast. If she could have thrown the forcefield-generating slivers further than she did when she flung her arms out, she might have had us.
It was to my advantage that it was easier to dodge pursuit than to match someone else’s course exactly.
Didn’t hurt that she had bugs in her nose, ears and mouth, and that she was being bound by silk, limiting her range of movement with every passing second. She was already unable to use the compact containment foam sprayer she had built into her costume. Nothing I did would stop her from flying, but so long as she was blind and unable to use her arms, I didn’t see her being too much of a threat.
She wasn’t making headway on the offense, but retreating wouldn’t change her circumstances. I’d still bind her in silk, blind and choke her. Her costume had a flared collar, and my bugs were crawling inside, between skin and cloth. That attack was as much about the psychological effect as about getting to more skin to inflict bites.
I wasn’t sure if it was just me, but her movements were bordering on the frantic, now.
No holding back. I only had so many wasps and hornets, but I did what I could. Mosquitoes were a good one. Welts. Leaving a mark.
Rachel’s dogs knocked over another one of the vans that had been circled around the PRT headquarters. The van was knocked into the side of the building, bending the bars that were supposed to protect the windows. Each window cracked, with the lines spiderwebbing out between the hexagonal sections, but they didn’t break.
Adamant got into close quarters combat with the dog, slashing at it with pieces of his armor and driving the animal back.
Rachel whistled, shrill, and two dogs tackled him. He delivered one good swipe before the other blindsided him. The disadvantage of forming a full covering of armor was that it limited his peripheral vision.
She wasn’t going even two seconds without giving a command. There were five dogs in the field, or four dogs and one young wolf, and many were lacking in serious training, so she managed them with lengths of chain between their collars and Bentley’s, and by giving enough commands that they wouldn’t have time to get creative and go after one of the PRT uniforms.
Sere was indoors, along with Triumph. Binding Sere had been a first priority, and I’d achieved it in much the same way. He’d done what he could to target the bugs managing the threads, and to disentangle himself, but time spent on that was time he wasn’t moving outdoors and shooting me or one of the dogs. As with Dovetail, I’d managed to make enough progress that he was more or less out of the fight. She was blind, he was immobile.
The other heroes would be arriving soon. I double-checked Dovetail wasn’t in a position to give pursuit, then ventured inside, entering through an open window on the uppermost floor.
I felt calm, which was odd, given the scene. Bugs swarmed every employee, from the official heroes to the kids who might have been interns. Some howled in pain, others screamed more out of fear, or yelped as bugs periodically bit them.
The bugs gave me a sense of the route I needed to take, my destination. There were offices in the back corner, but I had a sense of where I was going. I’d been here before, when Piggot had been director.
I saw the labels on the door. Commissioner. Deputy Director. Director.
I opened the last door. Director Tagg.
He held a gun, but he didn’t point it my way. There was a woman behind him, using him as a shield.
I’d had statements ready, angry remarks, any number of things I could have said to him, to punctuate what my swarm was doing to his assembled employees. Statements, maybe, that could have surprised him, woken him up to what he’d done to me.
Then I saw the steel in his eyes, the sheer confidence with which he stood in front of the woman… they had matching wedding bands. His wife. I knew in an instant that there wouldn’t be any satisfaction to be had that way.
Rather, the word that left my mouth was a quiet, “Why?”
His eyes studied me, as though he were making an assessment. His words were gruff, the gravelly burr of a long time smoker. He very deliberately set the gun down on the desk, then replied, “You’re the enemy.”
I paused, then pulled off my mask. I was sweating lightly, and my hair was damp around the hairline. The world was tinted slightly blue in a contrast to the coloring of my lenses. “It’s not that simple.”
“Has to be. The ones at the top handle the compromising. They assess where the boundaries need to be broken down, which threats are grave enough. My job is to get the criminals off the streets and out of the cities.”
“By starting fights in schools.”
“Didn’t know it was a school until the capes were already landing,” he replied. “Had to choose, either we let you go, and you were keeping an eye out for trouble from then on, or we push the advantage.”
“Putting kids at risk?”
“Dragon and Defiant both assured me you wouldn’t risk the students.”
I sighed. Probably right.
Someone behind me screamed as a group of my hornets flew to him to deliver a series of bites across his face.
“Barbaric,” Director Tagg said.
“Inflicting pain isn’t the point.”
“Seem to be doing a good job of it,” he commented.
“There are heroes on their way back from patrol, your guys called them in. But there’s also news teams on the way here. We called those guys in. They’ll find your employees covered in welts, every PRT van damaged or trashed. Your employees won’t be able to get any cars out of the parking lot, so they’ll have to walk, which will make for some photo opportunities. A handful of heroes will be a bit the worse for wear. You can try running damage control, but some of it’s bound to hit the news.”
“Uh huh,” he said.
“I couldn’t let you get off without a response from us.”
“Didn’t expect you to.”
“This was as mild as I could go,” I said. “I think you know that. I’m not looking to one-up you or perpetuate a feud. I’m doing what I have to, part of the game.”
“Game? Little girl, this is a war.” His voice took on a hard edge.
I stopped to contemplate that. Rachel was destroying the last containment van, and Tattletale was saying something to her about incoming heroes. I was low on time.
“If it is a war, my side’s winning,” I said.
“And the world’s worse off for it. You can’t win forever,” he said.
I didn’t have a response to that.
He must have sensed he had some leverage there. “All of this goes someplace. Do you really see yourself making it five more years without being killed or put in prison?”
“I haven’t really thought about it.”
“I have. Bad publicity fades with time. So do welts and scabs. Five or ten years from now, provided the world makes it that long, nobody will remember anything except the fact that we fought back. Good publicity will overwrite the bad, carefully chosen words and some favors called in with people in the media will help whitewash any of our mistakes. We’re an institution.”
“So you think you automatically win? Or you’re guaranteed to win in the long run?”
“No. They didn’t pick me to head this city’s PRT division because I’m a winner, Ms. Taylor. They picked me because I’m a scrapper. I’m a survivor. I’m the type that’s content to get the shit kicked out of me, so long as I give the other guy a bloody nose. I’m a stubborn motherfucker, I won’t be intimidated, and I won’t give up. The last few Directors in Brockton Bay met a bad end, but I’m here to stay.”
“You hope.”
“I know. You want to fight this system? I’ll make sure it fights back.”
“So you want to escalate this? Despite what I said before?”
“Not my style. I’m thinking more about pressure. I could pull your dad in for questioning every time you pull something, for example. Doesn’t matter where, doesn’t matter who it’s directed at. You or your team do anything that gets an iota of attention, I drag the man into the building, and grill him for a few hours at a time.”
I felt a knot in my stomach. “That’s harassment.”
I was aware of Tattletale approaching me from behind. She leaned against the doorframe, arms folded.
“It’s a war of attrition,” Tagg said. “I’ll find the cracks, I’ll wear down and break each of you. If you’re lucky, then five years from now they’ll remember your names, speaking them in the same breath as they talk about the kid villains who were dumb enough to think they could keep a city for themselves.”
“He’s playing you,” Tattletale murmured. “He knows he’s got you on a bad day. Best to just walk away. Remember, the Protectorate hasn’t had a good day against us yet.”
I thought about asking him about Dinah, but there wasn’t a point. It was something he could use against me, and I already knew the answer.
I approached the desk and turned around the photo frames. The second showed Tagg with his wife and two young women. A family portrait.
“You have daughters,” I said.
“Two, going to universities halfway across the world.”
“And you don’t feel an iota of remorse for hurting a father through his daughter?”
“Not one,” he replied, staring me in the eye. “I look at you, and I don’t see a kid, I don’t see a misunderstood hero, a girl, a daughter or any of that. You’re a thug, Taylor Hebert.”
A thug.
His mindset was all ‘us versus them’. Good guys versus the bad.
It wasn’t much, but it served to confirm the conclusion I’d already come to. Dinah had volunteered the information. Whatever else Director Tagg was, he wasn’t the type to abuse a girl who’d been through what Dinah had.
“We should go,” Tattletale said. “Rachel’s downstairs with all her dogs, we can run before the reinforcements collapse in on us.”
“Yeah,” I said. “Nearly done. You, back there. Are you Mrs. Tagg?”
The woman stepped a little to one side, out from behind her husband. “I am.”
“Visiting him for the night?”
“Brought him and his men donuts and coffee. They’ve been working hard.”
“Okay,” I said. “And you stand by your husband? You buy this rhetoric?”
She set her jaw. “Yes. Absolutely.”
I didn’t waste an instant. Every spare bug I had flowed into the room, leaving Director Tagg untouched, while the bugs flowed over the woman en masse. She screamed.
He reached for his gun on the desk, and I pulled my hand back. The thread that I’d tied between the trigger guard and my finger yanked the weapon to me. I stopped it from falling off the desk by putting my hand on top of the weapon.
Tagg was already reaching for a revolver at his ankle.
He did. Slowly, he straightened.
“I’m illustrating a point,” I said.
My bugs drifted away from Mrs. Tagg. She was uninjured, without a welt or blemish. She backed into the corner as the bugs loomed between her and her husband.
“Not sure why. Doesn’t change my mind in the slightest,” Tagg said.
I didn’t respond. The swarm shifted locations and dogpiled him. Stubborn as he professed to be, he started screaming quickly enough.
I picked up the gun from the edge of the desk, joining Tattletale. We marched for the exit together, moving at a speed between a walk and a jog, passing by twenty or so PRT employees, each covered in bugs, roaring and squealing their pain and fear to the world as they stumbled blindly and thrashed in futile attempts to fight the bugs off.
Nothing venomous, the wasps and hornets weren’t contracting their bodies to squeeze the venom sacs. There was nothing that could put their lives at risk. It was still dramatic enough.
“He’s right,” Tattletale commented.
“About?”
“You won’t change his mind with a gesture like that. Sparing his wife.”
“Okay,” I replied. I opened a drawer and put Director Tagg’s service weapon inside, while Atlas ferried Tattletale down to the ground floor.
Atlas returned to me, and I took to the air, flying just above Lisa and Rachel and the dogs as we fled the scene. I made a point of leaving every single bug inside the PRT headquarters, to infest it until they had the place exterminated, which would only be another photo opportunity for the media, or to serve as a perpetual reminder as it took weeks and months for all of the bugs to be cleared out.
The news teams were already arriving on the scene. No doubt there was a camera following us. I remembered Director Tagg’s threat, to bring my father into custody. Only a threat, going by his wording, but it did make me think about how every activity, every thing I did that brought me into the public consciousness, it would be a little twist of the knife that I’d planted in my dad’s back.
Not a good feeling.
Maybe the little demonstration I’d done with Tagg’s wife hadn’t been for him. It could just as easily have been me trying to prove something to myself.
This entry was posted in 21.01 and tagged Adamant, Bastard, Bentley, Bitch, Dovetail, Grue, Imp, Parian, Regent, Sere, Tagg, Tattletale, Taylor by wildbow. Bookmark the permalink.
leinadrengaw on April 9, 2013 at 00:02 said:
Every time I try to load this at midnight and fail I panic
anonymus on April 9, 2013 at 09:48 said:
you ninja’d wildbow?!??!?
Your fast! And I’m late!
Second!
Hoping for a quick typo catch:
“She’d talk about me, not you,” Imp said.
How can Aisha interrupt herself?
Man, her power is good.
AVR on April 9, 2013 at 00:12 said:
“were the strongest powers were clustered” First were should be where.
“Parian snapped her head around to stare at Tattletale, in a way that rather more dramatic than the statement warranted.” Missing a was.
She was more focused on places in the room were the strongest powers were clustered, and her focus was pretty indiscriminate beyond that.
were -> where?
Extra line after next/previous chapter line at end.
Why is “Subtlety wasn’t what I had in mind.” located past the chapter section?
Hobbes on April 9, 2013 at 00:17 said:
“Subtlety wasn’t what I had in mind” repeats after the “Last/Next Chapter” link.
Was distracted earlier today, little time to write. Fixed typos. Thanks.
At the risk of making (or perhaps for the sole purpose of making) a really bad/obvious pun, you didn’t tag Tagg.
Or anyone, actually.
On the content of the chapter:
Really loving Grue in this chapter. He’s right — being outed is really screwing with Taylor’s head, putting her in the same kind of space she was in when he had to stop her from trying to fight Burnscar head-to-head. Not as severe — her tactical instincts are still hella good — but she’s not thinking strategically, not really.
Whats a “Comfmitment”?
Like a f’ing commitment, but a little mixed up.
Spell check failed me.
Icarus on June 14, 2017 at 16:08 said:
A specific type of covfefe.
johnnythexxxiv on August 12, 2017 at 18:45 said:
I love seeing the recent comments pop up every now and again. It’s awesome to see that I’m not the only one on the internet still getting guided to wildbow’s work years after it’s finished. The reference just made it even better
Etraque on March 27, 2018 at 07:24 said:
Hrm, I’m surprised that the PRT fell so easily- but I suppose there was at least some planning and tattletaling skipped over on the trip!
““Comfmitment on a mental level, P. ” Commitment.
“spare bug had” Either an extra space or a missing ‘I’.
“every singly bug” Single.
Typos are embarrassing. Aunt & her boyfriend were by this weekend, and they left just before noon, then there was an unexpected drop-in by furnace maintenance guys, and that ate up another hour.
And I gave it -more- proofreading than usual, about an hour and a half of reading through, spellchecking, before watching the latest episode of Game of Thrones. And only feedback thus far is typo corrections.
Feels bad, man. 😦
Anyone have a plate of virtual cookies? I’m fresh out.
Just realized how ambiguous that was. I meant to give to wildbow. *smacks head, because is one of few people who actually do do that*
randomsoul2 on April 9, 2013 at 00:36 said:
If it helps, I liked it!
Every time a new power is introduced or explained, I squee a little. I love the mechanics of the Wormverse.
Oh good. Thank you.
Trusting on April 9, 2013 at 00:51 said:
same here (though all the characters means theres no way i’ll ever get to draw a chibi of everyone ) , and of course I love puzzle pieces and seeing how new information fits in with earlier observations and enigmas .
enjoyed the chapter and look forward to watching the various factions start going at it in ernest .
No offence intended. Typo spotting’s quick to do.
But yes, interesting, particularly the comments in character on the last interlude.
> No offence intended. Typo spotting’s quick to do.
Plus, it makes it easier for later readers to enjoy the chapter without distraction.
aflamingostolemyparasol on July 30, 2016 at 00:05 said:
And we later readers thank you for that.
Indeed we do
australday on October 26, 2017 at 03:08 said:
Verily
Sorry! I actually do feel bad about doing that- but I wouldn’t want to leave the typos until I had something intelligent to say, I suppose, and sometimes that takes a bit longer; it was much easier when I was doing the archive crawl to stick them in with more thoughtful commentary.
Anyway, I did enjoy the chapter, though as I mentioned I am surprised that it went down the way it did- I suppose after all they’ve been through it is fair to give them a ‘And then they kicked ass’ moment and not show every step of the plan, since I’m sure not everyone is a fan of that sort of thing. After all, it is certainly plausible that they could do it even with the PRT expecting something of the sort.
Skitter’s head is an interesting place right now, and it was definitely good to hear it being called out, commented upon- and perhaps a first step to keeping her from doing something bad.
Parian is gonna be a real terror if/when she embraces her abilities… but she is also potentially the weak link until then. Of course, the best of both worlds would be her bringing in Flechette.
I have to wonder what Dinah’s game is- and whether the pieces of paper even survived the inside of Noelle. Would be quite the thing if only Assault knew what they said. I’d not be surprised if she hadn’t learned a lot from Coil, and she’s been through the horrid effects of a multiverse of withdrawal symptoms so she might be able to tough through the occasional faked or perhaps simply massaged statistic these days.
Also, I should perhaps mention that I look forward to each update eagerly. Worm, where every month is NaNoWriMo!
At the conclusion of the Noelle arc, Taylor has the papers and crumples them.
Any comments on why you’ve left that dangling for so long?
I did a few times (end of last arc) in a few drafts, but decided it would’ve been distracting/misleading/lost in the jumble.
I mean, as opposed to just letting us read them when Taylor did.
Well, Taylor very specifically didn’t refer to any legible writing being on them. I’ve been through much less punishment and had the contents of my pockets ruined=P
Took longer than expected to write out my comment, otherwise I’d have been there sooner.
*huggledysnugglez*
Even a perfectionist can’t always be perfect. Interesting direction. Can’t see Taylor being overly satisfied with the results. Tagg is a blunt instrument who doesn’t let facts get in the way of his world view. If he does follow through on his threats to Taylor’s father things are going to go very badly for him.
Amazing. You can feel the seething hurt that’s built up without an outlet inside Taylor in this chapter, a scared- yes, scared, not for herself but for what it means, how it’ll affect her father even more than before; Not just all the little lies told every time but now the pain of watching /his little girl/ doing what she’s doing- teenager who is coming into herself at the same time as this fuster cluck is going off around her. She’s trying to redirect that pain and aggression outwards, to take all the pain and sadness that’s been inflicted on her and rejected it, when really she needs to stop and get introspective, and confront the source of the pain inside her. Thank you for yet another beautiful chapter of Worm, Wildbow.
Never feel embarassed at making typos. I still find them in professionally editted paperbacks and hardcovers from every period of time I’ve read from, from seventy year old printings to current hot-off-the-presses iterations, including reprints. Heck, even the bible isn’t immune to typos (King James Bible, anyone?). Everyone makes mistakes. We’re just helping with the editting process. ^_^ Always helps to have additional eyes on the work. Gives a degree of separation that a first-tier inspection might miss because the brain just glosses over it and fits it in because you wrote it in your mind, but never actually put it to page- Lord knows the number of times I’ve done that, with both written and spoken words.
In short: It’s okay to not be perfect, we like you just the way you are Wildbow. ❤ *hugs*
its a good chapter, first feedback is usually going to be typo corrections because last time i read a chapter all the way though, then posted the noticed typos, i was number 7 to post the same one.
also, i like to think on a chapter for a bit before commenting on the content.
Speaking of game of thrones, I wonder if Worm would ever end up as an HBO series. 🤔
Taylor’s emotions are surprising her more and more often it seems. I read that as showing how she’s breaking in some pretty scary ways after all of the insanely traumatic stress she’s been through. I also notice though that her plight isn’t escaping those around her. Brian and Lisa both seem to be very aware of what’s up, maybe even more than Taylor is. There may be no Endbringers on the immediate horizon but I’m betting there’s some of roughest seas we’ve seen so far lying ahead in the next few weeks.
I agree completely. This is almost exactly what I was about to say. The key, though, is that she’s “breaking,” rather than “broken.” There’s still time for her…I suppose redemption *is* the word I would use, really. She lived up to Director Tagg’s description of her today.
Anzer'ke on April 9, 2013 at 00:47 said:
I’m not sure how.
Considering what they did, the PRT are really no better than a gang of thugs themselves by now. They almost certainly just engaged in all manner of unfortunate tactics regarding those students (especially the ones Clockblocker got trampled), are being purposefully antagonistic (choosing a guy like Tagg, going after secret identities) and most of all are now on the wrong side of the moral line.
Not just in the public eye, also literally.
The Undersiders did more for Brockton Bay by far.
The PRT are now truly threatened and thus showing some really unpleasant true colours.
The Undersiders continue to avoid targeting civilian identities despite certainly being better at it. While the heroes have stopped even pretending.
Which means we now have the PRT relying on and taking advantage of, the Undersiders’ morals. That’s pretty clear villain behaviour, no wonder Parian’s not going for the hero option.
A thug. Hmmm, well its not like the PRT can sit on their high horse for too much longer. The institution is about to be forever marred with the whole crimes against humanity thing. Plus his whole little war mindset could backfire big time. Even in war, there are rules or codes of conduct. So go ahead director Tagg, break the unwritten rules. The villains are going to break them in a heartbeat right afterward. That means going after families, and you guys are the ones who started it. He is also very wrong in that her act of Mercy changed nothing. If Taylor really wants to beat him, she has to beat him by proving that she is the better person. The students DID favor her over the heroes after all. So if she keeps taking down villains, and refuses to stoop to their level, people are going to notice. But he is right that it is unrealistic for them to keep doing this for a decade and expect to get away unscathed. As unrealistic as I think the 9 are for never being stopped, even they had to constantly get new members. After this I can sort of see a birdcage arc. A hero gets lucky and she gets put away just in time for the breakout.
I’m pretty sure that Dragon would arrange for Skitter to not end up in the Birdcage, push come to shove.
Well I really hope Dragon is okay and she lets a few prisoners go. I think her nature prevents her from being predicted by the Smurf, so if she lets Canary/Panacea maybe she can prevent the inevitable escape from being as bad as it could be.
It might not be her call, anymore. Remember, she’s… indisposed, aside from the whole quitting the PRT thing.
Can Dragon get someone out of the Birdcage at all? I thought it was a one way trip in terms of she can send you in, but no one can get you out (barring cheaters like the Simurgh maybe),
From Interlude 15 (where Panacea was sent into the Birdcage) Dragon said “She’ll be transported there and confined for the remainder of her life, barring exceptional circumstance.”
That implies there are ways if necessary…
Dragon is the world’s greatest tinker — if she wanted to send in an elevator capable of lifting a passenger out of the Birdcage, she could. The other six hundred inmates might have objections, though.
And Trickster is in there now. If anyone were to go up an elevator, he could swap himself out no problem.
izoughe on April 11, 2017 at 11:36 said:
Not necessarily; he’d need to have line of sight. I’d assume the prisoner in question would be removed as subtly as possible so as to prevent riots, and if Dragon took that line of action, there’s a very good chance Trickster wouldn’t even know about it until after the prisoner was already removed.
If Trickster were aware of this with enough time to spare, he would absolutely make sure he had line of sight and swap himself out.
>Nothing venomous, the wasps and hornets weren’t contracting their bodies to squeeze the venom sacs.
This contradicts something earlier:
>Someone behind me screamed as one of my bullet ants was flown to him to deliver a bite.
Pretty sure bullet ants have venom- and if Taylor is being “nice” enough not to properly sting with wasps and hornets she sure as hell wouldn’t be using bullet ants (except maybe on the Director).
Bullet ants, as far as I’m aware, can’t cause anaphylactic shock.
There’s a tribe in the same area where the bullet ants can be found, which harvests the ants and sews them into what basically looks like an oven mit, their pincers facing inwards. It’s a rite of passage to wear these gloves with dozens or hundreds of ants and dance for hours.
They can.
http://www.asktheexterminator.com/ants/Bullet_Ant.shtml
> In the off chance you experience a bullet ant sting, have someone take you to the emergency room immediately. You cannot drive because of the pain that will hit you about ten minutes after being stung. Also, take an antihistamine. Many people are allergic to bullet ant stings and may suffer severe allergic reactions, including anaphylactic shock.
My research failed me.
Well damn. Ok. Will fix.
Remember, they apparently have to keep those glove things on their arms, with all those ants, and don’t wind up in shock over it.
I don’t know how many she’s using, but maybe not any more than that tribe does.
simply put, if the venom has protein in it, it can cause anyphylactic shock. Even though most ant venom is mostly formic acid, there is still a bit of protein that some people are allergic to.
Those ants are in spot N1 in the Pain scale, but as far as i know, no anaphylactic shock.
Fire Ants are a 1.2 on the Schmidt pain scale… Red Carpenter Ants are a 3.0 The pain from them is described as, “A drill excavating an ingrown toenail.” Bullet Ants are a 4.0+… and are described as such: “Pure, intense, brilliant pain. Like fire-walking over flaming charcoal with a 3-inch rusty nail grinding into your heel.” And on TOP of that, the pain lasts for hours (It’s colliquially known as the ’24 Hour Ant’) and can cause temporary paralysis and uncontrollable shaking for days preceding the bite event. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Paraponera_clavata_MHNT.jpg is an image of one of the buggers… ;________; I actually feel sorry for anyone bitten by them, now… And anyone who has been bitten by them in story should probably have been screaming and writhing in pain far louder and longer than otherwise- Possibly even dead of anaphylactic shock, considering the extreme pain from multiple bites would likely cause people to pass out.
Get Tagg in the nuts!
All references to bites should actually be stings; Apparently they’re like some sort of wasp-ant that stings to inject venom- the venom isn’t from their bites. However, their bites are still plenty strong enough (the ants are/were actually used as sutures in India; have the ant bite the wound, twist the head off. pincers keep the wound closed).
I don’t think you (Rika) mean “preceding the bite” unless the pain is so bad that it reaches backwards in time and starts before the ant actually stings you. Mind you in the Wormverse, I could actually see that being possible.
Hmm, and now I’m thinking of the Nine’s newest member “Temporal Bullet Ant”.
Patrick, that’s what I was thinking too. Pain so bad it hits you days before you even get stung!
That I didn’t. Butthat’s what happens when I type at 3:50 AM and am sleepyish. 😛
I think its crazy just how unstoppable the undersiders are when they really want to be. This is the second time they’ve assaulted the PRT, and the second time they walk away unhindered. They, with the travelers kept the pressure on the s9 largely by themselves, all the heros and villains they’ve taken down.
I think its time for tattletale to start posting some of those secrets they know.
Good to see how wonderfully this latest tactic worked out for the PRT.
I suppose their next idea will have to really go for broke if they want to top it. Maybe they could blackmail their own already tenuous, vitally important allies with deeply personal threats…oh wait a Dragon.
Maybe they could continually taunt people who show more moral fibre than…
You know I’m struggling to think of a new low. Though I’m sure they’ll find one.
Easy. They try to defend what Cauldron did. Come on Tattletale use that blackmail material. There are probably plenty of nasty things about them without spilling the beans on Cauldron.
Already done.
A lot actually. Wow they have done that a lot.
Unless you mean the mainstream PRT, however given that Cauldron are villains I’d say them publicly defending Cauldron would be completely dropping the act.
Though Tagg was witness to Dragon being blackmailed into doing immoral things with threat of putting a mercenary in charge of a prison, in order to avoid damaging Cauldron…so yeah, they are already doing it.
I really hope Dragon records everything around her. She can try and go above their head.
I suppose Vista could be raped (by them or one of the worse groups in town) and they just decide to blame it on one of the Undersiders so they can issue a kill order.
Well, looks like they’re going after Grue or Regent next.
>Rape
Too far, PG. Too far.
Not far enough. They could, say, blame undersiders for killing the family members capes, for example, like saying Regent took them over and used them to attack the hero.
Or they could accuse Skitter of murdering a PRT director – oh wait she already did.
Or they could go after their families – oh wait they already did.
Rape is so cliche in grimdark setting though I doubt wb would use them – in part due the above examples of things that are easier(Vista doesn’t have to testify) and worse than the action.
Mind you, they already took Dinah pretty soon after she was given back to parents, so they actually would have someone stand in for an Undersider and do that to Vista. It is just that they could do worse.
For PG nothing is too far. for examples read what he did to holdout.
“Rape, murder, arson, and rape.”
“You said rape twice.”
“I like rape.”
“A little roleplay never goes wrong. Don’t you watch Law and Order?”
“I don’t watch anything BUT Law & Order. Rape is all I know. I just paid for lunch in rape dollars.”
Dear Psycho Gecko,
Imply rape towards a little girl agian and this will be your fate. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3Mt2E1M6dU
From, Skitter.
I set out to suggest the worst thing possible the PRT could do next and from your responses, it seems I have found it. Rika especially seems to think that would be an absolutely horrible thing for the PRT to do. Also, due to Wildbow’s sensibilities, I doubt that would be done anyway.
Rika, I like you and I’m not a very rapey person. Despite the dialogue from Blazing Saddles up there, didn’t even do that to dear little Holdout, may he rest in pieces. It should be noted that I am not intimidated by Skitter. If we met, I’m sure the encounter would turn out quite fun for me. But since we’re volleying threats about: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ve-iyV5zns
Huggles and snuggles,
Psychopomp Gecko
PS: If you use a Dimension Bomb to destroy a planet connected to another by a portal that’s always open, what do you suppose happens to that second planet too?
Should have used Dinner with the Arkhams, but some things are spoiled by that point. Ah well, I can just go bear hunting and the whole mess will work itself out.
Ooch…that chapter was like a punch in the gut on several levels. I swear, before I got to the part where Taylor revealed she hadn’t hurt the wife, I wasn’t sure what to think about Taylor anymore. Still not sure what to think. Is this just her lashing out, hurt and wild, or a permanent change? This chapter was uncomfortable, because this is the really the first time I’m completely starting to feel like Taylor has started to do things for the wrong reasons as well as the right ones,
After all that Tt/skitter shipping, I found tt’s response to Parian equally as hilarious as parians response when she misunderstood. First time I’ve laughed in a while, so thanks.
What was really interesting about this chapter is I felt like wildbow was talking to us though it. Shooting down skitter and tattletale romance, disproving any ideas Parian has started taking a more active part, telling us what w trump is, discussing skitters feelings right now…it feels like Iike I’m reading a built in explanation that answered some questions as I had them, and others tht had been lurking for a while. Which isn’t a bad thing; certainly an interesting writing style.
Looking forward to the next update, as always.
I actually wonder if Tattletale threw in the word “intimate” purely to confirm her gaydar reading.
Of course, like a lot of Tt’s moves, it’s not the best long-term thinking — I bet Parian would have been more comfortable coming out on her own terms.
I guess her gaydar is more powerful than anyone else. Will Flechette and Parian be our hero/villain romeo and juliet?
Anyone else think maybe Lisa has a bit of a thing for Taylor? Like an older sister vibe?
Yeah. I thought Lisa’s revelation about why she recruited Taylor made that explicit.
It was to save her from suicide- Something she wasn’t able to do for her brother. That’s what I took from that revelation. But she seems to be more and more taking on a bigger role as the big sister to Taylor, it seems. And I like it.
I was hoping for something less sisterly between Skitter and Tattletale, but at least there was intercourse between Tattle and Parian this time around.
Re: parian, it’s even more interesting when you consider she might actually *be* a lesbian. Puts that entire conversation in a different light – especially the line, “none of us girls here bat for the other team”.
Ninja’d. AGAIN. I’ve been refreshing before every comment on a typo/whatnot, just in case, and been preceded EVERY TIME. Blarg!
My first comment would have been when there were only 2 up. I caught the story right away, 5 minutes after midnight. Still ninja’d.
This drives home that the Director position is cursed.
Does the application form require violent insanity and delusions of grandeur or is it just highly valued?
I’m kinda sad the undersiders didn’t attack when the directors were reviewing the school incident. THAT would have been an interesting meeting.
I present, Tagg’s best line from that meeting.
Yeah. What a wonderful guy.
So to recap:
Piggot was a racist (and a mild sociopath, going by some of her actions);
Calvert was Coil (a complete sociopath);
and Tagg seems to have modeled himself after all the military generals from those old war movies; specifically, all the generals people hate for their aggressive mercilessness and warmongering (and mild sociopathy).
“So, you’d like the new PRT Director position in Brockton Bay huh?”
“Yes. There has been a decided lack of discipline here.”
“Well, the last guy just died. Something about a wound on his knee becoming gangrenous. Imp has started using a bow. How about we go ahead and give you a week or two probation in the spot. If you impress us, or just survive, we’ll keep you.”
“It sounds like I shall have to act quickly to put everything back in order.”
“Alright, so how do you say your last name again?”
“Umbridge. My name is Dolores Umbridge.”
Naeblis on April 9, 2013 at 02:43 said:
The horror! D:
Now thats funny!
….Somehow, the idea doesn’t really seem all that out there. After all, there are those who use magic- Why not a prim and proper “lady” teacher/tutor/educator figure who models herself after her, with ‘Magic’?
The problem being that the administrators of the PRT program are not admitted to the position unless they have a complete lack of powers. A non-magical Umbridge would be plausible though.
Mother of God….. ._.
Imp using a bow is a novel idea, actually
It gets worse. Tagg used to be the director until…?
Retsam on March 28, 2015 at 16:19 said:
… he took an arrow to the knee?
Did it really take 2 years for someone to comment on that joke?
Psycho Gecko on March 29, 2015 at 21:46 said:
Congratulations! This is the Gecko Automated Comment service!
As the first of no-doubt many people to answer correctly, you now win the special rigged lottery numbers for the lotto to be held on the next drawing, April 10th, 2013!
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Wow, was beginning to think you’d gone AWOL. Missing your input over at Pact, guy!
(Yes, I’m *still* running behind. Shaddap. xD)
I did a little with Pact, but then stopped at one point. Kept meaning to go back after there were more updates, but then it wound up ending.
I believe there is a trope for this. It’s called the “General Ripper”. Basically, a batshit insane general that pursues conflict for no good reason.
But General Ripper doesn’t care about body count, while I think Tagg does care, at least a little. If just for the PR side of things.
Tagg acknowledged that he became aware that the operation was at a school when contact was made. At any point, he could have ordered a withdrawal based on the off-chance that students may be targeted or injured. He chose to take that risk based on an assumption about Taylor’s personality. To him, the risk of innocent casualties was one worth taking. No, I don’t think Tagg gives a damn about the body count, so long as he’s a winner.
He is also aware that Taylor is teamed up with known killers who don’t really have the same restraint. If Bitch had shown up with her dogs on a rescue attempt, there is practically no way there wouldn’t have been students getting hurt left and right. Again, he went through with this insane plan knowing there was at least a chance of bad things happening. His attitude and lack of regard qualify him as a General Ripper as far as I’m concerned.
Dis on April 9, 2013 at 20:41 said:
Seems oddly appropriate, what with the bug theme:
I watched a snail crawl along the edge of a straight razor. That’s my dream. That’s my nightmare. Crawling, slithering, along the edge of a straight razor … and surviving.
*Accidentally drops a salty fry on the snail, killing it.*
trey on April 9, 2013 at 00:35 said:
I’m really surprised she didn’t start stripping Tagg to the bone with whatever insects she had available. Or give him the Triumph treatment. _Never_ do a foe a small harm.
Zyaode on April 9, 2013 at 00:48 said:
I’m surprised Tattletale didn’t turn his world upside down more than anything else. I wonder if any of the other undersiders left surprises behind for the PRT – this seems far too light for violating the truce
I think Tattletale went with Taylor for the sole purpose of making sure she wouldn’t do something stupid, there is no doubt that Tat could read how bad a place Taylor was in and she was focusing more on her than trying to mess with Tagg.
Agreed, emphatically. I think that was the unspoken agreement Grue and Tattletale had.
Yeah, you’re probably right about her having tunnel vision – still, this means this attack accomplished little towards convincing the PRT it was a Bad Idea to play games with the truce so casually. Nothing of any real value was broken, nobody died (though I didn’t really expect anyone to) and Taylor’s further entrenched Tagg’s opinion of her as a thug by threatening his wife.
Tattletale was in the right place to make a big difference with Tagg, but keeping Taylor from doing anything exceptionally stupid was just as important.
Tagg may be in for a rude awakening next time the PRT needs villainous aid if he keeps this up – and given what just happened I think he will. As he said, bruises and scabs heal quickly – all they’ve done is injure his pride and set up for a more spectacular PRT collapse later.
Taylor is going down a very dark path.
Taylor: “Then I’ll bring fireflies.”
…Mental image of Skitter working in tandem with River Song during one of her Badass moments. ._.
Song? Tam* Though Song would be awesome too.
If she were younger, Summer Glau would make a great Dinah.
Skitter, sweetie, I hate to BUG you, but those beasts are about to eat the Doctor. Have you figured out how those Rigellian Centipedes spit their acid ye… ohh, dear me, that’s wonderful! Lets go cause some property damage!
rmctagg09 on April 9, 2013 at 00:37 said:
Taylor’s not in a good place right now, it’s frightening me.
Mabelode on April 9, 2013 at 00:40 said:
Director Tagg really needs to brush up on the the subtle differences between the police force and the military. Also, the strange new concept called ‘rules of engagement’.
I imagine that the PRT and police are highly militarized to say the least. The differences are almost purely cosmetic, probably.
But there needs to be. A military and police are two very different things. Police are there to apprehend the bad guys and kill only as a last resort if necessary to protect themselves or others. A military is trained to kill and defeat the enemy. I honestly can not believe how shortsighted the guy is. Does he not remember that they need the truce to fight the Endbringers or that the villains only play by the rules because they do as well? I can’t help but notice how the Wards considered themselves in a war in that psychologist, can’t remember her name, interlude. I don’t think they started out that way till after Leviathan. I hope they aren’t acting the same way in other cities.
I had something written expressing some of these, but there was a portion it took me to work on, so yours came first.
The PRT is peace enforcing agency. You don’t pull out a gun and automatically shoot every criminal, then go hunt down his family and friends and shoot any of them that have a history of being criminals.
Plus, his actions have made it to where she can’t go back. Because her identity is out, she can never take this to a peaceful end where she just stops, backs away, and makes something of her life without crime. She’s got nothing left she can do but this kind of stuff. Her life is now on the line because her fates are either the Birdcage and death, so there’s no reason for her to hold back.
I just realised that this is probably a major part of stuff Tattletale was talking about where they catch but don’t unmask, even with really bad guys.
As long as the secret identity remains, it’s possible for someone to simply retire.
If Skitter wasn’t so noble it would have been entirely believable for her to just take a huge pile of money and go take care of Brian somewhere. I imagine that this kind of thinking is why even the ruthless stick to the code. It means an enemy can always leave peacefully.
Just look at the Pure. They are completely unable to just go be normal (if a tinsy bit, disgustingly bigoted) people. Whereas Purity at least might well have ended up retreating from it all to take care of Aster.
Tagg: “Bah! Good is good, and evil must die, there’s nothing else to it! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m trying to read Les Misérables in one sitting and I keep getting distracted and have to start over, so shut up! Ahh, Inspector Javert, only you understand my view of law and morality.”
Since it’s been 20 days since I posted this and no one has replied to it, I’ll just explain the joke (spoilers for Les Misérables):
Inspector Javert was a lawman with a very strict black and white view of morality/ the law. At the end of the book (which Tagg hasn’t gotten to yet), Javert realizes that, since Jean Valjean is both a criminal and a good person (sound familiar?), his aforementioned views are wrong. Unable to cope with this, he kills himself.
To paraphrase one of Sun Tzu’s first lessons, Do not enter into a protracted war.
“It’s a war of attrition,” Tagg said. “I’ll find the cracks, I’ll wear down and break each of you.
I believe Sun Tzu also said to always allow your enemy a path of escape, as a cornered foe will fight all the harder. By eliminating Taylor’s civilian identity, and thus her escape, he’s just made it that much harder for himself.
Ah, but don’t they also say you should burn your bridges before you cross them?
Mmm… but aren’t they a paramilitary force acting in concert with the heroes who ARE a military force? I know many a time it’s been referenced that heroes are used as military by many countries, and it doesn’t seem any different in Brockton/the US.
In Hannahs Interlude she made note of the differences between the PRT/Protectorate and actual military parahuman organizations; apparently it was a large enough difference that she prefers being in the Protectorate
paramilitary, not military.
So they are twice as bad? (for shame PG, letting me beat you to the pun. )
First, I’d like to congratulate those people who guessed “Imago” as the story arc title. Taylor really has changed due to what happened last arc. Whether its permanent or a passing thing remains to be seen. The fact that the rest of the Undersiders sense the problem just underscores it.
Tattletale insisted on going with Skitter. It makes sense, knowing the backstory, and her reasons for helping Taylor. She probably doesn’t want to let Taylor out of her sight. How will that affect their friendship, I wonder.
I know this is from Taylor’s point of view, but seeing Director Tagg here made me actively dislike him. I know he’s trying his best to take a hard stance on crime, and I can see his reasoning in taking such a cold-hearted appearance toward Taylor. Heck, I bet much of it was bluff and bluster, just like Skitter’s old tactics. But he just enforced Taylor’s “us versus them” view of society, something Dragon, an A.I., knew to avoid very early on. He might not know the full circumstances regarding Taylor (Coil being his predecessor, Sophia/Shadowstalker being the source of all the problems), which would make him incompetent since a good director should look into things. More likely, considering the bonus interlude, he’s actively complicit and unwilling to change things for the better, which means he’s just as bad as the others before him.
To be honest, the chapter felt shorter than others, since not much actively occurs. Things are set up, and previous plots haven’t started, yet. But that’s the fun of coming back to Worm and reading.
three rights make a left. on April 9, 2013 at 00:41 said:
Maybe its just me but I feel like Taylor is teetering on the edge of a dark abyss
definitely not just you. she’s… kinda scary right now. i’m almost getting dissonant serenity vibes from her right now…
Yeah, this arc feels like it is going to build up to something big. I’m guessing there are two ways for it to go. She pushes herself into a moral event horizon and maybe tries to go back or she is faced with a difficult choice and ultimately chooses the good route no matter how bad the consequences restoring our faith in her. But yeah, the fallen are in for rude awakening if they mess with her right now.
If the chapter names are anything to go by, skitter is going to have a very hard descision to make, and it is going to change how she acts from then on. I think we’re finnaly going to see what dinah meant by skitter being different in 2 years.
Any guesses on how she is different?
1. More hardened/jaded/willing to kill-if an Undersider or her dad was killed I could see this.
2. Has 2nd trigger event-kind of unlikely if Noelle’s stomach didn’t do it and the possibility she already had it.
3. A true villain-no more grey for her.
I think there are at least six of us who have posted expressing similar feelings before one a.m.
If I could give Skitter orders right now, I’d tell her to kill an energy drink (electrolytes are important!), get ten hours of sleep, and then write letters to her dad and to Dinah Alcott. Let one of her minions post them and forward any replies back to her. Like Burnscar said, it’s incredibly crappy and anyone else would find it completely pathetic, but it’s the best option she has left to keep the kind of normal human contact Taylor needs.
Definitely. I think just the act of putting the words on paper would really help get some of those stressful thoughts and feelings off her chest. Let her explain things to her dad.
Yeah, given that she openly recognised that bad communication kills with Weld and MM it seems she has forgotten her own wisdom.
It’s not like it can put him in any more danger.
Though if he gets killed because the PRT outed her, we may well see her completely lose it.
You forget things when you’re pissed. I also figure her once again failing to stand up for herself adequately, as opposed to how she did against Emma and Dragon, is because she hadn’t thought all this through as much as she’d have liked to.
She got pissed, she wrecked some stuff, hadn’t thought it all through. Reminds me of this time with a homeless man, a scooter, and a portapotty.
Okay, now that I’ve actually read it:
– Imago, ha! Called it!
– “A bunch of times when we went days without a chance to breathe.” Heh. I see what you did there
– Man, Tattletale is ridiculous. She’s a grotesquely unfair force-multiplier for any side she’s on
– Grue makes a fine consigliere. Almost as fine as Tattletale. They’re like the devil and angel on Skitter’s shoulders … except that the devil is a gorgeous blond and the angel is a skull-faced form obtenebrated in black mist. Oddly fitting for Skitter’s life.
– Director Tagg is … well, he’s not wrong — but.
– To quote Ambrose Chase of Planetary fame, “This is going to get damn ugly.”
Typo Hunt (unless I’ve been ninja’d of course):
– “Comfmitment”
– you have “Subtlety wasn’t what I had in mind.” repeated at the very end. Either some kind of epilogue or a typo.
– “As with Dovetail, I’d managed to make enough progress that he was more or less out of the fight.” Dovetail ain’t no dude, dude(tte) :p
Oops, the ‘he’ referred to Sere. Apologies.
Also Tagg gives speech about surviving. Taylor laughs “Survive this” Poisonous Bugs swarm Tagg biting him.
Is anyone else afraid that Regent is giving Skitter advice and Skitter seems to be agreeing/taking it?
Oddly, that doesn’t bother me, but that might be because I see glimmers of a decent human being hiding away in Regent and I think hanging out with Skitter is helping that to emerge.
That boy needs a hug.
Not just Skitter – Imp, of all people. Nothing like a real peer to give you perspective, want to lift yourself up.
I really liked that moment when we found out that Imp had protected a bunch of kids.
Combined with her Interlude, it says that she’s nicer than she likes to let on.
Before the portal appeared I had a hunch that eventually the PRT would cut their loses and abandon the city what with their constant inability to hold ground against the Undersiders , now that there is a portal I keep thinking they are going to have to place Brockton Bay under martial law at some point if they really want to keep that portal secure .
I imagine at some point a group is going to make a grab for that portal simply because it’s a strange , unknown thing getting alot of attention .
I think that’s the primary reason that the Undersiders are courting villains like Accord — they want to have more capes in town with a vested interest in maintaining the status quo re: the portal.
I really wonder what Miss Militia and her team would think of this joker’s little WAR ON CRIME FUCK YAR boner. Whether they’re sick of the conflict escalating and escalating while they end up traumatized and the city gets trashed in the crossfire. The city that they’re supposed to be protecting.
This wasn’t a war until this jackass made it a war by saying the rules don’t matter. Motherfucker is threatening the family of a villain, if Triumph in particular let’s this shit fly without a word than he’s pretty much saying to the Undersiders “Yeah, go after my family again. I mean, acceptable losses right?”
I mean, it’s not like wars ever involve things like ceasefires and peace treaties. Nope, fuck it. Total war! Let’s party like it’s 1914!
I swear, this guy just makes me like Piggot even more. Atleast she wasn’t self righteous while being a limp-dick about it. She would’ve smashed through the school’s ceiling with a gunship with Ride of the Valkyries playing with PRT stormtroopers running in wearing codpieces with DEAL WITH IT written on ’em.
Coffee and donuts, for fucks sake. People fighting real wars in real warzones don’t get coffee and donuts delivered by their wives you chucklefuck.
I agree completely with that. Even in war there are rules. Things like how you treat prisoners, use of chemical weapons, no civilian targets etc. Granted, not everyone follows them but keeping to the rules lets them have the moral high ground with the world. Plus lets face it, if you break the unwritten rules, the villains are not going to hesitate. This stupid stunt might have broken the truce, and invite a rash of attacks on families. I wonder what he will say if the Undersiders remain the only ones to not cross that line.
What can Miss Militia do? What can Triumph do? They don’t call the shots.
They can refuse to pull the trigger. Literally, in Miss Militia’s case.
They have plenty of power. They can publicly come out against the PRT’s choices and call them out on their stupid decisions. People have to notice all the heroes leaving. There is nothing stopping them from breaking away and being heroes on their own terms. Lets see him fight his stupid war when all his capes refuse to work with him.
Okay, I can see that.
Now that is a hilarious thought.
Just him and a few others sitting in their office. No capes, no foam-armed troops (cause no Dragon) and no shits given about them.
She’s the head of the superhero team, chain of command or no, if she lets this guy go hog wild without atleast protest then she’s basically worthless as a leader. I mean, it endangers her team after all.
Eddie on April 9, 2013 at 01:40 said:
Reveen wins.
Doucetagg seems to be driving the PRT directly towards a schism. As mentioned by others, I don’t think many of the capes will stand for it. Especially given Tattletale’s all-singing all-dancing power and the Undersider’s penchant for surviving. I think the capes will soon realize that Tagg needs to be removed, before he pushes the Undersiders and Skitter to the dark side. If they really wanted to, I don’t doubt that the Undersiders could do just as much damage as the Endbringers did. More than that really since Skitter can hit you from blocks away. If she really started feeling backed into a corner, full-on man against the world mode, she could probably kill most of Brockton Bay within a day.
Probably many of the heroes see what’s happening, the good guys are not so good any more and the bad guys are getting mad. Tagg is setting it up for the entire board to get knocked off the table, and he’s dragging everyone else down with him. He’s going to alienate most of his allies, and more importantly the public. While he’s raging after the Undersiders like a tyrannosaurus with a hard on, the “villains” are the ones making the city cleaner, and safer, and feeding and washing the unwashed hungry masses.
I smell a confrontation coming. Tagg said it himself, recent good press will overwrite old bad press. I really hope to see a moment when the people of the city look at the PRT and ask “What have you done for us lately?”
The PRT is looking very much like a never ending cycle of using a greasy, dirty cloth to clean up a spill. They’re just making it worse and spreading the dirt around. It’s like wrestling with a pig, you’re going to get dirty and even if you win you lose more than the pig did.
I love Worm so much. So few other stories capture my interest like this one.
I don’t really like how the encounter with Tagg goes.
I’m fine with them assaulting the PRT- it feels a bit un-Taylor-ish, but she’s a bit off balance and I can see why she feels like she has to do it. But what Taylor does to Tagg’s wife? It feels really awkward. And I can understand the need for some direct retaliation against him personally, but simply attacking him feels really crude. I was expecting Tattletale to take the lead and try to pick him apart or attempt to find some dirt about him to reveal (even if they don’t find anything).
I don’t think Taylor was thinking straight. I also wanted her to just humiliate them, and then have Tattletale spill the beans on a few of their secrets.
I don’t necessarily think everything should go perfectly- I just expected them to at least _try_ something like that. It’s kind of Tattletale’s thing.
The chapter is kind of depressing, and I get the feeling that it’s supposed to feel like an empty victory (or at least, that’s how it feels to me). I don’t want to suggest that everything should be sunshine and rainbows- so I want to make it clear that I’m fine with TT failing to find or say anything damaging (Iike they did with Piggot).
Really, the main thing I’m trying to say is not “They should have done X” but rather that walking up to Tagg, having that conversation, making it clear that she easily could (but won’t) harm his wife, and then attacking him and walking away feels really weird to me. I can’t really put into words what it is.
I know Taylor is going down a bit of a dark path, and while I don’t like that, I’m alright with that happening in the story. It makes a lot of sense. I want to say that it’s not _that_ which is bugging me, but I can’t really put into words what it is.
Showing she could attack the wife but doesn’t shows “I AM better than you. I stick to the rules. No civilians. No family. This is just between you guys, the PRT, and us, the Undersiders.” if not so eloquently as I just noted.
I know that’s the intention- but it feels like the worst possible way of trying to show that. Its clumsy and awkward.
Drachomen on April 9, 2013 at 15:27 said:
Actually, it seems well thought out to me. She has teams from the local, and probably national, news already called in. When every member of PRT is seen with welts and bites, Director Tagg hit the worst, yet the “innocent bystander”/off-limits family member is completely unscathed, it will do a lot to reinforce the notion that the Undersiders still follow the code. Seriously, EVERYONE is hurt except the wife? That’s one hell of a statement to the press.
@Drachomen- I was talking specifically about when Taylor swarms his wife after she says that she stands by his rhetoric.
I think it might be that her actions against the wife still feel like an attack. If purely a mental one. Maybe?
It was done without a lot of the forethought that Taylor has been known for
She makes what is basically a childish move (well within her rights, given the situation, but still) and loses her temper
She hasnt really done anything like that since Manniquin, and she didnt have any other choice in that instance
“Trust me when I say we’re all pretty accepting here, and there’s no reason to lie; none of us girls here bat for the other team.”
The meaning of this is clear. ALL the Undersider girls are lesbians. Quick, get Psycho Gecko to write a fiveway orgy with Parian!
(I’m sorry.)
I think the Undersiders could do better than a 5-way given Regents power to take control of bodies, and then if Grue took Regents power with his smoke…
THE POSSIBILITIES, THE SHIPPING, THEY ARE ENDLESS
He will, you know.
Well with skitter’s relationship with grue, does that mean she’s bisexual?
nvm, read that wrong
Fans on April 9, 2013 at 06:42 said:
Or that Grue has secretly been a woman all along?
Ye Gods…..PG will have a field day with this! Hey Wildbow once Worm is published in some form you need to give a shout out to PG, he deserves it. xD
I don’t think I am very high on the shout out list. Haven’t donated, haven’t done anything near Packbat’s work on the trope page, haven’t touched the wiki, can’t draw, my stories haven’t been related to Worm except for rewrites, the forum I advertised Worm in was for a superhero game that got shut down, I didn’t even make the Parahumans Online forum, and Wildbow doesn’t find me funny unless I am discussing how what Bonesaw did to Blasto with her spine is related to one of my fetishes.
You’re just the backbone of the comments section community, that’s all. 😛
that joke was out of alignment! I can vertabarely stand it.
This arc is looking to be quite scary, I have to say the implications of having Taylor’s identity revealed kinda just started to catch up to me, makes me really want to see how she deals with her territory now. Taggs threats toward her Dad also made me realize how dangerous her picking fights with people like the Fallen or Teeth, who probably wouldn’t think twice about using her father as leverage against her, is.
Overall I also think Tagg is right about how as long as the PTR stay, no matter what the condition, in the long run they will win. Regardless of how it really is people will always view the PTR as the “heroes” and the more power the Undersiders get the more people will just start seeing them as villainous dictators, Taylor is the closest the Undersiders have to a “hero”, given her popularity and general attitude about her territory but with all this stuff happening to her it is only a matter of time before she snaps.
The funny thing is, the PRT is explicitly an organization, they think in terms of asset management, not saving lives. Remember how they didn’t try to help finish of the s9 when the undersiders had their location pinned down, whatever they did to dinah, attacking a known dangerous villain in a school expecting them to take hostages, etc.
To be honest I was thought the death of her father was inevitable at some point. Worm always felt like the type of story that had great highs and bad lows. Once I realized that she is going to stay a villain, I expected that big choice down the line that is going to define her. My guess, which for once I hope is completely wrong, is that her dad is killed by another villain to hurt her. She goes on her roaring rampage of revenge, and then chooses whether to cross that final line or not. I have yet to predict the elusive wildbow, so who knows. But the arc title is very suspicious.
I hope it doesn’t come to that, but it might be bearable if Skitter or Regent (team’s sociopath) kills Tagg in the aftermath.
If Danny DOES die then I’m scared for the poor bloke who kills him. I see the sky being darkened by swarms, people stripped clean of their flesh, the PRT scrambling, and failing, to keep peace as the swarms focus on the individual who took hers fathers life and turn him or her into a living hive, maybe hire a Tinker to find a way to make something that allows that…….or just kill him in the most public way possible.
Though honestly I see the PRT trying to protect Danny as much as they can, to use a barrier against Taylor. Though one thing I still want to see is Emma right now, I want to know how badly her mind broke. I NEED to see it. >:3
….I can see Skitter approaching Bonesaw and Jack, the two of them dropping into combat ready stances, or at least as much as either reacts like that… Only for Atlas to dump the barely-living body of her father’s murderer on the ground in front of her, bugs writhing all over him, biting, stinging, tearing at him even as he lays there, still, unmoving. “Bonesaw, right? We let you leave the city, so you owe me. Fix him. Make him live. Make him unable to die, even if I kill him, over and over.” her voice heavy with pain and hatred, shaking with the visceral need to take the few strides over to the hapless man and tear into him once again…
…Or, alternatively, falling to her knees before Bonesaw, weeping, begging for her to save the life of the man she brought… the bugs clearing away to reveal Danny’s lifeless body. Sobbing, pleading, saying she will do anything, anything at all, just to save his life.
Or, alternatively, Skitter enters Nilbogs domain, alone and begs the monster who can create life to give her back her father
DUNNNN
Worm: One More Day, by Joe Quesada.
I’d rather see Skitter paralyzed and slowly eaten by rats.
Except Bonesaw is no Mephisto. And Skitter would no doubt be inducted into the S9 as their newest member, geting the ‘standard squishy package’… before being forced to kill her father, again and again, each time Bonesaw reviving him only for her to be forced to kill him again- because he’s going berserk, or because he’s in excruciating pain that will never end unless he dies, or because he begs her to- even if it’s entirely an act put on by the meat puppet that Bonesaw makes of the corpse. Broken, mentally and spiritually, Skitter would be an easy victim of Jack’s particular wiles, especially if used in combination with some special triggers Bonesaw would implant, much like the Cherish triggers. This IS Worm, after all.
Camo005 on April 9, 2013 at 01:45 said:
Man, Skitter is going straight to the Dark Side isn’t she. I’m not entirely sure how i feel about that. Still i cant wait for this “War”. The rules have been broken, and now all hell gets to break loose.
*Throws open the gates of hell with a laugh, singing Grace For Sale as he leads an army of demons and tortured, unrecognizable souls past Camo. They grab him and pull him along as they…hit up the Gulf Coast for Spring Break! Ghouls gone wild! Gecko grills for you, often having to swat Beelzebub away from the burgers and wieners while Azazel runs around sounding campy and luring in bikini-clad women with free makeovers. Mammon sells lemonade by the side of the road while keeping track of the local horseracing from his phone. Meanwhile, Asmodeus is yapping away on the cellphone with the writer he manages, Stephenie Meyer. Satan bangs away at the bathroom door, desperate to sit on the porcelain throne, but unfortunately Belphegor has fallen asleep on the john. Down by the water, Lucifer lays out, sunning himself, failing to account for just how quickly sunburn can set in.*
*Gecko brings over your burger, some fries, and hands you a small plastic pitchfork*
Welcome to the party in the comments section. Stay while and enjoy yourself. What’s the worst that could happen?
*Cue the evil laughter…coming from Belphegor as he holds the door shut now that Satan is pounding on the other side to be let out of the bathroom as he’s in and found Belphegor that left it quite fragrant.*
I expected another The Villain Has A Point moment, right after this: ““And the world’s worse off for it. You can’t win forever,” he said.”
So many possibilities here.
Instead, she proves his point. Threatening his wife was a very thuggish thing to do.
I really hope she takes a moment, or a bunch of moments, to realize that she has GOT to do some serious work on institutionalizing herself. She’s now a government. If she isn’t going to lose everything she’s fought so hard for, a city that has hope and is rebuilding, then she has to get the real government on board somehow. Or if not them, the people.
I wonder – what’s her best first step in doing this?
By institutionalizing herself, I mean making herself the institution. Not, you know, Baker Acting herself.
You know, Skitter in the nuthouse could make for some interesting reading. It could actually be what she needs, depending on the fallout. Many of the elements of her being in the birdcage, but without the whole “trapped inside the perfect jail” thing.
Also, Wildbow, I have given you Rare Candy. Use it wisely.
In “attacking” the wife but NOT actually attacking, she’s showing that she does have the power to do so, IF Tagg pushes her, but that she’s better than he and his PRT are. She isn’t involving THEIR family, like he did and is threatening to do again to hers. Also, by definition she already was a thug when she first became a villain; thug means criminal or ruffian, and ruffian means violent or lawless person, of which the latter applies regardless of former. 😀
hopefwlyanonymous on April 1, 2017 at 12:48 said:
Yeah, I was thinking the same. Her point was not to threat, but to show that she’s better than that.
By the way, this is another very practical reason why you don’t just unveil someone’s identity in public. She doesn’t have very much to lose now at all. They’ve made a permanent version of Battle Royale Gitmo the only possible ending for her aside from death. But as Sun Tzu says, roughly, always leave your enemy a way out because if death appears certain, they will fight much harder with their lives definitely on the line.
I admit I don’t always follow it, but my fights are not at that level of conflict.
Man, this Tagg guy just strikes me as a soldier. Do anything to win the war, let someone else put a pretty caption on the images. Thinks he’s right just because he serves some greater institution. The problem is that conflict within the bounds of one society is not the same as war. That’s because this is actually a peace, and maintaining peace requires a different set of skills. It might be very informative for him to have a very long talk with Armsmaster. Armsy was an ass, but he was still better than this buffoonish, cretinous, deplorable, egregious, fetid, goonish, halfwitted, ignoble, jabbering, knurly, licentious, malignant, nitwitted, odious, putrescent, quixotic, rancorous, splenetic, trollish, useless, verminous, witless, xerotic, yecchy zealot!
Still, nice to see some reprisal here. Sweet, sweet revenge. There needs to be some sort of humiliation added for all to see on the outside of the building. Like posting the wife’s cell number along with “Call for a good time.”
Was there supposed to be something before buffoonish that started with ‘a’, or was @$$ supposed to fill that role?
Also, I’m thinking of calling him “General Tagg” from here on out; what do you think?
No need to self-censor here. And don’t demean the title of general by applying it to Tagg; It makes him seem to have greater power and potential than he really has. Just call him Douchetagg.
I actually tend to avoid swearing as a general rule. And I’m not demeaning the title or trying to give him more power/potential; the guy just clearly seems to think himself one, so I’m using it sarcastically since ‘Director’ just doesn’t fit this guy.
Armsy was an ass.
If you’re going to avoid swearing, avoid the swear entirely, then, please? If you’re going to say ass, say ass. Don’t say at sign dollar sign dollar sign and look like a goof. 😛
Yeah, im loving douchetagg
I think that is a slander against all good and noble Generals.
General Douchtagg has a nice ring to it, as he’s a general douchebag.
I am not sure he fits the model. I doubt he lacks information vegetable, animal, and mineral or knows the kings of England or quotes fights historical from Marathon to Waterloo in order categorical.
It’s doubtful he’s very well acquainted, too, with matters mathematical or understands equations, both the simple and quadratical. About binomial theorem, he’s out of clues, and has no facts about the square of the hypotenuse.
He’s not good at integral and differential calculus; he doesn’t know the scientific names of beings animalculous: In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral, he doesn’t fit the model of a modern general.
He doesn’t know mythic history, King Arthur’s, or the inventor of Crocs. He can’t answer hard acrostics and has no taste for paradox. Nor does he quote in elegiacs all the crimes of Madonna’s tourbus, and in conics he is floored by peculiarities parabolous. He can’t tell undoubted Raphaels from Donatello or even Afghanis and doesn’t know the Python bit with the assaulting Brit grannies. He can’t hum a fugue of which I’ve heard the music’s din before or know the significance of Astley’s pompadour.
He can’t translate my washing bill from Babylonic cuneiform, or even tell me all the details of superman’s uniform. In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral, he is NOT nearly the model of a modern general.
He doesn’t know the difference between Behemoth and Leviathan and can’t tell at sight a Dragonsuit from a javelin. When such affairs as sorties and surprises he’s been beaten at, so badly he’d be executed by competent commissariat. And his wife is such a whore and example of pure cun*ery, she might as well heed Shakespeare and “get thee to a Nunnery”. In short, when Skitter’s blown him up to Earth’s apogee, you’ll be forced to offer up a sincere apology.
Despite his military knowledge, he only thinks he’s plucky and adventury, and he’ll be feeling what’s next for close to a century, but still in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral, he’s not the very model of a modern times general.
…I applaud your ability to Wormify Gilbert & Sullivan.
Great Greedy Guts on April 9, 2013 at 13:04 said:
Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.
Jenna K. Moran on April 9, 2013 at 02:05 said:
This is a pretty big loss for the Undersiders, IMO; Taylor’s just finished getting out of an impossible situation and (depending on how Dragon’s code changes go) possibly changing the world by sheer force of principle and it still left her damaged enough to willingly give up some of that principle shortly thereafter.
I know that the public can’t really tell the difference between this and their previous PRT raids, so in public relations terms it’s not a huge disaster. And she’s closer to the ground so I’m sure her tactical sense that something had to be done is meaningful. Maybe inaccurate, but meaningful.
But she’s spent a long time not being what authority kept telling her she was. Not being nothing despite the bullies who wanted her to be nothing; not being a soulless villain despite the PRT pushing her to be; and now this guy gets in his big swively (presumably) chair and decides that she should be a thug, and he makes her one.
It’s tragic.
A minor tragedy, I guess, but tragic.
(Though I guess on some level I’m really just reading that from the emotions she has here— it’s not the worst or least defensible thing she’s ever done, it’s just that she’s no longer narrating from the part of her headspace that’s trying to not be a villain.)
I guess another part of this, ironically, is that she’s losing the underdog status. There’s no win to cheer here, no clever pulling-off-a-victory-despite-the-PRT’s-overwhelming-power (which I think is what some people were hoping for from Tattletale—not a more definitive tactical victory, but to somehow pull out a moral victory using her talents.) There’s just a show of strength.
Guh.
I hope that something gets her off of this path. Er, empathically hope, I mean; she’s still a great protagonist and I don’t mind reading tragedy. (Though a happy ending would be even better.)
Happy ending?! HA! This is WORM we’re talking about. There are no ‘happy’ endings. Just endings with a little less emotional trauma, and sometimes physical trauma.
But she does!blink and you miss it,because,indeed,she is not on her right headspace,but if she let the PRT to get away with nothing,she would be projecting weakness to the other villains.
A big thank-you goes out to Edward for the generous donation.
Scheduled another bonus chapter.
Thanks Edward!
All your bonus chapters are belong to me! I’ll see if I can rummage up something else next paycheck.
Ajoxer on April 9, 2013 at 02:50 said:
A few thoughts.
Yes, Taylor is in a dark place. She’s had her life taken away from her, and been essentially locked in to living her life only as a super villain. After all the work she did, the heroes took it away from her- And casually, for no real reason, and to no real gain.
Part 1: The disproportionate responses.
There was the discussion, early on, between Skitter and, if I recall correctly, Tattletale. The discussion of the kinds of people who do this, the kinds of people who get kill orders, and the kind of people who get a light sentence. Skitter, it is important to remember, is NOT someone who has done others a great deal of harm. She has killed one man who was in a position of power so great that leaving him alive would’ve been a death sentence on her and those she cared about. She has nearly killed a hero in a desperate attempt to keep his father from shooting her, imprisoning her, and resulting in some extremely dark shit from going completely unopposed. Skitter may very well have made the difference, in the fight against Echidna. The world could have ended if not for her. She has, on whole, done significantly less harm than many of the heroes we’ve seen. She’s made some calls that would require review by a board of inquiry; Letting the merchant die, shooting Coil, lying to Sundancer and having her kill four innocent people along with Noelle. If I were on that board, I’d acquit her. She had no duty to help the Merchant, Coil is the sort of person with the sort of power that you should absolutely not allow to just go around. And she made a sacrifice for the sake of humanity; Four people, chosen completely at random, to save the world. Would she have done the same call, if it were Tattletale, or Grue, or someone else she knew personally and cared about? Maybe. That’s important, sometimes.
She has the potential to do incredible harm. She has always been able to stop short of doing this, but we can understand why people would be scared. But the reason that the people in power are scared of Taylor isn’t because she might slip up and kill someone. The reason they’re scared is because she is a Leader.
She’s a leader in a way that very few people are, and it’s becoming more and more clear. Her stunt in the previous story, showing that she was supported by the people, should by all rights, have the PRT shitting its pants.
Part 2: The PRT’s responses.
If the PRT were wise, they’d want her to be on good terms with them. She is an extraordinarily moral person, and frankly, they can’t pull that whole ‘Well, so you say’ thing on her anymore and sound convincing. She just had the PRT break the unwritten rules in a truly horrible way, and she proved that she and her friends could completely cripple the branch of the PRT, effortlessly, without losses- And without having to put a single person at risk of death. They could be the Slaughterhouse Six if they wanted to be. But they aren’t.
So, there are two reasons why the members of the PRT are against them. The people on the lower levels, who are not related to Cauldron, have the Tagg mentality. ‘Your cause is not as righteous as ours, so you’re going to lose, and it doesn’t matter what we do, because we have the right.’ This is, arguably, the more dangerous mentality, because it justifies hideous actions without considering them for a moment. They believe that their cause justifies all action, to the point where they do not have to justify their cause.
The other reason, and the one being used by anyone in a position of power, are the people behind Cauldron. They’ve been using the excuse ‘We get more villains than heroes from trigger events’ to justify themselves for a long time, and they’ve started to forget what, exactly, it means when they say heroes and villains. Taylor is a powerful, charismatic, strategically brilliant cape, who just happens to be a ‘villain’, and has a tremendously powerful moral code. She could bring down their power, and whether they oppose that because they think the world will descend into anarchy without their support, or because they’ll lose their power over the world. Regardless, they have been convinced theirs is the only way for nearly thirty years. This does not seem about to change.
Part 3: The likely directions.
A lot of people state that they think Skitter is going to go to a very dark place in the coming days. I agree, but I think that she’ll be leading a charge into Hell.
The Birdcage isn’t going to hold. Come on, if we make it to the end of this story and there has not been a massive breakout from the Birdcage or something then- Okay let’s face it the Birdcage has practically screamed out loud ‘BREAK OUT OF ME’ for as long as we’ve been here. We’ve got 600 capes in an incredibly confined space, Amy’s in there, this shit is going to go completely bananas.
We’ve had our sixth S-class threat mentioned. I don’t know if Nilbog’s gonna be important- It’d surprise me if he didn’t show up at some point, but meh. But we have had Sleeper referenced, and let’s face it, that’s a chekhov’s gun if I’ve ever seen one.
The next Endbringer attack is going to be coming up soon enough. And considering the current state of the Hero-Villain truce, it sounds like things are going to go very poorly. And we have Scion being told to go all-out.
The Slaughterhouse Nine is going hog-wild on some DNA. This is clearly a Bad Thing.
A dimensional portal has been opened to another world.
Skitter has been getting trained to be a general from the very beginning. Her power is that of the ultimate general. Complete, and very-difficult-to-disrupt battlefield awareness. Communication that can overcome most forms of interference. A weak soldier who requires tremendous planning and careful marshaling, requiring a complex experience of research and development, and careful examination of her tactical choices. And a level of multitasking awareness that is superior to absolutely anyone, except maybe Dragon. And she can make the hard choices. This may not be so easy if it’s her personal friends, or if she has to choose deliberately to put people into a place where she absolutely knows that they’re going to die, but we shall see how she adapts to that.
Look back at the Leviathan fight. It was a brawl. They set down a loose battle plan, but once things were started, they didn’t have a clear leader. Compare that to the fight against Echidna. Once things hit their stride, they were capable of working together, fighting, and killing her. A single strong, intelligent general, linking people together, using their talents intelligently, and being able to be trusted with an overall strategy, and the Endbringers could be destroyed. The Slaughterhouse Nine could be wiped out to the last.
Taylor’s becoming a general. She’s living for the war. That’ll have a dark ending- Either the world ends and the war is lost, or the war is won and she’s left as the old hero, perhaps one of the most tragically painful results you can have. But this is her imago. She’s a general, taking control of her troops, and facing a war that goes beyond anything that has ever been known to humanity. It is NOT all up to her- A general is desperately important, but they are a glue that makes a collection of people more, rather than less, than a sum of their parts. Every troop under them makes a difference, and everyone is important.
So, I think that things are going to get dark. But I think that Taylor’s going to save the world. Because this isn’t the kind of story that ends with ‘And then the Endbringers won and everything was fucked’, and I’m grateful for that. There are going to be losses, sacrifices, and I’d be truly astounded if Taylor ended up being truly happy. But she’s going to save the world.
God I ramble on a lot.
To elaborate a little bit more after reading more.
Many people feel that this was Skitter going out and betraying her principles in some way, but I am not sure that I entirely see that. She went out and picked a fight with the PRT, but she used the minimum necessary force, and despite being provoked significantly, she showed, conclusively, that she could do this, that she could find a wife, and that she could hurt her- But that she wasn’t going to.
She’s capable of hurting people very badly, and she’s often threatened to do it, and people are terrified when they’re threatened, that way, but ultimately, she doesn’t. She’s not a Bad Person. She’s not following the law; but if you think that, alone, makes her a bad person…
Additionally, it’s important to realize that the entire group has, effectively, been on a war footing, for a long, long time. The entire world is on a war footing. The last time the Undersiders had anything that could be treated like a ‘play fight’ was probably about the time they crashed the hero’s fundraising dinner. Leviathan, the Slaughterhouse Nine, Dragon’s massive presence, Coil, Echidna, they have faced no less than three level S threats, the preeminent Tinker in the world, and a man with an almost unbelievably dangerous set of abilities and resources. And none of this is going to change. The veneer of civilization is still there, but it’s hollow and worn. The worst that Taylor has done is scare the hell out of people with what she could do. Frankly, to call her a villain is, at this point, kind of hilarious.
The world is wounded. The wound may be mortal, but it is bad, and the war that is engulfing it is severe. A single bad decision by a bulimic girl created a creature that could have wiped out humanity in its rage and horror. This is a world where the current authority is not working.
And yet more rambling
Very well thought out. I think Wildbow mentioned he won’t bring in Sleeper/Nilbog in case he does a sequel so there is more of the universe to explore. Her teaming up to attack the birdcage seems unlikely. She might try to help rescue those that don’t belong in there like Canary/Amy, but she probably would try to take down any other escaping prisoners. I’m thinking that quite a few prisoners will come to the bay. Lung, Marquis, and Glaistig would do very nicely as new big bads. Well, I think we can all agree that Taylor is going to change after this arc. Whether good or bad remains to be seen.
I agree with TheAnt, that was very well worded
I just have a bone to pick regarding the Birdcage as well
IF it opens, its likely to be at the very end of the story, because so far the *expected* has either not happened or appeared at unexpected times
Also, Marquis breaking out would be great, he is easily my favorite out of the entire Wormverse
You guys are gonna make me blush. Pshaw.
Thoughts on opening the Birdcage.
I do not think that Taylor’s going to break into the birdcage. That seems the most unlikely. But people breaking out of the Birdcage, or the Birdcage getting voluntarily opened? Now that seems much more likely.
The thing is that a lot of the people in the birdcage are unfit for living in polite society. But going back to what I have reiterated, again and again… They don’t really have to be, anymore. The earth is now in a state of war against itself, and as has been mentioned- I think perhaps even recently? Lung may have thought it, I cannot recall precisely- there are patterns of behavior that would’ve been much more acceptable in the course of human history than they are currently.
This is not to say this isn’t going to be a gruesome moment, letting some of these people free. They’re thugs and murderers, and sometimes much, much worse. They can do some gruesome damage to the world. But the earth cannot afford to pick and choose its defenders so carefully. Someone like Canary? Someone like Marquis? Hell, even someone like Lung? They cannot do anything remotely comparable to what one of the Endbringers can do. And I think that a fair number of them, given the choice between ‘rot in the birdcage forever’ or ‘risk your life fighting an Endbringer for the sake of your life’ would go for the latter.
This is a classic idea, the prisoner given a suicide mission; That’s because it’s an idea that is appealing to the mind, and creates an interesting relationship. It’s not without its risks. These people are unstable and you need to keep a close hand on them, because they could cause serious dangers if they don’t. But with generals like Skitter and forensic psychologists like Tattletale, they can make the difference.
Thoughts on justice.
Add onto this, the fact that, to our understanding, the birdcage is a ridiculously hideous perversion of justice. Canary caused a man significant wounds- maybe death- through negligence. This is something that’s punished, with a prison stay in the shape of quite a few years, but she was given life imprisonment, with absolutely no chance of parole, in a hellhole of a prison. Amy suffered a mental breakdown driving another cape insane and making her look really hideous, and volunteered for the Birdcage. Nobody suggested ‘Hey, you know, maybe we should put the transcendentally skilled healer into the asylum where she can come to term with her mental issues and become a great cure to the world.’
My personal moral view probably should be explained. In my view, the most horrible thing you can do to someone is to kill them. There are things that are essentially the same- wiping someone’s mind and personality so thoroughly that they are essentially gone. But these are the great crimes, because they destroy someone’s future impact on the world; And they leave no hope.
Next up are injuries. These are things that lessen you in some way. For example, if you sever a tendon and lose a great deal of motor ability in your hand. If your back gets snapped. If you get your brain rewired to be incredibly attracted to your little sister. These are things that change you in a long-term sense, and damage your capabilities. These are like little deaths, but they can be overcome.
Almost everything else that could be considered bad is in the area of ‘hurting people’. It feels really bad while it’s happening, but ultimately, you’re not lessened permanently as a person. Skitter hurts people a lot, in many different ways. She makes the heroes feel helpless, she makes the ordinary people feel watched and nervous, she makes her foes feel terrified. But she doesn’t kill people, and she actively avoids risking their death.
Now, let’s ask; Which of these two things is worse. Scaring the shit out of someone and giving them an incredibly painful bite, or putting them in prison for five years.
Five years of being locked up away from society among people who are in an almost animalistic state of mind, and when you get out, you have been reclassified as a second class citizen.
Or you get a bite from a bullet ant and told to get out of town.
This may be just me. But I can handle pain. Pain fades. Injuries are worse. They’re the sort of thing that laws usually do. Chopping off hands or putting someone in a stay at a prison. The Bird Cage is, for all intents and purposes, a death sentence. Sure, you continue living, but your life is forever diminished, a life in a small circle of incredibly unpleasant people. It’s a mortal injury, and it’ll never stop or be allowed to heal.
Amy injured people. Canary injured a person. Skitter has been remarkably good at avoiding ever injuring someone. Look at Lung- She was in full knowledge of his regenerating capabilities, so she inflicted admittedly frightening pain upon him, because she knew that he would recover from it. She’s killed, once. I think it’s justified; reasonable minds may disagree.
But neither of them deserve to be in prison. And frankly, they cannot afford to leave Amy in prison. So long as a personality understands and fears consequences, and is given reason to do so, it can. And Amy goes beyond that. She genuinely wants to do good. She was literally pushing herself to the absolute limit, and even pushed herself past her mental blocks and fears to save her adopted father, and the world was completely hideous to her in response. One mistake, in the worst possible circumstances, and bam, that’s it. No redemption.
They can’t afford to take a hard line of no redemption. This whole artificial sideshow of Villains and Heroes has intruded on the fight between Humanity and Extinction, and it simply cannot afford to do that anymore. There’ll be time for Nuremberg trials when and if they win.
This is gonna be a super controversial discussion, but I think it’s one that can be divorced from its political basis to the essential elements. A large part of the War on Terror is that it hasn’t had much impact on Americans. Compare it to World War 2, or any war, really, where there’s expected to be shortages. Materials are put into strict rationing, and everyone is expected to make their effort.
The War on Terror was different. The whole idea was ‘Don’t change your lives! We’ll fight wars, but we’re not going to let it effect our day to day lives!’ A continued consumption chain, and humans being at war with themselves. Now, this is a bad thing in our world. War must be terrible so as to keep people from desiring it too much. But it’s worse in a world like Earth Bet.
I’m not saying every nutjob needs to be wiped out. I’m not even suggesting that they need to go root out Nilbog and the Slaughterhouse nine and never ever rest their eyes and every Super must be conscripted.
But there are presumably thousands of Capes. There’s six hundred in the Birdcage alone. The Endbringers are a colossal threat. They are a massive, terrifying, extreme threat, and they are everyone’s business. Humanity is at war with a force that is essentially dropping a nuclear weapon in a random place every /two months/. And they don’t act like it; They act as though things are proceeding as normal. A girl with heavy body issues drank half of a serum and became a monster that could have wiped out a city, maybe a whole planet.
This would have psychological costs, existing in a state of war against these things. But I don’t think any more than there are currently. The world is currently adopting a cold war state of mind, and frankly, that’s enough to put subtle but intense pressures on any mind. An active war would create a united front, which would likely reprieve stress.
The best and brightest minds, putting work to mass-producing and reverse-engineering brilliant Tinker devices. Human beings working together to accomplish a great goal.
I don’t know. I think it might work. Extinction of humanity is everyone’s business, and everyone should be motivated to put a stop to it.
And when the Endbringers are brought down? Things go back to Cops and Robbers. Villains Vill, Heroes Hero, and the Rogues make a fabulous living. They keep themselves sharp. People who abused their privileges during the war get psychological counselling, because the least you can do with a soldier is make sure that they’re actually truly determined to hurt other human beings, rather than simply hurt from the deep strains.
My rambling continues. I think a lot about this stuff.
I didn’t say it earlier, but I’ve been reading each of your posts, and I have to say, amazingly well thought out. I agree with most if not all of your points intrinsically, though maybe a few disagreements superficially.
Your mind is a beautiful place *drools slightly*
Reminds me of some of my longer discussions and is in line with almost all my thoughts on the subjects. Aside from the wording, it really reminds me of times when I’ve had longer posts that people generally disliked due to lack of comedy.
I’m especially fond of the idea that when the apocalypse is a serious possibility, villains will unite against it. After all, hard to rob a bank when the money’s worthless and what are you going to buy with it when the Earth is destroyed or under alien rule?
I don’t know for sure that the Birdcage will suffer a breakout, though. It was mentioned by Dragon I think that people can leave the Birdcage again. She’s getting more independent so she may have need of those prisoners. Dump them all on Leviathan and see what happens, that kind of thing.
I will bring up that there are psychological injuries caused by things that have hurt people. I don’t think she’s traumatizing everyone though.
Also, we know the Sleeper isn’t going to be a part of this. Wildbow is saving him for a sequel. I am unsure if that means the world will survive two years down the line. Nilbog may pop up again, but I only expect he’ll be a part of the story again if an Endbringer pays him a visit.
They ARE putting the Birdcage into the hands of what are, essentially, mercenaries. And as is well known, the loyalty of a mercenary always goes to the highest bidder…
It was Hookwolf who thought about the whole ‘time and place for people like me’, in the interlude where he fought Shatterbird.
@Gnarker: I don’t think the birdcage automatically goes to the Dragonslayers if they get the position. Its been mentioned that Dragon owns the land around and built the birdcage, so I would think Dragon would still own it and be the warden. And if you think about it, no one else would have the proper monitoring capabilities Dragon has, so if she leaves and takes all her stuff with her, I doubt the Dragonslayers will be able to do anything with the site.
@PG
I think an Endbringer could take Nilbog, especially if its Behemoth
But he would likely survive and have to find a new place to live
hnnnng
Yeah, I think an Endbringer could take Nilbog too, but not without a surprising fight. After all, if Behemoth tries to set Nilbog’s minions on fire, that’ll just create more of them.
I think an Endbringer against Nilbog would just end up a stalemate; Nilbog can generate life, so he could quite concievably make his new lifeforms resistant to whatever it is that any particular Endbringer brings to the table- He’s already insane, and likely can just change himself to ignore Simurgh’s telepathy; He can make his creations super-dense and naturally near zero kelvin so that behemoth’s combustion powers just excite their bodies from ‘hibernation’ so they can fight back; And Leviathan could be stopped by high-pressure aquatic beings. Honestly, if one attacked Nilbog, I’d expect a retreat, much like against Scion.
You know, there seems to be something about this chapter that makes it easy to miss exactly what Taylor did to Tagg’s wife. When I first read it, I missed the reveal where she showed that she hadn’t actually hurt her. It made me think that Taylor was going a fair bit darker than she actually was.
It wasn’t until I read some of the comments that I realised I must be missing something. Judging by some of the things people said, I don’t think I’m the only one.
You know, this chapter is really interesting. Here we have Taylor, a villain, using villain tropes (like justifying her actions: “I HAD to inflict grievous pain on all those people who did absolutely nothing to me and whose only crime is joining an organization so they could help and protect others, it’s all part of the GAME!”), and we have Tagg, part of the Good Guys ™, using good guy tropes (like calling villains on their bullshit: “this isn’t a game, and you’re not a misunderstood hero, you’re just a thug!”), a traditional scene many have read from the other side and cheered for. And yet readers, understandably, side with Taylor and bemoan its occurrence this time.
It’s all so deliciously morally grey.
I think the big difference is that Taylor actually realizes that it’s a fight between grey and gray while Tagg thinks it’s black and white (and like pretty much everybody who does that, he puts himself on the side of the angels).
I find the problem to be that once you widen focus the PRT look pretty awful at this point.
Hell, its not even the whole of the undersiders attacking, its just skitter, tattletale, and bitch (and tattletale likely isnt helping take down the bad guys). So really, this is another example of how powerless the PRT is, 2 villains can basically waltz right in and incapacitate the whole PRT branch.
To be fair, the PRT didn’t have all of its members there for whatever reason. I imagine if the Undersiders had attacked and they had all been present, things would have gone differently. Not to mention that two of the heroes present had already been curbstomped by Skitter before and apparently had learned nothing from the previous encounter. That said, if it had been the entire local PRT versus the full Undersiders, I’m pretty sure the Undersiders probably wouldn’t have even broken a sweat. The Undersiders have been there this long and the PRT still hasn’t figured out any effective counters to their abilities? Seriously, how difficult would it be to look up in their roster heroes who might actually be able to accomplish something and dispatch them to Brockton Bay?
They already tried bringing in super counters, either dragon or defiant outright stated that sere was supposed to be untouchable by skitter, adamant has his huge full covering of armor, and I’d imaging dovetale’s forcefields were thought to hinder the bug’s flight or something. Easy for human to break, much harder for an ant.
Logically, if you have been utterly beaten over and over again by a superior foe, then you should either tactically withdraw or make peace with your enemy. Yet the PRT keeps trying the same stupid tactics over and over again. I take it back: they are augmenting their already stupid tactics with innovative new ways to fail miserably. For example, the last time I checked, the only people ever captured in Brockton Bay by use of containment foam have been… the PRT themselves. The PRT knows that Skitter trounced Mannequin, another target that she should have not stood a chance of harming, yet they bring in Sere thinking he’ll be better? Did anyone notice that she beat Sere with essentially a dumbed down version of the same tactics she used on Mannequin? If something has been proven to be ineffective, why keep doing it? They completely ignored history and didn’t bother to do their homework on their opponent.
I’d also like to make mention that the PRT built their plan on data received from a precog, a Thinker class. It’s been mentioned before that Thinker powers tend to interfere with one another, as evidenced with Accord and Tattletale. Piggot has also remarked that Skitter possessed “Prescience” when she anticipated an attack from behind and was able to avoid it. That would imply some level of precognition on some level, meaning there is a possibility that Skitter can muck with other precogs. All of this data is known to the PRT, yet they apparently ignored it and went through with their moronic plan anyway.
That in mind, the PRT has not deployed any actual counters as they had already been proven ineffective or invalid well in advance. Hell, two of their smarter members (who had actually faced off against the Undersiders) told them explicitly that it wouldn’t work, and why, yet they still ignored it. That said, the PRT could probably work up an effective counter against Skitter if they weren’t such arrogant dumbasses.
@Scolopendra
Generally agree, but a couple of things:
1. Dragon managed to catch Skitter using containment foam (granted, with the assistance of Bitch’s backstabbing). Skitter only escaped that one because Dragon let her escape rather than be caught in the impending explosion of Kid Win’s stuff.
2. Pretty sure Piggot was crediting Skitter with possible prescience before they realised she was seeing through her bugs. Until they worked that out, it must’ve seemed like some sort of clairvoyance/danger sense…
@Scolopendra:
Honestly, I assumed that the PRT didn’t actually know the details of the attacks they weren’t present for. It would be stupid — police organizations need to use informants to generate leads, and military organizations need outright spies — but given that Calvert wouldn’t need any PRT intelligence and Tagg can’t count to eleven with his shoes on, it’s eerily possible that you’re right and they simply didn’t do any homework.
If the PRT (still under Piggot at the time) had interviewed those present at Mannequin’s first attack on Skitter, they would have found out what Skitter had done and at least have made note. Seeing as there were casualties that ended up being taken to the morgue or hospital after the encounter, the PRT would have been able to debrief them offsite. Piggot was smart enough to have at least drawn up a report on the incident. So, it’s almost certain that the PRT had at least some intelligence to make them think “maybe assuming a person is surrounded by an impervious shell/field isn’t a good idea”.
Honestly, the PRT’s failures can be more attributed to hubris and incompetence than the Undersiders’ skill. If they ever got someone in there with a level head and actual leadership and competence, the PRT might actually be somewhat threatening.
Right, of course.
Forum Explorer on April 9, 2013 at 04:08 said:
Very interesting chapter and a good showing of some of the personal fallout that revealing Skitter’s identity will have. I mean who would of thought that removing access to a normal stable social life would have negative mental repercussions on a potentially unbalanced villain? Certainly not the PRT!
And I don’t consider her actions to be thuggish. It truly was the minimal response she could take as she couldn’t afford to do nothing. She could have fully revealed pretty much all of the heroes personal identities with Tattletale’s help, or the PRT’s dirty secrets. She doesn’t even hurt the Director’s wife, even though they brought her father into this mess first and continued to threaten him. I think that was the point of that last bit, saying to both the PRT and herself that she’s still better then them.
Oh and Director Tagg should be glad Skitter considers this a game. She waged war against the S9 and look at the damage she did then. If she was waging war I imagine that most of the heroes in the city would have died tonight. And a good portion of the PRT’s basic people. So go ahead Director, push the team that has regularly gone up against S-Class threats and not only survived but won. I’m sure it won’t lead to your messy destruction.
ereshkigala on April 9, 2013 at 04:23 said:
Come on guys. Skitter isn’t going Dark Side – she’s enforcing the Geneva convention. You know, the whole “a lawful combatant wears a uniform” and “no war on civilians” and “no military actions against one’s own country” and “if you violate this, we round you up and briefly try you for war crimes before executing you” thingy.
The PRT is not waging war right now. It is waging an unlawful war, performing major war crimes in the process – at least as far as war crimes are defined in international law. A policing force cannot wage war, period. A military force could – but they can’t also be a policing force unless someone declares martial law.
Yeah, Skitter is a big proponent of staying nice and civilized, what with how she’s set herself up as an unlawful dictator who enforces the law with violence and maintains her power with threats.
Not to mention she doesn’t respect her people’s right to privacy and routinely performs illegal searches without warrants for (admittedly illegal) stuff like weapons and whatever.
And they wonder why that one guy in the online interlude thought Skitter’s territory was too creepy to stay in.
And despite all that, she’s still not only more moral but more lawful than her opponents the PRT.
Not helping your case.
Yes she really is. As long as you don’t kick the hive (so to speak) she’s downright polite and reasonable. Also don’t kid yourself, that’s how every government that has existed, does exist or will ever exist maintains their power. The law is a complicated way to say that if you do something we don’t like you will be hurt.
Eventually most governments start to allow the people living in their territory some semblance of control over what those things are. Not seeing much of that from any one in this party.
She can’t really be blamed for that given that it’s as natural to her as breathing. This is like holding a guy with permanent ‘see through walls’ to such a standard.
Except nowadays, we kind of expect a government to “punish” criminals with imprisonment and therapy and rehabilitation, not torture. (Ok, I might be a bit optimistic here. SOME people expect it. Hopefully. Maybe? Goddamnit, Real Life governments, you’re not supposed to wreck my point.) Also stuff like the separation of state and judiciary, etc.
No matter how benevolent she is, Skitter’s territory is a police state where you never know when you might be under surveillance and where infractions are brutally punished, and where all the power is consolidated in a single person’s hands. Sure, she’s VERY effective at stopping crime, but does that make it okay? Because from where I’m standing, living there is pretty much sacrificing freedom for security, and I’m sure all the dutiful and patriotic Americans in attendance know what Ben Franklin had to say about that.
Yes, Skitter does good, helps and protects people. Yes, she’s certainly more moral than Cauldron. But bringing up the Geneva convention while ignoring how many crimes she has under her belt? There’s such a thing as whitewashing her actions too much. I doubt Skitter would fare well if she was judged by the United Nations.
And isn’t it said somewhere that she actively sends out bugs to search people’s belongings and make sure her people are the only ones with weapons? I might be misremembering.
She hasn’t committed that many crimes, in all honesty- Unless you count each individual officer of the PRT who has tried to fight her and been swarmed as a single case of assault, but that’s playing the books, especially when they would do far worse to her than just cause superficial damage- Namely, ending her life. Sure they may not do it directly, ie execution, but they would end it all the same. And the government certainly has been dropping the ball every step of the way along her path; Looking the other way when Sophia was involved, deliberately giving them a light sentencing when it was finally forced into the open, Armsmaster alienating her from day one and treating her like dog crap he stepped in- A hero, and that’s how he treats someone able to take down *Lung* on her very first night? Someone offering an inside job on the most dangerous local team of supervillains? And lets not get started on how they’ve treated her at every opportunity when she has played fair and tried to get their help/helped them with a massive threat. She does the right thing consistantly and gets slammed for it, simply because of who she associates with. And now, breaking the rules and being massively stupid at the same time by effectively killing Taylor, leaving only Skitter. Prejudice, disrespect, being treated as less than a person- You really think a government that fails this badly at treating ONE person deserves to exist? Deserves respect? It deserves to fall.
As for her territory: No peddling drugs, no assaulting people. Typical citizens don’t do those things. Show respect, get respect. Live and let live. She has fought off armed invasions of her area to protect civilians, to the point of FIGHTING OFF MANNEQUIN IN A FISTFIGHT to protect her people. The only way you’re going to cause an infraction is if you decide to beat someone up or sell drugs and show no respect. Don’t be a dumbshit, in other words.
Skitter’s territory is a dictatorship. That is completely true. Dictatorships aren’t necessarily bad. They usually are because most people can’t handle getting absolute power and start to abuse the crap of it. The other problem is the matter of succession.
Skitter seems to be a classic example of a benevolent Dictator. Her people don’t have any political freedoms. They get no input on laws, punishments, or who leads them. They have plenty of personal freedoms and the laws are clearly laid out and enforced. There also isn’t anything preventing someone from leaving her territory whenever they want. Also her efforts have made her territory the safest and most prosperous in the city. Which is another point to her being a dictator, they tend to be efficient, for better or worse.
Wageslave on April 9, 2013 at 04:28 said:
“We’re giving you a promotion. A full Directorship in a very active city with key strategic interests in place we need secured.”
“If it is two words and the last one rhymes with ‘pay’ I’m in.”
…Seriously, I think that they’re going to the on-line applications to the PRT to find someone to run the organization in Brockton Bay. Because the Internet never lies, right?
P.G. : “If I determine the enemy’s disposition of forces while I have no perceptible form, I can concentrate my forces while the enemy is fragmented. The pinnacle of military deployment approaches the formless: If it is formless, then even the deepest spy cannot discern it, nor the wise make plans against it.”
“Put them in a spot where they have no place to go, and they will die before fleeing. If they are to die there, what can they not do? Warriors exert their full strength. When warriors are in great danger, then they have no fear. When there is nowhere to go they are firm, when they are deeply involved they stick to it. If they have no choice, they will fight.” –Sun Tzu, “The Art of War”
Ah, good quote. And Skitter’s reasoning for this chapter, you may have noticed.
Except for maybe the first part. Felt like that was directed at me.
It’s the five years bit I find most fascinating of all.
I hope Tattletale got a recording of that one. The PRT’s newest tactic. Give up for half a decade and hope the enemy screws themselves over in that time frame.
umthemuse on April 9, 2013 at 10:34 said:
Especially funny when you consider that the world is supposed to end in two years.
“If t is two words and it rhymes with ‘pay’ I’m in” http://wikirhymer.com/words/pay/pure-rhymes I can’t see anything that rhymes with pay that he’d be interested in… Unless he was being sillystupid and was meaning that ‘Pay rhymes with pay, of course!’…
Brockton *BAY*
I believe the rhyme that you’re looking for here is “bay,”as in Brockton Bay. This spot would be a godsend for the ambitious, because if someone were able to stop the notorious criminal gang overrunning the city, that person would probably enjoy muchos kudos.
Aaaaaaaaaand I’m dumb. >_> Or tired. Can’t believe I didn’t get that…
Does that make you Rika Covenant the Unbeliever?
aaaaagh
–Dave, my eyes, the pain! my spleen!
…You people make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, knowing such great series, characters, and other works of art. You, however, are the very VERY first to ever reference from where I got the inspiration for my screen name. You get a tray of peanut butter and jam cookies (Peanut butter cookies with a thumbful of (my personal choice is usually raspberry) jam dolloped into the center).
A on April 9, 2013 at 04:31 said:
You know they don’t have to damage prt property or hit any heros in retaliation.
They could kidnap director and person right under him, to get information. They can drain his bank accounts and even hire a type of hacker to make life in Brockton Bay impossible. Or she could let imp, regent and tattletale have fun with the co’s until they leave the country.
Naah. Best thing to do would be to just vanish him some Tuesday night while he’s home sleeping with his wife. No news, no fuss, no taking credit/blame, no clues left. To paraphrase some pretty scary guy “the PRT won’t think to look for his corpse on Neptune”.
(or in this case, in some alternate reality or in the stomach of bugs)
Well at this point, Tagg is probably paranoid as hell about his security considering what happened to the last guys.
Yeah, all that security and a PRT building full of capes and non-capes trained in taking down other capes couldnt stop bitch from wrecking his assets, and skitter from going straight to his office and attacking him. Really his only protection at this point is skitter’s reluctance to really deal with him. Eventually the PRT will have to instate someone the undersiders like, or they are going to run out of directors.
Given how this went, that’s unlikely to help much.
Remember the old days, when the Undersiders were actually worried about getting foamed by PRT agents and somehow escaping from the heroes?
Well, see, that’s what happens when you fight opponents whose Challenge Ratings are way higher than yours — you level up really quickly.
Mazzon on April 9, 2013 at 04:56 said:
Another PRT director, another psychopath with zero regard for law, morals or collateral damage.
Kind of like Piggot, except with some of the nihilism swapped for hostility.
In fact, it seems to me Coil was out of place as a PRT director because even though he was a psychopathic villain just like the rest, he was actually trying to do some good for the city.
It’s interesting how accepting the lesser evil is totally okay and acceptable if it means the heroes should be lenient with Skitter (didn’t arc 20 start with her torturing a bunch of thugs to consolidate her reign of terror?) and someone who doesn’t do that is an asshole, but it is DEFINITELY not okay when dealing with Cauldron/PRT and compromise is a sign of weak principles.
Not saying it’s wrong. Just interesting.
Skitter is a villain. She is expected to have no regard for the law as she is an outlaw. By definition she does not follow the law.
The PRT is the organization tasked with enforcing the law. They are part of the system. They have no regard for those laws and even break worse rules than Skitter ever did.
They are inherently worse because they are tasked with upholding those laws and instead hypocritically uphold them only for people who aren’t them. This makes them little better in practice than some Asian dictator publicly hating on the immoral West while enjoying fine Western liquor and pornography. Given what we know of their corruption, how do we know they haven’t already done everything Skitter has ever done and then covered it up because of and with good PR?
If the people who enforce the law also break it all the time, they’ve become little more than a particularly well-armed and well-financed gang.
Firstly it’s hypocrisy.
Secondly Skitter isn’t anything close to Cauldron’s level of evil. There’s a difference between making peace with someone who can be violent but is ultimately quite moral (they are outright relying on them not being willing to kill at this point) and handing the reigns to people who commit crimes against humanity and refuse to tell anyone their real goal.
Also Skitter has screwed up much less.
mc2rpg on April 9, 2013 at 14:37 said:
It amuses me that you are claiming that Skitter is ultimately moral this far into the story. Just because she is good in comparison to people like the Teeth that doesn’t make her willingness to torture people or threaten to kill to change governmental policy into something that is moral. Taylor tumbled down the slippery slope to save Dinah quite some time ago.
She is most certainly still ethical and moral. Certainly she is no paragon of virtue, able to not harm any of those who work for those in the position of being truly evil within the story as we see it so far, but she still follows a set of principles of moral conduct.
Coil was irredeemably evil, willing to use and discard anyone and everyone to get his way, break his oaths multiple times, keep a little girl in a situation where she was constantly getting drugged to the point of addiction so he could keep her managable, and otherwise be a general rat bastard. Her morals refused to allow such a being to continue to exist because of how many times he broke her ethics; he betrayed her and her family and her friends over and over again. Thus, he was killed.
She has not killed a SINGLE other person. She has maimed and injured those who regenerate, and so are capable of healing the damage (namely, Lung on the first count by accident the second on purpose to shut him down), and otherwise only used enough force to disable her targets. Even now, when attacking, she holds back on the venom that would cause potential deaths or grievous injury. She sticks to her mores.
Your standards for morality baffle me.
You require absolute perfection in line with your own ideals for Taylor. However the PRT are allowed to use ends -> means methodology as much as they like without upsetting you.
@Anzer’ke: You might be reading more into mc2rpg’s remark than is there — Skitter can be a villain without the PRT being heroes.
mc2rpg: What would you suggest Skitter do, instead, to reach the highest feasible apex of morality? How would you have handled things in her position? I’m not criticizing, I’m genuinely curious.
Interesting? Definitely.
However there’s a few important points at play here:
1) As PG already said, claiming to be the good guy sets the bar higher. A lot higher.
2) Lesser evil my hairy rump. Sure, Taylor’s a villain and should go to jail, but she’s not a mass murderer with rapidly climbing body count or anything. Therefore catching her shouldn’t be prioritized high enough to risk civilian casualties or undermine the co-operation in Endbringer scenarios.
And frankly, I think there’s something pretty badly askew when supposed law-enforcers base their strategy on the villains not being willing to stoop to their level. Or maybe Tagg just really hates his daughters.
I am really curious why dinah volunteered that information about skitter.
I’m curious why she thinks a guy like that would decide not to be messing with Dinah since he doesn’t care about little things like “laws” or “rules” anyway.
Because Dinah seems similar enough to his daughters that she doesn’t trip his “RAR SMASH KILL” instincts and therefore being nice to her is one of the lies that helps him sleep at night.
He had no problem seeing Taylor as different enough despite attacking her at school.
Because he didn’t see her as a person there. She was simply the villain Skitter incognito, in his eyes.
Which is the kind of “my enemy above all” mentality that really does lead to some horrible stuff.
…you’re right — I could absolutely see Tagg applying the metaphorical corkscrews to compel Dinah to provide precognitive assistance. Heck, Dinah might be cooperating precisely to prevent Tagg from doing whatever he would do to force her to.
Dinah can use the power for herself, maybe she saw that volunteering the information led to a more favourable outcome in another area. Maybe it keeps Skitter alive, maybe it gives her a better chance to save the situation when the world begins to end.
I’m guessing Dinah is manipulating Skitter into doing something important or trying to prepare Skitter in some way.
Or trying to eliminate the PRT. I wouldn’t be surprised if Dinah lied about the numbers on their success of actually capturing Skitter.
Dinah can’t lie about her predictions. This has been made clear.
Oh? I don’t remember that. Time for an archive binge!
She technically can, but it messes up her power for awhile and causes extreme pain.
We still don’t know if she can accept someone asking her a question and then just use her power on a DIFFERENT question, though. She said it’s easier for her if someone else asks the question, but that she can do it herself just fine, too.
agreyworld on April 9, 2013 at 07:02 said:
I hope she had a voice recorder on her, considering this was a PR stunt and he said quite a lot of stupid stuff.
People never bother to record their conversations where the villains confess though T___T
This your first time on the comments?
It is not, I think you might have missed my earlier comments PG
*talks into a radio* Stand down people. No, we won’t need the elephant anymore. Well I don’t care that you already fed it the laxative, I told you to wait until we painted the moon pink. Hey, shit rolls downhill. You don’t like it, you should have stood uphill from the cage. We’ll talk later.
Darn. Haven’t always been welcoming people to the comments, so obviously I’ve missed a bunch.
simeraz on April 9, 2013 at 07:48 said:
I am sorry to say it, maybe in another story i would have been on is side, but i hope Tagg met a bad end and Piggot come back
Muse on April 10, 2013 at 09:45 said:
Piggot was kind of a bitch but she wasn’t a horrible director. Of course I might just think that because her successor was a supervillain and his successor is apparently clinically retarded.
I don’t think you have to compare her to anyone to make her look competent — look at the way she used her knowledge of Tattletale’s access and Coil’s mercenaries to perform counterintelligence activities. She was completely callous about capes in general — unperturbed by the thought of firebombing the Undersiders and Travelers even when they were helping against an S-class threat, indifferent to the idea that the Wards should receive therapy even in the wake of Leviathan — but even knowing that she was given the job as a sinecure she did it well.
Also, consider the fact that it was Piggot who was literally the only person who ever figured out how to defeat Crawler. She ain’t stupid.
Eh, figuring “If we throw these tinker bombs at it en masse, and we know at least one turns matter into crystal- We should be able to kill it.” doesn’t take much brainpower. I mean, she though firebombs might take him out. Firebombs.
@Rika: Like Tattletale said, “Stupid? No. Genius? No.”
Apparently, you guys forgot about the phone call.
How did she get Crawler to stick around long enough to get bombed?
Be assured that I did not forget that phone call.
…I did forget to add it to the Batman Section on TV Tropes, though, so thanks for the reminder. 😀
Batman Gambit section, sorry.
Awesome! The Director Tagg had better think twice about messing with Taylors dad. As Grey said I hope Taylor recorded this. It’d be perfect to give to the news. ‘PRT harassing Mr. Hebert? Find out why Director Tagg seems to be breaking all the rules between Capes.’
Can’t wait till the next update. I see the Fallen getting lots of bugs in their soup, also I see one of the Undersiders getting hurt in one of the ‘Blitzkrieg’ attacks. Maybe even seriously hurt.
Oh and I found Manni’s Theme: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLUj-jh_UyQ Man in the Box (Alice in Chains)
Crawlers – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26dKVC1hnp8 Harder Better Faster Stronger xD
I love boredom. :3
Glassware on April 9, 2013 at 08:56 said:
I was surprised not just by them attacking the headquarters and rolling about four full-fledged superheroes to do it, but by what they didn’t do.
See, if I was in their position and I wanted to make the PRT’s position in Brockton Bay even more untenable than it is? I’d kidnap the heroes and Director Tagg. And then I’d leave them in a room with Regent for about three hours, with him occasionally exercising his power. Then I’d let them go. Maybe call the news services and have them take some pictures, show the Undersiders being merciful.
Bam. As far as the PRT is concerned, that’s four heroes and a director that are now security risks so long as they stay in Brockton Bay. It neutralizes them as a threat while still leaving the PRT as a whole intact enough to do its job and fight the Endbringers.
Alternatively, if you do need the heroes, then just kidnap Tagg. It’s his policies that did this, after all, and once he’s gone the new guy will think twice before crossing you..
Besides, at this point being kidnapped by the Undersiders is practically a right of passage for Directors assigned to Brockton Bay.
“And all I got was this stupid T-Shirt”
I can see Regent giving out a T-Shirt for kidnappings.
But then I continue to daydream about Imp doing stuff like stealing one out each pair of socks. Or copying someone’s handwriting and leaving them notes from themselves they never wrote, messing up their diaries and planners. Or maybe just moving in to their house for a couple weeks…months…just plain not leaving before them.
“Girls Gone Regent!”
Actually, Regent would be a great excuse. “Mom, I was going to stay home and study for my big exam, but next thing I know Regent made me go to a wild rave where I met this girl named Rika and tried to recreate the Serenade short from The Lorax.”
Pft. Regent’s not my type.
Till he controls your nervous system Dear Rika. ;D Then he MAKES you act like he’s your type. 😛
Primarily directed at Packbat and Psycho Gecko: What do we know about Doctor Mother? Interlude 15 indicates that she is a black woman, with long hair. Anything else?
Nothing else, I don’t think. I’d have to re-read some interludes though. I know she was there for Alexandria’s was ‘made’, and I think Battery too. Could be wrong…..Oh and I think she’s either the leader of Cauldron or in the higher echelon of their organization.
I think Legend’s interlude makes it pretty clear that she’s in charge. And yes, she was present for both Alexandria and Battery taking their doses.
Yes, there’s just not a lot on her yet, except that she’s got Contessa as a bodyguard and Alexandria’s her bitch, along with a portal opener and the super accountant.
I got the sense that she was claiming to not be in charge drom Battery’s interlude, but I haven’t reread it since. With years gone by, she might have even taken charge since then, though she struck me as more of a pro than to pull that.
Highest rung on the ladder we’ve seen.
“Doctor Mother” is tagged in three chapters: Interlude 12.5, Interlude 14.5, and Interlude 15 (Donation Bonus #3) — Battery’s, Legend’s, and Alexandria’s.
In terms of physical description I found the following:
In 12.5 (~2005, if I added up the years correctly):
“Leaving? After coming all this way?” The voice was female, rich with hints of a French accent, but the English was probably better than her own.
She turned, then stepped a few feet in front of her car to look inside the barn.
A woman stood there, dark-skinned, with her hair cut into a short style that was more utilitarian than stylish. She wore a doctor’s lab coat and held a white plastic clipboard with both hands.
In 14.5 (2011):
The Doctor: dark-skinned, hair tied into a prim bun with chopsticks stuck through it, wearing a short white dress beneath a white lab coat.
(Also in 14.5: the ‘end of the world’ is suggested to be in twenty-three years. This is the same time Accord said in Interlude 20. I thought at the time it was a measure of how long his plans would take to reach fruition, but now it looks like it’s a time limit.)
In 15 (1986):
A black woman with long hair in a doctor’s get-up was messing with the IV bag.
Details? Not many. She’s at least a few years older than Alexandria, possibly not yet graying.
Thanks, Bat! I figured that was all we had available, and all I could find tagged for her as well, that didn’t involve just talking (mostly lying).
You know, if the Undersiders wanted to be rid of Tagg, they could just choose to make him an utter liability to the Protectorate. Just let Regent take control of him for a while, have fun, and then let him go. Since Regent can assume control any time he wants after that, the Protectorate would have no choice but to get rid of Tagg.
Ninja’d by Glassware! *shakes tiny fist*
Curse you Longaberger!
If there’s a theme I’ve picked up on in Worm, it’s one of asymmetric power relations, and the (mis)use of them. Right from the get-go, Taylor & her bullies, Taylor & the school administration, and even Taylor and her father (where there wasn’t misuse, but which helped inform some of the other relationships).
Likewise, things like Coil & the Undersiders, the AAB and everybody, the nature of the Birdcage, Dragon’s limitations, the true nature of the PRT as a tool of Alexandria & Cauldron — it all ends up commenting on the themes of power and authority and relative powerlessness.
And now we have Tagg, who is a thug calling a thug a thug. You have the PRT’s shifting moral authority revealing more and more its brutal thuggish underbelly.
And you have Taylor, no longer simply a bullied HS student now suddenly Public Enemy #1 AND criminal mastermind/ruler of the (local) underworld.
Is she making the best choices? Probably not. But Wildbow is a good enough writer that he’s actually using the reversal of situation to further explore the theme, not just turning it into Revenge Porn, or making out like Taylor is somehow instantly more perfect in how she excercises her authority than anybody else who has had it in the story so far.
Well done, Wildbow!
Neat analysis there.
The title of this arc fits in there as well. Imago is the final stage of a metamorphosis. Is warlord Skitter the adult form of Taylor though? Skitter represents power, where Taylor was characterized by vulnerability.
The previous chapter gave us a shift in the power balance within our protagonist, vulnerability being cast off (the loss of being “Taylor” anymore) with only power remaining. That’s not a terribly healthy way to live, and we’re seeing that right away in this chapter as she heads down a path that’s darker than even the rest of the Undersiders are comfortable with walking. If that’s her “adult form” though, where else can she go?
Maybe nowhere, but there is Taylor’s line that “Skitter” never really fit her. She doesn’t know what other name she would want to be called yet, but it does speak to Skitter being the larval stage of what she’s ultimately going to become.
Well I am curious what her adult form is. Despite her darker place, I don’t think Taylor will change too much. She is more comfortable with violence now, and is probably willing to kill other villains to protect herself/others, but she still doesn’t like to hurt people. In terms of changing I would like to see her throw a press conference/give an interview. Give her side of the story, and let the public know some of the PRT’s dirty secrets and let them decide if they’re on the side of angels. There is always a 2nd trigger event too, though chances are low if Noelle’s stomach didn’t do it. Looking at her trigger event, I don’t think claustrophobia was too big a part of it. It was the fact that no one would help her, that the school failed to help her, and just the injustice she probably felt toward the world. Now the authorities are blatantly taking advantage of the fact that she doesn’t like to hurt people and has a moral code, and still claim the moral high ground despite all the things they have done/cauldron. If something happens to her dad due to it, I can see that same anger/despair at how ugly the world is and she has her 2nd trigger and then has two choices. She can say fuck it, the world is going to treat me like his despite the things I have done and the fact I play by the rules, well let them have a monster. Or she can decide to truly stay on the moral side no matter what the consequences, despite all the crap she goes through.
The hair is wrong but otherwise this seems pretty spot on for Taylor at the moment in terms of her troubles with the PRT and lack of “quality time” with Brian.
http://phobso.tumblr.com/post/47527420219/evil-villain-is-evil
I think an original character by Phobs (the artist) but I could be wrong.
I believe the character’s name is The Citizen, a villain from a Russian comic called Major Thunder, drawn by Phobs. Or at least, that’s what I’ve gleaned from the tumblr and assorted media I’ve been able to dredge up. http://25.media.tumblr.com/b9b24532012ee84e500328ceef94458b/tumblr_mksxlwUwcB1s4s0zko3_500.png seems to be a ‘bird form’ of the same character. http://25.media.tumblr.com/c6ce2912bb50ab18bad205838bfdc454/tumblr_mksxlwUwcB1s4s0zko1_500.png is the main coer of Major Thunder issue #7. http://25.media.tumblr.com/84c35c2d33b96dcc4b2a3a42b231ce19/tumblr_mk8kh9u4sp1s4s0zko3_500.png Marguerita, a female white crow and pet of the Citizen, trying to wake a sleepyhead. :3
This hair a bit better?
The thing about this chapter that stood out most to me (besides the title and how hurt Taylor seems) is the shifting relationships within the Undersiders. Since the beginning Lisa has been on Taylors side, with Brian coming in at a close second, with Alec seeming ambivalent but ultimately supportive, Aisha being civil but wary (regarding her brothers feelings), and Rachel fluctuating between outright hostility and cool respect. But in this chapter (probably because I am currently in the Parasite arc during my rereading) it highlights how much that has shifted along with Taylors position and feelings;
– Alec seems to be coming into a right-hand man status who genuinely seems to care about her as a friend and teammate, something that was first explored with this line “Says the person who tried to slit my teammate’s throat,” Regent spoke. (Parasite 10.1)
– Aisha stopped antagonizing Taylor as a whole and has grown into her own as a mature (relatively speaking) member of the Undersiders who also holds some compassion for its other members. I believe on the TVTropes for Worm, there was an entry for Band of Brothers, and this is reflected in how she initially was petulant, annoying, and really only relevant for her ability. Now, she actually has some presence both within the group and without (she was referenced in the previous arc with defending civilians from gangs)
– Rachel, to keep this brief, has been willing to follow wherever Taylor leads as of late. Keeping in mind her whole canine-mindset, she appears to have wholeheartedly accepted Taylor as her alpha and has been looking after her the best she can.
Basically, I see those three backing up a new, more dangerous, less merciful Skitter and possibly causing increasing friction with the other three members. WMG dictates that I also say that its possible the two groups will have a schism and maybe even a fight.
tl;dr I love the changes the Undersiders have undergone as they have fought, becoming more family than just a ragtag bunch of misfits, even if that means that the status quo will be upset within their group.
Lost Demiurge on April 9, 2013 at 13:18 said:
Taylor was right. The strike against PRT headquarters was the mildest form of punishment she could scrape up.
And she got a chance to talk with Tagg, see who she was dealing with. Hoo boy… “Strong man, making hard choices! My way Semper Fi Do or Die! Rah!” Precisely the worst possible person for the PRT to put in here. I halfway wonder if it’s not deliberate… Cauldron pulling a Machiavelli ploy, to make the handoff of the city to Taylor a bit easier.
True, he rattled her a bit, but not so much that he scored a victory there. No victories there. And she kept composure well enough that nothing was lost.
Glad Lisa went with, too. She made the right call there, was the best person to reign Taylor in, keep her together.
Now. Now Taylor has to think above the short term. Now, if this arc is to live up to its name, she’s going to have to choose a new goal beyond mere survival. She’s going to have to sit down and figure out what she WANTS, and how to get it. And then how to hold on to it, make it sustainable.
There’s one path to winning here that I can see, and Accord saw it too. If she can get the city on her side, drive the PRT to break more and more of its rules, show that the heroes are no better than the Undersiders and in many cases often worse, then she can turn this thing around.
Of course, things are going to get tougher before it’s all done. Gonna be darker, and I honestly don’t know if Danny will survive the arc.
I look forward to seeing how this one goes!
As part of the getting the city on their side, the undersiders should pull a coil and try covertly replacing the directors in the bay’s PRT branch with their own people, perhaps get tattletale elected mayor.
Also, this line was unclear:
As with Dovetail, I’d managed to make enough progress that she was more or less out of the fight.
By *she* I assume you meant Sere, so yeah, sexchange
Also also, Triumph is mentioned but isnt tagged and nothing happens to or with him. Add a line indicated both he and Sere were tied up, mayhaps? (Pardon any pretentious soundingness, totally unintentional)
From what i’ve noticed, names aren’t tagged unless they actually make an appearance. Menioned offhandedly by name as being in the area but nothing happens with him = not tagged, so people looking for Triumph references aren’t stuck looking at every page his name is spoken/thought.
Which would make a lot of sense, but Sere is tagged and is said to have been in the same area as Triumph and had just as much influence in this particular chapter (read: none)
Also, sometimes capes have been mentioned with no appearance and have been tagged; Im specifically remembering the end of Extermination, where Lisa discusses Coil with Taylor and his name is tagged even though he isnt even around
Sere was more than mentioned, he was dealt with. His powers were referenced, and how he was dealt with was referenced. Unless my tired eyes are skipping something, she didn’t do jack all to Triumph, from what I can see- just noted he was there in the area.
In the case of Coil, if he’s being discussed- focussed on- then it’s relevant and tagged.
His aim was really off lately and he dried it so much it crumbled off.
Wow another good update. 🙂
I’m kinda hoping this isn’t Taylor’s final response to the PRT and Protectorate, just the logical one she needs to get on the news, to retain respect and avoid Brockton Bay getting dogpiled by villains who smell blood. I feel like she could do so much more to destroy their ability to function, drive them out even, just by going after their equipment alone. Damned if this affront, jumping her in school and unmasking her publicly, doesn’t cry out for answer.. and I don’t feel like roughing up the PRT Director and employees really covered even a tenth of it.
Tagg wasn’t terribly impressive, came off with a serious case of small man syndrome. He says there’s a war on, well sure, it’s his war for relevance, trying to keep everyone believing that people like him deserve their authority. Unlike Piggot, who was at least more-or-less competent, he thought nothing of authorizing a confrontation without context, without even knowing where the fight would be, what the potential collateral damage could be. If Tagg comes to a bad end, I don’t think anyone’s gonna shed a tear.
I’m looking forward to the interlude, have to imagine there’s a lot of very large talk at the water coolers across the board.
Who’d have thought we’d ever be nostalgic for Piggot’s level of competence?
Yeah, he really seems like he’s been set up to lose. There are places where a hard-liner would be perfect, I think Brockton Bay is pretty much the opposite. Alexandria can’t really think that this is a winning move for the PRT. I think she’s written off the PRT, she said as much in her interlude, and is now burning them down on the way out.
That’s the worst of it really, it was such a completely senseless move.
The PRT gained absolutely nothing from outing Taylor. Instead they lost a great deal.
In short, this was pure spite. Admittedly if the gamble had paid off it might have been slightly better (still terrible but easier to spin, and damn if I don’t want to see Skitter in custody. Maybe with a dash of Joker-style complete relaxation with it. Just quietly waiting for the break out, chatting and getting beat up) for them but given what they risked…just not worth it.
And yeah, not knowing where it was happening made this a blank check command moment. I’ve known soldiers who really did tell stories about that kind of incompetent lunacy.
She could have been visiting her sick grandmother in hospital. She could have been in a factory full of high explosives. She could have been in her base/ORPHANAGE!!! That last one would have played incredibly:
“Tonight at nine, PRT slaughters orphaned children. Local girl Taylor Hebert tried to defend them from the sudden attack but could not succeed alone against their full numbers. However intervention of furious locals turned the tide and now all that’s left is to pick up the shattered fragments of Timmy’s skull.”
We need more Parian, she needs a wake-up call and fast.
More like she needs to give Flechette a wake-up call, the Wards are gonna be a less and less safe place to be.
Yes, a wake up call, preferably in the morning with the sun peeking in to caress the tousled sheets of the bed they share, the passion of the night before now faded into a loving glow as they bask in the warmth of their long-awaited union with that fire waiting just beneath the surface to be stoked once more.
acediamonds on April 9, 2013 at 16:13 said:
You know, I’ve been wondering why Tagg hasn’t revealed Tattletale’s identity either. Piggot figured it out several arcs ago and Tagg seems petty enough to reveal it even though they wouldn’t benefit as much from it as revealing Taylor’s identity.
The only reason I can think of is that Piggot never put the information in the system and hates Tagg as much as we do so she decided not to share.
Tagg didn’t reveal Skitter’s identity for spite. Tagg revealed Skitter’s identity because it was supposed to maximize her probability of capture.
Revealing Tattletale’s identity? That doesn’t help him at all. It’s not that he wants to protect it, it’s that he doesn’t actually care, and not caring in this case works out in Tattle’s favor.
It feels very much like it was for spite, though. Revealing who she is in civilian garb just puts her- and by result, them- between a rock and a hard place. She has nothing to lose anymore. If they’d discussed things reasonably like she has shown to want to do EVERY SINGLE TIME THEY TALK, then maybe this wouldn’t have happened. It feels very much like a “Father knows best” situation where the gov’t is the ‘dad’ figure and Taylor the ‘wayward child’ figure. Except the gov’t has no clue what it’s doing but panic-reacting and the ‘child’ knows all too well what’s best and is getting forced down the worst paths each time because of having to react to really horrible stuff.
Not disputing your characterization of Tagg’s attitude, but in 20.5 Taylor specifically asked Dragon and Defiant “Why out me in front of everyone?” and the reply was “A precog told us it was our best option for bringing you into custody.”
Or that’s what she was told by Tagg, or whomever she was communicating with on Tagg’s payroll, that was acting as a relay between Dragon and him.
That last part sounds like the Baudelaire orphans.
I wouldn’t exactly say it doesn’t help him at all. Tagg says he’s a scrapper, everything’s fine in his books if he can at least get a punch in there. Revealing Tattletale’s identity shows the public that yes, the PRT are in fact still fighting.
Though I suppose he could try and use that strategy after this debacle.
Tagg needs to remember that while quitters never win and winners never quit, we have a word that describes those who never win and never quit: idiots.
Quitters never win, winners never quit, and Skitter never loses.
I fail to see how outing Tattletale shows anything of the kind. Interrupting an Undersider heist — that would show they were fighting. Seizing Undersider goods — that would show they were fighting. Actually successfully capturing one of them — that would show they were fighting.
Outing one of the Undersiders? Wouldn’t even slow them down. It just shows how ineffectual they are that this is the best they can do.
“we can’t stop you so we’re gonna TATTLE on you~”
and said tattle-ing has the opposite the intended effect…
Did it? Depends on who’s intention we are talking about.
Who’s intention is to steal second, but what’s that got to do with anything?
Im thinking, what if Tagg does decide to escalate this situation? He reveals exactly who (at least those he knows) the Undersiders are in their civilian identities. We know they at least know who Lisa and Alec are, and for all of their uncaringness, Alec did reveal that he harbors a minor fear of Heartbreaker paying him a visit. Possible plot hint? Either way, its cool to think about in a time where there are no /obvious/ Big Bads for this arc cycle.
Well thats discounting the leaders of the three villain groups, who are obvious enough, but I dont think the Accord route is happening anytime soon, Valefor and Eligos might be tough, but I dont doubt the Undersiders under Skitter, and Butcher and the Teeth might be a war on its own, but Butcher doesnt have that *umph* factor to hold a decent amount of expectation and fear as a Big Bad.
Long time follower, first time commenter…
Anyway, I can’t see Tagg retaliating in any meaningful way. Odds are the Undersiders battened down the hatches the instance the utter SNAFU that was the school attack hit the news or Skitter made a phonecall, which probably meant moving any significant others or relatives to safehouses and the like, or going off the grid.
Not to mention, the higher ups are probably going to be suppressing the urge to reassign him to Antartica for this screwup, especially seeing how the PR department is probably getting ready to use Tagg’s picture for target practice. I mean, first a attack on a school, then they get curb stomped at their own HQ? Not going to do any wonders for morale, or for their image, I’d be surprised if Ms. Militia didn’t have some choice words for him…
Then we have his attitude. Seeing how he was in the Army, I’m guessing he never really understood the concept of “Rules of Engagement”, or “Unacceptable casulties”… I mean, this could’ve very easily been a bloodbath, if they weren’t holding back, well, the PRT and capes would’ve been crippled, badly. Which while it’d prove his point, would also show that the Undersiders aren’t to be screwed with.
And then there’s his choice to leak it. Dinah suggesting it or not, that’s given them nothing but headache and nightmares. All it’s done is burn what little goodwill they had, and alienate every villain in the tri county area, if not further. It’s like Machivelli said “Upon this, one has to remark that men ought either to be well treated or crushed, because they can avenge themselves of lighter injuries, of more serious ones they cannot; therefore the injury that is to be done to a man ought to be of such a kind that one does not stand in fear of revenge.” Or in layman’s terms, if you avenge someone, make sure the person you’re attacking is incapable of retaliating.
Welcome, dear militarily-minded newcomer, to the comments section, where we put the sis anal in analysis. Y, you ask? Because we hear she gets off on wordplay. If you enjoy a good time, I suggest midnight, if you’re looking for debate, try the end of a fishing hook, and if you’re in denial about how far I can take these, then you should know I can go straight up Mediterranean on your ass. Like an Athenian.
I’m Psycho Gecko, and like that drunken binge after exams when a friend roped you into trying a club you’ve never heard of, I’m the guy you’ll either regret knowing or find slimy, yet satisfying. Lion King aside, let me be a truthful king Gecko and say that we’re always glad to have another person along who just can’t get Worm. A natural enough consequence of some of the beef they sell at fast food places, as well as for reading this amazing story we all enjoy.
who just can’t get enough Worm*
The issue with Tagg, I think, isn’t just that he’s a thug.
It’s that he’s a stupid thug.
And he apparently forgot that Taylor’s dad is a well-known and respected figure in the local dockworker’s union, and therefore can thug back just as hard if needs be.
I also can’t see him getting along well with any of the local heroes, and the only one who might theoretically be willing to put up with his attitude (Assault) is also going to hate him because there’s no way Tagg treats a former villain with anything even remotely resembling respect.
He’s pretty much the Wormverse equivalent of the Pointy-Haired Boss. In fact, I think I’ll just call him PHB from now on. If Dilbert exists in the Wormverse, his employees probably already call him that when they don’t think he’s listening.
On a different subject, I hope that Dragon comes out publicly as an AI soon, because Skitter’s making some very incorrect assumptions about her thanks to not knowing that vital detail.
His attitude of ‘We’re right, thus, anything we do will ultimately be justified by history’ definitely seems pretty questionable.
Do we have a list of the current heroes in Brockton Bay? Miss Militia… Well, I’d respect her a hell of a lot less if she doesn’t find this an affront. She seems like a Captain America sort, the kind who believes in the spirit of America, rather than the current administration.
Clockblocker has shown clear willingness to argue with Skitter, and the argument- With a girl who is not interested in imposing her views, and while being very unfair in declaring ties- could only come up with a ‘two to one’ moral victory. I feel hope because of that. It feels as though he understands that the area he’s coming from isn’t entirely tenable, and that because of that, he may start to feel sympathy.
I’m not sure who else is actually still a member of the hero’s team, though. But the heroes, by and large, aren’t stupid thugs. They may be a bit more secure in their righteousness than they deserve to be, but they got into this business because they wanted to help people. And they’ve worked alongside Skitter. Their greatest flaw at the moment is pride, feeling ashamed that a villain is doing more to be the hero than they are. But they’re going to have to start trusting her eventually, and it’ll be a glorious day when they do.
Probably also deeply tragic, but glorious.
A good point. Pissing off the local villains is one thing, but pissing off organized labor? Hoo boy.
I propose that the local union-affiliated mobsters change the term from “sleeping with the fishes” to “going on a date with Cherish”.
Ahahahaha! Nice one.
Psycho Gecko presents “You can’t unthink it.”
Well, I suppose if they strap one of those fleshlite thingies to her…
…So they can sob and SWEAR that they’ve never had THOSE problems before, it’s not heer, it’s them… Even as her crushing despair crushes their self-worth even further, until they just give up on life, the mortification at being emasculated amplified by her emotion control ratcheted up to eleven.
So, like any other date?
I think i found what skitter needs to breed http://theoatmeal.com/comics/mantis_shrimp
Weaponized mantis shrimp would get her a kill order.
Of course, enforcing it would require that they get past the mantis shrimp first, so it might not matter.
taliesinskye on April 10, 2013 at 15:18 said:
They breathe water, sadly.
Hasn’t stopped Skitter from using bugs before; Have a few tanks of water moved into place by crabs, then have the mantis shrimp wrapped up in spider silk and lifted to the target and either used until dead or done in strafing runs and returned to the water.
“OH MY GOD IM BEING ATTACKED BY RAINBOWS!”
Oooh, like we were separated at birth. Still, Psycho Shrimp is a little lackluster of a name, and I have this feeling like a lawyer demon is circling me if I consider Psycho Mantis.
The thing with the claws reminds me of the Pistol Shrimp, who pull the same trick, creating a pressurized bubble in the water that very temporarily becomes as hot as the sun. They’re not as flamboyant as Mantis Shrimp though.
Same family I think.
Hmm, cape with crustacean based powers.
Well Skitter can already control crabs…
Crow on April 10, 2013 at 00:16 said:
Why intimidate Tagg, when Tattletale can find the files? Take the juicy hard drives, crack them later at Tattletale’s leisure. Or sell them. Tagg is nothing but trouble, yet Taylor didn’t put a bullet in his head from his own gun. Foolish. Also, crippling their infrastructure would have been such a better attack. “It’s bugs in the system. No, really. They ate the insulation off and shortcircuited every vehicle, computer, tinker device, and camera in our headquarters.”
Also of note, whoever takes down Butcher may well end up inheriting the powers. That just seems to paint a target on Butcher.
Not since it was established that if you werent a part of the Teeth, the voices would drive you mad; doesnt seem worth the trouble.
You really think Taylor ought to have killed Tagg?
Even if you leave the moral issue aside, what good would it do? This is the third director that the undersiders have had to deal with, and none of the previous ones were any better. What makes you think that whoever they replace him with would be any more reasonable?
Piggy may have been a bigot, but she was smart. Tagg is just a dumb but sly brute. He sees value in PR, but only so it slanders his enemies and raises his name on high, instead of serving the people he’s meant to protect.
It also sends a stronger message. Fuck with an Undersiders’ identity or break the agreement, get put down.
I don’t pretend that it is moral. It is, in my opinion, a stronger play, that would protect Taylor and many others. If her intent is to hit the suits calling the shots, then really hit them. Don’t just leave welts.
It also makes the BB PRT Director position even less desirable. “So how long did my predecessor hold the job?” “Less than a week.” “Yeah, no, thanks.”
I believe they did in fact cripple their infrastructure. Bitch went to town outside destroying all their big vehicles, skitter went inside and bugged the place out. We know the bugs can cut through wiring, and that detail isnt very important to be included really, but it can be assumed to have happened.
Not to mention any emergeny medical supplies, foodstuffs, and survival gear they may have had in the building has just become contaminated. They also know that Skitter can use the bugs to eavesdrop if she pleases, so the PRT is going to have to fumigate the place extremely thoroughly. Bonus points if Taylor infested the barracks with bedbugs.
That does raise the question of why Tt decided to come along. I can understand if it was just for Taylor’s sake but out of all the Undersiders, i expect her to have an ulterior motive.
Tagg’s right. In the long run, not many will remember the Undersiders’ brief reign, unless they rule for *years.* Even then, maybe not. And it’s clear that they don’t have a long-term plan. Plus, regarding Cauldron…you could argue that they’re “good” from a utilitarian perspective. How many have the Triumvirate alone saved, indirectly, fighting against Endbringers alone?
I wonder if Skitter will kill Butcher, and that’s why she’s different when the apocalypse rolls around. That would actually be pretty cool.
Shatterbird’s theme? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRa_rEEav2E
Here is a plot device. Rig it so Mrs General Tagg kills Butcher. That way when she starts hearing voices and having uncontrollable homicidal urges she will have more than coffee and donuts for the boys.
The Undersiders don’t have a long term plan? Sure they do, it’s called “survive till next week, then we’ll make a new plan”.
Give them a few months of breathing room, like they might get in a couple of years if the world doesn’t actually end, and then investing in some long term goals becomes pretty reasonable.
As for Cauldron/the Triumvirate? Even from a utilitarian perspective they’re looking pretty shaky. If the world needs more “good” parahumans, then the way they’re going about producing them seems pretty inefficient.
I’d also like to see even a flashback where the non-Scion heroes actually drove off an Endbringer. So far the batting average for the world seems to 0.000 on that score. The Triumvirate keeps getting credit as being the ones that the world will collapse without, but all we’ve seen them do is buy time for the real problem solver to show up. As a note: Armsmaster and Skitter also managed to buy time, so, yeah, not seeing Alexandria being all that critical really.
Here’s a thought. Tagg tries that ‘take them in for questioning’ thing with people in Skitter’s territory and Skitter steps in to defend her people from the PRT.
Last night I had a dream that all of us readers and wildbow got together for some kind of Worm convention. Nobody wore nametags or identified with their commenter names so that we didn’t know who anybody was. We were mostly trying to figure out who wildbow and PG were.
I figured out who wildbow was by finding the one person not arguing about the morality of the characters XD. Never did find PG though.
You’re clever in your dreams.
Honestly, that’s how I’d do it, as an outsider.
Also you were carrying a bag of ice. That may be me unconsciously stereotyping Canadians? If so, I apologize. I live in Texas, so I just assume that people who live much farther north really like cold things.
Man, this really makes me want to have a Worm-Con or something. That would be so damn cool >.<
I live in Winnipeg Canada and the snow is melting right now. The rivers are still frozen though.
I actually wanna turn my air conditioning on; It’s too hot and the building I live in uses the old timey water heaters, so we either have them on full blast making the apartment too hot, or not on, making us freeze. -.-;
Damn, Wildbow! They know our plans to send me in as a decoy with a bag of ice (because I’m a COOL customer)
Nice ice baby, dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun. Give them the idea like that and the Canadians will try and blend in to the Southern U.S. by drinking Ice-T. Or even start flavoring their liquor on the rocks with some Vanilla Ice.
But still, icy what you did there.
Instead of a bag of ice, look for the Slurpee cup.
There’s something I’m having a difficult time buying. Alexandria was the head of the PRT, and set it up specifically to blunt any damage between capes and the rest of the population. But… the PRT, it seems, is practically overwhelmed with bigots. How can this be? I’m not sure about this. If anyone else were in charge, I’d get it – but Alexandria is practically the essence of intelligent and observant, at least according to her description… and the PRT is her baby. There’s no way she could have overlooked this problem. What’s going on?
Honestly, I’m surprised that Tagg is the first person we see who acts like this. The PRT may have been led by and revolve around superheroes, but Tagg is exactly the kind of small-minded, self-important bureaucrat that tends to rise high in government organizations.
Because they don’t care about doing the right thing, they’re better at bootlicking and backstabbing their way up the ladder while their peers are struggling to solve real issues. These are the guys who get people trying to make a difference fired so that they can take their office, who do things like run Guantanamo Bay and turn over POWs to foreign torturers so that they have extra bullet points on their resume.
This can’t be emphasized enough. Corporate/bureaucratic environments reward all manner of unethical behavior and tend to punish employees unwilling to give themselves a leg up by tearing their co-workers down.
” Corporate/bureaucratic environments reward all manner of unethical behavior”
No. No, they don’t. There are plenty of corrupt people in the world, but it is not the predominant trait of corporations or government entities.
I’ve worked at fortune 500’s, and experienced a few small pieces of the government/military world,and the only universal constant for behavior between them was that they were all different from each other – a difference usually determined by the people in charge and the corporate culture. SOME rewarded bad behavior (a coke-snorting drill sergeant comes to mind…) while OTHERS rewarded honestly, and still others were blue and orange morality which doesn’t match up with any thorough definition of honest OR corrupt.
The culture of the PRT higher ups seems to be one of clear bigotry. And it’s jarring. It doesn’t make sense. It should not be a given that this is true. There’s something else going on, here. That’s what I’m saying.
Is it possible that, in the Wormverse, veterans who can’t adjust to civilian life, rather than joining the Foreign Legion or PMCs in some random country, just go to the PRT instead? It’s a self-selecting pool of unstable individuals.
Actually, corporation environments DOES engender unethical behaviour, because of how people are promoted beyond their level of ability, rather than stay where they are most useful- It’s known as the Peter Principle. When you have incompetent people in the higher echelons of management, which is what any corporation will tend to- Not out of some concept of wanting to tear themselves down from the inside, but because competency is rewarded with a higher level position until the person having gotten the better position is not capable enough to continue getting a higher and better position.
A good example is a superb engineer who is taken off the floor and put into the role of a supervisor, because he’s done such a good job- That requires a whole different set of responsibilities and capabilities within the management branch of talents, and many people who are raised up like that don’t have the experience or inherant ability to manage well- Even though they Engineer really well, in this example, they cannot manage and are seen as mediocre- And in fact would likely do far better if he was able to return to his old job than to continue as a supervisor. There are going to be those whose skillsets are optimal for supervisory positions- But they’ll prove to be good enough at their job that they, in turn, will end up getting promoted, until they eventually aren’t able to handle the work they are to do beyond a mediocre level and stop getting promotions. Thus, the entire business stack tends towards mediocrity. Certainly it won’t just go to shit all at once, but over time the current model of business is set up to move that way.
Executives have known about the Peter Principle for a loooong time. Let me throw a few other terms at you: Kaizen, Six Sigma, horizontal management structures (http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-04-27/why-there-are-no-bosses-at-valve), TQM…
Just because something has an organization chart does not mean it’s prone to inefficiency, corruption or bigotry. DARPA is a fine example: a government agency that is not what anybody really thinks it is, is amazingly productive and is probably a good model for what a *real* PRT would look like: (http://www.amazon.com/Department-Mad-Scientists-Remaking-Artificial/dp/0062000659)
Fact is, there’s a competitive structure between government agencies that tends to discourage blatant idiocy at higher levels. It also tends to discourage bigots and the corrupt. Not perfectly, but much better than the popular conception of things, as illustrated by these responses. So, I repeat: I find the bigotry and tactics of the PRT jarring and questionable, given that their leader was a hyperintelligent cape whose goal was to reduce friction btn. norms and capes, AND given that government agencies are NOT always inherently prone to collecting idiots of this nature – at least not in real life.
Small-minded, self-important bureaucrats may make for interesting literary adversaries, but IRL they are not statistically favored over open-minded and perceptive bureaucrats when promotions happen. This is a characterization device, not a fundamental law of employment.
Well, there’s the reason Alexandria *says* she setup the PRT, and then there’s her actual reasons. We’re privy to one, but the evidence we’re seeing points to the other being different in some way.
Or, possibly, an organization such as the PRT is simply too big for someone like Alexandria to micromanage and with the level of power it deals with this is the best she was able to manage with the resources that were available.
His eyes studied me, as though he were making an assessment. His words were gruff, the gravelly burr of a long time smoker. He very deliberately set the gun down on the desk, then replied, “Because you are not the law. I am the law.”
“Has to be. The ones at the top handle the compromising. They assess where the boundaries need to be broken down, which threats are grave enough. My job is to get the criminals off the streets and out of the cities. I am the law.”
“You started a fight in a school. What are you, a 12 year old?”
“Didn’t know it was a school until the capes were already landing,” he replied. “Had to choose, either we let you go, and you were keeping an eye out for trouble from then on, or we push the advantage. I AM THE LAW!”
“Sure, go ahead, trust the people who were so right about catching me before. They know all about me, don’t they? You ever notice how I beat the motherfucking odds from a goddamn oracle?”
Someone behind me screamed as a group of my hornets flew to him to deliver a series of stings across his face. Behind them flew several more hornets with an MP3 player that blasted “Flight of the Bumblebees”.
“Ride of the Valkyries is overused. Besides, inflicting pain isn’t the point.”
“Seem to be doing a good job of it. Almost as good a job as I am doing at BEING THE LAW.” he commented.
“There are heroes on their way back from patrol, your guys called them in. But there’s also news teams on the way here. We called those guys in. They’ll find your employees covered in welts, every PRT van damaged or trashed. Your employees won’t be able to get any cars out of the parking lot, so they’ll have to walk, which will make for some photo opportunities. Maybe offer the women here a calendar deal. A handful of heroes will have full underwear. You can try running damage control, but some of it’s bound to hit the news.”
“Uh huh, have I ever told you how I am-,” he said.
“I couldn’t let you get off without a response from us,” I interrupted.
“I suppose that makes sense.”
“Game? Little girl, this is a war,” his voice took on a hard edge.
“War? Huh, good god, y’all. What is it good for?” I said.
“Absolutely everything. You can’t win forever, because I. Am. The. Law,” he said.
I had a response to that. “This isn’t a war. In war, people can surrender and go back home. You, you little shit, decided to make this where I can’t surrender. You gave me no choice but death or life imprisonment. You want to know what’s next? What’s next is I order some dung beetles to crawl in there and get takeout, that’s what’s next.”
“The world ends in two, bitch. Try me.”
“And like a lot of institutions, you’re full of crazy people with delusions of being great leaders in history.”
“No. They didn’t pick me to head this city’s PRT division because I’m a winner, Ms. Taylor. Because I’m not. They picked me because I’m a scrapper. I’m a survivor. Sure, I wasn’t here in the city when all the bad shit went down. I was off patrolling the mean streets of Greenwich, Connecticut, taking down foursomes strapped with nines coming off the green. I’m the type that’s content to get the shit kicked out of me, so long as I give the other guy a bloody nose, like that time the old woman rushed the buffet at the country club. I’m a stubborn motherfucker, I won’t be intimidated, and I won’t give up, no matter how much the police, FBI, CIA, NSA, ATF, DEA, ASPCA, KFC, NCAA, EPA, ACLU, NAP, GOP, TVA, TNA, WWE, WWF, WCW, NAACP, army, navy, airforce, and the so-called ‘President of the United States’ want me to. The last few Directors in Brockton Bay were like syphilis that you treated with penicillin, but I’m here to stay like herpes.”
“The last few Directors gave me the same speech. One of them did this job with one kidney because she was one of two people take on Nilbog and live. The other could split into two different universes for twice as many tries at me and was the other one to take on Nilbog and live. You’re his replacement. Good luck finding the body.”
“Jenny Craig is a system. Obesity is an epidemic.”
I felt a knot in my stomach. “Oh yeah, pull in a local labor leader whose daughter was bullied into becoming a villain. Talk about being a dumbass. How many times did your parents have to drop you on your head for you to become smart enough to read?”
“It’s a war of attrition,” Tagg said. “I’ll find the cracks, I’ll wear down and break each of you. If you’re lucky, then five years from now they’ll remember your names, speaking them in the same breath as they talk about the kid villains who were dumb enough to think they could conquer a city. Soon enough, you’ll go the way of Genghis Khan. Some obscure, barely-known wannabe conqueror who tried to defeat China in the Boxer Rebellion. But you’ll notice, they still wear tighty whities in China. I! AM! THE! LAW!”
I approached the desk and turned around the photo frames. The second showed Tagg with his wife and two young women. A family portrait. Given the family’s looks, you could be forgiven for thinking it was a Picasso.
“Two, going to universities halfway across the world. Because I’m such a loyal, ooh rah, goddamn American.”
His mindset was all ‘us versus them’. Good guys versus the bad where “good” was defined as the institution. Don’t let the smoking gun be a mushroom cloud, that kind of thing.
It wasn’t much, but it served to confirm the conclusion I’d already come to. Dinah had volunteered the information. Whatever else Director Tagg was, he wasn’t the type to abuse a girl who’d been through what Dinah had. He was just the type to abuse a girl who’d been through everything I had, totally ignoring the fact that I’ve been picked on, tortured, beaten on, hit on, had crappy lesbian fanfiction written about me, and I went toe to toe with Leviathan, Jack Slash, Mannequin, and Echidna while he sat behind a desk somewhere using his service pistol as a fleshlite.
“Wow, some war here. What, they fly you in with the 82nd Airborne, give you a special posting with body armor? You at risk of being captured and raped by a bunch of medieval fundamentalists?,” I said. “And you stand by your husband? You buy this bullshit?”
“I’m illustrating a point. I had your gun right there, could have shot you, and rather than do the smart thing, you reached for an ankle gun. I could have shot you, but that would have gotten blood on my costume, and you don’t get blood on my costume, motherfucker, are you outside your mind?” I asked.
My bugs drifted away from Mrs. Tagg. She was uninjured, without a welt or blemish, but with several penises drawn onto her face by bugs tugging along markers. She backed into the corner as the bugs loomed between her and her husband.
“Not sure. Common sense doesn’t change my mind in the slightest. I am-!,” Tagg said.
I didn’t respond. The swarm shifted locations and dogpiled him. Stubborn as he professed to be, he started screaming quickly enough. If the smell coming from his trousers was any indication, the dung beetles would feast tonight.
Funny. And really ilustrates some important points.
But lets be realistic here, Taylor got an empty victory.
Well, in her place I would walk by the Prostated Regular Teochrats everyday and destroy some of their machines.
Bug their computers, destroy delicate parts of their cars. Clog the bathrooms …
Just to make it expensive for the government to keep them working.
It actually crystalised a thought for me. Namely that Danny Hebert may be fragile when it comes to his family but professionally he’s still a labour spokesperson, one who stuck it out through the Bay’s worst times.
In other words a) He probably has a fair bit of credit with the kind of people who will be appreciative of the Undersiders reinvigorating the city. and b) He’s unlikely to be all that phased by some police grilling. I got the impression that union situation has been pretty bad, for all we know he may have undergone that kind of thing before.
those are actually REALLY good points.
I imagine the interrogation would be more about building up a sense of intimacy, then exploiting it. You know, “Help us help your daughter,” (false) promises of leniency/amnesty, and so on.
His job is organizing labor in a city that’s pretty much post-Katrina New Orleans with superpowered white supremacists and serial killers. I have no problem whatsoever with believing that Danny, Kurt and their posse can be more hardcore than this desk jockey dickhead and his goon squad.
I mean, shit. It’s barely out of the Slaughterhouse Nine rampage when they we’re slamming back beers before heading to yell at a town meeting. What makes Tagg think that people aren’t going to stir shit if he starts messing with them?
On the other hand, losing a few hours to interrogation several times a week would wear on anyone.
Assuming the union didn’t riot after the first few times, and Tagg didn’t get in trouble for unlawful imprisonment (or whatever the appropriate crime is), and the Undersiders didn’t take advantage of the predictable PRT target to beat up a PRT team and go joyriding in their containment van…for Tagg’s sake, I hope that was an idea he came up with on the spot and not his secret master plan.
I’d rip the hard drives out of as many computers as possible. Good source of info, AND it’ll piss them off to no end.
I do these sometimes. People have generally like them, except for the one with the Travelers. The part about Sktter having crappy lesbian fanfiction has to do with other rewrites I’ve done. Which reminds me, I think think there was one heavy on the Pulp Fiction and Zero Wing that I need to hunt down. At least I know which phrases to check for.
In fact, looking back at the first one of these I did, waaaaaay back with Legend’s speech before fighting Leviathan, that prompted Wildbow to say something about me having my own story.
I know what it -is-, but that doesn’t make me boggle any less than I did reading it initially. >.o;
Oh, like you’re the only one writing crappy lesbian fanfic about Skitter. There are probably people in Brockton Bay who do that, knowing full well they risk a lifetime supply of cockroaches if she ever tracks them down.
It’s even possible someone like Greg wrote some, before realizing he knew Skitter. At which point he started writing self-insert fanfic.
(Celebrity fanfic is surprisingly popular. I don’t get it either, but I can comfortably guess that capes would make it even more so.)
we need a button to filter Psyco Gecko comments.
I havent decided if its to show them, or hide them, but we really need a filter.
There is one. But it’s a big orange button at the corner of every one of his comments that reads ‘unapprove’, and only I can see it.
Oh god no, please dont wildbow, PG’s comments are hilarious.
If you want to see PG’s comments, just use the find function on your browser.
Fans on April 11, 2013 at 02:41 said:
What if he does do that and what we see is only an edited Psycho Gecko?
The pure stuff may be too ruinous for sane people’s health.
It’s gotten so bad that sometimes the comments I post that don’t have any links in them will be held up to be approved.
But psh, you know you love me. In like a strictly heterosexual, “Grunt just fell out of a hospital, climbed the Krogan memorial statue, lit a C-Sec aircar on fire, jacked the flaming cop car, and avoiding getting put in containment foam because he was on fire” kind of way.
I believe there IS a way to highlight individual users the way your posts are highlighted, but I do not know the method in the particular plugin you are using.
Think it’s cos Wildbow is the author.
I kinda wish PG would just link his stories instead of posting them in whole on the forums .
You wound me.
That’s no fun, especially since there’s no link to World Domination in Retrospect here. I thought if I asked you’d set that up for me like with Tieshaunn.
I guess that’s just the way the bowling ball bounces.
Please, let it stay as it is. PG tales are a fun way to wait for the next chapter. Those that do not want to read them may simply jump his comments.
Mishie on April 10, 2013 at 10:25 said:
What I’m curious about is what Tagg is actually planning on doing to deal with the Undersiders, because well, sure threatening Danny sounds big and scary, but well, what exactly is it meant to do? Even if he did go through with the threat of bringing Danny in every time the Undersiders do something, well, all it does is waste his time, and if they do anything more than that they’ll cause a shitstorm.
Thing is though, Tagg isn’t stupid, sure he took a gamble with targetting Skitter as Taylor, but he was taking advantage of a huge opportunity that he didn’t know would ever happen again, with Skitter being isolated from not only the rest of the Undersiders, but most likely a large amount of her bugs. When you add in the fact that a reliable preocog told him that they had an almost 100% chance of capturing her, it was the perfect start to his Directorship. Sure there would have been some bad PR about targetting her when she wasn’t Skitter, but it would have been easy to spin it so that she was attacking somebody/thing whilst she wasn’t in costume to be stealthy or something.
The way I see it, the PRT probably has teams of profilers going over what they know about the Undersiders and are using the new information about Taylor to try to get inside her head to figure out how to take her down. Hell, even though they didn’t capture her, we’ve already seen how much it’s messed with her head, and when you add in the threat to Danny, things may start to fall apart for Skitter. Or it will just force her to become stronger to deal with the new problems, 50/50 :P.
AA Bacontaters on April 10, 2013 at 11:54 said:
Happy Birthday Wildbow!
Thank you. 😀
Happy Birthday, Wildbow!!! Thanks for the many gifts you give us! Be well!
Feliz aniversário ! (happy birthday)
Muito dinheiro no bolso e saúde para dar e vender. (Lots of money in the pocket and health enough to give and to sell).
Yes, happy birthday! Happy wormday! Happy all the days!
Here’s your birthday song 😀
Psycho Gecko puts on a vinyl version of the 1812 Overture, except that when it comes time for the guns to fire the first five times, each one coincides with an explosion at Mr. Rushmore replacing a face with Tattletale, Grue, Regent, and Skitter. Followed by everyone wondering who the younger girl is who got her mug blasted onto the mountain.
A big cake is wheeled in and the next blasts coincide with first Scion, then Assault and Battery, and then Miss Militia all popping out of it each time Wildbow tries to go for the cake, being helplessly knocked away each time while going “Nuuuuu!”, leaving a much smaller cake behind.
*boom boom!* Cut to the Statue of Liberty destroyed and the Simurgh standing there with a tiara on holding a torch. *na na na na na na na, boom boom!* Behemoth bursts out of the ground under the Eiffel tower while wearing a beret, destroying it. *na na na na na na na, boom!* Leviathan crashes through the Tower of London and grabs a human skull delicately, kneeling and raising it up as if to speak to Yorick.
*Boom!* Hookwolf pulls himself out of the water, covered in hooked fish.
*Boom!* Jack Slash preps and cuts them into sushi
*Boom!* Bonesaw’s spiders bring out the trays of sushi
The rest of the booms are concerned when they all rush to your birthday party, slipping on deflated cake and crashing into each other. Simurgh winds up on Behemoth’s shoulder, singing something about 15 Men on a Dead Man’s Chest, while Behemoth wears an eyepatch and Leviathan is left hobbling on a peg leg with a hook in place of one claw. Jack Slash steps on a rake, smacking him in the nose. Miss Militia accidentally shoots the punchbowl and gets knocked down as it flows out and is tripped over by a stumbling Jack Slash. Hookwolf accidentally activates a magnet, flying out fo the room. He’s soon joined by Assault, winding up in a compromising position. Battery starts throwing lit birthday candles at Hookwolf’s head for messing with her man.
Bonesaw hops on Skitter’s back for a spontaneous piggyback ride. She’s batted off by Tattletale, who tries to get Skitter into a kissing contest between her and Grue. Her attempts are interrupted by Imp who plants one on Skitter and activates her power before Grue can wallop her with a plate of sushi. Instead, he hits Regent, whose power backfires and causes Tattletale to start disco dancing.
Above the chaos is Wildbow, taking notes, being held aloft by Scion. The pair share a look, with Scion rolling his eyes like “I don’t know what’s up with these wacky people.”
And just then Psycho Gecko leaps out with a “Ta daa!” holding a big banner that says “Happy Birthday Wildbow” until Scion zaps him, leaving only a pile of ash and the Happy Birthday banner behind.
Fap Fap Fap.
Happy birthday Overlord Wildbow! 😀
Happy B-day, mate.
Great Greedy Guts on April 10, 2013 at 18:17 said:
Happy Birthday! Huzzah!
Oh, alright. I’ll say it too.
Happy Birthday, Wildbow, you sadistic little Canuck!
Congratulations! Like a fine wine, you get better as the years go by! And to many, many more!
underwhelmingforce on April 10, 2013 at 21:10 said:
The happiest birthday! I would say to take a day off if I thought I could handle the suspense.
I took today off. Been a busy couple of weeks, with Easter weekend, family coming to visit the weekend immediately after, and my birthday/father’s birthday this week. No bonus chapter tonight. Then I hope to do one bonus chapter a week for the next few weeks to get caught up.
Or, if people want, perhaps regular chapters on an updated schedule, for less in the way of interruptions to the main narrative.
I would prefer the regular chapters on an updated schedule, too many possibilities for where this is going to wait!
Perhaps a mix, alternating between them. Interludes are easier to write than regular chapters. Less attention needed to continuity, in large part.
A mix is good — but so is extra regular chapters. And so is just regular bonus interludes. And so is building up a buffer and having another interludes week. Any of it would be awesome. 😀
Aww… but happy birthday nonetheless! I try not to work on my birthday when I can help it 🙂
Happy Birthday, just started reading Worm this past week, cant wait for the next chapter which would be…Saturday? I dont really know your schedule
@Camo005: Indeed – regular updates are Tuesday and Saturday.
I update one minute after midnight, so it’s essentially Monday/Friday at midnight, EST, sometimes Wednesdays, as time allows (except a minute or two later than that).
happy birthday! enjoy it. I think you’ve worked your ass off enough, you’re making the rest of us look bad!
May you have many more.
Happy birthday! In lieu of a birthday present, I’ll go add Worm to a bunch of trope pages. 😛
(p.s. if anyone wants to help: open the page in one tab/window and the ‘related to’ page in another and look for tropes on the former and not the latter. I’m going to do the A’s tonight.)
This man knows what’s up.
I figure an adult human being should be able to pick up on a hint after having it spelled out explicitly for him the fourth or fifth time in a row. 😀
Well, could probably stand to do away with “Needs More Love” at this point.
@Psycho Gecko: …probably. I imagine at this point it doesn’t need that one extra wick.
Happy birthday, mate.
Yay, Happy birth day!
Happy birthday…oh yeah, it’s Thursday. Well, hope you had a good one. You know, I started reading worm almost immediately after my birthday, funny enough, so this was a wonderful “present”. Can’t thank you enough in a thousand years for this story, so I’ll just say I hope worm and your birthday brought you as much joy as reading this brings me.
Happy Birthday!(sorry if it’s a day late, because of where I am, the time zone difference makes it confusing)
Three Lefts Make a Right on April 11, 2013 at 02:17 said:
It would appear I’m late to the party.
… Ah well, better late than never.
What I want to see is what the group Weld was leading does (I don’t really remember what they were called at the moment.) I’ve been wondering how they’re going to respond to the situation. They are technically heroes, but the PRT has pretty well screwed them over by now, on top of pulling a pretty dirty stunt with Taylor/Skitter’s identity. Honestly, I just think that group provides such an opportunity for drama (the good kind) that they are most definitely going to feature at least occasionally, but I’m not sure where their allegiances lie (also how do they get funding?)
Judging by the (non-canon) interlude a while back, they’re going to be working as superheroes on a mercenary basis. Probably hiring themselves out to local governments.
I expected them to come into conflict with the Undersiders. I wouldn’t begrudge them an attempt to ousted them with some good old fashioned superheroing without the PRT’s dirty tactics. But now trying to take Skitter in would just make it look like they’re cleaning up the hero’s messes for them.
Perhaps the undersiders could hire them.
That… wouldn’t work. It’s a Luke Cage and Iron Fist deal, they’re the good guys except they get paid for it.
It’s probably unfair to call them mercenaries. Because normal heroes get paychecks too, the Irregulars are just freelancing.
Brockton Bay needs good guys, and why should the Undersiders be stuck dealing with everything if they’ve got the money to sponsor a hero team to pick up the slack? It’d be sketchy as hell, sure. It’d also be a hilarious way to thumb their nose at the more reactionary elements of the PRT, though it didn’t look like Weld wanted to go that way.
they could also do it ala coil, and have maybe grue or imp fund them in civies.
Most of the undersiders’ work nowadays is helping rebuild or going after worse villains than they are, which really isn’t villainous at all.
They’re called The Irregulars. They do, in fact, get government resources, presumably out of the PRT/Protectorate/Wards budget.
I have no idea what their plans are at present.
If they’re willing to stomach it, I bet there’s plenty of money to be had plugging holes in cape towns where there’s been a lot of turmoil among the Protectorate or Wards. It’d have a neat sort of vibe to it, too.. “Take your money? Sure. Do your jobs? Sure. Accept you as [i]leaders[/i]? Just… no.”
I must have missed that, Packbat. Where did it say they were getting government resources? I thought they’d struck out totally on their own.
Interlude 19 (Donation Bonus #2).
► Weld (Verified Cape) (Irregulars)
Replied on July 6th, 2011:
I dunno, I’m optimistic. 😉
For the record, I harbor no animosity toward the Protectorate. We’re still attached, and we’re receiving equipment, funding and contacts through them. They were very respectful as a whole, but we got a chance to interact a few weeks ago, and we collectively agreed that while the Protectorate’s plan to build a rapport between us Case-53s (as the Protectorate terms us) and the public was sound (making me leader of the Brockton Bay Wards, for example), it was too slow, and we could do more as a group.
I suppose he could be lying, but it doesn’t seem in character.
AVR on April 11, 2013 at 23:26 said:
How do you do quotes/formatting in these comments, BTW?
@AVR: Some HTML tags are allowed. I believe em, i, b, strong, a href=, and
all work — I don’t recall trying any others.
wildbow:
> Also del, ins, ul, ol, li, code, lookup.
What’s “lookup”? del, ins,
ul & li
ol & li
and code are all familiar, but “lookup” I haven’t heard of.
@ Packbat – realized after the fact that it was a built-in way to search a dictionary of what the individual tags meant. (Posted my comment, then went to edit it to see menu where the buttons with individual features were listed, tried each, realized it wasn’t that useful, removed).
Weird. I clearly misremembered that part. I got something different out of it. (Of course, there’s so much to absorb in that interlude, it shouldn’t surprise me.)
It`s implicit in the “internet forum” of a few chapters ago. Weld does not say the truth about why he left and states that they are getting funds.
Oh, damnation… I just HAD to look up what “imago” meant. Did not need to see that wikipedia page at all…
What?! What do you mean? That has to be one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen!!!!
I think it looked pretty awesome. Those wings looked awesome. and green.
*reads this* Well dang, now I /have/ to see what their talking about.
*one wikipedia viewing later*
… Y’know, you could’ve mentioned the picture moved.
Pictures don’t move, its a .gif of timelapsed images.
It could still have been mentioned, is all I’m saying.
Thank you to Max for the donation.
Thanks Max!
Last night I realized something based on the following facts:
* Alexandria and by extension the PRT work for cauldron
* Cauldron’s plans were improved by coil taking over Brockton Bay
* Cauldron seems to be fine with skitter and the undersiders running/ruling the bay
* Accord is working directly for cauldron
* The new PRT director who apparently doesn’t have much common sense
Clearly cauldron wants capes in positions of power, see: alexandria’s positions, the triumverat, coil’s ambitions, and now they are pinning their plans on the udersiders who are trying to rule over a city.
Now lets look at their actions recently: they install an incompetent director in the very city where the undersiders have both begun becoming popular and have taken down 2 previous directors. If anything this move will likely lead to the PRT branch becoming ineffectual and allow the undersiders to increase their hold over the city. However cauldron isn’t relinquishing influence on the city because they have accord and his flunkies (of whom he is getting even more recruits).
Accord is definitely planning on dispatching the undersiders at some point in the future, judging by his conversation with citrine and othello last chapter. Once he’s done that, he and by extension cauldron will have control over brockton bay, moreso than they had as the PRT. They will also have control over the portal.
Now we have to ask what does cauldron gain by creating and experimenting on capes, and how does gaining control over cities help whatever cause they have?
Well for starters, they are creating an army of capes indebted to them (many who are charismatic and powerful), and are developing stronger powered capes each time.
They are likely constantly learning more and more about how powers work and what causes them, and probably know much more than bonesaw and tattletale combined (well, not if they were really combined, but both of their current knowledge about powers combined). If I recall correctly, we’ve seen a trigger event from a vial, and the ‘passengers’ do NOT like being forced onto a person.
They already have the power to cross realities relatively freely, and it is assumed the ‘passengers’ come from one of these realities (or possibly in the space between them). With the brockton bay portal, they eventually will have another way to cross realities (though I doubt they would have known about this beforehand).
It has been speculated that endbringers are essentially these passengers in crystalline form, and we’ve seen the damage one of these monstrosities can do. Now I havent verified this, but I would assume that because natural triggers produce more villains, and cauldron is actively making capes, that naturally in any fight against an endbringer, said endbringer brings down more cauldron capes than natural capes. Its not that big of a leap to imagine cauldron accidentally made the endbringers when they were first working out the powers in a bottle, especially because the endbringers and powers seem to be linked, as evidenced by the fact that neither have been seen in other realities despite the potential. I would hazard a guess that cauldron is planning on attacking/defending against/harnessing the main power that gives powers to capes, and their activities at the moment are geared around consolidating power in this reality and gaining more powered troops to rely on when said event happens in ~2 years.
But thats just what I thought everything pointed to, I could be completely wrong.
Wow, this is actually kinda brilliant. If Wildbow has something else in store for us, I would be surprised if it deviated largely from the main points you outlined. Well said.
I honestly hope I’m wrong on multiple accounts because this story is too damn good for me to accidentally spoil. I will admit there are a lot of plot holes in going this route, but I was trying to tie in everything I know of the story so far, general tropes for a story of this caliber, and we clearly still dont have the whole script. This is just one of the ways I think it could go down.
Also, see every curveball wildbow’s thrown at us with this story, even with several commentators who clearly enjoy cape literature and tropes (see skitter NOT being arrested by D&D last chapter), I’m fairly certain most of what I wrote is wrong but I will be happy to argue semantics and theories till saturday.
This is why I tossed Wildbow a email with potential spoilers before putting it up here to make sure it’s okay. 😛
hm, thats actually a good idea, but seeing as none of us have any idea besides wildbow, I think I’d rather discuss possible ideas than have them be confirmed/denied by wildbow directly.
I don’t think anything here is necessarily spoiler-ish mainly because I am basing everything off of what I remember from everything that has been posted before. If I had direct confirmation from wildbow, that WOULD be spoilers because I could be confident that it will happen later in the story.
For the record, I won’t/can’t say anything particular in relation to emails like that. As Clarvel states, it spoils, and I’m not willing/wanting to spoil anything prior to it happening in-story.
Two exceptions, really. I have an online buddy, a fellow writer, who I’ve outlined the main story arc to (insofar as I had anything sketched out), but he doesn’t read Worm (that may be a bad sign). I also have one buddy who I explained the Guts & Glory storyline to, up to her being possibly incarcerated. He does/did read Worm, but rarely comments.
As such, the emails don’t really do anything. I appreciate the sentiment, but there’s no point where I can say, “That’s not ok,” without revealing that there’s something that’s problematic/spoilery in the content of the email.
As far as I’m concerned, speculate away. If you guess right, then that’s ok. I’ll cope.
It’s well thought out but I don’t think it’s entirely correct in Cauldron’s goals. I think that Cauldron is wanting to create a situation where people are being lead/ruled by an individual with powers and the people accept it. So what they want is an example of a prosperous place being lead by a parahuman who is popular with said heroes.
*said civilians in that place. Not heroes.
Right, but once you have a model city like that, its not a stretch to see other capes following said model, as thats what models are for. This would then lead to multiple cities with capes in charge, and ties back into what I was talking about.
I only disagree on one thing, Cauldron doesn’t have to force out the Undersiders and take over directly. It’s in their interests to farm local management out to locals who give a damn and who have the legitimacy to keep things running in good order. Why should Cauldron do the legwork of running the world, it’s enough to have the power and influence to see their policies implemented.
I’ve been thinking on this thing with Skitter’s civilian identity revealed and it’s not the worst that could happen.
She’s not internationally known in all likelihood and the PRT is mainly based in America, Canada and soon Mexico. So that means she can pull the same move a lot of successful criminals do and move to the Bahamas whenever she feels done with Brockton Bay. Or if she feels like moving closer to home just skip through the portal into the unpopulated dimension on the other side.
Also, if the PRT is right about her being a Thinker on top of being a Master that means she has the power to screw over precogs. No wonder she beat Dinah’s odds. If her thinking power is subsidized by her swarms then the bigger her swarm the higher her Thinker score goes and so far we haven’t seen an upper limit to her swarm control. I mean this is pure speculation but if true she could screw over the Simurgh too. This gives her an edge against Accord as well of course.
As for where things are going now, I felt kind of disconnected from Taylor this chapter, but on rereading a few times she seems kind of disconnected from herself, so that’s ok. I am kind of worried about what she’s going to do about the PRT, the other two threats the Teeth and the Fallen are basically just the same old threats, but with the PRT she runs a serious risk of crossing too many lines. I think she’ll be okay if she sticks to her usual M.O. and continues trying to provide for Brockton Bay and build up public support though. She’s definitely a villain, but the city has had worse villains.
If you think Skitter is scary in Brockton Bay, put her in a rainforest.
Vanishing and moving wouldn’t get her relationship with her Dad back. Also, as Skitter in Brockton Bay she has a reputation, good friends and allies, minions, a share in a portal to another universe … it’d be a lot to give up and recreate elsewhere.
She just needs to get Tagg replaced somehow then work out a truce with the PRT. And survive or stop the end of the world of course.
Alvan K. Fleming on April 12, 2013 at 19:31 said:
Only thing I don’t like about this story besides the folks from Cauldron, is the fact that now I have caught up to your postings and have to wait for the next chapter. Thank you for sharing so freely your imaginations with me.
Glad you’ve enjoyed, Alvan.
Welcome to the Wormling fold Alvan. 🙂
Hey Wildbow, do you have anything in particular planned for the second anniversary of Worm?
Good question. Nothing in particular, but depending on how fast the next few arcs progress, there’s one possibility. I don’t want to force it, though. I’d rather get things right in the meantime than rush/prolong the story to time it properly.
Mmkay, sounds great. Also, completely unrelated, but how likely is it that we’ll get a Nilbog POV interlude?
Not very? The one where he was introduced was almost his interlude, despite not being shown from his perspective. No ideas spring to mind with that fellow.
Okay, thanks for the responses. Had plenty of questions, but restricted them to the ones that were least likely to be spoilerish.
No need to step on eggshells around me. If I can’t answer one way or the other, I’ll let you know.
1) It’s mentioned that Weld has properties which renders quite a few powers ineffective against him, does this qualify as a Trump ability?
2) Is a Circus Interlude in the cards?
3) Regarding Jack Slash’s ability, does it seriously /only/ apply to knife edges? Because it seems like a spatial warping function that could have way more applications than he uses it for. Or, alternatively, has he decided to not explore any other possibilities with it?
4) When did the first iteration of the S9 form? Who led them?
5) Did Noelle experience what was called a “Deviation scenario” as was mentioned in 11:7?
6) Is it possible we’ll see Earth Aleph through Genesis’ or Sundancer’s eyes? Since Ballistic already had an Interlude, if I’m not mistaken.
7) Does Scrub have some kind of mental deficiency related to his powers? He seems…off.
8) Is a POV of a Guild member likely?
9) Are there any internationally known capes of the beneficent variety, besides Scion, that aren’t affiliated with a group?
Sorry for the list, I still tried to trim the fat, so to speak.
1) No
2) Possible.
3) Not just knife edges, but by and large, it’s edged weapons only. He finds knives are easier/faster to handle.
4) The first iteration formed twenty years ago. They were a very different group, led by King (mistakenly called Rex in a previous chapter). Jack was a junior member, as was Gray Boy.
5) Yes and no. Deviation scenarios include Weld and Gully.
6) Prrrobably not. I won’t rule anything out, and I can envision one scenario, but it probably wouldn’t be what you’re picturing, and only then if it was specifically asked for.
7) Yes and no. His deficiency isn’t directly due to powers.
8) Possible, but no big ideas in mind.
9) Not really, unless you count, say, a European cape in a geographical region with lots of individual, smaller countries as being ‘internationally known’. It’s a result of the Endbringers, related but not directly linked to the Protectorate. It’s not feasible/economical/efficient to contact a bunch of big-name solo operatives in a time of crisis and arrange to bring them to a specific location, so they either band together/gather others under them and fall in line with the basic preparations that have been set in place, or they fall by the wayside.
4) Would this history be unveiled in story?
9) This actually makes a lot of sense, I’m surprised I didn’t think of it beforehand.
-Would Faultline’s power work on an Endbringer?
-Do you have backstories for all of the characters, named and otherwise?
-Do you have a favorite?
-If she tried, could Bitch use her powers on other creatures besides canines?
-Is there a list somewhere (mental or otherwise) on the particular mindstates that each of the Undersiders were in when they triggered?
-Also, the temp. power increases; is every parahuman privy to them?
Also, thank you very much for humoring me. I really appreciate it.
4) Possibly, probably not.
9) That’s why I’m the writer. 😉
– No. Many though.
– Yes.
– As it stands, no.
– Yes. In my head.
– Yes and no.
Belated typo:
With no “said” after the quote, should probably be a period after “war” and “his” capitalized.
Intelligent Fool on July 18, 2013 at 20:41 said:
Just recently found PH/Worm, and started reading from about the point when s9 happened (I was bored when I tried reading from the start). Nothing has made me feel compelled to comment as much as Tagg. I hate him. Hate. He’s everything wrong with any of the “heroes” in the universe bundled into one: Corrupt, Absolutist, Self-Righteous, Uncooperative, Aggressive, Ruthless. He fits more with the s9 than a PRT position. His mindset doesn’t need any tweaking – he just needs a reason to want the world to end rather than for it be ruled by the PRT.
I suspect an “or” is missing somewhere.
Reread and realized that there’s no error. Probably.
And Taylor continues down the slippery slope.
Once you start attacking people to make a point you’re past the point of no return.
Just realized what’s been bugging me for a while when I read the scene with Dovetail: Taylor’s bug have an arbitrary flying speed. Few insects can even outrun a person, let alone a flying cape.
I note the PRT still holds the idiot ball with regards to not using sealed suits.
Just spent a couple of hours playing through a scenario where a young Sakura (from a Naruto fanfic, used chakra strings through ninja wire a lot) gets transported here and joins the Wards. Was fun imagining the Undersiders getting their just desserts from an opponent that’s an excellent counter to them. 😀
Thinking of Taylor’s required secondary powers:
Arbitrary amounts of insects in whatever ratios are desired.
Insects with arbitrary flying speed.
Stills the wind nearby.
More silk than possible (I recall her making a rope the width of her arm once on the fly, tens of millions of entire spider’s silk stock worth) faster than possible.
Causes every opponent nearby to become retroactively stupid and incompetent (that was an incredibly shoddy defence by the heroes, no containment foam on the dogs? insect swarms just allowed into the building without being hit by cans worth of bug spray, foam or powers?). Poor Dragon. 😦
She didn’t start the story with these (compared her earlier battles to this most recent one) but seems to have picked them up over time. It’s a real shame, this was a good story until the Sueishness started ramping up. Might continue on reading for a few chapters to see if anything changes.
Tagg feels like an unrealistic, brainless caricature.
Probably my least favourite chapter so far (read up to 21-2).
Yes, Tagg. I’m sure your PRT can take down the Undersiders with their new member(or members, depending on when you count from) and their alliance with another powerful supervillain group. Why don’t we chat with Lung, or Armsmaster, or the entire pre-Leviathan Brockton Bay Wards team, or half the local Protectorate, or Coil, or Jack “Fucking” Slash? Oh, right. Birdcaged, humiliated and then unofficially imprisoned, strongly defeated, embarrassed and defeated, killed, and driven out of town with a fraction of his team remaining and most of the losses taken out in large part by the Undersiders.
I’m sure you can take her, Tagg. Take her down the slippery slope with you. I imagine she’ll be on top by the bottom.
When you edit this stuff, you might want to make sure to cut down on the overuse of the two expressions “make a/the call” and “get one somebody’s case”.
lightdefender on January 17, 2014 at 20:34 said:
Tagg didn’t know Taylor was at a school? When she was (most likely) discovered by the principal pulling up school records?
Um . . . .
Why didn’t Tattletale call him on that BS?
Maybe I’ll find out in the next chapter.
I always thought that the Protectorate went after Taylor at Arcadia because Clockblocker recognized a Skitter lookalike practicing villainy against an apparently innocent bystander named Greg. Now I’m curious about whether they went to Dinah for odds for a plan, or if Dinah saw something she didn’t like and intervened first. Either way, it seems like Dinah’s still on Taylor’s side based on the fact Taylor escaped. To me though, Taylor’s downward spiral towards becoming a ruthless bully isn’t ideal, even if it might be necessary to avert the end of the world(or whatever Dinah, and pertinent Cauldron members might be individually after for them to push this situation into being). There should be other, more morally digestible, methods available to the precogs messing around. And if there aren’t any win-wins, the precogs probably aren’t abusing their powers enough. Tangentially, if power use in tandem produces exponential effects like the hole between Brockton Bay and the virgin Earth, what would happen if precogs cooperated? The pessimist in me says they’ll get into a feedback loop, and I’m starting to remember why a non-linear interpretation of time gives me headaches.
On Taylor, it’s a shame she can’t recognize how mentally broken she is. I hope she finds help for her reflexive outrage whenever she perceives bias and favoritism by authority figures that aren’t herself. Grue’s attempts seem to be desensitizing her to criticism though, and it’s like looking at an inevitable train wreck.
I’ve just realized that “bat for the other team” is an even less precise declaration of orientation than “homosexual” or “heterosexual”. Homosexual and heterosexual define orientation in terms of the subject’s gender (without specifying that gender); this defines it in terms of another person’s orientation, without specifying that orientation or even that person. There are supposedly only two teams, but if you don’t know which team is “this” one, how do you know which is “the other” one?
Anyway. I’m GUESSING that Lisa is saying “none of the girls here are into girls”. Which is disappointing. But then, Lisa isn’t always as right as she thinks she is…
As far as I am concerned,Targ is the worst type of scum.For future reference,this is how I categorise morality,which is based both on the heinouseness of the person and his capability to repent.Notice that batshit amoral insane is not in the list,its hard to judge blue and orange morality,and intentions are categorized,not results,because I do not believe the road to hell is paved with truly good intentions,and because we can talk about optimal decisions for years.I also won’t categorise persons who are arguably (I know you wanna argue,slider) not accountable for their actions,like Bonesaw and Simurgh victims (Anyway,here:
Paragon (person who does what s/he thinks is good,regardless of what society says,but listens to others and try to understand all people,thinks about the consequences and keeps double guessing him/herself,Taylor falls in this category for some reason)>beta paragon (same,but because this is too hard,he has some hard rules he sets that he/she cannot break,which cause him/her to be innefective or stupid sometimes,but he would break them if they became a liability,Dragon is this)>hero (person who goes above and beyond the call of duty to help others,but is not really that invested into it,Clockblocker is this)>nice guy (person who tries to understand others and not antagonize them even if he does not completely agree,but not really determined to do much,I,myself,think I am this,and Parian is too)>principled(person who stucks to some rules he set to him/herself,consequences be damned,pre Bonesaw Panacea was this)unglorifying faux hero (a person who is perfectly aware what he does is not moral,and that s/he might even be biased,but keeps doing it because somebody has to do the dirty work,Piggot is this)uncomited (person who does not really care much,Kid Win and Regent are this)> justified villain (person who is justified in his vilainy but is nevertheless evil and has failed to raise above his/her situation,lashing out instead of becoming a bigger person,pre Taylor Bitch was this)ignoble hero (person who does good deeds for the wrong reason,but holds no illusions about it Armsmaster was this and Accord is this)>noble villain (person who understands he is evil but still has some rules he won’t break,Marquis is this)>unprincipled egotist (person who does not care about the others,only about himself,and the optimal way to please himself.Coil and Crawler were this.Note that more heroic egotists are uncommited or ignoble heroes,so this is the worst kind)>sadist (person who goes out of his/her way to torture or cause suffering to others regardless of reason,though the most common is reafirming his ego,unfortunately very common,Emma and Shadowstalker were this)>entropic (“some persons just want to watch the world burn”,not very realistic,so unlikely to evoke deep hatred,but still eviler than everyone behind him,Jack Slash is this)>fanatic (person who does what s/he thinks is good,regardless of what society says,and regardless of logic,rules,other people opinions,consequences etc,Targ is this.They tend to have a mentality of “we are right,they are wrong,”for arbitary reasons,such as their races or religions,and allow themselves to do evil things because when they do it,they are good,because they are against villains).
You might have understood why I am so baffled at people calling Taylor evil,but even if you didn’t,lets see the points about her so caled “evil actions”and counter them. Inheritance is not really an issue here,for the Undersiders,laws and democracy were established not because they are some kind of “abstract good”,but because no ruler/oligarchy can be assured to be moral,a problem not held with Taylor,thus setting a benevolent dictatorship under not inheritance extreme conditions is here moral.Her so called “torture”is more merciful than the criminal justice system,as it destroys not the criminals function in society,and even after the guy does evil it is only applied when he does not heed her warnings.Triumpth is on Trickster’s head,her actions were panicked and necessary,and no real harm was done.She is,instead,judged by people who do not show her any good alternatives (sure,they give her bad ones,like surrendering to an obviously corrupt government,or saving Triumpth and then being shot in the back,letting Dinah suffer for the lest of her life and provoking the Undersiders into a raprage that would likely kill the mayor,vourtesy of Bitch).Her only actions that were not morally optimal,but still not evil,were joining the Undersiders (downright stupid,sealed her fate in a few choices,but she was not yet experienced to make solid strategical judgement),the bank (again,stupid,she was not her current self),the crashing of the party (notice a pattern?she seems to become smarter only after her fight with Leviathan)and this very chapter (still,her anger was understandable,9/10ths of the commenters wanted to do worse things to Emma,and nobody was really hurt,and it was not morally optimal only because she did it partway for revenge,she still had to do it,not taking revenge from them after her unmasking would undermine her image,thus creating danger for her people.I bet that,in her place,none of the commentors would be as merciful to Targ.)
The eagle eyed might have noticed that the first sentence of the paragon and the fanatic is the same.This is intentional:imo the only difference between the best of heroes and the worst of villains is that the world of the worst of villains is one to fit their arbitary image,while the best of heroes have enough introspection to not be really arbitary in their perfect world,even though it would be by no means flawless either,or even truly better for people…A fanatic would feel glee in the headmasters punishment of her tormentor,Emma because she was evil,while the fanatic was good(though even a hero of my classifications could feel glee about this,to be fair),a paragon would only feel he sits in the different side of the same corrupt system,and would only feel a hollow guilt.Heck,many people would justify Triumpth with “I did what I had to do”,and they would be right,only a paragon or a beta paragon would feel guilt under the same circumstances.
Emil W. on April 14, 2015 at 23:34 said:
I guess we’re due for a bullheaded, straightforward antagonist, but I can’t help but wonder what Tagg thinks he’s going to possibly accomplish. If he’s going to put the Undersiders in jail no matter what, they’re not going to have any other choice but to deal with him in a permanent fashion. Maybe, let’s say, incarcerate him. (With Regent, a three hour sentence is going to last the rest of his life.)
It’s just a question of how hard he has to push before they stop being polite. Walking right into his office and covering him and the missus in a carpet of spiders without leaving a mark should illustrate that point perfectly to any reasonable person. You’re going to need to work with them like you would, for example, Saudi Arabia; a state you might not particularly like but which nonetheless wields military and economic power enough that making peace with them means everyone wins.
Pretty rash of Skitter to attack out of anger. Understandable, but still brash. She shouldn’t have done that, she’s really walking into the path of villainy to the point of no forgiveness. A better retaliation would have been to reveal that Thomas Calvert was actually coil. PRT image would’ve gotten hurt further, and the whole “identity for an identity” unofficial rule would’ve been upheld. Taylor used to have a deadman’s chest on his information, she could’ve easily revealed it without much contradiction.
I’m also wondering if Tagg will do something unforgivable just to give Taylor “a bloody nose”. I haven’t read ahead, but I could imagine that Tagg might decide to give Emma powers just to piss off Skitter.
Paladin on April 17, 2016 at 22:37 said:
Nah… I agree with her. They had to hit back or look bad. Difference being, since Tagg decided to treat it as a war, and wouldn’t back down, I’d have killed him.
Skitter has more patience and good will than even a Paladin proved.
I think you used ‘he’ instead of ‘she’ to refer to Dovetail: “As with Dovetail, I’d managed to make enough progress that he was more or less out of the fight.” I might have misinterpreted.
irrevenant on December 1, 2015 at 17:06 said:
No, it’s right as is. It’s saying: “As with Dovetail, I’d managed to make enough progress that he (Sere) was more or less out of the fight.”
Ah, I see. Thanks.
The character of Tagg doesn’t fit right for a military man. They are way more experienced at dealing with shades of gray than we civilians are. The “us against them” thing is more of a Hollywood construction.
That’s probably less true of Worm Earth. It’s a crapsack world that doesn’t seem to bring out the best in anyone. After decades of dealing with things like the S9, Nilbog and the Endbringers I’m guessing there’s been a big increase both in the army’s willingness to shoot first and ask questions later and in the public’s willingness to support that…
Mirrorscissors on October 23, 2016 at 23:40 said:
Oh, man. This arc is starting off exciting! If it is anything like Chrysalis, I might not be able to pace myself from reading this story so voraciously. As exciting as it may be, I do hope the relationship between Taylor and Rachel is fleshed out some more. The last memorable interaction between them was when Taylor made Rachel a costume. The story is nearing the end, so I fear their friendship won’t develop any more. I hope I’m wrong.
Anyway, I’ve been really enjoying Worm. It’s inspired me to think about writing my own web serial one day. The only problem with that is the writing part. I’m not really confident in my ability to put pen to paper, or finger to key. Maybe I’ll get over it, who knows?
«Dovetail flew after Atlas and I» “after me*” m object of the preposition.
Daryl Katana Algarra on July 12, 2017 at 04:50 said:
any chance for my Rachel x Taylor Ship just got smashed to shit by a god damn Endbringer.
World Weaver on January 2, 2018 at 09:37 said:
Maybe the little demonstration I’d done with Tagg’s wife hadn’t been for him.
OI FUCKING IDIOT! THAT’S ONLY GOING TO CONVICT (I can’t spell when i’m angry) THE PRT TO DROP FUCKING NUKES ON YOUR STUPID FUCKING ASS.
Who the fuck are Haven?
And I really would wish that she just kills them all to make a point and not goes so weakly. He obviously doesn´t understand anything.
Max Leviton on June 22, 2019 at 22:20 said:
Damn I forgot just how much I utterly despise Tagg. The man is almost as bad as Emma. It’s like he wakes up in the morning and goes “How can I possibly makes things even worse today? Great, let’s go do that! No, wait, let’s do WORSE! Yeah, excellent plan, go me.” And then he pats himself on the back for casually threatening to essentially pyschologically torture teenagers and their families despite those people doing a lot to help the city. I miss the creepy, possibly child molesting, sadistic Calvert…
” I could pull your dad in for questioning every time you pull something, for example. You or your team do anything that gets an iota of attention, I drag the man into the building, and grill him for a few hours at a time.”
two weeks later:
“Breaking news–a PRT team attempting to arrest the father of notorious supervillain Skitter was attacked by her and her comrades. Three officers were captured; no ransom demands have been made public.
“According to the sole officer to escape, Skitter said that if the PRT wanted to play dirty, she would play them right back. Allegedly, the officer also claimed the whole situation was ‘expletive ridiculous’.”
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Posts Tagged ‘TNF Thrill of the Trail
Committing Suislide! (EAT Danao)
Categories: Miscellaneous and Travel
Tags: Adventure, Bohol, Camping, Caving, Danao, EAT Danao, Eco Adventure Tour, Educational Adventure Tour, Extreme Adventure Tour, Kayaking, Miscellaneous, Plunge, Rappelling, Root Climbing, Skyride, Suislide, Tent Rental, TNF Thrill of the Trail, Tour, Travel, Wall Climbing
All good things eventually comes to an end, and before finally concluding my Bohol trip a visit to the island’s new adventure playground was in place. Where else but in EAT Danao?
One of the views you’d see before committing Suislide 🙂
TNF Thrill of the Trail 2010 Updates
Categories: Race, Running and Trails
Tags: Nuvali, The North Face, TNF, TNF Thrill of the Trail, Trail Run
Thrill of the Trail is The North Face’s trail running series event and now it comes much closer to the Metro by being staged in Nuvali, Sta. Rosa, Laguna. This year it would be held on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2010 and as such a new category, Couple’s Run has been introduced. Here are further details:
22K, 11K*: P450
11K Couple’s Run* (Not exclusive to couples, teams of same gender allowed): P700 (for 2 persons)
* All open categories (no age groups)
Registration at TNF (Shangri-La Mall, SM Megamall, Glorietta 4, SM North Edsa Annex, SM Mall of Asia), ROX, and ResToeRun (Gateway Mall, Trinoma, Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Ermita) until January 28, 2010. There will be no on-site registration.
Race kits can be claimed on February 1–13, 2010 at respective points of registration which includes a bib number, singlet, race map and other detailed information.
22K runners can park near the Montecito gate (22K start line) and will be ferried back via bus after they finish at Evoliving while 11K runners can park in designated areas within the base camp.
Limited number of bus seats courtesy of Nuvali will be available from ROX and Balibago Terminal during the event date. Detailed schedule shall be announced in a few days.
El Cielito Inn will be offering 20% discount on published rates. Other hotel partners will be announced as soon as arrangements have been finalized.
There will be a race briefing on Thursday, February 11, 2010, 7:30PM at ROX
There will be river crossings but there would be facilities to wash-up or take showers afterwards
To have some ideas on what you might expect, read my chronicles of last year’s event here (pre-race and race start) and here (race and post-race). You may send your inquiries to inquiry@thrillofthetrail.ph. For more details visit http://www.thrillofthetrail.ph/.
TNF Thrill of the Trail 2010
From the inbox, courtesy TNF:
Experience a different Valentine’s Day as The North Face brings you to the heart of Nuvali for another leg of the Thrill of the Trail running series on February 14, 2010. 11K, 22K, and an 11K Couple’s Trail Run categories are available to test Your love’s endurance! Register at TNF stores in North EDSA, Megamall, Shangri-la, G4, and SM Mall of Asia, ROX and ResToeRun stores in Metro Manila. See you on the trails and Never Stop Exploring.
Last year’s TNF Thrill of the Trail introduced me to my current favorite running event, trail running and I’m sure many out there can relate. This year, new location, new trails. Here are updates about this race.
runningpinoy’s 2009 Midyear Report
Categories: Firsts, Gears, Long Runs, Marathon, Miscellaneous, Race, Route, Running, Shoes, Trails, Trekking and Ultra Marathon
Tags: All Terrain, Batangas, Batulao, BHS, Bonifacio Global City, Bonifacio High Street, Botak, Botak 100, Calendar, Carbo-Loading Party, Cavite, Clark, CLP, Commonwealth Ave., Condura Run, Cuenca, Earth Run, EDSA, España Ave., Firsts, Freedom Climb, Garmin, Gears, GF 405, Greenfield City Run, Happy Run, IE8 Run, Independence Day, King of the Mountain, KOM, Laguna, Long Runs, Marathon, McKinley Hill, Men's Health, Midyear, Mizuno Infinity Run, Montalban, Mt. Maculot, Nasugbu, NB 811, New Balance, Pico de Loro, PSE Bull Run, Quezon Ave., Races, Report, Route, Roxas Blvd., RunHikers, Running, RunRio, Sacobia, Shoes, Skyway, SM Mall of Asia, Sta. Elena, Sta. Rosa, takbo.ph, The North Face, Timberland, TNF, TNF Thrill of the Trail, TNF100, Trails, Trekking, Ultramarathon
2009 is my first full year of running and with the first half completed its time to have a look back at some of my highlights for the first six months of the year.
The year started with “bi-polar” races: one was well praised and the other went in infamy. Of course I’m referring to TNF Thrill of the Trail in Nasugbu, Batangas and PSE Bull Run in Bonifacio Global City, respectively. While people can’t stop being enthusiastic about their wonderful experience with the trails of Batulao and the race overall (including myself), it was the complete opposite on the other side of the track—I’ve never heard of so much complaints about a race and it probably had the record of the longest queue at the finish.
Thrill of the Trail, Nasugbu, Batangas
The following weekend race was probably redemption for a lot of runners with the Happy Run—another RunRio event that was one of the most organized and fun race of the year thus far.
With some happy runners
It was also during this month that I acquired my Garmin 405—just a day before we were off for Batangas for the TNF Thrill of the Trails where it had an excellent stage for a debut. Also having a debut on this race was my first trail shoes, New Balance 811.
Garmin Forerunner® 405
February was the first month since I started running that I had zero races. This was the first of two months that I was in Ohio, USA and in spite of being race-less I was not run-less: the below freezing temperature wasn’t enough to stop me from running outdoors—an experience that I suggest everyone try at least once in their lives. While I was “chilling” on the other side of the world the race scene in the Philippines ensued the love month. There wasn’t much high-profile races for this month making my craving for races more bearable.
My winter gear: a runner’s beanie, windbreaker with regular white cotton t-shirt, pair of gloves, thermal tights, cushioned socks, and trail running shoes
Before leaving for the US I managed to have my first LSD (Long Slow Distance) run along one of the dreaded routes in the Metro—EDSA, from North Ave. all the way to the SM Mall of Asia grounds.
After finishing my EDSA LSD
By the time race season was starting in the US due to the arrival of spring I was unfortunate enough to be packing my bags for home thereby missing the opportunity to participate in races stateside, but on the bright side I was back for one of the most anticipated races of the year—Condura Run. This race was one of the rare opportunities to run on the SkyWay and was also my first half-marathon and first race medal. Also first for this event was the Carbo-Loading Party of takbo.ph which they say was a first for a half-marathon race.
Running with friends at the SkyWay
This was the month of LSDs for me as there were only a handful of races set. Among these routes were Commonwealth Ave. to Bonifacio High Street via C5; Commonwealth Ave. to SM Mall of Asia via Quezon Ave., España Ave., and Roxas Blvd.; and my first LSD on trails in Montalban.
View from the summit of Montalban
Arguably the highlight race of this month was the Greenfield City Run in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. With its free shuttle service many runners were given chance to run outside Metro Manila and experience the fresh landscape of the rural areas.
Another finisher’s medal courtesy of Greenfield City Run
May boasts the longest and one of the most difficult races in the country, The North Face 100 (or simply TNF100). Many underestimated the trails of Sacobia, Clark before they even embarked on it so it was a shock for many, even seasoned ultramarathoners, on how difficult this race was this year resulting in only a select few proud finishers. This was my first attempt at an ultramarathon and I am very proud to be one of the few finishers of this race. It was also my longest distance-wise at 100K, and time-wise at 30 hours (raw time that includes eating, resting, and some dozing off).
Sunrise during TNF100
May also sparked my return to trekking with our initial climb to the summit of Mt. Maculot in Cuenca, Batangas. This became a “team-building” activity for me and my takbo.ph friends and because we had taken an unexpectedly difficult trail it also served as my training for TNF100 that followed two weeks after.
Having breakfast on the summit of Mt. Maculot
The month was ended by a rivalry of two high-profile races: The Earth Run at McKinley Hill and Microsoft’s IE8 Run at Bonifacio Global City. It was a difficult time for runners on which “side” to choose but in the end The Earth Run came out with being more competitive and having more attendance.
Medal from the Earth Run
The month kicked off with another high-profile and highly anticipated race, the Mizuno Infinity Run. Coming from a popular footwear brand, this race has a good set of followers which were not disappointed with the race outcome as it became the first race to have a “Time Challenge.” This year’s participants had their finish time recorded for next year’s race where they can challenge their previous record for a chance of a prize.
Kicking off June with Mizuno Infinity Run
The second week of June was the Independence Week with the 12th of the month being the Independence Day of the Philippines. For a change I left my running shoes home and put on my trail running shoes for the first Freedom Climb—40 summits nationwide simultaneously having flag raising ceremonies to commemorate the occasion. It was the first official climb of our takbo.ph offshoot group, the RunHikers as a group, in Pico de Loro, Cavite.
On our way to Pico de Loro during Freedom Climb
If May brags of an ultra-trail race, June is not far with an ultra and trails. More like a month-wide split of the TNF100, June had an ultramarathon road race: Botak 100, and two trail run (and bike) races: King of the Mountain (KOM) in Timberland and Men’s Health All Terrain in Sta. Elena, Laguna.
Sunrise over Sta. Elena, Laguna during Men’s Health All Terrain
The All Terrain race was a good race overall especially for introducing trail runs for beginners. The race was well-organized flawed only by the fact that the trails were a little dull. This was salvation for Men’s Health reputation from their abysmal past races.
Finally to close the first half of the year was Botak 100—the first ultramarathon road race in Mega Manila. Despite Botak’s attempt to salvage their reputation from the last race that plagued them, it was “A” (H1N1) viral issue that hampers their efforts. That issue led them to postpone the side events of this race to the dismay of some runners (myself included). Fortunately enough the ultramarathon road race pulled their reputation forward that Botak could be proud to say that they “pulled it off.” Surely there were still a lot of shortcomings but as an “active spectator” all these issues were negligible. Welcome back, Botak!
Pacer at Botak 100 (courtesy Marvin)
Truly it was a roller-coaster ride for the first half—events fell on either side of the poles. From the best to the worst these races and other side events really made the first half of 2009 quite remarkable. Now that the second half is about to begin, will it be able to outshine the half that was? Or will the race organizers sit on their laurels and stop innovation? I guess we’ll all find out soon enough.
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Taming Texas in a Chevy Camaro
I had stopped for gas in the middle of nowhere – which is just about any place in the arid, dusty, 150-mile stretch of the west Texas Panhandle between Lubbock and the New Mexico border where the monotonous view of scrub brush is only interrupted by slowly cranking oil wells. I did not plan on staying long.
This is a region noted for being inhospitable to strangers in general and Blacks in particular, and where the top elected officials publicly warn residents to be prepared to fight off United Nations troops sent in by President Obama to usher in a socialist takeover of America. Nature doesn’t help, either. While there are plenty of shaded, roadside “picnic areas” where a tired motorist can catch a nap, many of these have skull and crossbones signs warning of fatally toxic sulfur fumes from leaking gas lines. Which means your nap may be your last, so it’s best to keep moving.
So it was disconcerting to come out of the station’s mini mart and see the parking spot next to my car occupied by a heavy duty pickup truck with a rifle and a shotgun on the gun rack across the rear window. Three men in weathered, Stetson hats who were standing, arms folded, next to the driver’s door stopped talking as I approached. Then, one stepped towards me and said, “Man, that’s a really sweet car! Can we see it?”
How could I resist?
They ran their hands along the smooth lines of the fire engine red, 2013 Chevy Camaro SS convertible, and positively gushed as they looked under the hood at the 6.2-liter, aluminum V-8 engine capable of cranking out 427 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. What they really liked was the fact that the Camaro, on its 20-inch, painted aluminum wheels, could dash from 0 – 60 miles per hour in just 4.7 seconds, pass the quarter mile mark in 12.9 seconds with the speedometer at 113, and top out at 155 MPH. And that is just your average, $45,000 Camaro.
Chevy has a heftier model, the 580 horsepower Camaro ZL-1 which goes from 0 – 60 in 3.9 seconds (an area normally reserved for Corvette and Porsche), hits the quarter mile in 12.3 seconds and tops out at 188 miles per hour. And in Texas, one could actually get a chance to try that and worry more about hitting an armadillo than drawing the attention of the State Police.
With the push of a button I put down the canvas top and the trio, hats included, sat in the car and passed me their cell phones to take pictures. Then they wished me God speed. That is not an idle wish in west Texas, where the 75 mile an hour speed limit is considered a recommended floor rather than a legal ceiling.
The audience nodded appreciatively as the Camaro started with a loud rumble and a steady vibration as the V-8 engine rhythmically rocked the car. When parked, the sports coup most resembles an angry cat and, once started, it seems anxious to leap.
A hologram of the speedometer appeared as if by magic, seemingly hovering over the hood between the bulging air scoop and the left wheel. The floating, Heads Up display would make it unnecessary to take my eyes off the wide Texas roadway to monitor my speed or change the music.
With a wave, I floored the accelerator and the cowboys quickly disappeared in the rear view mirror. A nice feature of west Texas highways is that they are wide, flat, and the curves are steeply banked. I leveled off when the hologram showed the speed at 140, and the sound of the wind was drowned out by Usher belting “Yeah!” from the nine, large, 245-watt speakers. The 20-inch wheels ate up the hardtop, and the automatic stability controls kept the Camaro level on the wide, banked highway curves.
The newest version of the Camaro, with an updated interior and electronics, is a clear descendant of the 1960s version of the Pony Car General Motors created to compete with the Ford Mustang. It has the same wide stance and curved silhouette that captured attention in that tumultuous era. That is not surprising since Ed Welburn, GM’s vice president and design chief, still drives his ’69 yellow Camaro with the twin black racing stripes on the hood. If the new Camaro is a bit wider than the original, well, so are today’s drivers.
Inside, there is an emphasis on comfort. The seats are double-stitched, two-toned leather, and are wide, thickly padded, and soft. The front seats can be heated, a feature appreciated by younger drivers in cold climates and older drivers most of the time. The rear seats are more for show than use, though there is leg room if everyone in the car is well under six feet. Passengers taller than that will have serious leg cramps. The rear seats do fold flat, however, which enlarges the ample trunk space.
The décor in the Camaro is sport plastic – the molding on the dash and doors matches the exterior of the car and the seats. In this case, the trim was red and the black seats matched the black stripe on the hood.
For entertainment, the Camaro is aimed at a younger generation. The designers apparently feel CDs and DVDs are yesterday’s technology, as there is no place to use them. If, however you have a movie on your iPod, smartphone, or USB flash drive, then plug it in and watch it on the seven-inch color screen. Or, you can switch between HD, satellite radio, and the other technologies.
The new Camaro is a mix of the old and new. In the ‘60s I was interested in speed, and any amenities besides an AM radio were a bonus I could take or leave. A half century later I still want speed – but want to be comfortable, prefer a navigation system so I don’t get lost, and like the thought of traction control and air bags when the speedometer is in triple digits.
What is consistent about the Camaro is it’s a head turner to look at, and a pleasant way to fly on the open road.
EPA Mileage: 15 MPG City 24 MPG Highway
As Tested Mileage: 16.8 MPG Highway
Performance / Safety:
0 – 60 MPH 4.7 Seconds
¼ Mile: 12.9 Seconds at 113 MPH
6.2-Liter, cast aluminum engine producing 426 horsepower and 420 pound/feet of torque; 6-speed automatic transmission; double ball-joint, multi-link strut front suspension; 4.5-link independent rear suspension; 4-wheel disc, Bembro performance brakes with ventilated rotors and anti-lock brake system; 20-inch painted aluminum wheels; Halogen head lamps; fog lights; traction and stability controls; front, side, and head curtain airbags.
Interior / Comfort:
AM/FM/XM satellite radio; 245-watt, Boston Acoustics premium sound system with 9 speakers; iPod, USB and MP3 connections; Bluetooth phone and audio; 7-inch color information screen; backup camera; tilt & telescoping, leather wrapped steering wheel with fingertip cruise, audio and Bluetooth controls; leather, powered and heated front seats; Heads Up display; folding rear seats.
Posted in 2013 Reviews, Camaro, Chevrolet, General Motors, GM, GM Executives, Muscle Cars | Tagged 2013 Camaro, 2013 Car Reviews, Chevrolet, Ed Wellburn, GM, Muscle Cars, sports cars | Leave a Comment »
Battle of the Asian Bantams: Hyundai Veloster and Nissan Juke
Let’s say you’re a car manufacturer looking to carve a niche from the crowded market for 20-somethings.
There are, of course, a host of well-made compact and sub-compact sedans and hatchbacks for under $25,000. But you don’t want to produce just another pretty metal face in a big motorized crowd. So you get a bit more selective and tell the folks with the crayons to draw something that would appeal to young men on the go, guys who want something different and fast, but still economical and suited for urban areas.
Nissan came out the box with a powerful little compact SUV called the Juke, which has the character of a Bantam rooster, but the critics at Car and Driver thought it most resembled an alligator emerging from the water. It wasn’t long before Hyundai answered with something equally formidable and reptilian, a compact SUV intended to evoke images of the fierce, prehistoric Velociraptor, and named, appropriately, Veloster.
Oh No They Didn’t!
There was nothing subtle about Nissan’s launch of the Juke. A fire engine red compact with an angry face roared through streets and drifted arrogantly in and around cars in a parking lot while the announcer said, smugly: “That’s right. We put a turbo in a four cylinder compact.” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RdALFkwvHg )
And in a car that small, a turbo makes quite an impact. The Juke is an arrogant, independent, smugly stylish little car that draws attention whether it’s parked or zipping past all the big cars on the road. Its looks are not traditional, which accounts for the alligator label, though a bullfrog in a hurry is probably more apt. The front is wide and high, and the car slopes and thins towards the rear. The bulging headlights fit right in with the amphibian motif. But this is not a sluggish, ungainly, wobbling little critter.
But the Jukes are definitely eye catching, whether parked or on the highway. So just what do they offer for $27,000?
Under that wide, bulging front hood is a four-cylinder, inter-cooled turbocharged aluminum engine producing 188 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. For comparison purposes, the turbo charged engine of the Mini Cooper S cranks out 181 horsepower. The Juke’s turbocharger lets the small car take off from 0 – 60 miles per hour in 7.3 seconds, and tops out at 137 miles per hour. Those aren’t serious racing speeds, and the Juke won’t catch a Mini Cooper, which is nearly as small. But the Mini Cooper, a smaller cousin of BMW, costs thousands of dollars more and has a bigger engine. The Juke’s turbo power plant will let the relatively light car run rings around most of the small roadsters and pretty much every compact on the road.
It has front wheel drive and a manual transmission which slides easily between its six gears. On the road, it actually handles more like a go-kart version of its heavier, more expensive, IPL sport sedan.
For those who prefer cars which are, essentially, leather seats on top of an engine, Nissan has a racing version of this sport compact called the Juke-R. In this case, the alligator dumps the turbocharged engine in favor of a 545 horsepower motor which toe company says has a designed top speed of 160 miles per hour ( http://bit.ly/QB0KWT ) though it has been clocked at over 200 MPH.
Inside, there are strengths and weaknesses to the Juke. That amphibian look, with a broad front and a sharply sloping roofline means that there is a loss of space in the rear passenger area. The seats can fold flat in a 60/40 split to provide ample space for luggage for a week-long getaway for two. But putting four adults in the car would be rough on the rear two. One doesn’t feel claustrophobic in the Juke – that wide windshield and long, powered sunroof provide the illusion of more space than the car actually has.
Nissan didn’t scrimp on comfort, however. There is ample use of leather, from the adjustable steering wheel to the thickly padded doors and arm rests to the heated but manually operated seats. On the entertainment side, the Juke has a Rockford Fosgate sound system with an eight-inch sub-woofer and six speakers – more than enough to deafen anyone in the car. The Juke offers satellite radio, as well as iPod, MP 3 and USB connections, Bluetooth and a CD player. There is an easy to use navigation system, though the five-inch color screen is a bit small.
But screen size is a minor item for a car that is pretty unique except for its lone competitor, another bantam-weight from Asia.
A Little Korean Dinosaur
There is no love lost between the Koreans and Japanese. So it was not surprising that a year after the introduction of the Juke, Hyundai responded at the same $27,000 price with a compact speedster whose name, Veloster, evokes another reptile. But instead of a toothy amphibian, the muse for Hyundai’s designers was the meat eating, Velociraptor, which was known for running down its red-blooded prey.
And to live up to its billing, the Koreans gave the Veloster a turbocharged engine cranking out 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. That is just 13 horsepower more than the Juke’s power plant, but at 2,800 pounds, the Veloster is 300 pounds lighter than its Japanese competition. Between the two, the Veloster is faster on the takeoff, but its top speed is 130 miles per hour. As a result the Juke, which tops out at 137, will eventually dust it.
Outside, the Veloster looks every bit as aggressive as its designers intended. There is a wide, black grill which pretty much consumes the face. It has a high front tapering towards the rear, a design cue that is reminiscent of the Kia Soul, but much meaner. The design has something of the stealth fighter mode with sharp and exaggerated angles rather than soft, wavy lines like those found on the popular Hyundai Sonata. The company will not use big-bellied, hip-hop hamsters to advertise the Veloster.
This speedster is essentially a hatchback, with a double sunroof leading right into the glass rear and effectively presenting an all glass ceiling. The expanse of glass on the sides of the car is not symmetrical. The driver’s side door is longer, and has a longer window than the opposite passenger door. But the second row window behind the driver is a small, immobile triangle while the rear window on the passenger side is larger and actually opens.
On the comfort side, the Veloster offers a 450-watt, Dimension Premium audio with 8 speakers to make it easy to become deaf. It also has iPod, USB and MP 3 ports, a CD player and Bluetooth for the phone or audio. It has a seven-inch color screen, however, for its navigation system and backup camera, and augments the standard 12-volt power outlet for cell phone chargers with a 115-volt, three-pronged outlet to plug in computers or game consoles.
Hyundai also has Blue Link, which is Hyundai’s version of General Motors’ successful OnStar satellite communications system. At the push of the Blue Link button located on the rear view mirror, a live person will answer who can provide directions or contact road aid or emergency assistance. Like OnStar, if the Veloster is in an accident and the airbags deploy, Blue Link will automatically locate the car and notify the nearest emergency services.
For parents, Blue Link also offers something called “Geo Fence.” If your child is out with the car and it goes past pre-set boundaries the car will call home and tell you. The Fence works for wives, too.
The Veloster and Juke make for an interesting pair of compact sport competitors. A decade ago, the Mini Cooper burst on the scene as a co-star in the action movie “The Italian Job.” It has had the compact turbo niche pretty much to itself since then and hasn’t really changed.
The Veloster and Juke will give the Mini Cooper and all the other little speedsters – and each other – quite a spirited run.
2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo
1.6-Liter, 4-cylinder, DOHC, twinscroll turbocharger, aluminum engine producing 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque; 6-speed manual transmission; independent MacPherson strut front suspension; V-torsion beam rear suspension; 18-inch alloy wheels; 11.8-inch ventilated front disc brakes; 10.3-inch solid rear disc brakes; power rack and pinion steering; electronic stability and traction control; projection headlights; fog lights; backup warning signal and rear view camera; front, side impact, and side curtain airbags.
AM/FM/Sirius satellite radio; Bluetooth; iPod, MP3, and USB ports; Hyundai BlueLink; 450-watt, Dimension Premium audio with 8 speakers; 7-inch touch screen; navigation system; leather wrapped, tilt & telescope steering wheel with fingertip cruise, audio, and phone controls; leather, power operated seats; heated front seats; 12-volt and 115-volt power outlets; panoramic sunroof; 60/40 fold flat rear seats.
As Tested Mileage: 36 MPG Highway
1.6-Liter, 4-cylinder, direct injection, DOHC, intercooled turbocharged aluminum engine producing 188 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque; 6-speed manual transmission; all wheel drive; 11.7-inch, vented disc front brakes; 11.5-inch solid disc rear brakes; independent strut front suspension; rear multi-link stabilizer bar suspension; traction and stability control; speed sensitive power steering; 17-inch gunmetal wheels; automatic Halogen headlights; fog lights; front seat mounted side-impact air bags; roof-mounted curtain airbags.
AM/FM/XM satellite radio; Bluetooth; CD player; MP3, iPod, and USB ports; Rockford Fosgate sound system with 8-inch subwoofer; navigation system with 5-inch color touch screen; backup camera; leather wrapped, tilt & telescoping steering wheel with fingertip audio, cruise, and Bluetooth; powered sunroof; 12-volt power outlet; leather, manually operated seats; heated front seats; 60/40 fold flat rear seats.
Posted in 2012 Reviews, 2013 Reviews, Auto Industry, Hyundai, Nissan, Nissan Juke | Tagged 2012 Car Reviews, 2013 Car Reviews, cars, compact sedans, Hyundai Veloster, Nissan Juke, sports cars, turbocharged compacts | 2 Comments »
The Corvette: Speed, Grace, and Rolling Nostalgia
I pushed the starter button and the car shook as a roar emerged from underneath the chassis and burst in a series of rapid fire explosions out the rear, as if a string of heavy duty firecrackers were celebrating behind me.
And that was when the Corvette was sitting still.
Clearly this was a sports car better suited to the driving bass-line of Eminem’s Lose Yourself than any dulcet jazz solos from Keiko Matsui or ‘Trane. I unlatched the roof and put it on the designated tracks in the long, shallow trunk. Then slid a USB drive into the designated slot under the armrest and lined up a few hundred favorites to blare from the nine Bose speakers. I drove slowly to the entrance of an isolated stretch of Connecticut interstate highway, where it stretches for about two miles through the marsh grass flanking the Long Island Sound, and waited till the roadway was empty.
And then, I popped the clutch and floored it.
The rumble under the car turned into a roar as the Corvette shot down the highway, going through the six gears in a matter of seconds till I held the speedometer level at 140. I did not have to take my eyes off the road: the Vette has a hologram of the speedometer and key gauges – including the entertainment system – floating over the left side of the hood between the 18-inch left wheel and the center air scoop. It was hard to hear what Eminem was rapping over the throbbing of the engine and the roar of the wind – but the driving bass line was audible enough and seemed to mesh with the pounding of the 436-horsepower V-8.
The Corvette rides low to the ground, and the adjacent scenery was little more than a blur as I approached a long curve. I dropped down to 105 and sailed through the middle of the curve and then accelerated back up to 140 as I hit the straightaway. At that point, the highway was leaving the coast and it was time to slow back to the speed limit. There isn’t a lot of room on the crowded roads of the nation’s northeast to really appreciate what a sports car like this can do. You need a lot of space and a relatively straight road to enjoy a sports car roaring at nearly 190 miles per hour on the highway instead of splattered all over it.
But for a few minutes, and two miles of sunbaked, Connecticut highway, there was a glimpse of the joy of the wide open, western highways and the feel of a legendary machine.
This is the 60th anniversary of the introduction of the Chevrolet Corvette ( http://bcove.me/4ybhxikj ), the star of multiple series of hot rod adventure books of the ‘50s and ‘60s. Corvette, the first of a storied group of American muscle cars, first hit the roads in 1953. And while the 2013 Corvette has little in common with the original – except for a long, low silhouette and a reputation for speed – at 60 years of age it is the oldest Chevrolet nameplate on a passenger car. The title of the oldest Chevy nameplate still in use is the 77-year-old, truck-based, Chevy Suburban, which was introduced in 1936 and is still rumbling along.
The deliberate effort to bring back the feel – and sound – of the Corvette of the ‘50s partially explains the rapid-fire explosion of sound accompanying acceleration and deceleration in the current edition.
According to Chevrolet spokesman Monte Duran, the 2013 Corvette has a “dual mode exhaust” – two sets of twin chrome tailpipes. “The interior pipes,” explained Duran “have butterfly valves. Those are closed at most speeds, and when you are cruising it sends the exhaust through the mufflers.
“But when you stand on the accelerator, at full throttle, the Corvette has an algorithm that you are driving in a more spirited fashion, and it opens the valves. The exhaust them bypasses the mufflers and it is a straight pipe going out the back. When those valves are open you could run a golf ball straight down into the catalytic converter. We did that for people who want the noise and crackle and pop of the after-market exhaust. So it is to give you the best of both worlds.”
In addition, while the Corvette has the same basic engine as the Camaro SS, Duran added that “the Corvette is a drop-top with less sound-proof shielding. So you get more engine noise coming through the roof. That’s where the extra sound is.”
The noise actually takes some getting used to. You can listen to a soft flute solo at 100 miles per hour in a little Ford Fiesta or a sporty Camaro and appreciate the quality of sound-proofing in modern American-made cars. With the Corvette, however, you can take soft jazz and all classical music pretty much off your playlist unless, of course, you use headphones.
But one doesn’t buy a Corvette for the pretty music.
This is a speed machine, the sixth edition of a classic breed designed to get you to your destination comfortably and fast. In that regard, it is successful. The test car, the Grand Sport Coupe, has a fiberglass hard top which you can manually unlock and then store on clips set into the flat trunk area. That pretty much limits cargo to items which are small and relatively flat, such as a computer carrier or luggage bag. With the hard top on the trunk area – a wide, flat expanse about a foot deep – is large enough to carry a couple of suitcases, though you’d have to have Federal Express deliver any athletic gear to your vacation destination.
The 6.2-liter power plant in the Grand Sport zips from 0 – 60 miles per hour in 3.9 seconds, passes a quarter mile in 12.9 seconds at 13 miles per hour, and tops out at 188 MPH. If that isn’t enough, there is the Corvette ZR-1 with a 6.2-liter supercharged engine producing 638 horsepower and topping out at 205 MPH – a speed at which the State Police simply photograph the passing license plate and mail a license suspension notice to your home. Or the 505-horsepower Corvette Z-06, which chugs along at just 198 miles per hour.
Inside, the Corvette is intended to provide the comforts one would expect from a car with a price tag north of $70,000. There is an easy to use navigation system controlled by voice, fingertip controls on the leather steering wheel, or the eight-inch, color touch screen. The deep, leather seats have power adjustments and lumbar controls, and can be heated. The entertainment system has satellite radio as well as iPod and USB connections, a CD player and Bluetooth phone and audio. Sound pours through nine Bose speakers strong enough to carry a heavy beat even with the roof off. And, as with all GM cars, the Corvette has OnStar, which has its own satellite phone and turn-by-turn navigation system.
The 2013 family of Corvettes are the last of this edition, which first rolled out of the Bowling Green, Ky plant a decade ago. GM’s design chief, Ed Welburn, is not talking about the parameters for the next generation. The only hint that something very different is coming in 2014 is the announcement that the plant, which receives more than 50,000 visitors annually, is ending all tours September 14 until further notice. That is to prevent anyone from getting clues from the retooling which will commence shortly thereafter.
But that’s for the future. For now, the 2013 ‘Vette shows a lot of life for a senior citizen.
Grand Sport Coupe
0-60 3.9 Seconds
1/4 mile 12.3 Seconds at 117 MPH
6.2-Liter, cast aluminum, V-8 engine producing 436 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of torque; 6-speed manual transmission; power Rack & Pinion steering; double wishbone front and rear suspension; 18-inch diameter, 9.5-inch wide, painted aluminum front wheels; 19-inch diameter, 1-foot wide, painted aluminum rear wheels; traction control, 4-wheel antilock brake system; run-flat tires; fog lamps, Xenon, high density headlights; heads-up holographic display; front and side impact airbags.
AM/FM/XM satellite radio; CD player; iPod and USB ports; Bluetooth phone and audio; OnStar; tilt and telescope, leather wrapped steering wheel with fingertip audio and adaptive cruise controls; power adjusted, heated, leather bucket seats; Bose sound system with 9 speakers; navigation system with 8-inch touch screen; removable roof;
Posted in 2013 Reviews, Chevrolet, Muscle Cars, night vision, Uncategorized | Tagged 2013 Car Reviews, Chevrolet Corvette, Muscle Cars, sports cars | 2 Comments »
The Toyota Camry: Still the one to Beat
The Toyota executive was beaming.
He stood in the cavernous entrance hall at the New York Mets’ Citifield last August, in front of a glistening, redesigned, stylish Camry, the flagship of the company’s fleet and the nation’s best-selling mid-sized sedan. It had been a rough two years for Toyota and its personnel: lurid stories of runaway cars and stuck accelerators had eroded confidence in the company’s quality controls and the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami had caused thousands of deaths and seriously eroded the company’s manufacturing pipeline. Both events contributed to Toyota losing its hard fought status as the world’s biggest car company to a resurgent General Motors.
But the unveiling of the 2012 Camry was supposed to change that, to herald the start of a new, resurgent time for the Japanese car maker. With a flourish, the cover was whisked off the prototype model to appreciative nods from the automotive press.
And then, the Earth moved. Literally. And the walls shook. And the floor moved. And a panicky voice on the loudspeaker shouted: “This is an earthquake. Evacuate the building immediately!”
Toyota’s pre-launch media hoopla may have been lost in the aftermath of the major east coast earthquake which caused minor damage to buildings and major worries about the safety of American nuclear power plants. It was not the most auspicious introduction to the car that Toyota hoped would restore its luster as the one to beat in a field with strong competition from a resurgent Detroit and an upstart Korea. But as the car made its way to showrooms this year, it has proved to be as special as the company hoped it would.
“Toyota has done extraordinarily well,” said Alec Gutierrez, manager of vehicle valuation for Kelly Blue Book. “For the first seven months of this year compact car sales were flat compared to last year with an increase of just 1.4%. But mid-sized cars accounted for 18.6% market share in June, a 44% increase year over year. The surge in mid-sized car sales can largely be attributed to the strength of the redesigned Toyota Camry, which posted more than 32,000 sales in June alone.
“The mid-sized segment traditionally has been dominated by Camry and the Honda Accord. When they are redesigned there are so many people out there who will only buy from Toyota or Honda. The Camry until now was conservative in terms of styling. For 2012, they didn’t stray too far in terms of design, but it was upgraded in terms of fuel economy and is competitive with compact cars. They didn’t increase the price much and there is the Toyota brand loyalty. Anyone considering a mid-sized car is going to consider Camry. It’s the long standing reputation they built in terms of Camry’s reliability and long term desirability that keeps it in the top position.”
According to a national survey by KBB, the 10 best-selling mid-sized cars from January through July of this year are:
Camry – Sales 243,800. Up 40% over 2011
Honda accord – 183,800. Up 18%
Nissan Altima, 183,700. Up 20%
Ford Fusion – 160,200. Up 6%
Chevy Malibu – 153,800. Up 8%
Hondai Sonata – 138,400. Up 2%
Kia Optima – 86,500. Up 99%
Chrysler 200 – 78,400. Up 105%
VW Passat – 64,100. Was not available
Subaru Outback – 63,300. Up 6%
Gutierrez added that “Toyota has played a large role in the nation’s auto market in general, and account for 18.5% of all car sales this year, compared to only 16% last year.” The company is still in third place, however, behind General Motors and Ford, who’s revamped Fusion may threaten Nissan and Honda for the Number 2 spot on the mid-sized list.
But for the foreseeable future, the Toyota Camry is still the one to beat.
To start understanding the allure of the 2012 Camry, take a look at the outside styling. It is still a family sedan, but now has an aggressive-looking, low-scooped, front grill similar to that of its sporty, costlier Lexis IS 350. It is a distinct departure from the sedate, conservative appearance of previous generations of Camry, with a face that is more grimace than smile.
At a glance of its side profile, the Camry’s styling is not as eye-popping as that of the drawn-in-America Hyundai Sonata. But Toyota has definitely dropped the laid-back look and opted for a more flowing, artistic design which draws the eye approvingly from that charging face, over the wide wheel rims to a flare at the rear. It is not a car that is sitting on its laurels.
Under the hood, the Camry has a 3.5-liter, V-6 engine producing 268 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque, which is more than enough to let the Camry run with the best of the highway pack. The engine drinks regular unleaded gasoline, but is thirstier than one might expect from a Toyota. The Camry’s EPA rating is just 21 miles per gallon in city driving and 30 MPG on the highway. And if you opt for the less expensive, 178-horsepower, four-cylinder engine the Camry has an EPA rating of 25 miles per gallon in city driving and 35 MPG on the highway – which is about what you would get from a compact car like the Honda Civic.
If one is really looking to cut down on trips to the gas station, Camry has a hybrid edition carrying an EPA rating of 40 miles per gallon in the stop and go city traffic, and 38 MPG on the highway. The Camry hybrid has a 2.5-liter gasoline engine producing just 156 horsepower and 156 pound-feet of torque. But it is mated to a 105 kilowatt electric engine that gives the Hybrid power plant a combined rating of 200 horsepower. The electric motor’s 199 pound-feet of torque added to that of the gas engine makes the Hybrid significantly more responsive and quick – in taking off or passing – than the standard Camry with the big gas engine.
There are, of course, tradeoffs when one buys a hybrid. The combined power plant adds about $2,000 or more to the price of the car, which can be partially offset by cutting back on the options. In addition, the hybrid’s regenerative braking system uses the heat generated by the brake pads to make more electricity. As a result, Toyota Hybrid owners avoid having a large brake repair job five or six years down the road. So it may be more productive to consider a full hybrid system such as this one as a performance enhancement with a higher upfront cost but reduced carrying costs and less stress on the average budget.
Aside from the gas mileage the differences between the standard and the hybrid models are slight. The rear seats in the standard Camry can fold down, thus enlarging an already ample storage area. In the hybrid version, that middle area between the rear seat and the trunk, however, is occupied by the battery, so the trunk is a bit smaller and the seats do not fold down.
Inside, the Camry offers the type of real wood trim on the doors, center console and dash that is usually reserved for more upscale, full sized sedans. The seats are leather, power adjusted and can be heated in the regular Camry. And though one may opt for cloth covered seats in the hybrid for economic reasons, these, too, can be heated, which is a boon in cold weather climes or if you’re just plain tired.
For entertainment, the Camrys are now part of the Toyota/Lexus Entune system, which lets you set up your musical tastes and folders on your computer at home and these are instantly available in the vehicle. They come with AM/FM and Sirius satellite HD radio for standard enjoyment over 10 JBL speakers. In addition, there is Bluetooth connectivity both for phone use and playing music. The system also has connections for iPods, MP3 players and USB drives. There is also a CD changer.
The system can be controlled via fingertip controls on the leather steering wheel or through the seven-inch, color, touch screen, which also provides navigation and a crystal clear backup camera.
The fully loaded Camry will tap your wallet for $32,500, which is packing an awful lot into a well-designed package. It is not surprising that the Camry still sets the standard for all the rest.
Posted in 2012 Reviews, Auto Industry, Hyundai, Hyundai, Kelly Blue Book, Kia, mid-sized cars, Nissan, Optima, Subaru, Toyota | Tagged Alec Gutierrez, Chevy Malibu, Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Kelly Blue Book, Kia Optima, Nissan Altima, Subaru Outback, Toyota, Toyota Camry, Volkswagen Passat | 1 Comment »
2012 Explorer: Another Big SUV from Ford
The storm had been building up all day, the dark, angry clouds piling up on each other, crowding out the sky as if waiting to see which member of the celestial gang would attack first. In the end, the signal was given by the rising north wind, which launched one fierce gust after another, making the traffic on the west-bound interstate a white-knuckle game of trying to drive in a straight line while being shoved from the side.
Into this game came the rain, slashing, pouring, and quickly filling the roadway and the small, meandering streams nearby. Depressions in the road were quickly filled, forcing the drivers of small cars and low sports cars to pause as water reached their doors and they wondered if they could roll through the fast-moving puddles.
But none of that really mattered since we were in a Ford Explorer which seems to have borrowed some tips from Land Rover and treats water, mud, gravel and dry pavement as pretty much the same surface. We rolled through nearly a foot of water in a low area and, at one point, drove around a stuck car by rolling over the curb and through a mud puddle that had been a grassy glade. The large SUV was too heavy to really care about the sideways pushes from the wind, and since the Explorer no longer had its traditionally ugly box shape the car was aerodynamic enough to deflect much of the force of the wind over and around the vehicle.
So we passed the potato chips, had Outlaw Country on the Sirius radio booming from the dozen Sony speakers, and sang along with Robbie Fulks and his scatological Nashville tribute “F… This Town!” All things considered, it was a great road trip.
The guys at Ford Motor Company are allergic to minivans and their designers just won’t draw them. So the company has three versions of stretch SUVs with three rows of seats and a smorgasbord of capabilities and amenities. For those seeking to maintain a bit of status while hauling a carload of kids, there is the MKT from Ford’s Lincoln line ( http://bit.ly/MEbjWC ). If you don’t care about status but like being a bit different, Ford offers the Flex, ( http://bit.ly/NrKYtr ) a sort of grown up version of the wooden trucks little boys play with. And now, for those who want a large SUV but would prefer if it had a bit of style and could do more than just be really big, Ford has redesigned its old workhorse, the Explorer.
Like all of the stretch SUVs, the Explorer can haul seven passengers because it puts a third row of seats in what is normally the trunk. In the Explorer, the rear seats have a certain amount of versatility. The third row has a 60/40 split, and can be operated independently. They can either fold flat or, at the push of a button, disappear into a bin in the floor. That arrangement leaves you with an SUV which comfortably seats five and has enough storage space for a week’s worth of luggage for everyone.
But if you need all of the seats, it is easy to get into the Explorer’s third row. At a flick of a lever, each of the second row seats will fold up and away, allowing access without having to go through a lot of awkward climbing. The problem, however, is that once you are in the last row you are pretty much stuck there. There is not enough leg room for an adult and kids can’t get out unless they wait till the second row is empty and folded out of the way, or they climb over the rear. In an emergency, either would be difficult. And if the passengers in the second row decide to take a nap and recline their seats, the passengers in the back will really become claustrophobic. The folks in the second row, on the other hand, heave it easy. There is enough head, hip and leg room for a pair of 400-pound pro linebackers or three, relatively normal, 6-footers to relax on a cross country road trip.
But the lack of space in the third row, and its impact on the cargo area are common complaints with the stretch SUVs and the price paid for not being a minivan.
On the positive side, Ford packed a lot into the Explorer for $46,000.
Beginning with its design, the new Explorer seems to have borrowed ideas from Ford’s former relationship with Jaguar/Land Rover. The Explorer no longer looks like a big box. The hood is longer and flatter, a trick from Land Rover which doesn’t make the SUV svelte, but tricks the eye into focusing on the long lean look, rather than its bulging middle. It looks thinner than it is.
As a practical matter, that long wheelbase increases the stability of the Explorer, which handles more like its smaller cousin, the Ford Escape, than like the truck that it really is. Powering the Explorer is a 290 horsepower V-6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. That makes it both fast and nimble on the road.
Off-road, Ford has borrowed additional ideas from Land Rover. In the center of the console is a circular control with pictures of different road conditions: normal, hill climb, downhill assist, sand, and snow. As the pictures imply, the Explorer’s gear settings change to meet the road needs. The downhill assist is interesting in that it is meant to prevent the car from slipping backwards on a steep slope, or when towing a heavy load on a hill.
Unlike the Land Rover or Ford’s heavy duty F-150 truck, however, the Explorer is not really designed for really rugged terrain. It does not have a skid pan protecting its undercarriage and, therefor, it cannot, for example, really handle a rock crawl though the transmission is able to split the torque from the front to the rear or from one side to another so the SUV can continue driving even if one wheel is off the ground. And while it can ford running streams, the design is about eight inches — though the doors are sealed tightly enough for deeper streams.
The Explorer also has a few of Ford’s latest safety options which can come in handy on long trips or in really bad weather. Their land changing system monitors the dotted road lines from a camera embedded in the windshield and alerts the driver if you are veering into another lane. This is useful in a heavy rain storm – particularly at night – when the lanes can be difficult to see. Further, if there is a continued pattern of wandering into adjacent lines, the leather steering wheel vibrates and a little coffee mug on the dash lights up with a note saying it’s time to get some rest.
There are also lights embedded into the rear view mirrors which alert the driver to cars in either side blind spot. While the sight lines on the Explorer are good, a vehicle of this size is going to have spots that are difficult to monitor and the blind spot notice should be considered a necessity rather than an optional add on.
Ford gave some thought to the Explorer’s interior – a reasonable thing to do since that’s where the people are. To begin with, it’s quiet. The sound proofing is such that not only will it shut out the winds at high speed so you can enjoy a quiet, flute solo from Harold Johnson Sextet’s Moses, it will also block the sound of a riding mower when you’re parked near a garden and just enjoying the view. Ford hasn’t always had that level of quality, but the same sound proofing can now be found in the compact Ford Fiesta at the other end of its product line.
The seats in the Explorer are soft, padded leather, and those in front are powered and can be heated. The door arm rests and dash are padded faux leather with wood accents which give the area a living room feel. There are bottle or large cup holders in the door which can actually hold an 18-ounce water bottle, and the second row has both a regular power outlet for phones and a 110-volt outlet with a standard plug. If your phone is a mobile hotspot, passengers can plug in a computer and turn the Explorer into a fast moving office.
On the dash, the eight-inch, touch activated, information screen is really easy to use and is divided essentially into four quadrants: Bluetooth, navigation, climate, and audio. Each sector can be activated with a light touch or voice command from Ford’s SYNC system.
If you need to haul both a lot of people and a lot of their stuff, there’s nothing like a minivan. But if a stretch SUV fits your needs, the Explorer may give its Detroit siblings, and the Audi Q-7 and Infiniti JX and run for the money.
Towing Capacity 5,000 Pounds
3.5-Liter aluminum DOHC engine producing 290 horsepower and 255 pound-feet of torque; 6-speed automatic transmission; 4-wheel disc brakes; all wheel drive; MacPherson strut independent front suspension; SR1 independent multilink rear suspension; rack and pinion steering; traction and stability control; fog lights and high density headlamps; 20-inch, polished aluminum wheels; heated side mirrors; blind spot and lane change monitoring; reverse sensing and rear view camera; dual front stage and side impact airbags.
AM/FM/Sirius satellite radio; 390-watt Sony audio with 12 speakers; Bluetooth; CD and MP3 player; USB and iPod ports; tilt & telescoping, leather wrapped steering wheel with fingertip audio and cruise controls; leather seats; powered, heated front seats; fold flat rear seats with push-button stowing for 3rd row; 8-inch color information screen.
Posted in 2012 Reviews, Ford | Tagged 2012 Car Reviews, 7-Passenger SUVs, cars, Ford, Ford Explorer, ford motor company, Off Road Vehicles | Leave a Comment »
2013 Ford Flex: The Big Boys’ Toy Bus
Let’s say you need a vehicle with room for seven passengers and space for a lot of stuff – but you really don’t want to spend several years with a minivan. In the style category, you’re comfortable with an SUV, though you really don’t want to drive what looks and feels like a small truck.
In that case, the guys with the crayons at Ford think they have the wheels for you. It’s called the Flex, and it’s hard to categorize.
It’s 16 feet long and just five feet, eight-inches tall with a coffin-flat roof – giving it a longer, lower silhouette than the seven-passenger, stretch-SUVs it competes with: the Lincoln MKT, Infiniti JX or Audi Q-7.
Nor does it look like an SUV. The guys in Ford’s design playpen never got past the wooden Tinker-toy stage and, as a result, put together a similar set of rectangles on 20-inch wheels with the rounded front and flat sides and roof. The look is distinct and, depending on what toys you had as a kid, can either feel vaguely familiar and comfortable, or just look like a rolling box.
Underneath that broad, flat, front hood Ford offers a choice in power plants. The standard engine and the one provided in the test car, is a 3.5-liter V-6 with twin independent, variable camshaft timing cranking out 287 horsepower and 254 pound-feet of torque. That is adequate once the Flex gets on the road. But it is sluggish and the car struggles to climb steep hills or pass another vehicle in a hurry. If you need power in a hurry, it helps to slip from automatic into manual mode and downshift for extra torque. But the car always feels underpowered, and is in trouble if the Flex is carrying a full passenger load and attempting to tow its designed limit of 4,500 pounds.
The alternative is Ford’s V-6 EcoBoost engine, which provides 365 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque – which is enough juice to allow the Flex to meet its automotive potential. The smaller engine drinks 87 octane fuel and carries an EPA rating of 17 miles per gallon in city driving and 23 miles per gallon on the highway. The EcoBoost on the other hand, will only drink the costlier premium brew.
Perhaps because of its low stance and all wheel drive, the Flex drives like a long sedan instead of a small bus. At speeds pushing triple digits – which you shouldn’t try except with a Jeep SRT8, Cadillac SRX, or Porsche Cayenne – one never feels as if you are trapped in a runaway train on really old tracks.
Riding in the flex is like traveling in a small living room, and the extended length of these stretch SUVs adds to the initial feeling of spaciousness. For those in the first two rows, travel is a continuous comfort, with enough leg and headroom for four pro football players and a normal-sized friend. The seats are wide enough for 300 pounders and thickly padded. The front seats can also be heated and are power operated. The second row seats are not adjustable, though the backs of these seats can recline enough for a comfortable nap. To reach the rear seats requires one to manually fold the second row out of the way – and once someone is in the third row they are stuck there. The seats are comfortable, but there is little leg room and best used for kids or small adults who are not claustrophobic.
Ford packed in more amenities than you might expect from a $41,000 SUV. On the safety side, the Flex uses side-mounted radar to alert the driver to vehicles in either blind spot by blinking a lite in the relevant side view mirror. In manual mode, the gear shift in the center console does not move. Instead, one pushes an up or down button on the side of the gear shift. It works quickly and effortlessly, though it takes some time to get used to shifting gears in that manner.
It has the SYNC voice activated central command system to run its extensive entertainment network. SYNC takes some getting used to: the commands are not necessarily intuitive and it takes time to either memorize the appropriate commands and derivations or luck into them. For those who can’t seem to work with the computerized SYNC robot, there is also an eight-inch color touch-screen and fingertip controls on the leather steering wheel which work quite nicely.
For sound, there is an in-dash CD player, as well as connections for MP3, iPods, and USB drives, and satellite radio.
The 2013 Flex will stand out from the stretch SUV pack because, well, it doesn’t look like an SUV. Whether it’s perceived as a hearse and ignored, or viewed as a neat, grown-up, toy for boys will be a matter of taste. It will, however, make its mark in the competition for seven-passenger, non-minivan vehicles.
As Tested Mileage: 22 MPG Mixed
Towing Capacity: 4,471 Pounds
3.5-Liter, aluminum, V-6 engine producing 287 horsepower and 254 pound-feet of torque; front wheel drive; 6-speed automatic transmission; MacPherson strut front suspension; Multilink, independent rear suspension; power rack & pinion steering; traction and stability control; 20-inch machined aluminum wheels; adaptive cruise control; fog lights; Halogen headlamps; dual stage front airbags; seat-mounted, side impact bags.
AM/FM/Sirius satellite radio; Bluetooth; SYNC voice activation system; CD player; USB, iPod, and MP3 ports; tilt and telescoping leather steering wheel with fingertip audio and cruise controls; Sony sound system with 10 speakers; leather seats; powered, heated front seats; fold flat 2nd and 3rd row seats.
Posted in 2013 Ford Flex, 2013 Reviews, Ford | Tagged 2013 Car Reviews, 7-Passenger SUVs, cars, Ford Flex | Leave a Comment »
Getting an Edge from Ford
I was putting groceries into the back of the SUV when I noticed the teenager loading groceries behind another SUV parked two spots away staring at me. She said something and her mother poked her head around the rear of their car, smiled broadly, and gave her daughter a high five.
I thought it odd, shrugged it off, and got into the driver’s seat. That’s when the mother sauntered over, looked into the passenger side window and said “we’ve got an Edge, too!”
The influence of Derek Jeter, captain of the New York Yankees, and the tag line to the Ford Edge commercials he stars in ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qpem4xp9upQ ) is, apparently, more ubiquitous in the New York metropolitan area than the car itself. I did notice, however, that the Edge she and her daughter were shopping in was red, not white and black Yankee pinstripe.
But catchy ad lines aside, the Edge is a mid sized, well stocked SUV that’s easy to look at and easy to like. Stylistically, it’s hard to characterize. The front is short and stubby, with a wide-mouthed grill that seems to be smiling and blunts the more common long, flowing silhouette usually seen on popular SUVs from the Nissan Murano to the upscale Lexus RX or Porsche Cayenne. The effect, though, is an SUV that fits comfortably with modern styles without copying or looking boxy.
Behind that chrome grin is a four-cylinder, 2.0-liter engine which produces just 240 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. That is more than enough to give pep to this two-ton vehicle – I was half way through a very off-key rendition of an old Temptations hit song before I realized the speedometer had nudged past 90 miles per hour. There had been no engine whine or air noise to provide audible clues that my license was in danger, and its low, wide stance and traction control let it handle winding roads more like a sedan than an SUV. It is also helpful that the four cylinder engine drinks regular unleaded gasoline and carries an EPA estimate of 30 miles per gallon on the highway, and can tow up to1,500 pounds.
For those who need their SUV for heavier duty work, however, there is a 3.7-liter, V-6 option providing 305 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque and a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds. The tradeoff is the bigger engine is thirsty – its mileage rating is 17 MPG in city driving and just 23 MPG on the open road.
Inside, the Edge has the amenities one might expect from a $38,000 vehicle. The décor is a mix of plastic and leather, and the feel is one of unlimited space. The windows are extra large with narrow, unobtrusive, center posts. The Edge did not, however have a sun roof – which would have augmented the open-space feeling.
The leather wrapped steering wheel tilts, telescopes, can be heated, and has fingertip controls for Bluetooth, cruise control, audio, and voice commands. The seats are wide, thickly padded leather and, at the touch of a button, the front seats can be adjusted for comfort and the rear seats can fold flat. The front set can also be heated.
The center console is wide enough for the passengers to share the arm rest, and the cup holders in front can hold a pair of Big Gulps. There is a wide, eight-inch color touch screen and easy to see control surface which is backlit with soft blue lighting. As a result, one doesn’t have to go searching for controls when driving at night. Behind the console is an open-sided storage area which can easily hold a small purse and cell phones, and has a power charging outlet.
Under the arm rest is a foot deep storage bin with a second power outlet, a pair of USB ports for music, a second power outlet, iPod, MP3 and video connections. For entertainment, the Edge also has a CD player, Sirius Satellite radio, or can utilize Bluetooth to play music stored on a smartphone. Whatever medium is used, the music comes through a 390-watt Sony sound system with 12 speakers that are easily capable of enveloping the cabin in your noise of choice or providing amplified boom for the average block party. The system can be activated either manually through the touch screen or console dials, or using the Ford SYNC voice commands. These vocal instructions, however, take some getting used to. The voice system is not necessarily intuitive and the SYNC robot lady is not especially helpful. I never could get her to increase the volume so the Temptations could sing louder than me. It takes time to memorize the command manual which, frankly, shouldn’t be necessary.
The rear section has more than a yard of leg room space, making it a comfortable place for tall passengers to stretch and, when parked, enough floor space for toddlers to play in. The seats are adjustable and can lay back far enough for a comfortable nap. For hauling larger cargo, the seats will conveniently fold flat at the push of a button.
Overall, the Edge is a sound set of wheels, though at that price, it is going to have tough competition from Hyundai and Nissan in particular. Whether Jeter’s acclaim on the baseball field will help in markets throughout the country where the Yankees are unloved competitors remains to be seen.
2.0 – Liter DOHC, 4-cylinder, aluminum block engine producing 240 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque; 6-speed automatic transmission; power rack and pinion steering; MacPherson strut front suspension; Independent rear suspension; power assisted disc brakes; front wheel drive; dual stage front airbags; side impact and safety canopy airbags.
AM/FM/Sirius Satellite Radio; CD and MP3 player; USB and iPod connections; Bluetooth; navigation system with 8-inch touch screen; tilt and telescoping, leather steering wheel with fingertip audio, voice, and cruise controls; SYNC voice command system; powered leather seats; heated front seats and steering wheel; power liftgate; fold flat rear seats.
Posted in 2012 Ford Edge, 2012 Reviews, Auto Industry, Ford | Tagged 2012 Car Reviews, 2012 Ford Edge, 5-Passenger SUV, Ford | Leave a Comment »
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Current Position: Assistant Director of Interreligious and Intercommunity Affairs at the American Jewish Committee- Los Angeles
B.A. 1994-1998 Religious Studies
University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, California
M.T.S 1999-2001 Theological Studies
Harvard University; Cambridge, Massachusetts
Ph.D. 2008 Religious Studies
University of California, Santa Barbara; Santa Barbara, California
Dissertation Topic: “From the Shahs to Los Angeles: Three Generations of Iranian Jewish Women Between Religion and Culture”
Dissertation Committee: Richard Hecht (Chair); Mary Hancock; Roger Friedland
Comprehensive Areas: History of Religions, Jewish Studies, Middle-Eastern Studies, Women’s Studies, Hebrew Language, Persian Language
Scholarships:
Doctoral Scholars Fellowship, University California, Santa Barbara, 2001-2005.
Wolfson Fellowship, Harvard University, 1999-2001.
Language Competencies:
Modern Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew, Classical Persian or Farsi, Native Speaker of Persian.
Sephardic and Mizrahi Jews in America; Guest Editor, Published by the Purdue University Press for the USC Casden Institute for the Study of the Jewish Role in American Life Annual Review, Volume 13, 2016.
From the Shahs to Los Angeles: Three Generations of Iranian Jewish Women between Religion and Culture, SUNY Press, Albany, New York, (November 2012).
Awarded the Gold Medal in the 2013 Independent Publisher Book Awards in the Religion category
Book Review of Christian Encounters with Iran: Engaging Muslim Thinkers After the Revolution in The Journal of the American Academy of Religion (JAAR), September 2013; Volume 81; Issue 3
“Integration or Separation? Iranian Jewish and Muslim Relations in Los Angeles,” in Muslims and Jews in America: Commonalities, Contentions and Complexities, Palgrave Macmillan Publishers, Aaron Hahn Tapper and Reza Aslan (ed), 2011
“Iranian Jewish Women: Domesticating Religion and Appropriating Zoroastrian Religion in Ritual Life” in Nashim: A Journal for Jewish Women’s Studies and Gender Issues, (Fall, Issue #18 2010).
“JAPS: Jewish American Persian Women and their Hybrid Identity in America” in Association of Jewish Studies Perspectives, (Fall, 2010).
Book Review of “Life as a Visitor,” in Jewish Book Council (Summer, 2010)
Academic Presentations:
“Tehrangeles: Capital and Zionism among Iranian Jews,” Ford Foundation Conference on Religious Pluralism in America, UC Santa Barbara, May 2003
“From Babylon to Beverly Hills: A History of Iranian Jews in the Diaspora,” University of Judaism, February 2004
“Jewish Messiahs: False or Fulfilling the Promise?” UC Santa Barbara, March, 2004
“Zionist Beliefs and Capital among Iranian Jews in Los Angeles,” American Academy of Religion, November, 2004
“The Days of Awe: Sephardic Jews and their Celebration of Rosh Hashanah and Yom
Kippur,” Loyola Marymount University, October, 2006
“Capitalism and Faith among Iranian Jews in Los Angeles,” Loyola Marymount University, April, 2008
“Iranian Jewish Women: The Domestication of Religion and Pilgrimage as the Center of Religious Life,” American Academy of Religion’s Western Region (WECSOR) conference, 2008
“Iranian Jewish Women: The Domestication of Religion and the influence of Shi’i Islam and Zoroastrianism on Ritual Piety,” Western Jewish Studies Conference, December, 2008
“Diversity and Variety of Jewish Identities in Los Angeles,” Loyola Marymount University, November 2008
“The History of Iranian Jews in Los Angeles,” American Jewish Committee, October 22, 2009
“Iranian Jews and Their Migration to the United State: Their Religious, Psychological, and Cultural Identity,” Association for Jewish Studies, December 22, 2009
“Integration or Separation? Iranian Jews in Los Angeles,” California State University Long Beach, May 3, 2010
“Iranian Jews in America,” 92nd Y, New York, March 4, 2012
“Jewish Diversity in America,” Jewish Women’s Conference, November 15, 2012
“Iranian Jewish Women and Their Religious Identity in a Pluralistic America,” Center for Jewish Studies, November 29, 2012
“The American Jewish Experience and Iranian Women: How Immigration Has Changed Traditional Practices,” Academic Conference, Fowler Museum at UCLA, Jan 26, 2013
Chair and speaker for the panel on Gender and Judaism: “The Americanization of Iranian Jews: Which Denomination to Chose?” Academic Conference, Association of Jewish Studies, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, April 7, 2013
Administrative Work:
Fall 2015 to Present, Associate Director of Research, Leve Center for Jewish Studies, University of Los Angeles, California
Fall 2012 Assistant Director, Jewish Studies Program, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California
Public Presentations and Curatorial Work:
“A History of Iranian Jews: From 722 BCE to the Diaspora,” Skirball Museum, May, 2004
March 26th, 2012- August 26, 2012 : William H. Hannon Library at Loyola Marymount University
Exhibition Consultant of the Saraval Exhibition
As Interim-Director of the Jewish Studies Program at LMU, I was responsible for the Saraval Exhibition: Hebrew manuscripts from Poland that were confiscated by the Nazis and found in the Czech Republic.
Responsible for producing the facsimiles of the medieval manuscripts
Raised money from institutions to fund the exhibition
Planned the Academic Conference on March 28, 2012 “Myth of Silence: Holocaust Memory in the United States and Poland” featuring scholars Dr. Hasia Diner and Ron Schmidt, S. J
March 12, 2012- March 10, 2013: The Fowler Museum at UCLA
Exhibition Consultant and Community Liaison of Light and Shadows: The Story of Iranian Jews
Collection and Exhibition Research
Writing and Editorial Work
Gallery Teaching
Lead all private tours
Participated in and planned the Academic Conference on Jan. 26, 2013: “From Ancient Persia to Contemporary LA: 2,700 of Iranian Jewish History
Participated in and planned “Next Gen of Persian Jews in Los Angeles” conference on March 7, 2013
Curator of the exhibition on Iranian Jews in Los Angeles
Areas of Teaching and Research:
Jewish Studies and Middle Eastern Studies
Iranian Jewish History: Past and Present (UC Los Angeles: Fall 2013, Spring 2009, Spring 2010)
Introduction to Judaism (CSU Northridge: Fall 2013, CSU Fullerton: Spring 2013; Loyola Marymount University: Fall/ Spring 2008, 2009, 2010)
American Jewish Experience (CSUN: Spring 2013)
History of the Middle East (Santa Monica College: Spring 2013)
History and Development of Jewish Thought: Medieval to Modern Eras (CSU Fullerton: Spring 2013)
Modern Israel (Loyola Marymount University: Fall 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
The Religions of the Near East: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (LMU: Spring 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008; American Jewish University: Spring 2009)
Iranian and Russian Jews in Los Angeles (American Jewish University, Fall 2005)
American Religion
Religions in America (LMU: Fall and Spring of 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009; CSUN: Fall 2009, 2010, 2013; Skirball Museum: 2006, 2008, 2011, 2013)
Religions in the Diaspora: Religious Communities in America (American Jewish University, Spring 2005)
Religious Theory and Studies
Introduction to Religious Studies (CSUN: Fall 2013, Spring 2010, 2009, 2008; SMC: Fall 2013)
Contemporary Religious Thought: Middle Eastern Women’s History and Literature (CSUN: Fall 2013, Spring 2010)
Women and Global Communities (LMU: Fall 2012)
Women and Religion (LMU: Spring 2010, Summer 2011; CSUN: Fall 2010, Summer 2009, Summer 2008)
Travel Grants:
Travel Grant for Loyola Marymount University Italy Mission, 2012
Travel Grant for the Board of Rabbis Leadership Mission to Israel and Palestine, 2010
Travel Grant for India, UC Santa Barbara, 2003.
Travel Grant for Pardes Yeshiva in Jerusalem, Harvard University, 2000.
Research Assistantship:
Graduate Research Assistant, Ford Pluralism Project, UC Santa Barbara, 2001-2003.
Responsible for researching the relationship of the Iranian Jewish community to the civic community in Los Angeles, through research and numerous interviews. I presented my research at the UCSB Pluralism Conference in Spring 2003; the research will be published.
Independent Publisher Book Awards 2013; Gold Medal Winner in Religion for From the Shahs to Los Angeles: Three Generations of Iranian Jewish Women Between Religion and Culture
AAR/WR First Place Student Paper 2008
Executive Board Member of Loyola Marymount University’s Jewish Studies Advisory Board
Executive Board Member of Western Jewish Studies Association
Executive Board Member of the Human Relations Commission for the City of Los Angeles
Advisor for Religious Communities and the Iranian Community; Federal Bureau of Investigation
American Academy of Religion
Association for Jewish Studies
Sarah Abrevaya Stein, Professor, Director
UCLA Alan D. Leve Center for Jewish Studies
Telephone: (310) 825-4153; sstein@history.ucla.edu
Roger Friedland, Professor
Department of Religious Studies, University of California,
Telephone: (805) 893-4552; friedland@soc.ucsb.edu
Rick Talbott; Professor; Department Chair
Department of Religious Studies, California State University, Northridge
18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA 91330-8316
Telephone: (818) 677-3392; rick.talbott@csun.edu
Jeffrey S. Siker; Professor; Department Chair
Department of Theological Studies, Loyola Marymount University, One LMU Drive,
University Hall 3700, Los Angeles, CA 90045
Telephone: (310) 338-7670; jsiker@lmu.edu
Holli Levitsky, Professor, Director
Jewish Studies Program, Loyola Marymount University, One LMU Drive,
Telephone: (310) 338-7664; Holly.Levitsky@lmu.edu
Jody Myers, Professor, Coordinator of Jewish Studies Interdisciplinary Program
Office phone: 818-677-3007; jody.myers@csun.edu
Marla Berns, Director
UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History
308 Charles E. Young Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1549
Tel: (310) 825-4361; berns@arts.ucla.edu
© Copyright - Saba Soomekh Ph.D.
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http://scigraph.springernature.com/pub.10.1038/nri1886
Competence and competition: the challenge of becoming a long-lived plasma cell View Full Text
Andreas Radbruch, Gwendolin Muehlinghaus, Elke O. Luger, Ayako Inamine, Kenneth G. C. Smith, Thomas Dörner, Falk Hiepe
Plasma cells provide humoral immunity. They have traditionally been viewed mainly as short-lived end-stage products of B-cell differentiation that deserve little interest. This view is changing, however, because we now know that plasma cells can survive for long periods in the appropriate survival niches and that they are an independent cellular component of immunological memory. Studies of the biology of plasma cells reveal a mechanism of intriguing simplicity and elegance that focuses memory provided by plasma cells on recently encountered pathogens while minimizing the 'fading' of memory for pathogens encountered in the distant past. This mechanism is based on competition for survival niches between newly generated plasmablasts and older plasma cells. More... »
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1974-06. Number and distribution of lymphocytes in man. A critical analysis in JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE
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Nature Reviews Immunology
MESH: Animals
MESH: Cell Differentiation
MESH: Humans
MESH: Immunologic Memory
MESH: Plasma Cells
German Rheumatism Research Centre
Ex Vivo Human Multiple Myeloma Cancer Niche And Its Use As A Model For Personalized Treatment Of Multiple Myeloma
Mice That Make Heavy Chain Antibodies
Eosinophils As A Therapeutic Target
Detecting Bcl-B Expression In Cancer And Uses Thereof
Methods For Producing Antibodies From Plasma Cells
Soluble “Heavy-Chain Only” Antibodies
Soluble "Heavy-Chain Only" Antibodies
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6, October 2014 | Web
Ros Worthington has turned disadvantage into a formidable force for good.
Author(s): Anna-Christensen
If you wanted to, you could write the life of Ros Worthington as a tragedy, dictated by a string of traumatic events. After all, at age three she was abducted with her brother from their Collie home, under instruction from their paternal grandmother, and wound up in an orphanage. She was placed in foster care, where she was sexually abused regularly between the ages of four and twelve. She suffered from a potentially lethal breast disease. And her second husband, the true love of her life, died by his own hand.
But she’d rather you didn’t tell her story that way. Ros is resolute in her stance that she’s a lucky one. For her, wallowing isn’t an option. “Don’t use that you’ve had a shocking childhood as an excuse because, mate, that doesn’t wash with me,” she says. “There’s always people in the community who are worse off. I am so blessed. I receive karma every day of my life.”
Indeed, the 62-year-old charity powerhouse, Order of Australia medallist and honorary doctorate recipient has made it her life’s mission to transform pain into power – and the face of the WA charity scene along with it.
Her mellifluous speech – her voice could have earned her a living recording children’s audio books – is peppered with colloquialisms and the occasional curse word. “Being authentic is my main priority,” she says. It’s why she’s painstakingly careful about what she puts her name to, each cause on her philanthropic CV hinting at who she is and what she’s endured.
Ros Worthington. Photography by Jody D’Arcy.
It started in 1986, when she established the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Western Australia. By day, she would grant sick children’s wishes, holding in her tears until she got back to her car. At night, she would kiss her sons as she tucked them
into bed, and cry, grateful for her good fortune. “What wish did you grant today?” they would ask.
A battle with chronic breast disease, which started when she was 16 and culminated in a mastectomy at 34, inspired Ros to change philanthropic gears. She formed a specialised mastectomy boutique in 1976 while living in New Zealand with her young family, where she would spend hours talking to women as she fit their prosthetics, learning their stories. She started to notice a trend – women who had “fallen through the gaps” of the government system and were struggling financially.
So, with barely a cent to her name but a big vision, she founded Breast Cancer Care WA (formerly the Breast Cancer Foundation of Western Australia) in the back of her boutique in 2000. She wanted to see people who had been diagnosed with breast cancer – like those in her boutique who couldn’t afford prostheses – given the funding and support they needed.
Addressing walkers at the Out of the Shadows and Into the Light event. Photography by Shannon Kate Photography.
The five years that followed were “incredibly challenging”. Funding was scarce, support faltering. And, tragically, Ros’s husband, who she describes as her “soul mate” took his own life in 2002. “My grief was…” She falters. “It was very difficult. It was a terrible grief and not only for me but for the whole family. The ripple effect when someone suicides is quite horrendous for the family left behind.”
But miraculously, Ros displayed a rare gift that has now become something of a trademark – her ability to “turn pain into power”. She worked tenaciously on Breast Cancer WA, picking up the phone daily, and enlisting an incredible support team – particularly the directors, who were predominantly breast cancer survivors. Slowly, the organisation began to flourish, providing free services other charities weren’t offering. “We would pay for a lady to fill her fridge with food, or a week’s rent, or assist women with support for treatment,” she says. “We’ll hang out your washing. That’s what makes us so unique.” In her time with the organisation, Ros also worked extensively with Indigenous women, travelling to remote communities to teach them about breast cancer. “They called me a blackfella in a white skin, and that was probably the biggest compliment that I could have ever had,” she says.
Now, despite never having had any government funding, the organisation is the largest service provider outside hospitals for WA women and their families facing breast cancer. And next year, it’s set to get even bigger, with the launch of a major campaign in collaboration with the McGrath Foundation. Ros’s friend, philanthropist Nicola Forrest, has pledged her support for the cause; the two women are united in their belief that collaboration is needed between charities.
At the Out of the Shadows and Into the Light event with health campaigner Alison Glenister-Bielby. Photography by Shannon Kate Photography.
“Ten to 15 years ago, if you approached another charity to collaborate it would be
a polite, ‘No, thank you’,” says Ros. “With well over 800 charities registered in WA it gets really tough for many of them. I say let’s collaborate and work together to making a difference in our community.”
During those dark years following Ross’s death, Ros also devoted part of her life to working with Lifeline WA to try to de-stigmatise suicide and depression. She started Out of the Shadows and Into the Light, a dawn walk in Kings Park on World Suicide Prevention Day for people who have lost loved ones to suicide. “While I’ve stepped away from working with Lifeline now, I still meet someone every day who will talk to me about depression, or who’s lost someone to suicide,” she says. “It’s a little bit easier to deal with that sorrow and grief when you’re doing goodness.”
As Ros tells me about The Dementia Foundation, the latest organisation she’s aligned with, her excitement is palpable. An ambassador for the group, she is in awe of the work it does, specifically the Spark of Life philosophy the charity uses to deal with dementia patients, promoting values like feeling useful and having the power to choose.
“You can’t cure dementia, but you can make someone’s life more dignified and lift their spirit. When someone gets dementia and they’re in a nursing home, the light goes from their eyes, their spirit dies. But the Spark of Life brings back their spirit and lifts them,” she says. “They had one gentleman who hadn’t spoken in two-and-a-half years, and after an hour with them he was reciting stories about being in the trenches as a digger. You’ve got to see it to believe it!”
She also runs the Love Angel Project, an initiative to foster philanthropy in children from a young age. “Charity begins at home with children. It’s not just about helping orphanages in Bali and Sri Lanka and Afghanistan – which are the three we help – it’s also about teaching children to pay it forward with kindness. The children are our future and my greatest love is to educate them that it is cool to be kind. We call them our mini philanthropists.”
Ros with her grandchildren. Photography by Jody D’Arcy.
It’s an organisation particularly close to her heart because she can share it with her grandchildren. “My grandchildren are my world. Jasmin is twelve, she was born on the day I buried my husband, my soul mate,” she says softly. “I remember saying my goodbyes to him and knowing that Jasmin was waiting. Rhylee, who’s now thirteen, was nine months old, so to be able to hold my little granddaughter, Ross’s granddaughter, started the healing process.”
Ros has been approached several times in the past ten years about writing a book. She laughs, “I’ve got a book in me so big. Someone said to me, ‘You’ve even got a movie in you!’” For now, it seems she’s reached her happy ending. She lives in the Perth Hills with her son and daughter-in-law and three grandchildren, pottering around the vegie garden and tending to her chickens. “I just love being
a hands-on granny,” she enthuses. “It’s the best move I’ve ever made. I am so contented, and I can honestly say I have true happiness.”
But don’t assume her numerous accolades have anything to do with that. “It’s wonderful to be acknowledged, but it’s not why I do it. However I will say they’ve opened the doors to me to continue my philanthropic endeavours,” she says, adding with a wry smile, “which I’ll do till the day I fall off my perch.”
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(→Recent Mention: typo)
[[John Chew]] in Toronto, ON;
or NASPA spokespersons
[[Robin Pollock Daniel]] in Toronto, ON
[[Matthew Hodge]] in Moore, OK.
* August 27, 2014: [[Robin Pollock Daniel]] quotes about the new words on the [http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/videos/8ye61k/scrabble-s-updated-dictionary Colbert Report].
* August 10, 2014: Several players interviewed in a feature article about the [[2014 National SCRABBLE Championship]] in the [http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/buffalo/hundreds-of-word-enthusiasts-gather-in-buffalo-for-the-25th-national-scrabble-championships-20140809 Buffalo news].
* August 8, 2014: [[Oliver Roeder]] reports on the [[Nigel Richards]] phenomenon on [http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/what-makes-nigel-richards-the-best-scrabble-player-on-earth/ fivethirtyeight.com].
* August 5, 2014: [[Chris Cree]] and [[John Chew]] help [http://mentalfloss.com/article/58236/14-fun-scrabble-facts MentalFloss] with some fun facts about our game.
* August 5, 2014: [[John Chew]] gives the Canadian perspective on the new words in the [http://news.nationalpost.com/2014/08/05/canadian-sourced-words-such-as-qajaq-and-quinzhee-some-of-powerhouse-game-changers-added-to-scrabble-dictionary National Post]
* August 5, 2014: [[Robin Pollock Daniel]] quoted at length in an article about the new words in the [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/scrabble-players-rejoice-5000-new-words-added-to-official-dictionary/article19912902/?cmpid=rss1 Globe and Mail]
* August 5, 2014: [[John Chew]] quoted in an article about the new words at [http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeremygreenfield/2014/08/05/trying-to-chillax-about-my-bromance-with-scrabble-and-5000-other-new-words/ Forbes].
* August 5, 2014: [[Chris Cree]] quoted in a [http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/05/us-usa-games-scrabble-idUSKBN0G51ML20140805 Reuters article] about the new words.
* August 5, 2014: 18-minute interview with Simi Sara on [http://www.cknw.com/the-simi-sara-show/ CKNW 980] with [[John Chew]] about the new words.
* August 5, 2014: [http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/scrabble-dictionary-5000-words-24846936 ABC News] talks about our new words.
* August 4, 2014: [[John Chew]] quoted briefly in the [http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/selfie-frenemy-playable-scrabble-article-1.1891614 New York Daily News] on the new edition of [[OSPD]].
* August 4, 2014: [[Robin Pollock Daniel]] quoted in an [http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_26273635/scrabblers-rejoice-5-000-new-words-are-way AP story] about new words coming into [[OSPD]].
* August 4, 2014: [[Chris Cree]] and [[John Chew]] quoted by [http://money.cnn.com/2014/08/04/news/scrabble-dictionary/ CNN] ([http://mexico.cnn.com/entretenimiento/2014/08/05/diccionario-scrabble-suma-5000-palabras-incluyendo-selfie-y-hashtag Spanish translation]) on the new words.
* April 22, 2014: [[John Chew]] on [http://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=328738 CTV National News] with members of the [http://torontoscrabbleclub.com Toronto SCRABBLE Club] talking about GEOCACHE.
* April 10, 2014: [[Stefan Fatsis]] quotes [[John Chew]] and [[Chris Cree]] at Slate in [http://www.slate.com/articles/life/gaming/2014/04/geocache_in_scrabble_the_word_that_won_hasbro_s_new_word_contest_is_useless.html The Word That Won Scrabble’s New-Word Contest Is Totally Useless in Scrabble]
** May 16, 2016: Lengthy interview with [[John Chew]] at [http://torontoist.com/2016/05/players-go-word-for-word-at-the-2016-canadian-national-scrabble-championship/ Torontoist].
** April 10, 2016: [http://www.thesunchronicle.com/devices/news/local_news/gillette-hosts-north-american-school-scrabble-championship/article_17718cdc-ff72-11e5-9ec7-2beebad523ad.html The Sun Chronicle] reports on the NASSC as a local news item.
* February 3, 2016: [http://newsok.com/article/5476306 The Oklahoman] interviews members of the Oklahoma City club for a lengthy feature article.
* January 21, 2016: [http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/view-finders/90234-funs-the-word-at-kids-scrabble-tournament-photos Newsworks] interview John Green about the ASAP School SCRABBLE Program in Philadelphia.
** August 6, 2015: [http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/kanatas-scrabble-champ-knows-his-querns-and-bantengs Ottawa Citizen] interviews Matthew Tunnicliffe, mentions [[Adam Logan]], quotes [[John Chew]].
** August 5, 2015: [http://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/Scrabble-Champion-Crowned-in-Reno-320843221.html KOLO-TV] reports on [[Matthew Tunnicliffe]] beating [[Jesse Day]] for the win.
** August 4, 2015: [http://www.rgj.com/story/news/2015/08/04/world-scrabble-champs-competing-now-reno/31117563/ Reno Gazette-Journal] interviews [[John Chew]] and [[Conrad Bassett-Bouchard]]
* July 23, 2015: [[Chris Cree]] talks about [[Nigel Richards]] winning the French WSC on [http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/07/23/how-a-kiwi-beat-the-french-at-their-own-game-of-scrabble.html The Daily Beast].
* May 25, 2015: [[John Chew]] interviewed by CTV News Channel about the new words in the [[Collins]] word list.
* May 21, 2015: [[John Chew]] interviewed by NPR and Reuters about the new words in the [[Collins]] word list.
* May 17, 2015: [[Noah Kalus]] and [[Zach Ansel]]'s win at the [[2015 North American School SCRABBLE Championship]] and subsequent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel reported on by the Times Herald-Record (of Middletown, NY), the Poughkeepsie Journal, Oneida Dispatch, Ridgefield Press, Toy News, and others.
* April 21, 2015: 2014 National SCRABBLE Champion [[Conrad Bassett-Bouchard]] and others mentioned in an article entitled “Winning SCRABBLE and the Nature of Expertise” in [http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/winning-scrabble-and-the-nature-of-expertise/?print=true Scientific American].
* [[2014 World SCRABBLE Championship]]
** December 9, 2014: [[2014 World SCRABBLE Championship]] runner-up [[Chris Lipe]] interviewed in [http://romesentinel.com/county/local-scrabble-player-places-second-in-world/QBqnlh!8bJmTlrrvCgSyy7qVVVG3Q/ Rome Sentinel].
** November 24, 2014: [[2014 World SCRABBLE Championship]] runner-up [[Chris Lipe]] mentioned in [http://www.businessinsider.com/these-are-the-words-that-just-won-this-years-scrabble-world-championship-2014-11?IR=T Business Insider].
** November 23, 2014: [[2014 World SCRABBLE Championship]] runner-up [[Chris Lipe]] mentioned in [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/11248965/Craig-Beevers-becomes-second-ever-English-world-Scrabble-champion.html The Telegraph].
** November 23, 2014: [[2014 World SCRABBLE Championship]] runner-up [[Chris Lipe]] mentioned in [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/britain-gets-its-first-scrabble-world-champion-for-21-years-9878661.html# The Independent].
** November 22, 2014: [[John Chew]] leads off a [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30157695 BBC News story] about the [[2014 World SCRABBLE Championship]].
** November 21, 2014: [[Jesse Matthews]], [[John Chew]], [[Adam Logan]] and others featured in a [http://www.aljazeera.com/video/europe/2014/11/war-words-at-scrabble-contest-20141121202349147100.html story about the 2014 World SCRABBLE Championship] on AlJazeera.com.
** November 21, 2014: [[John Chew]] quotes briefly in a [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-30139374 BBC News story] about the [[2014 World SCRABBLE Championship]].
** November 20, 2014: [[Conrad Bassett-Bouchard]] gives SCRABBLE tips to [http://www.opb.org/news/article/national-scrabble-champ-gives-tips-for-winning/ OPB] leading up to the [[2014 World SCRABBLE Championship]].
** November 10, 2014: [[Evan Berofsky]] featured in an article in the [http://www.theoaklandpress.com/general-news/20141110/scrabble-brought-more-than-expected-to-oxford-based-competitive-player-headed-to-london-tournament Oakland Press].
* [[2014 National SCRABBLE Championship]]
** August 10, 2014: Several players interviewed in a feature article about the [[2014 National SCRABBLE Championship]] in the [http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/buffalo/hundreds-of-word-enthusiasts-gather-in-buffalo-for-the-25th-national-scrabble-championships-20140809 Buffalo news].
** August 5, 2014: [[Robin Pollock Daniel]] quoted at length in an article about the new words in the [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/scrabble-players-rejoice-5000-new-words-added-to-official-dictionary/article19912902/?cmpid=rss1 Globe and Mail]
** August 5, 2014: [[John Chew]] quoted in an article about the new words at [http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeremygreenfield/2014/08/05/trying-to-chillax-about-my-bromance-with-scrabble-and-5000-other-new-words/ Forbes].
** August 5, 2014: [[Chris Cree]] quoted in a [http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/05/us-usa-games-scrabble-idUSKBN0G51ML20140805 Reuters article] about the new words.
** August 5, 2014: 18-minute interview with Simi Sara on [http://www.cknw.com/the-simi-sara-show/ CKNW 980] with [[John Chew]] about the new words.
** August 5, 2014: [http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/scrabble-dictionary-5000-words-24846936 ABC News] talks about our new words.
** August 4, 2014: [[John Chew]] quoted briefly in the [http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/selfie-frenemy-playable-scrabble-article-1.1891614 New York Daily News] on the new edition of [[OSPD]].
** August 4, 2014: [[Robin Pollock Daniel]] quoted in an [http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_26273635/scrabblers-rejoice-5-000-new-words-are-way AP story] about new words coming into [[OSPD]].
** August 4, 2014: [[Chris Cree]] and [[John Chew]] quoted by [http://money.cnn.com/2014/08/04/news/scrabble-dictionary/ CNN] ([http://mexico.cnn.com/entretenimiento/2014/08/05/diccionario-scrabble-suma-5000-palabras-incluyendo-selfie-y-hashtag Spanish translation]) on the new words.
* March 16, 2014: [[John Chew]] mentioned in the Wall Street Journal article “[http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304914204579392930054227164 This Scrabble-Playing Robot Is a Sore Loser]”
* March 14, 2014: [[Stefan Fatsis]] writes on [http://www.slate.com/articles/life/gaming/2014/03/new_scrabble_word_should_it_be_bestie_ew_slumdog_inside_the_contest_to_add.single.html Slate.com] about the [[2014 SCRABBLE Word Showdown]]
* [[2014 SCRABBLE Word Showdown]]
* March 14, 2014: [[John Chew]] on [http://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=307524 CTV News Channel] talking about the [[2014 SCRABBLE Word Showdown]]
** April 22, 2014: [[John Chew]] on [http://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=328738 CTV National News] with members of the [http://torontoscrabbleclub.com Toronto SCRABBLE Club] talking about GEOCACHE.
* March 13, 2014: [[John Chew]] on NPR’s [http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2014/03/13/scrabble-new-dictionary Here and Now] to talk about the [[2014 SCRABBLE Word Showdown]]
** April 10, 2014: [[Stefan Fatsis]] quotes [[John Chew]] and [[Chris Cree]] at Slate in [http://www.slate.com/articles/life/gaming/2014/04/geocache_in_scrabble_the_word_that_won_hasbro_s_new_word_contest_is_useless.html The Word That Won Scrabble’s New-Word Contest Is Totally Useless in Scrabble]
** March 14, 2014: [[Stefan Fatsis]] writes on [http://www.slate.com/articles/life/gaming/2014/03/new_scrabble_word_should_it_be_bestie_ew_slumdog_inside_the_contest_to_add.single.html Slate.com] about the [[2014 SCRABBLE Word Showdown]]
== Recent Press Releases ==
** March 14, 2014: [[John Chew]] on [http://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=307524 CTV News Channel] talking about the [[2014 SCRABBLE Word Showdown]]
** March 13, 2014: [[John Chew]] on NPR’s [http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2014/03/13/scrabble-new-dictionary Here and Now] to talk about the [[2014 SCRABBLE Word Showdown]]
* [[2014 NSSC Hasbro Press Release]]
** [http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2010/08/06/1560104/top-scrabble-players-gather-for.html Bellingham Herald]
* [[Media:20100727-nsc.pdf|2010 NSC Master Press Release (revised)]]
* [[Media:20100714-nsc.pdf|2010 NSC Master Press Release (preliminary)]]
* [[Media:20100702-guzman.pdf|San Francisco Man's 771-Point SCRABBLE Game a New Official Record]]
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SQ+A with Sophie Overett
This month SQ talks to Sophie Overett, who is currently being supported by SQ to complete a Writers Attachment on the FremantleMedia Australia production, the Paul Hogan project.
I am currently working on two feature-length screenplays. The first is an adult, science fiction movie which I like to pitch as Ex Machina meets The Truman Show. It was inspired by the nuclear weapons testing the UK did in remote parts of Australia during World War II and explores what, exactly, is stopping anyone from doing similar experiments today.
The other screenplay I’m working on is a family film about a ghosthunting family struggling to lay their own spirits to rest when the mother and matriarch suddenly and unexpectedly passes away.
I’m also, thanks to Screen Queensland, working as a writer’s attachment with Fremantle Media Australia on a new miniseries they’re developing with Channel 7. It’s been an immensely rewarding experience already and I am learning a lot about the intricacies of industry, the nature of production, writing with other writers and writing commissioned screen work.
Who are you working with? And why?
Apart from the attachment job at Fremantle Media Australia, currently I’m working mostly on my own and with my writers group. Having a writers group is a wonderful thing, and helps me to improve my writing, through both giving and receiving feedback. Both of the screenplays I mentioned above are getting pretty close to being ready to pitch to production companies, so I’m looking forward to taking that next step too!
How did you get to this point in your career?
I was lucky enough to get a job right out of university working at Queensland Writers Centre. Working there, and joining as a member, gave me a really strong foundational understanding of the way creative industries work in Queensland and Australia. I regularly participated in events and workshops with them to hone my creative and professional skills, and have had multiple short fiction works published. In 2015, I was also a Queensland Literary Fellow and my Young Adult novel, Agatha Abel Meets Her Maker, was shortlisted for The Text Prize. This year my novella, They Made Us Out of Buried Things, will be coming out with Tiny Owl Workshop.
I’ve always loved films and television, and watch (and read screenplays) very widely. The transition to writing them was a logical step and one that I’ve loved exploring. I tend to believe the old adage that your first script is you learning how to write a script so my first is collecting dust in a bottom drawer somewhere. Having it under my belt though has made writing these new ones seem easier to write (and finish), and has let me flex my storytelling skills.
What’s been tough? What’s helped you on your way?
The toughest steps have been managing expectations, understanding timelines and handling rejection. When I first started out, I bruised easy with pretty much all these things. But I knew that writing was something I wanted to do, and I was passionate about stories, so I kept writing and I attended workshops to get better, and read more and watched more (I’m a strong believer you learn best through reading books and screenplays and watching more films and TV shows!) and as I did this, I improved, and as I kept submitting, I had more wins and more publication outcomes. I still get a lot of rejections, but rejection is a part of being a writer, and once you know that, the bruises don’t stick around for long.
Pitching my screenplays is the big next step! I’m also working on the edits for my novella which is being released this year and tidying up a few more short stories. I’m also very much looking forward to the Gold Coast Film Festival and attending some of the workshops there.
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Secure Case Management
OIGs
Govt Agencies
Our Most Popular Blog Articles of 2019
Posted in Blog |
With the year coming to an end, it’s time to review some of the top blogs of the year. The political climate has made this a tough year for public servants in general but especially for investigators. Our two most popular blogs were centered around keeping morale high.
There were several other popular topics, however, including topics on management, security and proactive efforts to reduce wrongdoing. We hope we’ve offered some valuable ideas on how to manage a productive investigative group!
Morale in the Morass: Focus on the Team, Focus on the Mission
When an agency comes under fire, it can be difficult to focus on the underlying mission instead of the public scrutiny. Agency leaders have a big impact on how well team members retain their focus. Leaders who work hard to keep their staff out of the spotlight often find that means accepting that the light will shine on leadership instead. That’s an unfortunate part of the job, but it’s sometimes necessary to keep morale high.
Morale in the Morass: Why People Do Hard Things
When teams are demoralized, it’s important to understand what drives them, and to remind them of the importance of those things. Most people who choose to work as a public sector investigator do it because they believe it’s important. They do so despite the fact that easier jobs with better pay are available to them.
Three Problems with a Passive Manager
Oftentimes, managers think they’re doing their subordinates a favor when they manage them passively. After all, nobody likes being micromanaged. The reality is that managers exist for a reason, and when they don’t do their job, the work environment deteriorates.
The Growing Risk of Cybersecurity Threats in Government Agencies
Many investigative groups perform security audits as a part of their job. But does your team do all it can to protect its own data and network? Investigators are among the most lucrative targets for hackers, both because their data is sensitive and because much of it cannot be replaced if lost.
To learn how CMTS can help your team manage cases more easily and efficiently, call us at 855-667-8877 or email us at Team_CMTS@MyCMTS.com.
CMTS Quick Tour
Watch our quick tour videos to see the features of CMTS.
We help government investigative agencies increase their impact, and align their people, processes and policies through an easy-to-use, powerful case management platform that enables them to secure all of their data in one place.
Three Ways Software Vendors Destroy Your Productivity
The High Cost of Government Inefficiency
What Are the Benefits of Case Management Software?
Cybersecurity: 3 Fundamental Practices to Protect Your Agency
WingSwept
800 Benson Rd
Garner NC 27529
Copyright 2020 WingSwept | All rights reserved.
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Call Us: 615-822-7680 • Request a Quote
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Prince of Peace Dragon Well Tea- Loose Tea Leaf, 250g
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Siberia With A View
Take a bite … chew slowly
← Akashic. Gesundheit!
Gems in the trash →
We’re outta here!
Posted on March 26, 2014 by karl
I’m no chauvinist, but there are some things we have here in the good old USA that flat-out clobber our rivals in other parts of the world.
We’re not talking about sappy clichés here — the flag-waving jingoistic stuff, the poor-man’s abstractions: freedom, land of opportunity, etc.
I’m referring to concrete things and, in many cases, concrete individuals.
We, for example, have the darned best armed forces in the world. Few would want to test the assertion, especially when it’s backed with an F-16.
We have some of the world’s greatest athletes, some of the purest steroids, the best methods for beating a drug test. We have, hands down, the greatest hip-hop recording artists and the very best commercial pudding, compliments of the Kozy Shack Corporation.
Without question, we have the world’s greatest cheerleading squads (amateur and professional) and the most expansive satellite television system (“expansive” — note that I claim nothing about quality of programming).
I watched a program on the world’s most expansive satellite television system the other day and realized we have something else that beats the rest of the world. In spades.
We grow the world’s greatest nerds and science geeks. And I’ve found reason to adore them.
Anyone who follows the history of the computer industry, of the high-tech world, knows our nerds are superior. Granted, the copycats have gained momentum, riding their “Patent-schmatent” theory of invention and business like a big wave at Waimea Bay.
The Japanese, the Chinese, the Koreans, the Paraguayans and the Nepalese have stolen enough from us to make computers (albeit out of stainless steel, if we’re talking about the former Soviet Union and its satellites) and they can write some pretty nifty software because we’ve trained their technicians at American universities. But … have they sent anything impressive to Mars lately?
Heh, heh.
Nosireee, they have not.
I realized this, and more, the other night. I was sitting in the living room, eating Kozy Shack tapioca pudding straight out of the carton. I’d ingested a good 600 calories of the gelatinous miracle, when a news flash interrupted a repeat episode of Extreme Makeover just as famed Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist Dr. C. Wilson Wilson was about to apply porcelain veneers to Claudette’s painfully eroded fangs. The network cut away to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.
I know the place. I once walked past the lab facility on my way to a hotel after a visit to the Norton Simon Museum. I had spent an hour or two with several remarkable Rembrandts and a nifty Karel Appel or two and I was disoriented. Fortunately, the lab sat on a line running from the museum to the Sushitoria, where I enjoyed a killer spicy tuna roll before fumbling my way out of Old Town and back to my digs.
Anyway, the TV screen lit up the other night and there they were: The cream of the crop. A giant room was full of our nation’s finest nerds and science geeks, all going berserk in that poignant, I-never-had-a-date-in-high school, screwloose way they express joy. Pocket protectors were flying all over the place as the guys and gals boinged around, hugging each other (a celebration is the only chance a nerd has to caress a colleague) and feebly whooping and yahooing in reedy, cracking voices. In a rare moment of uncontrolled self-expression, a nerd tossed a piece of paper in the air. I saw a couple of shirttails akimbo.
It was a party.
As I watched, I took another bite of the pudding and thought: I’m proud to be an American.
In what was a prelude to a monumental announcement, the nerds reprised their recent triumphs.
They went nuts at the sight of a photograph of the Martian surface transmitted from one of their Martian landers. To me, the photo was, well, pretty damned boring. To the science geeks, it was gold.
So, I figured, that flat, grungy red, rocky plain on another planet, and a manned base on the moon must be important. It has to be: the nerds say so.
Then, the announcement: We’re goin’ back to the moon … and beyond. The intensity level at the lab jumped off the chart. The nerds were bobbing and weaving and skipping around like elementary school kids who’ve been told it’s pizza day in the lunchroom
I suddenly realized something: They’re thrilled, because they’re leaving.
And that’s OK. Because I’m going with them.
I have a great deal of respect for nerds. I know about nerds. I once tried hard to catch one.
It was in tenth grade, before I got shipped off to a boys’ school. The nerd’s name was Linda.
Linda was in debate club, science club, economics club, Latin club. She was an office aide and played viola in the school orchestra. She was treasurer of the junior class, a member of the student council. She served as the National Honor Society president and took first place in the Colorado High School Science Fair with a dazzling examination of Godel’s theorem. She owned two slide rules, and knew how to use them. She actually took notes in class.
Me, I was a hockey player and, at best, a D student. I was missing teeth and I played the drums. I noticed Linda was incredibly well endowed.
She first became aware of me when I attempted to copy her answers during an ancient history test. I thought the word Assyria was hysterically funny, and every time I encountered the word in the text, I laughed so hard I lost what little concentration I could muster. I was woefully unprepared for the exam. Linda showed me a bit of kindness. She gave me two answers; I got a D.
Eventually, we sat together every day outside the band room waiting for orchestra practice to begin. She talked about how easy calculus was; I bragged about how I could a chug a quart of 3.2 beer with nary a drop coming out of my nose.
As our relationship progressed, we made forays to the lawn in front of the school after lunch. I made a few clumsy moves on Linda, even stole a kiss.
I’ll never forget what she said after that kiss, peering at me over the top of her eyeglasses like I was a fetal pig splayed out on the dissection table in biology class.
“Neque femina amissa pudicitia alia abnuerit.”
The phrase was music to my ears, the splash of crystal-clear waters on polished marble. I’m on my way to home base, I thought.
I had her write down what she said and I took it to my nerd friend, Starkle, for a translation. Turns out it was a quote from Tacitus: “When a woman has lost her chastity, she will shrink from no crime.”
I got the hint; Linda was not about to become a criminal, my dreams were shattered. The gulf between us was too wide. I was a mere amusement, and there was no chance I would succeed in my attempt to scale Mt. Nerd. I returned the slide rule I’d purchased, complete with belt-mounted carrying case, and went back to reading purloined copies of Modern Man magazine.
What remained, however, was a deep appreciation of all things nerd.
That’s why I say it’s time to turn the whole shebang over to these goofballs; they’ve got vision. Let them do what they want; they know things the rest of us don’t.
Take for example a recent missive from one of the chief nerds, David King, director of NASA’s Marshall Space flight Center.
‘Next comes Mars, our nearest planetary neighbor,” writes King. “Did Mars once support life? Will it again?”
“We intend,” continues King, “ to answer the first question as visitors, and the second as inhabitants. But Mars is just one possible destination. Others could include the icy moons of Jupiter, which might conceal oceans capable of sustaining life…”
Dave goes on to rationalize the project: lots of jobs, spinoff technologies that will benefit everyone, blah blah blah. First, a manned base on the moon, then a colony on another planet. The nerds talked the president into a thumbs-up on this, taking advantage of the fact its pretty darned easy to convince our president of just about anything.
The critical thing, once the frosting is scraped off the cake: The nerds are leaving the planet! They’re working at a feverish pace in order to skedaddle. They are blowing this popstand and I, for one, plan to be with them.
I intend to write Dave King as well as the folks at the Nerd Nerve Center at the Jet Propulsion Lab and offer my services as a cook. I’ll double as a member of the janitorial crew, keeping the slide rules (or whatever they use these days) as clean as possible, polishing the thick lenses on all those eyeglasses.
Since I’m a pudding aficionado, I regularly travel a culinary highway that leads to the nerds’ hearts. They don’t like anything too spicy and since there won’t be a Subway nearby where they can purchase the 6-inch veggie sandwich, pudding it will be. It’s bland, easily digestible, the perfect nerd food.
The Kozy Shack Corporation will be unable to ship huge quantities of its delightful products to nerd space outposts, so I’ll produce the pudding. I’ll make myself indispensable and, thus, save my life.
I’ll produce a light, fluffy tapioca pudding with a tropical edge for my nerd masters, — something in harmony with their light, fluffy personalities — ala a recipe from Mark Bittman.
I’ll combine about 2/3 of a cup of quick tapioca in a saucepan with a little under a cup of sugar, 3 teaspoons vanilla extract, 1 cup of milk, 1 cup of coconut milk and a couple pinches salt. I’ll stir the mix as I heat it over medium heat until the tapioca gets transparent then I’ll take the mix off the heat and allow it to cool for several minutes. I’ll beat in the yolks of 4 eggs and let the mix cool for several minutes more. I’ll beat 4 egg whites until peaks form then fold them gently into the pudding mixture.
I can see us now — me and all the nerds and science geeks — kicking back on our recliners, bowls of pudding in hand, our bow ties perfectly straight, our pocket protectors in place, gazing out the huge windows of our biosphere, watching a tiny light in the dark night sky suddenly flash bright then disappear.
Someone will throw a piece of paper in the air.
I hope Linda is there, and that she’s ready to let her femina go amissa.
3 Responses to We’re outta here!
kathleen isberg says:
way to go puddin’ head. Now let those Kozy Shack people know you’re recommending their product! 🙂
bill Musson says:
sounds good……you are doing your part to keep it going……always enjoy keeping up on developments on Mars……..
joseph gilbert says:
just lovely..
Modalities and Me
Boris, Al, Jim, and a Pinched Scrotum
Hash, Dogs, and Bean Sludge — A Man of the Pepple
Ted, Madness, and The Veneer
Take Note, Chip: Don’t Eat the Sushi
bill musson on Modalities and Me
wm. musson on Boris, Al, Jim, and a Pinched Scrotum
gary on Boris, Al, Jim, and a Pinched Scrotum
Country Paul on Waiting for the still point, the end of the set
wm. musson on Ted, Madness, and The Veneer
carvingthyme
http://dmichaelcoffee.wordpress.com
http://judyrobbinsart.wordpress.com
http://notesfromthechairlift.com
http://shyrabbit.com
http://udp079939uds.hawaiiantel.net)
michelle freed-great humor, commentary
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Chiefs Sign Post Falls Native Bear Hughes to WHL Agreement
Spokane, Wash. — The Spokane Chiefs announced on Tuesday that they have signed forward Bear Hughes to a WHL Standard Player Agreement.
“Bear has made huge strides this year in his development,” said Chiefs general manager Scott Carter. “Kudos to (head coach) Mike Bay and the Spokane Braves. We are excited to officially welcome Bear to the Chiefs organization.”
Hughes, a 2001-born forward from Post Falls, Idaho, currently plays for the Spokane Braves of the KIJHL. He ranks first among all KIJHL rookies and fourth overall in scoring with 59 points (39G-20A) in 38 games. Hughes has recorded four hat tricks including a season-high six-point effort (4G-2A) in September.
“It’s always a good thing to add players with his kind of skill set,” said Chiefs general manager Scott Carter. “The fact that Bear is a local product is a bonus.”
Hughes attends Immaculate Conception Academy in Post Falls. Though he is not expected to join the Chiefs immediately, he will be eligible to join the team as an Affiliated Player following the completion of the Braves’ 2018-19 season.
The Chiefs’ next home game is Wednesday, January 30 versus the Portland Winterhawks. It will be another TicketsWest Player Magnet Giveaway Night as the first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a refrigerator magnet featuring a Chiefs player courtesy of TicketsWest.
Tickets for January 30 and all Chiefs home games are available in-person at the Chiefs’ Ticket Office or over the phone at 509-535-PUCK during regular business hours, or online at spokanechiefs.com.
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Samoa vs South Africa 2013
Pre-match - Springboks wary of Samoa
South Africa were quite wary of Samoa before their clash in a four-nation tournament final despite a string of large victories over the Pacific islanders
Springbok winning margins of 52 points twice, 50, 42, 28 and 27 were achieved with the only 'respectable' defeat suffered by Samoa being 13-5 at the pool stage of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Only five of that South African side did ran out at the 52 000-seat Loftus Versfeld stadium for this match while seven Samoan survivors from the team beaten at Albany in New Zealand in 2011 were still in the Samoan side.
South African coach Heyneke Meyer reported that he has been impressed by the form of the islanders during the mini-league phase of a tournament featuring Test double-headers on three consecutive weekends.
Star left-wing Alesana Tuilagi bagged a brace of tries as Samoa outmuscled Scotland 27-17 in Durban and another five were scored during their 39-10 trouncing of Italy in Nelspruit.
It was a pleasant change from the Samoans' first weekend in the republic when a side lacking several stars suffered a humiliating 74-14 loss in a warm-up game to demoted Super Rugby outfit the Golden Lions.
"Samoa have a strong squad and are benefiting from their best players competing in the Super Rugby championship and at top club level in Europe," warned former Bulls and current Springbok coach Heynecke Meyer.
The Springboks survived some second-half hiccups to down Italy 44-10, but did not seal a flattering 30-17 victory over Scotland until substitute centre Jan Serfontein snatched a last-minute try.
Serfontein, skipper of the 2012 IRB World Junior Championship-winning team, is among several newcomers this season as Meyer seeks to broaden his player base ahead of stiffer Rugby Championship (formerly Tri-Nations) challenges.
Crowd favourite Willie le Roux, a free spirit who plays on the right wing for Central Cheetahs, gets a third outing in a row at full-back and former wing JJ Engelbrecht has looked comfortable at outside centre.
Arno Botha was impressive at flank until an early injury against Scotland ended his season, and gave Siya Kolisi a chance to star as he continued a rags-to-riches rise from township poverty to wearing the green and gold.
Meyer has shuffled his pack for Samoa after a disappointing showing at the breakdown against a Scottish side lacking several key forwards, including injured skipper Kelly Brown.
Powerful ball carrier Willem Alberts is back in place of Botha to get the Springboks more often over the gain and the return of 'scavenger' Francois Louw -who got married the previous week- should ensure plentiful ruck and maul ball.
"We underperformed and underachieved against Scotland," admitted Louw from English Premiership club Bath, "but it was a lesson well learnt. You need those games to put things into perspective".
There is also a change at lock with 120kg Flip van der Merwe replacing lighter, line-out specialist Juandre Kruger, and teaming up with Eben Etzebeth as Meyer seeks greater engine-room options.
After a decade of legends Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha lording line-out battles against all-comers, it has come as a shock to Springboks supporters when rivals steal some throws.
Samoa, skippered by outside centre Paul Williams because wing David Lemi is injured, favour an unstructured game which lets Tuilagi and company loose to demonstrate their power and pace.
However, neither Williams nor recalled fullback James So'oialo possesses the match-winning goal-kicking skills of South Africa playmaker Morne Steyn, and the general pre-match feeling was that it would be a shock if the Springboks did not claim first place.
The Loftus double-header kicked off with a third-place playoff between Six Nations championship rivals Italy and Scotland. Scotland won 34-10 when they last met five months ago in Edinburgh.
There was concerns about the fitness of Springbok captain Jean de Villiers and flanker Willem Alberts. Both were however declared fit to face Samoa in the final match of a four-nation tournament at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday.
De Villiers led the team onto the field and Adriaan Strauss resumed the vice-captaincy. The team had three changes from the one that beat Scotland in Nelspruit the previous weekend.
The backline remained unchanged, with Alberts, Francois Louw and Flip van der Merwe replacing the injured Arno Botha, Marcell Coetzee and Juandre Kruger.
Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer’s team selection for this match was a clear indication that the hosts expect a physical battle at Loftus.
Flanker Willem Alberts and lock Flip van der Merwe were included in the starting XV to beef up the pack and as a counter to the physical Pacific Islanders.
De Villiers on the Friday said while the Samoans were known for the physicality, they would be met with true South African grit.
“We as South Africans are proud of the way we play and we never take a step backwards when a game becomes hard and we look forward to the match.”
De Villiers had been in doubt for the crucial final of the four-nation series due to injury. He was confident he would lead the team onto the field at Loftus Versfeld.
“I reckon you should see me on the field tomorrow. If not I think the team prepared this week as if I won’t be playing,” he said.
The gritty centre said the Springboks had to show significant improvements to the previous weekend’s stuttering display against Scotland in Nelspruit.
De Villiers said the team had to make a step-up, particularly in defence, where they would have to stop the big, strong and fast Samoans.
“Certainly we will have to be better, there is no doubt about that and the team has selected the best team possible,” De Villiers said.
“All our defences will be tested. They are big guys running at you and you have to stop that momentum. We didn’t do that last week so we need to up it in that regard.
“It will be physical and you have to get the basics right. You have to make your tackles and you need to get over the advantage line when you’ve got the ball.”
The Bok skipper said while there was a lot of talk of the Samoans seeking revenge for their 13-5 defeat to South Africa at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, circumstances were different this time.
He said Samoa was a vastly improved side to the one that ran out against the Springboks two years ago.
The point margins from the two teams’ last three encounters also supported De Villiers’ view that the Islanders made significant progress.
Before their match at the World Cup, the Samoans suffered two crushing defeats against the Boks, losing 59-7 at the 2007 World Cup in France and 35-8 in South Africa earlier that year.
“They are the seventh ranked team in the world and they don’t get a lot of time together and they tend to get the results,” De Villiers said.
“They are beating top-tier nations consistently these days and they are probably the most improved side in world rugby over the last couple of years and they are producing quality players.”
15. Willie le Roux, 14. Bryan Habana, 13. JJ Engelbrecht, 12. Jean de Villiers (captain), 11. Bjorn Basson, 10. Morné Steyn, 9. Ruan Pienaar, 8. Pierre Spies, 7. Willem Alberts, 6. Francois Louw, 5. Flip van der Merwe, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Adriaan Strauss, 1. Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16. Bismarck du Plessis, 17. Trevor Nyakane, 18. Coenie Oosthuizen, 19. Juandre Kruger, 20. Siya Kolisi, 21. Piet van Zyl, 22. Pat Lambie, 23. Jan Serfontein
Samoa:
15. James So'oialo, 14. Alapati Leiua, 13. Paul Williams (captain), 12. John Leota, 11. Alesana Tuilagi, 10. Tusiata Pisi, 9. Jeremy Sua, 8. Taiasina Tuifua, 7. Jack Lam, 6. Ofisa Treviranus, 5. Daniel Leo, 4. Teofilo Paulo, 3. Census Johnston, 2. Wayne Ole Avei, 1. Sakaria Taulafo
Substitutes: 16. Ti'i Paulo, 17. Logovii Mulipola, 18. James Johnston, 19. Kane Thompson, 20. Junior Poluleuligaga, 21. Brando Vaaulu, 22. Seilala Mapusua, 23. Alafoti Faosiliva
Springboks facing the Samoa HAKA at the sart of the match.
Battered Boks beat Samoa
Bryan Habana took his Test try total to 50 on Saturday as South Africa defeated a 14-man Samoa side 56-23 at a chilly Loftus Versfeld to win the four-nation tournament final.
The right-wing scored a try in each half as the Springboks overcame a slow start to lead 32-9 at half-time and the red carding of Samoa left-wing Alesana Tuilagi for a stiff arm tackle on the hour mark ended the game as a contest.
However, Habana saw his hopes of a hat-trick dashed 10 minutes from the final whistle when he deliberately knocked on as Samoa threatened to score and spent the rest of the match in the sin bin.
Springbok flyhalf Morne Steyn had a couple of early penalty chances and after planting the first between the posts, the other drifted just left.
Fullback James So'oialo levelled with his first kick at goal and Samoa were unlucky not to go ahead when a brilliant break by flyhalf Tusi Pisi was thwarted by a try-saving tackle from scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar.
Another So'oialo penalty nudged the Pacific islanders in front only for the Springboks to hit back soon after with Habana claiming the first of four first-half tries.
South Africa kicked two penalties to the corner, won the resulting lineouts and when the ball sped along the line, fullback Willie le Roux was up to send Habana over far out.
Steyn, playing on his home ground, converted and also added the extra points after flank Francois Louw touched down as Samoa proved helpless when South Africa launched one of their most potent weapons - the driving maul.
The loss of centre Johnny Leota with concussion and tighthead prop Logovi'i Mulipola to the sin bin did not help the visitors' cause and the home side took advantage.
Steyn landed a penalty, but failed to convert a try by centre JJ Engelbrecht, who shrugged off several less-than-convincing tackles to touch down for his second try of the tournament.
So'oialo slotted a third penalty off a rare visit to the green-and-gold half, but South Africa struck again with left-wing Bjorn Basson going over in the corner and Steyn converted for a 23-point half-time advantage.
Samoa entered the second half desperate for points and got them within seven minutes when good ball retention off a tap penalty allowed lock Filo Paulo to go over and So'oialo converted.
The fullback had a let-off soon after when, with the crowd baying for a yellow card, he got away with a warning from the French referee for using his hands in an "indecent manner" when grabbing hooker Adriaan Strauss.
"Off, off, off" chanted the crowd within minutes as Springboks skipper Jean de Villiers was the victim of a dangerous tackle by giant Tuilagi, who was red carded after the referee consulted the television match official.
Worse was to follow for the islanders as South Africa won a lineout, set up a maul, and Pienaar darted for the line before sending Habana over in the corner Tuilagi should have been guarding.
A man down on the field and 37-6 down on the scoreboard with a quarter of the Test to go, Samoa knew the game was up and Steyn, Louw and replacement prop Trevor Nyakane added tries, two of which substitute Patrick Lambie converted.
A crumb of comfort for the demoralised Samoans was a try off a clever lineout manoeuvre from substitute forward Junior Poluleuligaga, which skipper and centre Paul Williams converted.
Scorers:
Tries: Bryan Habana (2), Francois Louw (2), JJ Engelbrecht, Bjorn Basson, Morne Steyn, Trevor Nyakane
Conversions: Steyn (3), Pat Lambie (2)
Penalties: Steyn (2)
Tries: Filo Paulo, Junior Poluleuligaga
Conversions: James So'oialo, Paul Williams
Penalties: So'oialo (3)
Bjorn Basson in process of scoring South Africa's 3rd try. This try was scored off set piece (lineout) and was essentially the result of a good running by Willie le Roux and the flatness and timing of his pass to Basson.
JJ Engelbrect on his way to his firts try. This picture shows him stepping inside a defender after burtsing through a tackle due to targeting the inside shoulder of his opponent.
This picture was taken immediatly after the one above. The one below shows Engelbrecht scoring his try.
JJ Engelbrecht scoring his try.
Bryan Habana was tested with some high kicks but were equal to the challenge.
Bryan Habana on his way to his first try. A try produced as a result of deceptive running and passing by Willie le Roux.
Bryan Habana scoring his second try in this match and his 50th test try.
Bryan Habana elated after scoring is 50th test try.
A furious Adriaan Strauss pointing at the Samoan No 15 who gave his nuts a squeeze in a ruck. Strauss chased the Samoan No15 for a couple of meters -with the Samoan running away- after he had his nuts squeezed (afterwards ajudicated to have been an accidental occurance; Strauss didn't thought so at the time).
Alesana Tuilagi got a red card after almost decapitating Jean de Villiers with viscious T-bone tackle.
Francois Louw was man of the match with two tries and an oustanding contribution at the tackle ball.
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Dispersion and deposition estimation of fugitive iron particles from an iron industry on nearby communities via AERMOD
Hamid Omidvarborna, Mahad Baawain, Mohamed Almamun, Ala Al-Muhtaseb
Emission of fugitive iron particles from anthropogenic sources can have significant effects on the human health and the environment. In this study, a regulatory air pollutant dispersion model (AERMOD) was implemented to predict the dispersion and deposition of fugitive iron particles towards a mid-sized residential area in Sultanate of Oman. The performance of the model was validated using air, soil, and dust fall samples. PM10 was found as the most abundant iron particles in the soil samples. The results showed that the maximum daily concentration level of fugitive iron particles simulated through AERMOD was 7.19 μg/m3. Statistical analysis, including fractional bias (FB), normalized mean square error (NMSE), and predicted/observed ratio (Pred./Obs.), showed a reliable agreement in accuracy and precision between the datasets (for air samples FB = 0.024, NMSE = 0.001, Pred./Obs. = 0.976; for dust fall samples FB = −0.004, NMSE = 0.000, Pred./Obs. = 1.004). However, uncertainties and differences were from the external sources, such as other industries in the region. The results presented that the concentration levels were below the national and international guidelines proposed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and Omani Ambient Air Quality Standards (OAAQS). The methodology followed and the developed dispersion model can be generalized to other industries from which the dispersion of fugitive metal particles need to be evaluated as a potential route for human exposure. [Figure not available: see fulltext.].
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
soil air
anthropogenic source
pollutant dispersion
AERMOD
Particle emission
Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
Omidvarborna, H., Baawain, M., Almamun, M., & Al-Muhtaseb, A. (2018). Dispersion and deposition estimation of fugitive iron particles from an iron industry on nearby communities via AERMOD. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 190(11), [655]. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-7009-4
Dispersion and deposition estimation of fugitive iron particles from an iron industry on nearby communities via AERMOD. / Omidvarborna, Hamid; Baawain, Mahad; Almamun, Mohamed; Al-Muhtaseb, Ala.
In: Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, Vol. 190, No. 11, 655, 01.11.2018.
Omidvarborna, H, Baawain, M, Almamun, M & Al-Muhtaseb, A 2018, 'Dispersion and deposition estimation of fugitive iron particles from an iron industry on nearby communities via AERMOD', Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, vol. 190, no. 11, 655. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-7009-4
Omidvarborna H, Baawain M, Almamun M, Al-Muhtaseb A. Dispersion and deposition estimation of fugitive iron particles from an iron industry on nearby communities via AERMOD. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 2018 Nov 1;190(11). 655. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-7009-4
Omidvarborna, Hamid ; Baawain, Mahad ; Almamun, Mohamed ; Al-Muhtaseb, Ala. / Dispersion and deposition estimation of fugitive iron particles from an iron industry on nearby communities via AERMOD. In: Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 2018 ; Vol. 190, No. 11.
@article{66f2e81fd23c4f988f957ee990bd129a,
title = "Dispersion and deposition estimation of fugitive iron particles from an iron industry on nearby communities via AERMOD",
abstract = "Emission of fugitive iron particles from anthropogenic sources can have significant effects on the human health and the environment. In this study, a regulatory air pollutant dispersion model (AERMOD) was implemented to predict the dispersion and deposition of fugitive iron particles towards a mid-sized residential area in Sultanate of Oman. The performance of the model was validated using air, soil, and dust fall samples. PM10 was found as the most abundant iron particles in the soil samples. The results showed that the maximum daily concentration level of fugitive iron particles simulated through AERMOD was 7.19 μg/m3. Statistical analysis, including fractional bias (FB), normalized mean square error (NMSE), and predicted/observed ratio (Pred./Obs.), showed a reliable agreement in accuracy and precision between the datasets (for air samples FB = 0.024, NMSE = 0.001, Pred./Obs. = 0.976; for dust fall samples FB = −0.004, NMSE = 0.000, Pred./Obs. = 1.004). However, uncertainties and differences were from the external sources, such as other industries in the region. The results presented that the concentration levels were below the national and international guidelines proposed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and Omani Ambient Air Quality Standards (OAAQS). The methodology followed and the developed dispersion model can be generalized to other industries from which the dispersion of fugitive metal particles need to be evaluated as a potential route for human exposure. [Figure not available: see fulltext.].",
keywords = "AERMOD, Deposition, Dispersion, Iron industry, Particle emission",
author = "Hamid Omidvarborna and Mahad Baawain and Mohamed Almamun and Ala Al-Muhtaseb",
journal = "Environmental Monitoring and Assessment",
T1 - Dispersion and deposition estimation of fugitive iron particles from an iron industry on nearby communities via AERMOD
AU - Omidvarborna, Hamid
AU - Baawain, Mahad
AU - Almamun, Mohamed
AU - Al-Muhtaseb, Ala
N2 - Emission of fugitive iron particles from anthropogenic sources can have significant effects on the human health and the environment. In this study, a regulatory air pollutant dispersion model (AERMOD) was implemented to predict the dispersion and deposition of fugitive iron particles towards a mid-sized residential area in Sultanate of Oman. The performance of the model was validated using air, soil, and dust fall samples. PM10 was found as the most abundant iron particles in the soil samples. The results showed that the maximum daily concentration level of fugitive iron particles simulated through AERMOD was 7.19 μg/m3. Statistical analysis, including fractional bias (FB), normalized mean square error (NMSE), and predicted/observed ratio (Pred./Obs.), showed a reliable agreement in accuracy and precision between the datasets (for air samples FB = 0.024, NMSE = 0.001, Pred./Obs. = 0.976; for dust fall samples FB = −0.004, NMSE = 0.000, Pred./Obs. = 1.004). However, uncertainties and differences were from the external sources, such as other industries in the region. The results presented that the concentration levels were below the national and international guidelines proposed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and Omani Ambient Air Quality Standards (OAAQS). The methodology followed and the developed dispersion model can be generalized to other industries from which the dispersion of fugitive metal particles need to be evaluated as a potential route for human exposure. [Figure not available: see fulltext.].
AB - Emission of fugitive iron particles from anthropogenic sources can have significant effects on the human health and the environment. In this study, a regulatory air pollutant dispersion model (AERMOD) was implemented to predict the dispersion and deposition of fugitive iron particles towards a mid-sized residential area in Sultanate of Oman. The performance of the model was validated using air, soil, and dust fall samples. PM10 was found as the most abundant iron particles in the soil samples. The results showed that the maximum daily concentration level of fugitive iron particles simulated through AERMOD was 7.19 μg/m3. Statistical analysis, including fractional bias (FB), normalized mean square error (NMSE), and predicted/observed ratio (Pred./Obs.), showed a reliable agreement in accuracy and precision between the datasets (for air samples FB = 0.024, NMSE = 0.001, Pred./Obs. = 0.976; for dust fall samples FB = −0.004, NMSE = 0.000, Pred./Obs. = 1.004). However, uncertainties and differences were from the external sources, such as other industries in the region. The results presented that the concentration levels were below the national and international guidelines proposed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and Omani Ambient Air Quality Standards (OAAQS). The methodology followed and the developed dispersion model can be generalized to other industries from which the dispersion of fugitive metal particles need to be evaluated as a potential route for human exposure. [Figure not available: see fulltext.].
KW - AERMOD
KW - Deposition
KW - Dispersion
KW - Iron industry
KW - Particle emission
JO - Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
JF - Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
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Theodore Decker: Halloween horrors came early to Powell Avenue in Whitehall
Theodore Decker The Columbus Dispatch
Oct 31, 2019 at 6:01 AM Oct 31, 2019 at 7:25 AM
Every neighborhood has a few hardcore Halloween houses, where front yards become graveyards, porch lights flicker like flame, and mannequin zombies lurk in the shadows.
Powell Avenue in Whitehall is no different, but the white Cape Cod with the steeply pitched roof in the 4000 block of Powell Avenue is not one of those homes. There, the sole nod to the holiday is a jack o' lantern decoration grinning from the window in the front door.
Early Monday, with a call to 911, the place became a real-life house of horror.
Inside police found the bodies of three people dead of suspected drug overdoses: 54-year-old Kim Funk, a resident of the house; 64-year-old Lynn Pavick, who lived right across the street; and 52-year-old Phillip Adkins of Beechcreek Road in Whitehall. Chester Funk, 65, another resident of the home on Powell Avenue whose relationship to Kim was not immediately clear, had ingested the same drug but survived, police said.
"We suspect it was heroin laced with a high degree of fentanyl," Whitehall Deputy Police Chief Dan Kelso said.
Tying a drug dealer to a deadly dose can be hard for cops, but Whitehall police and Franklin County sheriff's deputies made quick work of this one. Within a few hours, police said, they'd identified the dealer as 37-year-old Swoudell Freeman, arranged to buy a half-gram of heroin from him and arrested him when he showed up at the house on Powell Avenue.
"All these undercover cars pulled up and blocked the guy in," neighbor Randi Maxstead said.
His choices limited, Freeman made a potentially lethal one and decided to eat the bag of dope.
"They were telling him to spit it out, spit it out," said Maxstead, who lives next door at her grandmother's house. "'Spit it out! You're gonna die!'"
Freeman did not die, but he spent Monday, Tuesday and part of Wednesday in the hospital. After nature took its course, police said they had retrieved the evidence they needed to charge Freeman with three counts of involuntary manslaughter, in addition to the drug charges filed against him on Monday.
"We are certain that the product he swallowed upon arrest is the same product" that killed his three customers, Kelso said. The Whitehall deaths have not been definitively linked to another Whitehall death and four fatal overdoses that occurred elsewhere in Franklin County around the same time.
Linda Brown, 71, has lived on Powell Avenue since 1975. She has never had any trouble, she said, but could tell that the commotion down the street Monday morning was serious.
"They took the stretcher in but didn't bring anybody out," she said.
Neighbors said the occupants of the home did not call attention to themselves or cause trouble.
"It was an older crowd," said a woman who did not want her name used because she had a family connection to the Funks. She said Chester and his brother, Douglas, inherited the house after their father died 10 years ago. Franklin County auditor's records show the house is in only Doug Funk's name. He was not home when the overdoses occurred.
Living right next door, Maxstead knew something was up. One of the women recently asked if she could shower in her grandmother's house because their water had been turned off. The residents tried to sell random household items in the front yard, often one at a time. And she once found on the lawn a wallet with drug paraphernalia inside.
"A good thing is they don't have to fight that sickness anymore," she said.
A blunt but honest sentiment during an unrelenting epidemic.
Tonight, the kids of Powell Avenue will haunt their street for sweets. On Monday, Columbus public health officials, did the opposite. They distributed 22 doses of life-saving naloxone and 100 fentanyl testing strips, handouts in their fight against heroin's horrors.
tdecker@dispatch.com
@Theodore_Decker
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Search School of Computer Science:
School Seminar Series 2019
Robot marathon
From November 25 to November 29, the six robots from the EU STRANDS project will battle it out for the title of last robot standing in the STRANDS Robot Marathon.
The challenge is to autonomously patrol a populated environment for as long as possible, with the aim to cover the most distance in the shortest time possible.
This will push the state-of-the-art technology in terms of autonomous, intelligent robot behaviour in human environments, paving the way for a new generation of autonomous service robots.
The STRANDS Robot Marathon will feature live feeds from robots, information about all the participants, and information on the underlying science and technology challenges this work presents.
You can follow the University of Lincoln’s robot ‘Linda’ live online at http://lcas.lincoln.ac.uk/linda/linda.html in the coming week when Linda will try to run autonomously for as long as possible. Linda is based in the new Robotics lab at Witham Wharf.
The Lincolnshire Echo was there for the start of the marathon http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/Linda-Lincoln-robot-competes-European-endurance/story-20171885-detail/story.html#axzz2lfHcwZmv
More information can be found at http://lcas.lincoln.ac.uk/linda and http://robots.lincoln.ac.uk/linda-participating-in-the-eurobotics-week/
Also, follow (and retweet) @LindaStrands and search for #RobotMarathon on Twitter to stay up to date and share the excitement.
For full details of the STRANDS project go to http://www.lincoln.ac.uk/news/2013/08/756.asp
Link to the twitter account
Link to the facebook account
© University of Lincoln. All rights reserved
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Full Access to SOTI Media Resources
Contact SOTI PR
25+ years managing mobility
17,000+ customers across 176 countries with over 20 million mobile devices under management
A Canadian and privately-owned company with over 1000 employees, operating across 28 countries worldwide
11 regional offices: Three in Mississauga, Ontario (Global headquarters), Waterloo, Ontario (Research & Innovation), Birmingham, UK (EMEA headquarters), Galway, Ireland, Gothenburg, Sweden, Gurgaon, India, Melbourne, Australia (APAC headquarters), Japan and Dubai, UAE (MENA headquarters).
2019 continues to bring the company its most profitable year in revenue growth, now with over 97 quarters of consecutive profitability
SOTI's partner ecosystem is expanding with over 4,000 channel partners including resellers, distributors and 195 OEM partners
Founded in 1995 and born from the visionary concepts of President and CEO Carl Rodrigues, SOTI pioneered the mobility management industry long before smartphones became prevalent, becoming the world’s most trusted provider of mobile and IoT management solutions. The company’s first product, SOTI Pocket Controller, became an international bestseller and later evolved into SOTI MobiControl, the company’s flagship enterprise mobility management (EMM) solution. With the launch of the SOTI ONE Platform, an integrated suite of technology solutions designed to reduce the cost, complexity and downtime of business-critical mobility, SOTI is a worldwide leader in mobility and IoT management.
SOTI works with over 17,000 enterprise customers across the globe, with a robust portfolio of innovative solutions and services that demonstrate a deep understanding of the importance of managing and securing devices, apps, content and corporate data. SOTI provides the tools to enable, optimize and secure mobility investments, whether they are corporate-owned, purpose-built or employee-owned. SOTI’s deep cross-platform solutions and world-class support allows enterprises to streamline and maximize their operations by realizing the full value of their mobility and IoT investments.
From a one-man start-up, to a strong global player employing more than 1,000 people across 11 offices worldwide, the privately held company headquartered in Mississauga, Canada, continues to expand into new markets. To strategically meet the needs of its many international customers, SOTI operates 11 regional offices globally including in Canada, UK, Ireland, Sweden, India, Australia and Japan, with plans for more as the company grows.
CARL RODRIGUES, FOUNDER AND CEO
Carl Rodrigues was working as an IT consultant when he realized the potential of viewing and managing mobile device screens from a desktop display. This early innovation allowed him to start his own business, putting SOTI ahead in one of the largest growing markets – Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM). Building on this early lead, Carl’s passion for innovation, and focus on high-quality products and solutions, has helped SOTI become one of the fastest growing, profitable and self-sustaining companies positioned for growth worldwide. Carl is leading the company on a continuous path for growth and expansion, and as a trailblazer in the industry, has become an industry thought leader speaking on the topics of mobility and innovation, IoT, mobile industry trends, cybersecurity and entrepreneurialism.
SOTI Solutions
The choice of over 17,000 enterprise customers worldwide, across 176 countries, including some of the world’s largest organizations in nearly every industry, including: American Airlines, Peninsula Hotels, McDonald’s and many more leading global organizations.
Quality and innovation drive SOTI’s commitment to remaining at the forefront of mobility and IoT management and security through researching and developing solutions that address some of the biggest challenges of the fast-paced mobility market.SOTI also understands that one size does not fit all, so its solutions go beyond to suit every need. With the launch of the SOTI ONE Platform, the company’s technology now enables companies to deliver advanced capabilities that go above and beyond what’s possible, with an integrated suite of mobile-first solutions. Every organization uses mobility in a unique way, so cookie-cutter solutions with basic capabilities simply don’t make the grade. Offering deeper, more powerful mobility and IoT management and security allows organizations to truly optimize their investments.
SOTI is an industry leader, providing world-class customer support that stems from its long-standing expertise. Customers and analysts consistently praise SOTI for its comprehensive support and services that enable mobile strategies to meet and exceed expectations.
At SOTI, it’s about more than just the software; customers and partners turn to SOTI for mobility best practices and lean on SOTI’s team of mobility experts as their trusted advisors every step of the way. Because SOTI concentrates on listening to customers and takes a comprehensive approach to the evolution of EMM, the company delivers a new and diverse set of solutions that address a wide range of pain points customers are experiencing in areas that are critically important to their business. The company provides expertise on every level, and for every deployment, no matter how large, small, unique or straightforward the mobility needs of its customers.
SOTI has built an ecosystem of over 4,000 partners strong that bring business value and share in the drive for innovation. SOTI works closely with leading hardware and software companies to understand the mobility market, forge innovative roadmaps, and optimize the integration between products and solutions. Through SOTI’s award-winning Altitude Partner Program, SOTI and its channel partners build joint customer value across vertical markets and around the globe.
SOTI has been recognized for its industry leadership with numerous prestigious global awards:
PC Magazine “Editors’ Choice” for MDM, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016
The Globe and Mail’s, Report on Business Magazine ranking as one of Canada’s Top Growing Companies, 2019
TMCNet IoT Evolution Product of the Year, 2019
Certified Great Places to Work Canada, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016
EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award Winner, Carl Rodrigues, 2018
Deloitte Technology Fast 500, North America, 2018, 2017, 2016
“Top Player” EMM Market Quadrant, The Radicati Group, 2018, 2017
TMCNet Tech Culture Award, 2018, 2017, 2016
“Best Customer Value Leadership Award” Frost & Sullivan, 2017
Innovator of the Year – Carl Rodrigues, International Business Awards 2017
Technology Innovation Winner, 2017 Ingenious Awards
CRN Partner Program 5 Star Rating, 2017, 2016
The SOTI ONE Platform is an integrated suite of solutions designed to reduce the cost, complexity and downtime related to business-critical mobility. Comprised of seven revolutionary products, the SOTI ONE Platform helps businesses remove functional silos, eliminate downtime, build apps faster, manage all mobile and IoT devices in one place and deliver actionable insights. When everything is connected, the SOTI ONE Platform makes mobile and IoT business operations simpler, smarter and more reliable.
SOTI’s flagship product, SOTI MobiControl, now features high-end scalability using SOTI’s new XTreme technology, a new Android Scripting Engine that supports JavaScript, enabling administrators to script complex management actions that can execute autonomously. This version also features enhanced support for bulk device actions, locating groups of devices, and more granular permissions.
SOTI Assist introduces new collaboration and diagnostic capabilities that improve first call resolution of mobile issues. The new diagnostic features added to SOTI Assist are specifically designed to dramatically reduce downtime for organizations that leverage mobile technology. The new annotation feature allows Help Desk agents and device users to collaborate by drawing on top of app screens. Remote sessions can be recorded with audio allowing for accurate documentation of issues,and device logs can automatically be pulled from remote mobile devices and attached to tickets.
SOTI Snap adds support for Blockly (visual programming), enabling non-technical users to add logic to their apps, by simply dragging and dropping logic blocks onto a canvas. This new version introduces a new set of widgets, designed to that make it even easier to create powerful visually compelling apps in just minutes.
SOTI Insight is a business intelligence solution that delivers out-of-the-box analytics on app, data, network and location usage and operations. SOTI Insight makes it easy for companies to gain insights into the performance of their mobility deployments.
SOTI Connect is an IoT solution built for business that provides complete lifecycle management of IoT devices within an organization. Its highly flexible, data-driven architecture means that new IoT devices can be quickly supported and managed, reducing the time-to-market for IoT initiatives. This first release of SOTI Connect focuses on the management and support of specialized printers used for business-critical tasks.
SOTI_Assist.jpg 950kb
Handtablet_MobiControlUI_screen.jpg 13mb
From Tech Startup to Scaleup_ Carl Rodrigues, SOTI CEO Thinks Big.mp4 - 28.8MB
SOTI MobiControl – Proven Mobility Management.mp4 20.1mb
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Podcast, Sports
The Blitz: Episode 2 Podcast Preview
May 29, 2012 soundthesirens.combasketball, Boston Celtics, Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, Miami Heat, NBA Playoffs, Oklahoma City Thunder, podcast, San Antoinio Spurs, The Blitz, Top Bet Leave a comment
The NBA’s conference finals heats up before their respective game 2s as the Miami Heat pulled away with a strong second half in today’s Miami-Boston opener. The Celtics sputtered to 11 anemic first quarter points before bouncing back strong in the second. After being tied 46 a piece at the end of the half, the Heat would dominate the second behind LeBron James’ game-high 32 and Dwayne Wade’s 22. The biggest talking points however, poor officiating and ghost technical fouls- one of which Celtics coach Doc Rivers has called, “the worst he’s ever had”.
The Blitz podcast will talk about all things Heat and Celtics as they progress through game 2 Wednesday night. Do the Celtics have enough in their aging legs after a bruising 7-game series against the Sixers? Can the Heat finally get over the hump of last year?
We’ll also talk Western Conference where fundamental basketball takes center stage as both the Spurs and Thunder showcase good ol’ fashion basketball the way Dr. Naismith drew it up. Are the feisty Thunder too inexperienced to topple the Spurs? Can the Spurs continue their impressive winning streak?
We’ll talk NBA and more when the second episode of The Blitz Podcast comes streaming through very soon!
In the meantime, want to get your bets in before game 3? Can the Celts turn the tide? Can the Spurs go 2 up? We’ll see you soon on The Blitz!
You can also check out the first episode of The Blitz right here.
Football, Podcast, Sports
The Blitz: Episode 1
May 22, 2012 soundthesirens.comAmerican Football, Basketball, carlos tevez, chelsea, Dwayne Wade, english premier league, Joey Barton, LeBron James, manchester city, Manchester United, Mario Balotelli, Miami Heat, Sergio Aguero, The Blitz Leave a comment
The Marshalltown begins its journey into podcasting with The Blitz, our all-new sports round-up show hosted by the two guys that used to do the radio show. The inaugural broadcast features some dodgy recording, some post-radio broadcasting haze and a blocked nose, but it’s step 1 in returning to regularly scheduled material from the world of sports.
Episode 1 features a round up of the crazy English Premier League season, recent NBA playoff developments and our incorrect Champions League Final prediction. Check it out below. It’ll get better… we promise.
Punk Rock Academy Fight Songs
July 24, 2008 soundthesirens.com90s, Green Day, Jawbreaker, Offspring, Punk, Rancid Leave a comment
Where do you start when it comes to the music and bands that would ultimately define you? How do you compress a lifetime’s worth into an hour? You can’t, but we tried. The punk explosion of the mid-90’s played in important part in many a suburban teenager’s life- and its long serving effects are still being felt today. While some will discredit the movement for homogenizing a previously (and notoriously) underground element, one can also see its positive influence on the world.
Speaking personally, without it, I would have never found the vast and incredibly life-altering artistic appeal of a scene buried deep beneath the surface. Whether it was hardcore, post-hardcore, indie, or punk in its earlier forms, bands like Green Day and Offspring were the gateways to enlightenment, activism, and self-reliance. For an hour, we tried to reminisce and share some of the bands that made it big during this time period, bands that went on to influence millions of listeners around the world. We also made time to remember some of those who were fueled by the mega label’s who sought to cash in on this trend, and ultimately sank some promising bands. We spun tracks by the previously mentioned, Rancid, No Use For a Name, Klover, Jawbreaker, Millencolin, and MxPx to name some.
To this day, these songs still resonate.
Whiskey For The Holy Ghost
June 25, 2008 soundthesirens.comMark Lanegan Leave a comment
It is an anomaly to me, that Mark Lanegan isn’t as recognized as he should be. While active music listeners will undoubtedly form some sort of familiarity with his name, the majority of the media seem reticent in their praise for his massive discography. So when we did the show about him, it was less us being the bullhorn for the uninitiated, but rather two music fans who sat in amazement at how impressive his voice, and his work is.
We used words like “soulful” a lot, and fawned at how amazing songs like “Nearly Lost You” are. We had a wide variety of music from his career not only as the voice of the Screaming Trees, but a lot of his collaborative work with the likes of the Queens of the Stone Age, Greg Dulli, and Isobel Campbell. We were going to close with a Gutter Twins track, but I think Brad stuffed that up. Trust us to mess with a good thing.
Big Take Over
June 23, 2008 soundthesirens.comBad Brains, hardcore, Punk Leave a comment
The Bad Brains are a complicated band with a sordid history. As detailed in Stephen Blush’s American Hardcore, they were never short of revolutionary music making, controversial attitudes, and a desire for self-destruction that ultimately limited the band’s potential and appeal. I was reading Blush’s book during the week of the show and their praise seemed wholly justified as we went from song to song. Just an amazing sense of power and urgency- fueling the kind of anger that would influence countless future artists (Minor Threat among them) to greater things.
An hour of power. I think we stuck to their more noted material, and stayed away from their more metal/rock leanings that saw them fade during the late 80s and early 90s. A viciously fun show.
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Explore Effects of Mindful Awareness Practices on Executive Functions in Elementary School Children
Effects of Mindful Awareness Practices on Executive Functions in Elementary School Children
Journal of Applied School Psychology
Lisa Flook (Author), Susan L. Smalley (Author), M. Jennifer Kitil (Author), Brian M. Galla (Author), Susan Kaiser-Greenland (Author), Jill Locke (Author), Eric Ishijima (Author), Connie Kasari (Author)
Zotero Collections: Contemplation by Applied Subject, K-12 Education and Contemplation, Education and Contemplation, Psychology and Contemplation, Science and Contemplation
Abstract: A school-based program of mindful awareness practices (MAPs) was evaluated in a randomized control study of 64 second- and third-grade children ages 7–9 years. The program was delivered for 30 minutes, twice per week, for 8 weeks. Teachers and parents completed questionnaires assessing children's executive function immediately before and following the 8-week period. Multivariate analysis of covariance on teacher and parent reports of executive function (EF) indicated an interaction effect between baseline EF score and group status on posttest EF. That is, children in the MAPs group who were less well regulated showed greater improvement in EF compared with controls. Specifically, those children starting out with poor EF who went through the MAPs training showed gains in behavioral regulation, metacognition, and overall global executive control. These results indicate a stronger effect of MAPs on children with executive function difficulties. The finding that both teachers and parents reported changes suggests that improvements in children's behavioral regulation generalized across settings. Future work is warranted using neurocognitive tasks of executive functions, behavioral observation, and multiple classroom samples to replicate and extend these preliminary findings.
URL: http://zotero.org/groups/contemplative_sciences/items/P39FINSX
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Statistical Analysis of Quantitative Data
Published byLora Todd Modified over 4 years ago
Presentation on theme: "Statistical Analysis of Quantitative Data"— Presentation transcript:
1 Statistical Analysis of Quantitative Data
2 Statistical Analysis Descriptive statistics
Used to describe and synthesize data Inferential statistics Used to make inferences about the population based on sample data
3 Descriptive Indexes Parameter
A descriptor for a population (e.g., the average age of menses for Canadian females) Statistic A descriptor for a population (e.g., the average age of menses for female students at McGill University)
4 Descriptive Statistics: Frequency Distributions
A systematic arrangement of numeric values on a variable from lowest to highest, and a count of the number of times (and/or percentage) each value was obtained Frequency distributions can be described in terms of: Shape Central tendency Variability Can be presented in a table (Ns and percentages) or graphically (e.g., frequency polygons)
5 Shapes of Distributions
Symmetry Symmetric Skewed (asymmetric) Positive skew (long tail points to the right) Negative skew (long tail points to the left)
8 Shapes of Distributions (cont.)
Peakedness (how sharp the peak is) Modality (number of peaks) Unimodal (1 peak) Bimodal (2 peaks) Multimodal (2+ peaks)
9 Normal Distribution Characteristics: Symmetric Unimodal
Not too peaked, not too flat More popularly referred to as a bell-shaped curve Important distribution in inferential statistics
10 Central Tendency Ex: 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Mode = 3
Index of “typicalness” of a set of scores that comes from center of the distribution Mode—the most frequently occurring score in a distribution Ex: 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Mode = 3 Median—the point in a distribution above which and below which 50% of cases fall Ex: 2, 3, 3, 3, 4 | 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Median = 4.5 Mean—equals the sum of all scores divided by the total number of scores Ex: 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Mean = 5.0
11 Comparison of Measures of Central Tendency
Mode, useful mainly as gross descriptor, especially of nominal measures Median, useful mainly as descriptor of typical value when distribution is skewed (e.g., household income) Mean, most stable and widely used indicator of central tendency
12 Variability The degree to which scores in a distribution are spread out or dispersed Homogeneity—little variability Heterogeneity—great variability
14 Indexes of Variability
Range: highest value minus lowest value Standard deviation (SD): average deviation of scores in a distribution
16 Bivariate Descriptive Statistics
Used for describing the relationship between two variables Two common approaches: Contingency tables (Crosstabs) Correlation coefficients
17 Contingency Table A two-dimensional frequency distribution; frequencies of two variables are cross-tabulated “Cells” at intersection of rows and columns display counts and percentages Variables usually nominal or ordinal
18 Correlation Coefficients
Indicate direction and magnitude of relationship between two variables The most widely used correlation coefficient is Pearson’s r. Pearson’s r is used when both variables are interval- or ratio-level measures.
19 Correlation Coefficients (cont.)
Correlation coefficients can range from -1.00 to +1.00 Negative relationship (0.00 to -1.00) —one variable increases in value as the other decreases, e.g., amount of exercise and weight Positive relationship (0.00 to +1.00) —both variables increase, e.g., calorie consumption and weight
The greater the absolute value of the coefficient, the stronger the relationship: Ex: r = -.45 is stronger than r = +.40 With multiple variables, a correlation matrix can be displayed to show all pairs of correlations.
21 Describing Risk Clinical decision-making for EBP may involve the calculation of risk indexes, so that decisions can be made about relative risks for alternative treatments or exposures. Some frequently used indexes: Absolute Risk Absolute Risk Reduction (ARR) Odds Ratio (OR)
22 The Odds Ratio (OR) The odds = the proportion of people with an adverse outcome relative to those without it e.g., the odds of …. The odds ratio is computed to compare the odds of an adverse outcome for two groups being compared (e.g., men vs. women, experimentals vs. controls).
23 Inferential Statistics
Used to make objective decisions about population parameters using sample data Based on laws of probability Uses the concept of theoretical distributions e.g., the sampling distribution of the mean
24 Sampling Distribution of the Mean
A theoretical distribution of means for an infinite number of samples drawn from the same population Is always normally distributed Its mean equals the population mean. Its standard deviation is called the standard error of the mean (SEM). SEM is estimated from a sample SD and the sample size.
25 Statistical Inference—Two Forms
Parameter estimation Hypothesis testing (more common among nurse researchers than among medical researchers)
26 Estimation of Parameters
Point estimation—A single descriptive statistic that estimates the population value (e.g., a mean, percentage, or OR) Interval estimation—A range of values within which a population value probably lies Involves computing a confidence interval (CI)
27 Confidence Intervals CIs indicate the upper and lower confidence limits and the probability that the population value is between those limits. For example, a 95% CI of 40–50 for a sample mean of 45 indicates there is a 95% probability that the population mean is between 40 and 50.
28 Hypothesis Testing Based on rules of negative inference: research hypotheses are supported if null hypotheses can be rejected. Involves statistical decision-making to either: accept the null hypothesis or reject the null hypothesis Researchers compute a test statistic with their data and then determine whether the statistic falls beyond the critical region in the relevant theoretical distribution. Values beyond the critical region indicate that the null hypothesis is improbable, at a specified probability level.
29 Hypothesis Testing (cont.)
If the value of the test statistic indicates that the null hypothesis is improbable, then the result is statistically significant. A nonsignificant result means that any observed difference or relationship could have happened by chance. Statistical decisions are either correct or incorrect.
30 Errors in Statistical Decisions
Type I error: rejection of a null hypothesis when it should not be rejected; a false-positive result Risk of error is controlled by the level of significance (alpha), e.g., = .05 or .01. Type II error: failure to reject a null hypothesis when it should be rejected; a false-negative result The risk of this error is beta (β). Power is the ability of a test to detect true relationships; power = 1 – β. By convention, power should be at least .80. Larger samples = greater power
32 Parametric and Nonparametric Tests
Parametric Statistics: Use involves estimation of a parameter; assumes variables are normally distributed in the population; measurements are on interval/ratio scale Nonparametric Statistics: Use does not involve estimation of a parameter; measurements typically on nominal or ordinal scale; doesn’t assume normal distribution in the population
33 Overview of Hypothesis-Testing Procedures
Select an appropriate test statistic. Establish significance criterion (e.g., = .05). Compute test statistic with actual data. Calculate degrees of freedom (df) for the test statistic. Obtain a critical value for the statistical test (e.g., from a table). Compare the computed test statistic to the tabled value. Make decision to accept or reject null hypothesis.
34 Commonly Used Bivariate Statistical Tests
t-Test Analysis of variance (ANOVA) Pearson’s r Chi-squared test
35 t -Test Tests the difference between two means
t-test for independent groups: between-subjects test e.g., means for men vs. women t-test for dependent (paired) groups: within-subjects test e.g., means for patients before and after surgery
36 Analysis of Variance (ANOVA)
Tests the difference between more than 2 means One-way ANOVA (e.g., 3 groups) Multifactor (e.g., two-way) ANOVA Repeated measures ANOVA (RM-ANOVA): within subjects
37 Chi-Squared Test Tests the difference in proportions in categories within a contingency table Compares observed frequencies in each cell with expected frequencies—the frequencies expected if there was no relationship
38 Correlation Pearson’s r is both a descriptive and an inferential statistic. Tests that the relationship between two variables is not zero.
39 Effect Size Effect size is an important concept in power analysis.
Effect size indexes summarize the magnitude of the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable. In a comparison of two group means (i.e., in a t-test situation), the effect size index is d. By convention: d ≤ .20, small effect d = .50, moderate effect d ≥ .80, large effect
40 Multivariate Statistics
Statistical procedures for analyzing relationships among 3 or more variables Two commonly used procedures in nursing research: Multiple regression Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA)
41 Multiple Linear Regression
Used to predict a dependent variable based on two or more independent (predictor) variables Dependent variable is continuous (interval or ratio-level data). Predictor variables are continuous (interval or ratio) or dichotomous.
42 Multiple Correlation Coefficient (R )
The correlation index for a dependent variable and 2+ independent (predictor) variables: R Does not have negative values: shows strength of relationships, not direction R2 is an estimate of the proportion of variability in the dependent variable accounted for by all predictors.
43 Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA)
Extends ANOVA by removing the effect of confounding variables (covariates) before testing whether mean group differences are statistically significant Levels of measurement of variables: Dependent variable is continuous—ratio or interval level Independent variable is nominal (group status) Covariates are continuous or dichotomous
44 Logistic Regression Analyzes relationships between a nominal-level dependent variable and 2+ independent variables Yields an odds ratio—the risk of an outcome occurring given one condition, versus the risk of it occurring given a different condition The OR is calculated after first removing (statistically controlling) the effects of confounding variables.
45 Factor Analysis Used to reduce a large set of variables into a smaller set of underlying dimensions (factors) Used primarily in developing scales and complex instruments
46 Multivariate Analysis of Variance
The extension of ANOVA to more than one dependent variable Abbreviated as MANOVA Can be used with covariates: Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA)
47 Causal Modeling Tests a hypothesized multivariable causal explanation of a phenomenon Includes: Path analysis Structural equations modeling
Download ppt "Statistical Analysis of Quantitative Data"
Richard M. Jacobs, OSA, Ph.D.
ADVANCED STATISTICS FOR MEDICAL STUDIES Mwarumba Mwavita, Ph.D. School of Educational Studies Research Evaluation Measurement and Statistics (REMS) Oklahoma.
Statistics. Review of Statistics Levels of Measurement Descriptive and Inferential Statistics.
Statistical Tests Karen H. Hagglund, M.S.
QUANTITATIVE DATA ANALYSIS
Chapter Seventeen HYPOTHESIS TESTING
Statistics II: An Overview of Statistics. Outline for Statistics II Lecture: SPSS Syntax – Some examples. Normal Distribution Curve. Sampling Distribution.
Descriptive Statistics Primer
Analysis of Research Data
Educational Research by John W. Creswell. Copyright © 2002 by Pearson Education. All rights reserved. Slide 1 Chapter 8 Analyzing and Interpreting Quantitative.
Today Concepts underlying inferential statistics
Data Analysis Statistics. Levels of Measurement Nominal – Categorical; no implied rankings among the categories. Also includes written observations and.
Summary of Quantitative Analysis Neuman and Robson Ch. 11
Chapter 14 Inferential Data Analysis
Chapter 12 Inferential Statistics Gay, Mills, and Airasian
Understanding Research Results
Mean Tests & X 2 Parametric vs Nonparametric Errors Selection of a Statistical Test SW242.
AM Recitation 2/10/11.
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St. Mary's (Md.)
Digital Gameday Programs
MHEC Policy
MPOBARC
Cranmer Promoted to Associate AD of Internal Operations
For Immediate Release · By Nairem Moran · nmoran@smcm.edu
St. Mary's City, Md. – St. Mary's College of Maryland Director of Athletics & Recreation Scott Devine is happy to announce the promotion of William "Jim" Cranmer from Assistant Athletic Director for Operations and Compliance to Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations.
Devine stated, "Jim has been a dedicated employee to St. Mary's College and to the Department of Athletics and Recreation for almost 20 years. The Associate Athletic Director title is a reflection of Jim's strong work record and longevity of service, combined with his willingness to take on additional duties and responsibilities over the years. Our student-athletes, coaches, and staff all know how important Jim is to the success of our overall operation."
Cranmer has been instrumental in the growth and development of the department over his 19 years of service to the College. He now serves as the immediate supervisor for eight staff members, a number which has doubled since he started as Assistant AD in January of 2013. The Temple City, California, native oversees all game operations duties and has been the department's compliance officer since 2003.
"I would like to thank Director of Athletics Scott Devine and Provost Dr. Wick for this opportunity. I am excited about the added responsibility as not only will I have more interaction with other offices on campus but I will also experience more of the day-to-day operations of our department. Having worked at St. Mary's College for almost 19 years, I can say that the one constant has been my experiences with our student-athletes," expressed Cranmer.
"Our coaches and department staff want to bring forth the best possible student-athlete experience and I look forward to helping to meet that goal. I am also very excited about what the future brings to our department with the upcoming completion of the Jamie L. Roberts Stadium Project next fall."
Cranmer will also serve in key liaison roles to Admissions, Advancement/Corporate Relations, Student Affairs, and Student Conduct. In addition, he handles athletic contracts and athletic scheduling.
"I thank Jim for his many years of service, and look forward to our continued work together as we enter an exciting chapter of Seahawks Athletics with the beginning of the construction phase of the Jamie L. Roberts Stadium Project, scheduled for completion Fall 2018," concluded Devine.
Facebook: StMarysAthletics
Instagram: @smcseahawks, @smcm_mbb
Twitter: @smcseahawks, @SMCM_MBB
Hashtags: #SweepTheSheds, #GoHawks
June 21, 2018 156 Seahawk Student-Athletes Land on CAC All-Academic Team
April 27, 2018 Bartholomew Grabs St. Mary's Athlete of the Month Award
April 20, 2018 St. Mary's College Board of Trustees Approves Budget for Jamie L. Roberts Stadium
April 3, 2018 Collie Snags St. Mary's Athlete of the Month Award
April 3, 2018 St. Mary's Women's Lacrosse Spring Skills Clinic
April 1, 2018 #D3Week Is Upon Us!
March 23, 2018 2018 Special Olympics Field Day Rescheduled for April 8
March 6, 2018 Scott Reaps another St. Mary's Athlete of the Month Award
March 2, 2018 Today's St. Mary's Men's and Women's Tennis Matches Postponed
February 23, 2018 St. Mary's Baseball and Men's Tennis Announce Schedule Changes
February 6, 2018 Get Ready to Run, Bike, and Swim… Again!
February 5, 2018 Nominating Period for St. Mary's Athletic Hall of Fame Now Open
January 9, 2018 Scott Picks Up December Athlete of the Month Award
December 29, 2017 Military and Youth Appreciation Basketball Games in January 2018
November 28, 2017 SAAC Collects Nearly 2,000 Pounds of Food
November 16, 2017 Fan Bus for St. Mary's Men's Basketball at Towson
November 13, 2017 Cranmer Promoted to Associate AD of Internal Operations
November 7, 2017 Annual SAAC Canned Food Drive Begins Saturday
November 7, 2017 Kearson Grabs October Athlete of the Month Honor
October 30, 2017 Jamie L. Roberts Stadium Complex Building to Begin
October 13, 2017 SAVE THE DATE - HALLOWEEN AT THE ARC - OCT. 26
October 4, 2017 Baseball, Women’s Lacrosse Prospect Clinics Coming Soon
October 2, 2017 Haussler Nabs First Athlete of the Month Award of 2017-18
August 24, 2017 McDonnell Named Senior Woman Administrator at St. Mary's
St. Mary's College of Maryland
47645 College Drive St. Mary's City, MD 20686-3001 (240) 895-4295
Sat, 01/18 | Men's Basketball at Salisbury W, 68-65 (Final) RC | BX | V
Sat, 01/18 | Women's Basketball at Salisbury L, 82-55 (Final) RC | BX | V
Sat, 01/18 | Men's Swimming vs. Frostburg St. W, 112-84 (Final) RC | R | V
Sat, 01/18 | Men's Swimming vs. Southern Virginia W, 106-86 (Final) RC | R | R | V
Sat, 01/18 | Women's Swimming vs. Frostburg St. W, 117-68 (Final) RC | R | V
Sat, 01/18 | Women's Swimming vs. Southern Virginia W, 118-59 (Final) RC | R | R | V
Wed, 01/15 | Men's Basketball vs. York (Pa.) L, 77-74 (Final) RC | BX | BX | A | V
Wed, 01/15 | Women's Basketball at York (Pa.) L, 80-53 (Final) RC | BX | BX | V
Sat, 01/11 | Men's Basketball at Mary Washington L, 87-57 (Final) RC | BX | V
Sat, 01/11 | Women's Basketball at Mary Washington L, 61-33 (Final) RC | BX | V
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Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore – #Summer Sale – D.G. Kaye, Stevie Turner, D.Wallace Peach and Colleen Chesebro
Welcome to the last in the Summer Sale posts with books in the Cafe and Bookstore that have been reduced on Amazon or Smashwords.
Some of the books from Monday 9th may still be on sale so worth checking: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2018/07/09/sallys-cafe-and-bookstore-summer-sale-brigid-p-gallagher-hugh-w-roberts-jacquie-biggar-and-victoria-zigler/
And from Friday 13th (lucky for some): https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2018/07/13/sallys-cafe-and-bookstore-summer-sale-99p-99c-children-ya-poetry-african-adventure-lucinda-e-clarke-darlene-foster-natalie-ducey-and-annette-rochelle-aben/
Some may still be on offer from Monday 16th: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2018/07/16/sallys-cafe-and-bookstore-summer-sale-childrens-books-thrillers-fantasy-charles-e-yallowitz-john-w-howell-jemima-pett-m-j-mallon-and-diana-j-febry/
Now time to showcase the last of the books in the summer sale beginning with D.G. Kaye who has reduced her latest memoir – Twenty Years: After “I Do” : Reflections on Love and Changes Through Aging. 99c/99p until July 31st
About Twenty Years: After “I Do”.
May/December memoirs.
In this personal accounting, D.G. Kaye shares the insights and wisdom she has accrued through twenty years of keeping her marriage strong and thriving despite the everyday changes and challenges of aging. Kaye reveals how a little creative planning, acceptance, and unconditional love can create a bond no obstacle will break. Kaye’s stories are informative, inspiring, and a testament to love eclipsing all when two people understand, respect, and honor their vows. She adds that a daily sprinkling of laughter is a staple in nourishing a healthy marriage.
Twenty years began with a promise. As Kaye recounts what transpired within that time, she shows that true love has no limits, even when one spouse ages ahead of the other.
Love can conquer all! By Balroop Singh on May 20, 2018
Twenty Years: After “I Do” by D.G. Kaye highlights the fact that love can conquer all…only if you understand what is real love. Love is not just passion for each other, laughing or going out together. It is also listening intently, it is being emotionally present in those conversations, it is cleaning the mess of your partner who may get sick just after you marry her. Kaye has shared her personal story of marrying Gordon, who is twenty years older than her but age didn’t deter her from her decision of marrying a man whom she loved. Despite the challenges, love strengthened their relationship in the face of storms of life, taking care of each other in all situations.
This book may be based on the personal experiences of Kaye but it makes an in-depth analysis of marriage, which is not just a commitment that brings blissful joy in the lives of a couple while they are healthy and energetic but also demands care, unconditional love, respect and trust that the partner has to give spontaneously.
In a successful marriage, romantic love morphs into a loving and eternal relationship if we understand that forbearance and patience are as essential as passion and sex. A spouse who can’t pick up your luggage from the carousel or who needs a wheel chair at the airport to board a flight just after 20 years of marriage just needs your smile and support.
Conflicts are natural in a marriage but Kaye illustrates with real situations how she copes with them, giving a message that one has to devise one’s own ways to resolve them. Any married person can feel the connect with the thoughts of D.G. but if you are at the threshold of this new phase of life, you could collect some pearls of wisdom from the experiences that she shares in this book. The last two chapters of the book are heart-wrenching and left me wondering how could mortality be discussed in so many words. Kudos to Kaye for her bravery!
Read the reviews and buy the book at 99c until July 31st: https://www.amazon.com/Twenty-Years-Reflections-Changes-Through-ebook/dp/B077V386TL/
And on Amazon UK at 99p: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Twenty-Years-Reflections-Changes-Through-ebook/dp/B077V386TL/
Other books by D.G. Kaye
Connect to Debby via her website/blog: http://www.dgkayewriter.com
The next author in the summer sale is Stevie Turner who has reduced her book A House Without Mirrors to 99p/99c until July 26th.
About A House Without Windows
Dr Beth Nichols thinks she has been held captive by Edwin Evans for about 8 or 9 years now. Amidst her grief she often looks back and thinks about her fiancée Liam; theirs was the greatest romance of all. She lies awake at night staring at the one light bulb that is never switched off, and prays that he is still out there somewhere searching for her…
A psychological thriller that you will not be able to put down! ByJjspina on June 28, 2018
A House without Windows is a psychological thriller that will shock readers. I couldn’t put this book down. This would make an exceptional movie on the big screen.
The author tells the story through the mind of the main protagonist, Beth Nichols, a caring and well-liked doctor. On her way home one day she stops to assist a patient of hers and doesn’t remember anything. Afterward she finds herself locked in a basement room. Edwin Evans is a disturbed individual and has kidnapped Beth and locked her up in his basement to have for himself. A good part of the story takes place in this dark basement that has only one light overhead that is on all the time.
Beth is engaged to the love of her life, Liam, who has no idea what has happened to her. She is kept hidden for nearly ten years. During this time she gives birth to a child which the kidnapper thinks is his. Beth knows better but does not share this fact. The author then continues the story through the eyes of the child, Amy, which only makes this more horrendous for the reader to comprehend.
I don’t want to say what happens next for it would spoil the story for readers. It is an unforgettable read and makes the reader question how a person could endure such incomprehensible treatment and survive with her mind intact. How would a young child adjust to the outside world after being subjected to this life in her early years. Would Beth ever be able to escape with her daughter and if she does will she ever be able to live a normal life again?
This is an exceptional read that you will not be able to erase from your mind. It is no wonder that this excellent read has already won two book awards. Kudos to the author!
Read the reviews and buy the book for 99p until 26th of July: https://www.amazon.co.uk/House-Without-Windows-Stevie-Turner-ebook/dp/B00HUH6R7Q
And on Amazon US for 99c until 26th July :https://www.amazon.com/House-Without-Windows-Stevie-Turner-ebook/dp/B00HUH6R7Q
A selection of other books by Stevie Turner
Read all the reviews and buy the books: https://www.amazon.com/Stevie-Turner/e/B00AV7YOTU
And Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stevie-Turner/e/B00AV7YOTU
Follow Stevie Turner on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7172051.Stevie_Turner
Connect to Stevie via her website: http://www.stevie-turner-author.co.uk/
The next author offering her latest release on a Kindle countdown deal is D.Wallace Peach for Soul Swallowers ( The Shattered Sea Book 1) starting at 99c/99p today so grab quickly while it is at that price as it will increase shortly.
About Soul Swallowers
When swallowed, some souls gift insights, wisdom, a path to understanding. Others unleash power, proficiency with a sword, and indifference to death. One soul assimilates with ease. But swallow a host of the dead and risk a descent into madness.
Estranged from his family over the murder of his wife, young Raze Anvrell wields his fists to vent his rage. Then a chance at a new life beckons, and he retreats to the foothills of the Ravenwood, the haunt of unbound ghosts. He and his mentor build a freehold, a life of physical labor and the satisfaction of realizing a dream. They raise horses and whittle by the fire until the old man dies, and Raze swallows his first soul.
When his brother reaches out, open wounds begin to scar. But the tenuous peace won’t last. While those who rule the Vales yield to the lure of their ambitions, slavers of Ezar roam the countryside, hunting for human chattel. While one man manipulates the law, another heeds the souls of violence howling in his head.
Raze too listens to his soul’s whispers, and as danger intrudes on his quiet life, he has no choice but to return to his father’s world and join the fight.
In this completed series, epic fantasy blends with the wisdom of old souls to create a unique coming of age story of courage and honor in the midst of evil. Slavery is pitted against freedom, anger against forgiveness, and a desire to live peacefully against the necessity to take up the sword.
It’s a story of bitter estrangement and broken hearts, of deception and unfettered ambition. For Raze Anvrell it’s a journey of violence, redemption, and his soul’s growth as he transforms from a reckless youth into a man with a rich legacy of souls.
Magic, politics, love, and madness collide in this fantasy adventure. For lovers of beauty and battle, and complex characters willing to risk everything in the fight for their souls.
Colleen M. Chesebro 5.0 out of 5 stars At the book’s ending, I found myself reluctantly thrust back into my world hating to let the fantasy go. July 13, 2018
D. Wallace Peach has the rare distinction of becoming my favorite fantasy author based on the quality of her storytelling methods. I haven’t read a single book by this author that I haven’t loved.
Imagine my glee, when I found out she had begun a new series, called, The Shattered Sea. Book One, The Soul Swallowers, is everything I knew it would be—brilliant, creative, and unforgettable.
When Raze Anvrell leaves the wealth and the safety of his home after his young wife is brutally murdered, he suspects that his family was to blame for her demise. Determined to strike out on his own, he flees to Ravenwood, where the souls of the unbound dwell.
Everyone wears an empty soulstone which is given to all of the people at the Temple of Souls. When people die their soul transfers into the pendant. To die without their soulstone allows a soul to drift forever in the ether. The individual’s skills, aptitudes, and the very essence of their personality would then be lost to future generations.
Raze meets Briyon, the owner of his own freehold, who invites the young man to join him in making a new life. Briyon becomes the father figure in Raze’s life and when he dies, Raze swallows his first soul.
Imagine being whom you are and accepting the soul essence of someone else into your existence. New skills and knowledge must integrate, for better or worse. If you swallow too many souls, disaster prevails as the personalities clash for dominion, madness being the end result.
It is in this world where Raze follows the whispers of his soul into unknown territory where only the brave survive.
I felt the magic breathe through the pages of this book with an ancient wisdom that touched my own soul. At the book’s ending, I found myself reluctantly thrust back into my world hating to let the fantasy go.
MY RATING: Character Believability: 5 Flow and Pace: 5 Reader Engagement: 5 Reader Enrichment: 5 Reader Enjoyment: 5 Overall Rate: 5 out of 5 Stars
Head over and buy the book at 99c before it increases soon: https://www.amazon.com/Soul-Swallowers-Shattered-Sea-Book-ebook/dp/B07DKV4FGJ/
And on Amazon UK at 99p: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Soul-Swallowers-Shattered-Sea-Book-ebook/dp/B07DKV4FGJ/
A selection of other books by D.Wallace Peach
Connect to D. Wallace Peach via her website/blog: http://www.mythsofthemirror.com
And the last author today with her latest release on offer is Colleen Chesebro with Fairies, Myths & Magic: A Summer Celebration. Currently on offer for 99c/99p for the next few days.
Step into a world where fairies, dragons, and other magical beings converge in a collection of poetry and short stories inspired by the celebration of Litha, the Summer Solstice.
Meet Drac, a dragon cursed by his own poisonous deeds, and two pixies who help an old man remember a lost love. You’ll meet a pair of fairies with a sense of humor, and a young girl who fulfills her destiny after being struck by lightning. Learn what happens when a modern witch’s spell goes terribly wrong. Meet the Sisters of the Fey, a group of Slavic Witches who sign a pact with the Rusalki Fey to preserve their magic for the good of all.
Atmospheric and haunting, the prose and poetry, will rewrite the mythologies of the past bringing them into the future.
Balroop Singh 5.0 out of 5 stars Enter the magical world of fairy Kingdom this Summer June 25, 2018
Colleen celebrates summer with fairies, nymphs and those magical creatures that have constantly enchanted mankind. Her spiritual encounter with “a tiny creature, with transparent wings and lavender fragrance” mesmerized her and gave her an amazing power to become a fairy whisperer. Her poetry and stories, which exude magic, are inspired from the swamp fairy she had met. She could sense her presence even after she had vanished into the fog, as it fired her imagination, impelling her to write about their realm.
Colleen transports you to the magical world of fairies, slowly opening each door to reveal the wonders of fairy kingdom where spells are cast to win love or heal, where fairies get tipsy and stop whispering into the ears of Roger, where the thrill of spiritual bliss could be felt. When Regin plans to trick Aerwyna into the words of spell to win her love for a few hours, all he gets is the love of an old woman Mrs Hawkins, the most aged woman in the country while Aerwyna laughs at the spectacle! This book is a superb combination of stories and poetry, which has a mystical connection with spirits and myths.
Read the reviews and buy the book for 99c for the next few days: https://www.amazon.com/Fairies-Myths-Magic-Summer-Celebration-ebook/dp/B07DTSBH4T
And Amazon UK at 99p: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fairies-Myths-Magic-Summer-Celebration-ebook/dp/B07DTSBH4T
Also by Colleen M. Chesebro
Read the reviews and buy the books: https://www.amazon.com/default/e/B01N9MV2RX
And on Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fairies-Myths-Magic-Summer-Celebration-ebook/dp/B07DTSBH4T
Read more reviews and follow on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16254415.Colleen_M_Chesebro
Connect to Colleen via her website: https://colleenchesebro.com
Thank you for joining us today and tomorrow there are a few more books that are currently FREE to download.. I hope you will pop in to check them out.
This entry was posted in Book Promotion and tagged Colleen Chesebro, D. Wallace Peach, D.G.Kaye, Stevie Turner by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.. Bookmark the permalink.
37 thoughts on “Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore – #Summer Sale – D.G. Kaye, Stevie Turner, D.Wallace Peach and Colleen Chesebro”
The Story Reading Ape on July 20, 2018 at 10:59 am said:
Thank you for sharing Chris.. hugs ♥♥
The Story Reading Ape on July 20, 2018 at 12:30 pm said:
Welcome, Sally 🤗❤️🤗
Stevie Turner on July 20, 2018 at 11:14 am said:
Thanks Sally! x
Pleasure Stevie..hugsx
Thanks to Sally Cronin for this promotional opportunity.
Delighted to share Stevie..xx
Marcia on July 20, 2018 at 1:33 pm said:
Great post, Sally, featuring some super writers! So glad to pass this one along! 🙂 ❤
Thank your Marcia…hugsx♥
Colleen Chesebro on July 20, 2018 at 4:00 pm said:
Many hugs of thanks, Sally. I have to share everywhere. ❤
Thanks Colleen..hugs ♥
Hugs back at ya, Sally. ❤
Sally is sharing a great collection of books that are on sale. Take advantage of these sales now. ❤
Thanks for spreading the word Colleen..hugs xx♥
A great pleasure. ❤
robbiesinspiration on July 20, 2018 at 4:26 pm said:
I have acquired some lovely new books, Sally. A great idea.
Wonderful thanks Robbie.. a couple more free tomorrow and then the sale is done…. time to catch up on all the reviews that have been accumulating for everyone… xxxx
Thanks so much Sal for featuring my book here today. And the company I’m in? Well, thrilled to be in such a talented lineup of authors, and friends! ❤ ❤
Delighted to share Debby and hope that they head over and take advantage.. ♥♥
❤ xx
Darlene on July 20, 2018 at 6:07 pm said:
Some more excellent books on sale!! I’m sure everyone’s TBR pile is growing!!
olganm on July 20, 2018 at 6:11 pm said:
What a fabulous selection, Sally! Perfect for the summer! Good luck to all the writers!
Thanks Olga ❤ xx
Thanks Olga.. I have enjoyed the sale… great fun. hugs xxx
How fun to find myself with these wonderful writers, Sally. Thanks for the opportunity to share my book sale as well as Colleen’s fabulous review. Have a wonderful weekend!
John W. Howell on July 20, 2018 at 8:04 pm said:
Super selection, Sally. Thanks again for the My GRL feature.
Delighted to share John..hugs xxx
John W. Howell on July 21, 2018 at 12:05 am said:
Pingback: Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Weekly Round Up – Summer Book #Sale, One of my books FREE,A Writer’s Life,Travel, Music, Cookery, and Guests | Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life
macjam47 on July 23, 2018 at 1:54 am said:
Sally, thanks so much for the tips. I am reading Debby’s book now and loving it. I have downloaded Diana’s and Colleen’s books, though I’m not sure when I will get to them. A wonderful collection of authors and books. Love and hugs.
Fantastic, thanks Michelle.. ♥
jjspina on July 23, 2018 at 9:50 pm said:
These are some fabulous authors and their books. Thanks for sharing my review of Stevie’s unforgettable book. I have read some of these books but will peruse the others for future reads. Thanks, Sally, for sharing all these fantastic books! hugs xx
Thank you Janice and congratulations on the reviews for the new book.. I have featured later in the week.. hugs xxx
jjspina on July 23, 2018 at 11:51 pm said:
Thank you, Sally! You are so generous and kind with your time. 😘🤗❤️
Norah on July 25, 2018 at 12:52 pm said:
There are many good books to choose from in these generous offers from authors, Sally. Thanks for letting us know.
Glad to hear thanks Norah.. hugsxx
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Star Wars Crew
Prequel Trilogy
Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Original Trilogy
Episode IV: A New Hope
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Ewoks: The Battle for Endor
Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure
Star Wars Interviews: the book series
Tim Dry (Whiphid)
Tim Dry
Whiphid, Mon Calamari (Return of the Jedi)
Interview: 2006
Back in 1985 they made a toy of Yak-Face (Sean’s character). It became one of the rarest Star Wars figures.
It took almost 20 years before they made a toy of Whiphid, your character. Did this feel as some sort of relief to you?
No, not really. The best things are always worth waiting for, Ha ha! I’ve always been a little bit older than Sean so I let the youngster strut his stuff before I made my grand entrance!
To be honest, back in 1982 neither of us ever imagined that there would be toys of our characters or indeed of any of the characters from the movies.
So they are a bonus.
Did you know that Whiphid went on to make some rather dubious porno movies in Belgium in the late 1980’s after he escaped from Jabba’s sail barge?
No, most people don’t know about that other career of his.
These days he’s shaved off all that fur, had some serious dental work done and is now an IT consultant in Luxembourg. Strange journey huh!
In the eighties you worked with some heroes of mine, the likes of Duran Duran, Gary Numan and Depeche Mode.
Of all artists: who is the best you have ever worked with? And if you could name one artist you want to work with, who would it be?
For us as Tik and Tok it’s definitely Gary Numan. He played and sang on one track of our 1984 album Intolerance and actually donated a backing track of a beautiful song he’d written called ‘A child with the ghost’ for us to use on the same record. Plus he gave us the support slot on his seven week UK Warriors tour in ’83. Now that is generous!
Duran Duran were friends at the time too. We supported them at some shows and made a memorable appearance at Nick Rhodes’ wedding.
But to be honest, the naked but magnificently formed duo juggling feral cats wearing latex was never going to be a big earner for us, so we dropped that particular part of our act after our moment of glory at the Savoy hotel in London.
Who would we like to work with? Hmm… anybody who pays us enough?
If he was still with us I’d say that Salvador Dali would appreciate our surreal qualities. Bowie of course, but I don’t think that he can afford us now!
For Tik and Tok it’s about finding the joy and the humor in any situation.
Suppose you could do the soundtrack for Star Wars…. 80s (electro/new-wave/or something else) style! Which songs from which artists would you include in the movie, and why (and for which scenes? The opening credits for example would be….?)
‘Shaddap You Face’ by Joe Dolce over the opening credits as the ships pass over head. This would segue into ‘Flashdance’ with C-3PO strutting his stuff on a dance floor lined with mirrors. Cool, retro and edgy! Luke Skywalker, troubled but full of imminent adventure, gazes out over the desert skies of Tatooine as Belinda Carlisle sings ‘Circles In The Sand’. Are you with me?
An Alec Guinness clone makes his first appearance to ‘I’m Too Sexy’ by Right Said Fred.
Darth Vader strides into view as the soundtrack plays ‘Favorite Shirts’ by Haircut 100. Oh, it’s gonna be big! Think Priscilla Queen Of The Desert in outta space!
Actually, I’d go for Sakamoto, Vangelis, DAF, early Cabaret Voltaire, Yello, Tik and Tok, early Human League, William Orbit, Craig Armstrong, Goldfrapp and Nine Inch Nails for a truly cutting edge soundtrack to a new movie.
Looking back at Return of the Jedi, did you really like the movie?
It sucked! BIG TIME! NO, I am joking. Episodes IV, V and VI back to back would be enough. The saga is complete. You don’t need CGI to tell a story. We like a journey, characters that evolve, who find their power and fight back against adversity. Characters that you can identify with. Return of the Jedi, for example has those qualities in spades.
The cult-band Devo made a song called ‘Whip it’. Your character is called ‘Whipid’! A coincidence?
Do you think that the one that gave Whipid his name was a Devo fan?
Oh honestly! The guys who wrote ‘Whip It’ must have e-mailed me a 1000 times begging for my permission to use my character’s name as the title of one of their songs. And that was before the invention of the Internet.
All I used to say was: “If you’re gonna Whiphid, Whiphid good!”.
They agreed and all was happy ever after.
You have just released a new EP, together with Sean. Will you ever get back to acting in movies? (would you consider a role in the upcoming Star Wars TV-series?) Or will music remain your main focus?
We are shameless Tarts and we will go where anyone points us. Our motto is: “Never say Never”. If somebody were to offer us something that was cinematically suitable and rewarding we would be more than happy to go for it. We’ve been offered the lead roles in The Ronnie and Reggie Dome Story by 20th Century Fux but we’re not quite sure if we’re ready to commit to a major movie right now. As Tik & Tok our primary concern at the moment is the marketing of our CD EP Slightly Deranged.
And after that will come the release of our new album Deranged. So I guess that the answer is “Yes” to music being our main focus.
StarWars.community: your first step into a larger world
Established in 2005, StarWarsInterviews.com is the world’s largest archive of unique, self-conducted Star Wars Interviews (currently 195+) done by Dennis Pellegrom.
StarWarsInterviews.com is a sister-website of both StarWarsAwakens.com and TheMandalorian.net.
StarWarsAwakens.com is the largest Dutchspeaking Star Wars community, mainly aimed at Star Wars fans in The Netherlands and Belgium.
TheMandalorian.net is the largest international community for the upcoming live-action series The Mandalorian.
These three websites combined proudly represent the StarWars.community network.
Recently published interviews
Henning Ludvigsen (Game Art Designer)
Jude S. Walko (Bounty hunter)
Lorne Peterson (Visual Effects)
L. Neil Smith (Author)
Andrea Wickman-Miller (Jawa)
Popular interviews this month
Kit Sovine (Stormtrooper)
Bernard Bullen (Father of Din Djarin)
© 2019 StarWarsInterviews.com. All rights reserved. Star Wars is the intellectual property of Lucasfilm. © 2019 Lucasfilm Ltd.
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The Nod – How to tell if your track is Banging!
Blog, Genre Tips
What defines a good beat? Well, there is a term we use quite extensively when describing the overall ‘drive’ element of a track: ‘The Nod’. If you can nod to the rhythm of a song, then the beat works. The Nod actually refers to the flow of the beat, and the drive element constitutes the drum beat and bass line together. Because this book is about constructing beats, we will eliminate the bass from the equation. Bass, in itself, is a vast topic that I will cover at a later date when dealing with the low end of a track.
Most producers believe that a well-constructed beat, which has the Nod factor, comes down to two ingredients: the timing information of the whole beat and its constituents, and the dynamics of the individual components. In fact, there is far more to it than that. There are many factors that influence the flow of a drum beat and I will cover the most important ones.
I am Armenian, born in Iran, and have lived in other equally wondrous and safe havens like Lebanon and Kuwait. As a child I had an obsession with sound, not exclusively music, but sound in its entirety. The diverse cultures to which I was exposed have afforded me the benefit of experiencing some exotic time signatures, dynamics, and timing elements. I always believed that the East held the title for advanced timing variations in music and obscure pattern structures, and for a while this was true. Today, we are blessed with a fusion of cultures and artistic practices. None are more infused with cross-cultural influences as the drum beats we incorporate in modern music.
Let’s break down the different areas that, collectively, form ‘The Nod’.
The Sounds
In dance based music the choice of drum sounds is critical, and we have come a long way from processing live, acoustic kits into workable sounds that can live alongside a fast and driving BPM (beats per minute). Instead, we use drum samples and, in many cases, layer these samples with other samples and acoustic sounds. In the case of urban music, and the more defined and extreme sub-genre Hip Hop, we tend to go with samples from famous drum modules and drum samplers like the Emu SP1200, Roland TR808/CR78, and the MPC range—most notably the earlier versions such as the MPC60/3000.
The drum samples that we layer and process within a beat must meet very specific requirements. These include: topping and tailing, mono/stereo, acoustic/noise/ tonal, and pitch/duration specifications. Let me briefly explain, ahead of the longer discussions later in this book:
Topping and Tailing: This process entails truncating a sample (removing dead space before and after the sample) and then normalising it (using Peak Normalisation to bring the sample’s amplitude/level up to 0dB). We do this for a number of reasons. Crucial considerations include sample triggering, aligning samples on a timeline, and referencing gains within a kit or beat.
Mono/Stereo: A drum sample that displays the same information on both channels is a redundant requirement unless the dual channel identical information is required when layering using the ‘flip and cancel’ method. (Watch my video Art of Drum Layering Advanced, or read the article I wrote for Sound On Sound magazine entitled ‘Layers of Complexity’ for more information.) The only other instance where a stereo drum sample would be used is if the left and right channel information varies, as would be the case if a stereo effect or dynamic process were applied, or if the sample were recorded live using multi microphones, or if we were encoding/decoding mid/side recordings with figure-8 setups. We try to keep kick samples, in particular, in mono. This is because they remain in the centre channel of the beat and, ultimately, the mix. For other samples like snares, claps, and so on, stereo can be very useful because we can then widen and creatively process the sample to taste.
Acoustic/noise/tonal: Acoustic drum sounds will invariably have been tuned at the playing and recording stages but will need to be re-tuned to the key of the track in which the beat lies. Tonal drum samples, like the legendary 808 kick drum, will also have to be tuned. More importantly, the frequency content of the sample will determine what type of dynamic processing can be applied. A sine-wave based tonal kick will have no harmonics within the waveform and will therefore be reliant on innovative dynamic processing techniques. Noise-based samples contain little or no tonal information, so require a different form of processing because the frequency content will be mainly atonal.
Pitch and Duration: Ascertaining and tuning atonal drum sounds is a nightmare for many, and this area is covered extensively in later chapters using specific tools and processes. Extending duration with pitch changes, altering pitch without altering duration, using time-stretching, and modulating pitch and/or duration using controllers and automation: all these are excellent forms of pitch manipulation.
Producers spend more time using the nudge feature and timeline of their DAW, refining timing information for beats, than on other time variant process. We have access to so many time variant tools today that there really is no excuse to be unable to create either a tight and strict beat, or a loose and wandering beat, exactly as required. In fact, we have some nice workarounds and ‘cheats’ for those that have problems with timing issues, and I will cover these in more detail later.
Great timing in beat construction requires understanding several phenomena and techniques that I will explain in this book—BPM and how it relates to realistic timings for ‘played’ rhythms; Quantize, both in terms of divisions and how to alter these divisions; Ghost Notes and how they relate to perception; and Shadowing Beats, including the use of existing loops and beats to underlie, accent, and support the main beat. For example, if your drum beat is too syncopated and has little movement, you can reach for a Groove Quantize template in your DAW, or use other funky tools such as matching slice and hit points to existing commercial breaks.
The perception of a timing variance can be achieved in more than one way. Strangely enough, this leeway has been exhausted to death by Akai with the original Linn-designed pads and contacts. After the MPC 60 and 3000, Akai had no more timing variances in their hardware that could be attributed to ‘the MPC swing and sound’. Far from it. The timing of their DSP is rock solid. The timing of the pad’s initial strike, processed as channel pressure, note on/off and velocity curves, is what adds to the timing ‘delay’. This can be emulated on any pad controller that is sample based, because it is not hardware-specific. To further understand the perceptual formula, we need to look at the sample playback engine of all the top players. Bottom of the list lies Akai with their minimum sample count requirement, which demands so many cycles that if you truncate to a zero point sample start, the unit simply cannot cope with it. Add this ‘dead space’ requirement before a sample can be truthfully triggered to a pad that has inherent latency (deliberately designed by the gifted Roger Linn), and you end up with the ‘late’ and ‘loose’ feel of the MPCs. The sample count issue has now been resolved, and in fact was corrected from the 2500 onwards. I bring this up so that you are aware that there are very few magic boxes out there that pull out a tight yet loose beat. Nope. They all rely on physics to work. Yet, because of that requirement, we can work around the limitations and actually use them to our advantage. The MPCs have explored and exhausted these limitations quite successfully.
I love using pads to trigger drum sounds as it makes me feel more in touch with the samples than a mouse click or keyboard hit. The idea that drums must be ‘hit’ is not new, and the interaction that exists in the physical aspect of ‘hitting’ drum pads is one that makes the creative writing process far more enjoyable and ‘true’ to its origins. After all, the Maya didn’t have keyboard controllers. For this book I will be using the QuNeo to trigger samples, but occasionally I will also trigger via the keyboard (Novation SLMK2), because spanning templates can be a little confusing for those that do not understand the manufacturers’ default GM templates.
Early and late processes in aligning beat elements are also a creative and clever workaround for improving static syncopated beats. Simple movements of individual hits using grid subdivisions can add motion to strict 4/4, 3/4 and 6/4 beats, which are the common signatures used in modern music.
Although we think of our brains as really smart organs, they are not actually that smart when it comes to deciphering and processing sight and sound. If you were to snap your fingers in front of your face, the sound would reach your brain via the ears before the visual information reaches your brain via the eyes. That may sound strange because light travels faster than sound, but it isn’t that strange when you take into account the time it takes the brain to decipher the different sensory input. In addition, the brain does not recognise frequency or volume without a reference. This is what memory is for: referencing. The brain has an instinctual response to already referenced frequencies and can turn off like a tap in a hurry when confronted with the same frequencies at the same amplitudes. However, when presented with the same frequencies at varying amplitudes the brain has to work to decipher and reference each new amplitude. This keeps the brain active and therefore interest is maintained. Next time you decide to compress your mix into a square wave because you think it will better ‘carry your mix’ across to listeners by rattling their organs, think twice. A narrow banded dynamic mix simply shuts the brain down, which then goes into ‘irritation mode’ because it has already referenced the constant amplitude for the frequency content in your track. The same processes take place when dealing with drum beats. The most interesting drum beats have acres of dynamic movement and do not rely on a single static amplitude for all the frequencies in the beat. Simple tasks, like altering the individual note velocities or amplitudes, will add huge interest to your beats. I would be surprised if Clyde Stubblefield maintained the same 127 velocity across all his hits whilst playing the drums.
Individual drum sounds can be layered to give both depth and width, resulting in a texture that can be both dynamic and interesting. If you need to delve into this area in more detail please refer to my book Art of Drum Layering, or the Advanced Drum Layering video which explores very specific layering techniques using phase cancellation, mid/side, and so on. But don’t confine yourself to drum sounds for layering. I have sampled and used kitchen utensil attacks, edited from individual amplitude envelope components, for the attack part of my snares and hi hats, cardboard boxes close miked with a large diaphragm capacitor to capture the boom for kick bodies, and tapping on the head of a directional mic for some deep, breathy samples with which to layer my entire beats, and so on. If you can sample it, hell, use it!
Whole drum loops, treated as layers, can add vibrancy and motion to a static drum beat. Layering loops under a beat not only helps in acting as a guide for those that are not very good at drumming or creating grooves, but also allows for some interesting new rhythms that will make the listener think you have incredible insight into beat making.
Layering tones beneath drum beats is an old and trusted method of adding low end. However, simply throwing a sine-wave under a beat doesn’t make it ‘have low end’. You need to edit the waveform both in terms of frequency (pitch) and dynamics (in this instance: duration and velocity) and take into account the interaction between the low frequency content of the beat and sine-wave along with the bass line. Many a Prozac has been consumed during the mix-down of this type of scenario.
Using modulators to create both motion and texture in a drum beat is not as hard as it may seem at first. The trick, as with all these processes, is to understand the tools and their limitations and advantages. For example: a low frequency oscillator (LFO) triggering the filter cut-off using a fast ramp waveform shape can add a lovely squelchy effect to a clap sample. Another technique that I have often used is assigning a sine-shaped LFO at a low rate with filter resonance as its destination to run through the entire beat. I then layer this ‘effected’ version with the original dry beat. This gives the perception of tonal changes throughout the beat, even though it is not random.
Drum Replacement/Ripping Beats
Creative beat construction techniques using drum replacement and ripping beats include: substituting your own drum samples for drum sounds within a beat; using the timing information from an existing drum beat as a Quantize or groove template for your own beats; ripping both MIDI and dynamic data from an existing drum beat; and using two beats at different tempos, matching their data to create a new beat that combined drum elements from both beats.
Let’s now look at some of the techniques used to shape and hone drum beats into working ‘Nods’. I will try to incorporate as much of the above as possible into real-life exercises using examples of common chart hits. In terms of tools, I have found that a decent DAW, a capable pad controller, and a good all-round keyboard controller will cover the areas that we require. A pad controller is not crucial, but it does allow for more interaction and dynamic ‘feel’ (we all love to hit pads).
Extract taken from the eBook Beat Construction
13th October 2017 /by eddie
https://samplecraze.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/12256884_1069653443054965_461800955_n.jpg 480 480 eddie https://samplecraze.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/samplecraze-logo-red.png eddie2017-10-13 09:57:332019-01-02 10:02:27The Nod - How to tell if your track is Banging!
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The Other Sarah
A trans, feminist, atheist, and progressive-minded student, and her writings on how that stuff all intersects together.
Posted on Sat 16th April 2011 Tue 5th January 2016 by Sarah
The failure and ridicule of TV Tropes
This is something festering in my mind for the past week or two; a blog post that can hardly be considered “hackery”. It’s really a shame that I’ve sidelined myself into blogging solely about British political minutae. I’ve got more things to blog about than just how awesome and cool Nick Clegg is.
I’m pretty sure we know what a wiki is: a community-edited resource of information, usually open to pretty much everyone (sometimes registration is required). TV Tropes is a wiki geared, obviously, to tropes (storytelling devices) in television. It’s not an accurate description, really; its remit has ballooned from television to all media, and some real life examples; and it’s not a good example of a wiki.
You see, creating a wiki requires that you open up a large part of how it’s run to a wider community, unlike a blog, which is controlled solely by the people who write the posts. And when people contribute to a wiki they want to see a return on their “investment”. This is the way Wikipedia went over the past ten years; gradually, Jimbo Wales has relinquished most of his power to pretty much all kinds of people: most policy discussion and implementation is done by the public, actions are taken by the administrators, complex dispute resolution by the Arbitration Committee, and sorting the legal and public side of it to the Foundation. This has served Wales well; even with little non-delegated power, he is still seen as the “head” of Wikipedia and his opinions carry a lot of weight; essentially, he is the Wikipedia equivalent of Queen Elizabeth II. In theory.
On TV Tropes, however, this is not the case. The main administrator and site owner, Fast Eddie, doesn’t seem to have got what a wiki is about. Wikis by their very nature have a very egalitarian, anarchic structure “on the ground”. Sure, the Wikimedia Foundation has a clear power structure, but that’s partially for legal reasons. TVTropes is mostly at a level that doesn’t need legal structures to keep it afloat. Anarchy on the web at its most, huh?
Not exactly. You see, Fast Eddie runs a tight ship on TV Tropes. As tight as Andrew Schlafly, infamous control freak at large owner of the far-right blog “trusworthy” wiki Conservapedia. It can be excused, to a point, by saying “well, he owns the site”. But as I’ve said, wikis need to have some sort of democracy, or at the very least, consultation with editors, to survive. FE doesn’t do this, though. He’s widely known by his administrative fiat decisions which seem to go relatively uncriticised by the editors. Sure, getting rid of things such as the Fetish Fuel index was the best thing for the site, but where Jimbo Wales would use his reserve powers in an emergency, Eddie has more active powers, to the point of an absolute monarchy of the type seen in pre-Revolutionary France.
Fast Eddie also locks pages that he sees as “troll magnets”, but the criteria aren’t really defined properly. The result is permanently static pages because he just forgets about them. Contrast with Wikipedia, which says that permanent full protection is a last resort only. The moderators have a warped sense of priorities too. When I came across the Troper Tales page for Rape as Comedy and tried to get it deleted, I encountered significant resistance despite the obvious inherent problem with the page.
And, of course, the piece de resistance: the great subjective trope cull. Now, I’m no fan of pages on TV Tropes that are unduly positive or negative, but the cull on these tropes really goes too far. Wikipedia has the right idea when it comes to neutrality: present facts, and present the facts of opinions, but try to find a balance between those opinions. But we can’t even say if a work is good or bad, even if most people believe it’s bad, because it’ll somehow upset the people who think it’s good. Now, when it’s something like a recent Hollywood film, the chances are that there are a sizeable amount of people in that second column. But surely we can make judgements like saying that the Atari 2600 port of Pac-Man was completely terrible, can’t we? I mean, a game that was partially responsible for the Great Video Game Crash of 1983?
Wrong. Apparently, saying that is “subjective”. And herein lies the problem with TV Tropes. Opinions about a work don’t exist completely outside the work itself. Take a look at the film Lady in the Water, where the character of a obnoxious film critic was M. Night Shyamalan’s response to critics who lambasted The Village. Or, indeed, television series where unpopular characters are written out because the people hate them: Nikki and Paulo from Lost, for example. In all works other than one-and-done works, critical reception is essential for furthering a work. And indeed, there is a trope for characters such as Nikki and Paulo: it’s called “The Poochie“, after the fictional dog from the industry-mocking Simpsons episode “The Itchy and Scratchy Shoe“. Luckily, it’s not a subjective trope, yet.
But it doesn’t stop there. One of the most overreaching and stupid policies of the site is the whole “if you can’t say anything nice” guideline that pervades even writing. This, however, makes for incomplete coverage. To explain why, say, Seltzer and Friedberg aren’t making spoof movies any more, we have to explain that Disaster Movie and Vampires Suck were bad and they bombed at the box office. To explain why Rob Reiner fell from an award-winning producer of The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, and This is Spinal Tap to the joke seen in the South Park episode “Butt Out“, we have to look at North, and why the film was so bad Roger Ebert famously said “I hated hated hated this movie”. But none of this matters there. The problem is so endemic that real-life examples of a “People’s Republic of Tyranny” was deleted for being “rude”.
Which brings me onto another short point: Fast Eddie has encouraged the removal of real life sections because it doesn’t fit the remit of the site. But any evaluation of real life exposes this argument as bare. People use tropes all the time: for example, the “suspiciously specific denial” gets used in politics: for example, “I’m not being racist, but”, followed by a racist remark, or as I pointed out six weeks ago, “a fair impartial debate” between two people of one viewpoint. Tropes can easily describe Real Life too: take the example of the Orwellian Editor, which, like most of Nineteen Eighty-Four, was a not so veiled slight at Josef Stalin, the undisputed king of that kind of censorship.
And finally, the otaku nature of the community. No greater example can be found than the Nakama page. Nakama is, as the page describes, a Japanese word for a close-knit group of friends or characters. So why use “Nakama” rather than the alternate titles of “Fellowship”, “Comrades”, “Coterie”, or even “Ohana” (which, as any person growing up at the turn of the millenium, knows means “family, and family means no-one gets left behind or forgotten“)? Well, it’s solely because of an outrage by anime loving tropers when an attempt to move it to a more helpful title happened. This smarts particularly when some tropes named after western media (e.g. “Encyclopedia Browned” to “Conviction by Counterfactual Clue”) got changed for being “obscure” and “confusing”. And, as people have come to expect of the otaku, they tend to be socially stunted shut-ins who try to hide behind fake diagnoses of mental illness, which, of course, belittles genuine suffers. But I digress.
There is a point to Fast Eddie’s changes: it’s to increase the reputation of the site. But the damage has been done. From a control freak administrator to missing the entire mission of the wiki (and not as Fast Eddie repeatedly changes it) multiple times, and its userbase, making small changes like a ghettoising “subjective tropes” is all full of sound and fury that signifies nothing. Reputational change will only come when the site treats itself seriously, instead of the clusterfuck it currently is.
CategoriesInternet TagsTV Tropes
56 Replies to “The failure and ridicule of TV Tropes”
Hyperion says:
Mon 18th April 2011 at 08:58 (GMT)
As someone who used to visit and contribute (as a normal editor, not a mod or anything like that), I’d like to point out that this didn’t actually start until around mid-2010 or so…however, yes, it did indeed become as bad as you say, if not worse, and it’s one of the reasons I gave up and left in November, never to return.
Parkeronas says:
Tue 10th May 2011 at 13:21 (GMT)
To be honest, I can still enjoy some of the pages on the site, but it has lost the plot from what it intended to do, but personally, I don’t see why they should care about reputation at this point, because no amount of edits will change anyone’s mind.
Higgins says:
Tue 19th July 2011 at 02:05 (GMT)
You may want to know that Fast Eddie is trying to bolster the site’s reputation by calling tropers to write positive reviews on Alexia.com
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13108589930A01580100
Kalista says:
Thu 21st July 2011 at 04:00 (GMT)
I’ve been a troper for a years, and I discovered this article while googling for data about the engine TV Tropes runs on. I’ll have to say, this title did catch my curious eye – kuddos on that.
I don’t know how much of a control freak Fast Eddie actually is (and, honestly, I don’t really have time to investigate on that), but as far as I’m concerned, it isn’t necessarily a problem. The only thing that really does matter is the evolution of the wiki (the actions) – the motivations behind this evolution aren’t relevant.
And as a troper, most of the recent major changes (last two years) on TV Tropes felt sad but right – sad, because they took part of the fun away, but right, because I nearly always felt they’d make the site better in the long run.
To take an actual example, creating the “Subjective tropes” category did take part of the fun away from pages such as Dethroning Moment Of Suck, making them harder to find (by removing them from works’ page)… but TV Tropes’ goal is first and foremost to celebrate fiction – in other words, to help it shine. When searching for data about a fandom I enjoy (let’s say, Evangelion), I don’t necessarily want to read about why its haters hate it – that’d take the shine away.
In the same way, protecting frequent troll subjects does present the benefit of diminishing the troll frequency, which in turn helps make things look a little brighter.
In a word, TV Tropes is a positive wiki, whereas Wikipedia, for instance, is a neutral wiki (it theoretically doesn’t try to make stuff look good or bad).
So, yeah. Everything isn’t perfect, and the fun does get reduced, but I still think the global result is positive.
There are a few things I can’t accept in your article, though.
Firstly, your assertion that “creating a wiki requires”.
By saying that, you suppose a wiki is supposed to comply with a model that is considered to be good, desirable and, to be blunt, absolute.
I don’t think someone who is internet- (or even media-) savvy would expect anything absolute from a website just because of a “wiki” tag, but that’s exactly what you’re doing here.
Tags are just that – words to help people grasp an entity from an external point of view. A website labelled as a wiki will probably contain information about something, and it will probably be edited by a community.
However, once you’ve decided to get “in”, to “enter” the entity, the tags don’t mean anything anymore. You may discover only trusted editors can edit some pages, for instance – and that wouldn’t necessarily mean the wiki isn’t any good.
My point being, use tags to find what you’re looking for (an information cluster), not to criticize it. Wiki never are egalitarian by nature (ah, nature, an interesting word that is disturbingly easy to deconstruct); they frequently are egalitarian by choice.
TV Tropes may not be like Wikipedia, but from TV Tropes’ point of view, that’s a pretty good thing (the reverse may be true, and both are probably right – don’t forget, they don’t have the same goal in the first place!).
Secondly, comparing Wikipedia and TV Tropes’ heads to Queen Elizabeth II and pre-Revolutionary French monarchs feels inadequate.
There’s an important difference between internet communities and the Great Britain and French kingdoms – people come to internet communities, whereas they usually don’t choose to be French or English.
Because of this difference, what can usually be considered to be wrong for monarchies isn’t necessarily wrong for internet communities – it’s a different values system, since people can just leave. Furthermore, internet communities that don’t have an efficient decision making system usually end up dying, so having a monarch can be better than not having one for the sake of the community. Equality is a beautiful word, but it isn’t always a good thing on the internet (think Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory, for instance – that being said, newbies are another good reason to limit rights).
Lastly, I’d like to know why having an otaku community is a problem.
TV Tropes celebrates fiction; glancing at the creation streams, one can easily spot Japan as being an huge fiction works nest. Its anime and drama industry can quite easily compete with the American TV industry, and that’s not even taking the manga industry in account – this one far outclasses the American comics industry if one only looks at numbers. Not gonna talk about video games and visual novels, things would get ridiculous.
Because of this special position Japan is in, the proportion of Japanese fiction among TV Tropes pages isn’t exactly a surprise… so why would a big proportion of Japanese culture enthusiasts be strange or problematic? This whole paragraph about otaku looks like either a troll or a genuine otaku hate rant to me. Either way, distasteful.
Hum… Nothing to add for now, I think.
Thanks for writing this article – it was an interesting read nonetheless.
Ashley Pomeroy says:
Wed 7th September 2011 at 19:23 (GMT)
If the comment above is typical of the site’s users I’m not surprised it’s a dump. The pages I have seen generally start with a huge block of examples drawn from Japanese cartoons – overwhelmingly formulaic overlong rubbish – followed by tropes drawn from the same tiny pool of other media. It’s like DeviantArt, in the sense that it’ll probably be around forever, bumping along at its current level, unable to effectively monetise itself – unlike for example KnowYourMeme, which overlaps with TVTropes in certain respects, or the CheezBurger network. I’m sure TVTropes’ owner would love that kind of money, and he really needs to sit down and work out how he’s going to get it. Not like this.
Nezumi says:
Mon 8th October 2012 at 05:33 (GMT)
Anime is first because they started alphabetizing the media lists, rather than just shoving them in random order like they used to, and you’re unfairly hard on it, but the fact that the same few shows/books/etc. seem to be plugged repeatedly with few listings of anything outside that even if they’re appropriate is true.
Fellow says:
Sat 17th September 2011 at 12:53 (GMT)
My 2011 New Years resolution was to leave that site and never come back. Since then, my writing style’s improved, I come up with stories regularly, I speak more fluently, I generally avoid shounen anime, and I’m more social. Still a nerd, but less so.
All that site will ever do for you is make you miss the forest for the trees. That would be fine if it hadn’t been gradually declining since Chris-Chan. To be honest, though maybe it’s just my nostalgia kicking in, I liked the anarchic, sexual forum-in-disguise it once was.
Jason Sacuta says:
Sun 3rd July 2016 at 01:40 (GMT)
You make it sound like Anime is a bad thing.
Bolster says:
Tue 4th October 2011 at 00:39 (GMT)
Ashley Pomeroy: Sadly, the average person on that site is much worse.
Casual Cory says:
Fri 14th October 2011 at 10:00 (GMT)
Hey, found your site by Googling to see if anyone thought Tvtropes was a f***ed up as I did.
Never been a mod or contribute, just stumbled on the TvTropes site as part of my Movies interest. I thought Hey, neat! A wiki about the cliches and formulas of films and tv, this oughta be fun. Spent about four hours on there, never going back. I also had the misfortune of reading a page of Troper Tales; my soul has been blackened. And I’ve stumbled unwittingly into sites like Rotten and Encyclopedia Dramatica.
I’m PO’d they have the gall to call that site TvTropes – it should be called ten popular geek Shows/Films and every Anime/Cartoon tropes. Most of the articles are named from inside jokes in Japanese terms or other obscure things. Some phenomenal and classic movies/films/books have ten trope examples. Any anime or cartoon, no matter how obscure or old, will invariably have 40+. The only literature examples are from books everyone’s been made to read in high school English or exclusively from a few of the following; Star Wars, Harry Potter, Twilight, Animorphs or Anita Blake or some Fantasy title that anyone who is over twelve and still reads has never heard of.
I would be embarrassed if that was my site – and I’d have already wiped it clean and started it over, with my foot on the (Proverbial) throat of these overly sensitive, deluded women and man childs that have apparently flooded the site with their mind boggling infatuations with children’s media. Not a site for film and television buffs. False f***ing advertising.
Pingback: TV Tropes and the descent into madness « Will's Liberal Thoughts
Marcella says:
Sat 29th October 2011 at 22:34 (GMT)
I completely agree and actually googled ‘tv tropes changed’ to see if anyone thought the way I did. Glad to see that this is the case.
An issue I saw with the site is how, once, an admin (or Fast Eddie) put a trope up for deletion or renaming or something along those lines. A list was in the very first post as an example of ‘what not to say’ regarding the issue. It essentially listed all of the possible arguments one could have against this removal/renaming, and underneath these possible arguments made bullshit responses as to why they thought that argument was pointless. But in fact, a lot of the arguments listed were good reason for NOT removing/renaming said trope. I was furious. However, the admins (and the users who were wannabe admins and were kissing Fast Eddie’s ass) did not care, did not listen to reason. They did it and they did it their way without caring about the userbase. That is when I stopped visiting my once-beloved site.
TV Tropes is (or rather, was) not known for being an informative well-respected wiki as it was for its jovial editing atmosphere. It used to be an incredible amount of fun for me. I used to visit it every single god damn day, without fail. But with the realizations that the admins are running an authoritarian ship that brushes off the opinion of its users with an overwhelming air of smugness? Well, in my eyes, at least, this once-colourful beetle is on its back and in its death throes.
Wed 2nd November 2011 at 00:29 (GMT)
…I haven’t noticed much about the anime section yet.But I’m sure you are all just overreacting now.There are alot more literature like Terry Prachett and James Patterson(not as much Dean Koontz though sadly)and the large variety of movies can get really obscure.The so much anime is there because anime is getting alot more popular now.Even though,I am noticing a tightlipped and snooty theme in the How to pages.
Sat 3rd December 2011 at 19:57 (GMT)
Oh goooood it’s not just me!! *weeps*
It has become dreadful. I haven’t spent a week’s worth of TV Trope trawling for about a year. They removed all the best bits…and they give no help the Wiki who’s desperate to save all the (good) Troper Tales, especially of Hello, Insert Name Here which was always fantastic…
All I do on this site now is update a small web original thing I help with…
Pingback: The Goon who Kicked the Tropers’ Nest « Will's Liberal Thoughts
ambrtoon says:
Thu 22nd March 2012 at 11:36 (GMT)
Thanks for expressing your ideas. I’d also like to say that video games have been at any time evolving. Today’s technology and improvements have assisted create authentic and active games. Most of these entertainment video games were not really sensible when the real concept was first of all being tried. Just like other designs of technological innovation, video games as well have had to grow by means of many years. This itself is testimony towards fast growth of video games.
I’ve observed in the world the present moment, video games are the latest phenomenon with kids of all ages. There are times when it may be unattainable to drag your children away from the games. If you want the best of both worlds, there are lots of educational activities for kids. Good post.
An additional issue is video games can be serious in nature with the principal focus on finding out rather than leisure. Although, we have an entertainment element to keep your kids engaged, every game is usually designed to work with a specific set of skills or program, such as math concepts or technology. Thanks for your write-up.
I have realized some considerations through your website post. One other stuff I would like to state is that there are lots of games in the marketplace designed mainly for toddler age kids. They include pattern acknowledgement, colors, pets, and designs. These usually focus on familiarization as an alternative to memorization. This helps to keep little kids occupied without having a sensation like they are studying. Thanks
Another issue is that video gaming has become one of the all-time most significant forms of fun for people of various age groups. Kids enjoy video games, and adults do, too. The particular XBox 360 is probably the favorite gaming systems for people who love to have a lot of activities available to them, as well as who like to relax and play live with some others all over the world. Thank you for sharing your opinions.
Mutterscrawl says:
Sun 15th April 2012 at 06:11 (GMT)
If you don’t like the way they do it then make your own, I happen to like the site the way it is.
That stinks quite a lot of “if you don’t like it, then you can giiiiiiit out!“.
And thanks for telling me you like a website where the victim of several pedophiles’ advances was banned for being “rude” to the pedophiles. And the same website where a page about one of the most famous works of literature was deleted because obviously it has the same artistic merit as an anime where a 10 year old girl tries to have sex with her teacher.
I mean, fuck, you’d even get banned from reddit for saying that these days.
Fri 25th May 2012 at 23:02 (GMT)
Wil – I very much hope you can back that up. You can’t just publish statements like that unless you can prove they are true using evidence admissible in defamation proceedings.
In response to the original article, to me much of it seems rather straw man. I think you’ve built up an image of what wiki is supposed to be seemingly based only on what you personally would like the word “wiki” to mean.
If you can point me to evidence that the internet in general has agreed that “wiki” means everything you’ve assumed then fine – I think the most you can then reasonably say is “this is not a wiki and calling it a wiki is misleading for these reasons”.
Otherwise why give a toss about what goes on behind the scenes (and it is very much behind the scenes – only a tiny fraction of the site’s users ever contribute anything) provided there’s no law breaking, discrimination based on protected characteristics, trope-producing sweatshops etc. involved in the whole circus? It’s not like the website is a public body or has to be in anyway accountable to anybody (except in so far as it has to conduct itself in compliance with applicable laws).
Whilst I agree with some of the points in the original article, as above, I can’t see how you’ve supported the central assumption on which it is based.
There was at least one user who forum regulars knew to be 15, but they would still hit on her anyway. It’d be borderline okay if it were people her own age, but these were adults flirting with her. After complaining, I believe she was banned for being mean to her harassers. And yes, the TV Tropes page for Lolita was temporarily deleted because many tropers didn’t see any distinction between it and several pedophilic anime series.
And the entire purpose of a wiki is community editing. Otherwise it’s just a static webpage. You can use software such as MediaWiki to host content (for example, FAQs/knowledge bases), but they’re not referred to as wikis as such.
voiceoftheaccuser says:
Tue 26th February 2013 at 05:53 (GMT)
You were misinformed.
GirlWhoMakesCoffeeAtHomeBecauseSheDislikesStarbucks says:
Sat 16th April 2016 at 19:49 (GMT)
Eh, it’s like capitalism (except when limited by the government). Not always great, but not always bad. Sometimes awful, sometimes fantastic. If you don’t like a coffee shop’s coffee, do you March in and demand that it shut down or change it’s brewing style? No… Or, if you did, you’d either be laughed at or escorted off the property. So really, the solution is to either go back home and brew coffee in your own coffee pot, find a different shop, or hey, if you think your coffee is better and that the customers should be able to choose your style of coffee–build your own coffee shop. Yes, you absolutely have the right to say in public, in your home, or in your own coffee shop that the other should change or even shut down, and if you think it did something unlawful, then, by all means, report it!
I guess it is a bit “giiiiit out!” (And I’m NOT defending TVtropes’s actions that you’ve mentioned. I haven’t even said whether or not I like the site. I haven’t decided.) but really now, the poster was polite about it, which, in my own opinion, was much more respect than deserved.
I can tell you though, that if I owned a coffee shop, you might not like my coffee if you stopped by. If you don’t like it, perhaps I’ll know of a tea shop down the road to recommend.
Fair enough, but from the point of view of the average user that’s an irrelevant sideshow that most never even get close to knowing about (I don’t condone it, I just don’t think it has any realistic connection to the mainstream parts of the site).
“Community editing” doesn’t necessarily come with heavy doses of egalitarianism attached and there’s an argument to say that some staticity (if that is even a word – but I’m sure you know what I mean) is a good thing because it guards against tit-for-tat edit wars and creates a more stable resource. The point is that isn’t only one way to do it such that every other way is wrong.
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Colonel McBadass says:
Mon 30th July 2012 at 03:52 (GMT)
None of you mention the one who was wrongfully banned? The one who called that girl out for coming to a discussion board only to mock everyone on the other side of the argument whilst providing no arguments of her own? I was banned twice because an idiot abused their power, and then attacked by you ignorant, hypocritical, selfrighteous pieces of shit, and when I get MY hands on power, I’m going to destroy TvTropes and somethingawful, and ruin the lives of every single Goddamn goon.
Wyrmsyn says:
So when are you going to get around to that, dork?
I’d imagine when I get power for myself, as I’ve clearly stated.
Kilroy says:
Tue 31st July 2012 at 00:24 (GMT)
So the 12th of Never. Gotcha.
It’s pretty ironic, actually. For all the shit you guys give tropers, you’re pretty much less clever, unfunny versions of them. Maybe you shouldn’t try so hard, wait a while for something to come to you, otherwise you’ll always be stuck with generic garbage like this.
OhManOhMan says:
Shut up, CaptainOreIda
No, I’d just as soon not.
No matter how long I have to wait, you deluded pieces of shit are going to pay. You can think I’m full of shit all you like, in fact, I encourage it. The fact that you’re all so sure I’ll never get back at you will make all the more satisfying when I do. Boy, I’ll bet lola will lose her shit, I’m telling you, I would pay through the ass to see her reaction. SomethingAwful shut down, all the goons’ futures completely destroyed, and me, Colonel McBadass, rubbing it in every single day. Hey, crazier things have happened!
no 1 currrrrrrrz
Yeah, but see, I don’t really currrrrrrr if anyone currrrrrrrz, I just like chatting with you guys.
Fats says:
Sun 5th August 2012 at 02:26 (GMT)
Aww shit we’re all gonna be sorry when Lowtax sells his cash cow to broke pedophile Colonel McBadass
You’ll be sorry when your lives have been anally dry-fucked, and Lowtax won’t sell me jack shit. He and Fast Eddie will shut down their sites and I will build suitable replacements for them. (Preferably without selfrighteous suicide baiters or people who come to discussion boards to act like retards.)
illumnaughty says:
Wed 8th August 2012 at 04:46 (GMT)
Spuds McTitsalot, you’re confusing real life with your fleshlight again.
That might have passed for clever if it made any sense. You guys… just don’t pay attention. Let me put it simply: (klk) (eeeeee) Ahem. YOU’RE NOT FUCKING SPIDER-MAN. YOU ARE NOT FUCKING RODNEY DANGERFIELD. YOU ARE NOT A BOTTOMLESS MINE OF COMIC GOLD. YOU ARE NOT CLEVER, NOR FUNNY, NOR MILDLY INTERESTING. YOUR “WITTY BANTER” CONSISTS SOLEY OF HEAD SHAPE JOKES, GENERIC FAT JOKES, AND TIRED ATTEMPTS AT CLEVERNESS THAT RANGE FROM GENERIC AT BEST, TO COMPLETELY NONSENSICAL AT WORST. YOUR VIGILANTISM TOWARDS PEOPLE MORALLY INFERIOR TO YOU, AND YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR WERE YOUR ONLY REDEEMING QUALITIES, BUT YOU NOW SUICIDE BAIT PEOPLE, AND LAUGH AT TRAGEDIES, YOU, UNLIKE ME, REFUSE TO CONSIDER YOU MIGHT BE WRONG ABOUT THE PEOPLE YOU BRUTALISE, REFUSE TO CONSIDER YOU MIGHT HAVE MADE A MISTAKE, THE ONES YOU’RE RIGHT ABOUT ARE SCUM, BUT YOU PEOPLE ARE NOW MONSTERS, MANY TIMES WORSE THAN THE PEOPLE YOU ATTACK. Oh, and as one who’s had to suffer though said attacks? Your sense of humor sucks. Head shape jokes. Christ.
Thu 9th August 2012 at 00:46 (GMT)
Oh, I don’t think anyone’s made a mistake about you. You’ve said in the past you’re a pedophile. You’re also overweight. You also feel agressively entitled to anything with a vagina. QED
(seriously, what’s with the suicide baiting comment? do you think the only people who mock you are from SA or TVT?)
I’m going to snap one finger for every lie in your comment. So, three. I’ll make sure it’s your good hand.
Shit, I forget it.
Thank you for proving my points.
Mon 13th August 2012 at 23:04 (GMT)
You forgot about all the pedophiles and rape fetishists. They had an absolute fit when the site was (rightly) scrubbed of some pretty sick shit back around April.
Not that it could fix the biggest rpoblem with that site – a userbase of tone deaf dweebs who confuse listing “X Happened” with real analysis.
You forgot about all the pedophiles and rape fetishists. They had an absolute fit when the site was (rightly) scrubbed of some pretty sick stuff back around April.
Not that it could fix the biggest problem with that site – a userbase of tone deaf dweebs who confuse listing “X Happened” with real analysis.
Feking thing posted twice…
I didn’t, actually. There are two more posts on the matter, one of which talks about the rape and paedophile obsession.
It was scrubbed of some “sick shit.” It was also scrubbed of things that have a reputation they don’t actually live up to of being “sick shit.” Kodomo no Jikan and Lotte no Omocha stand out in that — there are legitimately artless pedophilic anime and manga with no real redeeming value as works of literature. (not going to get into any other value or detriment they might or might not have beyond this, because that gets ugly, fast.) These are not examples of such. In its earliest stages, it was even scrubbed of noted, respected works of art that had some questionable content, like “Lolita”, before people finally said “this is stupid” and started organizing the clean-up to some degree.
I’m… mixed on the Rape tropes. On the one hand, they’re ugly, smelly, nasty tropes that shouldn’t exist and their pages are triggering by their very nature even if they’re handled with the utmost decorum and sensitivity (which they aren’t, generally — the latest versions are actually ”toned down” from even more hilariously awful older versions which mostly had names like “Rape is Okay if it’s “) but unfortunately, they do exist, and thus do technically fall under TV Tropes’ purview.
Fast Eddie is ridiculously totalitarian. He once removed a type of formatting from the wiki (strikethrough, incidentally) solely because he personally disliked it. In this case, he didn’t even pretend to have a better reason.
And yes, some things were pointlessly named after Japanese terms or the like. Fast Eddie has heavily fought against this to the point of taking it too far in the other direction, though, trying to rename tropes like “Tsundere” that really don’t have a good alternative English title — the particular preoccupation with and delineation of this character type are specifically Japanese, and due to less attention to such characters in the West outside of anime and manga fandom that’s prone to just using the Japanese turn, there really isn’t a simple word or phrase in English that does a good job of encapsulating the character type.
…So, yeah. I definitely think TV Tropes has problems, and I definitely think the article is right about some of them… but in others I think its analysis is too two-dimensional, and in yet others I think it’s flat out wrong about what’s the problem.
That said, I’m just now getting to your third post, Will, which is unarguably about things that are hugely wrong with both TV Tropes and the larger society. (both internet and offline) Just reading it makes me very glad I stayed away from the forums, where the worst of it happened, only going if I had an issue to raise with regards to managing or editing a site which I am increasingly distancing myself from as it goes down in flames due to a combination of a community far more toxic than I ever realized and a totalitarian admin who — when not engaged in his own misguided personal crusades — is more interested in treating the symptoms than the actual problem.
Enigma says:
Sun 9th September 2012 at 16:39 (GMT)
See, if the site had any sort of quality control, you might have a point about the real life sections. In practice, they lead to the most mind-numbingly narrow-minded and idiotic examples of the lot, filled with overly sheltered teens/young adults putting thinly veiled whining about their lives into video game tropes and trying to squeeze in their skeletal knowledge of complex foreign relations into simple fiction cliches. Yes, people use tropes all the time in real life, but your argument assumes that the people who edit that site are mature enough to handle the real life sections.
The Accuser says:
Sat 16th February 2013 at 22:49 (GMT)
Ooh, I can’t wait to see the look on your face!
Masonicon says:
Well! I once Troping in the TVtropes only to got Banned repeatedly from TVtropes website itself just because I telling Tropers that Politically Correct shit(that people calls “RL Issues”) isn’t the only things that matters and happens as well exists In our Home Sweet Home Universe as well I also tells people in TVtropes that Conspiracy Theories and ‘Fringe’ stuff in General are Real Life examples of more Sci-fi and Fantasy tropes
oh yeah I also makes TVtropes page of my Project: http://epicxovermovie.webs.com/ only to later got deleted from TVtropes and people from TVtropes don’t want my Project anymore in TVtropes just because my project are Conspiracy-laden not to mention some people out there accuses my Project for Canon-rape and turning canon characters into Mary Sues regardless the best thing that I do to balancing it’s characters, so that’s why I make this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDdLMYC_HKI as response of the deletion of TVtropes page of my Project
another reason people from TVtropes don’t want me in TVtropes is: I’m the only one in TVtropes that averts “all Tropers are Skeptics” trope
Nope.avi says:
Mon 25th November 2013 at 18:24 (GMT)
I know this might get replied with ridicule and attacked by extremists of both sides,but:
TV Tropes wiki is A-OK,as far as I’m concerned
The forums on the other hand suffer from incompetent mods and an EXTREMELY overly so-called “accepting” creator/head mod
Is it sick that these imbeciles and failures in morality(Pedophiles,murderers,supremacists and racists,I mean) are allowed to stand among us?Yes.
Should they be allowed to be post on these forums?Fuck no
Does the site suffer from extremely idiotic management?Of course
But the rest of the community(most video game forums I’ve seen,anyway) are pretty tame and look down on the above mentioned filth,hell it was “said” in every article mentioning them that the Fetish fuel and Troper tales pages were disturbing as hell,it was put in the Nightmare fuel page.
And let’s face it,just because there’s a dark corner WITH these people,doesn’t mean that the rest of the community has to suffer from it.
There were kids that killed their parents for Halo,there was the Aurora shooting,Hitler liked dogs.
Every site,group,country,planet,race,whatever the hell you want to call the collection of people at the moment,has filth among them,no exception.
Mon 24th February 2014 at 01:11 (GMT)
http://spring-heel-jackie.deviantart.com/art/Is-TV-Tropes-Prejudice-against-disabled-436199913?q=gallery%3ASpring-Heel-Jackie&qo=0
satori says:
Wed 23rd July 2014 at 12:27 (GMT)
Hi! Old article, also good article! It’s kinda hard to really comment on it in 2014 without being intimate on recent events, whatever those may be. I take issue to one thing, though: the bit involving Pac-Man and “subjectivity”. I could go on and on about skepticism, but I think it’d be better to just explain the situation.
Pac-Man, as well as E.T., were never really critiqued at the time of their release. Both were also huge successes, with Pac-Man in particular selling a truly insane amount; the problem was that Atari printed a similarly astronomical amount of copies. In fact, that was simply one problem of a large package known as “Atari’s general incompetence”. The Crash was not caused by the quality of these two games, but simply by a bunch of really bad business decisions on Atari’s part.
Moving on from that, I have no problem declaring that Pac-Man is a miserable port in every conceivable way, while E.T. is a completely misunderstood work of genius. Here’s the thing: so is Raiders of the Lost Ark. RotLA is a game made by the same programmer with many of the same concepts and the same execution, and so by all rights is as “confusing” at E.T.; somehow, it has never been so criticized and is commonly hailed as a classic.
That is what the situation is: E.T. and RotLA are a pair of games that are complicated enough to require a small 10+-page manual, and exactly one of these games had been “criticized” for it by some random article written in the mid-’90s that would probably be considered flamebait if it had all been moved to 2014. This game deserves better than some preach-to-the-choir hack/”nerdy” technical breakdown that flatly refuses to change what may as well be anti-thinking.
Oh, and since someone will likely comment about that meaningless cart grave, they recently decided to dig it up and found very little, hashtag wow hashtag whoa.
rbade says:
Sat 16th January 2016 at 00:13 (GMT)
One: The nakama page has been changed.
Two: Japanese words sound cool because of how foreign they are.
Three: I’d prefer a wiki that looks casual but is actually highly regulated to a wiki that is bland to read on the surface but is actually anarchy underneath.
Jack “George” Hatfield says:
Sun 25th June 2017 at 01:51 (GMT)
I don’t give as crap about the reasons behind this rant but Fuck TV Tropes, they’re always busting people about natter or poor grammar and paragraphing and shit. They have the nerve to bring this bunk up when these asshats don;t even do a very good job of managing the horse crap that gets posted on their misaligned wiki’s? What a load of shit!
I got banned because of said dumb-ass reasons for their dung peddling site, about multiple grammatical errors which they didn’t even have the decency to point out to me when I asked what I did wrong.
Frankly I don’t really know why I even bothered with that stupid wiki page run by a pack of drooling and insensitive imbeciles who demand politeness when they themselves are a bunch jerkass lazy beatniks who aren’t even worthy to finger paint let alone run a webpage. Fuck TVTropes and Damn Fast Eddie to hell for brewing such a pointless quagmire of a page.
Wed 3rd January 2018 at 09:26 (GMT)
So I’ve read the article and the comment section, and all I’ve seen here is the absolute worst brought out of both communities.
I don’t really care about or particularly like tvtropes, but generalizing entire communities the way you do in this article is sad, especially when you call them all pedophiles rather than only the people who actually did it, isn’t that the type of ignorant behavior you’re trying to speak out against? You cannot sit there and honestly think of yourself as progressive when you display such hypocrisy.
The comment section here is very typical to the internet. I’ve seen edgy forums of 4chan more civil than this. You should be ashamed, the people here should be ashamed.
I hope in the years that past you’re now a more reasonable and respectable human being.
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East Africa’s news business: Paper kingdom – Economist com
Posted by paderbornersj on January 17, 2013
The Nation Group is thriving in east Africa, where “old media” still reign
The lag in digital-media consumption has helped keep profits fat at the eight newspapers, five radio stations and three television stations that Nation Group runs in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda. The company was started in 1959 with the financial backing of the Aga Khan, a Muslim prince, who wanted Kenyans seeking independence from Britain to have a newspaper that rivalled the quality of the white settlers’ ones. Its English-language paper, the Nation, has a circulation of around 250,000, and is Kenya’s largest. Issues brim with exuberant political stories, recounted with the colour and detail fans use to describe their favourite football team.
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Gregorian and Hijri Calendars in same pages
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Stopdraggingthepanda
between here and there lies the inbetween
Conversations with Slim
Tag Archives: U2
Listening to U2 in Kitsilano Gym (Poem)
the Edge is a painter
he’s all about the brush strokes
a splash of metal here
a splash of funk there
an acoustic wash
a chopped abstract rhythm
on top of bass and drums
yes he can make it
cry or sing
but that’s not his thing
that’s not his thing
and if a one note solo is enough
a one note solo is enough.
This entry was posted in Music, Poetry and tagged music, poem, poet, poetry, The Edge, U2 on February 4, 2019 by sdtp33.
Relocate (haiku)/U2’s New Album
via Daily Prompt: Relocate
that is what I did
or should I say: emigrate
same thing, in mom’s eyes.
This Daily Prompt thing is becoming addictive. What happened to that long post I was going to write about U2’s new album which I haven’t yet listened to: how http://www.allmusic.com gave it 2 1/2 stars out of 5; how Rolling Stone gave it 4 1/2 stars; how the Guardian gave it 2 stars and 4 stars (2 different reviews); how Variety called it their best album in years; how some people just don’t like Bono and decide what they are going to write before they listen to the album; how U2 have always been polarising; how I can’t listen to “The Unforgettable Fire”; how I don’t think Bono became a mature lyricist until “Achtung Baby”; how the last album “Songs of Innocence” has 7 tracks on it that are as good as anything U2 has ever done; how the Edge treats every note like it’s a precious object; how I am biased because ever since I relocated from Ireland to Canada, I have become far more patriotic than I ever was when I lived there.
This entry was posted in Album Reviews, Poetry and tagged Bono, emigration, haiku, Rolling Stone, Songs of Experience, U2 on December 5, 2017 by sdtp33.
Between Chris Rock and a Green Place
Back at the start of the summer. I spent the weekend in Gibson’s landing on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia; a knick knack tidy little town where one is never far from an art exhibition or a market selling jalapeno red pepper dip or a shop selling jokey hand towels; the kind of town where people go to follow their bliss and frequently catch up with it and even if they fail, a freshly baked muffin or a gluten free pie is always available as compensation.
Add to that, some magnificent views of the coastal mountains, Mount Big Thing and Mount Next Big Thing, and some good weather and you have a perfect place to relax, read and enjoy the sun, which I did, bringing with me a Rolling Stone, a New Yorker, the previous weekend’s Sunday New York Times (it takes me a week to read it) and Bruce Springsteen’s excellent autobiography (the Boss can write).
Both Rolling Stone and The New Yorker had articles on Steve Bannon. Matt Taibi’s piece in Rolling Stone was funny, caustic and concise; the New Yorker piece by Connie Bruck rambled on forever, generally adding to the picture I already had of Steve Bannon as a dangerous amoral individual. One quote got my attention, from an anonymous friend: “he never fit in the world of investment banking, – he was this gauche Irish kid”. Over in the New York Times, there’s a piece on Jimmy Fallon, turns out he’s Irish too: “I’m Irish, I need all the luck I can get”; apparently his stage mark is in the shape of a four leaf clover. I would like to point out that the shamrock which is used as a symbol of Ireland is actually a three leaf clover (it was used by early Christians to explain the concept of three gods in one, the Holy Trinity, those 5th century Irish peasants must have been a clever bunch, if they could grasp that one). Never mind, Jimmy Fallon is talented and likeable, so he can be Irish anytime he wants.
Back to the New Yorker where Calvin Trillin writes an article titled “The Irish Constellation” in which he explains that for a long time he thought the Orion Constellation was actually called “The O’Ryan Constellation”. He stretches this extremely lame joke way beyond the point where it is even remotely amusing. At the end of the article he describes being at a talk about The Orion Constellation in which an Irish man who, he says, has an accent like Barry Fitzgerald, gets up and makes a comment that reveals that he too is under the same misapprehension regarding The Orion Constellation. Laugh? I nearly cried. By the way, for those of you under the age of a hundred, who don’t know who Barry Fitzgerald was, he was an Irish character actor who won an Academy Award, for playing an Irish priest (no surprises there). He died in 1961, my mother thought Barry Fitzgerald was old.
My wife interrupts my reading to tell me that Sean Spicer is Irish American and likes to wear green shamrock covered pants on St. Patrick’s Day. This is more than irritating, the only consolation is the sun is out and I’m getting a bit of a tan. Yes, that’s right a tan, I mention that in case by now you are picturing me as some helium-voiced shillelagh swinging, freckled-faced mick. Maybe I’m being a bit sensitive.
I turn to Bruce, one of my heroes. As I said above, Bruce can write and when the subject is New Jersey, Asbury Park or his early life, he writes really well. It turns out Bruce is half Italian, half Irish: his mother is of Italian descent; his father is of Irish descent. His mother is hard working, positive and supportive; his father is miserable, disappointed, drinks too much and is prone to unpredictable rage. Later in life, his father becomes mentally ill. Bruce suggests that this mental illness and perhaps his own depression came over with his Irish ancestors who came to America to flee the famine. C’mon Bruce, throw us a bone, if you have to indulge in facile causation, perhaps you might concede that your gift for language and story-telling, your talent for writing laments (The River, Downbound Train) comes from your Irish heritage. This is all getting too much, I look up and down the beach and wonder if the other people hanging around enjoying the sun know that I’m Irish.
Then rescue comes from an unlikely source, an article in Rolling Stone about Chris Rock. Apparently Chris is a U2 fan. On the day of his father’s wake, he found time to run to the record store and buy a copy of “Rattle and Hum” which had been released that day. “I love Bono”, Rock is quoted as saying. Flash back to North Florida, early eighties and I’m driving along a coast road close to Amelia Island, sand from the adjacent dunes drifts across the road, the sea is doing that blue sparkling thing, I’m listening to “Sunday, Bloody, Sunday” on the radio, hearing it for the first time, and the hair at the back of my neck is standing on end. “How long must we sing this song”, the old politics is being rejected by an Irish band and they are playing my music – rock and roll – not some maudlin shite dispensed by some bearded guy with a banjo and a beer belly. You see back then if you asked anyone two things they associated with Ireland, they would say drinking and terrorism (terrorism that was partially funded, ironically, by Irish Americans). But Bono broke the Irish stereotype and for a while, at least, Ireland was cool. Ireland was where U2 and Bono lived. I have been a fan of Bono ever since.
So, all you republican ersatz Irishmen out there with your shillelaghs and your shamrocks and your antediluvian politics, look for a personality somewhere else, co-opt someone else’s imaginary identity; dress up as Mounties, wear lederhosen, I don’t care, just leave us alone. By the way, the current Prime Minister of Ireland, Leo Varadker, is gay, fiscally conservative and the son of an Indian father and an Irish mother. In other words, he is a complex human being not a cartoon.
This entry was posted in Ireland, Photography and tagged Bono, Bruce Springsteen, Chris Rock, Gibson's Landing, Humour, Ireland, Jimmy Fallon, Leo Varadker, New York Times, New Yorker, Rolling Stone, Sean Spicer, Steve Bannon, U2 on September 25, 2017 by sdtp33.
Poet’s Corner 6 – In Praise of Bono
Slim has been listening to the new U2 album over the Christmas. He has this to say:
In Praise of Bono
Bono forces a download
on the unsuspecting public
And the internet hounds
Begin to bay
Begin to e-bay
It’s a publicity stunt
Bono’s a c**t
Uproar about the download
Furor about the force
As if their phones were temples
Meant for higher discourse
The inanity
The humanity
And the critics weigh in
U2 are old school
Uncool
Have lost their edge
(Tho’ they still have the Edge)
While they rave about Tom Petty
Or some jingle jangle substitute
And pretend to admire Arcade Fire
Well I bought the CD
(Yes, bought)
And as far as I can judge
It’s a lighthouse
In a sea of mediocrity
A beacon
In a sea of soporific sludge.
Steady there, Slim.
This entry was posted in Music, Poetry and tagged Bono, itunes download, song of innocence, U2 on December 30, 2014 by sdtp33.
Slimverse
The Daily Jolt
Pigeon (Anthropocene Poem)
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Environmental watchdog worries Canada set to become pollution haven
humphreymalcolm 6 år siden • 0
A group of students celebrate Earth Day in the Philippines. AP Photo/Pat Roque.
A British Columbia group has told an international panel reviewing the environmental effects of NAFTA that the worst fears about the historic trade agreement’s impact on the environment have come true, especially under the federal Conservative government.
West Coast Environmental Law has sent a submission to the Commission on Environmental Co-operation as part of the commission’s look back at the 20 years since a side deal was signed between Canada, the United States and Mexico in response to concerns that NAFTA’s environmental impact.
The commission has formed a public advisory panel asking for public input, noting in a news release the side deal was reached amid concerns that NAFTA might “harm the environment by encouraging the creation of pollution havens because of lax environmental standards or ineffective environmental law enforcement.”
“With new free trade agreements, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, in negotiation all around the globe, there is no better time to reflect on the ideas that led to the creation of the (commission) in 1994, considered by many as the first time international trading partners addressed concerns that free trade might harm the environment,” the commission’s news release said.
But West Coast Environmental Law argues that’s exactly what has happened.
In a submission filed Wednesday, the group argues the federal Conservatives violated the agreement by introducing changes in two omnibus pieces of legislation.
Specifically, the group points to changes to the Fisheries Act, which it says will inhibit the protection of fish habitat, and changes to the way Canada conducts environmental assessments.
The group says those changes will mean there will be thousands fewer assessments, including on projects the groups says could have major environmental impacts, such as oil and gas pipelines.
“These changes weaken environmental protection and public involvement, despite Canada’s commitment. . . to the appropriate assessment of environmental impacts,” West Coast Environmental Law’s lawyer, Andrew Gage, writes in the submission.
The group also takes the NAFTA side agreement — known as the North American Agreement on Environmental Co-operation — to task for being toothless.
Gage writes that there has been no response to Canada’s legislative moves.
“While the commitment to enforce environmental laws is indeed a crucial piece of the (North American Agreement on Environmental Co-operation), the agreement does not contain any remedy for members of the public when a government violates the many other commitments found in it,” the letter says.
“Instead, the Canadian government has ignored these provisions with apparent impunity.”
West Coast’s letter to the commission comes a day after environmental activists launched a lawsuit in the Federal Court of Canada challenging new federal legislation they say limits their ability to oppose pipeline projects at regulatory hearings.
The lawsuit, which will be mounted by noted Toronto lawyer Clayton Ruby, was filed by ForestEthics Advocacy and activist Donna Sinclair.
The legal challenge argues provisions of the National Energy Board Act be struck down. The act was among the omnibus budget bills that Gage’s group refers to in its commission submission.
Ruby has said he plans to argue the limits on opposition to pipeline projects violates charter freedoms.
Gage said in an interview Thursday the back-to-back challenges of Harper government policies were happenstance, not part of a co-ordinated effort to have the measures struck down.
And he acknowledged it’s unlikely the commission will be able to pull Canada into line with the commitments outlined in the NAFTA side agreement.
But he said a rebuke from the commission would carry “moral weight.”
Gage noted that although the changes included in Bills C-38 and C-45 — which he says “gutted” environmental protections in Canada — have been passed in Parliament, some of the provisions that environmentalists find most egregious have not been enacted.
“We think that’s to some degree because of the public pressure that they’ve received, not just from environmental groups but from a wide range of constituencies.”
Among the questions the commission is asking in its public review process are:
· What are the environmental successes of NAFTA and where have those agreements fallen short?
· Is the commission meeting its mandate and is its mandate adequate in light of ongoing environmental challenges in North America?
· How could the environmental provisions of NAFTA be improved?
http://crowncapitalmngt.com/
http://crowncapitalecomngment.blogspot.com/
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Articles requiring cleanup, Characters of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Characters of The Suite Life on Deck,
Crushes/Girlfriends of Cody
Crushes/Girlfriends of Zack
Buckner Middle School
Cheevers High School
Jessica and Janice Ellis
I've gotta' clean it up!!
This article needs to be tidied up to meet The Suite Life Wiki's standards of quality.
You can help clean up by follow outline for characters: Use Cody Martin as an example.
Age Group: The Suite Life of Zack and Cody:
Season 2: 13-14
The Suite Life on Deck:
Friends: Zack, Cody, Bob
Portrayed by: Rebecca and Camilla Rosso
First Appearance: Twins at the Tipton (TSLOZAC)
Model Behavior (TSLOD)
Last Appearance: Benchwarmers (TSLOZAC)
Jessica and Janice Ellis (Rebecca and Camilla Rosso) are recurring characters in The Suite Life Series. Jessica and Janice appear in 6 episodes of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody throughout season 2 -3, and later star in an episode of The Suite Life on Deck. Given their accent, and confusion over some American customs, they are likely from an upper-class British family.
In the Show
Jessica and Janice are identical twins from UK Britain. They speak quite posh in a British accent, so some people don't understand exactly what they are saying. When one says something like "Oh that was good", the other says "No really good" and then "Yes, really really good". Jessica, at least, apparently doesn't like pizza as in her debut episode, she finds the idea of a seven-meat pizza both intriguing and disgusting.
Zack really likes the two girls and often tries to impress them, even sometimes by dissing Cody. However, much to Zack's dismay, the girls end up liking Cody more because of his sensitive personality. When Cody was upset over a recent break-up, both girls comforted him after tearfully remembering their own problems with love.
Jessica and Janice's Gallery
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody:
1. Twins at the Tipton
2. Ask Zack
3. Lost in Translation
4. Loosely Ballroom
5. Scary Movie
6. Birdman of Boston
7. Benchwarmers
1. Model Behavior
Retrieved from "https://suitelife.fandom.com/wiki/Jessica_and_Janice_Ellis?oldid=76697"
Articles requiring cleanup
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Find School or Parish
Archbishop’s Charter
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Visit a School
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Home › Learning › Curriculum
Curriculumjaviersuzuki2019-12-20T09:11:17+11:00
Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) follow the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) Curriculum from Kindergarten to Year 12 and the SCS Religious Education Curriculum.
Our schools focus on the development of the whole child – academically, emotionally, physically, socially and spiritually – with our Catholic values underpinning everything that we do. This holistic approach to education is defined by our policies, practices and relationships to ensure that each child in every school is safe, engaged, supported, and challenged, recognising that every student is unique and learns differently.
Sydney Catholic Schools offer unique educational opportunities for our students.
Religious Education is at the heart of Catholic education. It informs all aspects of school life and contributes to the mission of the Catholic Church in announcing the good news of Jesus Christ.
All students are expected to participate in the religious life of the school. This includes being part of formal religious education that follows a curriculum and uses our textbook series To Know, Worship and Love.
Primary Stages and Key Learning Areas
Each Key Learning Area (KLA) includes syllabuses for K–10 and Years 11 and 12 that are inclusive of the learning needs of all students. The NSW curriculum is organised in seven stages of learning.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS: Kindergarten to Year 6 (K–6) include four stages of learning.
Early Stage 1–Kindergarten
Stage 1–Year 1 and Year 2
There are six Key Learning Areas (KLAs) for primary schools. They are:
Personal Development Health and Physical Education
Languages (Optional)
Secondary Stages and Key Learning Areas
Each Key Learning Area (KLA) includes syllabuses for K–10 and Years 11 and 12 that are inclusive of the learning needs of all students. The NSW curriculum is organised in six stages of learning.
SECONDARY SCHOOLS: Year 7 to Year 12 include three stages of learning.
Stage 5–Year 9 and Year 10
Stage 6–Year 11 and Year 12
The Key Learning Areas (KLAs) for secondary schools are:
Science (7-10)
Human Society and its Environment (HSIE)
Technology Mandatory (Years 7-8)
Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE).
Languages (Mandatory in Stage 4)
Vocational Education and Training (VET) (Years 9-12)
School students in NSW generally work towards the Higher School Certificate (HSC) in years 11 and 12. It is the highest level of attainment a student can reach at school. Learn more about HSC courses, eligibility requirements and achievement pathways, including the HSC minimum standard.
The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) issues the Record of School Achievement (RoSA) to eligible students who leave school before completing the Higher School Certificate (HSC). The RoSA is a cumulative credential, meaning it contains a student’s record of academic achievement up until the date they leave school. This could be between the end of Year 10 up until and including some results from Year 12.
The RoSA records completed Stage 5 (Year 10) and Preliminary Stage 6 (Year 11) courses and grades, HSC (Year 12) results, and where applicable participation in any uncompleted Preliminary Stage 6 courses or HSC courses.
The RoSA is useful to students leaving school prior to the HSC because they can show it to potential employers or places of further learning.
Sydney Catholic Schools offer unique opportunities in:
VIVA – Dance, Drama & Music
STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education
Digital Education Network
Newman Selective Gifted Education Program
Primary Sport
Secondary Sport
The Clancy Prize
38 Renwick Street
Leichhardt, NSW 2040
Eastern Region Office
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© 2020 Sydney Catholic Schools . All Rights Reserved. Policies Disclaimer NEALS
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Collaborative Science
BC history
Bamboo Shoots: Chinese Canadian Legacies in BC
Janice Neden - 4 years ago
The Grade 5 and 10 Bamboo Shoots unit is a compre…
The Grade 5 and 10 Bamboo Shoots unit is a comprehensive and flexible teaching resource designed to help you bring Chinese Canadian history alive in your classroom. The unit contains adaptable lesson plans, blackline masters, and rubrics—as well as a timeline building game, relevant stories, and a rich collection of historical photographs and archival documents.
historical wrongs
Chinese Canadian History
Late 19th to Early 20th century
http://www.openschool.bc.ca/bambooshoots/
Social Studies-historical wrongs
5 lessons in each grade
Exploring the Great Bear Sea - Secondary Environmental Science
Heidi Lessman - one year ago
The Exploring the Great Bear Sea Secondary Curric…
The Exploring the Great Bear Sea Secondary Curriculum Resources are based on the film The Great Bear Sea: Reflecting on the Past, Planning for the Future, by Green Fire Productions, and can be used to engage students on an inquiry-based, educational journey through the Great Bear Sea. The Great Bear Sea is a new name given to the North Coast of British Columbia (BC), an area that extends from Campbell River on Vancouver Island to the border of BC and Alaska. This region of British Columbia’s coast is one of the richest marine ecosystems in the world, has enormous cultural significance to the people who live here, and contains important resources for BC’s economy.
Place-based Education
Marine Stewardship
Traditional and Local Knowledge
http://greatbearsea.net/
http://greatbearsea.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Exploring-the-Great-Bear-Sea-Secondary-Environmental-Science-2017.pdf
http://greatbearsea.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Exploring-the-Great-Bear-Sea-Secondary-Social-Studies-2017.pdf
All resources are connected to the revised BC curriculum and include lesson plans, supplementary resources and film clips to support classroom learning.
Environmental Science 1
Children at Work 1
Chinese Canadian History 1
Chinese Immigration 1
Coal Mining 1
Conscious Consumption 1
Conservation 1
Craigdarroch 1
Draft Curriculum 1
Eco-Social 1
Experiential Science 1
First Peoples' Principles of Learning 1
Global Classroom 1
Hastings Park 1
Hazards 1
IFAW 2
Inquiry 1
Integrated Learning 1
International Humanitarian Law 1
Islamophobia 1
Japanese Internment Camps 1
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Creative South 2014
Fart & Craft
23:48 with Justin Pervorse
Justin Pervorse shares his story and advice learned over the course of his career. From early days working in a print shop to designing for MailChimp and Dropbox, Justin talks about lessons learned and shows off some of his favorite pieces.
[MUSIC].
>> Hey.
Really honored to be here.
Super excited to share this stage with such amazing people.
And been talking to such awesome peers here.
Before I get started, I want everybody to give a huge round of
applause to Mackie and Mike, and Daniel and everybody else involved with this.
[NOISE] This is a really cool thing to have here in Georgia.
And it's, it's good to be back in the South.
So yeah, I'm, I'm in San Fransisco, actually Oakland.
Some thug cred.
[LAUGH] I work at Dropbox.
I have an amazing team there.
We're at about 25 people right now, company-wide, it's almost 600 and we have
four office and it's, it's, it's a really great place to be.
I've been there about three months now.
I'm super excited to continue on there.
But now let's talk about my life.
So I was a total badass when I was a kid.
[LAUGH].
>> Really into dune buggies and cool shorts.
>> I really loved donuts.
This is actually one of my favorite donut shops.
It's in Michigan.
I was actually born in Grand Rapids.
And all my family is there, so it's, unlike
here, you can still smoke in most restaurants in Michigan.
So it's just a lotta old 70 year old dudes hot boxing and eating donuts.
But the donuts are really good, so if
you're ever in Flushing, Michigan, go, go to Donna's.
I love Waffle House.
[LAUGH] I'm actually a Waffle House local.
Or I was until I moved to California, cuz it's not there.
And I died inside a little bit, but, I love Waffle House.
It's a really, really good experience for breakfast.
I'm married to my lovely wife Elizabeth.
This was right after she came out to join me in California.
And my adorable son Henry he's gonna be trouble.
[LAUGH] This is my dog Wilbur he's a total pain in the ass.
[LAUGH] But I love him, and he's really awesome companion.
I love motorcycles.
This is actually my bike, I rebuilt this a
few years ago, and then I immediately wrecked it.
So this was kind of one of the first
examples of failure I wanted to share with you guys.
And the shit is little because when I wrecked my stomach went up into me.
So I was a little scared.
That's what I was wearing, my wife was off though, on the bike with me.
So three months ago, I traveled to San Francisco by car, stopped at the Grand
Canyon, I really love to travel seeing new
places like this is really inspiring to me.
And I, words can't describe this, and
like, even this picture doesn't do it justice,
so if you haven't been to the Grand Canyon, you should go to the Grand Canyon.
This is my friend Jake.
I love him, he's one of my best friends.
He's a real estate agent and has no fucking clue what I do for a
profession so it's kind of cool to just not talk about design with him sometimes.
I really love music, [LAUGH] and I like to laugh.
So yeah that's a little bit about me and where I come from.
So now I'm gonna kind of go into how I get on with design.
So actually started getting into art a lot in High School.
I took a print shop class kind of my freshman year, I
think that's when I first started, and I learned a lot of really
cool techniques there, letter press and offset printing, and all of the finishing
techniques that come with that, and I didn't really take the class seriously.
We printed a lot of stuff for local businesses.
Primarily one of our biggest customers was the Sheriff's
Department, and I made some business cards for myself.
[LAUGH], I got away with it, luckily, I also managed
to sneak my name into the graduation program my junior year.
And it made it through, so I graduated early.
But along with that I took a lot of art classes.
I love to paint.
Photography classes, I got to learn how to work in a dark room.
I use film.
I know nobody knows what that is.
But I used film, and it was great.
But it's still kinda hadn't clicked with me that I could do that for a living,
like I could be an artist and make
money doing that, and be creative for a profession.
I was really just absorbed in playing music.
And I actually actually delivered pizza for my day job.
And I still to this day say it's my favorite job ever.
I worked for Pizza Hut for three years, delivering
pizza and I experienced some of the weirdest shit ever.
[LAUGH] But, you know, it was fun, but after high school I graduated, and I
finally realized that I needed to get a job where I could make some good money.
And I started working for my family's business.
And it's a weird experience to work with, with your family.
My dad owned a company that he recently sold a couple of years ago.
And he built these worldwide.
Climbing towers and ropes courses indoor climbing gyms and he built them in
Russia and even Japan in the middle of the jungle in Mexico.
And that's the hardest work I've ever done.
15 hours of work in the rain, and in the heat is brutal.
And hanging in a tree [LAUGH] trying to get a giant telephone pole
to line up perfectly so you can drill a bolt through it's pretty challenging.
But one thing I really took from this is that, my dad designed these,
and it, it was kinda really unique to me to think about designing that way.
And the, the main thing I took away from that
was working hard is good but working harder is better.
And my dad knew that I liked to draw a lot,
and he offered me a chance to re-design his company's logo.
I'm not gonna share cuz it's terrible.
But it was, it was really cool for me to do that
cuz not only it was for my dad, but it was like, wow,
this is, okay, this is kinda fun and like, I'm actually making something
for a company that, you know, is doing something all over the world.
And that led to more work for him.
Brochures and a catalog and for the most part, I was
doing it all on his time, getting paid a really shitty salary.
And then he offered me a chance to work on a very big project.
I think he gave me $400.
But it was a cool experience, and like, I still kind of look back
on those days and kind of miss hanging on the trees and being outside a lot.
I really love to be outdoors, and it was it was just, it was different.
But it, it was kind of like my kickstart into a career of freelance design.
So after doing that, I decided to join an agency.
And they didn't like my work enough, so I had to downgrade to a sign shop.
And sign shops suck ass.
But luckily enough, they caught on that I had kind of a
hankering for branding and they let me work on their marketing team.
And I got to learn a lot of really cool stuff.
You know, I got to learn how to gold leaf and we had a really amazing sign
painter on staff, and I would just go back on my lunch breaks and watch 'em paint.
And he hand carved signs, and it was just
like this medium that I'd never really thought about,
like when I thought of a sign shop, I
thought about yard sale signs and you know, car graphics.
It just never dawned on me that people were still doing
these things that were hand-made for you know, store front signage.
But there are a lot of sales people that
work there, and I don't like working with assholes.
I really don't like working with assholes.
So I did that for about two years and then I
moved onto an agency that was actually partnered with the Sun Shop.
Where I did a lot of branding and actually development Flash, which,
you know, nobody knows what that is like everybody else has said,
but it, it was, it was a good experience and I learned
a lot and I, I don't regret any job that I've ever had.
But it, it just wasn't for me, I worked with a
team that, not everybody put in enough effort, and the biggest thing
for me was that I wanted to feel like I was working
with a team that cared as much as I did about everything.
And, at the end of the day, this is how I felt.
[LAUGH] So I started asking myself where I could have fun.
So I started working on portfolio and reaching
out to a lot of local agencies in Atlanta.
I was actually working outside of Atlanta at
the time, and it was just kinda like this
weird bubble and no one knew who, who I
was and I didn't even know what dribble was.
I didn't have a website at the time, and I started finding out
about all these new things and that's when I was introduced to MailChimp.
MailChimp is a very unique company.
I had a lot of fun working there but the biggest
thing about MailChimp is that it
completely changed my perspective on design.
From going to designing for a client, I
had to think about designing for millions of people,
and also designing for a tech-based product that
was this tech-based product that nobody could quite understand.
And the challenge of making something like that feel human was very intriguing to me.
so, one of one of the things I wanted to do with this was just
share some of my favorite projects that I worked on when I was at MailChimp.
The first one is a vinyl toy that I made of our Mascot Freddie.
This was a two-year project and it was a
lot of hurdles to jump through, but in the end I'm very proud of the way it came out.
We worked, in collaboration with Super 7 in San Francisco,
and it was just a really great experience to see it go from simple sketches that
we collaborated on together, to these clay sculpts, and then
into plastic casts, and then we would get paint masters from the manufacturers,
and then we got a huge order of these at our doorstep.
And, it was just really cool to, to see like all that hard
work, like, pay off, and we got a lot of good feedback from them.
A lot of people were making videos with them.
Stop animation videos and some people were even
painting them and making custom versions of them.
But for me, that was, the best part about it was that, not only did I
have fun with it, but all of the people we gave it to had fun with it.
This is a project I worked on with our UX team.
Greg Bernstein and then the photographs are by Jason Travis.
If you don't know him, you should check him out.
He's really awesome.
But I wanted to have the photos of, of these
people feel kind of weird but almost like they're, they're fake.
And it was just, there was a lot of experimenting involved
with it, but we tried to have a lot of fun.
And these were supposed to represent personas of our customers and I hand-drew
all of the text around them, and most type designers in here are probably
judging the hell out of me right now, but, I want her to feel shitty.
I wanted her to feel human.
[LAUGH] And more fun like the idea of these people doodling
these words on a piece of paper sitting at their desk.
These were, these were actually things that these people considered themselves.
As well as things that we picked up on with interviews with, with
the people that we kinda gathered that would, would fall into these personas.
But it was a really fun project.
We did 10 of these and I only shared about five of
them, I can't share the rest, but these were my two favorites.
So the first project I actually worked on
when I started at MailChimp was a coloring book.
And it was a huge challenge for me, because I had to sketch a lot.
And it ended up being a lot bigger in
the beginning, and came down to be a lot smaller.
But I spent a lot of time trying to make Freddie look younger.
And they wanted him to be a baby, but, it just really didn't translate
for this baby to be playing with blocks and be on a school bus.
So I had to kind of think about a toddler.
But we added some activities to it, and it was a
really fun experience to see it from you know, start to finish.
I was the only designer that worked on it.
And I got to go do all the press
checks and pick all the materials for the coloring book.
And the biggest challenge that I had was, in the end,
was actually making all this space for kids to color in.
I tend to try and use a lot of detail
in my illustration, so this was a huge challenge for me.
But it was a lot of fun,
and the biggest thing I took away from that is that failure is important.
There's nothing wrong with failing, in my opinion, because you learn from failure.
And as long as you're having fun
and focusing on producing the best quality, failure
doesn't matter, because you at least tried it and you can say that you tried it.
So, I also had to make these really simple things
seem fun, like packing tape from boxes, super boring but just adding that little
bit of character to it, giving it some illustration, like makes all
the difference when you send a box of stuff to a client.
We had speakers come and talk at the office a lot, and I
tried to make these posters very personal to the person that was was speaking.
If you guys know Mr. Draplin, he likes to talk about Gold Bond a lot.
[LAUGH] this was for North by Northwest, which
is, the opposite of South by Southwest, in Canada.
And I just didn't really have a theme to work off of 'em, they just told me
I could do whatever I wanted, so I did, and I made that hot dog wiener dog.
[LAUGH] Also we made a lot of, internal
pieces for our employees to make them, you know,
kinda just, have something that they could appreciate,
when they were doing things together as a team.
We had a company wide 5K run that everybody participated in.
Not me, I don't run.
[LAUGH] These were some illustrations that I worked on as my
last project with MailChamp, that I had a lot of fun with.
And these were a part of a installation
for a customer party that we threw in Atlanta.
Every year we threw a customer appreciation
party, and just invite people in to
have free food and free beer, and just hang out and have a good time.
There's pictures and live music, and, you know,
it's just you know, time to goof off.
But it was really cool to work there.
I really miss my team.
There's a lot of really talented people that
still work there, and they're doing great stuff.
And also while I was there, I did a lot of freelance work.
Too much freelance work.
I didn't have a kid at the time so, I had
the ability to just power through the night and just do stuff.
And I continued to do freelance work because I liked
the satisfaction of just always feeling like I was having
fun, and making things was just something that I really
enjoyed These are some icons I did for Men's Health.
And it's just, it's, it's kinda cool to, to have full creative control of
things like this and not have the
restrictions that you have working with a company.
You, you get to direct the people.
And it's not like an agency cuz you're not having
to work with a creative director or a project manager, you
are everyone, you get to do all these things and
have as much fun or no fun as you want to.
But a big part of freelance for me, is also working with my friends.
These are my business cards that [UNKNOWN] printed.
If you don't use them, you should use them.
This is a screen printing shop in Atlanta.
They are really good friends of mine, and I
make this quick little tee shirt design for them.
I also made some new friends with Instrument in Portland.
I worked on a YouTube project with them.
You can't see some of the detail cuz the brightness on that screen is too high, but
I had a lot of, I just had a lot of fun continuing to meet these people.
And I always try and keep, keep fun in my work.
This is a quote by Nick Offerman.
I just recently finished reading his book and it's an
incredible gift to be able to make your own fun.
And that was the biggest thing that stuck with me when I first read it.
It just, it, it immediately clicked that, he's
a comedian, so obviously he likes having fun, but
it, it, it really is a great thing to be able to bring joy to people through fun.
Fun is like a disease that spreads faster than
the common cold and laughter is the best medicine.
So it's really important to me to add fun to
my work because it brings delight that wouldn't normally be there.
And it's just, it, it, it gives me a lot of joy to see someone smile
at something I do and get really excited
and want to produce the same amount of fun.
Now I'm gonna talk about Dropbox.
So, Dropbox is an interesting company to work at.
It's pretty similar to MailChimp in the fact that it's
a tech company, but scale wise, it's a lot larger.
And just as much as MailcChimp, I had the same initial
thought of, well, how do I make something like this feel human?
And they had already done a pretty good job.
Obviously, if any of you use it, you understand the
illustration is a strong part of our branding and our product.
but, so far in the past three months, I've
gotten to work on a lot of really fun things.
Just adding these simple illustrations to a body of
copy or a simple process of signing up for something.
Just really changes the experience.
I tried to take our normal little characters there
for a shared folder and give them some personality, a
little attitude there on the left, and just kind of
making a visual for environments that would normally be there.
This was a part of our job's [UNKNOWN]
assignment that we actually just launched this week.
I also got the chance to work on our new product carousel.
I worked with a great team there's too
many people to list, but everyone there had a
part in it, and I worked on the branding
and helped with some other things for the launch.
But it was just, it was a really
cool experience to come in and immediately be involved
in such a creative environment and just get to
collaborate with so many people, and overall have fun.
So now I want to talk about some things that I like to tell people that
make my, my day to day better and that I think other people should consider too.
Take it for what you will.
Work together.
I think it's really important to work with other people.
I know a lot of people freelance, and
they wanna work at home, and that's totally fine.
There's nothing wrong with that.
It's not for everybody to work together, but I think it's really important.
You learn from each other and even like Tron and
Kendrick said, like, sometimes someone has a better answer than you.
So I think it's really important to work together.
Don't be a fart.
[LAUGH] There's enough people in this industry
that are difficult and jerks to work with.
Just be positive and have fun, and in the long run, it'll benefit you better.
Don't settle.
[LAUGH] Always push harder I just tried to make sure that
everything that I put out is something that I'm satisfied with.
And that I feel really great about sharing with my peers.
And something that I want people to look at and
be happy with and get inspired by quality over quantity.
I think it's, it's pretty common for most people to just work a
lot and produce too much, and quality kinda gets thrown out the window.
But I think it's really important to kinda slow down sometimes and
just, and focus on the end result, and not how much you're producing.
And people aren't gonna look at you any differently,
cuz if the quality is there, it, it speaks worlds.
[LAUGH] I don't like working with people that say
shit like, ship it, R & D, and ask me everyday, what does it mean?
Really don't like them.
Less talking.
I'm, I'm guilty just as everybody else is
of being on Twitter and getting on websites and
commenting on stuff and dribble and it's, in the
end, it's not, not as important as just working.
Working is gonna produce better results than you just talking about the dumb stuff
I talk about on Twitter actually, and also the future isn't going anywhere.
I know a lot of people talk about designing for the future and wanting to
be there and get, get to the finish line but I don't think there is a finish line.
I think as long as you put satisfaction as
your primary goal, that to me is a good success.
So, have fun.
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Budget 2016: The poor in India will no longer be unfortunate, says Jayant Sinha
Jayant Sinha said that Budget 2016 is a Vikas ka Budget, a Budget for Development, a Budget to accelerate the transformation of India.ET Bureau | March 01, 2016, 09:25 IST
Budget 2016 is a Vikas ka Budget, a Budget for Development, a Budget to accelerate the transformation of India. Since it was founded, the BJP has had a clear and consistent economic philosophy.
We want to transform India into a prosperous and flourishing country in which every citizen is economically secure and can realise their dreams.
This economic philosophy was laid out clearly in our 2014 election manifesto, in the President’s addresses to Parliament, and now across our three Budgets.
The development of a comprehensive social security is one of the game-changing initiatives in Budget 2016.
‘Garibon ki unnati’, Uplift of the Poor, is our government’s foremost priority and our collective sacred responsibility. It is our rashtra dharma to wipe every tear from every eye. In this Budget, we take a bold leap in that direction.
We have put together an efficient social security system that ensures that every poor person in India gets food, shelter, sufficient income support, health cover, life insurance, pension and access to various credit facilities.
We have already provided every single Indian household with a bank account and ensured access to highly affordable insurance and pension protection through the Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, the Suraksha Bima Yojana and the Atal Pension Yojana.
We will be rolling out a health insurance package for all vulnerable families for up to Rs 1 lakh a year in hospitalisation charges. We will also be providing top-up cover of Rs 30,000 for persons over the age of 60 years. This health insurance cover will be based on a national health network that will include an electronic health record, cashless billing, clinical protocols, fraud prevention and quality monitoring.
Moreover, we are moving central government social security programmes on to a unified social security platform that will be based on the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) database and will be linked to Aadhaar. We will be using Aadhaar to uniquely identify and target beneficiaries for all government benefits.
We hope to have the social security platform based on Aadhaar and the SECC data fully operational this year. This platform will allow Centre and state agencies to use the low-cost National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) payment systems to send benefits directly into beneficiary bank accounts.
It will include various services such as identity verification, ability to change address or other information for each citizen, benefit alerts, a citizen-centric view and many types of reports.
We have allocated Rs 38,500 crore for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) this year. We will be encouraging all MGNREGA beneficiaries to go for direct benefits transfer into their bank accounts. We will also be facilitating automatic payment deductions for our insurance and pension programmes.
Behavioural economics provides some interesting methods to nudge people into participating in these types of programmes, and we will be studying those methods closely. We will also be allowing a convenient way for citizens to gift these insurance and pension products to each We recognise that many people find it difficult to access financial services.
We still have too few bank branches and ATMs. To overcome this challenge, we will be funding a massive nationwide roll-out of ATMs and micro-ATMs in post offices.
And to ensure that we are able to create open, competitive access points for cash-in, cash-out, we will be providing sufficient commission revenue for cash transactions and incentives for cashless transactions. Together, these two mechanisms should be able to overcome the last-mile problem in providing financial services.
Accordingly, our social security benefits will be delivered through an advanced social security platform that will enable us to continuously evaluate eligibility, benefits, coverage and quality. All benefits will be portable and accessible across the country.
The social security platform will enable us to offer packaged social security benefits to other groups as well. We expect to be able to offer benefits packages through employers to contract and unorganised workers, plantation employees and student groups.
In total, these policy measures will fundamentally reshape the nature of welfare programmes in India. Our government will have delivered true social security to the poor and taken giant strides towards eradicating poverty from this country.
Tags : Technology, Jayant Sinha, Budget 2016
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Next Article » « Back to Government
What does open government mean for digital transformation?
Pia Andrews, Guest Post. 06 November 2019, 5:00 am
Guest post from Pia Andrews, who has worked for the Australian and New Zealand governments and also been an organiser with GovHack.
Cross posted with kind permission from her series The Pia Review.
Openness is a critical tenet for democracy. It enables transparency, which enables accountability, which in turn drives better public outcomes and ideally a useful check and balance on power. But openness is also a critical tenet for modern public sectors if they are to be capable of responsiveness and resilience in the face of dramatic and rapid change, and to best ensure evidence-driven policy, programs, and service delivery. As part of this Public Sector Pia Review, I wanted to talk about open government as it applies to digital transformation of the public sector, beyond the usual (but important!) scope of transparency and freedom of information.
I do recommend you also check out the Open Government Partnership (including Australia's participation and the community around it), the great work of Open Australia over many years, and the Digital 9 (a collection of governments committed to open digital government), all three of which sit in the interesting intersection of open and digital government. I also encourage you to look closely at how Taiwan is dramatically raising the bar for open inclusive government in a digital world. There are also a lot of initiatives around the non-digital specific world of open government, including the Accountability Roundtable, Transparency International Australia, and many more. I also encourage you to read some of the great case studies that explore the intersection of digital and open government in this report on 'Upgrading Democracy' by the Centre for Policy Development from 2009.
This article provides some ideas about how open government can (and arguably should) apply to all digital government and transformation efforts in public sectors. Many thanks to the peer reviewers for this article, including Peter Timmins, an indefatigable force for Open Government in Australia.
Open digital government?
In exploring open and digital government, to me a lot of it comes down to two simple ideas:
write once, read many; and
many eyes make all bugs shallow.
If you do something, you may as well do it to share. Then you naturally get more reuse, more value realised, more opportunity to improve, more eyes. Don't just run an event, record it to publish. Don't just write a manual, publish it for broader reuse. Don't just develop a fix for something, contribute it back to the codebase. And with more eyes, you can harness more minds, more ideas, more creativity, more testing, and more hands. The work we do in public sectors affects many people, so there are many people naturally motivated to ensure the work is good.
Below are some practical concepts that build upon this concept specifically for public sectors.
Embrace change as inevitable and an opportunity
Firstly, it is important to understand that transformation of public sectors is both inevitable and necessary to be fit for purpose in the 21st century and beyond. Although many 'digital' efforts in the public sector are limited to just improving service delivery, true digital transformation presents the opportunity to reimage government and implement the digital public infrastructure and modern approaches we collectively need to be effective, responsive to community needs, trends and global context, and truly outcomes focused in a rapidly changing world.
I often hear people say they are suffering from 'change fatigue' in public services, and I encourage all public servants to embrace change as the new normal, and to develop ways to be change optimistic. Of course, this would be greatly enabled by a culture across government that involved and empowered all levels to innovate, but regardless, change is upon us and it presents an opportunity to change for the better how we operate day to day.
Working in the open
Working in the open, when possible, helps build trust, confidence in your team, and collaboration. Building trust and buy-in to your work is especially important when you identify something that needs to be changed, such as a project pivot or change in approach. Openness is also key to scaling impact. It is how we can influence the system and inspire and enable people to individually engage with better outcomes and innovate across organisational and sector boundaries. Openness is also how we can ensure our work is evidence-based, better-informed and better-tested, through public peer review, and it is how we get greater coordination and convergence of effort across sectors, as it sends myriad lead indicators to vendors, researchers, and non-profit sectors. When you share what you are doing, you also attract natural allies who share your goals or problem space, and with whom you can forge strategic and mutually beneficial partnerships, where all parties are naturally motivated to collaborate.
In short, openness is a great way to ensure both a better supply of as well as a better demand for what is demonstrably 'good'.
Working in the open, to me, means two things:
Sharing the journey - sharing what you are doing as you progress, not just at the end or launch or something, is a great way to build interest, trust, and buy-in for an initiative, but also helps to identify relevant opportunities for projects that would benefit from collaboration. If you make public what you are doing, which should be the default case (as much of what public sectors do is not actually secret), the others who are dealing with the same challenge can find, share, or contribute to what you are doing, even across the same organisation or sector. Sharing the journey would ideally also include sharing progress, like measures of success over time, which also grows trust.
Sharing and contributing to artefacts - reusing and contributing to relevant efforts from others, opening up our research, code, data, reusable web services, lessons, and prototypes (tech and policy). This means we are not reinventing the wheel, and are enabling others to build on the back of our publicly funded efforts. It also means we can leverage peer review, external contributors, and cross jurisdictional efforts.
Effective, constructive, and collaborative public engagement greatly improves the opportunity to include the knowledge and experience of citizens in policy and projects. Public engagement strategies work best when they are underpinned by strong community development, a clear and collaboratively developed goal, a genuine interest in the inputs of others, and a process that is as low a barrier to entry to engage in as possible.
Basically, we are moving towards an era of participatory and co-designed governance, which is both inevitable and beneficial for better public outcomes. So, exploring ways to share and grow skills and to collaborate broadly is certainly a part of open digital government.
Open infrastructure - Government as a Platform
As we translate existing public sector operations into a digital world, and indeed as we invent new ways of working in a digital context, we have the opportunity to create digital public infrastructure and achieve the notion of government as a social and economic platform. Ideally, digital public infrastructure would enable great services and better administration, but it should also enable better digital access to justice: to the rules and decisions made with and about the people we serve.
If we don't build the foundations of digital government openly, then how can people trust it? If we don't build immutable explainability into the decisions and actions of our public sectors, then how will people audit, appeal, or have appropriate oversight or governance? How can we ensure our services and the decisions made are accountable in how they are managed, monitored and run? Digital government provides new challenges but also new opportunities for openness, accountability and transparency, but only if we design from the ground up for open digital government on the back of trust infrastructure that is trustworthy.
Citizen centric services is about putting the genuine user experience first to create a dignified experience for citizens when they interact with government. Citizen centric services requires good data and metadata, including geospatially enabled information about government services, and the rules of eligibility and calculation relating to those services. Constant feedback loops that engage the input, ideas and experiences of citizens are extremely important to establish effective citizen centric services, and to ensure the iterative improvements over time to keep services relevant and responsive to the changing needs of the population. Reusable service components make it more possible to create more personalised and accessible services through myriad and emerging channels, and although this includes many services that are identified, there are also many services that can be provided anonymously. It is important to not force people to have to log in unless they really need to, as it can feel intimidating for people who have negative or scary interactions with the public sector, particularly vulnerable people.
Open rules, open algorithms, and programmatic explainability are needed if you want to ensure traceability, accountability and appealability of decisions. For algorithmic transparency, it means we need to design explainability and decision capture into our systems, machines, and use of AI, otherwise we too easily get black box decision-making that is completely inappropriate for the public sector. Rules of all sorts are always eventually applied in software, which can reduce transparency of their application. Rules as code is the concept that the rules of government (particularly prescriptive ones), in legislation, regulation, operational policy, etc, are made available in an authoritative human and machine consumable form. Today, these rules are only authoritatively available as human (lawyer) language, and anyone applying the rules, including in departments, is interpreting and translating those rules into myriad software tools that then creates gaps in application and accountability. When drafting new legislation, we can use modern agile and digital methods to develop test driven rules which can result in Better Rules in the first place, that are drafted in human and machine-consumable form from scratch, allowing governments to host a rules API for anyone to use. I believe rules as code is core digital public infrastructure, and it has been shown to provide dramatic benefits for service delivery, compliance, better regulatory outcomes, and reduced cost across the entire economy. Most importantly to this article, this concept then provides greater access to justice and transparency of authority and the rules that define and shape the world in which we live.
Open data is an obvious example for open infrastructure. Open data is about taking the vast majority of government datasets and information that don't have personal information or security issues, and putting them online in the most useful way possible. In a practical sense, for data to be most useful (both to the public but equally important for other parts of governments to be able to leverage the data), it needs to have permissive copyright (such as Creative Commons BY), be machine readable, time stamped, subscribable, available in an openly documented format (open standard), have useful metadata, and wherever possible have good geospatial information available. Ideally, your data needs to meet the needs of developers and machines as well as end users. Starting on an open data journey can be difficult, so below are four useful steps to take, each with its own challenges:
Differentiate between sensitive and non-sensitive data! Not all data requires an in depth Privacy Impact Statement to just consider publishing. It is useful to have clarity about what is sensitive and what isn't and to put proportionate governance in place that protects sensitive data whilst not dramatically inhibiting non-sensitive data sharing. For instance, it absolutely makes sense for any data that has personal information to have risks carefully considered with appropriate oversight and vetting. But the location of public parks doesn't have any personal information and is really helpful information for people to have access to.
Just get non-sensitive data online! This stage is where an organisation just tries to get online whatever they can. It often means the licensing is not entirely clear or permissive, the data format is whatever the organisation uses (which may or may not be useful to others), the data may be slightly out of date and it often isn't clear who the contact for the data set is making follow-up hard. This stage is, however, extremely important to encourage, as it is where every organisation must begin and build upon. It is also important because to achieve quality open data, major changes often need to be made to systems, workflows, technologies, and organisational culture. Access to imperfect data in the short term is far better than waiting for perfection.
High quality data! This is the stage where issues around quality publishing of data have been teased out, and an organisation can start to publish quality data. It is hopefully the point at which the systems, culture, workflows and technologies used within the organisation all facilitates open data publishing, while also facilitating appropriate settings for secure data (such as sensitive privacy or security information). This stage takes a lot of work to achieve, but also means a far lower cost of publishing data, which helps among other things, keep the cost of FoI compliance down.
Collaborative data! This final stage of open data is where an organisation can figure out ways to integrate and verify input from the public to data sets to improve them, to capture historical and cultural context and to keep information up to date. This is also a challenging step but where government departments and agencies can engage the public collaboratively, we will see better data sets and greater innovation.
It is worth also noting that when it comes to sensitive data, you shouldn't share it unless you really need to. This article should help you determine when it might be more appropriate to share an insight, alert or when to simply verify a claim rather than sharing sensitive data for service delivery purposes.
Open Source and Open Government
Open Source has provided a natural fit for a lot of Open Government initiatives for many years, both in public sectors across the world and in myriad civil society initiatives. In public sectors, we get the benefits from widespread use of open standards, the ability to rapidly deploy and iterate, the large developer and support communities around mature Open Source projects (such as Drupal, WordPress, or the statistical tool R), and the competitive and sustainable nature of commercial support around mature Open Source projects. Open Source approaches also let departments extend and enhance functionality around business needs rather than shoehorn business requirements into off-the-shelf products, noting that this requires a mature sourcing approach that doesn't assume everything we do in public sectors can be bought off the shelf (please see the Pia Review on procurement considerations for better outcomes). Most importantly, there is a strong cross over of values and practices between Open Government and Open Source which can really support great and sustainable public benefits and outcomes.
In January 2011, AGIMO released the Australian Government Open Source Software Policy, which had three principles:
Principle 1: Australian government ICT procurement processes must actively and fairly consider all types of available software.
Principle 2: Suppliers must consider all types of available software when dealing with Australian government agencies.
Principle 3: Australian government agencies will actively participate in Open Source software communities and contribute back where appropriate.
The third principle, in particular, represented a fundamental shift in how government could engage with Open Source: by seeing itself as a potential contributor in the community. It was very exciting, but few departments to date in Australia have really realised the value of technical and technology collaboration in Australia, which isn't unique to Open Source but is strongly embedded in most Open Source projects. Open Source has become a foundation for many other jurisdictions to innovate and transform, and is even one of the Digital 9 tenets, which is a group of countries committing to exemplary digital-transformation agendas. There are many Open Source code repositories now from public servants and departments across the world, so there are myriad opportunities to collaborate and stand on the shoulders of giants..
In July 2011, after six months consultation, AGIMO also released the Australian Government Open Source Software Guide V2, which was a useful document for departments and agencies to help them comply to the policy directive where they must consider Open Source in their procurement processes.
Since then, the Digital Transformation Agency has included Open Source as part of the mandatory Digital Service Standard, fashioned after the same requirement in the UK Digital Service Standard
Just briefly, to return to the cross over of values. Many people in the broader Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) communities share some common cultural values with public servants that would probably surprise both groups. Those values centre around freedom for all, doing 'good' in the world, sharing (for progress and mutual benefit), the importance of doing (not just talking), and trying to solve tricky problems for society. Having walked in both works, I continue to be surprised by how much cultural overlap there is, and yet minimal interaction (beyond technologists) but there is a lot that public sectors can learn from Open Source that can help us achieve better public outcomes.
Transparency is, of course, critical for open government, and so it is critical that public servants always try to work and design systems with maximum transparency. Especially those of us working in digital government and transformation initiatives. If you end up with less accountability through digital technologies, then not only have you gone backwards from a public good sense, but you have wasted the great opportunities for openness that digital can bring to bear.
Achieving true open government is necessarily a constant and evolving challenge. Day to day you need to ensure it is a foundation for all public sector efforts. Although this is obvious for many, the digital government landscape is changing so fast that is can be easy to just do what needs to be done today. But if we don't ensure every day that we have open digital government, then it will be too easy for openness to slide, and democracy to suffer.
Hopefully this article has provided some food for thought, but please consider how you can bring more openness into your work, programs, policies and services, because we shouldn't have to ask for trust, we should operate in the most trustworthy way possible at all times.
A renowned data and digital government specialist, Pia Andrews most recently worked an executive in the NSW government. Pia has also worked for the Australian and New Zealand governments and also been an organiser with GovHack.
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Apple’s New Product Strategy
Apple appears to be on a kick of delivering product refreshes to punctuate its major release cycle, with changes to devices and tweaked versions that go beyond what it has done in terms of spec refreshes in the past. It looks like we could see a new era of light changes in direction to cater to market trends and optimize product viability under Tim Cook, which in many ways makes sense for a man known as a supply chain maestro.
“New” iPads, iMacs, MacBooks And iPods
If you review all the mid-cycle changes Apple has made this year, you come up with a pretty long list. There’s the Retina MacBook Pro and Air improvements it made in February for instance, which included new processors, is not really all that out of character; the company has been boosting internal specs on its Mac line for years. But the 128GB fourth generation iPad, the iMac with VESA mount, and the new 16GB iPod touch which lacks a rear camera are all big changes to the way Apple generally operates those product cycles.
All of these updates arrived with little fanfare, at least when compared to the lavish launch events Apple usually holds to trot out new hardware. At most they’ll get a press release, and in the case of some, like the iPod touch just launched today, they’ll simply update the online store. Press still flocks to these changes, regardless, and it’s true that they aren’t often ground-breaking enough to merit proper events, since they’d look paltry painted in that light. But the changes are a sign of a new commitment to continuous improvement, and one that seems like it could result in dramatic changes to how Apple views and operates its product release cycle.
Tim Cook used to be Apple’s COO, and in that role he essentially helped Apple build one of the most effective and efficiently run supply chains in the history of supply chains. That meant that Apple seldom had any inventory costing it money by sitting around in warehouses, that incidences of error in the manufacturing process were drastically reduced, and that improvements and adaptations were made continually to help keep profit margins high. Likely Cook is still directly responsible for a lot of continued optimization in that area, but it makes sense that he would also bring those skills to bear on actual Apple products themselves, instead of just on their manufacturing process.
The updates to the products mentioned above each constitute a specific optimization. In the case of the iPad, the storage bump helps it keep pace with other new-to-market devices including the Surface and better service education and enterprise users; with the iMac, it addresses the one big failing pointed out by reviewers of the iMac when comparing it to previous generations, and targets again business users; and with the iPod touch, it fills a gap in the company’s lineup, simplifies supply chain and makes it easier for developers to optimize their designs for screen sizes going forward.
The new approach to Apple’s products appears to reflect a greater flexibility; thinks are more mutable than they were before Cook took the reins, if only just. There’s still the question of keeping fair of angering early purchasers of products, as someone who has bought an iPad four months prior doesn’t want to see a new model and regret their earlier decision, but for the most part, these upgrades look like very specific tweaks designed to expand a potential audience, not alienate an existing one. So long as that kind of precision refreshing continues, I think Apple stands to gain a lot from this modified approach to product development.
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Adam Neumann planned for his children and grandchildren to control WeWork
Connie Loizos @Cookie / 3 months
WeWork co-founder Adam Neumann didn’t plan for his family’s control of WeWork to end at his death but instead expected to pass that control to future generations of Neumanns, too, says Business Insider.
The outlet reports that in a speech Neumann gave to employees in January of this year, footage of which it says it has viewed, Neumann is seen saying that WeWork isn’t “just controlled — we’re generationally controlled.” He reportedly goes on to say that while the five children he shares with wife Rebekah Neumann “don’t have to run the company,” they “do have to stay the moral compass of the company.”
According to BI, Neumann even invoked his future grandchildren, telling those gathered: “It’s important that one day, maybe in 100 years, maybe in 300 years, a great-great-granddaughter of mine will walk into that room and say, ‘Hey, you don’t know me; I actually control the place. The way you’re acting is not how we built it,'” he said.
These may sound like more outlandish proclamations from Neumann, who has a flair for the dramatic. (Talking to Fast Company earlier this year, he compared WeWork to a rare jewel, asking, “Do you know how long it takes a diamond to be created?”)
But before WeWork began coming apart at the seams, Neumann had every reason to believe that he could pass power down to his heirs. Though many public shareholders may not realize as much, a growing number of tech founders enjoy the kind of dual-class shares that Neumann had extracted from investors, shares that don’t merely give founders more voting power for a while after their companies go public or even throughout their lifetimes, but whose power can be passed down to their children, too.
We wrote about this very issue as a kind of hypothetical last month, quoting SEC Commissioner Robert Jackson, a longtime legal scholar and law professor, who told an audience last year that nearly half of companies that went public with dual-class shares between 2004 and 2018 gave corporate insiders “outsized voting rights in perpetuity.”
Warned Jackson, “Those companies are asking shareholders to trust management’s business judgment — not just for five years, or 10 years, or even 50 years. Forever.” Such perpetual dual-class ownership “asks them to trust that founder’s kids. And their kids’ kids. And their grandkid’s kids . . . It raises the prospect that control over our public companies, and ultimately of Main Street’s retirement savings, will be forever held by a small, elite group of corporate insiders — who will pass that power down to their heirs.”
You might argue that it’s senseless to worry, that the market will speak as it did in WeWork’s case. But not every company has such apparent flaws, and Neumann could have made himself a lot harder to shake than he did. In fact, the broader question the video raises is whether anyone will step in to stop the broader trend, or if public market investors will be living with the consequences down the road instead.
Neumann wasn’t insane to imagine the scenario that he did. That doesn’t mean it’s rational. Giving founders super-voting shares for some period after transitioning onto the public market is something that many people can understand, for a variety of reasons that dual-share advocates have long asserted. Giving founders so much power that their kids call the shots of these publicly traded companies? Now that is crazy.
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Hopewell Theater
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Information Box Office Hours:
Tu, Th, F 12p-5p
Tu-F 6p-8p
Sat 7p-9p
Sun 4p-8p
and during shows when Box Office is open.
5 South Greenwood Avenue
Hopewell, NJ 08525
info@hopewelltheater.com
Band of Changes
Second show added! Friday, Novebmer 29th and Saturday, November 30th!
Please note, as of November 26, there is one non-ADA accessible seat available for Friday, November 29. The other seats remaining for both shows are ADA wheelchair accessible seats and their companion seats. Wheelchair accessible seats and their companion seats will be sold on a first come, first serve basis to patrons on the waitlist at showtime, if not needed or purchased prior to showtime by patrons with wheelchairs. To be placed on the waitlist or for more information, please call our box office at 609-466-1964.
A constantly evolving, consistently changing series of musical performances by a band that never plays the same songs in the same way twice. Chris Harford has been playing music now for decades. He has surrounded himself with musicians his whole life, playing with some of the best out there. In the spirit of Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys, Chris invites musicians he meets to be in his band whenever he hears or sees something special. This has resulted in a legacy of players, many of whom have moved on to form or be part of enormously successful bands, but who are always happy to come home and play Chris’ music for the sake of playing Chris’ music. You might see him play solo acoustic on a Monday night at the local bar. Or you might see him as a DJ teasing tunes out of the ‘X-Box’.
It might also be an acoustic guitar duo, with some other guitar slinger in the area or with an upright or electric bass player. He may decide to add a drummer, or a percussionist to the mix on a given night. Or perhaps assemble a full rock band. You might see keyboards, or three guitars, or two drummers, or all of the above. His music has compelled tapers that live in his area to try to capture and archive every performance he plays due to the magic that invariably appears in his sets. Like many bands that have had people tape their music live, every note is not perfect, and every string is not always in tune, but at some point during every performance, something special happens. It could be a different time signature, a ballad played as a blues, or a forgotten passage that forces spontaneous creativity out of the band. No one knows what will happen next. Not even Chris, it would seem. And that’s the way he wants it. Everyone on their toes….ready to innovate when necessary…at the drop of a hat. What kind of music do they play? All kinds: Folk music, rock music, happy music, sad music, loud music, quiet music. All music.
For this performance, Chris Harford will be joined by Dave Dreiwitz (Ween, Joe Russo's Almost Dead), Scott Metzger (Joe Russo's Almost Dead, WOLF!), & Joe Russo (Joe Russo's Almost Dead).
5 S. Greenwood Ave., Hopewell, NJ 08525
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Sewing Susan Says
Posts Tagged ‘black panther’
Celebrities who rocked Ankara
With films like Black Panther smashing box office records, African print has taken the fashion world by storm. Ankara is now globally accepted and even celebrated as a symbol of pride and elite fashion. Here are a six Hollywood stars that have elegantly embraced and totally rocked African Ankara print fabric: Beyonce Knowles Queen Bey…
Top African Print Styles of 2018
African-inspired fashion has taken the world by storm this year. With the blockbuster sensation, Black Panther, transforming the fashion landscape and bringing African pride into the light, many celebrities both locally and internationally are now making fabulous fashion statements with outfits that show off the best of African print style. In 2018, we’ve seen beautiful…
Fans flock to watch “Black Panther” dressed in African-inspired fashion
In theatres across the globe fans flocked to see the highly anticipated Marvel superhero film, Black Panther, dressed in African-inspired clothing as homage to Wakanda, the fictional location where the film is set. The film’s costume designer, Ruth Carter, took her inspiration from Sotho, Zulu and Xhosa traditional garb. Xhosa was also used as the…
Cultural dress at the forefront of Black Panther premieres
The nation was swept away by the latest superhero movie to hit the circuit in mid-February. Black Panther broke box office records and the movie was only outdone by the inspiring outfits at the red carpet premieres. On the opening night of the most anticipated movie for 2018, attendees across the country went all-out with…
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Stand F30, Watershed, V & A Waterfront, Cape Town
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Home/Arts & Culture/From Fringe to Broadway: Six the Musical Phenomenon
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From Fringe to Broadway: Six the Musical Phenomenon
Six the Musical comes to Citadel Theatre this month!
Ashlynn Chand November 12, 2019
Helen Zhang
Following the success of Hadestown, Edmonton has welcomed another Broadway-bound musical, playing at the Citadel Theatre this month.
Six the Musical tells the story of the six wives of Henry VIII, but reimagined as pop princesses. The show has amassed six Olivier awards nominations. It may surprise you to know that the show originally started as a student show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2017, but has now transformed into a worldwide phenomenon and is set to premiere on Broadway in 2020.
Helen Zhang Pictured: Toby Marlow (left) and Lucy Moss (right)
The show’s creators, Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, who are only 25 years-old, came up with the premise of royal pop stars through a desire to showcase the talents of their women and non-binary friends.
“Something that we’ve been talking about for a long time was writing a show that had loads of meaty, funny roles for women because a lot of musical theatre shows are lacking in good roles for women and we had so many women and non-binary friends that never got the opportunity to showcase their abilities in musicals,” said Moss. “We knew because it was Edinburgh Fringe, we needed a famous subject matter to draw in the crowds, so who’s a famous group of women in history? Oh, the six wives of Henry VIII.”
The idea of creating an entire musical during your final year of university can be stressful, but for Marlow and Moss, it lessened the pressure of writing the show.
“When we were writing Six originally, when we were at university, it was during finals and I was really stressed about finals,” said Moss. “ And it actually took the pressure off [from] writing the show, like, yeah, we’ll write the [musical], but actually, my dissertation is what I’m scared about.”
“It made it fun, it was a side art project that was artistic, creative and our hobby, so when we were stressing about our revisions and essays, then we could meet up and have a fun time together and laugh, enjoy writing and each other’s humour and such,” said Marlow.
Six stars both Canadian and American cast members, but, unlike other adaptations of Henry VIII’s, the show has an all-women cast. The current North American cast comprises of: Adrianna Hicks as Catherine of Aragon, Andrea Macasaet as Anne Boleyn, Abby Mueller as Jane Seymour, Brittney Mack as Anna of Cleves, Samantha Pauly as Katherine Howard, and Anna Uzele as Catherine Parr.
The six of them have become good friends. To them, the show benefits from their own friendships.
Helen Zhang The cast of Six
“I love these women so much, so the fact that we all can be on this journey together, it’s so special,” said Uzele. “What really bonded us as a cast as well is that everybody had their one day of being overwhelmed and having a full on meltdown, we each had our own day, but that’s what made us closer because we knew that we were all in it together and this show would not work unless it was specifically the six of us. ”
Six the Musical has garnered praise and popularity from all over, with the studio recording album being streamed over 300 000 times a day.
“It’s like being a bag of tortilla chips and everyone wants some,” said Mack.
Ashlynn Chand
Ashlynn is the 2019-20 Arts and Culture Editor. She is a fifth year English and Psychology student. She can be described as a friendly neighbourhood cat: very small, very fast, and can sleep anywhere.
Paramount Pictures, Phoenix Pictures
Retro on Retro: Footloose
Supplied by Randy Feere
Theatre Review: We Will Rock You
Netflix Review: Unbelievable
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Film Review: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5LGUCEqP-k
Magazine crossword answers: January 2020
Artwork: Fear
Artwork: You’re My Wish Come True
Artwork: All Hands
Artwork: Four
George on Pints, Politics, and Disruptions: Jason Kenney visits U of A campus
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The Gateway is the official student magazine at the University of Alberta. It is published once a month during the academic year (September-April) by the Gateway Student Journalism Society (GSJS), a student-run, autonomous, apolitical not-for-profit organization, operated in accordance with the Societies Act of Alberta.
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The Himalayan Times > Kathmandu > Unauthorised body should not scrutinise SC’s ruling: CJ Rana
Unauthorised body should not scrutinise SC’s ruling: CJ Rana
Kathmandu, September 27
Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JB Rana today said verdicts and orders passed by independent, impartial and competent judiciary could be scrutinised only by the competent authority as per the rules. He said this at an interaction organised in the Supreme Court before the start of Dashain vacation.
“Scrutinising judicial verdicts and orders by unauthorised bodies was against the principle, concept and norms of independence of the judiciary,” said CJ Rana.
He said, “Scrutinising verdicts and orders of the Supreme Court by unauthorised bodies can raise question against the credibility of the judiciary. Such acts cannot aid the provision of the constitution that envisions independent and competent judiciary. I do not think it is necessary to speak more on this issue in this gathering of educated persons.”
Rana’s remarks came at a time when some lawmakers, particularly those from the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP), have been raising the issue of scrutinising the SC’s recently passed verdicts in Ncell case, involving the question of capital gains tax. Some lawmakers have said that the government lost billions of rupees due to the court’s verdict. CJ Rana said constitutionalism, democracy, the rule of law and human rights could be protected only if the independence of judiciary was ensured.
“Just making a mention of judicial independence in the constitution and laws cannot ensure judicial independence. It can be ensured only when all stakeholders adhere to the principle of independence of judiciary,” Rana said.
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Added on July 1, 2018 Ufaq Fatima
Budding artist- Iram Malik
Srinagar: Her art not only describes her inner being but also highlights her perspective of seeing the world. Iram Malik a young budding artist of Kashmir likes to speak through her artwork. Her sensitivity regarding gender inequality and patriarchy are quite evident from her work.
“Like any other girl, I too have witnessed how we women are treated in our society. The grave injustice that keeps happening in our society compels to draw me. I always want to speak about the things that keep bothering me. The best way to do that is to highlight that through my art,” says Iram who is doing bachelors in Fine Arts in Kashmir University.
Iram is more inclined to abstract art. Her artwork gives a distorted picture of things which as per her is what she sees the world as. “In today’s world, nothing makes sense. Injustice, discrimination, violence has become routine of this world. I feel our generation has grown up by seeing all this and that is what my art depicts somehow,” Iram says.
Iram wants to make a name is the world of art. She apart from being very consistent in her work she continuously pushes her limits. “We have very limited resources here in this field but if one is determined to do something things can happen. Each day I set a new challenge for myself by trying to draw more complex and detailed work,” she adds.
Talking about the difficulties in this field she says the art field is already not vibrant in Kashmir and being a female artist adds more challenges to it. “You not only have to fight to make a space in the world of art but also the patriarchy”.
Iram keeps exhibiting her work whenever there is such opportunity and apart from this her work has also been published locally and nationally too.
Ufaq Fatima
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Six Oregon Breweries Harness Local Hops and Wild Yeast
Home » The Local Dish Blog
By Vanessa Salvia| Updated on December 5, 2019 October 28, 2019|
Oregon may be best known for its wines, and ciders but craft beer lovers will also find plenty to rave about. In keeping with the rich agricultural tradition that draws people to the region, we set out to find breweries and brewpubs that source ingredients locally and/or serve them in a farmhouse setting. Here are six breweries worth a tour.
The Ale Apothecary (Bend)
Paul Arney and his wife moved to Bend in the mid-90s, where he worked at Bend’s legendary Deschutes Brewery for 15 years. Being in a management position, managing spreadsheets more than actively making beer, was one of the reasons he wanted to start doing his own thing. “I wanted to move away from being behind a computer screen and make a completely natural product utilizing nearby ingredients,” he says.
“All of the beers that we talk about as far as ‘styles’ go started out with a brewer that was in a particular location who had a very limited, supply of raw materials. They had the water that was coming out of the ground. They had a farm nearby where they could get the hops or whatever else they were using. And they had the yeast that was present in the area.”
For Arney, location is supremely important. He has “awesome” water, local yeast and bacteria that flavor his beer in a unique way, and nearby farms for barley malt, hops, and local beekeepers for Oregon honey for their bottle conditioning. Many breweries will “force carbonate” their beer, a process which takes only 20 or 30 minutes. But Arney uses a process that takes three to six months. “We feel it’s very important, not only for the way that the beer tastes but to adhere to this idea of doing things naturally,” he says.
Arney’s beers spend most of their lives in woods as opposed to stainless steel barrels and everything is barrel aged in a “farmhouse” wild fermentation style. Arney struggles with calling them “sour beers” because he doesn’t want to give people who are unfamiliar with that style the impression that the beer is “sour,” but the industry doesn’t have a good description that everyone agrees on. The wild fermentation does give the beers a tart as opposed to sweet taste, but sour just doesn’t do it justice, so try it for yourself and express a totally natural and very local beer.
Image: Dragon’s Gate Brewery
Dragon’s Gate Brewery (Milton-Freewater)
Dragon’s Gate opened in 2011 with the goal of creating a brewery with a farm atmosphere. Owners Adam and Jennifer Gregory had visited Belgium and the Netherlands and liked Belgian-style beers, so they wanted to recreate the beers that they loved on their 10-acre farm. They brew about 30 different styles at the farm, including IPAs, with five to seven available seasonally. “Our primary focus is Belgian-style,” says Adam, “with some sours with wild yeast.”
They’re working on spontaneous fermentation using coolships to capture wild yeast. A “coolship” is a shallow, open vessel traditionally designed to cool hot wort prior to fermentation. They’re often used for traditional Belgian lambic beers because it encourages spontaneous fermentation and a rich assortment of interesting flavors. About four years ago the brewery expanded from an old barn to a bigger brewing facility that also allowed them to increase their production. They grow seven varieties of hops that are used in their beer-making process.
The couple wanted to create a very inviting atmosphere. “We didn’t want to necessarily be in a bar or at a store front,” says Adam. “We wanted to create an atmosphere where people could come out and sit on the grass and look at the lavender and the fruit trees and the hops growing and really experience the farm atmosphere rather than be in a warehouse or something.” There’s no better place to sit, enjoy the scenery, and enjoy the deer that might come to visit, and really taste the place where you are.
De Garde Brewing (Tillamook)
Where Trevor Rogers, owner and brewer of De Garde Brewing, brews on the Oregon coast, it’s hard to grow the prime ingredients for his beer. What he does do is let the microbes and naturally occurring yeast of Tillamook do their work on his beer.
“Both my wife and I are passionate about spontaneously fermented beers that provide a unique representation of place,” Rogers says. “And given that there wasn’t really any being made in the U.S. at that time that we opened in 2012, we decided that we should perhaps pursue that.”
Rogers sources all of the ingredients for his beers from farms and producers within just a few hours of Tillamook. Everything they make is spontaneously fermented beer that utilizes only the yeast and bacteria that are native to the very local environment. Their tap room in downtown Tillamook has a number of different beers on draft as well as a pretty broad array of bottles to take home. They produce around 50 beers each year, with a wide variety of flavors, that are aged in oak, bourbon, wine, and gin barrels, and are sometimes fermented with fruit.
Some bottled flavors include The Blossom, a spontaneous wild ale aged in oak barrels with peach blossoms; The Boysen Buveaux, a spontaneous wild ale aged in oak barrels for one year with boysenberries; and a Spruce Tip Cuvée, a spontaneous wild ale aged with spruce tips in oak gin barrels.
Jesse Shue, Head Brewer. Image by Golden Valley Brewery
Golden Valley Brewery (McMinnville)
Peter Kircher with Golden Valley Brewery says the inspiration for his farm-to-table restaurant and brewery date back to experiences in Europe over 30 years ago.
“I had classical French training [as a chef], and in the kitchens I worked at we were always bringing stuff in from local farms,” he says. “When I traveled in Europe back in the 1970s, the food was so different because everything was sourced locally.”
When he decided to open a brewery and restaurant in McMinnville many years later, “we started with a vision of sourcing locally and growing as much as we could on the farm.”
Golden Valley was one of the early entries into Oregon’s microbrewing scene. They were the 12th brewery to open post-1980, when the craft beer movement was just beginning to take off. Since that time they’ve been creating IPAs, porters, stouts, kolsches, wheat beers and more. Brewer Jesse Shue uses healthy doses of local hops to create many of their award-winning beers.
Beer Flight. Image by: Golden Valley Brewery
Both the McMinnville and Beaverton locations are open daily for a beer tasting or a meal. Golden Valley has full lunch and dinner menus that utilize plenty of local food. The company has its own gardens that supplied the kitchens with around 5,000 pounds of produce last year.
In 2002 Golden Valley started its own cattle ranch. Cows graze on pastures and munch spent grain from the brewery. “That’s part of a sustainable circle that fits nicely with the whole program,” Kircher says. “It’s a true farm-to-table experience, even though our prices aren’t what you’d normally expect from a farm-to-table restaurant. We believe in providing real food at a good value for the guest.”
Christian DeBenedetti. Image: Wolves and People Farmhouse Brewery
Wolves & People Farmhouse Brewery (Newberg)
The “farmhouse” in Wolves & People Farmhouse Brewery refers to the style of beers brewed by founder Christian DeBenedetti. But visitors who come to quaff saisons, cezannes and other ales do so in another farm structure: a barn that’s been on this Newberg farm since 1912.
Before opening the brewery in July 2016, DeBenedetti traveled the world studying traditional brewing technique. After spending several years working as a beer and travel writer (his book, The Great American Ale Trail, is now available), he decided to put his knowledge of brewing into practice.
Estate-grown hops. Image by: Wolves and People Farmhouse Brewery. Image:
He knew he wanted to create the farmhouse-style ales he’d come to love in Europe. And there was no better place to do it than his parent’s barn.
The two-story, timber-framed structure will play a small role in his desire to use traditional brewing techniques. In the winter he plans to open the big double doors in the hay loft and allow wild yeasts to do the work of fermenting the beer.
“There are only ten to fifteen breweries in the world that make beer this way,” he says. “It’s a tricky and risky way to make beer because you never know what’s coming in on the breezes.”
Yeast isn’t the only local ingredient DeBenedetti sources. “Farmhouse traditions tend to mean a brewer uses whatever they have at their disposal,” he says. “They use their own well water and fruit from the farm.” Water is, in fact, sourced from an onsite well, as are fruits such as apples, pears and apricots.
The result is what DeBenedetti describes as “rustic, wheaty beers that tend to be grassy and sometimes herbal. They’re refreshing and great with food.” Currently a food cart called The Wild Hunt, which serves Scandinavian-style cuisine, provides meals to weekend diners. Visitors are also allowed to bring picnics. They’re best enjoyed in the summer, when it’s possible to sit at an outdoor table and enjoy the view of the nearby mountains.
Image by: Grain Station Brew Works
Grain Station Brew Works (McMinnville)
A bold-lettered statement on the website for Grain Station Brew Works in McMinnville makes their mission quite clear: “We craft our beer in the spirit of our neighboring farmers, ranchers and vintners who get their hands dirty every day. Our passion is brewing, and we are committed to creating quality, down to earth, indy craft brews in the tradition of working the land to give back to the place we call home.”
Among the ways Grain Station pays homage to the region’s agricultural tradition is their location. The brewery is housed in a barn that once stored grass seed and other grains before they were loaded onto train cars in McMinnville.
Grain Station produces a fresh hop beer from just-picked local cones every year. They also try to use ingredients that stay true to the style of whatever beer they are crafting. For instance, German grains and German yeasts (acquired from a lab in Hood River) are used for German beers. The resulting IPAs, pilsners, reds, wheat beers, saisons and other beers are perfect for quenching your thirst after a long day in the fields (or playing tourist).
Visitors can grab a bite to eat in addition to a beer. Grain Station serves salads, burgers, sandwiches, and pizza with house-made marinara. The owners source much of the food from the nearby farmers and ranchers they salute with their beer.
Discover more spots dishing up Oregon’s local flavor:
Pine Street Market Serves Up Portland-Style Eclectic Eats
Ashland Restaurants Embrace Local Farms
Top Wine Bars in Portland Suburbs
About the Author: Vanessa Salvia
Vanessa Salvia is a Eugene-based journalist with nearly two decades of experience covering the Northwest lifestyle. She has experience writing about food, travel, gardening, home design, health and wellness, and industries such as concrete construction and building waterproofing. She enjoys the local food and beer, and exploring the many beautiful places around Oregon.
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Ergasy / Poems by Christopher Cornwell
Issue Four Sampler
Online Fiction & Poetry
Praise for The Lonely Crowd
The Lonely Press
Vertebrae / Poems by Glyn Edwards
A Knowledge of Bats – Author’s Notes
by The Lonely Crowd
Rebecca F. John
I stumbled across the image on the internet. Really, I did. Just as the unnamed character in my story does, I was scrolling mindlessly through an article one evening when I was captivated by the most unusual of photographs – that of a bat foetus, ‘the head twice the size of the body, the ten toes spread evenly before the wings which are furled over its face, their slender bones clawing outwards like rivers on a map’.
It was at once beautiful and alien. I felt I had to write about it.
The question was ‘How?’
My instinct, ordinarily, is to write colourful stories. I am a visual writer, I ‘see’ my stories, and so the backdrops are usually quite vivid.
‘Salting Home’ begins, for example, in ‘… the pale waking hours,’ when ‘… the estuary is sprinkled with cockle pickers. From the windows of the cottages which guard the land’s tattered edge, they are black dots on a flashing silver mudflat; their Land Rovers are dark squares grumbling against the dawn.’
In ‘Her Last Show’ the protagonist Rosa ‘… listens to the rain hitting the windows. It sounds sharp, like a pecking bird, and when it runs down the glass it glints with a hundred different colours. In the darkness beyond, London is vast and full and empty all at the same time. Earlier, she had stood and looked for the details, but all she could make out were blurs of indigo and ruby and gold on a thick black backdrop.’
In ‘The Saddest Jazz’, ‘Moody purple clouds clamber and crawl across the sky’ whilst ‘a crow squawks a string of black notes into the confusion.’
I’d been looking for a story I could write quietly, therefore, as an experiment. I wanted to strip away the description, the ‘painting’, and concentrate on my characters’ emotions through starker language. The image – a creamy white body against deep black – seemed, in its simple complexity, an appropriate vehicle for this exploration. It encompassed what I wanted my story to be – bleak yet full, small but as big as can be – because the subject, of course, is life. And hurt. And hope.
I have identified myself, of late, as a writer infatuated with hope. The short stories in my collection Clown’s Shoes are nearly all shaped by my investigation of it. And I suspect, perhaps, that my entire career – however long, or short, that might be – will continue to be moulded by it. Because the elusiveness of the state fascinates me, just as that bat foetus did. I want to explore the attainment of it, the retention of it, the methods by which human beings manage to cling to it when everything else is lost.
The protagonist in ‘A Knowledge of Bats’ is experiencing the break-down of her relationship, she is grieving that, but she is also hopeful – for her future, for herself, for the foetus she believes might be developing in her own womb.
‘“Dreaming,” she says. Her voice is muffled by her hands, but it doesn’t matter. She is speaking now to herself. Or maybe to the foetus. “Perhaps I should start.”’
And that’s where the story ends, where it must end, with a ‘start’. Because hope is a state people enter into every day, because it is always renewing itself, because it is forever beginning. That is what I love to write about. And that is what ‘A Knowledge of Bats’, for all its rumination on disappointment, is about.
Hope – that tiny, enormous word.
Rebecca F. John was born in 1986, and grew up in Pwll, a small village on the South Wales coast. She holds a BA Hons in English with Creative Writing (1st class) and an MA in Creative Writing (distinction) from Swansea University. Her short stories have been broadcast on BBC Radio 4. In 2014, she was highly commended in the Manchester Fiction Prize. In 2015, her short story ‘The Glove Maker’s Numbers’ was shortlisted for the Sunday Times EFG Short Story Award. She is the winner of the PEN International New Voices Award 2015.
‘A Knowledge of Bats’ is featured in the Winter issue of The Lonely Crowd, which can be bought here.
© Rebecca F. John, 2016. Image © Jo Mazelis, 2016.
01.16.2016 – Criticism / Short Fiction
© The Lonely Crowd 2019. © The Lonely Press 2019. All rights reserved.
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Added on April 1, 2014 Timothy Moore smart brand , smart cars , smart suv , SUVs
Smart Unveils Four-Row Smart SUV, Says “To Hell with Trees”
In a stunning twist, the Smart brand, known for its incredibly tiny cars that have become the laughing stock of roadways everywhere, revealed today that it will be adding a four-row SUV to their lineup.
The Smart SUV
“I was just tired of the way our brand was perceived, you know?” said Smart CEO, Annette Winkler, as she puffed a cigar. “Who cares if we’re environmentally friendly if we’re not popular?”
The Smart SUV reportedly weighs 6,500 pounds and gets an impressive 12 mpg on the highway, 8 mpg in the city, and 10 mpg combined, but the engine also relies on a newly unveiled coal-burning process to reach over 11 mph.
“To hell with trees,” Winkler told us. “I mean, what do we really need ‘em for anyways? Because they’re pretty to look at? That’s what movies are for. They can make that stuff with CGI now.”
The Smart SUV will go on sale in all markets across the globe next year.
Happy April Fools’!
Timothy Moore
Timothy Moore takes his leadership inspiration from Michael Scott, his writing inspiration from Mark Twain, and his dancing inspiration from every drunk white guy at a wedding. When Tim is not writing about cars and money, he’s working on his novel or reading someone else’s, geeking out over strategy board games, hiking with his pooch, or channeling his inner Linda Belcher over beers with his friends. See more articles by Timothy.
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Exploring the ruins of Dirleton Castle
Dirleton Castle – the classic Scottish fortress
The photogenic Tantallon Castle nearby gets most of the castle publicity in this part of Scotland but Dirleton Castle is still one of my favourites. The structure of it alone takes me back to being a kid playing with my medieval lego. High unassailable walls, the remains of a moat, rugged foundations and more. Legoland designers had this place in mind I think. Internally too the castle holds a labyrinth of passages and staircases within. What I wouldn’t have given to have lived near this place when I was a boy….
We love a bit of history and Dirleton is not short of a gory story or two. At the end of the 13th Century Scotland was embroiled in the wars of indpendence with England. Border strongholds like Dirleton Castle were to see a lot of military action at this point. Records show it fell in and out of Scottish hands during the time of Robert the Bruce. The Oliver Cromwell invasion of the mid 17th Century saw Dirleton Castle faced with 1600 of his English forces. The defenders relented and the leaders were gruesomely hanged from the castle walls. He was a nice man that Mr Cromwell.
Fortunately the history was not entirely invasion and slaughter. Dirleton Castle has been a home for several noble famillies over the centuries. It started with the de Vaux’s in the 13th Century. Then it was the Haliburton family who restored it after the damaging independence wars. Next were the Ruthvens of the 16th Century who greatly improved the castle grounds. Dirleton Castle has that great combination of military stronghold and decadent home. I can picture the invaders and defenders furiously fighting over its ownership but can equally envisage the bustle of life over a huge hearth in a relentless kitchen.
Nowadays Dirleton Castle is a hugely atmospheric ruin that is surrounded by some lovely gardens. Many thanks to the Ruthvens for that. There is also a bowling green. The castle highlights are a vast basement that was clearly a hub of activity and a spooky prison space. On my visit I actually had the whole place to myself and braved the walk down to the pit. Apparently, I lived to tell the tale.
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The Tech Submit Campus Life Stories Campus Tips Return to seasonal temperatures
Join The Tech
World and Nation
Return to seasonal temperatures
By Shaena Berlin Nov. 13, 2012
After a lovely weekend more reminiscent of September than late fall, temperatures in Cambridge will cool down after a cold front passes through this morning. For the rest of the week, high pressure will dominate, bringing mostly clear skies and temperatures in the 35-45°F range.
On this day in 1946, scientists produced snow in MA in the “first modern-day cloud seeding experiment” (The Weather Channel). Cloud seeding involves spraying small particles that serve as cloud condensation nuclei into the atmosphere; this increases the probability that clouds will form in certain areas. The practice has been used to induce precipitation, to rain out pollutants before events such as the Beijing Olympics, and has been proposed as a mechanism to temporarily reduce global warming by increasing planetary reflectivity.
84 Massachusetts Ave, Suite 483
© 2020 The Tech
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The Five Obstructions Blog-a-Thon #4: The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant
For the fourth part of Nostra’s Five Obstructions Blog-a-Thon, here is what I’m asked to do:
Well, I used to write reviews that were longer than 1250 words and sometimes even more than 2000 words but that was a long time ago. I’ve become much more minimalist in my approach as it’s part of this evolution for me as a writer. I thought it was going to be easy but there was that realization that I haven’t done that in some time. So I decided to retrieve an old review of mine that I wrote during my time at Epinions.com on 6/5/05 of Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s 1972 film The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant but in a newly re-fashioned and re-edited form that is more to my liking as this new version features a total of 1398 words:
Written and directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Die Bitteren Tranen der Petra von Kant (The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant) is the story about a fashion designer who falls for a young model as the relationship would become tumultuous as her mute assistant watches from afar. The film is an exploration into the life of a woman who has a lot of disdain towards men while treating her loyal assistant cruelly in order to get what she wants only to deal with reality as the titular character is played by Margit Carstensen. Also starring Hanna Schygulla, Katrin Schaake, Eva Mattes, Gisela Fackeldey, and Irm Hermann. Die Bitteren Tranent der Petra von Kant is a ravishing yet harrowing film from Rainer Werner Fassbinder.
The film explores the life of fashion designer Petra von Kant as she has a mute assistant named Marlene (Irm Hermann) who helps her finish sketches and other duties for Petra. While Marlene seems to have feelings for Petra, Petra often treats her with disdain as she also deals with family issues as her mother Valerie (Gisela Fackeldey) needs money for a trip to Miami while Petra’s daughter Gabriele (Eva Mattes) is in boarding school. Even as her cousin Sidonie (Katrin Schaake) makes an unexpected arrival as she’s recovering from the end of her second marriage where Petra talks about her contempt towards men. Also with Sidonie is a young model named Karin (Hanna Schygulla) whom Petra is infatuated with as she invites Karin for a night at her cramped yet lavish apartment. Petra hopes to help Karin with her thriving modeling career as the two talk about their love lives as Karin is still married to a man working in Sydney.
Just as the relationship seems to go well, it eventually becomes troublesome as Karin starts to feel smothered by Petra who spends her time trying wigs and costumes. Yet, Marlene does a lot of the work where it only frustrates Petra who keeps lashing out at Marlene for everything as Petra cancels a flight to Madrid that Karin was supposed to be in. Karin’s activities outside Petra’s home would cause more tension until a call from Karin’s husband from Zurich would end the relationship as Petra becomes anguished. Even as her 35th birthday approaches as her family arrives to celebrate only for the party to go wrong when Sidonie reveals some news about Karin that forces Petra to realize who are her true friends and such.
While the story is a bit hard to follow with its very intricate yet talkative dialogue. Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s theatrical background brings the claustrophobic yet theatrical approach to his film since it revolves entirely with an apartment filled with lavish things and naked mannequins that plays off as some kind of metaphor. The strength of the story is in both Fassbinder's taciturn approach to writing and directing. In the writing, he crafts a five-act structure where he explores the manic obsession of Petra von Kant along with her surroundings like her gossip-filled cousin, her idealistic daughter, her conservative rich mother, and Marlene. Even in its look, Fassbinder is also making fun of the lavish, luxurious look of Douglas Sirk’s films as well as commenting on social classes though its commentary and dark humor is layered underneath the dramatic tone of the film.
When Karin arrives, she starts off as this nice, naive woman living in pain only to turn into someone who studies Petra and use her youth against Petra. The real eye that serves as our third-person perspective from Fassbinder's view is Marlene where in the opening credits, he dedicates the film to the caricature of Marlene. The film's lesbian overtones and subtle sadomasochistic references only to show the hatred and self-absorbed world of Petra. It's really a character study piece on a woman trying to live in a world with love and a lifestyle that would later turn on her as she lashes out on those who care about her.
The directing approach of Fassbinder is very succinct since he is trying to get into the characters and figure out their behaviors and motivations. Yet, there are several scenes where he does long takes where he would at one minute, focus on Sidonie and then to Petra, and then zoom his way into Marlene who watches and listens everything without uttering a single word. There, Fassbinder uses both his expertise in theater and films to craft a vision that is unpredictable with metaphoric references around Petra’s chaotic world as she falls apart right till the end. Even the ending has something that is realistic to pinpoint as Petra wonders how everything has fallen apart for her and who are really there for her while realizing how she fails them.
Helping Fassbinder is his unique yet stark vision is longtime cinematographer Michael Ballhaus who uses a lot of colors and lighting to convey scenes that are shot in the day while using very little in the darker scenes where it's nighttime. The production design work of Kurt Raab is well presented from its shaggy carpeting and lavish look along with the mannequins and the painting in Petra's bedroom that serves as a metaphor. The editing of Thea Eymesz is brilliant for its methodical approach to editing to play out the drama as it unfolds as well as keeping up with the film‘s very talkative dialogue.
Maja Lemcke’s costume design helps play out the film’s visual style with its costumes to display the world that Petra lives where it is lavish but also detached from reality. The sound work of Gunther Kortwich is superb for the intimacy that is played in the apartment including all of the emotions that come out from Petra and the sound of objects being touched and such. Fassbinder also shines in his choice of music with wonderful tracks from the Walker Brothers, Guiseppe Verdi, and a couple of cuts from the Platters in Smoke Gets In Your Eyes and The Great Pretender.
While the film fills only six actresses, Fassbinder's ability to choose actresses shows more of his brilliance in casting. Eva Mattes is wonderful in the role of Petra's young, idealistic daughter who goes into shock in seeing her mother fall apart while Gisela Fackeldey is also great in the role of Petra's stern, posh mother who despite her conservative views, supports her. Karin Schaake is also great in the role of Petra's cousin Sidonie with her understated performance in the role of a gossip-monger whose marriage is falling apart as she seeks advice from her cousin. Fassbinder regular Hanna Schygulla gives a mesmerizing, brutal performance as young and spoiled Karin with her graceful beauty and her complex turn from a naive model to an ungrateful woman who boils the pot around Petra.
The film's best supporting performance aside from Schygulla is another Fassbinder regular in Irm Hermann as Marlene. Her performance represents not just Fassbinder but the eyes and ears of the audience. Never uttering a word, we see Hermann convey a loyalty and heartbreak as she continues to stand on her own, even as Petra verbally abuses her. Even in the film's final moments, we see Hermann given something but again, she doesn't speak and let her actions do the talking while throughout the entire film, she wears the same black clothes throughout in an amazing performance.
Finally, there's Margit Carstensen in the title role of Petra von Kant. Carstensen brings a troubling yet powerful performance as the embittered Petra with her commanding approach early on and sly seduction in the film's first half. By the second half, Carstensen shows more in her powerful, dramatic range with a bit of sympathy as she deals with heartbreak even though her actions and words make her more un-likeable. This is really one of the best yet brutal performances to ever grace the European cinema of the 1970s.
Die Bitteren Tranent der Petra von Kant is a dark yet mesmerizing film from Rainer Werner Fassbinder thanks to its amazing ensemble cast led by Margit Carstensen, Irm Hermann, and Hanna Schygulla. The film is definitely one of Fassbinder’s most compelling dramas in the way it explores relationship as well as the life of a woman who faces the reality of her empty and demanding lifestyle. In the end, Die Bitteren Tranent der Petra von Kant is a majestic film from Rainer Werner Fassbinder.
Rainer Werner Fassbinder Films: Love is Colder Than Death - (Katzelmacher) - (Why Does Herr R. Run Amok?) - (Rio das Mortes) - (The American Soldier) - (Whity) - (Beware of a Holy Whore) - (The Merchant of Four Seasons) - World on a Wire - Ali: Fear Eats the Soul - (Martha (1974 film)) - (Effi Briest) - (Fox and His Friends) - (Mother Kuster’s Trip to Heaven) - (Chinese Roulette) - (Germany in Autumn) - (Despair) - (In a Year of 13 Moons) - (The Marriage of Maria Braun) - (Third Generation) - (Berlin Alexanderplatz) - (Lili Marleen) - (Lola (1981 film)) - (Veronika Voss) - Querelle
Labels: eva mattes, gisela fackeldey, hanna schygulla, internet meme, irm hermann, katrin schaake, margit cartensen, rainer werner fassbinder
Nostra said...
Thanks for your entry!
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Home / Wildlands / Wildlands: The Adventuring Party
OSP0685
Wildlands: The Adventuring Party
Collections: Game Expansions, Wildlands
Type: Expansion
Category: Expansion, Miniatures
Some see them as heroes, bringing hope to the Wildlands. Others regard them as a menace, a band of criminals that must be stopped at all costs!
Never shying away from danger, a bold adventuring party has joined the fray. This band of hardened wanderers in Wildlands: The Adventuring Party can replace one of the existing factions, with their unique healing ability keeping them in the fight even when hope seems lost, or they can take to the battlefield using the "Encounter" rules to steal crystal shards and attack anyone who gets in their way.
In more detail, when using the adventuring party as a faction, the player controlling them does not assign map cards to their individual characters. Instead, they choose five cards to pass to the player on their right and keep the other five face down. When revealing a character, the player can choose any location they have a map card for, discarding that card. They also bring a new action to the game: heal. Exclusively available to Thom the Cleric, this action allows the player to remove one damage token from a character in the same or an adjacent space.
When used as an encounter, the adventuring party is set up on the board at the start of the game, then at the end of each player's turn the top card of the adventuring party deck is revealed, with the character whose artwork is displayed taking an action. Which action is taken depends on the character and the relative board state. As the game progresses, the troublesome band makes their way around the board, attacking your characters, stealing your loot, and generally causing chaos.
2 - 4 Players | 30 - 60 Minutes | Ages 14+
Wildlands: Map Pack 1 – The Warlock's Tower & The Crystal Canyons
Wildlands: The Unquiet Dead
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Archive for category: Top 10 Videos of 2015
Civil Protection Order: What Is An Ex Parte Hearing?
March 24, 2016 /in Civil Protection Orders, Other Law Topics, Top 10 Videos of 2015, Top 10 videos of 2018 /by Daryle C. Tibbs Esq.
Top 10 Videos Of 2015 Civil Protection Order: What Is An Ex Parte Hearing?
In this video series, Tibbs Law Office is reviewing their top 10 videos of 2015, finishing with Number 1, “What Is An Ex Parte Hearing?”
Top 10 Videos of 2018: #1 With 802 views during 2018, this video was the MOST watched video of 2018.
These videos are designed to educate viewers on Ohio small business law. These videos are not to be construed as legal advice. Please seek the advice of a local attorney regarding your specific situation.
For more online sources on this and similar topics, please visit our firm youtube channel at:
www.youtube.com/tibbslawoffice
www.youtube.com/tibbslawofficeKentucky
1329 East Kemper Rd. #4230
www.tibbslawoffice.com
https://tibbslawoffice.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Misc-Lady-Liberty-110717-sm.jpg 267 400 Daryle C. Tibbs Esq. https://tibbslawoffice.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/logo-300x74.png Daryle C. Tibbs Esq.2016-03-24 15:52:482019-01-06 14:07:55Civil Protection Order: What Is An Ex Parte Hearing?
Top 10 Videos Of 2015: What happens if the executor of a will fails to perform his or her fiduciary duty?
March 9, 2016 /in Other Law Topics, Probate Law, Top 10 Videos of 2015 /by Daryle C. Tibbs Esq.
Top 10 Videos Of 2015 Probate Law: What happens if the executor of a will fails to perform his or her fiduciary duty?
In this video series, Tibbs Law Office is reviewing their top 10 videos of 2015, continuing with number 3, “What happens if the executor of a will fails to perform his or her fiduciary duty?”
https://tibbslawoffice.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Legacy-Thumbnail-110717.jpg 267 400 Daryle C. Tibbs Esq. https://tibbslawoffice.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/logo-300x74.png Daryle C. Tibbs Esq.2016-03-09 21:19:082019-01-06 13:36:54Top 10 Videos Of 2015: What happens if the executor of a will fails to perform his or her fiduciary duty?
Top 10 Videos Of 2015: Do Ohio’s Concealed Carry laws regulate open carry in Ohio?
March 4, 2016 /in Conceal Carry Law, Other Law Topics, Top 10 Videos of 2015 /by Daryle C. Tibbs Esq.
In this video series, Tibbs Law Office is reviewing their top 10 videos of 2015, continuing with number 4, “Do Ohio’s Concealed Carry laws regulate open carry in Ohio?”
https://tibbslawoffice.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Misc-Lady-Liberty-110717-sm.jpg 267 400 Daryle C. Tibbs Esq. https://tibbslawoffice.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/logo-300x74.png Daryle C. Tibbs Esq.2016-03-04 13:04:542019-01-06 13:35:41Top 10 Videos Of 2015: Do Ohio's Concealed Carry laws regulate open carry in Ohio?
February 26, 2016 /in Introduction to Tibbs Law Office, Other Law Topics, Top 10 Videos of 2015 /by Daryle C. Tibbs Esq.
Top 10 Videos of 2015: Introduction To Tibbs Law Office
In this video series, Tibbs Law Office is reviewing their top 10 videos of 2015, continuing with number 5, “Introduction To Tibbs Law Office”
https://tibbslawoffice.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Misc-Lady-Liberty-110717-sm.jpg 267 400 Daryle C. Tibbs Esq. https://tibbslawoffice.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/logo-300x74.png Daryle C. Tibbs Esq.2016-02-26 01:37:372019-01-06 13:23:42Introduction To Tibbs Law Office
Top 10 Videos of 2015, Expungement: If I Get My Record Expunged, Can Anyone Still See My Criminal Record?
February 18, 2016 /in Criminal Law, Other Law Topics, Top 10 Videos of 2015 /by Daryle C. Tibbs Esq.
In this video series, Tibbs Law Office is reviewing their top 10 videos of 2015, continuing with number 6, “If I Get My Record Expunged, Can Anyone Still See My Criminal Record?”
https://tibbslawoffice.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/handcuffs-thumbnail-110717.jpg 277 400 Daryle C. Tibbs Esq. https://tibbslawoffice.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/logo-300x74.png Daryle C. Tibbs Esq.2016-02-18 22:55:202019-01-06 12:15:59Top 10 Videos of 2015, Expungement: If I Get My Record Expunged, Can Anyone Still See My Criminal Record?
Top 10 Videos of 2015, Conceal & Carry: Can Ohio Police Search My Car Without My Consent?
February 11, 2016 /in Conceal Carry Law, Top 10 Videos of 2015 /by Daryle C. Tibbs Esq.
In this video series, Tibbs Law Office is reviewing their top 10 videos of 2015, continuing with number 7, “Can the Ohio police search my car without my consent?”
https://tibbslawoffice.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Misc-Lady-Liberty-110717-sm.jpg 267 400 Daryle C. Tibbs Esq. https://tibbslawoffice.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/logo-300x74.png Daryle C. Tibbs Esq.2016-02-11 15:18:312018-02-14 15:34:50Top 10 Videos of 2015, Conceal & Carry: Can Ohio Police Search My Car Without My Consent?
Conceal & Carry: If my Ohio concealed carry license application is denied, is there anything I can do?
February 4, 2016 /in Conceal Carry Law, Other Law Topics, Top 10 Videos of 2015 /by Daryle C. Tibbs Esq.
Top 10 Videos of 2015, Conceal & Carry: If the Sheriff denies my application for an Ohio Concealed Carry License, is there anything I can do?
In this video series, Tibbs Law Office is reviewing their top 10 videos of 2015, continuing with number 8, “If the Sheriff denies my application for an Ohio Concealed Carry License, is there anything I can do?”
https://tibbslawoffice.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Misc-Lady-Liberty-110717-sm.jpg 267 400 Daryle C. Tibbs Esq. https://tibbslawoffice.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/logo-300x74.png Daryle C. Tibbs Esq.2016-02-04 17:00:472019-01-06 12:33:12Conceal & Carry: If my Ohio concealed carry license application is denied, is there anything I can do?
Top 10 Videos of 2015, Expungement: What Is The Difference Between An Expungement & A Pardon?
January 29, 2016 /in Criminal Law, Other Law Topics, Top 10 Videos of 2015 /by Daryle C. Tibbs Esq.
In this video series, Tibbs Law Office is reviewing their top 10 videos of 2015, continuing with number 9, “What Is The Difference Between An Expungement And A Pardon?”
These videos are designed to educate viewers on Ohio criminal law. These videos are not to be construed as legal advice. Please seek the advice of a local attorney regarding your specific situation.
https://tibbslawoffice.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/handcuffs-thumbnail-110717.jpg 277 400 Daryle C. Tibbs Esq. https://tibbslawoffice.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/logo-300x74.png Daryle C. Tibbs Esq.2016-01-29 22:39:382019-01-06 12:17:11Top 10 Videos of 2015, Expungement: What Is The Difference Between An Expungement & A Pardon?
Probate Law: How Do I Open An Estate Bank Account?
January 21, 2016 /in Other Law Topics, Probate Law, Top 10 Videos of 2015, Top 10 videos of 2018 /by Daryle C. Tibbs Esq.
Top 10 Videos of 2015, Probate Law: How do I open an estate bank account?
In this video series, Tibbs Law Office is reviewing their top 10 videos of 2015, beginning with number 10, “How Do I Open An Estate Bank Account?”
Top 10 Videos of 2018: #3 With 299 views during 2018, this video was the third most watched video of 2018.
These videos are designed to educate viewers on Ohio probate law. These videos are not to be construed as legal advice. Please seek the advice of a local attorney regarding your specific situation.
https://tibbslawoffice.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Legacy-Thumbnail-110717.jpg 267 400 Daryle C. Tibbs Esq. https://tibbslawoffice.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/logo-300x74.png Daryle C. Tibbs Esq.2016-01-21 16:10:272019-01-06 14:05:43Probate Law: How Do I Open An Estate Bank Account?
Small Business Law: Do I Need Any Licenses Or Business Permits To Start A New Business?
October 7, 2011 /1 Comment/in Other Law Topics, Small Business Law, Top 10 Videos of 2015, Top 10 videos of 2018 /by Daryle C. Tibbs Esq.
Top 10 Videos of 2018: #6 With 117 views during 2018, this video was the sixth most watched video of 2018.
https://tibbslawoffice.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Misc-Lady-Liberty-110717-sm.jpg 267 400 Daryle C. Tibbs Esq. https://tibbslawoffice.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/logo-300x74.png Daryle C. Tibbs Esq.2011-10-07 11:00:002019-01-06 14:12:04Small Business Law: Do I Need Any Licenses Or Business Permits To Start A New Business?
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Longmire: New A&E Drama; Cancel or Keep It?
by Trevor Kimball, June 11, 2012
Not long ago, A&E unveiled their latest dramatic TV series, Longmire. Breakout Kings, another A&E show about lawkeepers, was recently cancelled. Will Longmire outlast it or quickly follow it to the TV graveyard?
Taking place in a fictional Wyoming county, Longmire revolves around Sheriff Walt Longmire as he tries to get back on his feet following the death of his wife. With the help of his daughter (Cassidy Freeman), his new deputy (Katee Sackhoff), and his best friend (Lou Diamond Phillips), Walt decides to run for re-election against a young deputy (Bailey Chase) in the department who also wants the position.
The TV show debuted on June 3rd to a 0.8 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 4.15 million total viewers.
Should Longmire be cancelled or renewed?
I'm not sure.
Renewed!
That was a very good premiere for the cable channel and was actually the biggest in A&E’s history. Longmire was the third most-watched cable show of the night, only falling behind the NBA playoff game on ESPN and Game of Thrones on HBO.
New TV shows typically fall in their second week on the air but Longmire bucked that trend and actually grew. Last night’s episode drew about the same in total viewership but gained about 22% in the demo.
Unless the numbers hit a serious nosedive, Longmire is assured of a second season renewal. In fact, I’d be surprised if it wasn’t announced soon. It looks like A&E has a hit.
But, what do you think? Do you like Longmire? Will you keep watching? Do you think that it should be renewed or cancelled instead?
More about: Longmire, Longmire: canceled or renewed?
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The Glades, Longmire: A&E TV Series Premiere June 3rd
My wife and I anxiously await the next season of Longmire. We really like the story line, and would hate to see it canceled at this point of the story.
RENEW IT IT WAS SO GOOD
Please don’t cancel Longmire. It is one of the best shows out there.We can’t get enough of it. We tell everyone one how great it is . I put it right up there with Bue Boods, Hawaii five o, and Sleepy Hallow.
I am really disappointed in the Longmire tv series and in all honesty the series “SUCKS” it is so unbelievably asinine I would not punish myself by watching it past the second show in the first season.
I absolutely loved the Craig Johnson novels and have read every one in the Longmire set but what a damn disgrace A&E did by butchering it all up.
Whoever picked the cast of characters used in this tv boobage should be dick kicked not to mention the ass wipe that wrote the scripts I mean damn what a bunch of backyard ********…
Yea Longmire
just goes to show you don’t know what talent is. I guess you would think someone that acts like a zombie has talent. It’s interesting where your the only one that thinks this way. I’ve watched reviews since they cancelled and there hasn’t been one negative thing said about it, UNTIL YOU.. I have a feeling you have a bad attitude towards the world. I say this not because you don’t like Longmire but the way you say it. You can criticize in a more mature and nice way. Maybe people would take you more serious. Personally I don’t care… Read more »
please bring longmire back. You certainly know how loyal longmire’s fans are. People still writing in for renewal after all this time.Come on, give us a break. Excellent acting. A&E improve your quality of shows. The reality shows you have are not art. If your going to continue down this road, change the name of your station. YOUR SHAMING THE ART AND ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY..
Love the show. Love the cast of characters. Hope it will have many more seasons.
jim randall
please tell me why, a excellence series comes on tv some jerk wants to cancell it. one of the best series on tv. this one of the resaon i do not watch A&E anymore. hello, someone out there in tv land need to jump on this series an renew it. thank you
It would be a A&E thing to cancel it at season 3. Breakout kings. was pretty good cancel at season 2. A semi cliffhanger ending where a few more episodes or another season would have ended it perfect. Glades. After 4 seasons with a big cliffhanger ending needing a few more episodes or again another season. Longmire. I have yet to see season 3. But I love it on the first and second. Are the biggest shows I’ve watched and liked. I couldn’t watch them on air after losing satellite for a month or so and missing an episode I… Read more »
Gerry Frost
Never watch A&E again, .in fact its time to get rid of cable ,the only shows worth watching are discarded. What the advertisers are telling us is we don’t matter. That’s fine they don’t either!!!! Ill read the books ,TV is now a wasteland of CRAP, so long!!!!
I love Walt Longmire. Please renew this show. I look forward to it each week. I am reading
The books now!!!’nn
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Drake booed off stage at Tyler, The Creator's Camp Flog Gnaw festival
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Drake cut his set short at Tyler, The Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw festival on Sunday night after being confronted by loud boos from an angry audience.
The Canadian rapper made a surprise appearance at the event as he took to the stage during a headline slot shared with Lil Uzi Vert and A$AP Rocky.
It had been rumoured that Frank Ocean was set to feature during the evening, so when the God’s Plan star made his entrance, he was met with a disappointing reaction from the crowd.
Video from the music event shows Drake attempting to push through the booing at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium, telling the audience: “I’m here for you tonight. If you want to keep going, I will keep going.”
Incase you wanted to see Drake get booed off stage at flog gnaw… bruh pic.twitter.com/TgyqWvOZtq
— Baby Carrot (@lrroze89) November 11, 2019
However, as the concertgoers replied with a chorus of “No”, Drake cut his set short by a reported 20 minutes, exclaiming: “It’s been love. I love y’all. I go by the name of Drake. thank you for having me.”
Following his quick exit, many audience members took to Twitter to reflect on the evening, with one writing: “Fans at camp flog gnaw were expecting that Frank ocean was gonna be the surprise guest headliner… they got drake instead.. safe to say… they rather Frank ocean.”
However, others hit back, insisting Ocean had never been confirmed to attend the festival, so the reaction to Drake was unwarranted.
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“Tyler, The Creator never said it was Frank Ocean or gave clues about it,” one person tweeted. “That’s y’all fault for being mad and assuming s—. It should be whatever that A$AP Rocky, Lil Uzi Vert and Drake were the mystery guest for Camp Flog Gnaw.”
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Home » Boston » Back Bay
Well, at least she won't storrow herself
By adamg on Fri, 05/11/2018 - 4:40pm
Turlach MacDonagh was kind of amazed to see a Hubway user riding down Storrow Drive this afternoon (no, they're not supposed to do that).
Hubway
Bluebikes
By Lee on Fri, 05/11/2018 - 4:49pm.
I’m psyched.
By John Costello on Fri, 05/11/2018 - 4:56pm.
With people agreeing with your comment it gives tacit concent for people to take the VW up the Minuteman! Thanks folks.
Just remember anarchy is a two way street.
One way streets are only one way for motor vehicles.
By roadman on Fri, 05/11/2018 - 6:23pm.
From MGL Chapter 85, Section 11B:
Section 11B. Every person operating a bicycle upon a way, as defined in section one of chapter ninety, shall have the right to use all public ways in the commonwealth except limited access or express state highways where signs specifically prohibiting bicycles have been posted, and shall be subject to the traffic laws and regulations of the commonwealth (emphasis added) and the special regulations contained in this section, except that: (1) the bicycle operator may keep to the right when passing a motor vehicle which is moving in the travel lane of the way, (2) the bicycle operator shall signal by either hand his intention to stop or turn; provided, however, that signals need not be made continuously and shall not be made when the use of both hands is necessary for the safe operation of the bicycle, and (3) bicycles may be ridden on sidewalks outside business districts when necessary in the interest of safety, unless otherwise directed by local ordinance. A person operating a bicycle on the sidewalk shall yield the right of way to pedestrians and give an audible signal before overtaking and passing any pedestrian.
Going the wrong way down a one way street violates a traffic regulation.
Not to mention it's really really REALLY stupid and unsafe.
By UHub-fan on Fri, 05/11/2018 - 8:55pm.
But hey, really really REALLY stupid seems to be a thing nowadays.
Wrong back at ya
Regulations are made to be broken.
One way only makes sense for 4 or more wheeled motor vehicles. If cops don’t enforce the one way rule on cyclists, and no good reason why they should, then it’s basically a defunct regulation.
So, in short
By Waquiot on Fri, 05/11/2018 - 9:49pm.
You are saying cyclists are above the law?
I don't agree with it but yes, I believe Lee is saying that
By spin_o_rama on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 12:36pm.
The argument could be made that some laws applied to motor vehicles don't make sense when applied to bicycles, however that doesn't change the current state of the MGLs. If cycling advocates want that amend, petition to Beacon Hill.
But lets remember that motorists also act like they are above the law too, just with more of a threat to public safety.
Drivers might be bad
By Waquiot on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 2:26pm.
But I challenge you to find a driver that would say that a motor vehicle law is not valid because the police don't enforce it. If bicyclists want to be treated the same as other modes on public roads, the attitude that cyclists can disregard laws does not help the cause.
Honestly, the laws could be modernized, and in a way that would help all modes of transport. It's not being done, so we are where we are.
Speeding? Texting?
By spin_o_rama on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 9:45pm.
I mean doesn't the very act of defying speed limit laws kinda say that they don't care, unless they get caught? That behavior points to an attitude of disregarding the law.
I've heard friends say pretty much that, they know certain laws aren't enforced like texting and driving and believe they are not valid, so they openly defy them.
But yeah the bigger point is, obeying the law and modernizing laws to be more respective of the differences in some modes of the transit, which aren't always happening.
Edit: Also, I dunno about the point of cyclists wanting to be treated the same as other users of the road, I think its more about accommodating cyclists needs for safety and infrastructure. But I do agree that the attitudes of disregarding law doesn't help their cause, for cyclists and motorists. Its just that one group gets crucified for it while another gets hand waved away.
Um, nope
By Waquiot on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 10:02pm.
I’ve been known to exceed the speed limit, and I’ve even been ticketed for it (on a rural non-interstate in North Dakota). But I’d never say that speed limits were made to be broken or even gripe about getting a speeding ticket. On the other hand, I always stop at red lights. Should I just start driving through them if there are no cars coming?
There’s also a good reason not to text and drive. It’s like drunk driving. We as a society decided that it shouldn’t be done.
Sure you can drive through those red lights
You haven't seen other motorists do that?
Also for the record, I'm a cyclist and motorist that follows the law so this isn't an argument about that, I think we're on the same page there. But you know the original point is people openly defying the law because they don't think to applies to them or they disagree with its intent, I think both groups are equally bad about that.
First, the most common thing you see is cars failing to beat the light changing. As for the cars that literally sail through lights that have been red for, say, 30 seconds, or stop then go, that is a rarity, and I bet if a cop saw it and pulled them over, the driver would most likely be "known to police" for something or would make it into one of the bpdnews writeups for "one less gun" or maybe just outstanding warrants.
Alas, if you talk to the average driver, you'd find that even if they admit guilt to a motor vehicle infraction, they'd also cop to the fact the law is right.
Funny choice of words
By spin_o_rama on Sun, 05/13/2018 - 10:34am.
Failing to beat the light change? You mean running through a red light, just worded differently? But yeah, I see cars run reds every week, I never see the police anywhere nearby to pull them over and this is happening on major roads like Comm Ave.
And I've heard plenty of drivers say they think texting and driving laws are not right, they think the speed limits are set to low and hate the laws allowing cyclists to take the full lane, pass on the right, etc.
Again I think the very act of speeding or flaunting any road law kinda indicates that they don't care. Just take the current UHUB front page post about a car that crashed into a building. Sounds like a reckless driver but I bet it doesn't get nearly as many comments and debate as this fairly innocuous post about a cyclist has.
I think he's got a point about speeding
By Sock_Puppet on Sun, 05/13/2018 - 5:47am.
There's an effective speed limit, and there's a posted speed limit, and they're rarely the same thing.
If you've driven interstate, I'm sure you've made the calculation "hereabouts they ticket for X over the limit." Some states it's 16, some states 10, some 6... I don't think many drivers really believe they have to go no faster the number posted on the sign. What do you put your cruise control at on the Pike? 65? I don't think so!
It's Very Easy To Catch And Ticket Texting Drivers
By Elmer on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 10:18pm.
Then they should get rid of all bike regulations
By Stevil on Fri, 05/11/2018 - 10:56pm.
Because they don't enforce anything around here (except riding on a highway. Maybe.
I can’t see any way to disprove
By Sock_Puppet on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 12:29pm.
That theory.
To what other laws does the “they haven’t arrested me yet so it must be okay” principle apply?
Hazard to other cyclists
By SwirlyGrrl on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 3:01pm.
At one point, wrong way cyclists were the biggest cause of cycling accidents because those of us who have good sense don't always have room to get around idiots like you.
You are on a vehicle that travels 10+ mph. Don't be a lazy fool - ride that extra block to get to the street going the right direction.
Interesting point of view
By lbb on Mon, 05/14/2018 - 10:53am.
If cops don’t enforce the one way rule on cyclists, and no good reason why they should, then it’s basically a defunct regulation.
Do you regard the laws of physics as also "defunct"? Because those are the laws that will put you in the hurt locker as a wrong-way cyclist.
Wrong-way cycling is an incredibly stupid thing to do. I ride a bike in Boston, I drive in Boston, I walk in Boston. You may not realize this, but in congested traffic, accidents are avoided mostly because people behave predictably. "Predictably" is not the same thing as "lawfully", but drivers on a one-way street DO NOT expect a vehicle (and that includes a bicycle) to come at them. The result is a momentary "what the?", and that's when accidents happen.
Wrong-way riding is a deeply stupid thing to do. Stop advocating it. You are putting yourself and others in danger.
How many times can you be wrong in a single post?
By Ian Whiting on Tue, 07/24/2018 - 4:02pm.
"Regulations are made to be broken." No, regulations are made to be followed.
"One way only makes sense for 4 or more wheeled motor vehicles." No, they make sense for 2-wheeled motor- and human-powered vehicles too. Many one-way streets in Boston and other towns are one way because they're narrow and have parking on one side, so a bike going the wrong way down one of these roads will eventually come into direct conflict with a car.
"...and no good reason why they should..." As has been pointed out elsewhere in this thread, wrong-way cyclists are a big problem. I almost got creamed by one at night while going down North Beacon Street through Watertown into Brighton. I was in the bike lane and so was the other guy--COMING RIGHT AT ME!! So there is ample good reason why they should. The cops DON'T enforce it, and that's a big problem. But the answer isn't to ignore the regulations; it's to get them enforced.
Uh...no
By Ian Whiting on Wed, 07/25/2018 - 11:08am.
Motor vehicles are explicitly prohibited from bike paths like the Minuteman. Bicycles, on the other hand, are explicitly allowed on all public ways (with exceptions blah blah and Storrow Drive is NOT one of them). Your statement is a textbook example of false equivalence.
Bad biking bingo?
By Lecil on Fri, 05/11/2018 - 4:49pm.
-On Storrow
-No helmet
-earpods
At least she's not riding against the traffic, I suppose....
wicked smahht
By anon on Fri, 05/11/2018 - 4:58pm.
probably goes to Harvard too
Hahvid.
Storrow
By Bike Cop on Fri, 05/11/2018 - 5:02pm.
Only one of those things is actually illegal.
A Helmet requirement is a Hubway policy, not a law. If wearing headphones is illegal, why are cars equipped with windows and radios? As for Storrow, shame on her.
https://malegislature.gov
By tofu on Fri, 05/11/2018 - 5:25pm.
https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXIV/Chapter90/Sect...
"No person shall operate a motor vehicle while wearing headphones, unless said headphones are used for communication in connection with controlling the course or movement of said vehicle."
Radios and windows aren't quite in the same ballpark as plugging your ears with headphones.
I thought everyone knew
I thought everyone knew headphones/ earbuds were a no-no while driving... bike cop, you might want to review that kiddo.
Bicycles aren't motor
By anon on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 8:59am.
Bicycles aren't motor vehicles.
Right, it's not like people
By anon on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 11:38am.
Right, it's not like people have built in motor control.
So you drive a convertable
... and keep the top down year-round and don't use the stereo?
Because that's the only possible way that you could ever see or hear as much as a cyclist does.
As someone who bikes and drives (and doesn't use headphones), I know damn well that being in a car with the windows up and noise deadening windows, and insulation AND all the framing around you is MUCH MUCH MUCH more restrictive of seeing and hearing what is around you than using headphones on a bike could possibly be.
Pretty clear that you have no basis of comparison.
I wish I had a dollar for every driver with illegal tint on their windows - and a fiver for an illegal tint impaired driver with the stereo jacked so high that it makes the car vibrate. I could just quit my job and ride around collecting money.
It rather depends
By UHub-fan on Mon, 05/14/2018 - 6:46am.
on how loud the ear devices are in an individual instance, no?
(I also voice my support your new means of income, and suggest 50 cents for every turn without a signal.)
MA GL Chapter 90 Section 13
By perruptor on Fri, 05/11/2018 - 5:28pm.
No person shall operate a motor vehicle while wearing headphones, unless said headphones are used for communication in connection with controlling the course or movement of said vehicle.
Relevance?
By SteveE on Fri, 05/11/2018 - 5:30pm.
That's for motor vehicles, not bicycles. There was a push to make it illegal to wear earbuds while riding a bicycle a few years back but it failed to pass in the legislature.
Look again, Motor Man
By BostonDog on Fri, 05/11/2018 - 6:25pm.
Show me where the motor is on that bike. The law doesn't apply to bicycles. Otherwise earmuffs would be outlawed too.
Even for cars it's a stupid law. Modern cars make it almost impossible to hear what's happening outside the car and deaf people are allowed to drive. And good motorcycle helmets tightly cover the ears blocking about as much as headphones.
Give us a legitimate reason why a person should be allowed
to deliberately block their hearing through headphones or earbuds while driving OR riding a bicycle (even though the current law doesn't cover those - a STUPID oversight), other than the exceptions called out in the current law.
And blasting music into your ears through headphones or earbuds is not the same as driving with your windows up or driving while deaf. The audio going directly into your ear canal is a far bigger distraction than either of those, and will drown out the limited outside sounds you could otherwise hear.
I listen to music on the train or subway with headphones from time to time, and I do find it distracts my attention from what's going on around me. The last thing we need is to encourage this behavior from people operating their vehicles (and yes, a bicycle is legally a vehicle) on the streets.
Roadman wants to ban deaf people from driving or biking, too?
Until and unless you are required to drive around at all times in a convertable with no stereo, you simply have no idea or understanding about what the hell you are talking about here.
Cyclists can hear and see an enormous amount more than motorists can. Period. I know this because I bike AND drive.
Are you going to ban deaf people from driving or biking? Hmmmm?
You have no clue here about what the comparisons are. Absolutely none whatsoever.
your logic is correct but...
By cinnamngrl on Tue, 05/15/2018 - 12:45pm.
Clearly there are many very safe drivers with hearing impairment. But I would never ride my bike with headphones on.
OK, let's explain something here:
Over the course of hundreds of thousands of years, we developed a sense of hearing, and the brain capacity to process that aural information into cues about the dangers in the world around us. It helped our species thrive.
Unfortunately, many of us did NOT develop the brain capacity to understand how this wonderful sensory/intelligence combination actually functions on our behalf. Thus, we are free to defeat this wonderful survival mechanism with our technology, should we choose.
Why we volunteer to do so remains, to this observer, a mystery. Perhaps it is merely that Darwin works in mysterious ways.
In other words, what is lawful really hardly matters when the thing is so gawd-awful stupid to begin with.
Yes, only one of those things
Yes, only one of those things is illegal, but perhaps not the one you realized?
No helmet: Only against the law for those under 13 years of age.
Storrow: As noted on the Twitter thread, Storrow is "a parkway, not a limited-access highway." So that's not illegal, either. (Though I don't think I'd want to ride my bike on Storrow except for the 4th, when it's closed to cars.)
Headphones: The photo is in profile. One earbud is kosher under MA state law. Two are not. This is the law she may be violating. While we can see the right side of her head (and accompanying earbud), it's hard to tell if her left earbud is in. If it isn't: She's not breaking a law. (But odds are good that it is in, and she is breaking the law.)
Helmets are required up to age 16 - aka driving age.
Thanks for the correction!
By anon on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 5:01pm.
- Original anon
Storrow Drive is a limited access highway
By Ron Newman on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 6:35pm.
everywhere except the eastbound section next to Beacon Hill and the West End, where several cross streets meet it at T intersections. There are properly signs prohibiting bicycles next to at least some of the on-ramps.
By anon on Sun, 05/13/2018 - 3:51pm.
By virtue of Storrow not being an entirely limited access highway, it is not a limited access highway. And, some entrances fail to have a NO BICYCLES sign (I can't think of any that do, but I do know plenty that don't).
Bicycling is a legally stupid thing one can do on Storrow.
Part of a highway can be limited access and the rest not
By Ron Newman on Sun, 05/13/2018 - 8:47pm.
For instance, the last two miles of Route 128 in Gloucester pass through two rotaries and two traffic lights. That part of Route 128 is not limited access. The rest of it is.
By whyaduck on Mon, 05/14/2018 - 8:29am.
according to Professor Wiki:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storrow_Drive
Storrow is indeed a "high speed limited access road".
So, you be incorrect.
You would also be incorrect regarding MA law and driving with earbuds. Earbuds, one or two, are not allowed when driving a vehicle:
http://drivinglaws.aaa.com/tag/headsets/
So, aside from this idiot breaking the law, she is endangering herself and others by her actions.
I wasn't commenting on her apparent disregard for the law.
I was commenting on her apparent disregard for her own safety and life.
No, no, no, you don't understand cycling:
the cyclist is allowed to do anything at all, and everyone else is responsible for any hazard the cyclist suffers.
All you have to do is read the comments on Universal Hub on a regular basis to understand this basic reality.
At least they're polite.
By Bev on Sun, 05/13/2018 - 7:15pm.
I reminded one cyclist just last week that she should not be blowing through red lights and weaving through pedestrians who were trying to cross the street on the walk signal and she said "Thank you."
The amount of times I've almost been hit by a bike while crossing on the walk signal - 6.
The amount of times I've almost been hit by a car while crossing on the walk signal - 0
Apparently she made it ....
... safe and sound to wherever she was headed. Otherwise, it would be all over the news.
Those Shoes! — They Must Be Worth A Few Extra Points
By Elmer on Fri, 05/11/2018 - 5:05pm.
Aww, c'mon elmer
By Stevil on Fri, 05/11/2018 - 8:02pm.
I think they're adorable!
By Ben_Quahog on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 8:36am.
It's entirely possible that she's using the earbuds to listen to directions from her navigation app, which would explain how she ended up on Storrow.
I offer this as an explanation, not an endorsement.
Technology giveth
and technology taketh away.
Mass Pike
By Oscar Worthy on Fri, 05/11/2018 - 5:28pm.
Can't remember how I did it, but many years ago, I accidentally ended up on the Pike behind BU somewhere. But at least it dawned on me after a couple of hundred yards that something was definitely not right. Once I realized that I was on the Pike and there was no off-ramp in sight, I stopped at the first place the roadway came back down to grade and somehow climbed over a guardrail with my bike and hiked with it through the bushes back to regular pavement. I didn't have the whatever that this girl does, to just keep going.
Private Masspike entrance near BU?
By Ron Newman on Tue, 05/15/2018 - 4:17pm.
It looks like there's some sort of private entrance or exit leading to a BU parking lot or driveway around here. I'm not sure what its purpose is.
https://goo.gl/maps/AFm8oT9PUQG2
Pure Guess
By blues_lead on Tue, 05/15/2018 - 4:36pm.
It has to do with the Comm Ave Bridge Replacement
Staging Area / Construction Vehicle Access
By Elmer on Tue, 05/15/2018 - 5:18pm.
It's a place where equipment and materials are staged for construction projects on the Mass Pike and BU Bridge.
Note: In the lower-right of the above image, there's a roadway going under the viaduct. As it also goes into the middle of the train-yard, it can be used only by official vehicles, but would be an important point-of-access for construction equipment or during an emergency.
I'll just wait....
By Brian Riccio on Fri, 05/11/2018 - 5:45pm.
for the shot of this nitwit ending up as street pizza.
maybe she's a tourist among other things
By Luke Warm on Fri, 05/11/2018 - 5:52pm.
this doesn't make it any easier for those of us trying to avoid becoming "street pizza' while riding legally in the full lane in 30 mph zones like Comm Ave or Beacon st. Car Dweebs see something like this and they just salivate
Storrowed
By Devil's Advocate on Fri, 05/11/2018 - 6:25pm.
Storrow Drive is NOT a limited access highway, and signs prohibiting bicycles are not installed.
In fact, there are side streets entering and exiting Storrow between Berkeley and Charles Circle, and despite few drivers obeying the speed limits and continually breaking the law with no enforcement, riding a bicycle on Storrow is NOT illegal.
Ill advised, perhaps. And not for the inexperienced or faint of heart.
But that one stretch has worked for me (including the underpass) well.
I had surprised motorists honking, but NEVER even a close call, because there was plenty of room to pass, although at rush hour, I was usually passing slowed auto traffic. It beat taking the other streets both in time and risk exposure as there were fewer intersections and riding time was less.
The Rowinsky case (riding on Memorial Drive) allowed cyclists their right to that roadway.
Rowinsky case
By Ari O on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 12:09am.
Affirmed that right, and told State Police to stop telling people not to and arresting them for it.
By Stevil on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 8:41am.
Many of the neighbirs would love to see storrow turned into a local road. We should all get on our bikes and occupy one or both lanes making tbe road impassable. Then they'll make it just like Mem drive with traffic lights etc.
But then the suburbsn legislators will put up no bike signs (right after killing the gas tax for the gazillionth time).
Let me ask a pointed question:
By UHub-fan on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 9:43am.
How dumb do you have to be to ride on Storrow when there is A DEDICATED BIKE PATH A MERE 50 FEET TO THE NORTH?!? Not to mention hardly used Back Street to the south?
That bike path doesn't have
By Matt on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 11:25am.
That bike path doesn't have enough places to enter and exit. There's a 1.5 mile stretch near BU with no way to get on and off. Sorrow has way more.
I count four pedestrian/cycle overpasses between
The BU bridge and Arlington Street, plus a ramp at the Mass Ave Bridge.
In that same stretch there are four automobile access points.
I have no idea where you get your 1.5 mile idea. There is a 1 mile stretch from Western Avenue to the overpass to the East of the BU bridge. There are no automobile access points in that very same stretch.
By G on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 12:45pm.
This is the only comment worth reading on this entire thread. Alas it was this far down
The bike path is slower,
By Pointed Trident on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 2:50pm.
The bike path is slower, longer, full of idiots on foot and bikes, and is more laden with hazards (blissfully unaware lateral drifters) than Storrow, and Back Street doesn't go to Charles Circle and the river crossing. It is better than wrong-waying on Charles Street too, Ron Newman's habits notwithstanding.
Not illegal, not unsafe, just mildly uncomfortable.
Not for incompetent paranoids.
If you don't like it, don't drive your car on that part of Storrow. No cars need to swerve or even slow down. There is adequate space.
Let me answer your pointed question
You can't be dumb. You have to be smart, attentive, confident and--most of all--well-trained to bike on Storrow Drive. Bike paths are fine if you want to use them but it's not mandatory. If I really want to get down Storrow Drive quickly, I'm taking the road itself. I can spin up to at least 25mph comfortably and even get it up to near 30mph if I need to. Even if I don't need to get down that road quickly, I still have the option. I'm skilled enough so that either option is open to me. Not every cyclist is. I certainly don't want every cyclist in the city to start careening down Storrow Drive just because it's legal because the grand majority of them wouldn't know what they're doing. Fortunately those people tend to stay off roads like that.
I will admit that there's another reason some of us bike on Storrow Drive: It's FUN!! It's really fun to "run with the big dogs" but in order to do that, you have to follow the "big dog" rules, i.e. The Law. Biking lawfully and confidently diminishes everybody's stress levels.
By Pippin on Fri, 05/11/2018 - 6:31pm.
The Storrow bequest to the city mandated that only a parkway (carriageway) was supposed to be installed, but despite the fires from the coffins underground caused by friction of spinning corpses, the city built a multi-lane divided highway instead.
Thanks. Eff you too, Boston.
Don't leave gifts to politicians.
Don't leave gifts to
Or to hospitals (Prouty Garden), or to foundations (Barnes Collection).
It seems no matter what you want to happen with your stuff, as soon as you're dead, all bets are off.
By Sources Say on Fri, 05/11/2018 - 6:40pm.
I thought the people who try to cross all lanes of Storrow Drive on foot were crazy - especially when there's a foot bridge just a few hundred feet away. But this girl clearly has a death wish.
Not much different from those who have cycled
through the O'Neill Tunnel (I-93). At least with I-93, that behavior IS illegal.
By Charles Bronson on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 2:54pm.
A death wish?
Honestly, the odds are not that stacked against her.
Of course, riding in the bike lane and being doored and tossed in front of moving traffic has killed at least two cyclists and right turning trucks have killed two cyclists on the trucks' right.
So, despite not having death wishes, they were killed.
First off, if she's renting a
First off, if she's renting a bike, she's not a seasoned cyclist nor local to Boston. If you live in Boston and are an avid cyclist, then you would never rent hubway / blue bikes and you would most certainly know that riding on Storrow is crazy. Give her a break she's either not local and/or not a cyclist.
Some ill informed...
By Lee on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 4:20am.
..assumptions there.
You are incorrect
By Daan on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 10:09am.
I am a resident of Boston for a few decades. I am a seasoned bicyclist. I also use Hubway bikes. My guess, based on observation of Hubway use at their various docks, is that the majority of Hubway users are residents, not tourists.
You provided no evidence that she is either not local. You also contradict yourself: she is riding a bike. Hence she is a cyclist.
Here's why I bet she's a newcomer or tourist
She's on Storrow and not on the roads with bike lanes to one side or the separate track to the other.
Hence we can assume that she really didn't know any better or did some sort of nav thing and didn't ask for the bike directions.
By In The Know on Fri, 05/11/2018 - 8:01pm.
This is why so many conscientious bicyclists get a bad rap -- clueless newbies like this.
Storrow Drive - not allowed
No helmet - sure not required but conscientious operators wear them.
Earplugs - Geez... I mean... It's Storrow Drive. Will she hear a horn or siren?
This is a nomination for a Darwin Award for sure.
Helmets ...
.... are contested by conscientious cyclists. Many do not wear them. Research has shown them not to be as effective as the helmet industry would like you to think. They can even increase a cyclist’s chances of being struck by a motorist.
By merlinmurph on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 8:12am.
They can even increase a cyclist’s chances of being struck by a motorist.
Oh, please, stop spreading this bull. Did you read this on the internet?
I can't tell you how many people I know had crashes and the helmet took the brunt of it. They work.
OK Lee, I'll take the bait
How do helmets increase the chances of a cyclist being struck by a motorist. Please proceed.
Motorists drive on average...
By Lee on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 11:05am.
... 4 feet closer to cyclists wearing helmets thus increasing the chances of a collision.
Cyclists wearing helmets sometimes have a false sense of security because they believe helmets can protect them from more than helmets actually can and they sometimes ride more recklessly as a result.
You got a study to back up the motorist claim?
By Waquiot on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 11:39am.
When I drive, I don't differentiate between cyclists with helmets and those without. Road conditions dictate things like clearances.
Safety!
By perruptor on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 12:10pm.
It's the same study that proves that loud motorcycles are safer. There's a conspiracy of Big Helmet and Big Muffler that suppresses this important scientific work.
I salute you sir
By Roman on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 2:47pm.
That's some serious gay frogs territory right there, and I love it!
Study correlating motorist passing distance & cyclist helmet use
A psychologist at The University of Bath (in the UK) did a study on this a little over 10 years ago, though a follow-up study differed with his conclusions.
Original study (paywall):
Drivers overtaking bicyclists: Objective data on the effects of riding position, helmet use, vehicle type and apparent gender (Ian Walker, Phd; Accident Analysis & Prevention, Elsevier Press, Volume 39, Issue 2, March 2007, Pages 417-425)
Pop-science press coverage of the study:
ScienceDaily: Wearing A Helmet Puts Cyclists At Risk, Suggests Research
Scientific American: Strange but True: Helmets Attract Cars to Cyclists
I thought I remembered a larger study out of Australia that showed even larger deltas in passing distance, but didn't find it during a quick web search, so I may be mis-remembering.
Control?
By perruptor on Sun, 05/13/2018 - 6:32am.
Did they control for the possibility that helmet-wearing cyclists rode farther from the edge of the road?
Do you drive around here?
By Stevil on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 12:35pm.
The roads are so narrow you have to drive within 2 feet of cyclists. If I drove 4 feet closer to a cyclist they would be IN my car.
Try three feet
That's the standard. Two is too close.
Which is why I take the lane on a road that narrow, and make motorists wait their turn to pass. I do the same when I'm driving: If I don't have three feet, I don't pass.
In a curious coincidence with pi...
By Stevil on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 6:46pm.
The standard, according to the bureau of weights and measures, is actually 3.14 feet.
There is legislation pending that we all carry tape measures when driving, cycling or horseback riding.
Fines are doubled every March 14th.
Remember curb feelers?
They were metal ball-tipped wire devices that attached to the front fenders of cars, and made a noise when they scraped a curb, so the driver would know how close it was. I can picture some genius advocating for 3-foot-long ones to tell drivers how close they are to bikes.
By Stevil on Sun, 05/13/2018 - 10:12am.
Until people start to sharpen them! :-)
Some people are doing basically this
By eekanotloggedin on Mon, 05/14/2018 - 12:26pm.
It's popular in cargo biking and family cycling communities to attach a pool noodle to one's rear deck or rear rack, extending three feet out to the left of the bike. Motorists generally will give the cyclist enough room, since they can't tell for sure at car speeds that it's something harmless to brush up against.
Actually, that is genius
By perruptor on Mon, 05/14/2018 - 3:01pm.
My limited imagination was putting metal things on the cars, which would be a bad idea.
Citations needed, Lee
citations needed
The research on helmets for adults is mixed at best. But the bull about "makes accidents worse" or "causes accidents" is completely unsubstantiated.
For children it is unequivocal - helmets prevent head injuries. Period. Canadian experience has demonstrated this over millions of children and decades.
The difference probably has to do with the crash modes differing between adults and kids.
My helmet use has saved my life. I had a concussion and a warped and split helmet instead of a hematoma in an area without a lot of impact protection.. I will continue to wear one.
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-003-x/2017004/article/14788-eng.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12415066/
By Foam Hat (lined with tinfoil)... on Sun, 05/13/2018 - 8:19am.
Despite my desire to be riding helmetless, I appreciate not being distracted at by citizens of the Deep Nanny State, so I wear a foam hat and suffer the reduced vision from extra sweat in my eyes, reduced peripheral vision from the top of the helmet, and interference with eyeglasses from the straps. Because while it will do nearly bupkis in a collision with a car moving more than 20mph, the more common rider-only crashes are assisted in being orbiting-stars-and-twittering-canaries-free, and I like that.
I get knocked down!
But .I get back up again!
(Then I sue.)
helmets protect the head
By cinnamngrl on Mon, 05/14/2018 - 10:29am.
When a cyclist is hit by a car, the whole body is at risk. It just isn't going to help if you get run over. However, there are many mishaps that don't involve being struck or run over by a large metal vehicle. In such cases a helmet makes a huge difference.
A lot of motorcyclists
A lot of motorcyclists believe this. They think that DOT approved motorcycle helmets reduce visibility so much, that they make it more dangerous.
Of course, if you're in a crash, having a helmet on makes you safer. But if the helmet increases the likelihood of an accident, then that can result in a net increase in risk.
I doubt that's true of bicycle helmets, though. Motorcycle helmets are crazy heavy and obstructive.
By perruptor on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 4:55pm.
You've offered no evidence that Motorcycle helmets impede vision, beyond saying that a lot of motorcyclists believe it. No evidence for that, either. Have you not seen the hog riders wearing a little half-helmet perched on the back of their head? How does that thing impede their vision? Not much use in a crash, of course, but you can't make a blanket assertion about all MC helmets with no qualification or evidence.
girl has balls, respect
By butthead on Fri, 05/11/2018 - 8:26pm.
By MrDines on Fri, 05/11/2018 - 8:35pm.
This is nothing compared to the True Genius who was riding along the Riverway on a bike, no helmet, and talking on a cellphone. I encountered the daredevil on the curve after the intersection with Brookline Ave where drivers start really picking up speed.
Pfft
Texting with both hands is where it's at. That Riverway amateur should study with some of the true masters who ride along the Mass Ave bridge during the evening rush when the sun has already set.
But... but...
YOU'RE ALLOWED TO USE THE FULL LANE!!1!
Cyclists are allowed to use the full lane.
Your point is???
C'mon Adam, "not supposed to"?
Yip, it's dumb to ride a bicycle on Storrow. But it's legal. Storrow isn't a limited access highway, and it doesn't have signs at every entrance prohibiting bicycling.
Given the closeness of the two autos going the same direction -- nobody is moving very quickly in that photo.
Who said anything about road rules?
By adamg on Fri, 05/11/2018 - 11:16pm.
When you rent a Hubway bike, you're not supposed to take it on a highway.
That's the point
Storrow isn't a highway. You're not supposed to take it on the Pike, or I-93, or Route 1, or I guess the Sumner/Callahan tunnels (but I'm not sure they're officially signed limited access) which are the only highways within striking distance on Hubway which are designated as limited access.
Storrow certainly isn't. It's not bike-friendly by any means, but not bike-illegal, either.
By Leadfoot on Sun, 05/13/2018 - 2:24pm.
Why respect non-existent rules that Adam makes up when existing ones like a 40mph speed limit (and lower in some short stretches with side streets) are regularly exceeded by about 10-12mph by automobilists? Why aren't they considered dangerous scofflaws, as they have destructive capacity orders of magnitude greater than cyclists and the legal obligation to follow traffic rules that actually exist?
Because the police won't take the risks (can't really blame them) to enforce the law here, so drivers don't give a flying eff about being stool samples.
Not that many cyclists do either, but they aren't a big threat. Try riding a bike into someone's house and setting the bike ablaze.
"Given the closeness of the
By Nick G on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 9:14am.
"Given the closeness of the two autos going the same direction -- nobody is moving very quickly in that photo."
You should drive on Storrow more often.. *smirk*
That's probably the following distance for 40 MPH :)
By anon on Fri, 05/11/2018 - 11:27pm.
Biking down Storrow Drive is legal. There are no signs forbidding bicycles and until the state post them state 33police have no power to stop it.
2 no bike signs near Kenmore
By shawnp on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 12:06pm.
There are 2 no ped, bike or horses signs on the Storrow ramps near Kenmore. One near Charlesgate East, the other on Charlesgate West. Regardless on whether or not it's legal, the signs are there.
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.350472,-71.092931,3a,75y,352.85h,91.9t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sWi3pxiRXmbMTwVxXKcfcTg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.350136,-71.0920137,3a,75y,350.97h,85.93t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-VGEjl8z5U7fUBXGeKRi6w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
re: 2 no bike signs near Kenmore
The first link you posted is of Do Not Enter signs at the outlet of the Charlesgate exit ramps. Yes, there's also a no ped/bike/horse sign below one of the Do Not Enter signs, but since one would only violate those signs by going the wrong way up a one-way exit ramp, traveling head-on towards vehicles exiting Storrow, it doesn't strike me as particularly objectionable or noteworthy. It seems sensible (and moot for this conversation, since - whatever her other flawed decisions - the cyclist wasn't going the wrong way on Storrow; she was traveling in the same direction as the cars with whom she was sharing the road).
The second link is surprising. It's presence would seem to be contrary to established law on the use of Storrow. Perhaps its addition was an uninformed oversight on the part of whomever (sensibly) posted the No Trucks sign below which the no ped/bike/horse is posted.
A Google Maps experiment
In Google Maps, if you pick a starting location on Storrow Drive and a destination somewhere else (say the Mass Ave bridge going to MIT), you can generate a bike route that keeps you on Storrow Drive. Initially it will divert you onto the bike path (which Google Maps likes to do if it can) but you can pull the route back onto Storrow Drive and it will hold. By comparison, you can't do the same thing to try to generate a bike route that will put you on I-95. No matter how hard you try to pull the route onto I-95, it will recalculate the route with wacky loop-the-loops and bend over backwards to keep you off I-95. Google Maps knows where bikes can go and where they can't.
Honestly, it doesn't really
By Finagle on Sun, 05/13/2018 - 1:34pm.
Honestly, it doesn't really matter much to the extreme pro-biking crowd. They'll just argue the law is stupid and unecessary and harms the ability of bikers to be "safe" by doing whatever they feel is "safe", or not slowing them down, or whatever goalpost-moving reply they can come up with this time.
Digging for confirmation
I e-mailed these pictures to the Boston Transportation Department and am waiting for a reply. I said that my understanding is that Storrow Drive is legal for bicycles and I want to know if these signs represent a new local ordinance (and if we can expect more such signs) or if perhaps they are just meant to keep bikes off those particular ramps, and not Storrow Drive itself. I will share my findings as soon as they respond.
Response received, but still unclear
By Ian Whiting on Wed, 07/25/2018 - 1:31pm.
I got a response from the BTD. They said that Storrow Drive is outside the city's jurisdiction. Storrow Drive is maintained by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. But the signs in question are posted on the local Boston streets so I don't know if the DCR would have anything to do with them. In any case, only one of those signs has any relevance because the other (as previously pointed out) would require driving the wrong way up a one-way ramp in order to run afoul of the sign. Since there are no other bicycle prohibition signs posted at any other entrance ramps, I'm going to assume that biking on Storrow Drive is perfectly legal and just keep in mind that I can't take that particular on-ramp at Beacon and Charlesgate.
Hey, I tried.
When authorities have to post signs
prohibiting bike riding on Storrow Drive, something is seriously wrong; common-sense should rear it's ugly head well before that.
Nothing wrong at all
There are these people called "tourists" and this thing called "google maps". Combine them with a Hubway, and it might be a good idea to put those signs up to prevent strays.
If it is even illegal to be on Storrow with a bike - I've been hearing both sides argue this for years.
Of course, it might help if there were signs in the area directing cyclists to the appropriate facilities.
Common sense when it comes to
Common sense when it comes to cycling is replete with advice advocating dangerous behavior.
Why? Most people have no idea how to cycle legally, properly, and safely and revert to childhood instructions. So, no thank you.
If I took motorist advice I'd have been killed by one decades ago, and they'd never even get an increase in their insurance.
"Common sense" used to inform us that the earth is flat. The law is clear--if the state wants to prohibit bikes on a road, they have to put up signs. Biking on Storrow Drive is just fine if you're confident and well-trained, like...like...well drivers. I wouldn't want a newbie nervous Nellie driver on Storrow Drive anymore than a scared newbie cyclist weaving around and not knowing what they're doing.
I see what's wrong here
By blues_lead on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 12:07pm.
That seat is way too low
Gotta love the faux outrage on this thread
Honestly, aside from the headphones, others have pointed out that shes allowed to bike there and isn't required to wear a helmet, so whats the big deal?
Shes putting her safety at risk, sure. But its such selective faux outrage over this single image, we could post pictures/videos of the countless safety issues motorists in Boston subject others to and the response would be crickets.
Its an easy target to dunk on and feel superior.
Not only is she putting her own safety at risk, she's also screwing all the drivers who now have to divert their attention away from their direction of travel, waste time going slower than they might otherwise, and are now at higher risk of being in a car accident trying to avoid hitting her by swerving into the next lane or having to stop suddenly if she does something stupid.
I might add that this holds true for all cyclists who are using the full lane and/or swerving in and out of the shoulder or bike lane as they see fit without yielding to traffic in the lane they swerve into.
Odd scenarios
How fast are people going on Storrow that it would be that much of a risk? Those are some very outlandish situations you conjured up but it really sounds like a solid argument for slowing down traffic on Storrow, if a little bicycle could cause that much havok, which it of course can't and didn't.
But heres a better question. Where are you finding all these cyclists who have zero concern for self-preservation? Cause I'm not seeing them around town, defying physics like you've described too. Like do you think we hop on our bikes, looking to get hit? Yeah I know you see some do risky things, again, do you think they lack self preservation? Hell I bet some are adrenaline junkies that love the thrill but again, do you think they are trying to get killed?
Lets try another complaint, cyclists using the full lane. I often do this, I've yet to see it cause a dangerous safety situation for motorists. Swerving is a fun word you use, as if we can turn on a dime 90 degrees and change direction. You seem to have some issues with physics, which is rather telling in how you've framed most of your argument.
There are drivers in this town who would very much
like to not kill you.
We find it very very frustrating that you are oblivious to our desires.
This is why...
...we take the lane. We're much less likely to get hit when we're right in with the traffic. Wanna see a cyclist run a huge risk of getting hit? Put him all the way at the right edge, right up against the curb and/or parked cars, and invite the otherwise nice folks in the travel lane to squeeze by him. The odds of a collision go up dramatically that way.
Don't put me in with that crowd
By Ian Whiting on Wed, 07/25/2018 - 9:37am.
Don't equate full lane cyclists with those that swerve in and out. These are cyclists with two very different skill sets. The full lane cyclists are predictable--they go in a straight line, signal lane changes, make eye contact with drivers, and follow the traffic laws. They are visible from pretty far back and give car drivers plenty of time to decide what they want to do. It's the curb-huggers who pose the greatest risk for accidents because they're the ones most likely to swerve into the traffic lane. Their far-right position also invites unsafe passing by motorists who think they can "thread the needle." My problem with the woman in the picture isn't that she's on Storrow Drive; it's that she seems to be all the way at the right edge. On that road, you either hold the middle of the lane or forget it.
Waste time going slower than they might otherwise? Maintaining traffic flow is one thing, but allowing car drivers to go as fast as they want, unimpeded forever and ever, isn't high on anyone's priority list. We are delayed routinely by school buses, crossing pedestrians, construction and emergency vehicles, left-turning vehicles, parallel parkers, etc. The law informs you essentially to suck it up and proceed in a safe and responsible manner until you can pass safely and at a reasonable speed.
It Also Stems From Laziness
By Elmer on Sat, 05/12/2018 - 3:19pm.
It takes a little more effort to pay attention to bicyclists on the road. For example, checking the bike lanes to make sure you don't turn in front of someone.
Yes, there's that Massachusetts law about not overtaking a bicycle when you're about to turn, but it's too much trouble for some drivers to worry about.
It would be easier for them if bicycles and pedestrians were not allowed anywhere, so that's what they want.
Of course it would be easier
if bicycles were not allowed to go in places where they are harder to see.
It's a self-evident fact that it's a whole hell of a lot harder to refrain from running people over when they quickly move in and out of somewhere where they are both vulnerable to being run over and hard to spot by virtue of simultaneously being small and moving fast relative to their size and changing direction quickly.
Automobiles move fast but they're big, don't change direction rapidly, and don't fit where you can't see them. Pedestrians are small but move slowly and tend not to jump in and out of your blind spot. When they jump out from behind a parked car or other obstruction is when they tend to have problems.
What I don't understand is why when faced with these facts, the automatic response from the bike crowd is to place all of the responsibility for their safety on motorists and categorically refuse to accept any responsibility for their own safety. But then in the same breath blame pedestrians whenever they nearly get run over by cyclists on the sidewalk or in a crosswalk.
There's a word for when it's everyone else's fault whenever something bad happens, regardless of who caused it. The word is narcissism.
Or lazier?
Again, when you drive it is your responsibility to look for people and things and not hit them.
If that's too hard, slow down or don't drive.
Lazier my big fat ass
When you go out in public it is your responsibility to not deliberately place your life in danger and then blame the other guy for not knowing ahead of time that you were going to wig out so that he could alter his perfectly reasonable and lawful behavior enable your crazy.
I love it when people get
I love it when people get judgey about other people doing things efficiently, and calling them "lazy".
Efficiently Mowing Down Bicyclists And Pedestrians?
( like the hit-and-run trucker who killed Dr. Anita Kurmann? )
Keep flogging the dead horse
By Roman on Sun, 05/13/2018 - 12:19pm.
Anita Kurmann violated the first four cardinal rules of the road whether you're in a car, on foot, or on a bicycle:
1. Watch out for big trucks
2. Be aware of what they're doing
3. Anticipate what they might do next
4. Don't loiter alongside them
It's tragic, it's horrible, but it's still 100% her fault. No amount of yelling and screaming and accusations is going to change the fact that it was her mistake that cost her her life.
Your Post Is False, Ignorant, And Disgusting — She Was A Doctor
By Elmer on Sun, 05/13/2018 - 12:30pm.
By Roman on Tue, 05/15/2018 - 5:03pm.
what she was. On that day she was careless and unlucky enough for that to matter.
Tell me Elmer, do you only have to modes: disgust and adoration, with nothing in between? Critters: adorable; motorists disgusting...do I have that right?
You are despicable
By SwirlyGrrl on Sun, 05/13/2018 - 12:49pm.
In a just universe, you will someday need the services of a person such as the one whose murder you just mansplained and fuckfacesplained away so casually.
Lets hope nobody helps you when you do.
Fuck off and die.
but then it would be 100% my fault if I got run over by a truck after sneaking into its blindspot, so no tears shed by the likes of you...yes?
Not 100% her fault, only
By Fred, The White Shirt and Blue... on Sun, 05/13/2018 - 3:59pm.
Not 100% her fault, only partly her fault.
The driver had JUST passed her and knew she was there on the right.
And this dubious "common sense" tells cyclists to keep to the right even when it is dangerous. It is a learned skill to stay behind or to the left of trucks and buses slowing down, and possibly turning right.
Many accidents are the result of several concurrent minor mistakes.
As the truck driver has a license demanding higher skills and responsibility, and the driver also blew it, I think 100% her fault is a piss-poor assessment.
It is a learned skill to stay behind or to the left of trucks and buses slowing down, and possibly turning right.
Yes...it's a skill my dad tought me when I was around seven and old enough to understand what he was saying when was driving a car and making conversation with his kid. The corpus of basic life skills and behaviors you're taught early in life are "common sense."
You're 100% wrong
And there is video to prove it.
But you knew that.
Saw the exact same video you did. I just didn't automatically "know" that it was the trucker's fault even before I found out about the accident.
D.A. Pretzel logic.
By cinnamngrl on Wed, 05/23/2018 - 3:30pm.
Crash analysis was biased. Blamed Anita for her legal choices like passing on the right, and decided that because the truck passed a safety inspection it doesn’t have to yield to crossing traffic. Is it normal for truck to weave to the left before turning right? Yes. Does that give you the right of way? No. Outright lied about previously passing Anita on Mass ave.
Is this report online somewhere? I'd like to read it.
http://lmgtfy.com/?iie=1&q
By cinnamngrl on Sat, 05/26/2018 - 4:53pm.
http://lmgtfy.com/?iie=1&q=anita+kurmann+accident+report
I beat the heck out of cyclists a lot here at UHub
Even right here in this thread.
But I've seen the video of that accident, and I am at a loss to understand how any sane person can see that as exclusively the cyclist's fault. Hell, I were in a car, I would have called that truck driver a maniac for that maneuver at that speed.
Bike lanes don't help
By Ian Whiting on Thu, 07/26/2018 - 5:57am.
Her death was tragic, but what I took away from it is a confirmation of a basic truth: Bike lanes don't solve the problem. If she had been biking in the normal travel lane and in line with the traffic, this never would have happened. This intersection has now been reconfigured so that bikes can approach the intersection via a separated bike lane. This doesn't solve the problem either and in fact could worsen things if someone is riding in that lane and decides that they need to move over to the travel lane. The separation posts make that more difficult. Since that side of the road is wide enough for three lanes, the only solution that makes sense is to take out the bike lane, make the right-most lane a right turn only lane, and make the middle lane a right turn and straight through lane. Then if you're on a bike and want to go straight, you get in that middle travel lane and stay away from the right turn only lane.
Ironically at the start of the video, you can see the traffic stopped at the red light and right at the head of the middle travel lane is...a cyclist!! Positioned correctly at the front and to the left side of the middle lane and who waits for the red light to turn green before proceeding. Much of what you need to know about safe urban cycling is in that 3-minute video.
By SalSal on Sun, 05/13/2018 - 10:36pm.
I once came upon a bicyclist in the driver's lane when I was driving down Memorial Drive. I like to allow enough space for a bicyclist to fall over without hitting my car, but those river-road lanes are too narrow for both a bike and a car. It was infuriating to be put in an unsafe position when she could have used the bike lane.
By blues_lead on Sun, 05/13/2018 - 11:12pm.
That Memorial Drive has two lanes in each direction? Did you also know that your vehicle comes equipped with brakes, so that you won't be in an unsafe position?
In other Back Bay news
Another one bites the dust: Top of the Hub to close forever
Swept off his feet in the Back Bay?
Firecrackers lit in Back Bay Station
Company that won approval for medical-only pot dispensary on Newbury Street now wants to sell recreational pot in store it has yet to open
Another Boston measles case reported
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Home » Boston
Councilors say they need more time: Vote to extend their terms from two to four years
By adamg on Wed, 02/13/2019 - 2:12pm
The Boston City Council today approved a package of election-related changes that would include increasing council terms from two to four years starting with the 2021 election.
The council also voted to allow early voting for municipal elections and to bar candidates from running for more than one local office at a time.
All three measures need approval of Mayor Walsh, the state legislature and Gov. Baker to become law.
The council tabled a fourth measure, to change the way at-large council vacancies are filled. Currently, the person who finished fifth in the previous election automatically becomes an at-large councilor should one of them four at-large councilors resign or die; a proposal would have required a special election.
Proponents of longer council terms, who included Council President Andrea Campbell, said city business has become complex enough that councilors really need four years to try to fulfill their campaign promises. Also, the elimination of every-other-year elections would save money, they said.
Councilor Matt O'Malley (Jamaica Plain, West Roxbury) predicted longer terms would mean an increase in public participation - and the number of candidates - by eliminating the off-year elections, which traditionally draw little participation.
Councilors voted 11-2 for the measure. Councilors Michelle Wu (at large) and Josh Zakim (Beacon Hill, Back Bay, Fenway, Mission Hill) cast the dissenting votes.
Wu said the measure would cut in half the number of opportunities for people to challenge sitting councilors, which she said would be a mistake for a body that is supposed to be so accountable to voters. Zakim said councilors deserve vigorous challenges when they make mistakes or move in directions their voters might not agree with. He also dismissed the cost issue, saying that while saving money is good, it shouldn't come at the expense of giving voters a choice.
Both Zakim and Councilor Lydia Edwards (East Boston, North End, Charlestown) said the council should look at "ranked choice voting," which Cambridge has long used and which would let voters rank candidates by preference in multi-candidate races.
Edwards said this could be a way to deal with the at-large issue, should that come up - instead of using first-past-the-gate voting, elections officials would consider the total number of seats to win a seat, then look at voter choices: Any candidate who got enough first-place votes would get a seat, but if not all did, voters' second, third and fourth-place votes would come into play.
However, Councilor Frank Baker (Dorchester), said he would oppose any measure that would have changed the way Althea Garrison got on the council in January - by coming in fifth in 2017 and replacing Ayanna Pressley on her move to Washington. Baker said he could not support something that would be "a vote against my colleague, Althea Garrison."
"bar candidates from running
"bar candidates from running for more than one local office at a time."
All this does is make it harder for a councilor to run for mayor.
A better Map for Redistricting. NAMES of Bordering Streets
By theszak on Wed, 02/13/2019 - 5:52pm.
For Redistricting, require publication online of a better Map more clearly delineating the NAMES of Bordering Streets between adjacent neighboring Districts particularly split Bordering Streets, for folks nearby Bordering Streets of Districts, for all
I'm not actually opposed to
By DTP on Wed, 02/13/2019 - 2:52pm.
I'm not actually opposed to this, but does it bother anyone else that they can vote to extend their own terms in office? I feel like that's something that only voters should be able to approve (i.e. it should have to be via referendum). This just doesn't seem very democratic.
Each city and town is
Each city and town is chartered by the state. The city is petitioning the state to change it's charter. Elected state officials and the Governor have to approve it. It's not quite as simple as the council extending their terms on a whim.
What was undemocratic was 25 years ago when the voters in the Commonwealth approved term limits, and then the SJC struck it down.
Sortable by Topic Roll Call Votes of City Councilors.
Require publication online Sortable by Topic City Councilors' Roll Call Votes taken in Public Meetings of Boston City Council, more useful than chronology at https://www.cityofboston.gov/cityclerk/rollcall/
I understand that. But that's
By DTP on Thu, 02/14/2019 - 4:39pm.
I understand that. But that's still one elected official approving another elected official's decision to extend their term lengths. That isn't really any more democratic.
Here's an intersesting hook
By Waquiot on Thu, 02/14/2019 - 5:12pm.
The state rep and state senator who represent Great Barrington get to vote on this, which means by extension the voters of Great Barrington have a say in this.
One would think that if the Boston delegation doesn't like this, it won't even make it to a vote. Of course, if the mayor doesn't agree, it doesn't even get to Beacon Hill.
It does bother me
By Waquiot on Wed, 02/13/2019 - 9:51pm.
And I will be contacting my state rep and state senator, who run for re-election every two years, to register my feelings on this.
If this helps curtail NIMBY
By Mac B Nimble on Wed, 02/13/2019 - 3:04pm.
If this helps curtail NIMBY influence over basically everything, I'm all for it. Not sure it actually will but worth finding out.
All three measures need
By Rob on Wed, 02/13/2019 - 3:10pm.
It'd be nice if these changes required the approval of Boston voters.
I don't like the notion of changing to longer terms.
The rationale of "councilors really need four years to try to fulfill their campaign promises"? Why - so they can spend two years not trying and then two years trying? It's too much of a reminder that too many in such jobs do their jobs with a view to getting re-elected, in fact viewing their job as getting re-elected - instead of simply doing a good job
Councilors really need four years?????
By Robert Winters on Wed, 02/13/2019 - 6:42pm.
Boston has a strong mayor system. The City Council's authority is extremely limited and if anyone thinks the issues they address are so complex that they need four years to do so, well I have this old bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell you.
By theszak on Thu, 02/14/2019 - 1:37am.
https://www.reddit.com/r/boston/comments/aqede4/boston_city_councilors_v...
What they do on the Cambridge side of the river...
By Friartuck on Wed, 02/13/2019 - 3:45pm.
Isn't just used in academia. Who knew... Literally all of my b-school professors said this at least once..
4 consecutive Term Limit for City Council, more accountable!
4 consecutive Term Limit for Boston City Council, a more accountable City Council !
Compare other City Councils, Common Councils, Boards of Alderpersons ("Board of Aldermen"), Boards of Selectpersons ("Board of Selectmen"), Town Meetings around North America.
"Prior to 1909, Boston's legislative body consisted of an eight-member Board of Aldermen and a Common Council made up of three representatives from each of the 25 wards in the city" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_City_Council#History
Name, Position .... Consecutive Terms in office .. Year Elected .. inauguration date
Mark Ciommo ...... City Council District 9 .... 6 .... 2007 .... 1/7/2008
Matt O'Malley ...... City Council District 6 .... 5 .... 2010 .... 11/30/2010
Frank Baker ......... City Council District 3 .... 4 .... 2011 .... 1/2/2012
Michael Flaherty .. City Council At Large .... 2 and 3 ....
1999 and 2013 .... 1/3/2000 and 1/6/2014
Timothy Mccarthy, City Council District 5 .... 3 .... 2013 .... 1/6/2014
Michelle Wu ......... City Council At Large ..... 3 .... 2013 .... 1/6/2014
Josh Zakim .......... City Council District 8 .... 3 .... 2013 .... 1/6/2014
Andrea Campbell . City Council President District 4 .... 2 .... 2015 .... 1/4/2016
Annissa Essaibi George, City Council At Large .... 2 .... 2015 .... 1/4/2016
Lydia Edwards ..... City Council District 1 .... 1 .... 2017 .... 1/1/2018
Ed Flynn ............... City Council District 2 .... 1 .... 2017 .... 1/1/2018
Kim Janey ............ City Council District 7 .... 1 .... 2017 .... 1/1/2018
Althea Garrison..... City Council At Large ..... 1 ..... 2019 .... 1/9/2019
Lydia Edwards should try to
By not cambridge on Thu, 02/14/2019 - 12:35am.
Lydia Edwards should try to run for any seat in Cambridge, then she could see what real exclusion is about.
Andrea wants more Andrea time for Andrea, she is an empty egoist box.
Wu is the best.
Save money by moving elections to even years
By Red on Thu, 02/14/2019 - 12:31pm.
This proposal is BS - every legislature position is up for two year terms. The council needs to be held to this routine accountability from the voters. Save money by moving city elections to even years, when there are already elections for US rep, State rep, and now City Councilors. The off year elections are a hack job. There are plenty in there with their wacky ideas that I would love to vote out.
In other Boston news
If Chuck Turner got 3 years for taking a $1,000 bribe, BPDA manager should get at least 4 years for a $50,000 bribe, feds say
Ah, New England: One day it's 70, the next day, snowflakes come down
Massholes have always been with us
Need a CharlieCard? Head to your local Boys and Girls club
That's a lot of kids
Boston doesn't want investor-owned Airbnb units? Investors use loophole to try to turn buildings into 'boutique hotels'
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Patù
Pat (Saturday Night Live)
Castillo, Álava
Love Notes (album)
I Don't Love You Anymore sung by Ding Mercado and Pat Castillo on ASOP! Date Aired: June 23, 2013 Program: A Song of Praise Music Festival on UNTV Channel 37 ***************************************************************** A Song of Praise Music Festival encourages songwriters to create innovative styles in composing music that gives glory to God. More details: http://www.untvweb.com/program/asop-music-festival/
Somewhere in Time is a 1980 time travel romance film directed by Jeannot Szwarc, written by Richard Matheson and starring Christopher Reeve, Jane Seymour, Christopher Plummer, Teresa Wright and featuring an early appearance by then-unknown William H. Macy. The movie was filmed on location at the Grand Hotel, and the former Mackinac College - both located on Mackinac Island, Michigan. It was also filmed in Chicago. Although this movie was well received during its previews, it was widely derided by critics upon release and unsuccessful at the box office. It has earned a large and loyal following since its release to cable television and video, and the movie is now regarded by many to be a cult classic. Reeve plays Richard Collier, a playwright who becomes smitten by a photograph of a young woman at the Grand Hotel. Through self-hypnosis, he travels back in time to the year 1912 to find love with actress Elise McKenna (portrayed by Seymour). But her manager William Fawcett Robinson (portrayed by Plummer) fears that romance will derail her career and resolves to stop him. The film is adapted from the 1975 novel Bid Time Return by science fiction writer Richard Matheson, which was subsequently re-released under the film's title. The film is known for its musical score, composed by John Barry. The eighteenth variation of Sergei Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini also runs throughout the film.
Big band Weds at Eclipse.
The golden years of original Pinoy music in the '70s was shaped in part by "Aso't Pusa" popularized by Pat Castillo -- This song has stood the test of time and will forever be associated with the Pinoy pop music movement known as Manila Sound. Released by Vicor Music Corporation.
Audio courtesy of: Joe Schmoe ©1984 Viva Records.
Jacqui Magno’s send off June 25, 2019
Here it is finally: the clip featuring Bong with Pat Castillo, for whom he wrote the now revered "Love Notes." (This clip to come soon). But for this track Bong had arranged a medley of three songs by Brazilian Antonio Carlos Jobim and did so with a tinge of funk and samba. Pat's" Natalie Cole-like" vocal styling shines. But as you can hear in this track, Pat does have her own unique artistry and it blends well with Bong's trademark samba and beat. The songs featured are "Samba de Uma Nota So" or "One Note Samba", "The Waters of March" and "Girl From Ipanema." Bong sings the Brazilian Portuguese lyrics while Pat magically weaves in the English lyrics, with her masterful and jazzy filigrees surrounding Bong's straight-tone singing. "When I composed my song 'Love Notes' I really envisioned Pat singing it and no one else. I wanted someone with a Billie Holiday mystique, something sweet and sassy simultaneously and Pat had all of these and more. She sings with a mysterious tease: there is all that aplomb, you don't detect the vulnerability hidden by the visuals, the smiles, and the eye contact nuances. Yet in that voice is the sensuality and innocent restraint." So says Bong describing the multi-talented Castillo. "I really have been blessed working with the best and the brightest of them all" -- so says Bong mulling over this clip. And speaking of the best and the brightest of musical talents he had interacted with and made famous, check out the personnel of this track. Pat, of course, headlines the pack. But esteemed guitarist Edgar Avenir is here. So is percussion genius Uly Avante, who Bong always describes as "my ebullient" one. There is Sonny Nabong on bass who was Bong's bassist in his maiden album, A Samba Song. Finally there is Harry Tambuatco on drums. Both Uly and Harry were Mother Earth alumni. The collective result of all these talents combined is pure enchantment, as this track reveals. The recording was made at Cinema Audio in 1979, during one of Bong's band's respite from the nightly stint at the Calesa Bar of the Hyatt Regency. It was magic and samba then, and it still is now. SAMBA JAZZ HUNTER
Album: Stay Artist: Pat Castillo Pat recorded her first single as a solo performer in 1979 and readily scored a hit with the Chito Ilagan composition, "Aso't Pusa." She has charted stellar achievements as an artist. She got to release a solo album, "Stay," under Dyna Records. For the Sixth Metropop Song Festival, she interpreted and recorded the entry, "Laging Mayroong Bukas." She also recorded a duet with Basil Valdez, "'Di Na Muling Mag-iisa," penned by Gines Tan. visit: http://opmlp.blogspot.jp/2014/04/pat-castillo.html
Patrick Castillo (@castillomusiq) staat deze week op 1 in de Drop Your Demo Top 5 met zijn track 'Letter 2 Mama' Kan jij het beter? Laat horen dan en drop jouw demo op de site juize.nl
Requested by onetruelovegma7.
As in the past Bong Peñera has always had "non-samba" songs from his albums of all-original compositions. In the maiden, "A Samba Song" two standout: the poetic "Afraid to be Known" and "Rosita Maria", both lyrical ballads that cut through the smoke. The rest of the tracks were these beautiful Jobim-like tunes, so beautiful that a Brazilian diplomat he met through another friend, Maria Dulce Soares da Silva ("Dudu" to friends) offered to translate the title song to Brazilian Portuguese. But Dudu, like most Brazilian women, loved to sing and sang quite well. Bong heard her singing the song in Portuguese and decided to include her track in the maiden album. In the second, "Batucada Sa Calesa" there's the "Lullaby", the "Valse Nova" (composed for his father), and "Imee" which he dedicated to his friend Imee Marcos. And in the 3rd, recorded in 1980, there is the now famous "Love Notes", a swing work featuring the commendable singing of Pat Castillo, for whom he wrote this song. Though there are many other things that made this album quite apart from the earlier two, like the stellar personnel (consider the phenomenal contributions of tenor saxophonist Rudy Sucgang, the blowing geniuses Fred and Omeng Conception, bassists Paul Candelaria and Sonny Tolentino, guitarist Edgar Avenir, percussion support from Nick and DingDong Boogie), and the inclusion of a lttle girl's vocals (Patrice Elaine Balquiedra) on the reprise of Sa Dako Paroon, easily, the highlight indeed was "Love Notes". And it was something Bong wholeheartedly welcomed and injected as he was writing a song for a new friend and singer in his band, none other than the beauteous Pat Castillo. Love Notes is not like many of Bong's works. It is swing but very melodic, not a fast double time swing or the Charlie Parker type, but a soft and easy and cool one. In the vinyl recording this song has a faster tempo, further punctuated by solos from bassist Sonny Tolentino and drummer Edmond Fortuno. But in this track we present, it is just Bong with Pat and Paul and Edgar and Al, all taking it nice and easy. Again this is from the "Two For the Road" telecast hosted by Nestor Torre and Elvira Manahan, conducting the memorable musical reunion for Bong and his friends. This is a very, very rare clip -- and again, pardon the video flaws. But the beauty of the song itself, and the magic of Pat's singing, and Bong's piano and supporting vocals, and the complimenting inputs from Paul, Edgar and Al, easily overcome or erase these flaws. So here's to love that will never go out of style, Bong Peñera fashion and Pat Castillo version. SambaJazzHunter
Patù is a town and comune in the province of Lecce in the Apulia region of south-east Italy.
Mother Church of St. Michael Archangel (1564), with a late Renaissance façade and a single nave. The entrance portal has the inscription Terribilis est locus iste ("Terrible Is This Place").
Church of San Giovanni Battista, in Byzantine-Romanesque style (10th-11th centuries)
Church of the Madonna di Vereto.
Crypt of Sant'Elia, built by Basilian monks in the 8th-9th centuries.
Torre del Fortino, the last surviving of the four towers of the destroyed castle.
Archaeological site of Vereto, a Messapic ancient town
Centopietre ("Hundred Stones"), a tomb-mausoleum of a knight who was killed by the Saracens before a battle fought nearby in 877.
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Patù
Pat or PAT may refer to:
Patricia, a female given name
Patrick (given name), a male given name
Pat (Saturday Night Live), a recurring androgynous character on Saturday Night Live
Postman Pat, a children's TV character
Pat, Hungary, a village in Zala county, Hungary
Pat, Iran, a village in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran
Pat, Jerusalem, a neighborhood in southern Jerusalem, Israel
Pat River, a river of Thailand, it joins the Nan River in Uttaradit Province
Port Arthur, Texas, US
Pakistan Awami Tehrik, a political party in Pakistan
Polish Telegraphic Agency, the official news agency of Poland between 1918 and 1991
Port Authority Transit, the former name of the Port Authority of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, US
Port Authority of Thailand
Professional Association of Teachers, the former name of the trade union Voice
Pets As Therapy, which provides visiting dogs and cats to establishments in the UK
Portable Appliance Test
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/PAT
Pat is an androgynous fictional character created and performed by Julia Sweeney for the American sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, and later featured in the film It's Pat. The central humorous aspect of sketches featuring Pat is the inability of others to determine the character's gender.
Sweeney has said, "I'd been an accountant for like five years, and there was one person I worked with in particular who had a lot of mannerisms like Pat. This person sort of drooled and had the kind of body language of Pat. I started trying to do him. I was testing it out on my friends and they were just like, 'Yeah, it's good, but it doesn't seem like a guy that much.' Like I couldn't quite pull off being in drag convincingly enough. So then I thought, maybe that's the joke. I'll just have one joke in here about how we don't know if that's a man or a woman just to sort of cover up for my lack of ability to really play a guy convincingly."
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Pat_(Saturday_Night_Live)
Castillo is a village in Álava, Basque Country, Spain.
Coordinates: 42°48′21″N 2°40′06″W / 42.80583°N 2.66833°W / 42.80583; -2.66833
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Castillo,_Álava
Love Notes may refer to: Showing affection for someone
Notes of Love, a 1998 Italian-French romance film, also known as Love Notes
Love Notes (album), a 1977 jazz album by Ramsey Lewis
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Love_Notes
Love Notes is a 1977 jazz album by Ramsey Lewis released on Columbia Records. This album features Lewis's collaboration with Motown artist Stevie Wonder on the songs "Spring High" and the title track, which Wonder wrote and arranged.
Spring High 4:16 Stevie Wonder
Love Theme From "A Star Is Born" (Evergreen) 4:28 Barbra Streisand, Paul Williams
Shining 4:37 Zuri Raheem, Byron Gregory
Love Notes 6:17 Stevie Wonder
Chili Today, Hot Tamale 5:10 Zuri Raheem
The Messenger 5:15 Byron Gregory
Stash Dash 4:51 Zuri Raheem
Ramsey Lewis-Love Notes at Discogs
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Love_Notes_(album)
Somewhere in Time may refer to:
Somewhere in Time (film), a 1980 time travel romance film starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour
Bid Time Return, a 1975 Richard Matheson novel adapted into the film, and later re-titled Somewhere in Time because of it
Somewhere in Time (musical), 2012
Somewhere in Time (Iron Maiden album), 1986
Somewhere in Time (Reckless Kelly album), 2010
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Somewhere_in_Time
Ding Mercado and Pat Castillo on ASOP
Somewhere In Time - Pat Castillo
Pat Castillo - Aso't Pusa [The Best of Manila Sound]
Pat Castillo - The City
Ding Mercado & Pat Castillo sings duets from the 70s
BONG PEÑERA with PAT CASTILLO: Jobim Medley
Let Me Know by Pat Castillo
Patrick Castillo - Letter 2 Mama
STAY - Pat Castillo
BONG PEÑERA with PAT CASTILLO: LOVE NOTES From Live telecast of Two For the Road
Somewhere In Time Love Never Goes by Pat Castillo
Touch Me, All of My Life by Pat Castillo
Jacqui Magno & Pat Castillo “What’s Going On”
Big Band Weds at Eclipse with AMP Band & Mel Villena. ISM alumni classes 76 to 80.
Sing@Ning Pat Castillo Interview (Spiel Development)
Interview with Spiel Coach Pat Castillo after conducting Spiel Development discussion with the 12 contestants. Video by Pixelado Productions Produced by The Peninsula Manila in partnership with Upstart Productions John Robert Powers Spotlight Artists Centre Cinematic Studio iLight Studio Pixelado Productions https://www.facebook.com/PixeladoProductions
Castillo, Pat Filmography
Play in Full Screen Do Re Mi
1996, role: actress , character name: Station Manager
Famous quotes by Pat Castillo:
"I just want to stay after him and wrestle my style. That Lock Haven match was a wake-up call for some things to work on. [Smith] is a really tough guy. I feel like I can beat anyone right about now."
"I got in deeper this time. I switched direction like I was getting a double. He had good defense, but I knew I could finish it."
"I feel pretty good about it. My confidence is high going in there. I've already wrestled like 10 ranked guys this year. I'll have to upset a few people, but for me it's not an upset. I know I can get on that podium."
"[It's] hard to do. I've been hard on myself for a few days. But it's something I got to get over, like it never happened. I just get out there and wrestle and use it as a little motivation to get at people a little more."
"Overall it was a good experience. Hopefully I'll continue to improve. It will all depend on this off-season. The off-season is where you gain on all the other teams."
Somewhere in Time is a 1980 time travel romance film directed by Jeannot Szwarc, written by Richard Matheson and starring Christopher Reeve, Jane Seymour, Christopher Plummer, Teresa Wright and featuring an early appearance by then-unknown William H. Macy. The movie was filmed on location at the Grand Hotel, and the former Mackinac College - both located on Mackinac Island, Michigan. It was also filmed in Chicago. Although this movie was well received during its previews, it was widely derided by critics upon release and unsuccessful at the box office. It has earned a large and loyal following since its release to cable television and video, and the movie is now regarded by many to be a cult classic. Reeve plays Richard Collier, a playwright who becomes smitten by a photograph of a y...
Here it is finally: the clip featuring Bong with Pat Castillo, for whom he wrote the now revered "Love Notes." (This clip to come soon). But for this track Bong had arranged a medley of three songs by Brazilian Antonio Carlos Jobim and did so with a tinge of funk and samba. Pat's" Natalie Cole-like" vocal styling shines. But as you can hear in this track, Pat does have her own unique artistry and it blends well with Bong's trademark samba and beat. The songs featured are "Samba de Uma Nota So" or "One Note Samba", "The Waters of March" and "Girl From Ipanema." Bong sings the Brazilian Portuguese lyrics while Pat magically weaves in the English lyrics, with her masterful and jazzy filigrees surrounding Bong's straight-tone singing. "When I composed my song 'Love Notes' I really envisione...
As in the past Bong Peñera has always had "non-samba" songs from his albums of all-original compositions. In the maiden, "A Samba Song" two standout: the poetic "Afraid to be Known" and "Rosita Maria", both lyrical ballads that cut through the smoke. The rest of the tracks were these beautiful Jobim-like tunes, so beautiful that a Brazilian diplomat he met through another friend, Maria Dulce Soares da Silva ("Dudu" to friends) offered to translate the title song to Brazilian Portuguese. But Dudu, like most Brazilian women, loved to sing and sang quite well. Bong heard her singing the song in Portuguese and decided to include her track in the maiden album. In the second, "Batucada Sa Calesa" there's the "Lullaby", the "Valse Nova" (composed for his father), and "Imee" which he dedicated...
I Don't Love You Anymore sung by Ding Mercado and Pat Castillo on ASOP! Date Aired: June 23, 2013 Program: A Song of Praise Music Festival on UNTV Channel 37 ...
https://fr.wn.com/Ding_Mercado_And_Pat_Castillo_On_Asop
Somewhere in Time is a 1980 time travel romance film directed by Jeannot Szwarc, written by Richard Matheson and starring Christopher Reeve, Jane Seymour, Chris...
https://fr.wn.com/Somewhere_In_Time_Pat_Castillo
https://fr.wn.com/Pat_Castillo
The golden years of original Pinoy music in the '70s was shaped in part by "Aso't Pusa" popularized by Pat Castillo -- This song has stood the test of time and ...
https://fr.wn.com/Pat_Castillo_Aso't_Pusa_The_Best_Of_Manila_Sound
Updated: 22 Aug 2017
https://fr.wn.com/Pat_Castillo_The_City
https://fr.wn.com/Ding_Mercado_Pat_Castillo_Sings_Duets_From_The_70S
Here it is finally: the clip featuring Bong with Pat Castillo, for whom he wrote the now revered "Love Notes." (This clip to come soon). But for this track Bong...
https://fr.wn.com/Bong_Peñera_With_Pat_Castillo_Jobim_Medley
Album: Stay Artist: Pat Castillo Pat recorded her first single as a solo performer in 1979 and readily scored a hit with the Chito Ilagan composition, "Aso't P...
https://fr.wn.com/Let_Me_Know_By_Pat_Castillo
Patrick Castillo (@castillomusiq) staat deze week op 1 in de Drop Your Demo Top 5 met zijn track 'Letter 2 Mama' Kan jij het beter? Laat horen dan en drop jou...
https://fr.wn.com/Patrick_Castillo_Letter_2_Mama
https://fr.wn.com/Stay_Pat_Castillo
As in the past Bong Peñera has always had "non-samba" songs from his albums of all-original compositions. In the maiden, "A Samba Song" two standout: the poeti...
https://fr.wn.com/Bong_Peñera_With_Pat_Castillo_Love_Notes_From_Live_Telecast_Of_Two_For_The_Road
https://fr.wn.com/Somewhere_In_Time_Love_Never_Goes_By_Pat_Castillo
https://fr.wn.com/Touch_Me,_All_Of_My_Life_By_Pat_Castillo
https://fr.wn.com/Jacqui_Magno_Pat_Castillo_“What’S_Going_On”
Interview with Spiel Coach Pat Castillo after conducting Spiel Development discussion with the 12 contestants. Video by Pixelado Productions Produced by The ...
https://fr.wn.com/Sing_Ning_Pat_Castillo_Interview_(Spiel_Development)
patissiersdanslemonde.com
radiopatrullas.com
abelardocastillo.com
I Don't Love You Anymore sung by Ding Mercado and Pat Castillo on ASOP! Date Aired: June ...
Somewhere in Time is a 1980 time travel romance film directed by Jeannot Szwarc, written b...
The golden years of original Pinoy music in the '70s was shaped in part by "Aso't Pusa" po...
Here it is finally: the clip featuring Bong with Pat Castillo, for whom he wrote the now r...
Album: Stay Artist: Pat Castillo Pat recorded her first single as a solo performer in 197...
Patrick Castillo (@castillomusiq) staat deze week op 1 in de Drop Your Demo Top 5 met zijn...
As in the past Bong Peñera has always had "non-samba" songs from his albums of all-origina...
Ding Mercado and Pat Castillo on ASOP...
Somewhere In Time - Pat Castillo...
Pat Castillo...
Pat Castillo - Aso't Pusa [The Best of Manila Soun...
Pat Castillo - The City...
Ding Mercado & Pat Castillo sings duets from the 7...
BONG PEÑERA with PAT CASTILLO: Jobim Medley...
Let Me Know by Pat Castillo...
Patrick Castillo - Letter 2 Mama...
STAY - Pat Castillo...
BONG PEÑERA with PAT CASTILLO: LOVE NOTES From Liv...
Somewhere In Time Love Never Goes by Pat Castillo...
Touch Me, All of My Life by Pat Castillo...
Jacqui Magno & Pat Castillo “What’s Going On”...
Sing@Ning Pat Castillo Interview (Spiel Developmen...
Edit China.dot.org 20 Jan 2020
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia is sending back an additional 110 containers of plastic waste to source countries after having successfully returned 150, the government said on Monday ... The Basel Convention is the most comprehensive international environmental agreement on hazardous and other wastes ... "It is not about money but dignity ... Enditem ....
Edit The Telegraph Macon 20 Jan 2020
Edit Canada Dot Com 20 Jan 2020
NAIROBI — The world’s richest 2,153 people controlled more money than the poorest 4.6 billion combined in 2019, while unpaid or underpaid work by women and girls adds three times more to the global economy each year than the technology industry, Oxfam said on Monday ... “It is important for us to underscore that the hidden engine of the economy that we see is really the unpaid care work of women....
Edit WorldNews.com 20 Jan 2020
Article by WN.Com correspondent Dallas Darling The announcement by Russian officials that Iran had fired upon a commercial plane, killing all 176 crew and passengers, because it was spooked by “six F-35 U.S. fighter jets” closing in on its borders is indeed another tipping point ... The first tragedy was in 1988, when the USS Vincennes shot down an Iranian passenger jet killing all 295 on board, including 66 children ... and Iran ... The U.S ... 56. ....
Edit Federal News Radio 20 Jan 2020
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — SpaceX completed the last big test of its crew capsule before launching astronauts in the next few months, mimicking an emergency escape shortly after liftoff Sunday. No one was aboard for the wild ride in the skies above Cape Canaveral, just two mannequins ... “I’m super fired up,” Elon Musk, the company’s founder and chief executive, told reporters ... That’s just super exciting.” Advertisement ... ....
Une enquête ouverte après la diffusion de vidéos d'un manifestant frappé par un policier
Edit Europe1 19 Jan 2020
Une enquête pour "violences volontaires par personne dépositaire de l'autorité publique" a été ouverte ... allo @Place_Beauvau - c'est pour un signalement - 870 ... Source. Pat Ricia sur https.//t.co/MANxKPtEQEpic.twitter.com/bfGmG30h4t— David Dufresne (@davduf) January 18, 2020 .......
Andorre : Un salarié de la station de ski de Grandvalira se tue en motoneige au Pas de la Case
Edit 20 Minutes 19 Jan 2020
Une enquête a été ouverte, pour déterminer les causes de cet accident ... S. B., tècnic de l’equip de neu de cultiu de Grandvalira, ha patit un accident mortal mentre realitzava la ronda de control de la instal·lació ... Monde. Italie ... Société. Val Thorens ... ....
L’US Souillac en mode "remontada"
Edit La Dépêche 19 Jan 2020
l’Aviron Castrais. Le prochain objectif est, aujourd’hui, le match à Bagnac, certes dernier de poule, mais qui voudra sa revanche du match aller ... Brive qui apporte bénévolement son expérience en étroite collaboration avec les coachs, Eric Turpin, Guillaume Tauxes, Christophe Bonneval, Christophe Delord et Pat-Daly ... ....
Les avocats de Trump présentent leur défense contre la destitution AFP•19/01/2020 à 00:54
Edit Boursorama 19 Jan 2020
"C'est une tentative effrontée et illégale de renverser les résultats de l'élection de 2016 et d'interférer avec l'élection de 2020, à quelques mois de celle-ci", ajoutent les avocats, Jay Sekulow et Pat Cipollone ... La réponse des avocats de Donald Trump aborde également le fond du dossier ... - "Preuves écrasantes" - ... Pat Cipollone, avocat de la Maison Blanche, dirigera l'équipe de défense, a annoncé vendredi la présidence ... Simpson ... 0 ... ....
« Impeachment » : Les avocats de Trump présentent leur défense contre la destitution
Les avocats de Donald Trump ont présenté samedi leur ligne de défense à trois jours de l'ouverture du procès en destitution du président des Etats-Unis ... « C'est une tentative effrontée et illégale de renverser les résultats de l'élection de 2016 et d'interférer avec l'élection de 2020 », a-t-elle ajouté ... Une équipe choc d’avocats ... Pat Cipollone, avocat de la Maison-Blanche, dirigera l'équipe de défense, a annoncé vendredi la présidence....
Edit Orange France 19 Jan 2020
Dans ce texte, les deux principaux avocats du milliardaire républicain, Jay Sekulow et Pat Cipollone, dénoncent "une dangereuse attaque contre le droit des Américains à choisir librement leur président" ... "L'acte d'accusation est constitutionnellement irrecevable" et "ne comporte aucun crime ou violation de la loi", répondent les avocats du président. - "Position absurde" - ... ....
Destitution de Trump: les deux camps fourbissent leurs armes pour le procès AFP•19/01/2020 à 18:05
Donald Trump est seulement le troisième président dans l'histoire des Etats-Unis à subir un procès en destitution. ( AFP / Nicholas Kamm ) ... Dans ce texte, les deux principaux avocats du milliardaire républicain, Jay Sekulow et Pat Cipollone, dénoncent "une dangereuse attaque contre le droit des Américains à choisir librement leur président" ... - "Position absurde" - ... - Avec ou sans témoins? - ... fff/leo. 0. Donald Trump ... 0 commentaire ... ....
"C'est une tentative effrontée et illégale de renverser les résultats de l'élection de 2016 et d'interférer avec l'élection de 2020, à quelques mois de celle-ci", ajoutent les avocats, Jay Sekulow et Pat Cipollone ... La réponse des avocats de Donald Trump aborde également le fond du dossier ... Pat Cipollone, avocat de la Maison Blanche, dirigera l'équipe de défense, a annoncé vendredi la présidence ... Simpson ... ....
Beaucaire. Place à la Bikérienne
Avec Sylvain Tarroux vainqueur à Cologne, la 20e édition est bien née ... Passage de pouvoir entre père et fils ... Si cela se poursuit encore deux jours, le circuit concocté pat Laurent Kurowski et consorts devrait être dans un état remarquable pour accueillir les coureurs et randonneurs ... ....
Labarthe. Belle soirée des vœux sous les guirlandes
Sous les illuminations, la salle des fêtes accueillait la population pour les vœux ... Une pensée allait aux Labarthais décédés dans l’année écoulée, ainsi qu’aux malades retenus chez eux ce soir-là ... La pose des nouveaux lampadaires photovoltaïques procure un éclairage autonome et économe à la fois! La voirie est bien entretenue par la communauté de communes et avec son véhicule point à temps (le Pata) ... ....
Quelques milliers de "gilets jaunes" manifestent à Paris, 59 interpellations
Plusieurs milliers de "gilets jaunes" ont défilé samedi après-midi à Paris. Des heurts ont eu lieu avec les forces de l'ordre, entraînant l'interpellation de 59 personnes ... Cinquante-neuf personnes ont été interpellées, a indiqué la Préfecture de police de Paris peu après 20H ... Source. Pat Ricia sur https.//t.co/MANxKPtEQEpic.twitter.com/bfGmG30h4t— David Dufresne (@davduf) January 18, 2020 ... .......
Carcassonne. Gérard Larrat (maire sortant) : "Je serais votre capitaine"
deux pater et trois ave… ... aussi variés que le patrimoine, le sportif, le numérique, la santé, la sécurité… Qui a pu faire tout cela sinon le conseil municipal… Mais devant la gravité de la situation, Monsieur le maire, je crois que deux pater et trois ave ne suffiront pas à nous laver de tous nos pêchés dénoncés par les autres candidats"....
Les Titans et les Chiefs savent qu’ils sont tout près du Super Bowl
Edit Le Devoir 18 Jan 2020
Andy Reid se réfère rarement à ses expériences précédentes, préférant demeurer dans l’instant présent ou carrément penser à l’avenir ... Nous l’avions aussi. Sur les lignes de côté, je pouvais le ressentir ... » ... Il a mené les Chiefs à cette étape l’an dernier, s’inclinant en prolongation sans toucher au ballon contre les Pats, et avait mené les Eagles à cinq matchs de championnat de la Nationale en 14 ans à Philadelphie ... » ... » ... » ... » ....
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B.C. parks’ online camping reservation system revamped
If your first-choice campground is fully booked, new online search features will help you find available campsites in nearby parks.
Carla Wilson, Victoria Times Colonist
Campers hoping to stay at B.C. parks will find a revamped online reservation system with new features on the Discover Camping website.
Campers who can’t get a reservation for a favourite site because someone beat them to it, for example, can choose to be notified if that campsite becomes available at a specific time.
You can also sign up for B.C. Parks information such as newsletters and event notices.
More features will be added in stages, a statement from B.C. Parks said Wednesday, including the option of buying items such as firewood, ice and park-related merchandise ahead of time.
The website will also allow users to buy and send e-gift cards to use on the website.
B.C. hired US eDirect to beef up the online reservation system. The company supplies reservation systems for governments in places including California, Missouri and New Zealand, the statement said.
Reservation fees are not changing.
About 55 per cent of the approximate 10,700 campsites in B.C. parks can be reserved. The rest are available on a first-come, first served basis.
B.C. hit a record this year, with more than 253,000 reservations made through Discover Camping. Most bookings come from within B.C.
Last year, close to 231,000 reservations were made.
B.C. is home to 1,033 provincial parks, recreation areas, conservancies, ecological reserves and protected areas. They cover more than 14 million hectares.
• To book a B.C. Parks campsite: discovercamping.ca
• For more information on the new reservation system: bcparks.ca/reserve
• For more information about B.C. Parks: env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks
Petition urges feds to fund transit expansion, including SkyTrain to Langley British Columbians' energy use soars on Christmas Day: report
YVR on alert for deadly coronavirus spreading from China | Vancouver Sun
Beloved B.C. artist Gordon Smith dies at age 100 in West Vancouver | Vancouver Sun
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Fraser River the most critically endangered river in B.C: Outdoor council
A Freedom of Information request concerning Ottawa's policy on steelhead conservation was initially estimated to take 822 years
Randy Shore
The combined impacts of habitat destruction, fisheries management and climate change on the Fraser River are at their most damaging point since the Outdoor Recreation Council began compiling data 40 years ago.
Steelhead runs in the largest tributaries of the Fraser are on the brink of extinction. The spawning population in the Thompson watershed is estimated to be 86 fish, according to a recent update from the ministry of forests, lands and natural resources. The Chilcotin watershed has only 39 steelhead likely to spawn.
Non-selective net fishing for salmon is undercutting conservation and habitat restoration efforts intended to save the Fraser River steelhead from blinking out of existence, said Mark Angelo, chairman of the 100,000-member ORC.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has employed “rolling closures” of commercial and First Nations salmon fisheries that suspend fishing in areas where most of the steelhead pass as they leave the Pacific Ocean and enter the Fraser River.
“The model they used to rationalize opening the pink and chum fisheries this year was the same model that was found to be scientifically unsound during the Species at Risk Act peer review process,” said Jesse Zeman, spokesman for the B.C. Wildlife Federation.
The federal government has resisted listing the steelhead under the Species at Risk Act for years, he said. A listing would likely curtail some commercial salmon fishing.
B.C.’s environment ministry has been jousting with DFO for a year over changes made to a scientific assessment that could have led to stronger protections for steelhead.
How it happened remains a mystery.
When the BCWF filed a Freedom of Information request to learn how the scientific assessment was altered and by whom, the federal government said it would take 822 years to retrieve the documents. A second, less ambitious request was submitted, which the government now says will take 510 days beyond the statutory limit of 30 days typically allowed for processing such a request.
DFO buried scientists' concerns about endangered steelhead, B.C. deputy minister says
The Sun's local news coverage across metro, around the province
Land-clearing is leading to habitat destruction in the heart of the lower Fraser River for about 30 other species of fish, Angelo noted in the council’s year-end statement.
Clear-cutting for agriculture and development are damaging rearing areas for chinook and other species between Mission and Hope and on mid-river lands such as Herrling, Carey and Strawberry islands.
The council is pushing to have the islands declared an Ecologically Significant Area under a new feature of the federal Fisheries Act.
Seven southern B.C. chinook stocks are considered endangered, four threatened, one is of special concern and one is not at risk, according to the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada.
The Big Bar landslide dramatically curtailed access to the upper reaches of the Fraser watershed for struggling runs of chinook and sockeye salmon this year.
The slide created a five-metre waterfall that forced DFO to trap and transport potential spawners below the debris and release them into the river above the slide.
“There was a valiant and heroic effort move fish past the slide,” said Angelo. “The unfortunate reality is that most fish didn’t make it through and those that did were already exhausted.”
There is a window of about three months before spring freshet during which water levels will be low enough to re-establish a passable corridor for next year’s spawners, he said.
Rock removal work at the slide site is ongoing, while DFO consults with experts on heavy construction, explosives and the Department of National Defence on ways to remove the remaining rock debris.
“These things taken together make the Fraser a critically endangered river, the most critically endangered in B.C. and probably all of Canada,” Angelo said.
Mark Angelo, chairman of the Outdoor Recreation Council, looks out over the Fraser River from near the foot of Kerr Street in Vancouver on Monday. Arlen Redekop / PNG
rshore@postmedia.com
Dan Fumano: Climate preparation largest driver of new costs for 2020... Accused in alleged B.C. stock-fraud money laundering scheme deny wrongdoing
Judges throw a costly wrench into Horgan’s pointless pipeline tool box | Vancouver Sun
Shaw: NDP has bigger fight with Western Forest Products than strike | Vancouver Sun
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Will US PE firms' recent troubles in China, Korea favor India?
By Arun Natarajan April 30, 2005
A new regulation prohibiting the creation of offshore companies "is bringing foreign private equity investments in China to a halt", says a news item in Private Equity Week:VCs came up with the practice of setting up offshore holding companies as a way to exit their investments in China. Using that strategy, they took 10 Chinese companies public last year on U.S. stock exchanges.
Richard Xu, a private equity attorney and partner at the law firm Jingtian & Gongcheng in China, says that his own work and that of his firm is slowly grinding to a halt as a result of the regulation...
...Jean Eric Salata, chairman of Baring Private Equity Asia in Hong Kong offered a more sanguine assessment of the regulation. He suspects its goal is to gain tax control over the many citizens who have made considerable fortunes through the sale of equities in off-shore companies. Such investors have escaped taxation by Chinese authorities. Salata maintains that the government is not trying to les…
Blog Watch: Sramana Mitra
Sramana Mitra is yet another new blogger that I intend to track.
Here's an extract from her bio:Sramana Mitra has been an entrepreneur and a strategy consultant in Silicon Valley since 1994. Her fields of experience span from hard core technology disciplines like semiconductors to sophisticated consumer marketing industries including fashion and education.
As an entrepreneur CEO, Sramana founded 3 companies: Dais (Off-shore Software Services), Intarka (Sales Lead Generation and Qualification Software) and Uuma (Online Personalized Store for selling clothes using Expert Systems software). Two of these were acquired, while the third received an acquisition offer from Ralph Lauren which the company did not accept (wrong decision).
Here's an extract from her recent post:Heritage Hotels: Roll-up opportunity for a Private Equity firm?
Spain developed the Paradors concept very effectively, by converting old forts, palaces, and monasteries into beautiful “experience hotels”. India has don…
Off Coast software development
H1-B visa caps preventing you from shipping software engineers to the US? No problem. Just buy a cruise ship and park it close to a major US port and have your programmers work "near shore".
Sounds outlandish? Well, that's exactly what SeaCode, led by its fomer tanker-ship captain CEO David Cook, is planning to do three miles off the coast of Los Angeles.
From ADT (Application Development Trends) magazine (via .
By stationing the ship in international waters..SeaCode will be able to remain close to U.S. clients while picking and choosing IT talent from around the world—something that tightening H1B visa requirements have made difficult in the U.S.
Depending on your point of view, it may also allow them to pay less than the rate a team of U.S. developers would command...
During off hours, programming teams can partake of the ship’s recreational facilities or head for the lights of L.A. on a water taxi, since each worker will be required to have a U.S. tourist visa, Cook says.
BA Systems and Teneo Systems: New stealth mode start-ups with Indian founders
Businesweek's Deal Flow blog as a profile of these two companies as part of an article on "Stealth Deals of Q1"* BA Systems -- Just four months old, this San Jose, Calif. company is so stealthy that we have little idea what it's doing. Bessemer Venture Partners led its $880,000 series A round. Founder P.J. Singh has been an entrepreneur-in-residence at Bessemer since 2003. Previously, he founded router maker Allegro Networks and gigabit Ethernet company Packet Engines. Could another communications equipment play be in the offing?
* Teneo Systems -- Founded in December, this stealth startup appears to be funded entirely by its founders, whose past ventures likely supplied them with the means. Venkat Rangan is the former founder and chief technology officer at Yodlee.com, and Charu Rudrakshi is the former VP of engineering at BizRate.com. They put $4 million into Teneo in February.
Arun Natarajan is the Editor of TSJ Media, which tracks venture capital activity in India …
Start-ups shouldn't bother with detailed business plans: Mike Moritz
According to BusinessWeek's Deal Flow blog, Michael Moritz, a general partner at VC firm Sequoia Capital and an early investor in Google, Yahoo! and Cisco, while speaking at the VentureOne conference in San Francisco told a story about Google that demonstrated why VCs always say they invest in entrepreneurs or ideas--and not business plans.As you might know, Google started out thinking it would sell its technology to corporations for internal use. After a year or two, that plan clearly wasn’t working. So the entrepreneurs started casting around for another strategy. "There is nothing like a declining cash balance to focus the mind," Mortiz quipped. Google's founders noticed the success of GoTo (later renamed Overture and bought by Yahoo) and set out to improve on its paid-search model. The rest is history--and so is Google's original business plan, which, to the founders' credit, they never formalized.
When evaluating a nascent startup, Moritz doesn't look…
"India AND China" season
The Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao’s visit to India this week has triggered a lot of "India and China" articles. Here are a few interesting extracts.
From Businessworld's cover story:
Amartya Sen, the Nobel Prize-winning economist, says that this gives the lie to India's argument that its democracy is the cumbersome, if wonderful, weight that is slowing its road to development. Many democracies are progressing much faster than India. The gurus of India's economic and political establishment would like to claim that China's economic boom is rooted in its authoritarianism. But then, they cannot explain why other authoritarian states such as North Korea, Pakistan and Myanmar are economic basket cases.
New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman writes in his book, The Lexus and the Olive Tree, that the dividing lines of the 21st century are not based on politics, ethnicity or history, but on speed. Success, he says, will come to those who are fast and adaptable. A…
Why ICICI Venture's Renuka Ramnath is smitten by the retail sector
Economic Times has a profile of ICICI Ventures CEO Renuka Ramnath with a special focus on her fondness for the retail sector.
Definitely the first and one of the few private-equity funds to put its money on the organised retail sector, the $400 million fund has pumped in close to $49 million through its flagship, the $240 million India Advantage Fund, and even
more through other funds.
And it’s reaping benefits beyond the financial. ICICI Venture is now seen as a crucial industry player. Its year-on-year returns are close to 25%, and according to the company’s managing director and CEO Renuka Ramnath, are expected to reach 40%.
From pushing a multi-state expansion plan for Subhiksha, to finding prospective second-round investors at PVR Cinemas, Ramnath is driving growth in the sector. If some ICICI Venture officials play a pivotal role in real-estate negotiations on behalf of companies they have invested in, others are leading financial restructuring and often forcing mergers and acquisit…
Hey, wanna go public?
I got the following unsolicited email today:
I hope this finds you well, as you may already know, we specialize in assisting companies in Going Public. We also assist with Private Placement preparation. The President of our company is a very experienced securities and corporate law attorney.
Many people are not aware that any company can go public. Please go to see our site to receive our Advantages of Going Public Report and our Go Public Report.
We would like to propose a joint venture with you. If you or an associate of yours is interested in taking a company public, please let us know. We are happy for you to be very generously compensated for any referrals.
I wish I could convey, all the many benefits of going public in a letter. I'm not sure if you can imagine how valuable and powerful a public company can be in achieving your goals and objectives.
We look forward to developing a long term business relationship.
Shaun Anthony
http://www.hipub.net/
#CSDGI-MW
We also have a …
Moment of truth for the Indian textiles industry
McKinsey Quarterly has an article on the opportunites thrown up for the industry by the removal of world trade quota restrictions.India's apparel industry faces a moment of truth when world trade quota restrictions are fully removed, in January 2005. Exports could increase by more than 15 percent, making India the big winner after China—but only if the Indian government accelerates economic reforms and local manufacturers become more competitive...
With full-blown reforms, we estimate that Indian exports could increase by 15 to 18 percent annually—much higher than the historical growth rate of 6 percent. This expansion would enable India to win 5 percent of the global apparel-exports market by 2008 and to capture $25 billion to $30 billion by 2013. With only minor reforms, we expect annual growth of 8 percent at best.
Private equity firms, who have made significant investments in companies like Welspun India and Sintex Industries, will be watching the government's moves quite ke…
Is publishing a good investment opportunity?
There is certainly a lot of action suddenly, as this Businessworld Cover Story shows:
And a lot of investments going on as well:
But are the players going to make money?
Sure, it has been a good year for advertising and many mainline papers are doing well, but The Hindu's Murali thinks it is a "bubble". "A shakeout or churn is bound to happen," he thinks. "All this growth has come on the back of very low pricing."
What he means is that it is not economically sensible for publishers to sell newspapers for Rs 1-1.50 a copy, when the printing costs alone are anywhere between Rs 4-7 a copy (This does not include fixed costs)...
...This puts newspapers in India at the mercy of advertisers. It means that the focus is more on the trade, the advertiser and the media buyer and less on the main currency of publishing - the reader. Now, add price cuts to an already reduced cover price. "Price cuts are usually short term if you look at the UK market. In India, TO…
The appeal of value-added BPO services
Businessworld examines the opportunity in outsourcing of services like data analytics, patent examination, tax return preparation and market research. That is, stuff that can fetch billing rates of above the $10 per hour (or less) that call center services fetch.
The Opportunities:
The Players:These niche players include MarketRx (pharma marketing research), Ugam Solutions, Copal Partners (research and analytics in areas like e-commerce), Scope e-Knowledge Centre (market information), Take Solutions (supply chain management), Inductis (equity research and analytics), Lexadigm, Intellevate (both into legal services) and TechBooks (publishing). Joining them are larger, 'blended service' players like WNS, Wipro Spectramind, EXL Service, ICICI OneSource, 24x7 Customer and Msource.
The Challenges:
But as these companies are getting into these new services, they are facing new concerns, too. For one, getting professionals who can do the complex tasks can be a problem. For the sort of j…
"Do I need a MBA to become a VC?"
Here is Fred Wilson's (of Union Square Ventures) answer to this often-asked question:
I never place any value on the schools people went to and the degrees they have. It's bullshit for the most part.
My partner from Flatiron Jerry Colonna has a liberal arts degree from Queens College and he was one the best VCs I've ever worked with.
My partner Brad Burnham doesn't have an MBA either and he knows more about startups, technology, and markets than almost anyone I've ever met.
I don't have anything against MBAs. Going back to school and getting an MBA can be a great break from the career path that allows someone to find out what they really want to do. And you can learn some things along the way.
But you can't learn real life business in school. That requires doing it, not studying it.
So I'll take a candidate who's got the track record over the pedigree any day.
Arun Natarajan is the Editor of TSJ Media, which tracks venture capital activity in India an…
Why Aruba said no to Cisco
"You must always recognize that venture backed companies are not sold, they are bought. When the large company comes knocking on the door and offers a good deal, you should generally take it." - Fred Wilson of Union Square Ventures
Keerti Melkote, Merwyn Andrade and Pankaj Manglik co-founded Aruba Wireless Networks, a San Jose, CA-based provider of wireless LAN switching systems, did exactly the opposite when Cisco Systems made an offer to buy out the company.
In a nice PR move, the founders explain why in an interview to the New York Times:
Cisco, based in San Jose, Calif., first approached Aruba in early 2003, when it had just started selling its wireless systems. Leading the Cisco team was Dan Scheinman, the executive charged with keeping tabs on new rivals that might present a competitive challenge or an acquisition opportunity.
For Aruba's top executives, the disadvantages of life as a small unit of Cisco - constantly battling for resources and attention - outweighed th…
VCs respond to Paul Graham's "VCs Suck" post
Quite a few VC bloggers have responded to Paul Graham's essay on "The Unified Theory of VC Suckage".
"I do not aspire to defend VC's. Like everything else, there are good people and bad people, good Germans and bad Germans, and good VC's and bad VC's," says Globespan Capital's Venky Ganesan.
"I won’t even try to defend my VC brethern since Paul’s theory is sound in many ways. He admits that he’s met a few VC’s that he likes, so there must be something messed up in the universe somewhere," offers Mobius VC's Brad Feld.
Fred Wilson of Union Square Ventures refers to Feld's days as an entrepreneur, when his mantra was that all companies sucked in servicing their customers at some level and the goal for his company was to suck less. Entrepreneurs are always going to think that VCs suck at some level. But clearly some VCs suck more than others. If you must fund your company with VC money, it pays to do your homework and find the one…
Will US PE firms' recent troubles in China, Korea ...
BA Systems and Teneo Systems: New stealth mode sta...
Start-ups shouldn't bother with detailed business ...
Why ICICI Venture's Renuka Ramnath is smitten by t...
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Phase II Study of Aflibercept in Recurrent Malignant Glioma: A North American Brain Tumor Consortium Study .
J Clin Oncol. 2011 May 23. [Epub ahead of print]
de Groot JF, Lamborn KR, Chang SM, Gilbert MR, Cloughesy TF, Aldape K, Yao J, Jackson EF, Lieberman F, Robins HI, Mehta MP, Lassman AB, Deangelis LM, Yung WK, Chen A, Prados MD, Wen PY
John F. de Groot, Mark R. Gilbert, Kenneth Aldape, Jun Yao, Edward F. Jackson, and W.K. Alfred Yung, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; Kathleen R. Lamborn, Susan M. Chang, and Michael D. Prados, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco; Timothy F. Cloughesy, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA; Frank Lieberman, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA; H. Ian Robins, University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center, Madison, WI; Minesh P. Mehta, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL; Andrew B. Lassman and Lisa M. DeAngelis, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY; Alice Chen, Cancer Treatment Experimental Program, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD; and Patrick Y. Wen, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Boston, MA.
PURPOSE Antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy is a promising treatment approach for patients with recurrent glioblastoma. This single-arm phase II study evaluated the efficacy of aflibercept (VEGF Trap), a recombinantly produced fusion protein that scavenges both VEGF and placental growth factor in patients with recurrent malignant glioma. PATIENTS AND METHODS Forty-two patients with glioblastoma and 16 patients with anaplastic glioma who had received concurrent radiation and temozolomide and adjuvant temozolomide were enrolled at first relapse. Aflibercept 4 mg/kg was administered intravenously on day 1 of every 2-week cycle. Results The 6-month progression-free survival rate was 7.7% for the glioblastoma cohort and 25% for patients with anaplastic glioma. Overall radiographic response rate was 24% (18% for glioblastoma and 44% for anaplastic glioma). The median progression-free survival was 24 weeks for patients with anaplastic glioma (95% CI, 5 to 31 weeks) and 12 weeks for patients with glioblastoma (95% CI, 8 to 16 weeks). A total of 14 patients (25%) were removed from the study for toxicity, on average less than 2 months from treatment initiation. The main treatment-related National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria grades 3 and 4 adverse events (38 total) included fatigue, hypertension, and lymphopenia. Two grade 4 CNS ischemias and one grade 4 systemic hemorrhage were reported. Aflibercept rapidly decreases permeability on dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, and molecular analysis of baseline tumor tissue identified tumor-associated markers of response and resistance. CONCLUSION Aflibercept monotherapy has moderate toxicity and minimal evidence of single-agent activity in unselected patients with recurrent malignant glioma.
21606416 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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Datatec Share Price Today
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Datatec LSE:DTC London Ordinary Share ZAE000017745 ORD ZAR0.01(DI)
0.00 0.0% 310.00 285.00 335.00 0.00 0.00 - 0.00 00:00:00
Software & Computer Services 4,912.3 33.6 1.1 288.2 609
Datatec Share Discussion Threads
Showing 17726 to 17746 of 17750 messages
Chat Pages: 710 709 708 707 706 705 704 703 702 701 700 699 Older
08:04 Yes I thought about them each time but the spread is what puts me off, might consider though.
hazl
Read Full Thread
07:52 Anyone, any thoughts on the January announcement reiterated today?
longshanks
17:31 Quiet here! Had a few for the EEZY3 portfolio FWIW http://uk.advfn.com/cmn/fbb/thread.php3?id=30375760&from=1101
eezymunny
19:49 just out of interest bogotatrader if a pi invested at 1.5p in 2004 and had 160000 shares how much would they be worth taking in account the split ratios that happened over the years
theuniversal
14:11 Great management statement..looks as those these will push up now towards the 335p level and higher
bogotatrader
13:39 http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=563&fArticleId=5669082 Datatec's earnings likely to lure suitors. A recovery in information and communication technology (ICT) spend, particularly in the US where Datatec has a large presence, was most likely the reason the company expected a good first-half performance, industry analysts said yesterday. JSE-listed Datatec, which also trades on the London Stock Exchange, said it expected growth in revenue for the six months to August to be about $300 million (R2.1 billion) higher at $2.1bn from $1.8bn in the comparative period. It expected overall gross margins to remain stable. The results will be published on October 31. Underlying earnings a share for the period were expected to be around 15 US cents, compared with 11.5 US cents previously, Datatec said. The company said its board expected earnings a share and headline earnings a share to be between 8 and 9 US cents, compared with 4.9 US cents a year earlier. Its shares closed 0.3 percent up at R36.48 on the local bourse yesterday. The stock is up 39 percent for the year to date. In the US Datatec has performed in line with other information technology (IT) companies, notably Cisco, which is regarded as an indicator for sales performance. Datatec is likely to gain increased investor attention and possibly suitors. Its larger rival, Dimension Data, is the stock which investors regard as having the closest resemblance to Datatec in terms of its dual listings and global IT assets, and it is almost off the list of publicly traded companies. Datatec's market cap is around R6.8bn whereas Didata's sits at R22.7bn. In relative terms Datatec is worth approximately 30 percent of Didata, according to Jason Kombo, an analyst at Coronation Fund Managers. Abdul Davids, the head of research at Kagiso Asset Management, said: "What we find is that the remaining listed companies like Datatec benefit from a 'scarcity premium' as a result. Other companies like Business Connexion and even Gijima will also benefit." Kombo said smaller IT businesses such as Business Connexion and EOH were good businesses and "I guess the only alternative left to get some IT exposure from a South African perspective". Conclusion of the sale of Didata to Nippon Telegraph and Telephone is imminent and analysts believe it will only be a matter of time until Datatec follows suit. Warren Buys, a portfolio manager at Cadiz Asset Management, said Datatec's attraction would be its large presence in several geographies, which would be attractive to another large telecoms or ICT business. The company could be considered a takeover target, Davids said, pointing out that no major impediments existed in Datatec's structure.
13:36 TIDMDTC RNS Number : 5518T Datatec Limited 30 September 2010 ? 30 September 2010 Datatec Limited Interim earnings update Datatec Limited, ("Datatec" or the "Group", JSE and LSE: DTC), the international Information and Communications Technology (ICT) group, is currently finalising its results for the six months ended 31 August 2010 ("the Period"), which will be published on 13 October 2010. As a JSE Listed company, Datatec is required to publish trading statements if the financial results for a given period are more than 20% higher than the results for the previous corresponding period. As described in more detail below, underlying* earnings per share, earnings per share and headline earnings per share for the Period are expected to be more than 20% better than the previous corresponding period of six months ended 31 August 2009 (the "Comparative Period"). Group revenues for the Period are expected to be approximately $2.1 billion compared to approximately $1.8 billion in the Comparative Period, with overall gross margins remaining stable. Underlying earnings per share Underlying* earnings per share for the Period are expected to be between 15 and 16 US cents per share, compared to 11.5 US cents per share for the Comparative Period. Earnings and headline earnings per share Under IFRS, the Group recognises liabilities against equity for the potential obligation to buy out minority shareholders under the terms of put options held by them in subsidiaries. At each reporting date changes in the fair value of such liabilities are booked in the income statement. An increase in the fair value of these minority interest buy-out liabilities has resulted in an unrealised additional charge of $6.8 million for the Period, compared to a charge of $6.4 million in the Comparative Period. Underlying earnings per share are unaffected by this unrealised charge and there are no cash implications associated with this accounting treatment. As a result, the Board expects earnings per share and headline earnings per share to be between 8 and 9 US cents per share, compared to 4.9 US cents in the Comparative Period. Excluding the increase in the fair value of put option liabilities, earnings per share and headline earnings per share would have been between 12 and 13 US cents per share. Financial information The financial information on which this statement is based has not been reviewed and reported on by Datatec's auditors. *Underlying earnings per share excludes goodwill and intangibles impairment, amortisation of acquired intangible assets, profit or loss on sale of assets and businesses, fair value movements on acquisition related financial instruments and unrealised foreign exchange movements Enquiries: +--------------------------------------+---------------------+ | Datatec Limited (www.datatec.co.za) | | +--------------------------------------+---------------------+ | Ivan Dittrich - Chief Financial | +27 (0) 11 233 1221 | | Officer | | +--------------------------------------+---------------------+ | Wilna de Villiers - Group Marketing | +27 (0) 11 233 1013 | | Manager | | +--------------------------------------+---------------------+ | | | +--------------------------------------+---------------------+ | Jefferies International Limited | | +--------------------------------------+---------------------+ | Chris Snoxall | +44 (0) 20 7029 | | | 8000 | +--------------------------------------+---------------------+ | | | +--------------------------------------+---------------------+ | College Hill | | +--------------------------------------+---------------------+ | Adrian Duffield/Rozi Morris (UK) | + 44 (0) 20 7457 | | | 2020 | +--------------------------------------+---------------------+ | Frederic Cornet (SA) | +27 (0) 11 447 3030 | +--------------------------------------+---------------------+ This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange END
13:33 http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/datatec-subsidiary-buys-touchbase-singapore-2010-09-21 Logicalis, a subsidiary of JSE- and Aim-listed information and communication technology group Datatec, has acquired unified communications (UC) solutions provider Touchbase Singapore from the Touchbase Group. The business would be integrated with Logicalis' Singapore operation. "This acquisition brings further UC and customer contact expertise to Logicalis, as well as growing its Asia Pacific presence and reinforcing the Cisco Asia relationship. Touchbase Singapore also has an extensive client base to which Logicalis can now provide a broader service offering," said Datatec CE Jens Montanana. Touchbase Singapore achieves annual revenues of about $8-million. On Friday, Datatec announced that it was also acquiring South African security product distributor, Biodata IT, which would be integrated into the group's South African networking, convergence, security and mobility distribution business, Westcon SA.
13:30 http://www.rttnews.com/content/UKNews.aspx?Id=1421681&SimRec=1&Node=B1 (RTTNews) - Datatec Ltd. (DTC.L: News ) said Friday it agreed to acquire Biodata IT SA (Pty) Ltd., a South African registered and privately owned niche security product distributor based in Johannesburg, for undisclosed terms. Datatec is a provider of information and communication technology services. Datatec noted that the acquisition will be integrated into its South African networking, convergence, security and mobility distribution business Westcon SA. The company is of the view that Biodata's strong vendor suite and established presence in the local market adds significantly to Westcon SA's existing security portfolio. According to Jens Montanana, Datatec's chief cxecutive, "The acquisition will allow Westcon SA to bolster its distribution of security solutions."
19:10 StockMarketWire.com - International information and communications technology group Datatec has made a conditional offer to acquire 100% of Comztek Holdings (Pty) Ltd for R97m. The consideration will be settled partly by cash and partly by the issue of Datatec and/or subsidiary shares. Comztek is a South African-based distributor of networking, security and other hardware and software products that are highly complementary to the activities of the Westcon Distribution business of Datatec in South Africa. Datatec says Comztek also has operations in the rest of Africa that, when combined with Westcon's pan-African footprint, could lead to the creation of a strategically significant player across many African markets. Datatec says management and all shareholders except for Mustek Limited have indicated their support for the transaction. Mustek holds 41.84% of the share capital of Comztek. Datatec has extended the acceptance date for the offer to 30 September.
18:16 http://www.advfn.com/p.php?pid=nmona&cb=1263492772&article=41098456&symbol=L%5EDTC
dalstal
18:12 decent statement here and price reaction due to it. thought i would post on this thread because if nothing else - that is a decent pic of kylie.
07:45 "The Times" 26/08/07 - Rumour of the day Datatec, the AIM-listed distributor and reseller of IT and telecoms equipment, up 4½p at 302p, is to report interims in October. Its US rival, Tech Data, has just revealed surprisingly strong growth in sales thanks to its business in North America, an area in which Datatec has a strong presence. Dresdner Kleinwort has a price target of 328p.
alan@bj
08:07 Still in here kingfast. 46% gain since October 2006.
09:32 It looks like something has been disturbed, will start another thread if I feel so inclined. Good luck Alan.
03:42 Bloody hell ..... what are you lot doing here ??? This thread was nice and quiet .... now clear off !!! Oh i see ............. Datatec ......... i think you guys need to start another thread as this was set up years ago when DTC was the epic for Digital Classics.
vanhalen
13:52 Alan, results good but it looks like the customary retrace to perhaps 280 after a good run before the next spike, patience is all.
15:07 Good results. Should get some coverage in the press.
13:41 It usually does when I buy in kingfast. Why should you be any different? Seriously though, the chart looks good.
17:02 Alan - as good a reason as any, why bother with tiresome analysis. Level 2 looks OK. No problem with low volume if the bid is there (currently 47,000 at 2.87) It can't stop because I've bought in can it?
15:59 kingfast - Bought in 6 months ago, and up 36.72% now. Volume's usually low so the price can bounce around a bit, but the trend is good. Buying decision clinched by vanhalen's great pics.
Datatec
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Recovering addict uses Decade Challenge to inspire others
Posted 8:35 AM, December 5, 2019, by Tribune Media Wire
NITRO, W.Va (WOWK) — For one West Virginia man and his family, a social media trend has become much bigger than likes and shares.
People participating in the Decade Challenge post comparison photos – a current picture and one from ten years ago. Many use it to show awkwardness, growth, weight loss or other superficial changes.
For Jason Wickline, who has been struggling with addiction for years, his comparison photos document a personal change that may have saved his life.
“Just because someone falls, doesn’t mean they can’t get back up. They can fall tomorrow, but just because that happens doesn’t mean it’s the end of their story,” Wickline said.
He started to dabble into different drugs in his early 20s and lost custody of his son, not once, but twice. He got the family house condemned and was really struggling to get help. The night he got arrested, Child Protective Services were there to pick up his now 9-year-old son, Krystian.
Jason has now been sober for 33 months and has full custody of his son. He says he is thankful that he gets to do basic things for Krystian, like feed him, bathe him, wash his clothes, and cook him dinner.
He now advocates for More Than Addiction and says that staying involved in other people’s recovery process has what has helped him the most.
Jason said he wants people to know that recovery is possible, and to reach out to him on Facebook if you want to connect with him, and need help.
US Catholic priests describe turmoil amid sex abuse crisis
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‘Our family is heartbroken’: Owner of home where boy’s body was found in chimney speaks out
Medical Watch
Man who survived breast cancer becomes voice for those struggling in secret
12-year-old Texan gets magnifying glass for Christmas, sets his lawn on fire
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The respect is mutual between Bears coach Matt Nagy and Chiefs coach Andy Reid
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From the South Side and full of surprises, entrepreneur gives back, invests in youth
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Headless body found in Idaho cave 40 years ago identified as notorious outlaw who died in 1916
Dog in shelter for 5 years will soon become star of new billboard to find forever home
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HomeAircraft Carriers[Photo] When US Navy F-4 Phantom jets met Soviet Tu-95 Bear bombers
[Photo] When US Navy F-4 Phantom jets met Soviet Tu-95 Bear bombers
December 9, 2013 David Cenciotti Aircraft Carriers, Military Aviation 3
Close encounters between U.S. Navy F-4 Phantom fighter jets and Soviet Tu-95 Bear bombers were frequent in the skies near aircraft carriers around the world.
A collection of shots taken by the U.S. planes, can be found in the San Diego Air & Space Museum archive on Flickr.
These photos tell us a story of tense moments when Phantoms launched by American flattops intercepted and shadowed, sometimes in “tight formation”, USSR strategic bombers that skirted aircraft carriers at low level to probe their reaction times.
Some shots depict Soviet crew member greeting their colleagues in the American fighter jets with hand language.
During the Cold War Soviet bombers were often intercepted in the Mediterranean Sea by Italian F-104 Starfighter jets. And here’s a collection of images taken during those close encounters with the “zombies.”
Image credit: U.S. Navy via San Diego Air & Space Museum
Two Russian Tu-160 strategic bombers deploy in Venezuela after a 13-hour flight across the Pacific
U.S. Navy deploys newest patrol aircraft to Japan amid China Air ID Zone crisis
U.S. Navy successfully launched a surveillance drone from a submerged submarine
[Video] QF-4 Phantom Drone shot down during dual MEADS intercept test
[Photo] F-14 Tomcat could land on carrier with missing radome, damaged wing
SR-71 Blackbird was so fast it outran every missile, Mig fighter jet encountered over enemy territory
Some of the most interesting images of Pearl Harbor Attack
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II
Tupolev Tu-95
Russia reactivates military airfield in the Arctic Region after 20 years
Impressive images of a Syrian attack plane firing rockets at ground target
USS Enterprise operating in the Mediterranean Sea, SE of Sicily
January 29, 2011 David Cenciotti Aircraft Carriers, Military Aviation 15
The NOTAM below, issued for LIRR (Roma ACC), is one of a series which testifies the presence in the Mediterranean Sea of the USS Enterprise. The “Big E” will be conducting blue waters ops between […]
On board the Cavour aircraft carrier
November 29, 2008 David Cenciotti Aircraft Carriers, Military Aviation 3
On Nov. 9, during the Armed Forces Day celebrations (see also: November 4th 2008 – 90th Anniversary of the end of WWI) I went to Civitavecchia to visit the brand new Italian aircraft carrier Cavour. […]
One of the most awesome pictures ever taken on board USS Enterprise: starry night over Gulf of Aden.
October 16, 2012 David Cenciotti Aircraft Carriers 0
A lonely C-2 Greyhound sits on the flight deck of USS Enterprise (CVN 65) with the Milky Way partially visible on the background. The image was taken on Oct. 8, as the aircraft carrier, on […]
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The Simon & Garfunkel Story - Count Basie Center for the Arts
About The Basie
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JAN 23 • 8PM
Tickets: $45, $39, $35, $30, $25 | Limit 6 tickets per billing address
DOORS 7:00PM • SHOWTIME 8:00PM
Tickets marked for the postponed January 2019 show will be honored this evening.
The Simon & Garfunkel Story is back! Using huge projection photos and original film footage, featuring a full live band performing all the hits including ‘Mrs Robinson’, ‘Cecilia’, ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’, ‘Homeward Bound’ and many more. Get your tickets fast as this is an evening not to be missed!
“Fantastic” – Elaine Paige, BBC Radio 2. “Authentic and Exciting” – The Stage
Presented by Count Basie Center for the Arts
12pm – 6 pm
12 pm – 3pm
Sunday: Open only on performance days
Box office closes 30 minutes after all shows. On Sundays, box office opens three hours prior to show time, and closes 30 minutes after show time. On Saturday show days, box office remains open until show time.
© 2020 Count Basie Center for the Arts. All Rights Reserved. The Count Basie Center for the Arts is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Privacy Policy.
Basie Center programming is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
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MeToo Movement Snares Embattled Democrat Senator
Would it surprise you to find more hypocrisy with Democrats?
Me neither. And we get another healthy dose from embattled Senator Claire “Tax Cheat” McCaskill.
According to The Daily Caller:
Missouri Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill’s husband was accused of domestic violence by his former wife, a police report obtained by The Daily Caller News Foundation shows.
Joseph Shepard was accused of hitting Suzanne Shepard, his former wife, in the breast while she was recovering from breast cancer, tripping her and peeing on her. Shepard has also donated thousands of dollars to the Missouri State Democratic Committee in the past and has undergone criticism for reportedly receiving $131 million in federal subsidies since 2007, when McCaskill was elected to the U.S. Senate, according to Fox News.
“Joseph entered my home. I told him to leave. He came up to me looking angry, I put my hands up to protect my breasts as they are sore from surgery (cancer)… has hit me before in the breast…grabbed my wrist and arm and pushed me against the wall + I hit my head + back + he bruised my arms by pinching me,” Shepard wrote in the police report from 1998, obtained by TheDCNF.
“He has tripped me, hit me before (police were called by my daughter), punched my cancer breast, peed on me, pushed me down and slapped me…now threatens that everything I have is his and I will end up in low income hosing and he wants to take my things,” Shepard continued.
Just another stellar representative of the Leftist male. It’s easy to see why McCaskill picked him.
But McCaskill isn’t the only one who ignores women, when it involves their friends and husbands. For that, Hillary Clinton gets the prize.
Clinton’s covering for her husband is legendary. But she has covered for pedophiles, actually proud to have represented one who raped a 13-yo girl.
And what of Clinton’s “spiritual adviser”, Burns Strider?
As the New York Times wrote,
A senior adviser to Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign who was accused of repeatedly sexually harassing a young subordinate was kept on the campaign at Mrs. Clinton’s request, according to four people familiar with what took place.
Mrs. Clinton’s campaign manager at the time recommended that she fire the adviser, Burns Strider. But Mrs. Clinton did not. Instead, Mr. Strider was docked several weeks of pay and ordered to undergo counseling, and the young woman was moved to a new job.
Mr. Strider, who was Mrs. Clinton’s faith adviser, was a founder of the American Values Network and sent the candidate scripture readings every morning for months during the campaign, was hired five years later to lead an independent group that supported Mrs. Clinton’s 2016 candidacy, Correct the Record, which was created by a close Clinton ally, David Brock.
The double-standard is clear. If a Democrat man wants to sexually abuse, he’s relatively free to do so. It just depends on who your powerful friends are.
All you have to do to verify my position on this is ask yourself, “What if this man were a Republican?”.
As for McCaskill, we learned through Project Veritas videos that she lies to the public. So why should we expect anything different when it comes to the #MeToo movement.
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